Chapter 252 - Infinite Mage

"I'm Shirone." Shirone raised his head towards the ceiling. A cold gaze slowly descended, directed at Amy. "Disappointed?" Amy was at a loss for words, unable to breathe properly. Shirone channeled his tumultuous emotions, fortifying his mind. He could hear an eerie sound of blood vessels bursting ominously beneath his skin. As he cast a laser spell, a beam as thick as a log shot up towards the ceiling. The rapid accumulation of thermal energy caused the ceiling to start trembling. "Shirone! Wait...!" "It's dangerous! We have to run!" Reina grabbed Amy's wrist and dashed towards the exit. As they escaped the food storage, a loud explosion erupted from Shirone's direction. The shockwave sent both of them sprawling across the floor. They turned their heads, still lying down. A massive rock had crashed down, blocking the entrance to the food storage. *** The court musician's music faltered into discord. As an earthquake shook the Grand Hall, women screamed and collapsed to the floor. Men also looked around with terrified expressions. "An earthquake? Khazra isn't supposed to be on a seismic belt, is it?" "Everyone, get down! Crawl under the tables!" At the guards' cries, the nobles scrambled under the tables. The early arrivals and latecomers engaged in a scuffle, resembling a bullfight. The earthquake lasted about a minute before ceasing. The nobles, regaining their composure, awkwardly crawled out from under the tables. Orkamp and Elisa, supported by the royal guards, also bore pale faces. There had been no recorded earthquakes in Khazra's history. An ominous feeling lingered in Orkamp's mind. The northern part of the Grand Hall exploded with a bang. Bricks flew in all directions, and smoke covered the area. A few nobles, who were on the brink of panic, lost their reason. Lying on the ground, they flailed their arms and legs senselessly. The first to grasp the situation were the palace guards and the nobles' personal bodyguards. Realizing it wasn't a natural disaster, the royal guards encircled the king and queen, while the personal bodyguards stuck close to the nobles. "An attack? What's going on?" The guards searched for Captain Ritney Walker. Moments ago, he had been present, but now he was nowhere to be seen. Confusion spread through the chain of command. If this was an act of terrorism by a hostile nation, the security level needed to be elevated to its highest. However, without the superior's orders, making such decisions felt burdensome. For a moment, nothing happened. The nobles, trying to maintain their dignity, peered into the hole in the floor, concealing their inner turmoil. But when a silhouette rose, they fell on their rear ends, as if the previous composure had been an illusion. "Is that... Shirone?" Orkamp muttered with a puzzled expression. The person who had turned the Grand Hall into chaos was none other than Shirone. Only an hour earlier, he remembered seeing Shirone dancing with Reina. But why was he behaving like this now? "Shirone, what on earth are you doing?" The royal guards moved to shield Orkamp. "Your Highness, do not approach. Something feels off." Even to Orkamp, Shirone seemed different from an hour ago. The changed color of his eyes made him appear like a different person, but the most alien aspect was his expression. Shirone never wore such an emotional expression. He was the one who stayed calm and maintained a poker face in any situation, but now he was grimacing in pain. "The castle's durability has improved. Humans have advanced quite a bit." A guard approached Shirone in a ready stance. "Shirone, using magic inside the castle is strictly forbidden...!" Without a glance, Shirone fired a photon cannon. The guard leaped, rolling away as the continuous barrage of the photon cannon scraped the marble floor. "From now on, no one shall speak without my permission. I will make the judgment." Shirone's seriousness was proven by the recent attack. If the guard's reaction had been slightly delayed, he would have been obliterated by the cannon's bombardment. The atmosphere in the Grand Hall instantly turned frigid. The nobles exchanged looks, their expressions reflecting disbelief. For days, they had assessed Shirone as a prey animal—docile and straightforward, easy to exploit. However, the presence Shirone now exuded was ferociously wild, even shocking to the seasoned nobles. The guards awaited orders from the deputy commander in Walker's absence. But the deputy, who had remained outside of responsibility until now, was reluctant to make any hasty decisions. "Deputy Commander, what should we do? Please issue orders!" The deputy commander rolled his eyes anxiously. The main forces were stationed outside the inner castle, and it would take time to contact them. It was unprecedented for an incident to occur in the heart of the castle, the Grand Hall. "Deputy Commander! Orders! Shall we activate the magic suppression device?" The deputy's face twisted in frustration. "Do you think it's that easy, you idiot?" Magic suppression devices disrupt a wizard's concentration. However, they do not discriminate between ally and enemy. If activated, even allied wizards would be rendered useless. 