Chapter 252

Bang—!

Lukas slammed his staff on the floor.

[Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain, and a way for the thunderbolt; to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man; to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass?]

Rumble— Bang—

“…!”

Elias shot his head up.

He heard the sound of thunder and looked up at the sky, where glowing red magic was plummeting at a furious speed.

Boom, Clang—!

Thud—!

Gabriele deflected the spear-like magic coming down at him with his sword and, with a powerful stomp, kicked away the red flames rushing across the floor.

Gabriele let out a short breath.

“Hah.”

Patter— Pat— Swish—

Lukas’s magic fell in droplets like rain. Gabriele, with a cold expression, brushed away the sharp magic that grazed his cheek.

“How dare an atheist say such things….”

Bang—!!

When Gabriele stomped his foot, a mist-like Divine Power spread out, scattering Lukas’s magic in the air. It seemed as if red steam was emanating from him. His eerie voice echoed through the stadium.

“How am I supposed to take this?”

[…Waaaaaah—!!]

What’s there to take.

It’s just a spell. The one who’s assigning unnecessary meaning is him.

Elias clenched his fists.

Humans, whoever managed to turn the tables, just screamed out of a primal pleasure. It no longer mattered to them who fell.

Gabriele and Lukas stood silently on opposite sides, staring at each other.

The one who spoke first was Lukas. Lukas, supporting himself with his staff, said with a still unstable breath, but with a firm voice.

[Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew?]

“…….”

[From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen!]

Crack—

Lukas extended his hand. For a moment, the flow of air hardened, and a lump of Divine Power like a beast’s maw appeared in front of Lukas. A trace of pristine white Divine Power, as if frost had formed in the air, spread to the tip of the opponent’s wand.

No, it wasn’t that it had spread, but that the opponent’s attack had frozen, and the trajectory of the attack, which had been under a transparency spell, became visible to us. Lukas had just stopped the opponent’s attack in mid-air.

‘This is….’

Yulia now raised her eyebrows with shocked eyes. Elias himself was no less surprised.

He had only evaluated his abilities in terms of strategy until now, so he hadn’t thought much about Lukas’s magic skills. He had forgotten his memory and his diligence. He had never tried to count how many magic formulas Lukas had memorized and practiced endlessly until now.

The magic formula he was reciting now was a magic that interfered with natural objects, and it was an advanced magic not taught at the high school level. It was a magic that only the skilled mages who had been called from all over the country to stop the magic lamp terror this time would be able to use.

‘Considering the scale isn’t large, he probably hasn’t fully deployed it yet.’

Until one becomes proficient, the consumption can vary from twice as much to more than ten times as much, even when using the same magic. It was clear that it was still too much for him to use the magic fully.

But it was enough that he had completed the basic design for the magic to move according to his incantation.

Elias licked the inside of his lip with his tongue and clenched his sweaty hands.

Clang—!

Gabriele swung his sword and shattered the magic that had reached his neck.

But the moment Lukas raised his wand high, the Divine Power that had been frozen like frost in the air shot up to the sky. People shouted in surprise at the explosive sound. While Gabriele was blocking his front with both arms, Elias’s gaze was on the sky. The light of the white Divine Power was sparkling in the sky.

[Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?]

—…Enter through the narrow gate!

Bang—!

Lukas blocked the mind control magic and thrust his hand out. Lukas’s red magic, like tree trunks, rushed in from all directions.

‘Huh?!’

It might be a common magic, but this was definitely Leo’s style.

Elias opened his mouth and laughed, then suddenly remembered Lukas and Leo’s public relationship and hurriedly glanced at Yulia. But Yulia didn’t seem to be greatly agitated, as if she were thinking of something else.

Gabriele was caught by one of the magic tendrils, but he shook it off violently and broke it, then fired off attacks. Occasionally, one or two tendrils of pink magic would grab his limbs again, but he didn’t care. He quickly scattered it into the air and launched an attack at Lukas.

His eyes flashed with a sharp glint as he chanted a spell.

—Enter through the narrow gate.

[Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth? Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?]

Boom-boom-boom-boom!!

[Aaargh!]

[Aaaargh!]

Screams were heard from the audience, who were covering their fronts.

The Divine Power that had gone high up into the sky gained acceleration and fell onto the stage. Its fragments hit the barrier installed by the organizing committee in front of the audience seats and flashed red.

