Dungeon Hunter - Chapter 170
Chapter 170: Chapter 52. Spirits (3)
Episode 52: Spirits (3)
The new skill ‘Commune with Spirits’ was added. I immediately opened the status window to find out more about it.
Commune with Spirits (Epic, Passive) – Commune means “to bond.” It is a privilege given only to those who have created numerous spirits.
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When the spirit evolves, compensation will be paid according to the rank.
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Lowest > Low: 500 points
Low > Intermediate: 5,000 points
Intermediate > High: 500,000 points, 500 achievement points
High > Highest: Remaining Statistics +1
** High Class > Spirit King: The skill will be changed to ‘Commune with Spirits King (Legend)’.
I had high expectations. However, I did not receive an immediate benefit. If the rank of the spirits increased, I would get rewards. This skill was worth an epic grade.
Of course, evolution was not easy. But if I could make it happen quickly, those 100,000 spirits would become my reliable power.
“There is definitely a limit to raising their ranks all by myself.”
Almost 100,000 spirits had been born. The contract itself was not that of a burden for me. From the moment the contract was signed, the spirits would eat my mana. However, I had sufficient amounts after stepping into the realm of transcendence.
The problem was…
‘The spirits need numerous contractors for faster growth,’ I thought.
Spirits would evolve through many types of mana and experiences. There was a limit to what I could do alone. Special measures were needed to get them to a higher rank.
I touched my chin. “A contract with the spirits… The information related to it is widely known to all the species. However, at this point, Earth’s humans are unfamiliar with it.”
Who said a contract was an equal thing? There were always differences between the ones who knew well and those who did not.
If the spirits needed to make a contract with someone, I could set up separate terms. The ignorant and desperate people would have no choice but to accept the clause that the informed ones would never accept.
“In short, I can make a double contract.”
I folded my arms and smiled coldly. I could state in the contract that I would be the main contractor, and the next person would be an additional contractor. Then, once the spirits grew, I would be able to use them completely and I would have a few more hidden cards to use.
Modifying the contracts of spirits was actually forbidden in the World of Spirits, but Garatsh had given me the seeds, and I had the absolute power of life and death. Also, they were in my dungeon, not the World of Spirits. They were born where I was the owner, so they were considered as my monsters.
Returning the spirits to Garatsh would be totally up to me. He had no right to collect them back. I guessed I had nothing to worry about anymore.
Flutter. Flutter.
As I relaxed, the spirits started to merrily circulate the place. It was similar to childcare, so I had some concerns, but…
“It will be fun to guess which spirit will evolve first.”
I shook the thought off my head.
Every time I moved, about 100,000 spirits moved with me. It was as if there was a whirlwind of fire. All the monsters that saw me were frightened. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
“This is annoying.”
On the third day, I could not help but get annoyed. I did not expect them to literally go where I would go, not leaving my side for a second.
The spirits refused to let me have my space. When I forcibly pushed them away, some were afflicted with anxiety. They were mentally fragile at this stage, so, if they did not see me, they would lose their reason to exist.
“I can’t go outside like this…”
I looked at the spirits intently. They started moving more actively. It was as if they were happy that I was watching them. It was good that they were happy to see me as their master, but I was worried about keeping an eye on them all day long.
“Lyhee-hee. Fire One, Fire Two, Fire Three! Dress left, dress. Dress right, dress. You guys are too slow. One more time. Dress left, dress. Dress right, dress!”
I went to the top floor, and I found Lyhee near the Dungeon Core. Lyhee was training the three spirits she had chosen.
“Fire One, Fire Three! Lyhee can see you guys not doing your duties. Look at Fire Two. Can’t you see how hard he is trying? Again! Dress left—no, I mean, right—no, left—no right, dress! Ly-hee-hee-hee-hee.”
The three fireballs actively followed Lyhee’s instructions. It seemed like she drove them too hard, but Lyhee just laughed it off. She was really enjoying it.
“I’m impressed she managed to give birth to the spirits,” I muttered.
I kind of did not understand, but Lyhee was more innocent than evil. She had no malice. She just wanted to play. I supposed that it could be considered as some sort of warmth.
“This is so much fun, Ly-hee-hee. You three follow Lyhee. We will fly super fast. Okay? Ready? Go!”
Whoosh!
Lyhee flew quickly in the air, not even noticing me. The three fireballs followed her. They were not used to flying yet, so they could not catch up with Lyhee’s speed.
Thud!
Lyhee, who was checking on the spirits as she flew, hit my chest.
“Ouch!” Lyhee rubbed her forehead and pouted her lips. “Damn it! What the!”
“What are you doing?”
“Oh… Master!”
Lyhee blinked her eyes a couple of times. Soon after, she realized the situation and quickly pointed out the three fireballs that just arrived where we were.
“I was training them!”
“Training?”
