Chapter 271: A Spectacular Beginning (2)

BOOM!!

As soon as the main gate shattered, Manson and Chen dashed in without hesitation.

Lennok slowly walked in behind them, gathering his hands and unleashing his mana.

Fizzzzzzt!!

He gripped dozens of thick electric currents leaking from between his fingers, compressed them, and detonated them.

The dazzling electric light that erupted from between his horizontally placed palms swept across the Paldun manor’s front yard, spinning.

The art of compressed explosion, simultaneously detonating, resonating, and emanating dozens of common spells, [Bolt] and [Chain Lightning].

Lightning-attribute Creation Magic: Multiple Synthesis.

[Thunder Mass Dispersion (理雷團散)]

Sssssssst!!!

The electric light that erupted from between his palms held immense heat, transforming into a massive plasma mass.

“Aaaargh!!”

“E-enemy attack!!”

“Is it war?! Evacuate the head of the family immediately!!”

Thump, thump, thump!!

Electric flashes flickered everywhere, and randomly leaping bolts began to scorch and shatter the manor in all directions.

The art of altering the properties of space to one’s advantage without deploying a Domain.

Lennok silently watched them, having thrown lumps of electricity, tangible as if they could be grasped, all around.

Considering Lennok’s past actions, this behavior was rather unusual.

Manson, who was leisurely observing from behind, asked,

[Weren’t you going to kill them all?]

“Why would I?”

Lennok retorted.

“What we’re doing now isn’t about how fast we finish. Rather, the goal is to leave lingering threats to cause unrest on their side.”

Walter Martinez, Bishop and Missionary of the Guido Cult.

For such an outsider to receive high-level treatment in the Fortress, it’s highly likely he, like Lennok, chose the identity of a proxy.

So, which family did he choose to secure his proxy status?

The Paldun Family, pushed aside even among the alliance of families centered around the Ilwon Family, is an unlikely candidate, but Lennok’s current move should be enough to raise an alarm among the families.

“If we stir up the other families one by one, a rough outline will emerge.”

As Lennok said that, something jumped out of the manor’s window and landed directly on the ground.

Thuuud!!

“STOOOOPPPP!!!”

A slender, white-haired elderly man.

The tall elder, nearly two meters in height, oversaw the estate, letting out a rough yell.

“What disgrace is this, against just one wizard?!”

The mana contained in his booming voice was considerable.

A level that was hard to believe coming from the most despised among the Eight Families.

“They haven’t even shown any intention of fighting properly yet…!! I’ll have to put you all through training from scratch again!!”

Chen turned his gaze reluctantly at the elder’s ceaseless scolding.

“…Come to think of it, no one’s died yet. Did he deliberately adjust the power?”

“This much show of force should be enough.”

Lennok leisurely said.

“Isn’t this a proper enough greeting for us to have a rational conversation?”

“Hmm, that’s…”

There was no need to explain how warped a wizard’s way of thinking could become after spending nearly three years in Vulcan’s underworld.

But contrary to Chen’s thoughts, the elder, who identified himself as the head of the Paldun Family, quickly brought the situation under control and summoned the three of them to the Paldun’s front yard.

Perhaps, knowing that the three of them had come with the will and capability to confront a family, he intended to buy time until his subordinate warriors regained their senses.

“…”

Of course, it was unavoidable that he sent cold glares at the ruffians who had shattered the gate and torn up the front yard.

“I heard two proxies came, and wondered if Ilwon or Ivory had contacted them… but it turns out they’re messengers from the losers.”

A faint smile hung on the family head’s lips as he stared down at Lennok and Manson.

It was an extremely faint emotion, but it contained only mockery.

“What do Yukryeong, who are nothing more than doormats for the other four families, and the fallen Oryun plan to do together? If Samyeong had started to make moves, I would have personally talked to you, but this is truly preposterous.”

“…”

“I’ll commend your spirit and forgive this incident specially. If you have something to say, finish it quickly and get out.”

Lennok gazed up at the family head, who was seated on the manor’s floor.

Forgiveness. Those weren’t easy words to grant to the perpetrators who shattered the gate and ransacked the manor’s courtyard.

Though he hid his true feelings with a strong demeanor, he likely wished to avoid further damage from Lennok here.

However, Lennok had no intention of leaving without seeing Paldun’s proxy firsthand.

“I want to take over the proxy authority you possess.”

