Regression of the Vector Magician

The Dark Nation was unlike any battlefield Reyon had ever seen. It was a land untouched by civilization, a place where monsters reigned supreme.

Most lands had kings, emperors, or rulers to govern them. But here?

The only law was survival.

And Reyon was now stepping right into its heart.

A Nation of Monsters

Long ago, monsters lived in scattered territories, bound only by their instinct to hunt and kill. But when humans started slaughtering them indiscriminately, they had no choice but to gather under a single ruler—Cerberus, the Annihilator Beast.

Cerberus wasn't an ordinary monster. It was a man-made horror, a creature created by dark magicians who experimented on four different S-rank beasts and fused them into one single abomination.

The result?

A beast so powerful that it united all monsters under its command, forming what was now known as the Dark Nation.

Since then, no human force dared to venture too deep into its lands.

Except the warriors of the Phoenix Household.

They were the only barrier standing between the Dark Nation and the rest of the world.

The Three Layers of the Dark Nation

As Reyon traveled towards the fortified Phoenix border, he reviewed his knowledge of the Dark Nation's structure.

The Outer Region – Home to D to F-rank monsters. Dangerous, but manageable. This was the buffer zone between humanity and complete annihilation.

The Middle Region – This was where A to C-rank monsters roamed freely, dominating the land. A single mistake here meant instant death.

The Central Region – The heart of the Dark Nation. This was where Cerberus and his four S-rank lieutenants ruled. Very few humans had ever stepped foot here and lived.

Yet, even beyond Cerberus, there was a monster even he refused to challenge.

The Ruler of Monsters: The Wyvern

If Cerberus was the Annihilator, then the Wyvern was the Ruler of Monsters.

The last surviving subspecies of dragons, it dwelled far to the south in the Death Valley, an isolated land of towering, razor-sharp mountain peaks and eternal thunderstorms.

Even a Peak 8th-Circle magician would struggle against it.

Reyon's eyes darkened.

"Even a mere subspecies of dragon is feared like this... No wonder nothing could stop the real dragon in my past life."

He clenched his fists.

This time, things would be different.

Arrival at the Phoenix Border

The fortress at the Dark Nation's border was a colossal structure, built over centuries of war.

The walls stood hundreds of feet high, reinforced with barrier magic, and bristling with ballistae, mana cannons, and defensive enchantments.

As Reyon approached the checkpoint, he was stopped by a squad of Phoenix Soldiers.

Their leader, a grizzled veteran, stepped forward, his golden eyes filled with suspicion.

"State your name and rank."

Reyon met his gaze without hesitation.

"Reyon Phoenix. Top graduate of the Phoenix Academy. Newly assigned to the Dark Nation border."

The guards exchanged glances. A fresh graduate? Here?

The squad leader scoffed. "Listen, kid. This ain't the academy. You either fight to live, or you die. Simple as that."

Reyon smirked. "Then it's the perfect place for me."

A rough chuckle sounded from behind the squad leader.

"Hah! Still as arrogant as ever, aren't you?"

A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped forward. He wore a dark red military uniform, his long golden hair tied back neatly, and his deep blue eyes gleamed with disdain.

It was Visker Brook, the Captain of the Border Fortress, a 6th Circle Mage at the young age of 25.

And he was also a member of the Imperial Family—a cousin of the royal bloodline.

Visker Brook: The Jealous Rival

Visker was a genius, hailed as one of the strongest young magicians of his generation.

But despite all his talent, he was never able to gain Alice's attention.

He had admired Alice for years, hoping that one day she would acknowledge him.

Yet, she never once spared him a glance.

Instead, she had always been close to Reyon.

And that fact burned Visker with jealousy.

Even though Alice now treated Reyon with disdain, Visker still saw him as a rival.

And now, seeing Reyon standing here, as if he belonged among the warriors of the border?

It was unbearable.

An Insult Too Far

Visker crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips.

"So, they sent the 'academy prodigy' here, huh?" He let out a mocking laugh. "Let me guess, Alice finally got tired of babysitting you?"

The soldiers around them laughed.

Reyon's expression darkened. "Watch your mouth."

Visker grinned, sensing Reyon's irritation.

"Why? Did I say something wrong? Alice has always been out of your league. She's a royal, and you?" He scoffed. "Just a disappointment to the Phoenix name."

Reyon's patience snapped.

The air around him shifted, his mana flaring.

"Since you like to run your mouth, why don't we settle this with a duel?"

The laughter immediately stopped.

The soldiers looked at each other in disbelief. Reyon just challenged Visker?

Visker raised an eyebrow, then burst into laughter.

"You? Challenging me?" He shook his head. "You're not even a 4th Circle Mage. And yet, you want to fight me—a 6th Circle Mage?"

Reyon stepped forward, his red eyes burning with determination.

"Are you scared?"

A vein bulged on Visker's forehead.

"Fine. Let's see if you can last more than a minute against me."

A Fight Worth Watching

By now, word had spread throughout the fortress.

Soldiers gathered, forming a wide circle around the two warriors.

Reyon stretched his fingers, feeling the flow of Vector Magic within him.

Right now, he couldn't stack symbols with £.

But in the past few days, he had begun to master σ.

Even though his efficiency increase was only 5%, it was enough to make a difference.

Visker cracked his knuckles, mana swirling around him like a storm.

"I'll give you one last chance to back out."

Reyon smirked. "You talk too much."

Visker's smile disappeared.

The fight was about to begin.