The Monster Summoner

We hurried down the original path and defeated more Burning Slimes along the way until we reached the next area of the Burning Cave. It was more cool than the first area. The area's lava had cooled and turned into igneous rocks instead of pure lava on the ground. Ophelia began to feel a little better as the heat began to become more manageable for her. We took a short break and Selene sighed softly then I walked toward her and handed her a few potions and elixirs. She looked up at me then smiled, taking them and handing some to Veria as well. They drunk the potions and elixirs, recovering their HP and MP.

"Thanks..." Selene said then stood up straight. "Can we talk over there for a bit?"

"Sure." I nodded. I looked at Yuki and Ophelia then rose my hand. Their weapons disappeared as I gave them the command to take a break.

Veria walked over to Yuki and Ophelia and they began their little chat together. Selene and I walked to the other side of the area and I leaned my back against the wall and crossed my arms, looking at Selene. I noticed a few interfaces appearing on the sides of Selene's head. The two interfaces were Heart Meter/ Bond Percentage and Mood Status. We were entering a heart to heart sequence. A third interface appeared under the Heart Meter, showing Selene's Affinity Rank with me.

[Selene's Bond Percentage: 6%]

[Selene's Mood (Friendly): Nervous]

[Affinity Rank 1: Acquaintance]

[Heart to Heart Tutorial: You are about to enter a heart to heart with a woman. Here is the basic summary of the heart to heart. Your Bond Percentage or Heart Meter is how much your desired woman likes you. The percentage does not lower, in fact your Affinity Rank is based off how high or low the Bond Percentage is with your desired woman. To increase the percentage, interact positively with the desired woman. Reaching 100% will unlock a new action that you and your desired woman can partake in only at night time. For a detailed description of the Heart to Heart Sequence please refer to the Help Guide in the Options Menu.]

I closed the tutorial interface as I already knew about it. I looked at Selene and she held her arm and looked away. "Is everything okay?" I asked her and noticed her Heart Meter had skipped a beat.

"I want to say sorry for...being dead weight to the team. I am trying my hardest and want to get better so I won't slow anyone down. Seeing Veria fight like that and the way she takes lead when I am afraid to fight, it inspires me but...I am so afraid of losing and getting hurt...I just want to do good like the rest of you..." Selene looked at me.

I smiled at her and closed my eyes. "You have the potential. I see the way you fight when we were taking down those waves of Burning Slimes. You can definitely hold your own, but you lack confidence in your own abilities." I responded and opened my eyes to look at her. She looked at me and looked down at the ground.

"I'm never really confident in myself...in real life nor in the game. I always second guess myself and get in the way most times. I just want to be good at something. Like you...You were top five in the entire USA server. Everyone looked up to you in the game and I did too when I was watching the tournaments. You had strategies that were so out there and they always worked. No one knew your next moves and you just had so much synergy with your teams...I want to be like that.." Selene said and looked at me once again.

"You'll get there. I know you will. I've got your back and will teach you everything I remember." I said then got off the wall.

[Selene's Bond Percentage rose to 10%]

[Selene's Mood (Friendly): Relaxed]

Selene looked at me and smiled. She nodded and her eyes began to shine. "I can't wait to learn from you if you choose to teach me. If not, I will keep training and make you proud!"

I nodded at her and watched her hurry to our units.

[Heart to Heart: Successful!]

I closed the interfaces and smiled. I walked over to the others and they looked at me. "Let's continue." I said.

They nodded and we continued down the path. We hurried down the path then was stopped by a new wave of enemies. I looked at them and scanned them.

Name: Goblin

Level: 7

HP: 590/590

There were five goblins standing in our way and we all summoned our weapons. Selene had a new sense of determination to get better so she could impress me. The goblins rushed towards us and we dashed forward as well. I parried my opponent's attack then slashed through them and they dispersed into magic particles. Yuki dodged a goblin's attack then defeated the goblin with a dark energy orb. Ophelia dodged a consecutive combo from the goblin then sent an arrow straight through the goblin's head, defeating it.

Selene blocked a goblin's club attack with her cane then grunted as she pushed it back. She spent 25 MP to unleash her Geyser Blast skill. She jumped backwards and raised her cane in the air then some rumbling was heard underground. A discharge of water erupted from underground, striking the Goblin powerfully and the goblin turned into magic particles as it was defeated.

"I did it! Yes!" Selene celebrated and looked at me. She giggled happily when she saw me give her a thumbs up.

Veria impaled the goblin with her rapier and the goblin dispersed into magic particles. She exhaled and stood up straight. "These goblins...They move as if someone is giving out commands.."

"T-They did seem to be reacting like those skeletons from the Graceful Grasslands.." Yuki said.

