Silent Magus

Just as Pernok promised.

He succeeded at coating all 20 conduits in exactly a fortnight.

Moreover, each time he coated, his complexion grew lively and his drifting mana became pure.

‘Mana manipulation speed quickened.’

When Ruin first saw Pernok, his mana was drifting enough to reveal he was a mage.

But now the rough feeling had changed smoothly.

‘Though I taught the method, his talent immediately absorbing and making it his own is abnormal.’

Ruin was also called a genius, but Pernok exceeded that.

Pleased his possibilities were extraordinary was brief as Ruin smiled bitterly.

‘It’s a shame that he’s physical enhancement type magic.’

Bodies ultimately tire.

The more mana granted, they can’t withstand the load and collapse.

Physical enhancement type Magi always showed limits, so even with outstanding talent they couldn’t become the best.

Ruin felt that point regrettable.

‘If only he’d been born with at least area magic.’

If weapons besides physical enhancement were given, Pernok’s genius might dominate the world.

‘First, I should teach methods to draw his possessed weapon to its limits.’

He had no intention of ending this lesson merely at mana acceleration level.

Ruin wouldn’t let Pernok finish at just handling mana within himself.

“Good. You seem sufficient to handle conduit work alone. By chance, weren’t there any questions while working?”

“Can ordinary mages do this much?”

“Hehehe, even level 5 mages might not handle conduit work. Simply having high mana quantity doesn’t mean easily accomplishing this process. Do you know why?”

“Because understanding of mana is insufficient.”

“Yes. Most regard mana as merely magic’s driving force. They treat it as fuel, focusing only on consuming and filling.”

Like Pernok before meeting Ruin.

“Academy mana operation methods don’t escape this cycle either. But think about it. Is the reason mages are blessed truly because of innate magic?”

“It would differ by case.”

“Excluding some special magic, a mage’s greatest blessing lies in handling this mana.”

When Pernok absorbed one-time magic too, he combined mana with Ataka to birth Mana Reinforcement.

He’d regarded mana as merely adding strength or supplementing parts the body couldn’t do like a weapon.

“Everyone thinks magic comes first and mana is secondary. The order is reversed. Because they’re born with mana, it converts to magic. Therefore mana is important. For instance, adding magic to solidly condensed mana is far stronger than overlaying magic on soft mana. The reason low-level mages occasionally defeat high-level mages lies here.”

“You’re saying the difference between refined energy and simply gathered energy?”

“Didn’t you personally interfere with and handle the conduit’s enormous flow. We call that mana domination.”

The moment Ruin’s eyes flashed, Pernok felt his body sucked into a giant swamp.

‘This is…’

Mana Reinforcement won’t activate.

Mana clearly existed in his body, but Ruin’s mana was crushing the force trying to burst out.

“No need to forcibly complete forms with magic. Mana…”

“Unlike magic, because it’s utilized as an energy source from the start, your and my mana have the same foundation. Therefore you can interfere with my mana like this?”

“…As expected, your understanding is quick. Correct. Mana can mutually interfere. We call this mana ‘densification.'”

Dense concentration mana becomes heavy energy source crushing weak concentration mana.

“The opponent needs time raising mana and magic activation delays. We call this mana domination or interference, and all Magi utilize this as basic foundation.”

Theory not worth Pernok’s level learning.

However, Ruin believed Pernok would master mana domination.

‘Understanding of mana is high like Magi who pursued only mana for decades. Even now he’s grasping most of my explanation.’

Even mastering mana domination, Pernok couldn’t immediately beat high-level mages.

But if he perfectly embodied this theory, Pernok could definitely gain advantage in fights among equals.

“Isn’t this kind of mana operation among those who mastered mana simply wasting strength?”

Pernok’s doubt was valid.

Because he thought mana quantity spread to attempt mana domination consumed far more than the defending side.

But Ruin regarded this simple battle of strength naturally.

