I Became the Genius Mage of the Martial Academy

Chapter 120 : The Realm of the 4th Circle (1)

In the northwestern edge of Sichuan, at the border with Qinghai, the battle between the main forces was taking place. Beyond the wide plains, the Martial Alliance and the Blood Cult were confronting each other, each with a mountain at their back.

After traveling for several days by carriage, we were able to enter after a security check.

The overall appearance was a cluster of various barracks. Looking at the flags hanging in front of the barracks, I could see that martial artists from the Namgung, Sichuan, and Zhuge families were mixed in, along with the Fierce Tiger Unit of the Martial Alliance.

This wasn't just limited to the great families; martial artists from the Qingcheng Sect, Diancang Sect, and even the Hainan Sect were mixed in.

Of course, not all factions had sent their full forces, so the number of martial artists was small compared to the scale of the gathered factions.

Still, it was the first time in nearly 20 years that thousands of martial artists had gathered like this, so the tension was different. We headed towards the area where the Martial Academy's barracks were set up.

"You've arrived. There will be an offensive in the afternoon, so get some rest, even if it's brief."

Just then, Namgung Dohyeok appeared. Not only the professor, but Baek Hasin and Cheon Ga-seong could also be seen behind him.

It seemed they had arrived around the same time as us.

"But I don't see as many masters as I expected. Where is the Academy Head?"

"...He has other business and is not here."

Namgung Dohyeok evaded the answer. He probably went to attack the Blood Cult's main headquarters by now, just like in the original story. I could tell by the absence of Namgung Honpyeong, Zhuge Hohyeon, and even the Martial Alliance Leader, Seo Won-dalma.

'Feint in the east, attack in the west. Shake them with the main force here and strike the real base with elite troops.'

It wasn't a bad strategy. Of course, for us who had to draw their attention here, it was hell.

Bwoooooo-

Just then, the sound of horns and drums echoed throughout the barracks.

"The Blood Cult is advancing first! Everyone, assemble in your assigned areas!"

A messenger ran through the barracks, shouting. At that, Mi Tae-eul, the most senior person in the barracks, came out with various weapons strapped to his body and gave an order.

"Gather in your designated groups and head to your positions. Professors, lead the way."

He then headed for the western front line. We also moved to the battlefield, guided by Namgung Dohyeok.

"There are so damn many of them."

Arriving at the hill's entrance and looking down at the plain, I saw thousands of troops advancing. It was one thing to say thousands, but seeing it in person, the pressure was no joke.

When the distance between them closed to about 300m, the shouts of commanders from various places were heard.

"Archery squad, prepare!"

And the moment the Blood Cult members came closer, he lowered the raised flag and shouted.

"Fire!"

With the sound of arrows cutting through the wind, arrows imbued with internal energy covered the sky and poured down on the heads of the Blood Cult members.

The enemies tried to block with crude shields or swords, but one by one, they fell under the continuous rain of arrows.

'This is war.'

It was the act of killing the opponent using everything that could be mobilized from a distance. Soon, the Blood Cult side also began to shoot arrows in a counterattack.

Kaang!

Unlike the enemy who used their cultists as human shields, our front line was fortified with masters, so there was little damage from the arrow barrage. Except for a few.

"Keuhak!"

An arrow, more powerful than a thrust from a decent master, pierced the chest of an archer in the rear. An arrow that penetrated the enemy, scattering red bow-qi. It was the Red Demon Archer.

While the exchange between both sides continued, the enemy army had already closed in to within 50m. At this rate, they would climb up to our base, which was nestled against the low mountain.

'Are they planning to break through like this?'

The Martial Academy had moved quickly, but other factions were still in the process of gathering martial artists to participate in the war.

Fame, interests, pressure—regardless of the intention, what was certain was that more and more martial artists from the orthodox faction were flocking in. From the Blood Cult's perspective, it was advantageous to quickly destroy the main force and establish a defensive line now, when the subjugation force was less gathered.

