Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 114

Daron had almost no magical power as a driving force. Therefore, Lennox’s magic interference, which utilized his talent, didn’t work either. That immense power, speed, and reflexes were all derived from physical modifications, not from enhancing the body through magic. When the body is modified into a machine through magical engineering, the body’s abilities can be enhanced in many ways, but it also comes with one critical drawback. Magic is no longer compatible with the modified parts of the body. Unless they equip devices that use magic, generating magic or enhancing the body using it is no longer effective. This is also why those who live in the 40s districts, which are close to the bottom of the barrel in Vulcan, rarely undergo physical modifications. Despite the enormous cost, the penalties are significant, and to compensate for the lack of magic, it is necessary to have a suitable power source. Once Daron’s tail was blocked, he burst into laughter and raised his tail high. “Kuhahahaha!! It seems you’re equipped with some useful artifact, but then try blocking this!” He seemed to have mistaken the shield Lennox was using for an artifact, but in a way, it was understandable. Rather than thinking that an opponent he believed to be a sand mage was also proficient in shield magic, it was more reasonable to think that he possessed a very powerful artifact. This was especially true for someone like Daron, who was more specialized in physical modifications than magic. In this case, he was likely to have less knowledge of magic or formulas than other freelancers. That was where Lennox had an opening to exploit. Zzzzzzzzz…!! The tip of the regenerated tail split into six sections, and from inside, bright blue heat rays shot out, engulfing Lennox. Purely military-grade lasers, with no magic mixed in. It had been a long time since he had encountered technology not combined with magical engineering, but the heat it contained was not something to be ignored. Lennox slid the sand beneath his feet, quickly turning his body to the side, and immediately drew up magic, scattering the sand hidden beneath the ground into the sky. Fwaaaak!! [Wind Bloom] In response, he created a short but strong wind in the area, and the clumps of sand thrown into the sky scattered, creating a huge sandstorm. Whirrring!! “Hmm?” While Daron paused, taken aback by the unexpected situation, thick dust quickly blocked the sunlight, darkening the surroundings. A superhuman who manipulates magic would try to sense the surroundings using magic detection the moment their vision is blocked, but Daron, who has no magic, is different. Unless he had a special ability or modified parts to sense human body temperature or bioelectricity, his actions in a situation where his vision was blocked were somewhat limited. Lennox aimed his revolver at Daron while quickly forming hand seals with one hand. It was a signature magic he often used, even skipping the incantation. However, to add a special weapon to this symbolic magic, even Lennox needed to concentrate to some extent. It was the first time he was using it in actual combat. Krrrrr…!! A strange noise was heard from beyond the yellowish sky. At the same time, a flash of lightning. However, the light of the lightning that pierced through the dust was not the familiar blue, but a blinding white light. Lightning magic [Thunder Calling] property change. [White Fall] Kwaaaaaaaaah!!! A white pillar fell through the dirty sandstorm. The pure magic, which seemed almost sacred, poured down as if to purify the filth. A plausible misunderstanding that Lennox was a sand mage, and the sense of crisis from having his surroundings obscured in an instant. By showing that he was aiming for the tail with a shotgun, he made him focus only on the ground, while dropping a deadly blow from the sky. The first move might have been a coincidence, but the moves he had casually built up had turned into a divine punishment that split his crown. Moreover, he had mixed in a property change of the lightning system, which was said to be the exclusive domain of 6-level mages, so its firepower must have reached the realm of certainty. Even if it didn’t hit directly, the aftermath alone was enough to be sure of a fatal wound. Thinking that, Lennox calmed the sandstorm, and his lips twisted as he saw the bright red glow beyond it. “………” The tail, which had been gleaming even under the hot desert sun, had turned to ashes, leaving only the skeleton, and his left arm and leg had disappeared without a trace, as if they had never existed. The flesh that had covered half of his face had melted away, revealing the metal skeleton inside, a gruesome sight. However, the fact that he was now glaring at Lennox with his mechanical eyes was strange. He seemed to have dodged a direct hit by flying his body to the side with all his might as soon as he sensed the anomaly, but that alone could not explain how he had survived the firepower of [White Fall]. Was the firepower insufficient? That couldn’t be. It was a lightning strike that had been twisted with a property change to burn him in one blow. It was not a firepower that a human could withstand with their durability. Even more so with a regenerative alloy that was damaged by the firepower of a shotgun. Then there was only one answer, that something other than Daron’s ability had intervened in this battle. Lennox nodded as he watched something like a half-broken shield disappear around Daron’s body. Seen from afar, it looked like a transparent cube, shining like a jewel under the hot desert sun. ‘No… its structure is actually closer to a jewel.’ He could tell at a glance. That wasn’t something like a jewel, but a formula that truly had the structure of a jewel. A three-dimensional and elaborate structure. Yet, it contained rich and deep magic, and was specialized in stably protecting the interior. Judging by the fact that it had blocked even the aftermath of White Fall, it must have not only resistance to high firepower, but also a level where conductivity did not exist. To use such a protective formula, Daron must either be the caster himself, or possess an artifact equivalent to it. As expected, the jewel barrier disappeared, and in Daron’s hand, who slowly raised his body, was a jewel that he had not seen before. A large crystal the size of a fist. It already seemed to have lost its value because it had lost its light, but if it were a proper item, it would have been worth a considerable amount. Perhaps that crystal had played a big role in saving Daron’s life. “Hoo…..” Daron, who slowly dropped the artifact he was holding in his hand, stared at Lennox with a completely different face than before and spat out. “…You. You weren’t an ordinary sand mage.” “………” “That lightning just now, it’s not a power that can be summoned with an ordinary artifact. If it weren’t for the gift the boss gave me, I