Chapter 216 — There’s a Reason It Appears Early in the Story

1

Papalis.

A boss with an absurdly large body, solid defense, and quite high health.

The method of dealing with it was simple.

Push through with overwhelming damage output.

And protect whoever becomes the target.

If these two points were maintained, it wasn’t a particularly difficult boss.

The problems were that its high health required many potions, and the mob enemies.

Having to watch the castle walls’ durability.

[Strike of Judgment]

[Huuum-!]

Dark red mana gathered in the air.

Like a sniper marking a target with a laser pointer, a red dot appeared on Pearson’s body.

Connected to the dark red mana, it was an attack that would hit without fail unless avoided in a specific way.

Pearson’s face turned deathly pale.

Kael and Anais were busy burning away the advancing undead legion.

Papalis’s mana transforming into a massive spear shape.

It looked similar to the stakes once used for executions in ancient times.

“Here it comes!”

“Aaah, I can really survive this, right?!”

“Stay still.”

There’s a reason bosses appear early in the story.

Originally they would need to use magic to survive near death, but with an item that wasn’t necessary.

Manus took out the nail he had prepared from his chest.

[Holy Nail]

An item that isolates monsters from oneself.

Manus infused it with mana and threw the nail forcefully.

One toward himself, another toward Papalis.

A strange force took effect.

A force that moved according to the laws set in this world.

The dark red spear, Cepheus, couldn’t find its target in the isolated space.

‘Mana is basically connected to its owner. Using that glitch.’

Glitch.

The boundary between bug-like play and legitimate play.

A term usually used when applied advantageously for players.

This kind of play was also a type of glitch.

“Now, you just take my attacks for one minute.”

Crackle!

After its turn ended, Papalis was no different from an idiot.

This was why it appeared early despite having overwhelming size and tremendous destructive power.

Would the developers not have known this?

‘No, it must be intentional.’

The fun of conquering bosses through various strategies was one of this game’s charms.

Some cleared bosses using only 1st-Class magic.

Such videos were uploaded quite frequently.

Manus too had caught bosses in various ways.

He just hadn’t tried various methods since this was reality.

[Triple Spread]

[Divinus Hasta]

The sensation of grasping a massive holy spear in his hand was quite familiar.

He had used this magic when subjugating Andrea too.

And now he inserted an exclusive skill into it.

‘There’s plenty of time anyway.’

If you don’t practice when you have leisure, you won’t be able to use it when needed later.

Crackle!

The magic circle composing the spear split finely.

The goal was one minute.

The objective was to give a nice present to the stupefied Papalis.

[Exclusive Skill: Formatio]

[Grant: Fulgetra]

[Result: Speed increase, Destructive power increase]

A spear of lightning crying out to the air.

It seemed 3rd-Class magic bestowal was the limit with current capabilities.

Manus added [Altus] magic to that as well.

Crackle!

As if about to leap out any moment, the magic began thrashing wildly in his hand.

Manus calmly aimed and fired.

The blue spear struck Papalis’s shell directly.

It brought tremendous light and aftershocks.

Destructive power comparable to 6th-Class.

‘But it takes too long.’

[Kuhuuum-!]

Perhaps from the impact, Papalis bent its legs.

Well, time to return to reality now.

The nail’s duration had ended.

Back in reality.

Everyone looked at Manus with surprised eyes.

Not only had he suddenly thrown a nail and disappeared, but the terrifying attack had vanished without a trace too.

“H-how did that happen?”

“If it’s an attack targeting something specific, you just need to remove that target.”

“Th-that kind of method…”

“Keep attacking diligently. Now… guests will arrive soon.”

The children’s faces hardened.

They had a good idea who was coming.

Kael clenched her fist as she spoke that name.

“…Eresis.”

“Now we need to split into two groups. Before that, we need to pour out firepower.”

“Understood!”

The children each brought out their best magic.

The spent mana would recover somewhat with potions anyway.

So now was the time to attack Papalis while its movements were temporarily stopped.

“Phew… I’ll try too.”

Kael’s eyes glowed red.

Mana began moving according to her will.

Even Nia, who was using dragon’s authority, had her mana control taken by Kael.

The massive mana began completing into three magic circles.

While everyone’s eyes were widening, Kael’s hands moved elegantly.

It was the miracle Manus had performed first.

“No way.”

“Kael, when did you…”

Kael hadn’t just been playing around.

This was what she had focused on for the past month.

Feeling the clear limitations of Double Spread alone, she felt the need to grow more.

Manus had demonstrated magic comparable to 5th-Class, perhaps even 6th-Class, by combining 4th-Class magic.

The source of that combination was ultimately the number of magic that could be combined.

Mastering Triple Casting, and moving on to Pentagon, Hexagon… up to Octagon.

‘With just 3rd-Class, I can produce power above 5th-Class.’

