Chapter 399

Words : 2562 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

Belkart Benmark was once famous as a magician belonging to the Truth faction, but there was another title that made him even more renowned. “Steel Magician” Belkart was a master of metal magic, and in this field of elements, he was truly worthy of the title of master. If he had become a single-attribute elemental magician, it was widely believed that he would have been given the title of Iron Colour. Belkart’s abilities didn’t stop there. He wasn’t simply immersed in metal magic alone, he also continuously trained in other elements he could use. Thus, based on the metal element, he reached mastery in the lightning element as well, and combined the two magics to create a new magic. It was “Magnetic Magic.” Using metal and electricity, he created magnetism and implemented it with magical power to control it freely. That was why Belkart’s sword and Rudger’s staff were stuck together and wouldn’t separate. The staff with a raven engraved on it that Rudger carried looked ordinary on the outside, but it concealed a sharp blade inside. It was inevitably affected by the powerful magnetism of Belkart’s Magnetar Sword. Rudger clicked his tongue and drew out silver thread from his left hand. The silver thread, stretched taut like a spider web, caught the incoming steel sword in mid-air, but it was a meaningless resistance. “You use interesting items.” With just a slight raising of magical power from Belkart, the silver thread loosened as if drawn to something. Even though it was an artifact, [Flowing Silver] was ultimately an item composed of metal elements and it too inevitably fell under Belkart’s influence. Rudger returned the flowing silver to its bracelet form and simultaneously infused magical power into his staff, expanding it outward. Using the resulting shockwave as momentum, Rudger was barely able to create distance from Belkart. He had escaped the binding of the magnetic magic by inducing a collision of magical powers. -Swoosh swoosh swoosh. The deflected steel swords changed direction in mid-air and targeted Rudger again but Rudger shot down the steel swords one by one with magic. At that moment, Rudger’s body shook in mid-air and Rudger quickly realized the reason. The black revolver at his waist and the hidden blade he had stored in his wrist had started to be drawn by the magnetic force. Rudger glared at Belkart with a sunken gaze. Belkart sneered at such a Rudger. “For a magician, you carry quite a lot of metal.” The various weapons Rudger carried were ones that had brought him victory in countless battlefields but against Belkart, they were rather becoming a hindrance. He had never met an opponent who could generate magnetism that attracts all metals, this was the possible matchup for Rudger. Rudger enveloped his entire body with magical power to block the attractive force. ‘This won’t be easy.’ Against an opponent who makes him consume mana just by standing still, Rudger absolutely couldn’t let this drag into a long battle. -Clatter clatter. Countless metals were generated in the air around Belkart. Those small cuboids were metal cubes. “What are those...?” “Such precise metal magic?” The magicians on the cliff were shocked at the sight. Basically, attributing elemental properties to magic was due to the characteristics of that element. Fire has the property of burning and spreading everything. Ice has the property of freezing enemies and restricting movement. Wind has the properties of being free, soft, and having sharp cutting power. The characteristic of the metal element is that it’s very hard and heavy. Metal of the same volume is three times heavier than rock. Rudger stared at Belkart who had activated the magic. ‘Among the current 10 major elements in the magical world, the metal element has the strongest physical force.’ However, the metal element isn’t omnipotent. Steel is too hard, making it difficult to adjust its form. That’s why even the steel swords being used now rely more on crushing with mass rather than sharpness. ‘That’s why the metal attribute needs to be used in conjunction with the implementation class magic “Ars Magna”.’ But Belkart had created precise metal while ignoring even that alchemy process. The number of cubes had now reached a point where it was difficult to count. “Elementum Ex Machina.” The cubes began to form a single flow in the air, like a school of fish swimming. -Crackle. Purple current flowing between the cubes connected like lines and formed a circle. The circle spread behind Belkart continued to rotate. It was like watching perpetual motion. “Infinitus Circen.” Infinite Circle. The circle split exactly in half and spread wide on both sides of Belkart. Rudger thought this sight looked familiar from somewhere. It looked exactly like this when iron filings were sprinkled around a magnet. The metal that seemed to have taken the flow of the magnetic field directly looked almost like steel wings spread out. What was more vicious was that massive current was