“Magus-level magic is like disaster. War’s situation changes according to who activates magic faster. What about confrontation situations then.”

“Even meaningless strength waste is profit if it can just grab the opponent’s ankle?”

“I prepare magic together simultaneously with attempting mana domination. The opponent gains an unnecessary process of having to activate magic after shaking off mana domination.”

“A brief gap appears.”

“Perhaps one second. Though it’s merely an instant shorter, I gain momentary advantage over the opponent. That eternity-like instant determines victory or defeat. The reason Magus battles are called time battles is precisely this.”

“The key is simultaneously progressing mana domination and magic activation.”

“That’s why mana domination is important. You must be able to activate unconsciously.”

Pernok came to view mana through slightly different eyes.

He’d regarded it merely as means to pass through before using spiritual power, but it held more diverse possibilities than expected.

“The reason walls appear as mage levels rise lies precisely here.”

“Because high level means ability to densify mana rose that much.”

“But most mages merely boast of high levels, not knowing mana’s importance. Should I say it’s like mental state worse than children in giant bodies.”

Pernok laughed.

“You’re saying I was that level when first arriving?”

“Even now it’s similar. Though you learned methods to cultivate mana, coat bodies, and release into attribute resistance, weren’t you ignorant of the truly important core.”

“I must condense mana into strong energy source…”

“You must continue condensing work solidly each time mana arises. If you can perform even this process naturally, you will rise levels with substance completely filled, Pernok. Standing above mages of equal rank.”

Pernok sent an interested gaze.

“Will you teach the method?”

As if waiting, Ruin raised his index finger.

Only those who mastered mana could read forms created above the index finger.

“First stage. Bloom the same number as mine with mana.”

Pernok raised his index finger trying to make the same number 1. But mana coated on skin didn’t rise further.

“It’ll be difficult. Completely different from coating bodies or overlaying on weapons.”

“I should extract it and maintain form but it keeps scattering.”

“Proof concentration is shallow.”

Ruin made various numbers and letters.

“Coating is work thinly connecting mana. Low concentration doesn’t matter. But this method must condense extracted mana so it doesn’t scatter. Though extracting alone requires considerable concentration, I’ll add one more thing. Do Mana Reinforcement too.”

Trying to do both simultaneously, only familiar Mana Reinforcement spread.

“Strength concentrates on just one side.”

Pernok concentrated mana on his index finger. He condensed mana with the image of removing weak parts and gathering only the core.

Number 1 immediately completed.

Pernok immediately raised even Mana Reinforcement.

Though cold sweat flowed, he solved Ruin’s assignment.

“Is this the end?”

At Pernok’s number showing confidence, Ruin brought his index finger.

Pernok’s number that collided with Ruin’s number extinguished like a candle.

“You’re hasty. Raise concentration more.”

“Isn’t it the difference in mana quantity?”

“I’m using only mana equal to you from the start.”

Pernok bloomed mana again. This alone was remarkable achievement.

But it easily disappeared as soon as colliding with Ruin’s number.

“Don’t be deluded by outward appearance.”

However many times Pernok attempted, it was the same. He understood the principle but it didn’t work on Ruin.

“Going forward, maintain Mana Reinforcement while creating Lionic. And each time I come, we’ll have mana domination contests, so complete forms immediately anywhere.”

Ruin disappeared with a faint smile.

Pernok’s eyes continuously blooming mana on his index finger sparkled as if discovering an interesting toy.

* * *

From that day, Pernok began circulating mana at all times.

Ruin amazingly timed and came when Pernok’s mana scattered to request mana domination contests.

Pernok who’d counted to number 20 no longer clung to victory or defeat.

He lost each collision.

He wanted to analyze those reasons and make them his own as quickly as possible.

Creation requiring high concentration and mana domination contests occurred daily.

As mana consumed, it recovered quickly. And for the first time Pernok’s mana endured.

“Next form.”

As expected, Ruin proposed letter contests.

