Demon-Hunting Genius Mage

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 120

The trials and errors I experienced while attempting spatial magic were countless.

Sometimes the magic circle wouldn't even activate, sometimes it would stop working right before completion, and sometimes the magic circle itself would clash and explode.

But I never gave up and repeatedly revised the magic circle, going through a feedback process.

As a result,

'It's demonic energy.'

I finally found the answer.

The reason my spatial magic kept failing was because I didn't have any demonic energy.

Strangely enough, spatial magic was a type of magic that could only be used with at least a little demonic energy.

No, to be precise, it wasn't demonic energy, but 'dark attribute' power that was needed.

Simply put... demonic energy, darkness, abyss, things like that.

I needed at least one of them to activate spatial magic properly.

'...That's a bit of a problem.'

Even with my [Prodigy of Magic] trait, I couldn't learn demonic energy or abyssal power.

In the first place, it wasn't classified as magic, and if I learned such things, I could be plagued by an internal struggle for the rest of my life.

They would try to take over me if I relaxed my guard even for a moment.

Therefore, I had only one option.

Darkness.

It was classified as magic while still being a 'dark attribute'.

I wasn't sure if I should call it lucky, but fortunately, there was a way for me to learn the darkness attribute.

Through Dercion, before he lost his mind.

- Isn't it amazing? That light and darkness, complete opposites, can be combined.

The scene of Dercion trying to teach me the darkness attribute was still vivid in my mind.

Although I had responded to him with something like, "You do it, that darkness thing"...

'But things have come to this.'

In this situation, there was no other way. I had to learn the darkness attribute, even if it was like swallowing a bitter pill.@@novelbin@@

'I hope learning this doesn't affect my light magic...'

With that worry in mind, I slowly recalled the darkness that Dercion wielded.

Perhaps because I had seen it once, visualizing it was easier than I expected.

'Of course, that doesn't mean I can master it right away.'

Even though it was a dark attribute, darkness was also classified as a high-ranking attribute like 'light'.

Therefore, it would take tremendous effort to properly handle the darkness attribute.

Naturally, I also needed the talent to accept darkness.

Furthermore,

'I have to do it alone.'

Unlike when I learned light magic, there was no one to help me.

In other words, I had to go through the entire process alone.

However, the difference from when I learned the light attribute was that,

'It's doable.'

I didn't need to learn it in detail.

It was just an ingredient for using spatial magic.

It was enough to be able to use it even at a very weak level.

Therefore,

'I just need to understand the attribute itself.'

I could easily grasp what to do and where to start.

Woong!

I summoned a sphere of light above my hand.

I began to intentionally dim the brightness of the sphere.

Shhh...

The light of the sphere gradually faded.

Soon, its brightness decreased to the point where it could no longer be called a sphere of light.

I didn't stop there and continued further.

'Darker... darker...'

Not satisfied with simply extinguishing the light, I lowered the brightness until it was close to darkness.

I constantly visualized the images and atmosphere that darkness evoked.

How much time had passed?

Finally, the sphere, which had become almost achromatic, began to emit a dark light.

Flicker!

Even though I had created it myself, a strange feeling lingered in my hand.

However, I didn't know if this was a success.

'...I'll know if I try it.'

Woong!

Without further ado, I attempted spatial magic once again.

I had repeated spatial magic many times, so I was sufficiently skilled.

Five magic circles were quickly created, and I channeled the condensed mana through them.

At the same time, I also channeled the dark mana I had just learned.

And as a result,

"...It worked!"

Spatial magic finally seemed to be working.

Mana circulated through the magic circles without any blockage, and a strange sound began to resonate as if something was reacting to it.

Screeeech!

It was the sound of spatial magic clashing with spatial magic.

It was also the sound that signaled the success of my magic.

Crack!

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the space in front of me split open, and a hole the size of my body appeared.

Beyond it, I could see a familiar landscape.

It was the battlefield where we had been fighting just before I came here.

"...Wow, it really worked."

Thud.

Overwhelmed with emotion, I approached the hole.

Then,

Swooosh!

A powerful suction force pulled me in once again.

Perhaps because it was the magic I had cast, or because I had already anticipated it... fortunately, I didn't lose consciousness.

"Ugh!"

Thud!

I fell from the air and quickly regained my balance and landed.

And the moment I naturally raised my head,

"...A rhinoceros?"

I witnessed the bizarre sight of a rhinoceros appearing out of nowhere.

A rhinoceros covered in blood, engaged in a fierce battle with Dercion.

***

"So, you're saying that's Mister Thompson?"

Kayla, exhausted beyond measure, replied breathlessly to my question.

"Uh, yeah. He suddenly transformed like that, as if he had gone berserk..."

Kayla's explanation was as follows:

Immediately after I disappeared, Thompson became enraged and transformed into that form, desperately fighting Dercion.