writhing in each metal cube that made up those steel wings. Even for a 6th Circle magician, that much magical power would be hard to endure. Such speculation from Rudger became certain the moment he saw Belkart’s complexion. “...You’re not exactly in perfect condition either.” Belkart’s expression was blank, but under his eyes was slightly dark, and his skin was pale. He had taken drugs to use this power now. “It wouldn’t be something sold on the market. How did you get such a dangerous item?” “Have you forgotten? That there’s someone who makes very dangerous drugs.” “...Victor.” So he got it from Victor, I was wondering where he got it from. If it was that madman, he would have gladly handed it over when Belkart said he wanted to use dangerous drugs. At the same time, he realized how serious Belkart was about this matter. He used it without hesitation despite knowing such drugs would have serious after-effects. ‘Well, I’m not one to talk either.’ At the very least, Rudger himself was the same in that he would use even stronger stuff rather than weaker. However, Rudger was able to do such dangerous things because he had the special constitution of poison immunity. Belkart wouldn’t have such a constitution, so he would naturally feel all the side effects. “Using drugs that could endanger your life. Did you not intend to survive from the start?” “Don’t you have something like that? A mission that you must accomplish even if it means throwing away your life?” Belkart’s voice carried something like an unshakeable firm belief. Rudger had no answer, and Belkart hadn’t expected one either. “I’ll end this as quickly as possible.” Belkart said this while extending his hand toward Rudger. Some cubes from the magnetic field behind him shot toward Rudger like bullets. Rudger entered into evasion while using defensive magic to surround his body. Belkart persistently targeted Rudger. At that moment, a black shadow rose up toward Belkart from directly below. It was Varenchina, who had soared up riding Derek’s wind magic. She swung her sword toward Belkart while surging up from below to above. Belkart let out a light snort. -Clatter clatter. Hundreds of metal cubes hovering around gathered in one place and stacked up like bricks, creating a wall of steel. -Crash! The sword imbued with a powerful aura sliced the wall but it didn’t reach Belkart. Varenchina clicked her tongue as she fell back to the ground pulled by gravity. What caught her was the wind raised by Derek. “Come to think of it, there were some annoying knights.” Belkart extended his hand toward the knights and the knights could feel their swords being drawn to something. “Everyone resist with aura!” If Varenchina hadn’t shouted that, some would have lost their swords. As aura began to dwell in the swords, Belkart narrowed his eyes. As expected, it couldn’t penetrate through the mysterious power of aura that the knights wielded. Still thinking it didn’t matter, Belkart dropped countless metal cubes toward the cliff. Original metal magic [Steel Rain] -Crackle! The cubes spewing current in all directions like coils as they fell looked like meteors falling from the sky. The magicians gritted their teeth and spread defensive magic as they watched. Some shot magic to shoot down the cubes. The knights also had to slash the falling cubes while wielding aura. They were managing to block somehow, but there were too many. -Whoosh! At that moment, hot flames flickered in the air and shot toward Belkart. Belkart created a shield using the cubes. The wall of cubes blocked the flames but the cubes whose exterior had been heated lost their magnetism and fell below the cliff. Belkart stared at Rudger with sunken eyes. “So you thought to heat the metal with flames to make it lose magnetism. But I wonder how long that will work.” Metal cubes were continuously being created around Belkart. There wasn’t enough firepower to penetrate those and target Belkart. “There’s no end to them.” Even if the metal was melted with heat, cubes that replaced them kept being produced. Belkart, enhanced by Victor’s drug, was no different from a living steel mill. That’s when Derek flew to Rudger’s side. Varenchina, who had risen into the air with Derek’s magic, was also there. “Looks like we’ll have to face Belkart with the three of us.” “Damn it. If only the old magic tower magicians were still here, it wouldn’t be like this.” A magician at the end of 5th Circle and a high-ranking knight. They were reassuring as reinforcements, but considering the opponent, it was still not enough. However they couldn’t hope for more support than this. The remaining personnel had to prevent the cliff from collapsing down there. “Teacher Rudger. What do you think? This doesn’t seem like a fight that will end just by buying time.” “Yes. Somehow we have to defeat Belkart first.” “Can we win? How can we defeat Belkart in that state?” “When have we ever fought because we had a way? We have no choice because we’ll die if we don’t fight.” Varenchina opened her mouth. “But the situation isn’t good. Belkart