Chương 182: B3 - Chapter 18: Spell Limit

Seth turned the glowing crystal over in his hand, then his eyes focused on the three dots at the bottom to make the spell's description appear in his field of vision. Spell description - Conjures an aether-forged bow in the user's hands for 2 minutes. - While active, the user may generate arrows. - Arrow damage scales with Arcane Power and spell quality. - Cooldown decreases according to spell quality. - Consumes - 50 | 90 uniums to summon the bow - 8 | 15 uniums per arrow - Cooldown: 3 minutes.

So there's a cost for both the bow and the arrows, Seth thought as he went through the description of the Double-Tiered spell. The cost was significant, far higher than carrying a physical bow and using spells. Yet, the tactical advantage of not being hindered by both the weapon and the arrows while dodging and running about the battlefield was undeniable. How many times had he regretted not having a bow for baiting beasts or taking advantage of the environment?

And in the upcoming battles against the Empire, there certainly would be a moment when having a long-range option would be useful.

"Is that a spell-shard?" Elena asked, stepping closer to peer at the multifaceted gem in Seth's palm.

"Yeah." Seth showed her the crystal, which had light of the nearby runes catching in its blue-tinted edges.

"It summons the bow that thing used and arrows." Elena looked at it for a moment.

"Even if it's a Double-Tiered spell, it's only Uncommon. And the description doesn't say much."

"I should have let myself get hit once to see how strong it is."

"Dummy," Elena retorted with a sigh. She then glanced at the spell-shard once more.

"It could still be useful to you. How many slots for Iron-tier spells do you have left?" Seth paused to mentally go through all his spells one by one: Shocking Strike, Intermediate Identify, Huntbound Rush, Night Veil, Beastmaster Rage, Armored Phantom Fists, Dusk Scythes, Link, Share, and his new Null spell. By his count, he held five Iron spells, a Double-Tiered one, and three… unclassified. His thoughts moved to Colossus.

The scorpion possessed more than eight spells of Iron Tier or higher—a feat that should have been impossible if the standard limit applied across the board. This suggested that higher-Tier spells didn't occupy slots in the lower ones. It would certainly explain why Link and Share hadn't barred him from learning Dusk Scythes or Iron Fists. But what about his Null spell? Seth turned his focus inward, examining the grooves.

Like Link and Share, the spell offered no resistance—no pressure, no strain, not even a faint ripple of something in his Well. He frowned. Dusk Scythes was an outlier too, though it still carried a distinct weight and presence within him. Was it because it was a Double-Tiered spell? So what is the rule here? he wondered. Are there exceptions I'm not aware of? He exhaled slowly before looking up at Elena.

"I think I have one slot left," Seth finally answered.

"Are there spells that don't impact the limit? And for Double-Tiered spells, which Tier do they actually count toward?"

"There's no exception that I know of—" Elena's eyebrows shot upward.

"—wait, you have a double-tiered spell?"

"Yeah, I got it as a spell-shard from a leader of a beast village a month ago," Seth explained, remembering how the Executioner Elemental had nearly cut both him and Colossus in half with Dusk Scythes.

"It's the shadow blades I've been using."

"That explains how you've been tearing through those Astral Wraiths like they're nothing," Elena said with a small smile before pointing at the blue crystal in Seth's hand.

"And to answer your question: Double-Tiered spells take up slots from your current Tier. So both that one and your shadow blades would count as Iron spells right now."

"I see," Seth muttered, thinking for a moment.

"Then I only have one Iron spell slot left." He paused, then shrugged as his eyes swept across the cold cavern.

"Ten more Ranks and I hit the Peak of the Iron Tier anyway. Odds are I won't find a compatible spell better than this before I reach Silver." Elena shook her head, genuine exasperation flickering across her face as yet another sigh slipped from her lips.

"How long do you think most people usually stay at the Peak of the Iron Tier before they manage a breakthrough?" Seth smiled. He knew the answer—years for most, sometimes decades… if they ever made it at all. But he wasn't most people. With his Legacy and the way he hunted, he was certain he'd break through far sooner. And picking up another Iron spell when he was already at the door of the Silver Tier felt… pointless.

