The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 29

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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 029
I had to destroy it at precisely the moment I chose.
“Get as far away as you can, Lee Kang-nam.”
“….”
“If shrapnel hits you, you could actually die.”
Lee Kang-nam gritted his teeth.
His playfulness seemed excessive, but I decided to tolerate it for now.
I resolved to become more cautious.
One wrong move and I could lead the EX-rank Awakener down a dark path.
Ash-grey mana gathered in Choi Kang-mok’s palms.
[Skill, Energy Bolt (S) activated.]
Crackle!
Time flowed slowly for Choi Kang-mok.
Eyes wide open, absolute focus.
‘Not yet!’
I wanted to strike the clone at the exact moment I desired.
Magic that cannot be properly controlled is not true magic.
Perhaps a mage’s yearning had been answered.
‘Now!’
Before the Energy Bolt sphere made contact.
At the precise instant when only the mana pressure grazed it.
Damage was applied at the exact timing I wanted.
Lee Kang-nam’s clone scattered like sand swept away by waves.
[Lee Kang-nam’s Clone has been destroyed.]
[!Damage threshold exceeded!]
I had my doubts, but it actually happened.
[Lee Kang-nam’s Clone has been completely destroyed and cannot be restored.]
It actually broke.
While Lee Kang-nam was reeling from the shock, Choi Kang-mok did not relax his guard.
‘First challenge succeeded.’
What I attacked Lee Kang-nam’s Clone with was merely mana pressure.
The actual Energy Bolt remained intact.
In fact, there were two of them.
‘Compression.’
Now came the true application of magic.
The sphere shrank, and the ash-grey deepened.
It narrowed to the size of a black iron ball.
‘Control it in the direction I desire.’
I manipulated it so it wouldn’t reach Lee Kang-nam.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
As my mental power increased, the damage became far too immense to control.
Managing even that single small orb was proving difficult.
Moreover, because of the ‘precision’ attribute, the aggro kept drawing toward Lee Kang-nam.
Without intending to, energy bolts continued flying toward Lee Kang-nam.
‘I can do this.’
I focused my mind to the very end.
I adjusted the energy sphere to aim downward into the ground.
Lee Kang-nam watched Choi Kang-mok’s actions with a skeptical gaze.
‘The ground is piercing through?’
An energy bolt the size of a steel ball bored straight through the earth.
In that instant, the world crackled—a sharp, electric sound.
The entire virtual space created for the mock battle trembled.
Where the small steel-like sphere had penetrated, a massive sinkhole approximately three meters in diameter had formed.
“….”
[The ‘Mock Battle Arena’ has sustained partial damage.]
[!Emergency restoration initiated!]
It was destroyed and restored simultaneously, yet the destructive force was thoroughly imprinted upon us.
Choi Kang-mok spoke first.
“Don’t blame yourself for this.”
It must have been a precious avatar of mine.
I had inadvertently caused its complete annihilation.
“Why would I blame you?”
Lee Kang-nam had no desire to shift responsibility.
Instead, he clenched his fists tightly.
“Listen, EX-rank Awakener. Can you show me that once more?”
“The energy bolt?”
“Yes. The energy bolt.”
Lee Kang-nam understood now.
That was no mere energy bolt.
It was an EX-rank spell harboring profound and mysterious secrets.
‘I want to see it once more.’
EX-rank magic.
This was the desire of a tank.
“Let me be clear beforehand—I can create three avatars.”
One of them was completely destroyed.
Now only two remained.
“Won’t the other one be destroyed too?”
“One is enough.”
Complete annihilation?
It was of no concern to Lee Kang-nam.
“Anything beyond two becomes uncontrollable anyway.”
Choi Kang-mok nodded in agreement.
That sentiment felt strangely familiar.
“Then so be it.”
Half of magical growth comes from repetitive mastery.
This was an excellent opportunity for Choi Kang-mok as well.

