- Marsil Pov -

  -

  I took a deep breath, my gaze locked onto the floating Crimson Globe before me.

  It hovered there, silent and ominous, its single red eye staring blankly into the air as if waiting for my next command.

  I could feel the connection between us—a thin, invisible thread of magic, linking my mind to the summoned entity.

  The spell was holding perfectly, but that wasn’t enough.

  I needed to understand it completely.

  "Let’s see what you can do."

  With a thought, I sent the Crimson Globe upward.

  It shot into the air, responding instantly.

  Then, I guided it downward, making it drop gently before commanding it to go left, right, forward, and back.

  Each movement was smooth and precise—no hesitation, no resistance.

  I pushed it further, making it trace sharp turns, loops, and zigzags, then commanded it to move in complex, spiraling patterns across the room.

  The Crimson Globe performed everything flawlessly.

  No delay. No struggle.

  It was as if it were an extension of my own body, responding to my will the moment I thought of it.

  "Good."

  Mobility isn’t a problem.

  It was fast, flexible, and could navigate freely through the air.

  That meant I could use it in any kind of battle, whether in open fields, forests, or even enclosed spaces.

  However, movement was just one part of the test.

  The real concern was its power and limitations.

  I needed a proper testing ground to figure that out.

  This room wasn’t the place for it.

  If I unleashed an attack spell in here, I might end up destroying the walls—or worse, drawing unwanted attention.

  Instead, I decided to focus on something else for now.

  I sat down on the ground, crossing my legs, and closed my eyes.

  The Crimson Globe continued to hover above me, pulsating with a faint, eerie glow.

  I shifted my attention inward, turning my focus toward the flow of magical energy within me.

  I needed to calculate how much energy I was using for this spell.

  Because unlike most other spells, Crimson Globe wasn’t just a one-time cast.

  It was a continuous summoning, meaning I had to supply it with energy constantly to keep it active.

  I concentrated, mentally tracing the flow of my magic.

  How much had I used so far?

  How much did I need to maintain the Globe?

  And, more importantly…

  How much was too much?

  I had read about summoning spells before.

  Unlike elemental spells, which simply shaped and released energy, summoning magic had strict rules.

  And one of those rules was…

  If you lack the energy to sustain your summon, it won’t simply vanish.

  It will turn on you.

  I exhaled slowly, feeling a chill run down my spine as I remembered the warning I had read in one of my books.

  If I ever overextend myself, if I try to summon more Crimson Globes than I can sustain…

  They will not just disappear.

  They will attack me.

  My own summoned creatures would see me as a source of energy and attempt to consume me instead.

  I glanced at the Crimson Globe, its glowing red eye unblinking.

  "That would be scary," I muttered to myself.

  It was a dangerous gamble.

  A spell that could turn against its own caster if used carelessly.

  But that also meant something else…

  If I could master it, if I could control its cost and manage my magic perfectly—

  Then it would become a formidable weapon.

  I smirked.

  That just meant I had one more thing to train.

  I wasn’t going to let some energy limit hold me back.

  I would refine this spell, perfect it—until I could summon as many as I wanted without risk.

  But for now, I had my answer.

  I had spent a significant amount of energy, but it wasn’t too much.

  As long as I kept track of my reserves, I wouldn’t be in any danger.

  Standing up, I stretched my arms, feeling my muscles relax.

  "Alright. Time for the real test."

  I needed to take the Crimson Globe somewhere outside—a place where I could test its offensive and defensive capabilities properly.

  The spell was too dangerous to use recklessly indoors.

  I needed space.

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  Somewhere quiet.

  Somewhere secluded.

  Somewhere I wouldn’t be interrupted.

  A smirk crossed my lips.

  I knew just the place.

  I exhaled slowly, the Crimson Cursed Globe hovering in front of me like an ominous, floating eye.

  The spell was stable. I could maintain it without issue.

  But that wasn’t enough.

  If I wanted to use this spell in battle, I needed to understand its full potential—both its strengths and weaknesses.

  Testing mobility was easy.

  Testing power?

  That was another matter entirely.

  I glanced around my room at the Resting Nest, the dim candlelight flickering against the wooden walls.

  I considered, for a brief moment, using the spell here.

  I could fire off a small attack, just to see how destructive it was.

  But I immediately dismissed the thought.

