Chapter 280
“You mean casting six types of magic at once?”
In response to Zeke’s question, Zeros nodded and rewound the three-dimensional image.
“Yes, I’ll show you slowly. Actually, what’s remarkable about Dragon Speech magic is not just the ‘free casting of spells’, but the incredible combination of magic attributes that can be linked.”
Zeros explained each magic spell that unfolded in an instant.
“What’s visible are electric, freezing, and flame magic, but actually, auxiliary magics were applied first.”
“What kind of auxiliary magic?”
“First, a slow magic was used to reduce the knight’s speed, and when the electric magic was activated, the movement completely stopped. Next, a grease magic was applied to reduce friction and cause loss of balance, then freezing magic was used to stiffen the body, and if you look carefully, confusion magic was also applied. With the mental-type magic taking effect and flame magic added simultaneously, the target was completely incapacitated.”
“So instead of using a large magic from the beginning, you create openings with auxiliary magics and then enhance the magic’s effectiveness.”
“Exactly. Actually, even modern combat mages use such combinations, but casting magic shadowlessly is difficult, and the magic circles capable of such casting are limited, so its utilization isn’t very high. Knights would either avoid or break through such magic and quickly slice through with a sword SWISH-SWASH.”
Zeke nodded at Zeros’ explanation.
On the battlefield, combat mages’ role was to use wide-area skills that could damage many enemies, even if it took time.
Precise attacks were more effectively handled by archers using bows or crossbows.
Moreover, magic from 3rd circle and above was already effective against regular soldiers or siege warfare, so mages capable of casting high-circle wide-area magic were much more preferred over combinatorial attack methods.
‘With my ability to use free spell casting I could find it much more advantageous to combine auxiliary magics.’
Through Gluttony, he could acquire skills by absorbing artifacts, so he could also obtain auxiliary skills.
He just hadn’t utilized them so far because he didn’t feel the need to use very low-circle magic as skills.
Zeke asked Zeros,
“Would it be possible to see materials about combination techniques and auxiliary skills mainly used in shadowless magic?”
Excited that Zeke showed interest in his research, Zeros ran to his room and brought all his research materials.
“HUFF HUFF, here they are, Sir Zeke.”
Zeke calmly scanned through the research materials Zeros brought.
‘There are many theoretical contents.’
Zeke decided to save all the contents first and search through them slowly.
‘System, save all of this.’
The system saved all of Zeros’ research materials in the secure archive, linked with Zeke’s dragon eye.
[Save completed. Please specify a name.]
‘Free spell magic casting Magic Theory.’
After briefly naming the message that appeared, Zeke pretended to browse the materials and asked about combinations mainly used by mages.
After hearing about the basics of combat magic from Zeros, he found many interesting details.
“So magic also has basic forms like sword techniques.”
“Yes, if mages are dueling, defense technique is actually the most important.”
“Wouldn’t attacking first be better?”
Zeros shook his head.
“In magic, that’s difficult because if the opponent defends against my magic and reflects it back, the damage to myself would be much greater.”
“So the timing of taking the initiative seems incredibly crucial.”
“That’s right. Duels between mages are similar to chess. You must place each move carefully without wasting a turn to exploit openings.”
Hickson shook his head at Zeros’ words.
“Sir Zeke, Zeros’ explanation might not be very helpful. This guy can do this because he’s a top-level warlock. Few people can use combat magic so precisely. His nickname among warlocks was ‘Artist’.”
“Artist?”
When Zeke spoke, Zeros scratched his head and said,
“I tend to use magic delicately for a combat mage.”
Intrigued by the nickname ‘Artist’, Zeke asked with sparkling eyes,
“Is there a training ground or something like that here?”
Zeros was startled by Zeke’s words.
“HUH? There is a combat magic practice room, but… surely not?”
He nodded.
“I request one bout, please.”
Hickson clapped his hands in delight.