"Charge!"

Just then, the shout of the Fierce Tiger Unit's commander was heard from the center. Simultaneously, with a stomping of feet that seemed to shake the earth, thousands of martial artists ran down the slope.

The Blood Cult army was just beginning to climb the slope.

"One down!"

Professors, including Woo Hee-ryeong, broke through the path at the forefront and dug into the enemy lines. Then, the instructors widened the broken gap, and the remaining students cut down the panicked Blood Cult members.

I, too, was recklessly cutting down the necks of the Blood Cult members. Even with Blood Explosion, their level was around the first-rate. Occasionally, a peak-level Blood Demon would appear, but they were usually cut in two by the combined efforts of the instructors and students.

'Even with fewer numbers, this is going smoothly.'

Of course, the average combat power of the Martial Academy dispatched here was ridiculously high. Just our group alone was at the level of an elite unit from a major sect.

Bloodstains were scattered everywhere. We dealt with the Blood Cult members without penetrating too deeply compared to the other factions.

"Blood Corpses!!"

Just then, a martial artist's shout was heard from somewhere. Blood Corpses were jumping out from all directions and tearing at the martial artists of the allied forces. Each one was a peak-level monster, causing the battlefield to stir. On top of that, they were rushing in with Blood Explosion, making their power even stronger.

Of course, in return, they were corpses that would collapse after exhausting their power in one shichen, but on a battlefield where life and death were decided in an instant, that was enough.

Our super-masters were also fighting hard, but the enemy's numbers were too many. In the middle, monsters of the Blood Demon or Blood Fiend class were also holding back the super-masters. Soon, the front line began to be pushed back from the center.

'There seem to be at least 500 Blood Corpses. Did they bet everything?'

The allied forces also seemed flustered by the sudden reinforcement. At this rate, they could be routed. There was a need to turn the atmosphere around.

In fact, a certain plan had already taken shape in my head. There was just one thing holding me back.

Swish-!

In an instant, an arrow flew at high speed. I gritted my teeth as I blocked the curved shot that flew, bending between the heads of the Blood Cult members.

The Red Demon Archer. His presence was the most troublesome here.

'The power is certainly immense. If the distance were closer, it would have been difficult to respond.'

As I shook my tingling wrist and glared at the rear where the Red Demon Archer was, I suddenly saw someone rushing forward at an incredible speed.

Mi Tae-eul. He took out the longbow from his back at a speed that left no afterimage and nocked an arrow. In an instant, a brown powerful qi formed at the tip of the arrowhead.

The moment the bowstring to the arrow was covered in powerful qi. The arrow was shot without even leaving an afterimage.

Kwaang!

A large cloud of dust rose in the direction where the Red Demon Archer was. A power that was hard to believe was produced by a single arrow.

Soon, I could see the Red Demon Archer fleeing in the distance, bleeding from one arm. As expected of the White Weapon Fiend, his incredible skill was worthy of the title he was called by, for being able to freely use 100 different weapons.

I glanced at Mi Tae-eul's side. He was already providing covering fire for the other students. It wasn't intentional, but I had received help unintentionally.

'I'll have to repay this favor with results.'

On the battlefield, killing the enemy well was ultimately helping your allies. With the Red Demon Archer also retreating, it seemed it would be fine to show my true skills.

Hwareuk-

Flames soared, and the rushing Blood Corpse burst into flames and collapsed on the floor.

At the sudden appearance of the brilliant pillar of fire, the attention of the area was focused on me.

I didn't mind and instead walked toward the center of the enemy.

In the middle of the war, I had a premonition of a certain sign. My mind was clear, and my circle was full. I had been in this state ever since I killed the Asura Heavy Shield.

I held the Daoist Scholar's Fan and fired magic indiscriminately.

Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!

As if shaking off something inside me, to my heart's content.

In the storm of mana, flames soar, and ice shatters. Blood Corpses burn, and Blood Cult members freeze and fall to the floor.

"Wh-what in the world is that?!"

