Episode 91

Episode 091

-Believe in yourself!

Perkuntra said something embarrassingly sentimental that he normally would never have said.

Anyway, he was an irritating guy in every little thing.

Usually, other wizards, even though they had no ability, acted arrogantly with words like, ‘I think I can do it? What do you know, spirit? Don’t say that! I’m watching you! You won’t die!’ and then failed, while Ihan, despite having ability, responded with things like, ‘I don’t think it’ll work,’ ‘Why are you being so reckless?’ ‘Are you saying this because it’s not your business?’

There should be a limit to humility…

-Trust in yourself comes from an objective analysis of the situation, not from a few words of encouragement like that.

-Now, concentrate and do as I say!

Perkuntra didn’t answer Ihan but just said what he wanted to say. He realized that getting involved for no reason would only make him angry.

-Imagine the image of lightning, just like you did with the other elements.

The basics of elemental magic.

Vividly imagine the image of the element and realize it in your mind.

This process of transforming your mana’s nature to suit the element could be considered the most basic process.

But the lightning attribute was a little different.

-But, don’t imagine lightning strikes falling from the sky!

“!”

The image of lightning that most wizards would find easiest to imagine was the lightning bolt striking down from the sky in a flash.

However, it was dangerous to imagine that kind of lightning when converting to the lightning element.

For a wizard to use magic, they needed to keep mana collected and controlled in one place, but the image of a lightning bolt was the opposite of control.

Blazing fire, stagnant water, and frozen ice could all stay in place.

But a lightning bolt, by its very nature, could not stay in one place.

A phenomenon destined to scatter in all directions after striking down from the sky.

If a young wizard recklessly imagined a lightning strike and converted mana to the lightning attribute, he could immediately lose control and have lightning shoot out everywhere.

Perkuntra, who nearly died along with Ihan after messing with his fire in the underground punishment chamber last time, had to pay particular attention to safety.

Looking at this young wizard’s mana, even a single accident would likely be a major one.

-Of course, I understand. You probably think, ‘How can I picture the image of lightning without thinking of a lightning strike?’ But countless wizards who dealt with the lightning attribute eventually overcame that restriction and did it! You’ll get used to it eventually. A true wizard must not accept and settle for reality as it is, but must be able to change reality to his own will! Now. Lend me your arm.

Of course, just as Ihan thought, Perkuntra wasn’t a stupid spirit who spouted reckless words without a plan.

He acknowledged Ihan’s exceptional ability, but it was true that letting a young wizard handle the lightning attribute with no practice was very difficult.

He definitely had a plan.

Just like in the punishment chamber last time, he planned to possess Ihan’s arm himself and help control the lightning.

He had lost most of his power after being summoned, but that much was still doable.

But…

Crackle!

-I did it. Now, do you want me to lend my arm?

-……

Perkuntra was appalled to see the orb of lightning formed atop Ihan’s staff.

Amazingly, this young wizard succeeded in elemental conversion and managed to maintain the lightning mana in one place, even before Perkuntra could possess and help him.

‘How on earth???’

Contrary to Perkuntra’s shock, Ihan didn’t find handling the lightning attribute particularly difficult.

From the start, Ihan had a different way of thinking from other wizards.

He approached it very simply.

Not being able to imagine a lightning strike wasn’t a problem at all.

He just pictured an orb of mana on his staff and thought of it as a battery.

A completely natural idea for Ihan!

It wasn’t hard for him to imagine electricity charging up inside the orb.

Maybe that method was a good match, so he succeeded immediately.

It even felt much more stable than the other elements…

‘It’s easier than you said. He’s overreacting a lot.’

Ihan had a disrespectful thought.

Now that he thought about it, Perkuntra had been quite prone to overreacting since they met in the punishment chamber.

That was the case with fire, too…

-You… have quite a talent for lightning!

-Do I?

Ihan was neutral.

He’d heard so many compliments about attributes that he was starting to get suspicious.

Were they just saying it out of courtesy?

Maybe it was done to instill confidence in young wizards by saying, ‘You have talent in attribute A!’

And that indifference was passed on to Perkuntra as well.

Perkuntra was speechless.

For a spirit of Perkuntra’s caliber to give a compliment was truly rare.

-Does my word sound like a lie?! You really do have talent!

-Yes… well, I suppose that’s possible.

Ihan thought either he’d gained talent in lightning from cramming, or perhaps lightning attribute magic simply wasn’t as difficult as he’d thought.

Though it was 99% likely the latter…

-So, are you coming into my arm or not?

Ihan asked as if he was puzzled.

Perkuntra had asked to borrow his arm and then just stood there blankly.

Was there some problem?

-Wait. I’ll possess you now!

‘I hope he doesn’t have amnesia.’

If he had mood swings and amnesia, even a capable spirit would have to be reconsidered before being summoned.

While Ihan was worrying about that, Perkuntra possessed Ihan’s arm.

-From now on, concentrate on the spell I give you.

Perkuntra tried to pass on his magic to Ihan.

