Chapter 100

◈ Chapter 100. The Demigod Battle (1)

Demigod.

I could understand why the elder mages were called half-gods.

What kind of mana reserves could they have?

No, even beyond their sheer mana reserves, the aura emanating from their bodies was formidable.

‘Flame Dragon and Ten Thousand Year Snow.’

Karinjeva and Senios.

The pinnacle of fire and ice magic.

And yet, they hadn’t even cast a proper spell.

‘...An overwhelming pressure.’

I could feel the pressure from the mana they unconsciously emitted.

Among the two, Karinjeva was the problem.

Was it because he had insulted me as soon as he opened his mouth?

He was openly radiating intense heat towards me.

“Dare you.”

A mere Level 333.

In truth, for my frail self, it was a heat I couldn’t withstand.

In that sense, I’m grateful once again.

‘Well done, past me.’

To me, who was fully prepared.

To me, who had dug many wells.

And to Kiko Armin, the senior mage in Enchantment Studies, who worked hard in my place.

[Masterpiece - Silk Carp Scale Handkerchief]

[Grade: Unique]

[Limit: Lv.200]

[Effect: When worn, increases affinity with fire attribute / increases evasion from all attacks / unlocks Aesthetic stat]

[Description: Crafted using extremely rare materials and a special method. Its value is such that no one can dare to evaluate it. The title of Masterpiece is well-deserved.]

Yes, even in this heat.

The reason I could stand tall was simple.

It was simply due to item buffs.

All thanks to the [Increase Fire Attribute Affinity] effect of the handkerchief.

‘In Arcana, affinity is a higher concept.’

Not only does it increase resistance to the corresponding attribute,

but it also enhances the effects of skills of that attribute.

The additional effects that come with increased affinity were significant.

The handkerchief wasn’t just [Unique] for nothing.

It was also called a [Masterpiece] for a reason.

However.

‘I couldn’t call it full preparation if I stopped there.’

I said it before.

While I may be lacking in other areas, I’m clear about my role.

No matter how outstanding the effect,

‘In the end, it’s a Level 200 limited item.’

I didn’t expect that a single handkerchief could block Karinjeva’s fire magic.

Blocking a demigod’s magic with a Level 200 limited item?

‘That would be too much, wouldn’t it?’

What came to mind was,

As mentioned earlier, Enchantment Studies.

The ability to extract effects from items and bestow them on other items.

During the preparation period before Karinjeva took action,

I didn’t waste that time.

‘I really pushed Kiko Armin to the limit.’

Identifying effects that could be extracted from items,

and the process of bestowing those effects on other items.

‘And I didn’t even pay for it.’

In short,

I fully utilized my position as the chief.

The results of that abuse of power were evident in the messages.

[Effect: When worn, increases affinity with fire attribute]

[Effect: When worn, increases affinity with fire attribute]

[Effect: When worn, increases affinity with fire attribute]

[Effect: When worn, increases affinity with fire attribute]...

From my clothes to my shoes and rings,

coated with the [Increase Fire Attribute Affinity] effect.

Yes, thanks to that tedious effort,

my frail self

could remain unscathed in this heat...

‘Actually, if I could, I would have...’

I wanted to extract and bestow effects related to the [Aesthetic] stat.

Why? Because my Aesthetic was still at [下].

But could such a thing be possible just because I wanted it?

‘If it were, everyone would major in Enchantment Studies.’

So, I had to be satisfied with this.

In fact, I should be grateful for this.

-“This success rate is a first for me. Ah, what did I do?! I need to maintain this feeling... I won’t wash my hands from now on.”

Kiko was even bewildered by the great success.

-“...In any case, it’s all thanks to Chief Lee Ho-yeol!”

Thanks to me, huh?

What I did was,

out of fear that my precious items might be destroyed,

I added a cautious postscript to the spellbook.

Of course, I took Kiko’s gratitude for granted.

‘In any case, I can only be grateful once again.’

The mental battle of the demigods.

The heat and cold that passed between them.

Without the [Warmth] buff and the [Increase Fire Attribute Affinity] from enchantment,

wouldn’t I have become a shrimp in a whale fight by now? A frozen shrimp on a hot griddle, no less.

‘My back would have been scorched for sure.’

Of course, it’s too early to relax.

Whoosh─

Flames erupted from Karinjeva’s hand.

A rapid manifestation, skipping the exploration and interference processes.

As a result, it couldn’t be at full power.

...Really, he’s insane.

