Chapter 1173: Blooming (4)
[Alpha Sequence collapse. Barrier activated.]
[Beta Sequence collapse. Containment Gate activated.]
[Gamma Sequence halted. Research Wing opened/closed.]
CRACK!!
Dark blue lightning swirled over the solid alloy wall.
It tore through the thick bulkhead like paper, piercing through rows of barriers and shields.
FLASH. A soundless clap of thunder, and at the same time, space-time split open, and the bursting lightning swirled, imbued with a dark blue light.
It explosively tore through the ceiling of the research wing, echoing as it split the sky and clouds simultaneously.
ROOAARRRRRRRR!!!!!
Space collapse and particle disintegration unfolded simultaneously, tearing and slicing apart the sky and ground.
Beyond the transparent firmament, the Sea of Darkness faintly glimmered, as if a giant hand had clawed across it.
“I expected something, but this is beyond what I anticipated.”
Beneath the raging thunderstorm, Lennok looked up at the sky with an unreadable expression.
“Even using Incarnation Spellcraft to cast lightning magic, is this the extent of the damage?”
WOOOOSH!!!!
Even at this moment, something relentlessly scattered lightning magic across the skies above the laboratory.
However, the one casting the magic was not Lennok himself.
The Incarnation Spellcraft he learned in Yorta. A translucent form, its entire body enveloped in a pale glow.
Lennok’s Incarnation Body was casting lightning magic in his stead, directly testing the backlash and power of the rampage.
CRACK, CRACKLE, CRUMBLE!!!!
ZZZRRRRRRT-!!!
The Incarnation Body, imbued with dark blue lightning, flared and gradually evaporated.
The complex barriers deployed around the Incarnation Body cracked, emitting ominous rupturing sounds.
[10-Type Damage Control Barrier: Complete Annihilation.]
[12-Layer Wheel-Stopping Barrier: Complete Destruction.]
[36-Layer Property Banishing Barrier: Complete Loss.]
[Lightning Magic: Self-Targeting Impossible. 67% of measurement criteria prepared for today’s test neutralized.]
Davi, perched on Lennok’s shoulder, read aloud from the screen where numbers flickered before her eyes.
[The Management Bureau has issued a Special Disaster Alert. Soon, Sector 59’s runways and roads will all be sealed off.]
“……”
The undeveloped zone of the mega-city Vulcan. A new performance testing ground located between Sector 58 and Sector 59.
Sector 59 was the outermost restricted zone of the undeveloped area, a landfill that alone accommodated about 35% of the waste discharged from Vulcan.
Despite possessing a vast site, one of the largest in all of Vulcan, it was an isolated area with almost no one coming or going.
It was unusual for a disaster alert to be issued even for a restricted zone, but that wasn’t what Lennok was worried about.
“It’s not just that the output has increased to an uncontrollable level.”
[Huh?]
“Unintended changes have mingled in. That’s why space collapse and particle disintegration are happening simultaneously.”
WOOOOSH!!!
The remnants of the laboratory, echoing with lightning, scattered into blue particles and vanished.
The landscape around them turned to dust and disappeared, while amidst it, the Pillars of Lightning raged fiercely, their power undiminished.
Lennok muttered, looking up at the lingering scent of thunder that tore through the sky.
“Lightning magic is evolving, constantly undergoing Property Transformation on its own.”
Lennok immediately turned and headed towards the laboratory.
As soon as he passed the barriers and bulkheads, a wide-open void unfolded. Research equipment spun ceaselessly throughout the pristine white room.
All of these items had been prepared for this research, but Lennok’s expression, as he looked at them, was subtly grim.
“I went to Kabahim to solve the lightning magic’s rampage, but I came back with the problem even worse.”
[…….]
“If it were just an increase in output like before, I could handle it, but now even stranger changes have begun to mix in.”
Lennok had participated in Pandemonium’s [The Gate] Conquest Operation to find a way to control the lightning magic’s rampage.
However, during the process of looking into Ban-gung’s memories in the Archive, the lightning magic’s rampage worsened.
This was likely because Lennok had returned from Kabahim having confirmed what he once was.
Because he had realized that the Lennok of a certain time was the Fate of Demise. That the ‘Cause’ awakened as the Third was there.
