Magic Academy's Genius Blinker Chapter 546: The Five Prestigious Schools (2)

High Priest Malcan descended lightly from the formidable bell tower, making a smooth landing in the plaza below.

As the dark mages who had meticulously marked the perimeter retreated, creating a space for the impending duel, Baek Yu-Seol stepped into the newly cleared arena.

However, the atmosphere among the surrounding spectators felt noticeably different this time around.

A significant portion of the Narang tribe observed him, their gazes filled with a potent mix of resentment and profound despair.

If Baek Yu-Seol were to falter in this confrontation, the Narang tribe would not only forfeit their final vestige of honor and pride but would also face complete subjugation under the oppressive rule of the Dark Mage Cult.

"Is that your chosen weapon? It seems rather unconventional for a Narang," Malcan remarked with a sneer, his eyes fixed on the sword held by Baek Yu-Seol.

In this current epoch, traditional bladed weapons like swords were largely relegated to mere decorative accessories for the self-defense of common folk.

It was an age unequivocally dominated by the power of magic.

Even the Narang tribe, renowned for their proud warrior lineage, had increasingly turned to magical prowess in combat over the antiquated reliance on arms such as swords.

Nevertheless, Baek Yu-Seol was acutely aware that without recourse to his sword, there was virtually no possibility of victory against a dark mage of Risk Level 8.

"Very well! Let us see the true extent of your confidence!"

Baek Yu-Seol directed his sword toward Malcan, drawing a deep, bracing breath.

He understood implicitly that the very instant he employed his signature Flash ability, his true identity would be irrevocably revealed.

Yet, such a revelation held no bearing on the present objective. What mattered paramountly was that he had successfully orchestrated a one-on-one encounter with Malcan.

The primary impediment preventing the Narang warriors from mounting a rebellion was not a deficiency in their inherent strength, but rather the overwhelming might possessed by Malcan.

Through his observations of the city over the preceding days, Baek Yu-Seol had gleaned that the Narang warriors were stoically enduring their imposed shame and humiliation, strategically biding their time.

They were patiently awaiting the opportune moment to unleash their formidable power once more.

And now, with Baek Yu-Seol having audaciously stepped forward to instigate this confrontation, it was entirely natural for the Narang warriors to regard him with feelings of frustration and bitter resentment.

Carefully maintaining his distance, Baek Yu-Seol executed a series of rapid sidesteps, meticulously assessing Malcan’s every movement.

The precarious, high-tension standoff endured until Malcan, his patience completely exhausted, initiated the offensive by charging directly at Baek Yu-Seol.

Boom!

Notwithstanding Malcan’s imposing physique, he moved with a speed that was nothing short of terrifying, instantly shattering the sound barrier.

His charge was direct and brutally forceful, conspicuously lacking any semblance of sophisticated technique or finesse. However, should any individual be unfortunate enough to be struck by such an assault, the impact would be akin to being hit by a runaway freight train, utterly pulverizing their body.

The name struck a chord. Baek Yu-Seol recalled hearing mentions of Malcan recently amongst the magic warriors – the individual infamously known as the ’bishop killer.’

Bishops, who typically relied on the deployment of slower yet immensely potent long-range magic channeled through their staffs, were exceptionally vulnerable to swift, high-velocity assaults such as Malcan’s.

Malcan had earned his notoriety through his relentless, unyielding charges, utilizing his massive frame to devastating effect against his adversaries.

Consequently, the more physically frail bishops found themselves utterly outmatched, frequently being brutally rent asunder by his savage offensive maneuvers.

When Malcan had abruptly vanished from the prevailing scene, a palpable sense of relief had permeated the ranks of many magic warriors.

Few could have possibly surmised that he had been quietly establishing a power base within a locale such as this.

Had his adversary been a bishop – or indeed, any standard magic warrior – confronting Malcan’s high-speed onslaught would have presented an insurmountable challenge.

Yet, Baek Yu-Seol was demonstrably not an ordinary magic warrior.

From the very outset of his journey, he had strategically leveraged his Flash magic to compensate for his naturally weaker physical constitution.

If he possessed the capability to sever magical projectiles traveling at speeds multiple times that of sound with his sword, evading an attack of this magnitude was an exercise in triviality.

It proceeded at a pace so leisurely it felt as though one could savor the spectacle.

Executing an effortless pivot, Baek Yu-Seol spun gracefully on his left ankle, smoothly shifting his body to the opposing side.

Malcan’s gargantuan form narrowly missed him, the wind of his passage merely brushing against Baek Yu-Seol’s face.

Baek Yu-Seol meticulously processed every nuance of Malcan’s attack, from its inception to its conclusion, as if time itself had decelerated.

Each minute detail of the charge was imprinted with absolute fidelity in his perception.

