Chapter 19: Chapter 19
Chapter 19 - The Last of the Mana
The battles fought by those who wielded swords were straightforward and fair.
That was why the profession of gladiator could still exist on the Cerdes Continent.
Because they were straightforward, they were simple, and because they were simple, everything could be seen with the naked eye.
That was why there was such enjoyment in watching the tactical exchanges unfold within those battles.
But the world of mages was the complete opposite of the sword.
It was abstract, a world where unmistakable disparities existed.
The problem was that the difference between Circles was glaringly obvious.
Even advancing by a single Circle tilted the odds to well over ninety-five percent in one’s favor. Such was the brutally honest world of mages.
Even so, there was always the remaining five percent—the irregulars.
The kind of overwhelming talent that could overturn ten years of effort in a single day.
The Ferda Valdrova standing before Vernel Marquis was precisely such a person.
’Magic Intercept?’
A technique that seized control of an opponent’s manifested or launched spell and redirected it through one’s own will.
It was one of the most difficult techniques in the world of mages, something rarely ever seen.
’Isn’t that a technique reserved for mages who have reached at least the Fifth Circle...?’
Only mages with a profound understanding of magic and mastery over Mana—Fifth Circle Master Mages—had ever used such a technique.
Yet Ferda was merely a Second Circle mage, someone Vernel himself could easily disregard.
’No... I have heard that, in theory, even a Second Circle mage can do it.’
Second Circle, Spell Blower.
The title given because this was the stage where one truly began casting spells, weaving magic through threads of Mana.
However, the magic produced was crude, weak in power, and lacking in precision, so much so that people mocked it as nothing more than "blowing" spells.
’That’s why theory is only theory.’
The magical world was filled with theories that existed only on paper.
’But performing Magic Intercept? Really?’
It was possible.
Yet no one had ever accomplished it.
If that truly was Magic Intercept, then Vernel was witnessing a new Chapter in the history of magic.
***
Having returned to the past, Ferda evaluated his very first attempt at using Magic Intercept today with a simple thought.
’As expected, it’s simpler than I imagined.’
If a Mana Walker represented mastery over points, then a Spell Blower represented lines.
It was the stage where those lines could be woven into surfaces—that is, into magic itself.
’The only spell I know is Mana Shot.’
The spells of the Second Circle had long since faded from his memory after becoming a Grand Mage, and he had never bothered relearning them.
’But that’s all I need.’
It was simple, yet it was the spell he needed most right now.
There was no need to transform Mana into elemental attributes.
Pure Mana alone was more than enough.
At least against Monsters.
’I’ve captured more Monsters alive than I can even count.’
Back when he had worked alongside the Demon Race follower Teshalos, the man’s requests had always been to capture Monsters alive.
Killing them was easy.
Capturing them was difficult.
While sharing knowledge with Teshalos, Ferda had also learned countless characteristics of Monsters.
’And eventually, we discovered the answer.’
It was an extremely simple conclusion.
When humans were continuously exposed to corrupted Mana, they either broke down or died.
Conversely, those monstrous abominations that fed upon corrupted Mana found pure Mana to be poison instead.
Ferda intended to inject that poison directly into the creature’s heart.
Its emission of Mana would cease, and as the poison spread through its system, the Monster’s overwhelming strength and extraordinary regeneration would temporarily come to a halt.
Simply put, it was like wedging a block of wood between constantly turning gears.
’It’ll eventually break... but it’ll stop the mechanism for a moment.’
Ferda threw his first sphere toward the bear Monster’s face.
He fired it in a high arc so that its trajectory could not be discerned, causing it to fall directly onto the top of the creature’s head.
Boom!
Had it been an ordinary person, their head would have been reduced to pulp.
—GROOOAAAR!
The bear Monster instead threw back its head and roared.
Its durability had become even greater due to Mana intoxication.
Its skull had been dented, but the damage was insignificant.
Ferda gave Vernel an order.
"Prepare a large one."
"Yes!"
While Vernel formed a large sphere, Ferda immediately prepared the second sphere to launch.
Again, he fired it in an arc.
This time, instead of descending from above, it curved widely from the side.
Boom!
The bear Monster’s head lurched violently.
—GROOOAAAR!
Now thoroughly enraged, the bear Monster unleashed another deafening roar.
