Advent of the Three Calamities

Chapter 836: Runes [4]

“Shit…”

Touching my cheeks and feeling the warm, wet streak, I instantly understood what was happening.

’…The effects are starting to become more pronounced.’

I knew that things would only progress from this point forward. I had to try my best to ignore it and focus on upgrading my spells before it was too late.

’Which spell should I upgrade first?’

The answer became clear to me rather quickly.

[Hands of Contagion]

It was the most advanced spell that I had, if I excluded my Emotive spells.

The spell comprised 24 runes.

In fact, the total number was 23. However, there was in fact another rune. One that I could now see clearly. Right in the innermost ring. Or to be more precise, the fourth ring.

’An Outer Rune.’

That was most likely the Rune that had enabled the spell to evolve.

My gaze lingered on that very rune for a bit of time.

I didn’t quite know what this Rune was or represented, but I knew that it was an Outer Rune. I memorized its shape in my mind.

’As far as I’m aware, this Rune is a little different compared to the one that I had seen from my previous self. It’s obvious that there are several types of Outer Runes. This type of Outer Rune can help spells evolve, while the other Rune can contain things?’

I wasn’t quite sure about this.

However, what I did know was that I needed to inscribe that Rune into my spell in order to do something against Evelyn.

But as things stood, an Advanced Spell wasn’t enough to contain two Outer Runes.

I needed to upgrade it.

’Let’s not waste any more time.’

Taking a deep breath, I began the process.

’…I hope I can get this done in time.’

Now that I could finally perceive the Outer Rune, the structure of the entire spell started to rearrange itself in my mind.

The Outer Ring began to reveal gaps I had never noticed. The Proprietary Runes in the Middle Ring shifted slightly, rotating just enough to make room for an additional modulation conduit. Even the Modulation Runes themselves were vibrating with a more stable resonance.

All of it was happening because of that single Outer Rune.

I reached toward the construct and let my perception sink into the layers. The first thing I tackled was the Flow Runes. There were six of them, but with the Outer Rune anchoring the sequence from the middle, the circulation changed. It no longer spiraled the way it used to.

Instead, the currents tightened and folded inward, creating a condensed spiral that increased the mana density without destabilizing the Middle Ring

A small relief washed through me.

This meant I could restructure the Proprietary Runes next.

The four that formed the spell’s conceptual identity were already reacting. Contagion, Multiplicity, Grip, and Lingering. They were rotating around the new anchor point set by the Outer Rune. Contagion stretched first, elongating its binding thread so it could latch onto the new modulation conduit. Multiplicity followed, not expanding, but condensing so it could handle more parallel outputs.

Beads of sweat started to drip down from the side of my face as I focused all of my attention on the process.

With my lack of knowledge, I didn’t even know if what I was doing was correct. I was just following the image that I had created in my mind. As things stood, the spell was still simple enough for me to follow along with the process.

I could see the evolution point forming.

In that moment, I started to inscribe several new Runes.

A superior spell contained 30 Runes.

I needed to add six of them whilst making sure the structure didn’t shatter.

Phi. Lambda.

With the Proprietary Runes already fixed, I didn’t need to touch them. They set themselves in the Outer Ring, where the other Flow Runes were located.

The instant the Runes were inserted, the entire spell started to vibrate.

“…..!”

My heart tightened, the sweat dripping even more.

I knew that I had to be quick.

’Three more Runes.’

The Modulation Runes were the next ones that I needed to add. There were thirteen of them, each responsible for output shape, force transfer, persistence, decay rate, anchor strength, and external manifestation. Now that an Outer Rune was present, I could double-layer several of them without risking collapse.

My fingers twitched slightly as I adjusted the first pair. Manifestation and Persistence slid together, forming a paired sequence that allowed physical constructs to remain longer once summoned. Another pair followed. Decay and Spread merged into a bridge that amplified the infection-based debuffs.

’…Okay, I’ve made space. I can now add the new Runes.’

I didn’t need to think to know which Runes I planned on adding.

An image of the spell that I wanted to achieve had already set itself in my mind, and with that, I instantly inscribed the new Runes.

Flexion.

Relay.

Torque.

I was ignorant about Runes and spells. This was true.

However, that didn’t mean I didn’t know all the numerous Runes. They were required for us to memorize to pass our examination.

’I’m suddenly starting to feel grateful for the Academy.’

So it wasn’t useless after all…

“It’s not the Academy that is useless, it’s you.”

I frowned.

This again?

It wasn’t like I didn’t understand what it was trying to do.

’It’s trying to show my real thoughts. What I truly think about myself.’

But I wasn’t really moved.

Even though my chest was aching, and my emotions were starting to return, the words didn’t move me at all.

BANG—

A sudden banging sound echoed from the mirror.

Lifting my head, I watched as my reflection stood by the mirror, banging at it.

“I hate you!”

The words slipped out of my mouth, the reflection staring back at me with a contorted expression.

“I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!”

BANG! BANG!

The hatred was clear, and as I watched it, I could also feel the hatred build up inside my mind. These feelings…

They were indeed ones that I held for myself.

But this wasn’t something that I was unaware of. I was fully aware of them, and I had long embraced such feelings.

I didn’t really like myself.

But at the same time, I appreciated the person that I had become.

And that was enough.

BANG!

The reflection continued to smash against the glass, but I continued to ignore it, focusing my entire attention on the spell at hand.