The lightning magic, intertwined with Ban-gung’s power, continued to evolve, striving to reach a realm beyond itself.
Considering the gains from this endeavor, he thought it was an acceptable problem, but the results of his experiments back in Vulcan far exceeded what he had anticipated.
[Over 27 types of Property Transformations, including fusion, overload, superconductivity, diffusion, resonance, repulsion, and projection, are being observed simultaneously in the lightning magic.]
Davi said with a look of wonder.
[Considering that Property Transformations not usually used by Master are mixed in, it seems that random Property Transformations are occurring simultaneously with the casting.]
“The fact that Property Transformations have begun to mix randomly means this isn’t an area that can be solved with control or adjustment.”
Lennok walked past the measuring equipment, which displayed error messages all around him.
The Subjugation Operation, which had only possessed a direction for a long time, was now taking shape and being prepared.
Naturally, Lennok had no intention of sitting idly by, waiting for the Subjugation Operation to begin.
Before the Subjugation Operation started, he too had to create a battlefield and make preparations to prevent the damage from spreading.
Yet, even so, there was no way to prevent the backlash from lightning magic if he were to use it now.
Finding a way to control lightning magic beforehand would be ideal, but he needed to prepare countermeasures in case things didn’t go as planned.
“If I can research the Mandala and find a way to control Ban-gung’s power, I can suppress the lightning magic’s rampage with that.”
Lennok said, gazing down at the black ring wrapped around his hand.
“The problem is that I haven’t clearly identified the activation conditions for the Mandala yet. It’s different from when I used it in Kabahim.”
The Ascendant Ban-gung’s Prestige Domain, Mandala.
A vessel holding eternal essence, and proof that he had attempted to create something.
It was the very essence of the Manipulation Spellcraft that Ban-gung used, and also contained the Transcendental Unique Magic, [World’s Ten Laws].
The problem was that after Lennok recovered the Mandala, it no longer responded to him.
The Unmarked Succession Knot’s Domain was not a result of the Mandala, but a Branching Point Lennok chose to find a different answer.
The power of the Mandala itself, after transforming into a black ring and coiling around Lennok’s hand, showed no reaction whatsoever.
It would be ideal if he could confirm the Mandala’s activation conditions before the Subjugation Operation and research it to solve the lightning magic’s rampage, but he also had to consider the case where he couldn’t.
“In the end, no matter what, I’ll have to act under the alias of Adamant Thunder in the Subjugation Operation. If I can’t properly suppress the lightning magic then—”
[It wouldn’t be strange if about five sectors in the 40s were cleanly wiped out, would it?]
“……Just tell me the damage radius from the simulations.”
Lennok said, gripping Davi’s tail.
“There must be no instance of allies being swept away due to a failure in output control. Is there no way to suppress or halve the output?”
[How about expending mana beforehand, deliberately lowering your condition before engaging in combat?]
“Those participating in the Subjugation Operation won’t be such easy opponents.”
Lennok fell into thought.
“But that’s right. Deliberately expending output… The idea of forcibly lowering power has potential…”
CRASH!!!
All the spoils and remaining equipment acquired from traveling between Kundara, Torquepaz, and Kabahim were poured into the laboratory.
The World Tree’s Leaf. Life Vessel. Blood-Thought Scribe. Treasures obtained from the Ninth Tribulation. Glass gauntlets and various jewels.
But what Lennok chose among all these spoils was the largest and most anomalous ‘bone’.
BOOM!!!
A dragon’s skull, several times larger than Lennok, crashed into the center of the laboratory, emitting a thunderous roar.
Its weight and bone density were so immense that the lab visibly shook the moment it fell.
Davi tilted her head, looking at the dragon’s bone, which emitted a beautiful, diamond-like light.
[Oh, this is…]
“The Adamant Dragon’s remains, acquired from Kundara’s Ninth Tribulation. I haven’t properly used it yet.”
The Adamant Dragon’s remains that Lennok brought out from the Ninth Tribulation’s vault, along with the ascended Maleon.
A Gemstone Dragon, said to be born once every thirteen generations. Among them, this was the skull of a True Bloodline that existed centuries ago.
Maleon had gifted these remains to Lennok in return for assisting his Promotion Ritual, but they had yet to be put to actual use.
[That reptile explained before that it possessed Draconification, the ability to transform into a dragon, didn’t it?]
