Chapter 151: Categories and Ratings Of Magic

"I’m not sure what the rest of the world thinks, but in Lanthor and across all human civilizations it is established that there are five categories of magic which fall into a five star rating system based on the all round capabilities of magic. I didn’t know much about it, but when I actually looked into it, I was stunned. It’s like a rabbit hole. Once you go down it, your understanding of magic changes."

Ka’z paused briefly, allowing himself to absorb what he had just read before continuing. His fingers carefully held the edge of the page as he moved his eyes down the next section.

"The first category is primary magic, or common magic as many call it, and it falls under the one star rating. I’m talking about the basic elements like Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water. Only the Light and Darkness elements of this category are rated two stars. These are the elements almost all magi develop affinity for as they are born."

Ka’z stopped reading as his expression slowly changed.

"Wait..."

Earth and Fire were two of the four affinities he had awakened with, and they were apparently considered the most basic forms of magic in the entire human magical system. He had always felt a certain amount of pride when he first discovered his affinities. Back then he believed having those two elements were extraordinary, especially when most kobolds struggled to develop even one. Now he had discovered his precious affinities belonged to the lowest category of magic.

"Bloody hell, you don’t have to put it that way," he complained under his breath, rolling his eyes.

He briefly glanced toward the field below. From his elevated position near the cave entrance, Ka’z could see several kobolds working alongside the captured Ashmork artisans.

The clearing in front of the cave had already changed considerably in only a short period. Trees had been cut down and dragged away, thick roots were being pulled from the earth, and the ground was slowly being flattened.

The kobolds were working under the direction of the artisans, learning how to properly clear and prepare land instead of simply destroying everything in their path.

This was where their homes would eventually be built, and although it was still little more than a patch of cleared earth surrounded by towering trees, Ka’z could already imagine streets, houses, workshops and fields occupying the space.

He silently nodded, pleased by the progress before returning his attention to the Red Scripture.

"The second is secondary magic, or sub magic. These are elements that can be derived from a primary element. Like Lightning is birthed from Fire, Ice from Water, Sound from Wind or Steel from Earth. These are generally considered two star elements and can be acquired basically by anyone who masters a parent element to a profound level. That’s why most Gold Core nobles are known to possess one or two sub elements, and honestly speaking, they are pretty powerful. It is necessary to note that Light and Darkness elements do not possess sub elements. Those two elements are considered gateways to Orthodox and Unorthodox magic, and because of that they cannot create sub elements."

Ka’z’s eyes narrowed as he considered those words.

The explanation immediately made him think about the magic he had encountered throughout his recent battles. It explained why certain elements were so much rarer among ordinary magi while others seemed to appear naturally among powerful warriors. Amongst the goblins on Boi displayed used secondary magic which just a rune carved on Shiki.

Ka’z looked down at his own hand.

He had always assumed Blood would simply be another specialized form of magic derived from one of the common elements, perhaps something belonging beneath Water. Yet according to Luthor’s explanation, that was not the case.

"Could it be my magic is somewhere up the list?"

A small, sheepish smile appeared on his face, and without realizing it, his chest puffed out slightly with pride.

He quickly turned the page.

"The third category is Fusion Magic. These are magics derived from the combination of two or more elements, like Combustion or Explosion Element, Lava Element or Sand Element. These elements fall within the three star ranking and are usually considered extremely powerful. It is said my great grandfather, who founded the Kingdom of Lanthor, was well known for his Explosion Element and deeply revered for it. Unfortunately, mastering two elements in-depthly enough to fuse them to birth a new element is a one in five century occurrence. Since my great grandfather’s time, Lanthor has failed to produce another Magus of that caliber."

Ka’z’s eyebrows rose.

So that was what happened when someone truly mastered multiple elements.

Instead of merely learning two separate forms of magic, a magus could theoretically combine their fundamental properties and create something completely new.

Suddenly, Ka’z understood why Luthor spoke about his great grandfather with such reverence. Creating an entirely new elemental affinity was not simply another technique. It was something that could happen only once in generations.

Ka’z briefly thought about his own affinities and wondered whether his Blood and Sacrificial magic could somehow interact with each other to create something new. The thought was intriguing, but he quickly pushed it aside. He had only recently begun understanding his existing abilities. Trying to fuse them now would probably be a good way to lose control of his own magic.

He continued reading.

"The fourth category are called Origin Elements, and unfortunately, they mostly fall under Unorthodox magic elements like the Blood Element, Necromancy, Curse Magic, Sacrificial Magic, Poison Element and so many more. These elements are usually feared, and there is a strong stigma against people who possess them, and I sincerely understand why. The most dangerous criminals in the history of our great kingdom all possess access to Origin Elements. It makes the user what many refer to as a one man army."

Buzz!

Ka’z immediately sat upright and his eyes widened as he stared at the words.

"So they’re four star?"

His expression slowly became one of astonishment as he read the explanation again.

Suddenly, the things he had experienced during his battle with the blood element began making even more sense. Blood magic was not simply another unusual ability. Its entire nature made it fundamentally different from ordinary elemental magic.

Once an enemy began bleeding, the battle is as good as won and as long as he possesses a fresh source of blood, he feels unstoppable.

The moment he had managed to make Loki bleed from his feet, Ka’z had already known that the battle was effectively over. Even if the wound itself could not immediately kill Loki, Ka’z could manipulate the blood, increase the bleeding and gradually weaken him until his body could no longer continue fighting. Against multiple opponents, the potential was even more frightening. Every wound created another resource for him.

Ka’z slowly leaned back against the stone wall.

"That actually makes sense."

He thought about Lan’ka’s fight against Rudor and how different the outcome might have been if Lan’ka had possessed a similar ability.

Ka’z looked back down at the page.

"If Blood Magic is four star, what could possibly be five star?"

Curiosity immediately replaced his amusement as he flipped the page.

The moment his eyes reached the first line, his expression changed completely.

"It’s a crime to even speak about this kind of magic, but I must document it for that purpose, that everyone knows the existence of this evil and avoids it. We call them Forbidden Elements."

Ka’z’s smile disappeared. He continued reading, his eyes moving more slowly now.

"These elements embody each spectrum of the elemental tree, and from them all smaller elements are derived. What makes them so powerful is that these elements come with a strong consciousness that makes it impossible for anyone to control them. Rather, to get these elements is to give up sovereignty over one’s self and surrender to the element itself. These elements are Life, Death, Nature and Chaos."

Ka’z stopped briefly as he muttered the four names then returned his attention to read the final paragraph.

"If you ever encounter a wielder of any of these four Forbidden Elements, it’s too late, and if you hear rumors of it, spread the news so that all life on Athedal can unite and strike them dead before they grow to a point where they can no longer be controlled!"

Ka’z stared at the page in silence unsure of how to respond to this. The entire paragraph felt more like a warning and this was the first time such a tone was used in the red Scripture.

" What do you think about the forbidden elements? " Ka’z asked the system.

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[Forbidden elements are actually the four original elements that existed on Athedal. It is the inheritance of the central plane of existence and makes one virtually invincible to people at his level and even two stages above. Unfortunately, it comes with a strong consciousness no mortal can resist, thereby reducing it’s wielders to mere puppets of strange entities.]