Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1206

The Price (8)

The overwhelming scale of the Self-Magnetic Domain, completely engulfing the outermost perimeter of the 2nd Command Headquarters, began to alter the world as the Southern Jungle Landscape unfolded before them.

Kwakwakwakwakwa!!!!!

Moist air. Searing heat. Lush thickets and vines. Giant leaves and vegetation, completely different from the ecosystem of the Eastern Continent.

The image of his homeland, cherished in the heart of a single sorcerer for a lifetime.

The majestic scenery of a jungle, altering and projecting the spatial coordinates of a star, beginning to encroach.

Kuoohhhh!!!!

The surging magical power, endless and mixed with the heavy air, emitted a pungent odor.

The figure of the sorcerer standing at the center of the domain, continuing to expand and construct even after the deployment was complete.

“……Grisha.”

“I heard that after you had a private meeting with the enemy, a kill order was issued throughout the entire command headquarters.”

Grisha spoke in a low voice.

“Command headquarters facilities completely destroyed. The enemy is unconscious. Military factory production facilities severely damaged. All the legions that participated in the parade are chasing after you.”

“……”

The sorcerer, standing on a hill made of intertwined giant trees, turned his gaze.

“I have a way. I can buy you some time, if only for a moment.”

“……No. If you intervene here, the situation will only become more complicated.”

Lenok shook his head.

“That man is already ‘complete.’ The fact that he’s only showing himself now must be because of that.”

“……”

Though they had only clashed once, Lenok was already certain.

The reason why Songha only moved against Lenok at the very last moment.

The reason why he appeared before Lenok only after meeting Ethan and ‘confirming’ something.

It was because it was related to the clone-type superpower he used.

The fact that the completed transcendent, who had gathered all three clones that had been operating across the continent, was standing before Lenok.

And, Lenok could easily guess what kind of being that swordsman, who had regained his original power, was.

One of only three commanders of the Deadrise operating across the continent.

Even with a simple comparison of status, he was a monster equivalent to the Grand Sorcerer of the Alliance and the highest-ranking apostle of the Order.

Moreover, at this time when Gilleon and Baragan were absent, he was a superhuman balancing the central front as the sole commander of the legion.

The fact that such a thing was possible showed how transcendent the swordsman’s talent and capabilities were.

“To be able to speak so clearly even after drinking Ethan’s blood, you’re really something.”

Songha said, looking bewildered.

“You’re drinking the talent of defying the heavens contained in Bajur’s blood. Even Baragan and I would die if we ate it without processing it.”

“……”

“Even now, it wouldn’t be strange if the blood and magic power in your entire body reversed, and your hierarchy and image were turned upside down… Ah?”

At that moment, Songha showed a surprised expression for the first time while looking at Lenok.

A realization, as if he had found the answer to a question that had not been solved until now.

“Could it be, that from the beginning, you intentionally depleted your magic power…!!”

“Otherwise, as you said, I wouldn’t have been able to suppress the reversal caused by Ethan’s blood.”

Lenok, wiping his mouth with one hand as he stood up, answered calmly.

The fundamental reason why Lenok had completely burned away all his remaining magic power in the battle with Songha.

It was because the berserk state of the Avatar was based on the talent of defying the heavens he had received from drinking Ethan’s blood.

The power of defying the heavens, which reversed the flow of blood and magic power throughout the body, was practically a curse of death unless one was a human bearing the name of Bajur.

That was why, in every moment of escaping the parade and facing Songha, barely managing a draw.

Lenok had been completely draining his magic power more than necessary, blocking the reversal of magic power itself.

“……Even while directly crossing swords with me, you calculated the amount of magic power remaining and calculated for the match to end at this point?”

Songha tilted his head as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Such a calculation method is not something a human could do in the first place. How could you, while being chased by the legion-”

“But it was something I had to do to shake off the backlash.”

Lenok said, lifting his gaze with difficulty.

“You’ve certainly become much more intelligent than when I first saw you. Did you start to reach that point on your own?”

“……That’s not a compliment, is it?”

It wasn’t Lenok, but the Avatar that had drunk Ethan’s blood, so Lenok’s blood didn’t reverse.

Conversely, there was no way to prevent Lenok’s magic power from being affected and reversed through the Avatar.

That was why Lenok had summoned Megiddo and used more magic power than necessary, and of course, he had been fighting with the intention of completely depleting his magic power in the battle with Songha.

The reason why he had expanded the range of [Waning Moon] more than necessary was not only to counter Songha’s Mind Sword, but also for another purpose.

