Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Who Are You?
When I first learned magic it was under the tutelage of a woman known as the Duke of Extermination.
However, my education in magic didn't stop with just one mentor.
My boundless talent constantly sought more, and my master didn't wish to confine my capabilities.
「Do you intend to learn magic from another?」
「Is this person as remarkable as you, Master?」
「Yes, not as good as me, but someone who is comparable.」
I followed my master's guidance.
「So, you are the child. The one who can contain my power, is that right? This power cannot be wielded by anyone other than those with the Ice Spirit.」
「That is correct. But imitating will change the story a bit, right?」
She was a woman who resembled the moon, known as the Moon Duke.
She was in search of someone with the talent to inherit her magic, a magic formula that could not be learned unless one had a special constitution— Heavenly Ice. However, I did not possess that unique constitution. I simply understood the magic after seeing it once.
The Glacial Heavenly Moon was merely magic I had transformed into my own style. If I had to say, I just incorporated my own magic style into it.
Becoming known as the Great Magician of the Sun and Moon, I gained the power of the moon from her. The magic stems from an extreme cold energy, cold enough to freeze even the user.
That's what Heavenly Ice does. For a typical wizard to use it, they would freeze themselves, thus a special physique, like the Yin Body, Ice Spirit Body, or Yin Yang Body, was needed.
Regrettably, until the Duke of the Moon died, such a person could not be found. But my master took me to her, just in case, and I completely made the Heavenly Ice's magic formula my own.
"Haah─."
A chilly energy was rising from my body, and cold air surged from my open mouth. The temperature around me started to drop, all this from a single rotation.
'Such a dangerously powerful force.'
If a clumsy user were to wield it, they would be exposed to this sinister energy and perish. It boasts such exceptional power, yet it's a weapon that could even kill its wielder.
"What, what's this… suddenly so cold?"
"… We might need to revise the evaluation a bit~?"
Magic formula, the Glacial Heavenly Moon.
This is, in fact, a power that shouldn't be usable now, but I am a once-in-a-lifetime genius, and it's only possible because of my three lifetimes of experience. In other words, if it weren't for me, this power would surely lead to death.
[Unique trait, Eternity embeds itself in you.]
Something momentarily overlaid upon me. I felt as if the magic of Eternity had taken root within me. The extreme cold energy was rapidly cooling down.
My Unique Trait, Eternity.
It gave me the attribute of eternal magic power.
My emotions are calmly settling down, and mana in my body began to flow as if it would last forever.
'…Is this the influence of magic power?'
Creak.
My heart froze. I felt it for a moment. Because it's a spell that completely freezes the body, it can only accept the pure Ice Spirit.
'It doesn't matter.'
Whoosh.
I ignited a flame within me. It was a red flame—a flame that embraces everything, as well as the reason I was called the Great Mage of the Sun and Moon.
Because I obtained the flame of the World Tree, the source of life and creation, I could wield the power of the Moon properly.
The power of Eternity melded into my magic power.
'Is this what it feels like.'
My Unique Trait, Eternity. I fully grasped how to use this ability.
"An ability to lower temperature? Is it an ice barrier? The compatibility might be a bit disadvantageous~."
Abel grinned and placed both hands on the ground.
Ssssssh!
Blood-red spiderwebs, called the Blood Realm, spread in all directions.
Screech!
Crack!
The threads spread in all directions, cutting through everything in their path and piercing through iron. It was a range-type ability, but that didn't mean the threads were weak.
Each thread is sharp.
Sharp enough to grind up any ordinary human.
Of course, the same applies to me, whose body is not yet fully formed.
This man specializes in killing the weak.
Given his strong blood energy, he must be of the vampire species—a very fitting ability.
"It might sting a bit, so be careful!"
As Abel spoke, he made a grand gesture with his hand.
Crack!
The threads known as the Blood Realm began to move following Abel's hand.
"I'll clear the way!"
"No need."
"What?"
I quietly observed what is called the Blood Realm.
What was blurry began to become clearer.
