Multicolored magic circles filled the top floor of the Tower of Wisdom.
Just as the Twilight Star Sorcerer Supreme and "Arcane" thought Shion was about to end her demonstration, Shion's face suddenly turned serious. In an instant, she entered the Shrine Maiden Chakra Mode.
Whoosh...
Immediately, a power no less potent than the Magic Ring shrouding the Twilight Star Sorcerer Supreme erupted from Shion! In a split second, she was enveloped in brilliant golden Shrine Maiden chakra, looking for all the world like a goddess descending to the mortal realm!
After entering the Shrine Maiden Chakra Mode, Shion's expression sharpened. Activating her chakra, she forcibly fused the eight magic circles above her head, combining them into a dazzling halo!
"This... how is this possible!?"
"Arcane" was dumbfounded.
Shion had activated exactly eight magic circles; he had counted them clearly from the side. He simply couldn't believe how she had managed to fuse these eight circles to create this prototype Magic Ring.
Creating a Magic Ring required a minimum of ten magic circles. This was an iron law established by countless mages of the Sixth Ring World over thousands of years—one could not be missing even a single circle! If there were fewer than ten, the various magic circles simply could not be forcibly fused.
Yet, Shion had clearly only activated eight, but through some unknown method, she had forced them together into a rudimentary Magic Ring. It was inconceivable.
It wasn't just "Arcane"; even the Twilight Star Sorcerer Supreme was taken aback.
However, what surprised Twilight Star wasn't that Shion had forced eight circles to fuse, but rather the Shrine Maiden Chakra Mode she had activated.
A Sorcerer Supreme's sensory abilities were unquestionable. Twilight Star was certain that even with the amplification of the Tower of Wisdom, her strength was only barely on par with this thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl. If she took into account the prototype halo above the girl's head, even with the tower's buff, she might not be a match for her.
At this moment, both Twilight Star and "Arcane" finally understood why Shinji had been so certain he could find a Sorcerer Supreme for the Sixth Ring World. Even disregarding magical proficiency, Shion was already a super-powerhouse at the level of a Sorcerer Supreme.
Shion tilted her head up and asked Twilight Star and "Arcane," "How's my magic level?"
"Arcane" hurriedly said, "I apologize for my earlier skepticism!"
"Hehe!" Shion grinned proudly.
Shinji said to the Twilight Star Sorcerer Supreme, "If she can't coordinate with the Magic Rings of you five Sorcerers Supreme, Shion won't be able to help. So, I ask you to tutor her and help her master a true Magic Ring as soon as possible."
Twilight Star replied, "That is my duty! Lord Red Eye, on behalf of the Sixth Ring World, I thank you for your selfless assistance. If you ever have a need in the future, the Sixth Ring World will do its utmost to help!"
Shinji shook his head. "No need for such formality. We are fighting the Hegemon to save ourselves as well. I leave Shion in your care."
With that, Shinji looked at Shion and warned, "We don't have much time. Don't play around. Master the Magic Ring as soon as possible!"
Shion dispelled the Shrine Maiden Chakra Mode and the prototype halo above her head, nodding heavily. "Don't worry, I won't let you down!"
Shinji smiled and patted Shion on the shoulder, turning to leave.
Shion suddenly called out to him again, shouting, "Tell them they need to work double time, otherwise, I'm definitely going to win this round!"
"Alright."
Shinji chuckled.
Clearly, on the climb to the Six Paths Level, Shion didn't want to lose to Karin and Hikari, nor did she want an unfair victory, hence the message.
She was truly only one step away from the Six Paths Level!
The starting point of a Shrine Maiden was simply too high. Let alone ordinary shinobi, even those from great clans like the Uchiha or Uzumaki couldn't compare. Even in her childhood, Shion possessed prophetic abilities on par with the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku. Now, not only had she grown up, but she had also fully merged with her dark side, reclaiming the full power of the Shrine Maiden.
As long as she created her own Magic Ring and nudged her strength upward just a bit more, she would successfully step into the Six Paths Level.
Leaving Shion with the Twilight Star Sorcerer Supreme, Shinji and "Arcane" went to the conference room.
"Arcane" said somewhat apologetically, "Captain, regarding the Magic Tower... the Sorcerers Supreme have agreed, but..."
Shinji asked, "But what?"
"Arcane" looked a bit awkward. "But the Sorcerers Supreme want to rebuild the Tower of Knowledge!"
Shinji immediately understood.
Clearly, "rebuilding the Tower of Knowledge" meant that the Sorcerers Supreme wanted to retain ownership of the newly constructed Magic Tower. In other words, they didn't want an outsider Sorcerer Supreme to occupy this tower permanently.
As a Lantern Bearer, Shinji could understand this.
After all, Shion came from the Shinobi World. Her presence was technically a source of pollution to the Sixth Ring World. The greater her influence here, the greater the impact on both the Sixth Ring World and the Shinobi World. Shinji had never intended to take advantage of the Sixth Ring World or occupy this upcoming tower permanently.
Shinji stated his position: "I have no objections. Once the trouble here is resolved, Shion will not stay long."
"Arcane" breathed a long sigh of relief and bowed deeply to Shinji. "Captain, thank you for your understanding!"
Shinji said, "Alright, let's focus on the upcoming battle."
"Arcane" nodded. "Please rest assured. The Sorcerers Supreme are already gathering the materials to rebuild the Tower of Knowledge with full force. Once Lady Shion creates her Magic Ring, we can rebuild the tower based specifically on the attributes of her ring!"
Magic Towers had existed far longer than the current Sorcerers Supreme, so even their own towers might not fit them one hundred percent. However, the rebuilt Tower of Knowledge would be constructed entirely to match Shion's Magic Ring. This meant that even if the ownership of the tower was reclaimed by the Sixth Ring World in the future, it would be difficult for them to find another Sorcerer Supreme who fit the tower better than Shion.
Shinji said, "Good. I leave these matters to you."
Shinji didn't have the energy to micromanage the construction of the tower or the coordination of the Magic Rings, so he could only leave it to "Arcane." His pressing priority now was to snatch food from the tiger's mouth—the Hegemon.