"It's hard."
Dylan grimaced, finding it difficult to proceed.
"They're waiting to ambush me as soon as I approach the power plant wall," he muttered.
Eden, on the other hand, was channeling the remaining power, funneling it into two swirling vortexes with the force of hundreds of electric currents.
Both the gang members and the soldiers were likely eradicated, as he displayed no hesitation in utilizing wide-range magic.
Ironically, the only way to evade this thunderous onslaught in the current predicament was to charge directly into the power plant.
However, it was highly improbable that Eden hadn't anticipated this or made preparations for it.
In fact, there were several freelancers who couldn't bear the agony and hurled themselves into the power plant, only to scream their last and never be seen again.
It was evident that he had set a trap.
Lennok swiftly surveyed his surroundings.
Other team members, including Killian, seemed convinced that scaling the power plant wall was the only option. They assigned Agria to keep Eden at a distance and appeared ready to rush in themselves.
It was clearly a reckless decision.
‘I feel like I'll know something if I watch a bit more…'
A sensation tingled in his chest, but he knew he had to act swiftly before it was too late to retreat.
If Eden's motive for buying time extended beyond merely safeguarding the power facility, if there was an undisclosed agenda, Lennok couldn't guarantee victory.
Determined, he swiftly retrieved something from his pocket.
Five Fingers of Enakphil, prepaid by Dyke.
He contemplated using the fifth finger right here, right now.
"I’ll climb up and distract him, then leap in that gap. Understand?"
"…Is that even feasible?"
Lennok remained silent.
If it were Dylan, he would follow Lennok's plan seamlessly.
With that in mind, Lennok retrieved his revolver from his waist while simultaneously snapping the old pencil in his hand.
In an instant, the pencil disintegrated into dust and vanished, and the latent magic enshrouding Lennok's body surged to life.
It was the movement-based arcane magic known as [Blink], embedded within the fifth finger.
Pow!
A peculiar sensation, as if space around him had been sliced and stitched back together.
It was the most advanced form of movement magic, capable of teleporting the user a considerable distance without directly affecting their physical body.
If he could remember this sensation and replicate it without the aid of a tool, he would truly master this pinnacle-level movement magic one day.
The thought lingered, but the sensation was instantaneous.
In the blink of an eye, Lennok materialized in front of Eden, having leaped tens of meters, and squeezed the trigger of his revolver.
[Aim Correction]
[Firepower Reinforcement]
[Trajectory Control]
[Impact Explosion]
[Rapid Fire Correction]
[High-Speed Shooting]
If he missed the target now, there would be no second chance.
He braced himself for the revolver to shatter as he fired the six types of shooting support magic, unleashing a rapid barrage of bullets from the chamber.
Tatatatatang!!!
The six rounds erupted right before Eden.
They were enchanted bullets infused with special magic.
If they connected, they could breach a wizard's defenses and inflict significant damage.
However, to Lennok's surprise, Eden didn't attempt to block the gunfire. Instead, he reacted in an entirely unexpected manner.
Whooong!!
Transforming his body into a bolt of lightning, Eden allowed the bullets to streak harmlessly past him.
He reappeared a few meters behind, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"A remarkable move. Such a shame…"
"…….."
"That Blink was undoubtedly powered by an artifact, wasn't it? Once I dispose of you, that tool will be ?!!!!"
Kwakwakwakwang!!!
Before Eden could finish speaking, a series of explosions erupted from behind him.
Startled, Eden turned his head and witnessed the amplifier in complete ruins.
And then, as he caught sight of Lennok's intentions, a ferocious expression twisted his face.
From the beginning, the bullets fired by Lennok were not aimed at Eden but at the power facilities that enhanced his abilities.
The [Ignite] magic imbued within the bullets wasn't intended to kill Eden, but rather to swiftly demolish the amplifiers.
A wizard wouldn't easily fall for an attack they encountered for the first time.
With an intuitive yet piercing first strike, Eden swiftly lost the supporting power facilities.
Rage contorted Eden's cheeks.
"You son of a bitch…!!"
"I don't understand why you're so surprised now."
Lennok twirled his revolver as he spoke.
"Because the wizards I've encountered weren't like you."
Thud!
Observing the damage on the cylinder, Lennok promptly let the revolver slide off the tip of his index finger and onto the ground.
Six rounds of shooting-assist magic. Considering the countless battles he had fought without concern for durability, it was a marvel that the weapon had held up this long.
He had acquired the weapon at a bargain from Gun and Barrel and had certainly made good use of it.
In this moment, facing a fellow wizard, he should be more than capable even without the aid of a weapon.
Lennok's brief taunt appeared to strike a nerve as Eden's bloodshot eyes glared at him.
Eden, grinding his teeth, muttered under his breath.
"If you had killed Beck, then maybe you'd have reason to boast. But this… this isn't enough…!!"
Fwoosh!
The amplifiers shattered into fragments, releasing a shower of hundreds of lightning bolts into the air.
Both wizards faced each other, extending their powers, catching the remnants of the vibrant blue lightning that scattered in all directions.
They clashed.
Kwaaaang!!
A maelstrom of electrifying energy surged around the two figures, and Lennok and Eden simultaneously swung their hands.
The surging currents of lightning collided like tumultuous waves. The opposing forces clashed and pulsated in the midst of it all.
The rooftop of the power plant radiated with brilliance, searing away the lingering flames on the ground, casting their radiance into the arid sky.
Kwaaaaaaaa!!
The two thunderstorms still swirling in the heavens fused into a luminous blue sphere, seemingly drawn into Eden's grasp.
Whiiing!!
The swirling lightning within his hand spun so rapidly that it appeared to move in slow motion.
Like a miniature star, it emitted an icy glow. Eden overlapped his hands, extending the glowing sphere before him, content with its brilliance.
