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INFINITE MAGE

Chapter 72: Dream On (1)

Photon Cannon.

The mass contained within the photons was minimal, but the impact of the photon output's rapid speed was not something a mere monster could withstand.

The eyes of the Ulk chieftain blazed. Having battled humans numerous times, he knew how dangerous a mage could be.

“It’s over! It looks scared! Shirone did it!”

Martin shouted. However, Altor's thoughts differed. They were not facing a mere beast but a monster. Although possessing intelligence, the beastly nature of these creatures was not to be underestimated.

“Even so, it won’t end here. Even if Shirone is strong, he is still human. Predators that hunt in packs don’t retreat just because of one or two casualties.”

As Altor analyzed, the Ulk chieftain had no intention of retreating. The destructive power of a mage might be fearsome, but the collective aggression of a group did not fear a single individual.

“Grrrr, die…”

“Craaaaw!”

The Ulk's ferocious roar shook heaven and earth.

‘I can do this. As long as I stay focused, I can win.’

Shirone teleported into the air and bombarded the ground with Photon Cannon. Bursts of light struck like hailstones. Even if the Ulks weren’t hit directly, the shockwaves from the ground impacted them.

Yet, the Ulk's ferocity was not diminished. Known as the kings of the forest when in groups, even ogres would yield to their combativeness.

Ignoring the losses of their kin, each Ulk lunged at Shirone, swinging their claws. Shirone quickly landed on the ground. There, seven Ulks were awaiting their chance.

Shirone transformed his Spirit Zone into the Attack Form of the Four Way Formation. As soon as the thorns of the Spirit Zone touched an Ulk, a barrage of Photon Cannons was fired. Intense flashes blinded the eyes, and the Ulks hit by the photons were flung back to where they came from.

“Wow, that's incredible… Shirone.”

The children were astounded. A human fighting equally against dozens of Ulks was like a tale of heroes thought to be mere exaggeration. But witnessing Shirone’s battle made any story seem believable.

“Ha, ha.”

Shirone’s breathing grew heavy. Each barrage of Photon Cannon felt like his consciousness would fly away. Maintaining photon output for more than 10 minutes was challenging due to the mental strength required but Photon Cannon was a fusion magic combining both light and mass.

Just as a human cannot focus on two things simultaneously, a mage can usually cast only one magic at a time. Except for special cases like Yiruki with Savant Syndrome, even high-ranking mages can cast only one magic at a time, usually combining two or three attributes to maximize the effect of a single magic.

Hence, pure magic specialists are rare in the professional world. Most combine two or even three attributes to enhance a single magic's effect, like Siena’s Ice Tornado or Thadd’s Fire Sun.

Fusion magic maximizes momentary efficiency but requires high mental strength. Shirone felt exhausted from repeatedly casting such demanding magic.

‘This is bad. I don’t have many shots left. It seems impossible to take them all down.’

Ulks, unlike street thugs, can sense their prey’s emotions. If they sense even a hint of fatigue, they will ruthlessly tear apart their prey.

Indeed, the Ulk chieftain, having lost a third of his kin, still displayed hostility.

Shirone desperately intensified his Photon Cannon. A cluster of photons buried in the belly of the leading Ulk.

“Craaaaaw!”

The bulky body skidded across the ground but, unlike before, it didn’t fall and resisted the impact. Shirone felt a shock. He hadn’t expected the power to drop so drastically.

Realizing Shirone's fatigue, the Ulk chieftain ordered a full assault.

“Craaaw! Craaaw! Craaaw!”

The Ulks, sensing victory, rushed forward.

‘In this situation…’

Shirone’s only option was the Immortal Function.

But could he endure it?

Casting fusion magic in the Infinite Realm was different from merely using photon output. If he cast it in the Infinite Realm, the repercussions were unpredictable.

“Grrrrr!”

As he opened the Immortal Function, immense pressure filled Shirone’s mind. It felt as if his head might explode.

“Aaaaah!”

He steeled his mind and opened his consciousness. As his self loosened, immense power surged in.

The Spirit Zone exploded intensely as it filled with light. The mass wave pushed the Ulks away, scattering golden fragments.

Holding a sphere of light in his palm, Shirone thrust it forward with all his might. The Photon Cannon, a blazing white light, devastated the area. Repeatedly unleashing barrages like a broom sweeping the Ulks away.

However, he couldn’t maintain this state forever. If the Infinite Realm was a sea, Shirone’s mind was a stream. The Immortal Function was a barrier blocking between them. He was using ocean water through a hole in the barrier, but if it continued, the barrier would collapse.

Since the mental energy required varies with each magic, a mage chooses the most cost-effective magic for the situation.

Overpowered magic, offering disproportionately high effectiveness for its cost, included the Time Magic ‘Stop’, Invisibility Magic ‘Invisiblerity’, Alchemy Magic ‘Injection’, and Healing Magic ‘Heal of Almighty’.

What about Photon Cannon?

Shirone considered it close to overpowered.

