Among Monsters (Tensura)

Chap 17.

James stood in front of the pile of supplies he had gathered, his mind racing with possibilities. The Crucible Knight's presence had already begun to fade. Its massive form, once looming protectively beside him, was now breaking apart into shimmering blue lights, its magicules running out as it slowly disappeared. He could sense the last of the creature's essence fading away.

He felt a momentary pang of loss, but he pushed it aside. He had a plan—an idea that could change everything.

Taking a deep breath, James reached for the horned rabbit. He held it gently in his hands, commanding it to activate its phasing ability. The little creature's ears twitched in acknowledgment, and its horn glowed faintly as it phased through the air. With a flick of his wrist, James unsummoned the rabbit, sending it back to wherever summoned creatures went when they were dismissed.

His mind focused, James invoked Sovereign's Sanctuary. The familiar blue magic circle appeared beneath him, and in an instant, he and the empty field around him were transported to his Sovereign's Amphitheater. The change in scenery was immediate, and he took a deep, calming breath as he set foot back onto the solid ground of his magical space.

The sight of the amassed supplies was a welcome distraction. There, stacked neatly in piles, were the Hipokute herbs—a towering mound of them, at least as tall as James himself. Beside that was a collection of Magic Ore and Cave Crystals, all glowing faintly with ambient magicules. It was a good haul, but for James, this was just the beginning.

His thoughts shifted to the theory he had been contemplating for days now. Could he do it? Could he make a permanent creation by binding a magic ore to a monster? His heart quickened as he considered the implications of this idea. If he could use the ambient magicules from the ore to sustain his monster indefinitely… It would be a breakthrough. A creation that could live on, powered by the endless flow of magicules around it. A creature that would never fade, no matter how much time passed.

James knelt beside the pile of ore and crystals, picking up one particularly smooth piece of Magic Ore. It had been formed by Veldora's magicules leaking into the cave, a product of both nature and power. It was dense, and its surface gleamed in the faint light of his amphitheater. He could feel the magic within it, pulsing gently as it absorbed the ambient magicules in the air. If his theory worked, this ore could be the key to making his creations permanent.

"There are three ways to approach this," James muttered aloud to himself, taking a seat next to the pile and rolling the ore between his fingers. He took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts.

"First is... using the ore as a magicule battery."

He began to pace as he considered the first option. James had read about magic ores before—how they absorbed and stored ambient magicules from their surroundings. In theory, if he created a monster with one of these ores embedded in its core, the ore could act as a battery, continually drawing in ambient magicules to sustain the creature.

He imagined it clearly in his mind—a monster, built from his imagination, its very essence tied to the ore within it. The ore would provide the energy the creature needed, drawing magic from the air to maintain its form. It seemed simple in theory, but it would require precision. The ore would need to be potent enough to store a constant flow of magic, and the monster would need to be designed in such a way that it wouldn't draw too much energy at once. Otherwise, the creature would collapse under the strain.

He paused, considering the second part of the equation.

"Second is embedding the core directly into the monster," James continued.

He had already created several monsters using Annihilation Creator, but none with such specific intentions. If he used a large piece of ore as the heart of the creature, it could passively draw in magicules from its surroundings. The ore would act as a stabilizing force, continually feeding the monster's energy needs. With this approach, the creature would be bound to the ore, living and growing as long as the core could absorb enough ambient magicules.

This idea was similar to how living creatures had organs that supported their life force, but the magic ore would act as a direct conduit to the magicule energy. It was a fascinating concept, but he'd need to carefully design the monster's internal structure. The ore would need to be placed in a position where it wouldn't be easily damaged, yet it would need to be integrated into the monster's body seamlessly.

He furrowed his brow. It was a delicate balance between energy flow and structural integrity.

"And then there's the third option…" James trailed off as he looked at the ore in his hand, almost mesmerized by its magical properties. "Infusing the core with my own magicules."

This was the most direct approach. James could infuse the magic ore with an initial surge of his own magicules, giving it a strong starting point. The infused magicules would stabilize the monster's core, essentially giving it a 'jump-start.' Once the ore absorbed enough magic from the environment, it would continue to draw on that external energy, providing a stable source of power for the creature.

It would be the most efficient method to ensure the longevity of the monster, but it would also be the most draining for James. He would need to invest a significant amount of his own magic into this process, and if he wasn't careful, he could burn through too much of his energy at once. It was a high-risk, high-reward approach.

James stared at the pile of Magic Ore before him, his mind whirling with possibilities. The theory was sound. If any of these methods worked, it could change everything. His monsters could become permanent, self-sustaining entities that wouldn't fade or disappear when their magicules ran out. They could evolve, grow, and be a constant presence in the world.

There was still a lot to consider, and he needed more data, but the potential was immense.

James took another deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to focus his mind. For now, he would rest and think more on the other two theories. But this first one—using the ore as a magicule battery—was the starting point. He couldn't wait to try it out.

As he opened his eyes and looked around the amphitheater, the pile of ore and crystals seemed to glow brighter. He was on the verge of something big. Something that could change everything about his newfound world.

End of chap.