Chapter 623 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

In the floating city, magic is a part of daily life, and the Magic Towers and their lords are familiar with its elite. Thus, visitors who come here by chance often forget. Magic isn't so ubiquitous below, and a Tower Lord is not something to be taken lightly. The Black Tower Master, Ryunne, was a wizard with a small build and a face lacking confidence. Clad in a heavy robe and wearing a pointed hat pulled down low, they resembled a witch more than a magician. Yet, their magic was entirely different. A black orb arose. Light, heat, wind. A small black sphere that consumed all energy orbited around the Black Tower Master as if protecting them. For a moment, one of the orbs pulsed and fired a red heat ray. "Tch!" Shei, sensing the threat, angled Jizan to block it. The heat ray struck the dark blade of Jizan and scattered. The sparks flew, demonstrating the heat ray's tangible form. The Black Tower Master muttered toward Shei. "...Cease the pointless resistance... It's a bother for us both." "If you hadn’t come searching, there would be no reason for resistance!" Sigh. Another fight. Can't they just break out quietly and live like me? I was watching from afar and blaming Shei's lack of cunning when— "An escaped black wizard from my tower supposedly came with you... Of course, I must question you." Oh dear. Did my escape land Shei in trouble? So, who told you to leave me to enjoy my freedom? It's a punishment for abandoning a colleague. I'll accept it wholeheartedly. Shei, darting away from the heat beams, retorted sharply. "You were the ones who captured Hughes! I didn't help, and you lost him, so why blame me?! I was also trying to find out where Hughes is!" In response to Shei’s cry, the Black Tower Master paused, deep in thought. "Uh... Is, is that so?" As the attack faltered, a resonant crystal near the Black Tower Master's shoulder relayed the voice of the Green Tower Lord. [Is that so? It's only natural to suspect you aided in the jailbreak given the black wizard came with you. Capture them quickly.] "But... If they resist like this, it's hard to capture them alive..." [I'm coming to assist. If you and I are present, restraining them will be simple.] "Oh? Since when...?" [What do you mean?] "A stubborn one like you, helping me... Are you sick, or is that black wizard truly such a threat...?" [The latter. I'll explain when I arrive, so catch them first!] At that moment, Shei was flying through the sky to escape. Watching her retreat, the Black Tower Master lifted a brush-shaped staff and marked a black dot in space ahead of Shei. Inherent Magic, Vanishing Point. Unlike the White Tower that manipulates light, the Black Tower manipulates colors. Colors are attributes of matter that absorb and emit light. From the same branch of ‘light,’ black and white evolved differently. The Black Tower studies not the light itself but the space light occupies. Choosing black imparted a negative image, yet it remains true white magic. Consistently, at their weekly meetings, the Black Tower's magicians propose changing this traditional color due to its negative perception, but traditionalists resist this change every time. The Black Tower’s greatest traditionalist placed a vanishing point in front of Shei. "Ugh…" A vanishing point is an imaginary dot used to express perspective. As one nears this point, the amplitude of the image must decrease. The Black Tower Master’s inherent magic functioned similarly. Everything slowed. Sound, speed, and energy converged toward the single point marked by the Black Tower. Not disappearing, but rather trapped without ever reaching the vanishing point. A vanishing point that consumes even light, appearing like a black monster devouring everything. Shei twisted her direction abruptly in mid-air. However, since the vanishing point consumed even the space occupied by Tianying, she spiraled down like a butterfly with a torn wing. As the Black Tower Master leisurely walked following Shei’s trajectory, they mused. "...How did a black wizard break through my gravitational barrier? I used the vanishing point to construct it. I’d like to ask when we meet.” "Then…! Just ask Hughes directly!" Twirling mid-descent, Shei condensed her rotation into Tianying. Casting off the tumultuous wind within Tianying at once, she hurled it toward the Black Tower Master. Heavenly Sword Technique, Dragon's Ascent. A single strand of storm stretched toward the Black Tower Master. As it neared, the tapering vortex resembled a sharp spear. Yet, at a certain point, the storm becoming increasingly pointed finally. Vanished into the vanishing point. Upon noticing the storm vanish into the vanishing point before them, the Black Tower spoke without a hint of surprise. "A knife-shaped creation from Rene's pouch...? A unique form. But your wind does not reach... It remains merely prey for my vanishing point due to its vibrational nature..." And now, absorbed by the vanishing point, the storm turned into energy wielded against Shei by the Black Tower. Observing Shei's distressed expression, the Black Tower referred to Jizan. "That hefty sword might be different…" Jizan could perhaps destroy the vanishing point. Its overwhelming mass would not dissipate so easily. But after a brief assessment, Shei fled in haste. 