Chapter 220. Orient (2)
Following the Marquis of Esperanza, Verden and Linus arrived at a nameless mountain.
He slowly looked around the area.
The mountain peak was flat, almost like a training ground of an adventurer's guild, and comparatively wide. The surroundings were bordered by steep stone steps above, and sheer cliffs on all sides.
"This is a training ground used by the mages of the Marquisate. A wide-open place is good for practicing elemental magic, and Edmon advised me to create this space artificially. And look over there."
The Marquis tilted his head.
When he followed the direction, he saw across the way a rocky mountain, with traces of destruction scattered here and there. Its size was considerable, and the distance was just right, making it suitable for mages to use as a target.
It really did look like it was being used for that purpose.
"That should be perfect to test the power of that staff. Use it as you see fit."
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Excellency. However, before that, I have something to ask."
"What is it?"
"Is it acceptable to destroy that rock mountain?"
…Destroy it?
The Marquis furrowed his brow.
Through Calia, Edmon, and the knights, he had heard what kind of mage Verden was. He had also seen with his own eyes that Verden was extraordinary enough to receive something akin to recognition from the tower master.
Even so, he didn't believe that Verden could bring down that enormous rocky mountain in a single strike.
'There are limits to spells according to their tier.'
With 5th-tier magic, it should be impossible.
Whether composite magic or focused magic, it was the same. Unless one had pioneered the way of magic, being confined within the framework of a mage meant such things were common sense.
Well, in truth, whether or not the rocky mountain collapsed was a trivial matter.
For the Marquis, what mattered was seeing with his own eyes the power of Verden's magic and the performance of the staff.
He had to confirm just how powerful the magic that everyone praised truly was, what that orb was, and whether it was worth the fortune spent on it.
So if possible, he wanted to see the staff at its full power.
The Marquis nodded.
"Very well, if you can."
Permission was granted.
Verden stepped to the edge of the peak.
Before conducting the experiment, he first needed to check the staff's functions, which he had briefly set aside. He focused his magic power into his eyes and activated a spell.
The inner workings of Orient were revealed.
◆ Eastern Dawn, Orient
⦁ Domain of Aurora
⦁ Ruler of Elements
⦁ Rune of
⦁ Registration
⦁ Remote Retrieval
⦁ Self-Restoration
He fixed his gaze on the two effects at the top.
'Just as I heard at the magic tower.'
The magical effects derived from the orb numbered two in total.
First, the Domain of Aurora.
Centered on the staff, an aurora forms around it, a buff spell that enhances magical capabilities. The targets are the owner and elemental mages recognized as allies.
As long as they are bathed in the aurora's light, the casting speed of elemental magic and resistance to elemental attacks are drastically increased. Once used, there is a cooldown, but during the duration, a barrage of spells is possible.
And second, the Ruler of Elements.
It enhances the owner's overall elemental magic.
Its effect could be compared to that of a magic tome.
Of course, this was in comparison to an unregistered tome, but the fact that it covered all attributes without distinction made it extraordinarily powerful.
What's more, the orb's enhancement effect did not overlap with other magical items or artifacts. It did not strengthen the spells themselves, but rather increased the elemental mage's very capacity.
'Moreover, the Ruler of Elements contains a special spell.'
One that could well become one of Verden's trump cards.
Thus, the orb as a whole had performance on par with an artifact.
And if the wielder was an elemental magic master like Verden, with compatibility across all attributes, its value exceeded that of an artifact.
Next, Verden lowered his gaze.
Rune of
Aside from the orb and the rune, these were functions inherent to the staff.
When Verden asked briefly, Linus answered confidently with a grin.
"Well, most would've been satisfied just with synchronizing the orb and the staff. Because of the power of the orb, adding other effects was immensely difficult. But I, Linus Voltimoog, am different."
He had drawn out the material's strength to its utmost limit.
He bestowed upon Orient the inherent restoration function of the Soul Tree's trunk, and for the owner's convenience, added the functions of registration and remote retrieval.
Remote retrieval was similar to telekinesis, but clearly distinct.
Even without a clear perception of the target, simply channeling magic was enough to recall the staff into one's hand.
No matter how chaotic the battle, unless the staff was shattered, it could never be lost.
