Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1084

Lenok walked on a bridge enveloped in thick fog, a structure far grander than the Trials of Calamity he had faced when he first met the Blood Poison Master in Kundara.

Outside, a dizzying cliff stretched into the abyss, and he could feel gazes from above, like silent observers. Silvery dragonkin watched him, and behind them, dozens of high-ranking long-lived species.

[That one is the challenger you spoke of for this era,] Oliviera said, walking beside him, without turning her gaze. She likely didn’t need to, having perceived all the gazes around her with her magic eye.

[A dragonkin with True Blood. And a Jewel Dragon, born once every thirteen generations,] she whispered telepathically, sounding intrigued. [If such a noble being has reached Level 8, it’s no wonder they dream of a challenge. You haven’t chosen the wrong ship to board.]

“Jewel Dragon, huh? Is there a separate term for Maleon’s race?”

[A mutation born after several generations. Among them, a dragonkin born with a special ability through atavism [reversion to an ancestral form].] Oliviera said, her magic eye gleaming. [If we were to consider the direction of that talent, it would be more appropriate to compare it to my magic eye rather than other long-lived species.]

“…You’re saying Maleon’s existence is on par with the Seven-Colored Magic Eye?”

[The seven-colored abilities of my magic eye are a mutation that does not rely on the cause and effect of magic eye awakening,] she replied playfully, then turned her head. [That one is an existence that has obtained such mystery and miracles solely through his birth. He must be a possessor of extraordinary blessings, even among all the dragonkin of Kundara.]

“……”

[However, I don’t know why he maintains such an ambiguous disguise despite having such a birth. Usually, dragonkin of that caliber would prefer to maintain their true form.]

Oliviera, who had an extremely high sense of pride in her magic eye, had acknowledged that Maleon’s existence was on par with hers. That meant that Maleon’s birth and status were indeed a rare occurrence even in Kundara.

Just as Lenok was about to say something about it, Maleon’s hearty laughter echoed from beyond the fog.

“I was wondering why my ears were itching, and it seems you were praising me?”

“It’s a pity, but no matter how much you praise me, nothing will come of it.”

“…Maleon.”

Maleon, who had been standing at the edge of a cliff thousands of meters away, was now greeting Lenok on the bridge. Broad shoulders and a muscular physique. A towering dragonkin, much larger and taller than Lenok.

“Welcome to the Trials of the Eighth Calamity.” The giant with the magnificent dragon head grinned, surrounded by dozens of attendants.

“In order for us to enter the Ninth Calamity together, both you and I must first pass the trials of the previous stage.”

“……”

“Besides, we don’t know how many times we’ll have to go through the Eighth Calamity during the ascension ceremony. So, the first step of the plan was already decided.”

Immediately after Maleon had declared that he would begin the ascension plan, Lenok, along with Oliviera, was standing before the gateway to challenge the Trials of the Eighth Calamity.

Passing the trials of the previous stage was the minimum requirement to challenge the Trials of the Ninth Calamity. In addition, since they would have to travel back and forth through the Eighth Calamity while preparing for the ascension ceremony, they had decided to obtain the entry qualification.

“Once you have obtained the qualification to enter the Eighth Calamity, we will immediately move to the Trials of the Ninth Calamity and begin the ascension ceremony.”

“Who are the long-lived species standing behind you?”

“They are attendants gathered to assist me in this ascension ceremony. With their abilities and techniques, they will adjust my mind and body to the most suitable state for the challenge.” Maleon pointed to the dozens of long-lived species lined up behind him.

“While you are completing the trials, I will also prepare for the ceremony here with their help. I will prepare so that the ceremony can begin as soon as you pass the Trials of the Eighth Calamity.”

“I heard that the environment and conditions of the Seventh and Eighth Calamities are different in many ways.” Lenok tilted his head.

“If you’re going to adjust your body to be suitable for the challenge, wouldn’t it be better to do it after entering the Eighth Calamity rather than here?”