To Malcan, however, Baek Yu-Seol’s figure appeared to dissolve into mere afterimages, only to instantaneously re-materialize a half-step away.

The sheer velocity of Baek Yu-Seol’s footwork was so blindingly rapid that it conjured the distinct illusion of a vanishing mirage.

In actuality, Malcan was utterly incapable of tracking Baek Yu-Seol’s evasive maneuvers.

Malcan’s head swiveled, only to realize Baek Yu-Seol had already repositioned himself.

By the time his gaze reacquired him, Baek Yu-Seol was already in a stable stance, his sword aloft, poised to deliver a decisive blow.

Swish!

A luminous silver arc sliced through the air, aimed directly at Malcan’s neck.

However, with a desperate twist of his massive frame, he managed to intercept the strike just in the nick of time.

Thud...

Malcan stumbled backward several paces, his free hand gripping his left forearm, which bore a deep, bleeding gash.

His narrowed eyes fixed upon Baek Yu-Seol with fierce intensity.

"That strike nearly connected."

"...You are clearly not an opponent of ordinary caliber, are you?"

"Naturally. Otherwise, why would I have engaged you in a duel? You harbored underestimations regarding my abilities, did you not?"

"I had heard tales of the Narang tribe's renowned swiftness and agility, but this skill transcends all expectations."

Gritting his teeth, Malcan seethed with rage.

To be wounded by a mere child of the Narang, witnessed by countless dark mages, was a severe blow to his pride.

Moreover, the Dark Mage Cult Leader, Hui-Ryeon, was observing everything from behind.

The humiliation he felt burned more intensely than the wound on his arm.

"Now that I've seen your abilities, I won't hold back anymore."

Boom!

As soon as the words left his lips, Malcan attacked once more, moving with even greater speed than before.

However, Baek Yu-Seol deliberately dodged in the exact same fashion as he had previously.

He possessed numerous methods to evade the assault, but he intentionally chose this particular way to ascertain Malcan's capacity for learning.

Whoosh!

Although Baek Yu-Seol evaded in the same manner, the result this time was different.

Mid-charge, Malcan altered his trajectory in mid-air, swinging his massive arm in an attempt to strike Baek Yu-Seol’s upper body.

At the end of his hand, claws, extending nearly two meters, slashed towards Baek Yu-Seol.

Yet, with a simple tilt of his head, Baek Yu-Seol effortlessly evaded the attack.

Baek Yu-Seol swung his sword upward from below, but Malcan was already mid-somersault, preparing his next offensive move.

He had initially presumed Malcan relied solely on sheer strength and speed, but that assumption proved incorrect.

After all, not just anyone could attain the designation of a risk level 8 dark mage. Nevertheless...

Malcan's strengths lay in his high-speed acrobatics and immense destructive power, but these were no match for Baek Yu-Seol’s Flash Movement, amplified by the Harmony of Heavenly Qi.

By precisely teleporting, covering distances from a mere 50 centimeters to as far as 2 meters, Baek Yu-Seol continued to evade Malcan’s rapid assaults, gradually shifting the momentum of the battle.

While it appeared Malcan was relentlessly pursuing and attacking, his extended claws were easily deflected by Baek Yu-Seol’s blade, and despite his speed, he couldn't close the gap.

Furthermore, Malcan charged wildly over distances of 10 to 20 meters, whereas Baek Yu-Seol only needed to move a few steps at a time, thereby conserving his stamina significantly.

Boom!

Eventually, Malcan lost control of his momentum and slammed into a wall. Baek Yu-Seol lowered his sword and regarded him with a hint of pity.

"Are you attempting to display fancy techniques when you cannot even manage your own speed?"

Crack!

However, Malcan emerged from the debris of the collapsed wall, seemingly unharmed despite the severe impact.

If a normal human body were subjected to the force of Flash Magic, it would be utterly crushed. This was precisely why it was classified as forbidden magic.

But such risks held no consequence for the dark mages. Their bodies possessed inherent durability. Even without perfect speed control, it posed no critical threat to them.

"We dark mages... are the perfected superior beings compared to humans. While you fret about shattering yourselves against walls with your magic, it amounts to nothing for us!"

"Is that so? Then it appears your so-called superior species has endured quite a beating."

Malcan’s entire body was covered in blood, so much so that it was astonishing he could still remain standing.

"This amount... will not bring me down!"

As if to substantiate his declaration, Malcan stomped the ground with all his might.

Dark mana surged forth from his entire being, ascending and concentrating upon his horns. The energy began to emanate a colossal crimson aura.

The crimson energy gradually started to swirl and coalesce, encasing Malcan like protective armor.

His form now resembled a singular crimson vortex, brimming with destructive potential. Observing this, Baek Yu-Seol adopted a lower stance, bracing for the imminent attack.