I could understand Thompson's anger.

He probably thought I was dead the moment I was swallowed by the space.

In fact, Kayla also pestered me with questions about how I managed to come back alive.

Anyway,

I understood that Thompson was angry.

But what I couldn't understand at all was that.

Body transformation magic.

'Could it be completed that quickly?'

I had heard that it takes a very long time to master body transformation magic.

But Thompson's current form was undoubtedly the final stage of body transformation magic.

He had completely taken on the form of another creature.

To the point where I couldn't see much difference from Asion Gale's transformation, except for the smaller size and different species.

Suddenly, I remembered what Asion Gale had said before.

When I asked him what was the fastest way to improve in magic, he answered...

- Magic growth? Hmm, the fastest way is definitely to undergo a significant change in your mental state.

He said that among the countless ways to improve in magic, the fastest was through a change in one's mental state.

He said that no other method could compare to it.

Of course, he did emphasize that there were also significant side effects.

Anyway, seeing Thompson's current state,

'He grew too fast.'

It was clear that he had undergone a change in his mental state.

And the most likely cause of Thompson's transformation... was probably me.

'...It's both grateful and burdensome.'

I knew how much Thompson valued me.

It was something I could easily feel even after spending just a few days with him.

But for it to make him grow in magic so rapidly...

I was grateful, but it would be a lie to say it wasn't burdensome.

While I was thinking that,

Thud! Thud!

Thompson, still unable to control his anger, kicked the ground with his hard hooves.

And then,

Snort!

He started charging with an angry snort.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

Even though he was much smaller than Asion Gale's white lion, the sound of his running was incredibly heavy.

What kind of emotions was he feeling right now?

My curiosity was short-lived.

Realizing that now wasn't the time to be wondering about such things, I took a stance.

Crackle!

Shing!

I channeled electricity throughout my body and created a sword of light in my right hand.

Thompson was already quite injured from his battle with Dercion.

I had to help him as soon as possible.

Tadat! Tadadat!

I reached Dercion first, overtaking the charging Thompson.

Then, I swung the refined sword of light towards Dercion's chest.

Slash!

Perhaps because his attention was solely focused on Thompson, my sword of light met no resistance and slashed through his chest.

Shwaaaak!

Sticky blue blood gushed out from Dercion's wound.

Seeing that even his blood was dark blue, it seemed he had completely turned into a demon.

Just as I was thinking that, an ice spear flew from somewhere and struck Dercion's wound once more.

Thud!

Roan's ice spear, now much sharper than before, completely pierced Dercion's body.

It was then that someone grabbed my shoulder.

"...First-place guy?"

I turned around to see Thompson, who had returned to his human form.

"Yes, Mister. It's me."

"H-how? You were clearly..."

"I was trapped in Dercion's spatial magic. I managed to escape just now... well, a lot happened, but I'll explain later."

As soon as I finished speaking,

Thump!

"Ah... I see."

Thompson sighed and collapsed to the ground.

He seemed to have lost strength in his legs from the tension and relief after hearing my explanation.

Well, it was understandable.

"Get some rest now, Mister."

Thompson had already done his part.

The rest was up to me.

Swoosh.

Thompson lost consciousness without a word.

Barundel immediately ran over and carried the unconscious Thompson to safety.

After confirming that, I turned my head and looked at Dercion again.

"Ugh, uh—"

Dercion was covered in his own blue blood.

But he was still swaying, as if he could still move.

"That's really creepy. How is he still holding on?"

Perhaps he was exhausted from before, but he wasn't gathering demonic energy or channeling mana right away.

I looked at Roan and Barundel, who were relatively unharmed, and said,

"Let's finish this."

Simultaneously,

Shwaaaak!

Barundel, with an axe in one hand, appeared before Dercion in an instant, and

Shwaaaaaaaaaah!

Roan's cold air, now overflowing with a chilling coldness, filled the air.

And I, cast the magic I had learned in the space filled with nothing but darkness.

Ching! Ching! Ching! Ching! Ching!

Five magic circles appeared behind me, a faint darkness enveloped my right hand, and mana condensed at a rapid pace.

The magic, now flowing smoothly, was activated right after Thompson and Roan's attacks ended.

Whoosh!

A pitch-black space opened before my eyes, emitting a powerful suction force.

The target was only Dercion.

I was going to trap him in the same space I had been trapped in earlier.

Until his breath stopped forever.

'This isn't enough.'

Of course, Dercion was a mage who could handle spatial magic.

Therefore, he might be able to escape, so I gave him a final parting gift while he was being sucked into the space.

Thud!

A sword of light, sharpened more than usual, pierced Dercion's heart, and I sent him off with the sword of light still embedded in him.

"Ugh...uh."

Dercion, with the sword of light stuck in his chest, was sucked into the space.

His figure disappeared into the distance.

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]