“Not all of my attendants have achieved enough to pass the Trials of the Eighth Calamity.” Maleon shrugged. “Of course, I also think it would be best to complete the ‘adjustment’ inside the Eighth Calamity, but I can’t force things that are impossible.”

“……”

“It seems you understand the necessity of this matter.” Maleon stroked his chin with a satisfied look. “Good. It’s never a bad thing for things to progress quickly. Huryeong!!”

“…Yes.” A gaunt-looking old man emerged from behind Maleon at the call. Maleon gently patted his shoulder and nodded. “It’s time for you, the manager of the Seventh Calamity, to step forward. Prepare these friends so they can challenge the Trials of the Eighth Calamity.”

“……” The old man called Huryeong did not answer. He simply stared at Lenok with drowsy eyes, a blatant attitude that seemed to indicate he didn’t like Lenok.

But Maleon remained calm and patted Huryeong’s shoulder. “I’m asking you. Can you do it?”

“…The orders of Eunseong and Dokak were given, how can an old man like me refuse?” The old man called Huryeong nodded quietly as he answered. At the same time, his body glowed brightly, and he transformed into a giant crane scattering pure white feathers.

Flap!! As he spread his faded wings, the crane tilted its long beak and turned its aged gaze towards Lenok. “I will do my best to treat you well.”

“Good. I’ll be outside with my attendants, praying for your success.” Seeing this, Maleon nodded and immediately turned around.

Thud!! An attendant standing behind him transformed into a giant scorpion and bowed his head towards Maleon… The dragonkin, leaping onto the scorpion’s back, grinned at Lenok and waved his hand. “See you in the space-time of the Eighth Calamity. Good luck!”

Whoosh!! The scorpion, crouching down, leaped with tremendous force and climbed up the cliff hundreds of meters away. The remaining attendants watched the scene, then began to disappear one by one.

Huryeong, who was the last one left on the silent bridge, spoke in a subdued voice. “Come closer, human.”

“……”

“Before starting the trials, I need to write your name in the register and count the number of times.”

“What do you mean by the number of times?”

“It seems you don’t know anything because you’ve never passed the trials of a calamity.” Huryeong shook his beak as if he was dumbfounded. “There is a set grace period for challengers to attempt the trials. If you fail once, you have to wait decades before challenging the next trial.”

“……”

“If this is violated, the timeline of Kundara, which flows independently in the foggy universe, will be distorted, so the managers of the lower calamities record the names of the challengers and manage the grace period.”

“Can only one person’s name be written for one challenge?” Lenok glanced at Oliviera and asked. “I have a companion here, what should we do in that case?”

“As I said, only one person can challenge at a time.” Huryeong replied indifferently. “However, since both of you have stood before the bridge of trials, if you fail, that woman will also be considered to have failed, so keep that in mind.”

“……”

[…Heh heh.] Oliviera let out a cold laugh, as if she had sensed something from Huryeong’s overbearing answer. She probably knew what the unnecessarily difficult attitude of that long-lived species meant.

Flap!! As the aged crane, several meters in size, spread its wings, an old scroll unfolded beneath it. Below it was a list of countless unknown challengers, densely written. The crane, bringing a brush dipped in ink to the bottom of the scroll, stared at Lenok. “Name, origin, and age.”

“Ban.” Lenok, who had been quietly watching the scene, answered. “My origin is Balkan. I don’t know my age.”

“What?”

“Is age the time of the soul, or the time of the body?” Lenok asked back at the sight of Huryeong’s twitching eyebrows. “What is the standard for the concept of a living being aging? Is it the orbital period of a planet, or the timeline of Kundara that flows independently within the barrier?”

“……”

“It’s ridiculous for me, who is not even a long-lived species, to count my age while adhering to such standards. You can write it down as you please.” Lenok said with a smile. “Either way, I won’t be challenging this trial twice.”

“…Yes, you’ve said it well.” The eyes of the aged crane gleamed ominously. “After failing this challenge, never show your face before Lord Maleon again. Leave Kundara and live among the humans of the mortal world.”

