Chapter 577: How to Use Space (1)
Medicine that, per Murphy’s recommendation, must be taken three times a day, within 30 minutes of each meal.
It not only contracts the mana circuits expanded by overload, stabilizing them, but also drastically increases the efficiency of mana circulation and regeneration.
However, for about half a day immediately after taking it, one must refrain from direct mana usage to fully benefit from its effects.
Murphy likely prescribed this medicine thinking Lennok wouldn’t be on the field for a while, but expecting no trouble while continuing activities under the alias of Van is futile.
That’s why Lennok, from the day he received the prescription, intended to resolve this situation in an entirely different way, instead of skipping meals and doses.
Click!!
A cartridge imbued with the lightning-attribute unique magic [Perpetual Thunder] through incantation.
Lennok imbued the unique magic into a cartridge case, modified into a magazine form using his alchemy and high-grade mana-embedding materials, then projected it with the aid of a shooting assistance spell.
Kiiiiing!!
Manifesting ‘Spatial Leap Targeted Shot,’ a combination of Lennok’s senses, which had begun directly manipulating the concept of space, and Davi’s auto-targeting algorithm.
A miraculous feat that smashes unique magic, along with spatial transference, into coordinates pinpointed by pushing overwhelming mana sensitivity and manipulation to their limits.
Pazzzzzzzik…!!
As if forcibly twisting open empty air, brilliant blue lightning bloomed like a flower.
The exquisite essence of sniping: it bathed the entire dark corridor in the light of thunder and lightning, yet compressed and unleashed its power within a fist-sized space.
In the fleeting moment the light of Perpetual Thunder flashed perpendicularly at the old man’s temple, his body plummeted straight through the corridor floor and crashed into the stairwell below.
Kwaaaang!!
The recoil of the impact bathed the entire interior corridor of the high-rise building in brilliant blue light, and all the windowpanes shattered.
The bodies of the agents, who had fallen unconscious, convulsed violently from the aftershock.
The old man, who had crashed through several floors of ceilings and landed on a desk in an empty office, smiled bitterly.
“Even after crossing space, such power….”
Preserving the original form of a specific energy during spatial transference is twice as difficult as transferring matter.
Unlike matter, which conveys its form and image, forces like mana or spell formulas usually do not.
Even setting aside the rarity, power, and complexity of ‘spatial transfer’ as an ability, significant loss typically occurs during the transfer process.
However, the blue flame that just bloomed above the old man’s brow was burning with a chilling ‘Will-thought,’ rendering that fact meaningless.
It was proof that the magician who fired this spell possessed extraordinary capability.
“Near-instant penetration and explosion. Will-thought lightning…. Truly dangerous.”
The old man, who had taken a seated posture on the collapsed desk, then closed his eyes and placed one hand on his sword.
The corridor, now eerily quiet after the previous explosion.
In the instant the old man, who had been bowing his head in silence, unmoving, sharply lifted his gaze.
As if to pierce the old man’s temple, a streak of lightning flared and shot vertically upwards.
[Flying Azure]
Paaang!!
The lightning that erupted, grazing the old man as he drew and swung his sword and simultaneously tilted his head back, was deflected by the returning blade and ricocheted off the building’s outer wall.
A fleeting illusion of a faint blue line of light scattering along the horizon and disappearing into the night sky.
But the old man did not bother to turn his gaze to watch the beautiful light cluster.
As if he had anticipated the second attack, a hexagonal thunderous burst, waiting, rose from behind him.
[Hexagonal Thunderous Light]
Pazzzzzzz!!!
……!!
The old man’s body spun around on the spot, then instantly dashed backward along the corridor wall.
The projection of the unique magic, leaping through space, immediately pursued as if it had read the old man’s movements.
[Lightning Well]
[Penetrating Strike]
[Shifting Colored Lightning]
Pazzzzzzzik!!!
In a fleeting moment, thunder simultaneously erupted, exploding in succession along the high-rise building’s corridor, bathing the entire upper space in brilliant blue light.
