■ And there was no one □
Weather Control.
Referred to as the ultimate of elemental magic, it is a weather magic.
If following the normal procedures, it should require at least a 7th-tier level to cast such a grand spell. However, I succeeded in creating a similar effect by synthesizing two 6th-tier spells: “Majestic Presence” and “Thunderclap.”
This was made possible thanks to the unique characteristics of wind elements.
The commonly known theory of the four great elements claims that all natural phenomena in the world stem from four elements: Aqua, Ignis, Ventus, and Terra.
Among these, Ventus is conveniently referred to as wind, but if we define its original meaning, it refers to the atmosphere (大氣), the fundamental attribute behind all natural phenomena occurring in the sky.
Following this logic, just as ice forms from water and ash forms from fire, lightning forms from wind.
As absurd as it may sound, this is considered the established truth here.
Despite seeming impossible to mix, wind magic and lightning magic share the same root, making their fusion surprisingly easy. From this idea, I managed to create a spell that literally conjures up a localized storm.
[[#]]Kagagagagak!
A massive storm accompanied by thunder and lightning sweeps down like the hammer of a god, eradicating all enemies on the ground.
Even though it’s my own magic, its overwhelming power never ceases to amaze me.
The area struck by the rain-soaked lightning and giant tornado is left with scars resembling those scratched by a beast’s claws.
One thing is certain: whoever entered the range of this storm would not walk away unscathed.
No matter how you look at it, combining two tactical-level spells results in a power that cannot be weak.
Gradually, the storm under my control began to subside. Glancing down at my feet, fewer than ten people were still standing.
And even they looked ragged in their clothing and demeanor.
They must have struggled fiercely within the storm to protect their lord, the Male Lord of Hamburg.
To finish things off, I descended to the ground.
Thud.
As soon as my foot touched the ground, a man named Pelmond shouted angrily.
“Coward! You flew up into the sky out of fear to face us directly!”
I blew a raspberry in disbelief at his words.
“Why don’t you become a mage if you’re upset? Besides, isn’t a 1:100 fight already cowardly?”
“Grrr!”
Pelmond bit his lips in anger, perhaps realizing I had hit the mark.
Regardless, the Male Lord of Hamburg, who stood behind Pelmond, asked,
“Grand Mage Caldlasth, why did you betray humanity? What drove you to fall so far?”
“Did I fall?”
“Then did I not? You betrayed your comrades, your nation, and even humanity. You lie as if it’s second nature and slaughter fellow humans of the same kingdom without any sense of guilt. Is this not called falling?”
Upon hearing this story, I could no longer suppress my laughter.
“Hmm… hahahaha!”
At first, it was just a faint chuckle, but as I thought more about it, the absurdity grew, and my laughter became louder.
“Hahahahahahahahat!”
Eventually, I leaned back and laughed heartily.
Humans are truly foolish creatures. They always see and hear only what they want to.
Wiping away the tears that formed at the corners of my eyes, I corrected his misconception.
“Sorry, but I’ve always been like this. Chasing after short-term gains, swayed by momentary impulses, and capable of getting angry when annoyed — a pretty ordinary person.”
I couldn’t care less about the well-being of those close to me, let alone possess the universal love for justice like a Hero. Isn’t it because of that love that parties break apart?
“And humans or demons are both living beings made of flesh and blood. From my perspective, demons are horned humans, and humans are hornless demons. Since we’re all the same lives anyway, I don’t understand why you make such distinctions.”
The Executioner who mercilessly killed demons on the battlefield has now turned his blade toward humans. In reality, nothing much has changed.
Just the color of the blood staining the blade is slightly different.
“Madman.”
The Male Lord of Hamburg muttered this while looking at me as if I were a monster.
Hmm. It seems father and daughter say the same things.
I spread my arms wide.
Though my remaining mana was shaky due to using the Vacuum Storm, it was enough to annihilate those in front of me.
Whirlwinds wrapped around my arms and legs. I stepped back slightly with one foot and assumed a charging stance by extending my arms diagonally forward.
