Chapter 902: The Eye That Sees Fate (38)

In the heart of the ruined city where Pyeonram’s thought-form had vanished.

Atop a hill of messily melted skyscraper debris, a solid metal wall rose to block the view.

A slender man stood atop that wall, hands clasped behind his back, looking down at Lennok.

Gazing at the bizarre figure who had a metal sphere floating where his head should be, Lennok spoke.

“So you were the master of that disgusting lump of scrap metal.”

[My apologies for the late introduction. I am Olinic of Gisusingung.]

Instead of bowing his head, Olinic spun the metal sphere rapidly.

Chrrrrk!!

With each rotation of the sphere, the metal wall thickened in real-time, growing larger.

A blatant move, as if to stand between Lennok and Evan and create distance.

Olinic spoke again with a smooth pretense.

[First, I would like to congratulate you on your magnificent victory in this battle. It was a most impressive duel.]

“…”

[I am very interested in the new horizon of magic that you and Cheonbeon have shown us all. If you wouldn’t mind, for a moment—]

“Enough with the empty praise.”

Lennok cut Olinic off at once and asked.

“What does it mean to ‘officially recognize this result with the authority of the city government’?”

[Hmm, as you know, a great many eyes are watching this fight. Not just the city government and the Central Council, but countless unidentified eyes from outside the city as well.]

“…”

[Though there were several variables, you have clearly defeated Cheonbeon. From this moment on, that fact will never change.]

Olinic said, clasping his hands together.

[But is there any reason to show what happens next to the gossips? So that you may fully enjoy the value of your victory, our Gisusingung will cooperate.]

“You spin a plausible excuse.”

Lennok sneered.

“Weren’t you the one scheming to stop me from returning to the Magic Tower just a few hours ago?”

[It is true that I placed my bet on Cheonbeon, but I am not so foolish as to be unable to accept a decided outcome.]

Olinic let out a strange laugh, as if unconcerned.

[It is precisely because our priorities differ that a proposal for mediation is possible. You know this as well, do you not?]

“…”

Olinic’s persuasion was delivered calmly, without a hint of wavering.

An offer suggesting that because Adamant Thunder had won against Cheonbeon, a rational mediation was possible.

In exchange for helping with that process, Olinic was trying to save Evan Martinez’s life right here and now.

It was likely because, separate from the outcome of the battle, he believed he had seen a potential in Cheonbeon comparable to that of Adamant Thunder.

As Lennok, who knew all the circumstances, he understood the basis for Olinic’s judgment.

But—

“Has it already been so long since the Prohibition Edict was lifted?”

Lennok said, slowly tilting his head to the side.

“I see no reason to borrow the hands of old ghouls who are only now crawling out of the woodwork. Step aside.”

The magnates of the sunlit world, led by Gisusingung, could not be trusted, and there was no reason to entrust them with mediation.

Now that the fight had ended in an acceptable manner, all that remained was to take Lapis and finish the job.

Third-party intervention in that process would only be an unnecessary hindrance.

Olinic smiled and raised his hand.

[If that is your decision, then it cannot be helped.]

Considering the fate of the Incarnation Body, a clash here seemed unavoidable.

Having made his decision, Lennok reached a hand toward the sky, still echoing with the remnants of lightning, about to shatter the metal wall in an instant.

Shhhhrrrrrk!!!

The metal wall blocking Lennok’s path split sideways, clearing a path.

“…”

[I believe you are misunderstanding. I have no intention of fighting you to force my mediation.]

As Lennok lifted his gaze at the unexpected reaction, Olinic shrugged.

[Considering the upcoming summit and other scheduled events, it wouldn’t do to have friction already. I shall be content with a simple greeting for today.]

Was he saying that the outcome of this battle might affect the scheduled summit?

The man who had manipulated and dissipated a tens-of-meters-tall metal wall with a single gesture spoke.

[However, if you wish to fully protect the value of your victory, you should hurry. After all, you have won a great battle watched by the entire mega-city.]

Olinic smiled.

[In the process, everyone saw that you do not hesitate to engage in a life-or-death struggle even with a sorcerer of the same class, and that you are a man who would act without a second thought if things go wrong.]

“…”

[Now that you have proven in such a spectacular fashion that your twisted nature and madness are no exaggerated rumors, isn’t it only natural that the aftermath will become troublesome?]

“You say some interesting things.”

Lennok scoffed at Olinic’s words, his arms crossed.

“Are you trying to say you’re worried about when I’ll finally lose my mind and go completely insane?”