"Yeah, I know," he said at last. He nodded toward the Frigid Tulip pulsing softly in the crevice a few feet away.

"I'll think about it while you start the absorption. We have no idea how long that'll take." Elena glanced at the flower, then back at him.

"How long did it take you to absorb yours?"

"Several days," Seth answered.

"But it was less than a week, so you should be fine. Unless, of course, you're far worse than me at it." Elena rolled her eyes, and a playful scowl touched her face.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mister Genius. I'll try not to disappoint your high standards." If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. The noblewoman sat down cross-legged on the permafrost next to the glowing bloom. Reaching into her Endless Pouch, she pulled out the heavy fur jacket Seth had given her earlier in their journey, which she draped over her shoulders to ward off the biting chill of the cavern.

She offered Seth a final, soft smile before closing her eyes, her breathing slowing as she began to reach out with her aether to touch the heart of the frozen bloom. Seth watched the steady rise and fall of Elena's shoulders as she slipped into a deep, meditative state. He had tried to explain the process of absorbing a Seed the day before, though his own experience was a poor reference. Most Wielders likely assimilated a Seed through careful, balanced attunement—an alignment of affinities and controlled flow.

What he had gone through in the Null Sap had been nothing like that. The irregular affinity had allowed him to violently pull the Seed's energy within his Well, break it down piece by piece, and extract every last fragment of it. If Elena tried anything even remotely similar it… probably wouldn't end as well as it had for him.

'Are you truly going to learn that spell?' Nightmare said from within the teardrop necklace.' It doesn't seem strong.'

"It doesn't really matter," Seth said aloud, eyes on the pulsing blue crystal in his palm.

"A spell's just a set of grooves. I can reshape them in the same way I did with Night Veil and Armored Phantom Fists. It'll take time, though."' You'll have plenty of that while we babysit Red-hair,' Nightmare muttered. Seth rolled his eyes.

"You're the one who wanted her in the pack. You don't get to complain when we have to stand guard for her."' She's not part of the pack yet, though,'the direwolf retorted.' And if she never is? That's a week wasted watching her instead of hunting.'' You gotta trust her, Big Brother Nightmare,'Colossus chimed in.' She'll convince Seth to let her join us soon enough.' Nightmare tilted his head inside the Pocket-Realm.' Oh? And how exactly is she supposed to melt that cold heart of his?'' Cold is her specialty!

'Colossus exclaimed.' And if she can't… I'll teach her the scorpion dance! No one can resist the scorpion dance.' Seth dragged a hand down his face.

"You two are unbelievable…"' We're not the problem,' Nightmare answered flatly.' You are. Keep being so bad at this and you'll end up alone. Like that old prick.'

"I liked it better when you were against her joining," Seth muttered with a sigh.

"And relax with the whole 'old and alone' thing. I'm nineteen. I've got plenty of time." Nightmare huffed.' Most direwolves have pups before they're five.'

"That's… not the same." Colossus suddenly perked up.' Wait—when do scorpions make… baby scorpions? And… do I have to lay eggs?'

"No," Seth said, shaking his head.

"Your partner would. And I have no idea when. I'll look it up later."' Thanks, Seth!

'Colossus beamed.' Also, how do I know if my partner is the right one? I want to be sure she will have strong eggs and offer good protection to them… I'll help too, of course, but two shields is better than one!' Seth rubbed his temples and turned his thoughts solely to Nightmare.' Happy?'

'You did this to yourself,' the direwolf replied.' Stop being afraid of losing what you care about, and maybe these conversations will stop.' Seth didn't answer. Instead, he did his best to respond to Colossus's questions—one after another—until the scorpion finally ran out of them. When the silence returned, he moved closer to Elena. Inside the Pocket-Realms, Nightmare and Colossus settled near the Essences.

Seth sat cross-legged a few feet from the Elena, the frozen cavern leeching away his heat, and focused on the spell-shard in his hand.

