The Power of Youth part I
Part 1
The next day, Zal’s schedule remained unchanged.
Sandro had Zal memorize basic magical theories and structures, and then had him practice the spells he had just memorized.
“Do I have to practice using magic today too?
That would drain my magical power.
What if the adventurers come?”
“They won’t come today…”
“Huh?
Why not?”
“Normally, adventurers take a break for a day to allow the dungeon to rest…
allowing the monsters to regroup within the dungeon…
The earliest they will return is tomorrow, but it could be later…”
“What if they come earlier than expected?”
“If that really happens, you can just use a potion to replenish your magic…
Stop making excuses…”
Zal was not particularly fond of subjects that required rote memorization, so he did not enjoy the basic magic training that required memorizing numerous spell structures and runes.
However, despite some reluctance, he followed Sandro’s instructions flawlessly.
After completing the morning training session, the two of them took a break for lunch before starting the afternoon lessons.
Since Zal had discovered how to level up his minions through combat, research on developing runes to reduce casting costs became unnecessary.
However, Sandro still allocated this time for Zal to study and experiment with research to improve his minion.
Zal was particularly interested in the ‘Unique Traits’ of the minions.
According to Sandro, a minion would always have ‘unique traits’ that were inferior to those of the actual creature at the same level.
Therefore, Zal wanted to address this issue first because he wished to create minions that were stronger than the actual creatures, not just rely on higher levels to compensate for deficiencies.
“Hmm…
‘Dragon Skin’ first stage reduces physical and magical damage by 10% and increases magic resistance by 20%, huh?
But it’s only available for level 5 minions and only at the first stage…
Ah, ‘Magic Resist’ first stage also reduces magical damage by 10% and increases magic resistance by another 10%, and it can be used from level 3.
This could be a viable alternative.”
Zal tried to apply the ‘Magic Resist’ skill he found in a book to his dragon to match the real creature’s traits more closely, but the attempt failed.
He could not put the ‘Magic Resist’ skill into his dragon.
“Why not?”
While he was puzzled, Sandro, who had been watching from the beginning, explained,
“Do you…
understand what ‘Unique Traits’ mean?…
It’s a specific skill that only that type of minion can use…
Did it say in the book what type of minion ‘Magic Resist’ is for?”
Hearing this, Zal glanced over the information in the book again.
“Ah…
it says it’s a ‘Unique Trait’ of the ‘Fairy’ type.”
A ‘Fairy’ was a minion that looked like a tiny goddess or sprite, highly capable in magic but generally limited to support spells with low combat capabilities.
“Umm…
that’s why only ‘Fairies’ can use it…”
“What?
So, I can’t apply it across different types?”
“Would it still be called a unique trait if you could…?”
“But it’s not a real creature; it’s just a minion that was created.
Shouldn’t it be possible to modify created things?”
“Even though they are created, they still have to abide by certain rules…
Just like constructing buildings that must adhere to the laws of physics.
If you modify a building whimsically until the structure can’t support the weight or loses balance, it will collapse…
Making medicine must also follow the laws of chemistry.
If the proportions of the chemicals are off, they won’t react, or they might produce a different reaction than expected and result in another kind of substance…
Minions also have rules of balance and compatibility.
Like computers, each minion has its own operating system and can’t run software designed for a different system…”
Hearing Sandro’s explanation, Zal understood the reasons more clearly and started looking for an alternative approach.
“Hmm…
So, what determines which unique traits a minion can wear is the first rune used in the summoning circle, right?”
“Exactly…
That’s the identity code of the minion…
It defines the traits and appearance that the minion can have…
It’s like the DNA of a living thing…”
“Is there a way to modify this identity code so it can possess the ‘unique traits’ of other identities?”
“It’s not that it can’t be done…
But balancing the identity code is difficult…
Even if you managed to do it, it might transform into a new identity…
Did you know that humans only differ from dolphins by about 0.2% of their DNA…?
So, if you finish modifying and your dragon turns into a slime, don’t be surprised…”
“A slime, really!?
