Fwoooosh!
Fireballs flew in from three directions.
I swiftly calculated their trajectories and deployed a remote shield to block them.
[Magic Power has increased by 1.]
Taking advantage of this moment, Baphomet prepared to construct a magic circle, but no chance.
I quickly fired a mana arrow to disrupt it, and in turn, shattered the magic circle it had started forming.
[Accelerated Casting Trait has reached Lv.3.]
[Mana Arrow Proficiency has reached 100%.]
“Good! Good! Good!”
The more the battle continued, the more familiar I became with Baphomet’s patterns, and the stronger I grew.
Though the wound on my shoulder ached, the only thing dominating my mind was the sheer pleasure of growing stronger.
Drenched in exhilaration, I shouted,
“Is that all the patterns you’ve got? Come on, try something new, Boss!”
Thwack!
Even as I spoke, my mana arrow pierced Baphomet’s thigh.
By now, the creature must have been feeling the pressure.
The challenger it had been overwhelming at first was growing, and growing, until I was nearly at its level.
However, my condition wasn’t exactly ideal either.
My mental focus was at its peak, but my physical stamina was failing to keep up.
Relying on unlimited mana, I had been recklessly throwing out spells, and the fatigue was accumulating.
More importantly, I had yet to land a decisive blow on Baphomet, which was starting to make me anxious.
‘I need to stay calm, especially at times like this.’
An opportunity would surely come. I just had to keep pressuring it and force an opening.
One solid hit from my gauntlet, and I could turn the tide.
I maintained my focus and continued deploying magic circles.
As the fierce battle between mages raged on, Baphomet suddenly raised its glaive and slammed it into the ground with a thunderous crash.
This was a new pattern. What the hell was it doing?
Wuuuuuuuuu!
The orb at the tip of its glaive glowed brightly, and a massive magic circle spread across the floor.
Green magical spheres began forming around it, flickering ominously.
Sensing danger, I quickly deployed a remote shield, but before I could fully grasp what was happening, the completed magic spheres shot toward me.
‘…Huh?’
For a moment, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
The spheres weren’t flying in straight lines.
They spun wildly, zigzagged unpredictably, and twisted erratically through the air.
There was no way to read their trajectories.
Even though my shield was up, the spheres seemed to mock it, curving in bizarre paths to bypass the defense.
“…Tch!”
BOOOOOM!
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
A series of massive explosions reduced the battlefield to rubble.
I barely avoided a direct hit, but the shockwaves sent my body flying, slamming me hard against the ground.
Every bone in my body screamed in agony.
“Urgh!”
The impact left me struggling to move.
Lifting my head with difficulty, I saw Baphomet already preparing its next spell.
‘Move fast!’
If Cube had taught me anything, it was that defense alone wouldn’t win battles.
I fired a mana arrow remotely, aiming for the magic circle on Baphomet’s glaive.
Swish!
But before it could hit, Baphomet lunged forward, extending its claw-like fingers, which had grown as long as swords, and slashed my arrow out of the air.
…That was supposed to be a surprise attack, and it still blocked it?
I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination, but I could swear I saw the corners of Baphomet’s mouth curl into a grin.
Fwoooosh!
Meanwhile, more green spheres were forming and swelling rapidly around the glaive.
Based on my experience, these things packed a serious punch.
One direct hit, and it was over.
Even if I managed to avoid them this time, my stamina would be drained to its limit, and if this pattern kept repeating, I would inevitably lose.
How the hell was I supposed to beat a monster like this with just the three basic spells?
Desperately searching for a solution, my gaze naturally landed on the magic circle surrounding the glaive.
And suddenly, my mind snapped into focus.
…Wait a minute.
Couldn’t I copy that?
As my brain raced at full speed, Baphomet’s completed magic spheres launched, their erratic trajectories making them nearly impossible to track.
I gritted my teeth and threw myself aside.
BOOM! BOOM!
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The battlefield was devastated once more.
Baphomet watched the rising smoke with satisfaction and began casting another spell.
Like hell I’d let it.
Swoosh!
My mana arrow shot through the lingering smoke, flying straight toward Baphomet.
Once again, it swung its elongated claws to deflect the attack.
But—
Shiiiiiik!
The trajectory of my mana arrow twisted unnaturally midair, spiraling wildly.
Baphomet’s claws slashed nothing but empty space.
And in that moment—
Thud!
The arrow embedded itself right in the center of the magic circle on the glaive.
“This is how it’s done, right?”
As the smoke cleared, I stood there, battered and tattered, with one arm stretched forward, smirking.
Baphomet’s eyes widened in shock.
It attempted to activate its magic circle again, but all it produced were harmless sparks.
“Of course, it won’t work. I severed the equation leading from the runic inscription.”
Slowly, I pushed myself up.
When I first saw that magic circle, I was completely awestruck.
Deliberately overloading the output rune to induce an instability, making the projectile’s trajectory unreadable?
Even though I had studied magic, this felt like glimpsing an entirely new world.
“Seriously, thanks. Seeing your magic circle opened my eyes.”
I had no idea if Baphomet could understand me, but I couldn’t help saying it.
I spread my right hand.
Vwoom!
The base formed.
The field was drawn.
Runes inscribed themselves, wrapping in intricate equations.
Like blood flowing through veins, mana coursed through the magic circle, creating a living system.
This was my first original magic circle.
Swoosh!
A mana arrow fired from the newly formed magic circle, spinning so violently its trajectory became impossible to read.
Baphomet desperately swung its claws, but the twisting arrow effortlessly evaded them.
And then—
Smash!
It struck dead center in the magic circle.
Crack!
Baphomet’s magic circle shattered into countless fragments.
And then, notifications appeared before me.
[You have created your own original magic circle.]
