“What did you just say? Hero Summoning!?”

Night Owl’s sudden shriek rang in Nova’s ears like a bomb, stabbing into his eardrums.

Beside him, both Ivan and Gal clutched their heads in the same pained expression, as if struck by a sonic attack.

Nova could understand her shock—honestly, he felt much the same.

When they reached Oath City, they discovered the entire place under lockdown.

Then their assigned escort revealed the true reason they’d been summoned—

And they were even given a vantage point where they could help defend while watching the ritual from afar.

The Hero Summoning.

Every adventurer had grown up hearing the tale—over three centuries ago, when humanity was on the brink of ruin, the Hero Link alone pushed back the demon race and even slew the Demon King himself.

And now, they had the chance to witness such a legend’s birth—and even play a part in it.

However small that part might be.

The city had gathered over half the kingdom’s diamond-ranked powerhouses, not to mention two beings at the very pinnacle.

In comparison, the Silverthorn Squad was barely a drop in the sea…

——

On the day of the ritual, morning light gleamed off the pale stone of Triumph Square.

At the center, surrounded by four heroic statues, the summoning circle—cast from rarest materials—glowed with an eerie blue light.

On the east side stood the Grand Archbishop of Light, wielding his three-pronged staff, and just a half step behind him, the Vice President of the Relics Association in grey robes.

Both were among humanity’s strongest, level 70.

Twelve priests with bronze bells stood around the circle.

Within the second ring, over a hundred priests from across the land knelt on golden-cushioned mats, scripture open on their laps, ready to chant throughout the ritual.

At the square’s perimeter, the Silver Knights formed a gleaming wall of steel, kite shields aligned, their crest facing outward in flawless order.

By contrast, the diamond-ranked adventurers scattered at the edges were far less disciplined—some leaning against statue bases with cloth-wrapped swords, others tossing daggers idly in the air.

The knights on duty never stopped watching those “unofficial” fighters from the corners of their eyes.

Adventurers were useful, yes, but they were also potential threats.

Gal trembled at the sight of the gathering.

“Y-you think… they brought this many experts just to let us watch?”

“Idiot. It’s to stop demons from interfering,” Ivan snapped. “Don’t tell me you only realized now.”

“But what if the demons really attack…”

Before he could finish, Ivan cut him off. “Stupid. Didn’t you notice Duke Alamar isn’t here? The border must be reinforced. Only elite detachments could be spared.”

“Oh… right.”

Gal scratched his head. If it was only “a few elites,” then fine. Clearly, the real heavyweights would be the ones fighting. He and the others were just here for atmosphere.

“But still…” Ivan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Why gather so many adventurers? Sure, it adds strength, but also makes it easier for enemies to slip in.

And why choose a public square? It’s spacious, sure, but terribly unsafe.

If it were me, I’d hold it in a fortified underground chamber…”

“Maybe there’s a deeper reason? Like sunlight weakening vampires, or maybe the Hero Summoning requires such a stage?” Gal guessed wildly.

“Maybe. Gal—squat down.”

“Huh?” Gal obeyed in confusion, crouching.

Ivan immediately climbed onto his shoulders.

“Okay, stand up.”

Flying spells were forbidden here, but atop a half-dragon’s height, Ivan’s view stretched over the crowd to the summoning circle.

“Strange…”

“What is it?” Even Nova couldn’t help asking.

“I’ve never seen a Hero Summoning circle. It’s supposed to be the church’s top secret.

But this pattern… looks so familiar. Where have I seen it before?”

“Circles all look the same, don’t they? One ring inside another,” Gal muttered, clueless.

Ivan stomped his shoulder. “Shut up, you oaf.”

But before he could think further, the sun reached its zenith.

The Grand Archbishop lifted his staff and gave it a solemn wave. The summoning ritual had begun.

Purple-red light shimmered across the array. Twelve priests paced slowly along its runes, bells chiming in rhythm.

At the first chime, the priests began their chant:

Bearer of the Ever-Burning Wheel, Ixion.

Wielder of the Flame that Purifies Sin.

Watcher suspended above the tides of chaos.

We beseech you to cast down the wedge of judgment.

Grant us a vessel to bear divine punishment.

Let the Hero’s blade become the extension of your will.

Let the Silver Radiance become the hammer to cleanse the world.

…

…

…

The glow grew brighter, as if something inside strained to burst free.

Everyone fixed their eyes on the spectacle—everyone except Night Owl.

Nova noticed her distraction. “What are you looking at?”

She didn’t answer, gaze locked on something.

Following her line of sight, Nova saw a knight captain positioned within the defensive ring.

“What’s odd about him?”

No reply.

Then, in the next instant, Night Owl melted into shadow, darting through overlapping silhouettes—straight toward that knight captain.

Nova and the others froze in horror.

“Night Owl!? Damn it!”

——

【Assimilation Absorption LV3】

In the mushroom grove, countless threads of mycelium wrapped around the newly designated “Scout Puchi.”

Its body stretched from 80 cm to a towering 2 meters, becoming a giant Puchi.

But it was more for show than substance—the outer layer was hollow and soft, like puffed cotton.

Dylan poked it, his finger sinking deep, coming out sticky with fungal strands.

It looked bulky, but it wasn’t built for combat.

Lin Jun had designed it for one purpose only: a crash cushion, to stop the scout from splattering if it appeared high above ground.

Today was departure day.

Dylan could hardly wait—not only because he longed to find his daughter, but also because since gaining 【Mana Storage LV6】, Little Black’s gaze had unsettled him.

That look—full of fondness and curiosity—

He instinctively didn’t want to think too hard about what it meant.

Thankfully, today they would finally leave.

“Scout Puchi goes first. Dylan, join it outside later.”

Two tentacles extended from its fluffy armor, clutching an escape scroll.

As mana surged, light flared around its body…