Ikanaite Golem (1)
I bought twenty treasure orbs. They were all mid-tier Advanced grade, which kept the price dirt cheap.
If I had my way, I'd swap out all my other weapons for Rare-grade ones too...
The problem was money. Sure, I wasn't flat broke. I'd gotten that Divine Guard bounty, plus the cut Teison had shared with me. But Rare-grade stuff started getting pricey fast.
This is where the Weapon Summoner's weaknesses really show...
Using a ton of weapons meant burning through cash just as fast. Was this why the devs never released the Weapon Summoner class? You had to be filthy rich to level it properly.
There are ways around it, though.
In a pinch like this, there was only one real play: get sponsored. And since my next stop was the mines anyway, it was about time to make a call. The spot I had in mind could definitely become a company outpost.
I glanced outside the shop. One guy across the street. Another by the building next door. Still had some guild recruiters tailing me. They were working hard.
But joining outfits like that comes with too many headaches.
The biggest issue? Influence. My plan was to round up the other players like me and pull them together. But those places? They were packed with squads, companies, even battalions.
Too many entrenched players.
How much sway could I really build if I jumped into spots already locked down? Plus, support would be minimal—they'd already have their investments lined up.
That's why the place I had in mind checked every box. Logan's Esteno Company.
Maybe meet Logan before I head out.
The thought hit me, so I wrapped up the deals on the spot.
Leg Town, the miners' village in the west. This place lived off digging ore from the nearby mines. Wooden houses connected by bridges and rails snaked between buildings—fully specialized for mining life.
But trouble had brewed lately. Gnolls—monsters with hyena torsos and humanoid bodies—had shown up.
"What do we do? At this rate, we'll all starve!"
"He's right, Chief! We gotta do something. If we sit here, those gnolls'll take our homes!"
They'd started showing up in packs, and now they'd claimed the mines as their turf. All in just a month.
"Hold on, folks. We've already pinged a bunch of companies. Ones interested in our area will send people soon enough."
"Phew, hope they hurry. Or our families'll go hungry."
"When a company claims it as territory, they'll keep our jobs safe, right? I've heard they sometimes boot folks out after taking over."
Esperro companies staked claims on certain zones. Some revamped the whole place with new facilities, ditching the old look.
"Nah, we specified that in our pitch. Only ones who agree will show."
The white-haired village chief patted his hunched back.
"Chief! Chief!"
A young man came sprinting from the village entrance.
"Company folks are here!"
The news they'd waited for. As the kid finished, a group appeared in the distance. Leading them stood out—a guy in a brown muskrat coat down to his thighs, black leather boots. Bushy beard gave him a macho vibe, with a massive round shield and one-handed mace slung on his back. Four more followed, all in aviator jackets and muskrats, equally burly and bearded machos.
"You the chief?"
The shield guy approached.
"That's me."
"We're guildies from Beluti Company. Name's Squad Leader Artman. Heard you got Ikanaite ore. That legit?"
"Damn right. Problem is getting there."
"Don't sweat it. We'll handle that."
Artman waved casually at the villagers, then faced his crew.
"Heard it? It's confirmed. We take this mine no matter what. Boss is losing his shit."
"Leader, no corp-level guildies'd come to a dump like this. Among company-grades, we're tops, right?"
"True, but... Ah, damn. We're not alone."
Artman scowled at another group at the entrance. He knew 'em: Atelock Company guildies from the same city, rank 33.
"Well, if it ain't Beluti. Heard the news and came running? Oops, gotta cut in line ourselves. Heh heh."
A mocking guy approached Artman. Messy long black hair, black jacket, goat-emblem shield in hand. Atelock guild tanker, Antonio.
"Hey, we got interest too. Room for us?"
"You just got here too."
"Perfect. Fair play, yeah?"
"......"
Artman stared silently. A teammate held him back.
"They're stealing our line!"
"Leader, ignore 'em. Talking to that prick just hurts us."
