The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 298

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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 298
‘Preemptive clearing’ was not limited to the Labyrinth alone.
Having already conquered the 100th Floor.
[Story progression in process.]
Notifications like this had become a luxury.
Before progressing, it had already progressed.
[Story has been cleared.]
[!World Announcement!]
[Story has been forcibly concluded.]
-?
-??
-What story?
Information asymmetry was severe across the globe.
Since all Story Gates were concentrated in Korea, Awakeners who hadn’t paid particular attention were largely unfamiliar with the concept of ‘stories.’
-What’s a forced conclusion?
Haha, it seems like there’s only the beginning and the end, but nothing in between?
In truth, even I found it unexpected.
I had believed that each continent and nation had their roles distributed quite well.
The Middle East—a treasure trove of resources.
Europe—an advanced civilization.
The Americas—infinite possibilities.
Japan and Germany—manufacturing and technology.
I had judged that each continent and nation possessed distinct strengths.
I thought all of these meshed together like gears, driving forward a grand story.
But it seems I was wrong.
“Not at all!”
Igniasha, the protagonist(?) of the Story Gate, shook her head firmly.
A massive gear that makes the world turn?
None of that matters!
What matters is the growth of the ‘Fragment of Divinity.’
“The completion of this body is the conclusion of the story.”
A white cat who prides herself on being far cuter than Red Cat.
Igniasha, who now calls herself Light Cat, licked her front paw.
The shift to Kang Hye’s taste was truly a masterstroke of divinity.
“This body has become perfectly adorable!”
I’m monopolizing Kang Hye’s affection!
The highest ground among high grounds—I’ve seized the most strategic position of all.
This solidifies my position as Choi Kang-mok’s companion cat.
“So you’re saying you’ve been completed?”
“Of course!”
The Story Gate contained a narrative where Igniasha, a fragment of divinity, would mature into a god who protects Earth.
However, the intermediate stages were somewhat omitted.
The Tower had been cleared far too rapidly.
The pace of Tower ascension vastly outstripped the narrative progression.
In other words, the ‘story’ was merely a subplot.
The ‘Tower ascension’ was the main plot.
With the main plot concluding before the subplot could even unfold, the subplot lost all its luster.
Yet Igniasha, the true protagonist, was immensely satisfied.
“All roads lead to Seoul.”
As the Contractor grew increasingly magnificent, Igniasha’s divine power swelled accordingly.
She could now even slightly distort the temporal flow of the ‘magical creature’ that the Tower itself had failed to control.
“I have already reached the conclusion of my completion!”
The protagonist was utterly delighted.
“This is absolutely blissful!”
Igniasha broke into a radiant smile.
“None shall rival the power of my bond!”

* * *
With the Story Gate’s conclusion came a critical turning point.
[Breaking News: Awakening Orb Extraction Halted!]
For the unawakened, it was a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
The Fire Spirit’s Playground, which ultimately supplied awakening orbs, had been sealed off entirely.
Globally, the unawakened comprised roughly 0.5% of the population.
Though a minuscule percentage, the absolute numbers were far from negligible.
This was not a problem confined to Earth alone.
The highest dimensions—Proltas and Zerk.
Both dimensions shared a singular critical issue.
It was the ‘Awakening Cancellation Plague.’
Dimensions where growth had stagnated long ago, time flowing endlessly onward.
Among the upper dimensions, they ranked among the highest.
In essence, they were ‘aged dimensions.’
The Awakening Cancellation Plague was the inevitable affliction that befell aged dimensions.
They had desperately sought connection with Earth.
It was nearly the only dimension where awakening orbs were supplied consistently.
“This cannot continue.”
More and more awakened individuals were losing their awakening.
The rate of disappearance exceeded the rate of emergence.
This magnificent civilization would crumble at an accelerating pace.
“We must find a solution.”
Proltas and Zerk.
Two dimensions facing the same circumstances made different choices.
Proltas succeeded in establishing a connection with Earth.
It was made possible with the aid of Hawk, the Emperor of the Haesang Dimension Rotin.
“We believe that the EX-Rank Awakener will perform a miracle once more.”
They had chosen to place their faith in this belief.
A dimension crumbling toward ruin.
Their choice was a plea for salvation grounded in that faith.
“The EX-Rank Awakener is an emperor who loves all people… no.”
They too had studied Choi Kang-mok extensively.
“A great mage, rather.”
This decision was born from observing his deeds thus far.
The word “great” could not fit him more perfectly.
He had never turned away from the weak.
He had extended benefits to the non-awakened first.
He had always shown consideration for society’s most vulnerable.
The unprecedented golden age that Earth now enjoyed was because history’s most magnificent and most benevolent
emperor
mage reigned as a one-man empire.
“We trust that he will show us mercy.”
The Story Gate, forcibly sealed halfway.
An EX-Rank Awakener might be able to open it again.
If forced closure is possible, then forced opening should be as well.
“We hope for the mercy of the EX-Rank Awakener.”
This message reached Choi Kang-mok as well.

