The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 163

The Rebirth of the Mythical Archmage-164

About two minutes had passed since the battle began.

Shin Ji-han was currently in a state of utter bewilderment.

‘A 6th Circle Master is quite pathetic. At this rate, it seems like facing Kyle would be more challenging.’

‘This bastard…!’

It should have been checkmate.

Shin Ha-yul, who had just reached the 5th Circle, versus Shin Ji-han, a 6th Circle Master.

In a one-on-one fight, Shin Ji-han should have won.

No, he should have dominated, not just won.

The higher the achievement in magic, the greater the power.

A 2nd Circle mage might defeat a 3rd Circle mage.

However, a 7th Circle mage can never defeat an 8th Circle mage.

Of course, a miracle could happen, but even if that probability is factored in, the chance of an 8th Circle mage losing is less than 0.1%.

For high-circle mages, the difference in circles isn’t just a single number.

A difference of one circle is like the difference between the sky and the universe.

‘There’s no way a 5th Circle beginner could stand against me, a 6th Circle Master!’

The historical record of 5th Circle Master vs. 6th Circle Master battles shows a 97.6% victory rate for the 6th Circle Master.

The chance of defeat is less than 3%.

It’s an overwhelmingly high win rate.

Moreover, Shin Ha-yul is a 5th Circle beginner.

His win rate is less than 2%.

Yet, the current battle is at a standstill.

It was natural for Shin Ji-han to be flustered.

‘Why are you so surprised? I’m also 6th Circle, and you’re also 6th Circle. It’s natural for the battle to be even, isn’t it?’

‘Nonsense. Do you think I don’t know you’re a 5th Circle beginner pretending to be a 6th Circle?’

At those words, Shin Ha-yul made a ‘hmm’ sound.

‘Seeing that you know that, it seems there’s a spy within the shadows.’

‘……’

Shin Ji-han’s body and mana twitched. A clear sign of panic.

It was a mistake he would never make normally, but today, Shin Ji-han’s emotions were fluctuating.

Even such a minor probe caused his expression to change drastically.

‘Thanks for the good information.’

Shin Ha-yul smiled and rippled his mana.

‘As a reward for giving me good information, I’ll give you some good information too.’

The mana soon turned into blue flames, surrounding Shin Ha-yul.

‘It seems you analyzed my power based on the Olympiad matches. That’s wrong.’

‘……Did you hold back during the matches?’

‘Something like that.’

Shin Ha-yul’s Infinity Circle [a core of magic] moved, and the mana core in his dantian [an energy center in the body] resonated as if in response.

‘Also, the use of artifacts is prohibited during matches.’

Shin Ha-yul’s eyes glowed faintly with four colors: red, blue, green, and yellow.

It was the effect of wearing the world’s only contact lens-type artifact, ‘Four Seasons’.

‘You can think of me now as a different person from the one in the matches.’

Mana core and Four Seasons.

Due to the combined effect of these two, Shin Ha-yul’s current power is about 30% higher than it was during the matches.

‘……You came wearing the Four Seasons.’

‘Wow. You even know about the Four Seasons? It seems there’s definitely a spy among the shadow members. Thanks for the confirmation.’

Shin Ha-yul smiled mockingly and moved the blue flames.

The crimson magic tower’s pride, the scorching hellfire, surrounded Shin Ji-han.

‘Tsk.’

Shin Ji-han clicked his tongue in the center of the blue flames that filled the surroundings.

‘What difference does it make if you, a nobody, get information that there’s a spy in the shadows?’

At the same time, he swung his right hand from left to right, as if cracking a whip.

Crack, crack, crack-!

At that moment, the air froze.

Not just the air.

Even the scorching hellfire that Shin Ha-yul had unleashed froze.

‘You won’t have a chance to use that information anyway!’

Inside the ice-filled barrier.

‘This is……’

The unique stillness of winter filled the surroundings.

‘……Ice that freezes even flames. Is it the ‘Mansul’ of the Russian ‘Grana Family’?’

