Chapter 22. A New Spell

After weighing his options, Arthur realized that the "Stone Spike Veil" spell would be the best choice for his situation. However, he was still 10 points short.

After some thought, he decided to turn to Alice. She was one of his classmates, someone he had met at the market. Alice came from a wealthy family, and Arthur knew that she rarely had trouble with resources. Still, he understood that asking her for a favor was a serious step.

Reaching out to her through the card, Arthur invited her to a meeting, explaining that he wanted to discuss something important.

"You look pretty tense, Arthur. What's wrong?" Alice asked when they met in one of the secluded corners of the academy.

Arthur gathered his thoughts and said,

"Alice, I urgently need 10 points. I already have 60, but I'm short exactly that amount to buy a spell that could be crucial for me."

Alice studied him carefully, raising an eyebrow slightly.

"A spell? Why can't you just wait and earn the points yourself?"

Arthur answered honestly,

"I don't have time. It's related to my research in the spiritual world. If I don't act now, I'll miss my chance."

Alice thought for a moment, then smiled.

"Alright, I'll lend you 10 points. But I have one condition. You'll pay me back in three months—but double the amount, 20 points."

Arthur felt two emotions battling inside him: relief that she had agreed and anxiety over the steep repayment terms. But he had no other choice.

"I accept," he said firmly.

Alice took out her card and transferred him the required points.

"Don't disappoint me, Arthur. I expect you to keep your word."

"Of course. Thank you so much, Alice. I really appreciate it."

When he returned to his room, he now had 70 points in hand. Without wasting any time, Arthur headed to the market, where he finally purchased the "Stone Spike Veil" spell scroll.

Now, he had everything he needed to prepare for the upcoming challenges. However, the thought of repaying his debt with interest lingered in his mind. Arthur resolved that within those three months, he wouldn't just return the debt—he would do everything possible to increase his strength.

***

Back in his spiritual world with the new spell scroll, Arthur immediately began thinking about where he could carve the runes and create the model for "Stone Spike Veil." The spell required an area with rocks or solid ground and a specific rune placement for the circle to properly focus magical energy. He knew that choosing the right location was crucial—it would determine the spell's efficiency, stability, and activation speed.

He set off in search of a suitable spot. His forest was dense, filled with towering trees that protected spiritual structures but didn't provide enough open space.

After a long search, Arthur settled on a clearing near the tower he had built after merging the island. It was close enough to the central energy node of his world, ensuring a stable flow of spiritual power, yet it was an open, simple space. The clearing was surrounded by low shrubs and scattered trees that cast some shade along its edges. However, a rocky area would have been ideal for this spell.

Surveying the location, he frowned slightly.

"Not the best place for this spell," he muttered. "But I have no other choice."

"Stone Spike Veil" required a solid foundation so the energy could erupt properly from the ground in the form of spikes. The soft, loose soil of the clearing seemed unstable to him. Still, Arthur decided he could compensate for this by investing more time and precision in crafting the rune circle.

He unrolled the spell scroll and carefully read through the instructions again. The parchment depicted complex diagrams and drawings, illustrating the circle he needed to construct. Every rune had a precise placement, and a mistake in their arrangement could lead to spell instability or even the collapse of the circle.

Taking a deep breath, Arthur got to work.

He started by clearing the clearing of unnecessary shrubs and grass, leveling the ground as much as possible. Using his spiritual power, he marked the circle's boundaries according to the scroll's instructions. The circle ended up being about ten meters in diameter, and its surface was smooth as glass, thanks to the magical energy Arthur used to compact the earth.

Next, he began carving the runes. The runes for "Stone Spike Veil" were intricate and detailed, each featuring multiple connecting channels through which energy would circulate within the circle. He worked slowly and meticulously, carving them into the ground with his spiritual power.

Some runes required additional elements, such as symbols for earth, durability, and attack. Arthur considered how to integrate them properly into the overall design and decided to make slight modifications to the original layout to better adapt it to his spiritual world's conditions.

His work took several days. Each day, he returned to the clearing, made adjustments, verified his accuracy, and cleared his mind to maintain focus.

When the final rune was carved and all the connection channels were precisely laid out, Arthur felt the energy begin to flow through the circle. Now, all that remained was to activate it and test its functionality.

Standing in the center of the circle, he closed his eyes and focused. His spiritual power began flowing through the channels, filling each rune with light. Suddenly, with a deep rumble, massive stone spikes erupted from the ground, surrounding the clearing. They were solid, with sharp edges, radiating an inner glow as if they were infused with magic.

"It works!" Arthur whispered in relief.

However, he quickly noticed that maintaining the circle required more energy than expected. The spell was consuming energy at a steady but rapid rate. Arthur realized he would have to carefully manage the spell's duration in battle.

---

Having completed the magical circle and confirmed that "Stone Spike Veil" worked in his spiritual world, Arthur decided it was time to test it in the real world. He returned to his body and opened his eyes. His familiar dormitory room greeted him with silence.

"Time to see how it works here," he said to himself, getting out of bed and heading to the door.

Throwing on his standard academy robe, he grabbed his card and made his way to the academy's training grounds.

The academy's training grounds were vast and divided into multiple zones where students could hone their skills, test new spells, or engage in duels. Some areas were protected by magical barriers to prevent spells from causing unintended damage.

Arthur chose one of the less crowded arenas, surrounded by magical walls. This particular area was designed for testing destructive spells, its surface made of reinforced stone capable of withstanding powerful impacts.

As soon as he stepped onto the platform, a wave of anticipation ran through him. This was the first real-world test of his new spell.

"Focus," Arthur reminded himself as he activated the training barrier, sealing the area off from the outside world.

Standing at the center of the platform, he closed his eyes and connected with his spiritual world. The bond between his consciousness and the spiritual realm strengthened, and he felt the energy from his inner circle begin flowing into the real world.

Arthur raised his hand and spoke clearly,

"Stone Spike Veil!"

Magic surged through his body before pouring into the ground. Within moments, the platform trembled, and with a deep rumble, massive stone spikes burst from the surface.

The spikes shot up rapidly, their sharp edges gleaming under the magical barrier's light. They formed a dense defensive perimeter around Arthur in a seemingly chaotic yet strategic pattern.

Walking around them, he examined their structure. They were sturdy enough to withstand strong impacts and sharp enough to inflict serious damage on an opponent. However, he soon realized that in the real world, the spell required significantly more magical energy than in his spiritual domain.

"Eight seconds to activate and about ten percent of my spiritual energy," he calculated. "For a prolonged battle, that's quite a lot."

He decided to test the spikes' durability. Casting a simple magical attack, he aimed it at the nearest spike. The impact left only a slight scratch.

"Good durability," he noted.

But he also saw flaws—the spikes appeared in a random pattern, not always matching his expectations. Plus, they were stationary, making them effective only for defense.

"I need to figure out how to use this offensively," he thought.

After hours of testing, Arthur left the training ground exhausted but satisfied. He knew the spell could become a vital part of his arsenal—if he mastered it.

"Tomorrow, I'll keep practicing," he said to himself, heading back to his dorm. "There's still a lot to improve."