Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1106

The entrance to the Tenth Citadel, located in the deepest part of the Nine Calamities.

At the end of a vast chamber, where a large basin and a long pipe were placed, a silver dragon sat leaning casually.

He used the writhing mummies of the founders as a throne, leaning back and slowly adjusting his equipment.

Shining golden spearheads. Daggers as sharp as fangs. Magic eyes dripping with crystal fluid.

All sorts of weapons made from the body parts of high-ranking long-lived species, taken from the Nine Calamities’ treasury.

Maleon picked them up one by one, examining them, and scratching them sharply with his fingernails, he spoke.

To be precise, the dead head of the Seonjong [a title or name] attached to his chest spoke.

“There aren’t as many useful items as I thought. They are useful, but they are tools that cannot withstand the power of this body for long.”

[……]

“The closer you get to ascension, the more you break free from the shackles of matter. But that doesn’t mean that an ascender doesn’t need to rely on equipment.”

Paang!!

Just by lightly swinging the spear, a slash that tore through the atmosphere erupted.

However, Seonjong swung the spear once and threw it behind him without any regrets.

“Ancient world treasures, or relics of mythical grade, or forbidden weapons, are quite helpful in battles of the same level.”

[……]

“It’s even more so if we assume the worst-case scenario of fighting another ascender. Of course, such a case is rare throughout the history of the world, but….”

Kureureung……!!

Maleon’s massive body slowly rose from its seat and spoke.

“Surprisingly, such things were not uncommon in the old world.”

[……]

“I understand why. Because salvation called ascension existed for them. They needed to pursue higher realms, even through struggle.”

Without waiting for an answer, Seonjong began to walk.

Passing through the chamber piled high with various treasures and mummies, he muttered.

“If it’s a treasury in the Nine Calamities, I thought there would be at least one weapon suitable for this body… I’m still not sure.”

Seonjong, who had reached the end of the barrier where the entrance to the Tenth Citadel was located, finally lowered his gaze.

“Isn’t that right, Oliviera Ron Maze?”

[……]

Where the dragon’s gaze fell, a woman wearing a flamboyant robe was sitting slumped beneath the broken barrier.

Gooooooo!!!

The robe she was wearing, as well as the veil covering her face, were soaked in red blood.

A faint presence, so weak it seemed to disappear. A slight tremor that made it impossible to tell if she was even breathing.

In her right shoulder, a dazzling silver spear was piercing through the barrier.

It was a miserable sight, as if Oliviera’s body had been skewered on the spear and stuck into the barrier.

Only the light of her magic eyes flickering behind the veil indicated that she was still alive.

“Still, it’s a relief that the search of the Nine Calamities’ treasury wasn’t a complete waste.”

Geureureung……!!

Bending his thick legs and crouching down, Seonjong, who was making eye contact with Oliviera, spoke.

In Maleon’s hand, two crushed magic eyes were dripping with crystal fluid.

“After experimenting with the magic eyes stored in the treasury, it seems to be a confirmed fact that the power of the magic eyes becomes stronger if you die.”

[……]

“It’s been so long since I’ve actually seen such a case that I wasn’t sure, but as expected, innate abilities are nothing but a nuisance.”

Seonjong’s empty eyes looked at her with a sneer.

“If I kill you like this, it will be difficult to transplant my head onto Kaise’s body. Is that why you stayed alone in the Nine Calamities, calculating all of this?”

[……It’s noisy, my head is ringing……]

Oliviera, who had been bowing her head, answered quietly.

[Why don’t you grab those mummies that you revived and… talk to them instead……]

“You’re still using the Six Harmonies Transmission [a form of telepathic communication] even after coming this far.”

Teong!!

Maleon’s left hand struck the barrier at an invisible speed.

A gesture that seemed to lightly hit the air, as if passing through the barrier.

But with just that, the spear shaft embedded in the barrier vibrated, shaking Oliviera’s body that was pierced by the spearhead.

[……!]

