章 80: Intricacies of Formations

"Can I ask something too then?"

[Sure thing, go ahead.]

Worst case I'll just straight up tell him I don't know.

"I want to try and figure out that formation thing by myself, but there is one thing I want to know. What are the advantages and disadvantages of it?"

So pretty much he is like any new player in an RPG. When you stare at the screen hard carefully going over every class there is. Trying to pick one that fits your playstyle the best. He wants to know if it is worth it to train in.

All I can do is share my theoretical knowledge. He is probably testing me right now. How he views me will all depend on this moment!

All I need to do is convince him. Worst case it will be good inspiration. I've been told to find my own path. I assume this advice works for these guys too.

After all, I am nothing special. Well, there is the whole plant body. Also, Yggdrasil sharing his power with me. Then the fact that I am a transmigrator. Then how handsome I am… I should probably stop listing.

Anyway, showtime. I slowly go and sit on a nearby rock. Then I tell them to make themselves comfortable. This isn't my home? Who cares?

****

Then I start my fake lecture. Before I know it, I'm in storyteller mode. Talking about fiction as if it was a fact.

[Formation means deriving power from your environment. This has many impacts. First, it takes a lot of time to set up everything. The stronger a formation is, the harder and longer it takes. Not only to build but also to activate. After all, it takes time to gather the necessary mana.

Now there are ways to speed up the process. For the human…eh gorilla part. The better you get at it, the faster you get. When starting, a basic formation may very well take you an hour. Then as you get more skilled it could be done in an instant.

Now for the mana part. You can supply your own to the formation. Doing it as if it was any spell. You can also use external means whatever they are. Now all this takes a lot of time. But even afterward it is not over…

For it to show full power you need to control it directly. Now, all that set-up and control part can change based on where you are. It all depends on your environment. This is why this is really hard. The good part however is that a formation is extremely powerful. Also very hard to break.]

I'd be gasping for air if I needed to breathe. The gorilla seems pensive. Then he opens his mouth again.

"How would one break a formation then?"

[There are two main methods.]

That I know about from literature.

[The first one is the skillful approach. Another formation master uses his knowledge to comprehend the design and disable it. Note that this is way harder from within. So if you manage to trap them you have won half the battle already.]

"What is the second?"

[Let me show you.]

I grab a pebble on the ground.

[Bear, engrave some rune on this. Don't activate it, however.]

He skillfully gets to work. Not even asking a single question. Then he hands it over. Now it looks like a work of art.

[Alright, let's assume this entire formation is this pebble.]

They all nod. Well, I have the feeling only the ape is following what I said. The roc is probably thinking about how he's going to stay far away from rocks from now on. The wolf seems bored, and half lost in thoughts. The bear seems somewhat confused but attentive. He is probably trying to find new ways to apply this to his hiding. I hand it over to the gorilla.

"That, what am I supposed to do with this?"

[Well if you wanted to rely on your skills to disable it you would have to know exactly what he inscribed.]

"That, I wouldn't know."

[Exactly. Now the second method is simpler but way harder to realize.]

I can feel his thirst for knowledge. God this feels great. I did tell all that stuff to Yggdrasil already. All of these stories.

The only thing is I couldn't see anything back then. I had no way to see my audience's reaction. It was just me mumbling aloud. Now, this is way more fun. I could get used to this.

[Wrap your fist around it.]

*Grab*

[Now…crush it.]

"What?!"

[Crush it.!]

*CRUMBLE*

"Why? If we can simply destroy the rocks that are used to…"

[Hehe, I think you misunderstood. What you destroyed wasn't just a part of it, but all of it. That is the second method.]

"What is so impressive about crushing rocks? This bear can do it too. I'm confused, teacher!"

[When the formation is on a small pebble it's easy.]

I get up. Then I rotate slowly. Pointing all around.

*GULP*

It seems the gorilla understood my meaning. He starts shaking. I can see the excitement in his eyes.

"Can you explain to this bear, please!"

"This …this is crazy! If one were to set up a formation across the entire world then…."

He can't seem to finish his sentence. The thought itself scaring him. I give him a radiant smile.

[Yes, one would have to destroy the entire world.]

*GASPS*

He seems satisfied with the explanation. A few seconds later the bird and the wolf exclaim too, clearly both confused but participating. Oh well, whatever. I can't help but wonder what this gorilla will come up with. Hopefully, I didn't steer him in the wrong direction.

[Now, what can you tell me about this forest? I am trying to explore it. Meet its inhabitants. Where should I go next?]

He seems to be hesitating for some reason.

"That…. well, they are hiding from you…"

[What, why?!]

This doesn't make any sense!