“Wow, this’ll be interesting. Magic combat is your specialty, right? Show me your skills.”
Zeros hesitated, then nodded.
“HMM, alright! Though my skills are lacking, I’m honored to battle alongside Sir Zeke!”
Hickson excitedly went to the wall, picked up the intercom and shouted,
“Hey, you shut-ins! Zeros is going to battle with Sir Zeke Draker!”
Hickson returned the intercom and grabbed the door beside it.
“This way. The practice room is downstairs.”
Zeke chuckled at Hickson’s reaction and rose to follow him. When the door opened, an elevator immediately appeared.
Zeke rode the elevator down with Hickson and Zeros.
After getting off the elevator and passing through a narrow corridor, they opened a door to reveal a wide space.
‘Is this the magic practice room?’
It looked like an indoor gymnasium, with magic stones embedded in the ceiling and a control device operating in the center.
Several circles of different sizes were drawn on the floor.
Hickson pointed to the largest circle.
“Stand over there. I’ll activate it now.”
When Hickson touched the control device, a semi-transparent wall slowly emerged from the circle, forming a dome.
Zeke gazed curiously at the semi-transparent dome.
“Interesting. Is this a protective shield?”
Zeros nodded.
“Yes. Magic can be unpredictable.”
Hickson explained the rules to Zeke,
“Sir Zeke, you cannot remove your gloves. You can use aura, but no aura blade. Zeros is also limited to 4th circle magic.”
This was Zeke’s first formal duel with a mage, and he realized there were specific rules.
After Zeke nodded and drew Bahamut, standing facing Zeros, the practice room door suddenly opened.
A group of mages rushed in, all with dark circles under their eyes and gaunt faces.
Zombie-like mages appeared in a group, murmuring.
“Oh, Zeros is really battling.”
“Wow, how extraordinary.”
Hickson raised his hand.
“Alright, shut-ins, place your bets. Let’s begin.”
The mages raised their hands.
“I’ll bet 10 pesos on Zeros!”
“I’ll bet 20 pesos on Zeros!”
Hearing the mages, Zeke tilted his head.
“What’s a peso? I’ve never heard this unit before.”
Zeros scratched his cheek.
“It’s a virtual currency used only within Nirvana.”
“I understand currency, but what’s a virtual currency?”
“Hmm. A currency with value, but without physical existence, I suppose.”
Zeke didn’t probe further and just nodded.
He wasn’t fond of complicated explanations.
“Anyway, it’s a currency. Can it be converted to gold?”
“Yes. At current rates, about 10 pesos to 1 gold.”
Zeke looked at Hickson.
“Has anyone bet on me?”
Hickson shook his head.
Zeke smiled.
“I’ll bet 100 pesos.”
Hickson’s mouth dropped open.
The nearby mages began placing more bets after hearing Zeke, but surprisingly, they all bet on Zeros.
This showed how much the Nirvana mages trusted Zeros’ skills.
As Zeros looked slightly embarrassed, Hickson raised his hand and shouted.
“Let the battle begin!”
As soon as the match started, Zeke drew his sword and charged at Zeros.
WHOOSH!
Zeke lightly swung his sword at Zeros.
Suddenly, Zeros’ body disappeared, leaving only an afterimage, and reappeared behind Zeke.
Simultaneously, magic circles formed in Zeros’ outstretched hands.
RUMBLE!
A grease magic vanished the friction beneath Zeke’s feet, and a confusion magic targeted him.
An ordinary knight would have been bewildered and lost balance.
But Zeke was different.
PAT!
He stabbed his sword into the ground and twisted his body, escaping the greased area.
At the same time, using phantom steps, he instantly closed the distance and attacked.
WHOOSH!
As Zeros’ body quickly slid back, he waved his hand and cast a spell.
BANG BANG BANG!
Small explosions occurred near Zeke’s legs, arms, and ears.
Simultaneously, Zeros snapped his fingers.