can just ignore us and destroy the cliff. It’s not an equal fight from the start.” “Then we have to make him unable to ignore us.” Varenchina nodded at Rudger’s instruction. “Derek and I will need to provide rear support and create openings in Belkart as much as possible. I recommend using mainly flame-based magic.” “Sigh. No choice then.” They quickly shared opinions and regrouped because Belkart had started emitting magical power more strongly. Though he could afford to take it easy since he held an advantageous position, Belkart deliberately didn’t. It was because there would be nothing good for him in dragging this situation out long due to the drugs. “Come. Golden Bird.” -Crackle! The cubes gathered at Belkart’s feet and eventually assembled into one form. It was a giant bird made of metal. “So he brought that out in the end.” “Do you know this magic?” “I’ve only heard rumors. Belkart riding the steel bird was an ace of aerial combat who shot down countless magicians.” Belkart’s magic wasn’t over yet. “Come. Thunder Dragon.” -Crackle! A dragon with a massive body revealed itself centered on Belkart. The purple glowing dragon had an ominousness that seemed like it would electrocute you just by looking at it. Thunder Dragon Golden Bird. Belkart Benmark’s familiar and alchemy summon had descended here. Derek summoned his own familiar, unable to back down. “Please. Eluda.” What appeared was a large owl with snow-white feathers. Derek put Varenchina on the back of his familiar, Eluda, while he floated his body using wind magic. -Screech! The Golden Bird roared, signaling the start of the battle. The Golden Bird wrapped its entire body in bluish current and charged toward Rudger’s group. Rudger was the one who blocked the Golden Bird that shot forward leaving a long tail of blue afterimages. Rudger blocked the Golden Bird’s path by creating magic circles in the air, while simultaneously raising flame magic to try to melt its body. The Golden Bird showed an unbelievable turn in that moment, changing direction in mid-air. What was waiting for the Golden Bird there was Varenchina. The Golden Bird was a speed battle specialist that swept through enemy lines at high speed. As the most troublesome one in battle, it was an opponent that needed to be eliminated with top priority. Varenchina’s aura flashed as it targeted the Golden Bird’s body. At that moment, the Thunder Dragon opened its mouth wide and rushed at Varenchina. “Tch.” Varenchina had no choice but to modify her sword’s trajectory while clicking her tongue. Varenchina’s purple aura and intense purple current collided in mid-air. Belkart didn’t leave Varenchina alone as she entered the power struggle. -Screech. The metal cubes floating around Belkart elongated and eventually changed into the form of arrows. It was a design specialized for penetration, with arrowheads twisted into spiral shapes. The steel arrows targeted Varenchina who was in confrontation with the Thunder Dragon. Derek’s familiar Eluda sensed the crisis and flapped its wings wide to retreat backward. The arrows that crossed the air changed direction in mid-air to target Varenchina again, but fell powerlessly before her sword. Belkart didn’t feel disappointed and continued his next attack. This time, steel spears were created around him. “Let’s see if you can dodge these too.” Right after muttering that, Belkart realized something was strange. He couldn’t see Rudger Chelici. Did he run away? No. He wasn’t the type to retreat from here but there were no obstructions in this air where he could hide his body either. Yet why couldn’t he be seen? Belkart could soon know the reason. Something was sensed approaching through the iron powder scattered in the air. Its form couldn’t be seen. Its presence couldn’t be felt either but he was ‘there.’ As expected, magic was generated from the space where Rudger was presumed to be and flew toward Belkart. A giant flame snake that left a long tail tried to swallow Belkart but Belkart called the Golden Bird while shooting the prepared steel spears at Varenchina. -Screech! The Golden Bird wrapped in intense lightning collided and tangled with the snake of fire in mid-air. Rudger, who revealed himself in mid-air, clicked his tongue in regret. Concealing presence and form was one of the abilities of Aether Nocturnus. He tried to launch a surprise attack using that, but was discovered more easily than expected. While Belkart’s response was quick, it was also because the fine iron powder floating around this area revealed his position. “You use quite unique things. Then I’ll show you something interesting too.” Saying that, Belkart gathered the cubes in the air and combined them into one. The cubes fitted together like puzzle pieces eventually took the form of a massive gun barrel. -Crackle! Steel stakes were placed on the barrel, and powerful electromagnetic force arose along those rails. Rudger knew what kind of weapon this was: Railgun. The moment he recognized it, a dazzling flash was shot toward Rudger.

Chapter 399

Comments (0)