Eps 182
Infinite Mage
Eps 182 Reversal of the law (3)
As they advanced 10 meters, the smell of blood became even more intense.
Tess, whose tension was soaring, was about to tell Shirone to slow down.
Suddenly, the cave shook, and blunt pillars popped out of the wall. Not only was it fast, but its size was also enough to crush a human to death.
Shirone and his group reflexively stepped back.
When they looked at it from a distance, it became even more bizarre. Dozens of pillars jutting out from the cave walls were intersecting with each other.
"Is everyone okay? Any injuries?"
As Shirone shouted, Amy's answer was heard.
"Yeah, doesn't seem like anyone's hurt. Shirone, you?"
“I’m fine too. Could it have been a trap?”
"No. There are no signs of artificial modification in the cave. Besides, for a trap, the activation time is too fast.”
Tess was right. If it was truly intended to kill, they would have been lured to a point where they couldn't escape before the trap was triggered. However, the pillars seemed to aim at preventing access rather than outright killing.
"If it's not a trap, then what is it?"
A boy's voice came from the end of the cave.
"Identify yourselves! This time, I won't miss!"
Shirone extended the Shining magic inward.
A boy, appearing to be of similar age, was crouched down with his hands on the ground. Behind him, a strong-looking bearded man was sitting with his legs outstretched, and blood could be seen between the cracks of his fingers covering his stomach.
It was Godlock, the guide of Nors Shelter.
Godlock, who was looking at Shirone and his group, said to his disciple.
"Clove, I told you not to use Earth magic in the cave. If the ceiling collapses, we too will die.”
After hearing his master's words, Clove slowly stood up. Nevertheless, the wary in his eyes did not disappear.
From their conversation, Shirone felt familiar, as if he had come to his original world. Although he did not understand language of the Nors, the pronunciation and intonation were similar to the common language of the continent.
Canya approached them and spoke in the Nors.
"You're Nors, right? We've been looking for you."
“Hoo? Now that I look at them, I see that they’re the proud divine citizens. So, what brings Meca Race folks, who detest adventure and exploration, all the way here?"
"Well, of course, we're heading to Nors Shelter..."
Canya stopped mid-sentence and examined Godlock's condition. His mouth was smiling, but his complexion was pale.
Blood was flowing from his stomach.
It was strange. How could one get injured in the Valley of Whirlwind Serpent, where there is only one law?
"Are you hurt? Could it be the Whirlwind Serpent..."
"No, it's not the law. We were attacked by the Kerugo."
The word Kerugo caught the ears of Shirone and his group. They thought they misheard at first, but as Canya lifted the Nors's language to the surface, their conversation started to get translated.
“Kerugo? You mean they came all the way here to hunt?”
"This place isn't inhabited by heretics, so there's nothing to hunt. Seems they targeted us intentionally. Luckily, I avoided a fatal wound, but continuous bleeding is problematic."
Shirone interjected in their conversation.
"Did you just say Kerugo? What did they do?"
"Kerugo is also one of the divine citizen races. The Valley of Whirlwind Serpent is a safe place because monsters do not live here, but it is a route often taken by heretics to get to Nors Shelter. Such places inevitably attract other hunters."
"So, Kerugo hunt heretics, then."
"They'll catch up to us soon. They're good at tracking. And they even use giant's technology. Like Tess, smelling their way here isn't a problem for them."
Shirone guessed that the giant's technology was Schema. If so, it was not the time to talk here.
Arin attempted telepathy directly with the Nors people.
“Can you take us to Nors Shelter?”
Godlock and Clove's expressions turned absurd. Even though the language was obviously unintelligible, the meaning was understood automatically.
"What are these kids? A fairy's ability?"
“No, they are from the earth’s kingdom. Use magic like you do. Actually, it may be a little different, but I think they’re a descendant of the Nors.”
Canya packaged it so that the Nors could accept Shirone and his group as friendly as possible. Entering the Nors community, even just a bit, was the best option for survival in Purgatory.
"So, what, they're imitations?"
Clove's gaze towards Shirone's group turned disdainful.
The Nors were known for their curiosity, and as such, they were the most law-breaking race in heaven. As a result, they were more aware of the forbidden secrets than the Meca people.
The same was true for the kingdom of the earth.
It is said that the kingdom of earth is a shadow imitating the kingdom of heaven, which is a perfect world. Therefore, humans living there were nothing but imitations created in the image of heaven's humans.
In Clove's opinion, Shirone and the others was even less than anything in heaven. This is because the gap between Nors and imitations was as vast as that between the creator and the creation.
"We're imitations? What's that supposed to mean?"
Ignoring Shirone's words, Clove pointed to the backpacks laid against the wall.
"Hey, you. Come here and carry these. One each."
There was no need to go through Initial State. Clove's tone filled with contempt. Amy, infuriated by his arrogant posture and tone, snapped.
"Why should we carry your stuff?"
"It's obvious, isn't it? Because we have to escape."
"So why do we have to carry that stuff?"
“Because you are imitation. Wouldn’t you be here without us? Of course, you should follow us with a grateful heart.”
Clove seemed to take it for granted that Shirone's group should obey their orders.
At the same time, he nonchalantly touched Amy's hair, flaring his nostrils as if sizing her up.
"Not bad for an imitation. Why don't you come into my house? Don't you want to live safely in Purgatory?"
Amy's eyes narrowed.
Divine citizen and imitation, such issues can be overlooked as this is the way of thinking of this place. However, making unwelcome physical contact with a woman's body was vile, regardless of heaven's standards.
