Genius Warlock

Chapter 324

Kevin, his hand clasping the chains with black magic, unbound their mystical restraints. With a flourish of sorcery, he triumphantly vanquished his adversary, a contemptuous snort escaping him.

His actions were a deliberate display of strength and composure, seamlessly aligning with the ethos of the Magic Tower—a place where projecting an aura of expertise beyond reality was paramount.

Yet, beneath his composed exterior, an undercurrent of astonishment surged through Kevin. The fortuitous acquisition of proficiency in black magic at precisely this juncture, coupled with his rapid accomplishments, left him taken aback.

In that fleeting moment, it was as though the very hands of a god had intervened. A God...

"Ha, black magic?"

"What in the world...?"

Within the encompassing shroud of dense mist and ensnared by mystical chains, the assembly of wizards gaped at Kevin's emergence once again, their astonishment rekindled.

Kevin comprehended their reaction all too well.

In a community of wizards inclined to overlook many illicit endeavors for the sake of enlightenment, delving into the realm of black magic was sacrilege.

Yet, Kevin opted to concentrate on the immediate crisis.

His initial act was to preemptively assail the other wizards within the demonstration hall, including the professor.

These magic practitioners had been primed to assail as per their instructor's command.

Initiating his strategy, Kevin funneled magic down through his foot, interweaving earth and fire magic, resulting in stone spears erupting from the ground below his adversaries' feet.

KwaGwaGwaGwaGwaGwak!!

Repeatedly, spears forged from soil and rock surged upwards, impaling many foes, yet these were no ordinary wizards. A fair number agilely sidestepped or soared above Kevin's offensive with an almost animalistic dexterity, fueled by their own sorcery.

Evidently, they were not run-of-the-mill individuals.

‘Not that it truly matters now.'

[Firecracker]

Kevin intoned, activating the fusion of earth and fire magic.

Explosions rocked the stone spears, attacking nearby adversaries with flames, searing heat, and shards of debris.

The once-stabbing spears had transmuted the area into a sea of fire, dealing substantial damage to opponents whose vigilance had slackened after evading the initial assault.

A mere handful of survivors emerged, but overwhelmed by the ferocity, they beat a hasty retreat, their resolve shattered.

Confirming this development, Kevin again seized the emotions in his grasp and forcibly sundered the magical bonds constricting Derick.

"Professor...?"

Liberated from the magical shackles, Derick inquired with an expression marked by a rare surprise.

Kevin opted for audacity. Bold-faced lies found their footing when delivered unflinchingly.

"I acquired the skill during my tenure as a war wizard, solely for operational and research purposes. No need for astonishment."

"But, yet..."

"Do you think this is the time to discuss this?"

Kevin addressed Derick in the same manner he once did soldiers on battlefronts.

Curiously, this proved an apt response.

The circumstances paralleled a state of war.

Within a domain where Landa's Magic Tower, Gallos' Rockuri University, and wizards' families from across the continent converged, the fact that the host, Rockuri University itself, had initiated aggression amounted to nothing short of warfare.

Fortuitously, Derick perceived the gravity of the present situation.

Kevin's engagement with black magic might have been a minor personal matter, but the ongoing turmoil transcended normalcy, edging into an unsettling madness.Reêad latest novels at novelhall.com

‘And such madness can't be committed by a madman alone... Surely, it's related to the higher-ups.'

Kevin gazed into the encompassing fog, his certainty unwavering, as it held the entire vicinity in its enigmatic grip. Despite his inability to gauge its precise potency and influence, the magnitude alone conveyed that this was no ordinary obstruction. A barrier of such scale couldn't have been conjured by anyone less than One Master, or perhaps even a Grand Master.

Swift action became imperative in Kevin's mind. Following Derick's lead, he deftly sundered Felix's magical restraints. Without delay, he turned and beckoned Oliver to his side.

"Zenon, you shou-"

"-I'm alright," Oliver interjected, his gaze fixed on Kevin. He had, in fact, already escaped the magical shackles unaided.

