The Runic Alchemist-Chapter 486: True Spellcrafting 2

How it all worked was simple in theory—runes and numbers were placed in the circle based on intent, then pathways were drawn to connect effects, guiding mana flow. When mana was infused, it activated the web and triggered the combined effects into a spell. Damian needed every runic spell to follow a structured pattern to ensure consistency. He had made a basic syntax to determine where runes were placed and how they interacted through pathways.

Each runic spell could be broken down into three essential parts:

Core Runes (Root Effects) – The primary function of the spell.

Modifiers (Alterations) – Adjust intensity, range, duration, and other properties.

Pathway Rules (Flow of Mana) – Define how the spell was executed.

This could be visually represented as: [Core Rune] + [Modifier] + [Pathway Flow] = Final Spell Effect

For example, a basic fireball could be structured as: (Fire Rune) + (Expand Modifier) +> (Direct Pathway) > A fireball that moves forward.

Just like the light constructs that exploded could be structured as: (Light Rune sized as desired with numbers around) + (Delay Modifier) + (Loop Pathway) > A light rune that stored energy and detonated later.

Those were simple and easy ones. For a higher-level spell that was a bit more complex in its workings, the structure required multiple layers of runes, pathways, and modifiers. The ice spell Lucian used to freeze a large area would be something like this:

Outer Circle – Area of Effect & Targeting: This section defined the size and range of the spell.

Rune: Area + Water + Temperature (lower than zero) + Expand Modifier

Meaning: Freeze a large area.

Pathways: Crisscrossing curved lines – spreading the effect outward in waves.

Middle Circle – Element & Action: This section controlled what the spell conjured and how it behaved.

Rune: Water + Temperature (lower than zero) + Conjure + > (Directional Pathway)

Meaning: Conjure ice from thin air, spreading outward.

Pathway: Radial pathways – mana spreading evenly from the center to the edges.

Inner Circle – Delay and Duration: This section managed timing effects or continuous freezing.

Rune: Delay + Loop Modifier + 30 (Seconds Duration)

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Meaning: Ice continued to spread for 30 seconds, freezing everything gradually.

Pathways: Looping spirals – energy circulating without dispersing.

The full structure: [Area + Water + Temperature (lower than zero) + Expand Modifier] + [Water + Temperature (lower than zero) + Conjure + > (Directional Pathway)] + [Delay + Loop Modifier + 30 (Seconds Duration)]

Various values such as range, duration, and power (Intensity) could be added in extra or entirely taken out, leaving just one section for everything dependent on mana input. That effect, which Damian had learned to modify long ago, could result in a spell that would perform any effect for as long and in as large an area as he wanted.

This was, however, just a basic structure. There were hundreds and hundreds of runes, each with unique effects and usage. That included everything he used to think the sections of the runic circles were responsible for—like stored IDs, auto-aim for certain distances, and naming, which allowed him to assign a name to a spell and activate it through voice command.

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Additionally, Damian had learned to activate his spells the proper way. It turned out the Worldshaper hands were just crutches to help him learn the runic circle structure—like training wheels on a kid’s bicycle. As long as he understood every single detail about his runic circle, he could form them in his mind, and the intent alone would manifest the runic circle without any physical input at all. He still, of course, needed to use a mana thread so the runic circle could be powered up.

This was actually exactly what this stage of the trial required him to achieve—imbuing a spell without touching the intended metal. Needless to say, it was a fucking lot to ask. Prestigious jobs were a pain to deal with. Guess the bigger the rewards, the bigger the gains.

This was.. what the legends described as voiceless chanting, he assumed.

It was impossible to achieve if one only used words laden with their own meaning and logic to cast spells—like Vidalia and everyone else. They could not reach this stage because the foundation of their spellcasting was entirely screwed.

If one wanted to truly master chantless spells, they needed to learn the proper runic circle formations and their intricacies—just like Damian. The runic circle he saw with his eye skill was the truest form of magic. That legendary figure who had unlocked chantless magic in the stories was a mage..

Damian wondered if that guy had known about the real runic circles and learned them that way. Why wasn’t this true knowledge public then? The guy had to teach someone, right? They should have carried that knowledge forward. It should be even more popular than the fake runic arrays everyone used.

It seemed fishy, but Damian had other shit to take care of, so he stopped thinking about useless things. His one and only goal right now was to finish the trial, escape from the demon lord, and find all his friends and go back to their world.

’We are finally going back?’ the prince in his head asked.

’Yes,’ Damian replied simply.

After thirty years of living together, Damian had grown somewhat used to having his consciousness shared. Actually.. Damian had thought of a way to get rid of him from his body, and the prince seemed to accept his fate. He had never revealed his true identity, but Damian had figured the guy couldn’t be any simple person if he knew that much about the demon lord. Simple logic dictated that he was the true owner of that cursed diary Damian had destroyed. Those entries.. could have been his own.

Well, all that would come later. Today was his last day here. He had spent one more year after the initial thirty learning spellcrafting to make some useful spells and other stuff. Now, it was about time to finish this and go back.

Effortlessly, Damian walked up to the flowing silver river. Staring at the flow for a few seconds, Damian finally extended his hand, the liquid mana flowing through his body and extending out from his hand, letting the mana thread seep into the flowing patch of metal and crafting the simple spell of shooting a massive light-element laser. It formed in seconds—the only limiting factor was his mind. In short, his speed of thinking, which was based on his INT.

Activating it, Damian looked at the beam of light shooting for the sky with melancholic eyes. This was a much-needed rest for his old soul, yet he had estimated staying fifty years.. and he was done in just thirty-one.

The thirty-second countdown came and lit up green as the beam continued shooting for thirty seconds. Another door of white light appeared behind Damian, and with one simple look around, Damian walked in with his head held high.