Chapter 172: In Front of Namaran’s Wall (3)

Ziiing! The noctanium shivered violently in Lloyd’s tight grip. It was its way of resisting and fighting.

This is no joke!

Lloyd involuntarily flinched as he realized that the gem the warlock wore in his necklace was not to be taken lightly.

It’s going berserk.

Lloyd’s brow quirked. It felt like he was riding an untamed wild horse or driving uphill in a truck with failed brakes. But Lloyd didn’t care about it at all. He simply spun the mana circle faster, absorbing and discharging the force coming from the gem as it resisted him. At the same time, he sent a portion of his own mana into the gem. This was only possible because he had the Asrahan Core Technique with him.

Let’s see.

Lloyd closed his eyes and focused his senses on the mana he put inside the jewel. The mana structure of the jewel appeared to him like one panorama.

It’s complex.

It looked like a labyrinth, whose countless dots, lines, and sides crisscrossed and jumbled in a mess. Lloyd suddenly felt like he had become a provincial boy arriving in the main capital city of the country or a new driver heading into the busiest part of the city at rush hour the day after getting his license. The structure was overwhelmingly complex. He felt a sense of transcendental bleakness and confusion. It felt like he was trapped inside a jungle. But Lloyd didn’t allow himself to be dismayed. Instead, he pulled himself together all the more with steadfast determination.

This is a blueprint. A design outline. I just need to imagine it’s one that my groupmates majorly messed up on. So, what now? I need to fix it. Modify it. That way, I can save my grade and keep my scholarship!

Losing his scholarship was the worst thing that could happen to him, as he barely met his rent. Without a scholarship to cover his tuition, he’d have to spend one whole year working after filing for a leave of absence. He didn’t want that since it meant delaying when he’d get a job and prolonging his tiring life in poverty.

My engineering degree! I have to get it fast!

Lloyd yelled as he remembered his emotions during college. Mind control. Success. From then on, he was able to maintain composure amid the complicated and frustrating mana fuse. He remained composed, identifying the whole space with aplomb. Then, in a slow and measured manner, like untangling a ball of yarn, Lloyd analyzed all of the dots, lines, and surfaces in front of him. He identified the structure of the mana in the gem and understood it. And soon, the solution appeared on its own. Lloyd learned which areas he should fix or change and what kind of results it would bring. A smile formed on his face when he figured everything out.

You guys are all dead.

Now, he knuckled down, modifying the mana structure, which turned out to be a breeze when he had it all figured out. The job was very familiar, after all.

It’s more than familiar. I’ve done this so many times that I’m sick of it!

This was a blueprint, and he was tasked to fix it. Such an approach comforted Lloyd, who boldly and carefully revised and rearranged the mana pattern of the noctanium. After some time, the results of his efforts started to show.

Crackle…! A portion of Namaran’s Wall began to shake. Even the color of the sky changed. Its ominous signature color of black with a purple hue shifted into a light glowing complexion, and the warlock’s face simultaneously changed.

“Humph…!”

The warlock sucked in his breath involuntarily, and his eyes snapped open in horror. Was it because he was surprised? No.

The mana… in my body!

It was leaving his body at a rapid speed and absorbing into the wall.

Argh!!

The warlock’s heart pounded irregularly, yet he couldn’t do anything. The noctanium was already activated and could not move due to the protective magic. And there was no canceling it.

How… How?!

The warlock was terribly dismayed. The man, Lloyd, had suddenly appeared before him and run his mouth about how he could change the target of the mana absorption. The warlock thought it was all a bluff, and his reaction was only natural because what this man said was beyond common sense. An impossibility. But now, he learned that he was wrong. Every word the man said proved to be true!

How? How in the wooor…

He couldn’t endure any longer. The warlock despaired, but he couldn’t fight. With his arms stretched forward, he was robbed of his mana. His vision grew hazy. His hair fell out in clumps. His skin grew wrinkly, and the blood in his body dried up. His muscles quickly atrophied. His liver and heart shrunk. He was being mummified alive. Even his last drop of mana got stolen by the devouring power of the wall. Lloyd opened his eyes right after.