“……”

“I’ve heard stories of you achieving outstanding feats with the body of a short-lived species. They say you’ve killed countless lives outside the barrier?” Huryeong said. “But the great undertaking that Lord Maleon is challenging is not something that a sorcerer soaked in killing intent can participate in. It is an endeavor to explore the truth that is difficult to reach even if one endlessly pursues the mysteries of great magic.”

“……”

“I heard that you taught long-lived species in the city, but such shallow acts of charity cannot hide your terrible nature.” The crane’s voice was mixed with undisguised contempt. “Leave. And never return to this city again. Those who live short lives have many things that they should value more than the great undertaking of Kundara.”

“Interesting. Starting to say such things only after Maleon has left.” Lenok tilted his head. “It seems that sorting out who will remain by Maleon’s side is also a role assigned to the manager of the Seventh Calamity?”

“The challenge that Lord Maleon is trying to achieve is not just for him, but a great undertaking for the enlightenment of the entire city.” Huryeong replied. “In my eyes, born as a Knowledge Crane, I can see how deep the karma of killing you carry is. How much blood you have shed outside the barrier…” The crane’s gaze towards Lenok flickered with displeasure. “You must have been a being who brought all sorts of evil omens even in the mortal world.”

“I’m sure you know who proposed this plan in the first place.” Lenok asked with a smile. “I don’t intend to cling to Maleon’s plan. If I fail, I’ll have to find another way. But…” Lenok, looking at the aged crane with a cold gaze, said, “If you bother me with such trivial reasons again, I will tear off your wings, so keep that in mind.”

“A life that has already been saved once by Lord Maleon. The rest of my life means nothing to me.” Huryeong was not fazed by Lenok’s chilling warning.

With a composed demeanor, he folded the scroll, then simply spread his wings and soared.

Flap!

‘If my death can instill a sense of urgency in Lord Maleon, then that is enough.’

‘…….’

Lenok did not reply.

Ignoring Huryeong, he merely gazed beyond the thick fog, at the gradually intensifying presence.

Even without a proper explanation, he already knew that the trial had begun.

The giant crane looked down at him and coldly declared,

‘Then, let the Trial of the Eighth Calamity begin.’

* * *

The misty space at the boundary between the Seventh and Eighth Calamities.

A secret place directly managed by Huryeong, the Knowledge Crane.

The giant crane landed on a cliff overlooking the gateway where the trial was to take place.

Flap!

The crane, scattering white feathers as it folded its wings, turned its gaze towards the dragon-headed giant standing at the edge of the cliff.

‘Lord Maleon. Is this sufficient?’

‘It is sufficient, Huryeong.’

Maleon, the dragon-man who had been watching with his arms crossed, said without turning his gaze.

‘To work with Gyeonroe, he must first be able to freely enter and exit the Eighth Calamity.’

‘…….’

‘Thank you for fulfilling your duty as the manager. I will not forget it.’

‘Compared to Lord Maleon sharing his true blood to cure my grandson’s illness, this is nothing. However…’

Whoosh!

Huryeong, looking down at Lenok standing alone at the bottom of the steep cliff with a nonchalant expression, spoke as the wind blew fiercely.

‘No matter how outstanding their talents may be, they are beings that are born and die in the blink of an eye.’

‘…….’

‘To us, they are no different from dogs or cats. I will not stop Lord Maleon from interacting with him, but…’

The old crane’s eyes momentarily changed in a strange way.

‘You will surely regret giving them your affection.’

Maleon knew that Huryeong did not like short-lived species like Lenok.

However, despite knowing this, he pretended not to notice and entrusted Huryeong with the preparation of the trial.

Was it because he trusted Huryeong, whom he had known for a long time, or because he believed in the human who had only been around for a few days?

Although much time had passed, Huryeong could not fully understand the heart of the great silver dragon, who gave warmth to all.

‘We felt that the affairs of the mortal world were futile, and we thought the answers of the mortal world were meaningless, so we hid behind the veil.’

Maleon said calmly.