Davi asked, placing a paw on Lennok’s head and craning her neck.
[Is Master planning to transform into Dragon-kind yourself to endure the lightning magic’s rampage?]
“No. To properly use the Draconification ability, I need a Ruyi Orb. I don’t have one since I converted it into a Life Vessel, and it’s not the Draconification’s power I need.”
Lennok stood before the Adamant Dragon’s remains, tapping the diamond-like bone.
“What’s important is the bone itself. As the remains of a True Bloodline called the Adamant Dragon, its strength and durability were guaranteed by Maleon himself.”
[Then what are you going to do?]
“I’m going to inject my mana into the Adamant Dragon’s remains and use it as an auxiliary device to ‘idle’ the lightning magic.”
Lennok said, drawing up his mana.
“If it’s not a Ruyi Orb, the Draconification ability won’t activate. In that case, I can leverage that to pour mana into it without it forming an actual spellcraft.”
[It feels like deliberately overloading an engine to forcibly lower its performance and output.]
Davi, understanding, wagged her seven tails from side to side.
[Adamantite has extremely high electrical resistance, so if these reptilian remains have the same characteristics, it might be possible?]
“I’m not expecting it to perfectly withstand it. It just needs to be able to absorb the mana without completely breaking.”
Lennok, manipulating his Incarnation Body to stand before the Adamant Dragon’s remains, concentrated.
“Even if I can only use it to that extent for now, its utility is sufficient.”
WOOOOSH…!!!
The moment he willed to use magic, a vast wave of lightning overflowed from around the Incarnation Body.
Like breaking a dam that had been forcibly holding back water, blue lightning exploded in the air, illuminating the entire laboratory.
A storm of lightning swirled as if it would instantly shatter all the laboratory’s facilities and surge into the sky.
RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE!!!!!
[WARNING]
[WARNING]
[WARNING]
Ignoring the red warning lights flickering everywhere, the Incarnation Body, imbued with dark blue lightning, grasped the remains.
It pushed the uncontrollable thunder and lightning overflowing from its entire body into the remains.
ROOOOAARRRR!!!!
The Adamant Dragon’s massive skull, enveloped in dark blue lightning, glowed dazzlingly.
The lightning permeated the transparent, diamond-like remains, beginning to transform into a blue light.
CRACK, CRACKLE, CRUMBLE!!!
The dragon’s bone, forcibly swallowing the lightning that overflowed like a waterfall, turned into a dark sapphire.
Lightning flashed and surged from inside its mouth, and brilliant blue light erupted from its empty eye sockets.
Just as Lennok concentrated, watching the remains of the dragon appear as if life had been breathed into them, ready to move at any moment.
The Adamant Dragon’s glowing eyes, flashing from within the remains, turned their gaze and glared directly at Lennok.
“……!!!”
CRACK!
Brilliant blue lightning surged and intensely flashed from the sapphire-like bone, as if heating up.
The lightning pushed into the Adamant Dragon’s remains exploded in all directions, beyond Lennok’s control.
KABOOOM!!!!
[Whoa?!!]
Davi, who had been diligently operating research equipment behind Lennok, was flung into the air by the shockwave and tumbled across the floor.
Seeing this, Lennok immediately used Flicker, pulled Davi into his arms, and turned his gaze.
“That’s…”
RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE!!!!!
The massive thunder and lightning flowing from the remains instantly embraced the debris of the laboratory and took shape.
As it unfurled wings of dark blue lightning, a Thunder Dragon, its entire body composed of lightning, roared fiercely.
OOOOOOOOHHHH!!!!!!
[Master…!!]
“It failed.”
A chilling spectacle, as the entire laboratory was bathed in ominous black-blue lightning.
A startled Davi darted around the lab, frantically checking the database backup.
[Wh-what do we do?! At this rate, the lab might just evaporate!!]
“No. That’s not the real problem.”
RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE!!!!
But Lennok, his face grimly set, turned his gaze.
“The real problem isn’t the Adamant Dragon, but—”
WWOOOSHHH!!!!!
The Incarnation Body’s new form, its entire being imbued with dark blue lightning, ominously flickered and shifted.
From a transparent, human shape, it gained a blazing Lightning God’s Body and raised its head.
CRACKLE!!!!
