The Max Level Hero Has Returned!
chapter-460

"He overdid it..." Great Sage Hellison Valestia murmured with a stern face. He mumbled to himself as he watched Merlin being carried away on a stretcher.

"Great Sage."

"I'm sorry. If it weren't for Winley, I wouldn't have intervened."

"Tsk tsk... So naive..."

Confidence was a virtue for a magician, but excessive pride was never right.

"That was a neat and quiet approach, even making him understand it himself."

Realizing he had fallen completely for a mere 4th Circle illusion magic, Merlin would have lost the foundation of his pride that relied on his talent.

"He probably can't use magic anymore."

"There was a case like that before. He met a mage superior to himself, could not shed his pride, and was almost on the brink of breaking his mana loop."

"Are you talking about yourself, Great Sage?"

At Davey's question, Great Sage Hellison Valestia gave a bitter smile. "It's unfortunate. Being at a critical point in life. For a magician, a broken mana loop signifies death."

Davey and Great Sage Hellison Valestia approached the old man who had collapsed while following Merlin.

"Look here, my friend..."

"Oh... Great Sage..." The old man looked at Hellison with a devastated expression. "It's all my fault... I did not raise that poor boy properly..."

The man murmured dejectedly and looked at Davey. "I apologize, Prince Davey. Because of that boy's greed, I've caused you trouble."

Merlin had intended to kill Winley to lure out the Great Sage into the arena. If this was known, his life as a magician would undoubtedly end, and he would face even worse consequences. However, Davey intervened and only shook his mana loop.

"If he truly accepts reality and repents for his issues, he might rise again," Davey said.

"Perhaps. If so, he might overcome the same barriers I did," Hellison Valestia said in agreement.

"I'm just a mere 3rd Circle mage. So, I don't know how high and solid the barrier of the upper circle is." The old man spoke calmly, then murmured dejectedly. "I should have been stricter with him..."

"So, you're Merlin's mentor."

"It's embarrassing."

"It's not just about magic skills that a master and disciple share. He might have been talented, but... you're the elder in life." At Davey's words, the man looked at him in surprise. Davey added, "If parents don't guide their children properly, then what?"

"Oh... Ahh..."

"Stay strong. I'm sorry for neglecting the situation to this point... Truly sorry..."

At the bitter murmur of the Great Sage, the old man wept sorrowfully while still seated.

"Even without a blood relation, this is a master who loves his disciple so much..."

Davey felt a selfless love emanating from the pitiable old man, shedding tears for him. It was a strange and unfamiliar feeling, this unconditional love. Davey had experienced it twice before, but he had left before he could fully repay either of them.

Silently observing the scene, Davey discreetly slipped away.

* * *

The intense competition came to a temporary standstill. Merlin's disqualification for attempting to kill his opponent and his subsequent inability to wield magic resulted in Winley winning by default and advancing. The atmosphere, which had been dampened by Merlin's actions, was reinvigorated by the lively and passionate contests that followed.

Yet, there were also murmurs of concern arising. Some perceived Davey's intervention to secure his younger sister Winley's victory as skillfully executed. Although no one explicitly voiced it, this incident provided an opening for those seeking to challenge or undermine Davey's actions.

To be sure, the situation did not escalate further, thanks to Davey's timely intervention. Still, Winley did not meekly accept the outcome. With Merlin no longer in contention, Winley now stood among the top competitors, her status as a 4th Circle mage among her peers underscoring her prowess. Despite this, Winley chose to forfeit the competition immediately, leaving only the remaining participants to continue their pursuit of victory.

"Merlin, the betrayer of humanity. His infamy was significant. He was, after all, the chief provocateur behind the downfall of the Great Sage."

Strangely, Merlin exhibited an obsession with Hellison Valestia. Was it solely because Hellison held the title of a 7th Circle mage? There seemed to be more to the story, as Reina explained.

Merlin happened to be the illegitimate child of the Great Sage. His birth did not occur just over a decade ago, but rather during a time when the Great Sage was still active and youthful. During his travels across the continent, the Great Sage stumbled upon a small village in the southern city. There, he rescued a woman from a horde of goblins, and their connection began to take root. Unable to let the Great Sage slip away after such a life-altering event, she willingly offered herself to him, and he did not spurn her advances. However, a more profound issue emerged when she became pregnant with Merlin after just one encounter.

