I Escaped the Exile Story Only To Find It Was a Regret Trope

45 – 9# Sage Subjugation (2)

The help Mephisto provided was very simple yet powerful.

It was to stop time. Naturally, the sage was not affected by the time stop. But at least it prevented him from manipulating other students with mental control.

In other words, the sage could be faced alone. However, there was a downside to this method. It meant that the sage would know that Mephisto had intervened.

Of course, the sage knew that Mephisto had his own schemes. But knowing there are schemes and outright betrayal are entirely different matters.

In other words, Mephisto was also taking a risk. Moreover, there was another downside: the number of people who could face the sage was greatly limited.

“Why is there such a downside?”

“Stopping time completely is not an easy task. If done wrong, the gods might intervene. Therefore, balance must be maintained.”

Mephisto did not view the gods positively either. But unlike the sage, he never thought of trying to take the gods’ place.

In other words, if the sage felt unfairness from the gods and tried to take their place, Mephisto was closer to trying to exploit that unfairness as much as possible.

Moreover, there was no guarantee that the situation would improve if a new god appeared. In fact, based on experience, it would likely get worse, not better.

“In other words, since the opponent is one, we also match with one.”

“Correct.”

By maintaining balance, the chances of the gods intervening are minimized. Simply put, it was for show. Certainly, being cautious wouldn’t hurt.

In fact, Yushin had suffered greatly from the gods. The reason Yushin had come all the way here to suffer was because of the gods. Damn the god of fluidity.

Anyway, the task was clear. Capture the sage before he grows stronger here. And naturally, the one to face the sage was none other than Yushin.

“In my opinion, you have the highest chance.”

“But there’s the principal and Athena too?”

“Haven’t you defeated the sage directly?”

“……”

“The difference between having experience and not having it is very significant.”

“That’s not wrong.”

Although Banselin didn’t want to admit Mephisto’s words, he couldn’t help but agree. The fact that he had the experience of winning was very important.

Of course, if you only look at the specs, he would be the weakest among the so-called strong ones. But there was a way to overcome that.

Enhancement magic. He had basic magic to enhance his body. Of course, the opponent could also use magic, but that was a matter of the magician’s capability.

“It’s a matter of pride. I can’t lose.”

“That’s the same for me.”

This time, not only Banselin but even Mephisto cast enhancement magic on Yushin. To be precise, Banselin cast the enhancement magic directly.

Mephisto took on the role of preventing the sage from easily dispelling Banselin’s enhancement magic. He applied the way demons keep their contracts.

Thanks to that, Yushin could regain the specs of his prime. Yushin moved his body here and there with a surprised expression. He couldn’t believe it was possible.

“How is it? I can adjust it if needed.”

“This is enough. It’s just right for control.”

“That’s a relief. With this, you can win, right?”

“Of course.”

In fact, the possibility was fifty-fifty. No, considering the time limit, it could be seen as a minus. But he didn’t show any sign of defeat.

Yushin genuinely believed he would win. The difference in thinking creates more than one might expect. Even in a very disadvantageous situation.

If you start with the thought of losing, the fight is already lost. Knowing that well, Yushin believed he would win.

“Yushin, you can do it.”

“I know.”

Athena, the only one who knew Yushin’s past, directly encouraged him. Yushin nodded. He looked full of confidence.

“What are you all doing here?”

Until a familiar and chilling voice was heard. The first to react were Yushin and Banselin. Banselin reached out and used magic.

Teleportation magic.

It was to move everyone except Yushin and Mephisto to a safe place. Of course, the sage who had mastered all magic couldn’t be unaware of teleportation.

“Where do you think you’re running off to in front of me?”

“I allowed it, you b*stard.”

“?!”

But the sage couldn’t stop the teleportation. In that brief moment, Yushin appeared and kicked the sage away. Yushin glared at the sage and said.

“Let’s fight properly.”

Yushin.

So, the sage also knew that the hero had weakened. But that attack just now, it was like seeing the hero in his prime.

How on earth did he regain the power of his prime?

But as a sage proficient in all magic, he soon figured out the reason. Did he use magic to enhance himself? There are dozens of enhancement spells layered on him.

Indeed, he used a clever method, but it’s not difficult to deal with. Rather, the sage felt disappointed. Is that all your strength?

The sage reached out to dispel all the magic on Yushin. However, the moment he thought it was dispelled, Yushin moved his body again.

Slash!

“?!”

In an instant, the sage clearly felt it. His right arm had been cut off. What on earth is going on? Surely, the magic was dispelled.

“Did you really think I came here without any countermeasures against you?”

Yushin mocked the sage openly and continued his attack. The most important thing for a mage is not to give distance. That was already a failure.

‘I closed the distance. From here, I will keep pressing without rest!’

The remaining time was at most about an hour. If he didn’t press the sage until the magic’s effect wore off, it was obvious that he would be the one to suffer.

Fortunately, the start wasn’t bad. Starting a close combat against a mage is the best situation for a warrior. And the sage knew that too.

Although they had become enemies now, they were once close comrades who had adventured together. Therefore, they knew each other too well.

“Do you think you can win just by dragging me into close combat?”

“Of course not.”

“Naturally.”

If he could win close combat like an ordinary mage, he wouldn’t be called a sage. Soon, a fist swung.

The sage could also use enhancement magic. But it couldn’t be compared to a mage without combat experience using enhancement magic to fight.

The sage had enough close combat experience to rival most front-line fighters. Because the hero’s party had too many worst-case scenarios.

Thanks to that, the mage had to survive on his own somehow. In other words, he couldn’t survive in the hero’s party by being good at just one thing. He became a first-rate close combatant.

But.

Compared to Yushin, who had been fighting close combat all his life, he was indeed relatively lacking. In fact, the sage was being pushed back continuously.

‘As expected, I’m being pushed back in close combat.’

Even with strength enhancement and acceleration magic, he was being pushed back due to the difference in experience, despite having more buff spells than Yushin.

But he couldn’t shake off Yushin. If he tried to shake him off, Yushin would notice immediately and close the distance again, continuing the pressure.

If he shook off the pressure, he couldn’t widen the distance, and if he kept enduring like this, he would eventually be exhausted and die. The price of the first mistake was significant.

Boom!!!

An ice pillar deflected Yushin’s blade and flew towards him like a beast. But to Yushin, who had already returned to his prime, it was nothing.

Crash! Clink!

The sound of glass shattering echoed. At the moment the ice pillar shattered into pieces, Yushin could see it. The sage closing the distance instead.

It was an entirely unexpected move, but Yushin’s body had already reacted first. The sage’s hand, imbued with flames, pierced through Yushin’s heart in an instant.

On the surface, it seemed like the battle was over. But the sage realized the moment he pierced through Yushin’s body that it was not the real body, but a clone.

“Lightning Blade.”

The only reason the sage could counterattack Yushin, who had perfectly taken his back, was due to his experience. He had seen this kind of back-taking maneuver countless times.

Yushin dodged the blade of lightning and retreated. However, he maintained a distance that could be closed at any moment. The sage and Yushin faced each other.

Soon, their swords clashed again.