[Magic Power has increased by 5.]
[Intelligence has increased by 2.]
I activated my Sage’s Eye to examine my creation.
[Spin Guide Arrow <Kim Yushin’s Original>]
Magic Circle Value: C+
Process: 2-step
Type: Output-Based
Special Effects:
- Homing Function
- Output Overload
Understanding: 45
Sustainability: 12
Operation Efficiency: 97
Output: 140
For the first time, I created my own magic.
I remember the first time I drew a magic circle after reading The Fundamentals of Magic. I was surprised at how perfectly it matched the one in the book.
It turned out that this was the true power of the Sage’s Eye.
The ability to copy magic.
The power to replicate it exactly as it is.
However, with my current level, it was impossible to fully understand Baphomet’s magic circle.
Simply copying it wasn’t enough—I couldn’t reproduce a spell without grasping its fundamental principles. So instead, I extracted only the necessary parts and applied them to Mana Arrow, my only usable long-range attack spell.
A level beyond mere copying—reinterpretation.
Reaching this point was the key to winning this boss fight.
“It’s too soon to be surprised.”
I immediately drew the next magic circle.
I suspended a magic circle in midair and then sketched about 10% of the Spin Guide Arrow magic circle behind it.
As soon as I activated the central magic circle—
Wooong! Wooong! Wooong! Wooong! Wooong!
Five Spin Guide Arrow magic circles began unfolding as if they were being copied.
“This time, since your magic circle was too complicated, I put in more of my own ideas.”
First, I laid down a magic circle using the Rune of Linkage as the main structure. Then, I positioned five Guide Arrow magic circles around it, each only 10% complete.
Once I activated the Rune of Linkage, I could simultaneously complete the five magic circles in sync.
Normally, when casting multiple spells at once, the number of formulas increases exponentially.
But with the Sage’s Eye and my copying ability, drawing along with both hands was about as difficult as following a trace line.
That’s why this was a true original magic—something only I could use.
“Here it comes.”
Shuak!
Five Spin Guide Arrows scattered in all directions, swinging in erratic trajectories across the air.
Baphomet, in shock, swung its claws wildly—
Thud!
One struck its chest.
Thud!
Another hit its thigh.
Then its waist, and its elbow—
Of the five, Baphomet barely managed to deflect one, but the rest found their mark. Blood gushed from its body as it slumped against the altar.
“…Thank you.”
I slowly walked toward the fallen boss.
“For giving me such a great formula.”
[You have created your own original magic circle.]
[Analysis Trait has reached Lv.2.]
[Magic Power has increased by 5.]
[Focus has increased by 2.]
[You have perfectly understood the test designer’s intent.]
Copy Magical Position
- Magic Circle Value: C+
- Process Complexity: 2-stage
- Category: Output-Type
- Special Effect: Multi-Copy Function
- Understanding: 68
- Sustainability: 55
- Operation Efficiency: 127
- Output: 12
Now, I finally understood the intent of the test designer—the former master of the Magic Tower.
The rules of this trial were as follows:
[Trial Rule Applied – All currently possessed magic, except for the three basic spells, is sealed.]
At first, I thought this meant I could only use the three basic spells.
But that wasn’t it.
Only the magic I had before entering the trial was sealed. Any new magic I created within the trial could be freely used.
This wasn’t just a lesson in going back to basics—it was a challenge to innovate and develop new magic inspired by the trial itself.
—KIIIIIEEEK!
Baphomet let out a final shriek and charged with its remaining strength.
<Gauntlet>
I summoned the Gauntlet magic circle, overlaying it onto both hands.
Baphomet swung its weakened spiked glaive, but I easily blocked it with my left arm.
Then—
I raised my right fist.
Ssshh…!
I exhaled the breath I had been holding and—
A full-force straight punch!
BANG!
Sparks of blue fire exploded in all directions as Baphomet’s body was sent flying.
Crash!
It slammed into the wall with a deafening impact, then crumpled to the ground.
Huff… Huff… Should I go finish it off?
Contrary to my worries, Baphomet didn’t move again.
Soon, its body began to disintegrate, scattering into dust and vanishing into the air.
[Congratulations! You have cleared the Boss Room.]
[Magic Tower’s 2nd Floor, The Grand Archive, has been unlocked.]
[You have acquired some traits of the Grand Archive Scribe.]
“…Finally.”
I had finally unlocked the second floor of the Magic Tower with my own strength!
As the system messages announcing the trial’s completion appeared, a weird sensation overtook my body.
For a moment, my vision went black—
Then the scene changed in an instant.
Before I knew it, I was back inside the Magic Tower.
Lifting my head, I saw that the spatial distortion blocking the path to the second floor had vanished.
Instead, a door leading upward now stood open.
I did it.
Only after seeing the door did the reality of it sink in.
A wave of indescribable accomplishment washed over me—
But it lasted only a moment.
As the tension left my body, exhaustion came crashing down like a tidal wave.
…I’ll check out the second floor later.
And with that, I collapsed on the spot, losing consciousness.
Name: Kim Yushin
Unique Ability: Sage’s Eye
Personal Traits:
- Child of Mana Lv.2
- Master of the Magic Tower Lv.10
- Magical Engineering Lv.10
- Spell Lord Lv.10
- Over-Immersion Lv.7
- Potion Crafting Lv.5
- Accelerated Casting Lv.3
- Multi-Casting Lv.3
- Analysis Lv.2
Basic Stats:
- Magic Power: 99
- Agility: 12
- Strength: 7
- Endurance: 7
Special Stats:
- Focus: 12
- Intelligence: 6
- Willpower: 3
- Perseverance: 2
Total Stats: 148
New Traits:
- Remote Casting Lv.1 (New!)
- Information Processing Lv.5 (New!)
