My Players Are So Fierce

Tris didn’t know who she was angry at, but this nearly five-hundred-year-old vampire girl’s reaction was unexpectedly naive on these matters.

It almost made Murphy drop his jaw.

However, she ultimately gave Murphy a career suggestion, allowing Murphy’s second job Spirit Apprentice to finally have a direction to move forward.

In fact, Murphy had previously considered becoming a summoner, since his inborn trait “Otherworld Creature Summoning” was too appealing. The two summoning spells he had obtained before were also leveled up as soon as he got them.

It would be a waste not to thoroughly research such a great talent.

After leaving Tris’s alchemy workshop, he casually found a tall tower amid the city ruins and glided up. As a city of vampires, there were indeed many towers around, and after avoiding the annoying sunlight, Murphy studied the notebook Tris had tossed him in the darkness.

Although it was newly transcribed, it was clearly made with care.

In it, Tris had written down all the knowledge about summoning that she had mastered over the past few hundred years. Regrettably, as a Dark Spirit Sovereign, Tris was not specialized in summoning, so she could only provide some spell techniques and no insights or explanations into the core of summoning.

“Looks like I’ll need to find an opportunity to interact with the elves who are skilled in summoning.”

Murphy sat cross-legged in the shadows of this abandoned tower, diligently studying this labor of love from elder Tris, while thinking to himself:

“It is said that the elves are true experts in the field of summoning, and basically all knowledge related to summoning on the continent comes from them. Although the kingdom of the Castilia elves is far away in the southeast peninsula of the continent, there is an underground kingdom of shadow elves in the Dark Mountain range.

The Black Disaster is approaching!

If there’s a chance, I might be able to learn a thing or two from them.”

As he was thinking this, the reading and studying of the notebook triggered a Job Change Note:

【You have come into contact with knowledge related to the ‘Summoner’ job. Your second job ‘Spirit Apprentice’ meets the requirements for a job change. Change to ‘Summoner’? Yes/No

Note!

‘Lady Tris’s Summoning Notebook’ contains a wealth of Astral Realm creature summoning spells, so it can serve as a special job change item and grant you the ‘Astral Realm Creature Summoning Specialization’.】

“Confirm.”

Murphy nodded slightly.

In the next moment, a large amount of text appeared in notes on his character card:

【Second job change complete! Job specialization selection complete!

“Level 10 Spirit Apprentice” replaced with “Level 1 Summoner – Astral Realm Creature Specialization”.

1. New job traits obtained!

I. Summoned Creature Enhancement.

Since Astral Realm creatures appear in the material world as spirit projections, after choosing this specialization, summoners can permanently enhance their summoned creatures.

The permanent enhancement effect for summoned creatures is to inherit an additional 5%/10%/15%/20% of the summoner’s total attributes, determined by the summoner’s rank. Your current rank is Black Iron Body, so the permanent enhancement effect is 10% of total attributes.

Specifically, all Astral Realm summoned creatures’ attributes will be increased by a total of 10 points when entering the material world, allocated according to the creature’s attributes.

II. Astral Realm Materialization.

To ensure Astral Realm creatures can maintain their full combat power in the material world, when choosing this specialization, summoners also learn to create ‘spirit cores’ to give Astral Realm creatures more realistic bodies and strength in the material world.

Currently able to create spirit cores for: Small/Medium Astral Realm creatures.

III. Astral Realm Knowledge.

To ensure summoners have an in-depth understanding of their summoned creatures’ habits and characteristics, those who choose this specialization should learn as much as possible about the Astral Realm.

When summoning different Astral Realm creatures, summoners can gain more mysterious knowledge related to the Astral Realm through studying the creature’s habits.

Note!

When a summoner summons enough Astral Realm creatures, your information signature will form a unique “spirit mark” in the Astral Realm. Some mysterious, rare, and powerful Astral Realm creatures may actively contact you because of this.

After meeting certain conditions, such an Astral Realm creature can form an equal or master-servant pact with the summoner.

2. New job talents obtained!

I. Mystic.

Due to the special environment of the Astral Realm, summoners have a chance of summoning special Astral Realm creatures during the summoning process. Summoners can use their personal charm to make contact, mark, or even trade with these creatures.

II. Creature Marking.

Summoners can impart a spirit mark on their summons to establish a spirit link, turning random summons into exclusive summons. Completing a spirit mark requires expending more spiritual energy.

When marking special Astral Realm creatures, you need to provide special summoning items or perform special spellcasting actions.

3. New job skills obtained!

I. Summon I – Astral Realm Creatures – Small.

Summoners can expend spirit energy to summon small creatures from the Astral Realm to assist them in combat.

These creatures typically do not possess great combat strength, but since Astral Realm creatures often have different specialized abilities, they can effectively assist the summoner in achieving various tactical objectives.

