Chapter 91

- Believe in yourself!

Percuntur let out a phrase he would never normally say, something embarrassingly corny.

He was, after all, a rather annoying fellow.

Usually, other mages would act arrogantly, saying things like, "I think I can do it! What does a spirit like you know? Just watch! I won't die!" and then fail. Lee Han, on the other hand, despite having the ability, would respond with phrases like, "I don't think I can do it," "Why are you being so reckless?" "Is this not your concern?"

There is a limit to being humble...

- Confidence in oneself comes from objective situation analysis, not from a few words of encouragement.

- Now, focus and do as I say!

Percuntur ignored Lee Han's words and just said what he had to say, realizing that getting involved would only make him angry.

- Imagine the image of lightning, just like with other elements.

The basics of elemental magic.

Strongly imagine the image of the element and materialize it in your mind.

The process of changing the nature of your magical power to match the element is the most fundamental step.

However, lightning was a bit different.

- But, don't imagine a bolt of lightning striking from the sky!

"!"

The most common image of lightning that mages would think of was a bolt striking down from the sky.

However, when converting to the lightning element, imagining such a bolt was dangerous.

To cast a spell, a mage needs to maintain and control a certain amount of magical power in one place, but the image of a bolt is the opposite of such control.

Flames can burn in one place, water can pool, and ice can freeze in one spot.

But a bolt of lightning is inherently something that cannot remain in one place.

It is a phenomenon destined to scatter in all directions after striking from the sky.

If a young mage rashly imagined a bolt of lightning and converted their magical power to the lightning attribute, they might lose control and cause lightning to scatter in all directions.

Percuntur, who nearly died when he tampered with Lee Han's flames in the underground punishment room, had to be especially cautious about safety.

Given the young mage's magical power, even a single accident could lead to a major incident.

- Of course, I understand. You might think, 'How can I draw the image of lightning without imagining a bolt?' But many mages who have handled the lightning attribute have overcome this limitation and succeeded! You will eventually get used to it. A true mage should not accept and settle for the given reality but should be able to change reality according to their will! Now, lend me your arm.

Percuntur was not a foolish spirit who only spouted reckless words without any methods, despite what Lee Han might think.

While acknowledging Lee Han's exceptional abilities, it was indeed very difficult for a young mage to handle the lightning attribute without any practice.

He had a plan.

Just like in the punishment room, he intended to personally inhabit Lee Han's arm and help control the lightning.

Even though he had lost most of his power when summoned, this was still possible.

However...

Crackle!

- I did it. Can I lend you my arm now?

- ...

Percuntur was shocked when he saw the sphere of lightning formed on top of Lee Han's staff.

Surprisingly, this young mage had completed the elemental conversion and successfully maintained the lightning attribute's magical power in one place, even before Percuntur could inhabit him to help.

'How on earth...?'

In contrast to Percuntur's shock, Lee Han did not find handling the lightning attribute particularly difficult.

Lee Han's way of thinking was different from other mages from the start.

He approached it very simply.

The fact that he couldn't imagine a bolt of lightning was not a problem.

He just imagined a sphere of magical power on his staff and thought of it as a capacitor.

To Lee Han, this was a very natural idea!

Imagining electricity charging up inside the sphere was not a difficult task.

Perhaps because this method was compatible, he succeeded immediately.

In fact, it felt even more stable than other elements...

'It's easier than I thought. He's making a big fuss about it.'

Lee Han had a thought that was a bit disrespectful.

Thinking about it, Percuntur had been quite dramatic since they met in the punishment room.

Even with fire...

- You... have quite a talent for lightning!

- Is that so?

Lee Han was indifferent.

After hearing praise about attributes a few times, he started to become suspicious.

Was it just a courtesy?

Since confidence is important for young mages, he might be saying, "You have a talent for the A attribute!" just to boost their confidence.

This indifference was also conveyed to Percuntur.

Percuntur was flabbergasted.

For a spirit of Percuntur's caliber, giving praise was a rare occurrence.

- Do you think I'm lying?! You really do have talent!

- Well... I suppose that could be.

Lee Han thought that either he had developed a talent for lightning because he had been struck by lightning many times, or that lightning attribute magic was not as difficult as he thought.

Probably 99% the latter...

- But, when are you coming to my arm?

Lee Han asked, puzzled.

Percuntur had asked for his arm but was just standing there.

Was there a problem?

- Wait. I'm inhabiting now!

'He doesn't have dementia, does he?'

If he had bipolar disorder and dementia, even a capable spirit would be a bit of a hassle to summon.

While Lee Han was having these thoughts, Percuntur inhabited Lee Han's arm.

- Focus on the incantation I'm about to give you.

Percuntur intended to teach Lee Han his magic.

While the magic of spirits was wild and unpredictable, a powerful spirit like Percuntur could help a novice mage use it if he lent his arm.

Percuntur's Lesser Lightning.