"Could it really be him again..?" I asked myself then looked ahead. "Let's continue. We may find our answer once we reach the end of this area."

"Right." Yuki nodded.

We all hurried down the path once again then I sensed an attack from behind.

"Master! Look out!" Yuki pulled me out of the way then was hit by a goblin's club. Her eyes widened and she coughed a bit of blood then was sent crashing into the cave wall. She took a devastating blow and her HP fell into the red zone. She fell on her knees and dropped her cane, panting.

"Yuki!" I looked back at Yuki then looked at the Goblin and noticed it was a way higher level than the other goblins. "Level 15..?!"

"Master! Behind you!" Ophelia ran to me.

I turned around then noticed Yoshimune slashing down. I looked surprised then used my shield to attempt to block the attack. As his sword crashed down on my shield, my guard broke nearly immediately. I groaned as I slid backwards. I fell to one knee and panted. I looked up at Yoshimune. "It is you...Why are you doing this?! What is your problem?!" I yelled.

Selene and Veria watched and looked a bit afraid by Yoshimune. He was way stronger than us. He smirked as he looked at me and looked at Yuki. Yuki slowly stood up after grabbing her cane off the ground. Her eyes emitted gold aura. She grunted softly and looked at Yoshimune.

"I won't forgive you for this..!" Yuki yelled. "You are a coward!"

"You still have fight left in you huh...Well, allow me to finish off your Master and soon you will be resting peacefully in the Otherworld.." Yoshimune looked at me then grunted as he was hit on his back by a Cherry Beam. He looked back at Ophelia and smirked. "So...the little Spring Elf wishes to be slain. Fine, I'll take you on!"

She looked surprised as he launched himself at her in great speeds. She dodged his slash then stumbled back. She jumped backwards to use Spring Tides and her Extra Skill activated. A wave of powerful cherry blossom needles rushed at Yoshimune, but he used his shield to block the attacks.

I watched as Ophelia battled against Yoshimune. His attack and defense was off the charts for a Level 15, but I knew it was only because of his equipment, but he had an Extra Skill that I wasn't aware off. His stats are permanently increased by 45%. I knew Ophelia wasn't going to be enough to take him down. Knowing this fact, I dashed into action. I didn't fully understand why I rushed into combat against Yoshimune, but I knew I had to do something.

Yoshimune sensed my attack and just tanked it then laughed, knowing it didn't do a thing to him. He kicked me away and I groaned then was blown away. I shoved my iron sword into the ground, still sliding backwards. I finally stopped myself and panted softly. I lost a lot of health from that one attack. I was already down in the yellow zone and knew I could only take two more hits like that. I stood back up and exhaled.

Yuki looked at me then at Yoshimune. She raised her staff to the sky and a portal opened under Yoshimune and a chain emerged from the portal hitting him then constricted his movements. He grunted and looked back at Yuki.

"You.." He growled.

"Hurry! I can't hold him for long!" Yuki yelled.

I dashed into action once again then scanned his body and found his weak spot. I jumped in the air then went to strike his weak spot with my sword. He broke out of the chain then punched my face and I groaned as I was sent crashing into the wall and took extra wall damage. I landed on my knees and panted. I was down in the red zone. One more hit from him could finish me off...no it will finish me off.

"This is the Shin that is claimed to be one of the top five players in the USA server?! You can't even handle my power. Pathetic!" Yoshimune laughed and looked at me. He watched me stand up once more. "You still decide to fight knowing one more attack will kill you? You are more stupid than I anticipated!"

I looked up at Yoshimune and glared. My hair covered my right eye and my left eye shined. He was right, I was being stupid. I still have no idea how this world works in terms of losing a fight that isn't a player match let alone be killed by another player. I still raised my blade for combat and prepared myself. I considered my options and lowered my blade and everyone looked at me.

[Return to the Town of Summoners?]

I looked at the interface and looked at Yoshimune then closed my eyes. "Return to town." I said then my body along with my party turned into magic particles as we were warped back to town.

"Hmph...he does have a brain it seems. I may have let him escape this time, but next time I won't." Yoshimune said then vanished.

I landed on the ground and fell to my knees. I was in too much pain to even move at the moment. I panted and saw a bright light shine under me. I looked up and noticed Cuara.

"I saw your fight against the Monster Summoner. He came at the worst times...but I think this would be a great way to introduce you to EX Skills, Weapons, and Leader Skills for you. Since Harem Summoner's recent patch all Summoners are able to have up to two EX Skills with their weapons. Let's go to the weapon shop and get yourself your first Summoner Weapon!" Cuara smiled.

I stood up slowly and grunted lightly. "Right...Let's go."