Growing up fatherless and raised solely by his mother, Merlin's life should have been devoid of any extraordinary talents. He was expected to follow in his mother's footsteps, engaging in mundane farming and other ordinary tasks. Merlin's mother guarded the secret of his true parentage – that he was the son of the Great Sage. She likely couldn't bear to risk bringing harm to her benefactor.

However, their happiness was shattered one fateful day when a massive monster attacked their village. Amidst the chaos, Merlin helplessly witnessed the monstrous creature devour his mother before his very eyes. In the moments before her passing, Merlin learned the shocking revelation that his biological father was none other than the Great Sage, Hellison Valestia. Consumed by a mix of anger and vengeance, Merlin fashioned a makeshift weapon and embarked on a quest to confront the beast responsible for his mother's tragic fate. The crux of the matter lay in identifying this monstrous entity – a colossal being known as Braga, which personified both an army and the embodiment of magic.

For reasons that remained enigmatic, Braga spared Merlin's life, instead choosing to imprison him within a solidified mana pumpkin. In due course, Braga lost control of the pumpkin, and through a sequence of serendipitous events, Merlin was reawakened. However, Merlin's physical form had undergone a transformation due to Braga's influence prior to his confinement within the mana pumpkin.

Braga, a conduit of magic, had infused a fragment of itself within its prey – a fragment that unlocked Merlin's latent potential. This distinctive amalgamation of Braga's essence and the bloodline of the Great Sage led to a synergistic effect, resulting in the formidable being that Merlin had become. Decades later, when the mana pumpkin was shattered due to an external impact, Merlin awoke in a frenzied state, driven by a deep-seated grudge against the Great Sage, whom he perceived as having forsaken his mother.

"That's the extent of my knowledge," Reina explained. "While I don't possess all the intricate details, the word is that when the Great Sage, Hellison Valestia, faced Merlin's challenge, he didn't offer much resistance."

Perserque nodded in agreement. "It makes sense now. Something always felt off about his talent."

"Why didn't you inform me earlier?" Davey asked.

"Must I disclose every piece of information?"

Annoyed, Davey retrieved the detachable horns Perserque had concealed and affixed them to her head. He then pressed her against the wall. "Are you trying to play games?"

Perserque met Davey’s gaze defiantly, but her expression shifted in an instant when Davey drew closer. "Stop! Who said you should actually do it?"

Reina chuckled, observing Perserque's sudden unease. "It's quite astonishing. The Demon Lord Perserque, once a formidable presence..."

"The lady from that realm and I are distinct."

"I know. I understand the situation."

The controlled Demon Lord in the parallel world and the liberated Perserque here were separate entities. Despite understanding this fact, Reina found it challenging to fully embrace reality.

Reina continued, "Through Aina, I've gathered various pieces of information. You've been in search of the sixth beauty of Verdandi. Moreover, I've come across references to an entity believed to originate from Earth. I, too, have leveraged my status as a hero to investigate and stumbled upon something intriguing."

"Intriguing, you say?"

"The present ruler of the Briouk Kingdom, who was once a wanted fugitive due to a rebellion, was taken under someone's care and upbringing. That person is commonly known as the Witch. And..." Davey attentively listened as Reina paused momentarily before speaking in a hushed tone. "She was one of the six beauties who held prominence in the past – Verdandi. While it's only a rumor, I believe it's worth looking into."

The notion of the Abyss Princess raising a human was nothing short of absurd.

"It might be simpler to conclude that Verdandi is not the Abyss Princess, but rather, a human."

"We can't jump to conclusions. It's difficult to discern between them, so unless it's Davey or Perserque, verification will prove challenging."

For that reason, Aina had suggested that Davey investigate for himself. She proposed that, by coming to this realm, he might uncover clues about Verdandi. Ultimately, there was little need for prolonged deliberation. With the ongoing magic competition thrown into disarray – Winley having forfeited and the prevailing chaos – there was no reason to remain idle.

Just as Davey was about to proceed with his plan to meet the king of the Briouk Kingdom...

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

Just as he was engaged in conversation with Reina, Davey furrowed his brows at the sudden bell ringing. "An invasion warning bell?"

Startled, Reina swiftly rose from her seat and seized her sword. While she frequently borrowed Davey's spear, Longinus, she predominantly wielded a large sword herself. Thus, she brandished a sword forged entirely from mithril sourced from the dwarf village.

"What in the world...?"