The 2nd Circle magic Percuntur was about to teach Lee Han.

The principle was simple.

Convert your magical power to the lightning attribute and shoot it!

There was no need to give it a sharp form like an arrow or a spear, or to add other complex attributes.

Lightning was sufficient on its own.

- It's quite powerful. Is this enough? Won't it just make things worse?

- Please, listen to an older spirit! Stop backtalking!

Percuntur almost pleaded.

While it was good that Lee Han wasn't arrogant, his excessive humility was driving Percuntur crazy.

Even so, Lee Han did not readily accept it. Percuntur eventually realized that the only way to make this damned contractor listen was through logical and rational persuasion.

- Listen carefully. Lightning is the most destructive and the most violent among the elements.

'This sounds a bit different coming from a lightning spirit.'

- Other elements are not easy to use for attacks on their own.

Lee Han agreed with this.

To use water element magic as a proper attack, several additional steps were needed.

Not just the 'water' attribute, but also 'sphere' or 'spear' attributes, and 'manipulation' had to be added.

- But lightning is different. It has powerful destructive power on its own.

- But fire...

- There's no need to give it a form! No need for complex aiming! Because you just need to hit!

Percuntur interrupted Lee Han and continued his explanation.

- That summoned creature was originally an ordinary plant monster, but due to students fusing it with various other monsters, it gained very complex attributes. However, this made it more susceptible to lightning. Think about it. Your goal is to rescue the students the creature has taken, not to kill it, right?

- That's right.

- Then this Lesser Lightning is enough! The moment it hits, the creature will drop all the students it's holding. The power of lightning will make the enemy recoil! The creature won't want to continue fighting you. It has already absorbed enough magical power, so it will run away when hit by such an attack!

'That's convincing.'

Lee Han was persuaded by Percuntur's logic. He wasn't just an old spirit for nothing.

<Percuntur's Lesser Lightning> was similar to the <Lesser Paralysis Curse> Lee Han knew.

Both involved converting magical power to an attribute and shooting it, and both had the power to paralyze the target.

The difference was that <Percuntur's Lesser Lightning> caused more physical damage and, unlike the curse which was easy to avoid or block, it left no room for such maneuvers.

In the current situation, it was very effective.

- Understood. I'll cast it!

- Finally! It took you long enough!

Pretending not to hear Percuntur's comment, Lee Han swung his staff and recited the incantation.

- Strike, Percuntur's Lightning!

- Well done...

Percuntur was about to praise Lee Han as he saw the concentrated lightning attribute magical power successfully shoot out.

However, Percuntur suddenly realized something was off.

The amount of lightning attribute magical power concentrated in the sphere was much more than he had expected.

'...???????!!!'

In the short time they had spent on their pointless conversation, Lee Han had unconsciously gathered more magical power.

'No!!'

* * *

While the students of the Blue Dragon Tower and the White Tiger Tower were chasing the vine monster, the students of the Phoenix Tower and the Black Turtle Tower acted more wisely.

They set out to find Professor Garcia.

"Professor! Over here!!"

Fortunately, the students successfully found Professor Garcia walking.

The skeletal headmaster was also floating by, and Professor Vlad was there, but the students didn't even speak to them.

"Hurry! It's urgent!"

"Stay calm, everyone."

Professor Garcia waved his staff, and the students who were shouting in panic immediately calmed down.

At the same time, the ground shook and smoothly pushed Professor Garcia forward. Professor Garcia and the students moved like a gust of wind.

"Is this the right way?"

"Yes! Yes!"

Fortunately, the traces left by the vine monster had not yet disappeared.

In Professor Garcia's line of sight, the vine monster, which was fighting in the distance, came into view.

The students of the White Tiger Tower were surrounding it, swinging their swords, but it wasn't very effective. Instead, more of them were being dragged away.

Professor Garcia raised his staff, intending to immobilize the vine monster with a single spell.

At that moment, a thick bolt of lightning shot out from the sky.

Crackle!

The lightning struck the vine monster's body directly. Even from a distance, Professor Garcia could feel the strong magical power contained in the lightning. His hair stood on end.

-■■■■■■...

The vine monster didn't just get electrocuted; it was charred black. The students it was holding began to fall.

Professor Garcia quickly waved his staff to safely land the falling students.

"Are you okay?!"

"Ugh... ugh..."

Seeing the students trembling, Professor Garcia momentarily worried if they had absorbed too much magical power.

Since the vine monster absorbed magical power, young mages could suffer serious internal injuries if they were caught.

The priest Tiziling, who had called Professor Garcia, looked at his friends with a very worried expression.

Are they okay?

"Fortunately!"

When Professor Garcia's relieved voice came out, Tiziling also felt relieved.

Fortunately, they seemed to be okay.

"Is everyone unharmed?"

"Yes. Everyone is fine. They were just a bit electrocuted by the lightning."

"..."

Tiziling was taken aback.

Is that really okay?