One hot morning in the middle of Manila, the sun blazed down on the bustling streets, casting long shadows from the towering buildings that lined the avenues. The air was thick with the sounds of jeepneys honking, vendors calling out their wares, and the distant hum of tricycles weaving through traffic.
People hurried along the sidewalks, some clutching iced coffee or fresh buko juice to combat the heat, while others sought refuge in the shade of awnings and trees. The scent of street food wafted through the air—grilled skewers, sizzling lumpia, and the sweet aroma of taho being sold by vendors with their signature calls.
One man is sitting by his window. "I really need a palamig (cold juice drink), I mean really right now." He murmurs to himself, and one of his best friends calls him from downstairs (named Joshua, 20 years old, 2nd year, like me. A brownish skin complexion, a slight muscular man, also like me. Curly-haired). "Hey, you blockhead, come down!! We're late for school, you dumb ass!" he shouted. And by the way, my name is Keith Marthin, 20 years old, an average-looking guy with a slight Deadpoolish sense of humor. "Huh?! I don't want to go to school today," I ask back.
"Man, Sir Raul will kill us if we don't go to school now, and besides, it's hot. I know you could use some cold drinks to refresh!" He shouts again.
"Oh yeah, I really need one. One sec! I replied and hurriedly ran down. When we're in the streets, we talk about school and other stuff while searching for what kind of cold drinks we should buy before going to school. When all of a sudden one shoe flies into my face, "Aw man, you ok? I don't think using your own face as a shield is a good idea," he jokingly said while trying to determine my reaction.
"Mother fucker!" I shouted and grabbed one of the guys who accidentally threw his shoe in my face when all of a sudden a large weird circle appeared around us and a bright light flashed. And then when we open our eyes, we're all in a giant room full of people with dresses that we don't recognize or we recognize but not in our era used to wear.
"Ah... guys, what happened?" one of the 3 people said. With a violet color hair
"I dunno, bruh," the other guy answered with reddish hair.
"I think we got Isekai'd?!" One of them finally said. The one with an army cut and I and Josh just looked at each other and said.
"Fuck. And one voice boomed into the room and said, "Welcome, our four heroes from another world. Let me apologize for summoning you here, but our world is in dire straits. And one of them come hear at the man sitting at a thrown and whisper to the man. "Highness I think we got a problem,the man with a long robe whisper and the man sitting widen his eyes and pinched his nose."what do you mean. The king asked.
"Highness, instead of four heroes, we summon 5. We have a bystander who got swept by the summoning ritual. What should we do?
"Where are we? Who are you? Answer us! "the man with the army cut shouted.
"Ugh… this is unavoidable. Let's determine who is who first. Ok, gentlemen, let me introduce myself first: I am Emperor Vladimir Viscohadan, the emperor of the Viscohadan Empire.
"Empire?! The man with violet hair asks.
"Yes, the Viscohadan Empire," Emperor Vladimir replied, his voice echoing in the grand hall. "We are a realm steeped in magic and tradition, but we are currently facing a grave threat from the Dark Legion that seeks to conquer our lands."
The room fell silent as the weight of his words sank in. The other summoned individuals exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of confusion and disbelief.
"Okay, so let me get this straight," the guy with the army cut said, crossing his arms defiantly. "You pulled us from our world to fight your battles? And now we’re supposed to just accept that?"
"Exactly!" Joshua chimed in, his brow furrowing. "I mean, we were just trying to get some cold drinks before school! This is ridiculous!"
"Calm down, heroes," the emperor said, raising a hand. "I understand your frustration. But you must know that you possess unique abilities that can help us in our time of need. You were chosen for a reason."
"Chosen? For what?" I interjected, still trying to wrap my head around the situation. "I’m just a regular guy who makes jokes about superheroes and drinks palamig!"
"Your world is different from ours," the emperor explained. "In your realm, you have skills and knowledge that can aid us. Each of you has a role to play in this battle against the Dark Legion."
"Okay, but what about the fifth guy?" the violet-haired man asked, glancing around the room. "You said we were summoned as four heroes, but there are five of us here."
The emperor's expression shifted to one of concern. "Yes, that is a complication. The fifth individual—" he gestured toward me, "—was not meant to be summoned. However, it seems fate has intertwined your paths. We will need to assess your abilities and see how you can contribute."
"Assess our abilities?" I echoed, feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement. "What does that even mean?"
