I Became a Genius Mage in the Cthulhu Game
chapter-71

I brought my hands together and started to concentrate my magical power.

Ruuumble …!!!

Despite being indoors, a deep and thunderous sound reminiscent of storm clouds in the sky started to echo. The source of this noise was the magic circle of lightning spells, wobbling above my hands.

Fzzzzt!!

The overly condensed lightning magic circle triggered an unexpected phenomenon. Metallic objects within the storage started to be drawn towards my direction.

I twisted the trajectory of the incoming small metal pieces with a distortion field and concentrated even more magical power.

Fizzzzzzzz!!!

Subsequently, the electrical wires in the warehouse that were still carrying electricity overloaded and exploded with white sparks flying around.

Creaaaaaak…

The metal frames forming the shelves and the steel structures that constituted the framework of the warehouse started to bend toward me.

If I gather any more, this place might collapse.

But the magical power was already condensed to its limit. I unleashed the writhing, monstrous energy of the lightning that was demanding to be liberated in a concerted burst.

[Lightning Strike]

[Spell Enhancement: Maximization]

Crackle, Fizzzzz, Fzzzzzzzzzzzzt!!

This was not a simple lightning strike.

The web of currents enveloping the lightning reacted with the freshly unleashed bolts, setting off a chain reaction.

The magic that materialized was a lightning storm of unprecedented scale, unlike anything I had seen before.

The white brilliance of the lightning unfolded with such intensity that it seemed to envelop everything in its path. The vastness of the warehouse shrunk in comparison to the colossal swell of this terrifying storm. It was such a huge flash that it felt like one’s optic nerves would burn just by looking at it.

Fizzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!

Lightning was a force that couldn’t remain confined to one place. Thus, the huge flashes of electricity disappeared from the warehouse as if they had never occurred.

However, there were clear traces that the thunder dragon I created existed in reality.

A horrifying scene created in less than a tenth of a second that was almost too dreadful to believe.

The shelves were utterly destroyed and reduced to nothing but charred frames, while the books and boxes that had been scattered on the floor bypassed the process of burning and vanished, leaving behind only a trace of ashes.

And the parasites at the heart of this destruction…

Had turned to ash, leaving behind only large chunks of their torsos and heads or a few fragments of their skeletons.

Some even left traces that seemed to pathetically claim that there had been organic matter in the shape of a human being in this place before.

Fizzzzzzzzz… Fizzzzzzzzz… Fizz, fizzzzzzz.

Even though I had stopped the magic, the shockwaves and electric discharges did not completely die down but continued for a long while.

If I had been able to use something like this a long time ago, I could have easily resolved the conflict with Je Mu-gyeong.

It wasn’t for nothing that I had poured so much time and energy into deciphering the Silent Scripture of the Dreaming Path. Like absorption, it was a unique magic that could only be acquired through a grimoire.

Without even receiving a buff from an artifact, I was able to effortlessly manifest this powerful magic after endless calculations.

“No, it’s still far from enough.”

The limits of all the abilities and transcendent talent I have were not just this.

I could have triggered an even more powerful attack had I gathered a bit more energy. Moreover, I’m confident that by adding the processes of transformation and enhancement, as I had done before, it might be possible to realize something beyond this.

With more research… there will come a day when I can wield this level of power with a single spell, without resorting to any tricks or shortcuts.

And then, there was one survivor.

“Ughhh…”

A parasite crawling out from among human bodies that have been reduced to ashes.

It appeared to be the leader, the adult parasite. It had indeed possessed more magical power than the others.

Did it maximize its magical resistance and use its subordinates’ bodies as shields at the crucial moment to survive as long as possible?

It seemed futile to emerge… With the host body ceasing to function, perhaps it broke out instinctively?

Nonetheless, the creature was on the brink of death.

Even if I wanted to save it now, it’s beyond help.

Even though it had been hiding inside a human body, the lightning penetrated flesh and all. The creature was barely managing to twitch, but for a parasite, the nerve ganglia which was its lifeline, were all burned out. It wouldn’t last five minutes before dying even if I just left it be.

Still, might it be capable of a brief conversation?

There’s something I wanted to ask.

“How about it, alien friend? Do you need help?”

“Yes, you… monster… save me… save…”

It kept calling me a monster ever since earlier.

There was no need to get angry. I responded with a kind tone.

“Alright. Unlike you and your kind, I am not a sadist.”

[Exhilaration]

It was a second-order auxiliary magic spell I had also cast on Chae Tae-won.

It wasn’t a healing spell. It was merely meant to invigorate or boost the will to fight.

This magic must have infused a bit of vigor into the parasite’s spirit.

But let me reiterate, I couldn’t save it. It was merely an illusion of healing for a brief moment.

“This magic, this power… it’s impossible… A human wielding such magic… Can’t believe…”

“What do you mean, impossible? You’ve experienced it firsthand, haven’t you?”

“You, are you… really human?”

“Hmm, human, you say? Well…”

I am human. Right now, I am decidedly human.

But… well? Will that remain the case?

As we dive into the latter events of [Cthulhu World], a series of harsh and horrifying incidents will unfold, making it impossible for anyone to confidently claim they are still human.

Knowing the truth beforehand made it difficult for me to confidently claim that I was human.

Regardless, I had no intention of wasting time on pointless chatter.

“I know you creatures don’t just invade any body at will. What were you planning to do with the little girl?”

“Hu… hu… We wanted to… take control… of the Triad…”

“Ah, so Cheong-ho was your ultimate goal.”

Had I not intervened, Jeong Hyun-ah would have become one of the parasites, and eventually, Cheong-ho would have fallen into their hands beyond any hope of salvation.