* * *
[Activating skill: Energy Bolt (S).]
The second attack.
This time it was fired toward Lee Kang-nam.
Lee Kang-nam remained vigilant.
‘It wears the form of Energy Bolt, but it transcends that—true EX-rank magic!’
It would detonate before even making contact.
Energy Bolt.
I cannot afford to focus solely on that.
‘Recalling the memory from before.’
Pinpointing the exact timing when damage applies.
I widened the distance and evaded before that moment arrived.
‘Tch. So this is true EX-rank magic.’
Evasion proved futile.
Two Energy Bolts shifted direction mid-flight, bearing down on me.
‘Homing properties as well…!’
Lee Kang-nam swung the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade (replica).
A direct defense was impossible.
‘I’ll deflect it smoothly.’
I chose to parry the attack.
‘Success!’
The Energy Bolt ricocheted toward the ground.
Choi Kang-mok concentrated further, rapidly imbuing the Energy Bolt with piercing properties.
Piercing was essential.
If the Energy Bolt simply struck the floor, fragments would scatter everywhere.
I could inadvertently kill Lee Kang-nam.
Even if resurrection settings were applied, they might be destroyed in the process.
‘This is actually perfect!’
This kind of pressure was the finest crucible for tempering a mage.
Choi Kang-mok’s concentration reached its zenith.
The result was success. All fragments embedded themselves deep into the earth.
It was an exchange both could find satisfaction in.
Lee Kang-nam had successfully defended.
Choi Kang-mok successfully granted the piercing attribute during the mock battle.
It was a situation that benefited both of them.
“…but that’s not quite right.”
However, Lee Kang-nam’s success was only half-realized.
The Azure Dragon Crescent Blade (Replica) had been destroyed.
Even though I’d only grazed it slightly, its durability couldn’t withstand the blow.
It scattered into particles of light and vanished entirely.
‘Complete annihilation.’
Normally, when equipment’s durability is depleted, it enters a ‘broken’ state.
It can be restored through repair. But this was different.
‘Complete annihilation’ was something Lee Kang-nam had never witnessed before.
Now that I’d experienced it directly, I understood.
‘This is fundamental destruction.’
With this, I truly couldn’t guarantee whether revival was even possible.
For the first time in ages, a chill ran down my spine.
“I’ve lost.”
I felt an insurmountable wall before me.

* * *
[You have been defeated in the mock battle.]
[The mock battle has ended.]
Return to reality.
The record was updated.
[Wins/Draws/Losses: 94 Wins/167 Draws/1 Loss]
A tank who couldn’t win but never lost.
Now he had experienced his first defeat.
The tank-class ranker Lee Kang-nam, facing his first loss, felt elated.
‘The EX-rank Awakener is a damage dealer!’
Though they appear to be a mage, they’re not merely a mage.
I can’t determine the specifics, but they attack with ‘EX-rank unknowns.’
There was definitely ‘something’ disguised as an energy bolt.
Even level doesn’t affect them.
Level is evaluated as one of the absolute indicators among Awakeners.
Yet it seems EX-rank transcends even that.
‘Deceiving the public as an explorer. During combat, disguising as a mage and deceiving with energy bolts.’
No, that wasn’t deception.
It really is an energy bolt.
‘Their mental fortitude is extraordinary.’
I was worried they might be inexperienced, but that concern seems unnecessary.
Lee Kang-nam shrugged his shoulders.
“That was a good time. I learned a lot.”
I extended my hand.
Choi Kang-mok grasped it in return.
“It was helpful for me too.”
It wasn’t mere flattery. I could tangibly feel the significant magical progress I’d made.
“If you need anything, contact the Daegu Guild anytime. I’ll do everything in my power to help.”
“But you belong to a different guild?”
“We have to prepare for the future.”
A future whose arrival remained uncertain.
Eventually, the border closure would be lifted.
The day would come when the world exchanged freely with itself.
“When that happens, all we can boast about is being a nation that possesses an EX-rank Awakener, you know?”
Even Lee Kang-nam, called Korea’s strongest tank, amounted to little when viewed on a global scale.
That was the strict assessment he imposed upon himself.
In such circumstances, an EX-rank Awakener would become an asymmetrical asset.
“Right. Hey, Kang Hye. Thank you. I had a great experience because of you.”
Though I had much more to say, I held back, and Kang Hye, who had been waiting, flinched in surprise.
By the way, mock battle records were accessible to others as well.
If they were Awakeners, that is.
[Mock Battle Record]
[94 Wins / 167 Draws / 1 Loss]
“Is this even possible?”
“It was possible.”
“What was the nature of the combat?”
“I was outmatched. Me.”
“….”
“Even level disparity barely affected anything. You knew that, didn’t you?”
“Roughly, yes.”
Though I hadn’t expected it to be this severe.
Lee Kang-nam let out a soft laugh.
“I had nothing to teach you. It was a good time. Right, one more question—may I?”
“Go ahead.”
“That attack disguised as an Energy Bolt.”
“?”
I hadn’t disguised it.
“Can you tell me what that was?”
“It was an Energy Bolt.”
“Right. I figured you’d say that.”
“….”
“As a tank, I’m certain. That wasn’t magic—it was closer to a skill deletion authority. Am I wrong?”
I was wrong. It’s just magic.
High-damage magic.
“What I felt was correct, wasn’t it? Just answer me that.”
“No. It’s an Energy Bolt.”
He insisted on calling it an Energy Bolt.
‘What a stubborn concept.’
Lee Kang-nam decided not to press the matter any further.
Everyone had their secrets, after all.

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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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