Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1086

The highest-ranking member of the Council of Elders, which leads the outer city of Kundara.

A top-tier long-lived species, of which there are only five, including Maleon and Nibex.

And among them, a transcendent being with true blood has appeared in person.

Ignoring the astonished long-lived species around him, Lenok quickly examined the reindeer called Regnus.

‘He’s quite average in size for a long-lived species.’

His visible size is roughly between 3 and 4 meters.

Compared to the other long-lived species Lenok has seen, which easily exceed ten meters, he’s rather ordinary.

The Eight Dragon King, Alogon, and Nibex, a member of the Council of Elders, were themselves as large as monsters.

Lenok knew that the size of a long-lived species wasn’t proportional to their total power, but even considering that, this size was relatively ordinary.

However, the blue flames rising from the reindeer’s hooves and antlers were anything but ordinary.

‘Flames containing coldness. Is it an ice flame with contradictory properties?’

Lenok’s gaze turned cold for a moment.

‘That flame itself could function as a [fire seed].’

Lenok had often created and used cold flames himself using alchemy.

The reindeer called Regnus wasn’t wielding any power, including magic.

It was proof that the giant reindeer was creating cold flames using only its own physical organs.

Is this an opportunity to obtain a new [fire seed], which he is always seeking in his thousand identities?

“It seems you’re mistaken about something.”

Just as Lenok was thinking that and flicking his finger, Maleon spoke.

“What the elder is referring to isn’t the presence of a being who received the grace of an ascender, but rather the aftermath of the trial being stopped, isn’t it?”

“The aftermath of the trial being stopped?”

“The great mage with me challenged the Eighth Calamity’s trial and stopped the system itself.”

Maleon answered calmly.

Even though his hand was crushed by a hoof, Maleon didn’t show any signs of pain.

“Since there was interference with the system designed by the ascender, it’s not strange that the Ninth Calamity’s trial is also affected.”

“…….”

Regnus didn’t answer that. Instead, he just stared at Lenok with an unreadable expression.

Without moving his hand, which was broken by Regnus’s hoof, Maleon quietly said,

“I will deploy a domain. Please step aside.”

“Do you intend to waste your power unnecessarily before the great undertaking?”

Regnus of the Council of Elders replied with an unreadable expression.

“If you were going to waste your strength on such a minor anomaly, what was the reason for pushing through the plan to the point of driving out the other members of the Council of Elders from the Eighth Calamity?”

“…….”

Upon hearing those words, Maleon pulled out his hand, which had been stepped on by Regnus’s hoof.

The reindeer put strong force on its front leg, but Maleon didn’t seem to feel any resistance as he raised his hand.

Crack…!!

The broken bones and muscles reconnected, and the torn scales regenerated, restoring his hand to its original state.

It was an incredible regeneration ability, as if time was rewinding.

Lenok, who was watching the scene from the side, shook his head in disbelief.

‘He’s not using any magic at all. Is he possessing that level of regeneration ability with just the pure recovery power of a dragon species?’

Just now, Maleon didn’t use any kind of spell to recover his body.

It was simply that the overflowing vitality and recovery power of his blessed body instantly healed the injuries he had sustained.

Even without deliberately showing off, it was immediately clear what level of monster Maleon had reached.

At that moment, when the other long-lived species quietly held their breath at the overwhelming racial traits shown by the two highest-ranking members of the Council of Elders.

“These are the people who trusted me and followed me to the inside of the Eighth Calamity.”

Maleon said, facing the reindeer.

“If I lose them here, it will cause a major setback in the plan.”

“What truly has a negative impact on the failure of the plan?”

Regnus asked coldly.

“Is it the safety of those who trust and follow you, or is it your own strength to challenge the ritual?”

“…….”

“How foolish.”

The reindeer let out a cold sigh, looking at Maleon, who didn’t answer.

“I shouldn’t have brought you into the Council of Elders. I truly regret my mistake.”

Regnus tapped his hoof slowly and turned around, and just as Maleon was about to say something.

[Barrier Formation Deployment]

Fwoooosh!!!!

A colorless shockwave that erupted from under the reindeer’s hooves instantly engulfed the surroundings and pulled the group in.

“Hah, hah…!!”

“Huff, huff!!”

Only then did the other long-lived species’ complexions improve, and their breathing began to return.

Maleon looked at the reindeer, seemingly surprised.

“Regnus-nim…….”

Regnus’s action of deploying a barrier in place of Maleon and protecting the long-lived species from the pressure of the Eighth Calamity.

