Dark Fantasy Guide for the Summoner - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 26.
Wood Revenge VII
Still, why is this bastard’s level hidden again?
[Current trust level this target has in you: 0.]
[Domination success rate: 10%]
Looking at those pitiful odds, I couldn’t help but sigh.
‘Damn this dice system…’
I’ve never been fond of the dice system PoP uses, to begin with.
Any game that introduces luck as a factor loses strategic depth.
‘The infuriating part is that Roguelike and luck are inseparable.
Of course, PoP does weight strategy more heavily than most.
That’s why I’ve set my own playstyle guidelines.
‘Seventy percent.’
If the success rate doesn’t hit at least seventy percent, I won’t touch it no matter how sweet the reward.
‘But ten percent?’
Thanks to my trait, I get two attempts, but even accounting for that, the first attempt rate should be north of forty-five percent.
“You useless twig—not even fit for kindling!”
Just then, a shriek erupted from below.
I realized it was Seigrena’s voice, though rather late. Her words were far harsher than I’d expected.
Had I underestimated this noble’s daughter?
The girl I’d doubted could fight at all was waging a fierce battle, her hair flying wild in all directions.
“Die! Just die! Kyahahaha!”
Hearing that unhinged laughter, one particular trait suddenly came to mind.
‘Battle Maniac?’
It’s both rare and remarkably practical.
In PoP, when the level gap exceeds a certain threshold, you get hit with the Intimidation Debuff that tanks your stats, but that’s no longer a concern here.
On top of that, the stronger the opponent, the greater the Fighting Spirit Buff she gains, which actually enhances her combat ability.
‘The problem is, if she triggers Berserk at a low probability, she stops taking orders altogether.’
I observed Seigrena more closely.
Her eyes were rolled back halfway—it looked like it was already too late.
Thinking she wouldn’t last much longer, I turned my attention back to the lizard.
‘Ten percent…’
Two attempts give roughly a twenty percent chance of success.
…More precisely, nineteen percent.
‘Damn it.’
No matter how I look at it, those are odds I can’t gamble my life on.
I needed to raise them somehow, but the question was how.
My mind drifted naturally to the bloodshed on the train.
Back then, we had a common enemy in Shadow, so I was able to form a temporary alliance with a Spirit Beast.
‘The situation is similar now.’
Actually, it’s even better.
The enmity between the Woodman and this lizard species runs far deeper and longer than I initially thought.
But similar in circumstance is all.
‘…The real problem is this creature’s current state.’
Whether the lizard is asleep or unconscious, it’s not fighting—it’s barely conscious at all.
Which means there’s only one option.
‘Analysis.’
Thoroughly dismantle and analyze everything about this Ash-Fire Lizard to raise the Domination success rate. That’s my only way forward.
‘First, let me organize the information.’
According to the records, this lizard’s species or pack was once the natural predator of the Woodman, but they were defeated.
In other words, this lizard is likely the sole survivor of its clan, something like that.
‘The fact that it’s clung to this place this whole time is obviously to destroy the Black Tree.’
The moment I’d organized my thoughts to that point:
[You have deduced the Spirit Beast’s origin and purpose through keen intuition.]
[Hostility of the Cold-Blooded Species decreases.]
[Information regarding the ‘Ash-Fire Lizard’ has been added.]
Ash-Fire Lizard Lv.▓▓
Sole survivor of the Ashgray Moon Clan. Currently trembling from extreme cold.
Good. One step forward, at least. And just like that, new information appeared as well.
The Ashgray Moon Clan or whatever doesn’t matter much right now—what I need to focus on is this lizard’s condition.
‘Trembling in this bitter cold?’
So that’s why my growth rate is so abominably slow.
True, the temperature is rather low at the moment.
PoP begins in the dead of winter, and the Woodman Colony is especially frigid.
‘Simple logic—raise the body temperature and the problem’s solved.’
Another reasoning success message appeared.
Time to check the Domination success rate.
[Domination Success Rate: 23%]
The information refreshed and the percentage climbed slightly, but it was still dismally low.
I had the gnawing sense that analysis-based probability increases had their limits.
‘Then…….’
My hesitation lasted mere seconds. The moment I’d decided, I called out.
“Cria!”
“Wh—?”
“Fire! Can you still use it?”
Cria snapped to attention, her gaze clearing.
“A pillar as large as before is impossible, but something moderate should be manage—”
“Now! Aim here!”
I pointed at the Ash-Fire Lizard, and Cria flinched.
Only for an instant.
Her eyes immediately shifted toward the flame mage—the skeleton mage.
Blue flames kindled above the bony fingers of the skeleton mage, whose jaw clicked with sinister purpose.
Whoosh!
The fireball struck the Ash-Fire Lizard.
For a moment, the scales that had seemed dim and faded suddenly gleamed with lustre.
…So it does work. I watched the lizard with a spark of hope, but…….