It lifted one of its forelegs, searching for its unseen enemy.
Ferda did not miss that moment.
Four spheres materialized at the tips of his fingers.
"Now."
Vernel threw his sphere into Ferda’s firing path.
Ferda caught it in midair.
Together with the four spheres floating around his fingers, he sent them flying straight toward the Monster’s chest.
Boom!
One Mana Shot exploded in midair.
The force of the blast added further momentum, propelling the remaining four spheres even faster.
The three smaller spheres Ferda had created spun in a spiral and struck the Monster’s chest first.
KABOOOM!
Three consecutive explosions erupted.
The chain of blasts tore open the hide covering its chest, exposing raw flesh beneath.
Then the large sphere Vernel had created reached the exposed wound.
’Deeper.’
The acceleration and rotational force drilled into the flesh.
’Even deeper.’
Then it finally exploded.
KABOOM!!
The massive explosion engulfed the bear Monster’s entire body.
"Gah!"
Vernel let out an undignified gasp of shock.
’Did my Mana sphere always have this much destructive power?’
He knew the sphere that had exploded was the one he had thrown.
If Vernel himself had launched it, it would never have produced such overwhelming force.
Yet Ferda, a mere Second Circle mage, manipulated it as effortlessly as though it were his own.
Ferda stared beyond the cloud of dust.
’Show yourself.’
The dust cleared, revealing the target once more.
Just as expected, the bear Monster’s body was no longer intact.
Its black hide had been stripped away, while its dark violet flesh had been ravaged.
Its organs and bones lay completely exposed.
Ferda’s eyes locked onto its heart.
’It’s still beating.’
The source of all its vitality was that heart.
It continued pumping vigorously.
With every powerful heartbeat, the Monster’s flesh steadily regenerated.
’It really does possess extraordinary regeneration.’
Its durability alone was formidable, but its regenerative ability surpassed that of ordinary Monsters as well.
’I need to finish this quickly.’
The creature was completely defenseless, unable to move even a finger.
If it recovered and began moving again, Ferda would lose.
’I’ll have to be more aggressive.’
Having made his decision, Ferda formed another sphere at his fingertips and shouted to Vernel.
"Vernel! Throw them the moment you make them!"
"Yes, sir!"
Ferda unleashed a relentless barrage toward the Monster’s heart.
Thump. Thump.
After taking direct hits to its heart, the bear Monster’s body twitched as ragged breaths escaped it.
Ferda’s spheres repeatedly struck the heart, forcibly tearing open the flesh each time it tried to close.
Would Ferda run out of Mana first, or would the bear Monster’s regeneration fail before then?
It was like two opponents locked in a tug-of-war over a single opening.
’Its size really is making this difficult.’
Victory was far from certain.
Had he still been a Fifth Circle mage, dealing with this creature would have been effortless.
But with only the Mana reserves of a Second Circle mage supplemented by a Third Circle mage, he could not judge the outcome.
For the first time, even Ferda found himself in a difficult situation.
***
’This feels awful.’
Vernel felt as though he was about to vomit.
His mind was becoming hazy, as if he had been forced to breathe in the thick smell of oil for hours.
The sensation of Mana leaving his body dulled his thoughts and shattered his concentration.
’Have I ever used this much Mana since becoming a Scholar?’
No.
A Scholar needed the strength to devote themselves only to what was necessary, and that required complete focus.
That was why Vernel always kept more than half of his Mana in reserve.
As Ferda relentlessly assaulted the Monster, Vernel continuously drew out more and more Mana to match his pace.
Only about twenty percent of his Mana remained.
After creating three more spheres, he would be completely exhausted.
Then another question came to mind.
’The Regent must have used an enormous amount of Mana too... so how is he still casting spells?’
Even at a glance, Ferda had thrown far more spheres than Vernel had.
Vernel looked up at him.
His eyes widened.
’B-Blood... from his nose!’
The meaning of a mage suffering a nosebleed while casting magic was simple.
’Overload!’
A phenomenon that occurred when a mage poured their entire mind into a single task.
It appeared when someone pushed far beyond the limits of their own abilities.
’At this rate, he’ll suffer Mana Burnout...!’
In the worst-case scenario, it could leave a mage crippled for life, incapable of performing even the simplest magical calculations.
’He came here without even a staff... just as I thought...’
