Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1006

*Whoosh!*! Amidst the scattering flames and chimera fragments, the shadows of Lenok and the Conjunction Master overlapped. Lenok accelerated, bursting flames from his knees, elbows, and shoulder blades. The Conjunction Master, with his green surgical gown fluttering, met Lenok’s fist with his bare hand. *Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!* Before any incantations could intervene, a physical brawl ensued, fueled by enhanced bodies. The high-level mages engaged in a close-quarters combat so intense it was hard to believe. Each time Lenok and the Conjunction Master’s arms intertwined and twisted, flames and flesh fragments scattered and exploded. *Crack!* Twisting his wrist to lock an arm, he swung his elbow to strike down on the shoulder. As he burrowed into the Conjunction Master’s arm, which was covering his shoulder, he struck the side and kicked a knee. The moment the Conjunction Master, momentarily losing his balance, missed Lenok and touched the fleshy outer wall. *Boom!* The explosively swollen flesh burst on the spot, oozing fluids. [Ugh, eeeeee……] The chimera, wailing, opened their mouths wide, catching the fluid dripping from above. The Conjunction Master glanced back at Lenok and smiled. “You knew?” “That without surgical tools, the Conjunction Formula must be used barehanded?” Lenok retorted, regaining his posture. “Considering you say that, it doesn’t seem like you were trying to hide it from the start.” Despite being extremely careful not to let the Conjunction Master’s hand touch him, the protective barrier he had set up was tattered. The inevitable skin contact during the physical fight. It was proof that the barrier was under immense pressure, even though it hadn’t been hit by a completed formula. Brushing back his disheveled hair, Lenok thought. ‘The danger of the formula aside, his fighting skills are unbelievable.’ But what truly surprised Lenok was the Conjunction Master’s incredible close-quarters combat skills. Lenok, who had learned the martial arts of Dore [a fictional martial art style] from Yorta, was no slouch in close combat. While not at a level of mastery, considering Lenok’s tactical skills and intuition, he wouldn’t be easily pushed around. However, the Conjunction Master was surprisingly holding his own in the physical fight with Lenok, maintaining a certain balance. The Conjunction Master, an 8th-level Specialization mage and surgeon, had achieved a similar level of mastery in close-quarters combat. “Your skills are impressive. The more I learn, the more amazed I am.” The Conjunction Master said, loosening his wrist as he walked forward. “When I first captured you in the territory, your body was nowhere near capable of such physical combat.” “……” Even though the information from his clone’s examination hadn’t leaked, he had guessed Lenok’s condition just from a few encounters. “I can guess what method you used. The drugs in the operating room. The barrier magic of the Earth Shield. Adding acceleration and propulsion with flame magic and assisting with control……” The Conjunction Master’s gaze deepened for a moment as he looked at Lenok. “The fact that you combine formulas in such a way is proof that you’ve fought with handicaps many times. You’ve known about your body’s condition for a long time.” “Are your delusions over?” “Why you’re so used to fighting with such a body, and why you still don’t avoid fighting… I’m just getting more and more curious.” *Thud!* The Conjunction Master’s hand gripped the head of a chimera, which was groaning blankly near the gate entrance. “Just by arousing such curiosity in me, you are a more excellent research subject than anyone I’ve ever faced.” Specialization Unique Formula Nature Transformation Heterogeneous Conjunction [Ghostly Fusion] *Screech!* Two chimeras that came into contact with the Conjunction Master’s hand were conjoined on the spot, sticking together as one. [Kkeeeeeeek…!!] The flesh of the chimera, merged and distorted with a scream, rotated in the Conjunction Master’s hand. Immediately after, it transformed into a giant chimera over several meters tall and charged at Lenok. [Uooooooo!!] *Thud!* When it slammed the ground with its blunt fist, which had no fingers, the surrounding chimeras were crushed to death with a violent tremor. A streak of flame quickly raced across the lobby floor, which was mixed with fluids and blood. [Flame Engulfment] *Whoosh!