Chapter 1449

<Episode 1449> 1449. Dark Moon

“Hold on! Just keep holding! I’ll be right there to help you after I deal with this guy!”

Mons shouted.

I understand the meaning.

It’s because I’m a wizard. By ordinary standards, wizards in this world are weak in small-scale battles. The battlefield where large-scale battles take place is where the flower of a wizard can fully bloom.

‘That’s for regular wizards.’

Wizards have their own styles. There are wizards who prefer small-scale battles. And that’s me.

KWAANG!

Keison, the third son of the Jupiter brothers, pounded the barrier with his gauntleted fist. A small explosion occurred from the punch. It wasn’t an explosion caused by gunpowder. A barrier crumbled effortlessly.

‘This must be magical engineering.’

The remaining barriers: four.

KA-BOOM! KWAANG!

With each punch, one barrier shattered. I realized the secret of the gauntlet. It’s not just about explosions; it disrupts the mana sigils upon collision. It infiltrates poison into the arrangement of mana, destroying it instantly.

Even the sturdy barrier broke in an instant, so its efficiency can be considered top-notch.

‘Now I get why they cheered when they saw a wizard. Wizards are food for him.’

The reason wizards can perform even slightly in small-scale battles is because of these barriers. If you can easily destroy them? Ordinary wizards would be utterly shocked. That gauntlet might as well be treated as a Dispel.

‘It will likely have the same effect on other spells besides barriers.’

So how should I counter it? The answer is simple. Cast magic without letting the gauntlet touch it. Of course, while dodging his movements.

Fortunately, the barrier itself isn’t completely useless. It doesn’t outright ignore the barrier. At least, it blocks his strikes.

KWA-A-A-AANG!

The last barrier broke.

Keison pulled back his right fist and grinned wickedly.

“Do you like crustaceans? Out of all of them, I love lobsters the most. Breaking through the hard shell and savoring the tender flesh inside is pure delicacy.”

Before he swung his fist at me, I used the spell I had prepared. Did you really think I would stand idly by as the barrier broke?

[Air Boom]

An air explosion occurred right in front of him, sending him flying backward. If he were an ordinary person, his body would’ve exploded into nothingness, but he wasn’t. His durability was at least at the level of solid rock.

“You little bastard!”

Keison, who had flown back, stomped toward me. His speed wasn’t fast by my standards. To put it in game terms, his health stat is the highest, and his agility doesn’t even reach half of that.

[Micro Wave]

Keison hesitated for a moment.

“Did you do something?”

KUH-KUH-KUH! He ran at me again.

I let out a wry smile. I had expected this, but I didn’t think it would fail to even slow him down.

‘Micro Wave is a failed spell. It’d be more efficient to abandon it than try to improve it.’

Keison approached. I stepped back, putting distance between us. He may be slow by my standards, but he’s faster than me…


Heh, this game of tag can’t go on forever.

“Where do you think you’re running?!”

Kaison grinned and picked up the pace. He seemed to be enjoying this game of tag.

[Lightning Spear]

I fired three spears of lightning. Using telekinesis, I adjusted their trajectories to target Kaison’s front and both sides.

‘He has two gauntlets. Even if he blocks two Lightning Spears, how will he deal with the third?’

Kaison punched away the two incoming Lightning Spears with his fists. A small explosion occurred as they collapsed and disappeared. My improved Lightning Spears explode on impact, dealing AoE lightning damage in the surrounding area.

But upon contacting those gauntlets, they vanished without fulfilling their function.

The remaining spear of lightning. Without doing anything, Kaison charged straight through, taking the hit directly on his body. The Lightning Spear exploded, sending electric currents shooting out in all directions, most of which flowed into Kaison’s body.

“Kukuku… This is kinda thrilling!”

“…What a brute.”

“I hear that every day from my brothers. But judging by your movements, you don’t seem like an ordinary magician… I’ll kill you with full strength.”

Kaison pounded his chest with his gauntlet-clad hand.

Moments later, mana surged within Kaison’s body.

‘Did he buff himself?’

It’s not magic. It’s likely magitech, similar to those gauntlets.

‘He pounded his chest. Is it a magitech heart?

I’m reminded of something Rose said recently – if you have tons of money in this city, you can become incredibly strong. Watching Kaison now, her words ring even truer.

Kaison pushed off the ground. In one second, he covered 10 meters and appeared before me, swinging his fist.

KWAANG!

My barrier shattered. His face twisted in surprise.

“What? When did you put up a barrier?”

“Maintaining barriers is basic for any magician.”

[Air Boom]

I sent Jason flying. He adjusted his center of gravity mid-air and redirected his flight upwards. Standing on the ceiling with both feet, he bent his knees then sprang towards me.

[Instantaneous Movement used. Remaining stacks: 6]

In the slowed time, I clearly tracked the trajectory of Kaison’s punch while calculating the seals. After finishing the calculations, I twisted my body to dodge Kaison’s punch. KWAANG! His fist struck the floor. The floor collapsed, revealing a dark underground space.

