Chapter 1036: Milestone (23)
“A Shikigami?”
“To define it precisely, as it’s understood in sorcery or Daoist arts, it refers to a spirit whose body and soul are unilaterally bound to a practitioner, compelled to serve them.”
Murphy explained, glancing at the remarks section on the back of the examination chart.
It seemed he had gathered relevant information on his own before Lennok arrived.
“In colloquial terms, they’re sometimes called familiars, but the meaning is virtually identical. You can roughly think of them as beings that voluntarily protect their practitioners.”
“……”
“Of course, for me, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen a living human, let alone one of the Central Nobles, suffer such a fate…”
Thorben’s Tower Lord, an 8th-level lightning-attribute Archmage.
Murphy’s conclusion: Akendrias El Thorben had become the Guardian Spirit Beast’s Shikigami.
“Wait. Something’s not right.”
While even Lennok was speechless at the bizarre outcome, Jutiya interjected.
“Originally, the concept of a Shikigami is established when the practitioner’s blood or a part of their body is fed to the familiar, isn’t it?”
Jutiya said, pointing at Thorben, who, with a sullen face, was having his lightning absorbed by the Guardian Spirit Beast.
“If that’s the case, shouldn’t Adamant Thunder’s spirit beast, the one that ate his body part, be the Shikigami, not Akendrias?”
“Regarding that, I cannot comment, as I did not observe the Shikigami transformation process.”
Murphy politely replied to Jutiya.
“However, I can only surmise that Adamant Thunder’s Guardian Spirit Beast may possess a power capable of overturning the established laws and affinities typically found in sorcery and Daoist arts.”
“……”
“To ascertain a clear causal relationship, we would need to awaken the Guardian Spirit Beast right now and conduct a more precise spiritual ability examination, but—”
“Vampire. Why are you trying to explain things in such an elaborate manner?”
At that moment, Thorben, sprawled languidly in the Underground Hollow with a sullen expression, spoke.
“This chubby infantile dragon has swallowed my lightning, using it as a stepping stone for its metamorphosis. It probably won’t give it back until the transformation is complete.”
“……”
“Judging by its reactions so far, it’s highly likely this one doesn’t even realize what it’s doing. It’s purely driven by stimuli and instinct.”
The Tower Lord, lying propped on his arm, had eyes that held a deep, profound gaze.
“Just like a newborn Guardian Spirit Beast, it’s young and clumsy. I’ll handle it myself, so don’t interfere.”
“……”
“He’s truly out of his mind.”
Murphy silently stepped back, and Lennok, who had been listening, asked with a bewildered expression.
“You mean you knew what my Guardian Spirit Beast was doing and just stood by?”
He’d thought Thorben’s reaction had been surprisingly lukewarm even after becoming an “electric pacifier,”
and now it seemed he had understood the situation but waited to avoid disturbing the Guardian Spirit Beast.
Thorben, who clearly understood his and the Guardian Spirit Beast’s condition better than Murphy, who had just examined him.
“Well, I, too, was initially annoyed at being interrupted during such an important moment of imparting enlightenment…”
The Tower Lord chuckled heartily, patting the belly of the sleeping Guardian Spirit Beast.
“Looking at this one reminded me of the Guardian Spirit Beast I left back at my Magic Tower. Even I, with my cool and composed nature, found my heart softening.”
“……”
“What utter nonsense…”
While Jutiya muttered with a rare look of exasperation, the Tower Lord, gently stroking the baby dragon’s belly with a soft expression, said:
“I used to indulge my Guardian Spirit Beast’s childish whims occasionally. Children, after all, should grow up causing trouble and being showered with affection, shouldn’t they?”
“That’s not something a person whose insides were just gulped down should be saying.”
“Perhaps. But as it’s your Guardian Spirit Beast, isn’t this one also clearly chosen by the lightning?”
Thorben grinned, replying.
“If one is chosen by lightning, regardless of origin, birth, or species, they are as good as a fellow disciple. This ‘pig-dragon’ has already joined me in spirit!”