EEEE-LING!
Zeke recognized this technique.
‘Dissonance?’
The combination of dissonance and flash bombs was a technique Zeke frequently used during his time as a blue knight.
Zeros, seemingly preferring the same combination, created a sphere of light and threw it at Zeke, causing it to explode.
BOOM!
A powerful light burst before Zeke’s eyes, engulfing the surroundings in a flash.
Zeros didn’t stop there, forming hand signs and preparing magic.
Four magic circles appeared on his body.
Hickson and the other mages exclaimed in admiration.
“Wow, amazing. Simultaneously deploying four composite circles.”
“Crazy. Truly.”
“That can’t be blocked.”
The four magic circles in the air gradually expanded and flew in all directions towards where the flash had exploded.
Once positioned, Zeros’ magic activated.
CRACKLE!
Four fixed magic circles simultaneously discharged electrical magic.
While each was a 4th circle Lyden magic, their simultaneous activation created a power comparable to a 5th circle Mega Lyden magic.
“Crazy. A quadruple stacked magic.”
“As expected from the Artist. Pure art.”
However, Zeros’ own expression was completely tense.
‘Why is there no response?’
Respecting Zeke as much as he did, Zeros had unleashed his strongest possible magic without holding back, believing Zeke couldn’t possibly withstand it.
But with no response from Zeke, he began to worry.
Then, the flash dissipated, revealing the scene within.
CRACKLE!
Surprisingly, Bahamut, which Zeke had stabbed into the ground, was absorbing Zeros’ electrical magic and channeling it downward.
Yet, Zeke himself was nowhere to be seen.
Zeros then felt an ominous presence behind him.
WHOOSH!
Zeke was throwing a punch directly at Zeros.
Zeros twisted his body, using Blink to move.
SWISH!
Appearing on the opposite side of the arena, his face was pale.
Even just grazing Zeros’ side with the punch made his lungs feel like they were being stabbed with each breath.
‘Is this a knight’s power?’
The battle was developing entirely differently from a typical mage duel.
Zeros retracted his electrical magic and reset his stance.
Zeke slowly walked over and retrieved Bahamut from where he had planted it.
The watching mages swallowed hard.
Unexpectedly, Zeros moved first.
He instantly conjured dozens of magic missiles in the air and launched them at Zeke.
BANG! BANG!
Magic missiles flew from all directions towards Zeke at timed intervals.
Zeke deflected the magic missiles with his sword, while Zeros retreated, creating distance.
RUMBLE!
A magic circle etched itself on the floor, and something began to emerge from it.
GRRRR!
A summoned creature made of wood blocked Zeke’s path.
‘A Stump? Not something easily seen.’
More of a nature spirit created from an ancient tree than a monster.
GRRRR!
The Stump extended its wooden limbs to grab Zeke.
He cut through the limbs with Bahamut while charging forward, then suddenly unleashed Dragon Slayer technique on the Stump.
SLASH!
Zeke’s sword cleaved the Stump in half.
GRRRR!
The Stump’s summoning was canceled, its wooden limbs dissolving into the ground.
The watching mages exclaimed as the Stump vanished.
“Wow, incredible. Destroying the Stump in one strike…”
“That must be the Dragon Slayer technique. Such power.”
“At that level, even defensive magic would be useless.”
After dispatching the Stump, Zeke changed direction and charged towards Zeros.
In the meantime, Zeros had completed forming his hand signs.
RUMBLE!
Six magic circles rose behind Zeros.
The mages’ jaws dropped.
“Insane. A six-fold stack?”
“That’s truly over the top.”
RUMBLE!
The magic circles vibrated, and whips of flame erupted from them.
WHOOSH!
The flame whips flew towards Zeke, binding his arms and legs.
WHOOSH!
With Zeke restrained, Zeros’ true magic activated.
BOOM!
A fire giant emerged from his magic circle, charging towards Zeke.
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