“Is it the magic eye’s restraint that’s preventing you from speaking, or is it because of your poor condition?”

Seonjong tilted his head, watching Oliviera tremble in pain.

“But either way, it’s clear that your magic power is quite free in this Nine Calamities. The reason for that is the fact that this-”

Maleon’s thick finger caught the blood dripping from the end of the veil.

“This true blood(眞血) [a special type of blood], is definitely the reason.”

[……]

The reason why Oliviera Ron Maze knew the long-lived species of Kundara.

The reason why she was so unusually well-versed in the abilities and value of true blood.

The reason why she fought on par with Maleon even in the Nine Calamities, and knew the operating principle of the blood contract.

It was because Oliviera was a human who possessed true blood, even though she was not a long-lived species.

Seonjong also realized this fact immediately after the battle ended unexpectedly.

“A being who possesses true blood in a human body. How interesting.”

Even the ascender seemed to be particularly moved by this fact.

Both Maleon and Seonjong’s heads simultaneously showed a strange glint in their eyes.

“According to my memory, there was only one place where this kind of ‘experiment’ was possible, both inside and outside the continent.”

[……]

“Filtering out genes and talents as if they were improving breeds, yet creating miracles befitting their arrogance… I can feel the disgusting nature of the Empire very clearly.”

Seonjong, who was making eye contact with Oliviera, asked in a slow voice that was impossible to read.

“The central city, Ars Nova. Are you a being from the Imperial City?”

[……I myself……]

“What?”

[You don’t even know who you are… yet you’re curious about others.]

Oliviera’s magic eyes, faintly shining behind the veil, curved as if mocking him.

[Aren’t you curious about what the ‘real’ Phaud Older, who abandoned his existence and left… has become?]

“……”

Oliviera noticed that he was Phaud Older immediately after encountering Seonjong’s thoughts.

But instead of answering her question, the thought immediately attacked her.

Oliviera had not missed that subtle change in attitude and remembered it.

That Oliviera was aware of the existence of the real Seonjong who had become an ascender.

Therefore, she instinctively knew that the thought entity was trying to avoid the topic and attack her.

Oliviera, with her unique intuition, had discerned the nature of the uneasiness shown by the thought entity.

“Aren’t you curious….”

Seonjong muttered, moving Maleon’s body.

The thick hands of the dragonkin firmly grasped the silver spear embedded in Oliviera’s shoulder.

Kkwaaak……!!

The grip alone twisted the spear shaft, digging deeper into Oliviera’s shoulder.

Seonjong spoke, watching Oliviera, who did not even groan despite the excruciating pain that tore through her nerves.

“I’m not sure if I can define my feelings about him as simple curiosity. After all, I know better than anyone what kind of being ‘I’ who died became.”

[……]

“However, I did want to check it out at least once. Whether ‘he’ who took my death is truly existing as we promised.”

The head hanging on Maleon’s chest wore an empty smile.

“It was an inevitable task to compete with the answerers who crossed the world, but our promise was a gamble that was just as dangerous and uncertain.”

[Inevitable, task……?]

“You say that I, who exists in this place, is fake, and that he who died and became an ascender is real, but that’s wrong.”

Seonjong stood up, looking down at Oliviera.

“Since ‘he’ took my name and causality, the being who was called Phaud Older before becoming an ascender is undoubtedly me.”

[……]

“That’s why I remained here and was moving to obtain Kaise Bajur’s body.”

[……You.]

Oliviera’s transmission changed sharply at Seonjong’s words, who unhesitatingly stated his purpose.

The thought entity, who called himself Phaud Older, defined himself and Seonjong as separate beings.

Whether it was simply distinguishing between the living Phaud Older and the dead Seonjong.

Or whether Seonjong, the ascender who reached level 9, had established himself as a completely independent being.

In her hazy consciousness, Oliviera noticed the subtle difference in tone.

At that moment, Oliviera’s transmission stopped abruptly as she felt an even stronger sense of incongruity from the silver dragon in front of her.

