Chapter 18: 18.Crystal cavern request
AT THE SAME TIME
ALEXANDER
Michael arrived three seconds after the metallic sound echoed outside the guild. Three seconds. The healer room door slammed open hard enough to shake the walls.
"WHY IS THE ENTIRE BUILDING VIBRATING?!"Michael shouted immediately.
Then he froze. His eyes locked directly onto the floating crimson black shards resting near my bed. Silence, complete silence.
"Kid."Michael slowly pointed at them.
"What."I already hated that tone.
"Why are there forbidden looking puzzle pieces in my healer room?"He asked.
"I FEEL LIKE YOU’RE JUDGING THE VIBES INSTEAD OF THE FACTS."I said angrily.
Michael walked closer carefully like the shards might suddenly file taxes or explode. The moment he got near them the system activated again.
"Ding."The system said.
"I WILL THROW THIS SYSTEM INTO A RIVER."I threatened.
A translucent screen expanded across the healer’s room. Everyone froze, even Rosalia looked curious. The screen flickered once then displayed simple text.
’Alexander Blackwood. rank: C. level: 7. Class: Gacha Card Summoner. Mana condition: unstable. Current summons active: 3. Safe summon capacity: 2. Penalty for overload: mana drain, internal damage, loss of consciousness, unstable synchronization. Current linked summons: Scarlet, Noa, Rosalia Anos. Special bonded item: Zavier (forge ring state). New skill acquired: kill point conversion. Adaptive summon resonance. Hidden item collection: incomplete gacha summoner shards 2/5. Warning: Additional summons may exceed host survival limits."The system explained.
"Okay first of all, RUDE."I pointed at the screen immediately.
"You are level seven already?"Michael looked horrified.
"Apparently suffering gives experience."I groaned.
"Safe summon capacity: two..."Scarlet stepped closer to the screen carefully.
"You are currently maintaining three." Noa immediately looked toward me.
"And the ring."Rosalia’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The ring on my finger glowed once.
"I am technically compressed."Zavier answered calmly.
"THAT IS NOT A NORMAL SENTENCE."I complained.
"Kid, your body is literally tearing itself apart trying to maintain this many summons."Michael grabbed his own face dramatically.
"I NOTICED THE BLOOD COUGHING."I said angrily.
"That part was medically concerning."The healer nodded immediately.
"Wait..."Isabella tilted her head toward the screen. She pointed at one section. "What’s adaptive summon resonance?"
"Ding."The system answered before anyone else could.
I hated that sound now.
"Adaptive summon resonance allows summons to evolve through emotional synchronization with host."The system explained.
Rosalia avoided eye contact immediately.The room slowly turned toward Rosalia.
"I dislike this system."She muttered.
"So stronger emotional bonds increase summon growth."Scarlet’s expression became thoughtful.
"That explains recent combat scaling."Noa crossed her arms.
"Why is my power system emotionally complicated?"I stared at the screen.
"Because you are emotionally complicated."The sword answered instantly.
"I DIDN’T ASK YOU."I shouted.
Michael suddenly noticed another section then paled.
"Wait." He pointed aggressively at the shard counter. "Two out of five?!"
"YES. I CAN READ TOO."I groaned.
"You don’t understand."Michael looked genuinely panicked now.
"That sentence NEVER helps me."I sighed.
"If all five combine-"Michael pointed at the shards again.
The system flickered before he could finish. Then new text appeared: possible result upon full shard synchronization: sss-rank summon card. Status: unconfirmed. Warning: host compatibility unknown."
The room became dead silent. Even the healer slowly backed toward the door again.
"I suddenly feel underpaid."She whispered.
"Absolutely not."I stared blankly at the screen.
Rosalia quietly stepped closer to me again, Scarlet immediately noticed, Noa noticed Scarlet noticing. Isabella noticed everyone noticing.
"Tension increasing."The sword hummed softly.
"I AM LIVING INSIDE A DISASTER HAREM."I screamed.
Outside the guild, the metallic dragging sound echoed again, closer this time, and the shard fragments floating near my bed pulsed red in response. The healer room stayed tense after the system screen vanished. Mostly because nobody liked the phrase "sss-rank summon card." Especially me as I was still staring at the floating shards near my bed when Isabella suddenly snapped her fingers.
"Wait."She whispered.
Everyone looked toward her. The light elf girl straightened proudly like she had just remembered something incredibly important.
"There ARE ways to increase summon capacity."Isabella said and smiled.
