Chapter 197 — The Price of Breaking the Law is Brutal

1

The Law.

In every world, there are laws that govern existence.

What we commonly refer to as ‘the laws of physics’ are, after all, just a set of rules that apply universally.

In the world within this game, laws exist as well.

The laws that must be followed without exception in this world.

It’s akin to saying, ‘An apple will fall downwards.’

Unless you are in space, an apple on Earth will always fall down.

People call this [Law of Universal Gravitation].

The same is true in this world.

“W-what is this…?”

Kwaaaaaa-!

Andrea narrowed her eyes against the raging storm of mana.

A storm so fierce that even she, an Apostle, was trembling in fear.

Realizing what the origin of the mana was, her body began to shake.

What on earth was happening?

Why were the powers of the plants she had nurtured all being drawn toward that direction?

It was only natural that Andrea, who couldn’t see the system messages, was surprised.

She felt it instinctively.

“Why, why are my children! Why are my children over there!”

She screamed.

They had suffered and died so painfully, yet they gave no strength to her side.

Why had they betrayed their creator and sided with the living?

Because what she thought was supposed to be natural was denied, she fell into a state of panic.

Her body trembled with a sense of betrayal.

Why?

What did I do wrong?

All I did was struggle to protect this place, was that truly so wrong?!

[I cannot forgive this! This is impossible!]

“You’re paying the price, Andrea.”

[Kill them all! Tear them to shreds!]

A storm of mana that even she couldn’t control.

It pushed Andrea to the edge of a cliff.

Anxiety, desperation, those emotions were reflected in her gaze as it landed on Manus.

In the end, has it come to this?

Manus sneered as he looked at Andrea, who had received the appropriate retribution.

He saw what happens to those who do not abide by the laws.

Now, it seemed it was his turn to personally execute punishment.

His body overflowed with an almost mad level of power.

‘With this…’

It felt as if he could spam even 6th-Class spells.

As expected, a series of messages appeared before him.

[The following buffs will apply to this battle only.]

[All Attack Power +500%]

[Mana +1,000%, Health +300%]

[Mana and Health Recovery Rate +200%]

[All skills can be used without penalty.]

The buffs were so ridiculous, they almost made him laugh.

The system, the world itself, seemed to be communicating something to him.

Punish those who try to break the law.

Deliver judgment upon those who disrupt the balance of the world.

Manus did not resist the clear intent that was conveyed to him.

He didn’t need to pour out all of his strength.

He chanted a 5th-Class spell, firing it at the approaching demons.

[Ardor]

Kwoooooom-!

The speed of his incantation, the manifestation of his magic—everything had become unbelievably fast.

If there was any regret, it was that his knowledge remained the same, so there wasn’t anything new to gain.

Instead of a pillar of flame, an explosion occurred on the scale of a tactical missile.

All the demons within the blast radius were obliterated.

In addition, an immense amount of mana and power flowed into him.

The soul power that originally should have been Andrea’s.

Due to the reversal of causality, it now flowed into Manus.

“Hah… This feels electrifying.”

[You! I will not forgive you!]

Crackle-!

Andrea, her eyes rolled back, shot up from her throne.

Even beyond the curtain of flames, the sounds of a fierce slaughter could be heard.

The demons that continued to swarm in were desperately trying to kill Manus’s companions.

But it was all in vain.

There were just too many on their side.

These were the plants that they hadn’t been able to deal with even under normal circumstances.

And now, could they possibly handle this situation?

Kwoooosh-!

A massive root lunged toward him.

[Counter: Exigo]

But the barrier of mana protected Manus.

Manus drew out a spell he had used before.

The spell that summoned the Holy Lance.

He had thrown it back then, but what about now?

If it was simply wielding it, that should be easy enough.

If he applied Matu, handling the lance would be simple.

His instincts whispered to him.

Wield the sacred lance and punish the apostle.

[Triple Spread]

[Divinus Hasta]

Crackling!

The space twisted, and a blinding white-hot spear appeared.

The energy condensed in it could very well shatter space itself.

When Manus grasped the spear, he felt an overwhelming power, as if he had transformed into an angel.

This was a weapon capable of eradicating an Apostle.

Mana pulsed through it, its power immense.

In terms of class, what level would it be?

6th-Class?

No, it must be beyond that.

Perhaps it had barely surpassed even the limits of the 6th-Class.

He aimed at Andrea, who was charging at him, her tendrils whipping through the air.

For a plant, the flaming spear was nothing short of a calamity.

“Hooo…”

He recalled something Professor Jennifer had once said.

It was a passing comment, but one he couldn’t ignore.

[If you have the time, learn some weapon skills.]

[Weapon skills? Are you talking about warrior classes?]

[Yes. Matu and elemental magic. When you’ve lost everything else, there’s nothing like a blade to rely on.]

He hadn’t fully learned spear techniques yet.

But he knew the basics of wielding a lance.

He remembered watching the training process from afar.

With his senses heightened to the extreme now, it seemed possible to respond to Andrea’s movements.

The massive tendrils she wielded were akin to siege weapons.

Manus did not back away but thrust his lance forward.

The battering ram-like tendril collided with the tip of his lance, igniting in a white flame.

[What?!]

“So this is all it amounts to.”

The Law.

The world was created for the players.

The world demands steady growth, and prepares trials accordingly.

Andrea was one such trial.

A mere entity in Chapter 2.

Not one capable of breaking the world’s system.

He could see Andrea’s face turning pale.