Perhaps my eyes were shining blue.
I saw the threads of the Blood Realm.
'As expected.'
These are not ordinary magic, spells, or curses. They twist the laws of the world to their advantage. If anything, it's a power, or would it be better to see it as a superpower?
It's a power I've never seen before—. No, I have seen things with a similar structure.
Those who wield divine power sometimes use such abilities. The power of gods, used by sacrificing their lives, or something of equivalent value. They called it a miracle.
'A miracle I can use at will.'
Though its output is considerably inferior compared to miracles, these things seem quite useful, and it's a power without equal in danger.
Because it's a world unknown to me, I laughed. I laughed out loud.
"What is so amusing to you?"
"Because it's fun!"
The purest qi, closest to the Great Sky, inside my body turned coldly.
It started from my Dantian and made a round trip through my heart.
'For starters.'
The Glacial Heavenly Moon.
Ice Pillar Spirit.
Two white foxes appeared from my outstretched hand.
'Go.'
Following my will, the two foxes began to move. Their white tails fluttered once before they started to dash around.
Tadadak!
It's essentially called a Blood Realm because it's a structure made by coagulating blood. So when the Ice Pillar Spirit passed, everything in his Blood Realm froze over.
"The Glacial Heavenly Moon…?"
"What, you knew about this?"
I was genuinely surprised.
This is my original magic formula, influenced by the Duke of the Moon. I didn't think it was completely lost, as I had passed on the knowledge to my successors.
Yoo Eunchae seems to be talking as if she knows about it.
'Does she have, like, a real wiki or something?'
Isn't her trait something like the Akashic Records, that kind of thing?
No, if that were the case, I wouldn't have decided to test the Glacial Heavenly Moon.
'I'm pretty sure she possesses an Ice Spirit anyway.'
Upon receiving such a doubtful look, Yoo Eunchae jumped up and said,
"No, how on earth do you know that magic?"
"Know it or not, I'm the one who created it."
"…What? What are you talking about? That was created by the Great Mage of the Sun and Moon…"
How did she know that again?
The Great Mage of the Sun and Moon.
That was my nickname in my second life.
Fire and Ice.
I was given that nickname because I handled two powers.
And then, when I started to wield lightning, I began to be known as the Duke of Destruction…
I watched the enemy in front of me, trying to hide my confusion.
Abel was watching us with a sly smile.
"Oh my, what a lovely couple you are."
"Stop distracting me with nonsense and go away."
I focused on the magic, leaving Yoo Eunchae alone. I had bound her with the Ice Pillar Spirit, but that power I thought to be divine wouldn't stay quiet.
"You're better than I thought."
"What is?"
"I didn't know you possessed magical skills powerful enough to freeze something in one go. To think a rascal from the Iron-Blood Sword Clan, not blessed with mana nor chosen by the system, could have such skill."
Abel praised me with astonishment.
My lips curled into a smirk.
The original owner of this life had died, and I had taken over his body, so, in their eyes, such an evaluation was only natural.
But I hated it—The audacity to infer about me based on the past owner.
'I was going to win just enough.'
But now the story changes.
I didn't want to use this but…
Snap.
I formed a seal, and as my eyes began to shine blue with magic, everything started to look even clearer.
'Quickly.'
I forcibly opened my Heavenly Eyes.
The structure of all mana began to clearly appear in my sight, and I analyzed the Blood Realm.
Looking at the power made of blood, my eyes, which penetrate the principles of the heavens, analyze everything about the Blood Realm.
They grasp the structure, strike down all things twisted by power, and construct magic formulas in between.
"Hmm? The atmosphere has changed? I'd like to watch what you'll do next, but I can't afford to take my time."
Abel began to move. Then, the Blood Realm moved. slowly closing in on us like a cage.
"This, isn't this extremely dangerous?! Ah crap! I was still saving this. Brilliant…"
"It's over."
"What?"
Glacial Heavenly Moon.
Krrng!
Blue light began to cover all directions. Abel forcefully retreated, but it didn't matter.