  "That’s a terrible idea."

  Even if I held back, the risk of damaging the walls—or worse, alerting the entire inn—was too high.

  Not to mention, summoning magic left traces.

  If a tracking mage picked up on my magical signature, it wouldn’t be long before someone came knocking.

  And the last thing I needed was to draw unwanted attention.

  No—using magic here was out of the question.

  Then what about the Redglass Magic Society?

  It had training halls, dueling arenas, even underground testing chambers.

  I could probably rent a private space for training.

  But…

  I quickly shook my head.

  "Not an option."

  The Redglass Magic Society was full of mages, always watching, always listening.

  Even if I practiced in a private room, someone would eventually sense my magic.

  No, I needed privacy.

  Somewhere isolated.

  I nodded to myself, my mind settling on the obvious answer.

  The wilderness.

  The forests outside Redglass Mountain City would be perfect.

  There, I could test Crimson Cursed Globe freely.

  I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

  "Damn it."

  I didn’t want to leave the city.

  I had settled in well—built a fake identity, secured a place at the Mage Guild, and avoided drawing attention.

  Venturing outside meant risk.

  The roads weren’t safe, especially now that skirmishes between Morningstar Act and Freedom of Amber had begun.

  Who knew how many mercenaries, spies, or rogue mages were lurking in the forests?

  But I had no choice.

  If I wanted to improve, I had to take the risk.

  Staying inside the city would only hold me back.

  I clenched my fist, staring at the Crimson Globe as it pulsed with a faint glow.

  "I’ll leave at night," I muttered to myself.

  Fewer people on the roads. Less chance of being noticed.

  I could be in and out of the wilderness before sunrise.

  With that thought, I dispelled the Crimson Globe, watching as it dissolved into crimson mist before vanishing completely.

  Then, I began preparing for my trip outside the city

  The air grew colder as Sacril and I left the city behind.

  The moment we crossed into the tree line, the noise of civilization faded, replaced by the distant rustling of leaves and the occasional howl of a distant beast.

  Twenty minutes.

  That’s all it took to leave Redglass Mountain City behind.

  I kept my pace steady, moving through the undergrowth with calculated steps, careful to avoid making unnecessary noise.

  Beside me, Sacril padded along with silent grace, his dark fur blending into the shadows of the trees.

  His ears twitched occasionally, catching sounds I couldn’t hear.

  His nose flared, picking up scents that I had no chance of detecting.

  Despite all the magic I had learned, I would never match Sacril’s instincts.

  And that was fine.

  "That’s why he’s here."

  Even with my magic, there were things lurking in the forest that could tear a careless mage apart.

  That’s why I had Sacril on alert.

  I adjusted the strap on my shoulder and sighed.

  "I need to go deeper."

  I wasn’t here for sightseeing.

  I had come to this place for one reason only—to train.

  And for that, I needed to find the right spot.

  Somewhere far from roads or human paths.

  Somewhere flat enough to practice summoning.

  Somewhere isolated.

  I glanced at the moonlit sky above, gauging how much time had passed.

  It had been nearly two hours since we left the city.

  At this point, the chance of running into other mages or travelers was low.

  But I still didn’t feel safe.

  "Not yet."

  Another thirty minutes passed before I finally found what I was looking for—a clearing deep in the forest.

  It was relatively flat, surrounded by tall trees and thick brush, making it hard to spot from a distance.

  Perfect.

  I took a deep breath, feeling a slight sense of satisfaction.

  "This will do."

  I turned to Sacril, his golden eyes glinting in the dim moonlight.

  “Keep watch,” I said. “If anyone comes, let me know.”

  Sacril huffed softly, a silent acknowledgment of his duty.

  He didn’t need me to tell him that—he was already watching, listening, sensing.

  And I trusted him.

  But despite that, I knew one thing for certain—his senses far surpassed mine.

  That’s why I relied on him.

  With that thought, I took a deep breath, cleared my mind, and prepared to begin my training.

  I exhaled slowly, feeling the flow of magical energy shift within me as I prepared to summon.

  The clearing was silent, save for the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind.

  Sacril stood alert nearby, watching for intruders.

  "Let’s begin."

  I focused, drawing upon the knowledge I had gained over the past two days of relentless practice.

  With a single whispered command, I channeled my magic and uttered the incantation:

  "Cursed Crimson Globe."

