Chapter 29 : Before the Mana Breaks

“Never seen a Spiritcaller before. Can’t say what’s normal.”

In truth, Redna’s attacks had all followed the same pattern: direct. Unrefined. Brutally simple.

Strong, yes. But once Curtis  had the tools to counter, the threat diminished. Water met fire. Fire faded. Repeat.

“I waited to see if she’d reveal something more—a trump card, perhaps. But… nothing.”

“Seems you’re stronger than you think, Curtis ,” Terty said.

“Me?”

“I’ve seen a dozen mages in my time. Every last one of them was arrogant. That’s the average.”

Self-made mages, those who awakened without noble lineages or formal training, were often caught in a snare of pride and self-worship. The world either ignored them or praised them as prodigies—either way, they believed themselves exceptional.

By contrast, nobles—born into legacy—had pride, yes, but seldom delusion. Surrounded by other elites, they knew their place.

“That Redna—young, powerful, useful magic. She’s probably been praised since her first flame. That sort of attention warps the mind.”

“Flame’s hard to dodge. Hard to block. Of course mercenaries would want her.”

“And after a few years of being treated like a goddess, how could she not become like this?”

Terty gave Curtis  a long look, his brow furrowed in thought.

“And yet you… I find myself wondering how someone stronger than her stayed so grounded.”

Curtis  chuckled softly.

“Is it wrong to be well-adjusted?”

He looked to the sky, memories flickering behind his calm smile.

Not so long ago, he had been nothing—a servant, bowing to masters, hands callused not by magic, but by pouring wine and polishing boots.

Perhaps that’s why he hadn’t turned arrogant.

Because he knew what it meant to be small.

“Well then…”
Curtis ’s voice was calm as moonlit water. “Let’s bring this to an end. Before my mana runs dry.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to fight her a few more times?” Terty asked, brow raised. “Something about a breakthrough?”

“That was before we crossed blades.” Curtis ’s eyes narrowed. “Now I see no reason to wait.”

He cast a glance toward the corner of his vision, where a faint shimmer of magic floated—an interface only he could see.

[Spirit Creation]
[Progress to First Acquisition: 85%]

When they’d first clashed, back at Bron’s Rest, he had gained a mere 2%. But here, on this battlefield soaked in fire and water, every elemental clash had pushed the threshold further.

Dozens of spells exchanged, torrents hurled, defenses raised, heat met with wave—and with each collision, something had awakened inside him.

No more waiting. I will claim it. Today.

Steadying the tremble of anticipation in his chest, Curtis  spoke:

“Advance.”

“Aye!”

The three Bronze-ranked warriors who guarded the wagon obeyed, pushing the heavy cart forward through the mire.

No one in the chaos had time to stop them.

Those foolish enough to try were swiftly cut down. One even managed to lunge—only to find his head removed in a single, effortless motion by Terty.

The path cleared, and the distance between Curtis  and Redna, who had retreated to the rear line, shrank once more.

As soon as she came into range, Curtis  raised a hand.

BOOM!

A high-pressure cannonball of water exploded forward. Redna’s bodyguard barely had time to raise his shield. The blast buckled the metal inward and sent a shudder through the man’s body, his face twisting in pain.

“I’m not here for you,” Curtis  murmured.

He waved his hand again—this time summoning a roaring column of water.

It cracked like a whip, slamming the bodyguard to the side. He skidded across the muddy field, armor scraping, body limp.

Redna staggered, eyes wide. But before she could speak, a volley of spells from other Narok mages came screaming toward her.

Panicked, she summoned her spirit in haste.

FWOOSH!

A wall of flame erupted, evaporating the attacks in a hiss of steam.

It didn’t matter.

Curtis  smiled. His progress bar climbed.

He was no longer fighting for victory. He was fighting for transcendence.

He unleashed everything.

Massive waves burst from the wagon. Streams of water lashed out in arcs and spirals. Enemy interlopers were shoved aside by sheer force, while Redna herself was assailed by precision strikes—needles of water slicing toward her, testing her defense, baiting her flame.

The battlefield’s tide had turned. The fire spirit—once a beast of terror—was now overwhelmed, its energy spent on constant defense.

Mud and ash churned beneath them. The land itself had become a mire, soaked with Curtis ’s magic and Redna’s fury.

Then, at last—

ZIIIIIIIIING—

A strange ringing filled Curtis ’s head.

Not pain—not quite.

A new sense bloomed within him, unfamiliar and raw. It wasn’t like sight or sound or his usual control over water. It was something deeper—like hearing a song from the roots of the world.

A new current of mana stirred within his core, distinct from that of his usual magic. Simultaneously, knowledge—not learned but granted—etched itself into his mind.

A new spell. A new art. A new path.

The rush was dizzying. Curtis  stumbled, knees buckling.

Terty, alarmed, caught him by the arm.

“Curtis ! Are you all right?!”

“Nnngh…”

Curtis  didn’t answer. He turned his gaze inward instead, seeking the truth in numbers.

[Spirit Creation – Lv.1]
[Progress to Next Level: 1%]

It was done.

Even in the haze of nausea and shaking limbs, Curtis  smiled.

Then—

“AAAAAAHHHHH!!”

Redna shrieked.

She had seen his moment of weakness. Believing it her last chance, she poured everything she had into one final assault.

The spirit burst into brilliance, its form growing wild and unstable. Then it lunged—a comet of flame, all fury and desperation, hurling itself toward Curtis .

There was no more need for restraint.

The time for hesitation had passed.

Curtis  shoved aside the blossoming power within him—the new magic could wait.

Instead, he reached deep into his final reservoir of mana and let it all go.

The water he had summoned, stored, and commanded—all of it responded.

The entire battlefield seemed to breathe in reverse as water surged and reversed course.

WAVES rose from the ground, crashing forward with the wrath of a sea unleashed.

KRA-KOOOOOOM!

The fire spirit and Redna were swept away together, consumed in the roaring tide.

A torrent of water, magic, and judgment.