This was a stark contrast to the majority of nearby wizards, still ensnared and voicing their frustrations.

Felix, his face drained of color, couldn't contain his astonishment. "How did you manage to do it?"

"By manipulating the mana flow and aligning the spell with the disruptive mana interference," Oliver responded casually, articulating a technique that seemed self-evident yet shouldn't be taken for granted.

Initially, Kevin's method of using black magic to break the chains had been intricate. Indeed, among the formidable wizards present, only a handful had managed to liberate themselves from the magical confines independently, albeit belatedly, underscoring the complexity.

A mere staff member—neither a student of the tower nor an official wizard—displayed such finesse in mana control.

Even Derick and Felix, who were well aware that Oliver was far from ordinary, found themselves newly amazed. Yet, this awe soon became secondary.

"And if my assumption is accurate, it seems you aim to rectify this issue."

"Indeed. And I implore your assistance in doing so."

A declaration as audacious as it was confrontational, proposing the overthrow of the existing social structure and even a challenge to divine ordinances.

Yet neither Philip nor Tilda exhibited fluster, underscoring their seasoned wizardry.

"How do you intend to proceed? Sharing this with us implies you possess both a plan and a method."

Theodore pivoted to face Philip and Tilda.

"I shall establish a new Tower in Lake Village, not as a loose coalition, but as a harmonious institution, resurrecting an authentic Tower comprised solely of genuine wizards."

"Will you then engage in conflict with the nation?"

"Unnecessary. Merely prepare for the forthcoming new era."

A new era. The term was abrupt, even preposterous, yet Philip and Tilda didn't dismiss it.

They understood that Theodore was radical but not given to nonsensical speech.

"A new era, you say?"

"The world is on the brink of transformation."

The inquiry didn't dissipate their skepticism; it merely added to it.

But that was not the conclusion.

"And amid that turmoil, only the chosen shall endure. Extend your hand to me, and I shall grant you youth and immortality."

The assertion seemed surreal, yet Philip and Tilda didn't outright reject it.

He might be haughty, but his pride was so immense that falsehood seemed inconceivable.

"It's just the two of us here... Have you managed to convince the other Tower associates? I'm referring to the masters of the Agni and Enlil schools."

"My grandson is working on persuading them. They're skilled wizards, but not quite at your level."

"Hmm... Do you believe your grandson can sway them?"

"My grandson. And even if he can't, it doesn't matter. If they resist, there are methods to bring them into alignment."

"It seems like our situations are parallel."

"Not merely similar, but the same. However, don't misunderstand. It's the path I'd rather avoid. I hold you in high regard. So make the right decision."

Theodore's words flowed with confidence, an almost haughty air, while Philip stroked his forked beard.

"......May I pose another question?"

"Is this the second inquiry?"

“No, a newly arisen doubt.”

"What is it?"

"You mentioned granting youth and immortality, but does the Life School faction possess the technology to achieve that at present?"

"To be truthful, it's still in its experimental stages. I've gathered, developed, and augmented various technologies, but a critical element remains elusive. Nevertheless, it's a puzzle that's on the brink of resolution."

"On what grounds do you assert this?"

"I've secured the finest ingredients."

Theodore responded, exuding certainty, as if everything unfolding before him revolved around this fact.

"I don't comprehend... these ‘finest ingredients.'"

"You don't need to delve that deeply. That's my concern to handle. Yours is whether to embrace my proposition."

In the end, Theodore pressed for an answer, almost as though his earlier remark about employing different means if they declined was no idle threat.

Philip chuckled, relinquishing the shrinking spell he'd cast on the spear he held, then casting an enhanced growth incantation.

"Lengthen."

As Philip uttered the command, the spear elongated with swiftness akin to a bullet, extending outward.

Whizz—————Bang!!

However, Theodore nimbly arrested the spear with his conjured magical hand.

"......Regrettable. Truly. I anticipated a deeper understanding from you."

"Extend."

Upon Philip's utterance, the spear, now stretched, expanded manifold times, rending Theodore's magical grasp apart.

"......Huh."