[Author's note: Please vote if you wish to see Character's POV or from the 3rd-person down in the comments, on that note, please also leave your thoughts in the comments and take the time to write a review, it helps me out a ton.]
Enjento POV:
"Ahem, Milord, I feel that perhaps we should test out the effectiveness of this poison sometime else in the future. I do not feel like inciting war with the entire continent at the moment." (Muteki)
Andeddo and Tekina looked at Muteki, the usually honour-crazed battle-maniac black knight. Then backed away from him and whispered quietly between them.
"Is this the real Black Berserker Knight famed for being able to fight head-on against an entire nation?" (Tekina)
"Perhaps he had been replaced by an imposter." (Andeddo)
"I can hear the both of you clearly making fun of me!!!" (Muteki)
"Even though I enjoy fighting, going against a whole continent is suicidal!" (Muteki)
(Good grief, they're just like kids.)
Enjento broke up their argument before things got even more off-track.
"Everyone cut it out. You can all debate whether or not we should go to war with the entire continent after we kill the guy that set up the barrier." (Enjento)
(Dude! You were the one that derailed from talking about poison gas to waging war with the entire continent!) (Andeddo, Muteki and Tekina)
The three generals decided to set this small matter aside for the time being and put their heads together to create a plan to escape.
"Here's what we know so far. Our opponent can create a barrier that can block the Teleportation magic of a high-ranking being like Tekina and launch hundreds of destructive Fireballs from a distance. Meaning that they are most likely a mage weak at close combat." (Enjento)
"As long as we can get close to him, we'll be able to kill him and dispel that barrier. If the barrier doesn't dispel, we just have to locate the magic circles or artifacts that are maintaining the barrier and destroy it."
{ENJENTO'S INFO-DUMP SESSION! EP 1}
"Sup, my students! Enjento-Sensei here!"
[Chibi Enjento wearing a graduate cap and graduate robes appears on stage]
"So you are wondering why by killing the mage, the barrier will disappear if it's not maintained by an artifact or magic circle?"
"Allow me to explain!"
[Pulls out a chalkboard]
"To use a magic spell, a mage must do two things."
"1. Focus on the spell/magic circle."
"And 2. Pour mana into the spell/magic circle."
[Draws two mages, one concentrating, the other pouring mana into a spell/magic circle.]
"There are two ways of focusing on a spell."
"Let's say you are attempting to cast the spell Fireball."
"You must focus on the magic circle of the Fireball spell or imagine a fireball/something similar."
"When focusing on the magic circle of the spell you want to cast, the magic circle for fireball will appear. For it to become a spell, you must pour mana into it and chant out some words or sentences. After chanting, the magic circle will produce the Fireball spell."
"When you imagine a fireball or something similar, you don't need to form a magic circle or chant, but you'll still need to pour mana. However, the Fireball will be much weaker than a Fireball produced by a chant and magic circle, but it will have a faster cast time."
"There are beings who can produce a magic circle without chanting or use powerful spells without the magic circle and chant, but we'll get to that in future chapters."
"Basically, this is all you really need to know for now."
[Writes on the board]
Using a magic circle and chant = Creates a powerful spell but is slower to activate. Good for large-scale battles or sieges.
Not using magic circles and chants = Creates a weak spell but has fast activation. Good for duels and close quarters.
"Despite these two spell-casting methods being very different, there is one thing that they all share in common."
"Concentration."
"If the mind cannot focus on the magic circle or the image of the spell, the mana you use will be rendered useless."
"This rule also applies to spells as well."
"If a mage erects a barrier and loses concentration after the barrier gets set up. The barrier will disappear."
"On the other hand, if the barrier were to be maintained via an artifact or a magic circle-"
"Oh! I forgot to talk about magic circles!"
[Draws three magic circles]
"This Info-Dump Session is getting too long, so I'll be quick."
"There are three types of magic circles, Material, Sacrificial, and Mana."
[Draws plants and metal on one circle, a corpse on another, and mana on the last.]
"The only magic circle we will focus on is the Material magic circle."
"A Material magic circle is what it sounds like. It requires materials."
"After being drawn, the materials used to create the magic circle will automatically draw mana from its surroundings to maintain the spell inscribed on the magic circle. Such as a barrier."
"The Material magic circle can also be used to activate a spell instead of maintaining a spell, but we'll get to that some other time."
"The next thing that can maintain a barrier is an artifact."
[Draws several magic artifacts.]
"They're really just items inscribed with runes (which are not magic circles), magic circles, or imbued with mana."
"However, several of these items, like the legendary Holy Sword used by the Hero, forged by gods, contain tremendous power capable of annihilating a small country like Beldonia."
"Back on topic, there are many different artifacts in the world that range from miscellaneous everyday items made by humans to legendary weapons that can blow up a country. Among those are barrier-maintaining artifacts which literally maintain a barrier."
"Well, that's all for today folks! See you all in the next session!"
[Back to the present]
Enjento POV:
"As long as we can get close to him, we'll be able to kill him and dispel that barrier. If the barrier doesn't dispel, we just have to locate the magic circles or artifacts that are maintaining the barrier and destroy it." (Enjento)
"Here is what I propose."
"Tekina, you with your mastery over Space Magic have the most manoeuvrability out of all of us. You will act as bait and force the b*stard locking us up in his barrier to attack you."
"Andeddo, Muteki and I will be on top of one of the mountains to see which direction the Fireballs are coming from. Once we know the direction, we will go locate and dispose him."
"Andeddo, do you think you can summon your familiars or soldiers?"
"Let me try." (Andeddo)
When the Undead General attempted to summon his followers, a dark magic circle appeared and quickly fizzled out of existence just as it appeared.
"It seems like any magic which relates to summoning or space is restricted underneath this barrier." (Enjento)
"Try casting a Fireball or some other spell that doesn't involve space or summoning."
Andeddo conjured a small ball of ghastly green flame which seemed to screaming and threw it at a nearby boulder.
The small green flame hit the rock and caused it to shatter into several million pieces with a loud explosion.
Moments after the boulder shattered, magic circles began lighting up in the skies and shot hundreds of Fireballs at them.
"F*ck." (Everyone)
[A few minutes later on top of another mountain]
Enjento POV:
(Panting SFX) (Everyone)
"Looks like-"
(Pant)
"Regular spells-"
(Pant)
"Can be-"
(Pant)
"Used."
(Pant)
"Alright, has everyone managed to catch their breath." (Enjento)
"We haven't breathed since we were alive." (Andeddo)
"The fresh smell of my old grandma's apple pies have been long forgotten." (Muteki)
"Sorry, about that." (Enjento)
"Don't worry about it, being Undead has its perks." (Muteki)
"Indeed, we have no need for sleep or sustenance so long as we maintain our connection with the Mistress." (Andeddo)
"That indeed is a great perk." (Enjento)
"Alright, let's revise our plan a little bit. I think I figured out a much better plan." (Enjento)
Andeddo, Muteki and Tekina gathered around Enjento as he whispered his idea.
"An excellent proposition, Chosen One!" (Andeddo)
"Hehehe! Normally I wouldn't approve of such a tactic, but I really want that b*stard to feel a world of pain for throwing Fireballs at us non-stop!" (Muteki)
"Hmm, this just might work if no other unknown variables get in our way." (Tekina)
"Excellent! Then let us immediately commence the plan!" (Enjento)