Kagagagak!!!
Even as he dropped his body as if bouncing to avoid the lightning leaping through space, he deflected the unavoidable aftershocks of the unique magic with his blade.
Chiiiik!!
“Ugh……!!”
Even so, unable to endure the full destructive power, lightning coursed over his skin, burning his nerves and paralyzing his muscles.
The chilling sensation of being unilaterally cornered by an unseen opponent whose location, face, and level were unknown.
Would this be what it felt like to stand before a massive main cannon, blindfolded and with all limbs bound?
An extreme spatial sniping, where the spell’s power, speed, and direction could not be guessed at all until just before impact.
It was beyond absurd, it was unfair. Such a unilateral projection of power that it was unbelievable such strength and technique could even exist.
In an instant, the old man’s body was soaked in blood, and the muscles in his limbs stiffened.
Yet, despite this, the old man’s eyes glowed calmly.
‘The mana efficiency for spatial-attribute transfer spells is almost the worst. Even if there’s enough mental strength to endure continuous firing, the escalating consumption with increased distance would be unbearable.’
The opponent was definitely located in the Cartel headquarters district, not too far from the old man.
Swaaaah!!!
The fire alarm system activated, and streams of water pouring from the ceiling drenched and soaked the corridor.
The old man’s figure slowly walking, sword in hand, in the flooded corridor.
The old man, who had been watching droplets of blood falling from his sword-wielding hand mix into the puddles and stain them red, sharply raised his gaze.
His drenched body. The corridor scene, saturated with humidity.
Electrocution.
[Fluttering Thunder]
Pazzzzzzzik!!!
From the far end of the corridor, a thunderclap, bright enough to incinerate the entire ground, flashed and shot out as a sharp beam of light.
In the fleeting moment the lightning, having flowed along the pouring water, wet walls, and floor, was about to course directly through the old man’s body and completely seize his consciousness.
Chwaaaak!!
A shadow that rose at the old man’s feet became a massive curtain, enveloping the entire flash of Fluttering Thunder.
Tudududuk…!!
Though the Shadow Curtain, having swallowed the unique magic whole, couldn’t withstand its power and burst as if exploding.
By then, the old man’s body had already been forcibly moved by someone.
“It wouldn’t do for your first operation after reinstatement to be such a mess, Old Man O’Neil?”
Appearing with a clear, murmuring voice was a middle-aged woman who looked slightly older than her years.
With her striking heavy makeup, she retracted the Shadow Curtain she held in her hand, her expression somber.
“A lightning-attribute magician of considerable mastery. And one who combines it with spatial transfer abilities… I’ve never heard of such a monster among Cartel’s executives.”
“Thanks for the help, Chain.”
O’Neil nodded, brushing off his damp, soaked collar.
“But that lightning just now. Its power certainly diminished slightly at the very end. If it hadn’t, you would have been in danger too.”
“Old man, are you joking? You’re saying that was a weakened spell?”
Chain snorted, dismissing O’Neil’s words.
“As it is, the other agents have located the underground vault. It seems they’ve already begun their infiltration, so let’s move quickly.”
“Chain, don’t nag me.”
The old man, called O’Neil, said, frowning deeply.
“How much did you nag her normally for your daughter to run away, unable to bear it?”
“Oh, I merely did my best for my daughter’s academic achievement. How can one become an adult in this harsh society with such a fragile spirit that can’t even endure self-improvement for university admission….”
“Stop, stop!!”
O’Neil shook his head, as if fed up.
“My mistake. I understand neither you nor I have seen much good since retiring, so let’s drop it.”
“You should have said so sooner.”
Chain snorted and waved her hand. The utterly destroyed Shadow Curtain retracted at her fingertips.
“What about the others?”
“I don’t know either. I didn’t even return because I heard news about the others when I was reinstated.”
“From the sensed presences, it seems there are one or two more besides us…”
“Here.”
Taang!!
No sooner had the words ended than a gunshot echoed, and a young man with an impassive face appeared from behind.