The spirits’ magic was wild and temperamental, but if a powerful spirit like Perkuntra lent his arm, even a novice wizard could use it.

Perkuntra’s Lesser Lightning Bolt.

This was the 2nd circle magic Perkuntra was about to teach Ihan.

The principle was simple.

Convert mana to the lightning attribute and fire it off!

There was no need to give it a sharp arrow or spear shape or add any other complex attributes.

Lightning was enough on its own.

-That thing is pretty big, are you sure this’ll be enough? What if it just angers it for nothing?

-Please, when a spirit older than you speaks, just listen! Stop talking back!

Perkuntra half-pleaded.

It was good that he wasn’t arrogant, but he was so humble that it was driving Perkuntra crazy.

But that didn’t mean Ihan was convinced. Perkuntra eventually accepted that if he wanted this damn contractor to listen, he’d have to persuade him logically and rationally.

-Listen carefully. Lightning is the most destructive and violent among the elements.

‘It sounds different hearing it from the spirit of lightning.’

-The other elements alone aren’t easy to use for offense.

Ihan agreed.

Even using water element magic offensively required adding several elements.

Not just the ‘water’ attribute, but also things like ‘orb’ or ‘spear’ and then adding ‘control.’

-But lightning is different. It has powerful destructive force on its own.

-But, fire…

-No need to give it shape! Or intricate aiming! Because you just have to hit!

Perkuntra cut Ihan off and continued what he wanted to say.

-That summoned beast was originally a normal plant monster, but thanks to the students fusing it with different monsters, it now has very complex attributes. But that means lightning works even better. Think about it. Your goal now is to rescue the students it took, isn’t it? Not to kill the thing?

-That’s true.

-Then even this Lesser Lightning Bolt will be enough! The moment it’s hit anywhere, it’ll lose its grip on all the students it’s holding. Lightning’s power makes enemies contract! And it won’t want to keep fighting you. It’s already stuffed itself with mana, so it’ll run away if attacked like that!

‘That makes sense.’

Ihan was convinced by Perkuntra’s logic. He wasn’t an old spirit for nothing.

was similar to the Ihan knew.

Just converting mana to the attribute and releasing it, and it had the power to paralyze the enemy.

The difference was that dealt more physical damage, and unlike curses that were easy to dodge or block, it allowed no time for that.

Given the current situation, it was very effective.

-I understand. I’ll cast it!

-Good! That took forever!

Pretending not to hear Perkuntra, Ihan swung his staff. Then he chanted the incantation.

-Strike, lightning of Perkuntra!

-Well do…

Seeing the condensed lightning attribute mana shoot out successfully, Perkuntra tried to praise him.

But Perkuntra realized something strange too late.

The amount of lightning-attribute mana condensed into the orb was much more than he had thought.

‘…???????!!!’

Perkuntra realized that during their pointless conversation, in that short time, Ihan had unconsciously gathered more mana.

‘No!!’

• * *

While the students of the Azure Dragon Tower and White Tiger Tower were chasing the vine monster, the Phoenix Tower and Black Tortoise Tower students acted a bit more wisely.

They went looking for Professor Garcia.

“Professor! This way!!”

Fortunately, the students managed to find Professor Garcia on his way.

The floating skeleton principal happened to be passing by as well, and Professor Voladi was also there, but the students didn’t even speak to those two.

“Quick! It’s urgent!”

“Everyone, calm down.”

Professor Garcia waved his staff. The students, who had been screaming, instantly calmed down.

At the same time, the ground moved, smoothly propelling Professor Garcia forward. The professor and students moved like a whirlwind.

“Is this the right way?”

“Yes! Yes!”

Fortunately, the traces left by the vine monster hadn’t disappeared yet.

Professor Garcia spotted, off in the distance, the vine monster fighting.

White Tiger Tower students were surrounding it and swinging swords at it, but it wasn’t very effective. On the contrary, more of them were getting dragged away one by one.

Professor Garcia raised his staff. He planned to hit the vine monster with a blow to stop it from moving.

At that moment, a thick bolt of lightning shot through the air.

Crack-crack-crackle!

The lightning shot straight into the vine monster’s torso. Even from a distance, Professor Garcia could feel the strong mana in the bolt. It was enough to make his hair stand on end.

-■■■■■■…

The vine monster wasn’t just electrocuted; it was completely burned black. The students it had been holding began to drop out in droves.

Professor Garcia hurriedly waved his staff and made the falling students land safely.

“Are you okay?!”

“Ughhhh…”

Seeing the trembling students, Professor Garcia was momentarily worried that they had absorbed too much mana past their limits.

Since that vine monster absorbed mana, young wizards could be severely injured if caught.

Tijilin, the priest who had brought Professor Garcia, looked at her friends with a very worried expression.

Would they be all right?

“That’s a relief!”

When a relieved voice flowed from Professor Garcia’s lips, Tijilin also relaxed at last.

Fortunately, they seemed to be okay.

“Is everyone unhurt?”

“Yes, everyone’s okay. We got a little shocked by the lightning, though.”

“…?”

Tijilin was flustered.

Is that really okay?