“Can you keep up?”
The signal to begin was when Sang-yong Shin extended his left hand.
“Magic Square of Harmony.”
This wasn’t the small-scale magic square he’d shown before; this was the real deal. As Sang-yong murmured the incantation, a three-dimensional magic circle appeared above his left palm. Soon, a fully formed magic square emerged, different from before, and both Sang-yong and Ha-yeon Jung launched their spells onto it.
The fire and ice spells collided on the magic square, swirling together rapidly before being absorbed. From here on, it was all up to Sang-yong’s skill. If he set things up correctly, it would ease the burden on Ha-yeon and Sol, who would take over next.
Sang-yong, sweating profusely, continued to mutter under his breath, his eyes piercing through the magic square as if he were orchestrating a complex symphony in his mind. It didn’t take long before his expression brightened, indicating he’d found the right configuration.
Moments later, the magic hovering above the square took on an impossible form, suspended in mid-air.
The spell they created was encased in jagged ice crystals, with flames swirling around them. It was a promising start. With a slightly strained expression, Sang-yong passed the magic over to Ha-yeon.
Receiving his gaze and the floating spell, Ha-yeon wetted her lips. It had been a long time since she’d attempted a magic combination this close to her limits. As she took over, she felt a heavy pressure surge through her body. Still, it was manageable. Drawing on every ounce of strength, she cast her spell.
“Reverse!”
As Ha-yeon’s clear voice rang out, the magic they created was enveloped in a white light once more. This time, the reversal targeted the mana’s position.
“Ugh…!”
Ha-yeon let out a soft groan. The spell wasn’t meant to break the magic but to maintain the mana, causing a dizzying sensation in her head. The reversal sent a massive mana backlash through her, but she gritted her teeth and completed the reversal flawlessly. The magic, now infused with the reverse spell, looked similar yet different. The flames now danced within the ice crystals.
Watching from the side, Sol gasped at the perfectly blended magic. Yet, a sense of unease crept in. Soon, it would be her turn to take over.
This wasn’t the end. Even if they launched the spell now, it would be powerful, but their opponent was a giant, known for its natural resistance to magic. They needed something even stronger to break through.
Ha-yeon steadied her dizzy mind and cast another spell.
“Target designation… Shackles. Overlap.”
The Overlap spell, in some ways, resembled the Magic Square of Harmony. It was an advanced application of magic, though it couldn’t ignore the laws of magic like the square could. Still, it was a high-level spell.
The magic they created flowed into Sol’s binding spell. As the holy spell and magic touched, a white light flashed, filling the surroundings. The process of merging multiple spells into one was truly beautiful.
Now, the baton was passed to Sol. They’d done well so far, but if Sol, the final caster, couldn’t handle the pressure, all their efforts would be in vain. Ha-yeon watched Sol with a hopeful gaze.
“Ugh…”
Sol grimaced but managed to hold on. Her current mana capacity was 86, while Ha-yeon’s was 87. Ha-yeon didn’t know the exact numbers, but she was proud of Sol nonetheless.
Sol slowly raised her staff. The immense concentration of mana was overwhelming, but it was also a testament to the spell’s power. Yet, Sol hesitated.
‘Can I really hit it? I need to hurry… What do I do…?’
Sol only knew three spells well: binding, healing, and protection. She regretted not learning a homing spell, but it was too late for regrets. Sensing Sol’s hesitation, Ha-yeon spoke sharply.
“It’s okay. Just cast it.”
“I-I can’t…”
“Cast it. If you keep holding it, the mana will backfire, and the spell will dissipate.”
Whether it was Ha-yeon’s words or her cold tone, Sol swallowed hard. She aimed her staff at the giant. After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke in a trembling voice.
“Shackles…!”
With Sol’s spell cast, Ha-yeon prepared another spell.
While I was busy slicing through the air, I landed lightly on the ground. In front of me, a giant, covered in long, thin cuts, was panting heavily. It was strong, no doubt. Compared to a giant or a basilisk, the gigas was superior. It had put up a decent fight.
But that was all. It wasn’t a boss monster, just a creature created for this purpose. I was confident of victory from the start. I was planning to use this fight as a warm-up before facing the demon on the third floor. The appearance of this creature was a welcome surprise. Big, sturdy creatures like this were perfect for warming up.
I was about to finish it off when I heard a spell being cast behind me. A powerful magic was hurtling towards me and the gigas. I paused mid-knee bend.
What was this? I sensed the mages casting spells, but this magic coming at me was something I didn’t want to get hit by. I considered dodging, but the spell seemed to read my mind and adjusted its trajectory, heading straight for the gigas’s left arm.
“A target designation spell.”
Was this Ha-yeon’s doing? I had teased her a bit, and it seemed to have worked. I smiled and decided to wait. It wouldn’t be polite to finish the fight before they could complete their spell. Plus, I was curious.
The gigas, which had charged at me with such vigor, was now pale and battered. I hated it when monsters acted all high and mighty, so I had deliberately used the flat of my blade to smack it around a bit.
As the battle paused, I sensed the others retreating quickly. I liked them, then I didn’t. If only they were like this all the time. With each fight, Hyun and Yoo-jung were showing signs of growth.
When the onslaught stopped, a brief look of relief crossed the gigas’s face. But it was only a momentary reprieve before death. After watching the magic, I planned to finish it off, gathering mana beneath my feet. I had to be careful not to jump too high and hit the ceiling.
The binding spell, glowing white, passed by me and headed for the gigas’s left arm. The gigas didn’t move. It was just catching its breath.
