The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 13

About three minutes had passed since the start of the eighth match.

Adela was currently ecstatic.

Since her default expression was usually blank, it wasn’t outwardly visible, but her eyes were gleaming more than ever.

‘Strong.’

Adela’s lost guiding star had returned.

The supernova of the Mado family had been resurrected.

Adela was greatly pleased by this fact.

‘Flame Revolver.’

The 3rd Circle magic, Flame Revolver, cast by Adela, was affected by Shin Ha-yul’s wind and deviated from its trajectory.

He accurately calculated the speed of the Flame Revolver and twisted its path with a wind of appropriate power.

He had reversed the advantage and disadvantage of the Flame Revolver’s rapid-fire capability.

‘Earth Needle.’

Spikes of earth shot up from the ground.

It was an attack timed perfectly, but,

Shin Ha-yul seemed to have anticipated this as well, jumping high into the air to avoid the Earth Needles.

‘Aero Impact.’

Adela, who had predicted that Shin Ha-yul would evade, immediately cast the next spell.

A wind-attribute strike magic that directly hits and blows away the air.

Its characteristic was its speed.

It surged towards Shin Ha-yul, who was floating in the air.

A person becomes defenseless when they are in the air.

Knowing this, Adela had forced Shin Ha-yul to jump using ‘Earth Needle’.

‘If the opponent predicts all my magic, I just need to make it meaningless even if they predict it.’

Everything was going according to Adela’s plan.

However.

‘Barrier.’

There was no way Shin Ha-yul wouldn’t have read Adela’s plan.

A translucent barrier was created beneath Shin Ha-yul’s feet.

Shin Ha-yul used that barrier as a stepping stone, jumping even higher into the air.

“……!”

Aero Impact passed under Shin Ha-yul’s feet, causing a strong gust of wind.

‘Using the barrier as a… stepping stone!?’

Adela felt a genuine chill run down her spine.

She was getting goosebumps at Shin Ha-yul’s unbelievable magic utilization.

‘This isn’t the time to be spacing out!’

Using his enhanced lower body, Shin Ha-yul, who had jumped twice, was descending towards Adela from a considerable height.

‘With the sun behind him…!’

As if everything was calculated, Shin Ha-yul had the sun behind him.

Thanks to that, Adela couldn’t look directly at Shin Ha-yul.

‘Great Shield.’

Adela had no choice but to choose defense.

A huge shield appeared in front of Adela.

She didn’t know what Shin Ha-yul was aiming for, but Shin Ha-yul, who could only use 1st Circle magic, couldn’t break through the 3rd Circle defense magic, Great Shield.

That was the safety measure she used, thinking that way.

‘Earth.’

Shin Ha-yul created earth in his hand using earth-attribute magic.

The earth, created instantly by his will, soon took the shape of a sword.

At the same time, he cast Wind, adding acceleration to his falling speed.

Kwaaaaaaang-!

Shin Ha-yul’s earth sword and Adela’s Great Shield collided, creating a tremendous roar.

Adela frowned momentarily at the rather powerful impact.

‘It’s strong, but not enough to be unblockable.’

But as expected, it didn’t break through the Great Shield.

Now that the opponent’s attack had missed, it was Adela’s turn to counterattack.

However.

‘Earth Bind.’

Shin Ha-yul’s actions were faster.

As if wielding the sword made of earth wasn’t the goal in the first place, he quickly lowered his body and placed his hand on the ground, using 1st Circle binding magic at the same time.

‘When did he lower his stance…!’

Adela, who had been looking up at the sky, didn’t clearly capture Shin Ha-yul’s movement as he suddenly lowered his stance.

“Kuh!”

As a result, Adela was bound by chains made of earth.

Tat-!

Taking advantage of that gap, Shin Ha-yul immediately flew behind Adela.

The range of the Great Shield was only in front.

The rear was empty.

He intended to exploit that gap.

However.

Crack!

Shin Ha-yul’s goal was soon thwarted.

“You can’t hold me with just Earth Bind.”

Adela, who had instantly released Earth Bind, turned her body towards Shin Ha-yul behind her.

Naturally, the direction of the Great Shield also turned 180 degrees, blocking Shin Ha-yul’s path.

Shin Ha-yul, as if he didn’t care, fired magic at Adela.

‘Water Missile.’

Four Water Missiles collided with Adela’s Great Shield.

Of course, there was no impact on the Great Shield.

The difference between 1st Circle and 3rd Circle was that great.

“With this much….”

Just as Adela was about to say a word,

Kwaaaaaaang!

“Kyaaaaak!”

Suddenly, a tremendous explosion resounded behind Adela, and Adela screamed.

