The snake's body twisted and floated around him with surprising agility, almost as if it were alive.
"Too bad Thundris Tempest suits me better," Alex muttered.
This spell will probably just gather dust, but it's still worth studying. Maybe I can create a 'Secret Thunder Snake' based on it."
After a while, he dismissed the Mystic Snake and shifted his focus to another spell: the Spiritual Shield.
This was the protective magic he'd used before, one strong enough that horned basilisk couldn't break through it.
The operating principle of the [Spiritual Shield] was surprisingly straightforward, just as Alex had guessed.
As long as there was enough magical energy stored, the shield would remain active, blocking all incoming magical attacks.
It wasn't just limited to magic; the shield also offered protection against various types of damage like shock absorption, extreme temperatures, punctures, and even sonic impacts.
In fact, as long as the magic reserves held up, this was arguably the most effective protective spell available.
However, the amount of magic power the shield consumed depended on the attack's nature.
For example, a single attack that might normally drain 100 points of magic could jump to 150 or more if it involved both fire and shock damage.
The stronger the vibration or the greater the temperature difference, the more energy it required.
Moreover, the spiritual pattern on the shield's surface also consumed energy when absorbing vibrations, temperature extremes, and sound waves, which meant the shield did have its limits.
Factors like the caster's willpower, emotions, and spellcasting skill influenced how strong the shield could get.
Alex realized he might never be able to break through this kind of magic barrier.
Yet, what intrigued him the most was horned basilisk's magical energy reserves.
From his own tests, Alex found that the [Spiritual Shield] used up far more energy than he'd expected.
If he tried to rely on the shield in battle, he'd probably run out of lumen in under three minutes, breaking the shield in the process.
But horned basilisk could keep its shield up for much longer without any trouble, which was simply beyond belief.
'This is insanely powerful magic, but it's not for me. With my current lumen, using the [Spiritual Shield] in combat would be suicide. Only a creature like horned basilisk could handle it. I guess this kind of magic is meant for regular use, not constant battle.'
Shaking his head, Alex realized that if he wanted to master this secret technique, he'd have to find another approach.
After finishing his tests on these two spells, he went back to studying the core aspects of the secrets.
That's when he found two other spells that caught his attention the most, spells that allowed horned basilisk to create clones of itself: the [Separation Body Technique] and the [Sanqing Mantra].
Among the different techniques, the clone technique is actually a summoning spell, somewhat similar to Alex's raven spell.
However, compared to the "flock of birds" magic, the clone technique is much more powerful.
Like many occult arts, it's an esoteric practice with very strict learning requirements.
Alex noticed that these occult arts tend to be both hard to learn and even harder to master, which likely explains why so few wizards in the East are truly skilled in them.
For starters, practicing the clone art demands exceptionally high magical sensitivity; without it, any clone you create would probably be weak or disabled.
On top of that, you have to be capable of multitasking effectively because clones share your senses.
If your skill level is too close to the clone's, it could end up messing with your mind.
Even if you meet these two conditions, you still need to be quite proficient in this secret technique so your "magic power conversion rate" is high enough to use it in actual combat.
Otherwise, it ends up consuming way too much energy.
For example, if Alex's clone technique only converts magic at a rate of 0.5, then a clone created with 50 points of magic power would only have 10 points of power itself.
Or, if you wanted to create 100 clones with 5 points each, you might only manage a fraction of that.
Fortunately, Alex met all the requirements to practice the clone art.
He gathered nearly 100 points of magic power and created a clone.
As soon as the avatar appeared, Alex immediately felt a new perspective, almost like playing a game with two first-person views at once.
It was a strange but fascinating sensation.
However, this clone only had 40 points of magic power, which revealed that Alex's mastery of the technique was still shaky.
Considering the others in the room, Shalltear, Thor, and Irene, he'd probably be no match against them, and even Fang's dog could likely overpower him physically.
"Hmm... why does this magic feel so powerful yet so useless?" Alex muttered, shaking his head in frustration.
Setting aside the secret clone art for the moment, he shifted his focus to the last secret technique in the "Eastern Arcana", the Trinity Incantation, which allows a Runespoor to split into three physical clones.
The name "Trinity Incantation" originates from an ancient philosophical text that speaks of the Three Pure Ones, symbols of balance and transformation.
The spell allows the caster to manifest two fully independent clones, each possessing its own consciousness and permanence, almost indistinguishable from real people.
These clones can eat, drink, and even satisfy other basic human needs, and they can think and act on their own.
Despite the word "curse" appearing in the name "Sanqing Curse," it's not actually a curse but a very complex magical ritual.
There are specific requirements to practice the Trinity Incantation.
One key condition is that the wizard must drink a special potion called "Trifold Potion."
This potion enhances the user's brain function, enabling them to multitask for extended periods.
The main ingredient for this potion is the egg of Runespoor, a creature with three heads, which some believe symbolizes the original caster and the two clones.
The secret teachings emphasize that taking the Trifold Potion is essential before attempting to create clones; otherwise, serious and unpredictable problems can arise.
For example, the clones might develop their own independent consciousness, potentially leading to schizophrenia or rebellion against the original caster's will.
After taking the "Trifold Potion," you can try creating a clone.
Keep in mind, this isn't about casting a spell but about actually making one.
In fact, this kind of clone is more like an alchemical creation than pure magic.
The first step is gathering materials.
The main ingredient is the wizard's body, which must be alive, have all limbs intact, and an undamaged brain.
Besides meeting these criteria, the quality of the body also affects the clone's strength, the healthier the wizard, the stronger the clone will be.
For example, the reason behind making a clone might be the wizard's interest in the unique physical potential of a Thunderbird, hoping to create a new clone from it.