Reinventing Magic: An Inventor's Tale-Chapter 58: Kael’s Rage

Kael assumed that Gregor’s overwhelming power far exceeded the limits of Titan’s Leap, believing that holding him off longer would lead him to overdrive. Unbeknownst to him, it was the Umbral Doomstaff’s mana amplification that drastically reduced the cost of Gregor’s enhancement spells, allowing him to stack them twice. This doubled augmentation pushed Gregor beyond natural limits without exhausting his reserves.

However, the staff came with a terrible price—each spell cast with it gnawed away at Gregor’s sanity. To stave off the creeping madness, Gregor relied on brute strength rather than continuous spellcasting. Kael had yet to realize this.

Determined to stop Gregor’s rampage, Kael raised a hand, invoking his gravity magic. The air around Gregor thickened, an unbearable pressure crashing down on him. Under normal circumstances, such force would have crushed a man where he stood. But Gregor, empowered by the amplified Titan’s Leap, resisted. His muscles bulged, veins darkening as he strained against the crushing weight. A deep growl rumbled from his throat as the ground beneath him cracked instead.

Keira, barely clinging to consciousness, gritted her teeth against the pain. With what little strength remained, she channeled a weak healing spell. The magic wasn’t enough to mend her wounds, but it dulled the pain just enough for her to push herself to her knees. Her breathing was ragged, her vision blurred, but she knew she couldn’t afford to collapse yet.

Summoning what remained of her mana, she conjured a second-tier fire spell—a desperate attempt to break Gregor’s focus. Flames shot toward him, but instead of harming him, they merely distracted Kael for a split second.

That moment was all Gregor needed.

With a sudden burst of speed, Gregor lunged forward. His fist, wreathed in dark energy, slammed into Kael’s hastily conjured barrier. The shield shattered like fragile glass, the impact sending Kael skidding backward. His ears rang, his vision swam from the sheer force of the blow.

Gregor didn’t stop. He turned on Alice next, delivering a devastating punch to her gut. The blow sent her crashing into a nearby stone wall, the impact leaving deep cracks in the surface. She collapsed, unmoving.

Then his gaze fell upon Keira.

Keira’s heart pounded as he strode toward her, each step slow and deliberate. Her limbs trembled, exhaustion weighing her down. She had no more spells left, no more strength to fight back.

"Keira!" Kael shouted, gritting his teeth. This was beyond bad.

Kael, struggling to rise, watched in horror as Gregor loomed over her like a predator ready to strike.

Pietro, standing at a distance, clenched his fists. He could no longer afford to hesitate. In a blur of motion, he activated Celestial Edge’s Angelic Grace, his speed increasing exponentially as he dashed forward. His blade, wreathed in divine energy, sang through the air as he struck.

Gregor twisted at the last second, avoiding a direct hit. But as the blade passed near him, a wave of celestial energy rippled outward. The force sent Gregor skidding back slightly, his footing momentarily unsteady. He snarled, crimson eyes flickering with fury.

Pietro didn’t let up. Pivoting swiftly, he unleashed a second strike imbued with Aether Strike. This time, Gregor raised his arm in defense. The celestial energy seared his flesh, and for the first time in the battle, he grunted in pain. The Umbral Doomstaff pulsed ominously, reacting to its wielder’s distress.

Gregor’s fury boiled over. With a roar, he slammed the butt of the staff into the ground, unleashing a shockwave of dark energy. Pietro leaped back just in time to avoid being caught in the blast, but the sheer force sent Keira sprawling to the ground again.

Kael, still sprawled on the ground, watched as Pietro’s attack against Gregor left a subtle yet undeniable effect. The celestial energy from his sword clashed with the dark aura surrounding Gregor, causing visible strain. It was then that Kael realized: Pietro’s weapon was not just powerful—it directly countered Gregor’s corrupting magic.

