The main value of the Remnants was not in defeating a powerful enemy or preventing further territorial changes. No, this victory had a much more important reward.
The shimmering orb hovered over the ravine, trembling from time to time. A multitude of colors like a rainbow wandered around the edges, but in this case, the main color was crimson, the same as the flowers nearby and the blood.
The Echo waited for someone to open it.
"Hah... We did it!" Koros clenched his fist joyfully, his light hair soaked with sweat sticking to his forehead.
Diatra smiled as well, though she held back her emotions.
"Damn. What the hell is that?" Ethan raised his head, looking at the Echo.
Step. Step. Step.
Menir approached from the side, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth.
"The Echo. The result of how much energy a Remnant has been absorbing all this time. In the end, the energy turned into this."
"Oh, sounds good."
Ethan looked up.
"So... How do we absorb this energy cluster?"
Menir shook her head in response.
"We don't need to do that. The Echo isn't a resource, it's a treasure chest that we're going to open."
"Tsk. How do you know so much?"
Menir looked at him condescendingly. "Forgot? Unlike some people, I've been a mage for more than a day."
"Pffft!" Ethan snorted as he got up from the ground and pointed at the Cursed Hunter. "Still, I was the one who landed the last hit on that big guy, wasn't I?"
"Sure. The fact that I know you don't diminish your achievements, and..." Her eyes turned to the Echo. "Thank you. I can feel it. My Pattern is there."
"Well, as your spell indicated, didn't it?"
By that time, Koros and Diatra had joined them.
Everyone was ready, including the Echo.
"Come on, you have to do it, kid." Koros nodded forward. "Release some of your energy and you'll see for yourself."
Ethan nodded and did as he was told.
A light darkness scattered through the air and headed toward the Echo, as fragile as a soap bubble.
Tremble.
With a single tremor, the Echo burst, releasing three red flashes, each stopping in front of Ethan, hovering above the ground.
The first flash was a bow made of intertwined red roots, veins running along its contours, creating the appearance of a formidable weapon.
The second was a scarlet stone with a faint glow inside and a red star revolving around it like a satellite around a planet.
The third was a mysterious cluster of energy made up of rapidly changing symbols that could only belong to one being in the entire world—the Pattern.
Ethan tilted his head, puzzled.
He had no questions about the bow. It was obvious that it was an artifact, and everything was clear with the Pattern. He and Menir had come here for this very reason.
"But... What is this stone?" Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"Hahaha!"
Koros laughed loudly.
"Damn, you are a newbie. It's a Soul Stone! Hah, it's a very powerful thing, but it's disposable, so I advise you to use it only in an emergency."
Menir stepped toward the Pattern, showing that she would take it for herself.
"How are we going to divide the rewards?"
Koros and Diatra exchanged glances.
"Well, it's good that the Echo takes into account the essence of the purified Remnant, its spirit, and the qualities of the participants in the battle. It makes everything easier."
Then, he pointed to the bow.
"Considering that you delivered the final blow and were at the forefront and that this is your mission, we will be satisfied if we take only the bow. You can take the Soul Stone and the Pattern."
Menir nodded deeply. "We agree. Now, when will you be able to sell the materials of the Crooked Growon and give us our share?"
"Damn, girl, you don't waste any time and get straight to the point? I like that. What do you say, Diatra?"
She thought for a moment, holding her chin. "Two days. Just tell us the meeting place."
"Sure." Menir nodded. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like you to leave. We have urgent business that cannot be seen by outsiders."
Diatra clenched her teeth in displeasure.
"Bitch. You're acting too arrogant for someone who was just helping out! I'm sick of how you...!"
Tap.
Koros's hand fell on her shoulder, stopping Diatra's anger. He took the bow and waved his hand.
"As you say, we're leaving. But I wouldn't advise you to linger in this forest, especially near this ravine. The Purification of the Remnant cannot be called an inconspicuous event."
Menir said nothing; she just watched as their backs disappeared into the forest in the distance.
"So, we'll finally become Mages and solve our problem?" Ethan asked, looking at the energy cluster. "This will be your last Pattern, right?"
Each Circle had a Catalyst, which was basically a mage's ability containing a spell and its variations.
Menir was a good example of how it worked. The first pattern of her Catalyst was the Blind Voyager, the main spell of her Catalyst. With this spell, she could find valuable things, and a hand would show her the way. Her second pattern summoned crimson hands with bloody chains that could immobilize an opponent, and she had used it many times.
Regardless of how many Patterns her Catalyst had, each one had to have something in common with her main spell, that is, with the First Pattern. This rule worked for her, for Ethan, and every mage, Broken One or not.
In response, Menir shook her head.
"Not quite. For our Circles to restore each other, my inferior circle must clear all of its Patterns. It appears that your Catalyst has three Patterns, correct?"
Ethan nodded in confirmation.
"Well." Menir touched the energy cluster. "Unfortunately for our situation, my Circle has four Patterns."
"Well." Menir touched the energy cluster. "Unfortunately for our situation, my Circle has four Patterns."
Before Ethan could respond, Menir touched the energy cluster, absorbing the appropriate Pattern.
A slight envy arose within Ethan. He also wanted to become stronger and acquire new spells.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
Suddenly, not only Menir's Circle but Ethan's as well began to move. The two Circles began to fill in their missing parts.
Menir's Circle filled with symbols from the found Pattern, while Ethan's Circle copied parts of Menir's. Such a thing was impossible, except in their situation, where they were both donors to each other, which was an unprecedented rarity.
[Second Pattern began to develop: 23% -> 31% -> 45% -> ...]
[Second Pattern reached 100%. The second pattern is complete!]
[New spell of the First Circle Catalyst obtained!]