Chapter 72: Shadowflame Demon Wolf!

Ta Ke likes to act alone.

But that doesn't mean Ta Ke likes fighting outnumbered.

If circumstances allow, Ta Ke prefers ganging up.

Summoning is undoubtedly an excellent means to accomplish such operations.

Moreover.

The summoned creatures have many uses.

Beside the bone wall.

Ta Ke sat cross-legged at the foot of the bone mountain, completing the enhanced absorption of today's bulwark ritual.

And before that, Ta Ke also completed the study of the "Shadow Contract Ritual".

The bulwark ritual communicates with the great "bulwark".

And the shadow ritual communicates with creatures of the shadow dimension.

The two are slightly different.

Perhaps Ta Ke doesn't have much talent for summoning.

But, by using the ritual to find shadow-dimension creatures, Ta Ke is extremely skilled at it.

Even so, after Ta Ke finished studying the Shadow Contract Ritual.

Through basic summoning incantations.

Ta Ke, following his affinity with the shadow dimension, can already find some not-so-strong shadow-dimension creatures.

Relying on strong precision, and the shadow power of the rune shadow ring staff.

Ta Ke can easily pull the opponent over.

Yes, it's just forcibly pulling them over.

Rather than saying it's summoning, it's more like kidnapping.

Moreover, Ta Ke really did just that.

The power of summoning seeps into the shadow dimension, randomly selecting two lucky spectators to pull over.

Once Ta Ke completes the bulwark ritual, he will bind the context of faith in the bulwark world onto those two lucky shadow creatures.

As Ta Ke lifts the summoning, those two shadow creatures flee like refugees.

"Finally, I no longer have to harm Lord Ao Bu Li's spirit ravens."

"I estimate Lord Ao Bu Li should have noticed too, just didn't dare to say it."

"Just a little harm is enough; if I mess it all up, Lord Ao Bu Li might give me a stern scolding."

After feeling that I could self-produce and self-sell the faith of the bulwark, this small problem.

Ta Ke also counts as having solved a small problem of long-term steady development.

Ta Ke, sitting cross-legged on the bone, slightly gathered his mind.

He focused his attention on today's shadow contract ritual.

"The Shadow Contract Ritual has two ways of contracting."

"One is simple summoning, just like I did earlier, except the summoned ones are low-level shadow creatures."

"In this regard, I really have no talent."

"That shadow-sphere-like creature, I've never seen before; it's a weak bunch."

"Expecting it to fight is probably just a crisp bite."

"The ritual is the correct way for me to seek helpers."

"Construct the ritual, delve deep into the shadow dimension, find powerful shadow creatures, anchor them with the ritual, and complete the contract."

"In theory it's simple, but in practice the difficulty is quite high."

"If the target is too weak, it definitely won't work."

"If it's too strong, once it descends, it's definitely a free gift."

"Wanting to find something not too strong nor too weak, a couple of contracts definitely won't suffice."

"If we keep trying, the investment of shadow material is also a considerable expense."

Ta Ke has a certain amount of shadow material in hand.

But we definitely can't squander it like that.

"First, carry out a ritual trial; if we encounter a relatively suitable one, we contract it over."

"Then, with any leftover shadow material, we continue trial after trial."

"Just like the method of riding a donkey to find a horse, we replace them one by one."

After the idea gradually opened up, the plan also gradually took shape.

During this time, Ta Ke has stockpiled quite a lot of materials.

Whether it's from his own harvest or scavenged from the assassins of the Dark Sun Church.

The materials for the Shadow Contract Ritual have also been gathered.

But seeing that the three transcendent storage bracelets on his hand are all stuffed full.

Ta Ke also feels somewhat helpless.

"Such black-on-black situations often arise; getting a slightly larger transcendent storage bracelet is still quite necessary."

Soon, Ta Ke had already completed the setup of the shadow ritual.

Black candles, a black wooden table, and a black dagger.

This is the ritual's foundation.

And the offering is a portion of shadow material, a small half cup of blood permeated by shadow, and a living life.

Living life?

Sacrifice living people?

Ta Ke wouldn't actually go so far as to be this crazy right now.

Just substitute a swamp rat.

Now the underground is full of swamp rats; those seven-or-eight-pound big rats make Ta Ke's scalp go numb just looking at them—how can they grow this big?

The black candle flame lights up, but the light is not very ample.

Ta Ke activates the Shadow Rune Ring Staff, putting himself into Shadow State.

The ritual chant echoes around Ta Ke, low and profound.

「The shadow that wanders in light and darkness……」

「You are the swift one of the Shadow Dimension. 」

「You are the fearless one of heroic battle. 」

「You are the guardian of the Shadow Contract. 」

……

By filling in the non-fixed phrases of the ritual, one can roughly lock down the range of contractible beings.

With Ta Ke's chanting, the shadow wind vortex surges rapidly around him.

The auras of some shadow creatures also appear, and even through the rushing shadow wind vortex, their outlines can be seen.

They are all ordinary shadow creatures of levels 17 and 18.

Normally, the ritual's range is just this big.

If none are satisfactory, just end the ritual, change the time and place, and try again.

Usually!

Before performing a similar ritual, it's best to consult a diviner, prophet, or other supernatural being for a forecast.

Good result, then let's get to it.

Bad result, then obviously no need to invest.

But Ta Ke obviously doesn't have such an opportunity.

However, Ta Ke also doesn't really need it.

If luck isn't enough, make up for it with talent.

As Ta Ke gradually focuses his mind, he is no longer limited to the few shadow creatures encountered in a simple contract; instead, following the ritual's context, he begins to cut into the world context of the Shadow Dimension.

