"Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest" is a story about a group of people who are transported to another world and fight to survive there. Hajime and his classmates, who are transported to the other world, gain access to a kind of magic called "vocations." Among these, two types of magic are considered special: Age of the Gods Magic and Concept Magic. What exactly are these two types of magic? This time, we'll explain what Age of the Gods Magic and Concept Magic are.
What is Age of the Gods Magic?
There are seven types of Age of the Gods Magic in this world: Creation, Gravity, Regeneration, Soul, Sublimation, Metamorphosis, and Spatial Magic. These exist in labyrinths built by the seven members of the resistance who fought against Ehito, known as the "rebel." Those who pass the trials are supposed to be taught ancient magic.
Generation Magic
This is an ancient magic obtained in the Great Orcus Labyrinth and imparted by Oscar Orcus. This story first appeared in episode 5 of the anime's first season, where a magic circle appeared, activating a hologram of Oscar Orcus, who was then a corpse, and imparting knowledge directly into Hajime's mind. His ability is an ancient magic perfectly suited to Hajime, an alchemist. It adds magical energy to minerals to create minerals with special properties. This allows Hajime to become an alchemist capable of creating a variety of objects. It is also paired with transmutation magic, which "interacts with inorganic substances," and theoretically can even interact with water and salt.
Gravity Magic
This is an ancient magic imparted by Miledi Reisen, creator of the Great Reisen Labyrinth. It appears in episode 7 of the first season of the anime. Miledi imparts gravity magic. Hajime and Shia are also taught gravity magic, but they have no aptitude for it, and it is only Yue who is able to use it. It is clear from the name that it is a magic that manipulates gravity, but to be precise it is a "magic that interferes with the energy of the stars" and can also cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. However, even with Yue's magical power, it seems to consume a lot of magical power, to the point that it is said that "gravity magic consumes a lot of magical power." Since learning gravity magic, Yue has used it in various situations, but I think the "Kokutenkyuu" that she showed in the final episode was the most gravity-like gravity magic.
Space Magic
Nys Gruhlen, the creator of the Great Volcano, teaches Space Magic. While you defeated powerful enemies and monsters to clear the trials in the Great Orcus Labyrinth and the Great Raisen Labyrinth, the Great Volcano doesn't have any formidable foes other than Freed. Instead, Freed is simply stronger, and the environment is even more challenging! Just when you think you've overcome a sandstorm, magma awaits. The concept of this challenge is to "fine-tune your ability to deal with distractions and surprise attacks in harsh conditions," so it's no exaggeration to say it's a challenge to overcome environments more hostile than your enemies. Space Magic is the magic that literally creates warp gates. By the way, when you cleared the Great Labyrinth, a hologram of Oscar and a lively Miledi appeared, but at the end of this volcano, the message was simple: "I sincerely hope that the future of humanity will be governed by free will."
Regeneration Magic
Melujine Meiru, creator of the Melujine Underwater Ruins, teaches regeneration magic. Rather than healing, this magic is more like restoring (regenerating) something back to its original state. It's said to be able to interfere with time itself, allowing you to see the past and future. Shea's unique magic, "Future Sight," is similar to this magic. The biggest problem with these ruins is that they're located underwater, inaccessible to humans. Furthermore, on the way to the labyrinth, they are attacked by a Clione approximately 10m in length. However, they are able to clear the trials from there surprisingly easily and succeed in obtaining regeneration magic. In fact, to proceed further into the "Hartzina Sea of Trees," where other ancient magic is said to be found, the "power of regeneration" is required, so it was necessary to clear the Melusine Underwater Ruins first. Incidentally, these two labyrinths are at the western and eastern ends of the earth... if you get the order wrong, things will become incredibly complicated.
Soul Magic
The ancient magic available at the Sacred Mountain is the soul magic left behind by Raus Bahn. Located at the opposite end of the ocean from the Melusine Underwater Ruins, it boasts an elevation of over 8,000 meters. This magic is related to the soul, and can even revive the dead as long as the soul has not deteriorated. It can also calm the soul even in times of extreme agitation or mental disturbance. It can also interfere with magical and thermal energy, potentially creating artificial intelligence.
Sublimation Magic
The creator of the Hartzina Sea of Trees is Ryutilis Hartzina. She is a female forest tribe member and the queen of the republic. The ancient magic she teaches is sublimation magic. As the name suggests, it can sublimate a level. For example, using it on a level 1 user will raise them to at least level 2. Since the sublimation level is "at least 1," it means that even higher levels are possible. It can also evolve other ancient magics by one level. When all of these evolved ancient magics are combined, they will reach "concept magic," a work of the gods. By the way, while the labyrinth was built by an elegant queen, because it was located in the Sea of Trees, the monsters were mostly insects (mainly cockroaches), making it a rather disgusting labyrinth.
Transmutation Magic
Finally, when you arrive at the Schnee Snowfield, Vandor Schnee awaits you and teaches you transmutation magic. This magic transforms existing living creatures into monsters and strengthens them. Fried, who was attacked at the Great Volcano, first acquired it. By transforming living creatures into monsters, this magic may be the origin of Tio's ability to transform into a dragon and fight, and Yue seems to believe so too. The concept is "honing the strength to overcome one's negative self," and one fights against a copy of oneself, a mass of negativity.
What is a Concept Magic that surpasses Ancient Magic?
By acquiring all seven of the Ancient Magics introduced above, one can learn "Concept Magic." Three Concept Magic spells appear in the series: "Compass of Guidance," "Crystal Key," and "Deny All Existence." While all are powerful, they consume a great deal of magical energy, so much so that even Hajime nearly fainted after using them just once. Furthermore, using this Concept Magic requires "extreme willpower."
Summary of Ancient Magic and Concept Magic
So far, we've introduced you to Ancient Magic and Concept Magic. It feels like once you've collected all seven of the Ancient Magic, you finally gain the right to learn Concept Magic, but in the anime, the basis is still the Ancient Magic. In the first season, Hajime has only mastered two of the Ancient Magic spells, so I'm looking forward to learning new ones in the second season.