Shin Ha-yul deduced what kind of magic it was through the remnants of mana, magical effects, and output.

‘You know it well. You’re smart after all.’

‘To illegally acquire and use another family’s secret magic. If caught, it’s a life sentence.’

‘As long as I don’t get caught, right?’

This time, Shin Ji-han struck his right hand down from above.

At that moment, lightning struck.

Boom, crash!

Shin Ha-yul deployed the original magic he had taught Ji Soon-chan, ‘Eight Gates’.

A defensive magic that ranks among the top 5 in the world in terms of sturdiness.

A shield with enough strength to easily withstand a difference of one circle was created at the point where Shin Ji-han’s magic would hit.

Crash!

The shield and lightning collided.

Unexpectedly, the lightning won.

Clang!

The Eight Gates shattered.

It wasn’t destroyed because its power was too strong.

If it had been destroyed for that reason, Shin Ha-yul’s body would have been torn to shreds at the same time as the Eight Gates were destroyed.

However, Shin Ha-yul’s body was fine. Although the shield was broken, not even a small scorch mark remained on his body.

‘Even the ‘Divine Thunder’ of the Japanese Sanzenin Family……’

‘You know this too? Do you have a library in your head or something?’

Using the characters for ‘god’ and ‘thunder’, ‘Divine Thunder’.

It is a magic used by the Sanzenin family, one of the top 5 prestigious families in Japan, and it is a unique lightning attribute magic with the property of neutralizing the target’s magic.

Because of that characteristic, Shin Ha-yul’s Eight Gates were easily broken.

‘A part of the three great magics that Japan reveres…… Are you planning to go to war with Japan?’

‘As long as I don’t get caught, right? Who would use this kind of magic in an official setting?’

This time, Shin Ji-han moved his left hand. Then, he lowered his center of gravity and slammed his palm onto the floor.

Buzz, buzz!

The mana that started from Shin Ji-han’s palm resonated with the earth, creating a humming sound.

And it soon became a golem.

‘The Guardian of the Pendulum Family……’

The creation and manipulation of golems forged with earth attribute magic. The secret magic ‘Guardian’ that the Pendulum family boasts.

‘Are you feeling a little threatened now? Huh? You 5th Circle nobody.’

Thus, a total of five golems appeared in front of Shin Ji-han.

Each one was a golem with similar skills to a decent 4th or 5th Circle close-combat mage.

They held elaborately decorated swords and shields, pointing their sword tips at Shin Ha-yul.

‘How many secret magics did you buy?’

‘Let’s see. Was it 13? Or 14? I don’t remember exactly because I don’t use some of them since they’re not very useful.’

‘……’

Shin Ha-yul’s brow furrowed even more.

‘Why? Are you envious? Should I share some? Do you want to taste it before you die? Hehehe.’

Shin Ji-han spread his arms wide and laughed loudly.

‘It’s like having the whole world under my feet. It feels amazing, you know?’

‘……’

Shin Ha-yul scoffed.

It was nonsense not worth responding to.

‘If you don’t want it, fine. I didn’t intend to give it to you from the start anyway.’

Shin Ji-han’s mana expanded violently. At the same time, the golems that were in front of him began to move.

‘Then just die.’

Shin Ji-han clapped his hands together in a prayer position.

At that moment, immense physical force was applied to Shin Ha-yul’s body.

A force pressing down from above.

‘The Gravity Family’s gravity magic……!’

A famous magic of a prestigious family that even changed their family name to ‘Gravity’ because of their pride in secret magic. It was gravity magic.

‘Hahahaha! Die!’

Gravity strongly pressed down on Shin Ha-yul. The force was so strong that it was difficult to even lift his feet.

Towards Shin Ha-yul, who was thus immobilized, the five golems swung their swords.

‘I won.’

When the golems’ swords reached 5cm in front of Shin Ha-yul.

Shin Ji-han was certain of victory.

There was no way to evade the attack in that state.

Just as Shin Ji-han twisted his lips in a smirk.

‘Hoo.’

A light shone from Shin Ha-yul’s eyes.

Red, blue, green, yellow.

