Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1266

“Hey, it’s a bit late to say this, but are you sure this is really okay?” Ivelin, clutching her black greatbow, gazed down at the pit with a troubled expression, repeating her question. “I might not be able to mediate this time like I did before, you know?” Kugugugu!!!! In the vast, empty research facility plaza, Lenox and Torben stood facing each other at the center of the pit where the glass tube had been. Even before the fight began, Torben’s form was already transforming into lightning, scattering in a blue glow. Before the old mage, now a spectacle of crackling light, Lenox quietly clenched and unclenched his hand. However, both their gazes were fixed on the light held in Lenox’s palm, as if by unspoken agreement. Pajik…!! A small spark of lightning, which had been rotating within the guardian spirit’s embrace until just moments ago. A fragment of lightning too small to be called lightning, and too quiet to be called thunder. Yet, both Torben and Lenox understood the true meaning of this power. “Beautiful,” Akendrias said, quietly observing the light rotating in Lenox’s hand. “Just by existing there, it feels like the most genuine concept in this world.” “……” “But even so… there’s no need to ramble on in front of such a miracle.” Torben asked, slowly walking forward with his hands outstretched. “How shall we fight?” “That’s unexpected,” Lenox glanced at him and smiled. “You’ve never set such rules in our spars before, have you?” “You must see me as an old man so blinded by lightning that I can’t even think straight,” Torben gave a wry smile. “If we go with a typical spell duel, this match won’t even be a proper exchange. Extreme Lightning isn’t that kind of concept, is it?” “……” “If you want to convey something to me through this duel, there should be at least minimal rules to maintain the form of a contest.” Before the fight even begins, it exists there, ignoring all spells and affinities, taking precedence. If Lenox were to use Extreme Lightning intentionally and engage in combat, a normal duel would be impossible. Torben was aware of this fact and was waiting to match the method Lenox desired. However- “It doesn’t matter.” “……What?” “Do as you please. Whatever spell you use, I’ll match it.” With those words, Lenox slowly calmed his magic power. An incomprehensible sight of suppressing his intent instead of heightening it before the fight. A strange stance as if trying to suppress his power from the very beginning of the clash. Lenox, who had slowly suppressed and calmed his magic power, replied. “As you said, conveying it once will be enough.” “……I see. You mean giving it your all is enough.” Come to think of it, Lenox’s answer hadn’t been different before. When he had a private conversation with Lenox, worrying about the future before the subjugation battle began. Even after winning the war against the legion and killing Kaiser to gain transcendence. That incomprehensible, transcendent consistency might be the greatest talent of that mage. “Sajil. The meaning of the miracle you’ve obtained…” Pajik, pajik…!!!! The moment Torben took a step, bright blue lightning marks were engraved on the ground he stepped on. The lightning engraved under the dark laboratory flashed like constellations in the night sky, forming a magic circle. The moment Torben, standing with his hands behind his back at the center of the lightning circle, burst out laughing and unleashed his magic power. “I’ll engrave it deep into the bottom of your soul, Sajil!!!!” Kwaaaang!!!! The moment the light flashing from all directions converged on Torben, the tower lord’s form disappeared from that spot. The speed that left the sound behind. Bright blue lightning flashed and accelerated, bouncing off the walls of the pit. “Ha…!!” Ivelin, who was watching from afar, also started running to the side, holding her greatbow. Her expression was also filled with an undeniable tension, unlike before. “Seriously, I can’t help anyone if someone dies this time!!!” Last time, she had mediated Lenox and Torben’s duel with a sniper shot, but this time the situation was different. The distance wasn’t far enough for Ivelin’s sniper shot to be effective, and her greatbow’s arrows weren’t ready. Above all, the power of the two mages facing each other was on a different level than before. Not only Torben, but the lightning Lenox had obtained was a power that even Ivelin couldn’t understand. [Hahahahahaha!!!!!] Pajijijik!!! Pajik, pajik…!! Pacheutcheutcheut!!!! The sound of lightning exploding, the sound of light splitting, the sound of space cracking. The sound of rupture occurring as three or more states and properties overlapped in the material world, and the space-time cracked in a circle. The moment Lenox realized that Torben’s presence existed simultaneously at different points and raised his gaze. Torben, who had transcended the world’s perception, appeared next to Lenox and swung his arm with all his might. Pat-!!! Scattering bright blue light, so much that his pupils couldn’t be seen, he freely wielded magic in the accelerating time. He accelerated his perceived time to the limit by electrifying his entire nervous system, and at the same time, focused the image of lightning to a single point. He used the very existence of Akendrias El Torben as lightning and fired it from close range at Lenox. Its form was, ironically, all too familiar to Lenox- [Bias Lightning] Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!!!!!! The ceiling of the research facility exploded diagonally, and bright blue light soared. The fragments of lightning that broke off and exploded shattered in all directions, crushing space. A terrifying power that instantly destroyed and collapsed the entire research facility in Sector 50. But Torben didn’t even look at the brilliance of the lightning he had unleashed and turned his gaze away. “It was unlike you to be so humble, saying you had nothing to teach me about lightning magic.” “…Sajil.” Akendrias El Torben’s full-power discharge of Bias Lightning using his own image. Because Lenox, who had been swept away by that lightning, was standing perfectly still in his place, looking back at Torben. “A technique that splits one’s own image and spirit to exist simultaneously in different spaces. It’s amazing that you can achieve that level of teleportation with just the application of lightning magic.” “No way…” Torben burst out laughing as he realized that part of Lenox’s face had turned into lightning and was scattering. “Hahahahahat!!!! I see. You’ve already reached that level of lightning transformation…!!” The technique of lightning transformation, which directly changes the properties of the body to lightning, transforming