The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 79

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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 079
Just before the occupation battle commenced.
Lee Tae-gwang’s lips curled upward in a slow, deliberate smile.
“As expected, they were fools.”
If this were Pyongyang…
I would have blocked them from entering the Pyongyang territory in the first phase.
Then the occupation battle declaration would be impossible.
If that were impossible, I would have prevented them from entering the Tower itself.
Failure to enter the Tower by the occupation battle start time results in a forfeit loss.
That was the overwhelming advantage possessed by a ‘home Tower’.
Seoul failed to grasp this critical point.
In my assessment, I had already secured half the victory.
“Are there truly no opponents with even that much strategic foresight?”
Eventually, the EX-Rank Awakener revealed himself.
[The mock battle will commence shortly.]
[This mock battle will be decided by a best-of-three format.]
I was confident.
My opponent was an artifact fighter.
By transforming into a slime that absorbs all artifact attacks, I could neutralize his assaults entirely.
‘Once damage accumulates beyond a certain threshold, it detonates.’
A self-destruct guided by the golem’s core.
While I would sustain considerable damage, he would perish instantly.
This meant I could guarantee him one decisive loss.
This was the subtle beauty of mock battles—distinct from real combat.
Instant death meant resurrection. Injury meant resurrection.
No matter how severe the damage, as long as I secured the kill, I would claim victory and recover fully, allowing for far more extreme strategies than conventional warfare.
[!Global Announcement!]
[Real-time viewers: 100,000,000 breakthrough!]
[Private broadcast transmission is prohibited!]
All viewing equipment outside the Tower was rendered inoperative.
Drones, broadcast helicopters, private transmissions—all completely forbidden.
Only the Tower’s installed broadcast screens relayed all information.
Laughter escaped from my lips.
‘Excellent!’
[Will you set an avatar?]
The broadcast featured a portrait rights protection system.
If a participant did not wish to reveal their face, an avatar would be substituted.
‘No.’
My true form, unaltered.
The sovereign of Pyongyang, Lee Tae-gwang.
It was an opportunity to etch that name and face into the minds of the entire world.
[Setting viewing fee.]
Every Tower across the globe.
The pristine image began to flicker with static.
“What is this?”
“You’re saying we have to pay a viewing fee to watch in high quality?”
[Viewing fee limit of 1 trillion Diamonds achieved!]
[After deducting various expenses, the viewing fees will be transferred to the victor of the mock battle.]
Lee Tae-gwang’s eyes narrowed further.
Seoul’s succession. An EX-Rank inheritance. And a prize of 1 trillion Diamonds.
‘I will emerge victorious before the eyes of all.’
Pyongyang’s resurgence.
There was no stage more fitting for this beginning.

* * *
[Avatar has been set.]
After setting my avatar, I loaded an Energy Bolt.
The avatar’s name was ‘Tiger Mask’.
It was a round, adorable tiger mask-shaped avatar overall.
My avatar spoke.
“Is the form perfect?”
It was the quintessential appearance of a battle mage.
Most battle mages start with this spell.
It’s simple, fast, and carries minimal loss even if it fails.
For suppression, nothing surpasses it.
‘I’d like to try using a high-ranking spirit, but…’
That carried too much risk for me.
It’s far too difficult to handle compared to Energy Bolt.
Lee Tae-gwang transformed into a massive slime.
[The floor’s buff activates.]
[The slime’s stats increase.]
The momentum surged.
Its size expanded, and its surface gleamed with a peculiar translucence.
In that state, Lee Tae-gwang spoke.
“This alone tells me everything—you’re a novice at mock battles.”
The level gap was unmistakable.
In such cases, suppression spells are outright ignored.
Using suppression magic when even lethal attacks would be insufficient?
And in a mock battle where extreme strategies run rampant?
Only inexperienced greenhorns would attempt such a thing.
An energy bolt surged through the air.
A sphere of condensed mana carved slowly through the sky.
A speed visible to the naked eye.
Of course, it was indeed moving slowly.
I had deliberately controlled its velocity.
‘This combat specialist mage effect makes speed control far from easy.’
A title effect that increased projectile magic speed by thirty percent.
Under its influence, I was concentrating intensely to suppress my magic’s velocity.
“Quite the picture of tension, aren’t you?”
Tension was indeed present.
Not because of Lee Tae-gwang, but because of my own magic.
‘In any case, I’ll deploy it as slowly as possible.’
One careless mistake and the spell could backfire, putting me in danger.
Fortunately, the opponent seemed eager to display and showcase their abilities, which worked in my favor.
‘Either way, he’ll take the hit, won’t he?’
He’d want to demonstrate the overwhelming gap in our power.
Even if he didn’t, it didn’t matter.
If necessary, I could bind him with Restraint.
The first round would proceed without issue.