'Damn, what should I do? Should I activate the suppression device? But to catch one person, do I sacrifice all our wizards? If things go wrong, I'd have to bear the consequences. And where the hell has Walker disappeared to?' Given the stakes involving the king's safety, all possible variables needed consideration before making a decision. However, weighed down by the pressure, the deputy commander's thoughts drifted into blaming Walker and seeking escape from reality. "The suppression device is a last resort. Perhaps you could let us handle this?" Feeling as if he had met a savior, the deputy commander turned his gaze. The head of Khazra's magic department, Aymar Bosun, was approaching. "Ah, are you sure it's alright?" "Our department has been closely monitoring Shirone's movements. It seems he's finally shown his true colors. But we can handle this. Can we use magic with the guard chief's permission?" "Of course. If you can take care of this for us..." Teaming up was certainly better than bearing the responsibility alone. Moreover, since Bosun wielded significant influence within the royal palace, he wouldn't turn a blind eye if things went awry. Bosun put on a forced smile and made his way towards Shirone. Gradually, one by one, Bosun's subordinates emerged from the ranks of the nobles to follow him. "I'll stay by your side, teacher." The spot next to Bosun was reserved for his closest aide, Mito Ekkashi. Ekkashi was diminutive, standing at 153 centimeters, with heavy eyelids and eyes that slanted fiercely—a face reminiscent of a child. Having traversed countless battlefields from a young age, he had ascended to the position of an accredited 6th-grade mage in Khazra's magic department at the age of twenty-three. Of course, the world also hosted exceptional prodigies like Oliver Shiina, who had attained the 6th grade at twenty. However, such geniuses were rare, emerging perhaps once every decade on a kingdom-wide scale. Ekkashi was rightly viewed as the future of Khazra. "This is quite the fortunate turn of events, wouldn't you say, sir?" "Hmm, unforeseen events often spiral into disasters. But I might agree with you this time." Casting magic in the royal presence is a grave crime. Moreover, Shirone had attacked a royal guard and spoken rebellious words, essentially branding himself a dead man walking. "So, what has made the First Prince Candidate so enraged?" Shirone glared coldly at Bosun. Just an hour ago, he had been itching to land a punch on his jaw. But now, there was not a single thought of doing that—only an overwhelming urge to kill. "So, you're the one driving me mad." At the chilling, pure intent to kill emanating from Shirone—something beyond human comprehension—Bosun's heart raced. Yet, he didn't give an inch of ground in spirit. Turning his chin slightly, he addressed the royal guard. "Escort Their Majesties. I'll handle things here." "Understood. Your Majesty, please follow us." Orkamp shrugged off the guard’s grasp. He didn’t understand why Shirone suddenly transformed, but leaving would mean Bosun would find a way to kill Shirone. That would inevitably mean his own position would be handed over to the Theraze faction. "Who said anything about escaping? Who exactly is your king?" "Apologies, Your Majesty!" The guard kneeled, having realized his mistake. In the heat of the moment, he had followed Bosun's instructions. In different circumstances, it might have been overlooked, but the fact that Bosun was part of the Theraze faction made it indeed a reckless misstep. "However, Your Majesty, this place is dangerous." "I'll decide on that. A royal guard's duty is to protect the king, isn’t it?" "Understood. Then let's move to a slightly safer location." Orkamp slipped past Bosun and positioned himself at the southern part of the Grand Hall, infuriating the nobles. As long as the king stayed put, they were bound to remain as well. As the nobles gathered around Orkamp, personal guards followed suit, sticking close to their employers. Magic, regardless of its level, could snuff out a person’s life in an instant. With Bosun taking center stage, none of the nobles wanted to lend out their protective shield. Still, it was a 4-against-1 battle. Even among skilled, certified mages at the fourth grade, their combat prowess would differ significantly from mere juniors. "Going on such a rampage, it seems the First Prince Candidate is destined never to amount to much. After living in the palace for a few days, does everything look like it's yours?" "I wouldn’t take this place, even if it were offered to me. Bosun, right? In other countries, you'd be polishing the shoes of great wizards, but a bit of farming here has set you up quite nicely." Bosun let out a hollow laugh, truly taken aback. To think he would hear such recklessness from someone so junior. More than anything, the reduction of his specialty, plant magic, to mere farming infuriated him. Admittedly, plant magic is not particularly tailored for combat. While combat mages focus intensely on a single element like ice or flame, plant mages research various elements to modify fertilizer combinations or change cultivation methods, enhancing agricultural productivity. In some ways, it's the furthest from combat. Still, a mage certified at the 4th grade would possess at least one specialty capable of subduing opponents, regardless of the discipline. "A bit arrogant for someone so young. Let me evaluate your skills this time around." Bosun reached into his pocket and brought out a handful of seeds, spreading them over his palm. Each varied in color, shape, and size. "This is my trump card, 'A Handful of Seeds.' It's a composite set of asexually propagated plants I've cultivated. Everything's mixed, so who knows what will sprout?" As Bosun flung the seeds into the air, a spirit zone enveloped the area, and sprouts began to emerge, rapidly maturing into plants each displaying distinct characteristics. Three seeds of the Kawankra plant were the first to reach full bloom. The flower was a pale green sphere, opening to reveal sharp teeth. As roots grew, they latched onto Shirone's arms and legs, their jaws agape as they lunged. With a burst of short-range light fury, the Kawankra flower exploded with a pop. Despite being fierce enough to pierce a snake's skin, the plant's durability was unimpressive. Yet the other seeds anchored without issue, using their unique traits to threaten Shirone. As the giant plants matured, the northern