The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years (Web Novel KR)
chapter-266

He didn’t cry out. Because physical pain was nothing to him.

However, it was impossible for him to stop his body’s reaction to it. As a result of the attack, he froze for a moment before falling from the air.

He was surprised.

What exactly was the source of that power that had just penetrated his body so easily?

He knew a bit about the power that Lukas used. He’d heard that the main force he used was called magic.

‘This is probably a technique that can only be used after reaching the very peak of magicology.’ (TL: Been a long time since I used this word. For those who forgot, it’s basically ‘the study of magic’)

Nevertheless, he still couldn’t understand. From what he knew, magicology is a ‘technique’ that was created by mortals.

But the large hole in Nodiesop’s abdomen seemed to tell a different story. He wasn’t even able to heal the damage. The space itself had been damaged. Even if he tried to force his cells to merge and reproduce, all he was met with was the sound of static.

‘This will probably take some time to recover.’

That technique was something he had to take note of. It was fortunate that the attack had struck him in the abdomen. If that attack managed to hit any of his vital points…

This situation in itself was annoying for Nodiesop.

From now on, he would have to fight while paying attention to protecting his vital points. Like a mortal.

Having a flesh and blood body really pissed him off. But it couldn’t be helped. If this body died, even if he didn’t die as well, he would be eliminated from the qualifiers and the Sun Giant would never forgive him.

That was the thing he was afraid of the most.

Nodiesop’s body didn’t fall below the surface of the water. Instead, a huge hand of water came up and caught him gently in its palm.

He glared at the being that had pierced his abdomen with that attack.

It wasn’t Lukas. (TL: Ha! Goteem!)

“You really have a lot of tricks up your sleeve.”

As he looked at the Priestess who was standing on the surface of the water with a calm expression on her face, he couldn’t help but speak in a cold voice.

“I already know your situation. You’re just a statue. How long will you continue pretending to be the Seven Fanged Dragon?”

“…don’t you know that your pathetic grumbling only highlights the fact that you don’t know anything?”

As they stared at each other, Min Ha-rin couldn’t help but look over with a confused expression.

The Priestess.

The leader of Dragon God Island and another teacher for Arid.

…How did she know how to use magic?

‘That wasn’t sorcery.’

The magic that she’d just used was without a doubt Absolute Power which could only be used by 9-star Wizards. There was no magic on Dragon God Island. And she couldn’t have learned it from Arid since he also didn’t know anything about magic.

Then from Lukas? No. He’d only recently gained consciousness. He didn’t have any time to teach her magic.

The Priestess also turned to look at Min Ha-rin at that moment.

“…”

“…”

The Priestess looked at Min Ha-rin with a strange expression that was difficult to describe. She opened and closed her mouth a few times without saying anything before finally letting out a soft sigh.

“I will support you all from now on.”

It was just a feeling, but Min Ha-rin didn’t think that was what she wanted to say.

“…can you afford to? I thought restricting him was placing a great burden on you.”

“It’s fine now.The Black and White Sorcerers are back. They will take over my role.”

As she spoke in a calm tone, she pointed to the man and woman behind her. Their expressions weren’t very good at that moment.

Their faces caused Min Ha-rin to have an ominous feeling. Just as she was about to ask about it.

Whoosh!

The waters surged, showing signs of creating another huge tsunami.

Min Ha-rin and Leo’s expressions became stiff. It would be the same situation as before, he would force them into the water. If a tsunami of that size were to hit them, they would inevitably be tossed around by the currents.

“The bigger a fuss he makes, the more of a bluff it is.”

The Priestess continued to speak in a calm tone. Sedi nodded in agreement.

“The two Sorcerers behind you. The restrictions weakening Nodiesop have been completed since they have returned, haven’t they?”

“Yes. Now, 90% or more of Nodiesop’s power has been sealed.”

Paht.

Stretching her arms out, the Priestess added.

“…without external force, he is simply using a technique to raise the water level. It is not difficult to stop this tsunami. Blizzard.”

Crackle!

A storm of cold air poured out of the Priestess’ palms. The freezing air didn’t just stop at freezing the surface of the water beneath their feet, instead, it even froze the tsunami that was looming above their heads.

‘Magic…!’

That was the 7-star spell, Blizzard.