Originally, at that point, he should have used an elixir or other magic power recovery method to immediately turn the tables-

“Grisha.”

Lenok quietly called out to Grisha.

“Just because I’ve become an enemy of the legion doesn’t change anything. No matter what you do here, my decision won’t change.”

“……”

“I’ll do it alone. Rather, considering the position of the Azure Eye-”

“I know.”

Whoosh!

At the same moment Grisha took a step, he landed in front of Lenok.

While Lenok stopped speaking, realizing this, Grisha looked up at the sky.

“Regardless of Lapis’s wishes, you won’t return to the Azure Eye. After all, you weren’t staying by that child’s side for the sake of your mission.”

“……”

“I knew from the beginning that you were with us for a different reason, not because you agreed to the duties of a lighthouse keeper.”

Grisha said, slowly moving his feet.

“So, this isn’t for you, but to repay the debt I owe you.”

“……A debt.”

“Just as you were always the same person to Lapis, if you were a standard for that child no matter where you were.”

Clack!!

Grisha, taking out a heavy totem from inside his old robe, turned his body and spoke.

“Then the Azure Eye should always do the same for you.”

“……”

“I’ll hold the Rakshasa. You focus on recovering your magic power.”

Rakshasa. He didn’t need to ask who that alias referred to.

The white-haired swordsman, standing still with a smile on his face, even while listening to Lenok and Grisha’s conversation.

The eerie aura lurking like a shadow beyond his listless demeanor as he blankly shook his head.

Clearly, Grisha also knew well what kind of being the swordsman in front of him was.

“Grisha, was it? I’ve heard that name before.”

Songha said, walking through the jungle that covered all sides.

“The closest aide to the lighthouse keeper. A watcher who has lived for hundreds of years, or so they say. There was also talk that he had a wide network of contacts, as befits a sorcerer of his age.”

“It’s an honor that the strongest swordsman of the Western Continent remembers my name.”

Grisha said coldly, raising his magical power.

“I thought the commander of the legion was too busy with official and private matters to remember people’s names.”

“Well, I heard that you were the one who succeeded in retaking Paradox Green.”

Songha said with a smile.

“The 1st Command Headquarters had been eyeing that outer fortress for a long time, and I’ve heard about it so much that my ears hurt.”

“……”

“After the 3rd Apostle trampled it, I thought it would be handed over to the Order and we wouldn’t be able to reclaim it for a while, but the Azure Eye beat us to it….”

Songha, lightly placing his hand on the hilt of his sword, tilted his head.

“Even with my dull brain, I can tell that your sorcery is excellent. Shall we see your skills?”

“Too bad. I’m not senile enough to fight the Rakshasa of the Deadrise one-on-one.”

Grisha, raising his totem, gave a cold smile.

“But this is my Self-Magnetic Domain. There are plenty of ways to enforce rules without resorting to force.”

“Good posture.”

Songha nodded and slowly shook his hand.

“I feel a bit nauseous from using the Mind Sword in an unstable state, but it should be fine. Shall we start right away?”

Crack!!!

At the same time as the heavy totem was slammed into the ground, Grisha and Songha moved simultaneously.

Grisha, accelerating the Southern Jungle Landscape and raising his magical power, and Songha, drawing his sword, crossed paths.

The moment Songha finished his quick draw, his small universe sliced diagonally through Grisha’s Self-Magnetic Domain from the start.

[Return (歸來) : Thin Blade (薄刀)]

Jjeoooooooong!!!!!

A bizarre resonance that pierced the eardrums. An eerie feeling as if space itself was screaming.

Songha’s slash distorted the space, cutting it like a glass mirror, and shattered the jungle scenery.

A quick draw that still couldn’t be seen properly, the moment the sword was drawn.

Overwhelming destruction as the visible jungle trees, thickets, vegetation, and even the horizon were swept away by the blade.

Kwakwakwa!!!!

But Grisha did not attempt to receive Songha’s slash head-on.

He merely flicked his fingers to ‘reverse’ the scenery of the domain, turning the entire jungle upside down.

Kiiing!!

“……Huh?”

The scene of cutting the sky, not the ground where Lenok and Grisha were standing, but the sky located at the opposite altitude.

No, a strange phenomenon where the sky and the ground visible to Songha’s eyes were turned upside down.

The moment Songha realized that he was standing upside down in the world.

Grisha, who had landed in front of Songha at an incredible speed, whispered.

“Secret Sect Spell Deployment.”

