Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 642

Splash, splash…!!

A stormy beach. A secluded shore where dark rain pours down.

The waves rise several meters high, ceaselessly striking and carving the surrounding rocks and sandy beach.

A half-broken metal object lay slumped, half-buried in the sand.

The metal object, covered in rain and sand, faintly stirred, and then slowly, one side began to open.

Click!

“Cough!”

Someone who stepped out of the exploration vessel coughed up water and collapsed onto the sandy beach.

With hands that barely felt anything, they struggled to press the button on the helmet they were wearing.

[Depressurization 86%]

[Remaining power low. System shutdown in 5 seconds]

Fshhh…!!

The helmet, disassembled from the back of the neck, split open to the sides, and Lenox slammed his head onto the ground.

His complexion was pale, almost dark. He couldn’t even think of spitting out the seawater wetting his lips, only taking quick breaths.

“Hoo…!!”

He barely managed to lift a finger, connecting a mana thread to the rock and slowly pulling himself up.

Lenox, who had been dragged out of the waves as if sliding, lay on his back on the sand, staring blankly.

He drank in the rain pouring down from the cloudy sky.

[Here, Master.]

Dabi, who had crawled out of Lenox’s arms, held a potion in his front paws and diligently poured it into his mouth.

Lenox, who had swallowed the potion mixed with rainwater, flicked his finger again, and the suit he was wearing split open, revealing his work clothes.

Lenox, leaning against the rocks in his soaked work clothes, muttered.

“I knew it wouldn’t be easy…”

While escaping from the navy’s encirclement, he had repeatedly ascended recklessly, almost dying from his body being torn apart.

Even with the exploration vessel made of Armadelta alloy [a fictional, highly durable metal], the pre-prepared anti-pressure suit, and the existence of dozens of layers of protective magic, it was difficult to withstand the recoil.

Yet, the reason Lenox was able to shake off the 12th Fleet and Triton that were chasing him and escape to an unknown sea area.

‘It might have been really dangerous if I didn’t have the ring.’

Lenox thought so, gazing at the ring on his left index finger.

Hanghasamigung [a fictional artifact]. One of the two artifacts brought from the Cradle of Jintun, the Eye of Feigenbaum.

Its ability is originally to grant the user the power to observe the imaginary dimension with the naked eye, but there is one more hidden ability.

By overloading the ring’s power, it forcibly moves the wearer into the imaginary dimension for 0.75 seconds.

It’s not an originally intended function, but rather a side effect of the user entering the imaginary dimension after looking deeply into it.

Lenox knew that if this ability was used well, it could become an ability to temporarily evade any attack.

Just before the internal water pressure of the exploration vessel changed wildly and broke down, Lenox overloaded the ring and temporarily entered the imaginary dimension.

Immediately after, he discarded the load and recoil that had been placed on the exploration vessel and returned to reality.

A gap close to a fleeting moment of only 0.75 seconds in terms of time.

Moreover, considering that the ring’s ability must be overloaded in advance, it is extremely difficult to time it right.

However, even while escaping from the navy’s pursuit and torpedoes, Lenox quickly analyzed the route set by Dabi.

He aimed for the moment when he passed the inflection point where the water pressure changed most drastically and accurately evacuated his body into the imaginary dimension.

He was confident he could succeed, but if he had failed, neither the exploration vessel nor Lenox would have been unscathed.

He had prepared several lifelines in case of the worst, but the Eye of Feigenbaum was a method that was quite low on the list.

‘It will be difficult to use the ring’s power for a while. It’s also becoming difficult to charge the blink…’

After using the ability to temporarily evacuate the user to the imaginary dimension, the ring becomes unusable for at least a month.

A side effect of forcibly boosting the function itself.

The problem was that Lenox was using the ring’s power to store his blink spell in the Papyrus Argenteus [a fictional artifact].

Although Lenox himself chants and uses the blink spell, its mana consumption is so severe that he had been storing it in the artifact whenever he had time.

There are still some blink spells left, but the fact that he can’t charge any more blinks for a while is also a risk factor.

Lenox, recalling when he last used the ring’s ability, thought of the 10th Apostle, Amrita, and smiled.

“…I was counting down the blinks even back then.”

The 10th Apostle, who possessed the body of an apostle and the precognitive abilities of a priestess and used high-speed spatial combat, was one of the most difficult opponents in terms of combat skills.

Lenox even learned something while being beaten by her spatial combat techniques and skills.

After that, Lenox sat still, enduring the wind and rain until the effects of the drug kicked in, then slowly got up.

With trembling legs, he cleaned up the traces of the suit and the exploration vessel, and neatly erased the remaining mana and traces.

Since there were no abnormalities until he checked his condition, it seemed that he had not been tracked, but he had to erase the traces.

Lenox, who had roughly rubbed the still tingling parts of his body with painkillers, got up and walked out of the shore.

Lenox, who had stepped onto the rain-swept asphalt, stood on the empty road and raised his gaze.

“Dabi, do you know where this is?”

