Genius Prismatic Mage Chapter 75

#075. The Vortex of Desire (1)

“Rockdeers are very timid. I’ve heard that there have been no cases of them attacking humans yet.”

“You mean those beasts? They’re not dangerous at all. They’re just busy running away if you get close.”

Veronica and Skye said.

Rock deer are timid and gentle animals that never attack other creatures first.

Also, even if you are attacked, you are just being attacked.

‘… But this level of anger.’

Those words may turn out to be wrong.

The anger that the Rock Deers currently harbored was such that it wouldn’t be surprising at all if something happened at any moment.

Veronica’s face hardened as if she had sensed that the cries of the rock deers were ominous.

A tense atmosphere.

The sound of footsteps echoing everywhere.

‘It’s harder to find than I thought.’

A red mana that becomes ominous.

When I ran for several dozen seconds in between.

Knock knock!

Fran, who was in Veronica’s arms, suddenly started to struggle.

“Fran! Why, why, all of a sudden?”

The guy with his head up was looking somewhere outside the window.

Ray and Veronica followed the direction the black eyes were pointing.

“Over there! Over there!”

In Veronica’s outer room there was a blue-skinned rock deer running among my companions.

Ray stepped on the accelerator.

He moved forward and blocked the path of the group he was in, slowing them down.

─Crook!

─Kururuk!

The rock deers, which had slowed down together, swerved to avoid the vehicle.

However, he was unable to move forward because he was blocked by vehicles zigzagging from side to side.

‘This is enough.’

A brief period of stagnation that occurred in a chain reaction.

That was enough to cause about two hundred rock deer to fall behind the rest of the herd.

Boooo …

The vehicles of the Skye Mercenaries quickly followed and surrounded the separated group of Rockdeer.

“We’ve secured our target.”

Ray radioed Skyle and John in turn.

Over the radio, their low laughter could be heard.

*

A circular open space within a canyon, surrounded by steep cliffs.

─Kuruk.

─Kururuk.

The gray-skinned beasts realized that they had nowhere else to run.

He kicked the ground with excited gestures and turned his body this way and that, but there seemed to be no other way to escape.

A retina shaken by anxiety.

All that could be seen there was the iron horse of humans pouring into the narrow entrance of the vacant lot.

─Kuruk.

─Kururuk.

As the iron horses surrounding them slowly advanced, the beasts were driven into a dot shape in the corner of the open space.

There are 17 vehicles in total.

They all stopped at a certain distance from the beasts.

Crunch. Bang.

Crunch. Bang. Bang.

The doors opened at once and Skyle, the mercenaries, John, and his bodyguards got out, armed with guns.

Crunch. Bang.

The last one to get off was Ray.

Skye approached Ray, whining, as he stepped out of the vehicle and walked forward.

“Wow, you’re really good at driving these guys. Even a professional driver wouldn’t be able to do the job this well.”

“… … .”

“Have you ever had any experience with this before? Or maybe you used magic?”

I didn’t really use any magic.

It was simply because I had no emotional sway that I was able to drive without making a single mistake even in a precarious situation.

“You are amazing. Really!”

Clap clap clap clap clap──!

Skye’s exaggerated applause followed.

Ray knew.

That it was not applause in praise of the opponent’s skills, but applause in celebration of the upcoming time of conquest.

As the master clapped his hands without hesitation, the golden mana contained in his bowl also trembled with joy.

Then John approached with Michael by his side.

“Yes, you’re saying that the Rock Deer I’m looking for is in there, in the photo. It must be that, right?”

Ray glanced at John’s bowl.

Excitement, anticipation, thrill, ecstasy.

And the biggest one is materialism.

John, too, was showing the greatest emotional turmoil I had ever seen.

“Congratulations, sir. Isn’t this the moment you’ve been waiting for?

Michael said.

While there was a bright smile on his face, his bowl was filled with a murky mix of emotions such as doubt and anticipation.

Half in doubt.

It was an ambivalent feeling.

John questions the possibility of the existence of the Rock Deer he saw in the past.

Suspicion that the photos reported by the mercenary group were manipulated.

But there is an expectation that everything will eventually turn out to be true.

Only then will those you trust and follow experience a moment of emotion, and you too will experience feelings of joy.

