Level 1 Strongest Sage 1-Chapter 28Vol. 15 - - The One Clad with the Spirit Kings

"Whoooahh. This is seriously amazing."

"Yes. I feel like I can do anything right now."

Sylph and Undine were checking out their newly supercharged forms. Sylph had grown into the figure of an adult woman, and Undine's water aura was more refined and powerful than ever.

Back in the first qualifier, Sylph had used Halt's mana to power herself and the others up, but this time around, the strongest Sage had clearly, intentionally empowered them. The sheer scale of mana he spent was on a whole other level. The boost was just in a class of its own.

“This old man too... No — I haven't felt this much power flowing through me in tens of thousands of years."

A black-haired young man muttered while looking at his own hands.

It was none other than Gnome, who used to appear as an old man with flowing white beard and hair.

"Eh. You’re Gnome?"

"Gnome!? No way!"

"Ugh, shut up. I'm also shocked when I was summoned looking like this."

Gnome, empowered by Halt's mana, had returned to the prime of his youth. Sylph and Undine had become stronger than they'd ever been. Meanwhile, Gnome, who had grown old and weak, had regained his former, immense power.

"Whatever, I’m like this now, so I should be able to teach that cocky pipsqueak a lesson."

Gnome shot a look at Ifrit.

"N-No way, what the heck! Y-you're that Gnome!?"

The Fire Spirit King was starting to panic after seeing the Earth Spirit King wrapped in such a powerful aura. Even though he'd been amped up by Lain and was feeling invincible just moments ago, he felt more pressured now than when he'd faced the Celestial Spirit King.

However, although Ifrit was getting cold feet, his summoner was also no ordinary guy.

"Calm down, Ifrit. You are the Fire Spirit King. The King of Flames, a symbol of destruction and immortality. You are powerful. And—"

Lain poured even more mana to Ifrit.

The amount was equivalent to several dozen high-level mages. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"The one who summoned you is fairly powerful, too."

The blue flames enveloping Ifrit flared up even more intensely with the influx of power.

"So that wasn't your full power when you summoned me?"

There are those like Cain and Leon, born from powerful bloodlines, destined for strength. There are also the otherworlders who grow strong through divine blessings from the deities, and then there are irregular existences like Halt, who became powerful through a curse.

Lain had none of that—no special bloodline, no divine blessing, no curse.

He broke through human limits through sheer effort alone.

"Let's fight and win together, Ifrit."

"Right. But, Lain. I have a proposal."

"A proposal?"

"Can you perform Aethermantle – the technique of shrouding yourself with mana?"

"...Yeah, I can."

"Good. Then wear me. You seem like a worthy user, and I don’t mind being clad by you."

Ifrit, who had a solid form, dissolved completely into pure flame. The flames gathered and swirled around Lain's body.

((In all of history, you are the first to wear a Spirit King. You may take pride in that. ))

"I see. This is incredible. The mana converts into magic with zero waste. So this is what it's like to be a spirit, huh?"

A being with immense mana had fused with a spirit, a creature capable of wielding magic with the highest efficiency. In a world developed by magic, by all logic, they had just become the ultimate existence.

But—

The technique required to wear a Spirit King, Aethermantle, was something Halt could also use. He just called it his Magic Suit.

"Whoa! You can actually wear a Spirit King like a magic suit!?"

The Sage who used magic with the worst efficiency in the world looked on in amazement. Because of his curse, he could only chant the most basic spells. Only the lowest-tier magic would activate for him.

However, Halt possessed the skill to combine magic. And, as a side effect of his curse, he also possessed infinite mana.

The Spirit Kings, understanding the wish of this ultimate Sage –

"Halt looks like he really wants to try that too."

"My, oh my, seems like you’re the one who wants Halt to use you, Sylph."

"But Undine, you want it too, you know!"

"Sounds fun. Count me in, too."

The bodies of the Wind, Water, and Earth Spirit Kings transformed into auras of their respective elements.

"Come on, Halt. Wear us!" (all three Spirit Kings)

"You guys... Okay! Let's do it!!"

"Did you think I'd just stand around waiting while you power up!?"

Just as Halt was about to wrap himself with the Spirit Kings, Lain launched a fireball. It was an attack that converted the enhanced Fire Spirit King's magic into pure destructive power with zero inefficiency. If that hit, it wouldn't end well.

Sylph and the others, who were in the process of changing from solid forms into auras, were fine. And Halt, who bore the curse of an evil god and had his status [Fixed], of course didn't even get a minor burn.

"Whoa, that’s shocking. That power is insane."

Halt emerged from the blazing inferno completely unscathed.

"...You really are a Bakemono, Halt."

The former student council president, once called a prodigy, was utterly dumbfounded. Lain had gained his power through effort, but Halt had also worked hard to become strong in his own way.

The difference between them was the presence of a divine blessing.

Although, what Halt received from a god wasn't a blessing—it was a curse.

"This is so cool. It's like my Magic Suit, but the mana moves on its own!"

((Leave offensive spells to me.)) (Sylph)

((I will handle defense.)) (Undine)

((I'll take care of movement.)) (Gnome)

The mana Halt wore was the Spirit Kings themselves. They sensed his will and supported him with attack, defense, and movement.

"Alright, here we go!"

The being made with the fusion of the cursed Sage and three Spirit Kings unleashed his aura at full power and charged at his enemy.

"Bring it on, Halt!!"

Waiting to meet him was the fusion of Grendale's top Court Mage and the Fire Spirit King.

The Ultimate Clan Battle, which everyone thought had already peaked in the first qualifier, once again raised the curtain on an insanely intense battle.