Cherreads

Chapter 8 - Author’s Note: Understanding Darkbound Legion Magic

Hey everyone!

First, thank you so much for reading and supporting my story—it means a lot! I've noticed some readers might be confused about how the Darkbound Legion magic works, so I wanted to give a quick explanation here.

The Darkbound Legion is a unique and complex magic system where the summoner (our main character) must defeat powerful magical beasts called shikigami in solo combat to earn their allegiance. Each shikigami has its own personality, form, and special powers, and the summoner can use them in battle as loyal companions. The appearance and abilities of each shikigami are shaped by the summoner's imagination and magical strength.

Some key points:

Darkbound Legion Magic System

Core Traits

Summoning & Domination:

The summoner must personally defeat or subdue each shikigami in direct combat to gain their allegiance.

The original Ten Shadows shikigami can be summoned at any time, but must be defeated by the summoner to become permanently usable.

If the summoner is defeated by a shikigami, that type is lost forever. The summoner can also die in combat with a shikigami.

The summoner must defeat the shikigami alone—no outside help. If someone else helps or defeats the shikigami, the summoning is invalid and that shikigami is lost.

The summoner may use their own shikigami, magic, and tools in these battles, as they are extensions of their own power.

Produced Shikigami:

Only one produced shikigami (fusion or special) can exist at a time.

Producing a shikigami uses energy, with cost scaling to its strength.

Produced shikigami have a cooldown of 2 weeks before another can be created.

Defeated Shikigami:

Once a shikigami is defeated and subdued, it becomes a permanent part of the summoner's arsenal and can be summoned at will.

Fusion & Regeneration:

Only a destroyed shikigami can fuse with another active one.

Fusion combines their powers, abilities, and forms.

When the destroyed shikigami regenerates, the fusion ends and all revert to normal forms and abilities.

Original Ten Shadows shikigami: 24 hours to regenerate after defeat.

Produced shikigami: 1 week to regenerate.

Appearance & Adaptation:

Shikigami appearance is shaped by the summoner's imagination, energy, and style.

Shikigami are made from magic (not cursed energy, except Rika), so they aren't destroyed by positive energy, but are weakened by it—except for Round Deer and Rika, who are immune.

Loyalty & Instinct:

Shikigami are instinctive, versatile, and powerful (like Garuda), not highly intelligent like Sukuna or Disaster Curses.

Each has its own personality and basic intellect, fiercely loyal to the summoner, and can be controlled by their will.

Darkbound Legion Affinity:

The summoner naturally gains access to darkness and shadow magic as part of the Darkbound Legion magic.

Rika's Copy & Lending Ability:

Rika can copy/borrow techniques and abilities from enemies or allies.

The summoner cannot use the copied magic directly (or only for 5 minutes). Instead, they can lend it to their shikigami, who can use it as part of their own powers as they please.

Once a magic is lent, the summoner cannot use or lend that exact magic again, nor give the same magic copied from the same person. However, the summoner can stack multiple similar magics to make them more potent or to give other shikigami similar magic types.

Lending magic is extremely mentally taxing; overuse risks catastrophic backlash.

Shikigami Roster

1. Twin Divine Dogs ("Sky and Sea")

Appearance: Two Arcanine-like wolves—one white (Sky), one black (Sea).

Abilities:

Coordinated, high-speed attacks

Unmatched tracking and hunting senses

Shadow blending for stealth

Can devour and nullify lesser magical constructs

2. Scout Bird ("Swiftwing")

Appearance: Sleek, metallic blue-black falcon.

Abilities:

Endless multiplication (energy cost scales with number)

Sensory link for recon and surveillance

High-speed flight and maneuverability

Gun Magic: Fires magical projectiles from its mouth

3. Mirage ("Miraidon")

Appearance: Miraidon-inspired—sleek, metallic violet, plasma rings, jet engines.

Abilities:

Form Shift: Drive (land), Aquatic (water), Glide (air)

Ultimate Mode: Plasma-powered flight, surges with energy, lightning-speed attacks

Plasma Engine: Stores summoner's magic for future bursts

Electro Drift: Wheel-like, high-speed electric strikes

Battlefield Control: Can create Electric Terrain to boost allies

4. Nue ("Stormwing")

Appearance: Massive, Corviknight-like armored beast, black steel mask, crackling wings.

Abilities:

Lightning manipulation and thunderbolts

Wind gusts for attack/defense

Mask can deflect ranged attacks

Thunderous roar to stun or repel foes

5. Toad ("Croakus")

Appearance: Massive, armored toad with a long, muscular tongue.

Abilities:

Sonic screams (from shattering boulders to inaudible, disorienting frequencies)

Voice mimicry for deception

Tongue grapple for binding or striking

Poison mist for area denial

Surprising agility and endurance

Iron Magic: Generates and manipulates metallic projectiles and armor

Smoke Magic: Produces thick, obscuring smoke

Damage Absorption: Skin absorbs and disperses magical/physical attacks

6. Great Serpent ("Viperion")

Appearance: Seviper-like, armored, sword-blade tail, venomous fangs.

Abilities:

Sword tail for slashing and poison attacks

Venom/acid spit

Burrow and surprise attacks from underground

Unpredictable, deadly movement patterns

7. Max Elephant ("Tuskus")

Appearance: Mammoth-sized, Great Tusk-inspired, glowing tusks.

Abilities:

Overwhelming physical strength

Water cannon (high-pressure blasts)

Earthquake stomp for shockwaves

Immovable defense

8. Enma ("The Flame King")

Appearance: Lion-ape hybrid, blazing purple mane, gold-white armor, retractable staff.

Abilities:

Purple Flare Magic: Magic-consuming, devastating purple fire

Tree Magic: Can manipulate and summon trees for offense/defense

Kinton Cloud: Can summon a flying cloud for aerial mobility

Retractable, Size-Changing Staff: Versatile in combat, can extend or shrink

Exceptional strength, agility, and close-quarters combat prowess

9. Round Deer ("Regalus")

Appearance: Majestic, 11-foot stag with crystalline antlers and radiant fur.

Abilities:

Healing light to restore wounds and purify curses

Aura of calm to boost recovery and morale

Nature's blessing: can rejuvenate land and create safe zones

Immune to positive energy weakening

10. Rika ("Queen of Curses") – Special Case

Appearance: Towering, spectral, feminine; hybrid of summoner's magic and cursed energy.

Abilities:

Limitless cursed energy

Copy/borrow techniques and abilities from enemies or allies

Store and release weapons, tools, or magical energy

Healing and reverse cursed technique

Barrier and environmental manipulation

Autonomous combat—can fight independently or with the summoner

No magic cost to summon

Immune to positive energy weakening

Rapid growth and adaptation in battle

Acts as a Stand (like Star Platinum)—fully controlled by the summoner's will

Fusions:

1.Viperion (Great Serpent + Enma)

Form: Colossal serpent-lion-ape hybrid with a blazing purple mane, gold-white armor, and a sword-tail splitting into many blades.

Abilities:

Multi-bladed tail for offense and binding

Purple flame venom breath

Monkey arms for immense power and dexterity

Barrier and constriction

Enhanced durability and magic resistance

2.Stormwing (Croakus + Swiftwing)

Form: Armored, jet-black raven with integrated weaponry.

Abilities:

Gun magic, division, and speed (from Swiftwing)

Iron magic, smoke magic, damage absorption, and sonic scream (from Croakus, while fused)

Aerial command and battlefield dominance

More Chapters