“Yes. The rock deer in the photo is definitely in that group. We will start searching, so please wait a moment and you will be able to have the moment of reunion.”

“Skyle, you’ve had a hard time too. I can’t be more moved that the moment I’ve been waiting for has actually come.”

Ray turned his head to scan the clearing while paying attention to John and Skyle’s conversation.

In the center was a large, sunken pit, possibly the site of an old oasis.

Other than that, nothing special stood out.

Two hundred rock deer.

Dozens of people and vehicles.

It was an open space that was not narrow, but not very large either, with more than half of the space occupied by them.

“Then, let’s start searching now. I can’t wait for the moment of reunion.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Skyle designated a few of his men and sent them towards Lockdeer.

While doing so, he continued to glance at Ray.

Ray, who had finished preparing to activate his magic, said a certain sentence, which was the signal to start the battle.

Fidgeting with the grip of the shotgun at his waist, Skyle thought.

‘I guess you’re not quite ready for magic. Well, it’ll take some time. You said it was a powerful magic that could subdue that young wizard in one blow.’

The words were arranged in advance.

I decided to use lightning magic to subdue Michael in one fell swoop.

And just in case the magic could be blocked, he decided to simultaneously fire a shotgun at Michael along with the signal.

“Don’t worry about getting hurt if a counterattack comes. I’ll use my defenses to block it right away.”

Follow-up measures are also being prepared.

Indeed, the wizard was such a trustworthy being.

“It won’t be easy to dig through those tightly packed rock deers. The guys in charge of the search will have a hard time.”

John also continued the conversation, waiting for Ray to open his mouth.

‘I said I would use lightning magic to bring those guys to a state close to destruction all at once.’

John smiled inwardly as he recalled the moment when Ray had filled the hotel room with sparks.

It was a refreshing operation that even a half-ass like Michael could never have imagined.

Even if you just rush into battle, victory is certain, but if there is a way to reduce damage, there is no reason to hesitate.

‘And he made me one more offer.’

There is a chance that the magic will go astray.

So, how about arranging for the Skye to be shot directly with a signal?

‘You’re pretty good. You’re young, but you seem to have a lot of experience in this area.’

John thought, fiddling with the gun in his bosom.

I decided that I would never let this capable loyal dog off the leash so easily.

“… … .”

At that time, Ray’s gaze was turned to the mercenaries who were moving with difficulty, digging through the Rock Deer herd.

The already surrounded Rock Deers were unable to run away even when the mercenaries approached, and could only let out cries of fear.

─Get out of the way! Get out of the way, you fawns!

─I’m suffocating. Damn, where the hell is that guy with the jewel on his forehead?

It is true that moving is difficult.

The sight of finding the Blue Jewel Rock Deer was a lie, an act meant to deceive John.

There was no one in the mercenary group who didn’t know that the photo had been manipulated.

Instead, the mercenary group was unaware of the existence of the blue-skinned rock deer.

‘You’ll find out soon enough.’

The mercenaries searching will soon find him.

The reason I deliberately delayed the signal was to confirm the guy’s location before the battle broke out.

“Actually, when I first heard the CEO’s story, I was skeptical. But when I looked it up, I found that there really was a rock deer that looked like that.”

“Maybe it’s not the exact same Rock Deer I remember. It’s unfortunate, but it could just be a mutant of the same type. But even so, it’s enough. If only I could feel that feeling again.”

John and Skyle were oblivious to the subtle discomfort creeping into each other’s words and actions.

It was because I was focusing all my attention on Ray’s signal.

What happened next was almost simultaneous.

─You fu*king deer cubs! Get out of the way!

The moment when a mercenary who had entered the Rockdi swarm trampled a youngling who was struggling on the steps.

Knock knock.

Knock knock.

The red mana held by the rock deers expanded as if it was exploding.

─Hey, over there! It’s over there!

─What, what is it? Is it real? Its skin color is blue.

It was the other mercenaries who found the blue-skinned rock deer.

“Start─.”

With that, Ray’s lips began to move.

John and Skyle’s pupils dilated greatly, trying not to miss the consonants and vowels their lips were forming.

“─Ha─.”

In fact, words come out in an instant.

