Chapter 1038: Milestone (25)
The Thorben War-Mage Tower, a Heavenly Floating Magic Tower designed for combat, tearing through the sky above District 49 as it plummets.
Like a living engine and turbine, it spun fiercely, emitting a powerful roar.
Kwoooosh!!!
A sturdy metallic exoskeleton and the deep blue lightning currents supporting its base.
A magnetic storm impacting even the outer districts, and the colossal body of the aloof War-Mage Tower, which paid no heed to Vulcan’s airspace defense.
[Electronic Field Deployment. Earth-Electricity Conjunction.]
Crrrackle!!!
Thousands of lightning bolts stretched out from all sides of the floating Magic Tower, extending to the ground in gentle curves.
Pillars of electricity plunged down, as if connecting the massive War-Mage Tower floating in the air to the entirety of District 49’s ground.
[Space energy stabilization in progress. Four minutes and forty seconds until required power circulation.]
[Engine cooling initiated. Fusion reactor overload heat exhaust vents opening.]
[Descent initiated.]
Pshhhh!!!
Hot steam billowed from all sides of the enormous metallic floating island.
Simultaneously, the colossal body of the Magic Tower, connected to the ground, accelerated and blurred distortingly.
An expansive electrical field spread beneath the steel floating island, flashing incessantly, boosting the Tower’s output.
It was slammed down with full force towards Lennok’s Jurisdiction, spread out in the center of District 49.
Kwoooosh!!!!
The moment the plummeting War-Mage Tower’s colossal body entered the airspace of the Jurisdiction, dozens of magic circles in the air glowed, blocking its path.
Dozens of colossal magic circles, glowing like celestial spheres tracing constellations, overlapped and unfolded, isolating the space within the Jurisdiction.
The fiercely rotating magic circles cut and divided space, completely dispersing and pushing away the plummeting weight.
Kiiiieeeeng!!!
Thud-thud-thud-thump!!!
Hundreds of meters above, a ripping sound like twisting metal echoed like thunder, and invisible shockwaves continuously burst forth as if exploding.
The War-Mage Tower floating in the sky and Lennok’s Magic Tower soaring from the ground.
Their respective Jurisdictions, unfolded around the two Magic Towers, collided vertically, encroaching upon and pushing back each other’s boundaries.
“Jenny!!”
Dylan, who had rushed through the Magic Tower’s stairwells, shouted when he saw Jenny tapping away on her phone in the distance.
Screech!
Dylan leaped over the railing, stopping instantly in front of Jenny, and gasped for breath.
“This isn’t the time for phone calls. Outside…!!”
“I know, so calm down.”
Jenny said, bringing the phone to her ear with a calm, composed expression.
“The signal is still fine. Which means there’s no problem with the Tower’s functions themselves.”
“…….”
“If the Thorben Magic Tower is picking a fight, it must be because of the Tower Lord. Securing his safety is the most important thing right now.”
“The Tower’s outer barrier is breaking.”
Dylan asked, his voice serious.
“Unless Van responds directly, we can’t hold out indefinitely. We need to act on our end too.”
The durability of the Jurisdiction itself, and the barrier Lennok installed, were holding back the War-Mage Tower, but there was no telling how long they would last.
If that colossal mass of metal were to fall to the ground unchecked, it would literally cause damage equivalent to a strategic weapon.
A single mistake could render the entire District 49 irrecoverably damaged, turning it into a wasteland.
“After all the food I’ve eaten in this damn Tower, I can’t just stand by.”
Clang!!
Dylan, who had drawn his demonic blade, flickering with an ominous crimson light, adjusted his mask.
“I’ll deal with it outside with the others, so start up the Phoenix Hall and immediately—”
“I think it might be better to observe the situation first.”
At that moment, a woman wearing glasses interjected from behind Dylan in a languid voice.
Dylan, who had been fiddling with his mask, blinked and asked.
“Ah, you… were that noble lady, weren’t you?”
“My name is Jutiya. Nice to meet you.”
Jutiya, with sleepy eyes, took Dylan’s hand and shook it.
Jutiya looked at Dylan’s skin, visible between his gloves, and asked.
“You’re a participant in the Immortal Body Experiment, aren’t you? There were hardly any survivors from that. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one.”
“…I can tell you about that later, so please quickly explain why we shouldn’t move now.”
“If Thorben’s side intended to attack Adamant Thunder’s Magic Tower, they wouldn’t have so foolishly clashed their Jurisdictions like that.”
Jutiya replied, watching Dylan grudgingly pull his hand away.
“Rather, they would have made moves to nullify Adamant Thunder’s Jurisdiction and directly attack the Magic Tower.”