Behind the young man, a dozen or so blood-soaked Cartel assault squad members lay slumped.
“Kade.”
“It’s been a long time, both of you.”
Immediately after, a woman wearing glasses ran out from the far end of the corridor.
Seeing Hina, who was speechless at the sight of the ruined corridor, Chain’s face brightened noticeably.
“Hina!!”
Chain, who ran over and embraced Hina, smiled contentedly.
“You’ve grown so much already!!”
“Ch-Chain, Administrator…”
“It feels like just yesterday you were the same as my daughter, and now you’re an Agent field operative… Time certainly flies, doesn’t it?”
Chain said, abruptly turning her head.
“Old man, your granddaughter is here, why aren’t you greeting her?”
“If it weren’t for your fuss, I would have already greeted her.”
O’Neil said, gesturing with his eyes towards Hina.
“It’s been a while.”
“Grandfather.”
Hina nodded with a calm demeanor.
“I heard about your reinstatement. Why…”
“There’s one thing I need to finish before I die of old age.”
O’Neil replied, tapping the sword at his waist.
The blade hanging at his waist was remarkably similar to the one Hina held.
“I found it too difficult alone, so I decided to get Greta’s help.”
“Greta said she could introduce a very good magic teacher for my daughter, you know.”
Chain said, releasing Hina with a smiling face.
“If things go well, she might even be able to transfer into Rebatenon Magic University.”
“I see…”
“There isn’t much time. According to Greta’s plan, we need to acquire Cartel’s accounting ledgers from the headquarters’ underground vault.”
Kade said with an impassive face.
Twirling the mana-embedded pistol in his hand, he began to walk ahead.
“If things go well, we can obtain Cartel’s double-entry ledgers and gain leverage over this massive corporate conglomerate. We need to move as quickly as possible before Cartel’s high-ranking executives return….”
Pajik!!
At that moment, a massive sense of déjà vu brushed past the senses of all four from the end of the corridor.
……!!
A hallucination as if a massive wave of electrical current swept through and vanished before their eyes.
Such was the overwhelming deluge of that image that all four instantly braced themselves, their nerves on edge.
Remarkably, nothing unusual appeared within the quiet corridor, yet all four knew it wasn’t merely an illusion.
“Chain.”
“I know, old man.”
Chain, her face instantly turning somber, released Hina’s shoulder and vanished as if sinking into the shadows.
Kade, who had pulled out a heavy Magnum pistol, had already disappeared, and O’Neil gestured to Hina.
“Hina, did you sense it?”
O’Neil, with one hand firmly on his sword hilt, murmured lowly.
“It’s a monster capable of projecting illusions onto us just by scattering its Will-thought.”
“This is…”
“You stay back for a moment.”
“No, Grandfather. We have to retreat together!!”
Hina, replaying the Will-thought that had swept past her eyes blankly, clutched O’Neil’s arm, her face pale.
“This isn’t Cartel’s executive board. This is definitely that person’s…!!”
Kugugugung!!!
Simultaneously, nearly half of the agents whose presences were within their sensory range vanished.
O’Neil, his face hardening, shook off Hina’s hand and slowly gripped his sword.
“Now that we’ve come this far, retreating will be difficult. Greta has placed a considerable stake on the scales for this plan.”
“If we don’t join them quickly, it’s going to get less interesting than I thought.”
Chain murmured, lightly stepping beneath her own shadow.
“Before the operation started, I connected a terminal to one of the agents. Let’s move quickly before things get more complicated.”
Kade and O’Neil stepped into the Shadow Pathway Chain opened without hesitation.
Hina was about to immediately follow them into the pathway when O’Neil grabbed her shoulder and shook his head.
“You stay here and contact Greta for us. We’ll go ahead and deal with him.”
“Grandfather!”
She hastily turned back to O’Neil, but he had already vanished towards the underground vault from which the Will-thought had erupted.
“No, if this continues…!!”
Hina, her face pale, hastily grabbed her phone and quickly followed, requesting an emergency communication with Greta.