Chapter 29
Using the sun cap to block his vision, Kaian sprinted between Liana's illusion and the point where he sensed the concentrated mana.
Tap tap tap tap!
Then...
Light from one particular point struck the silver-white lining of the sun cap and reflected backward.
Flash!
There!
Kaian pushed his concentration to the limit.
I only get one chance.
If he failed to eliminate the true body in one strike...
Then he would have to face an enraged mass of residual mana.
A situation he wanted to avoid if possible.
Tap tap tap!
Kaian remembered breaking rocks in Eldargrove.
Every rock...
No matter how large...
Had one vulnerable, decisive point.
If he struck that point perfectly with his pickaxe...
Even a huge rock would eventually crack.
Right.
This is no different.
In fact...
This was easier.
The target was showing him exactly where to hit.
A tiny point where the foreign mana felt most concentrated.
The place struck by the reflected light.
That was all.
Tap tap tap tap!
Kaian leapt.
He raised the pickaxe above his head.
Fire mana entered the obsidian-infused metal.
The blade glowed dark red.
HMMMMMM...!
One strike.
Let's end it in one strike.
There was no hesitation in his movement.
If all of this truly came from his mother's memories...
Then it was her final inheritance to her youngest son.
...A son should retrieve his inheritance quickly.
Kaian swung the pickaxe through the air.
SWISH!
CRAAACK!
The pickaxe struck empty space with a heavy, shattering sound.
White cracks spread like a spiderweb from the tip.
CRRRRACK!
Finn had been watching from inside Kaian's pocket with only her head sticking out.
When the empty air suddenly cracked...
She unconsciously exclaimed,
"Whoa..."
Then...
A huge crystal pillar hidden from sight appeared.
Kaian finally exhaled in relief.
"So this is it."
"The residual mana's true body."
"It is...?"
Finn sounded completely confused.
Kaian laughed softly.
"Haha."
"Yeah."
"This was creating the illusion."
"I'll explain properly later."
Kaian pulled the pickaxe from the center of the crystal pillar.
A sharp sound rang out.
Cracks immediately spread throughout the entire crystal.
The dazzling light that had filled the room vanished.
The acrid smell of smoke returned to the maze.
"Haah."
"Let's go."
"There should be plenty more crystal pillars to break."
Kaian immediately headed toward the next location.
CLINK! SHATTER...
Behind him...
The crystal completely broke apart and vanished.
Kaian did not look back.
"A son shouldn't keep his mother waiting."
His mother's inheritance.
Her precious memories.
Kaian continued walking silently to recover them.
Kaian stood before the maze wall behind which most of the residual mana had gathered.
He spoke quietly.
"It's okay."
"They aren't trying to kill me."
"If they wanted me dead, they would've acted long before Finn arrived."
His words were directed at Finn.
But truthfully...
He was also encouraging himself.
"They weren't very aggressive earlier."
"I think the original plan was to use Mother's illusion to tempt me into staying beside her."
Finn still had only her head sticking out of the pocket.
"Original plan?"
"Then what's the plan now?"
"Uh..."
"I don't know."
"Maybe injure me badly enough that I can't move?"
"That's more dangerous!"
Conversation did not always move in the direction one wanted.
Eventually...
Kaian admitted the truth.
"I gathered almost all the residual mana behind this wall."
"So it won't be as easy as before."
Finn trembled.
Residual mana might be relatively friendly toward Kaian.
There was absolutely no reason for it to treat Finn kindly.
She looked up at Kaian desperately.
"You do have a plan, right?"
"Hmm."
"I have something I'm relying on..."
"Ugh!"
"Forget it!"
"I'd rather not know!"
Finn covered both ears and completely disappeared into the pocket.
Kaian took a deep breath.
Then he placed his hand against the maze wall and created a handle.
Shhhh...
The longer Kaian remained inside his inner world...
The better he understood his own magical power.
For example...
He already knew the turquoise light that appeared during his spells came from combining Thought Power and Creativity.
But it was only after repeatedly using magic that Kaian realized which of the two affected him more strongly.
No question.
Creativity is my Alpha Mana.
Thought Power was obviously useful.
But the Creativity Kaian experienced possessed power that seemed to completely surpass the laws of the natural world.
Kaian decided to trust that power.
No matter what he saw beyond the wall...
He would not abandon bright, unrestricted imagination.
With that determination...
He summoned the giant who opened doors for him.
"Please."
"U."
The giant was so tall it could not straighten its neck inside the maze.
Yet it was always polite.
Finn almost warned Kaian not to waste mana before battle.
Then closed her mouth.
Can it really be called waste when he has this much to spare?
Besides...
Kaian looked far more relaxed than Finn expected.
Relaxed enough to tease her.
"Finn."
"You really don't want a sun cap?"
"...Give me one."
Kaian smiled brightly and created a tiny sun cap for Finn too.
Then he nodded toward the giant.
"All right."
"I'll formally introduce you to my mother."
The giant opened the maze wall in one movement.
Rrrrrrrumble...
An overwhelming flood of light poured out.
FWOOOOOSH...
Even the giant squinted against it.
Yet the kind giant did not forget to bow in greeting despite barely being able to see.