"ROARRRR!"

With a mere roar, Malcan unleashed a wave of devastation, obliterating every structure within a 30-meter radius.

Fortunately, the Narang tribespeople remained unharmed. However, to everyone's profound astonishment, several dark mages were caught in the blast and perished.

Malcan’s eyes rolled back, his reasoning faculties completely supplanted by a feral instinct. The semblance of intelligence he retained moments prior had now vanished entirely.

A race that discards reason and intellect in its relentless pursuit of power.

Baek Yu-Seol placed a hand over his chest and closed his eyes for a brief moment.

A silvery energy began to swirl around him, distinctly different from the blue mana typically utilized by humans, Narang, or elves.

In truth, it seemed almost inappropriate to categorize it as mere mana.

"What is... that?"

Hui-Ryeon, who had been silently observing the confrontation, abruptly rose to his feet in evident shock.

"What troubles you, Cult Leader?"

But Hui-Ryeon could not divert his gaze from Baek Yu-Seol, his eyes widening in disbelief.

That silvery energy... it was unmistakable.

It was the aura of the Silver Autumn Moon.

However... this was no mere manifestation of a bestowed blessing.

Hui-Ryeon, who had already received the blessing of the Fawn Prevernal Moon and was actively employing its powers, understood this fact better than anyone else.

When a borrowed authority was exercised through a blessing, it did not manifest in this particular fashion.

This... was demonstrably different.

"Baek Yu-Seol appears to be harnessing the very essence of the Silver Autumn Moon..."

A mere mortal, yet he possessed the capacity to attain a grand stature, commanding the power derived from one of the Twelve Divine Moons.

What's more, it wasn't just any moon, but the Silver Autumn Moon itself, recognized as the most complex and challenging of them all.

Flash!

In contrast to Malcan's display, there was no ostentatious corporeal transformation surrounding Baek Yu-Seol.

No tumultuous vortex erupted, devastating a thirty-meter radius, nor was there a cataclysmic exhibition of unrestrained power.

Instead, an profound calm descended.

A peculiar, almost deafening stillness permeated the entire area.

Baek Yu-Seol, his eyes now radiating a distinct silver luminescence, directed his gaze towards Malcan.

Then, without any preceding indication, his head snapped upward, focusing on the summit of the bell tower.

Or, to be more precise... his attention was drawn to Hui-Ryeon, who had been clandestinely observing from above.

Their gazes locked for an infinitesimally brief span.

"Ah..."

Within that fleeting connection, Hui-Ryeon was assailed by an immense, oppressive feeling emanating solely from Baek Yu-Seol's presence. His legs buckled, causing him to involuntarily collapse to the ground.

This was the very same Hui-Ryeon who could maintain composure before the formidable Black Demon King, even daring to taunt him. Yet, now, he was consumed by terror, a fear directed at a simple human youth.

But what was the reason for this?

In the moment their eyes met, Hui-Ryeon found himself utterly incapable of perceiving Baek Yu-Seol as merely human.

Rather, the sensation was akin to confronting the Fawn Prevernal Moon... or perhaps even one of the revered Twelve Divine Moons.

Dread. Reverence. Unfathomable might.

With a strained swallow, Hui-Ryeon concealed his face, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

The nearby dark mages hastened to his side, offering assistance, but Hui-Ryeon, bracing himself against a wall, compelled himself to stand.

Boom!

The confrontation between Baek Yu-Seol and Malcan had already commenced.

Why then were Malcan's limbs dismembered and dispersed with such alarming ease, as if it were the most logical conclusion?

Why did Hui-Ryeon's mind, almost by instinct, anticipate such an outcome, as though it had been predetermined?

Baek Yu-Seol stood in resolute posture, his boot planted firmly on Malcan's severed head. Raising his blade aloft, he brought it down with decisive finality.

Exultant shouts erupted from the Narang warriors as they surged to their feet, the momentum of the battle having irrevocably shifted.

"C-Cult Leader! The Narang warriors are in open revolt! With Malcan deceased, their restraint has vanished. What course of action should we pursue?"

The dark mages, in a state of panic, clung to Hui-Ryeon, their voices laced with apprehension and desperation.

Should the drastic plan to eliminate Baek Yu-Seol be enacted?

Could the remaining corrupted forces possibly hope to quell the rebellion of the Narang tribe?

All critical decisions now rested solely upon Hui-Ryeon's judgment.

Yet, he issued no commands.

Hui-Ryeon covered his face entirely with both hands, emitting a hollow, mirthless laugh.

A profound realization washed over Hui-Ryeon like an immense tidal wave, overwhelming his senses completely.

Even as the dark mages voiced their despair, Hui-Ryeon could do nothing but continue to laugh.

His laughter persisted for an extended duration.