Limit Breaking Genius Mage Chapter 288

Episode 288 Carnival… … ? (1)

A slum located in the western part of the autonomous region.

In an old, abandoned building stands an inspector with his face covered by metal.

A man sitting in a corner covered in spiderwebs, holding an old sword in his arms. Memories of the past were constantly playing in his head.

───Adrian, one day you will become the best swordsman in the Central Continent.

The old master patted my shoulder and said.

The wrinkles around her eyes and her kind smile tickle her heart.

Even though he was far past his prime and was fading away like the sunset, he always embraced me with the same warm love.

To the master, Adrian was both a disciple and a son.

A family that would give their lives even though they were not related by blood. And it was a dream and a pride.

───Just trust me, Master.

Adrian was the same.

To him, his teacher was like a father.

The benefactor who raised him after he lost his parents to the Ain race and was left alone. Nothing can repay that kindness.

So I tried.

He swung his sword to fulfill his dream and pride.

'Then one day, they came to the cabin where I lived with my teacher.'

Three uninvited intruders.

───That momentum. You are one of the four powers of the Central Continent.

You probably didn't come here with good intentions, considering you've come all the way to this rugged mountain range, shrouded in mist that blinds your senses.

Although their identities were hidden, their hostility was clear.

Are they just a bunch of common people chasing fame, or do they have some other motive?

It didn't matter what it was. I was going to kill them anyway. I was confident that I wouldn't lose, whether they were alone or in a group.

'But I lost.'

It was an overwhelming defeat.

It was unbelievable, but it was the expected result.

Because the opponent was a transcendent being.

───Cheongeom, Adrian Chanbus. He is said to be a swordsman who is considered to be close to being a transcendent being… … He is a bit lacking compared to what I thought. Was there no need for me to step forward?

Bohemian Tower, Baloch Besias.

They say that he is one of the top three magic tower masters in terms of strength. I only heard about him through rumors, but I could tell right away.

Because there was no other being who could freely manipulate such a powerful magic circle.

Knock knock, knock!

Blood spurted from the back of his neck.

───I definitely… … I don’t remember fighting the Bohemian Tower… … !

───It's not something trivial like a silver lining. I just needed suitable materials for my next experiment, and you were chosen as the subject. It's a simple reason, nothing complicated.

What on earth does experiment mean?

Just as the question crossed my mind, a voice was heard from behind me.

───Adrian!

The master who went hunting returned.

He grasped the situation at once, threw away the magic wand on his back, and drew his sword. He charged forward with such a fierce speed that it seemed as if he would cut anyone just by looking at them.

───Huh, such a one-hit wonder.

Elder of the Bohemian Tower.

The two people brought by Matapju stepped forward.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

Black energy and elements collide.

The cabin collapsed and the forest crumbled. A series of shocks reverberated, enough to shake the entire mountain range.

The fierce battle did not last long.

Although their ages were similar, the difference in their abilities was significant.

Warriors become weaker as their bodies age, but magicians, who become stronger as their knowledge deepens, are relatively free from aging.

Those who are past their prime and those who are in their prime.

Even the latter two were there. The outcome of the battle was practically decided.

The master was defeated miserably.

With his right arm and left leg blown off by the elders.

The sword fragment that flew into the air landed in front of Adrian.

───Master!!!!

───Ad… … Lee… … An… … .

The body reacts before the head.

He picked up the broken sword with trembling hands, gathered all his remaining energy, and threw it with all his might.

A blow pierced through the elemental curtain and grazed the elder's hair.

That's the power even though my stamina was already depleted.

His unbreakable mental strength, which no amount of physical pain can suppress, is well known.

That's why Adrian was chosen as the material.

Baloch, who had been watching the series of events with interest, stroked his beard.

───This… … A good idea has come to mind. I was just going to take Chenbus, but that old inspector could be useful too.

The magical power embroidered in the air descends.

A mysteriously formed magic circle bound Adrian and his master, and at the same time, their consciousness fell into darkness.

And then I got up and faced it.

A hell that is absolutely unbearable.

However, when I think back on the past, there is no emotional turmoil.

The sky-blue eyes behind the mask were still empty. Having lost his own will, he was inhuman.

At that moment, the sound from outside came closer.

Adrian, who had finished recalling his thoughts, sat up.

Knock knock knock!

There was a distracting knock and the doorknob turned.

Massey, one of Aldamia's clowns, poked his head out.

“Oh dear, I apologize for not meaning to. It’s been a while since the carnival, so it took some time to prepare. But it’s easier to get noticed at night, so isn’t it better?”

“Location.”

Trivial conversation is a waste of time.

The goals to be achieved here are set.

The Dominion, the Tower of Volcano Island, and the branch of the Larian Tower… … To Adrian, only the orders engraved on the magic circle were important.

Every hour he pointed out the window.

“Do you see the Dominion’s castle over there? The leaders of the Magic Tower branch and the Dominion are having a dinner inside right now. While everyone else is sleeping, huh? Well, thanks to that, you’re at ease. You don’t have to go back and forth to other places.”

“…….”

Adrian took a step forward.

Macy shouted at him as he was about to head to his destination.

“We’ll send out a really flashy signal, so you can start then! Don’t worry, we’ll definitely get your attention!”

No answer came back.

The inspector soon disappeared from sight.

“Oh, you’re so cold. How can you not have a single decent conversation? Even if you had your teeth pulled out while you were still alive, you wouldn’t scream.”

