Long-standing Ill Fate

Kwagwagwang!! With a booming roar, people’s screams were heard one after another.

‘Trouble is brewing. As expected?’

Problems didn’t arise immediately inside the mine Gate, but I was certain there were personnel trying to enter, and upon grasping that, I spoke while looking at the two mages waiting behind me.

“You two, if this place collapses, the Magic Tower won’t be able to escape suspicion in many ways; do you intend to just watch?”

“Ahem, th-that, we shall step forward. What do you intend to do?”

“As you can see, I can’t leave my spot. Even now, small fissures have occurred due to the sound of explosions. I intend to deal with them quickly, but even so, I’d like you to buy me some time.”

“I understand. We… must avoid responsibility, so we will help.”

And then the two immediately left the Gate. At that, Bak Min-su approached and asked.

“…Is it going to be okay?”

“I’ll prepare, but does it look okay?”

“…If it collapses, it will be a big problem. So… please protect it.”

And then Bak Min-su quickly left the Gate. He was also a renowned physical Awakener.

As a powerful 2nd generation Awakener, he was a person known as one of Kim Dae-san’s closest associates.

‘If Bak Min-su buys time, he’s actually more reliable than the two mages, but in a situation where I can guess what kind of fellows the intruders are, it won’t be easy.’

I couldn’t specify which group caused this trouble, but I could predict the one who was breaking in and causing a commotion here now.

It was definitely ‘Wang Sun and his lackeys,’ and I was certain their target was us.

They intended to deal with us by blocking the Gate entrance or accelerating the collapse to perfectly bury those who had seeped inside.

At least, it seemed they moved with the certainty that if things went as Wang Sun intended, they could definitely catch one of the representative black mages in the country.

‘The faction that sympathized would be the Magic Tower…. And the intention of the two who went outside being dispatched here is also a problem.’

It was an awkward state where they couldn’t be viewed simply as allies, nor could they be considered enemies.

Just then, a message magic was delivered, and upon confirming it was from Jeong Gil-sun, I clicked my tongue.

-If the commotion gets bigger, Bone Wall won’t hold out; it’s clear some trickery has come in, so block it as best as you can on your end. Do-bin and I will hold out somehow on the inside! -

It was quite an urgent message, but this was the answer.

This was because it was right to go out to the entrance rather than having trouble occur inside the Gate.

So, I began to sew up the places where fissures had opened from a single collapse with the mana I had spread using Bone Needle, and after stabilizing them additionally using Spider Web, I moved my steps outside the Gate.

Meanwhile, the outside scenery visible through the narrow Gate entrance was a situation where the word “ghastly” fit perfectly, with corpses with torn bodies scattered everywhere, and the two mages were seen holding out using barriers at the entrance so that the impact would not seep inside.

‘At least for now, they have no intention of betraying?’

I wasn’t certain they were traitors, but I judged it right to move while holding the certainty that they would be traitors.

Moreover, it was incredibly uncomfortable to see them showing only a defensive posture even though they could help Bak Min-su, who was fighting a fierce battle.

‘To think the government forces would be pushed back this miserably, did they bring the very best?’

Since the matter was what it was, the government had also dispatched a large-scale army.

It was a fairly strong force consisting mostly of 3rd to 4th generation Awakeners, and they were an elite that were well-trained and controlled. As such, they were powerful, but the intruders showed overwhelming majesty while lightly tearing them to death.

‘Black armor is the operational uniform of the Chinese special forces. However, it’s a little-known special outfit, and most who know this outfit are famous for being killed.’

Hearing that such a group was deployed, I judged that China had something it wanted, and that it was encouraging great damage to our country’s power.

I thought it was the worst. So, without hesitating, as I left the Gate, the two mages waiting at the entrance were startled and said to me.

“What are you doing?”

“Association President Jeong Gil-sun says he’ll hold out. He said he’d like it cleaned up quickly.”

“…They are strong ones. I don’t know where they came from, but it won’t be easy.”

Already, dozens of soldiers were dying on the ground with their limbs torn.

Some were already dead, and everyone nearby who came to watch or the press corps were lying flat on the ground while having swallowed their fear, hoping that the touch of death would avoid them.

While the situation was heading toward the worst, I spoke while looking at the two fairly relaxed mages.

“I’m not asking for much, so just maintain the barrier well. That is the first and last request I make of you. Do you understand?”

“Th-that, we shall do so.”

Because I informed them with a serious warning in my presence, the two even stammered.

So, after letting out a sigh while looking at the enemies, I finally opened sub-space and reached out my hand.

As I thought of the Necronomicon, it was a book that was grasped as if it clung to my hand, and when I took it out, it was the Necronomicon that opened its eyes in response to my will and mana.

-A new owner, I see. -

The voice burrowing into my head was sharp enough to give me goosebumps, and my body naturally shivered at the bone-chilling sensation.

‘The voice is different from other books.’

At that moment, I felt a sensation that made my head dizzy, and while I hurriedly protected my head with mana, the Necronomicon spoke to me.

-Hmph, to compare me with some 3rd-class ancient book! -

‘Are grades divided even for the Necronomicon?’

While I was pondering that question, the fellow answered as if reading my thoughts.

-Naturally. I am an ancient book that belongs to the unranked, disaster-class! -

For something like that, the amplification felt similar to the book Han Sang-gil had when Cheon Jong-un was using it. So I thought little of it, and thought all Necronomicon were just one of the artifacts made of human skin.

But experiencing the Necronomicon claiming itself to be disaster-class made a hollow laugh come out.

