Forest of Souls
The Forest of Souls is a location linked to many places around the world of Volnir. A separate plane, if you will—a place housing many beings and alchemical reagents. A place all adventurers strive to enter and make a name for themselves.
Our young protagonist slowly awakens and begins to stir. Opening his eyes, he is instantly startled. Just before him stands a wolf the size of livestock in his old world.
The wolf suddenly perks up and takes off through the trees like a wraith. No sound can be heard as the massive animal vanishes into the forest.
[Random Summoner System initializing…]
[System host located. Initiating startup procedure.]
[Startup process loading: user interface and system features syncing to host's soul…]
[Loading complete. Welcome, host, to the Random Summoner System. I am your designated A.I. I will be here to answer your questions and help you successfully integrate into your new world.]
"What is all this?" Robert shouts.
[As per the host's query—this is your new life.]
"What kind of answer is that?" Robert mutters, stunned.
[Warning: initiating emergency quest. Quest details as follows.]
[Emergency Quest: Escape Minor Beast Stampede.]
[Condition: Escape before beasts reach host's current location.]
[Failure: Beasts reach the host before exit from Forest of Souls border OR before finding help to drive off beast stampede.]
[Rewards: To be determined based on host's actions.]
[System recommends immediate action.]
"Damn, I have to move! If I'm caught, it'll likely be the end..." Robert mutters, forcing his aching body into motion despite his protesting muscles—clearly unused to this kind of stress.
After running for some time, he hears the monsters catching up.
In the distance, a small campfire glows. A group of people sit around it, chatting. Robert hesitates but decides he can't just leave them to be slaughtered.
"Quick, run! Beasts are stampeding behind me—you have to get out of here too!"
The group leader jumps up. "How many, and how strong?"
"I just woke up here in the forest," Robert says breathlessly. "All I know is I heard a bunch of beasts coming and I ran."
"Damn it... Alright, I'll get the guys moving and see what's happening." Then, turning to the group: "Come with us and keep up. Jacob, scout it out! Everyone else—grab only necessities and move toward the exit point. MOVE!"
The party quickly begins taking action.
Minutes later, they're on the move. Jacob returns to the group leader.
"They're all Tier 10 beasts," Jacob reports. "No real threat, but we can make some gold off them. Maybe there's a Tier 9 in there if we're lucky."
"Tera, set the formation—we're fighting." Jean turns to Robert. "You, new guy—get to the back. Stay there. Don't even think about running."
Tera, the party's tank, plants her massive shield into the ground and steels herself with a loud smack to her cheeks.
A dozen beasts burst into view. With a deadly calm, Tera unleashes her bloodlust—causing the monsters to hesitate—then follows with a Shield Taunt, distorting the air with magical energy. Strange patterns flare around her shield as the entire pack charges her… all but one.
A smaller fox-like daemon beast watches, its eyes gleaming. It casts a stealth skill and vanishes.
Meanwhile, Jean shouts, "Scott, cast Implosion—center of the pack!"
As Scott begins chanting, the healer—Abby—casts healing spells on Tera, unaware of the danger sneaking toward her.
The fox beast creeps behind Abby.
Robert notices the distortion.
"Damn, the healer's about to be killed—what do I do?!"
[Due to unique circumstances, host's will has activated the Summoning Gate feature—granting a one-time Free Summon opportunity.]
[Would host like to activate Summoning Gate?]
[YES] [NO]
Robert thinks: YES, activate it!
[Summon Gate is opening…]
A shimmering portal appears. Jean spins around, startled.
"What the hell is that?!"
The assassin and ranger both turn to look as the portal darkens from royal purple to abyssal black.
From its center, a wolf emerges—the same wolf Robert saw upon waking.
But now, it's transformed. Midnight-colored fur. Glowing silver circuit-like patterns crisscross its back. Eyes that shimmer like a starry sky. It's breathtaking.
[To bind summon, host must give Celestial Wolf a name.]
Robert hesitates. "I'm not good at naming things... but here it goes. I shall name you Cassiopeia, after the Greek goddess who became a constellation."
A crescent moon mark appears on the wolf's forehead.
"Cassiopeia, help the healer!"
The wolf nods and vanishes. Moments later, she reappears beside Robert, a limp red fox hanging from her jaws.
Jean sees this and starts sweating.
That fox was a devil fox, a notorious daemon responsible for more adventurer deaths than any other beast in the outer forest.
Jean, momentarily tempted by the fame and fortune of the kill, has to forcefully shake off the greed.
Scott's chant finishes.
BOOOOM!
An explosion echoes—then implodes inward, pulling beast corpses toward the center. A smaller aftershock follows. When the dust settles, the battlefield is eerily quiet. The beasts are dead. Lacerations and scorched flesh mark their defeat.
Jean sighs. "Thank god... nothing went wrong."
Then he turns to Robert. "Kid—what the hell is going on? What was that portal? And what's with the wolf?!"
Robert is silent. What should I tell him?
[System response: Just brush it off. It will be revealed if and when the host registers with an Adventurer's Guild. This world is full of hidden secrets—including unknown classes. Yours is one of them. Recommend playing dumb.]
Robert frowns. Class system? System, how do I even know what I am?
Another thought hits him. It's weird to keep calling you 'System'—feels morally ambiguous. Do you have a name or should I give you one?
[System has no name preference. Host may assign one.]
While Robert ponders, Jean watches him.
Guess he doesn't want to say. I can't blame him—the tallest trees attract the wind. I'll let it go for now, but I need to report that this area is safer now. Lower-level adventurers can hunt here without fear, now that the devil fox is gone.
"Never mind, then. Let's head back to camp and pack up. Time to report that beast's death—move out!"