Mine Collapse Incident (2)

The state of the mine was at its worst.

‘It seems at least ten fissures have occurred; the collapse is at a critical stage, so even touching it will require caution.’

I spoke the diagnosis I grasped by rapidly releasing mana, and Jeong Gil-sun, who had not investigated for fear that our mana might clash, asked.

“What do you think we should do once we go down into the tunnel?”

“We’ll have to step up the reinforcement of the tunnel periodically using Bone Wall. I think it will need to be used nearly a thousand times; can you handle it?”

“Tsk, I can do at least that much.”

Looking at Jeong Gil-sun speaking confidently, I knew the old man hadn’t kicked the bucket yet, but since caution was necessary, I opened sub-space, took out two mana-increasing artifacts, and handed them to the two.

“I’m lending these to you.”

“…You even had artifacts of this caliber?”

“They’re quite good, so make sure to return them well, okay?”

After a ‘Hmph,’ the two slipped the rings onto their fingers.

Then they asked as if surprised.

“The amplification is about 30 percent. This is a magnificent artifact. Do you have no intention of selling it?”

I shook my head at the untimely bargaining and spoke.

“It is not an item to be bought or sold. Someone I know gave it to me.”

“You punk, even we can’t easily get a hold of an item like this! You know that, right?”

It wasn’t a lie. Therefore, since it would be troublesome in many ways if the rescue led to failure, I made a subtle proposal for motivation.

“If you save everyone well, I’ll give them to you as a souvenir, so for now, please focus on the work.”

“Don’t change those words, do you understand?”

“Let’s begin.”

Watching the two begin to operate their mana, I engraved patterns into the mana I had spread.

I planned to reinforce all the points of collapse by operating the ‘Bone Needle’ magic at its minimum unit.

To be precise, it was an action close to sewing, and I intended to further reinforce the areas reinforced and filled with Bone Needles by using Spider Web magic to entwine them tightly.

It was certain that a massive amount of mana would be consumed, but because this was only the operation of about half of my total magic, the burden was light, and once I stabilized all the collapses primarily, I would only need to focus on additional monitoring.

It was a task that appeared simple at a glance, but in reality, because it was a task that could not be executed unless multiple casting was possible, I had said high-level mages were necessary.

‘Kim Dae-san, he seemed quite desperate for his political life not to be shaken…’

However, I did not like the overly lukewarm attitude toward this artificial act of terrorism.

What was reported in the media also introduced it as a collapse due to a sudden Core destruction.

Thanks to that, many people called it a disaster, but in reality, it was terrorism.

‘Those in the know must all be aware; that’s why they cut ties because of the danger. Tsk, that old man Han Sang-gil… I don’t know if it’s because of old times or if he’s clinging to a sliver of hope… but if you’re thinking of just using me, you’d better be prepared. Kim Dae-san….’

Hero or whatever, at that time, it would be a fight to the end.

Anyway, as the reinforcement was completed smoothly, Jeong Do-bin made the ground soft, and in the meantime, Jeong Gil-sun used Bone Wall to set up walls.

However, as the softened ground flowed down like liquid, a path began to emerge; because this method was effectively a way to proceed while minimizing the impact on the tunnels, it couldn’t be helped even if it was incredibly crude.

‘Reinforcing a thousand times is easier said than done…. Piercing the path as quickly as possible is the answer. If time is delayed, they will die from oxygen deficiency as well.’

Conditions were poor in many ways, but at this time, two mages made an appearance.

“…Just when do you plan to pierce a path acting like this?”

“It is not for you to interfere. It’s enough to step forward when the situation worsens or an emergency occurs. Step back.”

Upon hearing my words, it was a Magic Tower elder whose eyes flared up, but I stared back at them and spoke while glaring.

“If a problem arises because of even a little interference…. I don’t know about others, but I will definitely kill you two. And I will even call forth your souls to burn in hellfire, making you feel what endless pain is.”

It was a threat based on truths that only a black mage was capable of.

At that, the two flinched and took a step back, and just then, the government official encountered previously, Bak Min-su, made an appearance and spoke to me.

“There’s no need to be so stiff, is there?”

“It’s an interference. It’s right for everyone to step back. Even talking like this and sharing presence can affect the Gate collapse; it’s troublesome when people who should know better act this way.”

“It’s a matter that will be fine as long as you, Geum Seong-chan, do not get excited.”

“Did you send him specifically to provoke me?”

“It is a special selection for the sake of saving lives.”

I felt like grabbing them and beating them up right now. However, I must not get excited as I did with Bak Min-su.

‘To think that I, with broken emotions, would feel this much anger; it’s a talent.’

In any case, because there was no need for a war of nerves with those who had backed off, I released mana to prepare for a “just in case” situation.

And as I began to shape it, Bak Min-su asked.

“What is the magic you are preparing now?”

“…”

I remained silent, as it was annoying to answer, and at this time, while engraving magical language for the necessary shaping, the questions continued.

“Quite a lot of language signifying destruction is included. It’s not as if you’re trying to collapse this place, so why on earth are you preparing such magic?”