Currently summonable small creatures include: Astral Newt, Astral Snake, Astral Scout Rat, Death Crow, Shadow Bullfrog, Thief Monkey, Prying Eye, Astral Magpie, etc.】

Note!

Since the summoner possesses the “Otherworld Creature Summoning” talent, the quality or quantity of their summons is enhanced, the duration of summons in the material world is extended, and the spirit energy cost for summoning is reduced.

Note!

Since the summoner possesses the “Otherworld Creature Summoning” talent, this skill is upgraded to Summon II – Astral Realm Creatures – Medium. The current skill proficiency is 【Novice】.

New medium summon list includes: Astral Fox, Frenzied Baboon, Astral Wolf, Astral Shadow Leopard, Shadow Warhorse, Astral Eagle, Soul-Devouring Squid, etc.

Note!

Since the summoner possesses the “Beast Tongue” talent, they can communicate in beast language with Astral Realm creatures, greatly increasing the summons’ favorability and improving combat efficiency.

Note!

The summoner should create their own Astral Realm Summoner’s Staff/Astral Realm Beast Master’s Whip as soon as possible to better control and command their summons.】

“Indeed befitting a spirit job! Look at how much more text there is in this summoner’s job description compared to a warrior!”

Murphy marveled wholeheartedly as he watched the constant stream of note text appear before him.

Especially this “Astral Realm Creature Summoning Specialization” made him realize that even within the summoner job, there were different specializations, showing that this profession had an incredibly broad scope beyond Murphy’s imagination.

After all, the myriad bizarre Astral Realm creatures were just one type within the larger category of “otherworld creatures.”

“If I continue down this path, I might even encounter masters of the ‘Extradimensional Creature Summoning Specialization’ in the future!”

Murphy made a mental note to himself, then casually summoned his Astral Direwolf. Accompanied by a low howl, the wolf pup half a person’s height appeared beside Murphy in a flicker of scattered starlight.

This fellow was a skill Murphy extracted from Joban Marci Gongreau’s essence of blood. Theoretically, it didn’t count as part of the summoning specialization, but it was undoubtedly a summon, so Murphy planned to see the effect of the summon enhancement.

However, before that, he needed to communicate with his wolf pup and at least let it know the current situation.

“What’s your name?” Murphy asked casually as he patted the head of his Astral Realm Giant Wolf.

In response, the ethereal giant wolf gave him a look as if he were an idiot.

What kind of question is that?

You’re a vampire, I’m a wolf!

We’re different species, so even if I answer, would you understand? Dumbass.

“Your mouth is so foul. It’s a miracle you haven’t been beaten to death in that hellish Astral Realm.”

Murphy frowned and rapped the Astral Realm Giant Wolf’s head, causing it to bare its teeth in displeasure, but in the next moment, the entire wolf became dazed.

Holy shit!

This guy can understand my howls? When did you learn beast language?

“A guy named Avalon thought I was handsome, so he gave me a bit of enlightenment.”

Murphy posed in the Avalon Church’s prayer stance on the spot, leaving the crouching Astral Realm Giant Wolf utterly bewildered.

It knew who Avalon was, of course, the Astral Realm Great Spirit revered as a “god” in the material world, considered an uber bigshot among the masses in their corner of existence. But you, a vampire…are you kidding me?

Even an Astral Wolf like me knows that vampires are seen as no better than roadside dog turds in the eyes of the Astral Realm Great Spirits. You really think the great Avalon would bless you?

Have I gone too far, or have you had too much to drink?

“Believe it or not!”

The vampire patted the Astral Realm Giant Wolf’s large head and said, “Now feel the enhancement I’m giving you and tell me how it feels! Also, let me know what materials you need to stay in the material world for an extended period.”

“Woof.”

The Astral Realm Giant Wolf tilted its head in thought for a moment before howling a reply to Murphy.

Roughly translated, when it was a pup, it heard from its very powerful former wolf king grandfather that finding the spirit bone remnants of powerful creatures would allow it to have a more solidified spirit projection in the material world.

Ideally the spirit bones of a fierce beast, and wolf or dog fangs would be even better, as they have higher compatibility.

“I’ll look around. With all the years of war in Transia, there are plenty of stray dogs.”

Murphy nodded.

The Astral Wolf also continuously howled to tell Murphy how it felt now. Thanks to the summoner job change, its total attributes in the material world had increased by 10 points. While this wasn’t much for a ferocious beast, for an Astral Wolf whose individual strength was unremarkable, it was a huge deal.

Not only did it feel its projection had solidified greatly, it even cast a faint shadow, meaning its bites would be more lethal and the impact of its charges would be stronger.

Its overall strength had increased by at least a third, with a constant surge of power making it feel like it could even challenge an Astral Realm Leopard!

“Caw caw”

Just as the Astral Wolf was sensing the spirit enhancement, a raven-like screech sounded from outside the abandoned tower. The Blood Spirit Vulture Revnor then folded his wings and landed on the tower’s edge, calling out twice to Murphy with a message.

