Ch. 93.1 - Maizen Tyren(2)

With the sudden appearance of the dark mage, the students started to retreat hesitantly.

Despite receiving education to face dark mages, there were hardly any students in the first year with practical combat experience.

Moreover, the opponent was a dark mage estimated to be at least level 5 or 6. And to make matters worse, it was a fallen dark mage who used to teach them.

"Professor, why...?"

When a student trembled and asked, Maizen smiled faintly.

"... Do I still look like a professor to you? It's truly a regrettable perception."

Maizen slowly scanned the students with a penetrating gaze.

They were still young and weak, but in a few decades, or even a few years, they would surpass his own achievements and possess talent to rise higher.

Does that make sense?

'How much effort did I put in...?'

He, too, polished his magic skills, studied, and trained every day.

However, despite his efforts, the ultimate achievement he could reach in terms of talent was around the Class 4.

He aimed for higher grounds. He wanted to become someone superior and surpass everyone with a stronger power.

That was why Maizen reluctantly chose the path of alchemy, as there were clear limits to magic.

He hoped to excel as an alchemist by solving the Delta Augmentation Formula he was most confident in.

But even his talent in alchemy was mediocre at best.

It was fortunate in a way.

Maizen had a natural talent for the art of flattery, which reached a high level and it could ingratiate him with those of high status and cater to the whims of those in power.

So, Maizen managed to become a professor at Stella Academy based more on his connections than his skills.

Nonetheless, he considered himself a decent alchemist.

He had written quite remarkable papers, participated in significant research, and had become a professor at Stella, after all.

With his proficiency in both magic and alchemy, he had established himself as an authority in academia.

Now, wouldn't it be okay for him to aim even higher?

… That thought shattered into pieces shortly after entering Stella.

Eisel Morph, who showcased alchemy skills superior to his own, and Baek Yu-Seol, who had exceptional ideas; not to mention Alterisha, who always surpassed him in everything.

He couldn't understand.

Why did they have to be better?

He had thought that he had studied diligently enough.

Why should he fall behind those younger individuals?

That sense of inferiority...

That jealousy.

All emotions converge into one.

He had become the current Maizen Tyren.

"Ha...."

Now it was okay.

In front of him, geniuses with the qualities of archmages were gathered.

There was no need to envy that talent anymore.

Wasn’t it just a matter of taking it away and making it his own?

Sss…

"Ugh!"

"Kugh...!"

The dark magic emanating from Maizen gradually consumed this space in black.

Perhaps soon, all the beings present here will be tainted by dark magic, which made Edna lick her dry lips with her tongue.

"We must stop this."

For a week, the space here would be sealed by an impenetrable barrier, which meant that no one could escape.

During that week, Maizen would leisurely hunt down Stella's students.

That would be recorded as the most terrible slaughter in Stella's history, never to be repeated.

The most prominent talents in the world would be massacred here. Then, the future of this world would truly be filled with darkness.

Coincidentally, many key figures were gathered here.

Eisel, Mayuseong, Hong Bi-Yeon, and Baek Yu-Seol who was probably wandering around the fourth layer by now.

It was a pity that he was not there.

But there was nothing Maizen could do. He couldn’t always hope for the presence of key figures…

"Princess...!"

"Please escape! We'll hold them off!"

"Ahh..."

Hong Bi-Yeon looked at her faction members with tired eyes.

There were faction members who were pale and couldn't do anything; some were already planning to escape and protect themselves, while some stood in front, deploying shields, claiming to protect her.

She looked at Arshuang, who was unconscious on the ground.

‘For my sake…’

Until just now, she was on the verge of being consumed by dark magic, but in return, she completely became her own person after being rescued.

Furthermore, it seemed that other faction members around her were influenced by seeing her transformation and completely sided with her.

She had to take advantage of this opportunity.

There was nowhere to run anyway.

They would die.

So, she had to play the role of a brave leader who wouldn't retreat from this place.

She clenched her staff and stood up, pushing past the faction members and stepping forward.

"No, we fight. If we retreat, we'll eventually be hunted down one by one."

"P-Princess..."

"I'll fight at the forefront."

Even the faction members who were terrified by her words forced themselves to stand up, swallowing their saliva.

Most of the students here were her subordinates, so with her words, the battle formation was quickly established.

When Mayuseong, Eisel, and Edna joined forces with Hong Bi-Yeon, Maizen smirked confidently.

"If you had quietly given up and surrendered your mana, you could have lived the rest of your life as an ordinary person, but instead, you choose death willingly."

Saying that, he raised his right hand high. A dark mage didn’t need a staff, as they drew energy from the realm.

The casting of magic.

As soon as she confirmed it, Edna shouted, "Block it!"

Thud!

At the same time, Mayuseong leaped using Hyper Jump and swiftly descended upon Maizen, striking him with a spear made of a massive rock.

Boom...!

However, a crimson shield was generated and blocked the attack, causing the spear to disappear in an instant.

Mayuseong didn't stop there and conjured dozens of pillars of flames from the ground, which enveloped Maizen’s body, then he struck a rock barrier behind him, blocking his path of retreat.