would have died here…” Charrrrk…!! With those words, Daron lowered his waist and crouched down. The tail, which had been dangling with only the skeleton remaining, slowly regenerated and dug into the hot sand of the desert. “If I can eliminate a mage like you, things will be much easier. I’ll tear you limb from limb here…!!” Lennox sighed inwardly as he watched Daron, who was gripping the heated sand with one arm that was barely maintaining its shape, and crouching with a murderous expression. As the level of his magic grew, the limit of the power he could wield also increased, but conversely, if the opponent was skilled, they would recognize and be wary of Lennox’s power. That was why he had tried to seize victory in an instant by exploiting the gap in perception between Lennox’s outward appearance and his actual skill. He had succeeded in half-killing Daron, but conversely, he had fueled his fighting spirit. It was annoying, but Lennox quickly accepted the situation. He couldn’t kill him in one blow because of an unknown artifact, but the moment he hit White Fall, the odds had greatly tilted in his favor. Even if he started the battle again from a tilted starting line, it wouldn’t take long to reach a conclusion. ‘I need to make sure I finish this before Chen breaks through the encirclement and reaches the truck.’ Thinking that, Lennox slowly drew up his magic. At that moment, Daron’s body disappeared as it dug into the sand below. A huge sand wall, similar to the one Lennox had created earlier, now covered him instead. Kwaaaaaang!! At the same time, a steel whip shot out from below, as if it were being fired. It bent through the space like a snake’s tongue, closing the distance in an instant. If he hadn’t pushed his magic detection to the limit, he would have given up a weakness in an instant. A speed that was unbelievable for someone who didn’t use magic. This was the power of physical modification developed to the extreme. Kwajijijijik…!! The outer edges of the multiple shields surrounding him were shattered, and at the same time, a rough mechanical sound echoed from below the sand. “You’re a mage, yet you stood in front of me relying on a measly shield, but you won’t be able to land that kind of magic again…!!” “………” Daron’s words, which seemed almost desperate, were not wrong. Through constant research, he had developed Thunder Calling to the point of modification, but even so, he had not been able to eliminate the subtle signs just before activation. But that was when Lennox was trapped by the limitations of public magic. Daron had no way of knowing that, so he was charging at him without losing his fighting spirit even after seeing the white lightning that had split the sky in half. Under the hot desert sun, a dirty sandstorm raged, and the sharp reflections of metal violated his vision. Kagagagagak!! The movement of the tail stabbing from below exceeded ten times in a single breath. Every time it revealed its form above the sand, the red artificial eyes moved madly to find Lennox’s weakness. At the same time, Lennox also fired his revolver in all directions, narrowing Daron’s breakthrough angle, and concentrated his shields to respond. In unavoidable moments, he slid the sand beneath his feet to throw off the target, and quickly changed the situation, postponing the moment when the shield would be shattered. Daron also moved like the wind on the sand, quickly catching up. Kwajik!! The end of the long tail spread out in multiple directions, opening its mouth like petals and tightly gripping Lennox’s shield. Zzzzzzzzz…!!! The clear red light of the laser poured out from its center. “Die quietly, you mage bastard!!” Kwaaaaah!!!! A bombardment fired at point-blank range. The heat, which began to concentrate on one point, cut through the shield that Lennox was maintaining, quickly revealing its bottom. At that moment, Lennox noticed Daron’s intention and clicked his tongue softly. ‘He seems to have gotten a feel for how I’m blocking his attacks. He’s planning to break through the weakened part the moment I concentrate the shield and aim for my bare body.’ Even though the heat of the laser was scattering in all directions, melting his own flesh, the way he was laughing maniacally while pounding Lennox’s shield with both arms was worthy of being called a berserker. But if he didn’t know that a meticulous battle calculation was hidden behind that seemingly irrational laughter, he would die here. He shouldn’t be fooled by his appearance, which seemed to be covered in steel and machinery. Unlike his origins, personality, or character, he was a warrior of outstanding skill in his own right. The fighting spirit with which he freely manipulated metal objects that were not originally attached to humans, while maintaining his offensive and rhythm, was clearly felt even in this dirty air. Just by looking at that fierce and refined murderous intent, he must be a high-ranking executive in Falchion. Tutututung!! However, Daron’s fierce attack, which seemed to melt his entire body, was all in vain the moment Lennox flipped his palm and twisted his magic. The laser that had been fiercely piercing Lennox’s shield until just now suddenly bounced off in a strange direction. As if waiting for that moment, Daron’s machine gun and fist, which had stretched out, were also blocked by a blurry ripple. Kwaang!! “What…!!” The shield that Lennox implemented was basically multi-layered. By widening the gaps between the shields and adjusting the angles, two reflection angles were created, interfering with the concentration of the laser’s heat and twisting its direction. Along with that, Lennox immediately fired his revolver bullets into the gap that had been created in reverse. Tatatang!! Out of the full volley of shots, only two bullets hit Daron’s body. The reaction speed with which he dodged the bullets at close range was worthy of being called a monster, but the scenery Lennox was looking at was a little further away. The bullets that had lodged in his left thigh and side instantly froze, corroding and hardening Daron’s body. “Shit, this is…!!” Despite having modified his entire body into a machine, he was a very expressive guy. A hideously distorted face. All sorts of wires and circuits peeking out from beyond the torn skin. Frankly, Lennox didn’t dislike people who were so honest with their emotions. It was a way of life that Lennox, who had opened his eyes to this world, could never choose. Could it be seen as a kind of longing? But if the result of that vividly lived life was to be a high-ranking member of a terrorist organization who went around killing people, then no thanks. And this place was where the trajectories of the two people’s lives collided and showed their results. Lennox had never failed to prove his worth. Jaun Odis The moment Daron’s movements stopped for a very brief moment. All the battle patterns he had been envisioning in his head exploded in his mind.