Let me try...maybe it's like when you set up a ritual, you create your fighting character by putting in a combination of your creatures that reflects how you present yourself to your opponent.
In Tai Chi for example, you draw on your balance, strength, speed, intuition, power and recuperation abilities and many other subtle elements from your personality.
That's how I see it here. You have only one source of energy (Chi) but you choose the way you present it by utilizing the skills of each creature. You keeping trying different combinations until you are happy with it, then you change it again!