Summoning the Mechanical Divine Beast
Summon Mechanical Divine Beast
[Using the power of highly advanced engineering, you summon a companion containing the essence of mechanical engineering!]
[You cannot summon a new companion until the current one is destroyed!]
Thump, thump! Even though he had performed this summon several times before, the anticipation always made his heart race. It was always a fresh thrill.
What would it be?
A golem... a golem-type. A golem would be best.
Up until now, all of his divine beasts had boasted absolutely monstrous levels. Just look at Yong-yong and Heuk-heuk! Even after pushing themselves so hard that their levels had plummeted, they were currently clawing their way back toward level 500. Once they reached level 1000, they might finally reclaim their original draconic majesty.
[Carbanog says that by then, it might also be able to regain its original power.]
Shut up.
In any case, since divine beasts naturally possessed exceptionally high levels, a golem-type would provide him with an absurdly sturdy tank. But even if it wasn't a golem, that was fine. Anything good would do!
Flash!
Amidst a plume of thick smoke, the divine beast finally revealed itself.
"...????"
It was a single musket.
"...What is this?"
For the first time in a long while, Tae-hyun was utterly speechless with bewilderment. That's not a divine beast, that's just an item, isn't it?!
[Carbanog is also shocked!]
...Don't tell me I got sca—
-HelloMasterGreetings!
At that exact moment, the musket spoke up in a bright, cheerful voice!
"It... it talks?!"
Only then did Tae-hyun realize that this musket was indeed his new divine beast. A sentient divine beast capable of independent thought and speech! Since it was a companion born from engineering, it wasn't entirely out of the question for such a creature to exist.
-ChoosingmefromamongthecountlessdivinebeastsistrulyanexcellentsublimechoicemyMasterCongratulationsonceagain!
"R-right. Thanks."
Tae-hyun felt his head spin. The thing spoke so incredibly fast that it was hard to even process the words.
-Iamtruelyexceptionallycapableandtalented...
"Hold on."
-Yes?
"What are your abilities? Can you speak a bit slower?"
-I am a gun!
"Yes. I can see that."
-I can shoot!
"...And besides that?"
-I can talk?
"...Cancel skill! Cancel skill!!"
After regaining his composure, Tae-hyun carefully inspected the status of his mechanical divine beast. Its level was well into the mid-500s! It was easily the highest-level summon or divine beast currently in his possession. Yet, compared to its impressive level, its special abilities were remarkably lackluster.
Yong-yong, fitting for a Gold Dragon, was highly proficient in all kinds of magic and could wield divine Authorities. Heuk-heuk, as a Black Dragon, was skilled in dark magic and could also employ Authorities. In stark contrast, this mechanical divine beast possessed nothing but ordinary offensive skills.
Of course, at such a high level, even basic attacks and standard offensive skills could become devastating, one-shot ultimate moves. However, for someone like Tae-hyun, who had only ever collected bizarre, rule-breaking entities, this felt somewhat disappointing.
I've pulled so many weird divine beasts that getting a normal summon actually feels weird.
In truth, this was what a normal summon was supposed to be like! It was incredibly rare for a summon to be so unique that only one existed on the entire server.
It's over level 500, and it's conventionally strong. That's fine. It doesn't have a diverse toolkit—mostly just offensive and shooting skills—but I can work around that...
However, this summon possessed one fatal flaw.
"...Because it's not classified as equipment, none of my buffs apply to it...!"
Neither his primary damage-boosting skills nor his absurdly high Luck stat would affect it. In other words, it was completely useless to him! To make matters worse, because it was an equipment-type summon, he had to physically carry it around. Unlike his other divine beasts, which could roam and fight on their own, this presented a whole new level of inconvenience.
The damage is great, but... I'm a melee dealer who fights with a sword, not a ranged dealer.