“…Damn it, what is the reason for getting on my nerves?”

“Because I am a manager who must know all the reasons. Even a small impact can intensify the collapse in this situation, so isn’t it because of concern that you seem to be preparing magic unrelated to the rescue?”

It wasn’t a lie. However, I had no desire to have my nerves grated while answering.

But since it was clear they would keep annoying me if I didn’t tell them, I spoke.

“This case isn’t a natural collapse, it’s terrorism. I don’t know what kind of dangers are lurking inside or out, so do I have to remain defenseless?”

“…It is strictly a disaster.”

Bak Min-su glanced back, so I spoke in a louder voice.

“No matter how much I think about it, there isn’t a stupid Awakener who thinks this is a disaster; especially if it’s someone who knows ecology well.”

“Stop right there, it is strictly a disaster.”

Bak Min-su became urgent, so I curled up the corners of my mouth and spoke.

“Under no circumstances does a Core get destroyed naturally as long as time remains; there has never been a report in academia, nor has it ever been mentioned as a possibility….”

“Th-that’s enough, I won’t bother you anymore, so please stop there.”

And then Bak Min-su hurriedly turned back and ran to the press corps. At that, the two mages who were watching avoided my gaze and cleared their throats.

“Ahem, we know nothing.”

“Did something happen here? Ahem.”

I deliberately ignored the two sly fellows and smoothed my relieved chest.

‘Damn fellow, I’ll make sure you pay the price later.’

And then I finished preparing the magic.

There were two magics I was preparing. One was a magic that spread out an impact as widely as possible, a form of magic that defended against incoming attacks most efficiently.

The reason I used this method was to prevent the collapse of such weak terrain, and the other magic was a spell that randomly teleported specific targets.

This was because it was very difficult to trade blows in such a space.

Therefore, I would neutralize enemies by performing short-range teleports as an instant-activation type.

Even in the case of teleportation, if the coordinates were designated to a place like underground or the sea, it could cause immense damage; this was because foreign objects existing at those coordinates would dig into the body of the moved target.

Some say they are synthesized, but it’s because teleportation is literally a memory-storage type of magic that decomposes the physical body and then rapidly reorganizes it.

Since discussing the activation principles could get quite complex, a simple explanation was as follows.

After projecting mana into my body and engraving the memory, it decomposes my body and the mana itself in the mana thus projected, then forcibly moves them to the designated coordinates and assembles them.

Because the entire process is carried out in a split second before the body collapses, life fades, or the soul leaves the body, it has the same effect as having moved through space intact.

But if used for offensive purposes, what if there is a foreign object at the designated coordinates moved to?

If so, it will get mixed with that foreign object while the body is reorganizing, and the result is failing to compose the body and collapsing, being torn apart, or scattering.

Even if one moves intact, there are cases where the body gets stuck in a foreign object.

Anyway, it is also occasionally used for offensive purposes.

However, given that it manifests in the form of a ‘trap,’ it’s difficult to specify a target in a vast space, but in a narrow space like this, it could be said there was no more certain killing magic than this.

Afterward, after memorizing the two spells, I grasped the two people who were steadily proceeding and began to check the collapse situation by breathing out mana extensively.

Meanwhile, Wang Sun was standing in a building overlooking the mine Gate.

“Tsk, to think he’s acting as if he’s done everything after preparing just that little thing.”

The twenty or so Awakeners lined up behind Wang Sun were each 1st generation Awakeners and a special group that belonged to the ranks of considerable experts even within China.

“Your goal is to perish together with those over there. Do not think about returning alive.”

No answer came back, but Wang Sun knew the command had been clearly delivered. At that moment, one of the subordinates spoke.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to die with ‘The Worst’.”

It was Wang Sun looking back at the individual who spoke, and after recognizing who the man was, he asked with sparkling eyes.

“I heard your entire unit was annihilated?”

“…I have only apologies.”

“In the midst of war, the victory or defeat of a unit is a common occurrence in military affairs. Do not mind it. You only need to… carry out your will now.”

It was Wang Sun gesturing for them to go, and at that, the special unit leaped off the building all at once and headed toward the mine Gate.

It was the two remaining people, the aide and Wang Sun, and at that moment, he asked the aide.

“What do you think will happen?”

“There would be no more certain cleanup than a mine collapse. But it is clumsy. They will surely be prepared. Isn’t it ‘The Worst’ and no one else?”

“Tsk, I don’t have high expectations either. I only hope that at least one of the monsters entered there dies and comes out.”

“It will surely happen. Haven’t we planted quite a few spies inside?”

“True, and it seemed that man Pi Jin-hyeok also wished for his death quite a lot.”

“Even if ‘The Worst’ returns alive, an announcement will be made from the outside that this rescue was ruined because of the black mages, so if even one person cannot be properly rescued, the aftermath will be difficult to handle in many ways.”

“He is to be pitied one way or another; if he had come over to the great nation instead, he would have lived a life occupying all the glory of a lifetime.”

Wang Sun was very curious about what would eventually happen.