Dream On (1)

"Photon Cannon.

Although the mass contained in the photon is insignificant, the impact of photons exiting at high speed was something a single monster couldn't withstand.

The leader of the werewolves' eyes burned. He had fought in countless battles against humans and knew how dangerous mages could be.

"He did it, look! They must have been scared. Shirone did it!"

Martin shouted. But Althor had a different idea. The opponent they were facing now was a monster, not a beast. They say they're right, but their bestial nature is not something to underestimate.

"It won't end like this. Even though Shirone is strong, he's only human. Beasts that hunt in groups don't retreat after taking damage from one or two."

While Althor analyzed, the leader of the werewolves had no intention of backing down. The mage's ability was destructive, but the violence of the group wasn't scared by one person.

"Krrr... kill them..."

"Aaaaaang!"

The howl of the werewolves shook the skies and the earth.

'I can do it. If I awaken, I can win.'

Shirone teleported above and bombarded the ground with a photon cannon. Flashes of light struck like hail. Even if they weren't hit by the Photon Cannon, shockwaves generated from the ground struck the werewolves.

Still, the power of the werewolves didn't diminish in the slightest. In the case of forming a group, they were a belligerent race that even the ogre called the king of the forest couldn't overcome.

Regardless of the damage inflicted on their kind, the werewolves leaped and swung their claws at Shirone. Shirone landed quickly on the ground. There were seven of them waiting for an opportunity.

Shirone turned the Spiritual Zone into a four-directional attack type. The moment the spikes of the Spiritual Zone touched the werewolves, multiple photon cannons fired. A brilliantly bright flash spread, and the werewolves hit by the photon were sent flying backward from where they came.

"Wow, that's amazing... Shirone."

The boys made bewildered expressions. They thought that humans couldn't fight dozens of werewolves on equal terms. They believed heroic deeds were exaggerated in the world. However, watching Shirone's battle, they seemed capable of believing any story as fact.

"huff huff."

Shirone's breath became ragged. The moment he released the Photon Cannon multiple times, his consciousness seemed to fade. It was hard to endure even with the mental strength to sustain photon output for more than 10 minutes. This was because the Photon Cannon is fusion magic that combines light and mass.

Mages have a slot where batteries can be installed. It's the same reason why humans can't focus on two things at once. With the Wise Syndrome, Eruki can duplicate himself, but except in special cases like that, even the highest-ranked mage can only use one magic at a time.

Therefore, it was rare in the professional world for mages to specialize in a single attribute, pure magic. Most combine two or even three attributes to maximize the effectiveness of a single spell.

Siena's Ice Tornado, a combination of cold and wind, and Neid's Fire Sun, a combination of light and fire, were representative examples.

Fusion magic has the advantage of maximizing efficiency at the moment, but it required a high level of mental strength. It was natural for Shirone to feel exhausted after launching such magic consecutively.

'It's a big problem. I think I can only hold out for a few more steps. I don't think I can defeat them all.'

The werewolves were different from alleyway thugs. A beast's sense of smell read its prey's emotions like a ghost. If it showed any sign of fatigue, it would immediately try to tear it apart.

Indeed, even after losing a third of their people, the leader of the werewolves still showed hostility.

Realizing that Shirone was exhausted, the secondary group of werewolves attacked. It was a similar number to the first unit, but compared to when their minds were intact, the feeling itself was different.

Shirone urgently attacked with the photon cannon. A mass of photons was buried in the stomachs of the werewolves running ahead of him.

"Kuaaaaa!"

The giant's body was pushed as it dragged across the ground. However, unlike before, it didn't fall and kept its legs on the ground. Shirone was terrified. He couldn't imagine that his power had diminished so much.

Convinced, the leader of the werewolves ordered a full attack.

"Kang! kang! Kwang!"

The werewolves also felt victorious and rushed at him.

'Now that I'm like this...'

The only thing left for Shirone was the Immortal Function.

But could he endure it?

It was on a different level from the photon discharge he had launched earlier. It was unknown what the consequences would be if fusion magic, which consumed a lot of mental strength, was launched in the infinite realm.

"Great!"

The moment he activated the Immortal Function, pressure increased in Shirone's mind. He thought his head might explode.

"Aaaaaaa!"

Shirone decided and opened his mind. There was a surge of great power along with the sensation that his ego was loosening. The moment the Spiritual Zone filled with light, it violently exploded.

Golden fragments flew as the mass wave pushed the werewolves backward.

Holding a light sphere in his palm, Shirone shot it with all his might. The entire area was devastated as the Photon Cannons spread in a flash of white light. Without reducing the power, the werewolves swayed as if they were stepping on ants.

But he couldn't maintain this state forever. If the infinite is an ocean, Shirone's spirit is a stream. The Immortal Function was like a barrier between them.

It made a hole and boiled seawater, but the barrier would collapse over time.

Since the amount of mental strength to be paid depended on the magic, the mage chose the most effective magic for the price according to the situation.

Magic that has a much superior effect compared to its price is called overpower in the magical society. Representatively, there was time-stopping magic, invisibility magic, alchemy magic, injection, and Almighty Healing magic. So, what about the Photon Cannon?