But that alone was enough to give the long-lived species, who had been struggling to breathe, some relief.

“I have brought the situation to this point by keeping an eye on your talent and nature, so I must take responsibility for that part.”

The reindeer, who was looking back at Maleon with a displeased expression, said curtly.

“But don’t think that you can reach the challenge you desire in that way.”

“…….”

“To a great undertaking that requires the resolve to abandon everything, you are still trying to bring in personal feelings.”

With those words, the reindeer clicked his tongue and turned away.

“Tsk… Follow me. I will protect these people until the place you are going to.”

“…….”

He broke Maleon’s hand by stepping on it as soon as he appeared, and after constantly rebuking him, he’s actually trying to help Maleon?

[Kyonroe, do you see that?]

Oliviera whispered through telepathy, seemingly intrigued, from behind.

[What was he doing? He’s handling the barrier in a rather interesting way.]

“Yes. He’s raising the internal environment of the barrier to a level similar to a domain and handling it.”

Lenok nodded.

“Is he modifying the barrier to the point where he can project his fundamental image and using it as a substitute for a domain? He’s not an ordinary mage either.”

A self-domain is just one of the functions of altering reality, and it’s not originally a barrier technique.

Like the Thousand Flowers Myriad Miles Fragrance that Lenok uses, it doesn’t function as a barrier unless the properties of a barrier are given to the domain.

However, Regnus wasn’t giving the properties of a barrier to his domain, but rather giving the properties of a domain to the barrier and using it.

A method that doesn’t burden the mind and body to deploy a domain, while conversely bringing a significant number of the domain’s effects.

It’s a method that even Lenok, who handles barrier techniques, has never thought of, and its concept and difficulty have clearly reached a transcendent level.

Regnus himself must be a barrier technique master who has reached an incredible level.

Is it because he is the manager of the Eighth Calamity and a long-lived species who presides over the Ninth Calamity’s trial?

“I’m late in explaining to you.”

Maleon, who noticed Lenok and Oliviera’s conversation, glanced at them and said.

“Regnus Airom. He is the head of the Crowned Deer and the elder who recommended me to the Council of Elders as a top member.”

“Why did the highest-ranking member of the Council of Elders only appear now?”

“If you met Nibex, you would know, but currently, the highest-ranking members of the Council of Elders are not officially residing in the Eighth Calamity.”

Maleon smiled bitterly.

“To reduce external variables and interference, and to prevent Kundara from taking responsibility for the aftermath that will occur outside the barrier, all the forces of the Council of Elders have left the Eighth Calamity.”

“…….”

“Since Regnus is in charge of managing the Eighth Calamity, he couldn’t leave his post and remained here.”

Is that why the other members of the Council of Elders, except for Maleon and Nibex, haven’t appeared?

Just like how Lenok encountered other transcendents and forces only after the situation was over, even though he had turned the cities of Machina and Yorta upside down.

It’s not hard to understand if many of the highest-ranking long-lived species with true blood are observing Maleon’s challenge.

However, one thing that bothers me is-

“Considering what you’re saying, that reindeer doesn’t seem to want you to challenge it. Is there a reason for that?”

“The Council of Elders intentionally left the space of the Ninth Calamity empty. They would want me not to break that policy.”

Maleon answered calmly.

“But I think that the direction of this city needs to be changed drastically before the end comes. Even now, before the challenge, that thought hasn’t changed.”

“…….”

“I don’t think it’s wrong to run away. But how can we properly choose the direction to run away without watching the end of the world?”

Maleon’s eyes sank deeply.

“Even to fulfill the calling for which Kundara was created, we must go outside the barrier and watch the end left in the center.”

“…….”

“Through this challenge, I will test whether the conclusion I have reached is correct, staking the fate of this city.”

Maleon Gnosis intends to become an ascender himself and take a place in the Ninth Calamity, thereby activating Kundara and escaping the barrier.

His determination to send the hidden outer city beyond the barrier to the outside of the central front and watch the end directly.

The fact that he has pushed through the plan that stakes Kundara’s fate to this point proves how outstanding a transcendent Maleon is.

However, Lenok still couldn’t guess how a transcendent who has entangled himself in so many causes and effects would reach level 9.

In the end, it would be an uncharted enlightenment that he wouldn’t be able to know without witnessing the process directly from the side.

How much time had passed since they traversed the hall of the Eighth Calamity, surrounded by the barrier deployed by Regnus?

