Chapter 71
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"I need to destroy this quickly!"
This sinister black spell formation immediately caused the Gargamel much fear. He immediately launched a variety of spell which struck and exploded against the crimson formation that was filled with runes.
*Rumble!*
Under the fervent attack of Gargamel, the formation screen was quickly reduced to ashes, but the black runes were like brands deeply etched into the air. This ignited his agitation.
"I remember what this is! It's the Large Formation of Ten Thousand Spirits: Hades' Sacrificial Rites!" Gargamel recognized the function of the spell formation yelled again.
"This is a forbidden technique that was considered taboo even in ancient times! It's able to absorb all the spiritual energy from the spirits of the dead within its range. As it has a trace of protection from Hades, before the time limit is up, it will not disappear…how did you get your hands on this, it has been lost!?" Gargamel face morphed into one of horror and wrath as he recognize this forbidden spell.
The huge black spell formation constantly thundered as it absorbed all of the grieving spirits as well the five thousand years of accumulation of Darkness energy.
Leylin had naturally secretly carved the runes for the Large Formation of Ten Thousand Spirits on his blood essence stored in the ring of despots and prepared for today.
The runes and the setting up of the energy points was naturally information that he had gathered from the Book of Giant Serpent.
Based on records regarding Kemoyin's Pupils, Leylin needed to burn up large amounts of spiritual force and stimulate his high-grade meditation technique in order to spur on his own advancement to becoming a rank 2 Warlock.
But Leylin has changed the formation a little and instead used it to collect all of the Darkness energy particles in the room, he knows that after so many years the spirits that can give him any boost in spiritual force is little to nothing, so he instead of that turned his attention to elemental energy.
The role that Gargamel played in all this is: The eye of the formation. Leylin is using Gargamel as a source for energy to connect the formation, with this he can keep the formation running as well keep Gargamel confined, in addition to weaken him further. After Leylin is through, Gargamel will be like meat on a chopping board.
'I don't need to worry about the Spiritual force though' Leylin ignored all the howling and swearing of Gargamel and thought as he glanced at his Dantain, which is overflowing with a surplus of sentient force. For a long time he has been collecting sentient force for this moment only.
He has killed hundreds of Acolyte level Magical creatures, a dozen of Magi and many rank 1 Official Magus level magical creatures. All this while he was bidding his time, for this specific moment.
In order to advance to Rank 2 one needs to burn their Spiritual force, Spiritual force was as precious as one's own blood. If one were to burn up large amounts of their own spiritual force, this would definitely result in very dire consequences. And even if one could advance, a long period of time would be needed to recover from the damage.
If he were to use spiritual force from the external world, this would not be a problem! If there was enough spiritual force and it was pure enough, it might even support the Magus and set up a strong foundation for them!
This is exactly why he has never used his sentient force to gain little advancement in spiritual force.
Hence, Leylin chose to use the Large Formation of Ten Thousand Spirits in the Book of Giant Serpent, which was a formidable forbidden technique and used it specifically to accumulate remnants of spirits and all of the elemental energy.
"Let's not waste time. Let's begin!"
With a thought from Leylin, dark red elemental spots were like moths flying into flames, pouncing towards the red light in the palm of his hand. He channeled all of the ownerless elemental energy right into his meridian. A funnel opened greedily devouring the elemental energy.
Like a bomb that had exploded, his entire body was paralyzed by lightning, like a drunkard who had abstained for years and once more had fine liquor, or like a traveler who was on the verge of death from his thirst and had finally savored the sweet taste of spring water!
Leylin felt as if his body was floating, lying on the peak of white clouds. There was joy coming from every cell in his body.
Leylin closed his eyes. He felt as if he was naked, flowing along a warm and comfortable large river.
[Beep! Host body has absorbed large amount of elemental energy. Rate of modification of host body's heart has substantially increased.]
The A.I. Chip began to work hard, the screen in front of him changing rapidly. Immediately after, Leylin could see in the column that displayed his stats, the number that showed the progress of the modification of his heart flying up quickly.
[80%, 85%, 90%!]
The number rose like a fiery arrow but faltered slightly at the 90% mark. What came next was an eruption of heat, and the progress broke through 90% to reach 91%, and continued to rise!
[97%! 98%! 99%! 100%!!!]