the entire body into a non-material form. The skill that he had learned from Torben but couldn’t use due to his unique constitution was now unfolding without restraint around Lenox. Amidst the scattering form of Lenox, who had turned into lightning, the light of the Bias Lightning that Torben had unleashed scattered aimlessly, a dazzling sight. Akendrias, who pulled his hand back as if grabbing it, flashed his eyes sharply. “Did you also master the knack of lightning transformation while obtaining Extreme Lightning magic?” “It’s closer to a minor realization gained in the process of glimpsing transcendence.” Lightning transformation is a technique that transforms one’s own body into lightning and manipulates it. It was not so much a byproduct of Extreme Lightning magic, but rather a sensation gained from watching the Avatar fight, so it wasn’t wrong. But Torben shook his head as if he didn’t agree with Lenox’s answer. “It’s by no means minor to deflect my lightning head-on. If you’ve reached that level of lightning transformation, you should be able to ignore most attacks without even lifting a finger, but you don’t feel even a shred of emotion?” “It’s not that I don’t feel anything. In a way, it’s like bypassing and overcoming the limits of my body. However…” The reason Lenox hadn’t been able to use lightning transformation was that the penalties engraved on his body, including mana poisoning, were too dangerous. The fact that he could now use lightning transformation was certainly an encouraging achievement, but it was closer to a shortcut obtained through trial and error with the Avatar rather than overcoming the penalties. That’s why, even if the technique of lightning transformation was a great power, it couldn’t be a great meaning. But instead of explaining those circumstances one by one, Lenox stared at Torben. “Rather, my attention is drawn to your magic. When did you raise your proficiency with Bias Lightning to that level?” “While quietly observing the Bias Lightning you use, I saw that it had more useful aspects in combat than I thought.” Torben chuckled and raised his magic power, and sharp fragments of lightning rotated and were grasped in his hand. Pajik!! The eerie shape, honed and carved from lightning, was by no means inferior to the Bias Lightning that Lenox used. It was proof that Akendrias perfectly understood the meaning and true value of Bias Lightning and was using it with incantation. “I was keeping an eye on it because it was a magic you often used, and while doing so, I seemed to get a rough idea of the knack and sensation.” “……” He didn’t research the magic separately, but reached that level of proficiency just by watching from the sidelines? It was because he possessed such monstrous talent that Akendrias was able to maintain his position as Torben’s tower lord. Lenox had also stolen and learned many of Torben’s spells, so he had nothing to say, but it was true that he felt a bit absurd. “It only outputs at close range and is specialized in penetration rather than firepower, but it can be used in various battles depending on the user’s senses.” Torben said leisurely, holding Bias Lightning in one hand and skillfully rolling it in his hand. “It’s useful to fire it as a zero-range barrage or to compress it and wield it like a weapon, but above all, what I found most interesting was…” Pajik, pajik…!!! The tower lord, slowly raising the flashing lightning streaks of Bias Lightning, grinned. “The fact that Bias Lightning itself can also function as a medium for a larger magic.” “……” Kwarururung!!! Thunder fell through the ceiling of the research facility, which had been half-destroyed by the first exchange. Above the dimly visible sky of Sector 50, lightning surged and roared fiercely. [KuoOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!] A blue lightning dragon, tens of meters in size, was descending from the dark clouds, glaring at the ground. Its gaze, which had lost focus and was flashing bright blue, was directed precisely at the Bias Lightning held in Torben’s hand. Using the existence of Bias Lightning as a lightning rod, descending from the distant sky towards the ground- Celestial Lightning Magic Transcendent Manifestation “Incantation start.” Kwaaang!!! In the overflowing sea of lightning, Lenox and Torben swung their hands simultaneously. The lightning magic that echoed from the tips of their fingers took shape, collided, and exploded, scattering. A storm of heat raged, following the two mages who were unleashing nearly dozens of explosions per second. The partitions and barriers built for spell performance testing crumbled and melted like water. Kwagwagwagwagwa!!!! “Kuh…!!” Ivelin, who was watching the situation with her greatbow from the other side of the half-destroyed rooftop of the research facility, covered her face. Repeating lightning transformation and blinking at a speed that couldn’t be seen, leaping through space and changing the battlefield. A tidal wave of lightning dragons surging from the ground. The forms of the two mages colliding and projecting magic at tremendous speed from the other side. Each time, bright blue lightning pillars soared one after another, incinerating the entire waste disposal site in Sector 50. Amidst the roar of the lightning dragon echoing over the hill of piled-up garbage, Ivelin shouted with a hardened expression. “This is insane. Seriously, this is too much…!!!!” “Hahahahahat!!! Look closely, Sajil!!!” Kwarururung!!!! Torben, pointing the Bias Lightning in his hand at Lenox like a baton, laughed wildly and raised his magic power. “This is the culmination of Celestial Lightning that I, Sajil, have devoted my entire life to obtaining!!!!” Mind Alteration Shocking Scene The will of the Celestial Lightning magic that Akendrias El Torben, who hadn’t shown his full power even in the subjugation battle, unleashed by wielding his image. The moment when the lightning used by the immortals of the 1st world takes the form of a dragon, piercing through heaven and earth, and painting the atmosphere of the end. The light of the Celestial Lightning that fell diagonally swept through the entire research laboratory and dyed everything white. Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! But Lenox didn’t move even in the wave of Celestial Lightning that swept the ground and echoed. He gave up reacting to Torben’s magic, which he had been formally receiving, and simply closed his eyes. “…Why aren’t you using it?” Torben, who was watching Lenox being swept away in the sea of lightning, momentarily hardened his expression. “Wait, could it be…!!!” Kwagwagwagwagwa!!!! Lenox’s form, standing in the ruins, swayed as it was swept away by the falling lightning of the Shocking Scene.

