Chapter 81
"No! This cannot be...!!!"
Eden, a fellow wizard, instantly grasped the significance of Lennok's action. Lennok had effortlessly dismantled Eden's powerful spell, as though he held the key to unlocking and opening a door.
It required an intricate reversal calculation, a task that demanded a thorough understanding of every step involved in the creation and completion of the magic. It was an impossible achievement, even for Eden himself, to meticulously analyze and deconstruct someone else's magic to such an extent.
Eden struggled to accept the truth before him. It was something he shouldn't have believed. The detestable wizard standing expressionless before him was an extraordinary being, possessing the celestial talent that Eden had desperately yearned for.
Kwajizijijik...!!
Hatred and jealousy intertwined within Eden, triggering a violent reaction in his mana. His mana responded to his abhorrent and overt desires.
He ventured into uncharted territory, transcending the limits of magic, a realm he had never before witnessed. With utmost ease, Eden extended his hand and conjured a fragment of magic.
Through a profound stroke of luck, an advanced application of lightning magic, capable of scorching the sky and leaving its mark on the earth, descended into the unworthy hands of this wizard.
[Thunder Seal]
The lightning blades, divided into five, spun in unison as if converging upon a single point. A silver beam surged forward, distorting the frigid air into long spirals.
This eerie technique differed entirely from the azure lightning storms that Eden had unleashed thus far. It possessed a peculiar pressure, slightly interfering with the laws of physics and unsettling reality simply by its manifestation in the world.
This magic had surpassed the threshold of what could truly be called magic. It bathed the darkening sky in a mystical glow and resonated with a weighty pulse that reverberated in all directions.
Uuuuuuuung!!
A feat of the mind, a miracle born from the vivid imagination of humanity, now adorned the world with hues that could never be found in its cold reality.
Lennok, who had been transfixed by the mesmerizing spectacle, slowly nodded in comprehension.
"Now I understand."
The strange sensation that had tingled within him each time he wielded magic.
Through their recent clash, Lennok had discovered the answer. Was it due to his deeper comprehension of lightning magic compared to other forms? Or was it because Eden's mana, temporarily extracted, was more fragile than usual?
An inspiration more profound than when he had witnessed Aris's unique magic relentlessly assailed Lennok's mind and senses.
With a thunderous explosion within his head, the door finally swung open.
He delved into the abyss.
Amidst the deluge of information, he selectively grasps only the knowledge he requires and materializes the image etched in his heart with precision.
In that instant, the beam aimed at Lennok disintegrated, drawn towards his hand, tracing a graceful arc. It was a bewildering and enigmatic sight, one that defied belief even when experienced firsthand.
How would it feel to witness one's own magic being dismantled and stolen right before their eyes?
Eden's visage contorted grotesquely, resembling a weeping countenance.
"No, stop...!! Stop, I said!!"
Caught in a frenzy, he screamed and lunged forward like a deranged soul.
Disregarding Eden's desperate actions, Lennok swiftly assembled a fragment of magic.
A fresh vision. Familiar inspiration. And an overwhelming sense of command that enveloped his senses, guiding his mind to transcendence.
In that fleeting moment, he shattered the boundaries between unique and common magic, brushing against a newfound enigma.
As if he had known it all along.
As if it were second nature.
A silver spiral emanated from Lennok's hand.
[Thunder Seal]
Wiiiiiiing!!!
With an eerie whir, the beam extending from Lennok's hand obliterated the upper section of the power plant, painting the sky in a resplendent silver hue.
As the silver mana swam across the arid sky, it cascaded down as a gentle silver rain upon the ground.
Eden's form, exposed to the overwhelming onslaught, gradually crumbled into a handful of dust.
Those who had just arrived on the rooftop to support Lennok stood there, unwittingly captivated by the mesmerizing radiance.
It was the Thunder Light (雷光), emitted by a true wizard who could traverse the furthest reaches of the heavens.
Killian, who had been gazing blankly at the scene, murmured softly.
"He's crazy. That's... a magic you can't easily see even in my hometown."
"Well, those wolves of yours don't seem to like magic much."
"Is that so? Doesn't seem to be about our tribe."
In response to Dylan's remark, Killian calmly reverted from his lupine form to his human form.
His wolfish muzzle instantaneously transformed into that of a human, and even his shirt, which had strained at its seams, retracted to fit his body. He turned his head.
"There's no point in watching anymore. It was an unbelievable fight from the start."
Though it might sound absurd from Lennok's perspective, having vanquished Eden's power apparatus using teleportation and triumphed in a head-on clash, no one present could refute Killian's words.
None were oblivious to Lennok's accomplishments thus far.
He had long transcended the stage of being a promising novice or a talented freelancer.
He had now become the most formidable wizard in District 49 and an unrivaled skilled freelancer.
Once this ordeal concludes and news of the events spreads, Lennok's reputation will skyrocket to extraordinary heights.
"Your name is Dylan, right? Check on Van's condition and bring him over. I'll be checking the inside of the power plant with these guys."
Considering that he had just been in his beast form moments ago, this was an unexpectedly rational decision.
The nature of Eden's setup inside the power plant remained unknown, making it prudent to swiftly gather any useful items and depart from this location.
Despite the loss of several freelancers in the preceding battle, not a trace of guilt could be discerned on Killian's face.
He was acutely aware that he had already compensated for their lives with monetary payment.
