CHAPTER 150………………………………
Foretold Death
The result of is the movement through space, but its essence is the distortion of space.
Instead of drawing a long line on a flat sheet of paper, you fold the paper itself, making the line’s length extremely short.
That is the principle and the basic concept of what most of us call spatial movement magic.
“So, no.”
Despite my explanation.
“……I didn’t understand a single word.”
“Speak in a way we can understand.”
“What on earth does that even mean?”
None of the people present understood.
Leonis, Elnor, and Valen spoke together, almost as if by prior agreement, linking arms.
“You’re crossing distorted space, and in the process, your body could be torn apart. You’ve experienced it before, haven’t you?”
They pointed their fingers at Ronan and Leonis.
“Don’t you remember? Back when we were escaping Solaris last time.”
“I was just a little dizzy, that’s all.”
“I… don’t really remember.”
“At that time, I had used almost all my mana, so that’s why it was only a little. No matter how accurate the coordinates, if we want to cross all the way to the North, even if I burn all the mana I have, I can’t guarantee a safe arrival.”
“That’s why you used a magic stone, right?”
Valen raised an eyebrow, pointing at the magic stone I held in my hand.
“This?”
I tilted the stone slightly.
“It’s far less than my mana.”
“…!”
I chuckled slightly at the surprised Valen.
“And because I spent most of my mana drawing the magic circle, I can’t use it to bring anyone else. So….”
I had already said this several times, but I emphasized it firmly again.
“I’m going alone. Got it?”
After that, no one argued about following me or being taken along.
The magic stone, which had almost depleted its mana to complete the magic circle, had lost most of its original radiance.
It had become opaque enough that it could be called jade rather than emerald.
I gathered all the remaining mana in the stone.
“<Frozen Space, open a new path along the flow of the world>.”
I activated the magic on the circle.
“!”
Flash—!
A dazzling light shot from the magic circle.
From my toes, I felt my body slowly vanish.
Rising, yet simultaneously falling—an impossible contradiction.
It felt like sinking into deep water, yet also floating above the surface.
If I failed to fix the coordinates here, I could vanish entirely in the distorted space.
Or, as I had warned my companions, my limbs could disassemble and scatter into different spaces.
Fortunately, on my fingers were the same pair of rings I had placed on Sirina’s.
An artifact that shares the wearer’s location, letting me track her.
Even in this paradoxical distortion of space, I could precisely locate Sirina.
Flash—!
A cold wind touched my skin with the dazzling light.
At the same time, a pungent burning smell filled my nose, mingled with the metallic tang of blood.
Deafening shouts echoed from all around, mixed with the clang of metal and screams reverberating endlessly.
Beyond the sharpening vision, a staff hurtled toward me.
I stretched out my hand.
“<Wrath of the Sky, awaken lightning, pierce the foe>.”
I cast the spell.
“.”
Even if the speed of completion is slightly delayed, lightning born from blue light is never late.
Crack—.
It tore through the air and struck the chest of the man wielding the staff.
“Wh-ugh?!”
As the man stiffened.
Wham.
I completely exited the distorted space.
When I held the collapsed Sirina in my arms, I felt the icy cold through my palm.
Confirming that she had frozen the torn side of her body in haste.
“Who dares touch my disciple?”
I glared at the man.
“Y-yo…?!”
“.”
Before his stiffness could pass, I thrust my palm toward his abdomen, sending magic.
A swirling spell specialized in throwing nearby enemies far away—.
Fwoom—!
A small whirlwind surged from my palm, pushing the man far back.
He barely kept his position, dragging his staff across the floor of the fortress walls.
“Grrk?!”
While watching him for a moment.
“Came… here?”
Sirina’s trembling hand grabbed my clothes.
A faint smile spread across her pale face.
“Not too late, right?”
“A… bit?”
“Then I’ll have to try harder to make up for being late.”
“Master…”
I glanced at the man casually, and Sirina bit her lip.
“Archbishop of the Eastern Church… Saipas….”
“…!”
“Karime… my people of Naira….”
The grip on my clothes tightened.
“Understood.”
I gently lowered her hand and spoke.
“No need to say more.”
Continuing on her frozen side, I glared at Saipas, who looked bewildered beside us.
“I’ll handle him.”
…What?
Saipas’ two artificial eyes, crafted from magic stones, shook violently.
…Where did he even come from?
The blond, blue-eyed magician, Esric Spelder.
I had been carefully tracking information about him.
He was supposedly the most significant force in defeating the disaster.
Even so…
…A like me? No, no.
