The summoning grounds, once filled with the vibrant, swirling energies of the ritual, had now become eerily silent. Every pair of eyes was locked onto the young man standing at its center, his brown hair lightly tousled by the remnants of magical currents still lingering in the air. His crystalline blue eyes, sharp and intelligent, glowed subtly under the ethereal light.

Luke stood tall, his posture naturally exuding confidence, yet his mind was a flurry of calculations. He had just received an offer that would make even the most privileged nobles of the Rolhart Kingdom seethe with jealousy. Arthur Redvalor, a name that carried an almost mythical weight, had just extended his hand, offering to take Luke as his personal student.

The principal of Berch Gyara Academy, the oldest and most enigmatic figure in the kingdom, stood before him, waiting with a patient smile. Arthur’s very presence commanded reverence, his silver-gray hair and sharp, lean features adding to his aura of authority. Though he wasn’t bulky, the sheer strength coiled within his frame was evident, like a blade honed to perfection. There were stories—legends, really—that claimed the Rolhart Kingdom still stood because of him. But none could confirm such tales. Yet, the way the professors, even those of high status, stood respectfully behind him spoke volumes.

Luke quietly swept his gaze across the crowd, noting every reaction. Some wore expressions of awe, their eyes shimmering with admiration. Others were filled with envy, their jaws clenched and fists tightened at the lost opportunity. A few, however, looked at him like he was insane for not immediately kneeling and accepting Arthur’s offer on the spot.

His gaze returned to Arthur, who still wore that same enigmatic smile, his golden eyes watching Luke with something akin to amusement. He wasn’t impatient. He wasn’t in a hurry. It was as if he knew Luke’s answer before Luke himself did.

A deep breath later, Luke mentally commanded his status window to appear before him.

Arthur Redvalor

Alignment: ????

Title: ????

Class: ????

Specialty: ????

Strength: ???? | Agility: ???? | Intelligence: ???? | Divinity: ???? | Luck: ???? | Wisdom: ???? | ????: ???? | ????: ????

Skills: ????

Overall Rating: ????

Luke's eye twitched slightly.

Ah yes, of course. How utterly helpful. His sarcasm nearly made him scoff aloud. Not a single readable stat. No numerical values. Just rows of question marks, as if the system itself refused to quantify the being standing before him. If that wasn’t proof of Arthur’s unfathomable power, then Luke didn’t know what was.

“I see,” Arthur suddenly spoke, his voice smooth yet carrying an unmistakable weight. “You seem to have quite an interesting ability.”

Luke stiffened, his eyes snapping up to meet Arthur’s. The older man wasn’t looking at him—no, he was looking exactly where Luke’s status window had just been.

A cold chill ran down Luke’s spine.

Had he… followed his gaze? Had he somehow inferred that Luke had just opened a system window? The thought sent an unsettling shiver through his entire body.

“Don’t worry,” Arthur continued, his lips curling into a knowing smirk. “We all have our secrets. I won’t pry into yours if you don’t want me to.” His laughter that followed was deep and rich, like a man completely in control.

Luke felt a moment of silence stretch between them. The unreadable stats. The effortless deduction. The sheer overwhelming presence.

‘Alright, that decides it,’ Luke thought, coming to a conclusion.

Without hesitation, he took a step forward and bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle, his voice firm and steady. “Please teach me well, Master.”

The shift in Arthur’s expression was immediate. The mysterious amusement in his eyes was replaced by something far warmer, a genuine look of approval and satisfaction. He reached out, placing a firm hand on Luke’s shoulder before nodding.

“Excellent.”

Arthur straightened up, his authoritative aura returning in full force. He turned toward Martha and the other professors. “Carry on with the familiar summoning. My student and I will take our leave.”

Before Luke could react, a soft golden glow enveloped his body. The next moment, he was weightless, his feet leaving the ground as he began to float. His heart lurched in surprise, but Arthur’s calm demeanor kept him from panicking.

With a mere flick of his wrist, Arthur lifted both of them into the air, effortlessly flying toward the grand main building of the academy.