Pietro lunged again, his sword shimmering with divine energy, but Gregor was too fast. Even with Celestial Edge’s enhanced speed, Pietro struggled to land a decisive blow. Yet, each time his blade sliced the air, it sent out waves of celestial force that inflicted minor wounds upon Gregor. But it wasn’t enough.

Gregor retaliated. His fist, now a conduit of raw, corrupted energy, crashed into Pietro’s chest with brutal force. Pietro was sent hurtling through the air before slamming into the stone ground, coughing up blood.

Keira, barely able to move, tried to stand, but Gregor’s crimson eyes locked onto her. With slow, deliberate steps, he closed the distance, his overwhelming presence suffocating. Kael’s eyes widened as he realized Gregor’s intent.

"No!" Kael shouted, his voice raw with desperation.

But Gregor did not stop. His strike landed squarely on Keira’s abdomen, launching her into the air. She hit the ground hard, rolling lifelessly before coming to a stop. Her body remained motionless.

Something inside Kael snapped, and his rage exploded.

His mana channels flared open, drawing in ambient mana at an unprecedented rate. It was the same technique he had devised when first learning magic—the very method that had allowed him to establish his second and third mana cores. In this world, such a feat was unheard of, yet Kael had done it. And now, he pushed it further.

Analyzing Titan’s Leap through Keira’s earlier explanation, Kael visualized the spell’s mechanics, molding them to augment himself just as Gregor had done. As the spell took effect, his body surged with unnatural strength, his speed increasing to inhuman levels.

Gregor barely had time to react before Kael was upon him.

Kael’s first strike was a blur. Gregor hastily conjured a barrier using the staff’s incantation-less casting, but the act gnawed further at his sanity. He began hearing whispers—dark voices clawing at his mind, his vision distorting with shadowy figures from past battles. His grip on reality wavered.

Kael vanished.

Gregor’s frenzied gaze darted around, searching. He found Kael kneeling beside Keira, his hands glowing with desperate healing magic. But Keira’s injuries were too severe. Kael gritted his teeth, his fury mounting, his five mana cores spiraling in sync with the Arcane Gauntlet of Aetherium, amplifying his mana further.

He gently placed Keira’s broken body down and turned to Pietro, nodding toward the fallen Celestial Edge. Pietro understood immediately and tossed him the sword. Kael caught it, then blinked to where Victor’s Nightsbane lay. Seizing both weapons, he turned back to Gregor.

Gregor’s breath was ragged, his stance wavering. The voices in his head grew louder, his mind fraying at the edges. He gripped the Umbral Doomstaff tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Kael vanished again.

Gregor grunted as a sudden slash tore across his back. He spun, but Kael was gone. Another strike carved a deep gash into his side. The air itself rippled as Kael used Nightsbane’s Shadow Veil to move unseen, his attacks relentless. Celestial Edge burned through Gregor’s flesh, divine energy countering the dark augmentation sustaining him.

Gregor roared in frustration. He slammed the ground, unleashing a massive shockwave of dark energy. The attack cleared the area, but Kael was nowhere to be seen.

Gregor’s hands trembled. freewёbnoνel.com

His thoughts fractured, reality twisting around him. The staff pulsed violently. The whispers had become deafening. Figures from his past stood before him—people he had slain, allies he had betrayed. He clutched his head, staggering.

Kael, still hidden within the shadows, observed closely. He had finally understood. Gregor wasn’t just fighting them—he was fighting himself.

And the staff was winning.

(To be continue...)

---

Artifact 101:

Name: Umbral Doomstaff

Wielder: Gregor

Description:

The Umbral Doomstaff is an ancient and sinister relic, crafted from dark, gnarled wood and imbued with powerful runes that glow faintly with an eerie light. The staff is adorned with a large, jagged crystal at its peak, known as the Tenebris Shard, which pulses with dark energy. This relic grants its wielder the ability to cast spells without uttering any incantations, allowing for faster and more fluid spellcasting.

