Chapter 93 - Summoning Circle
Theo flipped to the next page, his gaze immediately drawn by the title.
’’Summoning Circles.’’
Rows of text appeared underneath, combined with several diagrams and familiar intricate magic circles.
Breathing slowly, his eyes raced across the pages.
’’Summoning with a circle is not a command, but an equal contract.’’
Theo tilted his head slightly.
’’A summoner calls forth one... by offering it three key anchors.’’
’’A soul fragment, a core, and a skeletal vessel.’’
He paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing.
’’Offer weak resources and weak creatures will appear.’’
’’Offer good resources and strong creatures will appear.’’
’’Truly powerful beings do not answer to the unworthy, no matter what is offered.’’
That was different from what he knew.
’’Don’t people usually travel into the summoning plane and capture a beast?’’
Though his knowledge on the element was very limited, that was something he did know.
As for a creature’s talent... it was practically a gamble.
That, in particular, had been the reason why he didn’t really want it as his affinity.
"But you can influence it with resources..." he muttered, tilting his head slightly.
His eyes lingered on the last line.
’’The unworthy...’’
He frowned slightly.
’’What does that even mean?’’
His eyes moved even further, settling on the final two lines on the page.
’’The summoning element provides multiple spots for contracted beasts and unlimited chances to contract one.’’
’’A summoning circle is the contrary, only allowing one chance to contract a single bond.’’
Tilting his head slightly, he read over the final line again.
’’I can only contract one,’’ he muttered slowly.
’’And... I also only have one chance to do so.’’
He fell silent for a moment.
’’...So if I mess this up...’’
The circle would disappear.
Theo exhaled slowly and closed the manuscript.
’’Then there’s no room for mistakes.’’
His mind started churning right away.
He needed materials... and there was no way he’d take anything under S-rank.
’Anything less would waste this opportunity.’
Theo ran a hand through his hair, thinking it through carefully.
A soul fragment, a core, and bones... all three had to be high quality.
If even one of them fell short, the result would be dragged down with it.
That much was obvious now.
But resources like that weren’t something he could easily afford.
’’Just the cheapest S-rank items would cost well over ten million dollars...’’ he muttered quietly, laying down on his bed.
That was without even mentioning a soul fragment.
Those were so rare, an S-rank would practically cost a hundred million.
Suddenly, Theo’s eyes shot open.
’’Right,’’ he said, sitting up. ’’The ranking for the admissions!’’
Adrian had mentioned that there would be three S-rank items for the number one.
Then he fell silent.
’’But... how do I even participate in those?’’
He’d been way too caught up with other matters and had completely forgotten about that.
If he wanted first place, he definitely needed to understand exactly what he needed to do.
’’Elise would know,’’ he muttered. ’’I should ask her next week when she’s back from her break.’’
Theo leaned back slightly, letting out a slow breath.
Laying down on his bed, many things coursed through his mind.
’This system...’ he thought. ’It’s really bringing me the craziest things.’
He just rested up his exhausted body and went to sleep after doing his daily descent.
The next few days passed quickly.
With time, many matters got settled.
Both he and Owen received their reward money for wiping out the leeches.
Ethan also named the leeches, adding Bone Stalking in front of it.
In all this time, Theo didn’t touch the manuscript again.
Instead, he fully concentrated on his training and cultivation.
After five days had passed, Theo found himself on the bus again.
’If I continue cultivating like this,’ he thought, ’I’ll be able to reach silver core just after the tournament back home.’
With how much time had passed, there was only one week left.
Then he’d need to be at home and ready to participate.
’I need to free my dad from that contract,’ he thought, clenching his fist.
Letting out a deep breath, his gaze fell on Owen.
He was humming along to some music, barely paying attention to the world around him.
Theo leaned back too, staring out the window again.
He took a sip from a cold bottle of Coke that had seemingly appeared out of thin air.
After a few minutes, both of them already stood in front of the training rooms again.
’’I’ll see you later man,’’ Owen said, heading in first.
Theo nodded, going into his own room.
As he stepped inside, he was met by a familiar figure.
’’Good morning,’’ he said, smiling.
Elise nodded once.
’’Let’s see how much you’ve progressed,’’ she said.
She grabbed hold of her pole, lowering into a proper stance.
Theo quickly waved his hands in front of him.
’’Before we do that,’’ he said. ’’I have a question about the ranking battles.’’
Elise narrowed her eyes slightly.
She straightened again and nodded once.
’’Ask.’’
’’How does the entire thing work?’’
Elise just stared at him for a moment, a deadpanned expression on her face.
After a moment, she let out a deep sigh.
’’You can fight your peers at the arena for the next two and a half weeks.’’
She paused for a moment.
’’The one who remains at number one is unable to decline battles and receives the rewards at the end.’’
Theo raised an eyebrow.
’That’s a nice concept,’ he thought, nodding slowly.
’But there’s only two and a half weeks left...’
He’d be leaving for Santa Barbara in just five days.
And it would likely take an additional five days before he’d return here again.
’So I need to fight my way to the top in just... a week?’
Theo fell silent for a moment.
He didn’t even know who his opponents were going to be.
Yet... he felt confident that it would be doable.
’’Thought it through?’’ Elise’s voice rang out.
Theo snapped out his thoughts and nodded.
’’Good,’’ she said, lowering her stance.
’’Show me everything.’’