Chapter 507 – Stage of Persuasion (3)
The three whom Osgar referred to, were none other than the Three Sages of the Society, and to sum up what he meant by a magic duel was this.
Come forth.
Let's clash.
Instead of trying to persuade with complicated words against Grave, Alderneys, and the other six mages, it was an extremely efficient proposal, to convince them through action.
'Hm, it's not that I haven't thought of it myself.'
Verden restrained himself from saying it aloud, leaving it only as a thought.
How could he put it into words.
In front of everyone, to use the sages as sacrificial lambs and overwhelm them, proving himself as Dahit Wethroel's rival... Verden, bound by his own sense of dignity, could not bring himself to say such a thing.
Of course, if the proposal came from the other side first, that was another matter.
"Are you serious?"
"Most of the people present have not directly 'witnessed' your current strength. I believe this is a good opportunity."
To Verden's question, the Sage of Wisdom, Melard, replied calmly.
"We will show you our 'full power'."
As the leaders of the Society and their greatest strength, they would now reveal their hidden might.
For mages whose field of magic and development of Mado were barely revealed, this was a heavy decision.
The more they concealed, the more advantageous it was in most situations.
To reveal it meant... in other words, they intended to step further beyond the current bounds of cooperation with Verden.
"You could have told me this beforehand."
"We had no choice. It was truly after much deliberation until the very end, that we arrived at this. Anyway, the conclusion is this. If what you strive to achieve also encompasses our own will, then why would there be any reason for us to part ways midway."
Nearby, the Sage of Guardianship, Medrant, added with a gaze. It was the conclusion reached after watching Verden as the Society until now.
It was not Osgar's unilateral decision, but clearly an agreement among the three.
Verden recalled the ultimate goal the Society sought.
Did it overlap with his own ideals? The answer came immediately.
Yes.
Therefore, there was no reason to hesitate.
"I accept."
Verden summoned [Interis] from subspace, and began to walk forward.
Isabella, as if to send him off, lightly lifted the hem of her robe and offered a graceful courtesy, and Adrian, who had just returned, also willingly bowed his head.
With that, Heras, Opea, and all mages of the Society involved naturally parted to the sides.
"W, wait, senior and the sages are going to duel in magic? Really?"
"Finally, we'll get to see senior's true power."
Cain and Unia, who for various reasons had never been able to spar with him, whispered from behind.
Their eyes were filled with curiosity and excitement.
'What....'
Grave, who had tested Adrian and Isabella, took a deep breath. An inexplicable pressure weighed down upon his chest. He, along with the six defeated, unconsciously stepped back.
Verden, passing through the neatly opened path, climbed atop one of the many hills of the Rages Plateau and turned his gaze forward.
The grand scenery was captured in his blue eyes.
'It's vast enough, I won't have to worry about collateral damage.'
It was all land anyway, and later, with
A perfect place for a magic duel.
As soon as Verden signaled acceptance, the sages were already positioned below, on the wide plain between the hills of the plateau.
'Looks like they've prepared properly.'
Like them, Verden had never directly experienced the power of his allies, and so with a relaxed air, he descended the cliff.
Alderneys's eyes began to waver as he watched Verden's back.
Medrant Keden, though the master of Ostea Magic Tower, ranked lowest among towers, was nonetheless one of the Ten Tower Masters.
Osgar Fargon, once known throughout the Arnak Empire as a monster whose strength ranked among the top two of its Six Lords.
Melard Tastienne, among the earliest members, was the most balanced figure. Not vague, but balanced in the positive sense.
She was a mighty Magus, deeply versed in both black magic and elemental magic.
'Every one of them, in realm and all else, stand at the absolute pinnacle of the magical world. And yet, he intends to face them alone?
There are only two possibilities for that.
Among the countless mages born from the hierarchical system of magic created by the first tower, he is an exceptionally powerful one...
Or, he has transcended humanity.
'Could it be, a Transcendent...?'
Alderneys's mind raced, approaching that unlikely answer when it happened.
Tak.