"First, we must determine your strengths and what legendary class do you possess, the emperor replied. "We will conduct trials to see what each of you can do. You may find that you possess powers you never knew existed."
As he said that, one of the mages came near us and showed us a crystal ball. And gesture us to touch it one by one.
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The crystal ball shimmered with an ethereal glow, casting a soft light across the grand hall. I felt a mix of trepidation and curiosity as I stepped forward, my heart racing. What kind of powers could I possibly have? I was just Keith Marthin, a regular guy with a penchant for humor and a love for cold drinks.
"Go ahead, touch it," the emperor encouraged, his eyes fixed on me with a mixture of hope and expectation.
I reached out, my fingers brushing against the cool surface of the crystal. As soon as I made contact, a surge of energy coursed through me, and the world around me faded into a blur. Images flashed before my eyes—visions of battles, magic, and a strange, powerful force that felt both foreign and familiar. And after the light faded, we all see a status window like a game, and we all can see our class level stats, etc.
And Josh's class is what they call a king knight or divine swordmaster. "Hey, I got a good class. What about you? Joshua asks.
"Tsk," as I'm about to reply, the 3 guys that got summoned with us shouted in celebration because they all have all a legendary class, like Josh. The red-haired guy named Chris got a supreme sorcerer (wow, like Doctor Strange, I murmur).
The guy with violet hair named Vismond got a divine cleric.
And lastly the guy with army-cut hair got a saint knight. And all of them look at me, asking what class I got. And I just say, "I got a summoner," and the emperor and all of his people laugh at me because I got a summoner.
"What's funny, you funk?!" As I said that, the emperor narrowed his eyes and said. Your class is considered here as the weakest class. Because you can only summon swords and bows. "As he said that, I just raised my eyebrows.
"Wait, wait, wait," I said, trying to process the information. "You mean to tell me that I’m the weakest class here? A summoner who can only call forth swords and bows? That’s it?"
The laughter in the room died down, replaced by a tense silence. The emperor cleared his throat, his expression serious. "While it may seem weak in comparison to the legendary classes of your companions, do not underestimate the power of a summoner. In the right hands, even the simplest of weapons can turn the tide of battle."
"Yeah, right," I muttered under my breath, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "I guess I’ll just be the guy who throws swords at the enemy while you all do the real fighting."
"Don’t be so hard on yourself, Keith," Joshua said, trying to lighten the mood. "You never know what kind of tricks you might have up your sleeve. Besides, we’re in this together, right?"
"And the emperor dismissed us because tomorrow we will have our first monster hunting to train and level up. And as compensation for my inconvenience, the emperor allows me to choose whatever enchanted weapon I like at his armory and gives me 3 times the gold coins than the summon heroes.
I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope at the mention of the enchanted weapon. Maybe being a summoner wasn’t so bad after all. If I could choose something powerful, perhaps I could prove my worth to the others and myself.
"Alright, let's see what this armory has to offer," I said, trying to muster some enthusiasm. The emperor gestured for a couple of guards to lead us to the armory, and as we walked through the grand halls of the castle, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being in a fantasy novel.
The guards opened a massive door, revealing a room filled with weapons of all shapes and sizes. Swords glimmered with magical runes, bows were intricately carved, and shields seemed to hum with energy. My eyes widened as I took in the sight.
"Choose wisely, Keith," the emperor advised, his voice echoing in the vast chamber. "The weapon you select will be an extension of your abilities as a summoner."
I stepped forward, running my fingers along the hilt of a beautifully crafted sword. It felt warm to the touch, and I could sense a faint pulse of magic within it. But then I spotted something that caught my eye—a bow that seemed to shimmer with a light of its own, adorned with feathers that glowed softly. And all of a sudden one widow popped up in front of me and said, Mythical Elk bow and arrow. Rank legendary. Level requirement 100 class requirements archer/ranger, and it was written in red letters, meaning in gaming language, I can't equip it.Fucker," I whisper.
I sighed, feeling a mix of disappointment and frustration. "Of course, I can't use that," I muttered, shaking my head. I continued to scan the armory, hoping to find something that would suit my abilities as a summoner.
"Hey, Keith, check this out!" Joshua called from across the room. I turned to see him holding a magnificent sword that glowed with a golden light. "This is definitely a king's weapon! I think I might have just found my new best friend."