Curse Effect:

While the Umbral Doomstaff bestows great power upon its wielder, it also comes with a severe curse. The staff gradually corrupts the mage’s mind, causing bouts of intense rage and madness. With each spell cast, the mage edges closer to losing their grip on reality. The dark energy within the staff fuels uncontrollable berserk tendencies, making the mage a danger to allies and foes alike.

As the mage continues to wield the staff, the episodes of berserk fury become more frequent and severe. These episodes are characterized by violent outbursts, loss of self-control, and an overwhelming desire to destroy anything in sight. The mental strain can lead to permanent psychological damage, ultimately driving the mage into a state of irreversible madness.

Abilities:

- Instant Spellcasting: The wielder can cast any spell instantly without the need for incantations.

- Mana Amplification: Spells cast using the staff are significantly more potent, increasing their effectiveness in battle.

- Dark Vision: The staff grants the wielder the ability to see in complete darkness, making them formidable opponents even in the dead of night.

---

Celestial Edge

Wielder: Pietro

The Celestial Edge is a legendary weapon imbued with celestial power, granting its wielder a range of formidable abilities that combine both offensive and defensive capabilities.

1. Blade: Forged from aetherium, a rare and divine metal found only in the celestial realms, the blade has a radiant, translucent appearance with swirling patterns of light and energy. It is perfectly balanced for both powerful strikes and swift attacks.

2. Edge: The blade’s edges are enchanted to remain eternally sharp, capable of cutting through any material with ease. When swung, the blade leaves a trail of luminous aether, adding an otherworldly touch to each strike.

3. Hilt: The hilt is crafted from celestial gold and wrapped in angelic silk, providing a comfortable and secure grip. The design ensures perfect balance, allowing for swift and fluid movements.

4. Guard: The guard is shaped like a pair of celestial wings, symbolizing divine protection and guidance. It is adorned with intricate celestial runes that glow faintly when the sword’s abilities are activated, channeling the power of the heavens.

5. Pommel: The pommel houses an aether crystal, a powerful artifact that contains the essence of celestial energy. This crystal serves as the sword’s energy source, powering its special abilities.

6. Special Abilities:

- Aether Strike: The wielder can channel the power of the aether crystal to unleash a devastating strike that harnesses the energy of the celestial realms, dealing massive damage to enemies and banishing dark entities.

- Celestial Shield: By focusing their mana, the wielder can create a protective barrier of aether that absorbs incoming attacks and reduces damage. This shield can also reflect some of the energy back at the attacker.

- Heavenly Burst: The sword can store and release bursts of celestial energy, allowing the wielder to launch explosive ranged attacks that disintegrate enemies within the blast radius.

- Angelic Grace: Activating this ability increases the wielder’s speed and agility, allowing them to move with the grace of an angel and strike with the precision of divine judgment. It also grants temporary resistance to both light and dark-based attacks.

---

Artifact Name: Nightsbane

Wielder: Victor Dalmont

Type: Voidsteel Sword

Appearance: Crafted from Voidsteel, Nightsbane features a blade of deep obsidian black, faintly shimmering with iridescent hues of violet and crimson that shift like a living shadow. The crossguard, designed to resemble the outstretched wings of a falcon, evokes precision and lethality. A mythril hilt wrapped in supple dark leather ensures a firm grip, while the pommel is set with a fragment of a Red Mana Crystal, glowing faintly like a smoldering ember.

Abilities:

- Enhanced Durability: The Voidsteel construction and enchantments render the blade nearly indestructible, able to withstand the harshest conditions.

- Shadow Veil: Cloaks the wielder in an aura of darkness, enhancing stealth and making movements harder to track.

- Pierce the Void: Allows strikes to partially bypass armor and magical defenses, delivering precise and devastating blows.

- Shadow Surge: Temporarily heightens the wielder’s speed and agility, leaving a trail of disorienting darkness that reduces enemies’ accuracy by 15%.

- Mana Reservoir: Stores a secondary pool of mana, available for bursts of power or emergency use.

Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m