Every cloud had a silver lining.

‘Haha…’

Just as I thought that I had fallen into a pitch-black abyss with no ray of hope, I saw a way to break through my predicament.

“H-H-H-How… are you doing?”

“

Ha… hahahaha!

”

‘One mage.’

She was just one mage. The mage was clad in a white robe with a large staff in hand, and her large hat was covering her face, so I couldn't identify her immediately. However, it didn't take me long to realize her identity.

She was a symbolic being known as the best mage on the continent.

She was a transcendent mage, and she was truly deserving of her titles "Archmage" and "Goddess of Magic." The mages of the continent hadn't been able to measure her strength using this era's standards, and she was also famous for advancing the continent’s magic technology by centuries.

It’d be strange if there were an adventurer unaware of her name. Actually, it wasn’t just the adventurers. I was sure everyone on the continent knew her name—Jung Ha-Yan.

Was she alone? What about Kim Hyun-Sung? Was Jo Hye-Jin not with her?

I couldn't see the other members of the Blue Guild.

I couldn't see the Continental Protection Management Committee’s Inspection Team and the assassins of the Black Swan Guild—a guild known as one of Lindel’s three major guilds.

The troops of the Red Mercenary Guild weren't around as well, but I instantly reached an answer.

‘Did they not have enough time to prepare?’

A mage working on her own was unprecedented, especially in situations where a battle was going to take place. That was just the nature of mages. They needed help from the vanguards. No, they

had

to get help from the vanguards

Of course, I knew that Jung Ha-Yan was on a whole new level compared to any mage out there. There weren't any mages on the same level as her, but she definitely had many ways to fight in close combat as well; she was the Goddess of Magic, after all.

If she had already channeled a few spells before appearing before me, then it wasn't strange that she was alone. I assumed they had no choice but to have her make a move first because she could cast Teleport.

‘They have no information.’

They had no information about me. Actually, it was more like Father Lee Ki-Young and the Continental Protection Management Committee had no information about Benigoa’s relic.

‘I’ve changed.’

I wouldn’t stand a chance against her before I obtained Benigoa's relic, but things were different now.

‘Benigoa’s spear.’

It was an item capable of performing miracles—no, it was a miracle in itself.

This relic contained a power that I couldn’t really control.

‘There’s no way I'll lose to a mage with a weapon like this.’

“T-T-They said he’s a bad man,” Jung Ha-Yan stuttered.

“...”

“A-A-As long as I don’t kill him… right, Sora?” Jung Ha-Yan asked.

‘Where the hell is Sora?’

I couldn't see anyone else.

"

Ah…

Sora isn’t here…" Jung Ha-Yan said, correcting herself.

Ordinary mages could only channel one spell at once, while Legendary mages were capable of channeling two to three spells at once.

Jung Ha-Yan was an archmage, so it was highly likely that she could channel five to seven spells at once. I had to be prepared to deal with at least five spells. If she were to perform quick cast, then she could definitely cast two spells at once for a maximum of nine spells channeled at once. Ŕ

‘Actually…’

I believed she had to prioritize Teleport and protection-type spells, so I just had to be prepared to block seven spells.

I was about nine hundred meters from her, and it would take me about three seconds to reach her at my maximum speed. We were indoors, so I couldn’t use AoE attacks.

Just as the air was starting to become thick with hostility, I stepped forward and heard her casting a spell.

Fwoosh!

A giant fireball manifested in the hallway, and it flew toward me.

The pressure coming from the fireball alone was so immense that I inhaled sharply. The giant fireball that seemed to be made from the flames of Hell itself flew toward me as if it were going to reduce me to ashes in the blink of an eye.

I froze at the terrifying sight, but I tightened my grip around the spear and took a stance.

‘I wonder—’

But…

‘I can do it.’

Benigoa’s spear granted the wielder a powerful divine Shield.

‘First, I need to break through using this.’

The giant fireball was most likely a smokescreen that would prevent me from seeing the spell that Jung Ha-Yan would cast after the fireball. I stuck as close as possible to the floor, and the fireball merely grazed me.

It was painful, but I couldn't scream in pain right now.

‘The second spell.’

A stream of blue mana flew toward me. It looked like a whip, and it wriggled as if it had a mind of its own.

It'd be impossible with ordinary mana, but the holy power contained in Benigoa’s spear could definitely cut that down. I took another step forward and swung the spear.

A blinding light was unleashed, and it split the blue whip into two.

‘The third spell.’

“I can do it.”

‘The fourth spell.’

“

AAAAAH!

”

'The fifth spell.’

“Damn it…” I mumbled.

BOOM!

“Six!” I shouted.

