Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 479

The ritual for selecting apostles, secretly conducted by the Order.

The legacy of Jintun, presumed to be hidden in the Far East Branch.

And the existence of a mirror reflecting the will to exist, as mentioned in the thesis on the rate of existence projection.

All three reasons involved in this matter were things Lenok couldn’t easily overlook, so he was willing to cooperate as much as necessary.

However, it was only natural that Lenok became more cautious upon hearing Pio’s intention to clone him.

It wasn’t strange for Pio, a shapeshifter, to participate in the operation, but what could possibly require Lenok’s physical information?

Pio, noticing Lenok’s somewhat indifferent expression, took a step back.

‘Ah, if the word ‘clone’ bothers you, you can call it ‘transformation.’ Anyway, since I’m participating in this operation, it’ll be much easier to use this method for the main objective.’

‘Transformation…’

Come to think of it, Pio’s innate technique was said to be a transformation-type ability.

‘You seem skeptical. Fine, just watch carefully.’

Pio shrugged and stepped back, lightly loosening his body while quickly gathering his magic power.

Whoosh!

He grabbed his own hair, spun it around once, and at the same time, the area above his neck transformed into the shape of a massive dog’s head.

‘……!!’

Below the neck, he retained the physique of a normal human, but above the neck, Pio had transformed into Leppard’s face.

‘I’m a shapeshifter, a mage who changes the forms of objects and living things.’

‘……’

‘It’s not difficult to simply put a skin over the exterior, but for perfect disguise, I need to know the target in more detail.’

As he dusted off his hands and stood up, Pio’s face returned to normal.

‘……Next time, please use a more normal method.’

Leppard, who had been watching with a disgruntled expression, turned his head away.

Judging by Leppard’s reaction, it didn’t seem like a pleasant experience.

‘But anyway, since it’s a technique that transforms appearances, it’s difficult to use without the target’s biometric information.’

‘I see…’

Lenok nodded, realizing why Lapis had included Pio in this operation without any hesitation.

If Pio could freely transform into Lenok and the other observers, it would greatly increase what they could do during infiltration.

It wasn’t just about making the appearance look convincing; he was talking about mimicking the internal skeleton, aura, life signs, and even physical abilities through transformation.

Lenok chuckled and readily extended his wrist.

‘I understand what you’re thinking, so I’ll let you try. However, there’s a high chance it won’t be very effective.’

‘Hehe, what do you take me for? Even if you’re a great mage, if you give permission, everything is possible with mystical techniques… Ugh!!’

Crack!

The moment Pio grabbed Lenok’s wrist, trying to gather his magic power, Pio’s hair stood on end, and his whole body convulsed.

‘Gek, gek, gek…!!’

Pio, trembling as if struck by lightning on the top of his head, widened his eyes and fell backward, shaking.

‘……’

Leppard, who had been watching from the side, was dumbfounded by the unexpected situation, and even Gapson, who had been gazing at the shoreline with his hands behind his back, turned his gaze.

Lenok quietly shook his head, looking at Pio, who had collapsed with his tongue hanging out.

‘I told you it wouldn’t work.’

The transcendent talent that Lenok had set up himself, even while bearing the penalty.

Among them, his talent for target designation resistance was far beyond Lenok’s own level.

The resistance to not be detected by all sorts of curses, target magic, or various target designation techniques.

It was only natural that Lenok, who had obtained that related talent to the extreme, would not be detected by other mages’ scans.

A mage like Pio might be able to force his way to manipulate Lenok’s biometric information, but the more he tried, the greater the backlash would be.

‘……Damn it, this is absurd!!’

Pio shouted, jumping up from his spot.

‘There have been cases where transformation was impossible, but there’s never been a case where even measurement was impossible!!’

It was different from the vampires from whom Lenok could directly draw blood and remove resistance.

Since it was unknown how much information Pio needed for transformation, it was nearly impossible for Lenok to voluntarily remove the resistance itself.

‘It seems that collecting information for transformation is also a type of transformation technique, is that right?’

‘……That’s right.’

‘Then, it probably won’t work no matter what you do. Give up and let’s get started.’

Giving Evan’s physical information wasn’t particularly risky for Lenok.

It wasn’t like giving Lenok’s real blood, as when he was examined by Murphy; Evan’s appearance, scent, skin, and magic pattern were all close to dummies that had been created arbitrarily.

However, the act of Lenok passing it on to Pio through a technique was difficult due to his target designation resistance ability.

‘Damn it, this shouldn’t be happening…’

Pio frowned and muttered.

‘I was planning to draw attention by transforming into Evan’s face, giving you time to go inside.’

‘……’

He was planning to create a perfect alibi and timing for Lenok by transforming into Evan himself.

If he could mimic Evan’s aura and magic power through transformation, it would be more than enough to deceive the Order’s priests.

Considering that even Lenok thought it was a decent plan, it seemed that he had been using his transformation ability quite skillfully…

‘Okay, then how about this!!’

Pio jumped up from his spot, created some distance from Lenok, and took a stance.

