In the narrow chamber, a dark, slimy creature resembling a mass of black mud sat upon a mound of chairs, its tentacles extending across the table. Some of its tendrils held down sheets of white paper, while others gripped several pens simultaneously.
Such a creature, dark and repulsive in appearance, would undoubtedly evoke feelings of disgust in anyone who beheld it. If encountered by someone with a strong disposition, they might even resort to magic to rid themselves of such a foul creature!
The tentacles swiftly sketched intricate magical diagrams upon the paper.
On the bed adjacent to the table, a fair-haired maiden sat, captivated, observing the intricate drawings with great interest.
Despite the repulsive appearance of the tentacled creature, Niya harbored no disdain. She understood that beneath its unsightly exterior lay a benevolent essence. Moreover, it had once been a sovereign-level powerhouse! It was a walking treasure trove. And now, they were in a symbiotic relationship; should one perish, so too would the other. Niya saw no reason to despise Yann.
"Is this the magic diagram you mentioned could fetch a high price?" Niya inquired, gazing at the diagram Yann had drawn.
Yann nodded, provided he had a head to do so.
"This is a seventh-level dark magic—Death's Touch—a remarkably rare spell. I presume none here have employed it," Yann possessed a vast array of magical diagrams within his mind, mostly of esteemed-level and above. "With the guidance of this diagram, and provided one's aptitude is not lacking, comprehension is assured."
The concept of magical diagrams was akin to the mathematical problem-solving methods Yann had encountered in the past. They required the application of numerous formulas and concepts. As long as one grasped them thoroughly, the magic could be wielded.
"Death's Touch? It sounds formidable. But what purpose does it serve?" Seventh-level magic, Niya sighed.
Currently, she was merely a low-level existence, barely reaching the first tier. Were it not for her scarce magical talent, she would not have been chosen by the Eastern Provinces. Moreover, since childhood, she had possessed an innate vitality, which led to her being regarded as exceptionally gifted. However, for reasons unknown, despite her diligent training at the academy, she remained stuck at the first tier!
"Any part of a creature touched by one employing this magic will instantaneously perish. For example, if I were to use Death's Touch and then come into contact with your..." Yann began, extending a tentacle towards Niya's bosom.
"Smack!" Niya swiftly grabbed a nearby magic book and brought it down upon Yann's slimy tentacle, halting its advance.
"Ehehe... That's the effect. However, the downside is that if the target possesses robust vitality or greater energy than oneself, it may backlash," Yann chuckled, feigning nonchalance, as he withdrew his tentacle, now resembling a pig's trotter.
Undeterred, Yann extended another tentacle from below, crawling up along the bedframe.
"What are the repercussions of a backlash?" Niya noticed Yann's sneaky maneuver.
With a deft leap from the bed, she promptly stomped down on Yann's tentacle.
"Oh~ You're stepping on my... so delightful~" Yann emitted a chilling groan. "In the event of a backlash, one would suffer its consequences. Any part of oneself touching the target would perish."
Such was the nature of dark magic—malicious to others, merciless to oneself!
No wonder the study of dark magic was scant; not only had it long been reviled throughout history, but it was also notoriously difficult to control. Indeed, several centuries ago, studying dark magic had to be done clandestinely; if caught by the authorities, one would be bound to a stake and burned alive!
Nowadays, the Church's influence had waned, and dark magic had begun to emerge publicly. Yet, people's aversion to it persisted, particularly with regard to necromancy, which dealt specifically with the dead!
"What if others learn of the drawbacks of this magic? No one would buy it then," Niya expressed concern.
Yann shook his head, continuing to sketch the magic diagram. "Do not underestimate human greed. The desire for power can drive individuals to risk their lives. Though Death's Touch may have significant side effects, its power corresponds proportionally. Among spells of the same level, Death's Touch stands out. Even compared to some eighth-level magic, it does not pale in comparison."
The magic diagram for Death's Touch comprised over twenty sheets of paper. The higher the level of magic, the more complex and challenging it was to master. Learning magic required not only talent but also intellect.
Especially when it came to creating one's own magic, low-level magic was manageable, but high-level magic...
"Moreover, your continent has long oppressed dark magic. Compared to other magic, the development of dark magic has been slow, and the number of spells is limited. The lower-level spells are already scarce; the higher the level, the scarcer. Rarity commands value. Imagine, in a desolate desert of dark magic, someone suddenly produces a scroll containing a powerful seventh-level dark magic diagram. The spectacle would be unimaginable!"
Niya had another concern. Years of experience had made her think more than others. Currently, she worried about what would happen if she brought out dark magic and attracted unwanted attention.
"Are there no other types of magic besides dark magic? Surely, as a sovereign-level powerhouse, you must have dabbled in other forms of magic," Niya remarked. If it were other types of magic, they would not attract as much attention as dark magic.
"There are. Royal-level fire magic, Heaven's incineration; thunder-based Skybreaking, ice-based Frozen Domain.... imperial-level... sovereign-level..." Yann rattled off a lengthy list of magical names, enough to make Niya's head spin.
These magics are indeed authentic esteemed-level, royal-level, imperial-level, and sovereign-level Magics.Any one of them could cause a bloodbath on the continent!
Indeed, these magics belonged to other schools of magic, and they could indeed fetch eye-popping prices! But the key question was—would she dare to sell them?!