‘But now that Ars Nova [a powerful magical organization] has been destroyed by the cause and effect of the mortal world, is there any reason for us to adhere to this method?’

‘…….’

‘I don’t think so. To know if we are truly right, we must go out into the mortal world and see for ourselves. And I-‘

Maleon slowly raised his gaze to the sky and murmured.

‘I am convinced that gaining the qualification to challenge the Ascension [a state of spiritual enlightenment or godhood] is the only way to uphold that belief.’

‘Lord Maleon…’

‘Nothing can be achieved if you don’t start by believing in yourself. It is because you believe in yourself that you can believe in others. The existence of Gyeonroe is the same.’

Maleon’s gaze turned to Lenok, who was drawing up magical power from below the bridge.

‘You may not believe it yet, but I can see it. That man is a sorcerer born with a talent that is unlikely to be seen twice in the history of the continent.’

‘…….’

‘For such a mage to be born now, as the end is approaching. The heavens are indeed heartless. But conversely, it may be because it is a time like this that such a person has appeared.’

Maleon chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.

‘If that is fate, then I am ready to gladly take the hand of that fate.’

‘…It’s starting.’

Whoosh!

At the same time as Lenok stepped forward, a crimson magic circle unfolded in front of the bridge.

The ominous and enormous magic circle, rotating and blocking the foggy bridge.

The other high-ranking long-lived species watching beside Maleon murmured in surprise.

‘Is that the Demonic Sky Style (魔天式)?!!’

‘How unlucky. To encounter the most dangerous gateway among the trials of the Eighth Calamity…!!’

‘I heard that there hasn’t been a challenger in over 10 years, is he really facing it at this time?’

The trials of the Eighth Calamity take different forms for each challenger.

However, information about particularly dangerous trials spreads by word of mouth.

The crimson magic circle that had unfolded before Lenok was a type of ancient demon-worshipping ritual called the Demonic Sky Style.

It required the challenger to dismantle 665 magic circles within a set time and then reassemble them in a completely different way in an even shorter time.

Failure would cause the magic circle itself to enter a demonization phase, unconditionally antagonizing the challenger.

Among the challengers who faced the Demonic Sky Style in the Eighth Calamity, only two survived. None have ever passed.

It was a dangerous trial, with its infamy widely known even among the long-lived species challenging level 8.

Clank!

However, as soon as Lenok saw the Demonic Sky Style magic circle, he began to infuse it with magical power and manipulate it.

He used the magic circle as a massive magical circuit, manipulating the magic circle without hesitation.

The moment Huryeong’s expression subtly twitched as he watched this.

Crack!

The Demonic Sky Style magic circle glowed red as if it would explode, then completely dismantled and began to transform into a completely different shape.

The boundary lines forming the outer edge of the magic circle became limbs, and the inner symbols and characters intertwined to form a body.

A skinny, crimson giant with a T-shaped head used the magic circle as its body and stood up.

A grotesque demon figure that seemed to twist the mind and confuse the senses just by looking at it.

The other long-lived species who saw this let out a groan of surprise.

‘Ah, a demonized variant…!!’

‘The demon-worshipping ritual is complete. Has it already entered the demonization phase!!’

‘It hasn’t even been 5 minutes since the trial started. Isn’t something wrong?’

The transformation of the Demonic Sky Style magic circle into a demonized form was a sign that the trial had failed.

However, the fact that such a result had appeared as soon as the trial began was something that even the long-lived species had never seen before.

‘No, that’s not it.’

Maleon said with a calm gaze.

‘He never intended to dismantle and reassemble the magic circle from the start. He forced a failure to induce the demonization phase.’

‘What, what do you mean…’

The other long-lived species turned their heads with bewildered expressions at Maleon’s words.

‘Even we cannot easily deal with a demonized variant that has completed its transformation.’

‘Are you saying that this human is trying to pass the trial by directly suppressing the variant?’

‘If he intended to pass the trial with brute force, he wouldn’t have chosen such a cumbersome method.’

Maleon said as he raised his gaze.