[Voice…… Could it be.]

“Ah, did you notice already?”

The pitch of the voice that had been coming from Seonjong changed.

The two heads attached to Maleon’s body.

Seonjong, who had been speaking with the dead head, was now speaking through Maleon’s own mouth.

“Even while experimenting with the treasures of the Nine Calamities, I was adjusting to take control of this body.”

The light in Maleon’s eyes, which had been scattering only intense glares, calmed down.

The gaze that looked down at Oliviera contained only an empty will.

“It’s the body of a dragon species that has reached level 9. There’s no body more suitable to use as a vessel right now.”

A dry smile settled on the face of the dragonkin, who was stroking his chin with one hand.

“Since I can’t transplant my head onto Kaise’s corpse, I had no choice. In a way, it’s thanks to you.”

[……]

Has Maleon Gnosis [a term for consciousness or soul] finally been completely taken over by Seonjong?

While Oliviera was silent, Seonjong slowly turned his right shoulder.

“But the damage from the magic bullet that the mage shot is considerable. Even though the regeneration of my right half is complete, my body doesn’t move well.”

Although he couldn’t fully exert his power due to a lack of magic power, Lenox’s magic bullet had clearly left a large wound on Maleon’s body.

Even when operating the dragon species’ strong body and transcendent regenerative power with the magic power of an ascender, the backlash was still present in his body.

“But even considering that, it would be more efficient for me to directly control the body, so it can’t be helped.”

[It’s not going to end simply by taking over the body……]

Oliviera struggled to lift her gaze from behind the veil.

[If you forcibly took the initiative of the body, you wouldn’t be able to use Maleon’s techniques… Are you planning to be satisfied with being a half-ascender?]

Phaud Older was a long-lived species who was born outside the continent and had lived for a very long time.

It wouldn’t be difficult for him to skillfully handle Maleon’s body, who was a dragon species.

However, using Maleon Gnosis’s unique techniques was not something that could be done simply by taking over the body.

Techniques are miracles that change reality by building up simultaneously from the body, mind, and soul.

Moreover, the original magic, the Sacred Lotus Eight Extremes Style, was a power that only Maleon, who was born as a silver dragon, could handle.

It would be impossible for Seonjong, who did not possess Maleon Gnosis’s spirit or soul, to use original magic.

Even if it were possible, it would only be a half-baked technique with severely reduced output and hierarchy.

Oliviera was asking if the fact that he had taken over Maleon’s body in such a way was not proof that he had essentially given up on the techniques.

“You’re misunderstanding something.”

However, Seonjong, who had taken over Maleon’s body, wore an empty smile at Oliviera’s words.

“I didn’t say that I forcibly took over Maleon’s body.”

Buaaaaaang!!!!

Before Oliviera could answer, a dazzling silver magic power began to glow in Maleon’s hand.

A heat source that rotated violently in Maleon’s left hand, which was bent like a claw, scattering brilliant starlight.

Kwawooong!!!!

A miracle that transformed the dragon species’ unique magic power into a powerful heat source and manipulated it freely.

The moment she realized that it was the ‘star’ itself of the Sacred Lotus Eight Extremes Style that Maleon himself used.

“I don’t like original magic because its operating principle is outdated and inefficient, but techniques like the Sacred Lotus Eight Extremes Style are a different story.”

Kwajik!!

Seonjong, who was holding the starlight tightly in one hand, spoke.

“Original magic, which contains the mysteries of the ancient times, operates by ignoring the laws of techniques and the principle of equivalent exchange, which is the result of a forced creation before the world was complete.”

[……]

“Moreover, since the technique that controls the stars in the sky is close to my own origin, I never intended to give it up from the beginning.”

The starlight held in Maleon’s hand rotated without burning or melting his hand.

Proof that Seonjong had already mastered Maleon’s original magic with perfect proficiency.

“That’s why it took some time to ‘persuade’ Maleon Gnosis.”

[……That means.]

