Chapter 39: The Fool Who Wouldn’t Die

The wind blade, having pierced halfway into Atros’s arm, lost its strength and faded away.

The wound healed almost instantly, as if nothing had happened.

But Atros’s expression was grim.

How did it cut through?

The wind blade should’ve been repelled by his resistance and dissipated.

Even if it somehow breached his resistance, it shouldn’t have cut so deeply.

I can’t get hit.

Instinctively, Atros changed direction to dodge the incoming blades.

He had initially planned to tank them, but that idea was scrapped.

Taking all those blades head-on would cost him a limb.

But as he shifted, he realized his dodge was futile—the blades curved to follow him, every single one.

What kind of control is this?

Atros had faced several Archmages, none with casting speed rivaling Gaon’s.

Gaon’s speed was overwhelming, and his power wasn’t lacking either.

Normally, excelling in one area meant weakness in another.

With such speed and power, Gaon’s control should’ve been lacking—but how was it so precise?

Atros infused his gauntlets with energy and began deflecting the blades.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Cracks formed in the gauntlets, growing with each blade he parried.

It made no sense.

The gauntlets weren’t made of ordinary materials but ones with high magic resistance, further reinforced with mana.

How could they crack?

A sudden thought made Atros swallow hard.

…What if he’s not 7th Circle?

Gaon was assumed to be 7th Circle, but that was unconfirmed—a guess.

If he was 8th Circle, this would explain everything.

But Atros quickly dismissed the idea.

No, that can’t be.

There were no 8th Circle mages among the continent’s many 7th Circle mages.

If someone had neared that level, it would’ve been known.

I should’ve switched to demonic energy sooner.

Atros’s aura was mana-based, though he could switch to demonic energy.

Since the 3rd Branch operated in a mana-dominant region, he hadn’t, as demonic energy would restrict his actions.

Now, he regretted it.

Demonic energy, though unstable, was more explosive than mana—he wouldn’t be pushed back like this.

Boom!

Deflecting the final blade, Atros looked at Gaon, who wore a curious expression, seemingly surprised that Atros had blocked them all.

The problem was that the wind blades weren’t the end.

While Atros was occupied, Gaon had cast numerous spells, and now countless magical constructs—fireballs, ice arrows, lightning spears—hovered around him.

“Damn it.”

Atros cursed under his breath, feeling like a rat in a trap.

Gaon spoke.

“Interesting body. Is it natural, or enhanced?”

“…What are you planning?”

Atros ignored the question, instead asking about Gaon’s intentions.

Within the Abyss, Atros was called a fool with exceptional physical prowess.

He knew it well but wasn’t truly foolish.

He simply didn’t need to think much due to his physical strength and understood the situation clearly.

The mission had failed, and his life hung on Gaon’s whims.

“I’m thinking of running some tests. If it’s enhanced, I’ll likely see more like you. I’d appreciate your cooperation,” Gaon said with a faint smile.

Atros didn’t respond, his face darkening as he thought, This bastard…

Tests?

The word dredged up repulsive, infuriating memories.

Does he think it’s over?

The outcome—life or death—was Gaon’s to decide, but the process was Atros’s choice.

He could resist fiercely or accept death quietly.

Gaon’s casual assumption that it was over, coupled with those unwanted memories, fueled his rage.

But then—

“First, though…” Gaon continued.

Whoosh!

Gaon’s already formidable aura exploded, growing exponentially.

The surrounding space was completely dominated by it, suffocating Atros.

He hurriedly raised his energy to resist, but it was futile.

Breathing became slightly easier, but he couldn’t move.

It wasn’t a Bind spell, yet it felt like one.

Then he noticed something else.

What is this energy?

Gaon’s aura lacked any trace of mana’s properties.

It was unlike anything Atros had felt before.

What kind of cultivation method could produce energy devoid of mana or demonic traits?

“Bind,” Gaon said.

…!

Atros was shocked.

The same unfamiliar energy flooded his body, seizing control of every part.

He lost all command over his movements.

Bind got me?

He couldn’t believe it.

As Gaon approached, Atros could only watch.

Step.

Stopping in front of him, Gaon reached out, placing a hand on Atros’s shoulder.

