The Sword Genius of the Magic Empire - Chapter 96



Only Noblemtl

The moonlight shone palely inside the abandoned building. The cold night wind blew past the walls and pillars inside the building, making a strange wailing sound.

The first to speak was a masked man.

“Aha, you were a wizard close to level 10?”

His tone was far too relaxed for what he had just done. He muttered as he looked over the corpse of Scia he was holding.

At his words, Enoch paused for a moment.

“It’s quite imperfect, but it seems that some of its unique magic has been expressed. It would have been better if it had grown.”

He spoke, glancing at the corpse of Skia in his hand, then shook his head.

“I was aiming for it by eye because it was a stealth world, so I ended up destroying its head. I guess I can’t use it with my own magic.”

He threw her body to the floor.

An evaluation that assumes, so obviously, that human corpses are turned into zombies.

“This, this!”

Immediately, April let out an angry scream and yanked the charging handle back, breaking it.

She bit her lip as she held the dog’s head in her hands.

“asleep!!”

Her mana immediately transferred to the trigger. The rifle fired forward.

Chaaaaang!

However, the bullet that flew through the air was shattered into nothing. The bullet powder that shattered in the air scattered.

“Huh─?”

April’s pupils dilated in shock. She couldn’t believe what was happening.

At the slightest gesture of the masked man, sharp rock thorns shot up from the ground.

The thorn intercepted the rifle’s bullet.

“Blocked the bullet from the front… … .”

April muttered, staring blankly at the masked man, forgetting even to load her grenade.

“That’s funny. I never thought that freelancers would have such a strong sense of partnership.”

He laughed, his mouth revealing itself beneath his mask.

Then Arcto placed his hand on Enoch’s shoulder.

“I think you said earlier that you would do it according to plan.”

If everything goes as planned, Enoch will be facing a 10th level enemy.

Arcto asked quietly with agitated eyes.

“I know you’re strong, but can you beat that?”

“How much time is left until the cargo is delivered?”

Enoch asked back expressionlessly.

“Even if we start preparing to leave now, it’s still tight. We have about 20 minutes to spare.”

“then.”

Enoch slowly stepped forward, holding his two-handed sword. The blade, with its bright blue light, cast a blue light over his body.

His footsteps echoed clearly in the dark room.

“I’ll leave the departure preparations to you.”

Arcto nodded.

Then he glanced at April, who was holding the case Enoch had given her earlier, and said:

“There are vehicles outside with scavengers. It’ll take time to find a good one. We’ll prepare to go and wait downstairs.”

“… … I understand.”

Unless Enoch had been on good terms with them from the beginning, there is a possibility that they will trip each other up during battle.

In that case, it would be reasonable to follow the instructions of the side that judged it possible.

The two freelancers, who already understood the fact, calmly glared at the masked man and stepped back.

Eventually, only Enoch remained on the fifth floor of the abandoned building.

The masked man in front of me was watching everything that was happening with interest. Then he glanced over and spoke in a languid tone.

“I have business with the cargo they’re carrying. If you hand it over, I can spare your life.”

“Funny. Faust.”

For a moment, his eyebrows twitched.

The man who was suddenly called Faust glared at me threateningly.

“Do you know me?”

Enoch did not answer.

This is a guy who might ignore me and go after freelancers. This conversation is meant to get his nerves out of him.

It seemed to have worked out pretty well as intended.

“A mere freelancer knows my name. What on earth does he do?”

Faust grimaced behind his mask.

“No. No, no. It’ll be easier to get answers if we just hold him and torture him.”

And then he shook his head and answered.

“If a freelancer knows a warlock belonging to our [Pandemonium], we should definitely hear about it.”

Meanwhile, Enoch looked at him expressionlessly.

Pandemonium.

A group of extremely evil and powerful black magicians, also known by the nickname Manmajeon (萬魔殿).

Unlike the Vendetta, which was secretive, this was a group of madmen who existed by putting forward the insane cause that ‘only black magicians are valuable’.

One of the original’s most vicious villain groups. The wizards belonging to Pandemonium were also such beings.

“No matter how much I think about it, you’re really strange.”

Faust studied Enoch closely, his gaze unseen beyond the mask.

“Even though I’m currently the leader of the Scavenger’s dirty flies… I haven’t even mentioned that name yet in this outpost.”

Enoch asked calmly, without caring.

“Why did you target the cargo?”

“Money. Of course.”

Faust answered surprisingly willingly.

He spread his arms in an exaggerated gesture, with the corpse elite he commanding in the background.

“If you’re a freelancer, you must have noticed this to some extent. The Magic Empire is already moving in the dark. Outsourcing here is no exception.”

“… … .”

“A great storm is approaching the Magic Empire. Freelancer. And to achieve your goals in that storm, you will first need capital.”

Faust let out a split laugh beneath his mask.

“I’m moving in that storm to achieve my own cause. The gang is the cornerstone. It’s a pretty good way to raise money.”

