"You..."
"Your decades of experience..." Remembering the facts that he had personally confirmed earlier...
Kevin couldn't argue anymore.
Even though he was older than Calvin to the extent that he could probably call himself Calvin's ancestors. He didn't dare to say that he was far knowledgeable than Calvin whose experience in Runecrafting lasted for several decades. In other words, he was a layman scolding an expert in his own field.
Kevin felt embarrassed.
He didn't say anything anymore.
Calvin then started.
"Creating 512 logical threads isn't that easy, but I won't say that it's too difficult. However, inscribing them with a needle and in the condition that I must never deviate, even a single centimeter would definitely be difficult since my physical body's too weak..."
"Years of being alone and without a girlfriend has made my hands quite unsteady..."
"Can I really do this?"
Calvin audibly uttered.
Whenever Calvin had a job to do and he needed to concentrate. He always had this habit of speaking his thoughts out loud in order to organize them. Kevin stared at him in amusement but didn't say anything. After all, everyone in this world had their own habits. It would be quite rude to berate Calvin for being noisy when that was just his habit.
"The problem of mana overflow isn't something that can be avoided since the foundation for the grand formation is indeed too weak. However, if I go ahead and create a logical thread whose functions are dedicated to catching that exception and throwing it to do another function which will slowly dissipate that surplus of mana over time..."
"I think this will work..."
"Yes, this will work..."
"But I only have a single chance. I can't mess this up."
"I think it's better for me to make a logic flow chart first."
Calvin opened his small notebook and started scribbling some words.
After confirming that the flow of the instructions for the grand formation made sense. Calvin repeatedly nodded his head before he turned to look at Kevin and said, "I'm going to begin now. I don't want any distractions, so make sure that you don't do anything that will interrupt my concentration, all right?"
Calvin's stern expression astonished Kevin.
He couldn't say anything other than a simple "Mmhm".
When he saw that Kevin was strangely obedient like a child listening to his parents, Calvin inwardly chuckled before turning his focus onto the piece of paper in his hand.
Inscribing the runic symbols in the runic table on a piece of paper required not only accuracy and precision but also a sacrifice. In this case, Calvin sacrificed the precious blood essence from his left cheek. In theory, such a sacrifice should be enough for the creation of the grand formation. But nothing was certain until everything was completed.
Calvin wasn't really the type of person who counted the chickens before the eggs hatched.
He didn't dare to be arrogant nor relaxed.
Taking a deep breath, determination flashed across his eyes as he started his work.
His progress was slow, yet it was steady.
Everything took longer than what Calvin had expected but in the end.
He succeeded.
Holding the paper containing the inscription for the grand formation in his hand.
He turned to look at Kevin and smiled, "What are you doing there staring at me like that?"
"What? I wasn't staring! No, uh... wait! Is it done?"
"Yeah, it's done... Want to take a look?"
"Here! Take it."
Calvin casually hurled the paper to Kevin.
"Wha?! You! Why did you just throw it at me?! What will you do if it gets torn up?" Kevin's heart almost leaped out of his chest when he saw what Calvin did. His movements temporarily surpassed his limits as he blinked in front of the paper and captured it with his right hand.
Opening his palm, he heaved a sigh of relief when he realized that no damage was done on the paper.
If he really did damage the grand formation that would help him escape from this nightmare due to a moment of panic, then he might as well just commit not alive.
"Don't get your panties in a bunch, did you already forget how durable items that are blessed by one of the Seven Gods and Goddesses? I reckon that even an attack from an iron sword can't tear that paper up!" Calvin scolded.
Kevin remembered that what he said was true, so he heaved a sigh of relief.
He took a closer look at the paper and realized that Calvin had indeed achieved the impossible!
He inscribed 513 logical threads in such a small piece of paper! It has to be known that 512 logical threads required the inscription of 1024 runic symbols within the runic table. Kevin considered inscribing those complicated symbols in such a small piece of paper with a needle as impossible, yet Calvin had actually done it?
It was an understatement to say that he achieved the impossible!
Kevin couldn't even find the appropriate words to describe Calvin's feat.
He was too joyful at this moment that he even forgot to speak.
Calvin stared right at the excited Kevin.
The light in his eyes seemed to be similar to a father observing the antics of his child.
Kevin quickly noticed that strange light, so he immediately suppressed his feelings and cleared his throat with a cough.
"Ahem..."
"What do we do next?"
"Do I release you from this place now, so we can go and proceed with our plan to escape?"
Calvin shook his head, "Not so fast... I still have a lot to do. I told you earlier that I returned to the past to change the course of humanity's destiny. In order to do that, I must help humanity increase its future talents. In other words, I must ensure that those people that came with me in this place can go out of this place safely..."
"What?"
"You want to save them?"
"Yes..." Calvin nodded, "What's wrong with me saving them? It's not like we have grievances against each other. Since we are comrades and in a team, it's just right for me to help them."
Kevin couldn't say anything anymore.
"But of course, before I go out of this place and help them. There's still something that I need to do. In order to proceed with my plans, I need the help of this place and the help of those demons that you gathered in this nightmare." Calvin lifted a cheeky smirk.
"What are you talking about?" Kevin furrowed his eyebrows.
"Nothing... I was just wondering. Since the two of us already made a deal that you will be my Blessed Artifact. Is it okay for me to claim those demons that you gathered here for my own?"
Calvin's words made Kevin feel a sense of foreboding premonition.
"What do you mean?" Kevin answered in a somewhat nervous manner.
"Nothing... I'm just saying that since I don't think that you will need them after all of these... Can I take them for myself?"
"You see, acquiring the blessing of the Seven Gods and Goddesses requires an equivalent sacrifice. The Goddess of Compassion and Light will never accept a sacrifice made up of the damned souls of those demons. In fact, she may even smite me down from the heavens once she sees me sacrificing those filthy things for him."
"But what about the God of Infighting and War, Discord?"
"I bet Discord would be pleased if I sacrificed those grotesque souls to him."