Energy flowed in, splitting toward his brain and heart.

…The restriction?

The restrictions on his brain and heart came to mind.

Is he triggering it to kill me? Why bother?

It didn’t make sense—Gaon could kill him anytime without resorting to the restriction.

But then—

…Huh?

Atros was stunned.

The restrictions dissolved instantly.

It was something he’d only dreamed of.

…Ugh!

He screamed inwardly as the Painless Technique was also undone, pain flooding back.

Gaon spoke.

“Let’s start with three minutes.”

…?

Atros was confused.

Start what?

His confusion cleared quickly.

The energy that had removed the restrictions began rampaging through his body.

Soon, he felt it—excruciating pain as his bones and muscles twisted.

Gaon looked at Atros, trembling and gasping, and said, “Heal.”

Whoosh!

Light enveloped Atros, and he stopped shaking, looking at Gaon with anxious eyes.

“Ready to talk?”

“Y-Yes, please, just say the word.”

“Don’t lie. I’ll cross-check.”

Atros glanced at the unconscious team leaders nearby.

“Even if you coordinated stories, think carefully. You didn’t coordinate with the 2nd Sub-Branch leader, did you?”

…!

Atros paled.

The mission was launched because the 2nd Sub-Branch was annihilated.

He hadn’t worried about information leaks due to the restrictions.

But Gaon had removed them, meaning Galico likely endured the same pain, healed afterward.

Could Galico have withstood it?

No chance.

“I’ll tell you everything, no lies!” Atros shouted.

If a lie was caught, he’d face unimaginable horrors.

“Please, show mercy and grant me a painless death.”

That was his only wish now.

“We’ll see,” Gaon said.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Where’s the 3rd Branch located?”

Surprisingly, Galico, the 2nd Sub-Branch leader, didn’t know the main branch’s location.

But Atros, likely from the main branch, would.

Not just the location but its structure too.

“Lukard Kingdom’s capital,” Atros answered.

…!

Gaon’s eyes gleamed.

Lukard Kingdom was south of Glaco Kingdom.

The capital, no less?

“Have they taken over the kingdom?”

“Not the royal family yet, but effectively, yes.”

“Who’s the branch leader?”

“Kemmel, former head of the Sebika Ducal House in Lukard. He doesn’t engage in external activities.”

“Is the entire Sebika House Abyss?”

“Only the head, the heir, and a few others, as far as I know.”

“Hm…”

Gaon frowned slightly.

If the entire house were Abyss, he could storm in and wipe them out.

But with only some involved, killing Kemmel and his direct line could cause complications.

How would the surviving house members react?

The kingdom’s people?

He could kill them secretly, but that was the worst option.

Even if he hid his identity, the Abyss would know it was him, and rumors—likely exaggerated—would spread.

He’d learned that lesson in the past after covert operations backfired.

Since then, he’d acted openly, with clear justification.

I need to build a force quickly.

With justification, he could act decisively.

But justification required a faction—alone, he was limited.

Gaon resumed questioning.

“What’s Kemmel’s level?”

“He reached Swordmaster fifteen years ago.”

“Is he the strongest in the 3rd Branch?”

“Yes, there are three other Swordmasters, but Kemmel’s the strongest, as far as I know.”

“Who are the others?”

“Sorry, I don’t know. Only Kemmel and Adir, the intelligence chief, do.”

“Any Archmages or Great Shamans?”

“One Archmage, one Great Shaman.”

“Don’t know their identities either?”

“No, really. Those guys don’t either,” Atros said, pointing urgently at the team leaders.

“I’ll verify that later. Any other notable powerhouses?”

“There are three with strange abilities. I’ve never seen them, just heard they’re bizarre.”

“Where do you rank in the 3rd Branch?”

“I’d say top fifteen.”

“Anything on the 1st or 2nd Branches?”

The 3rd Branch implied the existence of a 1st and 2nd.

“Sorry, I don’t know much about them, but I know a bit about the 4th Branch.”

At the Abyss’s 3rd Branch, in the branch leader’s office—

Crack!

Kemmel flinched at the sound.

It came from the soul stone display, meaning one of his key subordinates had died.

He turned to look.

…!

He was horrified.

Atros is dead?