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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 145: The Inflection Point of Pure White (6)
A massive body, tough skin, overwhelming destructive power, and even a deadly beam that eliminates anything it touches instantly.
Just listing its traits made it clear—the Gargoyle was an opponent not easily faced.
“……”
“……”
And yet, right now, a single person was standing against it.
Based on what had happened so far, it wouldn't even be an exaggeration to say he was overwhelming it.
[Seventeen… no, is this already the eighteenth Wind Blade?]
[Another direct hit. Right on the back of the neck. He hasn’t missed a single time.]
[An incredible level of focus and mana control.]
With the shackles of his mana reflux disorder finally broken, Verdi Nakwind was like a storm unleashed.
He dodged and countered the Gargoyle’s attacks alone while landing every single strike of his own.
[The enraged Gargoyle! It swings a fist with its full weight behind it! A direct hit would guarantee elimination!]
[But—his pre-set magic circle activates… and Verdi is lifted toward the ceiling! From there, he fires his nineteenth Wind Blade! Once again, the same spot!]
[Hoho, now the Gargoyle’s neck is starting to wobble dangerously.]
After being struck in the same spot nineteen times, nearly two-thirds of the Gargoyle’s steel-like skin had been stripped away.
It looked as if an axe had been hacking at a tree, leaving the nape of its neck deeply hollowed.
It seemed like a slight push would be enough to send its head tumbling.
[Ah! As we speak, the Gargoyle has grabbed its own neck with its left hand!]
[A bit late, perhaps, but it clearly won’t allow any more attacks to that spot.]
[Hmm. But then, what can Verdi do now?]
All eyes turned to Verdi, who was gasping for breath.
His mana reflux disorder may have been cured, but that didn’t mean his stamina or mana had increased.
[Defense, huh… Verdi, who had been relentlessly pressing the Gargoyle, has now stopped moving. Is he flustered?]
[That, and he seems exhausted.]
[Not much mana left, either.]
A Gargoyle, when dealt a critical injury, would prioritize defending that area.
This had already been confirmed in previous practice battles at the Magic Towers.
[Verdi must have anticipated this situation.]
[Yes, but the fact that he's alone is holding him back. What will he do now?]
[The safest option would be to focus on dodging and wait for his allies to arrive.]
Bellowin said this confidently, certain that Verdi would do just that.
[Nineteen minutes have passed since the match started. Meaning, Verdi has been holding off that monster alone for nearly fifteen minutes. Judging by the progress of the search teams, they should be finding the golden key soon.]
Tesila glanced at her watch before responding.
[Once the White Tower’s mages get the golden key and join Verdi, they can finish off the Gargoyle…]
[Even if it takes a while, they’ll clear it within forty minutes. A solid shot at fourth place.]
[If they do get fourth place, they’ll erase the shame of placing sixth last match.]
The White Tower securing a spot in the top four alongside the Four Great Magic Towers—
That alone would be enough to silence those calling them a fallen power.
[Hmm. But will that really be enough for them?]
Andre, who had been silently listening, finally spoke.
His thoughts were slightly different.
[Judging by Verdi’s condition, his mana reflux disorder seems completely cured. If their goal was simply fourth place, they could have aimed for it using conventional Magic Tower tactics.]
[You mean…?]
[The fact that they took such a high-risk approach means they’re aiming for something bigger.]
Bigger than fourth place.
Second?
Third?
No.
Everyone who heard Andre’s words instinctively knew—
‘First place…?’
‘The White Tower is aiming for first?’
‘The same White Tower that's been at risk of being expelled from the Four Great Towers?’
They chuckled at the absurdity of the idea—but only for a moment.
Because the screen showed Verdi’s face.
His expression was exhausted, yet his eyes burned with unrelenting determination.
The moment they saw those eyes, they all understood.
This was not the gaze of someone merely aiming for second, third, or fourth place.
It was the gaze of someone reaching for the brightest, most coveted crown—one that few dared to dream of.
[But with his stamina and mana nearly drained, what can Verdi do against a Gargoyle that’s now covering its wound? We’ll have to wait and see.]
[Ah, Verdi is finally moving.]
Verdi took a step forward.
It was not a quick step.
In fact, it was rather slow.
Yet his stride was incredibly steady.
“……”
To Verdi, this walk felt like his own life.
Slow but persistent—not outpacing others, but always surpassing the person he was yesterday.
It was the walk of someone running their own race.
[Verdi is activating his final magic circle! Will it be another Wind Blade?]
[…No, wait. It’s wind!]
A gust of wind surged from the magic circle, instantly engulfing the Gargoyle.
And at that moment, something strange began to happen at the creature’s wound.
[Corrosion! It’s a wind that induces corrosion!]
[So this was Verdi’s final gambit! Now it’s the Gargoyle that’s racing against time!]
Even if it covered the wound with its hand, it couldn't block every gap from the wind.
The air slipped through and began corroding the wound from the inside out.
[Ah! The Gargoyle realized the danger—it’s spreading its wings and charging at Verdi!]
[Of course! If a mage dies, their magic disappears!]
[Now, Verdi only needs to stall for time, and victory is his!]
But Verdi didn’t run.