“…What?”

“If you’re not going to join the game, hand over your justification.”

Lennok said.

“I’ll create a decent game board for you again before you wither away.”

“You’re out of your mind.”

The family head scoffed at Lennok’s words.

“What reason do I have to grant your request?”

In a gathering that decides the internal power of the Fortress, a proxy is a representative of the family’s will.

If that qualification were handed over to the Oryun Family, Paldun would become no more than a spectator until the Fortress Head was decided.

Normally, Paldun would naturally never grant such a request.

KABOOOM!!!

Everyone thought so, until a bolt of lightning struck the manor’s spire from a clear sky.

Everyone’s jaws dropped at the precise power control that singled out and utterly incinerated only the fifth-floor attic.

Lennok asked,

“May I ask again?”

“…”

Silence fell.

The family head couldn’t easily answer.

If Lennok had politely requested a conversation instead of immediately resorting to force, would he have gotten this reaction?

Having entered the Fortress under Van’s name, it was necessary to push firmly where required.

Lennok was very well aware of that fact.

The family head, deep in thought, seemed to realize something and gave a strained smile.

“D-duels between proxies are strictly forbidden until the Fortress Head selection. Surely, you aren’t thinking of violating the Fortress’s rules here and now….”

“I know.”

“If you intend to break the rules and be unreasonable… what?”

As Lennok said that, he patted Chen’s shoulder, who was standing beside him.

“So, this friend will face your proxy instead of me.”

“…Wait a minute.”

Chen, his face pale, turned his stiff neck.

“This is the first I’m hearing of this since we got here.”

“Ho-jeo!!”

The Paldun Family head, who had been listening intently to their conversation, quickly shouted.

Thuuud!!

With that command, a burly young man walked out from beyond the shadows behind the floor.

The young man named Ho-jeo, completely bare-chested, was well over two meters tall.

His broad shoulders and ample, solid build on both sides hinted at his immense strength.

Ho-jeo, raising a heavy bludgeon larger than his own height, strode forward and began to glare at the two.

Behind him, the family head, stroking his beard, said with a satisfied expression,

“The Oryun Family’s proxy wouldn’t go back on his word.”

“…”

“Instead, if we win, you must take responsibility for our family’s safety. Do you agree?”

As Lennok nodded, Ho-jeo stepped forward.

“Come out, you worm.”

Ho-jeo snorted forcefully and sneered.

“I’ll kill the bastard son who’s cowering behind Adamant Thunder’s back right here.”

With those words, he slammed the massive bludgeon he was carrying onto the ground, and with a heavy thud, the courtyard shook violently.

Chen desperately grabbed Lennok’s arm.

“Van. Of course, I intend to do my best in this, but… is there any chance of winning?”

The surge of mana emanating from Ho-jeo’s impressively burly body was on a level incomparable to Chen’s.

Palgung Fortress, where the strongest warriors in Vulcan’s underworld gather.

Ho-jeo, a direct descendant of the Eight Families and self-proclaimed proxy of Paldun, has reached level 6 achievement.

A Hierarchy capable of exerting military unit-level performance by himself.

No matter how many times Chen might have rolled around in the back alleys, his practical experience couldn’t even compare.

If Chen lost here, not only would they fail to seize Paldun’s proxy qualification, but Lennok’s reputation would also plummet without the reward for bravely setting up this scheme.

However, despite Chen’s reaction, Lennok smiled leisurely.

“Don’t worry. Although I put you forward due to the proxy duel rules, you’re not actually the one fighting.”

“W-what?!”

Before Chen could say anything more, Lennok first drew up his mana.

His left eye glowed violet and began to spin, and at the same time, he channeled a bolt of electricity into the crown of Chen’s head.

[Remnant Thunder Body (余雷身)]

Fiiiiizzz…!!

It’s easy to mistake it for a simple spell that enhances physical abilities, but its principle is far more complex.

It’s not an ordinary enhancement spell found in common magic; it sharpens all sensory organs without disrupting the flow of bio-electricity within the body.

As a result, the sheer volume of information poured into the user granted Remnant Thunder Body is further increased, which immediately leads to diversification of judgment and intuition.

Before Chen could properly feel the effects, mana threads extending from Lennok’s hand quickly grasped his limbs and began to move them on their own.

“Watching that spider made me rethink manipulation magic. Today will be a good opportunity.”

