Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1103

The entrance to the Trial of the Eight Abysses. The gateway began where the fog scattered like a storm.

Even now, the environment of the gateway was changing drastically, following the rising Kundara.

The bridge shook incessantly, and the fog swirled and scattered violently.

Kuooh!

From beyond the thick fog, the figures of two people appeared.

A red-eyed girl walking in front and a man wearing a robe.

The girl, who had been walking silently, stopped when she saw a giant crane standing far away.

“The administrator of the Seventh Abyss. It’s been a while since I’ve seen your face.”

“I knew you would come.”

The administrator of the Seventh Abyss, Heoryeong, raised his aged eyes and looked at Po Hyulgong.

“With a summons order issued to all Eight Dragon Kings, there’s no way Po Hyulgong wouldn’t respond.”

“As a member of Jihak [a group or organization], you must know a lot.”

Po Hyulgong nodded.

“Tell me about the current situation. Where are the Dragon Kings now?”

“Baechun Dragon King and Cheolsoe Dragon King are searching for short-lived species between the First and Sixth Abysses.”

Heoryeong answered quietly.

“Ilgak Dragon King and Yeomcheon Dragon King are holding cities by attaching their territories outside Kundara. Susin Dragon King is—”

“That’s not what I wanted to know.”

Po Hyulgong tilted her head.

“What about Jeonryun and Gwibaek? They’re the only ones with a compatible nature to fight Gyeonroe in the first place.”

“…….”

Instead of answering, Heoryeong quietly turned his gaze to the shadow standing behind Po Hyulgong.

Heoryeong, who had been quietly looking at the silent shadow, asked the girl.

“You’re going, aren’t you?”

“It’s not my decision.”

Po Hyulgong answered calmly.

“But I was asked. I have to listen.”

“You’ve changed a lot.”

Heoryeong chuckled.

“The Po Hyulgong I know wasn’t like that.”

“If you want to say useless things, step aside.”

Po Hyulgong retorted bluntly.

“Or, are you thinking of fulfilling your duty as an administrator now?”

“Duty…….”

The crane, with its eyes closed, answered quietly.

“This old man has lived too long to strictly adhere to such things.”

“…….”

“These days, as I get older, even when I open my eyes, my focus isn’t very good.”

Heoryeong smiled quietly.

“Right now, even if someone passes by this bridge, my eyes are so blurry that I probably wouldn’t see them well.”

What more questions and answers were needed?

Po Hyulgong nodded and walked past Heoryeong.

The crane opened its wings to make it easier for the two to pass.

The moment the bowed shadow brushed past Heoryeong’s wings, Heoryeong whispered quietly.

“Please take care of Maleon.”

“…….”

What could the word ‘please’ mean to Heoryeong?

Was it a request that Maleon return to Kundara safely?

Or was it a request that Maleon find peace in his rest?

Either way, it wasn’t a meaningless word.

Perhaps even that ambiguity was an expression of his will to leave the decision to them.

After all, it wasn’t Heoryeong who could decide Maleon’s fate.

“I will.”

Lenox nodded quietly.

* * *

It’s not difficult to distinguish between a summoner and a summoned being.

Because even if the summoners are different, most of the summoned beings are spirits who have made contracts in the spirit realm.

But that’s just about their appearance; it’s difficult to distinguish the relationship of master and servant through the contract itself.

The only ones who knew who held the initiative in the summoning were the parties who had made the contract.

In that sense, Lenox’s plan to disguise himself as Po Hyulgong’s summoned being was extremely successful.

“The master of the Blood Shadow Palace has come out for a rare outing.”

“Is that a new pet you have by your side?”

“Given the situation, it must be a very useful item.”

“The Eight Dragon Kings will greatly welcome the addition of the Blood-Sucking Princess.”

“…….”

Because everyone they encountered in the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Abysses didn’t doubt Lenox’s presence next to Po Hyulgong at all.

Rather, they even opened the way first, as if it were natural for Po Hyulgong to be dragging a summoned being around.

Only then did Lenox understand why Po Hyulgong had devised this plan and asked.

“Have you ever dragged summoned beings around like this before?”

“Not summoned beings.”