Behind Adela, a wound from being hit by magic was clearly visible.

* * *

Inside the VIP showroom.

Shin In-hyuk, who had been watching the match with a serious expression, jumped up from his seat.

His eyes were trembling with a bewildered expression.

“His combat sense is beyond imagination.”

Kim Kang-in was the same.

Anyone who realized how high-dimensional the calculations behind this short exchange were would have no choice but to react this way.

“To think that everything from dodging the first Earth Needle was a setup.”

Shin Ha-yul’s actions just now were all planned, starting from dodging the ‘Earth Needle’ with a jump.

“When he deliberately dodged the Earth Needle by jumping, I thought Ha-yul was making a mistake. But I was wrong.”

He dodged the Earth Needle into the air, inducing Adela’s follow-up attack.

He used the barrier as a stepping stone to increase his altitude even further.

In the process, he had the sun behind him, sealing Adela’s vision.

And at this timing, Shin Ha-yul prepared a fatal dagger.

“To think he would use the trick of hiding a ‘Wind Spear’ with delayed firing characteristics within the sunlight.”

He hid the Wind Spear between Adela and the sun.

Then, he nonchalantly created an earth sword using ‘Earth’.

He accelerated his body with ‘Wind’ and struck Adela’s ‘Great Shield’.

That was an attack that was meant to be blocked, an attack to turn Adela’s gaze towards himself.

“He focused Adela’s attention with the earth sword, made her turn her gaze downwards with Earth Bind, and even made her face the sun by going behind her. It was perfect.”

And at that moment, the Wind Spear hidden in the sun descended, aiming for Adela’s back.

It struck Adela’s empty back.

That was the truth of the exchange just now.

“1st Circle Archmage. I don’t know who gave him that title, but there’s no better nickname for him.”

Kim Kang-in clicked his tongue.

There was probably no one who could handle 1st Circle magic better than Shin Ha-yul.

When it came to the utilization of 1st Circle magic, even Kim Kang-in himself was no match.

‘If we were to fight using only 1st Circle magic, I might lose.’

Could there be anyone who could beat Shin Ha-yul using the same 1st Circle output and the same 1st Circle magic?

Absolutely not.

That’s how perfect Shin Ha-yul’s magic was.

“You have a good son.”

“A good son….”

Shin In-hyuk looked at his son with a complex expression.

Shin Ha-yul’s appearance, not missing the opportunity he had seized with the previous blow and continuing to push forward, was enough to be admired.

“But he’s just a flawed mage who can only use 1st Circle magic.”

But that was it.

No matter how meticulous and calculated Shin Ha-yul’s actions were, Shin Ha-yul was ultimately just a half-wit who could only use 1st Circle magic.

“As proof, even though he’s so dominant, he can’t finish it.”

Shin In-hyuk looked at his son with a complex expression.

“Even though Adela hasn’t even used her secret magic yet.”

In Shin In-hyuk’s opinion,

His son, Shin Ha-yul’s, limitations were clear.

4th Circle at 18 years old.

A new combat method using the outdated magic of Memorize.

Meticulous combat using modified magic.

They were all impressive, but that was it.

“Strategy, tactics, analysis. No matter how much you hone those abilities, they are meaningless in the face of overwhelming power.”

Shin Ha-yul lacked power.

Overwhelming power that could crush the opponent with the shield intact.

“1st Circle magic is just 1st Circle magic no matter what you do.”

As long as that was lacking, Shin Ha-yul could not become the best mage.

As proof.

“It has begun.”

Mysterious mana emanated from around Adela’s body.

“The pride of the Shinbi family. Moon attribute magic.”

As if the reconnaissance was over, Adela began to use her proper secret magic.

“3rd Circle magic. Halo.”

Halo.

If translated, it means a lunar halo [a ring of light around the moon].

It was a magic that looked like moonlight was being emitted.

With that one spell, the tide of the battle instantly turned.

The offense and defense of Shin Ha-yul and Adela were instantly reversed.

“That’s the answer. Ha-yul can never be the best.”

Shin Ha-yul could not be the best.

Shin In-hyuk was certain of that.

“Certainly. As long as Adela is there, it will be impossible for him to become the best in Korea. Not to mention the world.”

Even if Shin Ha-yul was great, he was no match for the geniuses of the world right now.

That’s why it was even more disappointing.

‘If only Ha-yul wasn’t a misfit.’

Thinking that, a sense of regret welled up.

Shin In-hyuk put on his coat with a sullen expression.

“Where are you going?”

“Is there any need to watch a battle that’s already over?”

Shin In-hyuk had already judged that this battle was over.