But then, if minions are based on an existing identity code, why do they have ‘unique traits’ that are inferior to the real thing?”
“The ‘unique traits’ of the real ones come from growth…
But minions, are a structure copied from the real thing and installed afterward…
And due to limitations in the science of runes, we can only write structures that require a higher than usual level of minions to function…
If you want to equip it to lower-level summoned forms, you’d have to reduce the quality of the ‘unique traits’, which isn’t commonly done…”
“Ah, I see…
Even though it’s a copy of the real thing, because the science isn’t developed enough, the copies are inferior, right?”
The ‘unique traits’ of the real ones came from growth…
The structures copied needed a higher level of minions to function…
If you wanted to equip it to lower-level minions, you must also lower the quality of the unique traits…
Real dragons would have ‘Dragon Skin’ from level 2…”
Zal felt like he was beginning to see some connections and mulled over these components for a long time.
“So, natural dragons should have ‘Dragon Skin’ from birth, meaning this trait only becomes apparent when they reach level 2, right?”
“Hmm?…”
Sandro did not understand what the other party was muttering about.
Meanwhile, Zal spread out the magical structure of ‘Dragon Skin’ and modified the properties of level one ‘Dragon Skin’ until it no longer had any bonuses, making it merely a skill in name only.
Although Sandro observed this action, she still did not understand what he was trying to achieve.
“You lowered the quality of the ‘unique trait’, huh?
But why?”
“Look, this way it can be installed on a level 1 minion now, no need to wait until level 5.”
“That’s true…
But what’s the benefit…?
Ah…”
Sandro felt like she was beginning to connect some dots, while Zal continued eagerly with sparkling eyes.
“You’ve got it now, right~?
I’m not entirely sure yet, but it’s worth a try.”
He then transformed it into a rune to create another Homunculus circle.
Turning to Sandro, he said,
“Hey Sandro, take me to the foothills, will you?”
Sandro, somewhat understanding what Zal intended to do, teleported them to the foothills in front of Malachite Keep.
Part 2
Upon arrival, Zal summoned the dragon along with a level four wolf that had the ‘Intimidate’ skill.
He sent both to fight against skeletons, using the wolf to take damage while the dragon attacked.
After dealing with six skeletons, Zal’s new dragon evolved to level 2.
Zal inspected the dragon’s traits again and found a result that made his eyes gleam with excitement.
Now, the level-less ‘Dragon Skin,’ which previously offered no bonuses, had become ‘Dragon Skin’ first stage, providing a 10% reduction in physical and magical damage and increasing magical resistance by 20%—exactly as it should.
“It worked!
Just as I thought!”
He exclaimed joyously, while Sandro examined the dragon’s traits.
“‘Dragon Skin’ has upgraded to first stage…
The installed trait has grown along with the minion…
And it’s at the same rate as the real thing…”
Even Sandro could not hide her amazement.
She had been researching and devising ways to enhance minions’ skills, both to aid him and to improve her own minions, but had never considered this method.
Though Zal was the one who discovered the method for creating evolving minions, Sandro was confident in her knowledge and intellect, thinking she would be the one to advance this science first.
Yet, this boy had outpaced her again.
“This is the power of youth…
Not constrained by frameworks or patterns…
leading to unlimited creativity…
Truly unbeatable…”
Sandro murmured softly with a wistful smile and a gentleness in her eyes, unlike her usual stoic facade.
Her voice was brimming with pride in Lazarus, but her last sentence was so quiet, almost a whisper, as she did not want him to hear.
“Eh?
What’s with the old lady talk?
Though, you are an old lady already…
Ack!”
Zal, always looking for trouble, turned back just to receive a knee to his side, dropping him promptly to the ground.
Unaware, he had missed a rare expression from her.
After writhing in pain for a while, Zal got up with a slightly twisted expression and adjusted the summoning circle again.
“I want to try leveling it up to 4.
I’m curious to see if it’ll get the second stage of ‘Dragon Skin’ like a real dragon.
I’ll use the dungeon’s monsters to level it up.”
“Hmm…
Alright…
Later, we can cast a monster lure spell to attract new monsters.”
