Ch.98Chapter 98: Experiment.

In response to Valt’s provocation, Riman gives an awkward smile.

“Haha… You want me to take that…?”

Though he had reached Master level, Valt standing before Riman exuded an incredible aura that matched his massive build and arms.

If it were just magical power, that would be one thing, but Riman’s instincts told him something was off.

He had merely taught Valt partial aura manipulation techniques, but when aura and magic combined in Valt’s arms, Riman felt an ominous strength he had never experienced before.

‘This could damage my reputation as a Master… But surely he can’t kill me?’

Riman shouts to Valt with newfound determination.

“A-Alright! Come at me! I’d like to see just how powerful that is!”

Seeing Riman’s slight nervousness, Valt smirks and says:

“If you’re worried, I can hold back a bit.”

Perhaps his pride was hurt by a mere 5th Circle magician offering to hold back?

Veins bulged on Riman’s forehead as he shouted at Valt.

“Hold back? Nonsense! Give it your all. Despite appearances, I’m confident in my counterattack. Come on, let’s see what you’ve got!”

This was the greatest crisis facing Riman since becoming a Master not long ago.

Valt and Riman distanced themselves from each other, took their stances, and stared at one another.

‘Hmm… Indeed. Using aura and magic simultaneously increases power while reducing fatigue. It would be incredible if used to the limit.’

In truth, Valt’s aura control was still at a beginner’s level.

Although he was receiving assistance from the System, he hadn’t been learning from Riman for long, and he wasn’t yet familiar with aura control, so he couldn’t exert its maximum power.

The System was convenient, but it didn’t allow perfect technique usage from the start.

Stronger and faster techniques would require Valt’s diligent effort.

‘Still, this should be adequate for testing.’

Valt gauged the power contained in his arms.

Even by conservative estimates, it was powerful enough to unsettle a Master of the 8th Floor.

Being a Master doesn’t mean attacks at the 6th or 7th rank are completely useless against them.

They too are humans made of flesh, so when attacked, their aura gets neutralized and they eventually take damage.

By that logic, Valt’s attack would inevitably affect Riman.

Moreover, this was a fusion technique of aura and magic never seen before.

How it would function was the key question.

“Here I come. I don’t know what will happen either, so be careful.”

Riman’s clothes fluttered as he gathered all his aura before his disciple, trying to maintain a composed expression.

“Come on. I’ll show you that such a thing is useless against me.”

Anyone could see he was desperate, but Valt chose not to mention it.

The first attempt was a simple power release.

Valt gathered the combined aura and magic, then extended his fist to shoot it at Riman.

“Huaaah!”

*TUHWAK!*

A golden beam of light erupted from Valt’s fist and rushed toward Riman.

Valt thought the sight resembled the aura the Emperor had released during the entrance exam, though it seemed different in nature despite the similar color.

*KYUUUNG-*

Riman carefully observed the beam of light that kicked up dust as it flew.

He didn’t want to become a laughingstock if he got injured.

‘Gah! This is no joke!? What the-!’

But there was no time to complain. Riman deployed a technique he had developed after his enlightenment upon becoming a Master—a technique to deflect power.

“Skwat-ryu! Dorang-naegi!”

A diagonal path of aura formed in front of Riman. This technique was designed to deflect powerful attacks sideways rather than meeting them head-on.

Theoretically, this new signature technique of Riman’s could deflect not just sword attacks but even the flow of magic.

*CHWAAANG-*

*TUHWAK!*

As Valt’s beam collided with Riman’s technique, it was deflected sideways as intended, allowing Riman to successfully counter Valt’s technique without embarrassment.

*KWAAAANG!!*

The ground where Valt’s deflected technique directly hit formed a massive crater, despite the training ground being set to maximum durability.

*THUD-THUD-*

The training ground, which rarely suffered complete destruction, was devastated by Valt’s attack combining aura and magic.

It was an established fact that causing such destruction required magic of at least the 8th Circle or aura of the 8th Floor or higher.