Immediately after, from the sky, a giant mass of flames descended.

Hong Bi-Yeon’s patented move, Fire Beam.

… Kwaang!!!

The shield formed by Class 5 magic was instantly shattered like spiderwebs, and when Eisel’s lightning struck, it was completely destroyed.

"What...!"

Maizen’s pupils shook in surprise. It was the price he paid for underestimating the abilities of geniuses blessed with magic.

"Ugh!"

Eventually, when Edna unleashed a massive beam of light, Maizen's body, which had grown to nearly 3 meters in size, retreated backward from the impact.

It wasn't difficult to hit him in that state.

The faction members of Hong Bi-Yeon, who had finished their casting, also activated their magic and began attacking Maizen.

Up to this point, it seemed to be going smoothly.

But Edna knew that wasn't the case.

Maizen hadn't attacked yet. It wasn't that he couldn't, but rather that he chose not to.

To prepare for a powerful strike.

To test their strength.

Despite unleashing so much magic, Maizen’s casting continued without interruption.

"No... I can't stop it."

Edna gritted her teeth and shouted.

"Everyone, brace for impact!"

The students who were already frightened by Maizen’s casting halted their attacks and deployed their shields together.

Shield magic, in its original form, involved combining multiple small shield fragments to maintain a stronger defense.

Shields deployed by different mages lacked cohesion, but when so many Class 2 mages deployed their shields simultaneously, it provided a reasonably effective defense.

A massive and blue magic circle appeared in front. Earth-attribute mages lifted the ground to create a defensive barrier, and Edna unfolded a shining shield specialized in dark magic protection.

… And in an instant, they all shattered.

Not even a sound could be heard.

They only saw the massive dark flames shoot in their direction before their vision blurred.

"Kkuhh...!"

Despite trying to absorb the impact as much as possible, the students scattered in all directions, tumbling and falling.

Edna, too, grimaced and clutched her aching back, as it seemed to have suffered severe strain from colliding with a rock while flying backward.

"Ge... darn it..."

Ch. 93.2
"Ge... darn it..."

Forcing recovery magic onto her back, she struggled to stand up, and tightly gripped her staff.

Despite students sprawling all around, Maizen still remained motionless with a relaxed demeanor.

"Hmm, this is quite impressive. I didn't know you could defend against it. Certainly, our first-year newcomers are not ordinary, huh?"

He laughed as if genuinely delighted.

"... I'm very pleased with the idea of absorbing that talent."

Thunk!

As soon as Maizen took a step forward, some students forcibly used their staff and stood up.

Remarkably, even in the midst of all this, they were igniting the determination to resist, knowing that the enemy was still right in front of them.

"Hahaha... Indeed, no matter how young, Stella is Stella, huh?"

As he slowly scanned the students who were rising, Maizen's expression twisted.

"... Kids these days, why are they so earnest about irrelevant matters?"

Edna quickly confirmed Mayuseong's position. His academy uniform was disheveled, but he seemed relatively unharmed.

No, it wasn't just relatively unharmed.

Sparks were gradually emanating from his body, but it wasn't the typical blue and red mixture of magic.

It was pure black.

Mayuseong was attempting to use his inherent ability, [Dark Magic Domination].

However, the condition for that was extremely strict, requiring the complete release of [Dark Magic Form].

It was a formidable task for Mayuseong in his current state.

Moreover, once he revealed his dark magic, he would no longer be able to stay at Stella permanently.

Knowing this, the decision to release it was a testament to the importance of navigating the current situation rather than the trivial academy.

But at that moment, Maizen approached Mayuseong with a bang, forcing him to reluctantly step back and deploy an rock barrier in front.

Bang!

But, Maizen effortlessly pierced through even the Class 3 barrier and charged forward.

Mayuseong desperately used a Hyper Jump to hastily evade, but Maizen immediately pursued him.

"Ugh...!"

Unable to do anything, Mayuseong exploded flames in mid-air, forcefully propelling himself and crashing onto the ground, suffering significant impact.

Boom!

Maizen was about to strike him in that state, but the students, who had regained their composure just in time, launched their magic attacks, preventing him from doing so.

Meanwhile, Mayuseong quickly tried to create distance, but Maizen, even with a hastily deployed shield, intended to chase him relentlessly, even if he had to endure some attacks.

"She noticed something...!"

The [Dark Magic Domination] ability had a morale-boosting trait that could have some impact even on higher-level dark mages.

Maizen knew this from the beginning and forcefully pursued Mayuseong to prevent him from unleashing dark magic.

"You, damn bitch!"

Edna summoned a whip of light to bind Maizen’s body. While his speed slightly decreased, it didn't have a significant effect.

Maizen tore it apart and continued advancing.

Meanwhile, magic struck Maizen.

However…

Even though Mayuseong was receiving Maizen’s attacks... he was still a dark mage with a power level of over Class 5.

Against him, Mayuseong demonstrated various senses to block or evade his attacks and even counterattack according to opportunity.

Rocks erupted, lightning struck, and walls of fire obstructed Maizen’s vision.

In other words, Mayuseong was excellently 'tanking' against Maizen.

