Chapter 6: Chapter 6 – The Forgotten Magic (2)

Its tendrils lashed toward her like striking snakes.

Eternia jumped back quickly.

The vines smashed into the ground where she had stood moments earlier.

CRACK.

Stone shattered.

"That’s faster than the stone constructs."

She analyzed the creature instantly.

Agile.

Fast.

Likely resistant to simple mana attacks.

Using basic magic alone would take too long.

Eternia narrowed her eyes.

"...Then I’ll have to use something else."

Something she had not intended to reveal this early.

Ancient Magic.

A forbidden branch of magic long forgotten by most modern mages.

Unlike normal spells, ancient magic did not rely solely on the caster’s internal mana.

Instead...

It drew power from the mana present in the surrounding world itself.

The atmosphere.

The land.

The invisible currents of magical energy flowing through reality.

The power of such spells could range from simple body enhancement...

To catastrophic phenomena capable of devouring entire battlefields.

But ancient magic came with terrifying costs.

The incantations were extremely long.

The mental strain was enormous.

And most importantly—

A magical conduit of equal tier was required to channel the spell.

Without one, the mana backlash could destroy the caster’s mind.

Many mages who attempted ancient magic without proper mental strength had gone insane.

Which was why almost no one used it anymore.

Not to mention...

Most ancient spells were secrets guarded by powerful organizations and noble families.

Ordinary people never even learned they existed.

Eternia closed her eyes briefly.

A faint memory surfaced.

Her previous life.

Long nights searching through forbidden ruins.

Stealing ancient scrolls from hidden libraries.

Learning the dangerous chants alone in abandoned forests.

Ancient magic had been the only reason Shatter survived as long as he did.

Without it...

He would have died long before reaching the Fifth Circle.

But the memory also brought anger.

A bitter image flashed through her mind.

Her former noble family.

The assassins they sent after him.

The years spent running from their hunters.

Her fists tightened slightly.

"...Those bastards."

For a moment, her emotions flared dangerously.

But Eternia quickly exhaled slowly.

Calm returned.

"That was my previous life."

She opened her eyes again.

Her gaze became sharp.

"In this life..."

"...I’ll become stronger than anyone."

Stronger than nobles.

Stronger than monsters.

Stronger than any race that had ever existed.

Her eyes lifted toward the distant horizon beyond the maze walls.

There was a place in this world feared by all living beings.

A forbidden region known as the Continent of Death.

The Blight.

A land consumed by corruption and monstrous entities where no kingdom had ever established control.

Even powerful archmages avoided entering it.

But Eternia smiled faintly.

"One day..."

"...I’ll conquer it."

She returned her attention to the present battle.

The vine golem attacked again.

Tendrils shot forward violently.

Eternia began moving.

Dodging.

Jumping.

Sliding between the strikes while forming complex hand motions.

Ancient magic required perfect focus.

She began chanting quietly.

A long, ancient language flowing from her lips.

The spell would strengthen her body temporarily.

Just enough to defeat the guardian.

But the process took time.

And concentration.

The vine golem attacked relentlessly.

One tendril lashed toward her head.

Another aimed for her legs.

Eternia continued chanting while dodging.

Her mind strained under the immense mental pressure of controlling the spell.

Mana gathered from the surrounding environment.

The air vibrated faintly.

The spell was almost complete— 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Suddenly—

A massive vine attack descended from above.

Its shadow swallowed her entirely.

Eternia’s eyes widened slightly.

The attack was too fast to avoid.

The spell wasn’t finished.

And ancient magic could not be interrupted once started.

The enormous vine crashed down toward her.