The Summoner Attacks Again!

The party received their meal, each dish carrying a unique aroma that Zack's cuisine was proud of. The country was renowned for its rich culinary traditions, celebrated across the world. These kinds of dishes could make anyone's mouth water.

However, even the simplest, cheapest foods were satisfying just by their appearance. The citizens of the Zack Republic had long grown accustomed to the enticing scents that filled the air.

"Let's eat."

As they satisfied their hunger, everyone remained silent throughout the meal, focused on their food and replenishing their energy for the journey ahead.

***

As they filled themselves with the wonders of the local food, the group found their way to an inn within the town. They paid in advance for three days, which should be enough time to rest.

In his room, separate from the other male members of the party, Leonard stared at his status board with a complicated expression, contemplating his next steps regarding the <Mission >.

"Enter the Player Academy? But it didn't say I needed to enroll, just that I needed to get something from there."

It was this logic that kept him from feeling pressured by the short time frame. He figured two months was more than enough to achieve what the mission required.

However, the real concern was how he would obtain five summoning scrolls from the academy.

"If the Summoner Class isn't given much focus, facing inequality from both people and the system, it will be hard to find summoning scrolls."

But with the way the <Mission > was designed, could it be tied to his fate? What kind of fate would require him to acquire such rare summoning scrolls?

"This mission... it's like it's telling me I need to meet someone or do something noteworthy to get them. Maybe from a hidden master summoner?" He shook his head, knowing he couldn't jump to conclusions.

Just as Leonard began forming a plan, the ground suddenly trembled, as if chaos had struck. He rushed outside, instinctively on guard, only to find his party and the townsfolk facing three massive golems. Their gray, almost silver bodies reflected the afternoon sunlight.

"What the hell?"

Leonard hurried to his party's side, trying to call out for Zeus, but got no response. He pushed the thought aside and focused on the situation.

"What's happening?"

Everyone gave him a brief glance but quickly returned their focus to the golems. Their expressions were difficult to read, faces painted with a mix of emotions. Realizing it wasn't the right moment to ask further questions, Leonard began counting the party members.

Someone was missing.

The instant he realized who it was, his expression darkened. Waves of anger flashed across his face before settling into a mask of eerie calm, his eyes growing cold and lifeless.

'That summoner again. What does she want with her?'

Everything else faded into a blur except for the golems, as if they were blocking something important. He could still sense the summoner's presence, like a shadow looming nearby, waiting for something—perhaps redemption. But that wasn't Leonard's concern right now. His only priority was ensuring Yuna's safety.

The chaos around him intensified, tremors shaking the ground as dust filled the town, stirred by the frantic movements of the townspeople fleeing the golems' assault. Leonard, still some distance away, watched as his party and other town fighters engaged in battle.

Instinctively, he called for Zeus again, but there was no response.

Clicking his tongue in frustration, Leonard realized he couldn't rely on him this time. An awkward smile tugged at his lips as the gravity of the situation sank in once more. The forced calm he'd been holding onto slipped away, revealing the raw, pulsing fear beneath. His heart pounded in his chest, the strong and resolute persona he'd tried to maintain crumbling under the weight of reality.

Though the situation remained unclear, one thing was certain—he had to find Yuna.

Moving swiftly, Leonard slipped into the quieter alleyways, taking a roundabout route to flank the golems at the town's plaza. Their massive forms stood guarding something at the entrance, and to reach it, he had to weave through narrow passages.

Like a soldier navigating a harsh training course, he finally caught sight of what he'd been searching for. At the entrance, the summoner, draped in a black cloak, sat atop a massive throne. Yuna lay motionless on the paved ground before her, her white casual attire stark against the bricks.

'Too fast... everything is happening too fast...'

His heart continued to race, but he didn't allow himself to calm down. He needed that adrenaline to think, to form a plan. The summoner, indifferent, seemed not to care for anything unfolding around him.

'Zeus isn't responding... but why?' Leonard mulled over the silence from his summon, confused and frustrated. He had considered sneaking closer, but the area was too exposed. The moment he made a move, he'd be discovered.

Still, a part of him hesitated to take the risk. There was no real gain in it. Yuna wasn't important to him, so why was he so determined to save her? They had only known each other for a short time, so why this sudden urgency? Was he truly concerned for her safety? Or was he more interested in stopping the summoner and uncovering his secrets?

There was no guarantee they'd meet the summoner again.

'Damn it!'

Leonard pushed his swirling thoughts aside, refocusing on the task at hand. He knew deep down what mattered—saving Yuna. No matter how much he tried to rationalize it, he couldn't ignore that instinct.

The internal struggle soon gave way to a clear, if uncomfortable, decision: he'd face the situation with deception.

'Damn it! I wasn't ready for this... I wanted more time to practice before using this, but it seems like I have no choice.'

Leonard knew from the beginning that the summoner's path was fraught with difficulty. With how weak he was physically, he had always relied on Zeus. But now, in the absence of his summon's power, he would have to rely on something else—his cunning.

'Athena... I need your wisdom now.' He thought of summoning her, hoping for help, but again, there was no response. 'What is going on with them?!' If his summons wouldn't answer, he'd have to handle this on his own.

'This is a suicide.'