Due to the earth-shattering roar and the spectacular display, not only the enemy but also our allies began to look this way in astonishment.

"He's crazy."

Cho Min-ha, who had subtly widened his distance from me, let out a hollow laugh as if he was dumbfounded.

I looked at the devastated surroundings, which had become like a mystery circle with me at the center, and took a deep breath.

I have to make it clear here. I have to leave a big impression at once for the tide of the battle to turn to this side.

I floated a shield in the air. And I stood on it.

"W-walking on air!"

Voices of astonishment were heard from all directions. Thanks to the efforts of Mi Tae-eul and the professors, all that was left in this area were just a large number of small fries. For me, it was the best stage.

Most of the gazes on the battlefield were focused on me.

I created eight fireballs the size of a human torso and shot them in all directions.

Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!!

Blood Corpses burn and shatter. Under the outrageous magic pouring down from the sky, monsters of various levels, from first-rate to the beginning of the peak, fall.

The most advantageous power for a massacre is magic.

In response to my will, flames soared, and a gust of wind blew, erasing the area. Finally, when all the enemies within a 30m radius had turned to ash and collapsed, I emptied all my mana.

Before I knew it, the sound of weapons clashing had subsided in the vicinity, and they were looking this way. It had an incredible effect. Even the crazed Blood Cult members were trembling in fear and looking up at me.

'It's still not enough.'

But I couldn't be satisfied. I thought so even as the shield that served as a foothold began to break because I had no mana.

The time has come. I could instinctively tell a certain sign. I took out the bottle containing the Azure Jade Nectar from my bosom, opened the entrance with one hand, and drank it.

Then, an incredibly pure energy filled my body. I drew out the pure mana from it and poured it into my circle until it overflowed.

The once-empty circle swelled as if filled with a torrent and pulsed. The three rings gradually rotated and accelerated, resonating with each other and increasing their size. Then, they slowly began to divide. Into four rings.

Kiiiiing-

With a gust of wind, a strange light emanated from my whole body. It was a mana luminescence.

"Heo, what in the world is that?!"

"Is that the Origin of the Five Qis?! Doesn't he look like an immortal?"

"He must have reached the pinnacle of sorcery... To be at that age, amazing!"

Regardless of whether they were high-ranking officials of the Martial Alliance, elders of sects, or faculty of the Martial Academy, they all looked up at the anomaly on the battlefield.

Finally, the circle completely divided and created a fourth ring.

'Is this the realm of the 4th circle?'

In a sensation as if time had stopped, I felt the overflowing mana and observed my inner self.

The circle, which had completely melted and absorbed the immense energy of the Azure Jade Nectar, was a huge engine of mana.

I held the Daoist Scholar's Fan and spread the palm of my other hand.

Hwaak-!

Then, a giant fireball the size of a person bloomed above my head. The mass of flames burned brilliantly. Enough to give the illusion that a small sun had risen.

I created ten such large fireballs at once and looked at the battlefield. The Blood Cult members and Blood Corpses, who were looking up with dazed eyes at the brilliant rays of light.

In the silent stillness that overwhelmed the area, the palm that was facing the sky was flipped down, and soon, the flames that covered the sky burned the entire ground.

When dozens of enemies were burned in an instant, the tide of the battle was literally turned.

"Waaaaaah!!"

The morale-boosted allied forces began to push forward, and the Blood Cult group, terrified, began to retreat, leaving only the rampaging Blood Corpses. It was the moment the victory or defeat of the battle was decided.

"Waaaaaah!"

The crowd of about a thousand people who had dealt with the remaining Blood Corpses looked up this way and let out a roar. Just then, someone shouted my title.

"The Dharma Dragon has led the war to victory!"

"Dharma Dragon!!"

"Dharma Dragon!!"

The sound of my name being called echoed as if to leave the earth. In the midst of the enthusiastic shouts, I slowly raised the Daoist Scholar's Fan.

It was our victory.

(End of Chapter)