(EP-360.1) #5
360 – Protagonist #5
Before I knew it, my match in Group G was right around the corner.
As I stepped into the arena, I could clearly see how battered and torn it was—proof of just how intense the battles from Groups A through F had been.
While I stood there, I found myself thinking about the eager spectators watching from above, about Marmar and her friends sowhere in the crowd, and about my confidants like Elga and Stella—.
“To be thinking of other things when I’m standing in front of you. I’m feeling a little jealous.”
The red-robed mage standing across from gave a sly smirk. He was a handso man, with long red hair tied back, a clean forehead, and a sharp nose.
Maybe it was because of his confident expression, or the fact that he was called a prodigy of the magic tower, but I couldn’t help being reminded of Kasim, the Tureuki prince.
━The long-awaited 7th match will be a clash of mages…! In the red corner, we have the protector of the West, from the Red Magic Tower—Borja! Known as a prodigy and hailed as a hero of the West, Roland Von Bardiche!
He even had a “Von” in the middle of his na, aning he was from a noble family. Well, he wouldn’t have been able to enter the magic tower with expensive tuition otherwise. It was also said that bloodline was important for mages.
━And facing Roland is the mage in the blue corner! Ah, what an arrogant na! His na is Angmar…! The Lightning Mage who single-handedly eliminated over half the preliminaries’ participants with his terrifying power…!
The Lightning Mage? It was a cool title. They probably gave it to because of the thunderclouds from my spell Eclipse.
There was so distance between myself and the red mage nad Roland.
━Are you from the Blue Magic Tower? I heard there’s soone there who wields lightning.
A voice spoke directly into my head. I had experienced telepathic communication before in the White Magic Tower, so I wasn't surprised.
━Think as you please.
I had no interest in wasting ti with idle chatter before the match. But unlike his polished looks, this red mage Roland was quite the chatterbox.
━You saw it too, didn’t you? The Source.
━The Source?
━No need to play dumb among fellow mages. I’m talking about the source of all magic, beyond that door. The truth that is the origin of all the mana and magic we use.
At his words, I recalled the door I’d once seen when I reached the realm of archmages.
What I saw beyond it… even now, I wasn’t sure if it had been real. But the feeling it left with—that had been unforgettable.
━Otherwise, there's no way you could use such a great magic. Sa goes for Queen Aira. If I could face her in battle, I'll be closer to the mystery of magic.
━……
━Co on, no need to play coy. Isn’t that why you entered this ridiculous martial festival too? Wanting to open that door of truth again and look inside, craving intense battles.
He was even more talkative than I’d expected.
I cut off the telepathic communication. Perhaps realizing I’d blocked his magic, the red mage Roland scrunched his brow in mock disappointnt, lifting the corners of his mouth into a smirk.
“You’re shyer than I thought. Well, a lot of magic seekers are like that. Anyway, I hope you show what’s hiding at the bottom of that deep well of yours.”
And with that, our conversation ended.
We weren’t exactly on terms to exchange pleasantries anyway. Now, only silence and tension filled the space between us.
So perfectly silent that the noise of the cheering crowd couldn’t be heard. As if we were the only two people left in the world, the tension stretched taut.
Deeeng—.
With the toll of the bell, the match began. Almost instantly, the red mage Roland swiftly chanted.
—Crimson Hellfire!
Fwooooosh—!
A violent blaze erupted from the tip of his wooden staff. It was a destructive spell so intense that it lted the stone floor and scorched the air.
But the attack was a simple, straight-line blast—easy enough to dodge.
I activated Fairy Steps and, without even using a mana shield, shifted my body to the side and cleanly avoided it. The flas brushed through empty space and burst upward into the sky with a loud bang.
A perfect miss.
But Roland didn’t seem the least bit bothered.
“I’ve stirred the air currents in the area. Weather-controlling mages tend to be sensitive to stuff like that, right? Now, you won’t be able to use that lightning magic.”
Contrary to his flashy and talkative first impression, he was clever when it ca to combat.
Indeed, for a mage who controls the weather, mixing up the air currents would be like shackling them, requiring more control and mana consumption.
That was when it happened.
━Is it… getting hot?
━Why is the air so warm all of a sudden…?
I heard murmurs ripple through the crowd. Just like they said, the surrounding air was rapidly heating up at an unnatural rate.
* * *
Hot.
The heat was overwhelming.
Though sumr had ended and autumn had just begun, the world burned as if it were midday in the height of sumr.
With every breath, my mouth dried out from the scorching air.
Roland explained.
“Figured it out yet? My unique magic—Scorch—enhances the persistence of red mana. Once ignited, the flas never go out.”
“……”
Just as he said.
The lted stone floor was beginning to boil and bubble like simring asphalt.
The heat was so intense that just standing still made sweat pour down. A magic that could turn the surrounding area into a volcanic zone—worthy of the title archmage.
Shff.
Amidst the scorching flas, so hot that the crowd couldn’t even open their eyes, Roland spread his hands left and right. It was as if he was showing off his work of art.
“This is my great magic. Hell of Flas—Muspelheim. That lightning cloud of yours was impressive, but don’t you think my magic blazes even more brilliantly?”
“You’re louder than I thought.”
“This is my first ti eting soone like . Don’t you feel the sa? Haven’t you ever wondered why great magic is always so grand and powerful?”
“Not interested.”
“Well, I’ve found the answer. Great magic exists to shake the very laws of the world. It’s a power to dominate and rule. And so, here and now, I proclaim—!”
Roland raised his hand high.
“A world ruled by mages. Not by lowly, powerless commoners, but by red mana. With Queen Aira and my strength, bringing peace to this world is well within reach!”
His red eyes were filled with a kind of madness.
I’d thought he was relatively sane, but looking at him now, it seed his mind was collapsing and breaking down from the aftereffects of looking into that so-called door of truth.
It was sothing that happened often to high-ranking mages.
“Join our Order, Masked Mage Angmar. It’s a rit-based organization, but with your skill, you’d easily claim a top seat.”
“Order?”
Edit by: faker
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