AECS 38

Chapter 38

Which One Should I Summon? (2)

Doldori, Lund.
Lund, Doldori.

“Sigh… what a dilemma.”

Both of them were ridiculously strong, overpowered summons, and honestly, Jinwoo wanted to pick both.

As he snapped his fingers to kill time…

• “Jinwoo! I think we absolutely have to pick Lund!”

Lamba flew over and voiced her opinion first.

“Why?”

• “Because Lund can create runes and options however we want, as long as we have the time and materials. Doldori is incredible too, but if we get Lund, all of us can fairly get our graduation runes.”

“True.”

That made sense.

Of course, Lund doesn’t just instantly produce graduation runes.

You have to raise its proficiency through endless grind, and rare runes require enormous amounts of materials.

Still, not having to worry about runes, the end-game content of Battle of Summoners, was a huge advantage.

Moreover…

If its potential is unlocked through training?

It could even produce unique runes that only Lund could create.

Runes with no equal anywhere in the world!

After completing all graduation runs, he could even sell them.

If he ran a unique luxury rune business under the brand YuBaek…

‘Kuh.’

Just that alone would be insane.

• “Actually, I feel weird having all the graduation runes equipped by myself. It’s a burden. Jinwoo! Let’s just pick Lund! Huh? Right? We can summon it and get the runes for you, me, and Pokryong too!”

“Hmm… maybe?”

Jinwoo’s heart slightly leaned toward Lund because Lamba was being so cute and persuasive.

But then…

• “Master.”

Hoon-gyo interrupted from the side.

• “I disagree.”
• “Huh?”

‘Him again?’

Lamba’s cheeks puffed up in displeasure, but Hoon-gyo paid it no mind.

• “Lund the Dwarf is great, but the top priority should be the Tempest Slayer.”

Oh? Really?

“Why?”

• “Because of its overwhelming power. You are currently vulnerable in battle. Pokryong hasn’t unlocked its potential yet, and both Lamba and I can only unleash our full strength once our stacks are built. To be frank, if we encounter a summon specialized in assassination… even you, master, could go down in one hit.”

“That’s true.”

It was lucky the level in Korea was low.

If he met world-class rankers in this state, even Baek Jinwoo might be in danger.

• “Also, the national representative selection is coming soon.”

Whoa! Hoon-gyo!

He even knows the player schedule. Impressive.

• “If we pick Tempest Slayer, it will be very useful there.”
• “Nonsense!”

Lamba shook her head vigorously.

• “What national selection? Me and Hoon-gyo alone are enough even without Doldori!”
• “No, don’t be arrogant, Lamba.”

Hoon-gyo said firmly.

• “It’s just that the level of domestic players under your country is low. Compared to the world we’ve experienced before, they’re still weak. And above all, the most important thing is something else.”
• “…What’s that?”
• “Your safety, master.”
• “…!”
• “Even if we just pick Tempest Slayer, we can train it to ensure your safety.”

Ah.

That made sense.

Baek Jinwoo felt slightly touched.

The reasoning for picking Doldori was clear, and it also reflected concern for his well-being.

Even Lamba, who had been displeased, tilted her head with a “Hmm?” expression.

“Then what about Pokryong?”

• “I also think Tempest Slayer is the way to go. If you’re not safe, master, nothing else matters.”

Ha!

As expected, Hoon-gyo and Pokryong.

‘I’ll do better from now on.’

As for Lamba…

‘She doesn’t seem to care about me at all.’

• “I-I’ve changed my mind too! You tricked me using Jinwoo! Fine, I’ll do Doldori! I’ll choose Doldori!”

All three summons ended up choosing Tempest Slayer.

‘It doesn’t matter who goes first.’

The blueprint still existed.

Once materials were gathered and used, Lund could still be summoned later.

Picking Doldori first to secure safety, then gathering enough materials to summon Lund later—that would be more efficient.

“Good.”

The answer was decided. Time to choose!

[‘Tempest Slayer’ (EX-Class)]

Baek Jinwoo grabbed the card without hesitation.

Whirl!

The card spun around and emitted a brilliant light.

[Player ‘Baek Jinwoo’ has obtained the summon ‘Tempest Slayer’ (EX-Class)!]

Finally!

The legendary PVP overpowered summon.

Doldori had entered Baek Jinwoo’s side.

• Krrk… Kk, Grk…

The dim clearing grew even darker.

A strange, ominous sound echoed.

“It’s here.”

Baek Jinwoo looked up.

There floated the Death Reaper with a scythe—Tempest Slayer itself.

• Krrrk… Grk…

Unfortunately, despite being EX-Class, it seemed unable to speak.

Maybe because it wasn’t humanoid?

Baek Jinwoo opened its info.

[Summon: Tempest Slayer]
[Species: Undead]
[Grade: EX-Class (Quarantine)]

• “Isolated due to detected balance-breaking potential.”
  [Level: 1]
  [Stats]
  Strength: 1, Intelligence: 1, Vitality: 1, Agility: 1
  HP: 1,000, MP: 0
  Critical Rate: 20%
  Critical Damage: 20%

[Skills]

• Assassinate: Becomes invisible temporarily; first attack deals 100% critical damage.
• Tempest: Swings the Reaper’s scythe in a circle to deal area damage.

