The technique Orpheus had reverse-engineered was called [Shifting Sand], and it worked by dispersing the force or shock from attacks or other kinds of impact, to the sand on the floor.
For example, if he clashed his blade against that of an opponent's that was stronger than him, using the technique, he could redirect the force that was supposed to impact his body to the sand as waves.
Or if he dropped down from a high place, instead of rolling forward to disperse the rebound force from the earth, he could direct it outwards making the sand on the floor absorb the impact instead.
Of course this technique was only possible to use, if there was sand around... and enough of it, otherwise it was useless.
It was a low-level technique, and worked by directing the force of the impact to his legs, or any other body part that was in contact with sufficient sand... though using his legs was a lot more suitable as the technique required precise footwork, and downward control of malefic energy, then dispersing it through the sand.
Due to loose structure of sand particles as compared to the earth element, it was quite easy for the force to be dispersed through them as scattering waves.
This time, instead of dispersing the force and by extension, displacing sand, he had gathered it into his legs, and using malefic energy, had drawn on the sand to make a foot hold, turning what was a defensive technique into a movement one.
It was still unrefined and crude, and the energy cost was alarming. However, with enough refinement and training, increasing his proficiency and tweaking some steps, it could become a beautiful technique.
Right now, he could even think of a few ways to make use of it and how much of an increase its addition would bring to his arsenal. And when paired up with [Shifting Sand], the possibilities were a lot.
Infact, he could even think of a few offensive methods with the two techniques synergizing with each other.
However, that was not was not what he was going for right now. While it was probably destructive enough to damage and possibly kill the beast, it was not worth it.
The technique was unrefined, and would require contact, something he would rather not do... Not to mention that the energy drain of just using the first one, would leave him unable to complete the sequence.
What he wanted to do now, was reengineer another technique, for one explosive attack.
It was a maddening thought.
Doing it once could be excused as insight born from the desperation, and struggle to survive, doing it again... It didn't make sense.
Technique creation was not a small feat. Most low circle techniques, were created by Witchers way above that Circle of power.
A First Circle technique, could have been created by a Third, or Fourth Circle Witcher. Maybe terrifying geniuses could create a First Circle technique while being a Second Circle Witcher.
Though his techniques were not even qualified enough to be considered First Circle techniques, and were usually called apprentice techniques, it didn't dull the fact that he had reverse-engineered one.
The best, or maybe the most troublesome part, was that he too, was just an apprentice Witcher.
It wasn't something that was supposed to be possible, but due to his situation, could be excused. If anyone had witnessed his actions, they would have been shocked to their marrows.
However, this shock would give way into disdain, if they could read his mind, and know what he was planning now.
The game of attack and evasion continued between Orpheus and the creature, with the spectre-bound still yet to land an attack.
But at this point, each breath Orpheus took, was laboured. Exhaustion sat at the edges of his bloodshot eyes, and his aching body grumbled with each strain.
His legs trembled violently as he stood, and every step forward, made them wobble slightly... Like they were on a tipping point to falling.
The spectre-bound on the other hand, looked no different... Save for the fact that it was now covered in sand... So much so that grains rained down from its body from the slightest movement.
With every dodge Orpheus had completed, he continuously kicked the floor, continuously bathing the creature in sand, to the extent that his pair of footwear, were already beginning to chop at the sole, from the constant kicking.
While he was physically exhausted, he was also mentally exhausted, infact, a lot more so. Not only was he calculating his every step to successfully dodge every charge and tail swipe, and still maximize the maneuver by kicking sand at the creature... he also had to give same focus, to the technique budding in his mind.
Malefic techniques worked by circulating malefic energy through specific channels of one's malefic pathways, which would in turn, communicate with the malefic energy in the atmosphere to form techniques.
A wrong circulation could end up damaging a person's malefic pathways, or even take their life, which was why techniques were invented in the first place.
His first attempt could be considered luck... luck that he was still in one piece. All he had done then, was reverse the circulation for [Shifting Sand] from the ground back up, and store the force he was supposed to disperse, in himself.
This time around, he was planning to do something else, something different that it could even be considered creating a new technique from scratch.
And now was finally the time.
He studied the spectre-bound intently, watching as sand continuously accumulated against the ridges of its scales, like soldiers trying to hold up collapsing gates.
The reason this one was so different, was because it combined mechanisms of [Shifting Sand], the new technique he had formed from it, plus another offensive technique that worked by using sand as projectiles.
The technique was called [Sand Gale], and it attacked like the sharp prickling of desert sand in a fierce wind, only that it was far stronger... strong enough to turn a full grown man into a bloodied sponge, and it used no wind.
The problem now, was that this was going to hurt.
Orpheus' gaze steadied. Allowing himself to be injured, would be a grave mistake, but at the same time, he couldn't afford to die.
Both he and the spectre-bound charged at each other again, and he cocked his arm backward. The moment they were before each other, he halted his charge with a stomp, his entire body shuddering from the abrupt halt of momentum, and he delivered a punch to the beast's head in one go.
Instead of dispersing the invading shock, using malefic energy, he gathered the impact in the same arm... the buildup of pressure, causing his muscles to tear and his bones began to fracture.
This was the principle of the new technique formed from [Shifting Sand], gathering shock and impact into the body, instead of dispersing them.
However, he wasn't done, as the next second, the creature's proud rough scales, resistant to so many kind of attacks, was shredded open from snout to tail.