Once the exchange was concluded, my subordinates filed out of the room.
I locked the door, then secured it with a heavy barrier.
It would be troublesome if the aftershock of the forbidden spell leaked outside.
I had no way of knowing what damage it might cause.
I believed the spell’s effects were comprehensive, but what I was about to unleash was a forbidden spell of my own creation.
Moreover, I hadn’t tested whether it would function properly.
The possibility of glitches or misfires had to be assumed.
Better to be safe and lay down countermeasures.
"Now then…"
Now alone, I sat back down in my chair.
I confirmed the link with the circle on the floor, then visually inspected the other points.
There were no particular problems; the spell seemed ready to activate smoothly.
In the silence of the room, I rolled my neck slightly.
(It’s only natural to be nervous.)
I had shown my subordinates a confident front, but I had my own doubts.
Not about whether I could dispel the beast’s spell.
I had steeled myself for that.
My hesitation lay in peering into my own mindscape.
If I activated the forbidden spell now, my consciousness would sink into that inner world.
What, exactly, would be waiting there?
It is akin to gazing upon the depths of one's own heart.
One would naturally have misgivings.
In past literature, there is no record of a magician ever entering the spiritual realm.
It seems some have attempted it, but all failed, meeting tragic ends.
A species with similar abilities is the succubus.
They are said to invade the dream world of their target.
However, I hear that is limited to the superficial layers, and they cannot reach the depths of the spirit.
If they were to penetrate that far, they would be unable to return to the real world under their own power and would be ground down by the target's unconscious.
According to Luciana, invading a dream is a perilous act.
Though it is a signature ability of the succubus, she said it was essentially something she would rather not use.
This forbidden spell is a technique for plunging into that dangerous domain.
(...Perhaps it is time to move.)
Her digressed thoughts help maintain a semblance of composure.
In the casting of forbidden spells, agitation and impatience are formidable foes.
Such openings in the heart can trigger the spell's failure.
Consciously calming oneself like this has been rare of late, but considering what I am about to do, it is a prudent measure.
I direct my awareness to the magic power within my body.
The mana flows smoothly, without the slightest hint of irregularity.
I have grown accustomed to my state of extreme physical discomfort over these past five days.
It is not enough to disrupt my concentration.
In a calm state of mind, I activate the forbidden spell.
Immediately, the circuits covering my entire body began to glow with flashing brilliance.
That glow spread to the circuits laid out throughout the room.
The floor, walls, and ceiling peeled away, leaving only the circuits spinning in midair.
The magic power I poured in swelled boundlessly.
"Ghk."
I almost groaned, biting down hard.
A pain that threatened to drive me mad assailed me.
My skeletal body began to crumble away from the extremities.
I endured that agony, maintaining my focus while concentrating all my will on the manipulation of magic power.
I searched for circuits on the verge of failing and forcefully connected them, preventing collapse.
There was no room to worry about my body.
I simply devoted every scrap of consciousness to the spell's continuation.
And so, I suffered for a time.
Eventually, a sensation like being dragged inward struck me.
It was a force so overwhelming I could not resist.
The piercing pain reached its peak, and at last, my entire body exploded apart.
In that instant, my vision was dyed black, and my consciousness plummeted into an endless abyss.