After passing through a long corridor, the group arrived at the outermost edge of the vast hall of the Eighth Calamity, which seemed endless.

“We’ve arrived.”

While Maleon was helping the exhausted Heoryeong down, Regnus, who was standing alone at the front, said.

“This is the end of the Eighth Calamity and the entrance to the trial leading to the Ninth Calamity.”

“…….”

Whoooosh!!!

At the end of the corridor of the endless hall, a dark sphere of deep darkness is slowly rotating, replacing the wall.

A strange and alien mass of darkness, like a giant black hole blocking the hall instead of a wall.

If you go into that darkness, is the trial leading to the Ninth Calamity waiting?

Lenok instinctively realized that it was a concept extremely similar to the darkness of the outer sea.

“The ascension magic circle is beyond that darkness. That darkness is the entrance to the trial leading to the Ninth Calamity, and the beginning.”

Regnus’s words as he glanced around while explaining.

Only after making eye contact with the giant reindeer did Lenok realize that he was speaking directly to him.

“If we pass the trial, where will we go?”

“Upward.”

Regnus replied.

A void hidden in darkness where nothing can be seen.

If you break through that, does the space of the Ninth Calamity exist?

Only then was Lenok able to properly understand what the trial of the ninth calamity, which Jintun had designed, was.

A hidden place that can only be reached by breaking through an environment similar to the outer sea and challenging ascension, surpassing the limits of matter.

“Ban. I will be here with the others, preparing for the adjustment.”

Maleon said, facing the blowing wind.

“It will take some time to adjust my body to a state suitable for the challenge. In the meantime, you are free to act as you please.”

“…….”

“You can use other sanctuaries located in the hall, or acquire relics or artifacts stored in the Eighth Calamity. When the preparation is complete, we will immediately begin the ritual-”

Maleon stopped speaking for a moment at the sight of Lenok moving without listening to the end of his words.

“……Where are you going?”

“There’s no need to watch the adjustment process from the side.”

Lenok replied and moved his feet.

“Call me when it’s time. I’ll be checking the ascension magic circle inside first.”

“……That space is a demonic realm that embodies the void of the outer sea. Even you won’t be able to last long alone, will you?”

“Don’t worry.”

Lenok said and took a step forward.

“I’ve already prepared several ways to survive outside the outer sea.”

Gooooo…!!!

The moment he took a step into the darkness, crossing the path that had been cut off at the end of the sanctuary of the Eighth Calamity.

Crack!!

With a cold cracking sound, the shield surrounding Lenok’s body shattered.

It wasn’t a strong pressure or an incomprehensible particle annihilation.

The eerie coldness felt in the darkness.

The cold breath blowing from within the void was freezing the shield and forcibly breaking it.

However, even knowing that, Lenok slowly took another step into the darkness.

At that moment, Lenok’s body floated up, defying gravity, and he momentarily lost his balance and flipped over.

“……”

The moment he sank into the darkness, all of Lenok’s senses were cut off, making it impossible to distinguish between heaven and earth.

Where he was standing and which direction he was facing. Whether he was breathing properly and his heart was beating.

He couldn’t perceive and react with his body to the senses that should naturally be given in reality.

The darkness of the [outside] that steals the functions, senses, blessings, and rights given to life.

Was Jintun able to imitate and realize this darkness of the outer sea only with his barrier techniques?

Even though he inherited barrier techniques from him in the Hanghasa Labyrinth, he realizes the vast gap that still exists.

Lenok thought that and slowly drew up his magic power.

Woo woo woo…!!!

Even as the senses of his body were distorted, misaligned, and lost, Lenok’s magic power always moved as he wanted.

The talent he had gained by abandoning the functions and time he should have been born with as a human never betrayed Lenok for even a moment.

Click, click…!!!

The magic power flowing through his left arm rotated violently, rapidly dismantling the seal on Lenok’s arm.

The moment he released the seal that had been locked using the power of the Thunder God Gun and revealed its power in the darkness.

Zzzzzzzap!!!!

The purple light that erupted from his left arm began to erase the darkness.

Every time the darkness touched his purple left hand, the darkness twisted, broke, and disappeared.

A sense of incongruity that doesn’t turn the darkness itself into nothingness, but rather destroys its foundation so that the darkness cannot exist.

A price, not a reward, that he obtained from experimenting with the Divine Thunder Body in the sanctuary of the Thunder God Temple.

A forbidden weapon that projects not Lenok’s transcendent talent, but the penalties that are contrary to it.

Kkkkkkkkk…!!!