[Well now. That’s something we can’t know for sure. Perhaps you are using even your own madness for your own benefit in the end….]

Olinic scratched his metal sphere with a strange expression.

[At the very least, we try never to rule out such a possibility. In the long history of the continent, there were indeed those who were capable of such a thing.]

“…”

[Those whose very distortions were acknowledged by the heavens. Transcendents who seized the right to proceed to the next, nonexistent stage.]

Olinic placed a hand on his hip, and his telepathic voice seemed to turn bitter for a moment.

Without waiting for Lennok’s reply, Olinic slowly turned to leave.

[I don’t know if you can understand, but that was the very reason I stood on the opposite side of you in this matter.]

Chrrk!!

In that instant, Olinic’s body crumbled on the spot into a pile of metallic dust.

A strange consistency—just as he had appeared without a trace, he departed without any warning.

Was that the power of Cheoknoe Olinic, the head of Gisusingung (機髓身宮), who handled the affinity of metal?

It was unclear whether he manipulated real metal by granting it magnetism, or if he could only manipulate magnets themselves.

But it was clearly a power so alien that even Lennok found it difficult to grasp its nature just by watching.

Considering he had bet on Evan in this fight yet still appeared openly before Adamant Thunder, he was not a man to be taken lightly.

The giants of the sunlit world who had accepted the Prohibition Edict and gone into seclusion.

These old clans, who only began to move after Yorta and Machina were overturned, undoubtedly possessed a more sinister and monstrous potential than expected.

Lennok thought so as he walked toward the fallen Incarnation Body.

‘What should I do…?’

He had regained control over the Incarnation Body the moment it entered his sight.

Even so, the reason he hadn’t immediately retrieved it was that he had to consider the onlookers watching this battlefield, just as Olinic had said.

Since it was a battle watched from all over the city, the fates of Adamant Thunder and Evan had to be concluded in a believable manner.

Vroooooom!!

Just then, the sound of dozens of vehicles rushing toward the ruins could be heard from afar.

The harsh squeal of wearing tires. The grating roar of engines.

Dozens of airships appeared, shining dazzling lights on the ground as an intangible barrier was cast over the sky.

Screeeech!!

Dozens of tanks halted at the outskirts of the battlefield, along with batteries of artillery reversing into formation.

They brought an army to occupy the area, taking their positions with perfect discipline as if establishing a battlefront.

The moment he realized this was not a measure to surround the battlefield, but rather to protect the ruins from the outside.

Clang!

The door of a landed airship opened, and a familiar old man stepped out, leaning on a cane.

“Van, this may be somewhat inconvenient, but I ask for your understanding.”

“…Councilman Meyer.”

“An unidentified armed organization is currently approaching from the city outskirts at tremendous speed.”

Meyer said, glancing at Evan’s collapsed form across from Lennok.

“They are almost certainly aiming for you two. It will only take a moment to confirm their identity, so please be patient.”

“…”

Instead of replying, Lennok silently stared at the barrier spread across the sky.

It was a spellcraft that concealed presence and sight and blocked the exchange of information, but the flow and pattern of its magic were quite alien.

A type of mana manipulation not commonly seen near the city.

“That barrier. It’s not the Defense Force’s method. Did you outsource it?”

“Ahem, I was about to explain, but it seems you’ve already figured it out.”

Meyer cleared his throat and nodded.

“The Central Council invited magic towers from all over the continent for consultation. It was unavoidable, as many showed great interest in this matter.”

“It seems you needed some capable commentators.”

“That’s how shocking what you’ve done this time was.”

Gazing at Evan’s fallen form, Meyer muttered in a tone that could not hide his admiration.

“A monster who rampaged through the city alone while being pursued by a city government warrant. His track record was truly spectacular…”

“…”

From the perspective of Meyer, who was entirely on Vulcan’s side, it wasn’t strange to think of Evan that way.

Apart from being a Watcher for the Eyes of Blue, it was obvious how Evan’s actions would appear to the public after Lapis’s kidnapping.

Noticing Lennok’s expression, Meyer smoothly changed the subject.

He had likely perceived that despite having just finished a battle, Lennok was not agitated or overly sensitive to stimuli.

“I will personally investigate the unidentified monster that intervened during the battle later. I’ll make sure to share the information with you immediately.”

“Understood.”

At Lennok’s calm reply, Meyer, after a cautious glance, naturally brought up the main topic.

“Then, about Evan Martinez’s life… surely…”

“I can allow a brief investigation, but I will be the one to decide his fate.”

Lennok said, looking back over his shoulder with a cold gaze.

