The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 166

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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 166
Mages are bound to flourish across diverse fields.
Sometimes they prove more efficient than science itself, and other times they deliver superior healing compared to medicine.
Magic’s expansiveness is infinite, and its applications are boundless.
Choi Kang-mok had always believed this.
“You seem to be under a misunderstanding.”
A mage
isn’t limited to Dispel alone—Dispel is merely one of many capabilities.
“I’m not exclusively specialized in Dispel.”
Until now, I must have appeared as a Dispel-focused mage.
But I excel in combat as well.
“Combat magic is actually one of my strengths.”
Now I can finally begin to spread my wings a little.
You might say I’ve begun to atone for my past conviction that “anyone who uses magic solely for combat is a fool.”
Following Haeju and Purification comes Dispel.
Choi Kang-mok’s magical spectrum continues to expand steadily—and dramatically.
“Meteor Form.”
Spatial Liberation.
The manifestation of combat magic that transcends the constraints of physical space.
“Energy Bolt.”
Thanks to the decisive Dispel confrontation with the magical artillery, my Energy Bolt proficiency skyrocketed exponentially.
With precise structural analysis and rapid computation as my foundation, I became capable of handling dozens of Energy Bolts simultaneously—and I’ve been practicing this in actual combat.
“Energy Bolt. Energy Bolt.”
[Meteor Form’s effect is applied.]
[Energy Bolt’s rank increases.]
[S ▶▶▶ SSS+]
[Energy Bolt (SSS+) is activated.]
Dozens of Energy Bolts surged toward their target.
The result manifested immediately.
[!National Territory System Announcement!]
[※ This notification is being broadcast across the entire Korean and Chinese territories.]
[China (Shenyang ?) has been destroyed…]
[Territory settings have been… destroyed?]
The announcement was heavily corrupted, but its meaning was unmistakable.
Kang Pal-do’s system narration continued the interpretation.
[In the current Tower civilization, rather than occupying territory militarily, wars are conducted through a relatively peaceful and modernized method called “flag planting” within strongholds. But what happens when a stronghold is destroyed?]
[The conclusion is that the territory settings are destroyed. Shenyang is now systemically no one’s land.]
Systemically, it had become ownerless territory.
And the former Seoul Guild, which had been waiting in the wings,
Lee Byung-gyu, the current Lord of the Korean Guild, simultaneously began his announcement.
“Shenyang is Korean Territory.”
Systemic protection was difficult to obtain.
Unlike the typical “Korean Territory,” it received no protection from national borders.
Yet he stated it with absolute certainty.
“Any act of aggression against Korean soil will be met with swift and decisive retribution.”
Before the Tower civilization era, no system-based borders or territories existed.
Yet the nation endured.
We had returned to those times.
“This represents the will of the Korean Guild, and simultaneously—”
Lee Byung-gyu’s expression before the camera brimmed with confidence.
He could never have done this alone.
All of this was ultimately thanks to one individual.
“—the will of an EX-Rank Awakener.”
He gazed directly into the camera and proclaimed it to the entire world.
Shenyang was Korean land.
[???: Plants flag at stronghold, now my territory]
└Then destroys the stronghold~
└Is this modern warfare?
└The style of territorial conquest is insane
Lee Byung-gyu did not stop there.
“Furthermore, the Korean Guild and the EX-Rank Awakener will hold the Chinese Guild fully accountable for their invasion of Shenyang in collusion with otherworlders.”
It was effectively a declaration of war.
The Chinese online community erupted immediately.
[How dare a minor nation?]
└They were the ones who committed illegal occupation first
└A nation without dignity or history
└Do you think the international community will accept this method?
└This is truly humiliating. Should a great power tolerate such disrespect?
‘A great power’s pride trampled by a minor nation must be answered with iron retribution.’
That was the sentiment of the overwhelming majority.
The former Beijing Lord.
Zhang Ping, the current Chinese Guild Master, immediately issued a statement in rebuttal.
[The Korean Guild should cease making foolish decisions. The Shenyang incident is merely a temporary system anomaly, and expanding it into a territorial claim is clear provocation. If the Korean Guild continues reckless actions relying on EX-Rank Awakener power, full responsibility will fall upon them. The Chinese Guild upholds tolerance as principle, yet will not hesitate to respond accordingly.]
That statement was overturned in merely a single day.
A massive bombshell that would shake all of China detonated shortly after.