Following Reina’s line of sight out the window, Davey squinted as he observed the spectacle unfolding outside. Enormous magical pillars were erupting throughout the city, and colossal beams of light were piercing the sky, continuously unleashing a horde of monsters. It was an abrupt onslaught. The capital of the Briouk Kingdom had descended into utter chaos.

"8th Circle Mass Teleport." Davey comprehended the situation and turned around.

Presently, he stood as the sole practitioner of 8th Circle magic on the continent. The employment of such advanced magic could only be attributed to either the Abyss Princess, wielding power akin to magic, or another entity born with innate magical prowess. Regardless, permitting this incursion to persist was out of the question.

"I apologize! I'll quell the situation and return!" Reina hastily opened the window and emitted a sharp whistle.

Peep!!!

At the same time, a familiar energy commenced coalescing in the sky, unveiling a distinct figure. The Fire Chicken, a fiery avian entity, materialized. Ordinarily inhabiting the forests of the Hyun country, the Fire Chicken frequently accompanied Reina throughout the continent.

Screech!!!

The powerful presence of the Fire chicken made the people scream.

"It's the hero! The Hero of Light with the Phoenix!"

"We're saved!"

The sudden raid was unfolding across the capital, plunging it into chaos. Amidst the bedlam, the majestic figure of the massive creature soaring through the sky offered a glimmer of hope. Reina, her sword in hand, swiftly took to the air, confronting the onslaught of monsters emerging from the pillars. Gradually, those who had gathered started stepping up. Accomplished magicians collaborated, synergizing their spells for greater impact.

Standing out among them were Reina and Illyna, the bearer of the divine sword Caldeiras. Both exhibited remarkable harmony, perhaps due to their parallel existence. However, while Reina recognized Illyna, the latter perceived Reina as an unfamiliar entity in Davey's company.

"Prince Davey!"

Emerging from a building and heading toward the palace, Davey spotted three figures descending rapidly from the sky: the Great Sage Hellison Valestia, Yulis, and Winley.

"What's happening?" Yulis exclaimed, clearly flustered.

"No time to explain, Yulis. Get in and help!"

"Yes, Master! Let's go, Winley!"

"Absolutely!"

As they swiftly departed, Davey turned to Hellison Valestia. He asked, "Any insights?"

"Unlikely to be an external assault. No one would dare with our combined presence." Hellison Valestia fixed his gaze on the sky, at the ascending pillars. "Prince Davey, from my experienced eyes, that pillar seems to be an 8th Circle spell..."

"It's the 8th Circle Mass Teleport. If we don't intervene, it will keep spewing out more."

"Can it be halted?"

"Not with ease. But... I can neutralize it. However, I'll need some assistance."

They had been making preparations for a significant period. Davey also needed to be cautious. Lightly vaulting onto the rooftop of a tall structure, he extended his hand toward the purple columns of light piercing the sky.

"The Mass Teleport is a flawed spell. Simply dispelling it will result in a spatial backlash."

"Is that feasible?"

"That's why I'll defuse the 'bomb' and eliminate it. This will require my full attention, though. So, Great Sage, I need you to probe and locate the origin of this event elsewhere."

Upon hearing Davey's instructions, the Great Sage nodded and swiftly departed. Despite his advanced age, his magical prowess remained undiminished.

"Now then..." Davey extended his hand backward.

"Davey, I'll assist you. Just focus on dispelling."

"I appreciate that."

Without hesitation, Davey channeled his mana toward the first pillar, which continued to unleash a torrent of monsters.

Zap! Crash!

Simultaneously, one of the robust pillars that had been incessantly birthing monsters shattered and toppled. It was an 8th Circle magic that had been tragically dismantled. Just as Davey was on the verge of dispelling the second pillar, an uncanny sensation tugged at him from a distance. His attention was drawn to a girl in a far-off location, clad in a white dress that brushed against her calves, her long black hair cascading down. Nestled within her arms was a brown tome of magic.

"..."

Their eyes met, and Davey found himself unable to avert his gaze from the peculiarly familiar aura that surrounded the girl. He sensed as if he had encountered her before, yet he struggled to recall where.

Wait, he couldn't remember? It was uncharacteristic of Davey to forget.

This could only mean that he was truly encountering her for the first time. But why did she evoke a sense of recognition? The girl locked eyes with Davey momentarily, then turned her head and swiftly vanished. She appeared familiar, yet there was an undeniable enigma to her presence.