“……”
The Tower Lord’s confident declaration, as if he had finished forming a strong bond all by himself, without even communicating with the Guardian Spirit Beast.
Was it a talent, to shout something no one could possibly agree with such conviction?
The madness of an eccentric old mage who had clearly lived a life far, far removed from coolness and composure.
Yet, Lennok sighed and nodded, stepping back.
“Alright. We’ll observe the situation as it is for now.”
“Adamant Thunder, are you sure about this?”
Jutiya asked, rubbing her eyes wearily.
“As you can see, he’s the kind of person who causes trouble even if you just leave him alone. If you confined him to the Underground Hollow, problems would definitely arise.”
“At least his madness for lightning is consistent. It’s fine.”
Lennok nodded.
Since he first met Thorben, this old mage had never strayed from his own standards.
He etched the causality of lightning into the first place of his life, and transmitted its achievements and enlightenment to those he deemed worthy.
Even if he would readily burn his own life in a lightning bolt, his standards and judgment were always applied fairly to himself and others.
Because his thoughts, judgments, decisions, and actions were all as swift and intense as lightning, etching indelible scars.
Conversely, Lennok acknowledged to some extent that he had come to respect Thorben’s answer.
“If I understand his motives, I can control him to a certain extent. I’ll just ask for your patience until then.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake…”
Jutiya yawned slightly, squatted down, met Thorben’s gaze, and said:
“Akendrias. Thanks to you generously giving your insides to the Guardian Spirit Beast, we’re stuck in this Magic Tower with you.”
“So?”
“Resolve the Guardian Spirit Beast’s metamorphosis or the retrieval of your Domain quickly. We can’t stay in this city indefinitely.”
Jutiya pointed upwards with her finger.
“The Elder Council is watching. If we stay in this city without completing the funeral rites, they’ll definitely intervene.”
“That’s none of my concern.”
The Tower Lord spoke brazenly.
“Regardless of the Guardian Spirit Beast’s growth, I intend to continue imparting enlightenment to my junior disciple in this Tower.”
“What?”
“As I quietly reflected while this infantile dragon sucked my lightning, I realized my junior disciple wasn’t entirely wrong.”
The Tower Lord, with his arms crossed, nodded with a solemn expression.
“It’s the task of leaving behind the enlightenment I’ve gained throughout my life to future generations. To try and finish it as quickly as one cooks beans in a lightning strike was foolish arrogance.”
“I never said I wanted to learn magic from you.”
Thorben, feigning ignorance of Lennok’s bewildered words, said:
“No matter how long it takes, I plan to stay in the Tower and transmit my profound insights to my junior disciple. Do not interfere.”
“……”
Jutiya, who had sunk down blankly and was scratching her cheek, asked:
“Excuse me, but could I ask your dragon to bother this man just one more time?”
[Attention across Vulcan is focused on the battle between Thorben’s Tower Lord and Adamant Thunder, which erupted in District 49.]
[Citizens are expressing concern about further damage following the clash between two 8th-level lightning-attribute Archmages…]
[The City Government has stated it is investigating the specific circumstances, but there appears to be no significant movement currently…]
[Among experts, not a few are comparing the current situation to the incident involving Cheonbeon that occurred previously.]
[Public opinion on the Archmage’s continued outrageous behavior, even after the Central Council’s hearing was unusually resolved, is—]
Rumors about the outer district where Lennok and Thorben’s battle took place had spread widely.
The clash of the two mages, spread by the press and media, was receiving a fervent response across Vulcan.
Related news could be heard sporadically on any channel or line, and channels specializing in such news were occasionally appearing.
Among them were channels where Vulcan’s military experts and scholars gathered to comment on the incident.
[The most crucial issue will be how Adamant Thunder is currently managing Thorben’s Tower Lord’s personal security.]
On screen, a middle-aged man with his suit loosened passionately spoke with a flushed face.
[With Thorben’s Tower Lord’s defeat by Adamant Thunder now confirmed, the Vulcan City Government must prepare for the worst-case scenario.]