The preparations for tonight’s celebration at the survivor camp were nearly complete, and Miriam was looking for him to preside over it.

The vulture’s gaze then fell upon the Astral Wolf crouching beside Murphy.

It tilted its head, eyeing the Astral Wolf with piercing bloody eyes, as if assessing how long this mangy mutt could last under its talons and beak?

One minute? Three minutes?

Tsk, no more than five minutes before it could disembowel it. This vulture, having inherited a third of Murphy’s total attributes and also receiving the permanent enhancement from being a summoner’s ferocious avian, was supremely confident!

Its total attributes exceeded 40! This meant the Blood Spirit Vulture could even take on an ordinary vampire Professional in single combat.

And this lone Astral Wolf before it was just a weakling.

Facing Revnor’s hostility, the Astral Wolf bared its teeth and let out a warning howl from where it crouched.

It felt quite pressured.

After all, the Astral Wolf clan was not renowned for individual combat prowess in the Astral Realm, their wolf pack tactics were their forte for surviving there.

“Don’t bully George! It has fought by my side several times, and although it is quite weak, that’s no reason for you to bully it.”

Murphy raised his head to address his spirit vulture, then turned to pat the now-enhanced Astral Realm Giant Wolf’s head, saying:

“From now on, your name is ‘George.’ Any objections?”

Before the Astral Wolf could respond, the Blood Spirit Vulture flapped its wings, letting out a raven-like caw.

Its meaning was clear.

With me around, dare it object?

Not to mention being called George, even if called turd, it would have to obediently accept it. If it dared bristle up, a swipe of my talons would crush its skull!

“Wuff”

The Astral Wolf lowered its head and licked Murphy’s fingers, signaling that he was the boss and his word was law.

“Good, then let’s head back first.”

Murphy waved his hand, telling George:

“When I summon you next time, don’t wander off in the Astral Realm. I hear if you guys die there, it’s permanent. If this cute little thing dies for no reason, I’ll be heartbroken.”

“Wuff”

The Astral Wolf George vented, saying Murphy couldn’t say something nicer!

It was part of a massive wolf pack called the “Wolf Scourge” in the Astral Realm. No fool would dare harm it, it was perhaps even more dangerous for it as a lone wolf in the material world.

Murphy stood up in the ruined tower, flexing his fingers to activate his summoning again, calling forth an Astral Magpie to try scouting.

But the dainty magpie had barely taken flight when Revnor snatched it with a talon and snapped its neck with a lightning beak strike in a flash.

As the faint glow faded, the displeased Blood Spirit Vulture hovered before Murphy, beating its wings.

Its intent was obvious.

Scouting was its job, how dare Murphy bring another bird to take its work?

“I’m just trying to ease your burden a little. It can even be a decoy if needed.”

Murphy shrouded himself in spirit energy to block the sunlight, extending his bloody bat wings to say to Revnor:

“Want to see who’s faster?”

“Caw caw”

The Blood Spirit Vulture immediately let out a mocking cry.

A vampire competing against it in speed, during the day no less? Wasn’t that just inviting humiliation?

“I’m bored anyway, how about a bet for a dog bone?”

Murphy squinted with a smile:

“If I win, you have to find me a spirit-imbued dog or wolf bone by tomorrow. If I lose…hmm, I’ll make you a nest, deal?”

“Caw”

Revnor called out arrogantly, spreading its massive wings wide, certain of victory. Meanwhile, Murphy secretly formed a summoning gesture with his hand.

“Start!”

At Murphy’s command, the summoning activated. Over ten Astral Magpies burst out, scattering in all directions, while the vampire unfurled his wings and shot off with a whoosh.

The Blood Spirit Vulture instantly killed two magpies but then looked dumbfounded.

Its nature compelled it to eliminate these birds stealing its work, but Murphy had clearly tricked it, and now catching up was impossible.

“Caw caw caw!”

Enraged and flustered cries rang out in the sky behind, causing the now advantaged Murphy to grin and touch his ear.

This Desire Perception was truly bugged!

Not only could it sense the cravings of humanoid beings, but also the thoughts of beasts, like how Revnor did not allow other birds in its airspace, and George’s fear when faced with the overbearing Blood Spirit Vulture, he perceived it all clearly.

However, was it really okay for his spirit pets to be so petty and cowardly?

Moreover, since Revnor was an extension of his own will, didn’t that make Murphy himself incurably small-minded? He didn’t think so.

He was sure this was slander!

Then, as he neared the survivor camp, he casually took out his black notebook and flipped through it.

Well, considering the rumors about himself, Tris, and others on the forum had not only persisted but escalated, the luck of the Meow King group should continue declining.

Tonight’s grand prize event should give these “gangsters” a proper lesson!