"There are two essential things needed for summoning. If it's common summoning, all you need is a Spirit Core. However, because Heroic Spirits are the kind that can only respond to otherworlders like you, the summoning costs climb a bit higher.
"First is a relic that connects to the hero, then a high-grade Spirit Core."
The old man's voice remained utterly flat throughout his explanation.
"The priests and priestesses will hand you a relic and a spirit core. All you have to do is channel your spirit essence into both items—think of it as breathing, but with your entire body, not just your nose."
My classmates immediately stepped forward and collected spirit cores and relics.
Kai went first. The moment his essence touched the items, golden light poured from him like liquid sunshine. The air itself seemed to sing, and the light suddenly expanded, a golden circle flaring to life.
The entire ground trembled like it was about to split apart, and the heat clung to me like a second skin. I didn't know what was about to happen, but the pressure already had my heart hammering with fear.
From the embrace of the golden light pouring forth from the circle, something condensed into form, then mapped out a seven-foot-tall, massive figure. The light finally vanished and the atmosphere calmed.
My heart was racing, but my eyes were in an even worse state when I saw what stood before Kai.
The Heroic Spirit Kai had summoned was so imposing that standing near him made me feel like I was standing next to the midday sun. He was tall, adorned with golden ornate plates that seemed to generate their own light. The armor had a leonine quality—a maned helmet featuring a crowned crest and red cape flowing behind it like liquid fire.
The spirit stood perfectly still, radiating authority and command. Even silent, it looked like it could lead armies
"What the hell?! I don't even need to know its Tier to know he's going to be freaking strong! Hell, Kai, you hit the jackpot!"
"So unfair. At least lose a little."
The old man stared down from above, fighting to suppress the shock and joy coursing through his veins. He gripped the terrace of the outcropped platform and looked down for a moment before speaking.
"Otherworlder, kindly check your Spirit's Tier and Fortitude. You can access this by simply calling upon the status of your Heroic Spirit."
Kai looked down, then raised his head the next moment.
"Myth Tier... and it says fortitude 3.2..."
Kai laughed shyly, scratching his cheek.
The old man responded immediately.
"Hmm, 3.2 is an excellent starting number. Since Spirit Tiers are fixed, raising the fortitude of your Heroic Spirit is the only way for you to grow stronger—aside from evolving your own attributes and actually bonding with your spirits."
He gestured towards Kai.
"You'll learn more about fortitude, but know that even in the past, no fortitude of 6.0 has ever been seen. Two thousand years ago, it was recorded that Heroic Spirits of fortitude 7.0 and 7.5 were seen and gained the ability to talk and act on their own within the interest of their Summoners. But this is considered merely ancient legends and scholarly deduction on the changes that happen when fortitude climbs high enough. This is the strongest Heroic Spirit we've seen in eight hundred years. Emperor Aurelius Rex. The Sun King Who Never Knelt."
With his words, the others seemed to glow with radiant hope, and before I knew it, the next summon was already happening.
At this point, no one was waiting for each other. They just took a corner and summoned their Heroic Spirit.
I received my relic and spirit core: a red piece of cloth, surprisingly soft, with edges that looked like they'd been torn rather than cut. It felt warm in my hand—too warm, like it had been sitting in sunlight.
I took a corner and observed the old man up there subtly watching me. Then I proceeded with the summoning, sincerely hoping in my heart.
'Dear Heroine, here I come!'
I released my spirit essence and let it flow toward the tip of my fingers—as easy as breathing.
As I did this, a dull grey circle, just like Kai's, appeared on the ground around me and glowed duller and duller, like it was suddenly going to sputter out on me or something.
Then suddenly, I heard the lodester's voice.
[WARNING]
[WARNING]
[WARNING]
[EXTREMELY HIGH TIER DETECTED]
[CALAMITY TIER DETECTED]
[COMMENCING SUMMON]
My brows furrowed together, confusion welling in my heart. Along with the sudden alert, the dull grey magic circle suddenly flared red and released a blazing light that overwhelmed the other ongoing summonings.
I staggered back, feeling a bad premonition in my gut.
Black sparks like corrupted lightning flared around the red light and spread outward, releasing a shockwave that exploded and shattered glass, causing everyone to scream and duck their heads.
'Oh no... this can't be good!'
The old man was already glaring at me with hostility, unable to hide his shock anymore. Even the priests and priestesses looked terrified.
The crimson light and black whips of lightning converged to form a figure.
Slowly, I craned my neck. Standing before me was a full six-foot-tall... Heroic Spirit, with a full-face helmet bearing two jagged horns like a demon... ess!
As I first saw the generous chest embedded in sinister black plate armor, my heart and groin swelled with joy. Then a moment later, that joy died as I heard the old man's voice.
"Abomination! This is an aberration against the gods! This Otherworlder has not summoned a Heroic Spirit! What he has summoned is a disaster that nearly destroyed our world! How can this be?! What sort of omen is this?!"
My heart plummeted to my stomach as his words struck my ears. The gazes of my classmates turned even worse. Their eyes dripped with disgust—hatred, irritation. Some even chuckled and mocked me, as if the sin I'd committed wasn't the exact same thing they'd all been doing.
"Knights of Light! Seize this vermin this instant!"
'Eh? Wait, what?'