Infinite Mage

Translator/Editor: Ryuu

Chapter 148: Forced Breakthrough (2)

"Still, I hope they make it here. Right, Yuna? I'm dying to see the expression on that brat's face when he sees me."

"Please, let me go. Send me home."

Yuna knelt before Marsha, pleading. The attitude of the subordinates alone made it clear she was the top authority in the organization.

"It's okay, don't be scared."

"Does that mean you'll send me home?"

"Of course. It's chaotic outside right now, so I'll send you home once everything settles down. But, I have a small favor to ask, could I?"

"What kind of favor?"

Marsha approached Yuna and gently stroked her head, causing Yuna's eyes to gradually close and her focus to blur.

"What? What's happening?"

Yuna didn't even realize she had closed her eyes as she lost consciousness to the ringing in her ears.

Catching Yuna as she was about to fall forward, Marsha looked down at her tenderly, then turned away with a cold smile.

"Let the fun begin."

* * *

Falcoa's men were rough and violent. It seemed fear was foreign to them as they took hits with their bodies while swinging their swords recklessly.

"Attack with the Wind Force Formation! Charge!"

Their main strategy was guerrilla warfare. They alternated offense and defense in a zigzag pattern, distributing their stamina efficiently, which was horrifying for Shirone's group, who had no experience in war.

However, the essence of guerrilla warfare lay not in ambush but in retreat. It seemed they had no intention of engaging in direct combat.

"Disengage the Wind Force Formation! Retreat for now!"

"Where do you think you're running to!"

Amy hastily unleashed a series of Flame Strikes. In an instant, the enemies lit up and transformed into flashes of light, soaring into the sky as the air tore with a high-pitched sound.

"Ugh, so annoying! We lost them again."

As Amy stomped her feet in frustration, Rian comforted her by patting her shoulder.

"But they're also fighting with all their might. Their numbers are increasing, so Yuna should be safe for now. That's good for us."

Shirone turned to his friends and said,

"Let's assess our condition first. Anyone injured?"

It was crucial to visually confirm any injuries. In a neighborhood scuffle, a bloody nose might be noticeable, but in life-threatening combat, the abundance of endorphins could mask the pain.

After checking each other's physical state, they all breathed a sigh of relief, realizing there were no significant issues.

But the enemies were also unharmed. Despite their best efforts, the enemies would vanish like ghosts at crucial moments.

"We haven't taken down a single one yet. This will disadvantage us in upcoming battles."

Amy shared her analysis so far.

"I've been watching, and I think there's a secret to the bracelets they're wearing. They must be magical devices that trigger spatial movement."

Shirone skeptically asked,

"Is that even possible? It's different from magic bullets. Spatial movement is a magic that moves the mage. Without a Spirit Zone, setting a destination and even activating it would be impossible."

Amy also had her doubts about this. But strictly speaking, it wasn't entirely impossible.

"Maybe... it could be linked with magic circles."

Magic circles are diagrams that imprint special images in space to emanate magical power independently. Thus, even non-mages could utilize magic with the help of magic circles.

"Of course, it's impossible to cast spatial movement with a magic artifact alone. But if it's linked with a magic circle recorded in a specific location, it's theoretically possible."

Understanding the concept of magic, Shirone nodded. However, Tess was concerned about something else.

"Is this feasible for a fallen mercenary group? From what I know, magic circles require a tremendous amount of manpower and money. Plus, spatial movement is a high-level magic, right?"

"That's correct. It's probably a mid-level magic circle. Drawing just one requires the labor of at least five mages working all day, but they could manage it. Falcoa monopolizes all the Lupe. The mercenaries we met at the ruins said the same. The profit margin of Lupe is enormous. They fortified their base by selling drugs. If that's the case, then all this makes sense."

"How much did those bastards earn by selling drugs? A single magic circle wouldn't cover such a range."

Tess's point was valid. Based on her question, Shirone reviewed the battles they had fought.

The first battle took place in a valley where they first saw the enemies retreat. There was also a retreat in the forest, and now, here, they used spatial movement again.

"In my opinion, to cover the distance we need to travel, there must be at least hundreds of magic circles drawn."

"Hundreds?"

Tess was stunned. A mid-level magic circle that requires a day's work from five mages. If there were hundreds, how much gold had been scattered on this land?

"Would they really waste so much money? Just a few circles would suffice based on the distance. If there are indeed hundreds of magic circles, we'll never be able to catch them."

Tess's realization hit her suddenly.

"Ah! I see!"

"Exactly. Now you get it? They've made it impossible to catch them under any circumstances. They've networked the entire northern forest. If we continue like this, we, being outnumbered, will tire first. We won't even reach the summit before collapsing."

Their disdain for those who fortified their base with drug money grew stronger. Yet, now was the time to find a solution rather than dwell on emotions.