It seemed to try to twist away, but with its right arm bound by Vivian, it resigned to its fate. Unaware that its magic resistance would be its downfall, the gigas panted heavily.
The spell passed by, soaring upwards, and I was momentarily amazed. It seemed to be the magic created from Sang-yong’s Magic Square of Harmony. I wanted to analyze it further, but before I could activate my third eye, the ice crystals opened wide and clamped down on the gigas’s left shoulder.
What followed was truly a spectacle.
With a flash, Sol’s spell enveloped the gigas’s left arm in white light. The creature flinched, its movements noticeably slowing. And in that moment of hesitation…
CRACK! BOOM!
The ice spikes once again sank their teeth into Gigas’s left arm, spreading icy chunks throughout. Even Gigas seemed taken aback, flailing his arm in a desperate attempt to shake off the magic, but Sol’s spell held firm, thwarting his efforts.
Then came the final touch—a fiery spell that marked the climax of the magic assault. The ice spikes, embedded in Gigas’s tough skin, served as conduits. Like a syringe injecting medicine, the fiery energy trapped within the ice surged through these channels, directly into the giant’s body. It was a ruthless tactic, the most vicious of all.
Boom! Boom!
“Raaaargh!”
An explosive sound erupted from within Gigas’s left arm, causing his skin to bulge grotesquely. Despite his resistance to magic, there was no defense against a spell cast directly inside his body. Gigas roared in agony. It was the Burn Flare spell, no doubt. That must hurt.
I watched the spectacle unfold, though it all happened in just two or three seconds. I couldn’t help but marvel at the trio’s strategy. Their magic was effective anywhere, and though only three spells were visible, there was undoubtedly more magic at play. Sol likely didn’t devise this plan; it was probably Jeong Ha-yeon and Shin Sang-yong.
Clever indeed. Their magic anticipated two, no, three steps ahead. By sending an explosive spell inside, they burned the blood in Gigas’s left arm. While the blood itself had some magic resistance, weakening the arm’s resistance was more than feasible.
As proof, Sol’s binding spell and Jeong Ha-yeon’s ice magic were regaining strength. The mages aimed not for direct damage but to create an opening for me. With Vivian restraining the right arm and the three mages the left, Gigas was now a sitting duck.
Despite his formidable stamina and endurance, Gigas was already weakened by our relentless assault. Missing this chance would be a failure of leadership.
I had been preparing to leap, and now I pushed off the ground with force. The cool wind rushed past as I soared into the air. Gigas’s left arm was in tatters, unable to hinder my approach. Any reckless movement, especially after the ice magic, could tear his arm apart.
Gigas’s face was a storm of emotions—futility, anguish, shock.
I leaped high, nearly brushing the ceiling, and aimed my sword downward to harness the momentum. I lowered my head, and Gigas, trying to track my movement, lifted his.
Our eyes met. As I descended, I swung my sword toward his head.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
I have some unfortunate news to share today.
Tomorrow (February 22nd), I have a very important appointment. I might not return until after midnight. I was worried about missing the midnight update, but thankfully, there’s a handy scheduling feature.
I should be able to finish a chapter before I leave, which I can schedule for midnight on the 23rd. However, posting an additional chapter on the afternoon of the 22nd might be difficult. Unless inspiration strikes, which rarely happens. ㅜ.ㅠ
So, on February 22nd (Friday), there’s a high chance it will be a single update day. Since daily updates have become routine, I thought some readers might be expecting another chapter in the afternoon, so I wanted to let you know in advance.
I ask for your kind understanding. Sincerely, Ro Yujin.
『 Reader Comments 』
Kuroshion: Congratulations on being first! It seems the race for first comment is getting intense. The familiar faces of regular first commenters are slowly disappearing. Haha. Oh, and you can look forward to the demon. Hehe.
Jureia: Since the kids already see Suhyeon as a parent, it’s quite possible. They might follow him around calling him mom and dad. :)
zjekfksqlc: Hehehe. You know the reason. ( —) ~ ♪.
Dangryong: Hahaha. You’ve made a great choice. I assure you, Kim Suhyeon’s stock will only rise from here. Haha.
TragicLife: Oh dear. I’ll work hard to make it even more enjoyable for you. :)
CuteBear: 『Ding. User CuteBear’s order has been activated. According to the summoning order, Memorize’s February 22nd 12:00 97th episode has been summoned.』
Toranoanal: Haha. I’m already so happy, but if it becomes a personal series, it would be like a dream. I received your message well. I look forward to more of your exciting comments. :)
Fabre: Why, why are you doing this? I appreciate it, but… I’m a guy, you know. Sob sob.
Amish: Ah, I see how you might think that. Yes, I differentiated between sustained magic and short-term or instant magic. Double casting for a few minutes is possible, but maintaining light all day while double casting is tough. :)
NaManBwa: It’s been mentioned a bit, but it could still be a spoiler. If you don’t mind, send me a message. I’ll explain what’s been revealed so far.
hohokoya1: Ugh. Thank you. Seeing the increasing number of favorites brings a smile to my face. Haha. And I’m sorry. It seems a double update on the 22nd will be difficult. ㅜ.ㅠ
juan: In some ways, it might be better to just go for it. I’m worried about upsetting readers who support Sol. ㅜ.ㅠ
Your recommendations and comments are the driving force behind the updates. (This is the truth.)
I always read all the comments repeatedly.
Please don’t feel too disappointed if you’re not mentioned in the comments section.
If you’re really curious, send me a message, and I’ll reply!
I hope you always read the story with a relaxed mind.
Favorites, recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.