“They clearly know the Tower Lord is here, so those War-Mages wouldn’t just bury our Magic Tower.”
Jenny responded in a calm voice.
“That’s why I’m even more unsure what they’re aiming for. Why did they launch an attack at this moment?”
“They probably need a pretext.”
“Pretext?”
“Although they don’t conduct business in Vulcan, the scale of the Thorben Magic Tower’s War Business is quite substantial, more than one might think.”
Jutiya said in an even tone.
“There are rumors they’re involved in over a dozen civil wars, and War Business always involves huge sums of money, doesn’t it?”
“…….”
“Since they’ve come all the way to Vulcan, putting aside all those other matters, they can’t go back empty-handed.”
“So, a big shot like that has drawn his sword and is moving for some ridiculous reason, just to cut at anything?”
“More than that, I suspect this performance itself is the result of a mutual agreement.”
Jutiya looked up out the window and pushed up her glasses.
“Neither Adamant Thunder nor Akendrias El Thorben is someone to just stand by and watch until things escalate this far.”
“…….”
“Hmm, now that you mention it, that’s true, but…”
If it were Van, as Jenny and Dylan knew him, there’s no way he wouldn’t have grasped the unfolding situation until it reached this point.
It was highly probable that this clash between the two Magic Towers was either a pre-arranged outcome or a result of a breakdown in negotiations.
Whichever it was, if Lennok had chosen this outcome himself, should they respond accordingly?
“And either way, there’s no need for you to step forward first.”
While Jenny and Dylan were lost in thought, Jutiya gazed at the sky and spoke.
“Adamant Thunder had us stay in this Tower precisely to prepare for a situation like this.”
“…What?”
Whoooosh…!!!
The moment Jenny, with a flustered expression, followed Jutiya’s gaze, a shimmering landscape of grassland came into view.
Several gravestones erected on a grassland of unfathomable width, and a massive church built within that graveyard.
And in front of that church’s chapel, a gaunt, emaciated giant of a man with a hollow face gazed up at the sky.
“That’s…!!”
The Domain of the Undertaker, Cyrus Ardeltio, the Funeral Ship to the Sea of Return, which had been hovering above the Magic Tower.
A Domain that exists in reality, blooming and never fading, functioning only for the Soul Pacification of the dead, ascended at a sluggish pace.
The moment the War-Mage Tower, pulsating like a living engine, descended, and the distant grassland Domain, rising above the Jurisdiction, received it.
Dylan, channeling his mana, shouted.
“Jenny, cover your ears!!”
Craaaaaash!!!!
The colossal body of the War-Mage Tower collided with the Funeral Ship to the Sea of Return’s Domain, unleashing a massive shockwave.
“Gah…!!!”
The shockwave, spreading like an explosion across the Jurisdiction’s sky, permeated the entire airspace of District 49.
Even inside the Tower, protected by barriers and spellcraft, the vibrations were strong enough to make one’s head reel for a moment.
“He’s crazy. Forcibly inserting himself into a Magic Tower clash to absorb the impact…!!!”
While Jenny staggered with a pale face, Dylan muttered in disbelief.
“The durability of that Domain is insane. Do all those noble lords possess such monstrous Mental Images?”
“Cyrus’s Domain isn’t something that can be deployed or retracted in the first place.”
Jutiya, unable to withstand the shock, tumbled to the floor and lay flat on her back, speaking.
“As long as the Undertaker himself doesn’t die, the Domain will persist. Cyrus knew that, and he intercepted the War-Mage Tower.”
“So, that unsettling abomination that’s been hovering over the Tower for the past few days… Van saw that far ahead?”
“Abomination, you say.”
Jutiya, expressing dissatisfaction at Dylan’s blunt assessment, struggled to stand and looked up at the sky.
“Well, as a result, Adamant Thunder’s Magic Tower is undamaged. And from here on—”
The War-Mage Tower and the Funeral Ship to the Sea of Return’s Domain, having collided, now hung suspended in the Magic Tower’s Jurisdiction airspace.
A brief lull caused by the collision of the Domain and Jurisdiction.
Before they could fully process the outcome, a powerful lightning bolt struck from beyond the sky.
The moment Jenny realized who the owner of that Lightning Radiance was, her face hardened, and Jutiya quietly murmured.
“It seems Adamant Thunder intends to resolve this himself.”
Hundreds of meters above, where Jurisdiction and Domain clashed and distorted.
Blue lightning flashed across the outermost metallic wall of the War-Mage Tower, where fierce winds raged.
Clack!!
A sharp metallic sound, like twisting, interlocking metal. The Iron-Plated Wings attached to his back flapped wildly.
