Chapter 127

"It's done."

"This is...!"

Hina, typically one to maintain a steady expression, widened her eyes and instinctively reached out to touch her arms and legs.

Her body's motion had accelerated by over fifty percent, and even her nervous system's reactions had heightened significantly. She could perceive it.

Amidst her hesitation caused by the sudden and unexplainable surge in physical capabilities, Lennok gave her a firm push on the shoulder.

"Move quickly and stop that villain. I have something important to take care of."

"Ah, got it!"

She had never believed that a wizard could grant such a substantial power boost, but the current of energy coursing through her body was undeniable.

And among all, Hina O'Neil possessed the knack to make the best use of this newfound speed.

She inclined her waist and gripped the sword's hilt.

With brilliant blue magical lightning emanating from her eyes, a fountain of blood spouted from Jaun's side.

Crack!

"What on earth are you up to now?!"

Disregarding Jaun's exasperated outburst, Hina drew her sword once more.

Executing a seamless lightning connection.

This time, even Jaun couldn't overlook it, and he hurled the gem aside.

Observing his comrades fiercely engaging in combat and immobilizing Jaun's feet, Lennok retrieved a cigarette, ignited it, and turned away.

"Phew..."

Craig immobilized, Jaun's feet bound - with all hindrances removed, the only task left was to eradicate the ever-expanding ominous tree.

The colossal magic circle etched into the ordinary floor.

Lennok advanced toward its rim, placed his hand upon it, shut his eyes, and gradually harnessed his power.

The magic embedded within the circle resisted and repelled the intrusion of this alien power source, yet Lennok's magic brushed aside that resistance, penetrating into the ground below.

Magical Domain.

Originally requiring mastery at the 6th level or beyond, and only a fraction of inherently gifted wizards could employ this spell, correct?

Although confronting it for the first time, careful observation allowed him to deduce its structure.

The spell circle in the environment depicted the ideal field for executing advanced magic.

Within this field, all spells surged in potency and reached even loftier dimensions.

Craig, too, managed to conjure a fragment of 'Annihilator' using necromancy within such a space.

In response, Lennok found himself compelled to take a similar route.

Crash-!!

He reversed his reading of the magic circle's structure, unearthing its principles and dissecting it from its core.

Not focusing on what had been added, but rather on what had been omitted.

The very elements that Craig lacked.

However, Lennok's potent insight and intuition propelled him to pierce through the veil of ignorance and delve into the heart of the matter.

Woooooooong!!!

Mere observation and comprehension of the higher echelons of mana manipulation resulted in a peculiar resonating sound, repelling the encroaching branches.

A protective barrier enveloped Lennok, warping space in an unfamiliar manner and fending off any interference.

Almost trance-like, he deciphered the intent embedded within the magic circle's design.

The crux lay in the capacity to actualize one's desires into reality.

Subsequently, it required the power to sustain these materialized aspirations within the spatial realm.

A foundational pillar supporting the mind, constructing the very essence of the wizard, while simultaneously erecting impregnable walls in every direction upon that bedrock.

This was the principle underlying the construction of a wizard's domain.

"It's difficult..."

Upon grasping the significance of expanding one's territory, this was Lennok's initial sentiment.

Fundamentally, it resembled employing a sole mental blueprint to erect a towering edifice.

"If the blueprint that exists within is not perfect, and if that blueprint is not firmly imprinted in the mind, it's useless."

He comprehended why even the most esteemed wizards struggled to master this spell, given its reliance on innate aptitude.

It wasn't just a talent for magic.

Should the inner vision remain incomplete, attempting the spell was an exercise in futility from the outset.

Yet, not beyond possibility.

Lennok believed he understood why Craig was unable to manipulate the domain.

Unstable surroundings and an ambivalent chosen path had prevented Craig from truly grounding himself and establishing a foundation.

Lennok, however, was distinct.

The small factory chamber where sleep evaded him throughout the night.

The unwavering resolve he forged on that initial day when mortality seemed imminent.

By the time he realized it, mastery rested within Lennok's grasp.

Wooooooooong!!!

In that instant, the turbulent domain surrounding him seemed to dissolve away.

Though branches continued to encircle, endeavoring to siphon his mana, a unified cry filled the air,

Pa-a-ang!!

An intangible surge emanated from Lennok, obliterating the branches in one fell swoop.