* The flame streak that wrapped around the fleshy giant swelled, instantly consuming its body. [Annihilation] It turned the chimera, which was several meters tall, into ashes in one go. *Hoo!* “Good firepower. The speed at which it heats up seems much faster than the Tower Lord’s?” *Tap tap tap!* The Conjunction Master’s calm voice echoed intermittently among the chimera. “Then, shall we start with a group battle this time?” The Conjunction Master ran around the lobby at an incredible speed, unleashing Conjunction Formulas. At the same time, chimeras twisted and fused from all directions, one by one, being reborn as gruesome monsters. [Aaaaaaack…!!] It took only 8 seconds to modify hundreds of chimeras, originally made for transporting goods, into combat units and deploy them on the battlefield. Several dozen chimeras, with bodies over several meters tall, menacing teeth, and monstrous strength, charged at Lenok all at once. *Crunch!* Lenok stepped on the information desk and jumped up, avoiding a giant worm trying to bite and tear at his ankle. He spread wings of flame at his waist, rotating and accelerating in short bursts of seconds. He shook off the chimeras chasing after him by detonating shockwaves of flame. [Kroooo!!] He unleashed ultra-small fireballs at the pterosaur chimeras falling from above, spreading his wings. He landed on the gate outpost sign, drawing a dazzling arc of flames in the air with dozens of fireballs. *Crack!* The sign that fell from the impact crushed the writhing flesh beneath it. [Aaaaaaaa!!] The chimeras, stacking their bodies on top of each other, screamed and wildly swung their arms at Lenok. “Hoo……” Lenok took a deep drag of his cigar, and at the same time as he drew up his magic power, he exhaled his breath downwards. [Scorching Breath] *Kuwahhh!* The hot flames, carried by Lenok’s breath, swept across the ground. Next to the chimeras writhing in flames, a spear of flesh pierced through. Chimeras with axes, hammers, and spearheads pierced Lenok’s side at a fierce speed. *Whoosh!* He exploded flames from his side, spinning his body as if rebounding. He stepped on the hammerhead of flesh piercing his waist, bent his knees, and deployed his flame wings. *Whoosh!* Lenok’s figure began to race diagonally along the writhing inner wall of the operating room. [Flame Step] [Treading Imprint] *Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!* Flames erupted along the wall Lenok stepped on, and the inner wall, writhing with flesh, began to burn. Lenok’s figure, running in a circle along the wall of the operating room’s first-floor lobby, was setting it ablaze. As if the flesh couldn’t withstand the burns, the entire operating room shook violently, twisting its body. *Whoosh!* A snake-shaped chimera, curved like a whip, slammed its head into the inner wall, blocking Lenok’s path. The Conjunction Master, riding on the chimera, flickered and accelerated, reaching Lenok in an instant. The Conjunction Master and Lenok swung their arms at each other almost simultaneously. Conjunction Formula Activation [Bedsores] [Flame Construction] *Boom! Boom! Boom!* The Conjunction Master and Lenok’s hands crossed in the air, brushing past each other’s forearms. *Crack!* The protective barrier wrapped around his arm was torn and crushed just by the touch of their hands. From the recoil, the sleeve of Lenok’s coat tore, and bruises appeared on his skin. The moment they touched over the barrier, blood conjoined and solidified along his forearm, causing congestion. But even though he knew he had inflicted damage on Lenok, the Conjunction Master couldn’t smile. *Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* The Conjunction Master’s right arm, which had brushed past Lenok, was also burning black. The sleeve of his surgical gown burned and scattered, and the Conjunction Master’s tattered right arm shook within. The Conjunction Master, looking at his right hand, which had been burned black by Flame Construction, said. “That hurts. Quite a lot.” “……” “If it’s this much even after breaking through the anesthetic I’m constantly taking, then an opponent without flame resistance would be completely neutralized.” “If you know the opponent’s intentions, even if it’s a difficult technique to hit, there’s always a chance.” Lenok smiled, quickly melting the bruises on his forearm with healing flames. “You’ve been itching to touch me since a while ago, haven’t you?” Flame