<The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family Chapter 43>
As a matter of course, the Kumus in the Maze Field were much stronger than the Kumus in the Grassland Field.
Higher in every aspect, including attack power, defense power, health, and magical resistance.
However, personally, I found these ones easier.
First of all, they can’t escape.
Of course, there is the downside that movement is restricted in an enclosed space. But what does it matter? A Kumus without an ‘escape’ pattern is just a large punching bag.
How comfortable it is.
So I brought her along.
Our cute student, Jin Yu-ri.
“Strike down.”
At Jin Yu-ri’s ‘call,’ a golden flash struck down.
4th-class lightning magic, Call Lightning.
Whether it’s casting speed or destructive power, this Call Lightning is a perfect one without any flaws.
But…
“Are you not going to do it right, Jin Yu-ri? This isn’t it. Where’s your ‘color’?”
“Is it that easy? Ugh!”
We were torn on either side of the Kumus’s descending arm.
The ground shook violently, and fragments of rock flew. It was quite a dangerous moment, but Jin Yu-ri and I continued our lesson as if nothing was wrong.
“Does it make sense that you’re using your mana but your color isn’t involved?”
“I know! I know! I made a mistake because I’m not used to it!”
“I’ll explain it again just once. You keep using magic.”
Spell formula – mana – manifestation.
This is the process in which magic is manifested.
If you ask most sorcerers what is important at this stage, they all say ‘spell formula’ without exception.
It’s not wrong. The spell formula forms the skeleton of the magic.
If one has the right elements such as incantation, charms, formations, and magic circles, then magic will manifest.
In any way.
So some schools in this world emphasize efficiency and completely ignore the process after the spell formula.
It’s not a bad method. Personally, I think it’s foolish, but not every sorcerer in the world can inherit the same talent I have.
For sorcerers with similar average talents, it may be better to set aside advanced courses and focus solely on the ‘spell formula’.
No, it definitely would be better.
They say human potential is infinite, but everyone knows there are inherent limits.
However, what I’ve just said applies only to ‘ordinary’ superhumans.
Jin Yu-ri, who stands in front of me, is not included in that category at all.
“Spell formula? It’s important. A perfect spell formula is required to manifest perfect magic. But you, who read magic with the Eyes of the Dragon, can’t make a mistake in the spell formula, right? No way. You can see it clearly. Isn’t that so?”
That’s right.
1 + 1 = 2
A calculation everyone knows.
Extremely speaking, this is how magic is for Jin Yu-ri.
With the Eyes of the Dragon, Jin Yu-ri can see the magic formula clearly. Even the answer is somewhat accessible.
Make a mistake with the spell formula?
That’s nonsense.
“Now that the spell formula is complete, the ‘magic’ has been completed. Well, just like there’s no end to studying, if you dig deeper, there’s more to learn, but for now, let’s consider it complete. Is that it? Is there no more magic?”
If it’s not intentionally wrong, that won’t happen.
“No, it’s just beginning. Now we have to complete ‘your magic.’”
Everyone possesses unique mana. I refer to this as ‘color.’
It’s about applying this color to magic. Thus, it’s not just magic, but completing ‘my magic’ entirely.
This is the process of ‘mana’ in the spell formula – mana – manifestation.
“Naturally, bring forth the ‘your mana’ that has been sleeping inside you. There’s no need to overthink it. It has always been with you from the start and has always been by your side.”
“Together…”
“It’s your mana. Both the one that is confined and the one you’ve forgotten is you. There are gentle ways to talk to it, or to coax it gently, but I don’t know any of that. Just take it out. Pull it out and face it. Think about the next step later.”
“……”
As if something dawned on her, Jin Yu-ri’s eyes opened slightly.
Half-closed eyelashes, dilating pupils, and blurring focus.
The swirling red mana calmed down.
Moment of enlightenment (Don-o: 頓悟).
Already?
I couldn’t help but smile.
This is why talented kids are great. Teach one thing, and they understand ten.
I stood in front of the motionless Jin Yu-ri with a smile. For a moment, I am a teacher. I should watch my disciple’s growth.
In that moment.
A hexagram appeared in my vision.
Dozens of magic circles filled the air.
As black flames seeped into the hexagram within the magic circles.
Absolute Shield
5th-class defensive magic, Absolute Shield.