part of the Grand Hall turned into a lush jungle. Bosun's cultivated plant varieties numbered 87 in total, and so the variation from 'A Handful of Seeds' had to exceed at least 30 species. The scene surrounding Shirone was akin to a small ecosystem. The roots of the Kakora vine, known as the killer vine, crawled up the walls, enveloping the ceiling. The Ortho fungus dispersed spores, emitting delirium-inducing gas, while the killer flowers along the ceiling's corners unfurled acid-drooling petals, suspended on springs. Shirone observed, his gaze darting between the plants, finding the scenario rather intriguing. While trapped within the sealing barrier, Shirone was astounded to see human magic had advanced to this extent. He began to understand why the angels were obsessed with the final war. "Have you modified them yourself?" "A question not worth answering." When the killer plants lunged, Shirone evaded them through teleportation. But plants were everywhere. Bosun skillfully maneuvered to corner Shirone. As the trees extended their branches, his space of evasion shrank. "So, what do you think of a farmer's magic?" The sight of the trees moving their limbs was disturbingly grotesque, yet it was imbued with exceptional insights taken from nature. Plants lack muscles, so the only way they can move is through 'growth.' Bosun's passive magic, 'Growth Acceleration,' amplifies a plant's growth rate by up to 100,000 times. This is why plants within the radius of this spell displayed animal-like movements. However, this also meant their lifespan was drastically short. Under the influence of growth acceleration, Kawankra, which usually lives about ten years, reaches the end of its growth in 40 minutes, ceasing activity. Of course, a Kokora vine, with a lifespan of 1,200 years, could still function for over 20 hours, but the average activity time for plants mixed in a handful of seeds was merely about two hours, rendering long battles impractical. While overall activity is generated through growth acceleration, finer movements become possible with the active magic 'Elemental Infusion.' It stimulates specific instincts by injecting various elements into plants, similar to photosynthesis. This principle is akin to how humans perform specific actions in response to different hormones. That is why 'Growth Acceleration' and 'Elemental Infusion' are called the heart and brain of plant magic. Bosun skillfully combined the two spells, pressuring Shirone fiercely. Acidic mucus spewed from flowers, and thorny vines lashed out like whips. As the plants continued to grow, the space closed in, reaching saturation. With vines intertwining in three dimensions and leaving no room for escape, Shirone finally ceased teleportation. Vines dangling from the ceiling entangled his limbs. "Now the evaluation can begin. It's a failing mark." Though he spoke thus, Bosun was roiling inside. In a soil-less setting, a plant mage’s power diminishes. Even so, he was a certified 4th-grade mage, yet he came this far against what appeared to be an amateur, humiliating him in front of his subordinates. "What on earth has happened? Have you attained some realization?" It's impossible for a person to transform this much in just an hour. The personality shift might be due to madness, but the level of magic expertise was utterly different. Shirone tugged at the entwined vines on his wrists. Breaking them with a mage's body was impossible, and the thorns only drew blood. Bosun snorted. The plant prison was a magic he greatly prided himself on. Beyond its binding strength, the thorn scratches even numbed nerves. "You should give up. This is a prison one can't escape from unless they're a scale mage. Surrender peacefully, and I'll ensure a comfortable death." As Shirone turned to look at Bosun, he blinked, then appeared to come to a realization. "Ah, scale magic." Shirone glanced up at the prison's ceiling. The vines were tensioned like veins, forming walls resembling petrified lava. If intertwined to this extent, their sturdiness would be substantial. But that was ideal. "Such a handy method exists, huh?" A smirk in the corner of his lips, Shirone swiftly conjured a sphere of light in front of him. Opening the Immortal Function drastically boosted the photon cannon's photon density by several folds. "Ahhhhh!" Every nerve coursing through Shirone's body stood on end. The small blood vessels in his eyes burst, causing blood-red tears to stream down. Yet, the only reason he maintained consciousness was due to the reinforcement's potent power. Shirone realized what he possessed and what potential it held. He expanded his senses until the reinforcement elasticity was on the verge of collapse. Truthfully, it didn’t matter if it tore. With this level of power, he could revel in it regardless of life being on the line. "Teacher, we must eliminate him now." Ekkashi stated, witnessing the photon cannon as if it compressed immense kinetic energy. Bosun had no disagreements. By casting Elemental Infusion, Bosun starved the plants, prompting numerous carnivorous species to break through branches, baring fangs at Shirone. "Shirone!" The grand hall doors opened to reveal Amy and Reina entering. Shirone was visible, trapped in the dense forest. He appeared in worse condition than when they had last seen him in the food storage. His nervous system was practically protruding from his skin. This suggested an overload of information beyond human endurance was flooding to his brain. In such a state, even if Shirone’s personality returned, the likelihood of resuming a normal life was in question. "Ahhhhh!" Shirone concentrated all the mental strength harnessed by the Immortal Function solely onto the God particle. As the photon cannon's mass increased, it began to blur. The overwhelming mass created gravity, pulling in photons.