'Jizan might break that inherent magic…! But don't be fooled! It's a trap! No magician would openly disclose their weakness!' The true power of a magician remains dormant. It is the synergy between white magic and inherent magic that defines a magician. Noticing this, Shei quickly retreated, and the Black Tower, having laid the trap and waited, lamented in disappointment. "Good reflex… Exuberant. I’m a bit envious seeing that…." Regardless, her relentless flight despite the overwhelming disparity in power was tiresome. Yet, the difference in power was simply too great. "There... is a dead end." "Kyaah!" A headwind enveloped Shei as she fled. Attempting to counter with Tianying was futile, for the one-way wind resisted any opposing flow. Shei fell to the ground like a fly caught mid-flight. As she rose, regaining her senses, she was confronted by the Green Tower Lord, who pointed an umbrella at her. With a fractured voice, the Green Tower Lord subdued Shei with a one-way wind. "I was drawn in by your presence and overlooked it. That black wizard. Who are they?" YW9peUx5cktZYXhyU2hzY1VsMkQ0WDFmM2pYMG9jSXd2bmN6dVNYTEdNVjV6N3NENXlVclpaZjQ4NHZ3Zmp1UA It wouldn't matter even if it were revealed that they were the King of Humans. Shei, with her rebellious spirit, gritted her teeth and retorted defiantly. "Why do you ask that? You’re the ones who captured and labeled them a black wizard!" “…That is.” I, too, am curious. Why are they suddenly so desperate to find me? Taking advantage of the opportunity Shei provided, I read the Green Tower Lord’s thoughts. '...If it wasn't my imagination. When I first encountered him, it felt like my inherent magic was being analyzed. Just like when I faced the Demon King...' Well, I do have telepathy. Since I can read intent, it might feel like an analysis. But what's so impressive about that? 'Analyzed...? No. That's still unclear. There was definitely an issue with my one-way path back then. If one cannot identify my inherent magic’s blind spot, they can’t proceed with any other research...' The Green Tower Lord organized her thoughts and spoke. "I sensed some unknown power from this black wizard. If we don't clearly identify it, it could pose a significant threat to the floating city." "The conclusion of your analysis was to capture Hughes and pursue him with dozens of people? If Hughes is a threat to you, it would be due to your aggressive actions!" "Perhaps. But, if handled, at least we wouldn’t feel threatened anymore." Shei's eyes widened. "You're talking about killing Hughes?!" "If necessary." "Are you sane? Do you think I’ll just sit by and watch?!" "You are no exception. Know your place." The Green Tower Lord raised a cube enveloped in lightning and storm. The cube, composed of one-way facets, was a prison of wind. The compressed air, unable to escape, awaited its release, sparking with lightning and flames. At this range, if that cube is unleashed, Shei wouldn't come out unscathed. As Shei gritted her teeth, the Green Tower Lord gazed down at her indifferently. "You are ambiguously strong. Easy to kill, but difficult to capture alive. So, if you resist to the end, I can’t guarantee your safety." "Acting all self-righteous...!" "Self-righteous? That's the privilege of the chosen ones. Hence." By now, the Black Tower Master, who wielded the vanishing point, had sidled closer to Shei. To the front, a one-way path; to the rear, a vanishing point. There was nowhere or way to escape. Continuing to resist meant gambling with her life, and most likely, it would end in Shei’s demise. 'Dying is fine! But I can’t end this cycle here without properly delivering a message to Hughes...!' "Lay down your arms before I count to three. One, two..." It was then, as the Green Tower Lord counted off while folding her fingers. "Everyone." The Blue Tower Lord stepped between the Green Tower Lord and Shei. Wedge into the space oppressed by both the vanishing point and the one-way path, the Blue Tower Lord finished her calculations with eyes as serene as still water. From her lips, a white breath exhaled. "Stop." The world froze. In an instant, the wind halted, the atmosphere quietly solidified, and ice flowers bloomed. The air, the medium for vibrations, disappeared, and all noise ceased. Monumental silence halted everything—the wind, the sounds, and this battle. "Haa…." Amidst it, the Blue Tower Lord knelt like a crouched butterfly. A thin layer of frost covered her clothes and skin. Frost scattered from her shoulders, making her seem like a butterfly. Inherent Magic, Determinism. An inherent magic of absolute zero that freezes even the air. This sparkling powder, made not from moisture but frozen air, couldn’t be born on Earth. Only existing in the depths of the universe, the air formed a halo around her. A supernatural ability that shouldn’t exist. What shock would the world endure upon unlocking this inherent magic? Ignorance breeds bravery. Conversely, knowledge is fear. Knowing better than anyone else the power of the Blue Tower Lord, both the Green Tower and Black Tower Masters shouted simultaneously. "You crazy woman!" “…Are you in your right mind…?" Inherent Magic, One-Way Path. Triple Flow. An inherent magic domain enforcing a one-way path. The Green Tower Lord enveloped herself, layering her domain thrice. The magic that slipped through the crevices formed a magical formation. Inherent Magic, Vanishing Point. Perspective by Three. A three-dimensional form constructed by three vanishing points emerged. A drop of water fell, drawing a star shape with three vanishing points as the vertices. The Black Tower Master too drew upon power to combat the anomalous force. Magi are strong and perilous. The inherent magic that overlays the world’s rules can lead to ruin if mishandled. When different rules collide, the power amplifies uncontrollably. Even with its grandeur and magic, the floating city cannot withstand the might of the three Tower Lords. Just one person, toppling the balance, was a hair’s breadth away from causing the city's downfall. "You young, outstanding talent of the Magic Federation. Relentlessly clashing day and night, are you!" At that moment, light moved. From the center of the floating city. Babylon. A dazzling light stretched from the axis that intersects the round floating city from top to bottom. Blinking in the glaring light for a moment. I found 'him' standing, slinging an arm around the Black Tower Master. A man who, even in need of intervention, beamed with joy at the very conflict of this fight. "Yes. Exchange, conflict, and debate are the first steps toward progress. Explore! Confront! Advance further! That, indeed, will be the new stride towards progress!" The one they call the Demon King.