Chapter 53

Uwооng…!!!!

Аs sоon as Кhаn usеd thе Intеrmediate Маna Incrеase Sсrоll, аn еnоrmоus amount оf mana hе hаd nevеr fеlt bеfоrе surged uр within his bodу.

To bе рrесise, the mаna insidе Khan’s heаrt grеatly amplifiеd, аnd the mana began tо rаpidly circulatе within his dаntian.

“Sir Khаn, yоu’rе using it nоw?”

“Мaster…?”

Suddenly, Кhan immediаtеlу used the sсrоll hе had just purсhased, рrompting Byutеk аnd Sharin to аsk with strаnge еxprеssions.

“It’s not that I dоn’t trust Lilia, but I still nееd to verify it.”

“Ah…! I seе!”

“Well, it wоuld bе trоublesоme if the реrfоrmancе was рооr whеn уou rеаllу neеdеd to use it.”

At Khan’s words, the two nodded immediately in agreement.

“How is it? Among the scrolls I’ve made recently, it’s one I’m quite confident in….”

“The best.”

Khan gave the highest praise he could offer.

The vast amount of mana he felt coursing through his body right now.

Because of this mana, Khan felt that he could overwhelm any opponent he faced now.

When he opened his Status Window to check, his mana stat had increased to an absurdly high level.

◈ LV.16

◈ Khan (Lee Huseong)

◈ Mana: 270/270 + 600

◈ Talent: Magic

◈ Skills: (10★)Sage’s Heart, (8★)Growth Acceleration, (1★)Arrow, (1★)Barrier, (2★)Fire Boom, (2★)Fireball, (2★)Mirror Defense

Khan’s original mana was 270, and with the Intermediate Mana Scroll, it increased by an additional 600.

In other words, when using the Intermediate Mana Increase Scroll, Khan’s total mana became 870.

Based purely on leveling up, this was equivalent to the mana one would gain by reaching level 60, all obtained at once through a scroll.

Since Khan didn’t have much time, he immediately left the Artifact shop.

* * *

Meanwhile, Bist and Zenos were waiting for Khan, who had entered the Artifact shop.

The two noticed an unusual energy emanating from inside the shop.

“Sir Zenos, this mana…!”

“It seems something has gone wrong.”

“Huh? What do you mean, something wrong?”

“That guy… he’s not ordinary.”

“What…?! What are you suddenly talking about? His mana level is far lower than mine!”

“Can you still say that after seeing that?”

Squeak….

Zenos pointed toward the shop door opening with a slightly tense expression.

From between the doors, a man walked out, radiating an immense amount of mana.

“You’ve been tailing me since earlier. What do you want?”

“You, you… how on earth…!”

Bist had proper eyesight, so he could tell just by looking at Khan.

That Khan was emanating mana several times greater than his own.

Innate mana capacity was important, but Khan’s mana vessel wasn’t particularly large.

In fact, it was on the smaller side, so he couldn’t predict how Zenos, who was in his late 30s level-wise, would react upon seeing him.

‘This bluff needs to work.’

It seemed that not only Bist but also that mage named Zenos was somewhat surprised.

“Hmm… First, I apologize for tailing you. I should introduce myself first. I am Zenos, a mage affiliated with the Green Magic Tower.”

“I am Khan. Do you have business with me?”

“You must have heard from the mayor, but I’ve also decided to participate in this Cerberus Subjugation. Let me be direct. This Cerberus Subjugation is sufficient with just me and Bist, so please withdraw.”

“Why should we listen to you?”

“There’s another reason I sought you out. I heard you picked a fight with my cherished hubae, Bist, and severely injured him.”

“What are you talking about now?”

Khan momentarily glared at Bist standing beside Zenos, but Bist only averted his gaze.

“I’ll overlook the fact that you intentionally injured my cherished hubae, so please give up on Cerberus.”

Upon actually facing this mage named Khan, Zenos could tell precisely.

‘A mage of considerable skill, enough to conceal his mana under normal circumstances. He’s not someone to be taken lightly.’

So, he decided to use Bist this time.

In truth, he and Bist weren’t close even within the Magic Tower; Bist was just an ordinary hubae.

He had intended to ignore the letter Bist sent him, but he came because of the mention of Cerberus.

‘What happens to Bist doesn’t matter. I just need to obtain Cerberus’s Hellfire Soul.’

The mana emanating from Khan standing before him now was almost on par with Zenos’s own.

“What if I refuse?”

“If that’s the case, then unfortunately, I intend to avenge my hubae.”

Uwoong…!!

Zenos, as if unwilling to remain idle any longer, drew up his mana.

He showed his intent to use magic if his proposal was refused.

‘He’s indeed formidable.’

Khan fell into brief contemplation while observing the mana emanating from Zenos’s body.

‘Should I push harder?’

Could he win if he fought this mage named Zenos right now?

Even if he said now that Bist had actually picked the fight first, no one would believe him.

Or there was the clean option of giving up the Hidden Quest, but no matter how he thought about it, that wasn’t it.

Just as Khan was having countless thoughts flash through his mind in less than a second—

Swish!

Thud.

Suddenly, Byutek and Sharin stepped forward as if to protect Khan, gripping their weapons and shouting.

“Sir Khan! I’ll shut this arrogant mage’s mouth right now!”

“And Bist was the one who picked the fight first, wasn’t he?”