The eyes that had been faintly glowing with four colors momentarily took on a green light.

Green of the wind.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh-!

A strong wind blew.

The secret magic of the green magic tower, ‘Wind God’, enveloped Shin Ha-yul’s body.

The power of the wind was so strong that the golems’ swords were helplessly repelled.

‘The magics are all impressive, but…’

And the next moment, Shin Ha-yul was behind Shin Ji-han.

‘Maybe it’s because the person wielding them is incompetent. They’re not very threatening.’

‘You……!’

This time, Shin Ha-yul’s eyes turned ‘blue’.

Blue of the water.

Water droplets quickly engulfed the surroundings.

Shin Ha-yul concentrated them in his hand, forming them into the shape of a sword.

Buzz, buzz, buzz!

A strange sound came from the water sword that was created.

A trembling sound different from the resonance of mana.

The sound was small and somewhat quiet, but it was reminiscent of a chainsaw.

‘……!’

Shin Ji-han immediately deployed a defensive magic. He didn’t know what it was, but it was a dangerous magic. He had to block it.

It was a defensive magic that he deployed after making that instantaneous judgment.

However.

‘This is what makes you a commoner.’

Shin Ha-yul looked at Shin Ji-han as if he pitied him.

And he swung the water sword he was holding vertically.

‘You fool! Do you think you can break through a barrier with 6th Circle level output?’

Looking at the water sword approaching rapidly, he thought about his next move.

If he blocked that attack, what magic would he use to counterattack this time?

Yes. Since it’s close range, Mansul would be good.

‘Die as an ice statue.’

The moment he finished thinking.

Swoosh-!

A sound of something being cut was heard.

Not the sound of a sword hitting a barrier.

A sound of something being completely cut in two.

‘……Huh?’

Shin Ji-han reached out his right hand to counterattack, but his hand didn’t move.

He turned his gaze to the right, wondering what was going on.

‘……It’s gone?’

Shin Ji-han’s right arm was cleanly cut off from the shoulder.

It was lying pathetically on the floor.

‘Aaaaaaah!’

Fwoosh!

Shin Ji-han screamed a moment later, and at the same time, blood gushed from the severed area.

‘That’s what happens when you use barrier magic against a water pressure cutter.’

Shin Ji-han circulated mana to his severed area to stop the bleeding.

‘A, a water pressure cutter? How did you get such magic……’

‘I just tried it because it seemed like it would work.’

‘……What?’

Shin Ji-han’s eyes trembled in shock.

He had an expression of disbelief.

‘You created a high-level magic like a water pressure cutter yourself?’

‘Something like that.’

‘Don’t talk nonsense…… There’s no way that’s possible……’

His eyes, filled with inferiority and jealousy, and other sticky emotions, trembled.

‘Th, that’s right. You bought secret magic too, right? That’s it. That divine eye is all a lie, right? You bought the scorching hellfire and Wind God too……’

‘Think what you want.’

Shin Ha-yul scoffed.

It didn’t matter whether Shin Ji-han believed it or not.

There was no need or intention to convince him.

‘Ha, haha. Hahaha!’

Suddenly, Shin Ji-han burst into laughter.

‘That look in your eyes. Yes. I’ve hated that look from the start! I’ve always, always, always……! Wanted to tear it to shreds!’

Shin Ji-han laughed maniacally.

‘I’m not curious about that. Go call for backup. I have nothing more to say to you.’

The reason Shin Ha-yul only cut off one of Shin Ji-han’s arms was not to avoid killing him.

If killing him was better, he would have killed him without hesitation. Shin Ha-yul’s mind was not so young that he would hesitate to kill.

‘There’s no more certain evidence than the Black Magic Tower appearing here to save Shin Ji-han.’

Earlier, right after throwing Shin Se-ah at Shin Ha-yul, Shin Ji-han said, ‘Evidence manipulation for psychometry’.

It was a special magic that only the ‘Detective’ in America could use, and it was called the strongest magic limited to ‘investigating cases’ that could see past records through objects or spaces.