[Secret Law Sect, Four Falling Great Rivers]

Kiiiiiiing!!!!

Hundreds of pieces of magical characters assembled around Grisha’s hand, forming an oval ring.

“……That’s.”

A concentrated bombardment that had reached the essence of sorcery, the extreme and the basics, using the target as a catalyst by breaking it down into cells.

Although it was far inferior to what the Ascended One himself could do, Lenok realized that it was clearly a degraded version of the sorcery that Pyeonram used.

The moment Songha, sensing the power of the spell, gripped his sword with a cold expression.

[Return (歸來) : Hunting Blade (獵刀)]

[Fungal Decomposition Cannon (菌解砲)]

Kwaaaaaaang!!!!

Grisha’s magic cannon and Songha’s small universe collided, diverging in different directions.

The magic that decomposed the slash into cells and the sword light that split and shattered the magic characters like hunting them crossed paths.

The jungle scenery flipped once more on the spot, and the scenery of the sky and the ground returned to normal.

Kiiing-!!!

“This is……!!”

The scenery of the Southern Jungle Landscape was constantly collapsing and flipping, and Grisha and Songha’s figures accelerated.

Each time, the terrain and environment of the jungle were constantly changing, repeatedly widening and narrowing the distance.

A surreal scene where Grisha seemed to be balancing the offense and defense with Songha, even if only for a moment.

The moment Lenok realized why that was possible and lifted his gaze.

“Ah, that’s definitely a bit annoying.”

Jjeooooong!!!

Songha’s slash cut through the scenery of the Southern Jungle Landscape from the sky to the ground, roughly shaking the domain.

Songha, who had shaken and cracked the jungle ground with a single slash, scratched his head and tilted it.

“Was it called the Southern Jungle Landscape? You’re adjusting the distance by modifying the space-time coordinates of this jungle in real-time. You didn’t intend to cross swords with me directly from the start.”

It was needless to say that Grisha could not compare to Songha in a one-on-one battle.

But even so, Grisha was maintaining a precarious standoff with Songha within the domain.

A strange phenomenon where he was not receiving Songha’s sword energy head-on, but was avoiding and deflecting the collisions while still confronting him.

The reason why that was possible was purely-

“Are you re-deploying a domain within the Self-Magnetic Domain and rewriting the internal information of the domain? I’ve never seen a sorcerer who handles a Self-Magnetic Domain like that.”

“As befits a commander, your understanding of domains is very high.”

Grisha offered a weak smile, her face pale.

Blood dripped from her wrists where her hands were clasped together.

Every time Grisha was about to directly clash with Songha, she would redeploy her Self-Magnetic Domain.

She was reorganizing the battlefield and reversing its layout by completely modifying the space-time coordinates and directions within the domain.

That was why the sky and ground had flipped, and the distance and direction between the two of them kept changing, as Songha had experienced.

Because she kept layering domains within her Self-Magnetic Domain, the Southern Jungle Landscape wouldn’t collapse even when Songha sliced through space with his slashes.

A strange ability that continuously returned the battle within the domain to its starting point, as long as Grisha’s will allowed it.

However, even though she had thoroughly avoided direct hits, blood was already dripping from Grisha’s body.

“Certainly, with that method, you can reverse the situation whenever things become unfavorable, but…”

Songha asked, sounding impressed.

“You have to redeploy your Self-Magnetic Domain every time you do that. How much innate magical power do you possess to be able to do that?”

“……”

Each time she modified the coordinates within the domain, she had to redeploy the domain, and the magical power consumed in the process must have been enormous.

Even Songha, who had seen all sorts of monsters while active on the central front, was amazed by her vast magical power.

“How many times have you used your domain just now? Seven? Eight? To redeploy your domain that many times in a row without your head exploding… You might have more magical power than that Baragan guy.”

“My core essence is not combat-specialized, unlike other sorcerers.”

Grisha said in a subdued voice.

Red blood began to seep through the sharply torn old robe.

Even though she had thoroughly avoided direct collisions, Songha’s slashes cut and tore through her flesh, transcending space.

Looking at the blood dripping at her feet, she murmured.

“I… I am not fundamentally someone who is helpful in a fight. What I desire is always closer to a vague longing.”

“……”

Not all high-ranking sorcerers who have built up their ranks awaken a Self-Magnetic Domain that is helpful in combat.

The Southern Jungle Landscape was the scenery of Grisha’s hometown, the memory of the jungle she had longed for her entire life.