The darkness that covered and hid the trial of the Ninth Calamity broke down, lost its function.

The moment the ‘bondage’ that bound Lenok’s body broke and released not Lenok’s body, but the darkness in front of him.

Fwoooosh!!!

As the darkness receded, the shape of a giant maze appeared beyond it.

“……A maze?”

Only after muttering those words did Lenok realize that he could hear his own voice.

As the darkness disappeared, the trial of the Ninth Calamity appeared, and Lenok’s senses returned to normal.

Whoooosh!!!

A cold wind blowing in his ear.

From thousands of meters above, so high that it felt dizzying, he looked down at a giant maze that seemed endless.

As if gravity had appeared at the same time as the darkness receded, Lenok’s body began to fall toward the maze at a rapid speed.

Fwoooosh!!

As he faced the rising wind, Lenok drew up his magic power and frowned unintentionally.

It was because he began to feel strong resistance around him as soon as he used his magic power.

‘The magic power rotation rate is dropping to a very low level. Is this a unique characteristic of this labyrinth?’

Even considering that the magic power efficiency is suppressed because the forbidden weapon on his left arm is still working, it’s excessive.

It should be seen that the environment of this labyrinth itself is suppressing the act of using magic to an extreme level.

Of course, with Lenok’s achievements, he wouldn’t be unable to use magic due to external factors, but even so, he couldn’t avoid a slight drop in efficiency.

Clank!!

He twisted space, took out the Thunder God Gun, inserted it into his left arm, and locked the power of the forbidden weapon.

[Oh, Master?]

At that moment, Davi, who was hiding in Lenok’s arms, spoke with a bewildered expression.

[The labyrinth located below. It seems like there’s data left in my database?]

“……There’s data left in your database?”

Davi’s database is used to record and organize all the experiences he has had with Lenok in the form of images or numerical values.

Since the rebellion of the black mage who was born as a digital spirit, Davi has been organizing and storing all the data himself.

The fact that the shape of the labyrinth remains in such a database is proof that Lenok has encountered the maze once with Davi.

“……Could it be.”

The ascension magic circle left by Jintun.

The unidentified maze that exists within the trial of the Ninth Calamity.

And data that matches in Davi’s database.

Before Lenok could say anything, he suddenly recalled one memory from a series of situations.

[The innermost cradle and pattern of the Hanghasa Labyrinth in the Ideological War Zone match exactly.]

Davi said with a curious voice.

[If we do it right, it seems like we can find the way right now?]

“……Wait, the pattern matches the Hanghasa Labyrinth, you mean……!”

Woo woo woo…!!!

At that moment, a flashing light began to traverse the entire maze at an incredible speed and approach this way.

A magical light that crossed the maze flashed, drawing a huge magic circle of unimaginable size.

Fwoooosh!!!

A magic circle hundreds of meters in size, unfolding using the entire maze as a stepping stone, as if embracing the falling Lenok.

Immediately after, intense phrases that seemed to be roughly written on the magic circle began to appear and disappear in an instant.

[Hanghasa Labyrinth Manipulation Authority Holder Recognition Complete]

[Celestial Supreme Law System Magic Circle Activation Preparation]

[Ritual Start]

Bwoooooom!!!!

At the same time, the entire maze glowed white, rotating violently around Lenok and rising up.

A sense of incongruity as if the entire maze was about to stir and activate at this very spot.

Only then did Davi also sense the abnormality and mutter in a flustered voice.

[Huh……?]

“Jintun gave me the manipulation authority of the Hanghasa Labyrinth when he left.”

Lenok frowned, looking at the huge magic circle glowing beneath his feet.

“The authority I received at that time is reacting to this maze. I didn’t expect this.”

The memory of the cradle where he inherited barrier techniques from Jintun and Ohbaekro.

But Jintun didn’t just give Lenok the secrets of the world and barrier techniques at that time.

The manipulation authority of the Hanghasa Labyrinth in the Ideological War Zone.

The manipulation authority of the labyrinth, which he thought he would no longer need since Jintun died and the labyrinth collapsed.

It had begun to activate forcibly in the trial of the Ninth Calamity, which imitated a part of the Hanghasa Labyrinth.

Only then did Davi realize the meaning of Lenok’s words and shout in panic.

[Then, the start of the ritual means……!!]

“It seems that as the trial of the Ninth Calamity was activated, the ascension magic circle contained within it was also forcibly activated.”

Lenok hardened his expression and drew up his magic power.

“The ascension ritual is about to begin right now.”