"Focus your magic and maintain it for a certain period, and it will register. Of course, it doesn't have the crazy function of ancient artifacts where 'no one but the owner can use it'. I only added it for remote retrieval. It's better than nothing, so don't complain."
"Complain? Not at all."
The staff exceeded his expectations.
He would offer praise, not complaints.
Now he had grasped its overall performance.
No need to delay further.
"Hoo."
Verden regulated his breathing.
Closing his eyes quietly, he activated his mana circuits throughout his body. The magic coursing through him surged to his fingertips and flowed into Orient.
'This magic receptivity and conductivity is unlike anything I've ever felt.'
The magic focused without resistance.
It was as if the staff had become part of his body. From the crystal embedded at the staff's tip, a golden light burst forth.
Fwaaah!
Tangible magic power roared out violently.
The output, which had reached the upper tier of 5th rank, was on a completely different level from the Verden of just a short while ago. The pressure of mana dominated the surroundings.
"Ugh!"
Linus staggered back.
Yet his eyes remained fixed on Verden and the rocky mountain. He was determined to witness firsthand the greatness of the masterpiece he had created alone.
"..."
The Marquis of Esperanza stood tall where he was.
Gathering his aura, he narrowed his eyes and watched the scene. A faint tension showed on his face.
It was then that Verden's eyes gleamed.
───KWAANG!
He swung Orient through the air.
With the sound of air being torn, the Rune of Shock activated, vibrating the atmosphere. Not stopping there, Verden moved his body skillfully, swinging the staff again and again.
A complex combat technique imbued with refinement, splendor, destructive power, and practicality. Though his career was short, the experience Verden had accumulated was not something anyone could dismiss.
Verden hurled Orient.
A small rock at the edge of the peak was split in half.
When he willed it, Orient, floating in the air, shot back into his hand as though pulled in.
'Convenient.'
The staff's functions were flawless.
Of course, the self-restoration ability could not be tested. Made of the finest metal, it would hardly suffer even a scratch.
Still, as Linus had said, it was better than nothing.
Thud!
He struck Orient against the ground.
His body felt lightly heated.
Verden lifted his head and turned his gaze toward the rocky mountain.
At last, it was time to reveal Orient's true worth.
'I won't hold back its power.'
A strange ripple stirred in his chest.
His mana responded, pulsing. The urge to test the synergy of high-tier 5th rank elemental magic with Orient burned within him.
Ordinarily, he would have concealed it.
The more trump cards one kept hidden, the easier it was to lull the enemy into complacency and strike at their blind spot.
But his meeting with the tower master had changed his thinking.
Keeping trump cards was natural, but hiding one's power forever was not right. Verden had already glimpsed the realm he sought to reach, the peak he wished to stand upon.
And he realized,
'I am strong.'
That was Verden's present standing.
So whether Linus or the Marquis saw it didn't matter. He intended to prove the power he had built, proudly and openly.
To the very heavens.
Having resolved himself, Verden unleashed his full power.
The magic that had clashed against the tower master now burned even fiercer, like a raging flame. As the ground trembled, Linus staggered, and the Marquis widened his eyes.
Ignoring their reactions, Verden gripped Orient firmly.
He focused his mind and mana into the golden crystal embedded at the tip. He drew out the special power hidden within the orb.
And Orient responded.
A unique spell of the orb, restricting the caster's mana to a single elemental attribute.
The duration was a mere 3 minutes.
During that time, no other school of magic could be used, and the mana cost of spells increased nearly tenfold. The cooldown period was a full week.
In return, the caster becomes the Ruler of Elements itself.
Verden chose the earth attribute.
Kugugugugu…!
The ground trembled.
The mana that burrowed into the earth seized the entire area in an instant. It was a sight far surpassing conventional mana control, but of course it was.
At this moment, the one who ruled this land was Verden.
'Preparation is complete.'
His consciousness turned toward the rocky mountain.
He spared no mana, his magical calculations were swift and precise. Even for Verden, it took nearly two minutes of focus.
A single, concentrated 5th-tier spell.
Among them, a siege-class magic, its destructive power shook the nameless mountain.
The pinnacle of rupture.
Five enormous spikes of earth rose from the ground, piercing through the rocky mountain.