The ground was melting like ice cream, wasn’t it?

How hot is that flame?

Not only melting, but it started to boil like lava.

Senios said in an admiring tone,

“Indeed, the battlefield is not something to consider!”

I recalled what Senios had said.

-“The stronger the opponent, the more important it is to choose a favorable battlefield.”

He said that the environment of the battlefield is important even in the fight of the strong.

In that sense, the rift was a favorable battlefield for Senios.

Even if it was only half, it was still a snowfield.

The temperature was cold enough to make snowflakes fly.

‘He’s turning the battlefield to his advantage.’

He didn’t need complex high-level magic.

Whoosh─

Sizzle─

Karinjeva, by simply manifesting flames,

began to turn the area around the rift into a lava field.

Why, he was called a Flame Dragon,

and a demigod.

‘It’s not just unreasonable; it’s at a level where common sense is unnecessary.’

Of course, I wasn’t just admiring.

If Karinjeva had fire and Senios had ice magic,

I also had something I could handle as skillfully as they did.

Crack─!

If Karinjeva skipped the exploration and interference processes for fire,

the ‘ground’ I was standing on

was something I was familiar enough with to skip those processes.

The rising ground.

It was no longer a trivial stone wall.

This was a battlefield where demigods and elder mages clashed.

I couldn’t keep relying on trivial stone walls like in the past.

Crack─!

This was literally lifting the crust.

“Oh ho.”

Senios’ eyebrows twitched.

“Indeed, Marcello’s evaluation was accurate.”

Crack─!

The reason for lifting the crust?

It’s simple.

‘Do you think I would just stand here naively?’

It was to limit Karinjeva’s territory.

Why, no matter how hot the lava, it can’t melt a volcano, right? To manifest magic on a scale that could alter the terrain. If I were in the past, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of such a scale.

However, there was no significant mana consumption.

Doping with magic herbs?

Mana regeneration from items?

They helped, but the biggest reason was something else.

[The Pentagram of Pure Knowledge]

[Grade: Epic]

[Limit: None]

[Effect: When worn, acquires knowledge of all minerals and plants on the Arcana continent.]

[Description: A magical tool containing immeasurable knowledge.]

That’s right.

Knowledge of all minerals.

The ability to skip the exploration and interference processes,

and the ability to manifest magic of this scale without being constrained by mana.

All thanks to the [Pentagram of Pure Knowledge], an Epic-grade item.

“...!”

How does my struggle taste, Karinjeva?

Of course, while thinking this, the ground was still rising.

Crack─!

The moment the crustal movement ended,

the lava Karinjeva created could no longer flow.

And unintentionally,

the ground I was standing on rose much higher than the ground Karinjeva was standing on.

So,

“You seem to be mistaken about your situation.”

I couldn’t help but look down at Karinjeva and say,

“You are no longer a Flame Dragon. You are nothing more than a heretic, a trivial demon worshipper.”

...No, but I didn’t say anything wrong.

Why does he have to widen his eyes like that?

Karinjeva, radiating heat, retorted,

“Shut up, brat adventurer.”

If I could shut up just because he told me to,

‘I wouldn’t have opened my mouth in the first place.’

Senios chimed in with my stance.

“Indeed, a fitting height for a heretic.”

“Foolish, Senios.”

“Foolish? Me?”

“You already know. Don’t turn away from the true truth.”

True truth?

What is that?

It was a conversation I couldn’t intervene in.

However, no matter what they said to each other, I wasn’t too worried.

After all, I knew what kind of person Senios was.

Karinjeva spoke seriously,

but Senios laughed mockingly.

“True truth? Bullshit. Where in the world does such a thing exist?”

“...What did you say?”

“Act like a human, Karinjeva. Just because you were hailed as a Flame Dragon. Did you really think you were a dragon that lived for eternity?”

I said it before.

Despite his appearance,

Senios was not a proper mage.

He was a messed-up mage, as he himself said.

-“I’m saying this because you’re in front of me. I had doubts from the moment I entered the Magic Tower. They talk about exploring the truth, and all that... If the ultimate goal of exploration is the truth, then is that trivial thing really the truth?”

He lacked the desire to pursue the truth that a mage of the Magic Tower should have.

-“With a twisted mage like me in a senior position, how can the Magic Tower function properly? Hahaha! I’m embarrassed just saying it, but there you go!”

When I heard that,

I was curious.

Then why did Senios enter the Magic Tower?