Verden touched the ground.
On the Rages Plateau, the three sages and the Divinity confronted each other.
***
Verden's overall magical ability specialized in destruction.
Naturally, the process of incapacitating an opponent involved physical shock.
Unless he deliberately held back, like in his first fight against Dahit, Osgar or Medrant might be able to endure somewhat, but...
"Will you be alright?"
Melard's body was frail, due to the aftereffects of an old injury. Compared to her realm, her resistance was weakened, and she could not even walk.
She admitted.
"To be honest, I am not alright. Even sustaining 3rd-tier magic,
For a mage, being unable to control distance with the opponent was a fatal flaw. Disadvantages piled upon disadvantages.
Yet, despite saying so, Melard Tastienne's expression was not dark. She relaxed, placed both hands on the arms of her wheelchair, and assumed a comfortable posture.
"Therefore, I devised my own method. And with the help of these two beside me, after long contemplation and research, I completed it. You will not be disappointed."
Melard smiled faintly.
"Believe it or not, I used to be quite something in my time."
Among the first members, the second strongest, the one who burned Adrian's organ with a deep scar—Carindin Lerhar.
Melard, when her body was whole, had been one of the top three Magi, rivaling him in equal measure.
Melard slowly closed her eyes.
Mana flowed from her heart, raced through her circuits, and overflowed outward.
Mado
It signified, the Great Waters of Rest.
Bubble bubble.
Foam rose from the ground, enveloping Melard. Falling gently, then lashing like a sudden downpour, in an instant a thick curtain of water and steam completely enclosed her.
And then.
Kwaa-drdrk!
From the parched, withered ground, something thrust upward. It was a skeleton, but not a human one.
Bones of magical beasts, animals, abnormal species, demi-humans, all tangled together into a human-shaped Undead──a Lich.
'That creature....'
It closely resembled the Arch Lich, the top Undead of 6th-tier magic, once commanded by the Fourth Servant of Glory of the Dead, Kessilus.
But aside from its overall form, details differed greatly, its body being made of water, among other distinctions.
Verden asked.
"A variant of Arch Lich?"
[As expected, your knowledge is remarkable. Even the Luas Church has few records of Arch Liches, yet you know them. Correct. Strictly speaking, it is not a natural variant, but an artificial creation of mine.]
The Arch Lich answered.
Meanwhile, Melard, submerged within the waters, remained still as if asleep.
'To protect her frail body in a cradle of water, while transferring her consciousness into that Arch Lich to overcome her physical flaws.'
Melard Tastienne.
The unique water magic she taught Ethan and Rebecca was her own creation, but her foundation was different.
At her core, Melard was a 'black magus', a master of the water element.
[Even if this body is destroyed, it will not matter, I will not be hindered.]
The Arch Lich──Melard, raised her mana, forming robe and staff. Having regained her prime, she took her stance.
Osgar stepped forward, standing at the forefront of the sages.
"...Once, I lived both as a Warlord of the Arnak Empire, and as a Sage of the Society. Much like Medrant, the current tower master. Well, eventually, as the Society grew, I relinquished my Lordship... but even if there had been no other reasons, I would have resigned regardless."
"Because of Legrit?"
"Indeed. Despite being the youngest, that child was the most promising candidate for Warlord, and I came to realize she held an astounding potential. I was certain that within half the years I had lived, she would surpass me. That is why I could pass down the title without regret. Though, her peculiar wanderlust and boundless curiosity weighed a little, no, quite heavily on my mind."
He stroked his beard.
"Since you said you've met her, you must know her strength."
"To some extent."
"In that sense, let me say just a few words."
Craack.
The ground where Osgar's staff touched screamed as it split apart.
"At the time I passed down the title of Warlord, I was stronger than Legrit. And as she grew stronger over time, so did I. Of course, my growth curve was much gentler than hers."
Anyway.
"It would be best not to underestimate me."
Fwoooosh!
In stillness, the mana circuits of Osgar, Medrant, and Melard filled to the brim. Not a shred of waste, their mana was controlled perfectly.