Po Hyulgong answered nonchalantly.

“I used to handle the people of the cult I captured in the Holy War like this.”

“…….”

“I was interested in the cult’s techniques that used faith as a medium. Instead of killing them, I did some experiments.”

While Lenox was speechless and silent, Po Hyulgong said.

“Because I kept alive the people I should have killed back then, I got this absurd nickname.”

“Then the name Po Hyulgong is…….”

Was it a mocking term for Po Hyulgong’s actions of dragging around cult members instead of killing them?

While Lenox was shaking his head at the unexpected origin, the two arrived at the gateway of the Eighth Abyss.

They passed Heoryeong, who turned a blind eye to them, and entered the hall of the Eighth Abyss.

A huge hall with statues of the founders standing on both sides. Fog passing by at high speed through the glass in the ceiling.

In front of it, a giant reindeer with blue flames was waiting for them.

A senior member of the Elder Council. The administrator of the Eighth Abyss. One of the true-blooded long-lived species called Myeonrok [Crowned Deer].

“Regnus.”

“In the end, things have turned out like this.”

Whoosh!

As the reindeer shook its horns violently, it transformed into a human form.

Regnus, disguised as a young man with blue hair, turned around with a stern expression.

“Maleon, you foolish fool……!”

His eyes, looking at Lenox, were trembling slightly with undisguised emotion.

“I clearly told you it was a reckless thing to do……!!”

“…….”

Regnus had known Maleon for a long time and was the one who recommended him to the Elder Council.

He was an ancient long-lived species who had tried to stop Maleon, but had also helped with the ritual.

He was fundamentally fond of Maleon, so it was no wonder that he was distraught at this point.

“Explain the situation in detail.”

Regnus, who seemed to be trying to hide his emotions, muttered with his eyes closed.

“What happened to Maleon?”

“He’s rampaging, possessed by the thoughts of an Ascendant called Seonjong.”

Lenox answered.

“There were several causes that pushed Maleon’s gnosis [spiritual awareness] to its limit, and he collapsed after holding out until the end.”

“…….”

“But there’s still something we can do. I’m going back up to the Ninth Abyss to stop Maleon.”

Lenox looked at Regnus with a clear gaze and asked.

“Are you going to stop me?”

“……If I had intended to do that, I wouldn’t have been waiting for you here.”

The young man answered firmly in a noble voice.

“I would have been comfortably watching you struggle as the Eight Dragon Kings tightened their grip on the territory.”

“…….”

Having said that, Regnus turned around.

“Follow me. I’ll guide you to the entrance of the Ninth Abyss where the ascension formation is located.”

Regnus was one of the people who had witnessed the ascension ritual that Lenox and Maleon had performed in the Eighth Abyss.

As such, he wouldn’t have believed the rumors that Lenox had forcibly caused Maleon to go berserk.

But he didn’t expect that he would take the initiative to help Lenox like this.

He thought that at best, he would just turn a blind eye like Heoryeong, but perhaps he cared for Maleon more than he thought.

“Regnus Airom was a godfather who had watched over Maleon’s gnosis since he was a young dragon.”

As if reading Lenox’s thoughts, Po Hyulgong said.

The girl nodded, folding her fingers one by one as if counting.

“He knew Maleon’s secret, so he cherished and pitied him. If we need to find a collaborator in this city right now, Regnus would be the most suitable.”

“Don’t speak carelessly, Leishi…….”

Regnus, who had been walking ahead, turned his head with a fierce expression.

“What do you know about him that you would carelessly tell a short-lived species about Maleon’s flaws?”

“Since Gyeonroe would have seen what his true form looks like when Maleon went wrong.”

Even at Regnus’s fierce momentum, the girl answered without batting an eye.

“Gyeonroe is trying to go back to the Ninth Abyss even knowing that. It’s right to explain everything to him properly, isn’t it?”

“…….”

“If it’s not Gyeonroe, who helped Maleon with the ascension ritual, no one can even attempt to go back up to the Ninth Abyss now.”

Po Hyulgong, Leishi, looked up at Regnus with her arms crossed.

“I think Gyeonroe deserves that much respect.”

“…….”

Regnus, unable to deny those words, remained silent without saying anything.