Gasps echoed throughout the summoning ground as they disappeared into the distance.

The moment Luke and Arthur vanished, the tension that had gripped the audience finally snapped. Students and professors alike released the breaths they had been holding.

“Hah… I think we just witnessed something incredible,” Trenton muttered, still wide-eyed. He turned to Jasmine, who stood beside him, equally stunned.

Jasmine exhaled sharply before nodding. “Incredible... doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

Their words reflected the sentiments of the entire crowd. Even the professors, some of whom had been at the academy for decades, struggled to wrap their heads around what they had just seen. Arthur Redvalor, a man who had remained an enigma for generations, had just taken a personal student. A student whose summoning had already caused a phenomenon unseen before.

Martha, still standing in the center, furrowed her brows. “Has there ever been a case of the principal taking a personal student?” she murmured to herself.

Realizing the murmurs and whispers were quickly spiraling out of control, she took a deep breath before sharply clapping her hands together. “Enough!” she called out, her voice laced with authority.

The students fell silent.

“The summoning ceremony is not over,” she reminded them. “There are still many of you left to summon your familiars. Let’s continue.”

Despite her commanding tone, the excitement in the air remained palpable. But as the ceremony resumed, one thing was clear: no one would forget what had just happened. And whispers of Arthur Redvalor’s new disciple had already begun spreading like wildfire through the academy.

As Luke soared through the air alongside Arthur Redvalor, his eyes were drawn to the breathtaking architecture of the academy’s main building. It loomed in the distance, an imposing yet elegant structure that spoke of centuries of history and prestige.

Luke was surprised how well his body had adapted to the fact that he was flying.

The towering spires reached toward the sky, adorned with intricate carvings that shimmered faintly with imbued magic. The stonework, an ageless blend of deep obsidian and shimmering silver, reflected the sunlight in a way that made the entire structure appear almost ethereal. Grand archways and massive stained-glass windows depicted scenes of legendary battles and triumphs, casting vibrant hues across the stone-paved courtyard below.

As they approached, the massive double doors, seemingly carved from a single slab of ancient wood reinforced with golden runes, swung open on their own. Luke barely had time to process the grandeur before they landed smoothly inside what could only be described as a chamber of knowledge and authority.

Arthur’s office was a marvel of craftsmanship. Towering bookshelves, filled with tomes of varying sizes and colors, stretched up to the arched ceiling, creating the illusion of an endless library. Despite being made entirely of polished wood, the shelves radiated an unyielding strength, as though time itself dared not lay a hand upon them. The scent of aged parchment and fresh ink lingered in the air, giving the room an almost sacred atmosphere.

In the center, a large wooden desk sat atop an intricately woven carpet, its dark surface adorned with neatly stacked parchments, a fine quill, and an inkwell shimmering with a faint golden hue. A high-backed chair, carved with swirling patterns of wind and fire, stood behind it—Arthur’s seat of authority. Several other chairs, upholstered in fine velvet, were positioned near a circular table to the side, clearly meant for discussions of great importance.

At the far end, near the towering glass window that offered a panoramic view of the academy grounds, stood a collection of magical artifacts encased in crystal display cases. Swords, staffs, and relics of untold power hummed with latent energy, their presence a silent testament to the history Arthur had witnessed firsthand.

Luke could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him. The sheer magnitude of everything that had happened today was finally beginning to take its toll. His usually sharp mind, always calculating and adapting, had come to a grinding halt. For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt truly lost. A cold sweat formed on his forehead, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists as uncertainty crept into his heart.

Then, a gentle yet firm pressure on his cheek pulled him from his spiraling thoughts.

Luke blinked and turned his gaze downward. His familiar—the metallic serpent he had summoned—was nuzzling against his face, its cold yet smooth body coiling lightly around his arm in an almost affectionate manner. Its eyes, though emotionless and gleaming like polished steel, conveyed an unspoken reassurance. As if it was telling him: You are not alone.

