Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 100 (Part 1)
The group that had been clearing the rubble from the tunnel finally managed to open a path past midnight. If it hadn’t been for the hundred mages, it would have taken much longer.
“Elder, we’ve opened the way. However…”
“There seems to be a lock.”
“Yes, there’s a door in the floor, but it won’t open with any conventional method.”
“Hmm, let me take a look.”
The elder casually walked along the path that his subordinates had cleared through the tunnel.
The air was thick and foul, causing him to frown instinctively. An unidentified stench filled the space as well.
“The air isn’t good.”
“We’ve used purification magic, but the smell persists. It seems like gas is leaking from somewhere.”
“We need to hurry.”
With quick steps, they arrived at their destination. In the center of the area, guarded by his subordinates, was a large door in the floor.
“Here it is, Elder.”
“Hmm, let me take a look… hmm?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Who dared!”
Rodin had eaten in this place, but he left no traces behind.
The food had been completely consumed, and the area was cleaned meticulously. Thanks to the self-cleaning cooking tools from the chef statue, there was nothing left behind.
But the issue wasn’t with the person; it was with the door. The door that had opened when Rodin entered had left marks on the floor as it closed again.
“Don’t you see these marks here?”
“Uh? What…?”
“The door opened here, sliding this way. And then it closed. These long marks here show the door’s movement as it opened and then shut.”
Only then did the subordinates grasp the situation.
Someone had entered through the door before they arrived.
How the magical lock had been undone was a question for later. What mattered now was that someone had entered first and possibly obtained what they sought before them.
“Who could it be?”
“We need to find out.”
The elder closed his eyes and inspected the magic circle engraved on the door. But he couldn’t see anything.
“What is this?”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s strange. I can’t detect the magic circle inside.”
“A magic circle even the Grand Mage cannot detect?”
This elder was the (Archmage) Grand Mage Fenail, a 7th Circle mage. However, he wasn’t one of the 7th Circle mages known across the continent. Only a select few knew of his true identity.
“That’s not it. There’s no magic circle at all.”
“What? Are you saying there’s no magic circle?”
“It’s strange. There’s clearly something there, but I can’t sense anything.”
Despite being a Grand Mage, Fenail could neither see nor feel mana. Naturally, he couldn’t detect the magic circle that was inscribed using mana.
“Then how did the person who went in do it?”
“I don’t know. Hmm, maybe they forced it open?”
“We haven’t tried anything yet. We thought it was best to report to you first.”
“Hmm, everyone move out of the tunnel. I’m going to try to force it open.”
At his command, Fenail’s subordinates swiftly exited the tunnel without hesitation.
“Hmm, who could they be?”
Fenail didn’t think a single person had entered through the door. Just as they had come in a group, he suspected an organization had arrived here first.
“Could it be Ballis Nova? But they primarily operate in the Western Continent.”
In the past, his organization had often clashed with Ballis Nova.
Both groups pursued traces of ancient history and sought to inherit the magic of the ancients. With such similar goals, conflict was inevitable.
However, at some point, their spheres of activity diverged.
Ballis Nova became entrenched in the Western Continent, losing interest in the Central Continent. The mere task of investigating the cursed forests was overwhelming enough to keep them occupied, leaving them no energy to extend their reach to the Central Continent.
Meanwhile, Fenail’s group, Slavon, focused on the Central Continent.
Though the capital of the ancient Magic Empire had been near the cursed forests of the Western Continent, by the end of the empire, most of its activity had shifted to what is now the Central Continent.
“Phew, I need some protection. Great Ice Barrier.”
He first cast a 7th Circle defensive spell to shield himself. Then he immediately began chanting an offensive spell of the same level.
“Inferno Buster!”
The 7th Circle fire spell Fenail unleashed struck the center of the metal door. Massive flames erupted, continuously heating the metal surface.
Screeeeech! Boom!
“Ugh!”
A strange noise echoed, and suddenly, something dark shot out from the door.
The black substance, resembling a liquid, tore through the barrier in an instant and grazed Fenail’s left chest as it passed by.
“Damn it…”
Fenail cursed under his breath, but he exhaled in relief.
He had been lucky. The Great Ice Barrier had deflected the black liquid just enough to save him. If the barrier hadn’t worked, it might have pierced his heart.
“Phew, Recovery. What the…?”
He cast healing magic on his wounded side, but the injury barely healed. The black substance seemed to have some kind of effect that blocked healing.
“This is troublesome.”
Someone had entered that place. Whether they were still inside or had already left remained unknown.
But there was no way to enter. Even 7th Circle magic couldn’t break through, and the artifact within retaliated. It was beyond his ability to handle.
“Hmm, Recovery.”
He cast the healing spell again. His side healed very slowly, only slightly faster than natural healing.
“This is driving me crazy.”
Fenail clutched his side and stood up, staggering toward the entrance of the tunnel.
There was nothing more he could do against the door.
He could only hope that the person who had entered was still inside and that they could catch them outside when they emerged.
“Ugh!”
“Elder!”
Fenail stumbled out of the tunnel, and his subordinates rushed to support him.
“Guard this place. If the person is still inside, they’ll have to come out. Don’t let them escape, understood?”
“Yes, Elder.”
“And contact the Tower. I don’t think we can open that place without the Tower Master.”
“Yes, sir!”
Fenail belonged to the organization known as Slavon.
There were many rumors about them in the underworld, but few knew the truth. Even those who knew of Slavon were unaware of its true members.
Slavon operated under the guise of a small magic tower called Ekrot, which was based in the Maven Kingdom. However, they weren’t particularly active in public, and their main business was selling inexpensive artifacts that helped children avoid common illnesses.
On the surface, Ekrot appeared to be an unremarkable small magic tower.
But in reality, Slavon boasted immense power, with no less than 19 mages at the 7th Circle. Their strength far surpassed that of the so-called Four Great Towers.
“I need to rest.”
“All we need is the Tower Master?”
“Tell them that Fenail tried to open the door and was counterattacked. They’ll know what to do.”
“Understood.”
Fenail’s expression darkened as he returned to his tent.
He couldn’t shake the image of the black liquid that had attacked him.
It had been a terrifying assault. It had been so fast that he only realized he’d been hit after it had already wounded him.
‘It aimed for my heart.’
More precisely, it had targeted the location of his magic circle—the core of his magic. It was clear that some kind of command had been inscribed into the metallic door.
‘I couldn’t see anything inside. Yet there’s definitely magic inscribed there. Hmm, another one of these…’
Slavon’s headquarters also had a few artifacts like this—artifacts with no visible magic circles, yet unmistakably enchanted. They were all relics of the ancient Magic Empire.
‘But was it really a liquid that attacked me?’
At first, he thought it was liquid, but now he wasn’t so sure. It might have been something like smoke. Considering how quickly it disappeared after piercing his side, liquid seemed unlikely.
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