An advanced spatial movement magic, .
If not that, there was no explanation for Esric being here.
But… how?
I confirmed it.
Even after entering the North, information came that Esric was in southern Solaris.
I was relieved.
Relieved that I wouldn’t have to face the magician who defeated the disaster.
However…
“How… are you here? You.”
Saipas unconsciously tightened his grip on his staff.
“You weren’t in Solaris…?”
Esric didn’t answer.
He only glared at Saipas with sharp, gleaming eyes.
Even with that, Saipas dared not move.
Sirina’s dragon-like gaze might have been preferable.
…What on earth is that monster?
Even without detecting mana, I could feel it.
The raw aura, the momentum.
And the murderous intent that chilled the entire body.
In that situation, Saipas grinned.
Whoosh, whoosh.
Spinning his staff skillfully, he adjusted his stance.
No vanguard.
An injured person in his arms.
It was lucky he wouldn’t face the master at full strength, and now was…
…a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Fwoom—!
With that conclusion, Saipas leapt off the ground.
Closing the distance in an instant, he thrust his staff like a spear.
Seeing Esric’s eyes following.
Fwap.
He used to move behind him.
When information about the opponent is still insufficient.
Only now could he target his weakness…?!
“Ugh, ooo—!”
Just before stabbing the staff into the back of Esric’s head, a large club flew from the side.
Twisting barely, he avoided a direct hit to his face, taking it on his shoulder.
“Tch!”
But he was pushed to the side.
Fwap.
He used again to increase the distance.
“Thanks, Hog.”
“…!”
The large man who had blocked Valeric’s spear earlier, Hog.
Blood dripped from the many cuts and gashes, but he seemed unconcerned.
Raising his thick arms like logs, he glared at Saipas.
“I’m… sorry… I… I… at the door back then…”
“It’s not your fault. And the late one is me, not you.”
“B-But…”
“It’s fine. Protect Sirina. I…”
Esric carefully laid Sirina, who he held, on the ground.
“I’ll handle that guy.”
…Damn.
Saipas’ smile vanished.
Blue lightning sparked around Esric as he rose.
The same lightning that had hit Saipas when he appeared earlier.
“.”
“…?!”
No sooner had he spoken than the blue lightning tore the air.
There was no time to blink.
Kaboom—!
“Grrk!”
Every muscle in his body convulsed.
The power wasn’t strong, but…
“It’s enough to stop movement.”
Watching Esric smirk, Saipas ground his teeth.
Esric extended his hand again, sending another lightning spear at Saipas.
“.”
Kaboom—!
This time, the blue lightning struck the empty ground.
Even if his body was stiff, using was possible.
“Hoo.”
Esric nodded, watching Saipas move to the side.
“, huh?”
“…Yes.”
Whoosh, whoosh.
Spinning his staff, Saipas said,
“Your magic… will no longer reach me.”
Paba-baba-bat.
Rapid spatial movements.
Saipas disappeared and reappeared repeatedly.
cannot cover long distances, but short, rapid movements are possible.
Normally, mana consumption prevents such extreme use, but with mana accumulated through , Saipas could do it.
“….”
Esric swiveled his head to follow him with his eyes, but couldn’t track him.
Even his eyes couldn’t follow…
“.”
It could not hit.
Kaboom—!
The blue lightning from Esric struck only the ground.
“With this….”
“How many mages….”
“Has he killed, I wonder.”
Saipas circled around Esric, denying him any chance to cast spells, seeking a perfect blind spot.
“No matter how….”
“Great a magician you are….”
“In the end….”
Fwap.
Saipas appeared directly in front of Esric.
Before Esric could turn his eyes back from scanning around.
Shh—!
He thrust the staff swiftly.
The tip pierced the air but was stopped by the ice surrounding Esric.
A seamless spell activation.
Followed by another spell.
“.”
Crack—.
The ground froze, sharp ice shooting upward.
But Saipas had already moved from that spot.
“Tch.”
Increasing the distance, Saipas clicked his tongue.
“No matter how great a magician you are, you cannot withstand this many times.”
Lowering his stance, he said,
“As I said earlier, in the end, you will die by my hand. Like the others.”
“Compared to those fake ones, that’s unfair. I’m the real deal.”
Even at his provocation, Esric smirked.
“And….”
“…?”
Crackle, blue sparks flickered at his feet.
Lightning leaped around Esric.
“I have no intention of blocking it.”
Standing calmly in it, Esric said.
“I intend to strike you dead.”
Predicting Saipas’ death with calm certainty.
