Longbottom

Biography

The boy at Baelin's weapon shop

Longbottom begins as a poor youth doing chores around the weapon shop where Baelin works. Baelin feeds him, treats him as a companion rather than disposable labor, and offers to teach him to read. Their friendship grows from shared hardship, before either understands that hidden powers are shaping them toward opposite positions in Twilight Zone. (Chapters 294–297)

When Longbottom later enters Magus society, he experiences the monopoly held by guilds over land, resources, and high-grade meditation techniques. His anger has a material basis: unaffiliated acolytes are denied the paths that established families call talent. It hardens into hatred of recognized “geniuses,” including Baelin, whose opportunities Longbottom interprets as further evidence that the system distributes destiny unfairly. (Chapters 354–365)

Matriarch, Life Absorption, and revolution

A dark-elven matriarch supports Longbottom with Life Absorption, spider power, resources, and secret techniques. He organizes commoner acolytes and unaffiliated Magi into a revolutionary army while cooperating with the dark elves. The alliance supplies the force needed to challenge guilds, but also turns reform into invasion and mass conflict. Unknown to Longbottom, Leylin Farlier has cultivated him and Baelin as rival Children of Destiny whose clash will feed the Coin of Destiny. (Chapters 354–369)

Longbottom absorbs the essence of a Rank 2 Magus and receives condensed life force from the matriarch to push Life Absorption toward its second level. He infiltrates the genius competition under Green-robed Carl's identity using Skin Covering, restrains his apparent spiritual force, and reproduces Carl's signature spells. His public goal is the championship; the hidden operation positions revolutionary forces and traps the gathered Rank 2 judges. (Chapters 368–377)

The competition becomes an uprising

Longbottom and Baelin fight while both conceal Rank 2-equivalent output behind peak Rank 1 appearances. Longbottom uses corrosive magic, Whirlpool of Death, a Rank 2 scroll, protective films, and Life Absorption; Baelin answers with Bio Boosting armor and the Underground Winter Spider Emperor. Their personal history makes the encounter more than a factional duel, but Longbottom refuses Baelin's appeal and uses even apparent concern for family as an opening for a hidden attack. (Chapters 375–378)

After being crowned as Carl, Longbottom strikes the judges and reveals the revolutionary assault. Life Absorption manifests as an intelligent spider phantom that drains life force in black-hole-like currents. Its clash with Baelin spills genuine Rank 2 power through the arena while dark elves and revolutionaries attack outside. Longbottom's success leaves him increasingly intoxicated by the ability to punish everyone who once scorned him. (Chapters 377–379)

The spider power ultimately consumes rather than liberates him. As his battle with Baelin reaches its end, the phantom enters his body and his condition deteriorates. Aaron's temporary Rank 2 rise and Meteor Sword further break his defenses, while Leylin manipulates every side of the battle for the destiny ritual. Longbottom dies and the movement loses its central figure; the later academy system absorbs some pressure for broader access without preserving his revolution. (Chapters 379–384)

His fate exposes both the truth and failure of his grievance. Guild exclusion created real suffering, but Longbottom's alliance with the dark elves, willingness to sacrifice civilians and comrades, and dependence on the matriarch's predatory inheritance make him another instrument of stronger powers rather than an independent emancipator.

Appearance and personality

Longbottom changes from an eager and grateful poor boy into a hardened, sinister Magus. He remains perceptive about structural exploitation and can inspire people excluded from guild power, but increasingly interprets every relationship through humiliation, opportunity, and revenge.

Ambition and Life Absorption reinforce one another. He is cautious enough to master a disguise and manipulate a tournament, yet becomes cruel enough to threaten Baelin's family and enjoy the helplessness of former superiors. The friend who once accepted kindness ultimately refuses any path that feels like submission.

Magic, bloodline, and abilities

Life Absorption meditation technique

Life Absorption is Longbottom's dark-elven meditation inheritance. At its advanced stage it manifests a giant spider phantom whose currents draw life force from targets and can incorporate the essence of a dead Rank 2 Magus. The matriarch condenses the life force of her race into Longbottom to force the technique toward its second level, producing Rank 2-equivalent power far faster than ordinary accumulation permits. (Chapters 365–378)

The technique is not costless or fully autonomous. Longbottom depends on the matriarch's gifts and accumulated victims, while the increasingly solid phantom displays intelligence and later enters his body as his condition collapses. The story does not establish that he can safely stabilize long-term Rank 2 cultivation outside this borrowed acceleration. (Chapters 369–379)

Skin Covering and concealed rank

Skin Covering is a Rank 1 dark-elven spell that uses a murdered target's skin and specialized musical methods to reproduce appearance. Longbottom uses it to become Green-robed Carl, combining the disguise with studied habits and signature spells. It deceives registration tests and even Rank 2 observers because the inheritance is unfamiliar in Twilight Zone, though repeated scrutiny still makes Longbottom fear discovery. (Chapters 371–373)

He can also suppress his spiritual force to semi-converted or peak Rank 1 readings while using finer Rank 2-level control in private combat. Concealment keeps the tournament plan viable but limits how openly he can fight until the uprising begins. (Chapters 371–377)

Corrosion, Whirlpool of Death, and defensive magic

Longbottom casts Rain of Corrosion, forms green mist and corrosive liquid, creates layers of grey-green shields, and uses a clay-colored Mud Membrane. Whirlpool of Death combines his own corrosive vortex with a torn Rank 2 spell scroll, increasing an attack that makes nearby Rank 2 Magi withdraw. The scroll's added power is item-derived and single-use rather than proof of another innate spell. (Chapters 372–380)

His defenses can contest other hidden Rank 2 fighters but break under Aaron's destiny-amplified Meteor Sword. The spider phantom can catch the weapon after its shields fail, showing layered defense, yet the intervention forces Longbottom to abandon an immediate kill and worsens a battle already consuming him. (Chapters 379–380)

Revolutionary command and supplied artifacts

Longbottom recruits excluded acolytes, coordinates dark-elven support, blocks communications, and places forces around the competition. The matriarch supplies a black crystal containing one full-powered attack, which he uses to breach a Rank 2 defensive formation, as well as other resources and intelligence. These strategic assets make the uprising possible but keep it dependent on dark-elven objectives and Leylin's hidden manipulation. (Chapters 365–382)

Power progression

Relationships

• Baelin: Childhood benefactor, friend, and eventual rival.
• Leylin Farlier: Hidden architect who manipulates Longbottom's development for a destiny ritual.

Items

The spider presence on Longbottom's back is the focus of his power, though it functions more like a living enhancement or pact than an ordinary artifact.