The Insider System

Chapter 321: Charge

"How are we supposed to make a formation that can convert Metal mana into Silver when neither of us are able to use Silver magic?" Donny knew through formations it was possible to produce any type of mana you needed but there was the limitation that you had someone around who could use all the principles you planned to combine.

It didn't even need to be from the same person as long as you had a team that held the right principles they could work together to make it work but as far as he knew someone with a Holy affinity wasn't going to be just standing around and that was really the only way to get access to the purifying effect that Silver mana needed unless there was someone here who had an Unholy affinity and knew how to flip the corrupting principle.

Donny didn't think that would fly here though so he didn't even ask and let Rigbis answer his question. "We don't need to control the principles since we have the golem. It has a connection to the Silver Demigod so all we need to do is guide the last of its mana into a formation that will allow it to start transmuting the metal mana in the environment."

Donny was happy he hadn't brought up Unholy mana since he was right about it having nothing to do with their plan. "So the golem has an active connection to the Silver element?" When he saw Rigbis nod he knew all of his earlier suspected problems with what Rigbis wanted from him no longer mattered so he asked. "Have you already designed the formation we'll be casting into the golem?"

Rigbis started to shake his head before saying. "That's what I need your help with. We'll need to make the formation fit into the space of another formation so it was going to take a while if I did all the work myself and I need this to be quick because I want everyone here to think the golem is out of action after it takes the shape of a fortress again."

Donny understood what Rigbis wanted out of tricking people because a hidden trump card was always worth more so he said. "Let's get to work then." Following Rigbis to the side of the golem he listened to what Rigbis still needed to say while getting his first real good look of the metal the golem was made from.

He had thought it was just normal so up until now he hadn't taken the time to study it. "I want it to seem me and you are just helping the golem transform like it can't do it itself any more from a lock of mana so we'll have to get to work doing that while we design the formation." Donny nodded and asked. "Where will we be putting the formation?"

"It's on the inside so we can work where no one will be able to see once the golem partially transforms." This was good news because the work they would be doing to cast the formation into the golem would be very different to what they would be doing to shape it. This would make it very hard to actually trick anyone who would be looking at them.

"Alright I'm ready whenever you are." Rigbis nodded and a second later the golem started to widen at its base making them have to back off of it to give it space. "How long do we have before it will stop?"

"Just a couple of minutes, we'll have to design the rest of the formation after we go inside." After Rigbis said this he crouched and started to draw in the dirt in front of them. "This is the best I could think of. Do you think it will work? It will be about four times larger once it's actually in the golem so take that into account before you make any changes."

Crouching down so he could get a better look Donny pointed and said. "This is the part that will make it into silver mana right?" It was the only part of the formation he didn't know so this had to be the case so when Rigbis nodded he wasn't surprised. "In that case we'll have to go with this because I don't know silver formations well enough to change it."

Donny had never seen a reason to study magic that was almost impossible to even use with the right affinity so he would be leaving it to Rigbis but the rest of the formation was going to underperform in his mind so he started to change parts one after another. "This will raise the rate of absorption about 40%, What do you think?"

"We're going to have to test it once we get inside but if it works that will shorten the amount of time it takes for the golem to recharge by a few days."

"So you think it will be able to transmute the principles fast enough that it won't get overwhelmed at this volume?" Rigbis nodded and said. "We're going to be using Silver mana to make the formation so it should be a lot stronger than if we used normal Metal mana even if we don't change the formation any."

Rigbis was right but Donny had one more question before he would be comfortable with how shoddy this design was. "How many chances will we have?" This golem was a mana vessel for the Silver Demigod until it ran out of mana meaning they wouldn't have to operate the formations they cast or even weave them since it could do it itself after they made the shape in the metal of its body but if they didn't get it right and used all the mana in forming dud formations they would fail.

"Six tries. It will have enough mana to form six formations before it completely runs out." Donny had been hoping for a higher number but six was good enough since he had confidence this first formation would work well enough to slowly recharge the golem but he didn't want it to take weeks since they could get attacked at any time.

With the rest of the time they had Donny made a few notes of ways to improve this formation if this one's efficiency was too low for him while they waited to be able to go inside. Once the golem stopped its transformation halfway to being a fortress he and Rigbis entered its half formed halls and he was led to where they would be working.

"We'll be replacing this mana holder with our new formation and feeding it into this one next to it." Rigbis was showing him two formations that held mana for the golem that were exactly the same. "We'll need to change this one slightly since its twin will be gone and they're intertwined but we can do that after the new formation is functioning so we don't waste any silver mana before we have some coming in."

Donny nodded before placing his hand on the wall that held the mana pathways that they would be changing to make their new formation cast. "Do you want me to do it? Since I'm the one who designed the formation mostly I'm less likely to make a mistake." Rigbis gave him a nod so Donny was about to get to work but Rigbis stopped him by saying. "Let me let the golem know we're about to start so it can move the mana out of this formation."

Donny let him do this while patiently waiting. It didn't take long for Rigbis to tell him they were safe to get to work and Donny started to change the shape of the formation that was inside this wall. After checking to make sure the new shape matched the one that they had drawn out on the ground he said. "It's ready."

Once he let Rigbis know he felt the golem move its mana into the pathways he had made to weave the new formation. After a while he was able to tell the process had succeeded and asked Rigbis. "What's the output?" It took a while for Rigbis to answer but it was good news once he finally did. "It would take the golem 18 days to refill its mana."

With how big and powerful this golem was Donny felt that wasn't bad so he asked Rigbis. "Is it worth wasting this formation to try again?" If they made the golem destroy this formation so they could put a new one in its place they would spend the mana that had been used in making this formation. "I don't think it's worth the risk. Good job."

Donny nodded to what Rigbis said and pointed to the wall next to the one they had just worked on. "We're not done just yet, come on." They still needed to fix the formation they damaged so it wouldn't leak or anything once the golem started to fill it with the mana it was now producing before they could get to work shaping the halls of the fortress to make it seem that was what they were in here doing.