16 Fifth Spell

Life was going well in the Lion Skull Clan.

The walls were being reinforced with ever stronger foundations. The vein of magic crystals provided Gurk and the three other goblin shamans with an steady supply of magic crystals, allowing them to experiment on various fields. Gurk preferred what he was most adept with: potioneering. Primtusk, however, liked to dwell upon the wonders of mechanical engineering and sought to build a golem, with little success.

Gurk thought of giving him insights from what he knew from the acolytes who had achieved such a feat, but quickly gave up. He did not know enough about that and preferred to wait patiently for Primtusk's results. Knowing his talent, he knew that he would eventually succeed.

"Success!"

In front of Gurk, there was a majestic spectral lion.

[Name - Gurk | Race - Goblin

Rank - [Advanced Knight Realm], [Intermediate Rank Acolyte]

Attributes:

Strength - 3.3 (+2.0) | Agility - 3.2 (+2.0) | Vitality - 3.5 (+2.0) | Magic Power - 9.2

Perk - Advanced Knight Physique (+2.0 Strength, Vitality, Agility)

Skills - Greenhill Military Spearmanship (Advanced), Shield Mastery (Advanced), Archery (Beginner)

Rank 0 Spells - Acidic Cloud, Acidic Enchant, Sea Serpent, Water Crow, Spectral Lion Summon]

Gurk had grown a lot. With magic crystals and 80 goblin workers tending to the growth of magical plants, he had more than enough magical resources to experiment on new potion recipes. He was experiencing wealth of resources which he never had access to as a human. As an acolyte, he mostly lived in hiding, afraid from the execution team leader, a pseudo-magus hateful acolyte who wanted him dead. For a decade, he ran away, only seldomly experimenting.

However, he could now enjoy this peace, this environment of growth he had created from scratch. His laboratory was becoming increasingly more complex, and increasingly more modern. The tools he had at his disposal were even better than those he had access to as a beginner acolyte in the ivory tower. It was hard to believe that not even three years ago, this tribe he had reincarnated to was starving.

However, none of these could compare to the majestic spell he had mastered.

[Spectral Lion Summon - Rank 0 Shaman Spell]

It was not a simple spell like [Sea Serpent] or [Acidic Enchant]. It was a shaman spell which he created, after being acknowledged by Korg, the spirit which had been used a symbol of the Lion Skull Clan ever since its creation.

[Name - Spectral Lion Korg

Rank - Pseudo-Magus Level

Attributes:

Strength - 8.2 | Agility - 5.8 | Vitality - 10.0 | Magic Power - 20.9

Skills - Bite (Advanced), Leap (Advanced), Tracking (Advanced)

Rank 0 Spells - Spectral Walk, Mighty Roar, Spectral Claws]

Using the spectral Lion summon, he could summon Korg, a pseudo-magus level magical beast. Although it was incredibly weak in comparison to the past, as it had reached the rank 1 magus level, it was still a wonderful spell that could borrow the strength of Korg.

While the value of possessing a pseudo-magus level summon was huge, especially considering that Gurk was only an intermediate acolyte at the moment, there were several limitations. Korg could only display as much magic power as its caster, so while it was of pseudo-magus level, its strength would be capped at Gurk's level. This meant that despite being a pseudo-magus Spectral Lion, it would only be an intermediate-level spectral Lion spirit when summoned by Gurk. However, its experience and spells made it much stronger than an average intermediate rank magical beast, or an intermediate rank acolyte for that matter.

But perhaps the greatest value of this spell came from the ability to communicate with Korg, which was hundreds of years old.

"So you are telling me that I have been in this state for at least a hundred years, huh...", Korg asked a bit down, not remembering how it had died

Gurk nodded while continuing to brew the [Body Strengthening Elixir], which was a fuel for the goblins' growth. After improving the recipe from the ivory tower, he decided to spread it to the strongest goblin warriors and elite goblin warriors. Those with especially high contributions would even get to taste the [Pur Body Strengthening Elixir], which he could only brew once out of ten times with his current potioneering skills.

"According to the alchemical tests I have done on your skull, you were dead for exactly 143 years", Gurk said, "Perhaps you remember the [Giant Demon Python]. It is now a pseudo-magus existence which reigns over the shadowfang cavern. Many goblin warriors died trespassing its territory. Fortunately, it has not shown any desire to expand its territory, else we would have been forced to wage war on a foe much stronger than us"

Korg, the spectral lion, was dumbfounded: "That little snake? Indeed...When I was still alive, it was only a small snake of beginner rank...To think it would eat most of the magical beasts in the shadowfang cavern and reign as its king. Do you think you would survive if you used me and your army of goblins? Although I could only watch from a far and in a foggy way, your goblin clan is unlike anything I have seen. It is unlike the primitive goblin tribes that have come to possess me...Your clan is organized and strong, the warriors sturdy and loyal, while the workers are productive too, providing food and tending to your magical plantations..."

Gurk nodded: "If I were to attack it with the Elite Goblin Warriors, I guess we could win against it, not to mention if I decided to mobilize all shamans and goblin warriors. However, the issues are related to the casualties. If possible, I would like for the Giant Demon Python to grow into a magus-level existence. I would get my hands on pristine quality materials..."

Korg could not believe the shaman that had come to become its master...

Treating a pseudo-magus-level existence as a mere source of materials...

But perhaps it was this greed, this level of planning that was needed for the world to see the rise of a goblin kingdom...

Korg sighed, before disappearing: "I will take my leave, then. I need to reflect on this"

Gurk nodded, acknowledging his desire to process what he had learned: "Don't forget to answer to my summon tonight. I have much to learn about shamanism yet..."

Blending together shamanism and the magus path...With such ambition in mind, Gurk was more than determined.

"Success!", he exclaimed again

[Beep! You have successfully brewed a [Pure Body Strengthening Elixir]. Upon consumption, your physical stats will increase by 0.3 point!]

*GULP*

Not waiting for it to turn cold, Gurk swallowed it all. If body strengthening elixirs could make him stronger, then he would gladly take it upon himself to consume them all, in mass.