Flipping the Unbreakable Turtle
The sparring kids quickly surrounded me and the homeroom teacher. Even these nobles, who hadn't seen a fight between 3-star summons before, had faces full of curiosity.
"Here I go."
I said that and gave Anna the order. Anna showed no hesitation whatsoever in attacking another summon. Whether she knew this was just a spar where no real harm could come to each other, or because she couldn't refuse her summoner's command—I had no idea.
Either way... she won't defy my orders.
Remembering that one good fact, I turned to gaze at Teacher Oliver's summon. A massive 2-meter turtle made entirely of stone.
Rock Turtle. In the game, it was the 3-star summon with the standout defense. Naturally, its attack power was pitifully low in proportion... but that was just in the game.
Thud-!
"Charge."
Now that it was real, that weight and bulk alone made it a fearsome weapon. Hadn't I just seen it a moment ago? A student mercilessly sent flying by the charging Rock Turtle.
It won't target me directly, though...
If it came down to targeting the summoner, I'd have the win for sure. Anna's killer move, Holy Cross, would blaze in at the speed of light and incinerate the opponent. In this real world, no summon could dodge her swiftest skill, so he wouldn't recklessly order it to barrel straight at me either.
"Anna, you got this?"
"I shall prevail."
Anna replied as she drew her shield and sword. The gear she wielded was heaven-sent holy equipment, specialized against monsters—which meant it wasn't the best matchup against another summon, especially a defense-focused Rock Turtle.
It's fine.
But I trusted the movements I'd seen from her yesterday. The Rock Turtle was slow. Slower than a 1-star wolf, end of story.
"Anna. You know how to handle it like you saw before, right?"
"Yes—I understand, Master."
And Anna, true to her title of guardian holy knight, had instantly grasped the Rock Turtle's weakness. She charged right in. Her speed was unbelievable for someone clad in full plate armor, sword and shield in hand.
Fwhoosh—she vanished from sight in an instant, reappearing behind the Rock Turtle's back before anyone could blink.
—Guwek?
Before the plodding Rock Turtle could even turn, Anna's sword came slashing down.
"Steel Stone!"
At the same moment, Oliver activated his skill. Steel Stone—what players called "Get Hard." In the game, it was just a defense buff that made it tougher, nothing more. But in reality, it was a whole different beast.
Clang-!
"Ngh!?"
A jolt shot through her—Anna's sword bounced off, and she clutched her numb arm as she leaped back. In that gap, the Rock Turtle twisted around to glare at her.
Confirming that Anna's sword couldn't even scratch it, Oliver bellowed triumphantly.
"Sorry, kid, but my Rock Turtle's got the strongest defense among summons of its class. You ain't piercing that with some puny sword."
"Ah, I see."
I eyed the Rock Turtle. Its body had turned a steely black all over, and it was even slower than before. But mobility didn't matter a damn if our attacks couldn't land at all. Speed was irrelevant when the enemy was untouchable.
Holy Cross won't deal damage unless it's against demons.
So no skills. Anna shot me a look, pleading for some kind of plan.
"Hmm, Anna. Fall back."
If attacks weren't working, maybe a timeout for strategy. As I called her back with that in mind, Oliver—waiting for just that moment—shouted to his Rock Turtle.
"Rock Turtle, Cannon Tackle!"
In that instant, the steel-hard Rock Turtle curled into a ball like a cannonball and launched itself. Anna swiftly raised her shield to block, but the sheer mass and momentum made it a devastating weapon on its own.
"Urk-!"
Her shield flew up high, exposing a gap—and the Rock Turtle fired again at the opening. This time, she couldn't block. Just like that student earlier, Anna took it straight to the gut and collapsed, trembling.
Seeing that, Oliver grew smug and pointed at me, launching into a lecture.
"Think pulling a 3-star summon makes the world a cakewalk? You're just a fresh-hatched chick. There are summoners way better than the likes of you everywhere."
"Ah, yeah..."
Not interested. I dug in my ear while watching Anna. The impact must've been huge; she was still shaking, unable to stand.
Now that it's real, there's something beyond just HP or MP...
One more thing grasped about this world. I figured it was time to end this farce.
"Anna, up."
"M-Master... my apologies."
She barely managed to rise at my command. As Anna raised her shield and sword again, Oliver let out a hollow chuckle.
"Your summon's sword can't even nick mine, and that shield can't block a single hit. This spar's pointless now, don't you think?"
"Well... who knows."
If there was one thing I had over this world's summoners, it was knowing every summon's info inside out. That let me exploit their blind spots. There were a few other edges too... but nothing usable right now.
I muttered softly so only Anna could hear. She nodded, getting it.
