Chapter 22: Seventh Circle: Complete

“What?”

Oris couldn’t help but exclaim.

He had just received an unexpected report from Abel.

“Gallagher? You mean the Vice Tower Master of Rud Tower?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The Sailer family and Rud Tower had sent a support force, ostensibly to aid in defending against the demonic rift.

However, the rift was already closed.

Oris had informed them they could return, but they insisted on coming to Rabes, citing the need to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.

If it were just the Sailer family, Oris could have sent them back firmly.

The problem was Rud Tower.

Rud Tower had a close relationship with the Sailer family, but that didn’t mean they were hostile to the Alion family.

Thus, Oris couldn’t forcefully turn them away.

Moreover, they were nominally a “support force.”

And the representative from Rud Tower was Gallagher, a 6th Circle High Mage.

In terms of ice magic, Gallagher was so skilled that even 6th Circle Masters couldn’t surpass him.

Crossing Gallagher would be a significant loss.

Oris frowned.

They’re definitely coming for Gaon-nim.

The stated reason was preparation for unexpected situations, but Oris knew better.

The Sailer family’s third son, Rafir, had been killed by Gaon.

And Rud Tower was at war with Gardion Tower.

In all likelihood, the Sailer family and Rud Tower were coming for Gaon.

At that moment—

Knock knock.

“Count, Rotes-nim and Taylor-nim have returned,” came Blanc’s voice from behind the door.

“Bring them in immediately!”

Oris, who had been planning to discuss the situation, shouted urgently.

Creak.

The door opened, and Rotes and Taylor entered.

“You both worked hard,” Oris said.

“No, we only dealt with a few monsters,” Rotes replied with a smile.

Noticing Oris’s expression and the tense atmosphere, Rotes asked with a curious look, “Is something wrong?”

The rift was closed, the monsters were cleared, and the demonic energy would soon dissipate.

Everything seemed resolved, yet Oris’s expression suggested otherwise.

Something else had happened.

“We’re in trouble,” Oris said after a moment’s hesitation.

“The Sailer family and Rud Tower have sent a support force.”

“Rud Tower?”

Taylor’s brow furrowed at the mention of the rival tower.

“Yes, and despite telling them to turn back, they’re insisting on coming. The problem is that Rud Tower’s representative is Gallagher.”

“…!”

“…!”

Both Rotes and Taylor looked shocked at the mention of Gallagher.

Rotes spoke up, “You mean that Gallagher, the Vice Tower Master?”

“Yes. And it’s highly likely he’s coming for Gaon-nim.”

“Hmm…”

Rotes let out a low murmur, then, after a brief pause, said, “It shouldn’t be a problem.”

“…What?”

Oris was taken aback.

It was a completely unexpected response.

Rotes’s expression showed a hint of irritation, but nothing more.

Oris wondered if he’d misspoken and mentally reviewed what he’d said.

I said it correctly.

He had accurately conveyed that Gallagher was targeting Gaon.

Then…!

Oris’s eyes lit up.

Gaon’s status as an Archmage was only a suspicion, not confirmed.

But Rotes’s reaction—saying there was no need to worry about Gallagher—suggested certainty.

Gaon must be a 7th Circle Archmage.

If not, at the very least, he was a 6th Circle Master.

There was no other explanation for Rotes’s confidence.

At that moment—

Rumble! Boom!

A deafening roar echoed from outside.

The source was the training room, where Gaon currently was.

Oris rushed to the window.

“…!”

He was stunned.

The training room was in ruins.

In its place was an unfamiliar whirlwind.

Oris turned to Rotes and Taylor.

Rotes wore a dumbfounded expression.

Taylor was the same.

Then, Rotes broke into a wide, elated smile, his face filled with awe.

Taylor, snapping out of his daze, asked excitedly, “Master, is this what I think it is?”

“Yes, it is!”

From their reactions, Oris realized they knew what was happening.

“What exactly is it? Can you explain?” Oris asked cautiously, glancing at Rotes.

Rotes responded with a warm expression and voice, “It’s a mana storm. It happens right after entering the 7th Circle.”

“…!”

Oris was shocked.

This meant Gaon had just ascended to the 7th Circle.

He turned back to where the training room had been.

The whirlwind was slowly shrinking.

Rotes spoke again, “Let’s go. I’ll report to Gaon-nim.”

***

Having entered the 6th Circle, Gaon smiled.

Nice.

The six Circles spun fiercely, producing tremendous output.

It was enough to easily overwhelm most 7th Circle Archmages.

If the 6th Circle was this powerful, what would the 7th Circle be like?

Checking his remaining Pacheongi, Gaon thought, The 7th Circle might be tough.

It wasn’t a lack of Pacheongi—he had an abundance thanks to the 8-star magic stone.

The issue was whether his body could withstand it.

It was a close call.

He felt he might manage, but he wasn’t certain.

Let’s do it later.

After some deliberation, Gaon postponed the 7th Circle ascension.

If he tried and failed because his body couldn’t handle it, the loss would be significant.

There was no urgent need to rush, so there was no point in gambling.

Gaon gathered his Pacheongi before the fourth wall, thinking, What changes will this bring?

After breaking the third wall, his Pacheongi had begun circulating on its own.

He was thrilled to see what breaking the fourth wall would do.

