BXBX NOVEL Chapter 94: The Wind of Change (2)
[Giga Lightning!]
[Brrriiing!]
Dominic Green’s momentum was great. He began mercilessly – conjuring sixth-circle spells in quick succession to prevent Elisha from gaining the upper hand. Problems soon cropped up, though. As expected, Elisha used fire shields in layers to block the opponent’s attacks and transformed Giga Lightning’s sparks into magic.
She used Prominence magic, spreading hundreds of sparks before transforming them into arrows that shot toward Green with incredible force and great quantities.
[Fire Arrow.]
[Fall rumbling.]
The magic she used was of the first circle. If Green had cast the same spells, they would have swiftly faded, barely touching Elisha. However, her fire arrows were of a different caliber. They were strong.
[This is critical for Dominic Green! Elisha used her unique spell, fire rain – a technique that turns surrounding flames into magic – if Green responds improperly to the attack, the duel could be over, right here and now!]
The MC put a blood spot around Green’s neck. Unified and concentrated Fire Arrows flew at Green, pushing him into a corner. His counterattack was great. While raising the earth to protect his body, he manifested an optical illusion to trick Elisha and attacked while she was distracted. It didn’t work… Elisha sent flames licking around the fire field and did not allow Dominic Green time to take advantage of the situation.
[Pop pop!]
[Hwa, rush, rush!]
It was a one-sided game. Seizing the initiative, Elisha pushed the opponent, and his plan completely failed. She was known as the Royal Academy’s best talent for a reason…at a young age, her achievements as a six-circle wizard were great, but her access to the magic of prominence further emphasized her presence. The next step was the White Castle, which is only accessed by a handful of Archmage. They’re interested in Elisha, who has not yet reached the 7th Circle, because her explosive talent promises further development.
The outcome of a wizard’s duel ultimately comes down to momentum and who maintains it. It’s hard to overturn the moment it’s attained, so Green, who eventually lost his pace, declared surrender.
[Dominic Green has finally surrendered! As everybody expected, Elisha has defeated Dominic Green and has won the duel tournament hosted by White Castle!]
That was the end of the tournament. Elisha became the winner, and Kang Min-hyuk ended the video as the award ceremony was in progress.
For a while, Kang Min-hyuk fell in thought.
* * *
Prejudice is eerie in its silent, brooding existence. You may believe yourself to observe the world as it is, free from the restraints of preconceived ideas, but that is never the case. Each individual sees the world through a lens of prejudice, whether they’re aware of it or not. Kang Min-hyuk was not exempt from that. His experience in Klinssman’s world showed him the value of magic; however, he put a limit on its potential without realizing it. He felt assured in the idea that reinforced warriors would hold the advantage in any one-on-one confrontation, even if physical force is all they know. He grew up in Suhomun, watching fortified warriors at their peak, and believed that no wizard could handle their strength. It was an unconscious prejudice upheld by the world he came from. His idea of winning the duel competition came from the same place.
Kang Min-hyuk believed that using a warrior’s know-how, he could defeat any wizard.
The result? He lost to Dominic Green, who, in turn, surrendered to Elisha. That wasn’t to suggest that Elisha was the world’s greatest wizard. For instance, Avid had reached the seventh circle…against him, Klinssman would be obliterated despite his strong body.
“I misunderstood magic, just like those in my dimension…with magic, nothing is impossible.”
Wizards were not fundamentally weak. A strong warrior can beat a weak wizard, yes, but a strong wizard is capable of obliterating even a reinforced warrior. The key was to abandon prejudice.
Kang Min-hyuk decided that the only way to nourish his strength was to become increasingly informed in the science of magic. That way, he could grow as a wizard and react effectively to anything a wizard could throw at him in a one-on-one confrontation.
“Why did I move passively? If I consumed knowledge more actively, it would have been Dominic Green who fell in the quarter-finals.”
Kang Min-hyuk felt that his efforts were superficial. He knew that he could do better and vowed to do so in the future. Learning the magic suggested by Klinssman and studying at the magic library could not be said to be an adequate effort. Wizards of magical civilization devote decades of their lives to grow as wizards. Compared to such people, Kang Min-hyuk had invested too little time in magic. Desiring to be strong within that time is greed. True strength is built over time.
‘I need more experience. Textbooks don’t teach the same way that firsthand experience does. It’s experience that makes me strong. Analyzing the magic used by the wizards of this world and finding a way to defend against it was the process that would reap the most rewards.
