AECS 14

Chapter 14

New Summons

“Ha, hahaha.”

Baek Jin-woo, sprawled on the floor, laughed absentmindedly.

Today, let’s talk about two of his summons: the Training Instructor and the Flame Dragon Sorceress.

First, the Training Instructor.

• Where… am I?

A handsome man in stylish red armor casually looked around. This was the Training Instructor, or “Trainers” for short.

Originally, he had been an E-rank summon with minimal combat ability, making him unpopular.

But Baek Jin-woo discovered his unique use.

‘This guy’s just obsessed with training. Literally crazy about it.’

[Summon: Training Instructor]
[Species: Human]
[Rank: EX-Class (Quarantined)]

• Found to have game-breaking potential in certain situations, hence quarantined.
  [Level: 1]
  [Stats]
• Strength: 1
• Intelligence: 1
• Stamina: 1
• Agility: 1
• HP: 1,000
• MP: 0
• Critical Chance: 20%
• Critical Damage: 20%

[Skills]

• Growth: Develops through training.
• Charisma: Overpowers other summons.

Right now, he’s nothing special.

But if he grows properly…

‘The “Instructor” skill appears, and it’s ridiculously strong.’

• Instructor: Unlocks other summons’ potential and accelerates their growth.

Back in the JinuGod era, this skill alone widened the gap between him and other top players by dozens of times.

The Training Instructor isn’t strong by himself. He just makes other summons stronger.

Whether B-rank or A-rank, he forces them to train.

Because of Charisma, all summons obeyed him back then.

‘Ah, those days…’

It was great. But thinking about it now makes him angry.

Back then, while he was enjoying a sweet advantage alone, the AI randomly patched the game and deleted his summons.

Maybe they thought a player’s growth rate was too steep?

• You are…

Step, step.

The Training Instructor, who had just appeared, finally noticed Baek Jin-woo and walked toward him.

• Who are you?

Of course.

Being EX-Class, he speaks.

As mentioned before, in the original Battle of Summoners, neither Lamba nor the Training Instructor talked.

“Trainer, long time no see.”

• Trainer…?

The Training Instructor’s eyes widened as he processed Baek Jin-woo’s words.

It was a reaction similar to when he first met Lamba.

• Are you… JinuGod?

“Yes.”

• My lord!

Snap!

Simultaneously, the Training Instructor knelt with perfect etiquette.

‘Yes.’

This was how Trainers had always been. Whenever they faced their player, they showed complete loyalty like this.

• Incredible… after being quarantined for some unknown reason… I never thought I’d see my lord again!

It was now certain: both Lamba and the Training Instructor were the exact summons he had trained.

This also meant that only Baek Jin-woo could summon EX-Class quarantined summons.

• Um? JinuGod? Are you really JinuGod?

The Flame Dragon Sorceress, summoned just moments ago, was also startled and reacted to the name.

“Wow, I’ve never heard the Flame Dragon’s voice before.”

The Flame Dragon Sorceress.

Originally a D-rank summon, she’s a young woman with red hair.

She had been a failing fire-mage student but turned out to be a fire-element extreme damage dealer.

A dormant ancient dragon sleeps within her heart.

[Summon: Flame Dragon Sorceress]
[Species: Human]
[Rank: EX-Class (Quarantined)]

• Quarantined due to game-breaking potential.
  [Level: 1]
  [Stats]
• Strength: 1
• Intelligence: 1
• Stamina: 1
• Agility: 1
• HP: 1,000
• MP: 0
• Critical Chance: 20%
• Critical Damage: 20%

[Skills]

• Dragon Flame: Unleashes dragon-shaped fire forward.

She’s also nothing special right now.

But when the Trainer unlocks her potential…

‘The devour skill will appear, which is insanely broken.’

• Devour: Each time a boss is killed with Dragon Flame, its damage permanently increases.

It’s a completely insane skill, seemingly made without balancing in mind.

Even during Battle of Summoners, she was a basic DPS in the early stages, but no player had used her properly like Baek Jin-woo.

‘Of course.’

Only the Trainer can unlock that ability. Naturally, as soon as the Flame Dragon’s potential was unlocked, she was deleted in under a week.

That was probably when patient Baek Jin-woo nearly clicked delete for the first time, screaming at the game.

‘Because I really raised her with affection.’

Visuals matter a lot in a summon-based game.

The Flame Dragon Sorceress was among the cuter summons, making her very popular.

• JinuGod! I really… wanted to see you!

Gasp.

The sight of the Flame Dragon holding her hands together tightened Baek Jin-woo’s heart.

‘She’s too cute.’

Focus, Jin-woo.

“Same here.”

For now.

With these three overpowered summons, the grind for draws was over.

All that remained was insane hunting and growth.

“Also, don’t talk when others are around, like Lamba.”

• Yes, my lord.
• Yes, JinuGod…

“And Flame Dragon.”

• Yep!

“Don’t call me JinuGod. Call me Jin-woo.”

Not yet.

When her potential is unlocked? Then it doesn’t matter. JinuGod, Ichiten, whatever—no one could beat them.

• Jin-woo? Okay!

“Then for today…”

Baek Jin-woo looked up.

