Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 649

Thud!!

The clock tower’s core shook as if exploding, and the Executor’s body, embedded in the wall, slumped.

The Executor’s knees buckled as they convulsed, and they collapsed, losing all strength.

However, the place where the fallen Executor’s body landed was not the hard marble floor of the clock tower lobby.

It merely collided with the bodies of other Executors who had fallen earlier, unconscious and passed out.

The iron mask, having created a small hill with the bodies of the Executors, nonchalantly tilted its head.

[Next.]

“……”

Whoosh!!

At the same time as an intangible shockwave exploded, several Executors quickly approached and dashed forward.

Flashes of light accelerated without any warning, moving at speeds that were barely visible.

Clang!!

Sharp magical light flashed, and the resulting slashes tore through the air.

Blades and spears, along with other sharp weapons, rapidly increased in speed, leaving their aftereffects like scars on the building walls and floor.

A technique of a physical combatant, sharpening the nature of magic to the extreme to increase cutting power.

However, the opponent’s reaction was already ahead of their offensive.

[Slow.]

It dodged the incoming sword strike by taking a step back and deflected the spear thrust aimed at its shoulder with the back of its hand.

After breaking the curved blade aimed at its back by stepping on it, it grabbed and stopped the fist aimed at its temple.

“……!!”

It took only about two seconds to grab and dismantle the combined attack of the Executors who rushed in from all directions.

Considering that lightning-fast reaction speed, it would have been more than enough time to pierce their vital points and cut off their breath.

However, the iron mask did not kill the Executors, even though it shattered their weapons, stopped their fists, and blocked their paths.

[That’s just a compromise, adjusting speed to force coordination.]

It simply removed its foot from the trampled blade, released the grabbed fist, and slowly stepped back, mocking them.

A strange resonance flowed from behind the mask.

[If you’re not good at combined attacks, there’s no reason to force a formation. Even if it’s inefficient, it’s important to leave it to individual judgment and forcibly twist the battle structure.]

“What nonsense…!!”

Swoosh!!

It grabbed the blade that grazed its neck with one hand. With a light application of force, its fingers dug into the blade.

Crash!!

The iron mask spoke, dropping the shattered fragments of the broken sword on the spot.

[Contrary to your lack of experience, once you become accustomed to actual combat, you tend to blindly trust your own judgment. That’s why you become intoxicated with obvious choices, like aiming for an opening in speech.]

“……Who are you?”

[If your choices become obvious, you become easy to read. Once you start being easily read, your experience itself becomes a flaw.]

Bang!!

The iron mask, without even turning its head, caught the bullet fired at its temple and laughed.

[That’s also why the Execution Agency has been constantly replacing field personnel, leaving only a select few geniuses.]

Thud!!

There was no answer.

At the same time as it lightly swung the hand that was holding the bullet, the temples of four Executors caved in.

The Executors, who had their vital points exposed without even a proper response, lost their balance and collapsed on the spot.

They did not lose consciousness due to their superhuman mental strength, but it was a fatal blow that made it impossible to continue fighting head-on.

It kicked the fallen Executors, who were in disbelief, and embedded them into the wall of the clock tower as if they were taxidermied.

Thud!!!

The iron mask slowly moved, not even looking back at those who had fainted.

Whirr……!!

Isabella, who appeared through the collapsed clock tower building, grabbed the iron mask from behind and activated her magic amplification device.

Philo, holding a harpoon from the rear, focused his mind and refined his mental image [a mental construct used to manifest abilities].

The remaining Executors also raised their mental images, surrounding the iron mask from all directions.

After a series of attacks and defenses, it was clear that the opponent was a monster capable of taking on the entire Execution Agency alone.

However, the iron mask did not pay attention to the storm of magic that was boiling from all directions.

It simply cast its gaze towards the inside of the collapsed clock tower building from which it had emerged and lowered its head.

Lenok, who was watching the scene from behind, couldn’t help but admire it and shook her head.

“Perfect.”

The Executors of the Machine City are all superhumans who have completed dozens of real battles and rigorous training.

The excellence of the curriculum for training Executors is so high that other cities send their superhumans to complete it.

Moreover, the Executors dispatched to rescue the Ex Machina committee members are all strong individuals who are considered aces within the agency.

Even Lenok would find it difficult to guarantee such an overwhelming victory without deploying her magnetic field against them.

However, the being wearing the iron mask was overwhelming the Executors who were rushing in with the determination to die, without even a single hit.

Exceptional reaction speed, powerful magic output, a mental image that transcends hierarchy, and a body that is perfectly synchronized.

However, the results of this battle cannot be explained by mere superiority in specs.

The ability to foresee how the Executors would launch their attacks, plan their movements, and react, and to thoroughly crush any chance of a counterattack.

Is this the performance achieved after going through hundreds of trials and errors with a game guide?

It was beyond the level of knowing in advance how the opponent would react and responding to it; it was an achievement that could not be understood unless the reactions themselves had been created and trained by the person themselves.

And that was probably because she had created and implemented the Executors’ training curriculum herself.

Lenok quietly tapped her chest.

