Genius Warlock

In a secluded section of Lake Village stood an immense research facility.

This facility concealed a clandestine underground level.

The reason behind its covert nature lay in the ominous pool of blood exuding a repugnant odor. The purpose of this blood pool was clear—facilitating the swift transfer of regularly apprehended individuals.

These unfortunate souls served as raw materials for the progress of the Life School project.

A genetically altered human swiftly apprehended an escaping individual and forcefully escorted them to an undisclosed location.

"Hey, stop."

The overseer of the basement, a wizard of great power, issued a stern command to the genetically modified human, halting its movements.

Under the wizard's manipulative influence, this altered human had suffered a reduction in intelligence and had been deprived of the ability to speak, emitting only eerie and unsettling wails.

"Uuuhhh…"

Despite being the creator of this grotesque creature, the wizard couldn't help but frown at its horrifying appearance.

"The Grand Master has already begun the spell. Don’t take them to the top floor, move them to the first-floor storage. Also, inject them with sedatives.”

The genetically modified human responded with pitiful groans, nodding in acknowledgment. Its appearance remained repulsive upon closer inspection, yet it oddly seemed to suit its role.

"Wh, what… What the hell is going on?"

Suddenly, one of the wizards, or rather, one of the ‘materials' who had emerged from the blood pool regained consciousness and spoke.

Confused and terrified by the incomprehensible circumstances and the bizarre scene unfolding before him, he instinctively struggled to break free. However, the modified human effortlessly restrained him and injected a crimson substance into his neck.

"No, don't… I don't want to."

The wizard's consciousness faded once more as his resistance proved futile.

The genetically modified human proceeded to drag the unconscious wizard to the first-floor storage, and the basement once again fell into silence.

Two wizards responsible for the basement exchanged words.

"Is the end in sight?"

"I suppose… We’ve gathered more than a hundred people. The Grand Master has already begun the spell. It will be over soon."

"So, our time is finally arriving?"

‘Our time…’ It was a phrase filled with resonance.

It was the phrase Theodore had used when recruiting them, signifying the dawn of a new era – a society harmoniously governed by wizards.

What was currently unfolding in Lake Village was merely the preparatory phase for this grand plan – a step towards constructing a new magic world centered around Life School.

Once this preparation was complete, their next targets would be Landa and eventually the entire England territory.

Although it might sound grandiose, all the wizards involved believed in it.

The mastermind behind this elaborate scheme was none other than Theodore, a genius known for his exceptional techniques and research. It was a gamble, but if successful, it would bring to life the ideal society that Life School had envisioned.

‘And then we will enjoy eternal life as the upper echelons of that society. That’s why we endure the humiliation of managing these wretched beings.'

As they looked upon the modified humans, the wizards of Life School contemplated their role in this unsettling yet fitting endeavor.

Once the plan succeeded, this task would be entrusted to regular wizards, not belonging to Life School.

"Hm? Another one coming?"

The surface of the blood pool rippled subtly, indicating the arrival of more ‘materials.'

The wizard in charge of the basement issued orders to the genetically modified humans.

"Another shipment is coming. Prepare."

The modified humans emitted eerie wails from their grotesque mouths as they readied themselves to receive the new ‘materials.' As the wizard had predicted, something soon emerged.

It was four men who had managed to avoid capture: Oliver, Kevin, Philip, and Terence.

"This seems to be the place.”

***

"This seems to be the place," Oliver remarked as he swiftly surveyed the surroundings through the warlock's eyes.

Within the colossal building, wizards who appeared to have been abducted were gathered in various areas, numbering well over a hundred. Moreover, numerous individuals presumed to be members of the Life School, accompanied by genetically modified humans, were present.

Despite their own forces being relatively small in number, stationing this many personnel here indicated the significance of this location.

Although the distance was considerable, Theodore and Carl's emotions were discernible on the upper floors of the building, surrounded by a multitude of wizards.

‘Did I rush this?' Oliver pondered briefly. Regardless, he proceeded according to the plan discussed earlier.

Oliver harnessed his inner mana, swiftly taking control of the extensive pool of blood, transforming it into a crimson sea.

Swish. Swish. Whoosh.

The red pool of blood temporarily undulated due to Oliver's interference, converging around several focal points infused with his mana and intent, forming numerous compacted blood masses.

Before the opponents could react, Oliver initiated his blood magic.

[Impalement]

Peering through the eyes of a warlock, Oliver observed life school wizards above the ceiling and cast the Impalement blood magic.