“…That scared me.”

Lloyd opened his eyes to meet the warlock’s face that had turned into a mummy. Because he had been standing so close, clutching the necklace, Lloyd got a full look at the mummy’s face.

“Ugh. Seriously.”

Lloyd hurriedly stepped back as he shook off his goosebumps. The upright warlock had already died. Though Lloyd felt a little wistful, he didn’t necessarily pity him. After all, he reaped what he sowed. This was his own doing after trying to massacre thousands and tens of thousands of people using that awful wall. When Lloyd thought about how he was only paying the price of his sins, he didn’t feel bad at all and quickened his pace.

“I don’t have any time to space out like this. Ggoming!”

“Ggoming!”

Ggoming fluttered his wings and strutted toward Lloyd when he called. To Lloyd’s relief, it looked like he had recovered pretty well from the shock.

“Can you fly?” asked Lloyd.

“Ggoming!”

“Really? Are you sure? You don’t have to push yourself if it’s too hard. I can just run around instead,” comforted Lloyd.

“Ggomiming! Ggoming!”

Ggoming eagerly shook his large and round head.

“Ggoming! Ggomiming!”

“What did you say? Even so, the situation is serious, so you can’t just sit still and watch?”

“Ggoming!”

Then Ggoming turned around, prompting Lloyd to hop on quickly. As he did, Lloyd already had his eyes on the next target. Another warlock was standing quite far from the cliff slope. He, too, was standing up with his arms stretched out.

“That way. I see another one there. Let’s go!”

“Ggoming!”

Ggoming spread out his wings forcefully, and Lloyd fixated his eyes on the next target.

You guys are all dead meat.

Lloyd made up his mind to change the target of the wall so that it would absorb the dark magicians’ mana instead. And next, he would take their jewels from them. Every single one of them. His heart pounded in excitement at the thought.

Meanwhile, something was brewing in the public hall that stood in the city downtown. Owned by the count, this structure served as a meeting room, conference room, and lecture hall for the people. Today was the same. The public hall bustled with visitors who came to enjoy various artworks by local artists. Happiness permeated the air as everyone enjoyed, admired, and complimented the art pieces and conversed with one another. But this scenery took an abrupt halt just 30 minutes ago.

“That is what is so ironic about life. You never know what lies ahead of you. Don’t you think?”

Cannavaro smiled. He was Namaran’s most famous celebrity and gentle philanthropist, making him the subject of admiration for all the people here. This man was known for his smile. It never left him, even in bad times. That smile of his warmed anyone who laid their eyes on something so innocent and mellow. His smile was almost symbolic. The same went for today. About 30 minutes ago, most citizens flashed a grin at him when he showed up at the public hall. They thanked him for visiting the exhibition despite his busy schedule and how they were glad to see him. He responded to them with the same content smile, and that was when Namaran’s Wall became activated.

“It doesn’t just apply to people’s behavior but their inner thoughts as well. Everyone considers me a philanthropist. They say they respect me. But do you think no one thought otherwise? I doubt it. There probably were those that cursed me, saying that I’m boosting my ego by squandering my money this way. Yet, they would have still smiled in front of me just in case I might give them something nice. Well, I get it. That’s just the way of life.”

Cannavaro’s magnanimous smile twitched. A corner of his lips rolled upward, and his gaze moved to a guy on the floor. The man looked to be in his 30s. He was a knight under Count Namaran.

“Argh…!”

Unlike the rest of the people, this knight had not passed out yet. He was dearly holding onto his fading consciousness as his body convulsed from the flood of mana leaving him. He had only one reason. It was because of his young daughter in his embrace.

“Why… are you… doing this?!”