[Roaring Thunder]
The counter-flow of lightning transformed into a blinding flash, defying gravity, illuminating the horizon.
[Thunder Calling]
In response, Lennok summoned a bolt of lightning from the sky, bringing it crashing down before him.
Zeeeeong!!
Two streams of magic clashed in the frigid winter air, distorting space and rending the ground with an eerie sound.
The rooftop quivered with the impact, and both wizards staggered simultaneously.
It was a clash between common lightning magic and unique magic.
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't have been a fair match, but the power of lightning that Lennok had diligently studied and developed had already transcended the limitations of common magic.
After a brief confrontation, Lennok's flickering lightning surprisingly intertwined and vanished alongside Eden's magic.
Eden's eyes bulged as he witnessed the dissipating storm of electricity.
"This… This doesn't make sense. How could my Roaring Thunder be so easily…!"
Even in his horrified state, the instincts of a wizard kicked in, and his hands moved swiftly.
He knew it too well.
If he failed to eliminate Lennok here, he would be surrounded and killed by his comrades who were scaling the power plant.
The desperate will to survive summoned the scattered lightning once again, conjuring another miracle to defy reality.
Undeterred, Lennok continued without pause, harnessing his mana.
This was his first encounter with a wizard of such caliber, particularly one of the same lightning affinity, in a life-or-death situation.
He couldn't afford to let his guard down even for a moment.
With a cigarette clamped between his teeth, he released his mana in a low, forward trajectory.
Lennok's mana transformed into frigid white frost in mid-air, swiftly taking the form of an ice horn crashing down upon Eden, while a fiery spear aimed diagonally at him.
Kwagwagwang!!
However, the radiant shockwave emitted by Eden in response swept away Lennok's spells and fragmented into dozens of tendrils, ensnaring Lennok in their grasp.
Without a word, Lennok cast a spell at his own feet.
[Sink Hole]
Kwang!!
The rooftop of the power plant crumbled, and Lennok descended downward.
The wayward net of lightning, having missed its target, lingered aimlessly above the spot where Lennok had stood.
[Flame Buster]
The column of fire that Lennok unleashed instantly engulfed the rooftop in flames.
Kwaaaaaaaa!!
The roof of the power plant shattered open like a lid being unscrewed, and Eden, having lost his footing, inevitably plummeted into the chaotic lower level.
The two wizards locked eyes across the dilapidated hallway, covered in grime and dust.
Eden was the first to speak.
"You manipulate different elements… Who are you aligned with?"
His tone now held a hint of caution.
Having recognized Lennok's capabilities from their recent exchange, Eden's attitude had shifted.
Lennok responded nonchalantly, "I'll reveal that just before I kill you."
Eden offered no reply, his face contorting with anger.
Kwaaaaang!!
Simultaneously, the waves of lightning from both wizards clashed in mid-air.
Their hands moved with grace, akin to conductors directing a grand orchestra. Dozens of magic circles rose and fell, filling the air with a cacophony of sounds.
Eden's concentrated mass of lightning exploded outward, overpowering Lennok, who focused his shield to deflect the assault. In retaliation, Lennok employed a shock spell, causing debris from the shattered rooftop to pummel down onto Eden's head.
The trap spell, [Claymore], carefully positioned beneath Eden's feet, detonated, colliding with Eden's electric shield. Simultaneously, a colossal spear of lightning materialized from the heavens, swirling and dancing above Lennok's head.
Zzzzhh!!
Both wizards strained, channeling their mana while enduring the cacophony of destruction that yearned for their mutual downfall.
Lennok twisted his head, bearing the deafening tinnitus with fortitude.
A razor-sharp bolt of lightning crackled dangerously close.
Had he not maintained his sharp sense of mana detection, meticulously observing every movement, it wouldn't have been surprising if he were instantaneously impaled through the forehead.
His opponent proved to be formidable.
Yet, in Lennok's eyes, which remained fixed on Eden, a barely discernible excitement flickered.
Experiencing, for the first time, the true essence of unique lightning magic.
In the face of it all, something within Lennok appeared to stir awake.
Dazzling, yet solemn. Cryptic, yet lethal.
It possessed an air of dignity, beauty, and grandeur.
The potent flow and rotation of mana, akin to playing a weighty piano, and its accelerating rhythm reverberated within Lennok's heart by mere observation.
‘…I want to see more.'
In the midst of a ferocious battle where a single misstep could cost him his life, ironically, Lennok's singular thought was just that.
The intricacies of unique magic, knowledge unattainable from any other source.
The culmination of researchers' obsessions, forsaking versatility to delve deeper into a singular wellspring.
As Eden contorted his face and extended his mana towards Lennok, the mental image within him began to grow translucent.
In that moment, Lennok's latent talent, unintentionally suppressed until now, began to infuse meaning into everything.
Yes, it seemed he had finally comprehended.
The answer to the question he had pondered for so long, the one he had relentlessly pursued with unwavering determination.
What is lightning magic?
He pierced through.
Kwaaaaaaaa!!
Amidst the torrential deluge of blue assaults, Lennok summoned a modest bolt of lightning.
Compared to the overwhelming firepower that loomed above, it appeared feeble, a pitiful counterattack.
Whizzzzzz!!
Yet, miraculously, the slender streak of lightning discharged from Lennok's grasp burrowed its way into Eden's intricate mana structure, severing all sources of power and shattering its form.
The maelstrom of lightning that had surged toward Lennok's neck mere moments ago dissipated like dissipating fog, leaving only the indomitable will behind.
It took a mere three seconds for the lightning to pierce Eden's shoulder, leaving him bewildered in its wake.
Eden's comprehension of the inconceivable reality, followed by his ensuing rage, took considerably longer.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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