Construction is a close-range technique extremely specialized in zero-distance firepower projection among flame magic. Its incantation is almost instantaneous, and its power rivals that of high-level magic. Along with the lightning-type Partial Thunder, it is one of the spells Lenok personally prefers. There is a restriction that it can only exert its full power when used at extremely close range, but Lenok’s combat sense can overcome such a penalty. Even if the opponent is a powerful mage like the Conjunction Master, if the situation and conditions are right, he can always hit them. “Well, yes. I’m curious what will happen if I use the Conjunction Formula on you.” The Conjunction Master, who readily admitted it, turned around, stepping on the snake-shaped chimera. He said, retying the strings of his surgical gown, which had burned away. “You are the most diverse possibility among the specimens I’ve acquired. If I hit such a talent with my formula, wouldn’t you be curious how your aptitude will be ‘conjoined’?” “……” “My formula doesn’t distinguish between living and non-living things, but I feel that it has much more research value when used on living things.” [Kkieeeeee] As he grabbed the surrounding chimeras, the flesh in the Conjunction Master’s hand was molded like clay, changing its shape. The Conjunction Master, who quickly covered his damaged right hand with a chimera, said as he repaired his body. “But it’s not easy. It’s natural that you’re good at fighting since you bear the name of the Apostle Slayer, but it seems you have more hidden abilities than I thought……” “……” “Flame magic and barrier magic, attribute aptitude that responds to innate abilities. The harmony of martial arts and alternative incantation. A style derived from handling at least four or more formulas and abilities.” *Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!* As the Conjunction Master gestured, the ceiling of the vast first-floor lobby of the operating room slowly began to open. A hole appeared in the flesh ceiling, creating a vertical passage. “It seems you’re deliberately limiting your output and trying to explore my abilities, but from now on, you’ll have to be careful.” The Conjunction Master said, lowering his gaze with a blank face. “If you waste your strength unnecessarily, you might die without even showing the potential you possess.” “It doesn’t seem like it’s your place to worry about that.” *Crunch!* Lenok smiled, burning the chimera’s corpse with the flames he dropped from his fingertips. “Do you think you can keep holding out forever using these crude chimeras as shields?” “That’s right. You’re not wrong.” The Conjunction Master nodded, smiling. “So, from now on, let’s change the ‘materials’ a bit.” “……What?” *Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!* A powerful vibration echoed from beyond the hole in the ceiling. A strange resonance, as if something was rolling and falling. Before he could even realize the source of the sound, hundreds of chimeras tumbled down. *Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!* [Ueeeeeeek…!!] [Kuhak, hahahak!!] Combat chimeras, distinctly different from the ones Lenok had faced so far, with their entire bodies made of hard keratin or blades. The modified monsters, spewing murderous intent towards living beings, roared madly and charged at Lenok. *Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!* The falling flesh poured down on Lenok’s head without any space to avoid. The number was so great that the falling chimera flesh completely covered the skull placed at the end of the lobby. “Hoo……!!” Lenok took a quick deep breath and ignited flames as he brushed his hands together. [Ignition] [Crimson Linked Colors] *Whoosh!* He drew a line of flames in the air as if painting with the flames he had ignited at his fingertips, leaving a trail of fire. Lenok, who had completed a magic circle made of flames in an instant, grabbed it with one hand and swung it. *Boom!* The flames that exploded in Lenok’s grasp split into dozens of red rays and rotated. They pierced through and burned the swarm of chimeras falling down, forming a giant curtain of flesh. [Kkkkkkkk!!] The chimeras screamed in pain as their bodies burned, but the gaps were filled by new chimeras. Lenok clicked his tongue, ignited a spark at his feet, and accelerated, increasing his speed, but the Conjunction Master didn’t miss the opportunity. *Thud!