[What do you mean by ‘worst-case scenario’]
[It’s that the Thorben Magic Tower might use this incident as an excuse to intervene in Vulcan.]
An old professor sitting on the panel spoke with a grave gaze.
[The Thorben Magic Tower is currently an extremely dangerous armed group, actively participating in war-related businesses and dispatching mages to various civil wars.]
[That doesn’t sound like something a ‘Magic Tower’ should be doing.]
[Indeed. It’s impossible to predict how such a belligerent Magic Tower will react to the defeat of its Tower Lord.]
The experts added a word each in response to the host’s prompting.
[It’s well-known that the Thorben Magic Tower has amassed vast assets through its war-related businesses, enough to be considered among the continent’s wealthiest.]
[It’s also said that because the Magic Tower exists in such a unique form, it’s difficult to obtain information about their operations anywhere on the continent.]
[Most of the Magic Towers, whose headquarters have existed for hundreds of years, typically have highly individual forms, don’t they? Like the Blaiver Magic Tower, whose Tower Lord is currently missing…]
The stories coming from a randomly tuned channel were quite interesting.
As much as the clash between Lennok and Thorben’s Tower Lord, the panelists’ opinions seemed to focus on concerns about the Magic Tower’s future intervention.
This meant that the Thorben Magic Tower’s status and reputation across the continent had reached an extremely dangerous level.
He knew.
During his time building a reputation as Van, the notoriety of Thorben’s lightning magic was also intertwined with his foundation.
In fact, it would be more accurate to say that he had gone for an astonishingly long time without any interaction with Thorben.
As such, Lennok was also clearly aware of the Thorben Magic Tower’s power and status, but—
As he was deep in such serious thought, he looked down from the Tower and saw an eccentric old mage rendering all his concerns moot.
“This display transmitter. Its power efficiency is too weak to be useful. Don’t you have anything with better performance?”
Thorben, looking as if he had been dropped into a new world, wandered all over the Magic Tower, curious about every item.
He watched items and artifacts being transported from all directions with sparkling eyes, then couldn’t resist picking them up.
“Oh, this spellcraft projector uses very peculiar electromagnetic waves. Could I perhaps try firing it directly at my own body?”
Poof!!
“A compressed battery that greatly increases its performance by charging it with synthetic electricity? What exactly does synthetic electricity feel like?”
Crash!!
“Is this the famed Common Magic Learning Device…! When is this Professor Vylun fellow going to add lightning magic to Common Magic?”
He held the learning device aloft with both hands, eyes sparkling, and pressed the power button.
Lennok smiled wryly, watching Thorben poke around, ignoring the astonished gazes of those around him.
“……”
Since the Tower Lord had become the Guardian Spirit Beast’s Shikigami, he was no longer a significant threat to the Magic Tower.
After Murphy’s examination, Lennok allowed Thorben to move freely within the Tower.
The fight between Lennok and Thorben in District 49 had been so tumultuous that no one in the city was unaware of it.
Everyone knew Thorben was in Lennok’s Magic Tower, so there was no need to hide him in the Underground Hollow.
It would be better to let him openly roam inside the Magic Tower, thereby flaunting Lennok and Thorben’s presence to the outside world.
But Lennok had underestimated just how unhinged Akendrias El Thorben truly was.
“Even so, stop chewing on batteries.”
“Ah, you’ve arrived.”
Crackle!!
The Tower Lord, who had been glaring at a thick battery and was just about to bite into it, grinned.
Lennok looked at the Tower Lord with a dumbfounded expression and asked.
“Even a Cybernetic Spirit wouldn’t absorb power like that. What are you trying to do?”
“Mmmph…!!”
As he bit the end of the battery, current surged out from the broken cell, flowing over the Tower Lord’s tongue.
Threads of brilliant blue electricity twisted around Thorben’s teeth and tongue, then swirled down his throat.
The current, having passed down his throat, glowed, illuminating the skin beneath the Tower Lord’s flesh with a brilliant blue.
Fzzzzt!!!