I couldn’t see the spell. Its presence was so faint that I couldn’t feel it properly, but I was sure that it was headed toward me. I could feel myself sustaining more injuries as the seconds went by, but…

‘Just a little more.’

“Just a little moooore!” I yelled.

I swung the spear, drawing a huge circle around me. A radiant light instantly pervaded the surroundings. I could finally see the spell that I hadn't been able to see until now, and I could finally feel it as well.

It was like I had overcome my limits—no, I was in the middle of overcoming my limits. I was clearly overcoming my limits. A scenery I had never seen before appeared before me, and I reckoned that transcendent beings had been looking at this scenery.

Gray Warrior Rafael, the God of Spear Jo Hye-Jin, the Red Goddess of War Cha Hee-Ra, and the God of Sunset Kim Hyun-Sung were probably staring at the same scenery as me.

“

Haha… hahahaha!

”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I was dying, but I was recovering at a speed visible to the naked eye. I was overflowing with energy as well. A power capable of splitting even mountains burst out of my heart and spread throughout me.

I realized just then that I was indeed the protagonist of this world.

I was also worthy of climbing the ranks.

I just wasn’t ready until this opportunity was given to me.

At this moment, I qualified just like others with the same interest as me…

At this moment, I obtained power…

— He’s really making a fool of himself.

“Seven!” I shouted.

I grabbed the spear tightly with both hands and swung it at the oncoming spell.

“

AAAAAHH!

” I shouted unknowingly.

The archmage frowned.

‘One more step.’

Just as I expected, she had to have used up all of her spells, as I saw her channeling her spells once again.

The moment I stepped forward and thrust my spear toward her…

Clench! Clench! Clench!

I heard the chattering of someone's teeth, and a wave of pitch-black mana burst out of the archmage.

‘Did she have… one more spell left?’

Clench! Clench! Clench!

'No, that can’t… be.'

“That can’t… That can’t be…” I mumbled.

The pitch-black mana engulfed everything around me. When I looked up, I saw a clump of dark red mana transforming into what looked like a spider's leg. I looked around and realized that I was inside a really dark space.

And that was when I heard faint voices…

“

AAAAAH!

Help… H-Help me. Please…

heuk

… please… I’m sorry. I…!”

“...”

‘Where am I?’

'Did I get teleported? Maybe I've always been here from the very beginning?

'Did I get hit by a mental-type spell? What in the world…

'What in the world is this space that looks like it's made from mana itself?'

“

AAAAH!!

Please… please…”

I couldn't see the archmage, but I saw a familiar figure in the distance.

‘Raynan?’

He was Raynan of Extinction…

He wasn’t alone, and someone was dragging him away.

It was a woman wearing a nun outfit, and she looked indifferent as she dragged Raynan away.

Anyone could tell that Raynan was in a really bad condition. It seemed like his arms and legs had been severed and only his head was still attached to him. An unknown substance was flowing out of his abdomen, and he was yelling for help like a madman.

I had to save him.

I knew that was the right thing to do, but my body wouldn’t move, as I had never seen a sight as bizarre as this sight before me. It was embarrassing to say this as an adventurer summoned to this continent, but this sight would terrify just about everyone.

Clang…

The woman clad in a nun outfit hung Raynan on a hook. Her eyes showed no emotions whatsoever as if she were hanging a piece of meat rather than a human being. It wasn’t just Raynan of Extinction. Those who were there with us at the time were there, and they were… groaning and wriggling while hanging from a giant hook.

“

AAAAAH!

”

“Run… run! Squiat! Run…” someone shouted.

“Robinwood?” I said.

“I said run!” Robinwood yelled.

Clench! Clench! Clench!

“

AAAAAH! AAAAAH!

”

Clench! Clench! Clench!

“Run!” he yelled.

With a pale face, he moved further away in an instant. Behind him, the mage with the big hat was walking slowly.

“W-Where are the bad people… hiding…” Jung Ha-Yan stuttered.

“...”

“W-W-Where are the bad people hiding? W-Where are the bad people… who made my oppa… cry?

Heuk…

kgh…

” Jung Ha-Yan questioned.

“Damn it… where am I? Where am I?!” I shouted.

“W-Where… are the bad people, Sora?” Jung Ha-Yan asked.

“Squiat! Squiat! Do something! Squiat! Help us! Help us!

Heuk…

help us…!”

‘What… is this place? Am I in Hell?’

“...”

“...”

A dark red spider leg descended and pierced their figures hanging from a hook.

“The bad people. Are here.

Sniffle

,” Jung Ha-Yan said.

“

Ahhh—cough

!”

“He’s running! He’s running away! The bad man is running away! Follow him! Follow him, Sora!” Jung Ha-Yan yelled.