Chapter 302

Hwanggong wore a bewildered expression, but Chris was sincere.

“Two is enough.”

Time passed swiftly after that.

First, they leaked information about Hwanggong’s movements to the Beast King.

A few days later, they learned that Hwanggong was heading toward the sacred grounds of the Illusion Maga.

Since the intel was passed under the name of the Four Kings’ Castle, the Beast King wouldn’t suspect a thing.

During the remaining time, Chris focused on mastering the Essence Records he had obtained from the Illusion Stone and the Beast King.

“No matter who I am, it’s impossible to fully master the essences of two clans in such a short time.”

But that didn’t matter.

He absorbed only the core elements through accelerated learning, storing the rest in his mind to gradually make his own later.

“It’s time. You really can do what you said, right?”

On the eve of the decisive battle, Hwanggong still showed doubt, but Chris just smirked and demonstrated.

A small illusion blossomed from Chris’s hand—a fluttering butterfly.

It seemed trivial at first, but soon the butterfly’s wings stirred the air.

This was the fifth-level illusion technique, “Reality Intervention,” where illusions affect the real world.

But that wasn’t all.

The butterfly’s wingbeats whipped up a sharp gust of wind.

This was the sixth-level technique, “Reality Amplification,” which not only intervenes but intensifies phenomena.

Then, the butterfly landed on Hwanggong’s shoulder.

Feeling its touch, Hwanggong’s eyes widened.

The sensation was indistinguishable from reality—not just resembling a butterfly, but an actual living one.

This was the seventh-level illusion mastery, “Reality Manifestation.”

In other words, Chris had reached the seventh level of illusion magic.

“Of course, I can’t say I’ve fully mastered seventh-level illusions yet,” Chris thought.

He had only raised the level through accelerated learning without a solid foundation.

Still, successfully performing seventh-level “Reality Manifestation” was a huge milestone.

Chris grinned and said, “That day, Your Highness will witness a miracle.”

The preparations to capture the Beast King were complete.

---

The day of the decisive battle arrived.

Hwanggong and Chris headed alone to the spot where they had leaked information to the Beast King.

Hwanggong had wanted to bring more troops, but Chris stopped him.

“If too many people come, the Beast King won’t take the bait.”

“…Still, I think we’re outmatched with just the two of us.”

Hwanggong’s distrust lingered.

“I think it’s enough. You worry too much.”

“!!”

“If you’re not confident, you can kneel before the Beast King right now.”

Hwanggong’s face flushed red, but he stepped forward.

‘Such a cowardly little man, greedy as ever.’

But it didn’t matter.

In the end, everything would unfold according to Chris’s plan.

Whether Beast King or Hwanggong, they were all just pawns in his hands.

They soon arrived at their destination.

An eerie atmosphere hung over the small forest.

Though the sun was high, no light penetrated the gray, lifeless trees.

Screeches and ghostly wails echoed intermittently.

‘This is the Illusion Maga’s sacred ground—the Phantom Land.’

A place where reality twisted and illusions roamed freely.

‘Not exactly a place of great power, but important to the Illusion Maga since their founder created his unique dark illusion magic here.’

Just as they were about to step into the shrine at the forest’s center, a deep rumble shook the woods.

“He’s here.”

With a fierce roar, a towering werewolf appeared.

The Beast King.

Already transformed, his sharp fur and blade-like claws gleamed threateningly.

“Long time no see, Beast King.”

[Yeah, no need for long talks. Step down as clan leader, and I’ll let you rest in peace.]

He completely dismissed Hwanggong.

“That won’t happen. Today, you’re the one who dies.”

Chris, cloaked in robes, stepped forward.

“I am Christian, the Dark Maga’s Grand Duke. Seems we’re acquainted.”

[And you? What about the one at the main house?]

“Yeah, you’ve been deceived.”

The Beast King chuckled darkly.

[I did suspect something was off, but it doesn’t matter.]

His voice brimmed with confidence, even knowing it was a trap.

[After I kill you two here, I’ll tear apart the fake at the main house.]

Hwanggong frowned and shouted, “Empty threats won’t work. Everyone, come out!”

From all around the forest, Illusion Maga minions appeared.

True to his suspicious nature, Hwanggong hadn’t trusted Chris’s words and had set an ambush.

They were quickly surrounded, but the Beast King remained unfazed.

[Just as expected.]

“…Expected?”

[Hwanggong, you’re a bigger coward than a rat. I knew you’d try some trick like this.]

The Beast King laughed fiercely.

His confidence stemmed from one thing.

[Do you really think I, the Beast King, can be harmed by these puny pests?]

He was sure he could overcome any trap Hwanggong had set.

“Everyone, fall back!”

Chris shouted, but it was too late.

A sudden, powerful roar burst forth from the Beast King.

‘Pierce.’

“Arrgh!”

The ambushing Illusion Maga sorcerers clutched their ears, screaming.

The Beast King’s true species was the Diamond Lycanthrope.

A high-tier race on par with High Elves and pure-blood Vampires.

Therefore, the power of ‘Pierce’ was devastating.

Those with weak mental fortitude among the ambushers quickly fell into panic.

Then came a storm of blood.

Whoosh!