The young man, who had been walking quietly ahead of the two, opened his mouth in a subdued voice.

“Phaud Older was an exceptionally different being among the ancient true-blooded species.”

“…….”

“He was a long-lived species born outside the continent, and he was in charge of the power of recursion and correction. He possessed profound insight and intelligence, so there were those among the long-lived species who revered him.”

Regnus’s voice turned cold for a moment.

“But his nature was more like that of a blindly devoted seeker. He tried to find answers in the past by sacrificing this city.”

“……Did Seonjong find answers in the past?”

“True blood is a genetic trait that extends beyond the world. Therefore, true blood also functions as a ‘catalyst’ that connects to the lost old world.”

Regnus answered Lenox’s question.

“Phaud Older reached level 9 by using his own death as a medium in front of the founders. In the process, he used true blood to connect himself to the past.”

“…….”

“Because of that, there was a story that Seonjong, who became an Ascendant, had a quite different nature from when he was alive. But that wasn’t the end of it.”

Regnus raised his head as if hiding his expression.

“Even after becoming an Ascendant, he left a part of himself in the Ninth Abyss. It was an arrangement, hoping that it would become a possibility different from himself.”

“…….”

“If the ascension ritual that should have failed succeeded, and he awakened because you and Maleon had done more than what was given.”

The scenery of the hall gradually became familiar to Lenox’s eyes.

The entrance to the Ninth Abyss where the ascension formation was located, where he had arrived with Maleon.

The moment Lenox realized that the gateway to the Trial of the Abyss was not far away.

Regnus turned his steps towards Lenox with a determined look in his eyes.

“I am—”

[You were here.]

Kwaaaang!!!!

The wall of the hall exploded and shattered, and a huge amount of water began to pour in.

The water, which poured down like a waterfall, rushed in all directions, filling the corridor and overflowing.

Swaaa!

Po Hyulgong and Lenox immediately moved to avoid the water, and Regnus chanted a barrier spell.

Behind Regnus, who was blocking the pouring water, Lenox, who was on top of a statue, lowered his gaze with a stern expression.

‘High concentration of salt… It’s close to seawater. Could it be?’

Not ordinary purified water, but the smell of seawater with a high salt concentration.

If there was a being who could freely control this much seawater in the hall of the Eighth Abyss, there would only be one.

[I thought you would have avoided the eyes of our Dragon Kings by any means necessary.]

Thud!

Beyond the pouring water, a giant water dragon with blue scales appeared.

Trampling on the wall and wriggling its body, the dragon species’ new form instantly filled the surroundings with seawater.

[You were standing on top of the dragon species’ head in the same way you mocked me.]

“……Algon.”

Algon, the Susin Dragon King who controls all the seas and currents of Kundara.

The level 8 Dragon King, whom he had faced once in the deep sea territory, had broken through the hall of the Eighth Abyss and directly invaded.

The Dragon King’s blue eyes looked down at Lenox with a chilling ferocity.

[In that regard, my experience and judgment were not wrong.]

“Susin Dragon King. What is the meaning of this!!”

Regnus shouted at Algon with a stern expression.

“Invading and defiling the Eighth Abyss without permission. Do you think I, as an administrator, can overlook this?!!”

[Head of the Crowned Deer. It’s not you who should be reprimanded right now.]

Algon bared his teeth at Regnus without batting an eye.

[Knowing that the Eight Dragon Kings are moving, you are blocking the Eighth Abyss and helping that human. Is this the decision of the Elder Council?]

“……!!!”

[The reason why our dragon species are guarding the outskirts of Kundara is because we are the only ones who can establish a semi-permanent territory in the universe of fog. But you are ignoring us and acting unilaterally.]

Regnus and Algon’s gazes clashed sharply in the air.

[Now that Maleon’s gnosis, who represented the dragon species’ position, is gone, is there any reason for me to follow the Elder Council’s recommendations?]

“This is not a matter between the Elder Council and the Eight Dragon Kings. The fate of the city is—”

Even within Kundara, there was a difference in position between the Elder Council and the Eight Dragon Kings.

But Lenox ignored the conversation between the two long-lived species and was lost in thought.

