Chapter 267 |
Boom!!
As the grand doors shattered, Manson and Chen charged inside without hesitation.
Renok followed slowly, cupping his hands and swinging his mana.
Crackle!!
He gripped dozens of thick electric currents that leaked from between his fingers and compressed them before he unleashed them.
A blinding bolt of lightning erupted from between his horizontally aligned palms, sweeping and rotating across the front yard of the Paldoon estate.
It was the technique of compressing and detonating dozens of common spells—Bolt and Chain Lightning—all at once, causing them to resonate and radiate in a burst.
Lightning element creation magic: multi-synthesis.
[Reason Thunder Cluster Scatter]
The lightning that burst from his palms transformed into a massive plasma mass, carrying immense heat.
“Gaaahhh!!”
“An attack! It’s an enemy raid!!”
“Is this war? Evacuate the family head immediately!!”
Clang, clang!!
Lightning flashed from all directions, randomly arcing bolts that scorched and demolished the estate grounds.
Without deploying his innate domain, he twisted the space's properties to favor himself.
Renok silently watched them, leaving clusters of lightning scattered nearby as if they were within arm's reach.
It was an oddly restrained action compared to Renok's usual behavior.
Manson, leisurely observing from behind, asked.
[You weren't planning to kill them all?]
“Why bother?” Renok replied.
“What we're doing now isn't about finishing quickly. Leaving some aftermath to stir unrest on their side is the goal.”
Walter Martinez, bishop and missionary of the Gido Order.
For such an outsider to receive high-level treatment in the citadel, it was highly likely he'd chosen a proxy identity like Renok's.
If so, which family had he selected to claim that proxy role?
Even among the family alliances centered on Ilwon, the odds of it being the marginalized Paldoon were low, but Renok's actions here would suffice to heighten vigilance among the families.
“Stirring up the other families one by one should reveal the outline.”
As Renok spoke, something leaped from a window of the estate and crashed to the ground.
Rumble!!
“That damn...!!”
A slender, white-haired middle-aged man.
The elderly figure, nearly two meters tall, bellowed as he stormed into the courtyard.
“What kind of disgrace is this against a single mage?!”
The mana infused in his resounding voice was considerable.
It was hard to believe this came from one of the most despised among the eight families.
“They haven't even shown intent to fight properly...!! I'll have to retrain you all from the start!!”
Chen glanced away awkwardly at the old man's relentless shouting.
“...Come to think of it, no one's dead yet. Did you hold back on purpose?”
“A show of force like this should be enough.”
Renok said leisurely.
“This much makes for a suitable courtesy before rational talk, don't you think?”
“Hmm, well...”
No need to explain how twisted a mage's mindset became after nearly three years in Balkan's shadows.
But contrary to Chen's thoughts, the self-proclaimed Paldoon family head quickly contained the situation and invited the three into the front yard.
Realizing they had the will and capability to confront an entire family, he likely intended to stall until his warriors regained composure.
“...”
Of course, it was inevitable to shoot cold glares at the ruffians who smashed the doors and wrecked the courtyard.
“Two proxies visiting—I thought maybe Ilwon or Ibon had sent word... Turns out it's messengers from the losers.”
A faint smile curled on the family head's lips as he stared down at Renok and Manson.
It was a sparse emotion, laced only with mockery.
“What do the fallen Yukryeong and Oryun think they can achieve by banding together? If Samyeong were involved, I'd deign to talk, but this is utterly ridiculous.”
“...”
“I'll commend your boldness and forgive this once. Say what you came for and get out.”
Renok looked up at the family head seated on the estate's porch.
Forgiveness. Not easy words for the perpetrator who smashed the doors and ravaged the inner courtyard.
He masked his inner thoughts with a fierce aura, but he clearly wanted to avoid escalating damage here due to Renok.
Yet Renok had no intention of retreating without seeing Paldoon's proxy.
“I want you to transfer your proxy authority.”
“...What?”
“If you have no intention of participating, hand over your claim.”
Renok said.
“I'll craft a plausible role for you before you wither away.”
“You're insane.”
The family head scoffed at Renok's words.
“What reason do I have to comply?”
In the citadel's power struggles, a proxy represented the family's will.
Yielding that to Oryun would reduce Paldoon to mere spectators until the citadel lord was decided.
Naturally, Paldoon would never agree to such a request.
Boom!!
Until a bolt from the clear sky struck the estate's spire.
Everyone gaped as the precise control turned only the rooftop of the five-story building to ashes.
Renok asked.
“May I ask again?”
“...”
Silence fell.
The family head struggled to respond.
If Renok had politely requested dialogue from the start instead of demonstrating power, would he have gotten this reaction?
Since they'd entered the citadel under Ban's name, they needed to push firmly where necessary.
Renok understood that well.
The family head, deep in desperate thought, forced a strained smile as realization dawned.
“Proxy duels are strictly forbidden until the citadel lord battle. You wouldn't dare violate the citadel's rules here...”
“I know.”
“If you plan to defy and act tyrannically... What?”
Renok tapped Chen's shoulder beside him.
“So this friend will face your proxy instead.”
“...Hold on.”
Chen, paling, stiffly turned his head.
“I'm hearing this for the first time since we got here.”
“Hojor!!”
The Paldoon family head, who had been listening intently, shouted promptly.
Rumble!!
