Raided The God’S Warehouse [EN]: Chapter 322

326

The breath of two dragons erupted from Merlin’s staff, a power far beyond ordinary fire magic.

One dragon unleashed a greenish, toxic gas, while the other spewed forth scorching flames. The combination created a conflagration of overwhelming force.

“Block it!”

“Great Shield!”

“That won’t hold…”

“Tsk.”

*Whoosh!*

“Thank you! Coral Tower Master!”

The mages desperately tried to erect a barrier, but it proved futile as their defenses shattered and melted instantly.

Ultimately, only the Coral Tower Master’s intervention, raising a flame shield, allowed the mages to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

“Haha, this is more than I expected…”

River muttered, his gaze fixed on the approaching inferno.

He anticipated a powerful attack, but the Coral Tower Master’s direct intervention to block the aftermath signified truly formidable magic.

The sheer range of the magic also eliminated any possibility of escape or evasion, even with his speed.

There was only one option.

To confront it head-on.

*Whoong!*

The green gem on River’s sword pulsed with energy.

His sword, acting as a conduit like a wizard’s staff, amplified mana, creating swirling winds around it.

The gemstone, known as the ‘Gale Stone,’ was rumored to be the most prized gem for any wind-manipulating mage.

A massive vortex materialized before River, born from the mythical gem said to be formed from condensed wind.

“Brutal Typhoon.”

*Kwaaaang!*

The vortex rapidly transformed into a raging typhoon, violently intercepting the dragon’s breath.

Wind and fire.

The two elemental forces clashed, each attempting to consume the other in a furious struggle.

The result…

“Oh my god…”

“What kind of magic is that…”

The two phenomena merged, creating a typhoon that spewed forth scorching flames, scattering them in all directions.

The Coral Tower Master swiftly erected flame walls not only in front but also on all sides to contain the chaotic outburst.

The flame walls wavered precariously, but the Coral Tower Master successfully contained the fierce flame typhoon.

However.

“T, that’s!”

“The flame wall that the Coral Tower Master created…”

“It’s being devoured!”

It wasn’t the flame wall that formed the arena.

Exploiting the Coral Tower Master’s focus on pouring mana in one direction, the flame typhoon consumed the Coral Tower Master’s flame wall and dissipated.

If the Coral Tower had been located in a city instead of a remote area, the entire city would have been devastated by that attack.

“The match?”

“Who won?”

“First, let’s clear this smoke…”

“Stop. The match might not be over yet. Clearing the smoke would be like interfering.”

Their curiosity burned, but everyone silently awaited the smoke to dissipate at the Coral Tower Master’s command.

They yearned to clear the smoke and ascertain the outcome, but the Coral Tower Master’s caution was justified.

Perhaps the match was still ongoing, and a new attack was brewing within the smoke.

And that prediction proved accurate.

*Clang!*

The smoke cleared, revealing the shockwave generated by the clash of their swords.

Even after enduring the scorching heat and soot of that tremendous flame storm, the two combatants still stood, swords in hand.

“Do you still have mana left after such an attack?”

“It seems the same for you.”

“Haha, even though I look like this, I’m already in terrible condition. Honestly, my hands are shaking so much that it’s hard to hold the sword.”

Both had poured the majority of their mana into the previous attack.

They were now simply wielding their swords, conserving mana as efficiently as possible. Both were on the verge of collapsing from mana exhaustion.

“The audience must be bored. How about we end it in one go?”

“Sounds good.”

Contrary to River’s statement, none of the mages observing the match were bored.

Instead, they watched with bated breath, their hands clammy with anticipation.

Forgoing their usual analytical observations, they simply watched with awe.

Nevertheless, Seun nodded, eager to avoid an anticlimactic ending where one of them simply collapsed from exhaustion.

With his divinity sealed, he couldn’t even rely on the authority of sloth [a divine power associated with laziness and inaction].

“I like that personality of yours.”

“Me too.”

Utilizing the unique power of Merlin’s staff, the ruby embedded within shattered.

Consequently, Seun also drew swords in both hands, mirroring River’s stance.

A moment of silence descended.

As the two warriors caught their breath, the sound of mages swallowing nervously filled the air.

*Flash!*

The two figures vanished simultaneously.

A technique that grants a temporary burst of speed by concentrating haste magic on the legs.

It was the same technique River had employed earlier.

The problem.

“Haha… You copied my technique in the meantime? This is my secret technique…”

Seun was now executing the same technique as River.

He had determined that this was the most efficient way to deliver the final blow, maximizing the use of their remaining mana.

‘I can do it.’

He understood the underlying principles. All that remained was to put it into practice.

It was an impossible feat for anyone else, but Seun regarded River’s technique as magic extracted from the Vault of Greed [a metaphor for his ability to acquire and master skills].

He possessed the knowledge; he simply needed to execute it calmly with his body. It was a familiar process, requiring no anxiety.

*Tadat!*

The speed of the two combatants increased exponentially.

To ordinary observers, the surrounding scenery would have blurred into an indistinguishable mess.

Recalling his experience with Butterfly Dance [a previously used speed-enhancing technique], he adjusted his body’s balance.

As their speed reached its peak, the two warriors charged at each other simultaneously, as if guided by a prearranged plan.

