Night fell, and the living room of Voss's rented apartment was brightly lit.
"Voss, look! This goddess has learned to type!" Aqua sat excitedly at the laptop, poking at the keyboard with just her index fingers.
"A-K-U-A, Aqua!"
"Congrats," Voss said helplessly as he looked at the completely wrong letters on the screen.
"But Aqua is spelled A-Q-U-A."
"What?" Aqua's eyes widened. "Why does it need a Q? My name is Aqua, simple as that!"
"Because that's how it's spelled in English," Voss patiently explained.
"What do English rules matter!" Aqua slapped the table, indignant. "This goddess's name is whatever this goddess decides it is!"
Tom and Jerry, watching from the sofa, reacted in their own ways. Tom covered his face with a paw, looking like he wanted to disown this "goddess," while Jerry snickered at her cluelessness.
"Alright, alright. Your name, your rules," Voss surrendered, raising his hands. "But if you want to practice typing, use your phone. I need the laptop to work on the next chapter of my novel."
Taking the laptop back, Voss went into the bedroom and began planning out the next part of Reborn and Transmigrated to WWII, I Became Captain America's Comrade.
Seeing so many students lining up at the bookstore today had given him a huge boost of confidence. On top of that, he'd visited the publishing house and left his contact info with Editor Oscar, who told him sales were climbing steadily and to prepare for fame.
"John and Steve's friendship is established. Next, I should write about them training together," Voss muttered, typing away. "Then I can add some original battle scenes…"
Just as he was getting into it, Aqua's shriek echoed from the living room.
"Ah! Why did my little snake die again?!"
"That's because you hit the wall," Tom said, jumping up on the desk and pointing at the phone screen with his paw.
"Why is there even a wall?" Aqua pouted. "This goddess was clearly moving forward."
Jerry pulled out a tiny piece of paper from his pocket with the rules of Snake scribbled on it and showed her.
"Oh, so I can't hit the edges." Aqua nodded seriously. "Fine then, this goddess will try again!"
The cozy, almost family-like atmosphere was cut short by faint footsteps from downstairs.
Tom's ears twitched immediately. His feline hearing picked up what humans wouldn't—soft, deliberately quiet steps. Not a normal passerby.
He crept to the window, lifted the curtain slightly, and peeked outside.
Two shadowy figures lingered near the building, one holding something that gleamed faintly in the moonlight.
Danger. Tom didn't hesitate—he dashed to Voss's room and patted his leg frantically.
"What's wrong, Tom?" Voss stopped typing and looked down.
Tom gestured toward the window, then mimed a throat-slitting motion.
"Someone's there?" Voss frowned. "Who?"
Tom ran back, grabbed Aqua by her clothes, and started dragging her toward the bedroom.
"What are you doing, Tom? This goddess is about to break her record!" Aqua protested.
Jerry hopped onto Voss's shoulder, pointing downstairs.
Voss walked to the window, peered out carefully, and his heart sank. Two suspicious men were indeed lurking below.
"Damn it… gangsters."
The memory of being shot just days ago still lingered. He might have come back to life, but the fear of death remained carved into his bones.
"Aqua, turn off the lights. Now," Voss whispered.
"Why? This goddess is still playing!"
"There are bad guys!" Voss hissed.
"Bad guys?" Aqua's eyes lit up like fireworks. "Where? I'll smite them with Divine Judgment!"
"Not now!" Voss clamped a hand over her mouth. "We need to stay quiet and see what they're planning first."
Downstairs, Wright and Scarface reached the entrance.
"You're sure it's this building?" Wright asked.
"Yeah," Scarface nodded. "I tailed them here."
"And the floor?"
"Third, room on the left. Lights are still on."
Wright pulled out a pistol and checked the chamber. These weren't ordinary bullets—they were special, designed to restrain supernatural powers.
"Careful this time," Wright said grimly. "If he came back from the dead once, he's not normal."
"Boss… maybe we should back off? What if he really is some kind of vampire…"
"No." Wright's voice was ice. "If he lives, Kingpin will make sure we don't. You know how it is."
They quietly entered and began climbing the stairs.
Meanwhile, Voss was pacing in his room, sweating. "What do we do? We can't just sit here and wait for them."
Tom gestured toward the window, miming a jump.
"The third floor's too high—we'd break our legs. Well, maybe not me… but Aqua definitely would."
"This goddess is not clumsy!" Aqua puffed up angrily. "I control water! What's a measly third floor to me?"
"Quiet!" Voss hushed her quickly.
Jerry scribbled a little phone on his paper and pointed at Voss's phone.
"Call the cops?" Voss thought it over. "Yeah, good idea."
But before he could dial, faint footsteps echoed in the hallway outside.
"They're here already…" Cold sweat dripped down Voss's forehead.
And then—
[Ding!]
[Summoning system reactivated.]
[Randomly summoning character…]
Voss's eyes widened. Salvation had arrived!
"What's wrong, Voss?" Aqua tilted her head.
Tom raised a paw for silence. He sensed it too.
On the floor, a golden magic circle spread out, glowing even brighter than the last time.
"Hey, this is just like when I appeared!" Aqua clapped excitedly. "This goddess wants to see what comes out this time!"
The light condensed into the form of a young woman—petite, yet noble.
Golden hair spilled like a waterfall, a single ahoge swaying above her head. She wore a dark blue suit of armor, with a sword at her waist that radiated power. Her emerald-green eyes gleamed with clarity and resolve.
"This isn't the battlefield of the Holy Grail War…" the girl murmured, scanning the room before locking eyes with Voss.
"Are you the Master who summoned me?"
Voss's jaw nearly hit the floor. Artoria Pendragon. Saber. King Arthur herself.
[Summoned character detected: Artoria Pendragon (Saber)]
[Initiating ability replication…]
[Replication complete.]
[Congratulations. Ability acquired: Magic Resistance]
[Magic Resistance: Grants immunity to most modern forms of magic.]
"…Why do I keep getting defensive skills?!" Voss groaned, nearly flipping the desk.
"Uh—yes, I'm Voss," he stammered, pulling himself together. "But there's no time for introductions. There are two killers coming upstairs!"
Artoria's expression sharpened instantly. "Enemies?"
"Yes! They're here to kill me!"
"Then I cannot sit idly by." Her hand rested firmly on her sword. "As a knight, it is my duty to protect the innocent."
"Whoa! So cool!" Aqua's eyes sparkled. "Big sis, who are you? Why are you dressed like a knight?"
"I am Artoria Pendragon, Servant of the Saber class."
"Servant?" Aqua blinked. "Like a maid?"
"Not that kind of servant," Artoria said calmly. "I am a familiar born from the Heroic Spirit Summoning System."
Tom and Jerry exchanged glances. They didn't understand the terminology, but they could feel the overwhelming aura radiating from the blonde knight.