‘He used his experience of fighting me in the deep sea territory to break into the Eighth Abyss right away.’

The long-lived species throughout the outer city of Kundara watched Lenox fall from the Ninth Abyss and land in Kundara.

Immediately after that, Maleon’s rampage was announced, so it was natural to find the cause of the problem in Lenox.

But unlike the others who were searching the city to hunt down Lenox, Algon judged differently.

He was convinced that Lenox would not be caught in the encirclement in the first place, and was waiting in the Eighth Abyss from the beginning.

And the moment he detected Lenox’s presence, he broke into the hall of the Eighth Abyss.

It was a forceful idea, but Algon proved that his judgment was correct as a result.

It was a judgment that was possible because Algon had experienced Lenox’s abilities while fighting him in the deep sea territory.

[It seems that you have blocked the space-time of the Eighth Abyss with the administrator’s authority to block the signs, but it doesn’t matter.]

At the same time as Algon’s words, the overflowing water began to gather at the dragon’s head.

[After all, once the fight starts, the entire Kundara will notice the anomaly here.]

“……!!!”

He chants a spell without hesitation, wrapping the pouring water around his entire body.

The essence of the Susin technique, which compresses the water to the limit and then shoots it out at supersonic speed.

[Thousand Waters (Penetrating Water)]

Kwaaaah!

The stream of water, shot like a laser from Algon’s mouth, pierced through the statue that Lenox was on.

At the same time as he twisted his head, a bright blue stream of water cut diagonally across the hall of the Eighth Abyss.

Kagagagak!!!

More than a dozen statues of the founders lined up in the hall were cut off and fell.

Algon glared at Lenox, who had avoided the Thousand Waters by using Blink, with a ferocious gaze.

[In the name of the Eight Dragon Kings, I will punish you for your sins.]

“You’re acting more fiercely than I thought.”

Lenox, who landed on the cut surface of the statue, smiled wryly.

“I thought we ended on a good note last time. Is it because of the lifespan I took from you?”

[I’m past the age of clinging to a few hundred years of lifespan and harboring resentment.]

Algon retorted with a cold voice.

[But Maleon is different. He was the representative of the dragon species who led the Eight Dragon Kings. It was because of him that we accepted the arduous task of guarding the outskirts of Kundara.]

“…….”

[If you are trying to put a wicked spell on Maleon in the Ninth Abyss and lead Kundara to destruction, there is only one thing we must do.]

Algon declared to Lenox, who had closed his mouth.

[It is to kill you in this place without leaving a trace, and help stop Maleon’s rampage……!!!]

Kugugugugu!!!

The cut fragments of the statue are carried away by the pouring water in an instant.

The Susin Dragon King who controls the currents of Kundara. The place where he exists is no different from the deep sea territory.

The power of the Dragon King, who forms and controls a current that fills the Eighth Abyss just by his presence.

If several such Dragon Kings gathered to fight Lenox, Lenox would not be able to avoid the battle either.

“Gyeonroe.”

Chwaak!

At that moment, a curtain made of blood fell in front of Lenox, and the girl appeared.

She turned around as if blocking Lenox, standing on the cut surface of the statue.

“Run to the end of the Eighth Abyss. Don’t look back.”

“……Are you going to do it?”

“You know he’s not someone you can reason with, right?”

Po Hyulgong said with a calm expression, pressing down on her wrist.

At the same time, the blood that gushed from the end of her wrist transformed into a long scythe.

The girl, who grabbed the blood scythe spinning in the air, flashed her red eyes.

“I’ll hold off Algon and the other Dragon Kings here. I can buy you about an hour.”

“…….”

“Finish it in that time. Can you do it?”

No matter how powerful Po Hyulgong and Regnus were, how long could they hold out against the eight Dragon Kings?

It would be one thing to compete in spell performance, but in a simple power struggle, the Dragon Kings were extremely difficult opponents.

If they had to face seven more of those Dragon Kings, it wouldn’t be strange if they were swept away and killed by the overflowing waves of power.

Po Hyulgong knew that, but she was saying that she would buy time for Lenox in this place.

For some reason, he knew the reason.

Just like Oliviera had said, he knew that Po Hyulgong also had the same unfulfilled wish.