“I don’t want any unnecessary interference.”

“I understand. We’ll do as you say.”

Meyer nodded without another word.

“However, we will handle the cleanup and reconstruction of the fortress’s surrounding facilities. The Hexagonal Fortress’s quarantine zone is an area we must attend to for the sake of resource distribution.”

“And in the process, you secure data about what happened here?”

“You’ve likely gained much from your perspective. The enlightenment and fame that come from fighting and defeating a sorcerer of the same class. The change in your status is certainly not something to be taken lightly.”

Meyer gave a bitter smile at Lennok’s smirking remark.

“However, I hope you understand the City Council’s position cannot be the same. At the very least, we need proof that the council intervened in the conclusion of this battle.”

“…”

“For the sake of the citizens who will be trembling in fear over this incident.”

At the point where he could no longer interfere with Evan’s fate, was he saying they needed to secure at least a minimum of data on the battle that occurred here?

“That’s not something for me to comment on.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

At Meyer’s gesture, dozens of people emerged from between the armored vehicles surrounding them.

Investigators, coroners, researchers, and council members. Wizards from the Magic Tower.

Experts from various fields, summoned by the authority of the Central Council, began to carefully record the traces of the battlefield.

In the process, most of them couldn’t even look at Lennok, their bodies stiff and covered in cold sweat.

It was no wonder their blood ran cold, digging for traces right in front of the person who had turned this entire city district into ruins.

But that, too, was brief. As Lennok merely watched without any reaction, the others’ actions became much more natural.

Finally, as soldiers in powersuits slowly approached Evan, who lay at the center of the blast zone.

“…”

Lennok silently lifted his gaze.

It wasn’t just a glance; he actually smirked, as if facing an unexpected situation.

Meyer, who had been watching Lennok, immediately noticed the change and turned his head.

“Get back.”

A sharp woman’s voice echoed from beneath the cracked ground.

Bushes and trees erupted explosively from between the shattered fissures, sending everyone standing nearby flying.

KWAAAAAAANG!!!

“Uwaaaaaaah!!”

The soldiers in powersuits were tossed about like toys, crashing into piles of rubble.

Simultaneously, the barrier spellcraft spread across the sky shattered like glass, scattering a loud noise.

Ddddddk!!

Overgrown roots burst through the ground and shot across the battlefield.

Bushes grew rapidly over the roots, covering them with new branches and roots.

In an instant, hundreds of people were rooted to the spot by the bushes and tree roots growing over their feet.

Realizing too late the power source of this spellcraft, the wizards shouted in horror.

“Sha-shamanism…?!”

“An impossible amount of magical energy. How can a mere human…?!”

KWAAAAAAAH!!!

A massive tree that had grown in the blink of an eye spread its thick branches, casting a wide shadow on the ground.

The great tree, having grown to the size of a skyscraper, stood tall in the middle of the ruined city, captivating all eyes.

And on the tip of that great tree’s branch stood a mysterious woman with bronze skin.

Sweeping back her unbound white hair, she supported Evan’s body with one hand, helping him up.

“…We were too late.”

Gazing at the fallen Evan’s face, she silently turned her eyes to the ground.

“The fight is over. Evan lost.”

The shamaness’s intense, fiery gaze stared fixedly at Lennok’s face.

“And you… are you the mad wizard who kidnapped Lapis?”

“…”

THUD!!

Simultaneously, several superhumans appeared from between the collapsed steel frames and concrete fragments, looking down on the battlefield.

A young man with a determined expression, holding a spear. A muscular female fist-fighter wearing heavy gauntlets on both arms.

A dog-headed beastkin with closed eyes, ceaselessly reciting a prayer.

A scarred man, hands clasped behind his back, craning his neck in irritation.

An army of Watchers, instantly appearing in the center of the battlefield by riding the great tree’s roots, joining the formation.

Kugugugu!!

Every single one of them was a physical ability user, radiating a dangerous killing intent and magic.

A faction capable of deploying such military power to a single battlefield, and the one and only organization that would take such a drastic measure at this time.

Immediately realizing the identity of his opponents, Meyer muttered with a stiff expression.

“I see. So, from the autonomous region, after all…”

The unidentified armed group that had been approaching from outside the city.

The identity of those who had ignored even the magnetic storm and entered the outskirts of Vulcan at tremendous speed was the main contingent of the Eyes of Blue, returned from the Central Front.

The great tree that had shot up in the middle of the city district outside the fortress.