“Ughhh…”
A strange phenomenon: the robust old man’s entire body seemed to become translucent with brilliant blue lightning.
The merchants carrying items nearby recoiled with horrified expressions.
But Thorben, ignoring their stares, spat out the swirling electricity and said:
“It’s mixed with a lot of impurities. Did you lower the purity to compress the capacity within a limited battery?”
“Did you really have to eat it to find that out?”
“I was curious what synthetic electricity would taste like.”
Thorben grinned, sparking lightning from both hands, vaporizing the broken battery.
“If there’s something new, you should try using it, try being hit by it, and if that’s not enough, you should at least try eating it.”
“……”
The Tower Lord chuckled heartily, stroking his chin.
“Even at this age, there’s no end to learning, so in that sense, your Magic Tower is truly an excellent academy.”
“It wasn’t exactly a Magic Tower built to teach Archmages like yourself, but…”
Lennok’s Magic Tower was a place where Jenny had led the expansion of item businesses, collaborating with various partners and broadening their scope.
All sorts of artifacts and items moved in and out of the Magic Tower whenever it was open.
Now that the nearby commercial district had been reorganized and a distribution network established, the flow of goods never ceased for a single moment.
Even the damage from Cheonbeon’s destruction of District 49 had been skillfully leveraged by Jenny as a pretext for district redevelopment—
“All mechanical equipment in the world is based on electricity and magic. Therefore, as a grand master of lightning magic, I have the duty to thoroughly test such equipment.”
The Tower Lord, puffing out his chest as if making a grand assertion, confidently thumped his chest.
“As the Tower Lord, I am profoundly open to embracing such new technologies and cultures.”
“Aren’t you just loosely tying your curiosity to lightning magic as an excuse…?”
Lennok shook his head with a dumbfounded expression and raised his hand, instantly teleporting both of them to the Underground Hollow.
Whoosh!!
“Hmm?”
“I’m not interested in such strange reasons, so let’s finish our discussion about the Celestial Lightning Body.”
Lennok, who had transferred himself and the Tower Lord to the Underground Hollow, said:
“While I cannot sympathize with your methods, the concept of the Celestial Lightning Body—of expanding one’s vessel—intrigues me. If possible, I’d like to learn its theory, paying a fair price.”
The lightning legacy that Akendrias El Thorben had continuously tried to force upon Lennok even while fighting him.
Lennok, too, had not forgotten the value of that spellcraft and power.
“Not by rampaging to impart enlightenment, but by explaining the theory and combining it with study and training. Do you understand?”
“Hmm… I’m not sure.”
Thorben, deep in thought, said.
“I understand that your body is currently unable to accept Lightning Transformation. However, if enlightenment cannot be transmitted through Lightning Transformation, then we simply need to find another method.”
“……”
“For mages who have reached such a level, enlightenment is everything; why would inefficient training or study be necessary?”
“Because, for me, such training and study are by no means inefficient in the first place.”
Thump!
He leaned his staff against the wall and hung his shadow coat over it.
As Lennok walked out, having unbuttoned his sleeves and rolled up his arms, the Tower Lord’s gaze instantly turned serious.
The Tower Lord, gazing at Lennok’s veined arms, spoke in a low voice.
“Pale. And indistinct.”
Thorben, staring at Lennok with a stiff expression, tilted his head and asked:
“It barely holds its form, yet I sense no more vitality from your body. Did injuries from prolonged battles steal away the remainder of your life?”
“That’s why I can’t use Lightning Transformation, which changes the body into lightning.”
Crackle!!
Lennok drew up his mana, coiling lightning around his forearm, and said:
“Manipulating and releasing lightning is fine, but Property Transformation that directly interferes with the physical body would likely leave no future to anticipate.”
“……”
“If you had used your Domain to forcibly induce Lightning Transformation in my body, there would undoubtedly have been side effects.”
Fzzzzzt!!
He spread thin blue lightning over his forearm.
The lightning covering his forearm rose like dozens of sharp thorns, then split into dozens of strands.
These dozens of lightning fragments on his forearm repeatedly reconnected, merged, and split apart.