If this evidence could be manipulated, it would be problematic in many ways.

There was a possibility that this side could lose due to insufficient evidence.

Therefore, this side also needed its own evidence.

The most effective evidence was the Black Magic Tower intervening in this place and saving Shin Ji-han.

‘In the first place, the Black Magic Tower’s intervention is also the starting signal for Seok-hyun Uncle and Father’s actions.’

External intervention was needed to release this barrier.

Whatever it was, it was necessary to make the Black Magic Tower intervene.

‘Go call for backup. You don’t want to die, do you?’

‘Don’t get cocky…… Trash……’

‘Hmm. It’s quite strange to be called trash by trash.’

Shin Ha-yul shrugged casually.

‘Don’t just curse, go call for backup. You can’t beat me no matter what you do.’

Currently, Shin Ha-yul’s power was greatly increased through the ‘Four Seasons’ in addition to his mana core.

Even if Shin Ji-han was a 6th Circle Master, he was no match for the current Shin Ha-yul.

Unless he was a proper secret magic user. He would never lose to a fraud who only handled secret magic in a superficial way.

‘……Hehe.’

Shin Ji-han laughed grotesquely.

A chilling smile reminiscent of a psychopath.

Shin Ha-yul’s brow furrowed involuntarily.

‘The Black Magic Tower won’t come. No. They can’t come. They said that if they come, psychometry manipulation becomes impossible. They said that corrupted mana can’t be hidden.’

Shin Ji-han grabbed his neck with his only remaining left arm.

‘Me defeating you alone. That’s a prerequisite for the success of this operation.’

Zzzzt!

At that moment, there was a sound of something sparking. A very faint sound.

It was a sparking sound like electricity jumping between broken wires.

‘I don’t like being played by Tkysh, but…… I have no choice.’

The mana that had been surrounding Shin Ji-han stopped.

It was a scene as if the world’s time had stopped.

‘Well, fine. Whatever the aftereffects, killing you is much more important.’

The next moment, Shin Ji-han’s mana exploded.

A rough, violent, and unstable energy.

Shin Ha-yul immediately realized what caused this.

‘Overclocking the AI chip…… No. Is it an illegally modified artificial intelligence?’

‘You already noticed? You really are smart.’

Crack, crack!

Electricity sparked from Shin Ji-han’s neck, the place where the AI chip was implanted.

‘You’re so amazing that I impulsively want to tear you to shreds. You know? The feeling of wanting to pour paint on a perfectly completed painting.’

The mana was quickly stabilizing.

Enjoying that sensation, Shin Ji-han smiled slyly.

‘Is this the new chip? Tkysh is right to be proud of it. It feels like I’ve become a god.’

The density and quality of the mana swirling around Shin Ji-han were comparable to that of a 7th Circle.

‘But it’s still not enough……’

Without stopping there, Shin Ji-han took out a small pill from his pocket.

He put the pill in his mouth and swallowed it.

At that moment, Shin Ji-han’s mana became even denser.

The Black Magic Tower’s special illegal drug.

It spread throughout his body in an instant, and the limit of his mana core was released.

‘Hehe. Hehehe. This is it. Yes. This is the correct hierarchy.’

Shin Ji-han sneered, reveling in his overflowing power.

He looked down at Shin Ha-yul, sneering and staring at him.

‘Now, despair. And beg. Apologize for being arrogant. If you kneel and bow your head, I might show you some last mercy……’

‘Ha.’

Looking at Shin Ji-han, Shin Ha-yul scoffed.

‘Is your last resort, which you prepared so carefully, just an illegally modified chip and an illegal drug?’

As if Shin Ji-han in front of him was not scary at all.

Rather than being scared, he looked at him with pity.

He shook his head as if looking at something pitiful.

‘No matter how strong you pretend to be……’

‘Brother. No. Shin Ji-han.’

Shin Ha-yul frowned.

‘Do you know how Baek Sa-hyuk died three months ago?’

An illegally modified chip.

And an illegal drug.

The combination of these two is no threat to a Bytenner-type user.