The last ten men trembled as they gripped their swords with both hands, glaring at me.
In the midst of an eerie silence, the sturdy warrior at the front suddenly charged forward.
“AAAAAAHHHHH!”
Whether to overcome his fear or not, he roared loudly as he swung his longsword high above his head.
Stepping lightly, I swiftly closed the distance and delivered an uppercut to his jaw.
Clang!!
With the satisfying sensation of shattering jawbones, the towering man collapsed like a limp doll.
‘9 left’
Using the fallen man’s corpse as a shield, I kicked towards the two warriors rushing from behind.
The sharp blades of vacuum shot from my toes split their abdomens in half, and they fell into the snow with the momentum of their charge.
‘7 left’
“F*ck! Die!”
A soldier, having lost his sanity to fear, recklessly charged with a spear imbued with aura.
Calmly dodging the spear tip, I shattered the shaft with the edge of my hand and kneed the startled soldier who dropped the remaining handle.
“Keuhk!”
The fragile human body can easily be killed with just that action.
‘6 left’
“I, this is madness! I need to survive!”
Perhaps due to the rapid decrease in survivors, one terrified soldier discarded his weapon and turned his back to me, driven by the instinct for survival.
I sent a wind bullet straight into the exposed back of his head.
‘5 left’
“Stop attacking one by one like fools! Three of you attack together!”
As Pelmond shouted anxiously, the soldiers exchanged meaningful glances, swallowed hard, and began surrounding me.
I slowly walked into their center to make it easier for them to execute group tactics.
“Hyaahh!”
The first to charge was the soldier at the front.
His shining sword aimed for my neck, but I didn’t dodge.
Clang!!
An aura infused with mediocre mana could never pierce through the barrier of my Wind Armor.
I delivered a palm strike to the clearly exposed abdomen and followed up with gusts of wind to the other two who tried to exploit the opening.
Already exhausted, the three collapsed lifelessly with just that.
‘2 left’
I looked at the final remaining Male Lord of Hamburg and Pelmond.
Pelmond gritted his teeth in frustration and pointed his sword at me.
It was admirable that he hadn’t fled until the end.
That proved his loyalty to the Male Lord of Hamburg was genuine.
A strange tension filled the air.
As if betraying his lack of composure, Pelmond was the first to attack.
“Huff!”
The aura emanating from his sword confirmed his resolve, shining brilliantly.
In just two steps, Pelmond’s sword descended with the force to cleave my head.
Clang!
I caught it bare-handed.
Pelmond’s expression turned to shock.
But it was inevitable.
Compared to the hero’s swordplay I had always observed from the side, his attack was far too slow.
Our base skills might have been similar, but the hero always fought with inflated stats due to the Sacred Sword and the Sage’s buffs, making comparison impossible.
I broke the blade with both palms and pierced Pelmond’s abdomen with my right arm.
“Khrukh!”
Pelmond coughed up red blood in shock from his ruptured insides, alternating his gaze between me and the Male Lord of Hamburg before collapsing like a broken puppet.
‘1 left’
I approached the last remaining Male Lord of Hamburg.
Realizing resistance would be futile, he had long discarded the weapon in his hand.
“Any last words?”
The Male Lord of Hamburg smiled bitterly and said,
“If I had known this would happen, I should’ve brought more troops. Who would’ve thought that even 100 elite soldiers of our family wouldn’t be enough.”
“It’s simply because I’m stronger.”
“…Tell my daughter not to even dream of revenge.”
“You’re worried about your eldest now that death approaches?”
“It was merely a decision as the head of the family. I don’t want to burden the heir with heavy responsibilities.”
After saying this, the Male Lord of Hamburg closed his eyes.
I squeezed out the last of my mana and respectfully severed his head in one swift motion, paying tribute to his dignified stance until the very end.
The decapitated body slumped onto the snowy ground.
“Hmph…”
Now, I was the only one left alive in the vicinity.
I roughly wiped the blood off my face and started walking toward Hamburg to retrieve Goldrun, which was tied to a tree.