It boasts a defense power superior to that of a barrier, but with high mana consumption, it is the unfortunate magic that falls short compared to barriers and shields.
However, if I add my color to it…
Absolute Shield (改)
Iron Wall
It becomes a castle wall that cannot be breached.
The magic circles swiftly danced in the air.
The relentless assault pouring down without a moment’s pause was nullified by the magic circles. The arms that lashed like a whip were deflected and merely struck the innocent ceiling.
After repeating the same action several times, it seemed the Kumus understood it was futile.
As if to showcase that its intelligence is higher than a goldfish, this time it charged in for a physical attack.
Of course.
It was useless.
Crash-!
Bounce off at double the speed of its rush and crash into the wall.
After doing this another three or four times, it seemed to realize, and its intelligence upgraded to that of a chicken.
Additionally, it began to jump toward the shield, or sprayed poison darts with a breath-like act, and later even attempted to unleash a continuous earthquake pattern.
The Kumus entertained me by showing off various body gags.
But sorry, while it was fun, I think it’s time to wrap this up.
I felt a presence behind me.
“Get out of the way.”
I quickly withdrew the shield.
Chain Lightning
Lightning flickered.
Chain Lightning (改)
As if raindrops were falling.
In that moment, it became stained red.
“Lightning Breath.”
The dragon’s thunder blazed forth.
“A dragon… Is it ‘Jin-ryong’? That’s natural, isn’t it?”
Indeed, inheriting bloodline.
I guess ‘bloodline’ can’t be deceived.
“Anyway, it’s amusing.”
If the Jin-ryong is a dragon, then the Sword Master is a tiger, right?
I toyed with the great sword in my hand and smiled meaningfully.
20 days.
It was enough time for everything related to the Gate to become familiar, and the Kumus was no longer a troublesome monster for the raid group.
“Is it just my feeling, or am I starting to see the attack patterns too?”
“Hey, you too? Me too.”
“How about we try to close in? It seems possible if we use Haste.”
“Yeah, nowadays it’s the trend for ranged dealers to close in. The closer the distance, the stronger the power.”
“I think it’ll work. Let’s ask Merhem after this battle.”
As they became more relaxed, their field of view widened. As their view expanded, things that were previously unseen came into sight, and they began attempting things they hadn’t done until now.
In that sense, the Kumus was a good specimen.
First of all, the target is large, and it’s not fast for a medium monster. Moreover, there are no special instant-d*ath patterns, and it doesn’t even use magic.
In Park Ki-hyuk’s words, one could hardly find a better ‘punching bag’ than this.
“Hey! Hurry up! Look! I succeeded. Double casting!”
“Aqua Ball and Lightning Shock? Right, double casting. That’s impressive!”
“It’s coming… dodge. If it comes again… dodge…”
“Hey, what good is just dodging? You’ve gotta sh**t magic!”
“Wait a second! Just a little… a little more… if only I can reach range! Magnum Stone!!”
While the raid group filled in experience points with various attempts, it goes without saying that Han Jun-woo and Merhem were also busy.
Both of them had passed through countless gates.
In terms of experience, combat power, and teamwork.
Neither one fell short, and they stood out in the raid group.
“If I wipe the mana away with my ‘d*ath Allergy’ curse.”
“I’ll pierce through with my ‘Resurrection Rite.’”
“Coordinate the timing properly. It exposes its face for exactly 3 seconds. Not too late, and not too early. 3 seconds, remember.”
“Don’t worry, just do your part. It’s opening.”
“1… 2… 3! Now!”
While the raid members had merely grown accustomed to the Kumus, Han Jun-woo and Merhem began to toy with it.
With the momentum to eliminate all the Kumus on the field, they launched their hunting expedition.
At that moment.
Park Ki-hyuk and Jin Yu-ri were frantically navigating the Maze Field, using the keys obtained by the raid group to open the doors.
“Again, it’s losing its color. I told you to always be mindful. Repeat after me. I am a dragon.”
“I am a dragon.”
“Louder.”
“I AM A DRAGON!!”
“Wow? Did you yell a little and now your legs are showing? What happens if a sorcerer’s lower body dies?”
“They d*e! Ugh!”
“You’re far from it. I can already hear you groaning. Seriously, Merhem moves at that speed even while carrying heavy equipment.”
“Don’t compare me! Comparisons are the worst!”