He was more impressive than they thought. Even though he was Mayuseong, the fact that he could withstand a Class 5 dark mage without unleashing all his power was quite remarkable.

Although Mayuseong couldn't unleash his abilities, considering the situation alone, it wasn't bad.

Mayuseong was fulfilling his role as a knight.

As Maizen faced off against Mayuseong to restrain his abilities, the students cast the most powerful magic they could individually unleash.

In the tense situation, they couldn't be used, but thanks to Mayuseong's excellent tanking, the casting was quickly completed.

Boom! Thud!!

At that moment when various elemental magic poured down... quietly, in a corner, Eisel finished chanting her spell.

"Crystal Flower.”

It was her ultimate magic skill developed through collaboration with Baek Yu-Seol, showing effects equivalent to or greater than a Class 4 magic in an instant.

However, it was a magic she wouldn't use unless in an unavoidable situation, and she would inevitably be exhausted after using it... and now, this was that 'unavoidable situation'.

Crackle!!

Giant ice flowers bloomed, and they immediately shattered into tiny petals, piercing through Maizen’s body.

Those ice bullets could penetrate even steel, freezing deep into the bones.

And then…

"... Devour them."

Suddenly, a massive wave of flames engulfed the world.

It was a magic Hong Bi-Yeon developed after witnessing Eisel’s magic during the Simulation battle against the demons as she pushed herself to the limit through training.

"Wave of Flames."

That immense wave of flames targeted only the designated targets, without burning anything else in nature.

Rumble!

With a thunderous roar that could be compared to an explosion, Maizen’s screams echoed.

Without stopping there, Edna also unleashed the most powerful magic she could muster.

"Oh darkness, dissolve away."

A golden gate appeared in the air and spun around.

Creak!

The gate opened.

Beams of light poured out.

At first glance, it seemed like ordinary lighting with no apparent effect, but it was a white purification magic that had a devastating effect on dark magic.

Fireworks exploded, ice shattered, and pillars of light shot up.

The genius girls who would be remembered in history created the greatest magic and beautiful works of art by burning all their mana. At that moment, they had become selfless, and didn’t care about their own well-being.

If those magics harmonized, they could undoubtedly deliver a meaningful blow to Maizen Tyren…

… Crash!!

"Huh?"

Creak!

Edna felt a sensation as if her heart had momentarily stopped. She clutched her chest and knelt on the ground, coughing up blood.

"Ugh, cough...!"

All the mana within her body evaporated.

Magic Revival, a phenomenon that occurred when magic was forcibly dispelled or canceled, causing all mana in the body to evaporate.

Tears streamed down her face from the pain she had never felt before.

"Cough, ugh..."

She wasn't the only one.

Hong Bi-Yeon, Eiswl, and other students also experienced the same thing. Their magic canceled, and they collapsed to the ground, unable to even think about moving.

Some vomited blood and fainted, appearing to be unable to resume the battle any longer.

"Zen… jang..."

Struggling to regain her fading consciousness, Edna gritted her teeth and managed to stand up with trembling legs.

Dizziness.

The world shook, and her body pleaded to fall into sleep, wanting to escape the continuous ordeal, but she couldn't afford to.

If she fell asleep here, she would forever lose everything.

Even her life and the future of this world.

"I can't… I can't possibly..."

Exhausted, Edna gripped her staff and lifted her head.

Soon, her eyes were filled with despair.

Swish...!!

From Maizen’s fingertips, a magic circle emerged and began spinning.

It was the dark flame that all the students had barely managed to stop by pooling their strength.

"Haha... Truly impressive. To possess this level of magic at such a young age, the top 10 geniuses..."

Maizen chuckled and then hardened his expression, clutching the flame.

"... I really can't help but want to take it away from you."

The dark flame had grown much larger than before.

Estimated level: Class 6.

Even if everyone was at their peak condition, they couldn't possibly stop it...

The sky turned dark, as if reflecting their future.

Edna desperately tried to draw out her mana to emit light attack, but she couldn't feel anything inside her anymore.

"Damn it..."

Edna suddenly looked around.

Mayuseong, huddled in a corner, struggled to stand up.

Just like Edna, he was supporting his weak body with the staff.

Eisel and Hong Bi-Yeon also supported themselves on their staff, and forced themselves to rise.

And the other students were unconscious, and didn’t even have the ability to twitch.

… They would all die.

The ones who were meant to change the future of the world.

All would die there.

It was despairing and lamentable.

But if this was fate, there was nothing they could do.

Edna blankly gazed at Maizen’s approaching dark flame.

[... The special function of the item 'Marikan's Pendant' is activated.]

[Marikan Shield]

[Once, it will unconditionally defend against magic of Class 6 or lower.]

Immediately after, in front of her, a massive, round shield with intricate machinery-like circuits unfolded.

… Boom!!

The dark flame completely vanished.

"Ah..."

In that fleeting moment, Edna could see it.

Smaller and more petite than the boys of his age, but... she felt that his presence was solid and broad, more than anyone else.

The profile of a certain boy.

"He's damn late..."

With that, Edna closed her eyes.

she appeared relieved… and there was even a smile on her face.