This meant Valt’s attack had reached the 8th Floor level.

Riman’s expression twitched amusingly at the incredible sight.

“Hey… you… are you insane…? What is this now?”

But Valt had no answers either. The System had simply combined his aura and magic.

“Well, how would I know what I can do just from learning aura?”

“That’s not what I… No, you have a point. This might be why Gerungtu were originally prevented from using both aura and magic…”

“Who said that?”

“The gods, I suppose, the gods!! Do you think this makes sense? It’s fortunate it’s just you—imagine if a hundred thousand Barbarians could fire something like that!”

At Riman’s words, Valt couldn’t help but smile contentedly.

Seeing this, Riman’s expression turned incredulous.

“And now you’re imagining it. Wake up—learning aura is one thing, but you should understand there are no Gerungtu who can combine it with magic like you just did.”

“Even if they have magic?”

Riman had heard rumors about Vampire clans migrating to Gerungtu territory and using blood magic.

But Valt was a different story.

“You were born with exceptional magical talent, right?”

In truth, Valt was only slightly above average by human standards, but he simply answered affirmatively.

Otherwise, he would have to explain about the System.

“Yes.”

“Have you ever seen another Gerungtu with talent for magic?”

“No.”

Only then did Riman’s expression show some relief.

“Right, there must be innate differences in ability. People have researched combining aura and magic for so long without success—doesn’t that tell you something? You’re a complete exception, an anomaly.”

Even Valt had to agree.

Without the System as his exception, he couldn’t have done this either.

“Well, I acknowledge that. Probably no one else could do this like I can.”

“Still, to think that the century’s greatest discovery would come not from humans, dragons, or elves, but from a Gerungtu… This should probably remain secret for now.”

“You think so?”

Riman, who seemed to have exerted considerable effort in countering Valt’s technique, massaged his wrist as he continued.

“Yes, just don’t mention it directly and it should be fine. I noticed because I trained with you, but ordinary people wouldn’t understand what happened. Aura and magic share the same fundamental essence, so it’s difficult to detect.”

Valt bowed his head to Riman in gratitude.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, Professor, I can become even stronger. I was struggling to find direction for further growth.”

Although Valt had grown rapidly stronger in a short time, could he guarantee victory against someone at Master level or above?

The answer was no.

Despite being able to use elemental, blood, physical, and white magic—all four types—Valt was still just a 5th Floor magician.

To accurately assess Valt before learning aura from Riman: he was at the late 7th rank, with techniques that could reach early 8th Floor power in specific situations.

While that was certainly impressive, and Valt had been overcoming situations by applying his powers appropriately, his true concern had always been 8th Floor aura users.

Since 8th Floor aura users often had advantages over 8th Circle magicians in one-on-one situations, Valt had always worried about facing such opponents.

But now that worry had somewhat diminished.

Though more experimentation was needed, he couldn’t predict what synergistic effects might occur when adding aura to his four types of magic.

Just imagining the possibilities, if he covered his blood magic gauntlets with aura, he could create a defensive technique capable of easily blocking even a Master’s attacks.

Riman scratched his head at Valt’s gratitude.

“Well, I’m grateful too, so let’s call it even.”

Valt grinned and replied.

“Understood.”

But Riman’s expression remained unsettled.

“It’ll be fine, right? Yes, it should be fine. Learning a little of this won’t cause any major problems…”

Valt tried to reassure the anxious Riman.

“Don’t worry. With the continent in turmoil because of the Dark Society, isn’t it better for allies to become stronger? Even Khan said the peace treaty with the Central Continent should be maintained for at least 100 years.”

Riman seemed both reassured and disgruntled at Valt’s words.

“What I’m worried about is what happens after those 100 years…”

“…I’m afraid I can’t do anything about that.”

Though their conversation ended with a joking tone, unlike Valt, Riman truly worried about how the continent might change if just ten Barbarians with Valt’s abilities were to appear.

That night, troubled by such concerns, Riman had a strange dream where the Central Continent was conquered by Barbarians.