  A flicker of deep red light appeared before me, swirling like liquid fire.

  As I poured energy into it, the light condensed, taking form—a floating sphere the size of a human head, pulsating with malevolent energy.

  The Crimson Cursed Globe hovered in the air, perfectly stable.

  I felt its presence through my magic, an extension of my will.

  It levitated smoothly, responding effortlessly to my thoughts.

  "Control is easy."

  There was no strain on my energy reserves not even a fraction of what I expected.

  I smirked.

  "Good. This means I can summon more."

  But before that, I needed to test its true power.

  I turned toward a sturdy tree standing about five to seven meters away.

  Its bark was thick, its trunk broad.

  A perfect target.

  "Let’s see what you can do."

  With a silent command, I ordered the Crimson Cursed Globe to attack.

  The response was instantaneous.

  In less than 0.2 seconds, the sphere pulsed—an almost imperceptible burst of energy radiating from its core.

  Then—

  A thin, concentrated beam of red light erupted from the Globe’s surface, cutting through the air at blinding speed.

  Faster than any spell I had ever cast.

  Faster than even the Gold-Colored Energy Bolt used by that adept-mage I fought before.

  Boom.

  The beam struck the tree trunk—and with a sudden explosive force, a hole the size of a human fist appeared in the bark.

  I stepped forward, inspecting the damage.

  The edges of the hole were charred and smoldering, small embers flickering within the wood.

  “Oh..”

  “It seems like the effect and the power of the Crimson Needle used by the Globe depends on my intentions.”

  “While I was back in my room, I focused on not making too much of a sound and not creating commotion so the effect was “pulverized” chair.”

  “But now that I do not need to be hiding anything. The effect is more destructive.”

  A few flakes of burning bark crumbled to the ground.

  I ran my fingers along the surface, noting the precision of the attack.

  "This is impressive."

  I took a step back, crossing my arms as calculations formed in my mind.

  Even a single Crimson Cursed Globe could prove lethal in battle.

  If I had this spell when I fought the Deadtree Walker back in the Dead Forest, the fight wouldn’t have even been a challenge.

  I wouldn’t have been injured.

  I smirked to myself.

  "If I can summon one with no effort, how many can I summon at once?"

  The thought alone made my fingers twitch with excitement.

  I cracked my knuckles.

  "Let’s find out."

  I exhaled sharply, eyes still locked on the smoldering hole in the tree trunk.

  Magic was always about resourcefulness.

  A weaker mage with superior tactics could defeat a stronger mage who wasted energy recklessly.

  And in my case.

  “The name Red Globe is better than Cursed Crimson Globe. I think..” I laughed at my habit changing the name of the spells I use.

  The Red Globe was a game-changer.

  If I could summon just three or four at once, that meant I could attack from multiple angles at insane speeds.

  If I was reckless, I’d burn through my energy too quickly.

  If I wasn’t careful, the Red Globes could turn against me.

  That was the spell’s fundamental rule if I overextend my energy, they will no longer obey my command.

  I gritted my teeth.

  "I need to find my limit. How many can I handle before it becomes dangerous?"

  Because the moment I miscalculated, the Red Globes wouldn’t just disappear.

  They would turn hostile.

  And I had no idea how powerful they’d be if I lost control.

  "That would be terrifying."

  The more I thought about it, the more I realized:

  This spell changes my entire battle approach.

  Before, whenever I fought, I had to rely on direct combat.

  I had to dodge, counter, and react in real-time.

  That meant taking risks, getting too close to enemies, and gambling with my life every time I entered a fight.

  I frowned.

  That wasn’t ideal.

  I wasn’t interested in brute-force battles.

  I wasn’t some battle-hardened warrior who wanted to charge into fights recklessly.

  I preferred control.

  And the Red Globe gave me exactly that.

  I wouldn’t have to fight so close to my enemies.

  It would be like fighting without being touched.

  That… was what I wanted.

  I narrowed my eyes, staring at the floating Red Globe still hovering near me.

  "This is only the beginning."

  The power of this spell the versatility it gave me—wasn’t just a simple upgrade.

  It was an entire transformation of my battle strategy and combat potential.

  I smirked.

  "I just need to push my limits."

  With that thought, I focused my energy.

  Time to summon more.