“What the—”
The flames died in an instant.
Why did it extinguish so fast?
I immediately called for Cria to fire again.
Crackle!
The second and third fireballs hammered into the lizard.
But the flames that seemed to surge upward flared only briefly before snuffing out as if cold water had been poured over them.
I understood the reason.
‘The Black Tree.’
This damnable tree possessed fire resistance despite being made of wood.
Even when Wild Fire turned the entire area into an inferno, not a single scorch mark had appeared on the Black Tree.
“Kendel! One more time is all I can—”
Cria’s voice cracked as she spoke, followed by a violent cough. This wasn’t exaggeration.
Looking closer, blood streamed from her nose—a textbook case of Mana Depletion.
‘Damn it.’
Dealing with debuffs was already pushing us to the limit, and rather than solving anything, new problems kept mounting.
“Aaagh—”
A pathetic cry followed. Seigrena. Her left arm hung limp—she’d taken a solid hit to the shoulder.
The tide was about to turn against us.
The moment that certainty gripped me, I shouted at Cria.
“Fire!”
“What? But—”
“Just do it! I’ll handle the rest, I swear!”
“……Understood!”
Cria gritted her teeth and released her final fireball.
At the same moment, the skeleton mage’s form crumbled violently and collapsed.
Whoosh!
Fire engulfed the Ash-Fire Lizard again, flames surging upward, but only for a breath. The fire flickered precariously, as if about to die…….
I unwrapped the tattered cloak from my shoulder and plunged it into the flames, smothering them.
“Damn it……”
A curse tore from my throat before I lost even the breath to swear.
The cloak was thin enough for the terrible heat to sear through.
“Kendel!”
Stop calling me. I can barely form words.
Mad as it looks, this is the answer.
If the reason the fire won’t catch is a lack of fuel, then the solution is simple.
‘I’ll give it something to burn.’
Before long, the dying flames seized my cloak and surged back to life. Even so, being magical fire, it burned with far greater intensity than any wood fire.
Whoosh!
……The pain I felt in turn exceeded all imagination.
I stared into the flames through eyes gone red with blood.
Hssss―
The Ash-Fire Lizard’s snout cracked open halfway, and a faint flame began trickling from its mouth—ash-colored fire, true to its name.
‘Damn……!’
But it still seemed not quite enough.
In the haze of agony, that thought spurred me to dig through my belongings for anything remotely flammable.
A worn handkerchief, an old bandage—anything like that.
Crackle and pop!
It worked, sure enough.
Worked almost too well. The flames began devouring my hand as well.
Sizzle!
“Ngh―gh―!”
Saliva drooled from between my clenched teeth.
An agony so intense my eyes threatened to roll back. I wanted to forget the lizard, forget everything—just run, flee, escape.
‘It hurts……!’
It burns. It aches. I want to pull my hand away…….
Just run? Why me? Wasn’t there another way?
‘…….’
But you know. This has the highest success rate. That’s why you chose it.
‘……If I chose this myself.’
Then no matter how much it hurts, how much it torments―
I have to bear it……!
[You maintained clear reason even amidst extreme agony.]
[Your Mind stat permanently increases.]
The system voice seemed to be saying something, but I couldn’t process it properly.
“―! ――― ――!”
Cria appeared to be shouting something in the distance, but I couldn’t hear that either.
I simply endured.
In truth, there was nothing else to do. Even as my arm threatened to tear free from the shock of agony, the burning pain never dulled—not for a moment. If I could, I’d have severed the limb cleanly. Better a clean cut than this endless fire.
“…….”
Then the lizard opened its eyes.
The reptilian gaze fixed on me—vertical pupils, slit like a blade.
[The ‘Ash-Fire Lizard’ becomes aware of your existence.]
⁝
[It marvels at your mental fortitude, unshaken even by the flames.]
[The ‘Ash-Fire Lizard’ feels a faint trust toward you.]
Trust be damned—when would this creature finally act, you wretched thing?
As consciousness grew hazy, I attempted Domination once more.
[Domination success rate: 51%]
Finally past fifty. If I tried twice, my odds of success would be roughly seventy percent or better?
A hollow laugh escaped me. Somehow, I’d surpassed the threshold I’d set.
[Attempt Domination?]
[Y / N]
With trembling hands, I reached out and tapped the Y button.
[Fate’s Dice begins to roll…….]
[Dice result: 13]
⁝
[You have successfully dominated the Lv.41 ‘Ash-Fire Lizard’.]
[You have tamed your first Spirit Beast.]
[You have achieved a remarkable milestone.]
[You receive 5,000 Achievement Points.]
[You have achieved the accomplishment ‘Master of Spirit Beasts’.]
⁝
[The distant Ashgray Moon Clan now becomes aware of your existence.]
⁝
[You have acquired the skill: Blessing of Ashgray Moon.]
Ah, right.
On the first attempt too, naturally.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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