‘Yep, this is it.’

From the skills alone, it was a typical assassin-type summon.

Invisible, striking with guaranteed critical hits on the first attack.

Incidentally, this skill also makes rune work easy for Doldori.

You just maximize critical damage and don’t care about critical rate.

“Doldori, nice to meet you.”

• Krrk…!

It twirled its scythe as if to greet him.

• “Ugh, so gloomy. The atmosphere’s already grim!”

Swish!

Lamba moved behind Jinwoo but her eyes were filled with pure curiosity.

She had never met Doldori in Battle of Summoners.

“Hoon-gyo, can you train it?”

• “Master, what is there to say! I’m confident. Tempest?”
• Krrk?

At that moment, the Reaper’s sharp gaze swept over Hoon-gyo.

Its murderous aura filled the surroundings… but

• Krrrk!

The aura quickly subsided, and it straightened its spinning scythe.

Hoon-gyo’s charisma—it even worked on Doldori.

• “Tempest, your potential is beyond S-rank. From today, I will unlock that potential.”
• Krrk!

As expected, training with Hoon-gyo is convenient.

Mid-June.

The atmosphere in Korea was heating up.

The world’s biggest year-end event, the World League, was coming, and the day to select ten national representatives was fast approaching.

6/30!

The National Representative Selection!

All Korean media were buzzing about it, and the community’s attention was fully focused on it.

└ “Which ranker will be chosen this time?”
└ “Well, definitely one each from Baekho, Arirang, and Ilwol. And maybe someone from HQ too?”

Baekho, Arirang, Ilwol.

The three largest guilds representing Korea.

Their guild masters were all ranked within the top 10 domestically.

└ “Rank 1 Kang Geon-ho is confirmed.”
└ “But anything can happen. PVP has so many variables.”
└ “Right. Some rankers are specialized in PVP, after all.”

Everyone was talking, but nothing was certain.

Every year, players outside the prediction often got selected.

That was the thrill of the national selection.

└ “What about YuBaek?”
└ “YuBaek?”
└ “Yeah, the hot player Baek Jinwoo.”
└ “Jinwoo…? He’s hot, but can he compete with the top rankers?”
└ “Well, he holds first place records for all beginner and intermediate weekday dungeons.”
└ “But not for advanced and top-level ones. And last I heard, YuBaek isn’t a guild yet.”
└ “He could join a guild or participate under HQ.”

People were mainly curious about who would participate.

Even HQ wasn’t an exception.

Player HQ – Legislators’ Meeting Room

Ten legislators forming HQ were seated, busy preparing for the national selection.

“Ugh.”

In the middle of the meeting, the HQ Chief frowned at someone—Legislator Im Hee-soo.

‘It’s because of him that we missed Baek Jinwoo.’

Im Hee-soo was laughing loudly, puffing out his chest.

Did he know?

That Baek Jinwoo had cleared the 10th floor of the Trial Tower in just 10 minutes?

Private information was only accessible to the HQ Chief, Chief Secretary, and the Trial Tower department.

The other legislators had no idea.

‘Sigh… nothing I can do.’

Im Hee-soo’s inflated ego had a simple reason.

Two rankers under him were currently ranked 9th and 10th.

Thus, he was the only legislator who could uphold HQ’s prestige in this selection.

The nervous HQ Chief bit his lip.

“Uh, Legislator Park Chang-seok.”

Im Hee-soo grinned.

“Are preparations going well? Don’t forget the bet.”

A bet.

Park Chang-seok recalled the past.

• “Want to make a bet? Whether my rankers will be selected as national representatives.”
• “Or who will rank higher.”
• “The losing legislator will voluntarily resign to show they’re inferior. Interested?”
• “Yes, with a 1-billion won penalty for breaking it. We can sign now if you want.”

Looking back, it was absurd.

But why…

Seeing Baek Jinwoo at that time, it felt impossible not to bet.

“How about now? Backing down? Doesn’t seem like you have rankers for the selection anyway.”

“Hahaha!”
“Ha ha ha!”

Some officials burst into laughter at Im Hee-soo’s antics.

Park Chang-seok’s face trembled.

“Who said there are no rankers?”

“Oh, there are?”

“Yes, there are.”

Park Chang-seok spoke confidently.

‘Yu Jia said so.’

No need to worry about the national selection.

It was absurd how much Baek Jinwoo had grown.

“Recently hot player. Baek Jinwoo will participate under my group.”

“What! Really?!”

It was the HQ Chief who reacted, not Im Hee-soo.

“Baek Jinwoo will participate under HQ?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Hahaha! Really? Good! Well done! Excellent, Park Chang-seok! Truly skilled!”

Amazing.

When he tried to contact Jinwoo before, he ignored him, yet now he listened to Park Chang-seok.

Even better.

Especially since the HQ Chief knew Jinwoo’s absurd Trial Tower record.

“Chief, why make such a fuss over Baek Jinwoo?”

Of course, Im Hee-soo didn’t understand.

“Do you really think Jinwoo will be selected?”

• “No way.”
• “He’s not capable yet. Maybe next year or the year after, once he grows more.”

The legislators under him nodded in agreement.

Park Chang-seok didn’t respond.

‘We’ll see soon enough.’

The results would show everyone…

Baek Jinwoo’s true power.