"Great for you, Mr. Divine Swordmaster," I replied, forcing a smile. "Just don’t forget to save some monsters for the rest of us."
As I wandered deeper into the armory, I noticed a section filled with various staffs and wands. One staff, in particular, caught my eye. It was slender and elegantly carved, with a crystal orb at the top that sparkled with a myriad of colors. I approached it, feeling a strange pull toward the staff.
"What's this?" I asked aloud, reaching out to touch it. As my fingers brushed against the cool surface, a surge of energy coursed through me, and the orb began to glow brighter.
"Ah, the Staff of Echoes," the emperor said, stepping closer. "It is said to amplify the abilities of a summoner, allowing them to call forth more powerful entities. However, it requires a strong will to wield."
"Amplify my abilities?" I repeated, my heart racing. "That sounds promising."
"Indeed," the emperor nodded. "But be warned, it will test your resolve. If you choose this staff, you must be prepared to face challenges that will push you to your limits."
I took a deep breath, weighing my options. The idea of wielding a staff that could enhance my summoning powers was enticing. "I’ll take it," I declared, my voice steady. "I want the Staff of Echoes," he said. As I appraise it, I can see its stats.
Weapon: staff of echoes
Level requirement: 1-10
Class: summoner
Rank: normal
Effects can amplify a summoner's all stats by 10
all summon requirements can be lowered. By 2
The user can use basic summoning, like calling his normal summon creatures. Man requirement 0
Whoa, this is nice if my stats are... As I said, my status window appears.
Name: Keith Marthin
Age: 20
Level: 0
Class: true summoner
Attack: 1+10
Defense: 1+10
Speed: 1 + 10
Intelligence: 1 + 10
Dexterity: 1+10
Endurance: 1 + 10
Health: 10/10
Stamina: 10/10
Mana: 10/10
System message 4x unread.
I stared at my status window, my heart racing as I processed the numbers. The Staff of Echoes was already boosting my stats significantly, and I felt a surge of excitement at the potential it held. But as I scanned my teammate's stats, my shoulder went limp. "Fuck it, what do I expect from the weakest class? All of their stats are all at +20.
I couldn't help but feel a wave of self-doubt wash over me as I compared my stats to those of my companions. Joshua, with his divine swordmaster class, had an impressive array of abilities, and the others—Chris, Vismond, and the army-cut guy—were all equally formidable. Their stats were double mine, and I felt like I was standing in the shadow of giants.
"Hey, don't look so down, Keith," Joshua said, noticing my expression. "You’ve got that staff now, and it sounds like it could really help you out. Plus, summoners can be pretty versatile. You just need to find the right strategy."
"Yeah, right," I replied, forcing a smile. "I’ll just be the guy who stands in the back and throws swords while you all do the heavy lifting."
"Don't underestimate yourself," Chris chimed in, his voice reassuring. "Every class has its strengths. You just need to figure out how to use yours effectively."
"Exactly; we might need your brains in strategizing," Vismond added, his violet hair catching the light as he nodded. "You might surprise us all. Besides, we’re in this together. We’ll support each other."
I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering self-doubt. My companions were right; I needed to focus on what I could bring to the table rather than what I lacked. After all, we were in this together, and I had a feeling that my summoning abilities could turn out to be more useful than I initially thought.
"Alright, let's do this," I said, my voice gaining a bit more confidence. "I may not be the strongest, but I’ll figure out how to make this summoner thing work for me."
The emperor smiled, clearly pleased with my newfound determination. "That’s the spirit, Keith. Remember, the true strength of a hero lies not just in their power but in their heart and resolve."
With my Staff of Echoes in hand, we left the armory and headed to our rooms as they happily discussed what we were going to do tomorrow and our positioning. They advised me to remain at the back and watch the rear while I figured out my summoning skills. And before I sleep, I notice 4 unopened messages, and I ask Joshua how to open them.
"Hey, Joshua," I called out, trying to catch his attention as he was chatting animatedly with Chris and Vismond about their plans for the monster hunt. "How do I open these messages? I have four of them, and I have no idea what they are." (The messages hovering in front of my eyes)
"What do you mean, message?" He asked back.
"Yeah, you know, like in the game?" Keith asks again.
"Oh, that's simple; just say open messages, I think," he said while brandishing his sword. As I repeat his words, the messages open up, and my eyes widen. As I read through the messages, I thought, "Fuck the what?