The ripple of energy, once released, persisted rather than vanishing, swirling ceaselessly around Lennok.

He gradually ascended from his stance, advancing toward Craig.

With each step, the energy wave broadened its reach, gaining vibrations.

Transitioning through hues of blue, red, green, and yellow as it traversed, akin to ripples adorning a serene lake.

Amidst the bewildered stares of everyone, only one person comprehended Lennok's intentions.

In an instant, Jaun's complexion drained of color.

"No, hold on. You bastard, what are you plotting...!!!"

"Stop him!"

Chen and Hina intercepted Jaun, who brutally cast aside a bloodied freelancer and charged toward Lennok like a man possessed.

Kwa-a-a-ang!!

Cheisha launched rockets haphazardly, causing debris to fall between the two, acting as a barrier.

"Die!"

As events took an unexpected turn, everyone distinctly realized that this was the tipping point of the operation.

"Move, you wretches!!"

Pa-a-a-at!!

Radiant gemstones emitted a brilliant glow, illuminating the crumbling tunnel. Yet, Hina, her eyes aglow with cerulean light, neutralized every burst of radiance.

A finely honed blade shimmered with a blue hue.

The swift thrust that sliced through the veil of consciousness struck Jaun's thigh in a flash.

A fleeting moment, yet sufficient to immobilize him.

Jaun grimaced, the realization of his predicament dawning too late.

"Dammit!! How did that lunatic master 'Domain'...!!"

Lennok refrained from labeling it.

What Lennok executed was merely a simulated mimicry of an artificial domain

Nevertheless, it was adequate.

Even for a brief span, if Lennok could wield a spell on par with Craig.

As Lennok shut his eyes and concentrated,

For the first time, the enigmatic tree that had been spreading in all directions responded.

[... ... ... ... ... ... ! ! !]

As if recognizing the ignored obstacle as a blade stabbing it from the rear.

[Kiiiiiiiii!!!]

With the groaning of its metallic structure, the tree extended its reach toward Lennok.

Thick red-brown branches cascaded like a waterfall, surging toward the pointed target. However, they froze in place the instant Lennok laid his gaze upon them.

Simultaneously, the once-expanding tree within the tunnel began a gradual collapse.

Observing Craig's fading prospects, Lennok mumbled,

"I've completed my analysis of the necromantic spell."

After deducing Craig's ambitions through discussions with Raul, Lennok delved into necromancy research.

Considering the potential scenario of Craig controlling a summoned monster via an AI algorithm using necromancy, countermeasures became imperative.

The introductory necromancy texts he found at the temporary base proved insufficient. Thus, he reluctantly visited Rabatenon University's central library to extensively research - a departure from his usual style. This spared him from enduring Aris's incessant prattle about aspiring to become a necromancer.

However, this pursuit enabled him to identify necromancy's vulnerability.

A fundamental quandary, distinct from the inherent risks posed by necromancy itself.

It pertained to the frailty of the necromantic act.

Utilizing the precarious energy source known as the soul.

Apart from the ritual's convenience and simplicity, managing a soul was an inherently delicate endeavor.

Should two souls be summoned within the same space-time, the necromantic ritual would unravel.

Conversely, when two necromancers clashed, their rites would nullify each other, yielding the same outcome.

Lennok honed in on this vulnerability within necromancy and devised a solitary remedy during the time at hand.

His strategy was to delve into the art of necromancy himself and thereby neutralize his opponent's necromantic endeavors - an unconventional solution far beyond the reach of an ordinary wizard.

He sensed it.

Within the realm where the divine was meant to descend, another soul sought to manifest.

The colossal presence that had pervaded the space dissipated like a falsehood, causing the nearby trees to suddenly wither.

The insatiable momentum that had voraciously absorbed ambient magic also ebbed, its vigor waning.

"How... how can this happen... this impossible conclusion..."

Lennok swiveled his gaze toward the familiar voice echoing from the floor.

Before him lay Craig's transformed body, a heap of shattered metal, trembling.

"So futile...!!"

"It seems you retained your consciousness."

"How could you commit such an act!!"

Craig bellowed in desolation.

"It's impossible!! This wasn't in my plan! This talent... how could a monster like you at this moment, of all times...!!"

Frustrated and hindered from coherent speech, Craig's visage met Lennok's wordless stare.

Grasping that the blueprint he'd wagered everything on had crumbled to dust, his once unassailable demeanor crumbled.