Faust shook his head for a moment, looking at the corpses of gang members strewn around him.

“But since you destroyed that ambitious foundation, you’ll have to pay the price. Wouldn’t that be your body?”

He said, caressing his chin exposed under his mask.

“I have a feeling you’ll make a good zombie.”

Enoch answered calmly and expressionlessly.

“You’ve been talking nonsense for so long.”

“What? Hahahahaha!!”

The masked man laughed out loud as if he was dumbfounded. Then he twisted the corners of his mouth.

“Okay. I’ll make it short as you wish. I need money and power anyway. So… .”

Faust smiled wickedly beneath his mask.

“I’ll kill you and take your body and cargo, Freelancer.”

Enoch nodded absentmindedly and answered.

“Your dream is too big.”

There is no need for further conversation.

Enoch began to walk forward, expressionless and with his sword naturally averted.

Faust, who saw that, twisted his lips and started walking towards her, raising both hands low.

Wooooow!!

Mana radiating light is concentrated in Faust’s grasp.

Enoch also raised his sword, imbued with dark blue mana.

A dazzling light rose from each of their hands and swords, and they closed the distance between themselves with each passing moment.

The next moment. Enoch grabbed the sword next to his waist, concentrated mana into each part of his body, and slammed it into the ground─

[Explosive Sword]

Enoch, who grabbed the sword wrapped around a blue-black beam of light, explosively accelerated and approached the enemy.

“─!!!”

Faust shook his head desperately.

Enoch’s sword slashed past his head, piercing through the concrete wall behind him.

Faust’s mask was half cut off because he was unable to fully react to the sword strike and was unable to dodge it.

“Huh!”

Enoch immediately drew his sword, swung it around, and began a series of strikes, causing the pillar cut diagonally to rain down fragments.

The sword that was advancing and pushing the enemy forward spread out sharply around Enoch, emitting a dark blue light.

But Faust did not stop, but continued to step backwards, quickly swinging his hand once.

Quaddddddddd!!

Straight from the ground and the pillars, thorns of rock as big as an arm shot out like sharp spears seeking Enoch’s life.

However, Enoch quickly turned around while running straight ahead and struck twice with his sword.

The dark blue cutting line raced through the air, and then the thorns that had been rushing towards me were torn apart into pieces and scattered.

“Khaha!!”

Faust, who did not miss that short gap, stepped back, clasped his hands together in prayer, and twisted his palms.

And the moment when I crossed my arms as if crossing them.

Kurrururur─

The stone from the ceiling became spears of rock, piercing left and right in an X-shape as if to pierce Enoch’s heart.

Enoch spun around, catching a thorn that was about to stab him in the eye, and threw his sword.

A dark blue sword stroke carved a trajectory straight through the air, cutting off both thorns in one strike, and fragments shattered and scattered in all directions.

Immediately after landing, Enoch turns his sword around and chases Faust, who retreats backwards, at a furious pace.

The distance between Enoch and the bastard, who was holding his sword, was shortening with each passing moment, along with the wind brushing his cheek.

“It’s pretty good! Then how about this!”

The bastard grinned and shouted at Enoch, who was following him.

Phew.

As he waved his hand, rocks quickly rose in front of him, compressing into bullets and lining up in a row.

Doo doo doo doo doo!!

Small rock bullets fired all at once in an instant, emitting a machine gun-like sound.

Enoch immediately grabbed the side railing, and performed acrobatic maneuvers to make a sharp turn.

Immediately afterwards, a rock bullet landed on the spot where he had just been, piercing the ground.

Enoch slid across the floor of the collapsed building, flying down to the lower floor.

As Faust immediately swung his arm, the aim of the rock bullets fired forward tracked Enoch who was moving.

Go go go go!!

Enoch was sliding down quickly, and then he was struck down on the ground in succession, sending up a strong flame and debris.

Enoch slid down to the lower floor immediately, twisted his body once, and landed with his legs bent wide in a position where both feet were planted on the pillars of the abandoned building.

He immediately kicked the pillar with both feet and lunged at the necromancer standing on the upper floor.

“Huh! What, speed─!!”

The moment Faust opened his eyes wide in shock at the sight of Enoch rushing forward with explosive mobility.

It was at that moment that a sharp sword strike was swung, instantly cutting through Faust’s chest.

Cold blood burst out into the air like a fountain.

“Ugh!”

Faust staggered backwards, but then threw his arms at Enoch, who was approaching him straight away.

Whee!

As he swung his arm horizontally, thorns of rock shot out, shattering the concrete in front of him.

A final desperate attempt to no longer allow Enoch to come within range of the deadly sword.

But Enoch immediately took a stance with his sword drawn deep behind his waist, just as he was running through the air.

[Fire wheel]

Taaaaaaaang!

A blinding explosion and a series of strikes from the sword blade behind him cut the rock into dozens of pieces.

At that moment, the expression on Faust’s face behind his mask was turning even more shocking.

Enoch, who burst out through the fragments of the shattered rock, spun around and kicked Faust in the face with his sword.

