[Initializing First Summon...]
That was the last thing Nero saw before the entire world went nuclear.
His screen exploded in light.
"AHHHH MY EYES!!"
He was flashed banged.
There was a reason why light mode in any app was cursed.
He almost stumbled back like a reclusive vampire.
White-hot brilliance consumed the room like he just triggered a forbidden gacha ritual.
Then...
Silence.
And in the calm after the blinding apocalypse, something gently floated down in front of him.
A single silver card, descending like a sacred scroll from heaven, sparkled as it landed perfectly in his palm.
No wind.
No cue.
Just pure drama.
Nero's mouth hung open.
His gamer brain couldn't process how premium this thing felt.
The card shimmered with an iridescent glow, warm to the touch.
Golden border.
Holographic detail.
The kind of card you'd find behind a triple paywall.
The artwork?
Chef's kiss.
It was a full-bodied portrait of a badass angelic warrior.
'Even triple-A games cannot rival this.'
She stood with one foot over a ruined battlefield, bluish silver-white armor gleaming with divine energy, large feathery wings spread like she just kicked ass and was ready for round two.
Long flowing silver hair.
Piercing golden eyes.
And the face?
Like she'd stab you for blinking wrong but still hold you while you cried.
It was an odd analogy, but her figure just screams divine and serious warrior right in your face.
Nero was slack-jawed.
[Congratulations. You have successfully summoned "Aurelia, The First Star Valkyrie" (SR).]
His soul almost ascended.
"SR… I summoned an SR…!"
He clapped his hands together with reverence.
Tears threatened to escape.
"I thought I was gonna get a C-rank slime girl or something, but THIS?! This is DIVINE JUSTICE!"
Considering his bad luck from all the games he played, he was still thankful.
A girl is a girl, no matter the rarity.
That's especially so if it's an IRL waifu.
Nero kissed the silver card like it was a holy grail.
Because to him?
It was.
Then he tilted the card a little, and a new screen popped up with a soft chime:
---
[Summon Card – Aurelia, The First Star Valkyrie]
Item Type: Divine Summon (SR)
Class: Valkyrie
Race: Angel
Origin: The Celestial Cradle, an upper realm forged in divine fire and bound by honor. Aurelia is said to be the first warrior born when the stars themselves declared war.
Description: A legendary Valkyrie known for leading celestial crusades against the Corrupted Legion. Fierce, noble, and feared on every battlefield she graces. One flap of her wings could level armies. Probably.
Warning: Handle with respect. She will end you.
---
Nero stared at the line: One flap of her wings could level armies.
"…This waifu has AREA OF EFFECT."
He was vibrating.
His gacha soul was fed. Nourished. Reborn.
What better way to thrive in an apocalypse than a reliable AoE character for farming levels?
Without wasting a second, he did what any self-respecting summoner would.
"SUMMON!"
He raised the card like it was Exodia and screamed like with all his might.
The card shattered into a thousand glowing shards.
Then... nothing.
"…Huh?"
He blinked.
"…Did I break it?"
He waited.
And just as he was about to throw the biggest tantrum of the year—
A soft silver glow rippled around him.
A melodic chime… like cathedral bells and RPG soundtracks having a wedding ceremony filled the room.
The ground pulsed with divine light.
The air shifted. Pressure built.
And then...
She appeared.
Floating just above the ruined carpet, wrapped in a cocoon of divine light, stood a tall, radiant figure.
Her eyelids with long lashes were closed.
Her silver hair cascading like a waterfall.
Armor that looked both impossibly regal and terrifyingly practical clung to her like it was sculpted by gods.
Wings slowly unfolded behind her—each feather pulsing with divine power.
Nero gawked.
His mouth refused to close.
His brain rebooted twice.
"…Okay that's hot," he admitted.
The angelic light faded, and her feet touched the ground with a gentle thud.
She opened her eyes.
Golden.
Sharp.
Intense.
Nero felt his soul judged.
Her gaze felt like it could pierce through his very being.
"…I sense you are my summoner," she said, her voice smooth, deep, and commanding like a general who's also maybe an opera singer.
She respectfully dropped to one knee in front of him.
"I am Aurelia. First Star Valkyrie of the Celestial Cradle. I offer you my sword, my wings, and my undying loyalty... My Lord."
Nero.exe stopped working.
"I—uh—you don't need to be so formal. Just call me Nero. I mean, yeah, I summoned you and all, but like, we're cool. Casual. Y'know?"
She looked up.
Expression unchanged.
"Understood, Lord Nero."
"…Close enough." He scratched his cheeks a bit awkwardly.
'I wonder if I can see her stats…? Oh.'
He opened his system again, hoping to see her stats.
And then it was shown,
---
[Summon: Aurelia (First Star Valkyrie) (SR)]
Level: 1
Race: Angel
Class: Valkyrie
Stats:
STR: 3.25/10
DEX: 3.5/10
INT: 2.7/10
VIT: 3.25/10
LUCK: 2.2/10
CHA: 8.5/10
Summoned Abilities:
– [Divine Slash, Lv: 2] – Channel divine energy into a sword, dealing radiant AoE damage.
– [Star Barrier, Lv: 2] – Temporary shield that nullifies 1 incoming attack.
– [Light's Wrath, Lv: 3] – Unleashes a burst of holy light. Good luck surviving.
---
'Bro... She could fold like 5 of me in half with no sweat.'
Nero was speechless.
The base stats were just so different, it felt humiliating that such a good woman was serving a mob like him.
And that's only when she's level 1…
'No, focus.'
Nero shook his head.
'This is just the start, no need to get depressed.'
Indeed it was… or maybe it's just a pep talk.
While Nero was prepping himself up, Aurelia glanced around her.
She then stood up, scanning the room in detail.
"Your dwelling is... damaged, Lord Nero."
"Yeah, well, we had a visitor. Very stabby. Not house-trained."
Suddenly—
*BOOOOM!*
An explosion outside rattled what was left of his walls.
The windows glowed orange.
Screams followed.
Screeches.
The hellish night was far from over.
Nero ran to the window, Aurelia following close behind.
What they saw hit like a truck of dread.
The neighborhood was in chaos.
No, it was more like it was reduced to rubbles if anything.
Fires burned in the streets.
Cars flipped.
Corpses. Blood. Monsters slithering and climbing buildings like a certain spider human on meth.
People are screaming in despair and panic.
Running.
Dying.
Nero swallowed hard.
"Okay. That's bad."
The two immediately descended the stairs.
The apartment building wouldn't hold for long.
They need to escape.
But just as they were about to…
"..."
Aurelia suddenly stepped forward, hand resting at the hilt of her sword.
"I sense multiple hostile entities approaching us, Lord Nero."
Nero spun.
"Wait… Where?"
Before she could answer, three large shadows leapt over a burning fence like demonic Olympic athletes.
Four-legged freaks with jagged limbs and pulsating pustules, their eyes locked straight on them.
Aurelia didn't flinch.
Instead, she calmly continued her walk.
Her delicate hand gripped the broadsword at her waist.
She drew it slowly.
Bluish-silver metal gleamed.
Anyone could tell that the cold blade would cut anything that stood in her way.
The edge hummed.
She raised it.
Then she looked back at him.
"Stay behind me, Lord Nero."
He nodded.
Not because he agreed.
But because 'holy shit, she was cool.'
The woman was aura farming.
The monsters howled.
Aurelia took a battle stance.
Her blade was coldly glowing against the enemies.
Her pure wings then spread.
The first battle for his summoned waifu... was about to begin.