Infinite Mage [Remake]-Chapter 69: The Return of the Archmage (3)

The application of dark magic in such omnipotence could only be described as overpowered.

And yet, it was considered a minor field, all because of a single flaw that overshadowed all its advantages.

'It is weak against light.'

When the sun rises, darkness can only exist as mere shadows.

Moreover, the stronger the light, the more mental energy is consumed to cast dark magic.

Of course, at night, the capabilities of a dark magician are maximized, but even that had been losing ground ever since the genius Kergus popularized the Photonization Theory.

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There was a time when countless figures of darkness mastered dark magic, but now, there were almost no students majoring in it across all the magic academies on the continent. This alone spoke volumes about how much the dark magic field was shunned in magical society.

'But my master is different.'

Arcane had overcome the weaknesses of dark magic. And the ultimate essence he had realized was passed down entirely to Canis.

'Yes, I must trust my master.'

No matter what Arcane had in mind, Canis was determined to follow him forever.

With a resounding crash, the entrance of the prison was torn apart.

Arcane swiftly dealt with the guards rushing through the corridor and then opened the iron doors of Block A-3.

Sensing that an incident had broken out, the prisoners were already banging their bowls against the bars.

"Hey! Whoever you are, let us out!"

"Open this damn door! I'll pay you handsomely! Or I'll kill someone for you instead!"

Arcane raised both hands.

A dimly lit prison cell was the perfect place for dark magic to shine.

"Authority of Darkness."

Shadows beyond the torchlight slithered out, gathering together in the form of hands that hovered in midair.

As hundreds of shadowy hands gripped and pulled at the iron bars, the metal began to twist and strain.

Creeeak! Screeech!

"W-what the hell?!"

As the terrified prisoners retreated to the walls, the iron bars along the corridor were wrenched apart one by one.

"..."

A deep silence fell over the hallway.

If the light element had Photonization Theory, then the dark element had the Authority of Darkness.

It was a spell that absorbed external energy and converted it into physical force, allowing the user to shape shadows and even endure a certain degree of light.

While the force exerted per unit area was weaker than that of a child, when darkness covered a vast space like this, the power increased exponentially. By applying engineering principles, it could even generate monstrous strength capable of ripping apart iron bars with ease.

After the iron doors had been torn open, the prisoners hesitated before staggering forward. Heavy iron balls were still shackled to their ankles.

"Damn, you're a magician? That's one hell of a trick."

"Anyway, thanks. Let's introduce ourselves. The name's Kraken, the Night Cat. People in this line of work recognize my name."

Arcane sighed, feeling disappointment at the prisoners' demeanor.

Forty years ago, Inferno wasn't like this. Once filled with the most heinous criminals, how had it declined to this level?

'Time truly is fleeting. Or perhaps life has simply gotten easier?'

According to Arcane's philosophy, as civilization advances, the quality of criminals declines.

Most are now just conmen who rely on tricks, while the truly dangerous ones have long infiltrated society.

"Pathetic. Criminals introducing themselves? Do you think just because the bars are gone, you lot can escape?"

"What? Has this old man lost his mind? We were being nice, and now you're talking down to us? Do you even know who I am?"

The prisoners relied on their numbers and tried to assert dominance.

Even without any real guarantee of alliance, their arrogance showed that not only was their character lacking, but their intelligence as well.

"Listen carefully, you fools. If you're not confident that you can take me down, then you'd best stay locked up. If you disobey me, your bones will break."

The prisoners burst into laughter.

"Pwahaha! What's this geezer rambling about? You think we're gonna back down in this situation?"

"If we all charge at once, even a magician is nothing! Let's get out of this damn prison!"

Fueled by the thrill of regained freedom, the prisoners charged without a second thought.

But they soon realized—the shackles were still fastened to their ankles.

Had their wits been dulled from years of captivity? Perhaps they had worn the chains for so long that they no longer noticed them.

"Huh? Wait! Shit!"

As they fumbled in panic, Arcane snorted in disdain.

If one bore the name of evil, they needed skill. If they lacked skill, then at the very least, they needed intelligence.

But these people were nothing more than parasites, living off prison rations.

"Authority of Darkness."

Arcane's shadow surged like liquid, flooding the corridor with darkness.

"Uwaah! What is this?!"

The same shadowy hands that had torn the bars now coiled around the prisoners, dragging them into the abyss.

Their eyes, noses, and mouths vanished into the black veil as if they were being consumed by a massive gelatinous mass.

"No! No! Spare me—ugh!"

Bones snapped with sickening cracks.

"Mmmph! Mmmph!"

"Gghhh—!"

As the prisoners, their mouths sealed shut, writhed in agony, Arin shuddered.

Though she couldn't see the prisoners anymore, the pain etched into the darkness was vividly clear.

"Canis, do we really have to go this far for Master's revenge?"

"Arin, denying Master means denying ourselves."

"But still..."

"Have you forgotten what happened in Radum? We went through far worse. And these prisoners are no different from the ones who tormented us there."

"But we promised... We swore to forget Radum and find happiness."

"It's not over yet. We can't be happy until Master's vengeance is fulfilled."

The darkness receded.

"Uuugh..."

Arcane looked down at the prisoners, their limbs broken and writhing like worms.

"Weaklings. Was this a wasted effort? Or would another block yield better results?"

Clang. Clang.

Just as he pondered this, a rattling sound echoed from the far end of the corridor.

A man with the air of a wolf emerged from his cell, and Arcane's eyes gleamed with interest.

"Oh?"

Unlike the others, who had rushed out blindly the moment the bars fell, this one was different.

Moreover, he not only wore shackles but also additional restraints on his wrists.

"One still remains. Did you conceal your presence? Your skima is quite impressive."

The wolfish man glanced at the scattered prisoners, then let out a dry chuckle.

"Hah. Unbelievable. Do you even know where this is? This is Inferno, the western prison. A royal-designated penitentiary. Are you planning to rebel against the kingdom?"

"Rebellion? That sounds delightful. Care to join?"