Recalling the battle at the Black Volcano, where he had faced three Imperial Lords and one knight of the Oath, Verden lightly spun [Interis] in his hand.
"Let's begin."
The bell of battle tolled.
At once, the three sages moved from different directions, closing in.
Having long since finished strengthening himself with imbued magic, Osgar soared into the sky, then reinforced his own mass, rushing toward Verden at tremendous speed.
"HaaaAAAAH!"
KWAaaaaAAAANG!
The moment Osgar's roar and the clash of their two staffs resounded, an earthquake struck the Rages Plateau.
***
The ground, unable to withstand the shockwaves, eroded and heaved.
On land that in an instant turned from plain to rough terrain, metallic crashes rang one after another.
Kaaang! Kaang! Kagagagagak!
Osgar swung his staff, infused with mana to the limit, in dazzling arcs. Between strikes, gravity and flame mixed into spells that crushed and scorched all around.
'As expected of a former Warlord.'
His fundamentals resembled Legrit's, yet his own battle style was distinct. Movements focused more on offense and counters than defense.
Piercing through his motions and responding, Verden suddenly spun.
Crack.
The lower end of his staff pierced through Osgar's opening, smashing into his side.
Immediately after, [Interis], concentrated with mana through
Though Osgar barely blocked, he could not wholly nullify the impact. A fitting reaction should follow, but...
Claaang!
Unfazed, Osgar unleashed a fierce counteroffensive.
Faster, stronger, with each passing moment.
Not an illusion, but truly growing stronger second by second.
"Is that your Mado?"
"They call it the Mado of Decisive Battle."
Mado
The moment he opened it, Osgar accumulated, through magic, both the shock he inflicted and the physical damage he received, then inverted it to enhance his own overall ability.
Until the battle was decided.
'A simple but formidable Mado.'
Just as Verden thought so and moved to press Osgar down with brute force—
Klang.
Several overlapping mana barriers formed, blocking between Verden and Osgar. Not even a crack from a single blow—its durability was formidable.
Verden cast a glance to the side.
There was Medrant, keeping distance, staff aimed.
'So this is the fabled art of Ostea Tower's master, Medrant Keden....'
Mado
With his uniquely high mana cohesion, Medrant had created a pure, original magic by building upon basic spells.
His defensive magic was famous throughout the magical world.
Kwagwagwagwagwagwagwa!
From the rear, countless drops of water poured, exploding in midair. Their chained detonations formed a single torrential stream.
With a spatial shockwave, Verden scattered the water's flow and slowly raised the level.
His power, tempered by his duel with Dahit, was different now, yet the synergy was evident.
The Sage of Power attacked.
The Sage of Wisdom supported.
The Sage of Guardianship defended.
The synergy of the three sages, staying true to their roles, was not merely one plus one. Two became four, four became eight—seamless harmony.
With their years together, they knew one another's abilities well.
'Their magical linkage is far sharper than the Imperial Lords'.'
Had it been before his transcendence, Verden would have found them a difficult match.
Kaang!
Clashing against Verden's staff, Osgar held in a test of strength and spoke.
"As you know, to form and maintain an organization, there must be a core. The Society here, Black Hour, your own faction. Each pursues different aims. Thus, a unifying axis is needed. That axis is mighty power."
"..."
"Show it without restraint. Show us your transcendence."
Osgar was demanding that he truly display the realm of transcendence.
"If you wish."
Mado
As Verden opened his second Mado, his blue mana transformed into a crimson-black hue. A fierce, chilling wave burst forth.
And then.
[Interis], charged with the lightning of Destruction, crashed forth. In a single instant, Medrant's mana barrier was shattered to pieces, and it bore down on Osgar.
"Ah? Wait a moment."
This wasn't the Mado he had used against Unia and Cain before, was it?
Startled, Osgar asked for a pause, but it was already too late.
KWAaaaaAAAAANG!
With a thunderous roar, Osgar was blasted away, piercing through the hills of the plateau.
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