However, the two people, who were in a state of extreme tension, felt as if time was passing very slowly.

“─Jo.”

At last, when all the letters were revealed to the world, the delayed time regained its speed.

Taang──!

It was two gun barrels that were spitting fire.

All that was heard was a gunshot.

“Ugh─!”

Skyle dropped the shotgun he was holding and fell to the ground clutching his chest.

“Ahhhh!”

John also dropped his gun.

No, I had no choice but to miss it.

If the right hand that was holding the gun was blown off, it would be the same for anyone.

dump!

John collapsed to the ground, looking at his right hand, which was covered in cold sweat, with only his wrist remaining.

What is this?

Am I dreaming now?

─Yes, sir!

Michael’s urgent cries sounded muffled, as if submerged in water.

He was safe.

Just in case, a transparent barrier that was difficult to see with the naked eye was spread out around the two people.

In fact, the steel balls ejected from the shotgun were stuck in the guard and appeared to be suspended in mid-air.

but.

“Keuuuup─! Kkuuk─!”

John’s right hand, which had stepped outside the protection to fire, was completely exposed to the bullet’s range.

John’s right hand, which had been extended beyond the protection, was completely exposed to the bullet’s range.

‘What is this? Am I dreaming?’

John’s breathing became rapid.

I felt dizzy and nauseous.

I couldn’t figure out what was going on, and I didn’t want to understand.

But the pain of the fires of hell burning my wrists was something that no human could dare endure.

Eventually, he had no choice but to burst into tears and cry like a child.

“Ahhh! Aaaahhhh! My, my hand! My hand! Sa, save me! Save me!”

That was the signal for battle.

Both sides used their vehicles as cover to fire at each other.

There was no choice but to go first, and the room quickly became a scene of chaos.

───!

────!

The sound of gunshots, which erupted in a chain reaction and were so loud it was deafening, filled the air without stopping.

─That fu*king kid shot the captain!

─Dirty, filthy mercenary bastards!

A scream of devotion to evil could be heard between the gunshots.

─Save the captain first!

─Secure the representative’s safety first!

But their hopes were far away.

John and Skyle were relatively far away from the vehicle that served as cover, and they dared not approach it to avoid the hail of bullets.

No, I could have tried.

It’s just that no one was willing to take that risk.

Cool!

Skye collapsed on the floor, spitting out a handful of blood.

The blood that should have spurted out could not overcome gravity and flowed back into the throat, suffocating him.

‘How did this happen… That old man… Was this his intention from the beginning?’

A clear sky that covers the entire field of vision.

Shouts and gunshots ring in my ears.

And the excruciating pain spreading from my chest.

The bullet John fired pierced the bulletproof vest he was wearing underneath his outer clothing and went straight through his chest.

It was an item of uncertain authenticity, purchased at a cheap price from a hardware store in a back alley.

John, the client who dared to hit the back of the head.

Armor that didn’t do its job.

Subordinates who are unable to quickly subdue the enemy.

Terrible anger and despair surged into the bowl.

But there was a glimmer of hope shining in the corner of the bowl.

‘You can live… if you get treatment… .’

Experience from fighting in countless battlefields tells me that if you receive treatment in time, your life can be saved.

To do that, this situation had to be resolved quickly, and there was only one person in the room capable of doing so.

Skye lifted her head with difficulty and looked at someone.

and.

“Ugh… My hand…! My hand…!”

“Ah, sir! Please hold on for a moment! I will stop the bleeding first…!”

John, who was also trying to stop the bleeding with a piece of torn clothing within Michael’s protection.

He also looked at one person with the same thought.

In the place where John and Skyle’s gazes met, a boy was standing.

The white-haired boy had already moved towards his vehicle and was observing the situation from within the thickly spread protective shield.

“What are you just looking at! Right now! Kill all of those mercenaries right now!”

John screamed, squeezing his strength out.

‘What are you doing… Cool! We have to kill all the bodyguards quickly… .’

Skye also gave him a look filled with impatience and longing.

In the midst of gunfire that felt like my eardrums would burst.

Soon, the boy’s lips moved slowly, forming sentences with the shape of his mouth.

Just like when I gave the signal to start battle a little while ago.

but.

─Why should I do that?

The content was completely different from before.