[Hahaha!]

The Beast King roared triumphantly.

A savage beast reveling in slaughter.

“W-What? The Beast King’s power is this strong?”

“Impossible…”

The Illusion Maga sorcerers paled and retreated.

The Beast King had always been formidable, but now his strength was on another level.

‘It’s the effect of the Berserk Blade,’ Chris thought.

‘It massively amplifies his power.’

For mental-focused dark magicians like the Illusion Maga, who lacked physical combat strength, the Berserk Blade was a deadly counter.

But the Illusion Maga weren’t just standing by.

“Mental attacks won’t work on the Beast King! Summon the phantasms!”

Flare!

Another specialty of the Illusion Maga.

Flaming phoenixes, twin-headed lions, ice serpents—countless phantasmal beasts descended.

These were not elementals but magical beasts from the Illusion Realm.

Yet even these phantasms were no match for the Beast King.

[How dare you! Insignificant things without substance!]

The Beast King roared again.

This time, a different kind of roar.

Flare!

With a distortion in space, a pack of monstrous beasts appeared.

This was the Illusion Maga’s unique forbidden art: “Beast Summoning.”

‘Demon Wolf pack. Over twenty of them.’

Each was a high-level monster, comparable to a fifth-level dark spirit.

Some even possessed sixth-level power, and there was an Arch Demon Wolf rivaling seventh-level dark spirits.

Enough to wipe out most knight orders in one strike.

Truly, a fearsome conjuration befitting the Beast King.

[Devour them all.]

“Arrgh!”

The Illusion Maga minions were pushed back helplessly.

Then, Hwanggong finally moved.

“That’s enough. Beast King, you will fall into the hell of illusions.”

Hwanggong didn’t believe ordinary sorcerers could stop the Beast King.

This was just a stalling tactic.

To activate this spell.

Flare!

Suddenly, the surroundings transformed.

Brilliant, multicolored hues flooded the area.

It felt as if they had fallen into a world of illusions.

But this was no dreamland.

The colors were grotesque and twisted, accompanied by eerie wails.

Like being trapped in a cruel fairy tale.

This was Hwanggong’s domain: the “Distorted Illusion World.”

Slowly, the shimmering colors liquefied and rose, forming a hideous legion of phantasmal beasts.

Click, click.

The chilling aura from the beasts made Chris think, ‘These are real, manifested phantasms.’

Summoning Illusion Realm beasts differed from elemental summoning.

Strictly speaking, Illusion Realm beasts couldn’t be summoned into the real world.

Only their shadows could be projected as illusions.

But these summoned beasts were different.

Through seventh-level mastery, “Reality Manifestation,” Hwanggong had perfectly materialized Illusion Realm beasts into reality.

Naturally, their power far surpassed mere projections.

Yet the Beast King only sneered.

[Heh, you think you can face me with such phantoms? I’ll crush your pathetic domain in an instant!]

The Beast King radiated intense energy.

Flare!

Darkness thickened around him, and the maddening moon rose—a manifestation of his domain, “Frenzied Predation.”

It amplified the power of his beast pack.

The Demon Wolves, each wielding fifth- and sixth-level strength, surged with renewed might.

If things continued like this, the beast legion was on the verge of being helplessly pushed back—but then, suddenly, something unexpected happened.

Thud.

The Beast King’s domain stopped expanding forward and was forced to retreat.

No, it wasn’t just that.

With a sudden rush, the world of illusions began to swallow the Beast King’s domain.

[What? How is this possible?]

For the first time, the Beast King was taken aback.

When two domains clash, the stronger one absorbs the weaker.

But the exact opposite was happening.

[Hwan Gong, how could this be possible at your level?]

The domain was unnaturally strengthened, far beyond what Hwan Gong’s level should allow.

‘How could this happen?’

Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he turned his gaze.

A boy with a twisted smile and an irritating aura.

It was Christian.

“Hey, beast. Let me ask you something. Why do you think we set this trap?”

“!!”

“Because we’re confident we can easily catch a dumb brute like you. No matter how much you thrash around, you’re just a mindless beast.”

The Beast King snorted.

[Don’t make me laugh. This is nothing!]

With a roar, he swung his savage blade fiercely—but it wasn’t easy.

Thanks to Christian’s interference, Hwan Gong’s domain had become far more solid than before.

‘Normally, it’s impossible to interfere with someone else’s domain.’

But illusions were different.

‘If you can manifest reality, you can intervene even in someone else’s illusions.’

At the seventh level of illusion mastery, reality manifestation is essentially summoning illusions into existence.

Not only in the real world, but it’s also possible to overlay your own illusions onto someone else’s.

‘Of course, usually when you try to stack illusions like that, your illusion just gets swallowed up by theirs.’

Christian was different.

He had thoroughly analyzed the mental imagery composing Hwan Gong’s domain and then patched the gaps by layering his own illusions on top.

Of course, this was a trick only Christian could pull off.

[Kill that arrogant brat first!]

The Beast King ordered his demonic beasts.

A pack of demon wolves charged at Christian.

Even with Christian’s current strength, they were a formidable force.

But Christian twisted the corner of his mouth.

“You’re seriously underestimating me.”

He reached out his hand.