But….

‘Shouldn’t it be white since it’s Divine Power?’

Elias’s eyes quickly turned to Gabriele. Gabriele’s eyes widened as he cast a mind control spell on Lukas and defended the sky. The output of the magic he was sending to the barrier towards the sky became even stronger.

“Hmm.”

Next to him, Yulia let out a small, satisfied breath. Both Yulia and Elias knew that Gabriele’s decision had been a bad move.

At the same time, with a sound of something cracking, it broke.

Clang—!!

[Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?]

Bang!

As Lukas flicked his hand, Gabriele, who had reflexively covered his face with his arm to block the shattering barrier, was knocked down by Lukas’s magic.

Lukas, not missing the timing, continued to launch attacks at his opponent.

The Divine Power Lukas had sent up to the sky was Gabriele’s. Even if he turned it into an attack magic, as long as it used Gabriele’s Divine Power as a material, it wouldn’t have a 100% attack effect on him. Therefore, Lukas had mixed his own magic with it to be able to deal damage to Gabriele. For such an attack, he should not have strengthened the barrier, but used a barrier emulsification magic, or even a magic that absorbed or scattered the magic in the air.

Gabriele is now lying on the floor, crushed. He gritted his teeth and put strength into his limbs to avoid being completely crushed by the magic pressing down on him. Divine Power sparked from his hands. Lukas also did not give up. Lukas changed his staff to a wand, flicked his hand lightly from top to bottom, and immediately swung the wand from left to right.

“Ugh!”

As Gabriele fell completely to the floor due to the red magic rushing at his face, Lukas let out a long breath. Then, he slowly approached him, continuing to shoot magic at him. Lukas aimed his wand at Gabriele’s head.

At that moment, surprised shouts were heard from all over the audience seats.

—For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it!

“…!”

With Gabriele’s loud shout, a blinding white light struck.

Elias frowned and leaned his body out of the railing. His grip on the railing tightened. Even though Lukas was clearly defending himself while shooting magic at Gabriele, Lukas’s eyes went blank. Because he had lost his balance, his gaze was focused on him, and it was clearly visible even from a distance.

‘Damn it. Is it an advanced form of mind control magic?’

I don’t know exactly what it is, but it must be similar. The nature of the spell’s content is similar.

Seeing that it was a magic I had never heard of, it must be a magic that requires extraordinary skill to use.

‘Considering he didn’t use it until now, it must be a high-risk magic for that Gabriele bastard too.’

Bang—!

Was he that cornered?

Elias thought, clenching his fists.

Gabriele, who had stood up after shaking off Lukas’s magic by slamming his fist on the floor, grabbed Lukas by the collar and threw him to the floor. Lukas’s mind was about to return, but Gabriele continued to chant a spell, trapping Lukas on the floor.

—What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

“…What.”

Lukas opened his mouth with a voice like someone talking in their sleep. Fortunately, he wasn’t gasping for breath like before.

But he now had the eyes of someone seeing something else.

“What happened. What year is it. How are you here….”

Lukas said with a slurred pronunciation, as if he were in a dream. He narrowed his eyes at Gabriele.

For some reason, the strength in Gabriele’s shoulders suddenly drained away.

Gabriele changed his wand to a staff and struck down.

At that moment, the sound they were making was inaudible.

*    *    *

“What year is it. How are you here….”

Gabriele looked down at Lukas and exhaled. To the audience, he had a greatly shocked expression. In fact, he was.

He covered his face with both hands and then muttered softly.

“…What year is it? I’m really going crazy.”

“I must be dreaming.”

[10.]

Yes. I’m dreaming. The problem is the content of the dream.

Gabriele thought so, looked up at the ceiling and the sky, and muttered.

“In Buddhism, they call this karma, don’t they? The deeds you’ve done become karma and circulate… and circulate again….”

[9.]

“In that religion, what eventually happens to the other living beings who get caught up in someone else’s karma?”

[8.]

Gabriele stopped his random monologue and sat down next to Lukas. Since everything he was saying now would sound like something else to Lukas anyway, it was the same as a monologue.

“More importantly, I finally understand.”

“…….”

“The fact that an atheist can use Divine Power is very impressive. You’ve been using only magic all this time because you’d be killed by your brother if he found out.”

“…….”

“Don’t think it’s rude of me to know about you without your permission. I’m not using my abilities to the fullest. I still don’t know much about what kind of person you are.”