Shirone thought it was close to overpower. Excellent attack speed, mixed use of single shots and continuous fire, and even the shape of a fuse were all necessary conditions for attack magic.

However, it was only said that the efficiency was higher than the price. Basically, the Photon Cannon was a costly magic. If it were launched indiscriminately like now, a terrible situation could have occurred.

'No more! I'll die first!'

Shirone stopped launching the Photon Cannon. The saturation time was only about 3 seconds, but dust rose everywhere, making it impossible to see an inch in front.

When a gust of wind swept away the dust, the boys shivered at the sight that unfolded before them. The area swept by the Photon Cannon was devastated.

The werewolves were buried in the ground, and those who escaped also trembled in fear, unable to lament the death of their own companions.

Shirone realized the power of the Photon Cannon. In the place where the flash passed, there was truly nothing left.

Since the person who launched the magic was admiring, the position of the victim must have been devastating. The leader of the werewolves had no choice but to admit the reality with a frightened expression.

We can't beat that mage.

"Krrr, we... will... retreat."

Currently, Shirone was in a state of exhaustion to the point where any magic was impossible. However, he persevered with strength in his legs until the end.

"Never come back here. If you enter this mountain again, it won't end here."

The leader of the werewolves conveyed his servile feelings in a clumsy human language.

"No... come... back... no... magic."

"Good."

When Shirone waved his hand, the leader of the werewolves left first. The other werewolves followed the leader into the forest without any remorse.

Only after the werewolves disappeared did Shirone, relieved of tension, stumble and collapse with closed eyes.

"Shirone! Shirone!"

"Shh! Quiet. They might come back."

When Althor warned, the boys covered their mouths.

Althor looked at Shirone again. He laughed heartily seeing him sleeping soundly, unaware of the world.

The boys from the slash-and-burn village grew over time, but Shirone seemed the same as when he was young.

"They say mages don't age."

At first, he thought he was the son of a common mountaineer, a child from where he was born. Shirone didn't resemble Mr. Vincent at all, and that's why he despised him even more.

But it was an illusion. Could Shirone be the ugly duckling of a fairy tale?

A human different from the mountain man from birth.

Althor picked up Shirone. Compared to his physical strength, he was as light as a feather, but he didn't feel proud.

Now he knew he could never carry the weight of intelligence contained in a lightweight body.

"Let's go down. The hunting game is over."

* * *

"Oh my God!"

Shirone woke up and jumped.

It was someone's house.

When he put his hand on the sofa's backrest and looked around, he saw a cozy floor.

He could feel the warmth from the brazier burning in the hearth and hear the sound of food being prepared in the kitchen.

"Eh? Shirone is awake? Lumina, Shirone woke up!"

Martin shouted, and a sizzling sound came from the kitchen. After a while, Lumina peeked her head out from the other side of the wall, her face flushed.

"Here?"

Then, Shirone remembered. It was Lumina's house where he used to stay with his father when he was young.

The boys rushed down from above. They were dressed the same way they went hunting, as if they had stayed by Shirone's side without returning home.

"Shirone, are you okay?"

Althor asked anxiously. As soon as he got home, he inspected Shirone's body, but found nothing unusual. However, since he was ignorant of magic, there could be abnormal signs.

"Shirone tried to remember to see if there was anything wrong with his head. His memory was intact, and his mind seemed fine.

"I'm fine. I must have collapsed from exhaustion."

"Wow, that's good! We knew you'd be fine."

Shirone felt quite bad for unnecessarily worrying them. Of course, the boys thought exactly the opposite.

He had a long dream in the bedroom, but he wasn't actually very tired. However, now he felt really good. It was because his annoying feeling of overlap had disappeared.

He was sure he would overcome it. But when that troubling sensation vanished, he could realize how difficult he had been enduring all this time. 

"Armin was right. As soon as I mastered the Photon Cannon, my senses returned. I didn't even have a nightmare."

There was a growl in his stomach. It was hunger he hadn't felt in a long time. The savory smell wafting from the kitchen also helped stimulate his appetite.

Shirone licked his lips and asked Lumina.

"But what are you doing now?"

"Pork stew. My mom bought meat for me."

Lumina's mother came out of the kitchen with a ladle.

"Shirone, how are you? It's been so long since I've seen you."

"Hello, Aunt. I'm sorry for not notifying you about anything because of me."

"Oh dear, I'm sorry if you say that. How long has my daughter been waiting for you?"

Lumina's face turned red. But suddenly, her expression turned sad in her eyes, and she lowered her head.

Althor understood her feelings. He must have noticed, just like her friend.

Shirone can't be our leader. He wasn't a son of the slash-and-burn village, nor the son of a mountaineer.

Shirone was a mage.

With the atmosphere calm, Althor cheerfully shouted.

"Now! Let's eat. Let's eat something."

"Wow! I'll eat meat after so long! Let's go! Energy! Let's go! Energy!"

Lumina's mother placed a large barrel on the table. She said the pork stew was swinging beyond the proper line.

In Lumina's family, there were only four people, but in the slash-and-burn village, they used to eat together in one house, so there was enough tableware.