To Dylan, Killian appeared more suited to the underworld than a corporate environment.
Dylan patted Lennok's shoulder, who was drained of all mana, and sat down, visibly exhausted.
"Are you alright?"
"...Yeah."
"You were really awesome just now. If the boss saw this, he'd want to work with you no matter what."
Lennok simply chuckled in response to these words and retrieved a fresh cigarette from his pocket.
Though he didn't show it, he believed that the spoils from his clash with Eden were significant.
The unique magic he had persistently studied but found elusive.
Among them, being able to appropriate and employ the lightning magic of the Thorben school from Eden indicated that Lennok's magic had finally reached a point of progression.
The fact that he could utilize the same magic without fully mastering unique magic held vital significance.
It implied that, while leaving room for Time-based unique magic, it was feasible to explore other forms of unique magic based on common magic.
And the one who allowed Lennok to transcend this boundary was none other than his own talent.
A sense of unintended serendipity washed over him, intensifying the fulfillment of his accomplishment.
As his spirits lifted, his typically stern expression softened. He felt inclined to show some kindness to his comrade beside him.
Lennok withdrew a cigarette from his pocket and extended it to Dylan.
Dylan accepted the offering, his face displaying a mix of bewilderment and gratitude.
"......Thank you. Sometimes I miss this."
"Let's head down to the power plant."
"It feels odd coming from me, but are you sure you don't need more rest? You practically completed the job single-handedly."
"No problem."
He had anticipated this would be his most arduous battle, but as a duel between wizards, it ended swiftly.
In terms of intensity, his confrontation with Beck had been much more challenging.
Thanks to the drugs, Lennok's physical stamina remained in excellent condition.
The two of them promptly followed Killian's group and made their way towards the stairs descending from the rooftop.
Starting from the roof and working their way down was atypical, but then again, the entire situation was unconventional.
Viewed from that perspective, it no longer seemed so strange.
"Look at this. That guy deliberately set up traps."
Dylan clicked his tongue as he surveyed the scattered bodies of freelancers who had met painful ends throughout the power plant.
Eden's plan likely involved unleashing an electrical storm outside the power plant and drawing the electricity from this side into the facility to cause a catastrophe.
However, Lennok had used an artifact to unravel this intricate process in a single stroke, catching Eden off guard.
Lennok swiftly scanned the interior of the power plant using mana detection and immediately proceeded downstairs.
"Do we need to inspect the other floors?"
"The rest of the team is already there. It's best to join them."
It appeared that some gang members or soldiers still remained within the power plant, but it seemed they had all been dealt with by the other team members led by Killian.
As expected, as they traversed the spacious corridor on the first floor and descended into the basement, they encountered other team members searching various rooms.
In an office where unknown documents fluttered about, Lennok spotted Killian and approached him.
"Is everything going smoothly?"
"Ah, you're here. If you're alright, lend us a hand."
"I can't say I'm alright."
"........."
Killian shrugged his shoulders in silence and resumed rummaging through the office. It seemed more like he was aggressively tossing furniture around rather than searching for something specific.
Observing this, Lennok had a realization.
"Do you think there's a hidden space?"
"Yes," Killian replied. "I sense a peculiar interruption in mana detection near the basement. Considering these guys are a gang, it wouldn't be surprising for them to have a safe or something of the sort."
"A safe..."
Lennok naturally recalled the key he had obtained from Beck Clinton's body, but he chose not to mention it.
Instead, he subtly lifted himself from the old sofa he had been resting on and stood up.
"Weren't you tired? You can stay seated. In any case, the others are currently searching the basement."
"No, I'll search elsewhere."
"Well... do as you wish."
Leaving Killian, who was half-destructing the office and meticulously examining the walls, Lennok departed from the room.
Dylan followed him and inquired over Lennok's shoulder, "Do you think the safe is in the basement?"
"The control room of the power plant would likely have numerous potential hiding places. If we search, we'll find something."
While Lennok voiced this, he was pondering something else in his mind.
Upon hearing Killian's account, he realized that there was something he needed to find before locating the gang's safe.
Eden, a rather formidable wizard, hailed from a professional magical organization known as Thorben.
If such a wizard resided within an organization, it would be reasonable to assume that he had prepared a separate research room.
Obtaining academic information regarding Thorben's unique magic from that room would be a significant gain.
It was evident that by studying spells like [Roaring Thunder] or [Thunderchant], he could develop magic without needing to fully master unique magic.
He instructed Dylan to search for the safe with the other team members while he himself made his way back upstairs via the power plant stairs.
Considering he was the gang leader, the office he used would likely be the largest one on the top floor, the fifth floor.
The room exuded a dark and somber atmosphere due to the heavy blackout curtains, but the nameplate on the desk confirmed that it belonged to Eden.
Just to be thorough, he examined all the items in the vicinity, but unsurprisingly, he found no magical artifacts.
Naturally, the basement wasn't the location either, but his research room would likely be concealed somewhere.
Closing his eyes, Lennok expanded his mana throughout the area.
There were no discernible signs within the room. If there truly was a research room, it would probably be nearby...
He gradually widened his scope, searching for any anomalies.
4th floor, 3rd floor, 2nd floor, 1st floor, and basement... then back up again...
".....Ah."
And then it struck him.
The ceiling height on the 5th floor was distinctly different from the other floors.
(TO BE CONTINUED)