[4.]

Of course, I plan to find out now.

So, let’s cut it here. I’ve dragged it on for too long.

Instead of saying those words, Gabriele raised his staff and then struck down.

But what was heard was not a loud bang.

Lukas’s arm was engulfed in red magic. He had extended his hand and grabbed the staff. The Divine Power of the staff overlapped with his magic, creating sparks. Lukas muttered with bloodshot eyes.

“If you’re going to imitate someone else, you should do it properly.”

Booooom—!!

Lukas pushed off the ground and stood up, moving far away from Gabriele. The soundproofing spell that had been directed at the audience broke.

He looked to be in bad shape, as he couldn’t straighten his body due to his exhausted stamina, but it was surprising enough that he had broken free from the mind control magic.

‘His resistance to mind control magic is high.’

Gabriele glared at him and clicked his tongue.

I already knew that. Even so, it must have been difficult to break this magic. What woke him up?

There is an artifact hidden by stealth magic near that Askanian’s ear. Just now, the Imperial government urgently poured out some words in that direction.

Or, the act of striking the floor with a weapon was not an act that the person who appeared in his illusion would have done. Which of these two woke his mind?

‘The latter, I suppose.’

The Imperial government’s notification is not important to that author. I could feel that much without using insight.

Lukas said to Gabriele in a low voice.

“You came to find out about me, and you still only know that much?”

Bang—!

Lukas thrust his wand.

[Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?]

Gabriele slammed his staff on the floor. His destructive Divine Power struck the barrier of the audience seats and continued to make impact sounds and shine, so nothing could be seen from the seats.

Even though Gabriele had sent out Divine Power over a wide area, Lukas did not stop. Instead of being harmed by it, he just launched a counterattack in the same way.

[Who can number the clouds by wisdom?]

An attack like hail fell from the sky.

[Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens, when the dust runs into a mass and the clods stick fast together?]

The floor seemed to be wriggling and moving, and it followed where Gabriele was running and grabbed his feet.

Blood dripped from Lukas’s nose. His vision flickered as if he were falling asleep. It was because he was pushing his stamina beyond its limits to catch a difficult opponent. To use magic without knowing one’s own capacity, if this were a practical exam, it would be a serious demerit that could lead to disqualification. But not now.

Lukas bit the inside of his mouth to wake himself up and thought.

‘Come to think of it, that person must have put a lot of effort into his mind control magic.’

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to catch him with the magic just now. Absolutely not.

No wonder I had never heard of such a formula from Narce. If you use any magic beyond your means, you can’t last long. And that was the same for Lukas himself. Since his opponent was fundamentally superior to him, if he didn’t end it quickly, defeat was completely on his side.

Gabriele launched an attack formula.

—O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions! I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you!

[Let not those who are my enemies without cause rejoice over me; nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.]

Lukas recited the next verse of the attack formula he had recited. He needed to take away the attack.

Lukas put magic into his legs and rushed at Gabriele, who was far away. He instantly grabbed Gabriele by the collar and said.

[For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful matters against those who are quiet in the land. They also opened their mouths wide against me, and said, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it.”]

—O LORD, you have seen it; do not be silent! O Lord, do not be far from me! Awake and arouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord. Judge me, O LORD my God, according to your righteousness….

[Let them not rejoice over me. Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, our soul’s desire!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up!”]

Because they recited the verses alternately, each other’s magic formulas were not completed and flew out in pieces. Attacks that could not inflict any injury on each other’s physical barriers were repeated. Gabriele grabbed Lukas’s hand hard and shook it off. When he swung his fist, Lukas leaned his upper body back sharply.

This won’t do. Before Gabriele could open his mouth again, Lukas struck first.

“You said you hadn’t read about me.”

The information that had entered Gabriele’s head so far must have been information that had entered naturally, even without him having to read it, just as Narce did. After finishing his thoughts, Lukas aimed his wand at Gabriele and shouted.

[Make this man understand this vision!]

“…!”

“Instead of thinking of reading it leisurely after you’ve subdued me, read it right now. Check it properly and go.”

It wasn’t an attack formula. It was a useless magic formula used in daily life, which made the opponent pay attention to one’s words. But now, it could be used effectively. Even now, Gabriele was interpreting Lukas’s words without realizing it. Lukas grabbed him by the collar and brought their foreheads together.