Once he received permission, he summoned the dragon into the dungeon and began clearing monsters.
After defeating four small groups of monsters, Zal’s dragon evolved to level 3.
He intended to continue clearing the dungeon to evolve the dragon to level 4 but noticed a change in its traits.
“Huh?
What’s this?
Suddenly, it has a new skill…
‘Fire Breath’ first stage?
What’s that about?”
Upon hearing him, Sandro approached to take a closer look, and upon seeing the new trait of the dragon, she expressed her surprise.
“‘Fire Breath,’ huh…?
That’s another ‘Special Trait’ of dragons…
It allows them to emit breaths of various elements…
It’s a special attack that doesn’t require magical power…
It’s true that level 3 dragons should have this trait, but why does a minion have it…”
“Eh?
How did this appear all of a sudden?
I only installed the ‘Dragon Skin’ special trait, and I don’t even know the rune structure of ‘Fire Breath.’ I definitely didn’t add it.”
Sandro was equally puzzled.
She had Zal pull up the structure of the level 1 dragon summoning circle again to check for any anomalies, but found nothing unusual apart from the ‘Dragon Skin’ they had added.
After some thought, Sandro looked as though she had figured something out.
“This is just a theory…
There has been a hypothesis that every ‘Special Trait’ of any entity comes from a single ‘Trait Foundation’…
When this ‘Trait Foundation’ evolves, it branches out into various ‘Special Traits’ from that foundation…
When you adjusted the structure of ‘Dragon Skin’ down to level zero, it might have lost the characteristics of ‘Dragon Skin’ and reverted to a ‘Dragon Trait Foundation’…
As this foundation developed, it probably gave rise to all possible ‘Special Traits’ a dragon could have…”
“Whoa!
Really!?
That’s incredible!
This means it might have traits equivalent to a real dragon in every way!
Wow!!”
Zal jumped around excitedly, thrilled with the outcome, while Sandro remained stunned.
Though it was an unexpected result that surpassed expectations, this young boy had made what could be considered the discovery of the century for the third time, in less than a week.
“Would you be interested in becoming a chef…?”
“What?
What did you say?”
“Nothing…”
Sandro secretly thought that if Zal were a chef, he would probably invent spectacular dishes daily.
However, to preserve the little grown-up’s dignity she had left, she chose not to voice this thought out loud.
Just the thought was enough to keep him exhilarated.
“Hey Sandro, what other ‘Special Traits’ does a dragon have?”
“…Although it has gray scales, this one is a fire element dragon, right…?”
“Yes, it was created based on a fire dragon.”
“At higher levels, there would be ‘Blazing Scale’…
a skill that ignites its scales to emit intense heat, scorching nearby enemies…
and ‘Meteor Shower,’ a special attack that summons a torrent of fireballs to strike a wide area…”
“Wow, that’s awesome!
At what level can it acquire these skills?”
“I’m not entirely sure…
It’s recorded that real dragons can use these abilities…
but for minions, no one has ever tried to write magical structures for these abilities because they are high-level skills…
If I had to guess, they would have to be level 6 or above, especially the very high-level skills might even require level 8…”
Although it might not seem like much, advancing each level required continuous development of the main status values, especially after reaching level 5, which was like a transition point between higher and lower level monsters.
Even though progression to level 5 could be quick, advancing beyond this point required significantly more time, exponentially increasing with each level.
“Huh~ level 8, really?
Even though the first two skills are available at lower levels?”
“That’s because they are basic abilities…
The high-level abilities are another level altogether, much further out…
And there might be even higher-level skills…”
“There are even higher-level skills?”
“Yes…
It is said that dragons of level A or S have unique ultimate skills that differ among them…
But even among real dragons, very few reach this level, so not many know what these skills are…
Sometimes they might be skills developed uniquely by those dragons, but they can only be used because they possess extremely high-level traits…”
“I’m getting excited now!
I’ve got to reach level A no matter what!”
Afterward, Zal cleared the dungeon of monsters for another round, but his dragon remained at level 4.