It felt exactly like obtaining a high-level Legendary item that he couldn't even use. It was an incredibly awkward situation. It wasn't that Tae-hyun never used ranged attacks, but they were strictly reserved for opening salvos or keeping enemies at bay. His close-quarters combat was simply too overwhelming to justify fighting from a distance. With combinations like Evasion + Bombs or Evasion + Swordsmanship, there was absolutely no reason for him to engage in ranged warfare.
[Carbanog asks why you don't just lend it to one of your companions.]
To Cain? Cain isn't a ranged class.
[Carbanog is dumbfounded, pointing out that you have allies other than your slave.]
But lending a weird guy like this to anyone other than Cain feels a bit wrong.
Even though they had only exchanged a few words, Tae-hyun could already grasp the general personality of this mechanical divine beast. It was definitely a weirdo! It was a natural conclusion, considering none of the divine beasts he had summoned so far possessed a normal personality.
[Carbanog feels pity for your slave.]
Yet, Carbanog's point was valid. As long as one could tolerate its personality, this mechanical divine beast was undoubtedly an incredibly broken item. Being over level 500 was already absurdly overpowered in its own right! On top of that, it would make MP management much easier, and it could cast various skills... Put that way, it sounded like an amazing asset.
[Carbanog states that it is indeed a very good thing.]
...Am I seriously complaining about getting something that is conventionally good?
Tae-hyun was suddenly struck by a wave of horror. Sure, he was someone who enjoyed playing bizarre classes and leveling up weird skills, but... had he really become so warped that he couldn't even recognize a genuinely good item anymore?! Was this Akisus's fault?!
Still, it really doesn't fit my current build. Someone to lend a ranged weapon to... Lee Da-bi switched to a staff after her class advancement. I guess that leaves Ji-soo?
Tae-hyun called Yu Ji-soo over. He then proceeded to explain to her how incredibly "dangerous" this mechanical divine beast was. Yu Ji-soo nodded along to his explanation, completely understanding... absolutely nothing of his concern.
"So... it's a summon that is over level 500, can attack on its own, doesn't drain your own HP or MP, and can use all kinds of offensive skills... is that right?"
"Yeah. Pretty tricky to use, right?"
Carbanog eagerly anticipated Ji-soo's response, hoping she would knock some sense into this ungrateful Apostle of Akisus! Unfortunately, when it came to Tae-hyun, Yu Ji-soo also had a few screws loose.
"I see. With your incredible abilities, Senior, I can understand why a summon like this might feel a bit lacking. Someone of your caliber deserves a far more magnificent summon!"
[Carbanog is utterly flabbergasted, asking if a "more magnificent summon" means a continent-shattering cannon!]
Carbanog protested, but the two of them completely ignored it.
"Right? That's exactly what I thought."
"But I don't think it's a bad summon at all. I think it could be incredibly useful."
"It can be really noisy and annoying in a lot of ways, though."
"I'm a Tyrum Ranger now, so I can handle that much easily."
"...My bad."
Having finished summoning his divine beast, Tae-hyun prepared to set off immediately toward the uncleared dungeons. However, there were those who held him back. It was none other than the heroes of the churches!
"Wait just a moment, young junior!"
"We have something to tell you!"
Tae-hyun glared murderously at the cold spirits.
-Did I or did I not tell you to freeze them properly?!
-B-but Master! Their abilities were simply too extraordinary!
And indeed they were. No matter how worn down they were, they were still the legendary Paladins and Priests of their respective churches. When it came to sheer, stubborn survivability, these two classes were among the absolute best in all of Pan-On! And when grouped together, their synergy granted them even greater bonus effects. In the end, despite the cold spirits sweeping through the castle with a raging blizzard, the heroes had successfully endured.
-Is it just me, or is it getting rather cold in the castle...?
-Tsk, tsk. It seems they built this place in such a rush that they forgot to install proper heating. We must be understanding.
-Haha... Since it is getting this cold, I suppose I should do something. O great Akisus... Wait, why does it feel so strangely unfamiliar every time I call upon our god's name?