[That’s… the location coordinates aren’t being properly captured.]

Dabi replied with a troubled look.

[There are four reference points used to calculate relative coordinates inside the mechanical city, but the data calculated from them is completely twisted.]

“…”

[I wonder if there might be a temporary error in the coordinate calculation system or the city network…]

Lenox listened to Dabi’s words quietly and then moved silently.

Along the shore, there were many shops and accommodations, commercial districts, and downtown areas, but only the cold wind and rain swept through without a single person.

A chilling silence, as if Lenox was the only one left in the middle of this city, and an unpleasant silence.

Even Dabi quietly held his breath at the ominous atmosphere.

[Is it a trap?]

If the navy’s pursuit had not continued not because they had lost Lenox, but to drive him into this area.

And if they had set up a trap in advance to surround and completely eliminate Lenox here.

An endless barrage of missiles might pour down beyond the barrier, turning this city into a sea of fire.

However, Lenox faintly shook his head at Dabi’s words.

“I did consider that possibility first… but I don’t think so.”

Lenox, who had immediately entered a nearby store, said while examining a small room inside.

“There are traces of someone living here. There’s even still warmth in the dishes. People were here until recently.”

Clothes scattered haphazardly here and there, and traces of food left unfinished on the table.

Lenox, who had run his finger over the dishes, calmly scanned the surroundings.

“Compared to the clothes being hastily scattered, there are no traces of valuables in the room. The counter where cash should be is also empty. It’s highly likely that they took only important items and left this place immediately.”

[You mean the people in this district received news in advance and evacuated.]

It had been less than 20 minutes since Lenox decided to take the escape route to this sea area and escape.

Judging from various circumstances, the evacuation order issued in this district was at least 45 minutes ago, no matter how short it was.

If so, the possibility of it being a trap to lure Lenox here is greatly reduced.

“The evacuation order was issued 45 minutes ago. Something so important that everyone in the district had to evacuate immediately as soon as the order was given… Considering the time…”

Lenox’s eyes shone sharply as he carefully recalled the perceived time.

“It was right after I escaped the underwater barrier.”

[If they noticed the anomaly as soon as Master escaped the barrier and sent a signal, the timing would roughly match.]

Dabi said in a slightly urgent tone.

[But if that’s the case, wouldn’t the evacuation order itself have been issued to be wary of Master’s presence…]

“No, that’s not it…”

Lenox said, slowly closing his eyes and beginning to draw up mana.

Whoooom…!!

Through the condition forcibly stabilized by the power of the drug, he forcibly suppressed the mana that was still raging.

The cognitive ability amplified through mana surpassed the limits of the five senses and spread in all directions.

Sweeping across the space as if surging, he instantly saw all the scenery within thousands of meters as if it were his own.

“The fact that the underwater barrier was opened when I escaped. I thought that the commander of the mechanized legion had opened the barrier himself to chase me… but that wasn’t it.”

Lenox muttered.

“The conditions necessary for the underwater barrier to open were already being met above this city.”

[Master…?]

Dabi, who had finally realized the meaning of Lenox’s words, peeked out from his arms.

The faint vibration felt from the tips of his feet instantly grew in size and turned into a massive earthquake.

Drrrrrrr…!!!

The ground thousands of meters away rose vertically, and at the same time, a huge wave approached as if to engulf Lenox.

A bizarre change that was hard to believe even with one’s own eyes, as if the earth itself was bending and rotating at right angles.

Crack!!

The asphalt under his feet cracked, and a huge fissure that appeared from it began to swallow everything around it.

A huge mechanical barrier that was rippling in the distance rose vertically and ran across the ground.

Kugwagwagwagwa!!!

All the surrounding scenery was constantly in motion, shifting and changing positions.

This was not just happening in this district.

The entire city area within a radius of thousands of meters, caught in Lenox’s senses, was being flipped and reversed, regardless of the up, down, left, or right direction and position.

“I think I know what Hermes did as soon as he woke up in his new body…”

Kwaaang!!

Lenox muttered, looking at the huge mechanical barrier wave that was collapsing and approaching like a tsunami in the distance.

“The mechanical city’s district relocation schedule, which should be carried out every quarter, has been completely twisted. The entire city will be in chaos.”

* * *

Drrrrr…!!

The mechanical barrier, which had risen to a height of tens of meters and blocked each district, rotated violently.

The heavens and the earth trembled just from the rotation and movement of the huge metal mass, unable to withstand its weight.

An overwhelming and alien landscape, as if a mountain range of steel was running recklessly across the ground.

There was not just one barrier rotating and moving in all directions, but dozens just within sight.

All the districts assigned to each location in the city were moving simultaneously, changing places in perfect unison.

Kugwagwagwa!!!

Lenox, who had avoided the mechanical barrier that was rushing towards him, immediately got on his bike.

Bwoooom!!

He ran straight across the barrier, which was tilted diagonally and sliding, quickly leaving the area where the coast was located.