The small gesture grounded him. He exhaled slowly, his mind regaining its usual clarity. It was only now that he realized how incredibly light his familiar was. Despite its solid metallic form, there was an unnatural weightlessness to it. Even its 1.5-meter-long body felt no heavier than a feather wrapped around his arm.

Just as he was about to inspect its status window, Arthur’s voice cut through the silence.

“You have questions, I assume.”

Luke quickly straightened, his mind snapping to attention. Arthur moved toward his desk, his posture relaxed yet commanding. With a single motion, he gestured for Luke to take a seat across from him.

“As I mentioned before, I have witnessed much in my time,” Arthur began, steepling his fingers as he regarded Luke with those piercing golden eyes. “And that includes the rise and fall of kingdoms, the ascension of legends, and the phenomenon you unknowingly caused today.”

Luke’s brows furrowed slightly. “The phenomenon?”

Arthur let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. “Ah, of course. I nearly forgot… it has been so long since I last saw it that I momentarily overlooked the fact that the summoner is always unaware.” He leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant, as if recalling an old memory. “It is known as The Prismatic Descend.”

Luke’s grip on the armrest tightened. He had already suspected that his summoning had been unusual—why else would so many high-ranking figures gather so quickly? But to learn that his summoning had triggered something significant enough to be named in history… that was another level entirely.

Arthur continued, his tone turning somber. “In my entire life, I have only witnessed this phenomenon once before. It was five hundred years ago… and the summoner responsible was none other than Irene De’Luna.”

Luke’s mind reeled. That name—he had heard it before. Martha had mentioned her earlier, speaking of her as a legendary figure. But to think that his summoning had mirrored hers…

‘Just how many ancient monsters are running around in this world?’ Luke found himself wondering, his sense of time and mortality becoming increasingly distorted. If Arthur was speaking from experience, it meant he had lived for centuries as well. This world’s concept of age was leagues beyond what he had initially imagined.

Arthur observed Luke’s reaction with a knowing look. “The Sword Saint and Irene De’Luna’s contributions during the Great Demon War were paramount. Without them, humanity would not have survived.”

A flicker of something passed through Arthur’s eyes. A deep, lingering weight that had settled over centuries.

Luke caught it immediately. He hesitated for a moment before voicing the question that had formed in his mind. “Forgive me for asking, since I’m not from this world, but… is there no longer a threat?”

Arthur’s expression shifted into something almost melancholic. He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk as he sighed. “The world considers this an era of peace. The empire stands strong, and the only conflicts are minor skirmishes between nations and diplomatic races.”

Luke narrowed his eyes. “There’s a ‘but’ coming, isn’t there?”

Arthur let out a quiet chuckle, though it lacked humor. “What do you think?”

Before Luke could answer, a shimmering golden notification appeared before his eyes.

[Main Scenario Quest Triggered!]

There’s much more to the Great Demon War than what meets the eye!

• Piece together what exactly transpired during the war and gather information on the legendary battle heroes.
• Discover the identity of the unsung hero of the Great Demon War.
• Increase your forces and ally yourself with strong entities.
• A sinister force still lurks in the shadows, waiting to consume the world. Prepare for it.

Scenario Time Limit: 1827 days 23 hours 59 minutes remaining

Scenario Clear Condition: ???

Scenario Failure Penalty: ???

Scenario Completion Reward: ???

Luke's mind reeled as he read the new notification. His expression darkened, his fists clenching involuntarily.

Fuck, of fucking course! Fuck! he cursed inwardly. Why are you throwing me at the forefront of it all? He wanted to scream at the system, to demand an explanation, but he knew better. It was useless. The system never answered.

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down and looked seriously at Arthur. The man had been watching him with a faint smirk.

“Hah, what are you guys hiding, old man?” Luke finally asked, his voice carrying a sharp edge of irritation. “Wasn't the demon war or whatever supposed to be finished?”

Arthur didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his smirk widened into a grin. “You finally gave up that slimy attitude that almost made me want to punch you, huh?” He let out a chuckle before continuing, “The Great Demon War did end back then, but there’s a lot more to it than what the world knows. Of course, you're still too wet behind the ears to learn about any of that. It’d do you more harm than good to dig too deep right now.”