The magic was already complete.
Ice Border.
Crackl!
An ice net spread beneath the blood barrier. It wrapped around the blood barrier that was surrounded on all sides and froze it solid.
"This, is…"
"Impossible!"
The ice spiderwebs drooping in all directions began to break the blood barriers.
Abel's eyes widened.
"Imitation of a Unique Trait? Such abilities exist?"
"How did you mimic my Blood Realm? There shouldn't be such a Unique Trait…!"
"It's exactly the same."
"…Pardon?"
I smiled broadly.
"The reaction of those who've been hit is always exactly the same."
I was given the moniker Great Mage of the Sun and Moon, and while my nickname Duke of Destruction is the most famous, my original nickname was something else.
'Rather than that.'
I should take down this annoying guy.
Crack!
The Ice Realm began to bind the Blood Realm. Then, Abel, with widened eyes, drew his sword, a long triple-bladed sword. The color, imbued with the hue of blood, shone eerily.
"Looks good, doesn't it?"
"It belongs to the category of legendary swords! It possesses the power of vampirism and amplifies strength related to blood!"
"Okay."
Stepping forward, I executed the Glacial Heavenly Moon, starting from my Yin qi's mana, making a full circle around my body.
"…Originally, I planned to subdue you lightly and then listen to your story, but that has changed. You, and that woman, must be captured alive."
"Still haven't come to your senses?"
"What?"
I advanced forward. Flustered, he extended his sword.
Click.
I reached out with both hands and twisted to grasp the center of the sword.
I stopped his blaze with my free hands.
As I stopped the sword with my palms, flustered, he infused his sword with energy.
"With just this much…!"
"It's over."
He tried to say something, but the fight was already over.
From the moment he allowed me a distance.
Long ago.
The force of the Glacial Heavenly Moon generated black and chilly energy, which circulated along the Great Sky Dancing Divine Mantra and condensed in my hands.
Netherfrost Palm.
"What…?!"
His eyes widened.
He swung his sword downwards as if to brush it aside. Abel tried to cut me down with all his strength, but well.
'If it had been that easy, he wouldn't have been caught.'
I slapped the blade away with my palm and burrowed straight into Abel's embrace.
And then, after a long moment.
Crack!!
I struck near his heart. Abel's body flew back significantly.
Since a part of his body was frozen by the Yin energy of the Netherfrost Palm, he won't be getting up anytime soon.
"Is he dead?"
"He's not dead."
"Why?"
"Do you think I'm some kind of murderer?"
I do distinguish whom to kill.
Those who should be killed and those who should not.
"But that sword looks good."
"A sword imbued with peculiar mana would indeed be great. Just don't think about carrying it around."
After all, that thing is cursed.
Though I could handle it somehow,
'I don't particularly want to be chased by those things.'
I glanced to one side. A secretive gaze has been following me for a while.
Is it the Vampire Princess? A being with considerable power was watching us.
'Is it a bit too much for now?'
I recalled my Unique Trait, Eternity.
Mana is imbued with the attribute of Eternity. Thanks to that, I could recover mana appropriately, so the consumption of mana was less than expected.
'But that doesn't mean there's a lot of it.'
I can kill. But I can't guarantee what happens afterward. Seeing that they're not particularly targeting us, it seems there's no need to fight.
'I've set up some measures on their side too.'
Plus, I broke his nose so he won't dare to pick a fight again in the future. This made sure that he understood his place and won't act up again.
'If he still does after all this.'
Then, it's time to really mess him up.
We stepped outside.
"It's a pity."
"What is?"
"The chance to kill Abel."
"Really?"
Unfortunately, this opinion was not shared.
"I don't really care. There are more urgent matters to attend to first."
"Matters to attend to?"
Yes.
I raised my hand.
The energy of the universe wrapped around my hand at my will.
Crackle.
The magic formula of the Glacial Heavenly Moon resonated, and dark energy enveloped my hand.
"You."
This woman.
She's unusually this suspicious.