บท 24: Casting Speed and Battle Environment
Inside the Deep Pit of the Rocky Plain.
After a brief rest, Gaal's magical power had recovered significantly.
Once Gildarts and Gray finished eating, Gaal stood up and said, "It's time to leave."
Gray and Gildarts also got to their feet, and Gaal placed his hands on their shoulders.
Then, with a whoosh, the three of them launched into the air.
As Gray looked down at the rapidly receding ground, he couldn't help but glance around, experiencing flight for the first time, feeling as though he was dreaming.
Gildarts, however, voiced his confusion, "Aren't we using Space Magic? Are we flying over?"
Gaal shook his head, releasing his grip on their shoulders while the trio floated in the air. "No. We need to fix the situation down below first."
Soaring high above, the large pit created by the battle on the ground became strikingly visible.
And because it was situated at the center, if this several-thousand-meter pit wasn't filled, they would have to take an extensive detour to pass through.
Gaal extended his staff, gathering magical energy, and pointed downwards: "Fill the land."
Buzz—
An earth-yellow magic circle appeared in the air above the pit, level with the ground above.
Then, the earth-yellow magic circle rapidly expanded.
Like a massive lid, it enveloped the pit, swirling above.
Rich earth elements began to accumulate within the pit, spreading outwards.
Boom!
The bottom of the deep pit suddenly rose significantly.
Boom!
Gray couldn't help but gasp, shocked as he gazed at the pit that took up almost half his view, the bottom elevated like that.
Boom!!!
With another deafening crash, the massive magic circle forcibly raised the ground in the pit three times, filling it and bringing it to the same height as before, showing no difference.
Next to him, Gildarts couldn't help but express his amazement, "This is... so convenient."
If he had such a talent and could learn various magics, he wouldn't be running around being chased after all.
After all, being pursued by creditors is anything but pleasant.
He didn't take any missions on the Fiore side because years ago, he had acted recklessly.
As a result, most cities had blacklisted him...
He still owed a lot of money to the cities damaged during battles, which he hadn't repaid.
Gray, with eyes wide in disbelief, remarked, "What an immense magical power."
Even while floating in the air, he could still feel the magical energy emanating from below.
Gaal gradually lowered their buoyancy and said, "This is just the simplest call of natural magic. You can't utilize it yet."
The three of them began to descend toward the ground.
Gaal lifted his foot to touch the ground, finding it very solid, and then turned to Gray, saying, "Compared to magical beasts and creatures, human bodies are quite fragile. So the magical power one can store is much less compared to the two. And the function of magic circles. Is to facilitate mages in gathering magical power, allowing them to draw on some of the natural magical energies around them, increasing the power of their spells.
Typically, novice or A/B-Class mages will use magic circles when casting spells. But in top-tier battles, this method is too slow. When the strengths are similar, or when facing a stronger opponent. The only things to look at besides magical strength are casting speed. In the battle I just had with Gildarts, you should have noticed that many of our spells were cast without using magic circles."
Gray, his expression serious as he noted this, replied, "That's right. Just with a lift of our hand, the spells were released."
Gaal nodded and continued, "Because invoking a magic circle requires some time. Even if cast quickly, it's not faster than using one's own magical power. So when a mage's strength increases, when facing an assured enemy, one typically uses their own magical power to cast spells, quickly resolving the battle. Because when one becomes stronger, the increase provided by magic circles becomes minimal.
Unless casting powerful spells or forbidden magic, that's when one would invoke a magic circle. Situations like the large-scale Earth Element Land Creation magic I just used, or when Ur used 'Absolute Zero' to surround Deliora with several massive ice magic circles. Because the mage's own magical power isn't sufficient to cast such spells.
One must rely on the drifting magical energy in nature. And this is also very dependent on the environment. If Deliora were to appear here, then even Ur would find it very difficult to use 'Absolute Zero.' Do you know why?"
Gray began to understand, quickly replying, "Because this isn't a snow mountain. The climate isn't that cold, and there's soil everywhere. The ice elements that can be drawn from nature are very scarce."
Gaal nodded and said, "That's exactly it. It's like this. The earth elements here are abundant, but the ice elements are minuscule. While casting spells, some neutral magical power from nature will be converted into ice element magical power. But compared to a snow mountain, it still falls short. So when casting Earth magic on this Rocky Plain, the advantages brought are far greater than the ice elements.
Magic like ice magic is inevitably suppressed by the environment during battle. If you don't have assurance against your enemies, then you must first create an environment in your favor. Utilizing wide-ranging ice magic to alter the surroundings. Transforming the neutral magical power in the area into ice element magical power will increase your chances of victory."
As Gaal stroked his chin, he continued, "Hmm... I guess I'll teach you about this much for now. Magical strength, casting speed, and battle environment. Don't focus too much on appearances yet. Only when your foundation is solid can you freely cast any shape. When your magical power reserves and mental strength are sufficient. Even casting a giant dragon is merely a matter of raising your hand. The foundation is what's most important. During this time when Gildarts takes you back, your casting speed should improve significantly."
Gaal's tone had a strange quality.
He knew Gildarts all too well; this guy could exhaust Gray half to death with his training.
Hearing Gaal's words, Gray felt an inexplicable chill.
He looked up at Gildarts, who was standing next to Gaal.
Gildarts noticed Gray's gaze and grinned, flashing a 'kind' smile: "Don't worry, kid. I will make sure to train you well. Just don't run away halfway through."
Beads of cold sweat trickled down Gray's forehead, and defiantly, he shouted at Gildarts, "Who would run away!? You leech of an uncle, go ahead and train me!"
"I won't give up!"
Gildarts flashed a provocative smile, making the veins on Gray's forehead throb.
Gaal shook his head, stopping their antics.
Having said everything, it was time to send them off.
He activated Space Magic, and the three of them instantly disappeared from there.
——
Three days later.
In Border City Monet.
Dressed in a black magic robe, Gaal stepped off the train and immediately sensed something was off here. He looked up at the drizzling sky.
The raindrops falling from the sky avoided Gaal's robe.
Even standing outside without an umbrella, not a single drop of rain touched him as Gaal stretched out his hand, retracting the magical cover, allowing a few raindrops to fall into his palm: "Such rich water elements. Is it because of Unicorn?"
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