Regression of the Vector Magician

Reyon stood his ground as Min Hee gazed at him, her sharp, calculating eyes scrutinizing his very existence.

She let out a soft chuckle. "So, you want to fight someone as strong as a dragon?"

Her tone carried amusement, but beneath it was a sharp edge, as if she were testing him.

Min Hee leaned back in her chair, her hollow eyes narrowing.

"Are you saying I am as strong as a dragon?"

Reyon didn't flinch. "That's right."

Min Hee scoffed. "It is said that to fight a dragon, one must be at least a 9th-circle magician." She shook her head, chuckling. "Haha… You're amusing, my child. But I won't teach you."

Reyon stiffened. "Why?"

Min Hee sighed, waving her hand dismissively. "I want to live in peace now. Teaching someone is complicated, troublesome. So go."

Her words were final, absolute.

But Reyon refused to accept them.

He stepped forward, his eyes burning with determination.

Without hesitation, he raised his hand—

And activated £.

A powerful wave of mana distortion swept through the room.

The very air twisted, bent, as if space itself was being manipulated.

Min Hee's entire body froze.

Her pupils dilated.

Her lips trembled.

"N...No way…" she whispered.

Her fingers clenched as she took a step back, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

"You… You can use Vectors… and even Symbols?"

For the first time in decades, Min Hee's eyes welled up with tears.

Her breathing turned unsteady as her gaze locked onto Reyon.

"Finally… Finally, someone who can continue Leywin's legacy…"

Her voice cracked.

She covered her mouth, as if trying to suppress the emotions overwhelming her.

Reyon clenched his fists. "I never thought I'd see another Vector Magician," Min Hee murmured, her voice breaking. "And the Symbols… You must have learned them from that book."

Reyon nodded. "Yes."

Min Hee took a deep breath, composing herself. But the storm within her didn't fade.

"Why?" she finally asked, her voice now serious. "Why are you so obsessed with sparring against me?"

Reyon's answer was instant.

"Because you were the closest person to Grandpa."

Min Hee's breath hitched.

"You know more about Vectors than anyone alive. Right now, only you can pinpoint my mistakes and errors. So I absolutely need your help."

Silence.

Min Hee stared at him.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, Min Hee sighed.

A deep, exhausted sigh filled with years of regret, sorrow, and longing.

Slowly, she reached out and grabbed Reyon's hand.

Her grip was tight, firm.

Her fingers traced along the dark ring resting on his finger.

Her expression darkened.

"This cursed ring…" she whispered.

Reyon felt her grip tighten.

Min Hee's eyes narrowed as she examined the artifact.

"It has appeared once again."

She raised her gaze to meet Reyon's.

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"Reyon… My child… This may help you in stacking your Symbols, but the side effects are something beyond your wildest imagination."

Reyon's heart pounded.

Min Hee's voice lowered, her tone turning grave.

"Even Leywin, who was called the absolute peak of magic, wasn't able to escape the eroding black mana of this thing."

Reyon's eyes widened. "What…?"

Min Hee nodded. "That ring… It was made purely through black magic formulas and black mana crystals."

She paused before delivering the truth.

"This ring… is the reason behind Leywin's disappearance."

Reyon's entire body stiffened.

Evelyn, who had been silent until now, gasped.

Her expression turned pale.

"W-What are you saying?" she demanded, stepping forward. "That ring… is the reason for Dad's death?"

Min Hee's eyes softened as she looked at her daughter.

"Yes."

Evelyn froze.

She stared at Reyon, then at the ring, then back at her mother.

"Reyon…" she whispered. "Take that ring off."

Reyon didn't move.

Evelyn's voice grew shaky.

"I don't want to lose another family member to this cursed artifact."

Her hands trembled as she reached for him.

"And why did Dad have to create such a thing?"

Min Hee sighed. "Because it was necessary."

Evelyn's expression twisted with confusion and pain.

"Necessary?" she choked out. "What could possibly make something like this necessary?"

Min Hee's eyes turned somber.

"In his last years, your father desperately searched for a solution."

Reyon's jaw clenched.

He had known that the ring was dangerous.

He had known that black mana was not natural—that it corroded the mind.

But to hear that Leywin himself had succumbed to it…

It was something else entirely.

But Reyon took a deep breath.

He looked up—his gaze steady, unwavering.

"Grandma. Aunt. Listen."

Min Hee and Evelyn both turned to him.

Reyon took a step forward.

"When I found this ring, I also found a letter."

Min Hee's eyes narrowed. "A letter?"

Reyon nodded. "It stated that if I place the mana core of a certain beast into the ring, its functions will enhance… and the black mana would subdue."

Evelyn stared at him.

Min Hee's fingers trembled.

"…What beast?" she asked softly.

Reyon met her gaze.

"A Cerberus… and a Wyvern."

The room fell silent.

Min Hee exhaled sharply.

Evelyn's face twisted in horror.

She staggered back.

"You… You're crazy!" she nearly screamed.

Reyon didn't waver.

Evelyn's eyes shook with disbelief.

"Do you even understand what you're saying? A Cerberus would require a strong 8th-circle magician to fight! Someone as strong as Edwin!"

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but her voice still trembled.

"There are at most three existences like that in the entire continent."

She stepped forward, eyes desperate.

"And not to mention a Wyvern…, there's a reason why that thing is called monster emperor.

That's something even a peak 8th-circle magician would struggle against! Even Edwin would take years to reach that stage! Right now, only your grandma could hunt that monster!"

Reyon stood firm. "I don't care how difficult it is. I'll do it."

Min Hee studied him.

Then, suddenly—

She grinned.

A wild, amused, yet proud grin.

"Hah."

She let out a soft chuckle.

"You really are Leywin's grandson."

Reyon smirked. "I take that as a yes?"

Min Hee leaned back, contemplating.

Then, she exhaled and gave him a look of resignation.

"Fine."

Her lips curled into a smirk.

"Show me your resolve, Vector Magician."