Tear tear tear!!

“Khuuuuuck!”

Faust’s new form bounced back greatly from the impact that pierced through its entire body and crashed through the railing of the abandoned building and into the wall on the other side.

An impact strong enough to shake the entire building. He soon fell to the ground, creating a large crater in the wall.

Faust raised his head with great effort, his half-cut mask shaking as if he was agitated.

“What, what are you! You!”

So he got up, staggering on the floor, and screamed loudly.

“Don’t make me laugh that there was someone as skilled as you among the freelancers!! If that was the case, there’s no way I wouldn’t know!!”

He reached out with both arms and grabbed Enoch, who was approaching him.

A dazzling burst of mana exploded at the tip of his outstretched hand, and the pillars of the stone building next to Enoch collapsed.

Enoch, who was walking towards him, fell to the ground, making a dull sound of destruction resonate in all directions.

Peeeeeing─

But in the darkness for a moment, a dark blue light flashed diagonally for a moment, and then the pillar exploded and was cut in half.

Enoch walked out amidst the flying debris and dust from the collapsed pillar of rock and spoke coldly.

“The corpse speaks.”

Faust, who had been staggering for a moment, stood up and stopped as if his body was frozen in midair.

Then he slowly raised his head towards Enoch who was walking towards him.

“……what?”

“It seems like you were trying to deceive me. Stop pretending.”

Enoch spat out, looking at the man in front of him, who was frozen stiffly as if he were stuffed in thin air.

“Even that body is not your true self. Faust.”

“You… … . Did you even notice that?”

Enoch just looked down at him coldly, watching his eyes turn even more astonished.

I knew a lot about Faust.

Because he appeared as a powerful villain in the original work.

That’s why he, as a necromancer, knew very well that he would use the best corpse he had as a clone, and that he would fight using a body double, especially in the form of ‘direct control’.

This is a method of utilizing the unique magic called necromancy to its extreme. It is a fighting style that is extremely black magician-like, trampling on the dignity of the dead.

And it was also a powerful unique magic that increased the corpse’s abilities by over 180%.

「… … For example, a mother’s superhuman strength to lift the car and save her child who was run over by a car using only her physical strength.」

“The fact that such a phenomenon exists is evidence that humans do not normally use all their strength unconsciously to reduce the burden on their bodies.”

“The magic of wizards is not much different either.”

「Therefore, Faust’s [unique magic] that deals with ‘corpses’ that ignore the limits of life is… . . . 」

“That body.”

In the darkness, Enoch slowly opened his mouth.

“He was an elemental combat wizard who was close to level 10. He also seemed to have a very high combat sense.”

At Enoch’s words, the man curled the corners of his mouth beneath his already half-cut mask as if he were going to tear it.

“… … You. How on earth… … .”

“Because it is a top-grade corpse that is extremely hard to obtain, its nerves and pain sensations are synchronized with the main body. It must have been magically limited to be used as a long-term substitute.”

Enoch spoke to Faust, his dark blue eyes shining clearly in the shadow of his hood.

“Let go.”

Yes. To be honest, I still feel like I’m lacking compared to opponents of this level.

Because at this point, we still couldn’t gauge the limits or possibilities of [countercurrent], or even its growth potential.

“Kh, khuhhhh. Khahahahaha! You bastard!!”

Then Faust started laughing like crazy.

Swish.

At that moment, Faust’s mask, which had been partially cut off by Enoch’s sword strike, finally fell to the ground.

Inside, the other side of the face was intact. Only the bones of the left skull remained, revealing the empty half of the corpse’s face.

He shouted, his only remaining eye glaring.

“Great freelance!! I changed my mind!!”

The corpse, finally admitting that its identity had been discovered, twisted its mouth into a controlled laugh.

“I’ll have to tear off your limbs and ask you. How do you know so much about the necromancer school of black magic? Especially about my own magic!!!”

And then, the next moment, the corpse’s body tilted back sharply with a strange thud.

“Ugh, aaaah!!”

Then, he began to explosively increase the mana of his entire body, surpassing the limits of the human body.

chuck.

At the same time, Enoch took up his sword and took up his stance.

A complex posture where the sword hilt is held horizontally as if hugging the arm, and the long sword blade is draped in a straight line on top of the bent left arm, aiming for the opponent’s neck.

Wheeing───

The sword, shining a frosty blue in the moonlight, aimed at his sharpened eyes.

At the same time, Faust, who had been leaning his body back abnormally, lowered his head and shouted curiously.

“Be prepared!!!”

Kuuuuung!

A corpse covered in a halo of mana that seemed to explode before my eyes flashed its eyes towards me.

Under the white moonlight in the darkness of the abandoned building.

Shards of rock that had been cut off behind him floated high, forming a huge halo of rock above Faust’s shadowy silhouetted head.

From Enoch’s sword, which was aimed precisely at that, a dark blue light began to rise, driving away the darkness.

good night.

Phase 2 begins.