Heroine Creation: All My Summons Are Custom Made

Lancet had not been completely honest with Astensia. He didn’t tell her his other reasons.

He didn’t tell her about the Serpent Society and he definitely didn’t tell her about the EXP he needed her to get so he could unlock another Summon Slot.

When it came to the Serpent Society; Clevus Cattenham, Muskard, Linzley, Caelem and whoever it was that had invited him to join, Lancet had a different plan for them.

He could tell Astensia about them, but she would only bring them to justice, making sure they were reported to the authorities. Lancet knew that wouldn’t be enough.

Not just because the Serpents were strong and vengeful enough to strike back at him if not permanently knocked down, but whatever justice Astensia would give them, was too kind compared to what they deserved.

Lancet wasn’t going to force her to go beyond her morals. He wasn’t going to ask her to do something against her own code just because he asked. That was the whole point of this, wasn’t it?

So, instead, he was going to make Thor Stormchild do it.

Astensia is a Heroine who believed in justice, truth, and protecting the weak. Thor was coming, and she would be a Heroine who believed in vengeance, power, and destroying those who harm.

Lancet was going to deal with the Serpent Society problem using her.

”They’re close.”

Lancet snapped from his thoughts at the sound of Astensia’s voice. He noticed rustling in an underbush and his grip tightened on his hilt.

Through the thick ferns, three hunched figures emerged. They were Forest Goblins, although simulated, they were just as ugly and green, clutching rusted blades.

”Level fours,” Lancet muttered, reading the floating markers above their heads.

”Seems like a perfect baseline,” Astensia said calmly, taking a deliberate step back and lowering her sword. ”The one in the center is yours. Remember what we learnt in the castle.”

Lancet nodded at her.

With a shriek, the center goblin launched itself forward with terrifying speed. Lancet moved out of the way. The goblin landed and swung wildly at his ribs, but Lancet stepped into the guard rather than away from it.

He brought his sword up, catching the goblin’s rusted blade near the hilt where the leverage was weakest.

Sparks flew. Lancet’s arms vibrated violently from the impact, but his footing held. With a sharp exhale, he twisted his wrists, shoving the goblin’s blade wide, and drove his shoulder directly into the creature’s chest.

Lancet looked with wide eyes, shocked that he had been able to do that. He watched the goblin stumbled backward, off-balance. Quick to follow through, he gripped his sword and cleaved downward.

The steel bit into the goblin’s simulated collarbone. The construct shattered into a burst of blue, polygonal light before dissolving entirely.

Immediately, the golden interface shimmered at the edge of his vision.

⸢ You killed a Forest Goblin (Simulated) ⸥

⸢ You have gained +16 EXP ⸥

Astensia, who had been watching with anticipation, erupted to an applause. ”That was magnificent, Lord Lancet! If only you could have seen yourself.”

Lancet stood straight and beamed a proud smile. Then he realized the other two Goblins were attacking.

”I always knew...!” Astensia continued to praise him as she simply slashed her sword, killing both goblins with the wind arc her sword created. ”...that you learn fast!”

The Goblins disintegrated into blue pixels before they even hit the ground.

⸢ 2 Forest Goblins (Simulated) killed by Heroine, Astensia ⸥

⸢ Astensia has gained 32 EXP ⸥

⸢ You have gained 64 EXP ⸥

Lancet leaned against his training sword, wiping a thick layer of sweat from his forehead. ’So I get more EXP from my Heroines killing a beast than I do when I kill the beast myself.’

’This system really wants me to sit back and let my summons do everything.’

He needed 210 more EXP from Astensia to get her to the next level. Then he would get his Summon Slot.

”Come on,” Lancet said. ”Let’s kill as many as possible before they close the facilities for Combat class.”

They spent the next two hours tearing through the artificial forest. Astensia drilled him mercilessly on his footwork, forcing him to engage the simulated beasts while she handled the overwhelming numbers.

Lancet’s muscles ached, his lungs burned, but the steady ding of small EXP drops kept him moving.

Astensia’s experience points increased, gathering up to 60, then 90, then 150.

Lancet gathered points of his own, adding more to his already massive pool that he was excited to add to his attributes once they were done with this.

Astensia reached the 210 mark—passed it actually—by demonstrating a cool spin-slashing move. She killed a High Goblin with it, then a robotic bell echoed from the invisible ceiling of the facility.

A blue screen appeared in front of them.