As soon as he crossed the barrier, what he saw was a garden of countless parts heaving, revealing huge gears.

All kinds of buildings, public facilities, and structures moved, flipping their positions and directions, regardless of up, down, left, or right.

Drrrrr…!!

As if an invisible hand was moving huge blocks at will, the ground tilted vertically, and buildings were turned upside down.

It was difficult to maintain balance and center among the mechanical barriers and district blocks that were moving back and forth at high speed in all directions.

However, Lenox, riding his bike, quickly jumped and sped through the buildings and parts floating in the air.

“In terms of time, Mauzer should have already returned to the upper workshop district.”

Lenox said, having entrusted the operation to Dabi’s autopilot algorithm and further enhancing his mana detection.

“Since the coordinates inside the city are completely twisted, I’ll have to move until I can detect Mauzer’s presence with mana detection.”

If Mauzer had returned to the workshop, tracking his life signs would be the fastest way to return to the workshop.

Dabi, who was operating the bike instead of Lenox, asked.

[Is it okay not to track Hermes right away?]

“The fact that he forcibly advanced the district relocation schedule and turned the entire city upside down is proof that Hermes wants to hide his location.”

Lenox immediately replied.

“Mauzer has lived in this city for a long time, and he is one of the very few people who has gone through all the workshops, from the exclusive workshop to the lower workshops. If we’re going to find our way, it’s fastest to ask him.”

In addition, there was still unfinished business in the workshop.

He had to finish all the remaining preparations before Hermes completed his plan and manifested the Ascendant himself.

“…Found him.”

While spreading his mana detection to the limit and jumping over the rapidly surging barriers, he recognized a familiar life sign.

The upper workshop district where Lenox’s workshop was located.

Although this place was also chaotic due to the inter-city district relocation, its original form was still preserved.

One peculiar thing was that the workshop buildings were moving, neatly divided into blocks, without collapsing.

He had to catch up with the speed at which the workshop district was moving before it got any further away.

Lenox was about to increase the speed of his bike when.

Whoosh!!

A faint flash flickered in the distance, and then it sped at a terrifying speed and slammed into the spot where the bike had been.

Kwaang!!

The vast dormitory residential district, turned upside down above his head, quickly flashed by.

[Underwater barrier infiltration and Meister assassination suspect confirmed.]

On top of that building, dozens of Side Squad agents, as if covered in shadows, hung upside down and glared at Lenox with glowing eyes.

[We will begin the pursuit now…]

“No.”

Lenox, who immediately cut off the words that were going back and forth through the Side Squad agents’ communication network, raised his hand.

“From now on, there’s no reason to hold back.”

If Hermes was involved in the assassination of Nasisa Solmer, then the Side Squad who served him would also be in league with him.

At the same time as connecting hundreds of mana threads to the earth blocks, Dabi connected his thoughts.

The moment he turned the raised hand halfway, the residential district block that the agents were riding on rotated halfway and changed direction.

Kwarurururuk!!

[…!!!]

An anomaly suddenly occurred among the dozens of earth blocks moving in perfect unison.

Deviations occurred among the blocks that were supposed to move according to a strict plan, and their paths began to misalign and overlap.

Before the Side Squad agents could even react to the residential district block that had suddenly changed direction, another block began to rise rapidly from below.

The park district block, equipped with lush forests and public facilities, rose at an incredible speed without any chance to avoid it.

A collision between medium-sized districts surrounded by mechanical barriers.

Before the Side Squad agents, who belatedly realized the extent of the aftermath, could even struggle to escape the residential district.

“Bang.”

The moment Lenox clapped his hands, the two earth blocks collided head-on.

It unleashed a huge shockwave in the middle of the rapidly changing mechanical city.

Kwaaaaaaang!!!

[Kkyaaaak!!]

The Side Squad agents who were fleeing were swept away by the shockwave that erupted from the collision of the two districts of the mechanical city.

The agents, crushed between trees and building debris, let out desperate screams, and sticky blood flowed from the crushed suits.

The shock was so great that the communication network itself was paralyzed and submerged by screams and groans.

One of the agents stammered and muttered in disbelief.

[No way… How could he have the authority to control the moving districts without being an Ex Machina…!!]

“It’s not difficult to temporarily manipulate the management authority while the entire city is in turmoil.”

Lenox replied, looking at the sight of the two districts colliding and being crushed.

He pierced through the gap where the security barriers had become lax due to the decentralization of authority within the city due to the district relocation, and instantly seized control of the movement of the district in question.

All the earth blocks moving at high speed in this vicinity were uninhabited areas where the residents had finished their preparations.

Therefore, the moment Lenox identified the Side Squad agents, he used the city’s terrain itself as a weapon, crushing the agents.

“It’s enough to cause errors in the pre-entered angle and direction values. All you have to do is identify the overlapping paths in advance and set the amount of impact.”

[Ah, ah…!!]

The agents, seeing another uninhabited block falling from above, let out a desperate groan.

“If you want to catch me, you’ll have to face this entire district directly.”