Her Self-Magnetic Domain only depicted the appearance of her hometown when she unfolded her core essence. Despite its overwhelming scale, it did not have abilities specialized for combat.

“Bound by past memories and relationships, I will probably live like this until the moment I die. Even being with Lapis was ultimately because of Grandma Madrea’s request.”

Grisha said as she slowly stood up.

“But even so, there are things I can do. Even if it’s not a combat-specialized ability, there are things only a foolish sorcerer obsessed with the past can do…”

Grisha muttered, glaring at Songha.

“This is one of the few methods I managed to obtain.”

“I see.”

Clang!!

Songha said, gripping his sword.

“Then I just need to cut you down before you redeploy your domain.”

“……”

“The totem you embedded in the domain. That’s the standard for adjusting the coordinates when modifying the domain’s internal information, right?”

Songha said with a cold gaze.

“If I cut that down, you won’t be able to avoid combat with such tricks. Next time, you’ll have to face my techniques directly.”

“Indeed, you seem a bit more intelligent than the rumors suggested…”

Grisha smiled.

“But it seems your intelligence hasn’t been ‘integrated’ yet, has it?”

“……What?”

“In the process of modifying the coordinates within the domain, you weren’t the only one who could move, were you?”

Another person who had entered the Southern Jungle Landscape with Songha.

A mage who had not revealed himself even while Grisha was burning her magical power to fight Songha.

The one who had been clashing with Songha himself just moments ago—

“Ah, Martinez!”

Songha, who had instantly spotted Lenok’s figure at the far end of the endless jungle, at the outermost edge of the vast Southern Jungle Landscape, turned his body sharply.

“You despicable bastards!! You tricked me!!!”

“He completely hid his presence, yet you found him already with just your pure eyesight. You really are a monster.”

Grisha said with a wry smile and snapped her fingers.

“But it’s already too late.”

Fwoooosh!!!!

The majestic jungle scenery shattered, and the real command headquarters, with flames surging, revealed itself.

Before anyone knew it, Lenok had passed through the hangar and was approaching the entrance of the mountain range in the distance.

While Grisha was overlapping the deployment of her Self-Magnetic Domain to reverse the domain coordinates, the positional coordinates of where Lenok was standing were also changed.

She had released the Self-Magnetic Domain and dropped Lenok off at a place far from the battlefield.

Even the technique of overlapping domains to modify the internal space coordinates was not for fighting Songha, but for Lenok?

Realizing this, Songha gripped his sword, pulled up his magical power, and turned his body with all his might.

“It’s not too late yet…!!!”

Kwaaaaaaaang!!

A silver-white light exploded, and Songha’s figure was enveloped in a vast sword aura, drawing an enormous slash that covered the sky.

The shockwave struck diagonally, cutting across the sky, and just as it was about to be swung as a beam of light.

“No.”

Grisha murmured weakly.

“It’s time.”

“……Huh?”

Songha’s expression changed for the first time, as if he was flustered, after confirming ‘someone’.

* * *

“Evan!!!”

Kwaaaang!!!

Before Lenok, who had landed at the entrance of the mountain range, could even move, a familiar face appeared right next to him with a loud roar.

“……Pio?”

A level 7 mutation sorcerer from the Azure Eye. A watcher who worked with his twin brother, Gio.

Just as Lenok paused and turned his gaze, Gio, with the same face, walked out from behind Pio.

“Evan. I know you’ve been seriously injured. For now, focus on recovering.”

Gio, who had led the other watchers and stood in front of Lenok as if blocking his path, gestured to Pio.

“I’ll break through the encirclement from this side for now.”

“Encirclement…”

Lenok, who had unconsciously responded to the words, simultaneously sensed a presence through his magical power detection and turned his gaze.

Kiiing-

Kagagagagak!!!

The space above the mountain range was being sliced apart as if it were being carved, and someone was rapidly descending.

A bizarre phenomenon, as if forcibly peeling off and removing space itself, and moving through it.

Clang!!

Heavy armored wings shook heavily, tearing through space and revealing themselves from the other side.

A heavy presence that even made Lenok flinch momentarily. Steel feathers that were somehow strangely familiar.

[1st Command Direct Ghost Squadron, Gespenst.]

A woman with an icy cold impression, wearing armored wings, looked down at Lenok with a chilling expression.

[Arrived at the 2nd Command under the orders of Commander Mylorose. I will now carry out the operation.]

Poooh-ooooh!!!

Elephants and rhinos the size of houses roared wildly as they charged through the mountain range.

