From what I was told, there was at least several types of 'Magic Circles' I had been unaware about.
The first was 'Attribute Circles' like the ones Sidmund was specialised in. It represented a key.
Able to act as a medium of sorts to 'Implant' Spells.
You could consider it the easiest form of Magic Circles. All you needed for it were two components.
The 'Inner Magic' and 'Outer Circle'.
Once they created a basic 'Outer Circle' (which could range from a literal circle to other shapes), a Magic Fighter could infuse their Magical Energy into it to evolve the shape and intricacies of it.
Turning what looked like a regular circle into a fully realised 'Magic Circle'. Fit with internal circuitry.
All formed via natural phenomenon.
The other type was the kinds similar to the 'Sword Circle' I used, which was infused with a 'Technique'.
Apparently, my assumptions were wrong.
I'd assumed that orthodox end realistic Martial Arts like what Clarissa used was the norm, but it was actually the opposite. Martial Artists these days were all high-level 'Magic Fighters' of affiliations.
It was a little funny when I thought about it.
Swordsmen like the Pine Household had been considered obsolete fossils of a different era.
Like how swords were inferior to firearms.
One was a lump of sharpened metal, while the other was a true technical marvel in slaughter
Able to turn even a child into a soldier.
Physical techniques took time and effort to fully master, while Magic Circles only needed Mana.
Or was it called 'Qi'?
People had different names for the various forms of excess Life Energy, but it was commonly known as Mana. This was likely because Martial Artists had now become Mages. Researching all new methods.
A peak 'Technique Circle' like mine would probably be sought after by various groups and companies.
As finding a Technique Circle that didn't simply act as a support was rare compared to affinity types.
I wondered how much it would improve if I had proper teaching, so I made an exchange with her.
"Be patient with me."
After wasting as much tickets I needed gambling for Ultra Rare drops, I made a deal with Clarissa.
"…Alright." It wasn't her style, but she tried her best to simplify things in ways that could understand.
"Let's start with your Gifts." Clarissa took this as an opportunity to ask about my 'that', but I cut her off.
"I only have three." At my bland words, she made a frown… only to recover regarding it fairly quickly.
Her eyes turned towards the girl laying peacefully on a large bed after having her body cleaned up.
By Clarissa's own 'delicate' hands, of course.
Above the white gown wearing young woman was a complicated Magic Circle all made with treasures.
"Fine… Take a look here." She showed me the Taiji Diagram overlapped with a Elemental Hexagram and Fengshui Compass. There were so many lines of energy that it was hard to see what was what.
If she hadn't explained it to me, I wouldn't have been able to know what the material got used for.
The 'Magicore Heart' hovered directly in the centre of the Taiji Diagram. Revolving with Yin and Yang.
Each of the Ultra Rare (UR) gemstones like the Volcanic Star, Sea Star, Cloud Star, Barren Star, and Sky Star were on the Elemental Diagram, but they weren't the only ones that were included in the mix.
It was unfamiliar to me.
Wind was to support Fire, Fire solidified mud to create barren Earth, while Earth itself bore Metal.
This was the first difference in what I knew.
The first difference compared to the Western Magic… was Eastern Magic having six affinities.
Not five.
Yin and Yang communicating with each other was also known as the 'Void' Element, which was the lack of having an element whatsoever. You could consider it the form of Mana used for techniques.
Pure and without any vices or virtue.
It interacted with the Elemental Hexagram to act as a foundation for balance. Using Water to quench Fire when a side was too strong. All while keeping a clockwise and counter rotation of magic energy.
Sometimes using Earth to smother Fire or Water to rust Metal. Both elevating and degrading elements.
The constant battle was turned into a barrier around Abigail using the technical magic circuitry of the Fengshui Compass. It was the only auxiliary circle that didn't use up any 'National Treasures'.
But it did use an absurd amount of rare resources.
Magicore Clusters in particular.
They completely evaporated to create a transparent barrier that caged Abigail within.
"It's expensive." I could feel my heart hurting from using up my tokens, but she instead looked at me.
Making me realise that's not what she meant.
"Ahem… I mean, you're using two specialised types of Magic Circles. The Fengshui Compass is the Technique Circle, while the Elemental Penta- I mean Hexagram is an Attribute Circle. Lastly, the Taiji Diagram acts as a medium to connect them."