No, more accurately, he couldn’t run.
He no longer had the energy or strength to do so.
Whoosh!
In an instant, the Gargoyle lunged and grabbed Verdi in its hand.
A grin spread across Verdi’s lips—completely unresisting.
"You really are a fool. Guess that rock head of yours doesn’t do much thinking."
-…!
A mage is always prepared.
And the only reason he had so openly displayed thirty-seven magic circles at the start was for this moment.
For the exact moment when the Gargoyle would close the distance on its own.
“I still have one shot left.”
Inside Verdi’s robe, a small magic circle pulsed with light.
The Gargoyle quickly tried to release him and retreat—
“Too late.”
The tiny magic circle erupted in blinding white light.
『Air Explosion.』
The entire room was swallowed in a chain of explosions, igniting every last wisp of wind that had infiltrated the Gargoyle’s wound.
Had there been distance, the explosion might have been dispersed—
But at point-blank range, its destructive force was absolute.
[Wh-what happened!?]
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Bellowin, standing from her seat, swallowed hard as she stared at the dust-covered screen.
A moment later, as the smoke cleared, the screen revealed the massive form of a gargoyle in sharp detail.
A towering figure with sturdy skin and overwhelming destructive power, capable of eliminating anything in its path with a deadly beam of destruction…
Yet, what remained on the screen was a pathetic sight—a headless gargoyle, its imposing presence completely diminished.
[V-Verdi has single-handedly defeated the boss monster!]
[With this, the White Tower’s mages only need the golden key… Ah! Just as I say that, they’ve found the key as well!]
As Bellowin and Tesila erupted in excitement, an announcement echoed through the arena.
[Player Verdi Nakwind has been eliminated due to accumulated damage.]
[An additional 5 minutes will be added to the White Tower’s final clear time.]
Hearing the announcement, Andre let out a chuckle.
[Heh, going out in style until the very end. Even with the added 5 minutes, at this pace, first place is guaranteed, isn’t it?]
[Indeed. Especially the way he read the gargoyle’s behavior at the end—it was incredible.]
Realizing that he wouldn’t be able to close the distance due to his depleted stamina and mana, Verdi had instead manipulated the enemy into approaching him.
It was a textbook example of a mage using psychological warfare to turn the tide of battle.
The commentators marveled at the White Tower’s mages, who were now gathering at the exit.
[It felt like watching a theatrical performance.]
With those words, the arena-wide announcement rang out.
[The White Tower has cleared the dungeon.]
[Final time: 22 minutes, 8 minutes, and 12 seconds.]
[With Verdi Nakwind’s elimination, 5 minutes are added.]
[The adjusted final time is 27 minutes, 8 minutes, and 12 seconds.]
Twenty-seven minutes—ten minutes faster than the previous first-place record held by the Yellow Tower.
The announcement all but confirmed the winner of this round.
The White Tower’s players embraced one another, overwhelmed with joy.
"Verdi, you bastard! I knew you’d pull it off!"
"You did an amazing job! No doubt, you’re the MVP of this match!"
"Alright, alright, I get it. Now let go—I can’t breathe."
"Hold still! We’re going to throw you in the air!"
The mages of the White Tower in the audience erupted into cheers, and soon, applause spread throughout the arena.
A team that had been written off as dead last had proven their worth and set a winning record.
What mage could resist celebrating such an achievement?
—Clap, clap, clap, clap.
—Clap, clap, clap, clap.
The unprecedentedly loud applause continued for a full ten minutes before gradually dying down.
* * *
The second event, Dungeon Escape, had concluded successfully.
The results were as follows:
1st place: White Tower – 8 points
2nd place: Red Tower – 7 points
3rd place: Yellow Tower – 6 points
4th place: Blue Tower – 5 points
5th place: Black Tower – 4 points
6th place: Blood Tower – 3 points
7th place: Green Tower – 2 points
8th place: Purple Tower – 1 point
The leaderboard on the screen soon shifted to display the overall standings for the Night of Mages tournament.
1st place: Yellow Tower – 14 points
1st place: Red Tower – 14 points
3rd place: Blue Tower – 11 points
3rd place: White Tower – 11 points
5th place: Black Tower – 9 points
6th place: Blood Tower – 7 points
7th place: Green Tower – 4 points
8th place: Purple Tower – 2 points
"Hmm."
The representative of the Yellow Tower, Tony Havertz, gazed at the leaderboard, deep in thought.
"The White Tower is tied for third place."
It was frustrating enough that his team had to share first place with the Red Tower, but now, an unexpected variable had appeared.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that the White Tower would win this round.
"Tony, sir, it’ll be fine. The White Tower lot will return to their usual standing in the third event."
"Their usual standing… Is that really where they belong?"
"…Pardon?"
The Yellow Tower mage was caught off guard by the cryptic question.
Tony looked at him with an unreadable expression before speaking again.
"Summon the Red Tower’s Master and the Blue Tower’s representative at midnight. We’re holding an emergency meeting."
"Ah, understood. What reason should I give for the summons?"
"A reason, huh."
After a brief pause, Tony shrugged.
"To make sure the bridge is safe before we cross it—that should do."
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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