When the modification of his heart reached 100%, Leylin suddenly felt faint, as if he had been pounded on the head with a large metal hammer.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
His heart, surrounded by purple-red light, seemed to stop for a while.
Next, his heart began to once again pump with a huge amount of force!
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
This force was extremely powerful, to the point that people would be able to hear his heart beating from outside Leylin's body!
Blood that held hints of ebony red began to form at his heart. Through his arteries, they were transported all over his body.
The elemental force was still not exhausted, Leylin devoured it all and sent it towards his meridian points, a weird phenomenon occurred as his meridian points materialized and formed like veins in his body.
[Beep! Breaking threshold, Elemental essence conversion: 99%]
[99.2%]
[99.4%]
[99.6%]
[99.9%]
[100%]
Suddenly Cracking sounds were released as his Meridian points changed into abyss black tunnels around his body with reddish veins covering all around.
He has successful transformed his meridian points to an Elemental level, establishing a foundation for his Knights path.
Leylin didn't change himself into an elemental being rather he chose to change his meridian points to the point that they have 100% Elemental proficiency. With this he can be considered to become one with the element itself and at the same time remain in his Magus path.
...
Sometime later, Leylin focused on his dantain, his eyes revealed his joy.
The sentient force contained was filled to brim and it has taken a crystallized form. He immediately channel it though his body to focus on increasing his spiritual force.
[Large amounts of sentient force permeated through the body! Increase in spiritual force!]
*Weng!*
The sentient force crystal glistened as it turned into a large silvery flame that engulfed Leylin within.
*Weng!* *Weng!* *Weng!*
The defensive formation creaked loudly as various runes on it dimmed! Right after, large cracks began to appear on its surface.
*Ka-Cha!* *Ka-Cha!*
Inside the formation Gargamel looks to be worse for wear and was kneeling on the ground with a much thinner frame than before, he didn't even have the strength to utilize this opportunity.
*Bang!* *Bang!**Bang!*
At this moment there were some changes coming from the crimson light screen formation again.
The formation continuously shrunk and expanded like that of a heart beating.
On the surface of the light screen, the Hades' Sacrificial Rites had black patterns inscribed on it, just like veins which bulged.
With the continuous beating of this red heart, an energy so immense and overpowering which made Gargamel feel apprehensive began to form and grew increasingly bigger.
This aura even caught his attention, as his expression turned solemn.
"A rank 2 aura… He is advancing into a rank 2 Magus!"
His eyes opened wide, "How is this possible?"
However, he was extremely clear that no matter how Leylin reached this stage with the advancement requirements, he could not let him advance, no matter what it took, but he himself is bounded and in a weakened stage.
Gargamel expression turned horrific, he gritted his teeth and he made a decision, he immediately started to chant an incantation. As a thousand year old existence how can he not have any trump cards.
He was casting a spell which contained a ferocious might.
As he chanted, his body became even paler and thinner and his blood started to materialize which he took out and eventually it held the form of a Bloody mist concentrated energy ball.
At the same time, malevolent skulls began to emerge from the void and attached themselves to it.
The skulls wailed loudly, emitting a loud whistling sound as they struck the crimson light screen formation.
*Sssii!*!
The crimson light screen shuddered as the red merged and spread through the skies. The air in the surroundings contorted wildly as energy waves were violently released.
*Rumble!*
The red light began to shrink after stretching to their limits and a mighty explosion erupted as the flames lapped everything in the surroundings.
The surround corpses that had previously been there was shattered into pieces and turned them into a rubble by the explosion.
*Pu!* *Pu!*
This Hades' Sacrificial Rites that was harvesting elemental energy was finally succumbed to the pressure and completely shattered. What was left now was Leylin's final line of defense, the crimson light screen.
The crimson light shuddered and then black cracks began to appear on the surface.
*Ka-Cha!* *Ka-Cha!*
The light screen shuddered and finally shattered!
The red mist that contained a monstrous might pierced the center of the light formation.
Under the dazzling light, a barely visible human figure was seen. This figure was wrapped in a raven flame which very soon was extinguished.
"Latent Fireball!"
The human figure in the center spoke softly. Immediately, dozens upon dozens of black flames began to materialize and attack the Blood mist head on.
The Two spells clashed which created a whistling noise.
As the red flames touched the Blood mist, the Blood mist was extinguished.