Watching it any longer would just be a waste of time.

“Hmm. I see.”

Kim Kang-in was also thinking the same thing.

“Perhaps it’s because of the lack of information about secret magic. Ha-yul’s movements aren’t as good as before either. It’ll be hard for him to win.”

“Then I’ll go first.”

“Yes. I’ll see you again later.”

Just as Shin In-hyuk turned his body,

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”

Suddenly, cheers from the audience were heard from beyond the VIP showroom.

“…No way!”

At the same time, Kim Kang-in shouted and jumped up from his seat.

At the sudden situation, Shin In-hyuk turned his body back.

And the moment he checked the view of the arena beyond the showroom’s glass window.

“…!”

Shin In-hyuk’s eyes widened as much as they could.

“2nd Circle… magic?”

On Shin Ha-yul’s palm, the 2nd Circle fire attribute magic, ‘Flame Vulcan,’ was shining with a clear form.

And considering the characteristics of Memorize [a magic that allows a mage to store and reuse spells], the fact that Shin Ha-yul used 2nd Circle magic meant.

“Ha-yul… has woven the fifth ring?”

It meant that Shin Ha-yul had become a 5th Circle mage.

“This is ridiculous….”

Kim Kang-in and Shin In-hyuk’s eyes shook as if an earthquake had struck.

* * *

“2nd Circle… magic…?”

“Why are you surprised? I told you earlier. I was late because I was preparing to defeat you.”

I smiled as I looked at Adela, whose eyes were wide open like a startled rabbit.

“Really… 5th Circle?”

Adela asked with a dazed face.

“Can’t you see?”

Flame Vulcan blazed with a vivid red color on my palm.

“Why only now…?”

Why had I hidden the fact that I could use 2nd Circle magic until now?

That’s what she was asking.

“It’s the same reason you were holding back your secret magic.”

At first, Adela had only used general open-source magic, not secret magic, when facing me.

What was the reason for that?

“…Reconnaissance. Was your goal also to observe me?”

“Yes.”

That was to gather information.

Secret magic consumes a lot of mental power. It’s not suitable for gathering information.

Therefore, she used general magic with low consumption to conduct reconnaissance.

And when the information gathering was over, and she judged that she could win, she began to pressure me using secret magic.

I was the same.

My 2nd Circle magic also consumed a lot of mental power.

I couldn’t use it recklessly without securing a clear victory.

That’s why I only used 1st Circle magic to gather information about Adela’s magic.

And.

“Then the reason you’re using 2nd Circle magic now is….”

“It means reconnaissance is no longer necessary.”

I was now confident that I could win.

That’s why I used 2nd Circle magic.

“…I see.”

Adela’s eyes shone sharply. It seemed my words had touched her pride.

“Then I’m going.”

I lowered my stance and activated the ‘Flame Vulcan’ that I had prepared in advance.

More than a dozen fireballs surged towards the enemy like a Vulcan cannon, true to its name.

‘Great Shield.’

Adela used 3rd Circle defense magic like before to block my Flame Vulcan.

The barrage of 2nd Circle magic, with a clearly different destructive power than 1st Circle magic.

Adela frowned as if she was struggling.

‘Fixed Turret.’

I immediately fixed the Flame Vulcan in the air.

With this, the Flame Vulcan, freed from the shackles of my body, turned into a fixed turret in the air, firing fireballs only at Adela.

In that state, I immediately turned around, aiming for Adela’s rear.

“…!”

Adela, who was unable to move due to being tied down by Flame Vulcan, and unable to release the Great Shield.

I approached Adela’s rear and cast ‘Flame Shock,’ which was also a 2nd Circle fire attribute magic, at close range.

Just as my flames were about to reach Adela,

‘Halo!’

Moonlight burst out around Adela’s body.

The lunar halo emanating from Adela extinguished my ‘Flame Vulcan’ and ‘Flame Shock’.

And quickly approached me.

Beyond the approaching moonlight, Adela’s back was visible.

Her eye, only one side of which was visible as she slightly turned her head, was smiling as if she was certain of victory.

That magic, a fusion of light and dark attribute magic, was impossible to break through with ordinary methods, and its power was also tremendous.

She had succeeded in casting ‘Halo’ at this close range.

It was not strange that she was certain of victory.

However.

‘Amateurish.’

She should have thought about why I approached her even though I knew about the magic called Halo.

She should have realized that inducing Halo was my goal.

She should have realized that I had been observing Halo all this time.

[The second ring of the Bytener magic is also called the ring of ‘Resonance’.]

Zhiing-!

‘Here I go.’

The second Infinity Circle inside my body began to resonate with the mana around me.