The vacant gaze of Zed's eyes ignited with a fiery red glow.
Within those blazing eyes lay an unfathomable depth, infused with the essence of a being beyond comprehension.
However, the mages of the Billy family were too limited to sense such profundity.
"What trickery is this? How did you break our linked magic?!"
The panicked mages shouted in desperation, but they were mere insects in the eyes of an absolute being.
A resonant voice echoed in Zed's mind.
He appreciated his body, which seemed to blend the might of both mage and knight. While the weakness of low mana was a drawback, it was inconsequential to an absolute being.
Whoosh!
Swoosh!
Suddenly, fireballs flew from somewhere, followed by torrents of water, gusts of wind, and clouds of dust.
Though the mages had meticulously cast their spells, they vanished without a trace before even reaching Zed's body.
Magic nullification.
This was a level of power only achievable when a vast gap existed between opponents.
The mages began to feel something was amiss at that moment.
"Magic… it doesn't work at all?!"
"This can't be! That guy just opened his mana!"
"Could it be that he dispelled the dragon summon…?"
Despite their disbelief, they repeatedly unleashed spells, only to receive the same result.
Not only did their magic fail to reach him, but it also disintegrated into dust several meters away.
This was undoubtedly magic nullification.
"This is insane! This shouldn't be possible! How can this happen?!"
Regardless of other factors, nullifying the dragon meant he had to be at least ninth circle level.
No matter how fast someone grows, achieving ninth circle status at that age is absolutely impossible.
The mages shook their heads repeatedly in disbelief at the situation unfolding before them.
'Is that Arahan's power? No, it can't be. It shouldn't be…!'
Public information about Arahan was scarce.
If this were indeed a manifestation of bloodline power, then the Billy family's ambitions were nothing but futile delusions.
At this moment, even if all the mages attacked together, they couldn't defeat this one boy.
"We're being deceived! There must be some trick behind this!"
"Right! That's the only explanation!"
"We'll try again! Raise our mana to its peak!"
The insects began their desperate struggle.
They pooled every ounce of mana from their bodies and began chanting a large-scale linked spell.
Whoooosh—!
In an instant, small droplets gathered above Zed's head.
The droplets grew larger until they transformed into a massive pool covering dozens of meters.
When Zed glanced at it nonchalantly, the mages gasped once more in astonishment.
"What… what is happening?! Why was the magic canceled?!"
"Damn it! This is 'Mana Interference'! That guy isn't our opponent! He's not using any tricks!"
With just a glance, the water pool vanished without a trace as if its spell had been canceled.
'Mana interference' could only occur at a level far beyond mere magic nullification.
"I can't believe it! Someone must have lost focus and canceled it! Just once more! Just one more time!"
"Wait?! The mana isn't responding!"
"I-I can't control mine either! What's happening…?!"
Controlling mana is fundamental for any mage.
The only explanation for this absurd phenomenon was 'mana interference.'
Even those mages who had been skeptical had no choice but to accept this forced realization.
'Mana interference' means intentionally controlling the circuits flowing through one's body.
It allows one to twist or sever circuits or even eliminate them entirely.
And for this to be possible, there must be an overwhelming disparity in power between individuals.
In other words, the lives of these mages were entirely within Zed's grasp.
If he wished, they could suffer agonizing deaths from mana backflow or lose their ability to feel mana altogether.
'So this is what it means to be Arahan… He's on an entirely different level than us…'
'Billy aimed to challenge such a family? How foolish…'
They suddenly felt ashamed of their own leader.
If the youngest was this formidable, how strong must his older siblings and Genedine be?
To catch up with Arahan would take them a millennium at least.
"P-Please forgive us…!"
One mage suddenly dropped to his knees.
That served as a signal for all Billy family mages to kneel before Zed and plead for mercy.
What terrified them more than death itself was living as ordinary people with their circuits blocked.
Without hesitation, they pressed their foreheads against the ground and begged earnestly.
"Just forgive us this once! We will never defy Arahan again…!"
"Our sins are unforgivable even if we die a thousand times over, but if you show us mercy just once, we will repay you for life…"
"Please spare our mana circuits…"
Despite their wailing pleas, Zed's expression remained cold and unyielding.
His vacant yet fiery gaze bore down upon them.
Then came a voice echoing in his mind that carried an icy chill.
They had dared to defile the resting place of his ancestors.
And they had attempted to kill Arahan's offspring—a crime that could never be washed away by their pitiful lives.
"Gah…!"
"Aaaahhhh!"
In an instant, all fifty or so mages convulsed as if struck by powerful shocks simultaneously.
Writhing in agony, screams mixed with moans erupted from every direction around them.
"Aah…"
What followed intense pain was an overwhelming sense of emptiness.
The mages trembled as they touched their bodies with shaking hands; they felt no trace of mana anywhere—no memory even remained of what mana felt like.
"No…!"
For a mage to lose their mana felt akin to losing limbs or facial features; it was devastating beyond measure.
Overwhelmed by an unfathomable sense of loss, many lost their sanity entirely.
Some flailed about like madmen while others wandered aimlessly without purpose.
They tore at their clothes while mumbling incoherently; one even bashed his head against a rock in despair and ended his own life.
The fate of those who lost their mana and defied Arahan was nothing short of tragic.