-Is it not because your devotion is so profoundly sincere, Sir?
-Haha! To hear you say that makes me quite embarrassed. Let me pray once more. O great Akisus, grant us the strength to withstand this biting wind...!
-I cannot simply stand by either.
[The great holy mural of Demer is engraved upon the inner walls. The castle and the crops below will grow much faster...]
[The great holy mural of Tyran is engraved upon the inner walls. All players who gaze upon this mural will receive an additional buff...]
[The blessings engraved upon the inner walls merge into one. They transform into [The Grand Pantheon of Blessings].]
This was a powerful Authority skill that bestowed blessings by engraving sacred murals! These were ancient, lost arts that had long vanished from the modern churches. Without Tae-hyun even realizing it, Akisus's Sky Castle was steadily transforming into an incredibly formidable fortress.
-But why does the image of Lord Akisus look so different in each mural?
-Because our god manifests in a different form to each and every one of us.
-Ah, those are truly beautiful words! Hahaha!
Are you out of your minds...
Naturally, when Tae-hyun heard the explanation of what had happened, he was utterly dumbfounded. While the goblins were busy constructing the Spirit Blacksmith, such a massive undertaking had been happening right on the castle's inner walls?
[Carbanog marvels once again at the abilities of the church heroes, noting that those are not skills just anyone can use.]
To create a permanent holy buff sigil across an entire castle... Only those with an astronomically high Holy stat and a heart overflowing with absolute faith could pull off such a feat. They truly were heroes worthy of surviving the Demon Realm!
[Due to this, the castle receives an additional defense bonus.]
[The inner walls become significantly sturdier.]
[Physical Defense increases...]
[Magic Defense increases...]
[All Elemental Resistances increase...]
In truth, looking strictly at the results, this was an overwhelming benefit. It was a boon he should have thanked them for a hundred times over! But business was business, and personal space was personal space. Tae-hyun desperately tried to pry their hands off him, but the church heroes clung to him like leeches.
[Carbanog marvels, remarking that they truly are heroes who survived the Demon Realm.]
Stop marveling at useless things!
"I'm currently very busy repairing the castle, so could we perhaps talk about this later?"
Even Tae-hyun's high-level Speech skill had no effect on these heroes. In the first place, they weren't even listening to a word he said!
[Carbanog marvels yet again, praising them as true heroes of the Demon Realm.]
Cut it out.
"Wait... young man. Was this castle not located in the Demon Realm?"
"Thanks to Lord Akisus's divine intervention, we were able to escape the Demon Realm."
"Oh... as expected...!"
"The great grace of Lord Akisus...!"
The heroes uttered lines that would undoubtedly make them kick their blankets in sheer embarrassment once they finally regained their memories!
"If that is why you called me, now that you understand, I'll be going..."
"No. That is not why we called you. We called you because of the object up there."
"...?"
Tae-hyun tilted his head in confusion. An object on top of the Sky Castle...?
"We felt a powerful aura emanating from it. It is undoubtedly an item that belonged to a Demon Duke."
"Ah..."
Demon Duke's Artifact
The Demon Duke's Artifact! A powerful magical item he had managed to seize and bring with him, but had left neglected because he had no way of utilizing it yet. It seemed the heroes had sensed its potent energy.
"It might have been fine in the Demon Realm, but now that we have returned to the continent, that item must be properly sealed. If it were to be stolen, it would bring about an absolute catastrophe."
[Due to the discussion regarding the Demon Duke's Artifact, the memories of the church heroes have been temporarily restored!]
"Come to think of it... I feel as though we were attempting to seal that very object before we were defeated by the Demon Duke..."
"I recall something similar as well...!"
"What happened after that?"
"I have no memory of it..."
[Carbanog remarks that they were undoubtedly frozen solid from the very start while attempting to seal it.]
Yeah. That sounds about right.