The shamaness who appeared while retrieving Evan, and the Watchers who appeared with her at the lead, occupying the surroundings.

Most were mana users who had built up their rank, warriors perfected through countless real battles.

As the others flinched, unable to easily adapt to the sharp killing intent they emitted.

Meyer watched them and thought quickly.

‘The situation has become difficult. Were they already inside the city outskirts?’

The forces currently surrounding the undeveloped district where the Hexagonal Fortress was located were the Defense Force and the City Council’s direct maintenance troops.

But most of that core force was not at this battlefield now, but surrounding the outskirts of the undeveloped district.

To avoid getting on Van’s bad side, he had deliberately kept the powerful superhumans far away on the outskirts of the city before attempting to meet…

To think that the main contingent of the Eyes of Blue would ignore all the containment lines prepared by the City Council and appear so brazenly in the center of the battlefield.

‘I heard there was a very powerful shamaness among the high-ranking Watchers, but the range and scale of her spellcraft are beyond imagination.’

He had thought that if they were strong enough to enter the Central Front and establish a foothold, the potential of their subordinate Watchers would also be considerable.

But their ideas and methods far surpassed the bounds of common sense in Meyer’s mind.

The very act of ignoring the containment line and raising a great tree in the middle of the battlefield meant that she was using and maintaining the spell from thousands of meters away.

To be more precise, it meant that the shamaness’s spellcraft range was vast enough to cover an entire area.

“…”

Supporting Evan with one arm, the shamaness stared at Adamant Thunder with burning eyes.

Meanwhile, Adamant Thunder simply returned her gaze with his arms crossed, looking quite intrigued.

After quickly exchanging glances with the other council members who had come to the scene, Meyer stepped forward.

“I am John Meyer, a senator of the city government’s Central Council.”

“…”

“As you mentioned, the fight is over. The victor of this battle has also long been decided.”

As Grisha remained silent, Meyer spoke again.

“The Central Council is directly supervising the situation to prevent any more casualties.”

“Casualties?”

Grisha, who had been listening silently to Meyer, retorted sharply.

“Then what were you all doing when Lapis was being hunted by the city government?”

“The clash between Adamant Thunder and Cheonbeon was not a factor that could be suppressed externally.”

Meyer said this, glancing back at Lennok.

“In particular, Evan Martinez’s rampage was not on a level that could be mediated or stopped. Rash intervention would have only increased the number of victims.”

“A fine excuse. You stood by because you were worried about increasing the damage?”

Grisha sneered.

“What a coincidence. I feel the same way, kid. The lives of Lapis and the Watchers are far more precious than some nameless Vulcan trash.”

“…”

“If I had my way, acting on your words wouldn’t even be satisfying, but…”

At the shamaness’s utterly ruthless words, the surrounding air grew chillingly cold.

Just as the mages from the Magic Tower and the council members who had accompanied them began to quietly reach into their coats.

Grisha quietly supported Evan, lifting him up and muttering.

“Evan is still alive. So I’ll follow orders here.”

“…”

“Evan certainly fought you and lost. The strongest Watcher among us was defeated. I have no desire to deny that fact.”

Staring at Lennok, who stood with his arms crossed, Grisha spoke coldly.

“But we will take victory in this war. Evan lost, but he perfectly achieved his goal. I will make you pay for this one day.”

“I see. Victory in war, you say…”

Lennok smirked and threw his gaze behind Grisha.

“I suppose it wouldn’t be wrong to put it that way.”

Meyer mulled over the meaning of those words for a moment, then realized the hidden intent in Grisha’s words and his expression hardened.

“Wait, to say he achieved his goal, don’t tell me…!!”

Fwoooooosh!!

In that instant, a dazzling pillar of light fell upon the center of the Hexagonal Fortress.

A brilliant flash of light that no one standing near the ruined city could help but turn their eyes toward.

KWAAAAAAANG!!!!

The firmly shut main gate of the fortress was blown open as if shattered, and someone walked out from within the broken fortress.

Abundant, ultramarine hair. A taller frame and a more mature face than he remembered.

The form of an adult who had completely left her childhood behind and finished growing.

From that face, so expressionless it was chilling, he could only just recall the impression left in a photograph.

“Lapis Falcia…?”

One of the wizards from the Magic Tower muttered as if in disbelief, and the moment Lapis lifted her gaze.

Hwaak!!

Crossing hundreds of meters in a single step, Lapis reached Evan’s side and slowly turned around.

“…”

Lapis, who had landed in front of the fallen Evan with a serenely calm gaze, and Lennok’s eyes met at almost the same time.