‘Do you want to sing your own praises?’

It’s because it has to coax me well to use it, and only then can it take away what it wants from me.

If it simply wanted to amplify abilities with an artifact, there’s no need to pay a great price.

Just as when using a magic staff, it’s enough to push in my mana and then draw out the mana amplified by the artifact’s effect and use it.

But the fellow who read my thoughts again answered.

-Do you mean to say you only intend to use me in such a trivial way! -

At the moment I curled up the corners of my mouth at the voice in which a quite deep anger was felt, a massive explosion occurred and Bak Min-su tumbled across the ground as if he had been bounced off. And I got goosebumps looking at the target that caused the explosion.

It was because I could tell who it was at once by the familiar presence, familiar ability, and operational method.

“Is it Li Chang?”

A massive killing intent that flowed out lumpily as if pouring out rushed at me as if it would consume me. But I responded to it by lightly breathing out mana, and I asked again as I saw the less than twenty personnel forming ranks.

“Did you forget the warning I gave, that I would tear your limbs apart and kill you if you came to this land again?”

A heart close to loathing reared its head. It was because the comrades who died at the hands of that fellow were so many they couldn’t be counted on ten fingers.

Conversely, that fellow must also hold a similar ill feeling toward me.

“We finally meet. You haven’t forgotten that I said I would split your limbs and drink your blood, have you?”

“Since our grudges are deep on both sides, words won’t be necessary, but answer me just one thing.”

“No need for questions and answers! Kill him!”

It was the enemies who rushed toward me with the command, but I quickly scanned the surroundings and used ‘Dig’ along with Bone Wall with the mana I breathed out to evacuate many people underground. And at the same time, I pushed a large amount of mana into the Necronomicon and then engraved patterns inside the Necronomicon and pulled them out.

-Aagh! You damn ignorant bastard. If you operate mana like that, I won’t be able to hold out!! -

It was a shout that rang through my mind loudly, but I cleanly ignored it and used a curse toward those who were rushing.

It was the enemies who faltered at the black fog spread extensively and the various curses engraved within it, but Li Chang, who rushed in just then, curled his fists and extended them straight while breathing out aura.

‘He’s become stronger than before.’

At the time I hurriedly used Blink to avoid the spot, the two mages located behind me were terrified and strengthened their barriers, and at the same time, the aura and barriers collided and breathed out a massive wave, but I already prepared the next magic while firing Bone Spear Rain toward Li Chang after avoiding the spot with Blink.

In fact, because magic of 5th Circle or lower could be used by just granting will even without incantations, confusing the enemy and buying time was not a difficult task, but the problem was Li Chang, who showed the ignorance of charging toward me while taking all of that offensive with his body.

“Are you not afraid of death or pain?”

It was Li Chang who answered my question immediately.

“I am afraid of missing you and failing to kill you!!”

Just looking at the explosive aura operation, one could tell how strong he was.

It was because in the case of Bone Spear Rain, it was a magic with destructive power corresponding to the 5th Circle.

His whole body would be shaken by the immense pain and impact.

However, the sight of him enduring all of that and charging as if his life depended on it was incredibly fierce. But his subordinates did not seem to be like that.

They spat out painful groans with Bone Spears hanging from various parts of their bodies.

Generally, one cannot block or avoid dozens or hundreds of shots of Bone Spear Rain entirely.

Although it seemed they avoided fatal wounds, they had no choice but to falter just from the fact that they were injured, and just then, it was Li Chang who shouted toward me as if the injuries of his subordinates were uncomfortable.

“You are as cowardly as ever!”

“If I can be victorious, I don’t even mind doing something worse.”

And then I pushed mana into the Necronomicon again, and it was then.

-If you tell me what kind of magic you intend to use, I shall give you aid! Stop acting so ignorantly!! -

Even humans suffered from unimaginable pain if they transformed mana inside their bodies. Moreover, since a book weaker than a human was exposed to an absurd amount of mana, perhaps it was suffering from pain beyond ghastliness.

‘Are you the soul of the person used for this book?’

-I am the vengeful spirit dwelling in this book! -

It was absurd to hear that it was a vengeful spirit, but because I had to deal with Li Chang who had rushed right in front of me, I hurriedly conveyed my intent.

‘Use Dummy Mirroring engraved with Paralyze. Right now!’

At that moment, mana was breathed out naturally, and the magic manifested in the desired form so naturally that it felt as if I had used it.

“Die! Geum Seong-chan!!”

It was Li Chang who charged toward me with good timing, but I ended up retreating with a light use of Blink to a position where I wouldn’t look like two from his viewing angle.

And at the moment the swung fist and the storm of aura struck the dummy, a powerful curse instantly wrapped around Li Chang and paralyzed his body, and in that split second, I breathed out mana for the entire magic amount and shaped it rapidly.

“A trap…! You cowardly bastard…!!”

I saw him approaching me somehow while spitting out a shout with gritted teeth, but the preparation of the magic was even more natural and faster, and because it was clear it would already be completed by the time he just came near me, I asked Li Chang while pulling up the tension.

“It should be time for Wang Sun to arrive, but why is he not coming? Perhaps… you were abandoned?”

“Shut up!! I will kill you!!”

Neither Li Chang, who was called the Silent Assassin, being this excited, nor the intention of someone who induced the current situation was clear, but the certain point was the conviction that Wang Sun would make an appearance.

‘Come quickly, otherwise all your limbs will become a handful of bloody lumps….’