* * *
Lee Tae-gwang, transformed into a colossal slime, remained composed.
The energy bolt in his field of vision descended like a butterfly.
Light, leisurely. Tracing a threat-free arc, moving slowly.
‘Ashen?’
Penetration attribute?
Not a bad choice.
The problem was merely that the opponent was him.
‘Hm?’
And in that instant.
An inexplicable sensation spread across his body.
A type of stimulation he had never experienced before.
Chilling yet strangely refreshing.
‘What is this…?’
If forced to compare it, like stepping outside on a cold day without wearing pants.
The sensation of exposed lower body in the depths of winter.
It felt like a razor blade scraping across skin.
‘What?’
Itchy yet stinging, as if being scraped and peeled away.
A slow but unmistakable sensation of skin being abraded.
Huh?
[You have been defeated.]
The energy bolt hadn’t even reached him yet.
[!World Announcement!]
[Round 1 victor: the ‘-‘ Awakener.]
Lee Tae-gwang couldn’t comprehend it.
A slime’s nature was to absorb damage.
Whether piercing or explosive, he believed he could withstand anything.
Then why?
Unfortunately, he lacked any concept of ‘Dil-jjik-nu’s mana pressure’.
I wiped the sweat from my brow.
Regardless of appearances, I had channeled my concentration to its absolute limit.
The entire world was watching.
There was no need to reveal all my abilities.
Especially skills like invulnerability or blink—it was better to keep those hidden.
I deliberately didn’t display restraint either.
That’s why I focused so carefully on controlling the energy bolt.
‘His massive body made it easy to aim at.’
I spread the invisible mana pressure like a spider’s web, vast and intricate.
Carefully, like a net, I calibrated it to scrape across the surface.
Ensuring no fragments scattered back toward me.
“That wasn’t easy.”
But it was a perfect success.
‘I feel like I’ve grown again.’
[Resurrection in 60 seconds.]