Her expression, clearly visible even behind the mask, was stricken with shock.

Without hesitation, Manus charged forward and thrust the lance into her core.

[Kyaaaaah-!]

A mournful, agonized scream echoed.

Her mask cracked apart.

However, Manus pulled the lance out and quickly retreated.

Naturally, bosses don’t die in one shot.

Andrea was no exception.

With a single strike, the first phase was over.

The extent to which his attack power had risen was incomprehensible.

[This cannot be the end. I won’t let it end like thisss-!]

Crack, crraaack!

Her body began to change.

From the appearance of a beautiful woman, she transformed into a form covered in plants, grotesque and twisted.

This was the true form of an Apostle.

No matter how well they dressed themselves, their essence remained the same—devotees to the God of Death.

[Kiaaaaah-!]

“Whoa, what the hell is that!”

“Senior, are you alright?!”

“No problem here.”

The flames receded, revealing a scorched clearing.

Everyone was pouring out streams of mana, checking if anyone was injured.

Some of them still looked stunned, probably struggling to adjust to the surge of power they now had.

Manus gazed at Andrea, now towering over the entire garden.

A larger size meant more targets to hit.

Manus pointed his lance at Andrea and spoke.

“Everyone, unleash your strongest attacks.”

“Yes!”

“Phoenix, I’m counting on you.”

[Piiyaaak-!]

A pair of small fiery wings spread wide.

Simultaneously, buffs were cast over the entire party.

The buff applied with overwhelming mana had a massive impact.

[Phoenix Exclusive Skill: Flame’s Breath]

Flame’s Breath.

A technique that hastens all attack speeds by one turn.

A buff that allowed them to unleash charged techniques one turn earlier.

As a result, terrifying spells were fired all at once.

[Adoleo]

[Anais Exclusive Skill: Distortion]

[Tfanta: Hiemio]

[Alano Exclusive Skill: Ice Boost]

…

Enormous spells shot across the garden, heading straight for Andrea.

Kwoom, kwooom-!

Andrea’s fragments scattered amidst explosions of brilliant colors.

In agony, she blindly launched counterattacks.

Those attacks were all handled by the vanguard.

Guillermo’s shield blocked the fragments, while Melanie’s flames incinerated the plants.

Manus held his giant lance without throwing it, simply watching.

The desperation phase had yet to begin, after all.

“Prepare yourselves.”

“Re-prepared, sir!”

“She’s going to self-destruct soon. When she does, unleash everything you’ve got.”

Self-destruct?

How did he know that pattern?

The others didn’t question him and instead began preparing their spells.

Magic circles of different types formed instantly.

Nia’s eyes glimmered around that time.

“Manus is right. She’s gathering mana inward.”

“Which means…”

“We have to kill her before she finishes gathering it.”

Rumble-.

The ground shook.

Andrea hunched over, her voice resonating with a bizarre tone.

[Kiiiii-!]

The thick mana clung to her rapid breaths.

Danger.

Her screams sounded almost like incantations.

Manus glanced at the holy spear he held.

One strike.

It must end with one blow.

To do so, he needed to amplify the spear’s explosive power.

‘Right now, it might be possible.’

Crackle-!

He extended his hand, drawing in overflowing mana.

Applying additional magic to a spell already activated.

Some would call it madness.

It was breaking down an already formed spell and reconstructing it with a new one.

Cadenza—only the blessed lineage of Cael could use that kind of magic.

Caesar.

That incredible talent stirred.

‘Understand the essence of the spear.’

The spear, which had burned white-hot, now elongated, warping the very air around it.

Manus saw it.

The empty space amidst the magical formations.

There was a gap between lines where a new one could be added.

If not for Apostle-level mana and unlimited replenishing power, his eyes would have exploded, killing him instantly.

The [Reversal of Causality] granted by the world made the impossible possible.

5th-Class.

He inserted the ancient magic he had learned recently.

‘Reassemble the magic circle into a new one.’

Craaaackle-!

[Explosio]

Ancient magic that triggers a massive explosion.

It pierced any weakness, and it delivered pure, unmitigated damage.

The Orion constellation’s magic circle scattered into fragments.

‘Unlike Cadenza, I’m modifying something already completed.’

He recalled Professor Kaiser’s thesis.

One of her passages read as follows:

[If we could compare the magic circle to building materials, and if we could use it just like building materials, magic would undergo a tremendous revolution.]

Of course, he knew it was impossible.

The prerequisite to what Manus was trying now was learning [Cadenza].

Cadenza had specific combinations that needed to be followed.

The compatibility between magics was a crucial factor.

But this was different.

Adding a completely new spell to an already completed one, altering it.

It wasn’t magic combination but rather an idea of imbuing.

It was different from multiple casting or the concept of enhancing magic.

‘And if I reassemble it into the shape of a spear—.’

The spinning white-hot spear now held a glimmer of blue.

Simultaneously, countless messages surfaced.

[A Great Achievement!]

[You have created a new spell.]

[Powerful forces will aid in righting twisted fates.]

[A new skill has been created.]

[Exclusive Skill: Formatio]

[Be careful. Your knowledge is dangerous enough to change the world.]

[A major interference has begun.]

[The worldline twists dramatically.]

It was Manus’s own original technique, a spell capable of shaking the very foundation of the world.

A skill named [Composition, Assembly].

A spell meticulously crafted by adding more and more, glowing in white light as it flew towards Andrea.

–TL Notes–
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