The thrill of creating his own magecraft coursed heavily through Black's Magic Circuits.
If he had inherited Illya's Magic Circuits as they were, without creating his own magic first, then their nature would have still represented Illya's magecraft, which was mostly centered around familiars.
However, when Black comprehended Gradation Blood, the nature of those Magic Circuits changed. Now, in their entirety, they had torn themselves off their original nature, becoming Kai and Black's, as the Magic Circuits — or, better to say, the Magic Crest — were carved on one's soul.
Where Gradation Air was the magic of projecting objects, Gradation Blood was the magic of projecting life.
Black had taken a page out of Shirou and Archer's book while coming up with this magic.
In the two characters' cases, they traced a weapon first before creating it in their Reality Marbles, and only then projected it into the real world.
Meanwhile, through Gradation Blood, Black retraced the Blood Essences he had already devoured before projecting them out. Also, as he couldn't do it without letting his Reality Marble manifest outside, it was like overlapping a hint of Limitless Blood Firmament over the real world.
The little pool of blood, sprouting the magical beasts, was nothing but a representation of projecting the Reality Marble through Gradation Blood.
In itself, it didn't sound like much, as all the projected creatures were limited to a few dozen meters around Black, where the blood pool ended.
However, there was a reason Black considered this magic the greatest gift of Kai's adventure in the Fate timeline as of yet.
When Ayin had created the Limitless Blood Firmament for the first time, she had told him about a great drawback of his Reality Marble.
As Kai's Zanpakuto was linked to the space within the Reality Marble, he couldn't release his Shikai outside. That made him first cast the entire Limitless Blood Firmament, consuming an enormous amount of Mana and Breath, and then fight it out against an enemy inside, using the dwindling resources.
Now, as Black's head drooped, he found Ayin staring right back at him from the reflection in the blood pool.
Gradation Blood not only allowed him to project a part of Limitless Blood Firmament, consuming not even a fourth of its original consumption, but it also allowed Kai and Black to… pile their Buffs.
That's why Kai and Black were the strongest in the Reality Marble, to begin with.
Outside the Limitless Blood Firmament, they couldn't pile Buffs from different magical creatures over the Buffs granted by Titles, Items, and Skills, as only one Blood Essence could be activated at a time.
With Gradation Blood, though…
Not even hiding the smirk on his face, Black dismissed the notification.
But the notification about the Hidden Mission was only a start. When more began appearing, they showed no sign of stopping at all.
…
[
Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn
You have completed your Side Mission
…
Side Mission: Win the Holy Grail War
Side Mission Objective: Replace Illya as the new Vessel and win the Holy Grail War
Side Mission Rewards:
— +1 Billion Mission Credits
…
You have achieved a Commendable Milestone
Commendable Milestone: Win a Holy Grail War as a Master or Servant without killing any Master
Rewards:
— Charisma +50
— Worth +100
…
You have achieved a Commendable Milestone
Commendable Milestone: Earn Gilgamesh's interest
Rewards:
— Standalone Title: Interesting Mongrel
…
Standalone Title: Interesting Mongrel
Specification: Make Gilgamesh take an interest in you through any means
Effect:
— The Contestant is allowed to call upon Gilgamesh's Golden Armor
— Charisma +100 [Only when wearing the Golden Armor]
WARNING:
— Gilgamesh's Golden Armor will not affect Contestant's any Stat other than Charisma
— If the Contestant wore the armor in the presence of Gilgamesh, chances of losing the Standalone Title: 100%
…
You have achieved a Milestone
Milestone: Survive Artoria Pendragon Alter's Noble Phantasm, Excalibur Morgan, at its full power
Rewards:
— Stamina +10
— All Sword-based Attack Damage: -25%
…
You have achieved a Milestone
Milestone: Survive a battle against Gorgon
Rewards:
— Strength +10
— All Petrification-type Skills' Effectiveness: -10%
…
You have achieved a Milestone
Milestone: Witness the use of all Noble Phantasms in a Holy Grail War
Rewards:
— Perception +10
— All Noble Phantasms Attack Damage: -1%
…
Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn
For leading the Vanguard against Angra Mainyu in a Fate timeline, you have been deemed worthy to be promoted to the rank of General of Guard
As an officer, your post grants you the following privileges:
— +50% Mission Credits (all rewards) - subject to change with higher posts
— +25% chance to get a second random Item as a Loot
— Can form a Party of up to 25 members
— Free Party Mission Assignments
Notes:
— Party Mission Assignments must be initiated by the General of Guard
— Party members can join an ongoing Mission of the General of Guard
— The General of Guard must ensure that the mission assigned matches the equivalent Floors
— Party members from Floors higher than the General of Guard's Floor will have their Stats restricted to match the Mission Grade assigned to the General
— The General of Guard can not kill a Party member without presenting an exclusive Side Mission related to it which will be subjected to System's approval
— The General of Guard can call upon a maximum of 100 Commander of Guards from his System once every 10 years by assigning a common Side Mission
— The Set number of the Commander of Guards conscripted by the General of Guard cannot go higher than his own
Warning:
— The conscripted Commander of Guards can refuse the Side Mission at the cost of losing their Officer Ranks
— The System will automatically bring in more Commander of Guards in place of those who refused the Side Missions
…
]
And… the list kept going on and on, detailing the various Proficiencies.
A golden armor shone around Black, overlaying itself upon the Dress of Heaven.
With a deep breath, Black sucked the projected Reality Marble in, the beasts disappearing along with it.
Finally, as he let out the breath, Black brought out his Stats — every single letter of which screamed a tale of bloody conspiracy!
*****************
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