* * *
[Breaking News: Former Shanghai Guild Leader Rebels Against Chinese Lord]
A coup d’état had occurred.
All Towers across China had already been consolidated under the Beijing Tower.
Real power rested in the hands of the former Beijing Lord Zhang Ping and his Guild members.
Then, the former Shanghai Guild faction launched a rebellion.
[Breaking News: Chinese Lord Zhang Ping, Deceased]
Zhang Ping was beheaded, and dozens of Beijing Guild members were purged in succession.
The mastermind of the rebellion was Lin Zhiwei, the former Shanghai Lord.
The coup succeeded, and real power fell into her hands.
Lin Zhiwei soon made an official announcement.
[We will stand with Korea.]
She declared that all those who had colluded with otherworlders and participated in the invasion of Shenyang would face capital punishment.
Many were indeed executed.
Lin Zhiwei lounged on the sofa, smoking a cigarette.
Dried bloodstains remained on her knuckles.
“Those idiots are truly pathetic.”
She hadn’t originally planned the rebellion from the start.
But as time passed, their conduct became increasingly absurd.
“Italy, fine, I’ll let that slide.”
But Spain?
What did they think they could do against an EX-Rank Awakener who destroys Towers?
EX-Rank is literally beyond standard classification.
Otherworlders? Civilized mages? What use were any of those?
“Those old fools who can’t read the situation deserve to die.”
Establishing an external enemy to consolidate internal opinion is a classic political tactic.
But there are limits to everything.
“An EX-Rank Awakener isn’t an enemy—it’s a catastrophe.”
This wasn’t politics or diplomacy; it was simply suicide.
She immediately initiated a video conference with Lee Byung-gyu.
-“I will visit you in person within the near future and offer my sincere apologies. This incident was clearly our fault, and I will thoroughly reorganize our internal structure to ensure such matters do not recur.”
She felt genuinely tense.
What would be the Korean Guild’s response?
What if the EX-Rank Awakener attacked the Beijing Tower?
What if the compensation system were rendered inoperable once more?
In the Tower civilization era, falling behind happens in an instant.
She asked carefully.
-“What are the intentions of the EX-Rank Awakener…?”
One who dreams of becoming emperor of a new age.
A ruler of neo-imperialism expanding territory through gentle means.
I needed to understand his intentions before making any move.
That single clue would determine the nation’s survival.
-“An EX-Rank Awakener is….”
Lee Byung-gyu felt slightly apologetic.
They wouldn’t believe me even if I said this?
But the truth is still the truth….
-“I have interest only in magic.”
Handle politics yourselves, that’s my stance.
-“I see. I understand completely.”
She wasn’t going to tell me anything after all.
Lin Zhiwei nodded.
It would have been the same even if it were her.
What’s more terrifying than an absolute being is an absolute being whose intentions remain unknowable.
‘At least it doesn’t seem like he’ll destroy the Beijing Tower immediately.’
Fortunately, the emperor of this new era that she had assessed was relatively benevolent.
He understood common sense, considered the masses, and didn’t forcibly subjugate the weak.
As long as we maintained proper boundaries, China could protect the Tower.
Lee Byung-gyu asked.
-“Public opinion within China must be quite turbulent, isn’t it?”
-“I will thoroughly control—no, regulate it so as not to embarrass your nation or the EX-Rank Awakener.”
The rebellion had succeeded.
But the people’s hearts had not yet been won.
‘I must demonstrate it.’
I needed to prove the new Chinese lord’s command and leadership.
Only then would this power solidify.
After the video conference ended, some of her subordinates harbored doubts.
“Isn’t that stance far too submissive, regardless?”
“We are China.”
Grenades were clutched in their hands.
They too possessed conviction.
“For the glory of great China!”
“For the glory of great China!”
Lin Zhiwei exhaled a plume of cigarette smoke.
With her left hand hidden beneath the table, she tore the scroll.
“Idiotic bastards.”
It was a scroll containing Mayo’s ‘Shield’.
The shield easily blocked the grenades.
Then came the Archmage Christine and a master of comparable skill, Bessius.
And the London rankers poured in.
London’s rankers remained among the world’s elite.
The two men who threw the grenades, and behind them, Rankers of a level that was utterly unstoppable.
The eyes of both men flooded with shock.
Lin Zhiwei exhaled cigarette smoke.
“Do you think you were the only ones who studied Spain’s precedent?”
Spain’s situation had been similar.
Barcelona staged a coup and swallowed Real Madrid.
It was akin to Shanghai staging a coup and swallowing Beijing.
They must have prepared by observing Spain.
“I anticipated this as well.”
More precisely, the Korean Lord did.
He advised that such an event would occur and handed me a Shield Scroll.
‘More accurately, the EX-Rank Awakener did.’
She gazed at the scrolls scattered across the floor.
‘He must have foreseen all of this.’
A mage more lordly than anyone else. An EX-Rank Awakener.
It was certainly his foresight.
Of course, it wasn’t.
Lee Byung-gyu’s strategy was correct.
“Traitorous bitch.”
Clinging to Korea and England like that.
What pathetic lust for power was this.
“As a Chinese, don’t you have any pride!”
“Do you really think you’ll die of natural causes after this?”
Squelch.
I drove my hand into their abdomens.
“If you’re going to spout that nonsense, then die, you fucking idiots.”
What mattered was that a “possibility” to wrap this up cleanly had emerged.
If I could seal this before then, I could abandon pride a hundred times over.
“We will pursue a thoroughly pro-Korean policy.”
She fell silent for a moment.
The stigma of ethnic traitor, the fury and condemnation that would pour from the people.
‘None of that matters.’
A traitor to the nation? A betrayer? A villain? An ethnic traitor?
I could bear any of it.
History books of the future would record it differently.
In the Tower Civilization era, as the savior who rescued China.

* * *
At the same moment.
While Choi Kang-mok was having dinner with Kang Hye, a sudden notification popped up.
Pop!
It burst forth as if forced up against its will.
A System Message that had been postponed and delayed as long as possible, now erupting as if it could no longer contain itself.
[Achievement, ‘Earth’s Guardian Attained’ — A gift has arrived.]
[Please check your system mail!]
Upon opening the mail window, red exclamation marks lined the screen.
[!!!!!!!]
Seven of them, no less.
‘Huh?’
Moreover, I couldn’t even open them normally.
[Will you pay 5 EX Coins to view this?]
A gift that required payment of ‘EX Coins’ just to view.
I had a feeling.
This was a jackpot.

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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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