Giant snakes and rays swam in the sky, and above them, the figure of a giant divine phoenix appeared.

The army of summoned beasts led by the 8th Corps Commander Townsend. Behind them, the form of the aerial fortress Primo Alert flickered like a shadow.

The massive 3rd Command, Primo Alert, large enough to cover the entire mountain range, floated above Lenok’s head, occupying the sky.

Kugwagwagwagwa!!!!

The earth rumbled with the sound of tanks, and the contrails of fighter jets drew wide curves.

Amidst the tank units of the legions charging from all directions, the figures of generals on command vehicles could be seen.

The 4th Corps Commander Mirva, who arrived first. The 7th Corps Commander Deimos, who had surrounded the flanks. The 2nd Corps Commander, who stood blocking the rear.

The 6th Corps Commander Atiya, who landed with an annoyed expression, removing the vines tied to her head, and the 3rd Corps Commander Roberaide, who stood supported with a pale face.

In the center of the encirclement, where the entire legion had quickly gathered their forces and rebuilt their lines.

Kooong!!!

“Martinez.”

Deimos, who had crushed a giant mobile fortress as if blocking the path to the entrance of the mountain range, said in a calm tone.

“Your decisions and actions in this matter are regrettable in many ways.”

“……”

“There will be much discussion about your treatment… but in the end, it would be best if the Marshal decides directly. You’ll have to come with us.”

“……I see.”

He had summoned Megiddo to draw the legion’s fire, and had managed to respond to the interference from Euphria and Grisha to get this far.

Even the watchers who had remained at the parade to draw the legion’s attention for Lenok were now surrounded.

But even so, there were still a few methods Lenok could try in this situation.

What Lenok was contemplating was how much he needed to ‘draw out’ from here, considering the schedule after the parade.

Now that he had temporarily resolved the backflow caused by Ethan’s blood, there was no reason to hesitate any longer.

At that moment, as Lenok thought this and reached his hand into his pocket.

“Evan.”

Grisha, who had been supported by the other watchers, approached Lenok and called out to him.

Lenok turned his gaze with a slightly surprised expression.

“Grisha. How…”

How had Grisha, who had been confronting Songha just moments ago, come to this place?

Beyond just holding Songha back, had Grisha broken through Songha and arrived here?

No, in the first place, there was no way Songha wouldn’t know about this situation, so why hadn’t he arrived here yet—

“I bought you enough time.”

But Grisha did not answer Lenok’s question and said quietly.

“I’m glad that I can repay even a little of the debt I owe you, even now.”

“……What are you talking about?”

“As you heard, I am just a foolish sorcerer who will live bound by past relationships and regrets until the day I die.”

Grisha slowly raised her gaze.

Even after the situation had turned out like this, her expression was endlessly calm. If anything, she looked rather troubled.

“But because of that, there are relationships I know, and things I can do.”

“……”

“If I use that opportunity for you today… then it will have meaning.”

“Grisha. What are you talking about since a while ago—”

[Aha.]

At that moment. Lenok’s body stiffened at the transmission he heard in front of him.

[So, you are the ■■ Evan ■■■■■.]

“……”

A woman with an ordinary impression, with no particular features on the surface.

A woman with brown hair and a kind impression was standing in front of Lenok, looking up at him.

[Rumor has it that ■■ ■■■■ soft ■■. The granddaughter of the Heavenly Eye might ■■■■.]

“……You are.”

Even though they had seen the woman walking, no one had noticed it.

Transcendental manipulation of perception, to the point that even the legion generals and the Azure Eye watchers, and even Songha, had momentarily missed her presence.

The fact that the woman in front of him was using a distortion of perception that could only be seen in Ascendants, as if it were nothing.

The moment Lenok realized this and unconsciously lowered his gaze to look into the woman’s eyes.

Lenok could see the bizarre mosaic that densely covered the woman’s eyes.

“No way…”

Mirva murmured with a pale, stiff expression.

“……Apehlia, Your Eminence. Why are you here?”

The leader of the Ability Awakening Front, a massive force that rivals a corner of the central front, a gathering of innate ability users.

The Connector, the one who was revered by them, and was called the most powerful psychic in the history of the continent.

Your Eminence, Apehlia Ionics Zaeldark, was standing in front of Lenok.

[I didn’t know that ■■ ■■■■■ between Ethan ■■ ■■■ would happen.]

The woman, with a languid smile, slowly turned her gaze to the legion commanders.

[Since I received ■■ from Grisha, should I finish this situation from now on?]