⸢ ALERT: Training Facilities are closed ⸥

⸢ Please report to your respective Combat classes. Vacate the simulation chambers immediately. ⸥

The forest around them began to dissolve, the trees and moss melting back into the white floor and heavy glass walls of the training cylinder.

Lancet let his training sword drop with a metallic clatter, his chest heaving as he dropped to one knee. He was drenched in sweat, completely spent physically, though his Grace pool was still robust.

”Saved by the bell,” Lancet gasped out, resting his forearms on his knee.

Astensia walked over to him, her armor spotless, not a single breath out of place. She knelt gracefully before him, lowering her head in a gesture of profound respect.

”I hope I taught you well today, Master Lancet.”

Lancet managed a tired grin. ”Of course you did. Heck, it may have been only a simulated beast but I got my first ever kill.”

”Thanks to you.”

Astensia smiled. ”You are stronger than you’d expect, Master. And no matter who I fight with, my loyalty will forever be with you.”

Lancet stared at her, his heart heavy as she stood stoically, waiting for the gold light to take her away. He stood up, his legs shaking slightly, then he waved her goodbye.

”See you in a bit.”

”As always.”

The golden light came and Astensia faded into the air, retreating into the sanctuary of the system.

Lancet took a deep breath, the heavy silence of the hall rushing back in. He looked around and saw that everyone was staring at him.

”Alright now, show’s over!” The guard from earlier called. ”Everyone, get moving. Head on to your classes!”

Lancet didn’t linger to bask in the stares of the elite students. He turned and left the hall before they could even sheath their weapons.

The corridors were beginning to crowd with seniors and elite Awakeners heading to their homerooms. Lancet kept his head down, his eyes darting to the crests on their uniforms.

When he reached an elevator, he balked. He couldn’t risk getting trapped in a confined glass tube with potential Serpents. So Lancet pivoted and shoved open the metal door to the utilitarian stairwell.

His thighs screamed in protest with every step he took down the seemingly endless flights, the torn muscle fibers burning from his recent training, but the paranoia kept his pace brisk.

By the time he arrived in the Combat Hall for Summoner-D, he was out of breath and his uniform was clinging to his back with sweat.

The Class Group-Ds combat halls were not as highly built and maintained like the ones in the higher levels, but they were still imposing and beautiful to look at.

Mainly, this one set aside for Summoner-D was a sunken arena lined with heavily scuffed black tiles and blast-shielded bleachers. It was pretty small compared to the A-Class and B-Class arenas, but large enough for the newbies of the Academy to throw their low-tier summons at each other without collapsing the roof.

Lancet scanned the rising rows of seats and immediately spotted a familiar couple. Kasto was sitting in the middle rows with Anita. Kasto looked up, tapped Anita on the shoulder, and pointed.

They both smiled in relief and gestured to the empty seat they had actively defended between them. Lancet gave them a weary nod, climbed the steps, and collapsed into the hard plastic chair.

Down in the center of the arena, Professor Chance—a scarred veteran with a perpetually scowling face—barked for silence.

”Listen up, you miserable lot,” Chance’s rough voice echoed off the blast shields. ”I’ve allowed you guys to settle in these last two weeks. But now, I’m done with taking it easy. Today, we begin combat at the highest form! Summon versus Summon!”

The excited students began to murmur with each other. Kasto and Anita shared a worried glance.

”First,” Professor Chance raised a finger. ”I will give you the proper education of how to engage in a Duel of Summons.”

Lancet’s attention immediately drifted. Nothing he didn’t already know.

Besides, he couldn’t wait any longer. The anticipation was gnawing at the edges of his mind.

He called his system to life, swiping past his own abysmal character sheet and opened Astensia’s roster card.

There, he saw the EXP Astensia had gotten from the training hall.

⸢ 255 EXP ⸥

Lancet reached out, his finger pressing against the glowing pool of accumulated EXP. Deliberately, he dragged the points down and dropped them directly into the yellow bar.

The interface lit up with golden light that reflected in Lancet’s eyes. Then came a cascade of chiming notifications rapidly stacked in the center of his vision.

Ding!

⸢ Your Summon, Astensia Valengard has leveled up! [Lv. 200 → Lv. 201] ⸥

⸢ Congratulations on your first Heroine Level up! ⸥

⸢ Preparing Rewards... ⸥

Ding!

⸢ Rewards: +1 Archetype Key (Platinum) ⸥

⸢ +1 Archetype Key (Gold) ⸥

⸢ +1 Summon Slot ⸥

Lancet smirked with excitement.

’Alright. It’s Thor time!’