The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 227

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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 227
A fist brimming with energy bolts.
It reached toward my temple yet did not touch.
-Magical refinement and simplification are the fundamental virtues of a mage.
As my magic advanced, so too did Mayo’s.
Inspired by my ‘Metamorphosis’, Mayo had transformed her ally-foe identification ability into an exceedingly thin, gossamer membrane of power, then
-and attribute layering is nothing short of art.
layered shields atop it.
Now the identification and shield functioned as one seamless whole.
Wisdian flinched in surprise.
‘It didn’t land?’
He hastily withdrew his fist, biting his lip slightly.
‘He wasn’t using an artifact until just now—so why!’
Had he been careless?
Or was he deliberately waiting for the opportune moment?
Combat is like chess.
One must read the opponent’s hand, anticipate their moves, and choose the finest option to fight.
‘Did he intentionally allow my approach?’
Did he deliberately refrain from using that impossible blink?
Was the mention of seven seconds also deliberate?
‘And why is there no counterattack?’
The mind of ‘combat mage’ Wisdian grew tangled.
Yet there was no need for such complexity.
I had activated Mayo again simply out of respect for my opponent.
“You deliberately employed energy bolts infused with curses.”
I consider myself an unlock mage.
He had deliberately used cursed magic against an unlock mage.
And even launched a surprise attack with energy bolts on top of that?
‘It must be to honor me as a combat mage.’
Of course not.
Wisdian’s objective was not to defeat me but to weaken me.
The magic most advantageous for weakening an opponent is debuff-class curses.
And energy bolts are a magic everyone uses.
It’s the most widely employed magic for suppression, after all.
But once you’ve formed a favorable impression of someone, that impression tends to persist.
Wisdian’s approach to the dimensional war was worthy of respect.
‘I too shall do my utmost as a combat mage.’
That is why I deployed Mayo.
For using artifacts skillfully and appropriately is also one of a ‘combat’ mage’s abilities.
This is not merely a magical exchange—it is a combat magical exchange.
I decided to demonstrate everything befitting that moment.
“This is Unlocking.”
Rather than counterattack, I gathered the remnants of curses lingering in the empty air.
Wisdian’s eyes widened.
‘No, that’s possible?’
The energy bolt infused with curses shattered against Mayo’s shield.
It meant the magic had vanished.
Traces of magic would linger in the air, but their concentration was extremely faint.
Essentially no different from the air itself.
Yet he had recaptured and recreated it.
‘How is this even possible?’
His mind grew increasingly tangled.
Why demonstrate this at all?
‘To mock me?’
Unable to discern his opponent’s true intentions, he couldn’t afford to move recklessly.

* * *
Raymond chuckled with satisfaction.
Kang Pal-do stood beside him.
“Hey, Raymond. What’s Choi Kang-mok doing right now?”
The intermediate mage Owen shrugged.
This foolish Earthling kept pestering Raymond with questions.
Raymond typically only said what he wanted to say, so there was little point in addressing him—
“He’s shaped magic and suspended it in empty space.”
Kang Pal-do’s AI narration had now shifted to semi-automatic mode.
Rather than interpreting and explaining everything independently, Raymond’s commentary and guidance were now woven in appropriately.
Raymond continued.
“I taught my
disciple
how to mold forms and manifest them in empty space.”
I don’t know when I taught it.
I don’t know how I taught it.
In any case, my disciple learned.
“Ah. That? You mean that defensive magic?”
“Yes.”
Raymond grew pleased.
My disciple’s rate of absorbing teachings transcends imagination.
“He shapes energy bolts and suspends them in space, or converts physical force and suspends it. Fundamentally, it’s a similar method.”
“Is that even normally possible?”
Owen cried out.
“That’s impossible!”
But silence fell.
Raymond had cast a silencing spell.
When?
There was no way to tell.
The man was absolutely insane.
“My instruction will be more than sufficient.”
“I see.”
“Actually, it’s quite simple.”
“Really?”
“My disciple practiced form fixation using my own magic. As you know, my magic is—”
“Explosive.”
Kang Pal-do nodded in agreement.
“So it’s like taking a break from something difficult to do something easy?”
“Exactly.”
“Then it’s nothing special.”
“That’s right.”
Owen felt exasperated.
No, that’s wrong. Don’t accept it so readily.
It seemed that this streamer was spreading distorted magical knowledge across the world.
‘Propaganda is easy, but correcting it requires thousands of documents!’
But by then, it would be too late.
Viewers were receiving severely warped magical information.
“You mad mage professor! Don’t spread false information to promote how great your teaching is! That’s incredibly difficult!”