It seemed that gaining experience from fighting monsters allowed the minions to evolve significantly slower than fighting adventurers.
Zal cast monster lure spell again and returned to the library to overhaul all of his minion’s structure, while Sandro went off to prepare dinner as it was nearly time.
The old minions had not been initially created with a ‘trait foundation,’ so no matter how much they evolved, they would not acquire ‘unique traits.’ This necessitated a complete rebuild.
Zal slowly disassembled each part of the summoning circle with a sense of loss.
Since all the minions had been created as permanent pet, even after dismantling all the components of the magic circle, their original forms remained.
To erase their existence, an ‘Unsummon’ spell was required to dissipate the minions permanently.
For someone like Zal, who felt a bond with each minion, this was akin to killing them.
However, since these minions had no future anyway, he painfully had to dissolve their forms.
Zal continued to unsummon his minions until it came to his three favorite companions: Tartarus, Cerberus, and Erebus—the three wolf minions that were his first creations.
He hesitated because he had a special bond with them.
“Ah…
I really can’t bring myself to do it…”
Unable to bear the thought of letting them go, Zal transformed them back into runes and tried creating a new summoning circle for a new wolf using the runes of the three wolves as additional components, hoping to keep them as a memento.
Despite his concerns that the structure might fail, the minion ended up being perfectly formed without any issues, which relieved him.
“Oh, no problems at all!
Even though it uses up more magical power, it’s like having a wolf that truly carries the spirit of the previous generation, ha-ha.
But…
maybe it would be better to split it into three like before…”
While pondering this, Zal noticed the new wolf’s surprisingly striking abilities.
“Huh?
Why does it have three skills from the start?
Normally at level one, you can only install one skill, and I didn’t even add any skills to it yet…”
Upon closer inspection, the three skills that the new wolf possessed from the start were Intimidate, Piercing Howl, and Feral.
“These three skills are the same as the ones Tartarus, Cerberus, and Erebus had!
Does this mean the skill from minions in the added runes were passed on to the new minion that was summoned from the circle!?”
Curious, Zal began to disassemble the summoning circle of the level 3 dragon he had been training and added its runes into the new wolf’s circle.
This action made the new wolf required a much higher amount of magical power to summon.
So high that he could not summon it, even though he had consumed a mana potion to replenish his magical power.
He had to remove the three wolves’ runes to successfully summon the new wolf with almost insufficient magical power.
Once successful, he discovered the new wolf had ‘Dragon Skin’ and ‘Fire Breath’ skills included.
“Even the ‘unique traits’ got transferred!?
Amazing!
Did it use a lot of magical power because they’re high-level skills which were not inherent to it?”
Zal went on to create more new minions and tested various things by having them fight with the skeletons.
After extensive testing, he came to a rough conclusion:
1.
Creating a summoning circle using runes derived from transforming other minions as enhancements allowed the new minion to inherit skills or special properties from the enhancing minions.
2.
Summoning a minion that had received enhanced properties required more magical power.
The increased summoning cost depended on the level of the enhancing minions, the level of the skills, and the number of skills the enhancing minions possessed.
3.
Enhancing minions could not develop themselves or their skills while merely serving as enhancements, but the main minion of the circle could still develop normally.
“Um…
These are the main conditions, it’s a pity that the skills from the enhancing minions do not develop along with the main minion.
The enhancement also consumes a huge amount of summoning power.
However, this means that creating a god-tier minion with ‘unique traits’ from various species combined is not impossible, as long as there is enough magical power.”
Zal was thrilled with the discovery of this method for creating ultimate minions.
Even though his current magical power might not yet be enough to create the minion of his dreams, he was confident that in the future, when he had sufficient magical power, he would definitely be able to create a minion as powerful as gods or demons.
Just the thought made him almost too excited to wait.
After experimenting to his satisfaction, he returned to the dining room where Sandro was waiting.
Zal did not share this new discovery with Sandro, as he wanted to surprise her later.
Read ‘Doombringer the 5th’ before anyone else with more chapters at https://www.jinovel.com/en