“How did you dodge that? What was that just now? How can a mage like you perform such movements….”

[Bind]

I restrain Kaison’s body. It won’t last long. At best, five seconds. But those five seconds are enough for me since I have Instantaneous Movement.

[Telekinesis]

I pull a piece of rock towards me.

[Instantaneous Movement used. Remaining stacks: 5]

[Material Conversion]

Using alchemy, I temporarily transform the rock into metal.

[Instantaneous Movement used. Remaining stacks: 4]

The metal bullet is small, and with the close distance, the electromagnetic rail I can set up with magic is too short. It’s not an ideal environment for the full power of a railgun. But its power is far from weak. It has more than enough penetration to pierce Kaison’s body.

[Railgun]

The railgun projectile charged towards Kaison’s heart. I didn’t aim for the head because I respect Kaison’s abilities. The head would be easier for him to dodge.

Just before the projectile hit his chest, Kaison forcibly twisted his waist. He didn’t completely evade it. The railgun crushed his left shoulder. At the same time, he kicked my abdomen with his foot. Though I barely protected it with a small barrier, the hastily erected defense couldn’t fully withstand the impact, and I flew back, landing on the ground.

“Cough!”

One kick and I spat blood. No matter how much I’m a magician, this physical ability gap is ridiculous. By the way, that wasn’t even a properly aimed kick from Kaison.

‘…This


“The runty mage is considered weak in small-scale combat.”

Their body is ridiculously frail compared to that of a warrior.

“But in terms of power and versatility… the mage reigns supreme.”

Ignoring the pain in his abdomen, he rose from his seat.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaah! My arm…!!! Bro! That guy… my arm!!!”

Kaisen clutched his left shoulder, writhing in agony. The sight brought back memories of the past. When he was injected with mana serum, the pain was overwhelming. He thought he was going insane back then.

“Thanks to that, I’ve become immune to most kinds of pain.”

Before Kaisen could endure the pain, he pulled a metal bullet from his coat pocket.

Zzzt.

A bright bolt of lightning encased the bullet.

[Railgun]

The accelerated bullet flew straight, piercing through Kaisen’s head. It didn’t stop there, penetrating the wall and soaring into the night sky.

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and gazed at the ensuing battle.

“Kaisen! You son of a bitch!!”

Bald Jupitrein Jr., the second son, shouted furiously at me. He turned his body to charge toward me, but Mons blocked his path.

“How disappointing. Don’t underestimate me.”

I asked Mons,

“Do you need my help?”

“I’ve had enough assistance from you. I’ll take this guy down myself.”

Mons declared confidently. It wasn’t mere bravado. Bald had numerous minor wounds, while Mons remained unscathed. Anyone could tell Mons had the upper hand in the fight.

“Mage. Head underground. Given how Philip Jupitrein hastily descended through the secret passage, there must be something down there. Go assist the ninja in dealing with Philip.”

“I shall.”

I headed toward the secret passage behind the table.

“Halt!!”

Bald shouted at me. Naturally, I ignored him and entered the secret passage. While descending the stairs, I restored the barriers.

Five layers of barriers.

Layering more than five barriers would be inefficient.

As I went down the secret passage, I came across a corridor.

‘This space isn’t on the pre-studied blueprint.’

That blueprint dated back to when the casino building was constructed. In other words, this area was secretly built after the casino was completed. Something smelled fishy.

Walking down the corridor, I noticed broken machinery scattered around. Upon closer inspection, they were all soaked.

“Water.”

It was undoubtedly the work of that woman, Invisible Blade.

‘How did she get inside this place? Aside from the secret passage, there doesn’t seem to be any entrance visible.’

Recalling that she was a ninja,

This must be why she’s called a ninja—able to infiltrate such places.

Whirrrr.

The sound of a machine operating came from the wall. There might be another space hidden within the wall.

[Detection]

I spread out the mana sigils. They vanished upon hitting the wall. I stopped in my tracks and examined the wall closely.

‘They’ve engraved part of a barrier formula here to prevent detection.’

It was a labor-intensive and costly method.

“You crazy bitch! Don’t think you’ll die easily…!!”

From up ahead, an enraged male voice echoed loudly through the corridor. Having been examining the wall, I quickened my pace.

I shoved my leg into the half-destroyed iron door and entered.

A laboratory. Or rather, a space resembling a mage’s lab where two figures were locked in battle.

A blonde man riding a 5×5 Karma scooter and a voluptuous female ninja wearing a tight cyber-suit with a fox mask.

Philip Jupitrein, boss of the Jupitre Gang Union, and Invisible Blade.

Philip pointed at the female ninja with his hand. A massive streak of lightning shot out like an energy beam, chasing after the ninja. The ninja evaded it with a flashy tumble and extended her arms horizontally before gracefully swinging them.

Swish-swish-swish.

Water daggers generated from her palms flew toward Philip.