episode_0454

Magic evolves through understanding.

A magic circle that encapsulates all the elements necessary for casting spells.

The role of each line drawn within the circle and the reasons for their placement.

With each aspect understood, the amount of mana used in magic decreases while its power increases.

Meteor is no exception.

Discovered in an S-rank dungeon in England five years ago, this grand spell is currently deemed unusable alone due to the sheer amount of mana consumption required for its casting.

Not only because Meteor itself is a large-scale spell, but primarily due to a lack of proper comprehension.

The Meteor spellbook employs new words never seen before, hindering a full grasp and escalating the mana expenditure.

In fact, after experiments conducted by the British royal family, it was concluded that at least 33 high-level mages are needed to cast Meteor in its current state.

Even with incomplete understanding, this abnormal number is staggering.

In response, royal mages firmly stated that Meteor was inherently a spell beyond one person’s capabilities.

This assertion sparked various counterarguments.

Some claimed their research skills were lacking, leading to insufficient comprehension.

The infuriated royal family then made a bold move.

They shared copies of the Meteor spellbook with mages above a certain rank.

Thanks to this, Kim Dojin could easily peruse the Meteor spellbook at home.

And he knows.

The characters found beyond dungeons resemble the flow of mana visible to him, enabling Kim Dojin to read perplexing symbols like his native language.

Understanding the obscure words hindering a complete grasp of Meteor.

The biggest obstacle being none other than the type of magic.

There was once a heated debate over whether Meteor was the ultimate spell of Earth-type or Fire-type magic.

He discovered the answer that eluded them due to scarce information.

“…It wasn’t either side?”

Meteor was neither Earth-type nor Fire-type magic.

It was written in the spellbook.

Summoning meteors floating in the vast universe to fall—a ‘summoning spell.’

No one considered Meteor a summoning spell.

However, some individuals, albeit few, argued for it, yet their claims were largely dismissed.

Understandably, summoning typically involves calling entities to fight on one’s behalf.

But summoning is not such a narrow concept.

Wouldn’t it be summoning even if you called a chopstick from your house here right now?

So summoning a meteor could very well fall under the category of summoning spells.

Just like now.

“Meteor.”

It is certain that this spell is profoundly alien.

Drawing a magic circle using mana connects pathways.

The lofty earth’s surface and the vast expanse of space.

A pathway connecting the two.

A passing meteor traverses this pathway, appearing in the earth’s atmosphere and then falling.

Swiftly heading towards a predetermined target.

“Are you insane?!”

Angela, urgently pushing back the knights, scolded Kim Dojin suspended in mid-air.

“This isn’t just a matter of stepping back!”

She trusted his words and pulled back the front lines.

However, this was not a problem that could be solved so easily without intricate calculations; it could be intuitively understood.

From a dark height, imagine a meteor the size of a large van hurtling down. What would happen?

“If that thing falls, we’re all dead, you know?!”

Death.

Every single one here.

“We’re going to catch a tiger by the tail and burn down the whole house for one rat, huh?! Can’t you hear me?!”

“….”

My mouth felt dry.

In many ways, I want to ask and dig deeper.

Have you ever seen rats so big and numerous?

No, more importantly.

“…Why do you know Korean proverbs so well?”

Shouldn’t you be more like An Jung-seok than Angela at this level?

Kim Do-jin, who smelled a strong Korean scent from the foreigner, laughed bitterly and answered towards her, who was shouting loudly in this direction.

“If you say you won’t die no matter what the situation is?”

“Hey, that’s…!”

“Just keep your word.”

“Is that really… Argh!”

Clang!

Angela, wearing armor on her chest out of frustration.

But she wasn’t wrong.

‘How can he be so confident?’

He didn’t cast the spell with the intention of killing everyone.

He was sure of it.

Confident that he could protect all his comrades.

That’s why it was even harder to understand.

‘Where did he get such confidence?’

If it was because of the words he said before the battle started, then he’s insane.

It would mean believing literally in words spoken to boost morale.

