The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years

Book 2: Chapter 336

Fwoosh.

Lukas created a ball of fire.

Fireball? No.

It was the 5-star spell Flame Ball.

‘An extraordinary degree of perfection.’

Peran quietly admired.

Just like a master Swordsman could guess the skill level of someone wielding a sword, Peran was also able to see the depth that Lukas reached in magicology with just one spell.

A flawless Flame Ball had been immediately casted without a chant. It was amazing.

It was amazing, but…

‘Why?’

Despite the spell’s perfection, he couldn’t understand why he had used Flame Ball.

Why did he use a fire spell?

That fire would not work on Nix. Peran wasn’t sure if even a 7-star or 8-star fire spell would work, and the spell that Lukas had used was only 5-stars. Even dozens or hundreds of such spells would not be able to burn a single strand of her hair.

He didn’t think Lukas wouldn’t know this fact.

…Was it to ensure that he could cast spells properly?

Clearly, creating an artificial mana room in someone’s body to give them the ability to use magic was something that had never been done before. And it was natural for someone to be sure of their full ability before stepping into battle.

But if his goal was to confirm his ability to cast spells, then there would be no need to use the 5-star spell, Flame Ball. Fireball, no, even a magic missile would have been enough. (TL: Isn’t he floating in the air rn?)

Fwoosh!????????n????????а????. ????????m

However, Lukas continued to make more balls of fire until they numbered in the dozens. Then, he slowly began to approach the artificial sun.

That seemed risky. What was he thinking?

Peran accepted that Lukas had a strange origin, but at that moment, he had no idea what Lukas had in mind.

He didn’t think he was trying to commit suicide.

Boom!

Suddenly, there was an explosion.

It erupted right beside Lukas, but somehow, he was not touched by it.

Nevertheless, his hair and clothes were swept up in the aftermath. It felt like his slender body would fly away in an instant.

Boom!

Another explosion, this time, closer.

Peran was filled with anxiety as he watched on.

Could it be that he couldn’t think of a solution either? If that was the case then he was no different from a moth rushing towards a flame.

Boom!

“…”

When the third explosion occurred, Peran finally had a strange feeling.

This explosion once again came frighteningly close, but somehow it didn’t manage to hit Lukas. They made his hair and clothes flutter, but he himself suffered no injuries.

The first one could have been called a coincidence. The second could be considered luck.

But the third?

Boom!

It was just as Peran thought.

It wasn’t by luck or coincidence that the explosions were not affecting Lukas.

Lukas’ fingers twitched.

As a result, one of the flame balls around him would appear in position to intercept a flare from the artificial sun. The two flames collided.

Boom!

And an explosion occurred.

“So that’s what it was.”

Peran was finally able to realise Lukas’ intentions, but that only made his surprise greater.

This man was artificially causing the explosions around the artificial sun. He was using none other than the Flame Balls he’d created!

Peran was confident in his ability to calculate. He also felt that he had a wide point of view and the ability to grasp everything that was happening around him with a glance as well as the calmness to not be surprised by any unexpected events.

Nevertheless, the level of skill that Lukas was displaying was almost godly to him.

Boom!

“…”

But Lukas wasn’t actually as relaxed as Peran thought him to be.

It was true that the explosions were no longer a threat to him. The same was true even for the large explosion of the artificial sun that would happen a minute later. After reaching the interior of the sun, he was using the Flame Balls he created to gradually deplete the energy of the artificial sun.

In other words, he was delaying the time of the explosion. By his calculation, he’d managed to buy ten minutes by using the Flame Balls.

But he’d run into another problem.

Finding Nix’s position within the artificial sun.

‘…it’s hot.’

Calling the inside of the artificial hot was a great understatement. Lukas had to occasionally create Water Balls to soak his head.

The water was practically useless compared to its mana cost, but he had no choice but to use it. The water only managed to last 30 seconds before evaporating. If Lukas were to stop this repetition, Lukas’ body would be covered in severe burns in an instant.