“Dabi, from now on, record every single movement and trajectory without missing anything.”

[I’ve been running the recording device since three hours ago.]

Dabi replied as if it were obvious.

[However, since that bizarre organic being started fighting, the capacity has been skyrocketing, so it seems like we’ll need a separate storage device?]

“It’s okay to keep only the necessary data and clear out the rest.”

Lenok said, moving to a position where she could see the battle at the clock tower better.

“Battle records of an 8-level extreme ability user. Even the Executors’ battle curriculum. I’m going to transfer it all to the database and use it as a model for the Touin.”

* * *

Boom!!

With a dazzling light that illuminated the entire Jongsim District and a hot gust of wind that swept through the area, melting the ground.

Amid the raging storm of magic and flashes of light, the Executors dashed and clashed with the iron mask, which stood alone.

Bang bang bang bang!!!

Isabella’s magic amplification device fired incessantly, and Philo’s harpoons rained down from the sky.

The slashes swung with swords curved into a shape like a full moon and exploded.

The explosions that were created by grabbing and detonating the air chained together, forming a ring of fire.

A barrage of firepower that was difficult to face even an inch ahead.

However, the iron mask did not avoid it for even a moment in the middle of the battlefield, taking all the attacks head-on.

[You’re using the close combat techniques from the curriculum as they are. Easy to read.]

Thud!!

[Did you mix a variation into the 47th style swordsmanship? If you were using it to support your innate ability, you should have paid more attention to its completion.]

Clang!!

[A small universe with the mental image of fusion. But the form of the hot wind is not desirable. It’s weak.]

It took the firepower or physical force below a certain level with its bare body and deflected attacks mixed with changes in properties.

It avoided small universes mixed with mental images and deflected techniques or barrages equivalent to high-level firepower.

At the same time, it did not hold back from commenting on noticeable attacks or movements.

It instantly saw through all the martial arts and abilities used by the Executors, and while suppressing them by reverse-analyzing them, it also pointed out their flaws.

That strange attitude of not even trying to hide the fact that it knew them well.

While dominating the battlefield with overwhelming performance, it mercilessly trampled and beat down the Executors.

That attitude of not killing the opponent, even while winning every single exchange that occurred dozens of times per moment, was maintaining a strange balance.

“Isabella.”

Philo smiled wryly and gestured to Isabella.

“Philo, what is it?”

“I think I’m starting to figure out who that person is. You too, right?”

Isabella did not answer and turned her gaze away.

Philo chuckled at her reaction.

“I guess so. Considering the equipment you use, there’s no way you wouldn’t react.”

“……”

“They’re giving us an opening. It’s clear they’re trying to buy time, but… if we don’t address it here, it won’t be resolved.”

Click!!

Philo, gripping the harpoon in reverse, muttered.

“I’ll go first, so follow me. Antman, Gronis, Zygon. The other branch managers, respond.”

“Who do you think you are…!!”

Philo didn’t wait for an answer and dashed towards the iron mask like the wind.

He deeply thrust the harpoon, which he had gripped as if sliding it down his forearm, from below the chin.

The moment the rusty tip of the harpoon was swung towards the bottom of the mask, the iron mask grabbed the blade of the harpoon with its bare hand and pushed it away.

Crack!!

That overwhelming grip crushed the harpoon that protruded between its fingers.

Philo and the iron mask’s gazes met almost simultaneously.

[Your power control is awkward. You haven’t been in combat for a while.]

“I have been. There just wasn’t anything to fight.”

Clack!!

Philo, pushing the crushed harpoon closer to the iron mask, smiled.

“How long are you going to pretend you don’t know?”

[…….]

“Your strange familiarity with the terrain of the Gongbang District. The knowledge to decipher the Execution Agency’s curriculum and combat techniques. Even the skill to infiltrate the seabed barrier and destroy the mental center.”

Philo whispered.

“It was all possible because it was you. I understand now.”

Crunch!!

Immediately after, a heavy gauntlet that appeared from behind scraped the mask as if grabbing it.

The moment the mask she was wearing was scraped off and her face was about to be revealed, she twisted her waist and kicked the side of another Executor who was rushing in.

Snap!!

“Ugh…!!”

[The target is too obvious.]

The iron mask muttered in a cold voice, looking at the martial artist whose waist was bent in half.

[Is that all you’ve got?]

At that moment, Isabella, who had appeared as if sliding from behind Philo, swung her amplification device.

Whoosh!!

Right below Philo’s forearm, at point-blank range. The magical light that had formed at the end of the amplification device rapidly swelled and exploded in front of the iron mask’s nose.

Was her intention to detonate the firepower at point-blank range to shatter the mask, rather than removing it?

At the same time, three streams of magic that had risen from between the iron mask’s forearms rotated and pierced through space itself.

It pierced through the magic of the amplification device that was exploding in front of it and split it apart.

Swoosh!!

The mental image that pierced through space rushed forward, piercing through Isabella’s magic and attempting to cut through the amplification device beyond it in one go.

The amplification device and the broken harpoon collided in front of the mask, creating a cross.