A massive, compressed blood mass, sculpted by the wizard's will, shot upward like a colossal stake, impaling the enemy with overwhelming physical force.

The ceiling remained intact but bore clean punctures at the targeted locations.

Without exception, the life school wizards and the modified humans in view were affected. The life school wizards, in particular, gazed at Oliver with expressions of incomprehension, gripped by profound fear.

[Blood Donation]

Unperturbed by their fear, Oliver drained all the blood from the pierced bodies through the stakes. Blood magic's limitations lay in the quantity of blood, which restricted the frequency and potency of its use, necessitating a steady supply.

As the wizards and modified humans in the basement withered away like mummies, Oliver quickly shifted his gaze upward.

Although he had inflicted some damage on the adversaries above, not all of them had been eliminated. Some evaded or defended against his attacks, and a few were preparing countermeasures, comprehending the situation.

Before their preparations could conclude, Oliver once again employed blood magic through the blood stakes he had driven into the upper floors.

[Blood Thunder]

Oliver generated blood-red lightning by altering Blood Fire, sweeping it viciously across each floor.

A thunderous roar reverberated from above the ceiling. Life school wizards on every level suffered varying degrees of damage.

Naturally, this was to be expected. Unlike Blood Fire, which had a more indiscriminate effect, Blood Thunder was specifically designed to target living beings. This made the attack not only more precise but also broader in its reach, rendering it considerably more menacing to life forms.

Oliver remained composed and inwardly acknowledged, ‘It wasn’t that difficult’. He silently extended gratitude to Kevin for his comprehensive lessons on elemental magic and elemental alterations.

"Impressive. More than half were hit…!" Philip exclaimed, utilizing his magical sensing ability, which surpassed Oliver's.

Philip conducted a comprehensive scan of the entire building, extending his magical senses both along the ground and into the air.

"Something to learn from."

"Thank you, General… But there are quite a few who blocked it. They must be experienced; they deployed defense spells immediately upon attack and are now rearranging their defenses."

"Then we must sweep them before that! Kevin…!"

At Terence's urging, Kevin promptly took action. Despite his mana being depleted from the previous battle, Kevin deftly channeled his mana and anchored it to the walls.

Leveraging Gaia sub-school magic to manipulate the Earth, Kevin manipulated walls, stones, and cement, creating an opening. As soon as the entrance materialized, Terence, whose physical form had been enhanced by magic, leaped through to engage the life wizards on the first floor.

"From here on, I'll take over! Go up first!" Terrence shouted, adhering to the plan.

The essence of this mission was to obstruct Theodore. Therefore, instead of proceeding cautiously as a group, they needed to prioritize swift advancement, even if it entailed some risk.

Naturally, in the process, they risked their lives if they became dispersed, but everyone had already accepted that possibility.

Kevin confirmed his agreement and proceeded to bore holes in the ceilings of each floor. He caused the ground beneath him to surge upwards like a pillar, rapidly ascending as if on an elevator.

During this ascent, Oliver witnessed Terence displaying extraordinary physical prowess as he swiftly navigated through adversaries on the first floor. With a single strike, he could shatter a human body, and not only that, he infused pure magic school's explosion magic into his fists, unleashing potent area attacks against the wizards who had launched a coordinated assault.

Indeed, all the wizards present were of no ordinary skill, yet Terence's fists and explosion magic overwhelmed them, rending their faces and bodies asunder.

"Huh?!"

Suddenly, the ascending pillar decelerated. Mana interference was at play.

Both Kevin and Oliver instinctively directed their attention towards the ceiling, realizing that wizards from the upper floors had joined forces to impede their progress.

But that wasn't the extent of it.

BANG!!!

They manipulated bricks and cement within the ceiling, attempting to crush Kevin, Oliver, and Philip by dropping a massive pillar upon them.

Quick on their feet, the members of Oliver's group dodged the impending disaster, but this maneuver scattered them in different directions.

"Now's the time!"

A wizard on the upper floor shouted, and along with his colleagues, summoned multiple ally wizards around Oliver, Kevin, and Philip using bracelets embedded with magic stones.

It was an impressive display, showcasing the opponent's skill level. These auxiliary items aided in spatial magic manipulation, a feat of considerable dexterity during combat.

Of course, Oliver, Kevin, and Philip were no strangers to such challenges.

[Blood Blade]

[Flame Chain]

[Enlarge]

Oliver employed the blood he had gathered earlier to send out bat-shaped blades, slicing through the newly arrived life school wizards and modified humans.