"What on earth…?"
At that moment, Rook returned from capturing Grace and witnessed the absurd scene unfolding before him.
Leaving Grace trapped in her watery prison behind him, Rook rubbed his eyes in disbelief at what he saw.
'What happened while I was gone?'
No one remained unscathed enough to ask questions; only Zed stood amidst the silent chaos around him.
Rook gathered mana into his palm.
'It must be some large-scale illusion spell affecting them? If I take care of him first…'
With no grasp on the situation whatsoever, Rook formed sharp ice spikes with the gathered mana and sent dozens flying toward Zed.
Swish!
"Wha?!"
In an instant, Rook's eyes widened like full moons as he realized what had happened next.
His gaze fell slowly upon ice spikes embedded in his own body—the very ones he had just launched at Zed!
Before he could ponder how this occurred, the spikes twisted violently and exploded outward in all directions.
"Gah…!"
They tore through him from within outwards; Rook's body became shredded like rags as he collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.
Zed paid no attention to him as he raised his gaze toward the night sky instead.
Thus spoke the absolute being before fading away from this world entirely.
Moments later, Zed slumped down and closed his eyes.
It was an experience unlike any other—a sensation akin to out-of-body experiences perhaps?
I felt detached from myself; my mind remained clear while my body moved against my will.
Simultaneously though—a silent yet immense force coursed through me—a power so intense I feared my body might burn away…
[Excessive physical strain will worsen penalties.] [Connection with 'Unknown Existence' has increased by one level.] [Magic stat has significantly increased.] [Strength: 100 (-30) -> (-40)] [Agility: 100 (-30) -> (-40)] [Stamina: 100 (-30) -> (-40)] [Senses: 100] [Magic: 5 -> 15] [New spells available.] [Electrification] [Lightning Strike]
'...?'
What is happening here…?
Other stats decreased by 10 while my magic increased by 10 points instead—was this what they meant by "the price for power"?
Being someone who fixates on stats naturally led me into calculations right away regarding whether losing 10 points in strength would offset gaining 10 points in magic…
'It's been ages since I last checked my entire stat window.'
I usually only focused on my magic stat anyway…
My strength originally stood at 100 but had been penalized due to physical growth stagnation—after recovering from malnutrition it rose back up again but hadn't changed since then despite eating well and exercising consistently—perhaps age played its part here too?
At fifteen years old—this should be prime growth time after all…
'So ultimately this means I've gained something.'
That became my conclusion after some deliberation.
While penalties related to strength would resolve themselves over time—the same couldn't necessarily be said about magic stats which relied on having no prior mana present within me making it difficult enough already!
If strength represented addition for mages then magic represented multiplication instead…
'To think such stats would rise so dramatically after enduring Temud's spirit visiting me once...'
Though tempted by thoughts about repeating this process again—I hesitated knowing other penalties might arise instead like "serious damage inflicted upon soul" reducing my magic stat thereafter!
Temud's power indeed proved formidable enough; I still lacked knowledge regarding how exactly one summons him again…
'Regardless—it feels reassuring having such reliable backing now.'
None other than Temud Arahan himself!
He promised always to remain alongside me within my tomb—a comforting thought knowing he'd aid me whenever my life hung by threads again someday…
That notion felt like wearing dozens of layers of bulletproof vests!
"Ugh…"
"Huh?! Lord Zed has awakened!"
As I opened my eyes familiar faces surrounded me in a circle around me—each one filled with concern etched across their features!
People say angles matter when viewing someone's face; looking up from below at Kinzerra's three brothers revealed expressions that were downright serious!
"Oh dear lord—what are you doing here? You look like orcs or something."
"My lord! Are you back with us?!"
"We were truly worried about you! How do you feel?"
"How are your injuries?!"
I shot upright quickly checking my neck and shoulders before standing fully up straight again—expecting perhaps some discomfort due to reduced strength—but instead felt surprisingly light and refreshed!
My mana seemed fully replenished too—truly confirming that for mages like myself—it seems magical energy holds greater importance than trivial stats like strength!
"My lord!"
"Stop making so much noise—it's annoying."
"Yes…. But how do you truly feel?"
"I'm perfectly fine—no injuries whatsoever so don't worry."
"Oh... That's such relief."
Beside Kinzerra stood several attendants along with Michael and guards too—all offering comforting words while holding onto my hands reassuringly as if seeking solace themselves amidst turmoil surrounding us!
Meanwhile Kinzerra wore an expression that seemed proud somehow despite everything else going on around us...
'Hey now—you're not much older than me either right?'
I nearly blurted out those words but held back just in time…
Behind Kinzerra appeared Riu whose eyes were swollen red indicating how much crying he'd done earlier today!
Riu slowly approached me again looking utterly distraught yet determined somehow…
Something about him felt ominous though…
"No... Don't come near me—this isn't necessary."
"Zed…"
"I know what you're trying to do—I understand completely so please stay there—just don't come any closer-"
"Waaahhh!"
In an instant Riu dashed forward wrapping himself around me tightly!
Unable to bring myself strike him back while he sobbed uncontrollably—I reluctantly patted his back instead awkwardly trying not show discomfort while doing so...
During which time my expression became increasingly stiffened as if I'd bitten into something sour...