Dormitory Demon Summoning Chaos
The incident from Act 1, Scene 1. The official title was First-Year Dormitory Magical Beast Summoning Uproar. The core of the event was exceedingly simple. A freshman performing a summoning magic assignment suddenly had a magical beast pop out of their summoning magic circle. This turned the general dormitory into pandemonium, which was fortunately passing knight department students led by Erhan, and finally the third-year "Knight of Light" Lumen Ribens, intervened to suppress it safely without any casualties. That's how I remembered it.
...But for some reason, the start of the main story had been moved up by two days, and because of that, everything had gotten completely twisted.
"Damn it."
The incident had already occurred. But right now, there were no passing knight department students, and thus no protagonist Erhan, nor the "Knight of Light" to step in and handle the magical beast directly.
That was when it happened.
A girl came running up in a panic from somewhere and grabbed my arm.
"S-Senior! W-We need to get a p-professor! I-I... I summoned a m-magical beast...!"
I fixed her with a steady gaze, and without even being asked, she spilled everything.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I-I really had no idea something like that would come out...!"
The girl, her eyes brimming with tears, stomped her feet anxiously while glancing toward the courtyard.
It was impossible for a magical beast to emerge from a first-year's basic summoning magic circle. Someone had tampered with the incantation to alter the summon. And the only person in this academy capable of that was one: Melwood Elion.
For him to pull this off meant the Imperial Magic Corps hadn't accepted him. The broad strokes of the inciting incident were holding steady. Really, it followed the original story uncannily in the strangest places.
"I-I... I shouldn't have... I sh-shouldn't have done the assignment..."
"Get a grip. A magical beast cannot emerge from basic summoning magic."
I placed a hand on the trembling girl's shoulder.
"I have one favor to ask. Can you do it?"
"Y-Yes..."
I looked straight into the eyes of the beige-haired girl.
"Run to Lubrium Dorm right now and bring back first-year Erhan and third-year Lumen. Can you do that?"
"Th-Third-year Lumen... you mean the Knight of Light...?"
"No matter what, you must bring them."
At that moment.
"Everyone, get out of the way!"
Amid the crowd surging toward the entrance, a streak of white light flashed as Kalen Snowwhite's sword gleamed.
─Clang!
Just before the lycanthrope's claw reached a student who hadn't escaped in time, Kalen's blade blocked the attack. Without even turning his head, he shouted back at the cowering girl student behind him.
"Run! Hurry!"
─Grrrrowl!
Dodging the enraged lycanthrope's sweeping forepaw, he circled to the beast's side and thrust his sword. Naturally, the lycanthrope wouldn't just stand there—it raised its claws sharply in response.
─Clang! Clang!
Blade and long talons clashed repeatedly, sparks flying.
"...I'll do it."
The girl watched the scene, then nodded with resolve.
"No, leave it to me!"
With that, she bolted out of the dormitory toward Lubrium Dorm.
I clicked my tongue and surveyed the surroundings. The collapsed dormitory building, screams echoing from everywhere. Think. What was the wisest course of action? If left alone, the academy could end up in ruins—and my safety and survival right along with it.
"Kalen..."
Even as his body was battered to hell, Kalen was charging the lycanthrope again after kicking off the ground.
No matter how high the potential of the character, that only applied after sufficient growth. At this starting point of the main story, Kalen was just a bit stronger than an average knight department student.
"Nngh..."
But he rolled across the ground, slamming his shoulder into the dirt just to regrip his sword.
'Unyielding Knight.' An honorable knight who never yielded to any trial. It was a move worthy of the title he'd earn in the future.
Watching that, I stepped forward. A storm of emotions boiled up inside me. How much time had I poured into Salenium Saga? Seeing a character I'd watched hundreds of times sprawled out covered in blood... it wasn't good. Not in the slightest, not even as empty words.
"You can't come here!"
Kalen Snowwhite shouted in a voice hoarse and cracked.
"Kalen."
As I blinked, a blue orb materialized near me.
"Fall back and prepare your Attribute Sword."
"...!"
Kalen's eyes widened as if realizing something. Unlike monsters, magical beasts were terrifyingly resistant to physical damage. Especially a thick-hided lycanthrope like this one—practically immune to physical attacks. Our only counter right now was the elemental mana-infused Attribute Sword. And among us, only Kalen could wield it freely.
Understanding my words, Kalen leaped back behind me.
"Come at me, you beast."
─Rawrgh!
The lycanthrope roared and lunged at me. Its movements were filthy fast. I thrust my hand forward and invoked the spell.
"Low-tier Wind Elemental Magic: Wind Blade."