It was likely true that he would remain at the Peak of the Iron Tier for a considerable time, even with his Legacy, making every spell slot a precious resource. Yet, dedicating his final Iron slot to a versatile distance attack felt like a sound investment, especially given his existing proficiency with a traditional bow. Not wasting any more time, he crushed the spell-shard. Aether surged out of the shattered gem and turned into a flood of liquid light that rushed into his palms and up his arms.

The energy ignored his physical flesh, diving straight for his Well and carving new pathways through his primary channels. Seth didn't resist; instead, he scrutinized the progress with an intense focus. Slowly, he felt the aetheric blueprints begin to manifest. Every line and curve of the emerging grooves carried a specific function. He gave in to his instinct, trying to comprehend every part of the intricate geometries so he could more easily modify them later.

The process lacked the searing agony of carving grooves himself. Just as it had with Fog Shroud back in the Fishlord Empire, it felt more like a heavy pressure settling in his body. Specific anchors formed in his palms, then slowly, the chaotic flow of energy began to calm, and the new grooves took their place alongside his existing spells. The moment the carving was done, Seth rose to his feet.

His gaze swept across the cavern until it landed on a frost-covered boulder jutting out from the ground about fifty yards away. With a single, focused thought, he channeled aether into the newly formed grooves within his Well. The frigid air shimmered in his palms. A translucent, cerulean bow manifested in a flash of light in his hand, its limbs elegantly curved and humming with aether.

He reached back with his right hand, feeling a part of the aetheric pathways ignite as a thin arrow of concentrated blue energy formed between his fingers. As he nocked it and pulled back the bowstring of pure aether, a familiar sensation washed over him. He had set aside his bow nearly nine months ago to focus on the brutal efficiency of close-quarters combat, yet he had spent a full decade hunting with the weapon.

The weight in his palm, the tension in his shoulder, and the sharp focus that narrowed his vision—it all came rushing back. Muscle memory was a beautiful thing. He loosed the string. The blue arrow hissed through the frigid air like a streak of light that bridged the gap in a heartbeat. It struck the center of the ice boulder with a sharp crack, vaporizing a small crater into the frozen surface and sending a spray of fine crystalline dust up into the air.

Seth summoned a second arrow, feeling the tug of eight uniums leaving his Well. The cost was manageable, but it would still add up nonetheless. He fired again, the second projectile thudding into the same spot. Not bad. But not amazing either. He lowered the glowing bow, and his golden eyes narrowed in thought. Amidst the chaos of the coming war, using aether for a spell that lacked the sheer destructiveness of his Armored Phantom Fists or the lethal penetration of his Dusk Scythes likely wouldn't be wise.

Aside from specific moments where he would need to keep his distance or needed to bait someone or something from afar, the aether consumed felt high for the actual damage dealt. Unless... He recalled the previous times he had modified spells. For his Night Veil and Armored Phantom Fists, he had manually altered the grooves to incorporate specific affinities. He had added Darkness to the former and Earth to the latter, transforming both spells into something new. Could I do the same to increase the damage?

Seth glanced down at his palm, his gaze shifting through his affinity attunements. Sensing: Peak-Iron Talents: [restricted] Manipulation: Peak-Iron Seeds: - [restricted] Nightmare (Tenebrous Direwolf) Colossus (Three-Tailed Giant Scorpion) - Petrified Tree Sap [Iron~???] Affinity: - Null ~ Mid-Iron - Darkness ~ Low-Silver - Earth ~ Peak-Iron - Poison ~ Mid-Copper He looked at his newly acquired Poison affinity from Colossus, then his focus landed on his Null affinity.

He pulled up the information on his own Seed, which caused the text to shimmer into existence in the corner of his vision. Petrified Tree Sap [Iron~???] - Reduces damage from elemental-affinity spells by 25%. - Increases the potency of all Null-affinity spells by 20%. - Boosts Regeneration by 30%. Seth's heart skipped a beat, then a smile spread on his face.

"What if..."