Kevin conjured fire chains from his fingertips, binding and immolating the suddenly appearing adversaries, tearing them apart.

Philip enlarged multiple weapons, and with formidable physical force, he cleaved through the enemy combatants, reducing them to pieces.

In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen life school wizards met their demise.

The faces of the wizards who had summoned them turned ashen white. A significant portion of their power had been swiftly diminished in one fell swoop.

Nevertheless, such scenarios were not uncommon in wizard battles. A single wizard possessed the capacity to unleash firepower capable of taking out multiple adversaries simultaneously. Hence, minor tactical or responsive differences could readily tip the scales of victory and defeat.

This didn't negate the psychological impact, though. The wizards above, disheartened by the substantial loss, seemed to have undergone a change of heart, attempting to crush Oliver, Kevin, and Philip by collapsing the ground beneath them.

Fortunately, Oliver's reaction time was quicker this time.

[Impalement]

[Blood Lightning]

Utilizing the blood of the enemies he had recently dispatched, Oliver propelled blood stakes towards the foes situated above the ceiling, simultaneously generating lightning in that state.

The adversaries on the ceiling, who had hastily launched their assault, lagged in their response to Oliver's abrupt counterattack, resulting in their vulnerability.

‘Most of the upper floors have been suppressed.'

BANG!

A resounding noise reverberated as Oliver's counterattack succeeded.

Turning his head, he witnessed a wizard who had endured Philip's attack through some form of superhuman regenerative ability enlarging his fist and striking Philip.

Whether it dwelled in the realm of magic or black magic was perplexing, but the fortunate aspect was that Philip managed to block the assault.

Using a golem prosthetic reinforced by Oliver, Philip deftly parried the incoming attack and enlarged the weapon in his free hand to slice through the assailant. Unsatisfied with merely one weapon, he drew forth multiple armaments, cast shrinking spells, and amplified their potency by infusing them with mana. With precise control over the airborne knives, manipulated by his mana, Philip swiftly dispatched the remaining enemy wizards on the upper floors.

Among them were wizards who specialized in blood magic, but Philip leveraged his overwhelming magical advantage to sever the throat of a blood mage with a blade composed of blood. The result was a gruesome spectacle: blood gushed like a fountain, and severed limbs soared through the air. Philip lived up to the title of Honorary Grand Master, and Oliver ensured that his efforts were not wasted, collecting the spilled blood and recycling the corpses.

[Revive]

Oliver harnessed Life-force to reanimate the scattered corpses around him, followed by the extraction of emotions to activate black magic.

[Obedience]

Once he had established control, Oliver dispatched the reanimated corpses through the hole Kevin had created below, directing them toward injured individuals or ascending wizards on each floor. The grotesque movements of the zombies gave an eerie aura to the scene.

Without delay, he initiated black magic.

[Corpse Bomb]

Explosions reverberated throughout the building, as corpses, Life-force, and emotions served as the explosive components. These detonations packed considerable force, surpassing the capabilities of ordinary black magic due to the additional ingredients used, and their impact was thorough and widespread due to the scattered corpses.

"Quite an impressive skill. It's similar to the Chimera Bomb researched in the School of Life Mat." Philip remarked, his mana extended to sense the situation below.

In some respects, it proved more effective than [Blood Thunder].

"But reinforcements keep coming."

Oliver's observation coincided with the arrival of a newcomer who burst through the weakened wall, emerging from the ongoing battle.

An augmented human, with an arm that resembled a fusion of a gorilla and a reptile, exuded an initial impression of great strength. However, Philip displayed no hesitation as he countered, shattering the assailant's arm with his golem prosthetic.

"It's getting better and better." Philip noted, inspecting his golem prosthetic, before promptly crushing the head of the attacking wizard as though cracking an egg.

"Kevin! Zenon! You guys go up first! I'll start clearing from here."

Recognizing that a passive defensive stance was inhibiting their progress, Philip hurled himself toward the opening Kevin had created. He augmented the power output and enlarged multiple weapons, piercing various sections of the building like a whirligig.

The attention of the numerous Life School wizards guarding the building's interior converged on Philip. He wasn't just dealing with pursuers; he was intentionally acting as bait.

Comprehending his strategy, Kevin and Oliver raced to the top of the building. Soon, they stood before an ominous iron door, devoid of any sentries.

Squeeeak.

As the door swung open, Oliver beheld a familiar face.

It was Carl.

"…You're here?"

Carl stood flanked by two middle-aged men, appearing somehow altered from their previous encounter, if only subtly.