"White magic possesses an absolute suppression over dark creatures!"
"But... how is this possible?!"
The Dark Wizard Ekrizdis shouted in disbelief:
[You are clearly proficient in enchantment magic... How could you possibly be a White Wizard?!]
He had assumed this was a dog-eat-dog struggle between Dark Wizards!
Furthermore, he remembered his fortress.
Wasn't it converted into some kind of prison?
Could it be that the prison is filled with this type of trash? Talents emerging one after another, each generation stronger than the last, is that it?!!
Ethan: "How rude. I am clearly a genuine White Wizard. You really are dim-sighted from old age and short-sighted as a mouse."
Dark Wizard Ekrizdis: [...]
Argh, I'm so angry!
Just based on your ability to talk people to death, you are a hundred and eight thousand miles away from being a White Wizard!
Ekrizdis panted like an ox.
Whether alive or dead, no one had ever dared speak to him like this.
Rolling his eyes, he grinned again and rasped:
[You must have come for my secret treasure, right? Heh, my treasure is right behind that door, but without my assistance, you will never open it in your lifetime!]
Ethan: "Oh, it requires absorbing a sufficient amount of souls to open, right?"
Dark Wizard: [...]
[H-How do you know that?!]
Ethan shrugged, lifting a finger to point at the massive metal door standing in the cavern.
He spoke indifferently:
"Isn't it written right there on the door? [With the soul as the key, the great gate shall open.]"
Dark Wizard Ekrizdis gazed at the door, covered in Ancient Runes, and fell silent once again.
...Even he had spent a considerable amount of effort deciphering the incantations.
After a good long while.
His attitude turned respectful, and he asked tentatively:
[Senior?]
————So powerful, so learned!
He could absolutely not be as young as his vessel appeared!
Perhaps, he was a mighty figure from an era even more ancient than his own!
...To specifically choose the vessel of a little boy, Senior truly has unique tastes.
Ethan: ?
Ethan narrowed his eyes and licked his rear molars.
He had a distinct feeling that this guy was thinking about something that would warrant a death sentence...
Just then.
[Congratulations!]
[You have successfully used holy magic to exorcise the curse, liberating hundreds of innocent souls!]
Countless souls, pale as snowflakes, drifted up from the puddles of mire on the ground.
Rising into mid-air, they resembled a lifting mist.
On faces male and female, old and young, smiles of relief blossomed.
Ethan looked up and saw a few children, no more than a few years old.
They were skipping and jumping joyfully, cheering:
"We're free! We're free!"
"We can finally leave!"
[No... No!!]
The Dark Wizard's wraith widened his eyes in shock, waving his arms desperately, trying to continue trapping them.
[Without your souls... I can't enter the gate! You cannot leave———!!]
The souls treated him as if he were nothing, gazing at Ethan with smiles.
Their mouths opened and closed, saying:
"Thank you for liberating us..."
"This is our gift of gratitude, please accept it..."
As they spoke.
They opened their mouths and sang a melodious dirge:
"We traded our voices for legs, we traded pain for happiness."
"Even if that happiness is as fleeting as foam on the waves."
"Ah, ah, we shall run towards the dawn."
"Like foam, happily merging into the sea..."
Ethan tipped his head back, watching the souls fly into the rock face and vanish.
The ethereal, pure singing faded with them.
He spoke softly:
"...I wish you fair winds and a pleasant journey to the afterlife."
[You have obtained the gratitude of the suffering souls: Song of the Merfolk!]
[Song of the Merfolk: A stronger version of the Imperius Curse. Creatures enchanted by the song will forget their past and fall into a chaotic state. By increasing magic consumption, it can influence multiple individuals at once.]
————————This is it!
Ethan's eyes lit up instantly.
His brainwashing technique was missing exactly this key component!
"I didn't expect to find a breakthrough in this undersea cavern," Ethan said happily.
"What a pleasant surprise~ As expected, opportunities are reserved for kind-hearted people."
Hearing Ethan's last sentence, Ekrizdis nearly coughed up his soul.
————You barged into my home like a troll and squandered all the savings I accumulated during my life.
What the hell do you have to do with "kindness"?!
It wasn't your property, so you just purified it!!
At this moment.
Ekrizdis was regretful, very regretful.
He knew the brat in front of him was likely a wizard on the verge of advancement.
But he never expected...
That there would be such contradictory magic!
Using Dark Magic to defend against attacks while using White Magic to purify souls.
Ekrizdis, who had dominated the experiment tables for centuries, had never seen such a bizarre soul!
It made him want to study it himself!
[You... You let those souls go, now neither of us can open this gate!] Ekrizdis said, flustered and exasperated.
[Now look what you've done! Are you happy now?!]
"Can't open it?"
Ethan, having just finished casting light magic, tilted his head.
Suddenly, he flashed a kind smile at Ekrizdis:
"Aren't there plenty of souls?"
As the words fell.
Ethan snapped the diary open. His wand transformed into a paintbrush, splashing ink across the rustling pages!
This action stunned the Dark Wizard Ekrizdis!
For some reason.
A sense of extreme foreboding welled up in his knowledgeable heart.
[...What are you doing? I-I'm warning you! Don't do anything reckless!]
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ekrizdis's expression turned strange.
A Dark Wizard advising a "White Wizard" not to be reckless...
Wasn't that a complete reversal of the natural order!
Ethan naturally ignored him.
Staring at the painting taking shape under his pen, the light in his eyes grew brighter and more brilliant!
Meanwhile.
A faint singing voice began to flow from the diary.
Unlike the pure voice of the spirits.
This time, it carried an intense enchantment.
Making Ekrizdis, who heard it inadvertently, lose focus for a moment.
——————Finally, the last stroke was completed!
Since it was refining an existing painting, it didn't take too long.
[Congratulations! You have completed another Extraordinary Painting!]
[Name: The Dazzling Radiance]
[Grade: Tier 3 · Golden Legend]
[Description: The light of the lighthouse guides us.]
[Effect: One-time spell. When used, it erupts with intense light, creating a strong enchanting effect on all target creatures in the vicinity! When the subject has the influence of the "Lantern" in their mind, they will respond to the call unconditionally.]
[This is high-tier magic. When used, it may attract the attention of certain existences.]
[Evaluation: "I am very curious to see what changes occur in the magic when a wizard who relies on faith to cast spells has their faith forcibly shifted."]
On the paper was a background of golden yellow.
And within this gold, the light of the "Lantern" pierced through like pitch-black arrows.
Incredibly clear.
"Using the diary's infinite characteristic allows for the repeated release of this magic."
Ethan raised the corners of his mouth. Holding the diary high like a lantern.
Pleasantly, he slowly spoke:
"Cast Magic: The Dazzling Radiance."
————————In an instant.
Dark Wizard Ekrizdis could see nothing.
His pupils constricted; in his vision, there was only that sky-obscuring gold.
Like a pair of large hands, wiping away all sanity in his mind.
At the same time.
Countless prisoners within Azkaban seemed to sense something.
They abruptly raised their heads.
In their originally dull and chaotic eyes, a brilliant glow gradually lit up!
One figure after another stood up shakily, like walking corpses!
Their target was the underground cavern, the very location where Ethan stood!
"...Go... go underground... go underground..."
The Lighthouse is calling.
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