Chapter 53: Perfect Circle

A circle.

​Out of everything Cassian could have chosen, a circle had been the simplest thing to construct.

​It was pure, effortless geometry, no corners, no complicated edges, and no intricate details that demanded micro-control.

Just a single, continuous shape.

​In fact, one could argue that the circle was the foundation of existence itself. Wheels, planets, stars, eyes, cells... even the cycles governing life and death followed circular patterns.

Everything eventually returned to its beginning; everything completed a circle.

​Because of that inherent simplicity, Cassian hadn’t needed to strain his mind when forming it.

After all, he had spent his entire life looking at circles, like every other person in existence.

​The moment he grasped the core concept, all he had done was pour mana into it. Then more mana. And more, filling it up like a colossal inflatable.

​The result was the massive construct currently hovering above Lord’s Hollow: a giant violet circle formed entirely from condensed shadows, hanging in the sky like an artificial moon.

​Its diameter exceeded that of a fifty-story building, dark violet energy flowing across its surface while shadows rippled continuously around its circumference.

From a distance, it looked profound, ancient, and mysterious, as though it concealed some terrifying, world-ending secret.

​Yet at its core... it was simply a giant circle.

​Cassian rose to his feet, admiring his handiwork. Nyxara stood beside him, and the two stared up at the floating construct in silence.

​Finally, Cassian turned toward his champion. "So?"

​Nyxara blinked. "My Lord?"

​"What do you think?"

​The champion fell silent for a long moment, far longer than Cassian would have liked.

​Eventually, she answered carefully. "It is... unique."

​Cassian narrowed his eyes.

​Nyxara quickly added, "I am certain that with a little more refinement, your future constructs will become considerably more sophisticated."

​Cassian smiled. He understood exactly what she was trying to say. She was being nice, painfully nice. Even Nyxara clearly failed to see the strategic value of the giant floating band.

​Fortunately, he was more than happy to enlighten her.

​"Nyxara."

​"Yes, my Lord?"

​Cassian pointed upward toward the dark circle. "What happens when a construct that large is suddenly compressed?"

​Nyxara frowned, the question appearing entirely random.

​Before she could answer, Cassian asked another: "And what happens when that compressed construct is divided into thousands of smaller constructs of the exact same shape?"

​Nyxara’s eyes widened slightly as the gears in her mind began to turn.

​Then Cassian delivered the final question: "And what happens when those constructs can maintain themselves indefinitely because their user possesses an inexhaustible supply of mana?"

​Silence descended upon the clearing.

​Nyxara stared up at the giant circle, then down at Cassian, and then back up at the circle.

​Slowly, a look of awe and realization washed over her face.

​The construct didn’t need to be complex. It didn’t need to resemble a weapon, a beast, or a grand fortress, the shape itself was completely irrelevant.

​What mattered was what came after: compression, mass replication, and sustained existence.

​A single compressed shadow circle could become a lethal projectile; thousands of them could become an inescapable storm; and if those circles never ran out of energy, they became an unending barrage of absolute death.

​Cassian smiled, gesturing casually as the massive construct above Lord’s Hollow slowly dissolved into a mist of fading shadows.

​"Do not judge a book by its cover."

​Nyxara immediately lowered her head in genuine deference. "Yes, my Lord. Thank you for the enlightenment."

​Cassian’s smile widened into a sharp grin. "Don’t worry, it’s not a crime to be shortsighted."

​He paused briefly, before adding casually, "No offense, of course."

​"..."

​Nyxara froze, the words striking her with unexpected weight.

​A few seconds passed in absolute silence as realization dawned on her. She remembered earlier when she had politely assumed he would have already mastered her Authority, prefacing her comment with those exact words: ’no offense’.

​Her Lord had remembered. He had held onto that petty moment and waited for the perfect opening to pay it back.

​Nyxara stood there in stunned, speechless disbelief while Cassian looked thoroughly pleased with himself.

​For some reason... she found the sight utterly charming. The mighty Lord whose mana could shake the foundations of an entire territory had held a minor grudge just to get a petty victory over his champion.

​Nyxara lowered her gaze slightly, a strange, blooming warmth filling her chest once more.

As for the colossal construct it dissolved into countless strands of shadow before vanishing completely into the surrounding darkness. Once it was gone, Cassian turned toward Nyxara.

​"Now that I have a grasp of your Authority, it’s time for me to help you."

​Nyxara was immediately pulled from her wandering thoughts. "Hm?"

​Before she could ask what he meant, Cassian reached into his Vault. A moment later, a small violet vial appeared in his hand.

​The vial itself was exquisitely crafted. Intricate silver patterns coiled around its surface like twisting roots, while faint runes pulsed softly beneath the glass. Inside swirled a thick violet liquid, moving slowly and clinging to the inner walls with an unnatural viscosity, while tiny motes of crimson light drifted through the solution before dissolving.

​The vial looked less like an ordinary consumable and more like an ancient treasure preserved over countless centuries.

​Cassian handed it over. The moment Nyxara accepted the glass, a system notification materialized before her vision:

​[Graveheart Sap — Rare ★★★]

​Her violet eyes widened slightly. She quickly read through the system description, and by the time she reached the end, her grip on the vial had subconsciously tightened, not out of greed, but profound caution.

​This was no ordinary item. Even among Rare ★★★ Grade treasures, its effects were exceptionally potent.

​Nyxara carefully lowered her head. "My Lord..."

​Cassian smiled faintly. "You’ll consume it before tomorrow’s battle. The timing should allow you to fully absorb its effects and integrate the growth."

​Nyxara bowed deeply, her voice carrying an unshakeable sincerity. "Thank you, my Lord. I swear upon my very soul that I shall never betray the faith you place in me."

​She raised her gaze, her eyes burning with resolute devotion. "I shall become the sharpest blade in your hand, the shadow beneath your feet, and the shield that stands before your enemies. No gift you bestow upon me will ever be wasted."

​Her fingers tightened around the cool glass of the vial. "As long as I exist, I will strive to remain worthy of your generosity."

​Cassian listened quietly before giving a simple nod. "It’s no problem," his voice was calm and grounded. "It is simply my duty as your Lord."

​For a brief moment, silence returned to the clearing.

​Nyxara looked down at the vial in her hands, then back up at Cassian, the strange warmth within her soul growing even stronger.

Meanwhile, Cassian was purely calculating tomorrow’s battle metrics and estimating how much stronger his primary champion would become after consuming the resource.

​Neither realized they were reflecting on entirely different things.

....

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