“Whoa! Losing its color again. Want to ignore it?”
Since they had to practice simultaneously, whenever Jin Yu-ri joyfully shot magic and got tired, Park Ki-hyuk finished it off.
But.
It was fast.
Unbelievably fast. Much faster than other raid groups catching regular Kumus outside.
In the Grassland Field, the raid group led by Han Jun-woo and Merhem.
In the Maze Field, the two strongest superhumans of the year, Park Ki-hyuk and Jin Yu-ri.
At this point, no one within the gate doubted that this gate would be cleared.
Even the professors who needed to assess the students.
“This year is said to be an exceptional group, and it’s no joke. Their average skills are high.”
“Right? Last time wasn’t even close to this level. It seems like their skills are getting higher and higher.”
“What do you think, professor?”
“Ha ha. Teaching methods always evolve. Naturally, skills should develop too. Nonetheless… it’s undeniable that this group is special.”
And the safety personnel who had to be prepared for any emergencies.
“Did you see that? The recent chain combo. It was sick!”
“Disrupted the defense system of the Kumus with a curse and finished it off with a lethal strike. It was totally shredded.”
“Han Jun-woo as the guy and Merhem as the girl. Those two could jump straight into active duty.”
“Wow, they’re cool. Usually, I’m harsh on evaluations. Do you like them? Thoughts on recruitment?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. They are our ‘Young Master’. The director is closely managing them, and they’re practically part of Optimum now.”
“Hey, watch it! You won’t know until you try it out.”
“What?!”
When they finally opened the 113th door, Park Ki-hyuk and the raid group faced what was before them.
A boss room more than twice the size of a regular door.
“I’m bored. Let’s finish this quickly and eat.”
Time in the gate: 23 days, 3 hours, 18 minutes.
Boss.
Named, encounter with Kumus Baba.
Various, different powers of magic poured forth.
In the center, the boss ‘Baba’ was writhing, while Jun-woo and Meri controlled Baba’s movements with flawless synergy.
A somewhat stagnant flow.
Both we and boss Baba were doing our utmost to launch assaults, but no fatal blows that could change the tide were coming forth.
In this situation, I stood with Jin Yu-ri for a critical strike that could flip the stagnant flow.
“Can you do it?”
“Yes, I can do it. I really want to do it!”
“… Just once. If you fail, you’ll mix in with them and support with magic.”
“Understood. I’m ready.”
“What about magic? Your specialty, the lightning type?”
“No, Hell Blaze. I want to do that.”
“You’re so self-willed. Get ready.”
At the word ‘get ready,’ Jin Yu-ri’s gaze transformed.
The playful Jin Yu-ri from earlier was gone. Only the Jin Yu-ri, who inherits the strongest ‘dragon’s bl**d’ from the Jin-ryong clan was present.
The hexagram magic circle unfolded.
Centered around me and Jin Yu-ri.
‘Contact established, now for resonance.’
Goooh—
Jin Yu-ri’s crimson mana and my jet-black mana swirled together, and the magic circle that had spread out around us began to whirl.
No issues with contact. No issues with resonance.
Preparation was complete.
“Don’t worry about tedious tasks like target setting or mana adjustment, just focus on manifestation.”
“……”
No reply came back. That was how focused she was.
Her tightly shut lips looked quite cute.
Come to think of it, if my memory serves me right, the last time I cast linked magic with someone else was with the Saintess.
‘Wow, is this how it gets linked?’
Alright, let’s have some fun.
Into the swirling magic circle, additional magic circles emerged.
One for ‘Target Setting’.
One for ‘Attribute Harmony’.
And one more for ‘Mana Control.’
As the circles stacked neatly within one another, the mana became more tightly intertwined, and when every circle was complete.
The moment our eyes turned to the boss.
Linked Magic
Hell Blaze & Hell Blaze
Breath of the Brood Dragon
The space shattered.
Revealing the head of the brood dragon.
The brood dragon’s jaws bit down on the boss’s body…
And at that moment.
Flames surged.
A chillingly cold blue fire erupted.
Time in the gate: 23 days, 6 hours, 27 minutes.
Gate ‘Fat-Bellied Maze’ cleared.
*
The raid group succeeded in clearing the gate.
For today, they were genuinely happy, forgetting any feelings they had toward each other.
But then, a sudden news came.
“Say that again. Spring has disappeared?”