Using Water Ball, deploying barriers, and maintaining Fly.

And when considering the spells he might have to use after meeting Nix, he wouldn’t be able to make more Flame Balls.

In other words, he needed to find Nix before he ran out of Flame Balls.

Boom!

One Flame Ball disappeared.

…The temperatures of the aftermath of the explosions were different as well. Some of them had extremely high temperatures, and some had lower temperatures.

The conditions for the explosions weren’t very hard to figure out.

When two flares weaved together and combined, and when the temperature instantaneously exceeded a certain level, an explosion would occur as long as there was a spark.

Of course, Lukas wasn’t sure what the exact temperature was. The explosions he caused were a result of relying on his senses.

Boom!

…How deep did he have to go? He wasn’t exactly sure. However, if he were to make an assumption, he would say that she was in the centre of the sun.

Looking back, Lukas could see that the path he’d taken had already disappeared. All he could see were the red flares and flames. He couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped his lips.

He realised now that if he couldn’t manage to stop Nix, he would die.

‘…Nix.’

She was not completely out of control. It seemed that she still retained some of her reason.

This wasn’t just speculation, he was certain.

There was only one reason for this certainty.

If Nix really had lost her mind, the power of her flames would not only be this much.

This artificial sun.

It looked very large, but even the weakened Lukas was able to withstand the heat on the inside.

If Nix had gone into a complete frenzy and created the sun with the maximum output that she was capable of, then everything in the area would have been melted or burned to ash.

‘She’s fighting.’

He knew she was still struggling because she didn’t want to just run wild, and she didn’t want to burn everything.

That’s why Lukas wanted to help her.

“Huff, huff…”

…It was getting harder and harder to breathe.

He only had three flame balls left.

Since he’d reached this far, he should at least be able to get some clue as to her location…

“…ah.”

—Bright red hair.

At first, he thought it was just red flames, but it couldn’t be. It was too faint and thin.

It was Nix.

She was floating in the air with a blank expression on her face.

Boom!

Lukas caused another explosion as he approached her. Nix’s entire body was on fire.

The flames around her were hotter than any other he’d encountered so far. He could not touch her.

“…huu.”

Nevertheless, he got as close as he could.

At least till he was close enough to look her in the eyes.

“…you should be in there, Torkunta.”

“…”

Nix didn’t respond. However, she turned to look at Lukas with a blank gaze.

That was enough. He knew they shared senses.

If there was a reaction, then he’d know his voice had reached him.

“Listen, Torkunta, from now on, I’m going to try to kill Nix.”

Flinch-

There was a clear reaction on her doll-like face.

A faint light flashed within her unfocused eyes.

Crack-

A scythe of ice appeared in Lukas’ hands. He put all of his remaining mana into it. This was the reason why it was able to maintain its shape despite the surrounding temperatures.

“Do you remember? It might not be a pleasant memory, but I cut off your head in the Ispania Mountains with an ice scythe like this one.”

“…”

“Torkunta, I know how much you want to live… You’re more afraid of death than anyone else. Despite being trapped in the body of another person, you didn’t feel pessimistic about your situation, and were instead happy that you were still alive.”

Torkunta was Lukas’ only hope now. Torkunta was probably trapped deep within her.

There was only one reason why he was certain about this. If he was still active, Nix’s mind would not have become so broken.

Nix was strong, but she was young.

She didn’t understand the ways of the world. She wasn’t used to sadness, and she didn’t know how to control her anger.

That was why she couldn’t come to terms with the death of her people. She blamed herself for it and walked down the path of destruction.

…If Torkunta was there.

If she had the advice of Torkunta, who had lived for 1000 years, then Nix would never have become so broken.

Lukas slowly approached Nix and lifted the scythe into the air.

“I really hope you show yourself.”

He hoped that he wouldn’t be able to tolerate Nix’s, and by extension his own, death.

Lukas put his heart into the scythe. He infused the certainty and determination to kill her within himself.

Then swung the blade towards her white neck.