Dark blue light exploded from its featureless face, cracking and splitting it.
As if the Incarnation Body itself was being ‘eroded’ by Lennok’s lightning magic—
KABOOOMMMMM!!!!!
Shockwaves raged, pulverizing all the research equipment.
The Incarnation Body, submerged in a wave of dark blue lightning, slowly turned its gaze.
Dark blue eyes emblazoned upon its featureless face.
The moment he met its gaze, he knew.
This was not something that had gained its own will or a clone born beyond Lennok’s control.
It was merely a materialized disaster, harboring the blazing image of thunder amidst infinite Property Transformations.
It was Lennok’s rampaging lightning magic itself.
WOOOOSH!!
The Incarnation Body, its gaze locked with Lennok’s, slowly raised a hand wreathed in dark blue lightning.
Simultaneously, dozens of dark blue magic circles unfurled behind the Incarnation Body, rotating.
FLASH-FLASH-FLASH!!!!
“……!!!”
Waves of dark blue thunder surged as if to blow apart the entire laboratory building with a single gesture.
The instant Lennok’s fingertips twitched, the direction of the magic circles uniformly turned away from him.
KIIIIIIING!!!
It aimed directly at all eight directions of the laboratory, excluding Lennok, and drew up lightning power.
An ominous will, as if intending to reduce everything to ash, save for its master, Lennok.
“Wait, don’t tell me…!!!”
Even when aimed at the sky and its power tested until now, the repercussions were unbearable.
If such lightning magic were fired directly at the outskirts of the undeveloped zone, an uncontrollable disaster would unfold.
Lennok, intuiting this, leaped sideways, concentrating his will-thought to cast magic, just as—
WOOOOSH!!!
An invisible force forcibly guided Lennok’s hand, raising it forward.
“……Huh?”
The black ring coiled around Lennok’s right hand. The materialized form of power embodying the Mandala.
The moment Lennok realized it had pulled his hand, he wore a dazed expression.
Before Lennok’s eyes, a circular, blackened [Gate] unfurled.
A massive sphere of darkness swallowed the entire wave of changes.
[Mandala: Gate Open]
WWOOOSHHH-OOOOOOHHH!!!!
“Guh……!!!!”
Lennok, shielding Davi in his arms, immediately drew up mana and ducked his head.
An eerie sense of discord, as if all surrounding objects were being sucked in by an immensely powerful gravitational pull.
The moment the broken research equipment and facility debris scattered and spun as if to shatter everything.
The lightning wreathed around the Incarnation Body became one with the Mandala’s darkness, ‘preserving’ it.
CRRAAAACK!!
The Incarnation Body, which had been moving beyond Lennok’s control, stopped as if frozen in place.
The Adamant Dragon’s remains, composed of thunder and lightning, crashed with a roar, shaking the very earth.
An instant of darkness burst forth, followed by a miraculous silence.
Only the massive sphere of darkness, floating in the center of the laboratory and slowly rotating on its own, served as proof of what had happened.
GHOOOOOH…!!!
“……”
Prestige Domain, Mandala.
Eternal cycle. A false sanctuary symbolizing pure change.
A miracle that contains a single essence, one that changes endlessly yet remains unaltered.
“……I was mistaken from the start.”
Lennok, slowly rising with Davi in his arms, gazed at the rotating darkness.
“It wasn’t that it didn’t respond to me, but that it responded to everything but me?”
During the final battle in Kundara. Just like when he opened [The Gate] and overflowed Seonjong’s ultimate secret.
The power of Ban-gung, a transcendent Manipulation Spellcaster, wasn’t solely about destroying and disintegrating everything.
The way he used his Domain. The true strength he obtained by wielding even the miracle of opening [The Gate] as an authority—
“A power that preserves any outcome in its original form. It’s virtually an absolute defense capability that can withstand anything once.”
The Adamant Dragon’s remains, which had tried to move as a Thunder Dragon.
The rampage of lightning magic, manifested through the Incarnation Body’s physical form.
And even the existence of the Mandala, which miraculously preserved and halted all these anomalies.
The achievements gained through this research were all unexpected, but precisely because of that, there was even more potential for utilization.
Lennok looked at the rotating darkness, his eyes quietly gleaming.
“It seems I’ve found the Mandala’s activation conditions.”