The moment Gilleon’s Iron-Plated Wings, assembled from special alloys, blurred, Lennok’s new form accelerated at incredible speed.
He flew hundreds of meters above, where fierce winds raged, circling halfway around the War-Mage Tower’s exterior.
[One subsonic flying object detected in War-Mage Tower’s Jurisdiction airspace.]
[Thunder Intercept Spellcraft 44 activated.]
Whoosh!!
From the War-Mage Tower’s outer Jurisdiction, having detected the intruder, a lightning-based interception spellcraft activated.
Countless lightning bolts surged forth in succession, aiming at Lennok’s new form, but failed to hit.
With a slight shake of the Iron-Plated Wings on his back, Lennok’s body twisted sideways, changing direction.
Repeating Flicker and acceleration, he pierced through the War-Mage Tower’s Jurisdiction at subsonic speed and descended vertically.
KABOOM!!!
A single bolt of lightning struck down from the overcast sky.
Lennok landed on the War-Mage Tower’s deck with a powerful clap of thunder and looked around.
Fierce winds blew between the state-of-the-art spellcraft interception devices installed on the deck.
Whoooosh!!
“…….”
An empty stillness filled with rigid, tense air.
Had it felt like this when he single-handedly assaulted the Defense Force’s mobile fortress long ago?
The mobile fortress led by Lieutenant General Edmus Treffen, who had rebelled against the City Council, was also very massive.
But it was incomparable to the sheer area and scale of the War-Mage Tower floating alone in the sky now.
Kwoooosh!!!
The Thorben War-Mage Tower, a Heavenly Floating Combat Unit.
Its peculiar shape seemed less like a tower and more like a massive engine itself, lifted into the air.
A fortress of steel, enveloped by metallic walls. An airship floating above the overcast sky, unleashing lightning bolts.
Though he hadn’t been told its specific operating principles or origins of creation, he could tell.
This War-Mage Tower wasn’t floating through specific propulsion or flight spellcraft.
The fact that this colossal floating island remained airborne was merely a ‘byproduct’ of the War-Mage Tower continuously generating energy.
The entire Magic Tower was a single colossal artifact, practically a relic of mythical proportions.
In terms of value, it was a treasure that easily surpassed a decent-sized medium city.
Perhaps it was a spectacle befitting the Thorben Magic Tower, which was said to hold some of the continent’s foremost assets through its War Business.
As Lennok walked, lost in thought, he passed the War-Mage Tower’s deck and arrived at the colossal spire located in its center.
The spire, gleaming with deep blue lightning, had the majestic appearance of a Thunder God’s palace.
Its overwhelming scale seemed to surge upwards, forming tiers that surrounded three sides of the War-Mage Tower’s deck.
From all sides of that magnificent spire, countless presences, beyond reckoning, looked down upon this spot.
“Those wings. I’m certain I’ve seen them somewhere before.”
As Lennok silently endured the gazes looking down upon him, a sharp flash of Lightning Radiance burst from beyond the spire.
Crackle, crackle…!!
It raced along the metallic outer wall of the War-Mage Tower at incredible speed.
By transforming a part of its body into lightning, it increased speed and reduced resistance, gaining mobility that transcended physical limits.
Whoosh!!
Two wizards, wreathed in flashing electricity, descended like lightning bolts before Lennok.
A dignified-looking woman carrying a Lightning Broadsword wreathed in lightning, and a boy with several circular magic circles floating behind his back.
“Ah, I remember now.”
The boy, standing on a Spellcraft Turret with his hands behind his back, looked down at Lennok and spoke.
“Deadrise’s Gray Ghost led a subordinate unit that used similar equipment. Are you from the Legion?”
“…….”
Instead of answering, Lennok gazed silently at the two faces.
Were these two wizards the vanguards who had come forward to face Lennok first, before this event?
Both were Saint Wizards who had completed their hierarchy and reached Level 7. And their inherent presences were remarkably solid and stable.
Given that their will-thoughts showed no tremor even in Lennok’s presence, both were likely highly experienced War-Mages.
“I’m more interested in that Domain that stopped our Magic Tower.”
The dignified-looking woman opened her mouth, speaking to Lennok in a leisurely tone.
“To make an Undertaker work like that… the wizard said to be the craziest in the mega-cities really is different, isn’t he?”
“…….”
“It’s well-known that the Central Nobles possess strange talents, but you’d be hard-pressed to find such skill even wandering the entire continent.”
Crackle!!
The woman, re-gripping her Lightning Broadsword, smiled.
“Well, I never expected you to accept Lyraiel’s proposal so readily in the first place.”
“I didn’t come all the way down here to hear your impressions.”
Crackle!!
As Lennok massaged his wrist, deep blue lightning burst forth between his fingers.