"I succeeded in controlling the fragment of the apocalypse to bring down Vulcan, how could this happen...."

Had events unfolded as intended, Craig would have launched an invasion upon Vulcan employing the fragment of Annihilator.

A creature occupying space, siphoning every iota of magic.

Even if not obliterating Vulcan entirely, a severe blow was assured.

Yet, right at this juncture, Lennok had foiled that scheme.

Understanding was unwelcome.

That his meticulously plotted stratagem had been laid to waste by the aptitude of a solitary individual.

"I staked everything...!! Everything, and it ends like this!!"

"There are things that cannot be achieved even if you stake everything."

Lennok responded with composure.

"Didn't you know that, and that's why you killed and stole so desperately?"

"Nooooooo!!"

The withered dark wizard screamed, as if the repudiation of those words pained him beyond endurance.

"There are things more important than my life. Goals that must never be buried in a rotten city like this! I lived only for that!!"

Kwaah!

With that wail, Craig's entire form released a dense surge of mana, hurtling toward Lennok.

Raw and fierce, yet saturated with an immensely concentrated magical impetus.

A mere act of extending his intent metamorphosed into a malevolent weapon capable of rending an ordinary person's flesh asunder.

Yet, this was merely the final throes of someone bereft of hope.

The requiem of a wizard ready to sacrifice his very life.

Surveying the surging tide's onslaught, Lennok replied calmly,

"Yes."

He nodded.

"Truth be told, I don't entirely deem your path misguided either."

How beautiful is the way of life that throws everything for what you desire.

However, Lennok's existence was always characterized by a kind of tenacity, far removed from beauty or nobility.

His aspirations had scaled down over time.

As he had pledged the instant he first opened his eyes, his sole aim was to endure until the very end.

This stood as the solitary pact he could forge with himself.

Aligned with his resolution, the vicinity surrounding Lennok began to reflect space with an astonishing clarity. Driven by an inexplicable conviction, he harnessed his mana.

He felt it.

Within this realm, he could attain a magical state that he had hitherto grasped merely conceptually, an arena that typically eluded his touch.

Fizzzz!!!

Black currents surged between his fingers, simmering with intensity.

He corralled this potent flow, channeling it into the whirl of a diminutive star.

Unique Lightning Magic.

Sinking Property Transformation: Black.

[Supreme Domain]

Kwaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

A black blaze, consuming all it enveloped, engulfed the expanse.

In a solitary release of energy seemingly inconceivable for a human to wield, Craig's ravaged flesh disintegrated without a trace.

A stygian radiance splintered into innumerable branches, saturating the entire visible realm before collapsing.

The magic that had begun to spiral out of control beyond its designated bounds surged to fill the entire cavity, culminating in a cataclysmic explosion. This upheaval convulsed and contorted the precarious subterranean space.

Kwaaaaaaaaang!!

Within Falcon's intricately interwoven headquarters, as the very depths trembled, the upper corridors promptly crumbled.

Leveraging shield magic to fend off plummeting debris, Lennok stabilized his might and drew a breath.

Before him lay Craig, a sight so mangled that even self-recognition escaped him.

With laborious effort, Craig lifted his crushed visage to face Lennok's direction.

"I aspired to reshape the world."

His voice flowed forth, eerily tranquil.

"I sought to transcend the limitations of a wizard and behold vistas beyond."

Gradually, as he gazed upon his disintegrating form, Craig spoke.

"Yet, it appears the mantle was bestowed upon another, not me."

"......"

"I find solace. To have glimpsed it, even briefly, was a blessing......."

A faint murmur emerging from the scant ashes that had once been.

Those who immolate themselves for lofty ideals can easily meet their end in this world.

Among humans, who can ascend higher?

Lennok remained uncertain.

The lone survivor, the one who clung to hope for the next moment, wasn't the dark wizard who cast everything aside, but the one who struggled relentlessly.

Suppressing his multifaceted emotions, Lennok raised his gaze.

The quarry that had been steadily collapsing trembled uncontrollably since a hole was punctured through the ceiling.

Swift escape was imperative, yet something took precedence.

Directing his steps toward the point where Craig had vanished, Lennok retrieved the hardware concealed beneath the cavity's floor.

Initially devised to house artificial intelligence via a necromantic ritual: a repository.

Although the previous domain expansion had already obliterated it, salvaging the residual data within could yield considerable assistance.