“Oh, I’m curious about that. Should I try it sometime?”

Devonie approached, fully equipped.

The floor creaks under the weight of all that fat.

Every time, Maesh waved his hand and shook his head.

“Oh, I don’t want to die. And above all, it wouldn’t be fun. Since ancient times, it’s only fun and exciting when there’s an audience reaction, right?”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

They nodded to each other and laughed.

I pushed aside unnecessary thoughts and thought about the festival that was about to begin. I looked in the mirror and checked my heavy makeup again.

I repainted some of the faded parts.

“How is it, do you look okay?”

“Very good. How about me?”

“There’s nothing to complain about. Well, I’ve done the preparations and the makeup, so all that’s left is to move. Ahhh, I’m really looking forward to it……!”

The two people couldn't hide their excitement.

Invisible classes have always existed in the groups that make up society.

For example, in a wolf pack, they may group together and ostracize individuals with the lowest ranks, or even reject individuals who look different from their own kind.

It is an instinct to solidify and further raise one's class.

This habit is no different for humans.

In particular, those who are considered mutants are made into role models.

The world was extremely cruel to the weak, those who were not born with an ordinary personality or physical structure, and who were abandoned and not protected even by their parents.

Harassment bordering on torture.

A hunger so intense that your bones are about to burst.

The winter cold that freezes you to the bone… … .

Most of those who did not receive help simply died. Eternal rest must have been a blessing to them.

But not everyone is like that.

A group of people who, in accordance with the inherent nature of life, desperately survive in order to escape the fear of death.

Among them, there are a very small number of people whose personalities have become distorted due to extreme stress, and their originally deformed way of thinking has become even more severe.

Oddly enough, they don't hate humans. Rather, they love them.

Pain and murder. Children, adults, the elderly.

Because only the same kind of people can experience the thrilling pleasure that makes your whole body tingle.

The Jester of Aldamia.

To them, slaughter is a virtue.

“Now, the carnival begins!”

Midloth Dominion.

The city shrouded in darkness was brightly lit.

* * *

A gray veil covers the night sky.

The world was even darker because of the thick, dark clouds of altocumulus.

The weather was so dry that my throat hurt. The winter chill felt even colder than usual.

It was past midnight and into the morning.

On the day of the appointment with the Dominion, Verden was sleeping. There was no sound of tossing and turning, only the sound of breathing in the room.

That was when my sleep was disturbed.

“……?”

I have a strange feeling.

Although he couldn't pinpoint what it was, his body's senses, enhanced by the rune ring, were weakly reacting.

Verden opened his eyes and got out of bed.

As I approached the window, a very faint light was knocking on the window. It was not pale moonlight, but a grayish color.

It wasn't even the lighting of the stone lantern.

Clang.

Verden pulled back the curtain.

“……What is that?”

The western district of the autonomous territory.

The streets far from the mansion are engulfed in flames, so much so that even sound cannot be heard.

Not only that, but a small explosion turned a building into a fire pit. The fire was raging, looking for food.

Yes, that's right.

The Dominion is burning.

* * *

Verden wasn't the only one who noticed the strange situation.

Ethan and Rebecca of Soiaity and the smuggler Padreld.

The three people who happened to be awake reacted first.

Although they had never spoken a word to each other, they went straight to find the owner of the mansion as if they had made a promise.

Kuung!

Padrel opened the door roughly.

“Lord Asher! Sorry to bother you so late, but I’m currently in the Dominion……!”

“I'm watching it now.”

Verden stared outside.

He asked softly, his arms crossed.

“I know there’s a slum over there. Is there anything there that could cause such a big fire?”

“As far as I know, there isn’t any. Unlike the east side, there isn’t a warehouse or anything like that with oil drums piled up. The building is old and it’s easy for fire to spread, but this is the first time we’ve seen a fire of this scale… When I came here, I instructed my subordinate, Medfin, to find out the cause.”

There is no cause for the explosion.

Does that mean someone did it on purpose?

Ethan said.

“We can help you if you need it, especially since Rebecca has a high level of water magic. Even if we can’t cover all areas, we can prevent the damage from spreading to some extent. Isn’t that right?”

“Uh, me? Well, I mean… I can help you if you want.”

Rebecca nodded slightly.

With a stiff smile and a look of caution.

“…….”

Verden stared at the fire silently.

Putting out a fire isn't that hard. All you have to do is make it rain heavily and put it to sleep.

Even if it's an oil fire.

'But something is strange.'

It literally didn't make sense.

A self-governing territory where various forces are gathered in secret.

Above that, without warning, an unprecedented fire broke out in the Dominion. They say accidents happen suddenly at any moment, but why at this particular time?

The wall moved sideways.

The lord's residence was at the end of my gaze. It seemed as if there was an inexplicable silence, contrasting with the commotion outside.

There is no coincidence here.

“……Ethan, and Rebecca. I will release the magic circle, and you and Padreld will put out the fire and determine the cause.”

“Yes, I understand. But, Asher……”

“I have something to check. It seems like the fifth force has arrived.”

Ethan and Rebecca paused.

It wasn't hard to figure out who he was referring to.

"no way……."

“Questions come later.”

Suddenly.

Verden left the mansion through the window.

In the blink of an eye, he held the summoned Orient in his hand. He soared into the sky and flew at full speed towards the center of the city.

The destination is the castle in the Dominion.

The appointment time was unexpectedly brought forward.