My explanation was a bit lacking in places. I had expected criticisms, but she nodded to me.
"Exactly. The only thing you missed out is that these three Magic Circles usually require around a dozen peak experts to preform. Each one needs at least ten exclusively." Clarissa seemed really proud while continuing: "We are using it on our own."
"…Didn't anyone want to steal these type of techniques from you?" It gave me some doubts.
"At first… However, things only became calmer when they realised how wasteful it was. Do you even realise that these treasures are technically being 'wasted' here?" Clarissa lifted a brow.
Truthfully, I hadn't considered that.
Thanks to spending a lot of my tokens, I now had a few more of these treasures in the other room.
There were a few 'stars' of the five elements, and a few even rarer resources hard to find on Earth.
Especially the one-of-kind Yggdrasil Roots, Lich Bones, Vampire Stones, and Damascus Ore.
All things that were either lost or unknown.
Especially the Yggdrasil Roots. Even the branch of such a thing was considered on par with elixirs.
"So you're trying to show me where I lack, or where I can improve?" It didn't really made sense to me.
"I'm showing you that materials and weapons are crucial if you're planning to learn Magic." (Clarissa)
"Which I have a lot of… so it's redundant." (Adam)
"Go ahead and act tough. You don't even know the first thing on how to 'spend' what have." (Clarissa)
"Isn't that what you're here for?" I rubbed my hands together to plead, and she didn't deny it.
"Let me get into the type of people you'll meet. I guess it's better we catch up with that cab driver so I can show you." Clarissa didn't seem worried her sister would be in danger, and lead me outside.
It wasn't hard for us to find him.
Or her?
Well, I'll call that newborn Sila a 'him' because the guy likely considered himself a man (probably).
He had parked his cab and was looking at himself using the corner-store window. A face full of awe.
I wondered when he was going to do something.
The genome I'd transformed him with was 'Tainted' by my wicked powers. Activating his innate desires.
But here he was, staring at himself intently.
"What's your end goal in doing that?" Clarissa's words suddenly reminded me of why we were here.
"I told you I was going to stop and apocalypse to protect my family. That's my goal here." (Adam)
"By 'turning' a random person?" (Clarissa)
"I'm going to harm many people after this. That's the only way for my family to survive." (Adam)
"By doing what amounts to mere terrorism? It'd be disappointing if THIS is your method." (Clarissa)
I couldn't exactly defend myself.
My eyes suddenly sharpened while stepping away from her and more intently at the newborn Sila.
Then spoke: "…You've already fulfilled your goal of saving your 'Sis'. Either leave it at that or help me."
I didn't have the balls to look at her face after that clear cold shoulder. Was she going to hit my face?
Hopefully not.
"I'm already too involved with you now. Even if you're going to resist the entire world, it's not like I'm safe from persecution after turning into a demon myself. Know what? Fine." Clarissa walked up next to me and spoke an exhilarating statement:
"Let's start a riot."
Looks like she'd truly become my partner-in-crime at this point. Both of us scheming as big baddies.
There was an obvious reason for my actions.
No matter how much I tried to spread the world of a calamity, no one would ever believe my words.
I'd either be a crazy theorist trying to get attention online, or someone who was genuinely a fool.
There was no in-between…
The only way to prepare society for an apocalyptic event… was to let them adapt to one beforehand.
For that, I needed unreasonable strength.
Enough to topple the playing field and demons the great 'Demon Lord' threatening the world's peace.
To have someone support me by my side felt nice.
But that feeling was short-lived once I put my thoughts together and realised her true intents.
"It's because I'm rich now, ain't it?" At my sudden accusation, this 'partner' of mine turned her head.
Not outright lying to me.
…Should I use her as bait in a tough situation?
Just as I was about to blow up in annoyance, a woman in the gown of a nun approached the Sila.
Her hand lifted up, and a Magic Circle I couldn't quite grasp affected the world around us vaguely.
I couldn't tell what she'd done there.
But such brief confusion wasn't able to stop her from continuing her footsteps towards the Sila.
"Afternoon. Can I take to you for a while?" She asked while holding a white cross between them.
With a smile both elegant and approachable.