* * *
It’s not easy, is it? Hahahaha
└Hmm, it’s not that hard (though it looks easier than anyone else could make it)
└Anyway, Energy Bolt confirmed!
└Shh, let’s just call it Energy Bolt
The EX-Rank Awakener’s Energy Bolt created tremendous waves.
Christine was flooded with inquiries as well.
“Ugh, I keep telling you I don’t know anything!”
Having given up on answering, she switched off her phone and boldly closed the system message window.
“Now he’s even controlling the speed?”
Magic containing such overwhelming destructive force?
How much more could he possibly do with Energy Bolt before he’s satisfied?
Mana pressure shaping. Penetration. Directional control and speed adjustment.
“How long does he plan to keep calling it Energy Bolt?”
In any case, the magic that the EX-Rank Awakener claimed was Energy Bolt created tremendous waves.
[At this point, isn’t it basically a finishing move?]
└To call it that… there’s no wind-up
└EX hyung finds gathering energy tedious
“lol who just uses their ultimate move like it’s nothing to stop someone”
└EX hyung’s style is to end it as soon as it starts
The overwhelming consensus was that it was absolutely not a finishing move.
[That’s what’s amazing. Would you really show your true strength from the start?]
└Now that you mention it…
└They say true masters hide about 30% of their power
└Was that him holding back?
Assassins from around the world set their sights on him.
With North Korea breaching Korea’s borders, the EX-Rank Awakener would face even greater threats.
Revealing full power in such circumstances would be foolish.
And in the midst of all this, Lee Tae-gwang died.
[LOL What does great leadership do?]
└If it’s pathetic Lee Tae-gwang, I’m in~
└Lee Tae-gwang’s death speed is literally racehorse level
“You’ll be resurrected soon, right? lololol”
But a sudden announcement appeared.
[Revival has failed.]
Lee Tae-gwang lost consciousness.
[!World Announcement!]
[The winner of the Tower Occupation War (Seoul VS Pyongyang) has been decided!]
[Tower Occupation War Winner: Seoul]
“It was best of three, wasn’t it?”
“That’s right…? It shows the same thing in the replay too?”
“Then why did it end after the first round?”
“Damn it, my viewing fee!!”
Christine stared at the screen with a furrowed brow.
She could understand it.
“Damage exceeded the system limit?”
That was literally damage the system itself couldn’t handle.
It was classified as a ‘fundamental destruction’ phenomenon.
Lee Tae-gwang never rose again, and the second round never even opened.
Even the mock battle’s ‘revival’ setting was destroyed in a single blow.
“Thank goodness I withdrew back then….”
The sense of crisis I felt during the mock battle had been real.
“That lunatic.”
For an event that had drawn hundreds of millions of live spectators, it ended far too anticlimactically.
The victor was the Seoul Guild.
Seoul, already experienced in occupying Busan Tower, swiftly began organizing the situation.
[Pyongyang Tower is being changed to (Former) Pyongyang Tower.]
Pyongyang Tower was demoted to a subsidiary of Seoul Tower.
It appeared similar to (Former) Busan Tower on the surface, but the actual circumstances were entirely different.
[The tribute ratio for ‘Pyongyang Guild members’ is being adjusted to 100%.]
Pyongyang Guild members could obtain nothing from within Pyongyang Tower.
All acquired resources were automatically transferred to the Seoul Guild.
Thorough discrimination was implemented against Busan.
[Wow, it really is 100%;;;]
└Then aren’t Pyongyang Guild members just slaves?
└At this point, the Seoul Guild is basically medieval lords
└If they wanted to, they could even configure settings for the Awakeners climbing Pyongyang Tower
The Pyongyang Guild had completely lost their Tower.
The misfortunes didn’t end there.
[Pyongyang Lord Lee Tae-gwang in a state of brain death…]
Consciousness never returned.
The rumors gradually became established fact.
“Pyongyang’s supreme leader is knocked out by rice cakes~ lol”
└Still, we shouldn’t mock the dead….
└He is not deceased yet ㅠㅠ He is not deceased yet ㅠㅠ He is not deceased ㅠㅠㅠ
One mock battle. A single spell.
With that, the Pyongyang Guild lost everything.
[All authority of the Pyongyang Guild is being transferred to the Seoul Guild.]
Everything of Lee Tae-gwang was handed over to Seoul Lord Lee Byung-gyu.
Willingly or not, the lords of North Korea had become subordinate to the Seoul Lord.
[He consumed just one Pyongyang Tower, yet he devoured every single Tower in North Korea?]
└Seoul Guild now possesses ten Towers
How much is this extortion money anyway? lol
└At this rate, wouldn’t they enter the ranks of global conglomerates?
While theories of Seoul Guild’s meteoric rise circulated, Lee Byung-gyu’s judgment differed.
“All these achievements belong not to Seoul Guild, but to the EX-Rank Awakener as an individual….”
The vast majority of profits, excluding stabilization costs and maintenance, accrued directly to Choi Kang-mok.
Meanwhile, Beijing moved with swift precision.
“Even if the Towers fell under Seoul’s control….”
The world was not defined by Towers alone.
The world had functioned perfectly well before Towers ever existed.
“We will claim the territory.”
The North Korean government had effectively collapsed.
Beijing orchestrated a coalition with several City Guilds to execute an invasion and plant their flag.
This was the moment.
They had resolved to absorb North Korea and make it Chinese territory.
“Before those Korean bastards make their move, quickly now.”
Just as hastily assembled elite Guild members prepared to cross the North Korean border.
Something shocking occurred.

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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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