⟨ Wind Blade ⟩
The unleashed magic transformed the surrounding air into blades that hurtled toward the lycanthrope. The advantage of wind affinity was faster casting within the wind magic family—even low-tier spells benefited from its inherent effects. Especially level 2 Wind Blade, which could slice through thick tree trunks in three hits.
Splat!
'...Knew it.'
But this wasn't a mere monster—it was a magical beast. A mid-tier spell might have scratched it, but low-tier? Not even piercing the hide. I immediately ducked to evade the lycanthrope's attack. It was a close call; a few strands of my hair fluttered loose.
'I know all about you.'
The lycanthrope's eyes tracked my movements, and for a split second, my blue eyes reflected in them. How many times had I cleared this Act 1, Scene 1? Every new playthrough, I watched every cutscene and event without skipping. I had its attack patterns memorized.
As I took one step back, the beast charged faster than a gale, its left arm compressing the air.
'Hard to believe something this strong becomes trash mob fodder after Chapter 6.'
The lycanthrope's pattern: first attack always a diagonal right-arm sweep, then left-arm cross-up, followed by both arms slamming the ground for an AoE stun. It repeated variations of those three moves, predictable by arm position. Sometimes 1-2-3 in sequence, other times mixed or repeated.
"3, 1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 3. Something like that."
Hearing my mutter, the lycanthrope swung its arms even more ferociously. And I deliberately dodged, letting the attacks whistle past by a hair's breadth.
─Rawrghhh!
Two blue magic circles appeared in succession beside me. I extended my hand and chanted.
"Low-tier Wind Elemental Magic: Wind Blade x2."
⟨ Wind Blade ⟩
Splat-splat-splat! The spells hammered the beast's side repeatedly. Targeting the same spot Kalen had already nicked, a few drops of purple blood sprayed up.
─Grrrrowl!
I still had enough mana for one more Wind Blade. Just as I aimed for the wound to finish it...
"Lord Adrian!"
The moment I heard the voice, I leaped sideways. In that instant, Kalen—gripping a white sword swirling with frost—leaped high and...
Shraaa!
...slashed down from above. Frost and chill spread through the air where the blade passed, and I saw the lycanthrope's face twist in shock as it finally spotted him. Frost bloomed across its face as he shouted, his pale sky-blue bobbed hair whipping wildly.
"Attribute Sword: Pierce!"
⟨ Pierce ⟩
'Please.'
I prayed it would end here, binding the beast's feet. But this damned magical beast twisted its body with all its might, and Kalen's Attribute Sword only severed its right arm.
Thud!
Purple blood splattered across the courtyard as the arm spun away.
─Rawrghhhh!
The lycanthrope clutched its opposite shoulder and bellowed.
"Lord Adrian, that thing..."
"...Hah, unintentionally stanched the bleeding."
Ice from the Attribute Sword had spread massively at the impact site, plugging the stump.
─Grrrrrowl!
Whoosh!
The berserk lycanthrope swung its arm, mana surging like waves around it. Damn it, what kind of tutorial boss was this? Caught in the massive mana surge, the two of us flew clear across the courtyard.
"L-Lord Adrian. Your body."
"This is nothing."
I stood, helping Kalen up. Vitality 5. Barely that much from the glancing hit—if it'd been direct at close range, instant death. Seeing my bloodied body, Kalen gritted his teeth.
"...My failure."
"You're covered in blood yourself."
"I can still hold."
"Saying that in this state doesn't inspire confidence."
It approached. My entire body throbbed like it was broken, but I stood. The lycanthrope, shoulder encased in jagged ice, bared its teeth with a growl.
"Look for an opening and escape, Kalen."
If I focused my mind to the limit, I could hold out for about three minutes. I could dodge a lycanthrope's attacks blindfolded, but vitality was the issue. No choice but to endure somehow.
"I can't do that."
"..."
"No one sacrifices themselves here."
Manifesting Attribute Sword: Pierce right there, Kalen stood beside me, white-glowing sword in hand. His steps staggered; even standing looked grueling. Leaning half on my shoulder, his arm trembled. Yet he never broke. I saw it—his hands, scarred from countless swings. A realistic detail invisible in illustrations. Her personality and inner strength, beyond mere text. I...
Reached out and gripped the sword with him.
"L-Lord Adrian can't wield a sword...!"
"If you can't hold it alone, we hold it together."
"..."
"That should do it."
As my hand gently wrapped around the hilt, frost and gale winds intertwined along the shared Will of the White Eye.
We raised the sword side by side, aiming at the lycanthrope. Blood dripped into my eye, sealing it shut. No matter. With sword in hand and Martial God Overlord count active, I was unmatched.
Did you enjoy it? I hope you savored the fight with us, beast.
"Attribute Sword: Pierce."
⟨ Pierce ⟩
Right after.
A blizzard howled.