“Yes. I should train them while they are young. That way, they won’t defy Lyhee in the future.”
Her definition of training was quite simple, but I knew it was unreasonable to expect something grand from Lyhee in the beginning. I turned my head and saw Lyhee’s spirits.
‘They grew very fast,’ I pondered.
They could already fly. Compared to the three of them, it was like my spirits were crawling. It was unexpected since Lyhee birthed them at the same time as mine.
“Lyhee, do you know anything about the growth of the spirits?”
“Lyhee doesn’t know much,” she replied and was silent for a minute, thinking. “Hmm… Oh! The Tree of Origin loves spirits. It moves its branches to tell Lyhee to come closer. It wants to play with the spirits.”
“The Tree of Origin?” I wasn’t expecting that.
I could not communicate with the Tree of Origin, but Lyhee could because she was upgraded to the Fairy of Origin. I needed to find out if the Tree of Origin had an effect on the growth of the spirits.
“Master, do you want to use Lyhee to train your spirits? Lyhee can do very well.”
“No need,” I replied immediately.
Lyhee was unlikely to be helpful.
“Boo!”
“Tell Krithli I dropped by. If there is any progress, tell her to report to me.”
There was a confrontation in Seoul, Korea. Since too many people came back, they were divided into those who followed Roy and Rose and those who did not. Roy and Rose could not control the situation, so Krithli had to intervene.
“Yes, Master.”
I went to see the Tree of Origin after Lyhee’s reply.
“One more time! Dress left, dress. Dress right, dress. Roll once. Good job! Ly-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!”
Lyhee’s wicked laughter filled the dungeon once again.
Of course, there was no malice in it, but it seemed like a disaster for the three spirits.
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The spirits moved more actively as I neared the Tree of Origin. The branches and roots of the Tree of Origin shook, embracing the spirits.
“I guess they are well-suited.”
They were having a good time. The spirits who only wanted to be near me now went to the top of the Tree of Origin and played.
“Hopefully, I can move farther from them,” I commented.
I slowly left my seat, hoping they would not notice me. I did not go too far just in case. As I made about 10 steps away from them, the spirits moved in unison and started looking for me.
[Seventeen spirits are filled with anxiety. Please be careful. A spirit without an ego is likely to be extinct if it feels anxious.]
“That didn’t work.”
I went back to the tree, clicking my tongue. Then a big fuss occurred.
Rumble!
About 100,000 spirits flocked at once.
Even though they were about the size of a baby’s fist, it was a grand sight to see—100,000 of them moving at once. However, it was an unpleasant scene for me.
“I haven’t made a contract yet…”
Was it because I was the first one they saw right after they were born? Or was it they were born because of me? It could be both.
“Oh, well…”
This was an investment for the future. It would ease a bit once a contract was signed, and they developed their egos. At present, the spirits were too unstable to make a contract.
I stood still and stared at the Tree of Origin. Then, the spirits started playing with it again as if nothing happened.
―Name…
―Give me a name.
After four days later, exactly a week had passed from the spirits’ birth, two voices were messing in my head.
“Come forward,” I answered.
Then, two spirits with the size of a child’s head showed up. They were double the size of other spirits.
―Please, give me a name.
―I want to have a name.
The two fireballs spun in the air. It seemed like they were in a rush, very desperate.
“Aren’t names originally given by the superior spirit?” I asked, confused.
Superior spirits bestowed names to seeds. After some time, the seeds turned into spirits.
“This is weird.”
Anyway, since they were asking it from me, I had to give them names.
“Let’s see… Rei and Sera.”
Although I had given them somewhat common names, they started to jump around, uttering their names.
― I like it. Rei!
― My name is Sera from now on!
Whoosh!
Shortly afterwards, the two fireballs blazed with intense light.
[You have named the spirits.]
[The ranks of the lowest grade spirits, Rei and Sera, have increased by one.]
[They are the first spirits to receive names from the user. They will have larger growth than the other spirits.]
[If a contract is signed, Rei and Sera will follow the user more sincerely.]
[You have gained 1,000 points.]
After the short message, I noticed a change in the two spirits. Soon, they greeted me with changed appearances.
They looked like little children. They were as small as Lyhee but certainly got their egos.
“Rei, Sera, let’s make a contract.”
The only thing left to do was to make a contract. They immediately responded without hesitation.
―Okay.
―Sera wants to make a contract, too.
“I will set the terms of the contract.”
The spirits instinctively knew about the contract. It was as if animals knew how to walk and run. Thus, it was natural for them to dislike someone who tried to fix the terms of a contract. I couldn’t help but feel nervous. The two spirits had reacted in a way that I had never imagined even in my wildest dreams.
―If that is your will, Father.
―As you wish.
My brows furrowed. I wasn’t expecting that…
I heard a word that had never crossed my mind: father.