“What the hell are you talking about?!!”

As Chen let out a bizarre scream, his limbs moved on their own, drawing two curved swords from his waist and starting to dash.

The duel began instantly.

Slipping past Manson and Lennok, Chen moved towards Ho-jeo, who had descended into the courtyard, and relentlessly thrust his curved sword blades.

Ho-jeo immediately twisted his torso around the bludgeon he had slammed into the ground, receiving the blades.

Clang-clang-clang!!!

“Hoh.”

It is said that skilled warriors can gauge an opponent’s ability with a single clash.

Chen’s initial attack just now, beyond its speed, had a nearly perfect rhythm and gap for penetrating Ho-jeo’s guard.

If Ho-jeo had simply tried to block it by raising his bludgeon, he likely would have been injured.

Only then did Ho-jeo’s burly face, as he turned to Chen, bear a murderous smile.

“It seems you brought a decent warrior, for a wizard. Good, let’s test our skills to the fullest!!”

“F*ck…”

Chen’s faint, resigned curse echoed.

Ho-jeo, gripping his bludgeon with both hands and lowering his stance, and Lennok, grasping mana threads, moved their hands simultaneously.

The two warriors twisted their bodies on the shattered ground.

Whish-whish-whish!!!

Flashes of light that flickered before their eyes wildly crisscrossed and spun in the air, continuously dropping long gashes and heavy fragments everywhere.

“Aaahhh!!”

“Good momentum!!”

Ho-jeo, full of excitement, parried the curved swords, oblivious to Chen’s true feelings.

In the middle of this vast courtyard, only Lennok truly grasped the entire battle situation.

‘It’s working much better than I thought.’

Witnessing Agneta’s manipulation spell for only a brief moment, Lennok was considerably shocked to see her use spider webs like mana threads to interfere even with human minds.

He knew that manipulation spells were a very peculiar category among spell formulas, but it was his first time personally seeing such precise manipulation of mana threads.

A strange rhythm he could only feel because he had handled mana threads to some extent.

A vividness as if the mana threads themselves were alive. An art that he couldn’t even guess if human emotion and sensation could imitate.

While he intuitively knew that reaching that level immediately was impossible, conversely, Lennok was able to recognize the potential contained within mana threads.

‘It’s not just a matter of physical contact and manipulation. If I maximize the advantage of freely perceiving and manipulating according to will and thought….’

Perhaps someday, he might even grasp and manipulate invisible concepts.

Even if Lennok’s own knowledge and reason couldn’t confirm it, if his senses and intuition vaguely perceived it.

To look further, he needed to invest time in mana threads right now.

Wasn’t this unexpected puppet show in Paldun’s courtyard ultimately for the sake of looking higher and walking further?

“Alright. I’ve mostly grasped it.”

As he muttered, Lennok’s eyes glowed distinctly, and his ten fingers began to dance as if playing a piano.

The movement of his fingers wasn’t what was important. Simultaneously realizing the imagined movement of the mana threads in reality, he tightened and pulled the mana threads connected to Chen’s limbs and muscles, finely controlling his movements.

Crack!!

Chen’s joints bent artfully to their maximum usable range, operating and springing out in directions even he didn’t know.

Matching that, the two curved swords in his hands curved in directions vastly different from his body’s orientation.

They were aimed simultaneously at Ho-jeo’s chin and knee.

Ho-jeo desperately backed away, swatting away the curved sword coming for his face, but.

Swish!!

Surprisingly, blood spurted not from his chin or knee, but near his side.

A single gash deeply cut into Ho-jeo’s bare skin, which was protected by mana covering his entire body.

As the curved sword aimed at his chin missed, Chen’s body dropped low, and the curved sword that was heading for his knee sprang up, slashing Ho-jeo’s side.

“…!!”

A strange phenomenon where both Chen and Ho-jeo, who were directly engaged in combat, were simultaneously astonished by the result.

But Lennok, who was directly orchestrating all of it from behind, didn’t even blink and remained focused on manipulating Chen.

‘Still not enough.’

He yearned for senses beyond mere physical manipulation.

As he concentrated, gathering practical experience and accumulating data, the possible range of manipulation itself continuously expanded.

‘I can reach even further.’

Beyond the vision seen through his violet Mystic Eye.

The mana threads tied to Chen’s limbs began to twist in spirals, slowly transforming.