Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 241

Although Lenox was aware that he had manifested the magnetic domain and reached the Saint realm during his duel with McQueen, he knew he still had many shortcomings.

The biggest issue was the extensive preparation needed to successfully imprint an image onto the magnetic domain.

In his battle with McQueen, Lenox had used drugs worth over a hundred million to push his condition to the limit.

He accepted the disadvantage of McQueen activating his domain first, and while explaining his own domain, he pushed his magic manipulation to its peak using the Geass [a magical power that enhances abilities].

Even after maximizing his abilities, he felt he had used all his current capabilities. The image he had chosen was vast, to say the least.

In short, the problem was that the image he had captured was too immense.

He had anticipated the burden when he chose to observe and implement parallel worlds branching from countless points, but it far exceeded his expectations.

If it was difficult to use even in the relatively relaxed battle with McQueen, there was no guarantee he could use the domain in an actual, urgent battle.

‘More than anything, this isn’t a problem that can be solved immediately.’

Imprinting an image proved he had reached the Saint-level mage realm, but it didn’t mean he could freely control the magnetic domain.

Even among 7th-level sorcerers, there were differences in domain deployment and basic spell implementation, and Lenox had only just entered that realm.

Ultimately, he knew he had to overcome it through time, effort, and research… but there had to be a way.

That’s why Lenox was deliberately trying to refine his power through combat training with Evelyn and delve deeper into the combat abilities of high-level transcendents [individuals who have surpassed normal human limits].

Evelyn Marcia, the leader of the agents, was the most cooperative transcendent to Lenox among the city government’s powerful individuals.

By sparring with her, a physical enhancer and an excellent archer, Lenox also hoped to learn how to fight against 7th-level or higher front-liners.

There weren’t many opportunities to get direct feedback from a transcendent active in the field like Evelyn Marcia, let alone a 7th-level or higher one.

Moreover, it was impossible to repeat training and sparring for several days unless her schedule was free.

In a way, this was where Lenox could expect the greatest gains from this event.

Evelyn looked at Lenox and asked, ‘You seem preoccupied. Should I speak first?’

‘……Do you have something to say?’

‘I think I have a rough idea of why you set these conditions.’

Evelyn stepped off the rock and faced Lenox.

‘Let’s assume you became a Saint-level mage when you killed the cartel boss.’

‘……’

Was she pretending not to know as a form of consideration?

While Lenox chuckled inwardly, Evelyn continued, ‘Actually, it’s the same for sorcerers and non-sorcerers. Even though you’ve clearly entered a higher dimension, your martial power hasn’t changed much. It’s different from the Military Rank, where combat ability dramatically increases by mastering the change in the nature of magic.’

She held out seven fingers to Lenox.

‘This is because it defines the stages of self-modification humans can reach into seven categories, concluding that all ranks are achieved the moment one completes their own image. That’s why the seventh realm is called the Saint Rank… but it’s a very broad classification.’

‘You mean the variation is too big.’

Evelyn pointed at Lenox with her index finger.

‘That’s right. You’re a mage, so you understand quickly, huh?’

‘……Keep going.’

‘Even within the same Saint Rank, the difference in skill between sorcerers is huge. Whether domain deployment and the domain’s abilities are helpful in combat, their abilities vary greatly depending on time, age, or physical condition.’

Evelyn explained.

‘That’s why the 7th level has the greatest skill disparity among the seven ranks. They’ve just grouped all transcendents who have completed their images at the end without further classification… well, anyway.’

Lenox was reminded of Parden McQueen.

He was a Saint-level sorcerer who had reached the 7th level decades ago and created his own image, but apart from knowing how to deploy the magnetic domain, his combat abilities were similar to the blood mage Avid Yonsen.

His body and mind, having grown old while indulging in a comfortable life, had lost the sharpness of the front lines.

If Lenox hadn’t deliberately cornered him and given him no time to use his domain, he would have died before he could even deploy it.

‘That’s a pretty dangerous idea.’

Lenox said.

‘In a way, it’s like saying that human effort and realm don’t mean much.’

Evelyn smiled faintly and replied, ‘Don’t you think so?’

‘……’

‘Of course, there aren’t many cases like McQueen who foolishly let time pass and rusted away. But even transcendents who have completed their ranks must eventually accept death. If not, they will eventually have no choice but to abandon humanity and move on to the next stage.’

With those words, Evelyn’s eyes slowly began to glow green.

‘You must be feeling it to some extent. Standing on each of your battlefields, constantly looking at the moments where life and death intersect… it’s not that difficult to abandon yourself.’

‘Evelyn, you……’

‘You’re just wandering around because you’re afraid of not leaving any meaning in the values you’ve cherished, but the answer may be closer than you think. Or maybe that itself is a wall I can never overcome.’

Lenox hesitated for a moment and said slowly, ‘You… how far have you come now?’

‘……’

She didn’t answer.

Instead, she sighed softly and stood up energetically.

‘Well, anyway, it just means that even someone as strong as me has a lot of worries. So, if you want to get stronger, you have to work harder, right?’

The clouds parted, and the soft moonlight illuminated the prairie.

On her face, visible within her dark hair, was a somewhat bitter smile.

‘In that sense, asking me for training was a wise decision. In the process of measuring your limits, you won’t die from bad luck. Let’s do it properly starting tomorrow.’

* * *

While heading to the volcanic area, Lenox and Evelyn set aside time each day for mock training, testing each other’s abilities.

The initial hesitation about how much power to use quickly disappeared after realizing Evelyn’s evasion and counterattack abilities were on a different level.