Just by seeing them fully penetrate massive boulders, one could tell how sharp and solid they were. But this was not yet the true purpose of the spell.
Jjeojeojeojeok!
The five spikes split into hundreds of branches.
The mana imbued within surged violently, trying to burst out of the fissures. It was as if compressed air exploded outward.
The fissures spread.
And soon, collapse followed.
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
The spikes detonated at once.
A deafening roar, pounding the eardrums, erupted from within the rocky mountain.
***
Piiiiiii────
A ringing filled the ears.
Thanks to his aura shielding, there was no problem. Only a faint trace of sound lingered at his ears before fading. Regardless, the Marquis could not tear his eyes away from the sight before him.
The rocky mountain had vanished.
The Marquis had once experienced war against the Republic.
Naturally, he had witnessed siege-class magic before. He remembered clearly the early days of the war, when the kingdom's city walls were mercilessly shattered.
Among them had been this very spell,
'But it was never this powerful.'
The spell's purpose was to pierce through magical barriers and walls, then explode, creating breaches in defensive systems.
What's more, due to its massive mana consumption, its limit was that no more than three spikes could be conjured.
That was the magic as the Marquis knew it.
Which was why this left him in shock.
'Could it be, the staff's power?'
He turned his head to the side.
The creator of the staff, Linus, had collapsed into a seat, blinking in disbelief.
"W-what in the world…"
His face was plainly struck with bewilderment.
It didn't seem like this was solely the staff's power.
Which meant the mage himself possessed extraordinary capability.
At that moment, Verden spoke.
"Thanks to you, this was an excellent experiment. I am grateful, Your Excellency."
His voice was calm.
"You… are not even tired?"
"This much is fine."
Of course, there was some drain.
His head throbbed, his breathing was rough. Yet having unleashed such mana at once, he felt more refreshed than exhausted.
A fitting shift in mood for an elemental mage.
But it was not yet over.
"Excuse me for a moment."
Verden once again stirred his mana.
The Ruler of Elements was still active. Without hesitation, he activated another spell.
Kugugugugugugugu!
The earth quaked.
Amid the tremors that made it hard to stand, Verden raised Orient high. Beneath where only remnants of the rocky mountain remained, another mountain began to rise.
To replace the training ground he had destroyed.
'Truly exhausting.'
But in exchange, it consumed mana to the point of burdening even Verden. Only a handful in the world could bring about such a phenomenon.
Soon, the orb's power faded.
As the sensation of being rooted into the earth vanished, Verden turned his head.
"I made it larger than the mountain I destroyed. I also reinforced the foundation beneath, so it will never collapse."
"..."
No words came.
After a moment of silence, he asked again.
"Your Excellency?"
The Marquis came to his senses.
"Yes… well done, Asher. You may leave now."
"And your escort…"
"I will handle that myself."
It was a firm refusal.
Verden pressed no further.
"Yes, then I shall see you next time."
After a formal bow, Verden turned to leave.
He helped Linus up, and gave thanks for Orient.
"N-no. I only did what I had to… does this mean my life debt is repaid?"
"Of course."
Verden nodded, then cast Flight.
Linus, staring at the new mountain Verden had raised, murmured to himself.
Verden's figure grew distant upon
Watching his back, the Marquis's eyes were clouded with shock and unease. Though skilled at concealing his inner thoughts, even he found it hard to hide his turmoil.
In contrast to the two left behind, Verden's expression was bright.
With a faint smile at his lips, he stroked Orient, the metallic sensation reminding him it was real.
'I want to use it again soon.'
Experiment and real combat were worlds apart.
Verden longed for a chance, an opponent, to show his full strength.
'Though such opportunities will hardly come often.'
Naturally.
In this kingdom, there were scarcely any who could call themselves Verden's equals.
…But that opportunity came sooner than expected.
***
The second of Estiria Kingdom's two forbidden lands, the Eastern Marshlands.
A dozen-odd people pressed onward, across the foul swamps and past the monsters. Weariness filled their faces, but not one voiced complaint.
They were professionals.
And at last.
"C-captain, I think we've found it!"
The relic expedition team, the Seekers.
Their second-in-command, Hans Deikel, shouted in excitement. At his voice, the leader at the rear, Raivan Crusoe, smiled.
"At last."