The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 102

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Return of an EX-Rank Mage Episode 102
[The effect of Requiem has ended.]
In that instant, the world slowed.
The Legion Commander’s movements, which I couldn’t even pursue, unfolded like slow motion.
“Huh?”
The crimson-blazing wings of the Flame Legion lost their power.
The Flame Legion Commander, who had been gliding gracefully through the air, plummeted helplessly.
Those wings that had been so magnificent were now nothing but ash scattered by the wind.
“Wait…?”
As Requiem faded, the Legion Commander reverted to a simple entity.
Now it was merely an ‘ordinary boss monster.’
“I already raised my agility?”
I had reluctantly invested the stats I’d been saving into agility.
And of all times, it weakened now.
“This bastard.”
If it had only weakened three seconds earlier, this wouldn’t have happened.
I found it utterly, absolutely, and profoundly unforgivable.
Choi Kang-mok began forming hand seals. This time, I meant it.
My hand movements were distinctly different from before.
The flow of mana became perceptible in its speed.
The effect of the 10-point agility increase was unmistakably evident.
The moment my body could keep up, my mana circuits became a highway.
[Skill, Energy Floor Plate (Creation) is being used.]
Magic manifested at explosive speed.
Not merely casting, but mana literally surged forth.
The completion speed was incomparable to before.
‘That’s right. Maybe this turned out better.’
Yes.
In truth, one of my objectives for these Floor 30s was practical application of Energy Floor Plate.
Though I took a detour, it still aligned with my intention.
‘Now that it’s come to this, I’ll master Energy Floor Plate perfectly…’
[Tower (Seoul) Floor 35 has been cleared.]
[Clear Grade: EX+]
I couldn’t master it.
Still, I satisfied the hidden piece—Flames of Consecration.

* * *
Christine couldn’t find the words to speak.
Her expression was troubled.
She muttered softly.
“Kang Hye, would you like to give it a try?”
“Floor 35, cleared at EX rank.”
In truth it was EX+, but the system recorded it as EX.
“So you could ask what happened inside… couldn’t you?”
“No. It’s better to leave it alone for now.”
The two of us maintained a safe distance.
Moments later, Choi Kang-mok’s pragmatic mind finally kicked in, and I smiled.
“Phew, it went somewhat according to plan.”
If it went according to plan, then it went according to plan.
But what did “somewhat” mean—how badly had things gone wrong?
Watching my brother’s bizarre grin, Kang Hye asked carefully.
“The energy floor formation failed, didn’t it?”
“That one failed… a little.”
Before it was “somewhat.” Now it’s “a little.”
We should just call that a failure, plain and simple.
Kang Hye suppressed her true feelings completely.
“Don’t worry, brother. I’ve never once doubted your magical talent. Even an unbreakable rock’s core must have a weak point. It’s just a matter of time.”
Even hearing that, Choi Kang-mok’s face darkened slightly.
My pragmatic reasoning couldn’t quite contain what was leaking through.
The thought suddenly struck me: there might be things that talent, profession, theory, and effort combined could never achieve.
“It’s a matter of time, right?”
But as time passes, I keep growing stronger.
The Tower itself can’t withstand the damage anymore—it’s reached the point where it forcibly ejects me.
I want to raise my mental power to pursue greater magical diversity, but I’m afraid my body will explode if I do.
‘No. What am I saying? Why am I thinking like this?’
I had sworn not to forget my original resolve.
Yet I’ve kept climbing. One floor, then another.
Everything I’ve built has never crumbled.
Someday, standing at the summit, the day will come when I truly approach “great magic.”
“So? Did you follow the strategy that Naples Lord and Vicario taught you?”
“Oh, right. I did try it, but…”
I made an offering to the chair according to the strategy they’d taught me.
They said it would lift the curse hanging over the Korean territory.
But it had no effect.
“It seems it was different from what they described.”
“But the curse on Floor 35 was lifted, wasn’t it?”
“I handled that with [Haeju Magic].”
Kang Hye seized the opportunity without hesitation and pressed forward.
“See? Your Haeju Magic really is incredible, oppa.”
In any case, the Hidden Piece was satisfied.
Choi Kang-mok checked the notification window again.
[Hidden Piece ‘Flame of Dedication’ has been satisfied.]
[Check the reward sent to your gift box!]
───────
[Administrator Authority Execution Manual]
Execute specific commands with administrator authority.
───────
“Do you know what this is?”
“I’ve never seen it before either.”
Christine was also encountering this item for the first time.
“I’ll look into it myself. And since we’re on the subject, could you tell me more about Floor 35?”
The Floor 30 section was,
even from Christine’s perspective, quite a significant blemish that would linger.
She desperately needed an EX-Rank clear holder’s explanation.
After hearing the full account, she laughed in disbelief and let out a sigh.
“You just smashed it? Oh, right. You smashed it while using Haeju Magic.”
The strategy, when summarized, was a single line.
Strike hard and obliterate the stone tower.
The problem was singular.
Only one person in the world could accomplish that.

