Let’s see what we got here.

Tepo browsed the first few sites of the notebook. But soon he frowned. He couldn’t help but ask a question:

“Web, why are there so little six-runes spells?”

“We apologize but our presence in the Carrying Winds World is still in the process of being established. Many materials still have to be delivered from other worlds.”

Tepo fell silent.

So that’s the case. Doesn’t this mean I won’t find strong spells in the Carrying Winds World?

Maybe this is the reason why Quill gave me those tokens a while ago. After visiting my family, I should consider traveling to other worlds.

For now, I can only choose from a smaller selection.

As his thoughts churned Tepo sank into the notebook. He formed different combinations, compared prices, discarded ideas, and tried to create a suitable fighting style.

After contemplating for a long time during which Web didn’t move a single muscle, Tepo finally came to a conclusion.

During the few months outside I have been in passive situations a lot. In the end I have to accept that I’m still weak and survivability is important. So, lets buy the [Minor Stealth] skill, although it consumes a big part of my budget.

Finally, Tepo looked up from the notebook. The warrior addressed Web, stating his wishes.

The masked agent nodded, disappearing into their room for a few minutes before appearing with three boxes in their hand.

Tepo didn’t waste any time. He directly took those into the training room, ready to begin the engravement.

Curious, the warrior opened the most prominent box. It contained a small grey plant growing within fertile soil, with a surprisingly extensive root network.

Tepo nodded slightly. He had read about this plant before. This was Invilis, a prominent herb which was able to turn invisible for a short time if its sensitive roots felt danger.

Reaching out his hand curiously, Tepo touched the earth close to the plant. Suddenly a shiver ran through it. The stem and leaves shimmered and vanished from Tepo’s sight.

Not bad. But if you know where to look, one can still spot the plant. The air is slightly blurry. Therefore, when using the [Minor Stealth] skill one still has to be careful.

Tepo was satisfied, nonetheless. If he had this spell in the Winged Border City, it would have been easy to get rid of the pirates’ pursuit.

Eagerly Tepo opened the next box. Immediately a change ran through the red rock as the box’s ability to isolate force was interrupted.

Good. This should be Nurughium. It can let one learn one of the rare passive skills as it hardens immediately on contact with any kind of force.

The passive skill [Natural Hardened Defense] will constantly protect my body, but it will also use up the Force of Time. My core won’t be happy.

Just as Tepo thought so, the Core of Time pulsed within his chest. It was annoyed. Why was its host such a spendthrift? Couldn’t they just focus on absorbing the Force of Time all day?

Tepo chuckled faintly as he opened the third box. Another plant waited within. Knowing what to expect the warrior reached out with his hand and snapped off a small branch of the tiny green bush.

Immediately the plant absorbed forces. The tiny branch began to regenerate.

Ok. Now my survivability should be strengthened greatly. But unfortunately, I’m broke again.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

With [Minor Stealth] costing 600 points and [Natural Hardened Defense] 300, I only had enough left for the three-runed [Minor Regeneration].

Now I got a taste of how difficult it is to form potent spell combinations. Even with an organization as extensive as the Web I have to work hard. How can independent warriors even survive?

Letting out a faint sigh, the warrior put all the materials back in their boxes. He still had to make some preparations.

Next, Tepo relaxed his mind. His soul moved, forming a connection to the spell circles within his chest.

Multiple runes had to be rearranged to make space for the new spells. Fortunately, this wasn’t a difficult task.

Tepo began with the [Lonarzium Skin]. Although he didn’t plan on keeping this spell forever, there was no reason to abandon it as long as he had some space left.

Just as he had read in books the young man began to direct his mental strength. He carefully nudged the runes belonging to [Lonarzium Skin].

He started slowly before getting bolder over time. After a few minutes the runes suddenly moved. They shook before separating from the spell circle.

The line connecting them together vanished. A strong pull impacted Tepo’s mental strength. But for a six-circled aspirant it wasn’t hard to endure.

Tepo kept a calm mind. This was the most difficult part of moving the already engraved runes. His mental strength wrapped around them, preventing them from dissolving as he carried them towards the outer rings.

Without much difficulty he placed the runes towards the north in his fourth, fifth, and sixth circle.

Suddenly a light golden light flashed. The runes nestled in their positions. A line immediately formed again, connecting the three runes and finishing the process. The spell [Lonarzium Skin] was usable again.

A confident smile formed on Tepo’s face. He was still far from exhausted. Keeping up the momentum the young man repeated the process with his other spells.

After only two hours of work all of Tepo’s spells had been replaced. They now occupied segments of the fourth to sixth ring, allowing him to finally engrave six-runed spells.

Although the warrior was eager to continue, he knew that the upcoming session would be difficult. Thus, he first relaxed his mind for a few hours before his eyes suddenly opened.

A look so calm it carried a certain determination shone from Tepo’s deep blue eyes.

The warrior put a piece of the dark root in his mouth, not chewing it yet. This was his trump card to get through the engraving process.

All kinds of supportive items with similar use existed but naturally Tepo wouldn’t choose to buy those when he already had the roots on hand.

With all his preparations done the warrior took a deep breath before opening the first box. Invilis appeared before his eyes. Without hesitation Tepo connected his mental strength to the plant’s spell circle.

A complicated arrangement of runes appeared in Tepo’s eyes. The runes for the [Minor Stealth] spell were diverting left and right, far from forming a single line.

Fortunately, this didn’t complicate the engravement process itself. Therefore, Tepo was still confident as he began to engrave the first rune towards the west of his core.

Already experienced the young warrior focused on the complicated waves making up the rune as it slowly formed. The difficult rune took more time than those of his other spells, but he soon succeeded and continued.

Keeping his mind calm and confident the warrior made good progress. Runes formed at a stable pace.

Suddenly though something unexpected happened. Tepo shook slightly as he was caught of guard. It turned out that the difficulty spiked from the fourth rune onwards.

The expenditure of Tepo’s mental strength rose sharply. After barely finishing the fourth rune, the young man felt exhausted.

Tepo quickly bit down on the root he kept in his mouth. His core went to work. A refreshing energy reanimated his waning spirit.

Thanks to his preparations the warrior was able to continue. He didn’t get hasty, carefully engraving every rune.

Finally, all six runes were complete. All of them shined brightly. A connection formed between them. The [Minor Stealth] spell was complete.

Tepo immediately laid on the floor, refusing to move even a single muscle. The soothing light fell on his body as the young man panted heavily. With tired eyes Tepo estimated how much time had passed.

Should be about seven hours, eight minutes, and 34 seconds. What a hassle. The difference between six-runed and three-runed spells is already so big.

If this I the case, then what about nine-runed spells? Will I even be able to engrave them? Do I have to search some supportive passive spells beforehand or maybe some pills?

Gradually Tepo’s thoughts became sluggish. A tiredness washed over him as he drifted to sleep.

A few hours later the warrior entered the training room again after a short meal. His eyes showed confidence. This time he knew what to expect.

Tepo opened another box. Nurughium fell into his eyes. He took the red stone into his hand. Its texture felt rough but with a certain warmth to it.

Closing his eyes, the warrior spread his mental strength. Another complicated spell appeared in his mind.

Tepo began the engraving. Rune after rune former within his spell circles. Segments were occupied, some shared with other spells.

The spike in difficulty after passing the fourth ring didn’t surprise the young man this time. He kept calm, quietly beginning to chew on his root.

After another excruciating six and a half hours had passed, Tepo took a deep breath. The [Natural Hardened Defense] skill was formed.

And it immediately took effect. An odd feeling spread over Tepo’s skin as it hardened strangely. Now a layer of protection would shield Tepo at all times.