Kang Min-hyuk began to believe that it was better to lose against Green. If he had won, he would be content with his performance, and with it, his attitude. The moment you become content in your growth is the moment your development comes to an end. That was a lesson taught by his father. And he was right.
As soon as he had recovered from the battle, Kang Min-hyuk put his choice into action.
* * *
All of the finalists in the duel competition’s quarter-finals had given interviews except for Kang Min-hyuk, who was absent due to his injury. Within a week after their conclusion, he was ready to appear in front of the camera.
“Klinssman’s approach to the duel is probably the thing most people are most curious about. He introduced us all to the use of physical mana as a tool for battle, expressing some fierce, superhuman abilities, swords and shields against magic, and mana fragments. Where did you learn these things? Or did you develop it yourself?”
It was important to answer appropriately…if he said he’d been taught, he would be pushed to reveal the source of his knowledge. However, if it were said that Kang Min-hyuk developed it himself, Klinssman would become the root. Kang Min-hyuk responded with a calm voice.
“At first, I was just an ordinary student hoping to be a wizard and enrolled in the Royal Academy of Magic.
But, during my first circle formation, I found that I wasn’t gifted in magic. I was hopeless. However, after experimenting with mana, I figured out how to strengthen my body with it. Yes, everything that I showed you in the duel competition was developed by me. I call myself a ‘reinforced warrior.’”
It was a plausible story. He took the ball and ran with it. People wouldn’t be ready to hear about the complexities of Instinct travel, so he kept the subtleties to himself. The crew became noisy in the face of Kang Min-hyuk’s comments. He was discussing a pivotal point in history – just as the magical revolution commenced in the fortified civilization, Klinssman’s prowess could mark the birth of a new world. Kang Min-hyuk looked directly into the camera and conveyed his message clearly.
“I don’t think magic is everything in this world. Our knowledge of what the body is capable of is still incomplete. It’s a very dangerous force for anyone other than me to handle now, so I will work hard to create an accessible form for the future. If you are interested in the power I have, you are welcome to visit me anytime. However, sharing knowledge is a form of transaction. A wizard is good, a scholar is good, or anyone who does something else is good. Anyone who can share an experience that might be helpful to me will offer you a trade. Also, the wizard’s challenge is always welcome. If the duel is over and I have an open attitude to discuss each other’s confrontation, I am ready to take on the challenge.”
With that, the interview drew to a close. Kang Min-hyuk had opened up a possibility. He would work hard to familiarise himself with Klinssman’s world. Through the relationship between both dimensions, magic and swordsmanship would develop and both worlds would be led in the right direction.
Klinssman suggested an alternative force to magic when he first soared to the surface and became recognizable.
* * *
That evening, upon returning to the accommodation, Kang Min-hyuk wrote a message to Klinssman.
[Klinssman, your goal has now become my dream. Just as you wish to destroy monsters, I also hope to drive away those threatening the world and restore peace. However, it will take too long with the current method and growth rate. We need to sacrifice a little more and try a little harder. So, I hope you can teach me more in the future. I will do a lot for you in turn.]
There was a lot to do in the future; he left his proclamation in the air. Many people would come to find themselves. He would gain experience through them and spread entry-level enhancements to people as soon as possible. Power didn’t have to be a privilege for a small handful of people. Those who were not talented in magic should open the way for other powers to be gained. He had no interest in the changing flow of power after that. What Kang Min-hyuk wanted was for the power of mankind to become stronger. Only then would they have the courage to cross the land beyond the barriers that had been neglected for too long.
He expected a backlash from the wizards, but that was a thorny path he’d have to deal with. Even if Avid expelled him from school, Kang Min-hyuk would sacrifice for the path he thinks is right.
Time passed. As expected, many people visited Kang Min-hyuk. Avid did not expel Kang Min-hyuk, and he was able to continue his school life. Normal, but unusual days. During the day, he was faithful to his classes as a student, exchanged information after school, and when he returned to his accommodation, he struggled with life and death beyond the barrier. His attitude was completely different from before. He understood the world of Klinssman more thoroughly and tried his best to drum hundreds of spells into his head.
Time passed quickly. After half a year, Kang Min-hyuk chose to return to the original world. Before his departure, he left a final message:
[I hope we have half a year to reorganize our own realms.]
He had a lot to do in the reinforced civilization.
Kang Min-hyuk’s move to fully accept Klinss’ world prompted some interesting changes.