Read what I have to do. I don’t know what you’re trying to confirm, even bringing up the Farnese name, or why you’re talking about karma, but if you insist on testing me, then do it right now. It’s better to solve problems cleanly when they arise.

Of course….

Bang—!

Even if I end it, I have no intention of ending myself.

Lukas tripped Gabriele, who had given him an opening for a moment, whether it was due to his insight, the attention magic, or Lukas’s own eccentric behavior.

Lukas’s nosebleed dripped onto the floor from using magic excessively. Lukas, who had pinned Gabriele down, pressed Gabriele’s wrist with a trembling hand to cut off his Divine Power. Now, if he didn’t end it quickly, he wouldn’t be able to. The flow of Divine Power coming from his hand had definitely weakened compared to the beginning, but it was still strong, so Lukas didn’t even think about wiping his blood and continued to put strength into both hands.

[Do you hunt the prey for the lioness and satisfy the hunger of the lions when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in a thicket? Who provides for the raven when its young cry out, wandering about for lack of food?]

Bang—

“This…!”

Lukas, who had let go of Gabriele’s wrist in response to his resistance, quickly struck his core with his fist. He could feel the Divine Power of the core repelling the magic.

But, at the same time, his core was accepting Lukas’s magic. Gabriele’s eyes widened. Lukas was the same.

Is it because they are both Divine Power users? Usually, it’s normal to repel it. He had intended for the core’s health to be chipped away in the process and for it to detach itself, not for it to be absorbed. Lukas himself didn’t know the exact mechanism of action, and neither did Gabriele.

No, he might have known the basis of this phenomenon. Something beyond bewilderment was felt in his gaze.

In any case, there was no time to be bewildered. He had a chance to touch the core, and now that the core was weakening due to absorbing the opponent’s magic, this was the last chance. Gabriele was pulling Lukas’s arm with the force to break his bones, screaming, but despite that, he had to finish it now.

Lukas felt the smell of iron and said the magic formula with force.

[Pour out your overflowing wrath; look on every proud man and abase him….]

“Ah, no…!”

[Look on every proud man and bring him low, and tread down the wicked where they stand. Bury them in the dust together; bind their faces in the hidden place!]

“Aaargh, gack…!”

Gabriele let go of Lukas’s hand and brought his own to his core, writhing. His face was contorted. It seemed as if something had broken.

[…Then I will also confess to you that your own right hand can save you.]

The Divine Power coming from Gabriele’s hands and legs, which had been resisting until the end, gradually subsided. Soon, the strength in his neck was released, and he dropped his head to the floor. His eyes began to close.

[10.]

“…….”

[9.]

I hope there’s no problem with his core. Even if there is, there’s nothing I can do. Lukas thought, looking at the blood falling on his face.

[8.]

Lukas continued to touch his core to check the flow. The heart was beating, but the core had stopped circulating magic and was recovering the Divine Power spread throughout his body. It was time to recover from the fatal wound. It seemed to be trying to draw even Lukas’s Divine Power.

[7.]

Lukas exhaled and looked up at the air. He could see the frozen expressions of the audience.

[6.]

[…Get up!]

[Waaaaaah!]

[No!]

Only then did the noise from the audience pour out.

[5.]

Gabriele’s eyelids twitched and he began to gasp for breath.

He wasn’t the only one who was weak—it wasn’t a good sign since Lukas no longer had the strength to stop him.

[4.]

Gabriele opened his eyes. He looked at Lukas above him once, then slowly closed his eyes again.

[3.]

Even though he had regained consciousness, he did not send out Divine Power. No, he couldn’t.

Lukas let go of his hand. Gabriele, despite seeing that signal, just slowly opened his eyes again and looked at the sky.

[2.]

“…….”

[1.]

Beeeeep—!

Gabriele Caetani exhaled and slowly raised both hands to press his eyes.

[…Waaaaaah—!]

The moment Lukas wiped his blood with the back of his hand, Gabriele’s faint voice was heard.

“I have lost.”

[The match is over.]

[The winner of the finals, the final winner of this 1st Pentalon opening ceremony tournament is….]

“…….”

Lukas looked down at him silently, and then at the magic-powered camera flying towards him. His face was greatly magnified on the screen beyond. The announcer’s booming voice was heard.

[Lukas Askanian of the German Empire!]

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