"So, what do we do now? How about erasing the magic circles as we go? If the enemies keep escaping no matter where we fight, charging in recklessly won't help."

Amy shook her head. Tess's suggestion was logical, but another issue remained.

"That's difficult. A magic circle is a record etched in space. To remove it, you can't just erase the drawing; you have to obliterate the space. If we do that for hundreds of circles, it could take days."

Understanding the situation, Tess bit her lip. It's crucial in a fight against a group to reduce their numbers. But the enemies had preemptively blocked that strategy.

Shirone, surprisingly, supported Tess's suggestion.

"Let's try destroying one. I'll give it a shot."

"Even if we destroy one out of hundreds, what difference will it make?"

"Our position might not change, but their thoughts could be different. If they went through so much effort to build this network, wouldn't they consider even the loss of one magic circle significant? They might even gather to defend that spot."

"Ah, a high-level psychological strategy!"

Tess quickly grasped Shirone's plan. War is often seen as a power game played with money, but the side with more funds isn't always the winner. Human psychology plays a complex role in warfare.

The more one has to protect, the weaker their resolve. For instance, investing 100 gold to train an elite soldier is futile if they're not utilized, ending up as a waste.

This scenario often plays out in real wars.

Despite pouring money into preparation, the fear of losing their investment prevents the use of elite soldiers, leading to defeat by cheaper forces.

Amy analyzed Shirone's strategy. If they can't chase the enemies, then draw them in. This was the most plausible strategy given the circumstances, though it didn't solve the original problem.

"We're in a situation where we have to consider efficiency. I didn't mention it because I thought destroying magic circles wasn't an option, but neutralizing their effect is much more complicated than you might think."

Rian thrust his sword into the ground with force.

"Can't I just tear the ground apart with my sword until the magic circle disappears?"

"That wouldn't be enough. The magic circles we see are just symbols representing concepts."

Realizing what Amy was trying to say, Shirone defined it clearly.

"So unless we destroy the space to the extent that the magic circle's concept disappears, it won't vanish?"

"Exactly. That's why there are mainly two ways to destroy a magic circle. Use Pure Magic to neutralize the concept itself, or smash the magic circle until the concept breaks down. The former is impossible for us, and the latter requires time."

Tess understood why Amy was skeptical about this approach.

"So it comes down to this. The effort to destroy one magic circle is less efficient than just pushing forward?"

"Right. It's better to continue towards our destination as is if we can't destroy one within at least 10 minutes. The basic intention of using the enemies' psychology is good, though."

As the necessary information for the strategy was shared, they became more silent. In such cases, it was best to follow one person's decision. Rian looked at Shirone, seeking his decision.

"What do you say, Shirone?"

Shirone was inevitably conflicted. With a hostage involved, it was best to move quickly, but being too eager could jeopardize the rescue mission itself.

"Let's destroy the magic circle. I'll try."

As Shirone voiced his decision, Amy looked at him in surprise.

Shirone, known for his insight, wasn't one to gamble on low odds, but he didn't ignore chances either. In her view, the probability of destroying a magic circle within 10 minutes was less than 10%.

"Are you sure? We don't have magic that can do it in time."

Shirone's most potent spell was undoubtedly the Photon Cannon. But even embedding mass into light wasn't enough to handle the weight of the earth.

Potentially, rapid-fire could destroy one within 10 minutes, but the mental energy expended would disadvantage them in future battles.

Another possibility was laser magic, but Amy was skeptical about that too.

Laser magic, which concentrates energy locally to induce molecular vibrations, has the advantage of destroying material regardless of durability but is limited in scope.

"I'll try. I have an idea."

Amy couldn't imagine how Shirone planned to destroy the magic circle, but it was best to trust him. His intuition rarely led astray.

If someone like Yiruki was here, perhaps a more accurate conclusion could be reached, but in his absence, any deviation from Shirone's expectations could only be deemed as force majeure.

With that realization, Amy nodded and said,

"Alright. Then Tess and I will move as one team, and Shirone and Rian as another. We'll maintain a 50-meter distance between us. Let's use Teleportation to scour the surroundings for the magic circle."

"Got it, but be careful. Focusing too much on the distance might lead to collisions with other obstacles. Teleporting through the forest is dangerous."

Even Shirone, a Teleportation specialist, needed high concentration to traverse the forest. However, Amy retorted somewhat brusquely, annoyed by Shirone's caution.

"Who are you worrying about? You're not equating me with those Supernatural Psychic Science Research Group kids, are you?"

Although her words were meant to ease Shirone's concerns, they weren't entirely incorrect. Amy, having mastered The Bridge That Cannot Be Crossed and possessing Red Eyes, was unlikely to encounter accidental collisions.

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