"Then as your teacher, one more bit of advice."
Oliver yelled at Anna.
"Listening to your elders never hurts! Steel Stone!"
The Rock Turtle's body turned pitch black again, regaining its steel hardness. Anna's sword couldn't pierce that inky stone lump. Theoretically, the perfect combo: defend with Steel Stone, blast with Cannon Tackle once off cooldown, rinse and repeat. The opponent just gets pummeled one-sidedly—a matchup you couldn't win without superior raw stats.
But that was just theory. Now that it was real, real-world tactics were fair game too.
"Hup!"
Anna closed in on the Rock Turtle, shoving her shield under its belly and leveraging it like a fulcrum to flip the beast over. She looked human, but she was half-angel, half-human. A demigod. Her strength could hoist a mountain of stone.
—Guuuk!?
Thud!
The Rock Turtle flipped right over, belly up. Its stubby limbs flailed as it struggled to right itself. With superhuman strength like hers, it'd recover quick if left alone... but
This is a spar.
Anna's sword aimed at the Rock Turtle's belly—the softest skin on its body. Seeing that, I shouted.
"Skill activate."
Anna's sword began to glow. A counter that unleashed all accumulated damage in one blow. Judgment Strike.
"Haaah!"
Anna's sword couldn't pierce the Rock Turtle's defense. But what if it was the Rock Turtle's own attack?
—Grr rumble!
The sword pierced a single point. Deeper, deeper, deeper inside. So deep it was hard to believe no-kill magic was in effect.
—Guwoong!
The Rock Turtle looked at its master with pleading eyes. But Oliver couldn't save it now.
In the end—
Squelch—!
The sword impaled the Rock Turtle clean through. Anna hoisted it up like a skewer. No escaping that, no matter how it thrashed.
I looked at Oliver. Sure enough, even he couldn't deny defeat now; his face was ashen as he stared at his summon.
"Teacher?"
"...I lost."
"Then as promised..."
"Fine. You're exempt from my classes."
"Thanks."
With that, I sent Anna back to her pattern. As the Rock Turtle thudded to the ground, I prepped to ditch this class for good.
As I turned to leave the training grounds, Oliver grabbed me.
"—Where do you think you're going?"
"Ah, weren't my classes with you exempt?"
"...Damn brat."
But skipping was my rightful prize from him, so he had no choice but to let me go.
"Going alone?"
"You didn't get an exemption."
I said that to Sheera, who blocked my path, and she pouted, staring wistfully. Jealous? Get your own.
Leaving the training grounds, I headed straight to the dorm to change. The whole day was Oliver's class—which meant a full day of free time now.
I figured I'd look into Soul Stones and made for the library.
* * *
...Damn it.
Oliver Crockett stroked the wound piercing his summon's belly to back, murmuring apologies. The Rock Turtle licked his hand as if to say it was fine.
He hadn't let his guard down. But he'd never dreamed it'd awaken two Original Arts already.
One per semester gets you called talented... and already?
Ian Clark had something special. He wasn't your average cadet. No wonder the chairman had hinted to keep an eye on him.
Oliver's head already throbbed thinking about the scores he'd give this semester. To hand that kid top marks, he'd have to dock others.
...No helping it.
Sacrificing the many ordinary for one hero—it was inevitable. With that thought, Oliver stood.
Then someone approached. Purple hair filled his view.
Sheera Acacia. Daughter of the Acacia Marquis.
"Cadet Sheera, what is it?"
"Teacher, can I get class exemption if I land a scratch too?"
"What?"
Oliver looked up at her in disbelief. With her 1-star Bluebird, she couldn't even nick his Rock Turtle.
"That's a tall joke."
He'd lost to Ian partly due to the kid's freak talent—and the class match. Without the weight class, talent meant squat.
"Ah, it's fine, Teacher. I've got one too. A 3-star."
"...The Acacia family heirloom summon."
"Yep~"
She summoned it—the 3-star passed down through the Acacias. But Oliver just chuckled wryly.
"...Guess I got underestimated too."
"Well, you just got owned like that."
Looking at giggling Sheera, Oliver slowly rose. His Rock Turtle was still hurt, but not enough to lose to a fresh newbie.
"I'm serious now."
"Anytime—huh...?"
And just like that, Sheera's summon got smashed by the Rock Turtle's attack and went down.
"Sheera Acacia, don't bite off more than you can chew. Reflect on it till class ends."
"...Yes."
"Words are cheap. Stand there with your hands up till it's over."
Sheera was a bit shocked but couldn't ignore the teacher.
...Ian pulled it off fine, though.
Recalling Ian strolling out alone, she replayed her defeat in her mind.