The Second Strongest Has Returned

Chapter 84 : Revelation-7

Unique Magic

If we trace its roots, unique magic existed in ancient times, even before the concept of Circle Magic emerged.

It is magic that embodies the unique physical and temperamental traits of the magician, created by following their innate principles.

Not only was it used by the ancient magicians, but even the great magicians of the current era, driven by a thirst for knowledge, have produced crystallizations of magic.

This was unique magic.

As such, the doctrine of unique magic varied for each magician.

For the Master of the Black Tower, it was about usefulness.

-“The most useful magic for oneself, that’s what I consider unique magic. If you want to know more precisely, come to the graduate school. You’re always welcome.”

For the Master of the White Tower, it was about efficiency.

-“It has to be magic that you can use best in any situation. In that regard, Rios’ unique magic is disqualified. In areas without water, its efficiency drops to a fraction.”

For the Master of the Red Tower, it was about distinctiveness.

-“Ultimately, what matters is magic that is true to oneself! If it’s just a theory, others can easily mimic it!”

For the Master of the Blue Tower, it was about academic value.

-“Developing unique magic means you’ve understood the essence of magic. Simply succeeding in developing it will transform the meaning of magic.”

For Rios, it was about purpose.

-“To be honest, mine is a support magic I specially created because our expeditions often involved voyages or encountered severe weather. My unique magic might be too peculiar to be of much help, but when it comes to romantic advice, I’ve got it covered…”

After considering various pieces of advice, the core of unique magic was centered on ‘oneself’ rather than the magic.

Unique magic was a mysterious existence that had been around even before the concept of magic was established.

Therefore, it should not be confined to the concept of magic.

And furthermore…

One could shatter those limits by realizing that they were not merely a magician.

&&&

“…This is impossible…! How can…! A 4th Circle…!”

“Where did this crappy notion come from that if you can’t do it, others can’t either? Did it come from the same place as a public confession?”

Similarly, even Rios had created a unique water-based magic comparable to top-tier magic, though limited to areas with water sources.

As the mockery, delivered sharply and accurately, hit its mark, Platous’ face turned red and blue in anger.

‘Anyway… there must be a weakness, just like with Rios…!’

Thinking this, she scattered dust with her magic, confident that she would have the upper hand in magic.

“That will be your downfall.”

Ain, who had been calmly observing the battle, relayed the situation to the priests, the Holy Knights, and Ariasphil.

“It is proof that she is going through the same defeat process as a weaker version of the Master of the Blue Tower.”

As if to prove his point, she increased the distance and fired stone pillars in a mid-range form.

“It’s just a combination of swordsmanship and magic…!!”

•First Slash Technique, “Cut,” Horizontal Slash

A graceful slash of lightning-infused sword energy, followed by a flow of mana, formed a single seal.

“Lightning Excel.”

As the brief incantation was spoken, electricity surged around Leo’s body. It wasn’t just the manifestation of magic. With each swing of his sword, the electric current around his body intensified, accelerating his speed.

The electrifying enhancement emitted from the sword was strong enough to cause her pain.

‘…What…!? How is he faster than me…!’

Right now, Leo’s magic activation speed surpassed not only hers but even that of the Master of the Blue Tower. Considering the capabilities of the magic he had just manifested, it might have been quite natural.

“My father’s unique magic principle is simple.”

He added a property that allowed magic to be used with aura, creating a magic sword. While it was complex, any skilled magician could theoretically achieve this.

The issue lay in what followed.

“He transforms martial arts themselves into massive hand seals and magic circles to manifest magic.”

Leo’s unique magic was built around the hand seals, which were originally auxiliary movements for casting spells. He calculated all known magic formulas and generated magic circles through his body movements.

The final incantation he spoke out loud was like a trigger for the completed magic circle.

“As far as my knowledge goes, there is no existing magician other than my father who can realize this.”

It wasn’t about principles, understanding, mana quantity, or even talent. If the body couldn’t keep up, none of it mattered.

Throughout history, no other magician possessed martial arts of such a mystical level as Leonardo.

“In that case…!!”

She used the broken stone pillars as a catalyst to create a small barrier on the ground. Soon, the barrier turned into a physical wall of stone, encircling Leo.

“You’re trapped…!”

Bang!

It only lasted a second, though. Considering the Master of the Blue Tower took four seconds, it was fairly decent. Fairly, that is.

[Wind Burst]

A pillar of wind burst through the stone prison, and if the isolating barrier wasn’t something Leo had created himself, it would have been pierced and shattered immediately.

“My father’s core and circle are now linked.”

For a Magic Swordsman, the core and circle are separate domains.

They have similar structures, but the core is a mana-releasing organ, while the circle is a mana-controlling device.

Someone who can form a core can also form a circle, but this is only a theoretical condition. In practice, it’s impossible without a deep understanding of and control over magic.

Conversely, even magicians who possess circles cannot properly form a core without training their bodies and gaining experience in mana release.

Most Magic Swordsmen fail to distinguish between the two, ending up with a core and circle that are either imbalanced or, at worst, insufficient in both aspects.

“But my father precisely distinguished them, trained accordingly, and linked them in the most efficient way.”

Thanks to the Sage’s guidance, advice, and teachings, the core and circle operated within his body without interfering with each other, each fulfilling their roles in their own distinct ways.

Combining the battle experience from before his regression and the magic knowledge gained after, the result was that during the moment he manifested his unique magic, the circle and core synchronized.

“Through this, my father can simultaneously manifest delicate aura like magic, and powerful magic like aura.”

The meaning behind those words was simple and required no further explanation.

“…This… is unfair…”

Leo’s unique magic was not imperfect.

It was, in fact, quite the opposite.