* * *
The ancient dimension of Zerk.
They made the exact opposite choice from Proltas.
“We invade Earth.”
Across all dimensions, Earth possessed the largest stockpile of Awakening Orbs.
Though invasion had become impossible with the establishment of the Golden Empire, they refused to surrender.
They would find a way, no matter what.
Conveniently, the Story Gate had just undergone (forced) closure.
“The forced closure has destabilized the parameters.”
Such places inevitably develop cracks.
Though countless individuals trembled with fear and aged under the curse of the Awakening Cancellation Vial, their accumulated strength remained among the universe’s mightiest.
“We breach Earth through the sealed Story Gate and secure as many Awakening Orbs as possible.”
This would extinguish the immediate crisis.
They would address future concerns later.
“The Tunnelers have excavated the passage.”
Zerk’s high-rankers were competent.
They had carved a path to Earth.
The now-sealed Fire Spirit’s Playground served as their invasion corridor.
“Deploy the forces.”
They would raid the South Korea Guild Headquarters and secure as many Awakening Orbs as possible.
Already, delegations from across the universe were being dispatched.
Even the Korean Guild, including its EX-Rank Awakeners, would be overwhelmed.
“We must move quickly.”
They could not afford to miss this opportunity.
That was their assessment.

* * *
Through her unwavering faith, Kang Hye had bestowed countless gifts upon me.
“Good.”
Now I finally felt like I was living up to my role as an EX-Rank Advisor.
“I can’t stop here.”
Confidence surged through me.
My faith in myself had grown stronger.
I’ll be able to help my brother far more than my own abilities would suggest.
Perhaps in the not-too-distant future, my brother will surpass Professor Pease.
As always, Kang Hye yearned to become an EX-Rank Advisor, her senses attuned to everything around her.
“Huh?”
The hottest topic among explorers lately was the ‘closed Gate’.
When the steady supply of Awakening Orbs disappeared, the entire universe fell into chaos.
Anywhere in the universe, ‘non-awakening’ was a massive headache.
“That’s strange.”
The other explorers didn’t seem to notice.
But I could sense ‘something’ emanating from within the closed Gate.
I couldn’t tell exactly what it was, but it felt hostile.
Only an EX-Rank Advisor possessed the intuition to perceive this.
This is bad for my brother.
I called him immediately.
“Brother.”
Choi Kang-mok’s voice on the other end was calm.
-What is it?
“A cancer is growing inside the Fire Spirit’s Playground Gate.”
-Cancer?
“Let’s cast a healing spell on it.”
Choi Kang-mok didn’t fully understand what Kang Hye was saying.
But now I trusted Kang Hye as well.
Her words always had reason and evidence behind them.
‘Healing magic, I see.’
Eliminating cancer cells is itself a form of healing.
-(Mayo): Sometimes destruction, removal, and decomposition can also mean healing, you know 🙂
The Gate is closed?
It doesn’t matter.
Beyond the sealed entrance, I can pour ‘healing’ across the entire space.
Kang Hye spoke.
-Please use maximum output.
I rose from my seat.
The map was already in my mind.
‘Healing magic.’
I’m not entirely sure why, but let’s give it a try.
And so, the Zerk invasion force was annihilated.
Without a trace.

* * *
The ‘Story’ didn’t contain only the Protagonist.
There were numerous ‘supporting characters’ who appeared and disappeared without fanfare.
Extras that people failed to remember.
[!Anomaly detected within the Story!]
[The sacrifice of numerous supporting characters is confirmed.]
The vast army of Zerk had been ‘sacrificed.’
There were countless supporting characters whose sacrifices couldn’t be enumerated one by one.
Even if readers didn’t remember them, the ‘Story’ had to remember these sacrifices!
[A side story of the Story will be released for 3 days in honor of the nameless supporting characters who passed by.]
For reasons unknown, the ‘Fire Spirit’s Playground Gate’ opened once more.
Countless people flocked to obtain awakening orbs.
Kang Pal-do was there as well.
He murmured to himself.
“This mine is currently fitted with an oxygen respirator.”
Exactly 3 days of reprieve had emerged.
As a fellow mine, it was somewhat regrettable.
A predetermined death, no less….
“Wait. Death?”
As a fellow mine, couldn’t I help the mine survive somehow?
I’m Kang Pal-do, a survival-specialized Tunneler.
What if I poured my survival-specialized luck onto the mine without restraint?
Then wouldn’t it be able to survive even without the oxygen respirator?
“Could this work…?”
Soon after, he shook his head vigorously.
He had witnessed the miracle of Choi Kang-mok and Kang Hye firsthand.
Sometimes, certain beliefs bring forth miracles.
“I believe.”
And he experienced a miracle.
“This is actually working…?”
Even after 3 days passed.
Fire Spirit’s Playground didn’t close.
Instead, far more awakening orbs were ‘mined.’
[【Breaking News】 Superior quality awakening orbs were granted…]
Those who re-awakened through the awakening orbs achieved far higher grades than before.
The awakening orbs from Earth’s mines created a universal shortage phenomenon.
And this elevated the reputation of Earth’s Emperor, Choi Kang-mok, even further.
Kang Pal-do felt somewhat wronged.
“Gwang-mok, does this even make sense?”
It was I who poured forth fortune to breathe life into the pearl mines!
So why was everyone praising only Choi Kang-mok?
Everyone assumed it was Choi Kang-mok who had revived them.
The AI, which usually activated at his whim, remained silent this time.
It had amplified the broadcast however it pleased before!
“And honestly, you have no interest in anything but magic anyway!”
Then came a somewhat shocking response.

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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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