Penetrating into a broader expanse of the Shadow Dimension.

This is Ta Ke's true 'Grand Summoning Technique'.

The ritual's power is originally a projection onto another realm; under Ta Ke's control, the radiation range is naturally extremely vast.

Soon, Ta Ke felt an extremely ferocious and robust-aura shadow creature.

「It's you, come over! 」

The ritual's power instantly enveloped that shadow creature.

Whether you like it or not, I'm just dragging you by force.

As the shadow wind vortex dissipates.

A creature about the size of a calf, stout and sturdy, its whole body burning with black shadowflame, appears before Ta Ke as a giant wolf.

【Shadowflame Demon Wolf】.

Ta Ke instantly recognized it.

「It possesses not weak shadow bloodline power, and is also an elite-level creature. 」

「At the same time, this guy has a full 28th level. 」

「Its combat ability is quite formidable. 」

「Estimated to be able to take on a dozen or so of those ordinary level 17-18 shadow creatures previously contracted, no problem. 」

Ta Ke made clear the level and bloodline power of this 'Shadowflame Demon Wolf'.

But this Shadowflame Demon Wolf regarded Ta Ke as food.

With a leap, the Shadowflame Demon Wolf opened its blood‑filled maw and tore down.

Ta Ke backhanded a Light‑Shaping Spear, driving it straight through its head.

How handsome he looked when leaping, how miserable when he fell.

The Light‑Shaping Spear, poured into the Shadowflame Demon Wolf's skull and brain cavity, came out its throat, pinning it to the ground.

The holy light's searing caused its struggling black flames to spray everywhere, accompanied by a shrill, low wail.

As a Shadow-type, being an illusory‑substantial lifeform, it has no bodily weakness.

But when faced with a force that counters it, basically its whole body is a weakness.

「Either……establish a contract and obey me. 」

「Or……wait to die! 」

After Ta Ke used the ritual to convey information, he no longer bothered with this Shadowflame Demon Wolf.

The ritual hasn't ended yet, under Ta Ke's fine control.

Ta Ke can still fish out a few more Shadowflame Demon Wolves.

After all, creatures like magic wolves are social animals.

Since there is one magic wolf, there must be a pack of them behind.

Soon.

Under Ta Ke's 'Grand Summoning Technique'.

The second and third Shadowflame Magic Wolves were also scooped up by Ta Ke.

Until the fourth Shadowflame Magic Wolf was in hand.

Ta Ke felt that a powerful force in the Shadow Dimension had noticed him.

That was... a leader-level power.

"Retreat!"

Without any hesitation, Ta Ke immediately retreated.

Now, Ta Ke is only level 18.

That leader-level power is at least level 30, possibly even level 38 or 39.

If Ta Ke completes the Steam Ascension, he still has a chance to defeat the opponent.

But now, the chance of defeat is almost certain.

Ta Ke's gaze swept over the bodies of the four Shadowflame Magic Wolf Gods he had caught, and he nodded in satisfaction.

The four Shadowflame Magic Wolves, under the scorching of the Light-Shaping Spear, quickly had three submit.

Ta Ke easily completed the contract.

One was stubborn, and was actually turned into a puddle of sticky black mist by the holy light of the Light-Shaping Spear being scorched alive.

With the appearance of that puddle of black mist.

The three subdued Shadowflame Magic Wolves all simultaneously showed a covetous, drooling posture.

"Go!"

Ta Ke had just given the order, and the three Shadowflame Magic Wolves lunged forward, tearing and devouring the sticky black mist with big bites.

After the three Shadowflame Magic Wolves finished devouring.

The three Shadowflame Magic Wolves unanimously showed an obedient attitude toward Ta Ke.

Wolf-like creatures naturally have obedience to stronger beings.

This is far better than those demonic creatures that weigh 100 catties but have 99 catties of rebelliousness.

Ta Ke waved his hand.

The three Shadowflame Magic Wolves all ran into the shadows beside Ta Ke and disappeared.

"Two are level 28, one is level 26."

"They all have bloodlines, are all elite-grade, and their combat strength is not weak."

"Even having all three together would leave me flustered."

Regarding this shadow ritual's contract, Ta Ke was still quite satisfied.

Compared to other types of summoned creatures, shadow creatures live in the shadow of their contractor.

Using them is also more convenient.

After doing all this, Ta Ke slowly spoke while tidying up the altar items.

"Since you've come out, why do you all like to sneak around?"

As Ta Ke's words fell, from the darkness beside him, a person wearing silver light armor, Ka Luosi, walked out, his face showing both curiosity and vigilance.

"It's been a while since we last saw each other; I didn't expect you to still have summoning talent, and your summoned beasts aren't weak either."

"Not just not weak!"

"Simply astonishingly ferocious."

That Shadowflame Magic Wolf, Ka Luosi, clearly saw that it is a genuine shadow creature with bloodline power.

If one comes up, it's roughly a 3-to-7 chance.

Of course, 70% is the Shadow Magic Wolf's.

If there are two, Ka Luosi might not be able to escape.

If all three come at once, Ka Luosi estimates that by this time next year, it will probably be his memorial day.

Ka Luosi vaguely remembers the time when he first teamed up with Ta Ke on an adventure.

Ta Ke's strength was still weaker than his own.

But now.

Ta Ke's summoned beasts are probably much stronger than him.

"Only a few months have passed, and he's truly an unbelievable freak!"

Ka Luosi shook his head to indicate his purpose.

"Ta Ke, my older sister wants to see you."

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(End of chapter)