A fragment of transcendence, seeking to incinerate and obliterate everything—body, mind, soul, and image.

It was proof that Akendrias El Torben, in his own way, had dreamed of something similar to Lenox.

He had merely stopped before the gates of ascension because the culmination he had achieved after a lifetime of effort was not the answer he had sought.

Knowing that his unfulfilled desire had faded, he had yearned for it even more desperately.

The possibility that he could obtain it was here, because he had empathized with that longing.

If that was the case-

Crack!!

Piercing through the writhing waves of lightning, a dark blue flash bloomed like a flower.

Ignoring the final thunderbolt that Torben had unleashed, it manifested in reality.

Extreme Lightning Magic.

Transcendent Manifestation.

Crack, crackle, crackle-

[Oooooooooh!!!!!]

The lightning dragon, wreathed in thunder, roared madly, but all its resistance crumbled helplessly before the dark blue lightning.

A miracle that shone, surpassing all timelines and spatial coordinates in the world simply by existing in that place.

Kiiiiiiing-!!!!

The moment Lenox, wielding the dark blue lightning, passed through Torben’s thunder and lightning and landed before him.

With a sharp crack of thunder, the world’s time accelerated to its limit, and the time of the two men froze.

In the storm of lightning that raged at supersonic speed, everything momentarily stopped in its place.

‘-!!!’

In his consciousness, slowed to the extreme, Torben laughed madly and spread his arms wide.

Thoughts and emotions that could not become words exploded like paint, yet they could be understood.

That if this was the end, he could accept it. That he had come this far for it.

Drawing in the unspoken longing to the depths of his soul, he reached out without hesitation-

And pierced Akendrias El Torben’s heart precisely.

“…Ah.”

Fwoooom!!!!

With a powerful shockwave, all of Torben’s magical power and thoughts were flung out in all directions.

The lightning that had been descending was pushed back and scattered, surging and mixing with the dark clouds, revealing a clear sky.

Under the clear blue sky of District 50, Torben stood still, his chest pierced by the lightning held by Lenox.

“From the beginning, there was no need for incantations or casting,” Torben said quietly, looking down at the beautiful light of the extreme lightning that had pierced his heart.