"Get your hands off. I can send you flying if I need to."
"Haha! You, against me? Well, since you're imitations, I guess you can use some magic. But it won't work on me."
“Stop it, Clove.”
Clove, sensing the anger in his master's voice, stepped back.
Only then did he feel the atmosphere of this place. Shirone and the others were glaring with murderous intent in their eyes.
"What? What are you going to do by staring at me?”
“Clove, we don't have time. Are you trying to leave me to die here?"
Clove, realizing his teacher's injury, hurriedly helped Godlock up. Then, leaning on his disciple's shoulder, Godlock apologized on behalf of Clove.
"I'm sorry. It seems there was a problem with how we responded, as it's my first time seeing imitations. Anyway, you are humans too, right? I am Godlock. It looks like we need to leave this place now. Would you mind helping us? It seems like you came here looking for Nors Shelter as well. We can guide you there."
Godlock acted more like a magician should. Apologizing in front of his disciple wasn't easy, but whether imitations or whatever, cooperation was essential for survival.
Shirone and his group also decided that it would be dangerous to stay for a long time, so they carried their backpacks without making a fuss.
They arrived at the place where the pillars, which are Clove's work, are intertwined.
Clove, who was supporting Godlock, had to sweat for a long time trying to escape.
Amy snorted. Not only was it satisfying to see someone caught by her magic, but if they couldn't anticipate such things, she thought that their intelligence was lacking.
Shirone was not focused on Clove but was pondering the magic he had cast.
The magic that caused pillars to emerge from the walls was violent and dynamic. However, using it in the way he knew would be highly inefficient. (벽에서 기둥이 나오는 마법은 과격하면서도 역동적이었다. 하지만 자신이 아는 방식으로 이것을 구사하려면 굉장히 비효율적이란 생각이 들었다.)
Perhaps the mechanisms of ancient magic were different. With that in mind, Shirone asked Godlock.
“But what is this magic?”
Clove burst out in a disparaging laugh and interrupted the answer.
"Haha! What, you can't do it? This is absurd. Earth magic is the most basic of basics.”
As he said that, he winked one eye at Amy.
"I could teach you, though."
"No thanks. I don't want to make my friends suffer."
Clove's face turned red at the sarcastic remark about the situation a moment ago.
Godlock was also curious about Shirone's magic. Being an imitation yet wielding unusual magic.
As far as he knew, the sphere of light that Shirone had on his hand was magic that was impossible to implement here. This is because the caves belonged to the realm of darkness.
Unless he had a contract with a light spirit, but given the inactivity, that seemed unlikely.
"Well, it's hard to explain. You don't use this magic, do you?"
"We have magic utilizing the earth's properties, but not one where pillars shoot out in a cave."
"It might be a different principle then. We borrow the power residing in nature to cast our magic. Fire magic in a place with fire, water magic where there's water. The reason why Clove used earth magic is the same. Though, it seems he didn't consider the risk of collapse."
"No, Master. It was really urgent then."
Clove made an excuse, but Shirone and the others wasn't even listening. They couldn't afford to worry about other people's nonsense because they was talking through Physic Channels.
- It is magic that utilize the power of nature. It's quite unique.
- It had quite a bit of destructive power. The magic cast by the guy named Clove would have been quite difficult in the original world. Still, he did it easily. Despite being such a fool.
Amy added to Canis’s words.
- There are other benefits to borrowing the power of nature other than its strength. It is the ability to handle multiple elements. Unlike us, who specialize and train in one area.
Arin pointed out the shortcomings.
- But I think there are aspects where it lacks versatility. They are bound by the environment. They can't cast magic if the desired attribute isn't around.
Summarizing the characteristics of ancient magic, it's broad, powerful, and capable of wielding various elements. On the other hand, environmental restrictions were severe, and in some cases, there was room for the magic itself to be sealed.
The magic of the Heaven and the magic of the earth. Which one is more efficient was still an issue that couldn't be prematurely judged.
After leaving the cave, Canya looked back at Godlock and asked.
“But where is Nors Shelter?”
"I can't tell that to Meca Race. At least just know that it's not here. I have to go with magic, but that's impossible here. Follow me."
Just then, Lena, having received a signal from the drone, checked her retinal vision and shouted,
"Sister! We’re in big trouble!”
Canya also closed one eye to receive the information transmitted by the drone. A group of people was approaching at high speed from a valley not far away.
“Gosh, it’s Kerugo! We need to move fast!"
A look of resignation appeared in Godlock's eyes.
"It's no use. We're already too late. Their sense of smell is incredibly sharp. They've caught the scent of blood."
There hasn't even been a sound of approaching yet. Nevertheless, the fact that they smelled blood meant that at least one of the group was an expert in the Sensory System.
"What do we do? What should we do, Master?"
Clove asked, stomping his feet in distress.
There was no way that Godlock had a clever idea.
According to Lena, there were roughly twenty pursuers. Godlock was injured and Clove lacked actual combat experience. If a confrontation occurred like this, there would be total annihilation.
"How about we do this?"
Everyone's eyes were focused on Shirone.
@
The Kerugo cavalry, mounted on black horses, galloped across the creek.
Wearing red armor reflecting the sun, their eyes sparkled like famous swords that had just been drawn from a blacksmith shop.
The captain of the pursuing team raised his hand to halt their approach as they arrived at the cave.
"Stop! They're in the cave!"
Led by the captain, the twenty followers halted. A woman with a ponytail rode up next to the captain.
|Note
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