Its excellent attack speed, the combination of single and continuous fire, and even the ability to form a beam met all the requirements for an offensive magic.

However, the Photon Cannon was very draining. Continuously casting it like now could lead to a terrible consequence.

‘If I cast any more, I’ll die…!!’

Shirone stopped casting Photon Cannon. The area was covered in dust, making it impossible to see even an inch ahead.

As the wind swept away the dust, the children were shocked by the scene. The area hit by Photon Cannon was utterly devastated.

Ulks were buried in the ground, looking chewed up, and those who fled were too terrified to mourn their dead kin.

Shirone realized the power of Photon Cannon. Nothing was left where the light had passed.

Such an effect left even the caster in awe; how devastating was it for those on the receiving end? The Ulk chieftain, stricken with fear, had to accept reality.

This mage cannot be defeated.

“Grrr, we… go. Let us… go.”

Currently, Shirone was so exhausted that casting any magic was impossible. However, he stood firm till the end.

“Don’t come here again. If you enter these mountains one more time, it won’t end like this.”

The Ulk chieftain conveyed his subservient emotions in broken human language.

“Not… come. Strong… mage…”

“Go.”

As Shirone waved his hand, the Ulk chieftain was the first to leave. The other Ulks also retreated into the forest without hesitation, following their chieftain.

Only after the Ulks disappeared did Shirone, relieved from the tension, stagger and collapse with his eyes closed.

“Shirone! Shirone!”

“Shh! Be quiet. They might come back.”

Altor cautioned the children, and they quickly covered their mouths.

Altor looked over Shirone again. Seeing him sleeping soundly, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

The children of Huajeonmin Village had grown up over time, but Shirone seemed to remain the same as in his younger days.

‘They say mages don't age.’

Initially, Altor thought Shirone was just another common child of a lumberjack. A picked-up child. Shirone didn’t resemble Vincent at all, which might have been why Altor looked down on him even more.

But it was a misconception. Perhaps Shirone wasn’t the ugly duckling in the fairy tale?

A human entirely different in nature from lumberjacks.

Altor lifted Shirone effortlessly, feeling no pride despite his physical strength.

He now understood that he could never lift the weight of intelligence contained in Shirone's light body.

“Let’s go down. The hunting time is over.”

“Huh!”

Waking up, Shirone abruptly sat up.

He was in someone's house.

Touching the back of the sofa and looking around, he noticed a cozy floor. The warmth from the hearth and the sound of cooking in the L-shaped kitchen reached his ears.

“Huh? Shirone's awake. Lumina, Shirone is up!”

Martin shouted, and noisy sounds came from the kitchen. Soon, Lumina peeked out from behind the wall with a flushed face.

“Where is this?”

Shirone then remembered. It was Lumina's house, where he often stayed with his father when he was young.

Children rushed down from upstairs. They hadn't gone home and stayed by Shirone's side, still in their hunting attire.

“Shirone, are you okay?”

Altor asked worriedly. As soon as they arrived home, they checked Shirone's condition, but there seemed to be no abnormalities. However, they were ignorant about magic, so there could be unseen issues.

Shirone conducted a few tests to check if there was anything wrong with his head. His memory was intact, and his mind seemed okay.

“I’m fine. Seems like I just collapsed from fatigue.”

“Phew, that’s a relief. We thought something bad had happened to you.”

Shirone felt sorry for causing unnecessary worry. Of course, the children thought the opposite.

“Having slept soundly for a long time, I feel refreshed. It seems like my fatigue is finally going away.”

He had slept for a long time in the dormitory, but the fatigue didn’t really go away. However, now he felt genuinely good. The persistent feeling of foreboding was gone.

'I was confident I would overcome it. But now that it's gone, I realize how much I've been enduring all this time. Armin was right. The sensation returned as soon as I mastered Photon Cannon. I didn't even have a nightmare.'

A rumbling came from his stomach. It was hunger he hadn’t felt in a long time. The savory smell wafting from the kitchen contributed to stimulating his appetite.

Shirone, licking his lips, asked Lumina.

“What are you making?”

“Pork stew. Mom bought some meat.”

Lumina’s mother came out of the kitchen with a ladle in hand.

“Shirone, hello! It’s been a long time.”

“Hello, ma'am. Sorry to trouble you because of me.”

“Haha, don’t say that. You don’t know how much my daughter has been waiting for you.”

Lumina’s face turned bright red. Suddenly, her eyes grew sad, and she bowed her head.

Altor understood her feelings. Like him, the children must have realized it too.

Shirone cannot be our leader. He wasn’t a child of Huajeonmin Village, nor a lumberjack’s son.

Shirone was a mage.

As the mood darkened, Altor shouted loudly to lighten the atmosphere.

“Hey, hey! I’m hungry. Let’s eat first.”

“Yay! Meat after a long time! Meat! Meat!”

Lumina’s mother brought a large pot to the table. The stew, brimming with pork, was bubbling over its brim.

Lumina’s family had only four members, but as it was common in Huajeonmin Village to gather in one house for meals, there was plenty of cutlery.

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