‘But I think I know why Ban chose this method.’

Huryeong, who followed Maleon’s gaze to the sky, was momentarily speechless.

‘This is…’

[Electric Field Resonance]

Blue lightning, flashing from the end of the bridge, devoured the thick fog and surged upwards.

The radiance of the lightning that surged above the cliff split into hundreds of strands, repeatedly connecting and disconnecting at the same time.

The connection of lightning, reaching the extreme of division and resonance, rotated as if piercing through the gateway of the Eighth Calamity.

It dyed the sky above the cliff where Maleon and Huryeong stood with a beautiful radiance.

[Lightning Convergence]

Whoosh!

‘…….’

Huryeong, at a loss for words, slowly opened his mouth.

Maleon was impressed, and the expressions of the sorcerers standing behind him turned pale.

A beautiful wave of starlight that dyed the entire sky, something that had never been imagined from a human.

In that moment, a reverent silence filled the space, a silence that was hard to believe even after seeing it with their own eyes, a silence that reached the pinnacle of thought.

[Great Net of Azure]

Flash!

The sky-blue lightning, which had split into hundreds of strands and overflowed, converged as if pouring down on the demon variant.

[Kkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!]

The demon’s entire body twisted and broke down within the spiraling currents of the Great Net of Azure lightning.

A grotesque scream erupted, and the demon variant created by dismantling the magic circle melted away.

The withered limbs stuck to the surroundings, and it slumped down in place, becoming blurry.

The demon flashed a crimson light and convulsed, but the silver-white light grew stronger, rendering even resistance futile.

Whoosh!

It evaporated all the thick fog that had settled over the bridge, revealing the scenery of the gateway.

‘Ugh…!!!’

The intensity of the light was so strong that even those who were watching the situation had to avert their gaze for a moment.

But beyond that, a scene that no one had imagined was unfolding.

[Kkk, kkkkk…!!!]

The demon, struck head-on by the lightning, did not disappear on the spot.

Its entire body was strangely stuck to the bridge, still writhing.

As if using the existence of that demon as a [Door], another scene was reflected behind the empty gateway.

The Hall of the Eighth Calamity, where Lenok had entered with Maleon’s help.

A sanctuary where the misty universe was reflected, with statues commemorating the founders of Kundara [a mythical place or organization].

The long-lived species, belatedly realizing what had happened, let out a cry of astonishment.

‘Did he forcibly stop the trial of the Eighth Calamity in the middle of its progress!!’

He had neither failed to dismantle and assemble the magic circle, nor had he passed the trial by killing the demonized variant.

He had used the Great Net of Azure to cause a chain reaction of explosions in the magical power embedded in the Demonic Sky Style variant.

At the same time, he used Davi’s computational ability to forcibly inject a massive amount of information into the unstable variant.

He had forcibly broken the variant created by the magic circle just before it was destroyed, stopping its function.

As a result, the gateway to the space of the Eighth Calamity was left open and stopped in an ambiguous state.

‘A human interfered with the system designed by Jintun [a powerful being or creator]…!!’

‘No one in Kundara has ever been able to interfere with the structure of the trial itself, how is this possible?’

‘He was playing with the Demonic Sky Style magic circle from the beginning. Just how high is his computational ability…?’

He had paralyzed the gateway formed by the trials of the Calamities, making it possible for others who had not challenged the trial to enter.

And the reason why Lenok had forcibly opened the gateway and stopped the trial was clear.

‘If I pass the trial alone and go to the Eighth Calamity, there will be people who cannot follow.’

Lenok, glancing at Oliviera, turned towards the cliff and said.

‘But while the system that manages the trial of the Eighth Calamity is paralyzed, others will be able to enter the Eighth Calamity.’

‘…Ban.’

‘If we need the help of other long-lived species in the Eighth Calamity to increase the success rate of the ritual, then we must do so.’

Lenok nodded towards Maleon, who was looking down at him with a surprised expression.

‘If you are ready, guide me. I need to see the ascension magic circle that Jintun left behind for myself.’