Chat Group For Magicians

Chapter 167: Mini-Phantasmal World

"I know it must be shocking for you to know the truth. The misconception of the magicians about the Crazed Phenomenon Disorder is that they thought it was some unknown illness that only magicians can acquire. In reality, even non-magicians and non-humans can acquire this due to the creature's ability. Let me guess the situation, the victims of the Crazed Phenomenon Disorder are rising once again after all these years of this sickness being buried in the past right?"

"Yes. The number of missing people and victims that got injured from the attack of the infected crazed people has risen. Due to that situation, we are deployed by the Magician Society to search for the cause and put a stop to it if possible," I explained.

"We? You have a companion?"

"Ah, that's right. But Maple said she can't go with me for now since she has to fix her sword that got a little bit broken during our battles on closing a portal earlier."

"Maple?"

"Indeed. Perhaps you know her?"

"Never mind, I might be wrong. Anyway, I can only tell you that this mission can be easy or might put your lives in peril. I have even regretted the times when I remember all the lives that have lost when we faced this creature. So if things don't go on your way, don't bother finishing the mission. Running away is not a cowardly thing as it is proof that you are eager to fight again for another day."

What she said is correct. What is the point of your battle if you died? It's not like you are forced to fight to the death. I just realized it and thinking back to my past actions, I am too reckless. Maybe because I am too gung-ho on the new things I am experiencing? No, I am just thirsty for adventure. Maybe changing my ways will allow me to avoid accidents from happening again?

"Do you want my advice in fighting against that abomination of a creature? I have fought toe to toe last time so I might be able to give you some hints on how to fight against it. Just don't follow most of it since we have different fighting styles. Wanna hear it?"

"There is no harm in me getting advice from the one who managed to seal the enemy that causes the disease so I will gladly listen."

SNAP!

She surprised me again and this time, she brought me to another place. It has a similar structure to the Training Place that Blue usually invokes for me to use, of course, with the shards as the entrance fee.

"Welcome to my own Mini Phantasmal Reality, here, the time moves slowly so I can train you here and remember what you needed to do."

"Mini-Phantasmal Reality? Similar to the Phantasmal Reality of Nekoyama-sama?"

"No, this one is on a mini scale though it has a similar structure, this place is just a room compared to Nekoyama's where you can call it another continent already. Also, this place of mine is for training. There is nothing much for me to do here except for the training part."

I was right to assume that this is similar to Blue's Training Space. The only difference is that the time here still passes by unlike on Blue's Training Space that has the time stopped until you get out of the place. This is a downgrade to be exact but it's not much different to Blue's.

"Shall we begin?"

I nod at her as a confirmation. She smiled and waved her hand in the air twice. Suddenly, a massive magic circle appeared. Instead of blue, it was bright red and it is blinking rapidly. Aside from that, it is emitting very strong mana fluctuations. So far, this is the strongest magic circle that appeared that I have seen so far.

"Come forth, Mephistopheles."

Dark energy bursts out of the magic circle and the bright red color it emits before turns into blood-red color. The sparks that it releases earlier turned black. What's more, the magic circle's layers expanded.

"Confirming, summoning of a Devil Class familiar! Its tier is much higher than Inari-sama! Mephistopheles, the trickster!" Blue said as she scans the incoming summon.

It didn't take long for me to see what "The Raven" has summoned. A man wearing a mask with two emotions, the sad and laughing mask appeared on the circle. He wears a black coat with some red line designs on the hems of his coat. He also wears a tall man's hat with a moon symbol attached to it. Around him is the black and red energy balls that I have no idea what is, currently revolving aimlessly like they are orbiting this man. He looks like he came from London's middle age time where Jack the Ripper was still famous.

"Ohya? What an unusual time for you to summon me out, Master. So where is the enemy?" Mephistopheles said as he hovers above the ground.

"Ha, good old friend, we are not going to battle, I just needed your ability to produce something here."