The Sacred Lotus Eight Extremes Style was an ancient original magic that could not be properly handled by anyone other than Maleon himself.

What it meant that Seonjong was now handling it so perfectly.

Has Maleon, who had gone berserk and lost his reason, finally had even his will completely broken?

The moment Oliviera looked up at Seonjong with a cold gaze at the shocking news.

The silver dragon, who had turned around while holding the starlight, looked down at Oliviera with an indifferent gaze.

“Then, it’s your turn.”

[……]

“If I kill you with this starlight, will your magic eyes become stronger after death, or will they weaken instead?”

Uuuuung!!!

Seonjong, who was holding the flowing starlight, held it out in front of Oliviera’s eyes and spoke.

“If it’s this starlight that ignores the laws of techniques, it can also extinguish your innate ability and liberate Kaise Bajur’s corpse. Isn’t that right?”

[Well……]

Oliviera smiled weakly.

[If you’re so curious… why don’t you try experimenting yourself?]

“……”

Kiiiiiiing……!!!

The compressed starlight in his hand rotated fiercely and landed on Oliviera’s shoulder.

Oliviera’s figure, staring at the falling starlight without even turning her gaze from behind the veil.

Seonjong, who had been silently watching her, then smiled and withdrew his hand.

“Of course, I can’t do that. There’s too much at stake to kill you in such a reckless gamble.”

[……]

“But there are plenty of ways to break the power of your magic eyes without killing you directly.”

The dragon, who had extinguished the starlight as if it were boring, stood up and spoke.

“Once the adjustment of the senses is complete, I’ll start by trying to ‘extract’ your magic eyes. I haven’t tried it yet because it’s difficult to make fine adjustments, but soon-”

Huuk……!!

In an instant, an ominous black light, dyed endlessly dark, pierced through Seonjong’s mind.

Darkness that momentarily filled and overflowed Seonjong’s consciousness and inner self.

A distant illusion as if a distorted black halo was unfolding before his eyes.

“……!!!!”

It was not a simple hallucination or illusion.

The remnants of an unrealistically powerful thought had forcibly formed a shape in Seonjong’s consciousness.

Not an image that he had conjured up, but a dark, ominous voice that was forcibly imprinted on him by another.

The moment Seonjong, who was a step late in understanding the source of the darkness, turned his gaze, he saw it.

Hwioooo!!!!

A black and cold breath blew between the two of them.

A chilling cold that froze the space-time of the Nine Calamities.

Beyond the broken barrier, a hollow corridor unfolded. Beyond the glass where the cold wind was blowing.

From the outermost edge of the endless Nine Calamities, something was approaching this way at an incredible speed.

Jjeojeojeok……!!!!!

“No way……!!!”

A wave of black magic power covered the transparent glass outer wall without exception and overflowed.

Annihilating the mummies that were wandering between the barriers, which had been revived with Seonjong’s awakening.

Without any hesitation, he jumped over the storm of erosion areas and techniques that were raging everywhere.

He stained and defiled this massive tomb of the founders with his own colors.

A twisted and corrupted thought that even Seonjong could not recognize for a moment.

The magic power of the lowest depths, rushing towards destruction by its own will.

“I can’t believe it……!! He has already ‘arrived’ in the meantime-!!”

The moment Seonjong, who had finally recognized the owner of this darkness, roared and pulled up his magic power.

Hwaak!!

Before he knew it, a mage clad in black lightning was standing in front of Maleon.

Darkness gushing out fiercely from his entire body. A huge black halo rotating behind his back.

“……”

Kugugugu……!!!

At the same time as slowly raising his gaze, the surrounding air fluctuated and crumbled.

As the rotation of the halo intensified, the presences of the two transcendents became equal to each other.

The moment the silver dragon and the mage’s gazes crossed in the depths of the Nine Calamities.

Seonjong could see the darkness shattering and scattering in Lenox’s eyes.

“……Mage.”

The ascender spoke as if he couldn’t believe it.

“What… what have you become?”