Unlike making number 1, he struggled creating forms having to bend mana.

But soon completing letters, Pernok continued colliding with Ruin using experience.

As Lionic neared completion, the time Pernok endured increased.

Numbers and letters and then small shapes—forms multiplied.

Pernok eventually withstood up to 5 collisions and Mana Reinforcement maintained with minimum mana.

“Good.”

Ruin’s star couldn’t shatter Pernok’s star.

In merely two months, Pernok’s mana concentration reached considerable level.

“From now let’s begin earnest mana domination combat.”

Ruin spurred training.

He shot mana gathered on his index finger at Pernok in bean-sized form.

Pure energy source without magic bestowed couldn’t wound Pernok.

But right after the mana bullet touched, Pernok’s Mana Reinforcement hardened. Crushed by Ruin’s mana.

“This is universal long-distance mana domination method. Make forms or spread mana on the ground to pressure opponents. I’ll face you with only this method. Since you can’t follow this immediately, proceed combat by wrapping weapons with mana to dominate contacted opponents’ mana.”

Pernok wordlessly transformed the artifact to glove form.

“Combat ends the moment Mana Reinforcement breaks.”

The moment Ruin raised his index finger, Pernok shot forward.

Physical ability risen through Mana Reinforcement caused afterimages trying to crush Ruin’s crown.

Thwack!

Pernok withdrew while holding his shoulder.

Clearly 10 meters of distance remained.

As mana inside his body seemed to disappear, he was pushed back colliding with something.

“Did you see?”

“No, not at all.”

“If you crossed my barrier you should have seen it though?”

“That method doesn’t help training.”

He deliberately didn’t activate the Observation Eye.

Because if entrusting everything to abilities during precious teachings, skill would stagnate.

“Your attitude of exploration isn’t bad. To give one hint as praise, you can change forms in various ways while shooting mana bullets. That doesn’t affect the body and instead delays magic.”

“Mana domination’s various forms. I understand what you mean.”

At Pernok spreading mana thinly, Ruin smiled faintly.

‘Flexible thought conversion. Hehe, feels like facing veteran soldiers more experienced than me.’

Ruin didn’t move a single step from that spot.

Pernok desperately clung trying to cut down Ruin.

But 10 meters, 20 meters… he began pushed back increasingly.

‘Did my body dull.’

Continuous death matches as soon as reviving.

The body not relying on the Observation Eye was more feeble than expected.

Thanks to that, Pernok could objectify his current level.

‘Dominate mana with mana. Then if I concentrate mana on my fist and slam extremely condensed strikes into that wall?’

Pernok roughly kicked the ground and displayed fierce charge like just now.

Though it looked reckless, Ruin nodded.

“Good.”

When his fist struck empty air, something shattered apart.

It was mana barriers Ruin erected.

Each time forcibly passing through low concentration, Pernok’s mana was inhibited forcibly releasing Mana Reinforcement.

Having broken through that cause, Pernok’s momentum should normally increase more.

But Pernok stopped again 10 meters ahead.

“Barriers and mana bullets.”

When he noticed, Ruin’s mana bullet had already pierced Pernok’s abdomen.

Mana dwelling in the glove disappeared without trace.

‘If we’re sparring with mana quantity set equal and the difference is this much…’

When facing Magi in Illumina Kingdom, the match might be decided instantly.

Pernok explored mana’s new possibilities while continuously embodying the good experience this training brought.

* * *

Ruin watched Pernok.

What desires were hidden within him who created Lionic, reorganized the castle’s functions, and grew frighteningly.

‘He even possesses fitting qualifications.’

Ruin also knew why Pernok faithfully engaged in training.

Not merely because of growth.

The aspect of building trust with Ruin ran deeper.

‘Did god not yet abandon alchemy.’

A meeting that came to him who only awaited death.

A benefactor of extraordinary talent who earnestly desired him.

Ruin closed his eyes tightly.

‘My last given opportunity…’

It was time to choose.