But if it’s not that…

‘He might be more dangerous than I thought.’

A madman with immense talent and deep determination.

“Sigh… Well, whatever.”

Though she snapped and shouted, it wasn’t bad.

The situation was deteriorating rapidly.

The Palroaches, a combination of Paladins and Cockroaches with an unfortunate nickname, were nearing their limits.

Someone would likely die or the mission would fail if things continued like this.

‘If that happens, clearing Gwangmyeong Bridge will become an impossible dream.’

With the disturbed beehive, they would become even more sensitive to threats.

So they had to finish it this time, no matter what.

With all my strength.

“Huff…!”

Her energy surged at a rapid pace.

Not ordinary magic, but a power bestowed upon her by the Goddess of Patience, tinged with a light brown hue.

Patience, in simple terms, means enduring and persevering.

The Goddess of Patience, “Patiantia,” granted her a power suitable for this.

A protective power that could shield herself and even her allies from any threat.

Without hesitation, she summoned forth her best shield.

“Sanctuary of Patience!”

A sanctuary proclamation that only disciples who received the strongest blessing from the goddess could use.

The Sanctuary of Patience protects allies from all kinds of threats pouring in around them.

Even if a meteor were to fall right in front of them, those present here would be safe.

As long as Angela, supported by her power, held firm.

She shouted, “Everyone must never leave this area!”

At the same time, she focused her gaze.

The meteor, now close by, began to descend onto the church building.

Panic-stricken Gwangmyeong Church followers were visible.

“What do we do?!”

“Everyone capable of casting shields, gather here!”

“Block it! Even if we all die, the church must…!”

They weren’t acting to save their lives.

Rather, they were sacrificing themselves just to protect the church building.

This was due to the doctrine instilled by the Gwangmyeong Church leader.

Above all, prioritize the leader himself and the Gwangmyeong Church.

They were mere puppets moving faithfully according to his will.

The leader, watching over them proudly, frowned as he looked up at the falling meteor from the sky.

“Tsk… resorting to such vile measures.”

If things continued like this, a considerable number of followers would perish.

To him, they were merely pawns that could be easily replaced if desired.

But it would be a waste to discard them like this.

“Step back, brothers.”

He pushed forward, brushing past the believers who surrounded him, descending from the platform.

Sometimes people make a mistake.

Brainwasher.

His brainwashing abilities were truly fearsome, but because of that, his own power was often underestimated.

So, he would send his followers ahead while he hung back.

Whenever such stories circulated, he couldn’t help but sneer.

‘Foolish fools.’

It was a narrow-minded thought born out of not having reached enlightenment.

With so many long-term pawns willing to sacrifice themselves for him, why bother stepping forward himself?

Claiming to be lurking in the shadows?

‘Ridiculous.’

They couldn’t even see through their own loud proclamations to notice his true self.

If they all faced something unbearable or overwhelming, how could he not step up?

Especially at a time like this.

“Well… I didn’t want to lose my strength.”

He chuckled wryly, awakening the immense power dormant within his physical body.

As expected of a Guardian.

He was an apostle chosen by a god.

The name of the deity who chose him was ‘Pigritia.’

The god of sloth.

Sloth reaching the emotions of seven deadly sins does not simply mean slow and lazy behavior.

It is denial and negation.

The power to cast off everything imposed on me as duty or obligation.

A force that strips away everything that confines my life.

“The boundary of negation.”

The power emanating from his entire body forms a wall between the falling meteor and the church building.

As he said, it was a boundary.

A barrier that prohibits any unnecessary intrusion seeking to harm or confine him.

Kugugugugu…!

The meteor, falling with a weight and acceleration that contained a massive force, collided with the boundary, making the force vanish as if it had never existed.

Kwoong!

Stripped of all its power, the meteor plummeted pathetically into an ordinary rock beside the building.

Watching this unfold, Kim Dojin was seized by a strange emotion.

As if a meticulously prepared gift for a loved one had been callously rejected.

‘What is this feeling of heartbreak before even confessing?’

It felt like a rejection before even making a declaration.