Kiiing…!!
A wondrous motion, like droplets rising and falling on a small lake of electricity.
“Hoo…”
Lennok asked, watching the Tower Lord, who couldn’t hide his admiration.
“What do you think of my mana manipulation precision?”
“…It is transcendent.”
The Tower Lord, unable to tear his eyes from Lennok’s lightning manipulation, spoke softly.
“It is more elegant and perfect than any mage I have ever seen. You have long surpassed the theoretical peak an 8th-level spellcaster could achieve.”
“……”
“Unbelievable. To think that after such long, arduous years of searching for a successor, I would discover such a miracle…”
Disbelief and euphoria intertwined on the Tower Lord’s infinitely serious face.
But he swiftly composed himself, looking down at Lennok with a solemn expression.
“This is your greatest blessing and asset.”
“……”
“The fact that you showed this to me now means this very sensation is your unique secret art, doesn’t it?”
Thorben’s words were not wrong.
Among all of Lennok’s talents, mana manipulation was one of his most confident aptitudes.
Since first awakening and mastering magic, Lennok had never once thought he would fall behind in mana manipulation, even against an Ascendant.
The origin of Lennok’s ability to fight on equal footing against all sorts of monsters, despite his frail body.
He had guessed that an Archmage of Thorben’s caliber would recognize its value simply by observing it for a moment.
“Tell me immediately and in detail what you wish to learn, and what explanations you seek.”
As if Lennok’s thoughts were not mistaken, the Tower Lord’s eyes gleamed with unparalleled fervor.
“I have already made my decision.
The Tower Lord’s words, implying he wished to immediately borrow Lennok’s mana manipulation to engrave enlightenment within his body.
Lennok, watching the Tower Lord, calmed his mana and opened his mouth.
“I want to hear a direct explanation of the Celestial Lightning Body’s secret techniques and the process of physical vessel transformation.”
“Physical vessel transformation, you say?”
“You tried to forcibly correct my body after inducing Lightning Transformation. That would only be possible if you understood the process of constitution alteration in the first place.”
Lennok replied.
“I need that information. Once I understand the theory, I intend to make the adjustments myself from there. It might even be possible to master the Apex Thunder you speak of, which precedes all causality and affinity.”
“I see. You intend to cultivate physical alteration yourself, just by hearing the theory.”
The Tower Lord, understanding Lennok’s words, nodded.
“Indeed, given your aptitude, it would certainly not be impossible. However, much preparation will be required.”
“Preparation?”
“The body of a superhuman who has transcended rank is intimately connected with their mind and mental image.”
Thorben said.
“At the very least, a place to unleash your Root Mindscape is necessary. In that process, elixirs or catalysts to aid the harmony of your mind and body will also be needed.”
“……”
“Of course, I do know of a place where such preparations can be made, but…”
Thorben, with his hands clasped behind his back, gazed idly up at the ceiling of the Underground Hollow and said:
“It seems there’s no need to specifically search for a place or preparations.”
“…What?”
Crackle!!
At that moment, an immensely vast presence crushed Lennok’s mind.
It wasn’t just detected by Mana Perception; it was an overwhelming burning sensation, as if it were crushing the Tower’s entire Jurisdiction.
An impossibly massive presence, powerful enough to suppress thought and sever judgment.
“…!!”
There wasn’t even time to urge the Tower Lord.
Flash!!
As soon as he perceived the presence appearing above the Jurisdiction, he activated Spatial Transfer.
Lennok, standing on top of the Magic Tower, saw a colossal lightning flash splitting the sky vertically and fell silent.
“That’s…”
Crackle, crackle, crackle…!!!!
Above the cloudy sky, a dazzling blue eye of lightning stared down at Lennok.
The colossal eye of lightning slowly opened, pushing aside the surrounding clouds and space, creating cracks.
At the moment those cracks finally became a [Gate] itself, tearing open even space.
KABOOOM!!!!
From beyond the rift, an impossibly massive metal flying object burst forth.
A violent display, scattering intense lightning in all directions and emitting fierce thunderclaps without restraint upon its appearance.
