Episode 2
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Era of Darkness
The Great Mage King, known in ancient times as the Mage of the Tenth Circle. Ten thousand years ago, long before the current era, his name carried both reverence and fear.
Encrid, the Mage of the Tenth Circle, was the most powerful mage in history.
"The Tenth Circle represents the pinnacle of magic an achievement so absolute that even the gods cannot surpass it," Encrid declared.
Park Chan-woo I listen carefully.
Reincarnated into a bizarre world unlike anything he had ever imagined, he found himself grappling with its strange rules and systems. Unlike others who might have been drawn to fantasy novels or games, Park Chan-woo had lived a focused life with a singular goal: to rise as the strongest, claim the title of Monarch, and lead the Triad of the Night as its patriarch.
Here, strength dictated everything, and the weak were left to perish.
"I died ten thousand years ago during the Era of Darkness, after emerging victorious in a great war," Encrid revealed.
"What war?"
"Don't concern yourself with that yet. I erased all records of the Era of Darkness. Even as my heir, you'll need to reach the Ninth Circle before I tell you anything more about those events."
Park Chan-woo wasn't particularly invested in the past. What captivated him was the magic of this world its complexity and potential. Encrid's explanations were detailed and enlightening.
This world, dominated by aristocrats, nobles, and royalty, operated under a rigid hierarchy. Yet, as the strongest mage, Encrid had stood above all of it. No one dared treat him with casual familiarity. For Park Chan-woo, the history and intricacies of the world Encrid described were fascinating and eye-opening.
"I'm starting to understand how things work here," he thought.
The society resembled a blend of medieval and modern elements. While cities and cultures exuded a medieval aesthetic, there were glimpses of advancements that hinted at modern influences.
Mages
In this world, those blessed by mana were called mages. The presence of mana in a person's body caused a semi-transparent, half-circle to appear near their wrist. When a mage's "Magic Circuit" was fully formed, the half-circle became whole, designating them as a Mage of the First Circle the first step in a mage's journey.
Encrid spoke of the hierarchy of magic, explaining that in this era, magicians progressed from the First Circle to the Ninth. However, no one had ever progressed beyond the Ninth Circle, save for Encrid, the only person to have reached the Tenth Circle.
"I've told you enough about myself. Now, who are you, heir?"
Park Chan-woo hesitated.
He knew little about the body he now inhabited. What he did know was grim: the body belonged to a teenager abandoned at birth, raised in an orphanage until the age of ten, and left to survive on the streets for seven years.
One day, near the royal castle, this body had witnessed slave traffickers smuggling a silver-haired adolescent out of the castle. Pursued by knights and mages who had defected to aid the traffickers, the teenager had been caught in the chaos. The traffickers, assuming he had seen too much, turned their attention to him, forcing him into a desperate fight for survival.
"It must have happened when he jumped into the abyss, died, and I somehow ended up in his body. At the same time, I appeared in this strange library," Park Chan-woo thought as he pieced together the events. Despite having access to this body's memories, he still didn't know its name. With no other options, he decided to introduce himself.
"My name is Park Chan-woo," he said slowly.
"A peculiar name," the voice of Encrid replied, sounding curious. "I've never encountered one like it before. But that's irrelevant. What matters is that you are my heir and for one reason only."
Park Chan-woo raised an eyebrow. He had barely arrived in this world, and the weight of Encrid's words was still sinking in.
"The reason is your mana. Without it, you wouldn't have been able to enter this library, which I created and sealed for my heir alone."
"But you said earlier I only have a particle of mana," Park Chan-woo pointed out. "How is that enough?"
"I don't know," Encrid admitted. "But what I do know is that your mana is… the Mana of Darkness."
Park Chan-woo frowned. The name sounded significant, though he wasn't sure why. Judging by Encrid's tone, it seemed like something extraordinary.
"And why does that matter?" he asked.
"….."
Silence followed. Even without seeing Encrid an ability requiring one to reach the First Circle Park Chan-woo imagined an expression of surprise.
This world was an enigma to him. Unlike his home, which relied on technology and logic, this place revolved around mana and the power it granted. To someone like Park Chan-woo, who had spent his life as an assassin in a world devoid of magic, mana was a foreign concept.
Still, Encrid pressed on. "The Mana of Darkness… do you understand why the universe keeps expanding infinitely?"
"Because of dark energy," Park Chan-woo answered.
"Exactly. Now, imagine if dark energy were converted into mana. The Mana of Darkness. How powerful could magic become when fueled by such a source?"
Park Chan-woo opened his mouth to respond but found himself speechless. The explanation, though rooted in fantasy, made a strange kind of sense. If mana could stem from dark energy, its potential might indeed be immeasurable.
"So, does that mean using this mana could make me stronger than a regular mage?" he finally asked.
"Precisely. You're sharp, even if you don't look it," Encrid quipped.
Park Chan-woo scowled at the jab but didn't dwell on it. His mind wandered instead to the life he had left behind a life of bloodshed, trained as an assassin since childhood. He had hated it, hated the emotionless existence it had forced upon him. In this new world, with this new body, things could be different.
Park Chan-woo took a deep breath and thought.
"Ah, I guess it's like starting all over again."
He vowed to abandon the path of an assassin. He would embrace this second chance, rediscover his humanity, and experience the freedom he had been denied.
"So," Park Chan-woo asked, his voice steady, "how do I become a First Circle mage?"
Encrid chuckled. "I was a Tenth Circle mage myself, but that depends on you your talent and whether you can create a magic circuit."
"So, it's all about talent, huh?"
"Exactly. Magic mastery is always tied to talent."
Park Chan-woo smiled faintly. For the first time in years, the road ahead didn't feel like a prison it felt like a challenge worth embracing.
It wasn't by chance that he became the Monarch of the Triad of the Night. It wasn't by chance that he became the strongest. It wasn't by chance that he single handedly killed countless members and the seven seats in command.
All of it was because he had the greatest talent in the world because he became the strongest through his talent.
"Then it won't be difficult at all."
Park Chan-woo closed his eyes and sat on the ground, adopting a meditative posture. One of the Chinese techniques he knew was meditation, used by monks and martial artists. It was the best method for obtaining mana.
Encrid observed Park Chan-woo. He didn't truly know who this person was, nor did he understand how it was possible for someone else to possess Mana of Darkness besides himself. He had never thought his heir would actually appear, but here he was.
"Hmm..."
Park Chan-woo could see the mana. Not only that, but the mana embraced him. On his wrist, the "Semi-Circle" Encrid had mentioned appeared. This marked the beginning of his path as a mage.
"Ha... This is absurd. No one has ever reached the Semi-Circle instantly not even me."