He was quite familiar with hand-to-hand combat; his posture of lowering his center of gravity and maintaining distance was very skillful in Lenok’s eyes.

At the same time, Pio made a hand seal with his other hand and began to cast a technique on himself this time.

Whoosh…!!

The form of an unknown technique inscription appeared on his forehead.

Pio, having quickly finished the incantation, took his stance again and said,

‘Transformation-type unique technique, [Mimicry of the Nemesis]. It’s a technique that mimics the opponent’s power through direct combat.’

Only then did Lenok understand the meaning of Pio’s words and let out a hollow laugh.

‘So, you’re saying we should fight here and now?’

‘Originally, it’s a technique created to overcome crises by imitating the opponent’s characteristics or strengths in urgent situations.’

Pio smiled and tapped his forehead.

‘It’s less efficient than receiving proper biometric information, but it should at least meet the minimum requirements for transformation, right?’

Whack!

He drew a long line under his feet, and the sand on the beach scattered, creating a cloud of dust.

‘One of the top combat mages in the Azure Eye. Let’s take this opportunity to see your skills.’

Lenok couldn’t help but smile at Pio’s bold words.

There had been many who had challenged Lenok to see his skills, but this was the first time someone had requested a duel for this reason.

‘Alright.’

Lenok dusted off his feet and stepped into the sandy beach.

‘Since we don’t have much time, let’s set a few conditions.’

He gathered his magic power and poured it into the sand under his feet.

‘This duel is solely for collecting the biometric information needed for transformation. If I understand the Mimicry of the Nemesis correctly, avoiding attacks won’t help, will it?’

Pio grinned and nodded.

‘Exactly, Evan. So, don’t try to run away too much just to win, okay?’

‘I won’t move more than three steps until the technique is over.’

Lenok said that and tapped a sand dune nearby with his foot.

‘……’

‘[……]’

‘No, you don’t have to go that far…?’

Not only Pio and Leppard but even Gapson was speechless at Lenok’s absurd declaration.

What Lenok had just said sounded much more preposterous than Pio’s words about the nemesis’s transformation technique.

It was a declaration that sounded closer to arrogance than confidence.

In a battle between superhumans, what did it mean for one side to impose a penalty on themselves by not moving from their spot?

It was a statement that could not be made without the certainty of being able to completely crush the opponent head-on, and even with such certainty, it was difficult to utter.

It was only natural that the atmosphere became strange at Lenok’s calm words, which were practically a provocation.

However, Lenok hadn’t just made those words without any calculation.

‘It’s what I always do.’

Having not had proper mobility for quite a long time, Lenok was used to fighting without moving.

Since not moving didn’t feel like a big restriction, it was better to use that fact to finish what was needed as quickly as possible.

In the first place, he wouldn’t have started if he didn’t think Pio’s transformation technique was effective.

‘……Well, fine. I was the one who spoke first. I can take that as permission, right?’

Pio also quickly composed himself and gathered his magic power.

The moment he took a stance and lowered his center of gravity, Pio’s left arm transformed into a giant bat’s wing and flapped.

As the one-armed wing stirred the air, sand dust began to scatter in all directions.

‘Then, here I come…!!’

Whoosh…!!!

The moment Pio’s figure, with his wings fully spread, was thought to be hidden behind the membrane of the bat’s wings, he was already swinging his fist in front of Lenok’s eyes.

It couldn’t be faster than magic power detection, but it was a blow that accurately targeted the gap in the sensory range.

Lenok received Pio’s blow with a sand wall that he had raised several meters from under his feet.

The wall, made by mixing magic power fluidly between the sand grains and hardening it, was stronger than any steel plate.

However, Pio, seeing Lenok’s response, didn’t avoid it but instead swung his hand straight through.

Thud thud thud!!!

The fist, which shot out like a cannonball between his shoulders, twisted slightly in front of the wall, then pierced through it and stopped right in front of Lenok’s nose.

It was a fierce force that went beyond simply threatening a mage; its impact alone could crush and pierce through a shield’s outer wall.

Crunch…!!

Pio smiled as if he was in trouble.

‘Hey… are you really not going to dodge?’

Instead of answering, Lenok carefully examined Pio’s fist, which was right in front of his nose.

The blow that had pierced through the sand wall, which was stronger than a steel plate, had transformed into a shape like a mace rather than a human fist.

‘Is it possible to transform into non-living forms as well? Weaponizing the whole body isn’t entirely impossible, then.’

‘I’m continuing…!!’

A huge cannon barrel popped out from inside the forearm, which had transformed into the shape of a mace, and a light flickered inside the muzzle.

Bang!

Immediately afterward, the sand wall exploded from the inside, and Lenok’s body was fully exposed.

Before the obstacle between the two had completely disappeared, Pio leaned forward and rotated his magic power as it was.

Clack clack clack!!!

The arm, which had transformed into an animal’s head, tore at the shield, and the spine whip that had popped out from his back targeted the rear.

The boosters that had burst out from under his legs pushed his body forward, and the membrane wings that had risen from behind his shoulders rotated, changing direction in mid-air.