Luke scowled. “I should have just kept my trap shut. Now I’m stuck in an awkward situation.” He turned his attention back to the system window, staring at the ominous text.

Unlike the main quest, which had the terrifying punishment of system removal, this one had a penalty shrouded in mystery. The unknown factor made his skin crawl. He liked being in control of his own life, but slowly, that control seemed to be slipping away.

Arthur hummed, watching Luke with an amused expression. “I don’t know what’s going through that head of yours, but from the look of it, it seems quite serious.” He let out a small sigh before adding, “I’d suggest not fretting over something you currently have no control over. And—”

Suddenly, a surge of mana erupted from Arthur’s body. The sheer pressure shook the entire room, even the building itself trembled under the weight of his power. The air grew heavy, suffocating, as if the world itself was bowing beneath his strength.

Arthur’s grin widened, a wild glint in his golden eyes. “If something or someone tries to harm you before you’ve grown, don’t worry.” His voice rumbled like distant thunder. “Your master is strong enough to protect his student.”

The moment he finished speaking, the overwhelming force vanished. The room returned to normal, leaving behind only a lingering trace of energy in the air.

Luke exhaled slowly, blinking away the tension in his shoulders before nodding. Then, with complete shamelessness, he smiled while exaggeratingly clasping his hand. “Then I’ll wholeheartedly depend on you.”

Arthur let out a laugh, his expression relaxing. “Good. That’s the spirit.”

Then, after a brief pause, he pointed toward the small creature curled around Luke’s shoulder. “I know you’ve got your secrets, and I’ll be ready to hear them when you’re ready to tell me. But for now, you better focus on that attention-seeking little guy. Check his information.”

Luke turned to Szeth, who had been resting patiently on his shoulder, silver-slit eyes gleaming expectantly. The moment Luke’s gaze landed on him, Szeth perked up, his crystalline tail flicking slightly.

“Why don’t you come down here?” Luke gestured toward the ground.

Szeth slithered off Luke’s shoulder and coiled in front of him, looking up with an almost eager expression. With a mental command, Luke pulled up his familiar’s status window.

Szeth

Evolution Name: Ironclad Serpent

Evolution Progress: Once evolved

Skills: Ichor Discharge (Lvl 1), Wrap Up (Lvl 1), Bite (Lvl 1), Weightless (Active/Passive) (Lvl 1)

Strength: 45, Agility: 45, Intelligence: 45, Wisdom: 45, Tenacity: 45

Description: A being said to be forged from the blood of the gods. The Ironclad Serpent has already undergone one evolution, and further evolutions could allow it to rival even divine beings. Unlike most creatures, it does not specialize in a single field but grows equally in all aspects.

Evolution Condition: Feed it any Epic rarity herb.

Luke’s eyes widened. “Woah, Szeth is super cool, isn’t he?” He spoke in an almost childish tone, the kind people used when talking to their pets.

Szeth, as if understanding the praise, wagged his triple-ended crystal tail enthusiastically and began circling Luke in excitement.

Arthur chuckled, shaking his head. “As I thought. You can see others’ status windows.”

Luke froze.

Fuck. His blood ran cold as realization struck him.

The old bastard had tricked him.

Arthur had merely suspected it before. By casually suggesting Luke to check Szeth’s status, he had baited him into confirming his theory. And Luke had fallen for it. Hard.

Glaring at Arthur, Luke gritted his teeth as the older man’s mischievous grin only widened.

“Don’t worry about it,” Arthur reassured him, raising a hand in mock surrender. “Your secret is safe with me. But,” his expression turned serious, “I do recommend you be a lot more cautious from now on. If I can figure it out, others as powerful as me can too. And remember—” His golden eyes gleamed with something unreadable. “Not everyone is an ally.”

Luke swallowed hard, his mind racing.

Shit. Why does this world keep getting more dangerous every day?