With that, a burly young man emerged from the shadows behind the porch.
The youth named Hojor, shirtless, towered over two meters.
His broad shoulders and solidly built frame hinted at immense strength.
Gripping a massive club larger than himself, Hojor stepped forward, glaring at the two.
Stroking his beard, the family head said with satisfaction.
“Oryun's proxy won't go back on his word with two tongues.”
“...”
“But if we win, you'll take responsibility for our family's safety. Do you agree?”
As Renok nodded, Hojor advanced.
“Come forward, vermin.”
Snorting fiercely, Hojor sneered.
“I'll kill the bastard son cowering behind Firm Thunder's ass right here.”
Slamming his enormous club down, a heavy thud shook the courtyard.
Chen grabbed Renok's arm in panic.
“Ban. I'll give it my all, but... do we have a chance?”
The mana aura emanating from Hojor's thickly muscled body was incomparable to Chen's.
The Eightfold Star Citadel, gathering Balkan's top warriors in the shadows.
As a direct bloodline of one of the eight families and Paldoon's self-proclaimed proxy, Hojor had reached level 6.
A hierarchy capable of army-level performance alone.
No matter Chen's street scraps, his combat experience paled in comparison.
If Chen lost here, not only would they fail to claim the proxy, but Renok's reputation would plummet after this bold move.
Yet Renok smiled leisurely despite Chen's reaction.
“Don't worry. I put you forward due to proxy duel rules, but you won't actually fight.”
“What, what?”
Before Chen could retort, Renok raised his mana.
His left pupil flashed violet and spun, while a single bolt flowed into Chen's crown.
[Residual Thunder Body]
Crackle...!!
Easily mistaken for a simple physical enhancement spell, its principle was far more complex.
Unlike common augmentation magic, it enhanced all sensory organs without disrupting the body's bioelectric flow.
The result: a surge in information intake for the user, leading to diversified judgment and intuition.
Before Chen could fully feel the effect, mana threads from Renok's hand seized his limbs and moved them at will.
“Seeing that spider made me rethink manipulation series. Today'll be a good opportunity.”
“What nonsense is thaaat?!!”
As Chen shrieked oddly, his limbs moved independently, drawing two curved swords from his waist and charging.
The duel began abruptly.
Sliding past Manson and Renok toward Hojor in the courtyard, Chen thrust his blades without hesitation.
Hojor twisted his torso, using his club's downward swing as a pivot to parry.
Clang!!
“Hoh.”
A skilled warrior gauged an opponent's level in one clash, they said.
Chen's opening strike was fast, but the breathing and gap to invade Hojor's guard were nearly flawless.
A simple block with the club would have meant injury.
Hojor, now facing Chen, grinned savagely on his thick face.
“Not bad for a mage's entourage. Fine, let's clash properly!!”
“Fuck...”
Chen's resigned curse echoed softly.
Hojor lowered his stance, gripping the club two-handed, while Renok tightened his mana threads on Chen.
The two warriors twisted from the shattered ground.
Boom!!
Flashes crossed wildly in the air, rotating and scattering long gashes and heavy debris everywhere.
“Raaah!!”
“Good momentum!!”
Unaware of Chen's turmoil, Hojor parried enthusiastically.
In the vast courtyard's center, only Renok fully grasped the battle.
‘It's going better than expected.’
Witnessing Agneta's manipulation briefly shocked Renok; she used threads like mana threads to interfere even with human minds.
He knew manipulation was an odd category among spells, but seeing such precise control firsthand was new.
The eerie rhythm he sensed, having handled mana threads somewhat.
A lifelike vitality, as if the threads lived and moved. An art beyond human emotion or sense.
Sensing he couldn't reach that yet, Renok conversely recognized the potential in mana threads.
‘It's not just physical contact and manipulation. If I maximize the advantage of free capture and control via intent and thought...’
Perhaps even invisible concepts could be grasped someday.
Though his knowledge and reason couldn't confirm it, if sensation and intuition glimpsed it...
To see farther, he needed to invest in mana threads now.
This puppet show in Paldoon's yard was ultimately to gaze higher and walk further.
“Alright. I've got a grasp.”
Muttering, Renok's pupils gleamed sharply, his ten fingers dancing like on piano keys.
The finger movements weren't key. He manifested the imagined thread motions in reality, delicately adjusting Chen's limbs and muscles by tightening and pulling the threads.
Crack!!
Chen's joints bent exquisitely to their limits, activating in unknown directions.
His two curved swords arced far from his body's orientation.
Targeting Hojor's jaw and knee simultaneously.
Hojor desperately retreated, deflecting the incoming blade at his face.
Slash!!
Surprisingly, blood sprayed not from jaw or knee, but his side.
A deep gash across Hojor's unprotected flesh, armored only by mana.
As the jaw-aimed sword missed, Chen's body dipped low, causing the knee-bound sword to ricochet upward, slicing Hojor's side.
“...!!”
The two fighters gaped at the outcome in unison—an odd phenomenon.
But Renok, designing it all from behind, didn't blink, focused on manipulating Chen.
‘Still not enough.’
Beyond mere body control, he craved deeper sensation.
As data accumulated from focused real combat, the manipulation scope expanded.
'I can reach further.'
Beyond the violet magic eye's vision.
The threads binding Chen's limbs twisted spirally, subtly mutating.