A mage’s staff served as a tool to assist in shaping Mana.
Ferda was performing every calculation with nothing but his own mind, without any such aid.
Overload was inevitable.
If he was bleeding from the nose, someone needed to stop him immediately.
"Vernel."
Ferda called his name in a calm voice.
"Y-Yes?"
"Focus."
Vernel’s confusion disappeared the instant he heard those words.
’That’s right... stay calm. If someone with the Blue Circle loses his composure, then what good is he?’
It was a truly ridiculous sight.
Ferda, who possessed the Red Circle, remained perfectly calm.
Meanwhile, Vernel, who possessed the Blue Circle, was the one panicking.
’I really... wasn’t prepared at all.’
Vernel realized.
Even though I refused to abandon the project...was I ever truly prepared to stake my life on it?
’No. I wasn’t.’
I believed all I had to do was conduct my research.
I thought someone else would capture the Monsters for me, and through my studies, I would bring peace.
Ferda was risking his life for Vernel’s research.
He was even willing to face Mana Burnout, a fate that could end a mage’s entire career.
’I have to risk everything too...!’
Vernel faced the pathetic version of himself that had been cowering.
Then he used that very image as a stepping stone and leaped forward.
"Grrraaagh!"
He squeezed every last drop of Mana from his body.
He was converting even his own life force into Mana.
"Regeeent!!"
A courageous roar burst from him—something no one would have believed possible from the timid Vernel.
"Please... accept the last of my Mana!!"
A massive sphere flew toward Ferda.
"My thanks."
Ferda claimed even that sphere as his own before hurling it at the bear Monster.
KABOOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted from within the Monster’s body.
Its movements and regenerative ability finally came to a complete stop.
’What about its heart?’
If the heart had been destroyed, everything would have been for nothing.
Ferda carefully focused on the Monster’s chest.
’It’s still beating.’
It was barely clinging to life.
Its extraordinary regeneration had finally been suppressed.
"Now! Sever its tendons and bind it!"
Arwen and his subordinates charged forward and attacked the bear Monster.
At this point, it was as easy as adding a spoon to a table that had already been fully prepared.
Without a single casualty, they successfully captured the Monster alive.
While they were doing so, Ferda turned to check on Vernel.
"Are you all right?"
He asked.
Blood streamed from Vernel’s nose as violent convulsions ran through his body.
Mana Burnout had set in.
Although he was undoubtedly enduring pain that felt as though his organs were being torn apart, he was smiling.
"Haha... h-how was it... m-my... sincerity...?"
Ferda answered coldly.
"You’ve done something foolish. Risking your life like that."
"Y-Your Excellency... if you would do it... then how could I..."
...Not do the same?
Unable to finish his sentence, he lost consciousness.
Ferda carefully laid him down on the ground.
"Are you unharmed, Your Excellency?"
"Has the Monster been restrained?"
"Yes. The Monster’s condition is... stable. We’ll transport it to the castle as it is."
"Good. But there’s something more urgent first. Is there a mage in your territory?"
"Yes, there is."
Pointing at the unconscious young man lying at his feet, Ferda said,
"Take this foolish fellow and have someone replenish his Mana. Our castle is too far away, so I’ll leave him in your care."
Arwen placed a hand over his chest and nodded.
"Understood. But, Your Excellency... don’t you require first aid as well?"
"For what?"
Arwen pointed toward his own nose.
"Your nose is bleeding."
"My nose?"
Ferda wiped at it.
His fingers came away stained with blood that had already gone cold.
"I see."
Even Ferda himself had failed to notice while he had been concentrating.
Arwen took a handkerchief from inside his clothing and offered it to him.
"I’ve heard that forcing yourself to use magic can cause nosebleeds. If you’re feeling dizzy or anything of the sort, shouldn’t receiving treatment be your highest priority?"
"Ah, it’s fine."
Ferda wiped his nose with the handkerchief.
After lightly tapping it a few times, the bleeding quickly stopped.
"I may be reckless, but I’m not foolish enough to destroy my own body while fighting."
He would take risks when necessary.
But he would never gamble with his own life.
In truth, he still had enough Mana left to create about three more spheres.
"The Mana exploded, and a small pebble flew into my face. It must have struck my nose."
That was why Ferda could only find Vernel pitiful for pushing himself into Overload and throwing his own body away.
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