Everyone followed my plan, but they were skeptical. They wondered if an Iron Mine could really exist in an place that was nothing but flat fields and plains.
“It’s here,” I said with confidence, ordering them to search the surrounding area.
‘I can’t be wrong.’
It was one of the few distinct memories remaining from the Black Mage. I had to find it.
“Let’s head that way.”
We moved several kilometers from our campsite. Then…
“It’s Goblins!”
We discovered a monster nest.
‘There it is.’
Monsters tend to gather in places where Mana is dense. When an Iron Mine or other minerals are present, the surrounding Mana thickens. Usually, people just deal with the monsters and move on in these cases. This is because monsters sometimes appear even if the Mana isn’t particularly dense.
However, I was certain.
‘It’s been sixty years, yet nothing has changed here.’
The place was almost identical to the one in the memory.
“There are about 120 of them. The scale is intermediate.”
“Prepare for subjugation.”
“Yes, sir!”
It was a rule to clear out any monsters within the Spiritual Land. Even if there were no Iron Mine, dealing with monsters was the natural duty of a Knight or a soldier.
“Prepare for battle!”
Neither the Knights nor the soldiers harbored any complaints. Instead of avoiding the fight, they moved to handle the monsters with a sense of anticipation.
‘It’s probably because of the rewards.’
They must have heard rumors that those working under me received generous bonuses. This is why it’s good to be clear with rewards and punishments. They are motivated no matter what task is assigned.
“Preparation complete!”
“Good.”
It took everyone about five minutes to get ready. The fact that everything was finalized in just five minutes was proof of how much training they had undergone.
“Half of you to the rear, and the other half will surround them.”
“Then the front will be thin.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll sweep them away in one blow.”
Kieeeeek!
Kiek.
The Goblins noticed us and began to move. There was no more time for discussion. Since I was the commander, Benson didn’t say anything more and took his position.
“Surround them! Encircle them so they can’t escape. If they reach the civilian houses, this becomes a major problem!”
“Woahhh!”
Thump. Thump.
The soldiers began to run in formation. The Goblins, who were moving aggressively, were quickly surrounded.
Thrust. Stab.
A barrage of spears greeted the Goblins that tried to break through the lines.
‘The power gap is significant to begin with.’
It was common knowledge that monsters were stronger than humans. Even a low-ranking one could easily take down three or four adults. However, trained humans were different. Especially the elites raised in our Spiritual Land, known for having powerful troops, were on a completely different level.
“Thrust!”
Thluck.
The soldiers thrust their spears with expressionless faces. Such disciplined movements!
Kiek!
Before the short Goblins could even jump, the spears were driven into their hearts. Even as they tried to rage, the encirclement continued to tighten.
Kieeeek!
Kiek!
When things didn’t go their way, the Goblins let out even louder screeches.
“We’ve driven them all together.”
“Wait… a bit more. More…”
Whooooosh—
I continued to raise my Soulforce. I mixed my Qi with my Mana. Simultaneously, I performed constant calculations in my head. The Goblins began to run wild even more. They were consumed by madness.
“They’re coming!”
There was one spot we hadn’t blocked while forming the encirclement—the spot where I stood.
Kiek. Kiek.
The Goblins began to charge toward me in a frenzy. Since all other paths were closed, the Goblins had no other choice. At this rate, the Goblins would break free. Those that succeeded in escaping would scatter in all directions, find villages, and go on a rampage.
‘I can’t let that happen. There shouldn’t be any casualties among the soldiers, either. I’ll finish them here.’
Vrrr. I completely mixed my Mana and Qi.
The targets were the swarms of Goblins rushing toward me and the Knights. The Goblins, their numbers already reduced by half, had eyes bloodshot with madness. They charged toward this spot, the thinnest part of the encirclement.
Fifty meters. Thirty meters.
“Administrative Officer! I mean, Young Master! Get back!”
“It’s fine. The preparations are done. Just wait.”
Fwoosh!
When I opened my right hand, a massive spear of fire began to rise.
“Fire Spear…”
Publicly, my level was known as 3rd Class. Fire Spear was one of the highest-level offensive spells a 3rd Class Ma Beop Sa could use.
‘Usually, this wouldn’t be enough.’
No matter how powerful a Fire Spear was, it couldn’t handle dozens of Goblins. However, I was different. I swung my hand without mercy and launched the Fire Spear.
— ‘What are you trying to do? It’s weak.’
There was no need to answer the Fire Spirit’s question. I still had my left hand. In an instant, the final calculation was finished.
“Wind…”
Whooooooosh—
Wind, the spell that controls the air. I embedded Mana and Qi into it. At the same time, I applied the rotation technique, my own unique secret method.
“Ugh…”
“What is this wind!”
Even if it was 1st Class magic…
‘The power changes depending on how you use it.’
In an instant, an enormous wind surrounded the area. The moment I swung my hand and released it…
Whirrrrrr!
The wind, accelerated like a vortex, poured toward the Goblins.
Kiek!!
The moment the Goblins closed their eyes against the violently rising dust…
“…Combine!”
I applied my next secret method. Originally, wind is supposed to make fire flourish. I created harmony within the multi-casting. The flames dwelling in the Fire Spear scattered into pieces. Simultaneously, the fire was carried into the swirling wind.