A new Modulation pattern emerged at the top of the construct, one that required the Outer Rune to finalize its shape. It resembled a hand at first, but not a human one. Long… Thin. But with many joints. A structure optimized for spreading debuffs across multiple targets.

A Superior Structure.

I felt my pulse quicken.

The spell was reaching the threshold. As long as I could integrate the new modulation bridge into the Outer Ring without disrupting the Middle Ring, the rank would rise. Of course, I also needed to include the last remaining Rune.

…The Outer Rune that I had managed to catch a glimpse of from my past self.

’That’s easier said than done.’

The Outer Rune in the spell dimmed slightly.

I exhaled slowly and pulled all the layers together.

’Let’s do it.’

The construct tightened. The Proprietary Runes in the Middle Ring locked into place. The Modulation web thickened, then compressed to a stable formation.

A faint vibration ran across the entire circle.

[Hands of Contagion] was evolving.

The vibration intensified.

I grit my teeth as the circle expanded outward, new layers folding and unfolding right before my very eyes. I could feel every part of the construct strain under the numerous Runes and the change in structure.

The moment the added Modulation Runes settled, the Inner Circle rippled and tried to compensate, the currents twisting in patterns I hadn’t seen before.

’Done!’

My heartbeat sped up as I looked towards the Innermost circle.

My gaze slowly shifted toward the empty slot at the very center of the construct. A faint outline hovered there. There, I spotted a certain Rune.

The evolution-type Outer Rune.

It was shaking. With one Rune still missing, the Innermost Circle was unstable.

With each passing second, the magic circle trembled more and more.

’Calm. Calm.’

This was the most crucial step of the entire operation. I couldn’t afford to fail this path.

’…Okay, it should be like this.’

I started drawing the new Rune. As I did, my mind connected with the Source. My connection to the Source was thin, but still enough to draw directly from it.

Like dipping a fountain pen in ink, I created the connection before starting to inscribe.

Slowly, a structure began to appear.

However, the more I drew, the more unstable the circle became.

Unlike the evolution-type Outer Rune, this one didn’t integrate naturally into spell structures. It resisted modulation. It resisted flow. It resisted everything.

But if I wanted even the slightest chance of using the two Outer Runes in tandem, I needed to force this one into the final position.

“Kh…!”

Gritting my teeth, my mind turned hazy for a moment.

A dull ache followed.

One that made my movements stop.

But I couldn’t stop!

“….!!”

Clenching my teeth, I focused my attention on keeping the circle active.

A warm stream slid down my cheek.

Blood…

’Focus. Don’t panic.’

I kept my hand raised, keeping the shape of the Rune active.

That alone was hard enough. With the two Outer Runes conflicting with each other, the circle continued to shake, and even more blood was leaking from my nose.

I had long forgotten about the pain, taking the moment to continue constructing the new Rune.

But it was hard.

Its geometry wasn’t symmetrical like the other runes. Its lines bent inward without touching. The curves folded toward impossible angles before returning to the starting point. It felt wrong, as if just a single lapse in concentration would cause it to shatter.

I couldn’t afford to fail.

As I traced its form in my mind, the spell circle trembled once more.

BANG!

The mirror trembled at the same time.

“Stop it! Stop it…! Look at me!”

I ignored it, biting down as I pressed the outline of the Rune into the innermost layer.

The entire construct shrieked.

A violent snap of recoil pushed against my mind. My head throbbed. My knees nearly buckled from the pressure. The Flow Runes flared, reacting instinctively as they tried to stabilize the sudden intrusion. Even the Middle Ring shook out of alignment for half a second before realigning itself with the help of the evolution-type Outer Rune.

’Hold… Hold—’

A sound escaped my lips, half a gasp, half a cough.

I forced the shape of the containment Outer Rune deeper into the structure, alongside the evolution Rune.

Its form refused to settle, the edges flickering in and out of existence. Every time I almost solidified it, a new backlash struck, sending more vibrations pulsing through the spell.

BANG!

BANG!

The reflection continued to slam itself against the mirror.

“You can’t do it,” it hissed. “You were always weak. Always pretending. Always lying to yourself.”

I didn’t respond.

I didn’t need to.

Even as my emotions fluctuated.

I stopped caring.

I no longer treated challenges like these seriously.

But I knew that I had to be quick. I could only ignore it for so long.

The only thing that mattered was the spell.

Clenching my jaw, I reached deeper into the structure. The dual-layered modulation sequence I had created earlier, Flexion, Relay, Torque, responded to my intent.

The new Superior Modulation pattern twisted downward, anchoring part of the containment Rune’s outline.

That gave me the opening I needed.

I pulled.

The image stabilized.

With the stabilization, I could focus all of my attention on finishing the Outer Rune.

Drip! Drip!

Blood. Sweat. I had long lost count of what it was.

I drew the last bits of the Rune, dragging my mind back to what I remembered from before.

And soon—

Crack!

A sharp crack echoed through my skull as the construct settled.

The trembling stopped.

The light stabilized.

Then a faint pressure pushed outward, expanding the circle by a fraction more.

A soft chime rang in my ears.

Ding!

The spell had accepted the second Outer Rune.

The structure unified.

And in that moment, I knew.

The threshold had been crossed.

[Hands of Contagion]… Had become a Superior Spell.

It had now become [Outer Hand].