[Triple Spread]

[Fulgetra] — [Caligo] — [Nitor]

[Pugnantia]

Light and darkness mixed to create chaos magic.

This was magic that couldn’t pierce any weakness.

But it was a spear that could pierce anything.

An attribute similar to non-elemental magic, but able to ignore enemy defense to some degree.

[Chaos], a hidden attribute only the protagonist could use.

This attribute was both a revelation of Kael’s identity and one of the foreshadowing elements for future events.

“Go-!”

Though just 3rd-Class, being able to ignore defense.

That alone made Papalis tremble in agony with cries.

When Nia’s golden lightning struck Papalis’s shell right after, Papalis let out a massive groan.

[Kuoooooong-!]

“Ugh!”

“What, so noisy!”

“Look there. The shell…”

“Phase 2 begins.”

From Phase 2, attack frequency increases.

The number of summoned undead increases too.

Manus turned to look at the opposite side from where Papalis was.

What thoughts would someone watching from there have about this situation?

His curiosity was brief as a loud noise came from inside the Academy.

Rumble-!

The sound of something collapsing.

And…

“Hahahahahahaha――――!!”

Laughter stained with madness.

As soon as they heard that sound, the children’s faces hardened.

That laughter couldn’t be forgotten from their minds even after hearing it again after so long.

“Time’s up.”

The real boss fight was starting now.

2

The dormitory.

Invidea was speechless seeing the massive life form.

Magic of various colors flying and undead.

Her brother suddenly disappearing as if isolated, and the massive monster.

Everything stopped.

Entering the back side of the world for the first time, she felt tension after a long time.

Though her composure wasn’t shaken, she looked around unable to hide her surprise.

‘Can’t even sense the Umbra. A completely isolated world?’

She felt she understood why since ancestral times they were told not to be outside when two full moons rose.

According to Manus, there were casualties too…

That was probably happening somewhere in this world, not just at the Academy.

It was truly a frightening phenomenon.

Especially if one fell into this world without any combat power…

She shook off her thoughts and looked down at the vast campus.

“Little rat… so you came in after all.”

Eresis, was it?

Said to have connections with the Order too.

A man predicted to be one of the executives was loitering in front of the castle walls.

[Be sure to intervene after destroying the castle walls.]

[The massive walls will become a fence to trap him.]

A man wearing a deep hood.

Though his face wasn’t clearly visible, he seemed to control powerful familiars.

Certainly worthy of Manus’s warning to be cautious.

However, Invidea didn’t feel particularly afraid.

Should she go down to observe the situation?

She could see Manus’s juniors running up from the opposite castle wall.

Intervention would come a bit later.

She was a joker card, so such cards should be hidden until the end.

‘Let’s see. The juniors’ abilities.’

The members were Kael, Anais, Pearson, and Guillermo.

The remaining members were holding back the massive monster at the walls.

Demonium, was it?

‘Just what is their true identity? Manus… how much did you know?’

Invidea watched Manus drawing magic circles with blue eyes.

Demonium preparing to ram the castle walls.

She was curious how they would prepare and counter.

Additionally, she thought ‘They must be gaining tremendous practical experience.’

No wonder they could grow strong so quickly.

Invidea continued watching the situation.

“If father knew… he would be very pleased.”

A new training ground.

The great mage Caesar would think of it just to that extent.

3

Rumbling collapsed castle walls.

The Wanderer slowly walked while looking at the walls that had crumbled so easily.

Ah, finally…

Finally stepping foot in the sacred ground.

He knelt and touched the soft grass with both hands.

If it’s sacred ground, proper respect must be shown.

The Wanderer kissed the green grass in reverence.

“Finally I have arrived. Oh God of Death.”

Hahahahaha-!

The Wanderer laughed.

Because uncontrollable joy and trembling coursed through his body.

He was one who handled death.

And this place was a city and sanctuary of the dead.

It was like an ideal for necromancers, not just Eresis.

“However…”

He turned around.

A presence much stronger than before.

Those who illegally occupied the sacred ground approached him.

He smiled with his face revealed outside his hood.

“Heretics, you’ve come to interfere today too. His minion has descended. Yet you still plan to illegally occupy this place?”

“This is our Academy.”

“Huhuhu… Academy, how plausible that sounds. But… this is sacred ground. No matter how much you deny it.”

“A madman. There’s an old saying.”

Guillermo stepped forward.

The appearance of a true guardian standing proudly at the vanguard with mana wrapped around his shield.

One who would endure even if a mountain collapsed.

“A beating is medicine for madmen, and you fit that exactly.”

“Hahahaha! Those without faith surely cannot understand this world. Then…”

Boom-!

A massive body appearing behind him.

It was a creature favored by necromancers, and like hell for the living.

“Soul Eater?”

The appearance of one who devours souls.

–TL Notes–
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