An immensely vast and powerful engine seemed to boil and churn as if alive, flying across the sky.
A colossal fortress, harboring immeasurable power and weight, inexplicably appearing in the skies above Vulcan—a bizarre phenomenon.
[Heavenly Palace Soaring Legion War Magic Tower Thorben. Coordinate jump to Vulcan’s outer district complete.]
From the colossal engine mass floating in the sky, a woman’s voice emanated.
[Uncharted Jurisdiction, presumed to be Adamant Thunder’s Magic Tower, detected. Archmage’s presence captured on the Magic Tower’s top floor.]
“……”
Whoooooosh!!!
Not only did it float above the Jurisdiction, but its sheer size was overwhelming, enough to cover the entire urban area of District 49 and then some.
Intense lightning erupting from beneath the fortress buoyed the entire colossal structure, fixing its coordinates.
The moment the dazzling lightning star beneath the floating island sharply illuminated Lennok.
[Target designated: Tower’s Guardian Spirit Beast. Formal Dueling Ritual initiated.]
Crackle!!
With a sharp burst, Lennok stood in the center of a grand sanctuary where lightning raged.
RUMBLEEEEE!!!!
Brilliant blue lightning flowed along the sanctuary’s ceiling and walls, serving as the light source.
Lightning gathered from all directions, swirling before Lennok’s eyes, taking on a specific form as it surged upward.
[GROOOOOOOWL!!!!]
A colossal lion, imbued with lightning so intense it was blinding, roared ferociously and struck downwards.
The moment the Guardian Spirit Beast, born and raised in Thorben’s War Magic Tower’s Jurisdiction, unleashed its murderous thunderous roar.
Lennok silently turned his gaze towards the baby dragon dozing behind him.
“……”
[Snore.]
The baby dragon, completely oblivious, fast asleep behind Lennok.
Lennok, gazing at the Guardian Spirit Beast, opened his mouth towards the mages standing on the sanctuary’s altar.
“To designate my Guardian Spirit Beast instead of me and draw it into the ritual, quite resourceful. It seems you have a lot of experience with this.”
They had cast a ritual targeting the Guardian Spirit Beast, not Lennok, forcibly summoning the spirit beast.
Because the ritual targeted the Guardian Spirit Beast, Lennok had only followed them in willingly.
But both sides knew that the Guardian Spirit Beast was not the one they had business with.
“Greetings, Adamant Thunder.”
A woman with strong features stepped forward from the altar in the sanctuary and spoke.
A mysterious presence, leaning on a staff taller than herself, wreathed in blue lightning.
“This War Magic Tower is moving towards the last lost coordinates of our Tower Lord.”
The woman spoke while Lennok frowned.
“In that process, we were regrettably compelled to transfer the Tower to this vicinity.”
“……”
“There’s no need for unnecessary words between us, is there?”
The woman, looking down at the unresponsive Lennok with calm eyes, asked:
“Will you return our Tower Lord?”
“Rather, I’d like an explanation of how you summoned my Guardian Spirit Beast.”
Lennok countered.
“I don’t have good memories concerning curses or rituals targeting Guardian Spirit Beasts.”
Even if Lennok’s Guardian Spirit Beast was sleeping defenselessly, it was strange that it could be forcibly summoned.
Perhaps it had been forcibly drawn into a specific ritual on the condition of confronting another Magic Tower’s Guardian Spirit Beast.
But the woman shook her head at Lennok’s words.
“The Formal Dueling Ritual is merely a means. If you only tell us the Tower Lord’s whereabouts—”
[….Coo?]
At that moment, the sleeping baby dragon rubbed its eyes and woke up.
Drooling and nodding off, the baby dragon now faced the lion glaring at it.
The baby dragon, staring blankly at Thorben’s Guardian Spirit Beast, soon raised a plump front paw towards the lion.
[Woof.]
Crackle!!
Simultaneously with Thorben’s Tower Lord, wearing a wry expression, appearing before the baby dragon, the surrounding air froze.