He was freely changing the forms of his body into beasts, firearms, and polearms, controlling direction changes, acceleration, explosions, and recoil.

It was proof that he had honed an inhuman fighting style in both the realms of rational calculation and instinctive intuition for a long time.

He had guessed it when Pio said he had completed his level with transformation techniques, but Pio himself was probably a very skilled warrior.

It was absurd for a shapeshifter, who had to transform his body to fight, to have weak combat abilities.

Thud thud thud!!!

The rough blows that he swung split and melted into three blades in the air,

and the moment the gun barrel that had risen from his elbow fired, the flow of the atmosphere violently fluctuated, creating a small storm.

In every path where he was hitting the shield and finding weaknesses, an impossibly bizarre and fierce path began to be implemented one after another.

It was such a one-sided situation that it was hard to believe that Lenok was standing still and receiving all the attacks.

‘I’ve got you…!!’

The moment Pio’s hand stretched out like lightning and grabbed Lenok’s collarbone and twisted it.

Thud thud thud…!!

A lump of sand, the size of a fist, covered Pio’s fingers, which had transformed into sharp claws, and stopped them.

It was a perfect counter that was virtually impossible without prior knowledge.

Pio’s expression twisted as he realized that he had been tricked into attacking a deliberately created gap, and Lenok chuckled.

‘Now it’s my turn.’

At that moment, there was an impact as if the entire sandy beach had tilted.

Whoosh!

A huge wave of sand that had risen from under Pio’s feet accurately targeted his body, swallowed him, and dragged him down below the ground.

The sandy beach, which had opened its mouth like the mouth of a living beast, shook and swallowed the superhuman’s body like a quicksand pit.

‘Ugh, what is this again!!’

Pio, flustered, quickly kicked off the ground and called upon the air currents to bounce his body above his head, but as if waiting for it, the sand dune rose up as a whole and surrounded him.

The wind that burst out from Pio’s entire body along the sand pillars that had risen on the beach rotated and increased in size.

The scale of it had suddenly grown so large that it began to spread to the edge of the sea, and Leppard began to glance at the horizon with an uneasy expression.

‘Dreyfus, are you alright?’

[That’s truly an unbelievable magic power manipulation ability.]

Gapson replied, not taking his eyes off the sand pillars that were raging.

[If you were to classify it, it’s not even magic belonging to a system. Is it possible to bring the battle to this point just by manipulating the flow of particles…]

Leppard, already aware of Lenok’s skills, didn’t seem very interested in the duel, but Dreyfus was different.

As an 8th-level extreme mage, he could clearly witness how technically excellent the exchanges between Pio and Lenok were.

There was no need to mention Pio’s senses, who, despite being a martial artist, had a skill in manipulating magic power and its aftermath comparable to any mage,

but what was even more surprising was the fact that Lenok was countering Pio’s attacks purely with sand as a catalyst.

Considering that Evan, whom he had heard rumors about, was a fire-type mage, it meant that he was essentially continuing the battle without properly using his innate magic.

Moreover, Lenok had never broken his word that he wouldn’t move from that spot.

At this point, was it even possible to continue the duel while maintaining the battle structure as Pio had said?

Pio wouldn’t be unaware of that either.

As if confirming that thought, a flash of light flickered from within the sand pillars, and at the same time, a strong wind blew, spreading out to both sides and transforming into the wings of a roc [a mythical bird of enormous size and strength].

A huge bird, which had sunk its body in an instant using the propulsion that was flying backward from the sky to the ground, raised its head and looked at Lenok.

Screech!

It clenched its sharp beak and pressed down on Lenok with the wind pressure from its descent.

The sandstorm raged from all directions, completely obscuring the vision of the two.

What appeared in the landscape beyond the dust was Pio, who had returned to his original form.

The inscription on Pio’s forehead, where he was making hand seals with both hands, was shining brightly.

‘Mimicry of the Nemesis, first condition met, so here I go!!’

Whoosh!

At that moment, Pio’s body burst into a dazzling light, and in front of Lenok’s eyes, it began to transform into Evan’s face and physique.

A somewhat expressionless yet strangely recognizable atmosphere.

Would this be the feeling if someone else were to look at Evan’s face in front of them?

Of course, in Evan’s case, it was only an arbitrarily created identity, but he didn’t expect it to actually succeed.

‘Ooooh… I’ve only just received basic physical information, but the magic power rotation speed is unbelievable…!!’

‘……’

Even Lenok was curiously watching Pio, who had transformed into Evan’s form, with a strange expression.

‘Alright, with this, I can do it more reliably without using the transformation technique right away…!!’

Pio, looking down at his fingertips with a slightly excited expression, was about to take a step forward towards Lenok with a triumphant smile on his face.

Thud!

He tripped over his own feet and buried his head in the sand.

‘……’

‘……’

A strange silence flowed in all directions in an instant.

Pio, who had raised his gaze blankly with his face covered in sand, tilted his head.

‘……Huh?’