•Second Slash Technique, “Slash,” Vertical Cut

“Hua Qing Strike.”

The harmony of martial arts and magic evoked a beautiful aria as it obliterated the enemy before him.

The explosion of flames combined with the sword strike sent her flying, slamming her into the barrier. Judging by the cracking sounds, it was clear that it wasn’t just a matter of scrapes or dislocations.

“…Stop…! Please, now…!”

There was no such thing as surrender.

•Tenth Throw Technique, “Throw,” Aimed Throw

Leo hurled a dagger without hesitation. It flew at lightning speed, quite literally, as it was enveloped in electric magic.

Thud!

The dagger grazed her cheek, slicing it slightly, before embedding itself in the ground. The electrical current from the thunder magic coursed along her cheek, sending sharp jolts of pain.

‘…But now that the dagger is gone…!’

“Over here, you idiot.”

Not only was the dagger imbued with lightning magic, but it was also enchanted with Blink, a short-distance teleportation spell.

“Ugh…!”

Leo grabbed her by the throat and collar, lifting her entirely off the ground. With just the strength of one hand, he squeezed her throat, leaving her suspended in midair.

“Do you want to surrender?”

“Keck…! Ha…ugh…! Kraa…!”

With her throat being squeezed, she couldn’t even manage to say the short word “surrender.” From the beginning, Leo had intended to close the distance and choke her precisely for this reason.

“Oh dear. You’re still not thinking straight.”

He then manipulated the ritual of the barrier magic circle with one hand. The color of the barrier darkened, cutting off visibility to the outside as if a blackout curtain had fallen.

“Leonardo…!!”

“Priestess Lumine!! What should we do…?!”

If Leo were to lose control and kill Platous in his rage, the situation would escalate beyond anyone’s imagination.

“Hurry, dismantle the barrier…!”

“For now, let’s just watch.”

Everyone turned to the person who made that dangerous suggestion, stunned. Eventually, they gasped and lowered their heads in shock.

“Your… Your Holiness…!!”

“I came out because I heard a commotion, and there truly is a commotion.”

“I’m sorry. We should stop this right away…”

“No, it’s fine.”

Saying so, the Holy Emperor emitted a glow of holy power. This allowed those outside the barrier to see what was happening inside. As a high-level holy technique, even Leo didn’t notice it.

[Gasp…!]

When he released his grip, Platous fell to the ground. In truth, rather than releasing her, it was more accurate to say Leo had thrown her down.

[You can’t see what’s happening outside. So don’t expect any help.]

In reality, everything was visible, but neither Leo nor Platous realized that yet.

[…You… you’re doing this…! You think you’ll get away with it…!]

Thud

A kick followed instantly, without a moment’s hesitation or fear of future consequences.

[What do I have to be afraid of? The Blue Tower? You think the Master of the Blue Tower lost because he had nothing better to do?]

The Blue Tower Master was utterly defeated by Leonardo. Despite not having any handicaps, the gap in practical experience led to his loss against Leo. Even the Tower Master had to admit to this defeat.

“[The Magic Tower… won’t just sit still…!]”

“[Of course, they won’t. There will be repercussions.]”

Crack.

Leonardo nonchalantly pressed down on her fingers with his foot.

“[For you.]”

“Aaaaah!!”

Using her screams as background noise, Leo calmly explained, confident about what would happen in the future.

“[Thanks to your foolish actions, I can already hear the sound of the Blue Tower’s reputation getting wrecked, and its ties with the temple falling apart.]”

Then, Leo gently lifted his leg. However, with the external pressure gone, the pain in her fractured hand intensified.

“[So, from now on, I’ll give you a chance. If you apologize properly, I’ll let you go. I’ll even ask them to treat your injuries.]”

That was the slightest bit of mercy Leo offered.

“[So, go ahead and apologize. Before I actually kill you.]”

“[…I-I was… wrong…]”

“[For what?]”

“[…Pardon?]”

Leo lightly grasped her compound-fractured hand with his own. Compared to the unpleasant antics she had pulled off while in the Magic Tower, this was far better.

“Aaaaargh!!”

“[What did you do wrong? Speak, and I might consider forgiving you.]”

“[…For being…! So rude… earlier…! I’m sorry…!!]”

Maybe it was due to the pain, but the apology came quickly. Yet Leo’s anger wasn’t focused on that particular point.

“[That’s it?]”

“[Aaaaah!? Why… are you… pressing harder…!]”

At her rude and ignorant question, Leo decided to kindly offer the real reason for his anger.

“[Did you even think about how Ain felt? Just because he’s a familiar?]”

“[…But…! That’s…!]”

Even though she was experiencing pain in real time, she was still a scholar who took pride in her status as a mage. To her, Ain was merely an “object of academic value.”

“[Yes, Ain is a humanoid familiar with intelligence. I’m aware that biologically, he isn’t human. I can’t deny that as a mage myself.]”

A being composed not of flesh and blood, but of mana and fluidic minerals.

To the world, Ain was evaluated as such; to Ain, this was how he saw himself.

“[But you know what? I can’t help but get caught up in this little family game of mine.]”

And that made him furious.

“[When you form a contract with a familiar, at the start, their thoughts seep into you.]”

Although the exchange of thoughts didn’t continue throughout the contract, during the initial stages, when stability hadn’t been reached, it wasn’t uncommon for the familiar’s or master’s thoughts to flow into one another.

“[Do you know what the first emotion he felt was?]”

As Ain learned the concept of emotions through his conversations with Leo, he engraved this feeling deep within himself.

“[It was guilt.]”

That was Ain’s first emotion, and it became his scar.

“[A sense of sin about his existence and emotions. That was the first feeling my daughter experienced.]”

And it was also the main pillar of the anger Leo felt now.