The next day, Evelyn focused solely on avoiding Lenox’s attacks.

On the third day, she began using her own equipment and counterattacking.

‘Your magic system is almost perfect.’

Clang!!

Evelyn said, lightly dodging the wind blades running across the ground.

‘I don’t know who you received your vision from, but the number of cards you have and your ability to use them are almost flawless. Your setup, thoroughly geared towards mid-range combat but ready for close-range emergencies, signals other skilled fighters to keep their distance.’

‘……’

‘Then you can comfortably chant high-powered magic that requires time, and well… that’s how it goes. In fact, not many fighters are so precise that they can present such a sophisticated three-way choice every moment.’

When Lenox didn’t answer, Evelyn continued.

Even as she spoke, an arrow in her left hand relentlessly cut through the air, skillfully dodging every move Lenox threw.

‘Actually, it’s because your spellcasting speed is exceptionally fast, and it’s so random that it’s hard to read the pattern… but after facing you directly, it’s truly ridiculous…!’

Thud thud thud thud!!

Evelyn, who had been talking, paused and gathered her magic power.

Her figure disappeared like black smoke, then flashed five times in the air and appeared in front of Lenox in an instant.

Immediately after, ice crystals exploded in all the spaces where she had appeared, instantly surrounding him.

Lenox smiled as he saw Evelyn landing in front of him.

‘Got you.’

[Accumulate Fire]

Whoosh!!

The flames compressed to the limit formed on Lenox’s palm as if being pressed down.

He swung his heated fist directly at Evelyn.

With Lenox’s disorganized motor skills, it was impossible to properly capture Evelyn, let alone hit her with his bare hands.

Evelyn’s motor skills and combat sense were flawless compared to any other skilled fighter he had faced.

Above all, the most amazing thing was the agility he had felt when he started training on the first day.

The ability to freely change direction as if her weight didn’t exist, even under immense acceleration.

Even more ridiculous was that she could do that in the air without any foothold.

Even though he had given up on seeing with his eyes and was only perceiving with magic detection, he would lose track of her as if she was disappearing every moment.

The ability to switch to the desired direction at the desired moment. Lenox knew how great and sublime that art was.

It wasn’t something that could be explained simply by footwork or movement skills.

Her movements, as if inertia didn’t exist. He had felt this incongruity in his battle with Antares.

‘This must be the power of the microcosm within Evelyn.’

It was natural that Lenox was being pushed back in combat training.

Evelyn Marcia was naturally drawing on her microcosm even in close combat, as if she was breathing.

Considering her sublime archery skills, it wasn’t hard to guess her abilities.

If she were a normal mage, they wouldn’t even be able to hit her with magic, let alone notice how she was moving, and their neck would be pierced.

But that’s why Lenox could roughly understand how to deal with this type.

The method of dispersing firepower in all directions to occupy space, which he had tried on the first day, wasn’t wrong.

The important thing was to induce a certain directionality in Evelyn Marcia’s evasive maneuvers, making her move the way Lenox wanted.

At the same time, if he accepted his disadvantage and opened a path for Evelyn to close the distance, he believed she would definitely take it.

Right up to the point where Lenox’s motor skills could catch her.

But Lenox’s hand, holding the compressed flame, didn’t touch Evelyn’s shoulder.

The moment Lenox swung his arm, a flash of light slammed down in front of Evelyn, creating a huge shockwave.

Boom!!!

Lenox deflected the flash of light that had been shot down like an arrow from the sky, but he couldn’t stop Evelyn from stepping back using the shockwave as a foothold.

Was it an attack from an outsider?

The moment Lenox looked down, he couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

‘……It’s unbelievable even when I see it.’

What had fallen at Lenox’s feet, leaving a streak of light, was an arrow that Evelyn had been holding just a moment ago.

While avoiding Lenox’s offensive and closing the distance, she had thrown the arrow she was holding between her fingers.

Moreover, she had calculated the landing point and the timing of the fall, accurately determining the timing for Lenox to counterattack, and neutralized his move with the shockwave.

The idea of shooting an arrow with her bare hands and accurately placing it between them was amazing, but how difficult it was to implement with her bare hands.

It was impossible to even imagine with his body and motor skills.

Lenox deeply realized the level of archery she had achieved with just one arrow without a bow.

‘It’s not that difficult.’

Evelyn, who had finally dusted off her knees and stood up, said.

‘Since I know you want to close the distance, I’m just going along with your aim and putting in a backup plan.’

‘And if things don’t go well, you’ll retrieve the arrow and continue the attack?’

It didn’t just end with shooting a shockwave. Lenox knew.

If this was a real battle, and Evelyn really intended to kill Lenox, she wouldn’t have stepped back using the shockwave of the arrow.

Instead, she would have grabbed the arrow falling from the air and aimed for Lenox’s heart.

Lenox knew from his past experiences that this ridiculous feat wasn’t impossible.

‘In the end, that’s what’s important.’

Evelyn slowly walked up to Lenox and picked up the arrow.

She smiled as she shook the arrowhead in front of Lenox.

Even after such an intense sparring session, only the fragrant smell of grass emanated from her.

‘Combat between transcendents who have reached a certain level is like a battle against the unknown. A search to make the opponent reveal their cards, a battle of wits to reveal their bottom line… and to find out how far to hide their trump card, you have to hold back a bit even when you’re giving it your all.’

‘……’

‘Well, you, a mage, are probably more aware of these things than I am… but that’s why I have something to say.’

‘What do you mean?’

Evelyn’s eyes calmly narrowed.

‘You’re too perfect. To be precise, that’s the problem.’