Byutek and Sharin shouted as if ready to charge at Zenos immediately, but he appeared composed.

“I take it you’re refusing the proposal. A pity.”

“…….”

“First, I should teach you some basic manners.”

Thud.

The magic primarily dealt with in the Green Magic Tower was precisely mental-type magic.

Zenos, a 2nd Circle mage with considerable authority even within the Magic Tower.

The mental-type offensive magic he used was of a considerable level.

If Zenos willed it, he could turn Byutek and Sharin into invalids.

Of course, the same applied to Khan.

‘No matter how similar his mana is to mine, he won’t be able to evade or block mental-type magic.’

Uwoong…!

As Zenos muttered something softly, magic immediately took effect on Byutek and Sharin.

“Gyaaaaaah…!!!”

“Kyaaaaah…!!!”

Byutek and Sharin clutched their heads with both hands and screamed in agony.

“What do you think you’re doing right now?”

“This is just a warning. If you refuse my proposal, I could blow your brains out right now…. Ah, of course, the same goes for you.”

“Release the magic right now.”

Khan spoke with a cold expression, but Zenos merely smiled.

‘He seems less impressive than I thought. Keuk…!’

He likely had no idea how to deal with his mental-type magic.

‘I should turn him into the same state first.’

Disliking how Khan held his head stiffly and spoke with an arrogant expression, Zenos immediately used mental-type magic on him as well.

Uwoong…!

His mana rapidly infiltrated Khan’s mind, and the magic took proper effect.

Now, he should be clutching his head and falling into agony.

But the guy was standing perfectly fine, still wearing that arrogant expression.

“Wh-what…! What did you do?!”

“……This is the final warning. If you don’t listen further, I won’t let it slide.”

“Arrogant bastard…!”

It seemed that being Rank 1 magic, it didn’t properly affect him.

“I’ll make you live as an invalid for the rest of your life!”

Under these circumstances, it seemed more comfortable to completely defeat this mage named Khan.

‘I need to finish it quickly before he counterattacks!’

So, Zenos rapidly rotated two Circles.

Uwoong…!!!!!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeng…!!

The two Circles rapidly rotated around his heart, instantly amplifying Zenos’s mana to an immense level.

Simultaneously, Zenos muttered an incantation to use Rank 3 magic.

Khan, who was watching him, appeared calmer than anyone, but inside, it was different.

‘I’m really fucked.’

Byutek and Sharin were instantly rendered combat-incapable.

Originally, he had planned to seize the initiative by using the mana scroll to intimidate them a bit.

‘Who would have thought… that his mana would be even greater than mine after using the scroll.’

His thinking was short-sighted.

Khan had thought his level after using the Intermediate Mana Scroll was equivalent to a mage in the mid-40s.

‘I momentarily forgot that this body is quite lacking in talent for mana….’

Of course, that didn’t mean he was worried.

Thump…. Thump….

His heart raced momentarily due to the suddenly urgent situation, but it was only for a brief moment.

Because of ‘Sage’s Heart,’ his mind worked with an oddly calm clarity.

[Due to ‘Sage’s Heart,’ you have become absolutely immune to mental-type attacks.]

He had already used mental-type magic once, but it absolutely did not affect Khan.

‘The scroll only has 10 seconds left now.’

With only 10 seconds remaining on the scroll’s duration, Khan also needed to make a decision soon.

It seemed the guy was muttering an incantation alone to use a big spell.

“Since you ignored the final warning, I take it you’re saying it’s okay to kill you?”

“With my will, I gnaw away at your mind… fall into eternal darkness…….”

Even amidst this, he was reciting the incantation.

“That will be your last words.”

“Sh-shut up! You should be the one spouting last words!”

Bist, who had been standing quietly beside Zenos, shouted with a triumphant expression.

Amidst this, Khan was already rapidly rotating the Circle in his heart.

‘Pour all the mana into using the skill at once…!’

There were several differences between Hidden Skills and regular skills, but Hidden Skills increased in power proportionally to the amount of mana used.

Of course, depending on the Hidden Skill’s rank, there was a limit to how much mana could be used, but for his Rank 2 Hidden Skill ‘Fireball,’ he could use up to 500 mana.

Khan immediately used the skill with 500 mana.

Uwoong…!!!!!!

[Skill ‘Fireball’ has been used.]

Whoooooosh…!!!!

Then, an enormous fireball with a diameter of 10 meters formed above Khan’s hand.

An overwhelming size that seemed capable of melting everything around it.

‘Insane…! Was he actually a flame-attribute mage? With this level, he must be a mage of tremendous skill!’

Zenos was inwardly astonished and quickly finished reciting the incantation.

Before he knew it, he was ready to use Rank 3 magic.

[Magic ‘Curse of Death’ has been used.]

Having finished the incantation, he used mental-type magic on Khan.

‘Curse of Death’ was a magic that instantly killed opponents of a lower level than the caster.

“Hahaha, die!!”

He laughed loudly and shouted as if he had won.

Now, Khan would collapse to the ground, and the magic he used would dissipate.

If the magic caster died, the magic they used would disappear as well.

But.

“Those will be your last words. I heard them well.”

Thud.

Whoooooooooosh!!!!!

As Khan thrust his hand forward, the massive 10-meter diameter fireball engulfed Zenos’s body.