* * *
Vicario reeled from the shock.
‘Insane!’
The only player who knew the secrets of Floor 35.
‘The difficulty jumps by dozens of times?’
He reached Floor 35 through consecutive EX-Rank clears?
It might have been hundreds of times harder, not just dozens?
‘There’s no way to know the method!’
But that wasn’t the important part.
-First, confirm whether the sacrifices were made.
-He says both sacrifices were offered. The hidden piece was satisfied, but artifact recovery failed.
Vicario slumped onto the sofa.
“Sigh….”
At least that was fortunate.
Since he had completely offered the heart fragment and feather as sacrifices, Floor 36 onwards was safe.
To endure the heat of the flame zone, he needed at least one of them.
Italy’s pride had been preserved.
But life was never that simple.
───────
[Hall of Fame – Floor 36]
[Continental] [Individual]
1. -(Seoul, EX)
2. Vicario(Naples, SSS)
…
───────
The update took less than ten hours.
“How did this happen! You said the sacrifices were made!”
-Calm yourself, Vicario. I’m investigating too.
Naples Lord Spaloti was equally bewildered.
Moreover, the curse on Floor 36 had been lifted.
-It seems there’s a specialist in curse-lifting in Seoul.
“There’s no way such a person exists!”
-If there’s an EX-Rank Awakener, there could be one curse-lifting specialist.
An EX-Rank Awakener.
A +9 enhancement master.
A specialist dedicated to the Floor 30s curse-lifting.
The prodigies who had held their breath finally began to raise their heads.
Vicario bit his nails.
“…We must block from Floor 37 onwards.”
Only four floors remained.
Beyond this point, I couldn’t afford to yield rank.
“Should I send an assassin?”
But that damned border stood in the way.
Without an EX-Awakened’s travel permit, even deploying a proper assassin was impossible.
“I’ll head to Korea myself. Please convey my regards to the Seoul Guild.”
-Vicario, you?
“Yes. Since a new ruler of the Floor 30s has emerged, wouldn’t it be more fitting to offer congratulations in person?”
And so, Vicario entered Seoul.
Fortunately, the timing wasn’t bad.
Choi Kang-mok had formed quite a favorable impression of Vicario.
‘It’s not actually easy to reveal hidden pieces like that.’
Was it because he was a renowned Holy Knight?
He seemed like a tree that gave without reservation.
At least, until you actually met him.

* * *
The moment Choi Kang-mok faced Vicario, I sensed something amiss.
‘Hmm?’
Mayo’s aura identification function.
And thanks to the ‘Hostility Bestowal’ I’d been practicing recently, I had already reached an advanced level in detecting malice.
‘I’m sensing a lot of hostility?’
A friendly face and a natural handshake.
Yet the emotional current ran opposite.
‘Am I mistaken?’
They say you can know the depths of ten-fathom waters, but never the heart of a person.
So I didn’t jump to conclusions based on aura alone.
“Remarkable. Thirty-six consecutive EX-rank clears. It’s an honor to meet living history.”
“Not at all. I obtained good rewards thanks to the premium information you provided. I’m the one who should be grateful.”
On the surface, a gentle conversation.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Vicario revealed his true intent.
“I hear that South Korea’s ranker Lee Kang-nam was defeated by you. Is that correct?”
“Yes, I was fortunate.”
My mock battle record was as follows.
-Against Christine: 4 wins
-Against Lee Kang-nam: 2 wins
-Against Lee Tae-gwang: 3 wins (1 actual combat, 3 on record)
Total: 9 matches, 9 wins, 0 losses.
“How humble. I watched the territorial battle footage as well. The difference in skill was quite evident.”
He moved to the main topic.
“If you don’t mind, could you teach me a thing or two?”
“A mock battle?”
“Yes.”
I felt the opponent’s hostility flare up once more.
‘See what I mean?’
They clearly knew something was off about this themselves.
Yet I pressed forward anyway.
An invisible pressure bore down on me, kindling an urgent restlessness.
Like a racehorse with blinders, unable to glance sideways.
Mayo sensed it too.
-This seems suspicious.
‘I think so too.’
The opponent was definitely suspicious.
But there was no real reason to refuse.
‘Isn’t this opponent perfect for testing my increased agility?’
I’d experienced firsthand how troublesome a fast opponent could be.
Now the situation was reversed.
Holy Knights were fundamentally slow. But their defense and healing were solid.
Not a bad experimental opponent.
Besides.
There was one decisive reason.
[Mock Battle Record]
[9 Matches / 9 Wins / 0 Losses]
One more victory and I’d reach double-digit wins with a perfect record.
I couldn’t resist that.

* * *
The mock battle was set as a “no-item match.”
Combat without using any items whatsoever.
This was the orthodox way to test true skill.
‘I’ve grown quite familiar with handling magical fragments.’
I released ninety-nine mana shards into the empty air,
and ended the match with the single one remaining.
I would defeat Vicario cleanly without killing him.
If I succeeded?
‘That would represent meaningful progress in terms of control.’
Then I would have ascended another step as a mage.
As long as I didn’t lose, the outcome mattered little.
The mock battle proceeded more smoothly than anticipated.
‘He’s weaker than I expected?’
Perhaps it was thanks to my significantly increased agility.
My opponent’s movements appeared to unfold in slow motion.
Just hours ago I had faced the Flame Legion Commander, and now I was watching a shield-bearing paladin—the contrast in difficulty was unmistakable.
“You don’t seem to be fighting at full strength.”
“That’s….”
Vicario paused, choosing his words carefully, then hesitated.
“Fighting someone I respect… I can’t bring myself to go all out.”
The words sounded plausible enough.
Yet something still felt off.
‘Am I sensing this wrong?’
The moment I considered that possibility, Vicario conceded the match.
The mock battle ended anticlimactically.
Ten wins, ten matches. Undefeated.
[You have acquired the Title: ‘Ten-Win Streak Champion.’]
A bronze medal appeared next to my “Mock Battle Record.”
[A bronze medal has been awarded to your Mock Battle Record.]
I had achieved bronze rank, so to speak.
It was a badge only the top five percent of all Awakeners could obtain.
What made it even more unique was that maintaining it proved harder than earning it.
One loss and the medal vanishes.
Only another ten-win streak brings it back.
Bronze luster. It gleamed subtly.
‘Huh. That looks pretty cool.’
It was nothing special, yet far more satisfying than I’d anticipated.
What came after bronze?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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