"Oh, I see what you mean," then, he turns in my direction and rubs his neck a bit, "So are you the guy who seeks knowledge from our Master? You seem fine to me. I am Mephistopheles, Mephisto for short."

"Kazuma Fukuyama."

"Since Mephisto is finally here, then, we shall start the simulation, alright? Mephisto, if you please do so."

"Okay~"

Mephistopheles waved his hands around and dark energy gathered beneath his feet.

"Recalling Imagery: Phantom Summon!"

The dark energy that gathered beneath his feet suddenly rose from the ground, swirling like a whirlpool, and forms a shape of a monster in a matter of seconds. 

"GRAAAAWRRRR!"

It was a monster of black mud. It has little to no form, except that it has a human face on the middle of the blob-like mud.

"This is the face of the creature that is causing the Crazed Phenomenon Disorder. However, due to the power of Mephisto, it cannot replicate the real color of the creature. Only the black color can be used. But the look of this creature is replicated properly from the real deal."

"It looks like a creature from nightmares but it doesn't look that terrifying to me. I have seen worse than these," I said as I analyzed the look of the creature.

"Oh? Impressive! To think you won't be scared of something like this. If I saw this the first time before, I will be a bit afraid of it since it is a real abomination," Mephistopheles said though he looks insincere.

"Don't mind him, he is speaking nonsense. It was indeed not as terrifying as it looked like. The real one has a much more terrifying air on it but if you are not afraid of this thing, then you won't be afraid of the original one."

The creature roared once again and it shook the surroundings, emitting a nauseous odor that invades your nasal cavities. Even when covering my nose, the smell permeates which disturbs me a lot.

"Does the smell affects your mind? The real creature indeed produces this smell to confuse and stop its enemies from getting close while it can cast the disorder in just a single glance. Kind of unfair, isn't it?" Mephistopheles remarked.

It was unfair. But that is the defensive mechanism of this creature so it is kind of normal. But this is too troublesome. If the imitation can emit this pungent smell easily, how bad is the original?

"Mephisto can recreate things easily using his trickster powers. Any imitation he copies can be comparable to the original ones. If you wanted to face the creature later on, then fight this imitation and learn its patterns. Now, try to fight it right now and I will try to see your flaws."

...

My mind is in a mess. I don't know what to say and I think I blank out in the middle of the fight. The creature is still standing, alongside "The Raven" and her familiar, Mephistopheles. However, I am currently laying on the floor with blood and bruises on my body. All of my muscles are aching and I can't even stand.

"Did I just die?" I asked.

"Silly, if you died, you should have not been able to speak and you will be already an ethereal being floating around us," "The Raven" said.

"You were resilient. But you lack the experience and power to help you with that. As one of the Devil beings, I can say that I am impressed. Only a few humans can go fight seriously like that," Mephisto said.

"What did I just do? I think I blanked out earlier? I don't remember at all..."

"Rest for a bit. You used too much power when fighting against the creature that Mephisto created. Don't tire yourself too much or it might cause big consequences on your body."

My mind is all groggy. I don't think I can even remember what I just did against the creature.

"Don't worry Kazuma, if you have missed or did not remember what you just did, I recorded your fight earlier. You don't have to worry too much about it," Blue said.

"You recorded it? "

"You seemed dazed earlier, and I know that you will say something on that line that you forget this or that. So before you start complaining, I initiated a recording to stop you from whining."

"Haha, damn it but you are right. Thanks."

"The Raven" healed my injuries and helped me get up, although she healed me up and my open wounds already closed, the fatigue that accumulated from my body seemed to get really bad that getting up seems like a chore already.

"Come back tomorrow and pick up the talisman that I have prepared for you and your companion Kazuma. This will help lessen the effects of the disorder though it cannot prevent it fully. It is just there for mitigation and to allow the two of you to either escape or eliminate the cause. May I pray for your success."