Dollmaker of the DanMachi World

Among high-level adventurers, there were also ranks. Level 2 counted as third-tier adventurers, Levels 3 to 4 as second-tier adventurers, and Level 5 and above as first-tier adventurers.

Level 2 was equivalent to superhuman. Their overall abilities, including the five senses, far surpassed those of ordinary people. That was why Riveria had been surprised that Ming Ge had discovered the enemy's trail before she did.

On careful thought, he had clearly not seen the arrow with his own eyes, yet he had been struck by magic and knocked off course. She had initially assumed he had already been using magic, but now it seemed that it had been some kind of sensing ability?

"It's a sensory-type spell."

Ming Ge noticed Riveria's confusion and answered her question.

"I see."

Riveria nodded, then said, "Let me handle the next one."

"Please."

Seeing that Riveria wanted to show off her skills, Ming Ge smiled. "Feel free to unleash it. There are no adventurers within two hundred meters besides us."

"Understood."

Riveria answered, then began chanting:

"—Omen of the end, snow-white drifts. As twilight approaches, raise a raging wind. Sealed light, frozen earth, snow filling the sky, the third winter—my name is Alf."

A magic circle unfolded across the ground as Riveria focused all her attention on her attack magic.

"I see..."

Ming Ge looked at the magic circle and understood its principle.

Ordinary people did not produce magic circles when casting spells. They directly used magic power to trigger magical phenomena—that was, changes in the form and nature of magic power.

A magic circle was equivalent to a simplified ritual created from magic power, much like Ming Ge's initiation ritual that caused his mental power, Mind, to undergo a qualitative transformation.

To produce a magic circle while casting magic, one needed the developmental ability "Mage."

Magic circles could strengthen a caster's spell power, expand its effective range, and reduce Mind consumption during casting. They were proof of a high-level mage.

"Divine Blessings really are convenient."

Ming Ge muttered.

Now that he understood the principle behind magic circles, Ming Ge only needed to study them for a while before he could create them without needing "Mage."

However, each spell had a different "ritual," so every spell required its magic circle to be altered accordingly. It was far more troublesome than the Divine Blessing's "Mage."

It was like the difference between manual work and automation.

While Ming Ge was thinking, Riveria had already finished her chant.

"Wynn Fimbulwinter."

The surrounding hundred meters became a hell of ice, freezing all life within.

Riveria possessed three kinds of magic: attack, defense, and healing.

Each spell had a three-stage chant connection. Wynn Fimbulwinter was merely the name of the first stage.

The full name of her attack magic was Wes Windheim, and it required an extremely long chant to unleash.

Though this first stage looked lengthy, it was actually a short chant, the first segment of Riveria's attack.

If she continued chanting from the symbol of the end's cold snow, it would connect to the symbol of Ragnarok's chaotic war. The short chant would become a long chant, forming a wide-area annihilation spell.

Even the original work had never revealed the completed spell. Its power was probably absurdly high, and it was most likely an indiscriminate killing spell.

But that was only speculation.

"Impressive."

Ming Ge clapped. "As expected of the pinnacle of bloodline-talented individuals."

From Ming Ge's perspective, the ground ahead seemed to have been blanketed in ice and snow. The monsters in front had been frozen within it and were slowly shattering apart.

If it came down to it, Ming Ge's magic could reach this level of power as well.

Ming Ge's shockwaves had both broad power and range. A large-scale shockwave could also reach this standard.

In fact, he had already used it when attacking the killer ants earlier. Its power and range had merely been inferior to Riveria's, but that was simply a difference in magic power.

As for the second stage of Riveria's attack magic, High Victory Sword, Ming Ge likewise possessed magic that could rival it.

He had already completed the elemental training for a "miniature" Rasenshuriken and similar techniques. He lacked only the magic power; the level itself had already been reached.

The strength of this kind of spiral magic depended on how much magic power was used.

As for its range, as long as he adjusted it properly at the moment of detonation, he could expand the damage radius at the cost of reducing its power.

Moreover, because the Rasenshuriken was highly compressed, as long as he threw it fast enough and it was not deliberately knocked down, it would not affect him.

That was also why Ming Ge rated his innate-type magic at Level 4.

Level 5 was top-tier, such as the second-stage magic of Riveria.

Level 6 was beyond the norm, such as his sister-in-law Alfia's third magic—the strike that destroyed Leviathan, "Annihilation: Prayer of Revelation."

In truth, Ming Ge was being a little modest. Calling himself a Level 5 would not have been wrong, but he felt his magic still had plenty of room to develop.

"Bloodline-talented individuals?"

Riveria asked in confusion.

"Although acquired-type magic is related to one's interest in and recognition of things, its strength still depends on personal talent."

"Magical races and those who inherit the blood of fairies awaken more powerful magic."

"They all belong to bloodline-talented individuals."

Ming Ge explained, "People like me, as well as the 'Silent Witch,' are individual-talented individuals."

"I see."

Riveria suddenly understood. "That's another way of looking at it."

"Silent Witch" was Alfia's title, while "monster of talent" was the fear people held toward her.

Though he had never seen her in person, all he needed to do was replace the image of his lover with heterochromatic eyes and a cold expression to form a clear picture of her.

"By the way, are you heading deeper next?"