With great anticipation, he sent his Pacheongi charging forward.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Perhaps because of the sheer amount of Pacheongi, the fourth wall collapsed instantly.

As before, the debris spread throughout his body, merging with it.

But what followed was different.

His bones and blood vessels didn’t simply strengthen.

At the same time, Gaon instinctively sensed an immense pain was coming.

…That’s it! Bone-and-Flesh Reforging!

Cheon Muhyeok had told him that, at some point, breaking a wall would lead to a complete reconstruction of the body.

The timing varied, and the resulting body depended on one’s path.

Some gained bodies capable of explosive strength.

Others gained extreme flexibility.

Some developed bodies impervious to blades.

Gaon had asked Cheon Muhyeok what would happen to a mage undergoing this process.

Cheon Muhyeok didn’t know—no mage had ever undergone Bone-and-Flesh Reforging before.

That made Gaon even more curious and excited about what changes his body would undergo.

Soon, the reforging began.

Crack! Snap!

Bones he thought were unbreakable shattered.

His blood vessels expanded and contracted unnaturally.

Worse, searing clumps of “heat” appeared throughout his body, radiating intense energy.

Various forms of pain surged through him, and Gaon gritted his teeth.

Had he not prepared mentally, he might have lost consciousness.

The pain was that excruciating.

This is Bone-and-Flesh Reforging, right?

The intensity made him briefly wonder if something had gone wrong.

But it was unlikely—the process matched Cheon Muhyeok’s description.

Gaon focused on enduring the pain.

After some time, the heat clumps began to vanish one by one.

His blood vessels returned to normal.

His shattered bones mended, stronger than ever.

The reforging was complete.

“Phew…”

Gaon exhaled deeply and opened his eyes.

He immediately checked his body’s changes.

It had become far stronger.

He could exert much greater strength and speed than before.

That wasn’t all—his Pacheongi’s circulation speed had increased, meaning faster energy manipulation and training.

At this rate, even without elixirs, he could reach the 8th Circle in five years.

…Huh?

As he assessed the changes, Gaon was startled.

It was his Pacheongi.

Why hasn’t it decreased?

Compared to before breaking the fourth wall, his Pacheongi hadn’t diminished at all.

Previously, breaking the first through third walls had consumed about half his Pacheongi each time.

Why hadn’t it decreased this time?

Is it because of the reforging?

It seemed related to the Bone-and-Flesh Reforging.

There was no other explanation.

Well, that’s great news.

Gaon grinned broadly.

With his reforged body, he could easily handle the 7th Circle’s output.

Since his Pacheongi remained intact, he was ready to ascend to the 7th Circle.

“Magic Mirror.”

He summoned a magical mirror.

The changes weren’t limited to his internal body—his external appearance had transformed too.

“Wow.”

Gaon let out a gasp of admiration.

Not only had he grown taller, but his entire physique had expanded.

He looked comparable to, if not better than, most knights or even Swordmasters.

No more being called a kid.

Recalling the countless times he’d been called a child, Gaon chuckled.

After fully assessing his changes, he scanned the training room.

It was time to ascend to the 7th Circle.

The arrays here should prevent any leaks.

A mana storm would occur upon entering the 7th Circle, but the training room’s magic arrays should contain it.

Satisfied with his inspection, Gaon sat down and began forming the seventh Circle.

Creating the seventh Circle was complex, requiring connections to all six prior Circles.

But Gaon had walked this path before—it was simple for him.

With ample Pacheongi and a body capable of handling the output, what was a life-or-death endeavor for others was effortless for him.

The moment the seventh Circle was completed—

Whoosh!

A mana storm—no, a Pacheongi storm—erupted.

…Oh!

Gaon realized the training room’s arrays couldn’t contain it.

A mana storm might have been manageable, but a Pacheongi storm was far stronger.

Fortunately, the storm was confined to the training room’s size, meaning only the room itself would be destroyed.

I’ll have to rebuild it.

As the storm subsided, Gaon held his palms facing each other.

Whoosh!

A translucent orb formed between them, with a blizzard raging inside.

Gaon gazed at it with deep satisfaction.

Finally, I can use it.

The blizzard orb wasn’t an ordinary spell.

It was one of Gaon’s signature spells from the past, requiring immense output and seven Circles to cast.

While not all high-level spells were destructive, this one was both advanced and devastating.

The blizzard within was the 7th Circle spell Blizzard.

If the orb were to burst here, everything within a 500-meter radius of the Alion estate would become a death zone.

Rumble…

The Pacheongi storm began to subside.

Gaon dispelled the orb.

Dissipating it was easy—since he created it, a bit of will and Pacheongi was enough.

As the storm fully vanished, Gaon stood and looked ahead.

Rotes, Taylor, and Oris were approaching.

“Congratulations!”

Rotes greeted him immediately upon arrival.

“Congratulations!”

“Congratulations!”

Taylor and Oris followed with their own felicitations.

“Thanks,” Gaon replied, looking at Oris.

“Sorry about the training room. I’ll rebuild it soon.”

“No, it’s no trouble at all! More importantly, I have urgent news…”

Oris trailed off, glancing at Rotes.

Gaon followed his gaze to Rotes, who spoke up.

“Gallagher, the Vice Tower Master of Rud Tower, is coming to Rabes to target us.”

“Oh, really?”

Gaon grinned widely and asked, “Where is he now?”