Chapter 656
“…This can’t be happening.”

Tommy muttered, pale-faced. The very wizard they had been fighting moments ago had just unleashed forbidden magic in an instant.

There was no hesitation or fear in him. Clearly, as a wizard, he hadn’t even considered the abyssal curse that should come with such a spell. He had simply broken the taboo as if it were just another ordinary magic.

“How could a puppeteer—”

“Tommy! Snap out of it!”

Boom!

The other Luswena wizards pressed their attack without faltering. Nakina swung her Water Shield to protect Tommy, fighting off the endless onslaught.

“But, senior—”

“There’s no ‘but’! Shut up and fight!”

A wizard had used forbidden magic without their own will. Was that even possible?

Everyone was gripped by fear at the puppeteer’s power, far beyond expectations. If even one thread were to be pulled, like with the Varsabe squad, the entire tide of Gaia’s battle could turn in an instant.

Especially if Ian were controlled by the puppeteer—

“Damn it!”

The thought alone was horrifying.

Nakina looked at the screaming wizard, her body scorched, with pity. Though his reason was gone, his nature remained, and his screams were filled with agony.

There was only one thing she could do.

“Tommy! Hurry!”

“Got it!”

Whoosh!

Before the forbidden magic could fully take hold, they would end his life. His soul might fall into the abyss, but at least his body would rest in peace. Tommy and Nakina dodged the Luswena wizards’ attacks as they flew in.

Ian stood silently, watching it all.

A cold wind brushed the child’s golden hair. What was this feeling rising deep in his chest?

Unconsciously, Ian recalled Naum from the abyss—the endless cycle of death and pain he had suffered.

‘…Ian, please smile.’

And Wesley—

‘…Gale, do you really think I would kill you?’

Zaira’s grandmother—

‘…Ian Hielo. Don’t expect gratitude for your mercy. This is a battlefield, I am a citizen of Luswena, and the king holds our lives in his hands.’

And even Vitor, the wizard who had destroyed Hielo.

They had all chosen their paths by their own will, but that wizard had not. Though they were enemies by nationality and interest, wizards were bound by a special power.

“Arrgh!”

This was the essence of baseness and cowardice—not only using others but shifting all responsibility onto them.

Ian felt his sixth sense flare alongside the wizard’s magic. It was clear: anger, compassion, and sorrow.

A fierce surge of magical energy whipped around Ian. As he turned, a streak of light traced the path of his golden eyes.

“Luswena—!”

Ian’s shout thundered across the field. He had crossed a line. Even ten years ago, when King Eriphoni used wizards as tools, it hadn’t been this bad. Back then, Ian could still help somehow—

But there was no way to save those falling into the abyss.

If he had known how, he would have saved Naum and fought alongside him.

“Do you know how deep the abyss is?!”

Only those who have been there can understand how dark, cold, and painful it truly is.

The soldiers witnessing Ian’s fury faltered. Even from a distance, they could feel the boy’s overwhelming presence.

“Kh, khh, hhh.”

Lady Darcy trembled but didn’t stop smiling. She had perfectly controlled that arrogant wizard; it was as if Bariel’s banner had been half-broken.

Martin, confused by the groans that were neither cries nor laughter, glanced between the front lines and Lady Darcy.

Kugugugung—

The bright sky darkened in an instant, like a midsummer storm approaching.

No one knew if it was the forbidden magic, Ian’s wrath, or the anger of the gods.

“Let’s see what you’ve got! Come on!”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Lady Darcy reached out, and the wizard who had summoned forbidden magic was bent in half. The force was enormous and overwhelming. Tommy and Nakina, rushing at the wizard, were thrown back.

“Ugh, damn it.”

“Ian!”

Both called out to him. Only Ian could stand against forbidden magic. It had been the same with Wesley, and with Zaira’s grandmother.

At the time, they thought it was because Ian’s magic was unusually strong, but now they understood. Ian was ‘one who exists through forbidden magic,’ and that was why he could oppose it.

“We’re sorry! This is beyond our abilities!”

“Ian, we’ll handle the main force!”

It made sense for Tommy and Nakina to take on the puppeteer while Ian faced the forbidden magic. Ian didn’t reply but turned away, and soon Tommy and Nakina sped past him.

“Look, Minister! The Bariel wizards are panicking! Hoho! Hurry and prepare reinforcements!”

“Is it… safe, Lady Darcy?”

“Of course. Those wizards would be better off never knowing forbidden magic. Foolish, really. Hoho! Come on, Minister! That magic swordsman is coming up!”

Recognition is instantaneous. When someone thinks of an ‘apple,’ they can’t help but picture it, regardless of their will. Even if they don’t want to, the process of recognition happens first.

Forbidden magic is the same. When commanded to a wizard whose senses are bound and will severed, the spell itself can be easily identified. The problem lies in how it’s cast.

“Did you see that, Your Majesty?”

Lady Darcy laughed, feeling her heart pounding. Through her senses, she knew the King of Toorun was sharing her joy. Sweating profusely, she frantically manipulated the puppet strings, causing Minister Martin to step back.

‘Something’s off.’