Good. That brings us to the next matter.

“Seeing that Chae Tae-won doesn’t recognize your kind, it seems the chances of a parasite’s emergence were slim after all. Are you by any chance a First?”

“……”

The creature’s response was barely above a whisper.

“What did you say?”

“……”

“Speak up.”

“……”

I sighed and moved closer to the creature.

It opened its mouth again, but this time, it wasn’t a whisper but a clear loud voice.

“Give me your body!!”

The creature leaped at me with violent force and several hidden tendrils.

But it was a clear and predictable move. I had approached it precisely because I was prepared for such antics.

“Block it.”

Swoosh!

The lump of flesh that was hidden nearby flew towards me and latched onto the parasite that was charging at me.

“Arghhh!! What… what is this?!”

“That’s a gift from the [Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young].”

“Lies! All lies! The [All-Mother] would never lend her power to someone like you!”

“Sure, you’re right. Think what you will.”

The flesh began to consume the creature in a manner similar to how it had devoured the young parasite before. More precisely, it was assimilation. While the creature’s knowledge would be lost, some of its power and genetic information would merge with and be preserved within the lump of flesh.

“Ah, what a shame. It would have been nice to know if it was a First.”

That information was unexpectedly provided in another way.

[Achievement unlocked! You have foiled the Parasite’s (First) plot.

You have earned the ‘Advanced Achievement: Reconnaissance’.

As a reward for the achievement, you receive the ‘Body Snatcher’s Necklace’ and additional experience points.]

“Parasite, marked as a First…”

The situation was amusing but the information was valuable.

And that statement implied I would hardly ever encounter another parasite again.

This was because the title ‘First’ was reserved for the entity that first infiltrated a specific planet.

If a First reproduced and its offspring formed a new colony independently, those offspring would be called Seconds, much like how colonies of bees or ants expand.

Should the offspring of a Second create another new colony, they would be known as Thirds, and beyond that point, the generations would spread too rapidly for the distinction to matter.

This was the trigger for one of [Cthulhu World]’s major branches, the [Parasite War].

It meant engaging in endless battles against societies dominated by parasites. While the parasites themselves weren’t tough enemies, the branch was particularly exhausting because you had to suspect and scrutinize the NPCs you encountered for signs of parasitic infection.

Nonetheless, the existence of only one First wasn’t guaranteed, so I couldn’t let my guard down completely, but it felt like a significant threat had been averted.

And there was one more thing. The fact that this creature was a First held significant importance.

[Please check the corpse of the parasite to claim your achievement reward.]

Yes, the reward for that achievement.

It was an artifact that could only be obtained by capturing a First.

But, the corpse of a parasite?

“Hey, where did you two go? Come here.”

Squelch, squish, squish…

The two lumps of flesh squirmed and crawled out from a corner of the warehouse.

Both had stuffed themselves to the point of bursting, resulting in them growing slightly larger than before. Each one was now the size of what they had been when they were still a single mass.

“Which one of you is it? I don’t mind if you eat the meat, but hand over the foreign objects to me.”

For a moment, they writhed as if dancing, and then one of them regurgitated a small pendant.

At first glance, it appeared to be a metal piece smaller than a thumb with a design that looked like a quince. When I picked it up for a closer look, it shimmered with a mystical luster that no metal on Earth could produce, as if made from semi-transparent particles of a mysterious color.

Pulling on its end, the metal piece stretched out into a thin and flexible loop that could be worn around the neck.

[Body Snatcher’s Necklace (S-rank Accessory): A special accessory that contains alien technology. It contains various records stored while traveling between stars, but research is necessary to access this information.

Thoughts Domination: Allows the use of the unique ability [Mental Whip]. However, each use of this effect will erode your mind with the necklace’s recorded resentments.

Enhanced Mind: Mental Strength +2]

It was an artifact that granted the ability to use [Mental Whip] which was a unique skill only usable by adult parasites.

Moreover, it boosted mental strength by +2.

With this equipped, there would be little need to worry about mental strength at my current level.

But more importantly, this was a kind of grimoire in the form of a necklace. It wasn’t a book per se and thus required some preparatory work, but it was an original grimoire, not a degraded translation produced on Earth. Success in deciphering it could lead to exponential progress.

It was indeed a fortunate find. Such items rarely appear this early, but this one had unexpectedly emerged tied to the quest involving Cheongho’s daughter, so I was able to catch it easily.

This time, I happened to be able to swoop in at just the right time, so I was able to fight on my own terms…..Typically, these creatures infiltrate the political or financial elite and start crafting petty conspiracies or laying cunning traps.

Fighting them on their terms often leads to infuriating complications.

Such as having a bounty placed on your head or having your accounts and property seized…

“Phew… I’m just relieved to have avoided such a fate.”

But there were more gains to be had.

Among the ashes of their burned bodies, I found magic stones and various small artifacts. Nothing of remarkable quality, but among them were a few noteworthy items:

[Brainwave Stone (B-rank Catalyst): A stone emitting wavelengths similar to human brainwaves. It enhances abilities based on mental magic or psychic powers…]

[Moon Shard (A-rank Magical Tool): A magical tool crafted from moonstone. It possesses the power to ward off certain extraterrestrial monsters…]

[Physical Enhancement Coating (B-rank Consumable): A special device made with alien technology. When used, it releases a strengthening mucus that temporarily fortifies the skin…]

There was no need to examine the data of every minor artifact in detail.

I briefly checked the essential information and tidied things up accordingly.

Many were damaged due to being scorched by electricity, but this is a decent way to earn some pocket money.

Wait a minute… Isn’t there still something left?