The reason was simple.

-“It was purely to prove my strength.”

There was someone in the Magic Tower who could prove his strength.

-“I entered the Magic Tower to chase the Flame Dragon.”

Flame Dragon.

A reputation he had built even before entering the Magic Tower.

It’s not hard to understand.

After all, mages of the Magic Tower generally didn’t engage in external activities.

Senios added with a gleam in his eyes,

-“To have the opportunity to bring down the Flame Dragon and prove my strength! How could I let such an opportunity slip? Of course, I didn’t forget the pretext of correcting the Magic Tower. So, consider that when granting permission to leave the tower...”

...I didn’t mention his appearance for nothing.

Who would have imagined?

Who would believe me if I told them?

That the elder mage Senios

set out to execute Karinjeva out of personal feelings.

“You seemed to understand, but you were mistaken, Senios.”

No.

The one who’s mistaken is you, Karinjeva.

Senios, that guy, is even more messed up than you think.

Roar─

Karinjeva’s mana surged again.

This time, flames began to envelop his body.

No matter how much I buffed my fire attribute affinity,

with that level of firepower, even a brush would be dangerous.

“If so, there will be no mercy. You, the brat adventurer, and everyone else. I will burn you all.”

A declaration of the start of the battle.

Senios, who had been waiting for this moment more than anyone,

had no hesitation.

Crack─!

A freezing layer of air.

Soon, a massive block of ice enveloped Senios’ body.

It was rapidly cooling the area.

As if drawing a line.

“Dare you look at someone else in front of the Ten Thousand Year Snow, Senios? I cannot tolerate that. Indeed, you seem to believe in the superiority of your attribute.”

As Senios said, there is an attribute advantage in magic.

Fire and ice are extreme opposites.

Karinjeva should naturally know this.

“My flames are useless against you.”

Of course, I, who have read various magic books, also know this.

That’s why I didn’t just stand there.

I didn’t waste the mana I spent

to flip the ground.

‘Interfering ambiguously would only be a hindrance.’

Don’t forget, know your place.

As I said, I was just a shrimp caught in a whale fight.

However, this was expected.

This was part of my full preparation.

Crustal movement.

Ssssssh─!!

Because of this, the underground water in the ground began to gush out.

As I said, there is an attribute advantage in magic.

Like rock-paper-scissors.

A profound attribute advantage.

──────

Ice < Fire < Water < Ice < Fire < Water...

──────

That’s right.

Making the battlefield as favorable as possible.

This is the best I can do at this moment.

Ssssssh─!

Ssssssh─!

Streams of underground water gushing out everywhere.

They are a weakness to Karinjeva’s fire magic,

and a boost to Senios’ ice magic.

“...!!”

The two reacted differently

to the change in the battlefield.

“...Brat!”

“Solid support, Chief Lee Ho-yeol!”

I looked at the two and thought,

Marcello, Mathis.

Or even Bangrit.

‘Just hurry up, anyone.’

This battlefield is too overwhelming for me, who doesn’t have a [Predator-Prey Relationship].

*

Marcello gritted his teeth.

It was the same as with Bangrit.

“Chief Marcello. Those are!”

“Yes. Demons.”

The collapsed rift.

Demons pouring out from there.

Unlike with Bangrit, the demons didn’t seem particularly strong,

but their numbers were considerable.

The line seemed endless.

Marcello could sense it.

‘Are this many demons moving solely for the resurrection of the Demon King?’

No matter what,

the resurrection of the Demon King must be prevented.

So, he couldn’t help but worry.

‘Having to deal with demons on top of Karinjeva...’

It wouldn’t be easy.

Of course, he didn’t know who was facing Karinjeva.

The rift was a strange space.

Telepathy from inside to outside was impossible.

But one thing was certain.

“Senior Bellier.”

“Yes?”

“I will increase the speed.”

“Marcello, pushing any further...!”

Bellier trailed off.

She should have stopped him...

Marcello’s eyes were resolute.

Bellier, swallowing her words, instead gripped her staff firmly.

“Understood. Let’s sweep them all away.”

The goal was the heretic, Karinjeva.

He couldn’t be held back by mere demons.

He had to quickly close the rift and support other rifts.

.

.

.

The shapes of something pouring out from a distance.

Before I could confirm their true form with my eyes,

a message appeared.

[Skill, ‘Predator-Prey Relationship’ has been activated.]

...Wait a minute.

I take back my statement about this being overwhelming.

I immediately