"Excuse me?"I sat up instantly.
"There are?"Michael turned toward her sharply.
"Special mana stabilizers, spirit core artifacts, linked storage relics..." Isabella nodded quickly. Her eyes brightened more and more as she spoke. "Some old dungeons even produce capacity expansion treasures specifically for summoners."
The entire room froze. Then all three summons turned toward me at the same time. Scarlet looked hopeful, Noa looked calculating, Rosalia looked dangerously invested.
"Survival probability improving."The sword hummed softly.
"I LIKE THAT SENTENCE MORE."I said happily.
"Actually."Michael crossed his arms slowly.
That word immediately activated my survival instincts.
"No actually."Michael contunied.
The guild master ignored me completely and reached into his coat. Then he pulled out a folded request paper. My soul tried to leave my body preemptively.
"Michael."I pointed weakly. "Don’t."
"This was originally meant for B-rank teams."He unfolded the paper calmly.
"I REPEAT. DON’T."I said.
"But now..."Michael looked toward my status screen remnants still glowing faintly in the air. "You might actually survive it."
"THAT IS NOT COMFORTING."I said annoyed.
He handed me the request anyway, I read the title. Then immediately regretted literacy.
"Crystal cavern investigation request. Possible spirit core relic discovered. B rank needed.
"That sounds suspiciously useful."My eyes narrowed slowly.
Isabella leaned over instantly.
"Oh!"Her ears perked up. "Spirit core relics can absolutely increase summon load limits!"
"If Master could stabilize his mana..."Scarlet stepped closer immediately.
"He would stop coughing blood."Noa finished.
"Which I personally support."I added.
"Distance from city: three days."Rosalia quietly leaned closer beside me to read the request too.
"The cavern appeared recently after a mana quake."Michael nodded.
"No"I said immediately.
"What?"Michael blinked.
"I know that setup."I pointed at the paper aggressively. "That’s how tragedies begin."
"It is a normal investigation mission."Michael said.
"YOU SAID THAT ABOUT GOBLINS."I reminded him.
The room went silent. Fair point.
"Okay, bad example."Michael coughed awkwardly.
"Probability of hidden catastrophe remains high."The sword pulsed once.
"THANK YOU, PARANOIA BLADE."I groaned.
"But if the relic is real, it could solve your summon overload problem!"Isabella bounced slightly in excitement.
That made me pause because unfortunately she was right. My eyes slowly drifted toward Scarlet, then Noa, then Rosalia. All three were still linked to me and apparently my body was currently treating that like magical self destruction. The ring on my finger glowed faintly.
"A capacity expansion relic would stabilize synchronization."Zavier admitted.
"STOP AGREEING WITH DANGEROUS QUESTS."I immediately pointed at the ring.
"It is logically beneficial."Zavier said inside the ring.
"I HATE LOGIC."I sighed.
Rosalia quietly tugged my sleeve and I looked over. Her crimson eyes stayed calm.
"If your condition worsens, forced unsummoning may occur."She whispered.
That sentence hit harder than expected. Scarlet looked down slightly, Noa’s arms crossed tighter even Isabella stopped smiling as much.
"Okay."I exhaled slowly.
"Good."Michael immediately looked relieved.
"I haven’t agreed yet."I said.
Michael’s relief vanished. I stared down at the request paper again. Crystal cavern, possible spirit core relic. Potential mana stabilization and very obvious future disaster.
"Ding."The system suddenly flickered softly. "New quest available" obtain summon stabilization relic."
"I hate when it supports other people."I sighed.
"Reward: safe summon capacity increased. "Then another line appeared. Failure condition: continued host deterioration."The system finished.
"Wow."I stared blankly. "That feels emotionally manipulative."
"Correct."The sword agreed immediately.
I looked around the room slowly. Scarlet was watching hopefully. Noa was already planning logistics, Rosalia standing close enough to hear my breathing, Isabella was practically vibrating with excitement, and Michael looking like a man gambling his sanity.
"Fine."I sighed deeply.
Everyone relaxed instantly.
"But if this turns into another ancient inheritance nightmare-"I started.
"It will."The sword answered immediately.
"I DIDN’T FINISH TALKING."I shouted.
"Mission accepted then."Michael grinned slightly.
The guild request paper glowed faintly in my hand. Outside the healer’s room window, the crimson black shards pulsed once more. I was time to go to a new task and hope that it won’t end up worse than last time.