* * *
Choi Kang-mok felt a quiet satisfaction watching Mayo’s progress.
Witnessing the growth of fellow mages around me—it was profoundly fulfilling work for a mage.
“Shape magic into form, then manifest it.”
Following the opponent’s unraveled and shattered magical manifestation came the fixation.
What came next was the unlocking.
“Now comes the unlocking.”
But this was no ordinary unlocking.
It was an unlocking accompanied by raw physical force.
Crack!
With a sound of something shattering, the energy bolt suspended in midair broke apart.
It was, quite literally, an act of destruction.
“Unlocking complete.”
“….”
“I trust that demonstrates the concept.”
Yes. This was magical exchange.
Wisdian was different from other mages.
The others would need to be defeated, but with Wisdian, I would engage in true exchange.
Of course, Wisdian wanted to weep.
‘Is this some form of psychological destruction magic?’
The opponent forcibly restores your magic, then shatters it before your eyes.
Even demons would shed tears before this mage.
‘Keep your composure.’
Regardless of intent or substance, the outward appearance remained that of a friendly magical exchange match.
I had to exploit this to the fullest.
For the sake of the dimensional representatives who would come after me.
“So what’s next? What will you show me?”
I maintained my courtesy, at least.
I matched his rhythm desperately, searching for any opening.
“We’re conducting a magical exchange match based on combat magic. Naturally, offense and defense alternate.”
There was no strictly predetermined order, but typically we exchanged once each.
Wisdian had attacked first, and Choi Kang-mok had counterattacked.
Now it was Wisdian’s turn.
“If you would attack me, I shall attempt to defend. Defense magic is what I’ve most recently mastered.”
“Then.”
Wisdian laughed, feigning composure.
“I require some time as well….”
The opponent was acting as though respecting me.
I responded in kind.
“Might you grant me a moment? In exchange, I shall demonstrate something truly magnificent.”
“Oh, that works well.”
“Of course, I do consider surprise attacks part of combat exchange.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“But just this once, please refrain from a surprise attack.”
Could it really be that simple?
…It worked.
Choi Kang-mok had actually waited for me.
‘The madman. Just how much is he looking down on me?’
In any case, thanks to the brief reprieve he’d granted, I could complete my spell.
Among Wisdian’s arsenal, the most formidable magic targeting a single person.
Behind me, a colossal figure materialized into existence.
Kang Pal-do’s AI sprang into action.
[A thunderous roar that shattered the heavens. A giant of such magnitude that it could blanket the world rose to its feet.]
[Armor forged from pure light. Eyes blazing with golden flames cascading downward.]
[In the giant’s hand, a hammer materialized—one that bore the weight of the world itself.]
[And at last, the giant raised its arm.]
I recited the incantation.
“Divine Retribution.”
Choi Kang-mok’s gaze was entirely captivated by the brilliant golden form.
‘Magnificent.’
The golden archer among the high-tier spirits I summoned possessed a different weight and presence.
This was immense and ponderous.
A crushing pressure emanated from it.
‘This is the offensive magic that Wisdian, the battle mage, unleashes with full intent!’
I responded with equal courtesy in my defense.
Magic against magic.
“Defensive magic.”
Come to think of it, the opponent’s incantation was “Divine Retribution.”
To block divine retribution, what would be fitting?
Unfortunately, no suitably impressive word came to mind.
In truth, what I was using was simply an energy bolt.
‘Energy bolt.’
I was fortunate it could be used without an incantation.
Compared to Divine Retribution, it lacked any sense of grandeur in its name.
‘Energy bolt.’
Seven energy bolts hung suspended in the air.
‘Layering.’
When multiple energy bolts were layered, a new effect was generated.
“Black Hole.”
It seemed to lack somewhat in weight compared to Divine Retribution, but it was still adequate.
The effect was far from negligible.
[A black magic that devours even divine punishment.]
That is… ■■■ $$#!!$ goa ?? ★chwak ppyung hada
It took merely three seconds for the colossal giant to be drawn into the black hole.
In three seconds, the giant ceased to exist.
“How do you find my defensive magic?”
Others might not realize it, but it has evolved beyond what it was before.
I’ve precisely limited the targets the black hole draws in.
The impact on Wisdian and Kang Pal-do is minimized, while the golden giant is pulled in far more violently.
The magical perfection has reached a level incomparable to before.
“….”
Wisdian did not respond.
Rather, he could not respond.
Because the magic had been forcibly ‘destroyed,’ the mana backlash was severe.
Every mana circuit in his body burned fiercely.
‘I’m melting.’
I might never be able to use magic again.
That bastard’s magic is excessively violent.
Beyond what I can endure.
Gag!
Blood spilled from his lips.
‘I need rest.’
But would he actually let me go?
“I have never witnessed defensive magic of this caliber. Indeed, the ultimate defense is offense. One could interpret this as a form of counter-attack magic, I suppose.”
Gag.
More blood came up.
His consciousness grew hazy.
‘Defensive magic, he says.’
Is this defense?
Is he insane?
“The marvel of such magic has left me dizzy. Would it be acceptable if I rested for a moment and returned?”
“Of course.”
I still have much to demonstrate.
What would happen if I created two black holes and layered them?
Or if I layered physical unlocking magic with force?
I want to try the physical unlocking I practiced just moments ago once more.
Wisdian walked slowly toward the Nerop Mages Camp.
Blood continued to spill from his lips.
“Tag….”
He extended his hand.
Yet no one extended their hand.
“No, the tag….”
Everyone was just watching for an opening.
“We need to swap out….”
You insane bastards! I’ve exhausted every ounce of my stamina!
Thud.
Wisdian finally collapsed.
“You cowardly son of a….”
And there were others who had fallen as well.

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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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