To convince herself that the project had completely failed.

To put a definite end to the salvation she had tried with everything she had.

Because she acknowledged that Kaise’s plan was not the answer to the next step, but an echo for the next step.

She was trying to entrust the conclusion to Lenox in this place, risking her life.

When Lenox said that there was a way to go back up to the Ninth Abyss, Po Hyulgong didn’t ask what that way was.

Even at this moment, she didn’t ask what was needed, and was just trying to fulfill her role.

In the project, she must have been a very capable and cooperative colleague.

Po Hyulgong Leishi, Oliviera Ron Maze, Madrich Onion.

The owners of dazzlingly outstanding and twisted talents who were with Kaise.

That’s why—

“……No.”

Lenox shook his head.

“We don’t have the luxury of measuring time after coming this far.”

“What?”

“The way to go back up to the Ninth Abyss.”

Lenox, who had put his hand inside his coat, said.

“I’ll start it right here.”

“……I don’t know what you’re talking about. We haven’t even reached the entrance to the Ninth Abyss yet.”

Po Hyulgong, who was holding the scythe with both hands, said quickly in a flustered manner.

“Not to mention the Trial of the Ninth Abyss, I don’t even see the ascension formation, so how are you going to do anything?”

“I never intended to interfere with the trial or the ascension ritual in the first place.”

Lenox said, slowly taking his hand out of his coat.

“The method I thought of was a little more… fundamental.”

Click.

A vial resembling an amethyst, shaking in his hand.

The moment he opened its lid, an extremely sinister thought leaked out from within.

[Die… Kill… Die…]

[Slaughter the insects…]

Kuooh!

The thoughts of something terribly withered, coming from inside the vial.

A ‘poison’ stained with all sorts of sinister and corrupt flames.

The elixir of ascension made by mixing the inner core of a transcendent who failed to ascend and Nibex’s true blood.

“You’re crazy……!!”

Po Hyulgong’s expression hardened as she finally realized the identity of the poison Lenox had taken out.

“If you drink that, you’ll die. Are you planning to solve the problem of Kundara and die on the spot?!!!”

“It’s not over just by going back up to the Ninth Abyss.”

Lenox answered quietly.

“I have to break through the ten gates on the outskirts of the Ninth Abyss, fight Maleon and Seonjong, and recover Kaise’s remains.”

Kugwagwagwa!!!

Even at this moment, Regnus and Algon are fiercely wielding spells on the other side of the hall.

Regnus’s barrier and Algon’s Susin techniques are rotating in a myriad of ways, and the water currents and barrier fragments are distorting and evaporating in the fierce battle.

But in the midst of the battle that encompassed the surrounding water, Algon also immediately noticed Lenox’s abnormality.

Algon’s killing intent, who turned his head sharply towards Lenox holding the vial, surged even more fiercely.

[What are you trying to do!!!!]

“There’s only one way to finish all of this within the time limit.”

Lenox said, slowly bringing the vial to his lips.

“That’s for me to reach a ‘state’ similar to an Ascendant, even for a short time.”

The elixir of ascension is not something that makes the user a true Ascendant.

It is just an extreme poison that causes the same ‘abnormal state’ as an Ascendant in the user.

But just by gaining the ‘sensation’ of becoming an Ascendant for a moment, it was enough for Lenox.

A way to pass the Trial of the Ninth Abyss unconditionally and fight without being suppressed by spiritual pressure inside the Ninth Abyss.

A means to face Maleon’s gnosis, which is rampaging at the end of the ten gates, once again.

“It was the same when I helped with the ascension ritual, but it’s hard to know anything without experiencing it firsthand.”

[Stop!!! I won’t let you!!]

Splash!

Along with Algon’s roar, the waves that rose from all directions combined and turned into a huge tsunami.

But Lenox, looking at the tsunami looming over his head, drank the vial without hesitation.

“I’m going to see for myself what it feels like to become a level 9 Ascendant—”

Gulp.

“I’ll check it out for myself right now.”

Kwaaaaaaaah!!!!

Immediately after, the tsunami that Algon unleashed swept away the place where Lenox was standing at an incredible speed.