The knight muttered, obviously racked with excruciating pain. He couldn’t wrap his head around this whole thing. Why is this happening? Why is mana leaving my body this fast? Is this how I, my daughter, and everyone else die? So meaninglessly? The knight asked himself. He was simply enjoying a vacation with his daughter. As he wondered about the cause behind this incident and the way to save his child, fear and resentment flooded his heart in the face of the hopeless situation. And making things worse, Cannavaro looked perfectly fine amid this tragedy. It looked like he didn’t have any mind to help people out. Heck, it looked like he was enjoying it. That terrified the knight more.

“What do you mean why?” Cannavaro’s thin lips rose to form a scoff. “Quietly perish like the good sacrifice you are.”

“What…”

Wham! Cannavaro kicked the knight’s head, and he instantly passed out. Cannavaro, once a philanthropist but now a warlock, hummed as he walked away. He pushed and shoved people in his way as though he was cleaning up trash from the road, heading toward the biggest sculpture in the exhibition.

“Ha.” A chuckle escaped Cannavaro as he looked at the sculpture. “The fall of an angel?”

The sculpture was of an angel crumpled on the ground after losing his wings and crashing down. But his head was looking up straight at the sky. His gaze did the same as though he was blaming the one who took away his wings and resolved to take revenge. It was an image of a fallen angel sending a gloomy and venomous gaze at the sky.

“This artwork pairs very well with the revolution today.”

His smile grew more content. He brought his hand to his lips and bit it hard. Blood came out of his finger, and he stroked the body of the angel, drawing a variety of strange patterns. His smile deepened in the process. Now, the preparation to summon Hell’s Knight was finished. All that was left for him to do was wait.

I only have to wait until midnight.

He would have enough mana by then, and Hell’s Knight would reign on this land, turning this kingdom into a living hell. As Cannavaro was getting emotional at the thought…

“Ah…”

Cannavaro heard a groan from behind, and he looked back with reflex. A strange sight caught him.

“Cannavaro… Have you lost your mind?”

The knight who had passed out was coming back to his senses. Still hugging his daughter tight, he glared tiredly at Cannavaro.

“Hah,” huffed Cannavaro.

What happened? How did he recover consciousness after passing out?

There would be nothing strange about it if it had been any other day. However, the wall was currently erected.

Sure, he was just barely able to hold on using his manaheart earlier. However, he should have never been able to wake up after passing out due to all the mana he lost during that time. It was beyond Cannavaro, but he didn’t worry about it. If this knight was up again, then he should simply stomp him back to unconsciousness again. He was about to walk toward the knight when…

“Ugh…!”

“Mom… Mom…”

He started to hear groans coming from all directions. It was from the people, who were lying flat throughout the public hall. Each of them slowly mumbled, writhing in pain, and opening their eyes. They were waking up, lifting their heads as they looked around in confusion and agony.

What’s going on?

Cannavaro’s smile trembled. Something that was impossible was taking place. As though it wasn’t enough with the knight bearing the manaheart, all the ordinary citizens had begun to regain consciousness one after another.

How is this possible?

Cannavaro turned with a sunken heart, wondering if something had happened to the wall. Something was definitely wrong. The people couldn’t wake up when their mana had been sucked out of them. Only one could remain safe within the wall, and it was he who was protected by his noctanium and exempted from the curse.

So, why? How?! How in the world are these peasants coming back to their senses and sending a look for help at him? I have to check now!

Growing hasty, Cannavaro bolted out of the public hall and checked outside. His eyes widened in fright when he saw the wall.

“The wall is…”

It had changed. Instead of a blackish purple, it was glowing in various colors. And people around the public hall started to wake up one by one.

“…”

It was clear now. There was definitely a problem with the wall, and it was no longer absorbing mana. But that wasn’t the end of his despairing realization. Amid the groups of lethargic people painfully opening their eyes, Cannavaro noticed a silver-haired man walking over his way.

Swish. Javier Asrahan. The silver-haired knight drew his sword as soon as he laid his eyes on Cannavaro. When their eyes met, Cannavaro was gripped with fear. For the first time ever, his smile vanished from his face.