An overwhelming emission of magic power, overflowing as if a hand had been plunged into a filled aquarium.
As the wizards’ complexions changed at the utterly chilling voltage, Lennok asked.
“The woman named Lyraiel isn’t visible. Shall we start right here?”
“…Before that, there are a few things we need to explain about this matter.”
“Explanation?”
“This ritual is to open the Hall of the Thunder God, but our Magic Tower has a few other things to gain from it.”
The boy said.
“The Thorben War Business exists because all of the Tower’s wizards are War-Mages capable of excelling on any battlefield. Therefore, we have an obligation to regularly demonstrate and promote these capabilities to investors.”
“And?”
“In other words, this occasion today could also serve as a demonstration of how effectively our War-Mage Tower can counter high-level combat wizards.”
“…Depending on the outcome of the ritual, you want to use a battle with me as a career highlight for the Thorben Magic Tower?”
Only then did Lennok, understanding the purpose of their visit before the start, let out a small laugh.
“Blunt, aren’t you? None of those who fought me openly mentioned that and asked for permission.”
“Because we witnessed Evan Martinez achieve renown across the entire Central Front through his battle with you.”
The boy, confirming Lennok’s reaction wasn’t sharp, gave a wry smile.
“Thanks to the feats Cheonbeon accomplished at the first Gateway, your name currently carries an incredible premium.”
“…….”
“If we cannot retrieve our Tower Lord, then we intend to gain whatever we can. I wanted to tell you this beforehand.”
The Thorben side seemed quite impressed by Cheonbeon’s process of gaining fame by surviving against Adamant Thunder.
No, perhaps they placed significance on Adamant Thunder’s reputation rising in tandem when Cheonbeon defeated the Conjunction Spell Master.
Either way, it seemed clear that the Thorben side highly valued Adamant Thunder’s name.
And also, that they were frankly informing Lennok before the start that they wished to capitalize on that.
The moment Lennok opened his mouth to reply to that.
“Well, actually, everything Ron is saying is just an excuse.”
Crunch!
The woman, having plunged her Lightning Broadsword into the ground in a reverse grip, grinned.
“To be honest, my real intention is to fight the wizard who defeated our Tower Lord.”
“…….”
The boy, called Ron, sighed.
“Harlin. If you say that, it makes me, who’s been explaining so diligently until now, look like a fool.”
“It feels like if I just take one more step, I’ll see the path. If I look just a little further, I feel like I’ll gain enlightenment.”
The woman, Harlin, ignoring Ron’s words, said.
“If I can ascend even a little higher, I want to catch a glimpse of a superior realm, even if it costs me my life. Don’t you think so, senior?”
“Who’s your senior?”
“Hmm, it was supposed to be a sign of camaraderie. Was it too clumsy?”
Harlin, with an awkward smile, slowly drew the Lightning Broadsword she held in a reverse grip.
Her expression, reflected in the blade of the broadsword shimmering with blue lightning, instantly became utterly serious.
“So, I hope you won’t hold back and truly give it your all. I’d even be willing to die right here to see your true ‘magic’.”
“…….”
“If you’ve faced our Tower Lord, you’ll surely understand what I mean, won’t you?”
“You’re mistaken about something.”
Lennok replied indifferently.
“Whatever you think of me, however you use my reputation, I don’t care. But…”
They conduct War Business across the continent, yet their members harbor a fiercer desire for self-improvement than anyone else?
To gain enlightenment by fighting the strong, and to risk one’s life if it means ascending higher.
The contradictory principle of the Thorben Magic Tower: as an organization, it pursued profit, yet as individuals, they transcended it.
But perhaps that’s why they, as a single Magic Tower on this continent, possessed a power and scale greater than any other.
The moment Lennok, having considered all that, spread both hands and channeled his magic power.
[Lightning Well]
[Lightning Void Eye]
[Lightning Convergence Deflection]
[Electric Enclosure Resonance: Harmonics]
Roooooar!!!
A blue halo appeared behind Lennok’s back and began to spin at incredible speed.
“……!!!!”
An immense amount of electrical power gathered and rotated in a circle, and with each rotation, electricity burst forth without restraint in all directions, as if exploding.
The moment Ron and Harlin’s expressions stiffened at the overwhelming conflagration of destruction, staining spacetime all around them deep blue.
“I never intended to be lenient against the headquarters of lightning-elemental unique magic.”
“…….”
“The techniques and skills you’ve accumulated over hundreds of years in your Magic Tower. Even your secret arts and profound principles.”
Lennok, wreathed in overflowing waves of electricity, walked forward to the majestic spire and smiled.
“I’d like to observe as much of it as possible myself. Shall we begin?”