*Swoosh-.*

This time, the sound wasn’t the metallic clang of colliding swords.

The distinct sound of something being cut suggested that one of them had been struck.

No, perhaps… both of them had been hit.

*Thud.*

*Thump.*

“Haha… I was confident that I would win if we fought with the same technique… You’re really amazing.”

At the moment of impact, both had twisted their bodies to minimize fatal injuries, but neither had ceased their attack until the very end.

The result was this.

Neither sustained fatal wounds, but both were incapacitated, kneeling on the ground.

“I, is it a draw?”

“Should we have a rematch?”

The mages’ murmurs grew louder.

However, the Coral Tower Master refrained from declaring the match over. As if anticipating further action, white light emanated from Seun’s hand.

– The stability of ‘Heal’ is enhanced according to the mysteries of the Azure Tower [referencing Seun’s unique magical abilities].

Heal.

The basic healing magic Seun had learned during the tutorial.

Every last speck of mana drained away, and his vision swam as if he were anemic.

Still, thanks to Heal, he managed to partially heal his wounds and rise to his feet, using his sword as a makeshift staff.

“I expected you to be proficient in all attributes… Did you even learn healing magic?”

He lacked the energy to respond.

Even though his body was moving, his mana reserves were depleted, and his heart ached as if being squeezed.

Honestly, Seun longed to collapse. However, he gritted his teeth and endured the pain, pulled the sword from the floor, and limped towards River.

Each step was agonizing.

With every heartbeat, his mind grew fainter, and warm blood trickled from his mouth.

Yet Seun pressed on.

*Thud.*

Finally, Seun’s sword pointed at River’s neck.

“Haha… I have no choice but to admit my defeat.”

River conceded.

* * *

“The Wind Mage lost!”

“The ending is truly unbelievable! I couldn’t even grasp the principle of activation, let alone replicate it even after watching it multiple times.”

“That’s normal. It’s extraordinary to instantly replicate another mage’s magic after only a few observations.”

“Is that why he won, because he’s such a prodigy? It might be the first time a 6-circle mage has ascended to the position of Coral Tower Master.”

“That’s right, it’s unprecedented. Until now, it was believed that no matter how skilled you were, your circle determined the outcome.”

The mages were in shock.

River possessed seven circles and was a legendary mage with undeniable skill.

Of course, he wasn’t a fully realized 7-circle mage.

The seventh circle seemed recently acquired, and he didn’t appear to have mastered its full potential.

His combat style also emphasized the skillful application of various magics rather than the raw power of high-circle spells.

“The next generation is promising.”

“If the fact that the Coral Tower Master is a magic swordsman and the Wind Mage is spread, a magic swordsman boom may occur for a while.”

“Like when the 2nd Coral Tower Master was active.”

The Coral Tower Master wields significant influence over the magical landscape of the continent simply by their existence.

The Coral Tower Master’s preferred magic gains popularity, and naturally, many mages study the magic employed by the Coral Tower Master.

The fact that they became the Coral Tower Master validated the value of that mage’s magic.

In fact, thanks to the current Coral Tower Master, Coral Abyss, the continent is currently obsessed with fire magic.

Consequently, the Red Tower, to which he belonged, has risen to prominence, second only to the Coral Tower.

“Then low-circle counter magic will also be revived.”

“That’s right. Shields, Grease [a spell that creates a slippery surface], etc… Magic that can counter magic swordsmen will develop.”

This was a natural consequence.

For example, just as the current continental situation favors fire magic, schools specializing in water magic have flourished to counter it.

The existence of the Coral Tower Master reshapes the magical landscape of the continent, fostering the development of diverse magics.

It was a truly virtuous cycle.

The role of the Coral Tower Master was to break the stagnation and initiate a new era.

“I see… so that’s how it is…”

The Coral Tower Master rose from his seat.

He was known for his unsociable nature, so everyone anticipated a swift Coral Tower Master appointment ceremony.

All the mages eagerly awaited this moment.

“Oh oh…”

“Is this your first time seeing the appointment ceremony?”

“Yes! The Coral Tower Master’s appointment ceremony is legendary among mages.”

“Hehe, that’s true. Sacrificing oneself to pass on power to the successor was called the only magic of the 1st Coral Tower Master.”

“Isn’t that also a secret technique passed down only among Coral Tower Masters?”

“It’s a little different from a secret technique. Should I say it’s an imprint engraved on the soul while passing on power…? Even the 5th Coral Tower Master, who directly inherited that power, failed to reveal the principle in the end.”

Everyone eagerly anticipated the new Coral Tower Master’s appointment ceremony.

“I have something to say to that guy, so don’t have any high expectations and go home, wash your feet, and sleep.”

*Whoosh!*

A massive flame wall erupted, encircling Seun and the Coral Tower Master.

The mages’ expressions naturally reflected their disappointment.

Ignoring their reactions, the Coral Tower Master gazed down at Seun, isolated within the flame wall where sight and sound were completely cut off.

Seun simply stood, staring back at the Coral Tower Master, suffering from mana dehydration symptoms from the previous battle.

In fact, his ability to remain standing in his current state was a testament to his extraordinary mental fortitude.

Facing Seun, the Coral Tower Master raised his staff.

“Who the hell are you…?”