“The moment it was in your hand, it already existed in its complete meaning.”

“……”

“Hoo… what a pity.”

Torben closed his eyes.

“If I had died from such lightning, it would have been a glorious death.”

“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of holding your funeral in my magic tower.”

Crack, crackle…!!

The dark blue lightning cleanly pierced Torben’s chest at its center.

But his body was still alive and breathing, without any damage or impairment.

A miraculous sight that even Torben, who had tried to accept death at the last moment, was astonished by.

“It’s because it can take precedence over everything that it can be chosen,” Lenox said, holding the extreme lightning.

“Because I chose something that takes precedence over your death, I can end this fight in this way.”

“……”

Whack!!

He pulled the extreme lightning from the Tower Lord’s heart, which was not even scratched.

The moment he let go, the swirling light of the extreme lightning flashed, and it appeared inside the glass case where the guardian spirit beast was sleeping far away.

The guardian spirit beast, reaching out its front paw towards the extreme lightning spinning inside the glass case, hugged it and rubbed its body as if in a dream.

“This was the result I wanted to show you through our duel,” Lenox said quietly, watching the scene with the Tower Lord.

“Extreme lightning is a transcendent concept, but it requires strict criteria to be used properly. It’s not about overpowering with force, but about needing adjustment to maximize its ability to take precedence over all affinities.”

“Adjustment…”

The method Lenox chose in the final battle with Kaise. The attitude Lenox showed in his duel with Torben.

If the common ground found between them and the adjustment Lenox spoke of had to lead to one conclusion.

“It must be a matter of criteria.”

Torben looked down at Lenox with a deep gaze.

“To take precedence over any causality, you must ‘recognize’ that causality?”

“Without setting a standard, the concept of taking precedence over it cannot exist.”

Lenox raised his gaze to look at the sky.

“The reason the fight with Kaise was like that was also because of that.”

“……”

Extreme lightning magic is a power that exists prior to all causality and affinities.

Therefore, to use extreme lightning properly, the caster must first recognize the causality and affinities that serve as the standard.

That is why Lenox, in the final battle against Kaise, accompanied him in his regression, looking back at the timelines he had rewound.

Only after recognizing the timelines that Kaise had passed through could he create an outcome that took precedence over them.

That was the only choice to ensure Kaise’s annihilation in that war.

“I see. The reason you watched my rage until the end of our duel… was because you needed a standard.”

The duel with Torben, which had just ended, was the same.

Lenox used extreme lightning to end the duel only after watching Torben use his magic until the end.

Because it possessed transcendence that took precedence over everything, the caster himself had to directly recognize the standard that needed to be prioritized.

The power of transcendence that had reached the extreme of post-emptive action.

While Torben quietly pondered the meaning, Lenox massaged his wrist and said,

“It’s not necessary to recognize all causality to use extreme lightning properly. In the end, what’s needed in a fight is to recognize the opponent’s abilities or techniques and take precedence over them.”

“……”

“If you use extreme lightning without meeting that standard, it will only end up as an ability that randomly changes properties, like when the electric magic went berserk. That might be useful in its own way, but…”

“It would be far from the true power of extreme lightning that you seek.”

“I didn’t reach this point just to wield a powerful lightning bolt that is simply berserk.”

Lenox slowly turned his gaze and said calmly,

“In the end, it must be because I am not a complete ascendant. It wouldn’t be strange if there were a few more conditions needed to fully wield the power of transcendence with a mortal body.”

“Sajil…”

“But even so, I intend to fully wield this power without reaching ascension. Tower Lord, can you cooperate in the research of extreme lightning?”

“…I understand what you mean.”

Torben also understood what Lenox wanted to say and let out a groan.

“What’s needed to properly wield extreme lightning is a transcendent cognitive ability that has reached the level of directly interpreting causality. Certainly, such authority is a concept that can only be freely wielded by an ascendant.”

“……”

“As far as I know, among mortals, those who possessed such abilities were the three great dukes under the Empire and the Prime Minister… Among the bloodlines of the dukes, we might find a candidate.”

“Either way, it’s an unrealistic story.”

The three great dukes under the Empire. Surely, that referred to the purest bloodlines among the central nobility.

The existence of the Prime Minister or the duke, a member of the oldest family, could not be a meaningful method at this point.

In the end, for now, should he be satisfied with just improving his proficiency with extreme lightning alongside Tower Lord Torben?

Just as Lenox was thinking that and quietly looking at the guardian spirit beast sleeping soundly, Torben hesitated and said,

“It’s not that there is no way, Sajil. It’s not that I don’t know a place where such authority exists, but…”

“What is it?”