It scratched the iron mask she was wearing, amplified the vibration, and shattered the mask.

Crack!!!

Whoosh!!

Fragments of the mask scattered among her fluttering hair.

Looking at the face that was revealed beyond, Isabella slowly lowered the amplification device she was holding.

“A technique that twists space with a strike that forcibly collides three streams of magic.”

Philo, looking at her face, stepped back, exhausted.

“There are still many in the Execution Agency who try to imitate your techniques. If they were to face the original in front of them, they wouldn’t be able to not recognize it.”

“……”

She, who had been looking down at the shattered mask, slowly brushed back her hair and raised her gaze.

The Executors, who had confirmed the face that was revealed beyond, flinched with a look of agitation.

Philo asked with a pale face.

“Mayah Lenslet. Why have you, who were expelled from the Execution Agency, returned to Machina at this time?”

“……Even after drawing your own conclusions, do you still want to hear it from my mouth?”

A cold sneer appeared on Mayah’s lips.

“I went into the seabed barrier’s mental center, killed the Meister, and destroyed the Ascension Gate. I was going to chase down the escaped Hermes and kill him too.”

“……”

“I also took over the district’s management authority and killed the Side Squad agents, and I also fought the commander of the mechanized legion. It was all my doing.”

What Mayah had presented to Lenok as a condition for this deal was not something else.

It was a straightforward alternative to cover up all the things Lenok had done in this incident with her own identity.

The best executor of the Machine City. A person involved in the Ascension Gate project. And now, an exile who has lost all authority and been expelled.

However, because of that, all the suspicions that Lenok had been under while stirring up the depths of this city could be attributed to Mayah’s existence alone.

A being who was directly involved in all the secrets of the Machine City in the past, yet now opposes the city and dreams of overthrowing it.

There could be no more perfect fit for the accusations than the fact that Mayah Lenslet herself was that person.

From the beginning, Mayah had intended to take the blame for everything Lenok had done and deceive the entire Machine City.

In the cold silence, Mayah tilted her head, scattering killing intent.

“Move.”

Mayah moved to leave the Jongsim District, walking unhindered through the fallen and groaning Executors.

Isabella gritted her teeth and blocked her path.

“……I won’t let you do that. Executor.”

“Isabella.”

A cold smile formed on Mayah’s lips.

“You’ve grown a lot. I didn’t think you’d join the Execution Agency.”

“……”

“Are you going to use the keepsake Clark left behind against me?”

Isabella couldn’t say anything and gritted her teeth. Her strength was so great that blood was dripping from her lips.

However, the magic flowing from Isabella’s body did not waver in the slightest.

“Executor Lenslet. After everything is over, I will take responsibility for my mistakes and overreach.”

Isabella said.

“But that will be after I restrain you and secure your safety.”

“Okay.”

Mayah laughed.

“But starting and ending things isn’t something we get to decide.”

Ting!!

Before anyone could react, a small light sprang up from Mayah’s fingertips as if it had been flicked.

The shape of a jewel mirror, pulsating and vibrating regularly like the beating of a heart.

Mayah looked up at the light of the mirror and brought the blade of a small sword to her wrist.

“I can only create the board.”

Swish!!

An unknown energy swirled from the other side of the jewel mirror, and the blood flowing from her wrist rose and rotated along the mirror.

[Blood Magic 6-Fold Deployment]

[Single Arrival, Other Projection]

[Stop Return Celestial Dome]

[Start Auxiliary Calculation.]

The moment the stream of blood that Mayah had swung up touched the jewel mirror, the doctor’s voice echoed from the far side of the void.

Her magic and blood, reflected from the mirror, split into thousands of strands and began to cover the entire space-time.

Clang clang clang!!!

It was not simply a matter of using a mental image to overlay reality.

Beyond that concept, Philo, realizing that the reality Mayah had reflected in the jewel mirror was being completely altered, began to sweat profusely.

“This is impossible…!! How can you achieve this level of reality alteration…!!!!”

“It’s not me. I’m just borrowing it.”

Sweat was also dripping down Mayah’s forehead as she gave a twisted smile.

“But that’s enough.”

A material catalyst created by extracting a portion of the Thousand Eyes’ concept.

However, if that data was reverse-calculated and used to assist in the implementation of Mayah’s mental image, and calculated with the doctor’s help.

It was possible to trace the prototype of that miracle, even for a very short time.

The mental image of a transcendent being who had already died and disappeared. A gamble that even Mayah herself was risking her life on, projecting a very faint part of it.

A reckless idea that she wouldn’t even attempt without the doctor’s help. But if she could imitate it even for a moment, it would be enough.

A single decisive move to draw the attention of the entire Machine City, find Hermes’ location, and bring Lenok to him.

The scenery of the clock tower area was completely overturned, and it was distorted as if a lens had been broken.

At the same time as Lenok, who had raised her magic, moved, Mayah also projected the other side of the mirror into reality.

9-level Ascended, Thousand Eyes Madrea Falsier’s Ideological Domain Simplified Deployment.

[Concept Fusion: Thousand Eyes]

[Ideological Domain: Myriad Reflections, One Point Pupil]