It wasn’t just her disheveled appearance from excitement. Something about Lady Darcy’s features seemed slightly distorted.

Martin shook his head lightly and led his men toward the front lines.

‘I must strongly advise the king. Lady Darcy is suspicious and strange. Keeping someone like her close could endanger Luswena.’

Kugugung—Kwoong!

Sudden thunder ripped through the earth. Something serious was happening. Martin clenched his jaw and watched the powerful vibrations tearing through the sky.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Pew! Pweeeew!

Ian and the forbidden magic wizard clashed. The thick flow of magic made it hard to see, but even if visible, no human eye could follow their speed.

Ian resisted the overwhelming force, searching for an opening.

‘What is it?’

Forbidden magic carries the caster’s deepest wish. Naum had sought a new path for himself; Wesley had aimed to break the magic seal and gain strength; Zaira’s grandmother had prayed for victory in war.

So this caster must have a wish too. Was it simply to amplify magic power?

Boom! Bang!

Sweat dripped down Ian’s jaw. Since returning from the abyssal sea, he had gained Idgal abilities and expanded magic, but the forbidden wizard was still a formidable foe. Those who risked both body and soul were the most desperate—and desperation was the key to battle.

Ian bit his lower lip and stared at the wizard.

‘Should I use the River of Suffering? But the caster has no consciousness.’

It was a mental magic that fused the pain of user and target, then exploded. It had severe side effects but had been used against Zaira’s grandmother during the Klipoford War.

She had a will, so the mental attack worked. But now, the opponent was a puppeteer’s puppet. Whether it would work was uncertain.

If it failed, it could backfire.

‘Using Idgal might be most effective, but getting close is the problem. The moment of contact is too dangerous.’

While Ian held his ground against the forbidden wizard, Tommy and Nakina charged toward the Luswena main force.

Whoosh!

“Where are you, you puppeteer bastard!”

“Should we just kill them all?”

“Yeah, that sounds good! If you want to live, keep your head down!”

Ziiing!

“A wizard! A Bariel wizard is close!”

“Idgal arrows, ready!”

“Aim! Fire!”

“Fire! Hit them! Keep shooting!”

“Okay, that’s the way!”

“Senior! Turn right! Watch out for the Idgal arrows! I’ll handle the shield!”

“Haaah!”

Tommy and Nakina darted above the dense ranks of soldiers like a swarm of ants, unleashing relentless magical attacks.

Their momentum was strong, but only briefly. A black-armored knight on a dragon and other Luswena wizards swooped down on them.

“Khh!”

Their strength was waning. It had been a long time since such a fierce battle since the Klipoford War ten years ago. But all the more reason not to stop.

“Damn Luswena bastards!”

If only I had finished it back then, none of this would have happened. And ten years from now, to avoid the same regret, I have to break this cycle right now.

Mrs. Darcy, seeing the two mages closing in, hastily pulled out another doll.

“Kill them! Kill them! Just kill them already!”

She flexed her fingers with the grace of a pianist. Soon, another mage’s waist snapped, and a forbidden magical sigil appeared before her. Nakina, realizing this, gasped in horror and lunged with all her might—but—

Zzzzz! Zzzzz!

“Damn it! No, stop! Please!”

“Senpai! Be careful!”

Boom! Bang!

The soldiers ducked low to avoid the scorching heat. Even Mrs. Darcy, who was a bit farther away, was thrown backward, landing hard.

Amid the dust, she chuckled darkly and raised the doll high into the air. Another forbidden spell was coming—

“Oh my?”

Why do my hands feel like this?

Mrs. Darcy froze, staring at the wrinkled skin on the back of her hand. Not just her hands—her entire body felt like her skin was melting, softening, about to drip away.

Without a mirror nearby, she anxiously ran her hands over herself. What on earth is happening…?

“Uh, oh my?”

She called out to a nearby soldier.

“Hey, could you—”

“Eek!”

The soldier, still dazed, caught sight of Mrs. Darcy’s appearance and recoiled in horror, stumbling backward. Soon, every soldier nearby kept their distance, stepping away from her. For every step she took forward, they retreated two, some even drawing swords and spears, aiming at her.

“W-why are you all like this?!”

“Ahhh!”

“Stand back!”

Meanwhile, Tommy noticed the commotion spreading among the Luswena soldiers. The crowd had formed a circle around someone, and through the gaps, he spotted a woman in a dress.

“Senpai—!”

“Go! Hurry!”

Nakina was binding their opponent with restraint magic. But she knew it wouldn’t last long, and so did Tommy. Against forbidden magic, her spells were like fragile shards of glass, barely scratching the enemy. And there were too many foes targeting the two of them.

Perhaps because of the chaos caused by the puppeteer, the mage facing Nakina only conjured forbidden magic without activating it, maintaining a tense stalemate.

“Senpai, please—!”

“I know! I’m not dying here!”

Tears welled in Tommy’s eyes as he flew toward the puppeteer’s side. The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear: this battle in Luswena would leave the mages with wounds that would never fully heal.

“Hold on!”

“I’m fine! I will never—! I won’t die!”

Just as Nakina shouted with determination—

A black-armored knight’s sword suddenly sliced through her back.