“……”

The Tower Lord was silent, unable to speak.

His hesitation was unlike him, who always handled everything at lightning speed.

Lenox sensed an unusual sign in his reaction and turned his gaze. The Tower Lord spoke quietly.

“The corrupted and broken outlands within the central front… The pseudo-authority for ascendants that is stored there…”

“……”

“Sajil, the ability to read causality that you desire is likely a common characteristic of such pseudo-authorities.”

A story that was similar to the one he had heard directly from Ezekiel last time.

The moment Lenox stopped walking after hearing those words, Torben said after much deliberation,

“That was the power designed by the oldest families and the three great dukes to kill ascendants.”

* * *

Booooom-

Lenox opened his eyes in the gentle swaying vibration.

The scenery of the street flashed by quickly outside the window. A faint vibration was felt beneath his feet.

After looking around blankly, Lenox remembered where he was.

“You’re awake?”

Jenny, who was sitting next to him, glanced at him.

She said, placing a laptop on her lap and typing on the keyboard.

“There’s still time before we arrive, so you can sleep. You looked very tired.”

“…No.”

Lenox rubbed his forehead with one hand and turned his head.

“We need to start preparing now to make it on time. We’ve already arrived nearby.”

In the past few days, Lenox had been researching extreme lightning magic in earnest with Tower Lord Torben.

Lenox was also training in electric magic while searching for information about the Imperial Capital.

Secrets that had seemed impossible to even approach before were now starting to take shape in some way.

Having come this far, it seemed that he could vaguely see a way to look back and delve into all the things Lenox had been curious about.

“I’m sorry for asking you to do such troublesome preparations. I’ve been busy preparing for several things at once, so it’s been difficult to make time for this.”

“It wasn’t a difficult task at all. I got advice from Madam last time, and this time, there was no need to follow etiquette or procedures.”

Jenny chuckled as she typed on the keyboard.

“Above all, this time, they’re the ones who are bowing down. From your perspective, it would be better not to show that you’ve prepared. However, there’s one problem…”

Jenny closed her laptop and turned her gaze, hesitating for a moment before asking,

“Are you really going to be okay going alone?”

“……”

“It hasn’t been long since the war ended. I can’t go with you, but just in case, you should take an escort…”

“It’s okay.”

Lenox smiled.

“I was planning to do this sometime anyway. I shouldn’t put this off any longer.”

“……”

“So don’t worry too much. I’ve done something similar at a hearing before…”

Lenox said, turning his gaze.

“As you said, I’m not here to fight today.”

Screech!!

The vehicle stopped as it arrived in the middle of the central district.

Even before he could grab the handle and open the door, he could feel the unmistakable heat and vibration through the thick window.

Lenox hesitated for a moment at Jenny’s worried gaze, then opened the door and stepped out of the car.

Whoosh!!!!

Numerous confetti and fireworks scattered across the blue sky.

The majestic sounds of string instruments and trumpets echoed in his ears.

Everywhere he looked, solemn banners and flags fluttered, covering the streets.

Following the orderly floating airships, a procession of military police in uniform and full regalia marched.

Booooooom-

The vast road on either side of the Balkan City Government Central Council Building.

Along the carpet that stretched from one end of the street to the other, tens of thousands of people had gathered, looking at Lenox.

Some held flags with the emblem of the Balkan City Council, others held signs with names or phrases.

Some were holding up their phones, aiming their cameras at the vehicle, focusing their attention on this moment.

Flash, flash, flash!!!!

With the sound of shutters clicking, flashes went off incessantly, illuminating Lenox’s surroundings.

At that moment, the media from all over Balkan tried to capture his image, which could not be fully captured.

Breaking through the military police controlling the road, reporters approached Lenox, holding out microphones.

“Tower Lord, before the victory parade, could you please say a few words about the outcome of this war!!!”

“There are rumors that the victory parade was postponed until you promised to attend-!!!”

“Please!! If you could just briefly respond to our news agency’s interview…!!!”

“Professor Evan Bailon has confirmed his participation in the victory parade. Do you have anything to say about this?”

Waaaaaaaah!!!!!!

All the questions and requests pouring in from all directions were swept away by a huge roar that seemed to have no end.

The sight of people from all over Balkan gathering and shouting madly, cheering for Lenox.

Lenox raised his gaze, looking at the beautiful structure of the Central Council Building in the distance.

The first official step he was taking as a ‘Guardian’ after the subjugation war.

Lenox had responded to the invitation of the Central Council and arrived at the victory parade, which was being attended by tens of thousands of citizens.