The sun had already set, and it was dark.

“Rest up. Tomorrow, we go full throttle.”

Jamsil – Baek Jin-woo’s Apartment

Baek Jin-woo collapsed onto his soft mattress and fell asleep.

He hadn’t slept properly, busy tearing summon scrolls.

Rest is important, no matter what.

Instinctively, he fell into a deep sleep.

In his room,

• …

Lamba, the Trainer, and the Flame Dragon were present.

• Long time no see.

The Trainer greeted first.

• Ah, ahaha. Long time indeed.

The Flame Dragon scratched her head and replied.

The Trainer and Flame Dragon had spent considerable time together.

Meanwhile,

• That’s… Lamba, right?
• Yup! Hi! You’re the Trainer, right? We met for a short time.
• Right.

Lamba and the Trainer had only seen each other for about a month.

Baek Jin-woo had started using the Trainer quite late.

By the time the Trainer was recruited, Lamba had already become overpowered and was quarantined in a month.

From the Trainer’s perspective, Lamba was a far superior senior.

But that didn’t matter.

With his skills and Charisma, he had crushed Baek Jin-woo’s A-rank summons back then.

• I have just one thing to say.

The Trainer’s eyes flashed.

• Eek?!

Lamba flapped her wings in surprise and flew backward.

The Flame Dragon smiled wryly, as if used to this.

• We’re too weak.

The Trainer continued seriously.

• Even when my lord sleeps, we must continue repetitive training. That’s for the sake of my lord.

He looked at the Flame Dragon.

• You start by feeling mana while sitting. Begin from basics. I can’t help now, but once I awaken, I’ll unlock Devour first.
• Devour… got it.

Determination gleamed in the Flame Dragon’s eyes.

With that broken skill, she could get Baek Jin-woo’s attention. How could she not be motivated?

All summons grow from a player’s love.

• And Lamba, you…

He looked at Lamba this time.

• Uh… me?
• You need to train your swing speed first. We’ll do strength training together.
• Strength… training?

Lamba’s face fell.

• You don’t want my lord’s attention to go to the Trainer and Flame Dragon, right?
• Of course not.
• Then listen to me.
• Yeeeah… got it…

For the first time, Lamba felt gratitude toward Baek Jin-woo.

‘At least Jin-woo buys cream buns before training us.’

But the Trainer was strict.

And he looked brutally intense.

There was no way to refuse.

His presence alone intimidated Lamba.

And this worked to Baek Jin-woo’s advantage.

A level-1 Trainer enjoys training himself only.

He never trains others or acts as an instructor.

But EX-Class Trainers were different.

He acted based on memories with his previous lord.

• Here.

He handed Lamba a heavy frying pan.

• Swing it. Since it’s your first time, do exactly 5,000 reps.
• Fiiiiive thousand?!
• Do you think that’s too much?
• Want to increase to ten thousand?
• Heehee!

He glanced at Baek Jin-woo, sleeping soundly, desperately.

‘Jin-woo! Save me!’

Player Headquarters – Talent Support Team

“Sir.”

Yoo Ji-ah frowned at the monitor.

“Big trouble.”

“Why?”

Park Chang-seok, wandering around with his hands in his pockets since morning, tilted his head.

“What happened?”

“The Administration Office says they won’t issue any more low-rank summon scrolls.”

“Eh? Why?”

Park Chang-seok pulled his hands out of his pockets in surprise.

“They sent an official notice. It’s from the Director.”

“The Director…?”

The Director.

The head of the Player Headquarters, literally the top.

Only a representative with the most votes from the public could hold this position.

Hence, also called the Representative.

“Also, they want a detailed report on what was done with the low-rank scrolls previously taken.”

“What the hell…”

A report means reviewing whether they were used properly. If judged otherwise? Punishment or confiscation.

“Looks like Representative Lim Hee-su made a move.”

“Lim Hee-su.”

Grrr.

Park Chang-seok ground his teeth.

They had often clashed before and weren’t on good terms.

Politicians checking each other? Fine.

‘But timing matters.’

Baek Jin-woo is the hope of Korea.

Anyone trying to block him or bother him? That’s basically treason! Treason!

“What should we do? The report is ready, but now the Administration won’t provide any more summon scrolls. We have nothing to give Baek Jin-woo.”

“What about Byung-jin?”

“He’s fighting with the Administration staff now.”

“Ha.”

It’s 7 a.m.

Originally, they should have gone to the open area by 9 a.m. to hand it over to Baek Jin-woo.

‘What do we do?’

If they can’t deliver what was promised? That would expose their incompetence.

‘Maybe we should pay out of pocket and claim later?’

Park Chang-seok was thinking when a message arrived.

From Baek Jin-woo.

“Whoa!”

Park quickly opened it.

[Baek Jin-woo: You don’t need to provide low-rank summon scrolls anymore. I got what I wanted. Thanks.]

“Wow.”

An involuntary sigh escaped.

“Why?”

Yoo Ji-ah asked. Park Chang-seok nodded.

“No need to fetch those crappy low-rank scrolls anymore. But separate from that…”

He clenched his fist.

‘Lim Hee-su.’

Seems like they need to settle things so he can’t cause more trouble.