Min Ha-rin couldn’t help but be shocked. It was impossible even for her, who had reached 7 stars, to completely freeze a tsunami so large in an instant.

This meant that there was a significant difference in magic power between Min Ha-rin and the Priestess.

That wasn’t all. For some reason, when she casted the spell just now, it felt like the figure of Lukas had overlapped with her own.

“You… how the hell do you know magic?”

“Min Ha-rin, I heard that you are Lukas Trowman’s… first disciple on Earth.”

For some reason, it felt like this topic made her uncomfortable.

“If you want to be a true Trowman disciple, then you need to get stronger. Don’t just rely on him. So that one day, you can take care of some of his responsibilities.”

Suddenly, Nodiesop, who had still been standing on the hand of water, stepped onto the ice.

Crack!

The frozen surface of the water immediately cracked, and water could be seen surging beneath it.

Nodiesop then raised his hand.

Rumble…

And the frozen surface began to shake ominously.

The Priestess made a quick analysis.

“He is creating currents beneath the ice. He will probably cause it to erupt at certain locations. But I can’t pinpoint exactly where.”

“He’s taking advantage of the fact that the surface is frozen so we’ll be unable to see where the water will erupt beforehand. This guy is so slippery.”

Sedi clicked her tongue as she said this.

However, it was impossible for them to melt the ice again. They had already witnessed his prowess underwater. If they fell in again, their odds of winning would disappear.

She looked at Nodiesop. She could still feel the vibrations beneath the ice, but the water had yet to erupt. Instead, he was just looking at them instead of making the first move. In a way, it could be understood that he was taking the defensive.

“I think he’s trying to buy time in order to expel the demonic energy I injected into him.”

“If we let him do that, our chances of victory will plummet.”

“You support us from the back. Hey, let’s go. Make sure to keep a bit of distance between us when we attack him.”

“…right.”

Min Ha-rin replied briefly before turning to look at Leo, who was still a ways away from them. He gave a slight nod to show that he understood Sedi’s intentions.

“Be mindful, senior sister. You only have a few minutes left.”

When she heard Arid’s reminder, Min Ha-rin realised that it had been quite a while since he’d lent them his power. She wasn’t sure how much longer she’d be able to hold on.

‘…it doesn’t matter.’

If they lost this battle then everyone would die anyway. Nodiesop wasn’t an opponent that one could fight while wondering if they could survive. They had to risk their lives and fight him as long as their bodies could support them.

Crack, crack!

The ice suddenly cracked and a jet of water shot out. Min Ha-rin ducked slightly to dodge the stream. Some of her hair remained in the path of the jet of water and it was cut as though it had been sliced by a sharp blade.

Min Ha-rin’s expression immediately stiffened.

Although it didn’t have much momentum, the cutting force of that stream of water was terrifying.

‘…still.’

She’d managed to figure out a sign before the eruption. That was the inevitable sound of the ice cracking as the water was forced upwards. With her current reaction speed, Min Ha-rin was sure that she could avoid the jets of water as long as she remained vigilant. Nevertheless, there were several close calls that caused her heart to race.

Every time she avoided the water, it felt like she lost a few years of her life.

Perhaps it was because he noticed this unease, but Nodiesop changed tactics.

Crack, crack!

The ice shattered as hundreds of jets of water erupted at the same time instead of the one or two that had appeared before. Visually, it had a much greater impact, but in truth, this was a reckless response. After all, the risk was significantly reduced now.

Nodiesop didn’t seem like an Absolute at all. Was it because there were so many people attacking him at once?

Min Ha-rin strengthened the grip of the hand that held her sword.

The almost non-existent chance of victory was gradually taking shape.

‘I’ll protect him.’

With that very hand, she would protect Lukas.

It was different from when her parents and Lee Jong-hak died.

She was stronger than she was then. She’d become strong enough to protect her Master.

And this was her chance to prove it.

Swoosh-

Min Ha-rin, Leo, and Sedi appeared in front of Nodiesop at almost the exact same time.

(TL: I’m not sure if it’s the author just being lenient or maybe it’s Nodiesop’s arrogance, but I feel like this fight could have ended long ago if Nodiesop had acted differently at times. I can’t imagine a situation where an Absolute would be flustered just because he was facing a few mortals, even if he was weakened and vulnerable, his thinking ability shouldn’t be affected.)