The Third Circle, after reaching the second circle it is necessary to rest and wait for at least 5 or 6 months to create this.
For most, the third circle is the final destination because getting the 4th and 5th circles can lead to death for those who lack the capacity.
Creating it just a month or so after your second one is suicidal, but it's this or the eventual death of his two squads.
With the two egos in his head, the mental tax and pain should be handle able. Malik told him this but all he could think of was staying true to his words.
"We don't have much time Malik, if it fails by 3 or 4 in the afternoon then take the horses and rush to the nearest town.
It can be 2 or 4 nights, if I don't get my third Circle and reach B-Class then we're all screwed if we keep going. Make the magic circle."
Malik found their leader's decision to be a bit rash, creating the third circle when it's not within the recommended timeline can cause complications. A lot of complications. The success rate for this is said to be 10% because out of the people stupid or desperate enough to do it, only a few of them had enough mental prowess to endure the pain.
But even then, if he does succeed, the recovery time for a forced circle will take half a day.
"I have to warn you captain, this is a risky move."
...
"Matthew, what the fuck are you thinking? We can just retreat and hope for the fucking best, our men are injured. We don't have healers and for crying out loud this is beyond reckless."
"We made a promise though."
"A promise to people that we won't even see after we leave this shitty world. Let me have control back and I'll-"
"No. Let me do this, you can help take on the pain with me. That should make it handle-able."
Matthew had a bit of a hero complex, one that Francis could usually suppress but this time around such a task seemed impossible.
That night drained a lot out of Francis, giving Matthew an even bigger advantage in controlling the body.
"Fine. Fuck it. I can't stop you now. If this succeeds then we'll be able to use two of our advanced puppets at once. I'll try to look at the positives."
...
Malik created a giant magic circle drawn at an open field. The caravans and all of their allies are at one end of the field.
Rokhan and his clones can be seen scouring the area.
The process could be anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
They could only hope that the captain survives, if he succeeds then they'll have a weapon for the next wave of nightwalkers.
If he fails then they are forced to go back.
There were two outcomes in Malik's mind. The first being certain doom, the captain could die then and there. But the other is an outcome he could only pray for.
He did not want to place doubt in the person he chose to follow, but he wanted to go against the will of his captain for his own well-being.
All of them decided to stay even after realizing that their captain was stuck. Stuck in a state of Mana diffusion, a state that occurs when a person forces the creation of a magic circle without being fully prepared.
He was actually surprised by the resolve that the others showed, he had offered them a way out. They could take their caravans and head for a safer area.
But they chose to stay. Stay with the trio even if most of them are injured.
It is a given that Malik and Rokhan would stay but for all of them to choose this option meant that they were here for the ride, no matter how short it might be.
What they are all doing is suicide.
These people seemed ready to die, but even if they ran the possibility of death would always be on the horizon.
The others thought that it's better to stick to the group while most of them had already resolved themselves to die on this hill. They already joined the party, what's another horde of monsters? If their captain wakes up soon, then the boons of serving a B-Class will outweigh the risk that they took.
Everyone knows that once he gains his third circle, then B- Class is not a pipe dream but an inevitability.
He already showed a glimpse of this during his win against the B - Class demon.
"Once the captain reaches the Third circle, then we can run straight to the frontlines without a care in the world." Is what Rokhan stated.
Malik also found this to be true, it's just a matter of actually defending him until then. A task that Malik and Rokhan had to take extremely seriously.
...
The two egos endured the pain as much as they could. Each ago forced to control a different side of his body using their wills to create the third circle forcefully. The body shook floating slightly over the ground.
There was no time to discuss among themselves.
For three whole days the two egos had to remain in control.
At the start of the 4th night, the nightwalkers came out once more.
A group of 12 with the purpose of protecting their captain, all fought for his cause. They showed dedication that Matthew never expected out of anyone else.