Elem felt his Summon’s angry Essence burn through his veins like lava. The Kappa was barely intimidated by the Donkeycorn’s hulking new form but the creature’s resilience was more than frustrating. No matter what the Kappa threw at its opponent, nothing seemed to have a real impact.

The Water Summon let out an agitated hiss as the dish on its head began to glow.

“Muscles or no muscles,” Elem added. “Let’s take that thing out.”

The Kappa hissed once more, this is time in agreement. It then opened its beak, took a big gulp of air and launched a luminous beam of water so potent that lit up the entire field.

Elem smiled, the Essence in his body spiked. The attack felt stronger than anything his Summon had produced before. Surely, it would be enough to wipe the strange Summon out.

However, when the light finally dimmed, both Elem and his Summon were hit with disappointment. The Donkeycorn was still standing, having blocked the attack with its horn.

“Hee-Haw! Hee-Haw!” the Donkeycorn uttered, seemingly mocking the already angered Kappa.

Elem’s gaze widened further when he noticed that the Earth Summon hadn’t only withstood the attack but once again even looked stronger than it had before.

He sighed. Due to its high Essence cost, he already used the Kappa’s beam technique sparingly. If this didn’t work then what would?

“Do not feel too distressed mine friend. I and mine betrusted Summon hath learneth to accept proper beatings,” Sir Rolandus explained. “In fact, we hath practiced this very approach for decades. One may utter that it is our specialty.”

The armored duelist dramatically sheathed his sword back into its scabbard before calmly placing his hands on his hips.

“Before I hath joineth the Gentlemen Warrior Guild, I were a disciple at an elite summoning school.

Life was great; I was beloveth by my peers and adoreth mine teachers. However this bliss all ended on the day of mine connection. When my dearest friend gained a Chimera, a powerful Legendary Class Summon and I receiveth mine betrusted Donkeycorn. That day, we were friends no longer. In fact, from that moment onwards, nobody wished to be mine friend any longer.

“Our master figureth that with a Common Class Summon I could never be a stout summoner. And thus, he assigneth me to becometh the school’s punching bag. Quite literally so! So many disciples practiceth their attacks on I and mine loyal Donkeycorn. Beating us every day!”

Elem listened carefully. The content of the man’s words stung but he spoke matter of factly. His words were laced with the sense of pride that comes with overcoming a tribulation rather than shame.

“Even after mine classes the brutality continued. They waiteth for I outside the study hall to inflict more pain. Just for the mere fun of it, the devils. But nevertheless, mine Summon never gaveth way and through the abuse we learneth to incur hits and bide our time.”

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The Donkeycorn swayed its bulging neck back and forth, causing its horn to glitter in the moonlight. It was an old bull who had seen many heated battles.

“While they bullied us. We traineth. Enduring hit after hit, until we unlocketh the Donkeycorn’s full potential: the ability to absorb an attack’s Essence,” Sir Rolandus said with a satisfied laugh. “Therefore, please keepeth attacking and see what it brings thee!”

While Rolandus spoke, Elem had taken advantage of the pause by gathering as much external Essence as he could. Once again, the Kappa was teeming with energy. They wouldn’t give up this easily.

The Water Summon squatted low, readying itself for an even stronger attack than it had produced earlier. Sure the Donkeycorn was resilient, that much was clear, but everyone had their limits.

“Now!” Elem shouted, prompting the Kappa to launch another water beam.

In response, the Donkeycorn charged forward with a surprising speed, its horn slicing through the beam and diverted it like a spoon deflecting water running from a faucet. Seconds later, the Earth Summon wacked its weapon into the Kappa’s armored belly, catapulting it into the air.

“Are thee not listening mine friend?” Sir Rolandus asked with a friendly chuckle.

Elem clasped his stomach as he watched his Summon crash into the ground a few meters further.

The Kappa was angry but this time it did not hiss. Instead it rubbed its webbed claws over its belly, noticing a severe crack and a thin line of blood running down its body.

Elem felt light headed. Never before had he seen his Summon bleed. He wasn’t sure whether he had underestimated his opponent or overestimated himself. The only thing that he did know was that the match was quickly turning into a disaster and whatever he was doing now wasn’t working. He was simply depleting his Essence without doing any damage at all.

Elem bit down on his lower lip, desperately trying to come up with a new approach. Maybe he had been too aggressive, focusing too much on attacking while his opponent was a defensive specialist.

Throughout the match, the Donkeycorn had waited for the Kappa attack during every single exchange and then countered with deathly efficiency. But what, Elem thought, if he could counter the counter attacker?

That could work, Elem decided. After all, such an approach would take away the Donkeycorn’s main strength.

Elem sat down and focused on his breathing, gathering the Essence around him and then cultivated the energy flowing through his nodes.

And so the waiting game began.

The two Summons stood motionless, facing one another in a tense stare down. Both were ready to respond to the other’s attack at any time. Both were eager to retaliate against their opponent’s impatience.

“Mine Donkeycorn is a statue mine friend,” Sir Rolandus shouted. “And thee cannot outwait a statue!”

“Fine,” Elem replied quietly.

He had enough Essence coursing through his veins to last a little longer but the fatigue was setting in. It wouldn’t be long before he’d feel too tired to cultivate Essence from his body or his surroundings. It was time to act.

“Kappa, attack!”

The Kappa spread its arms as it ran, preparing to leap at the Earth Summon with a dazzling speed.

In a flash, the Donkeycorn jumped up itself, aiming its horn at where it expected to meet the Kappa- however Elem had a different idea.

Instead of jumping, the Kappa suddenly halted its sprint and the Donkeycorn missed its mark. Then, the Kappa quickly readjusted, hitting its unexpecting opponent in the face with an aerial knee.

The Earth Summon crashed into the grass, its body limp and unconscious.

Elem ran towards his Kappa and hugged the creature with all his remaining strength. In the end, the feint had done its job. The Donkeycorn’s defense had been perfect but no Summon could eat a well-timed attack it couldn’t see coming.