* He forcefully pushed Lenok’s figure with his shoulder, cracking the barrier and shaking his balance. Monstrous strength that was hard to imagine from the Conjunction Master’s physique. Had he augmented his body using chimeras? There wasn’t even time to properly answer the question that popped into his head. *Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!* He weaved through the burning lobby, avoiding the swarm of chimeras falling in a row. Lenok’s figure, with flames spreading all over his body, accelerated and slid as if bouncing at a high angle. From the impact, dozens of shockwaves of flames erupted, shaking the curtain violently and scattering stardust. *Thud! Thud! Thud!* Hundreds of flesh masses that blocked Lenok’s path fell onto the skull of the long-lived species. The chimeras crawled in, as if filling the bones of the dead long-lived species with new flesh. [Six Crimson Advances] [Devouring Disaster Barrier] *Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* With a single gesture, he turned the falling flesh of the chimeras into ashes. He surrounded himself with a wall of flames to block the chimeras’ approach, and evaporated the monsters that charged at him just by touching them. In the rain of falling flesh, a red glow flickered, and the chimeras burned and disappeared with desperate screams. [Gurgle…!!] [Glug, glug!!] But the number of chimeras falling from the ceiling was greater than the number Lenok was burning. Even the light of the flames he was constantly detonating was eventually buried and obscured under the hill of flesh. An almost unlimited barrage of attacks, only possible within a life territory that mass-produces chimeras. “Hah hah…!!” The Conjunction Master, accelerating by stepping on the heads of the chimeras, sprinted towards the location where Lenok was buried. *Tap tap tap!* Each time the Conjunction Master moved his feet, the heads of the chimeras he stepped on exploded, adding to his propulsion. The Conjunction Master’s figure, wearing a green surgical gown, surpassed the speed of sound in an instant. *Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* The Conjunction Master’s figure, blurred by his high-speed movement, rotated halfway and collided with the flesh. Immediately after, the chimeras that had buried Lenok moved aside as if they had been waiting, opening a path. *Swoosh!* The space, crushed by the chimeras, opened wide, revealing Lenok buried inside. The moment the Conjunction Master’s left hand struck Lenok’s solar plexus with his palm. “Formula activation.” *Boom!* A powerful shockwave exploded behind Lenok’s back, sending the chimeras that were pressing down on his body flying backward. “……Cough.” Lenok, his shoulders shaking violently, coughed up blood, unable to withstand the impact. The Conjunction Master, slowly approaching, bending his arm as if supporting Lenok’s chest, said. “I’ll conjoin all the blood vessels and organs in your body. Not only will your metabolism be disrupted, but even your basic life functions will be broken from the root.” “……” “If I hit you with the formula even once, the result was decided from the start. I had prepared dozens of ways to twist your thoughts and pierce your gaps……” The Conjunction Master looked down at Lenok, who was trembling with difficulty, with an indifferent gaze. “Now it doesn’t matter. In your body, I’ll see how I’ll break your potential, I’ll think……” The Conjunction Master’s words suddenly cut off. The blood that surged from deep within the Conjunction Master’s body was flowing down his lips. It wasn’t due to the fatigue of the battle. A reaction from a more fundamental and fatal problem. He felt the agony of his internal organs twisting and turning, and his intestines being severed. The Conjunction Master’s face contorted in pain, which was difficult to suppress even with the effects of the anesthetic, and he spat out the words. “You, the formula……” “If you hit me with the formula even once, it’s your victory.” Lenok, wiping the blood from his mouth, slowly stood up. “That’s only if you accurately designate and use the Conjunction Formula on me.” “……” “The backlash of the formula when the designated target disappears. Didn’t you say yourself how big that is?” Lenok smiled, looking at the Conjunction Master with a cold gaze. “Shall we see how well you can withstand that backlash?” At that moment, the entire left upper half of the Conjunction Master’s body was crushed like clay and exploded. *Boom!*