‘Normally, it would go out.’
One might expect the flames to subside in the face of such a powerful wind.
Roar!
But the Soulforce of the fire grew even larger. The Mana and Qi carried by the whipping wind were nourishing the energy of the flames! I coordinated all that energy at once.
The 4th Circle Mana and thirty years of Qi were creating an updraft. Coordinating that energy…
‘This is fun.’
It was more enjoyable than controlling any other power. Just then, a voice cut in.
— ‘Wow. Can I join too?’
“…There’s no reward. If you’re okay with that.”
— ‘It’s a new experience, so I don’t care! Here I go!’
The Fire Spirit joined the baptism of fire and wind without any compensation.
Fwoooosh!
The energy began to grow even more! Larger and larger!
Kieeeeeek!
The Goblins didn’t even have time to dodge. In the first place, the ability to dodge the wind isn’t easily granted.
Boom! Bang!
Every time the wind passed, the flames within it created explosions as they struck the Goblins.
Pop!
Small and large explosions continued for a long while.
Whooooosh!
‘This is fun!’
Inside, the Fire Spirit danced, enjoying the flames! The moment all that energy created an updraft and oxidized into the air…
Kieeeeeek!
With one final death cry, all the Goblins collapsed. For a while, there was silence.
“W-what…”
“This makes no sense!”
Everyone was stunned.
I was known as the person who created Original Magic. The rumors about my Magic Missile were a fact that even the soldiers knew. However, they had no way of knowing, nor any reason to know, about this kind of multi-casting.
‘Since this is the first time I’m revealing it.’
It was another one of my Original Magic spells. I had improved upon the previous version and increased its scale. I had only shown it before my Master or my enemies. The soldiers and Knights had no way of seeing my Original Magic. It was only natural they were surprised.
“H-how did you do that…”
“Let’s just say this is also an Original.”
“You made another one in the meantime?”
I nodded. Although none of the Knights said anything, the look of admiration on their faces was clear. The Iron Fist members, disguised as workers, were especially shocked. Since they hadn’t seen my Magic often, even if they knew my Mugong, they seemed even more surprised.
While everyone was in awe, I gave another order.
“Let’s clean this up.”
“Huh? Ah! Yes. We’ll clean up immediately.”
Everyone remained stunned for a long time. Even though the soldiers didn’t approach me to speak, I could hear them.
— ‘How did he do that? Even for a Ma Beop Sa, this is incredible.’
— ‘I don’t know. He’s only 14… Wow. How did he do that?’
— ‘He’s amazing.’
I could hear everything they were saying. The murmurs were all filled with praise or astonishment. It could have been embarrassing, but I ignored it and continued moving. I had to find the exact location I wanted.
I came to a halt. And I found it.
‘Here it is.’
I felt a Mana signature that was faint but stronger than in other places. If my memories were correct, the place I wanted should be right here.
“Benson!”
“Yes!”
After witnessing the power of my Magic, Benson, who had been looking at me with an expression full of awe, rushed over the moment I called. Even though nothing else had happened, he was standing perfectly at attention.
“Dig here.”
“Here, sir?”
“Yes. Right now.”
“Understood!”
Only my family knew the story about the relics. The Knights were unaware. I didn’t intend to explain that I knew about this place because of a relic. Because of that, I simply gave the order.
Dig. Dig.
The workers immediately brought shovels and began to dig the ground.
“They’re shockingly good at shoveling.”
“Well, yes…”
The Knights didn’t know that the workers were strong because they practiced Mugong. They simply watched in admiration as the Iron Fist members moved as if they were erasing the ground.
‘It’s definitely here.’
As they dug deeper into the ground, the energy gradually grew stronger. Then, before long…
Screeeech.
Something that had been dormant for a long time began to move. It wasn’t just one, but several entities moving.
‘What is this?’
Something unexpected happened. I hadn’t thought that anything would be moving here.
“Everyone, get out!”
I was the only one who felt it. I shouted loudly. At that moment…
Cr-crack!
Boom!
Entities burst out as if they had been waiting.
“What on earth is…”
“Block them!”
Something grotesque emerged. They were sparsely covered in iron. The parts that were occasionally exposed were not flesh, but filled with bones. Thick, dark bones.
‘They’re imbued with Demonic Mana.’
Demonic Mana. Demonic Qi. They were filled with the energy that haunts the Undead.
Grumble!
The body, stretching as if waking up after a long time, looked to be at least 3 meters tall. It was massive. And the energy…
‘It’s huge.’
It was too massive to be energy that had just been hidden until now. It was powerful.
‘This is strange.’
In my memories, the way the Black Mage explored this place was by using the Undead, who do not breathe. The Undead, who never tire, dug into the ground to find iron ore. After finding the Iron Mine…
‘He left them behind.’
He left them as markers so he could find the place again later. So, I could understand why there were Undead here. However, even the Black Mage wouldn’t have expected that those beings would transform so grotesquely.
Before my eyes was proof of what happens when abandoned Undead endure the passage of a long time.
“Everyone, fall back!”
While everyone else was in shock, I lunged forward.