"Hmph......"
Fair point. Antonio wasn't one for normal chats.
"Alright, let's move."
Artman's squad took off first, Antonio's following.
Talks with Logan went smooth. He was waiting on me anyway, and I looped in Kethar and April too. Terms were all mine: full say on battalion recruits. They'd supply any gear I wanted, even craft it with their tech.
Full authority over battalion composition granted to Damian.
Procure and craft requested equipment using company resources.
Maximum support provided moving forward.
-We'll provide maximum support from here on. Tell me anything you need.
Logan accepted without hesitation. In return, I made my first ask right then.
-We're claiming Leg Town's mine.
-...Leg Town. Straight to business post-contract. Got it. We'll move out ASAP.
And just like that, I signed with Esteno Company. Sponsor secured.
Of course, this was just the start. I planned big changes with Esteno as my base.
"Time to roll out."
First perk of sponsorship: transport. Logan hooked us up with a private ride, driver straight to Leg Town.
"This the spot?"
April hopped out first, scanning around. We'd stopped short of the mine, thick forest all 'round. Mine was deeper in.
Normally, you'd chat up the villagers first...
Logan'd handle that later.
"...Still quiet."
Kethar jumped down late, checking the area. I scanned too, eyeing the ground.
"Looks like it's already kicked off. Check this."
I pointed at emerald-glowing earth. Esperro's Company Territory War system. Companies had unique mana colors—emerald meant one had started.
"Huh? Guys? That patch over there turned light purple."
April pointed east. Another company's mana.
Two spots so far.
No changes elsewhere, so two companies here. Territory Wars were hands-off, even for Avalon. Meant flexing on rivals was fair game—but only pre-fight. Strike first and get caught? Different story.
-Grrrrr...
Wolfman Kethar led. Beast form nailed scents.
Deeper in, he signaled.
-...About twenty.
Twenty gnolls. Local mobs under level 30—tough, but doable.
-...Human scent too. Lots of it.
They'd just arrived too. Entry zone, teaming up to test mob levels.
"Let's go."
Good to scout the players here. Might clash—or team up.
-Queeek!
-Queeik!
Gnoll cries grew louder, mixed with human shouts.
"Everyone behind me!"
"Hey, assholes! I said don't swing till I do! Didn't I?!"
Two groups split. One burly-bearded crew, the other goat-shield led.
Crunch!
Crunch!
Solid moves. Guild squads, synced up.
And their tankers' gear is top-shelf?
Others meh, but tanks stood out.
"Come on, you bastards!"
Beard tank's shield layered with steel sheets.
Clang!
Clang!
Already tough, now steel-plated. Defense nuts.
Other tank no slouch.
"Hit me if you dare!"
His shield Giant-sized, blocking huge swaths.
Steel Cover and Giant. Heroic-grade gear, all.
"Whew... They're swarming hard. Huh? Who're those guys?"
Goat-shield tanker spotted us.
"Three? Randoms?"
"Looks it. Company sends would be five minimum..."
"What're you here for?"
Beard tanker frowned, annoyed.
"Claiming the mine."
"What? The mine? Pfft—hahaha!"
Goat-shield bent double laughing. That funny?
"Hey, randos. See this? We're already grinding. And you three think you compete?"
Goat tapped the ground.
"Hmph. You think three can top our mana score?"
True—they'd stacked points already.
But irrelevant.
"No proper tank in sight..."
Beard eyed us up-down.
"Friendly advice: turn back if you wanna live."
Advice or threat? Smelled like the latter.
"Aww, guys. First meet and you're already worried for us? So sweet! You'll be blessed~ Hope you stay safe too. Anyway, we're off!"
April jumped in. She just blurts, vibe be damned. Bet they thought she meant it.
"They'll wipe. Heh."
"Three to this zone? Idiots..."
"Leader, let's go. They'll fumble."
Heard their "concern." Whatever. Them here helped—drawing gnolls while we eyed the mine golem.
"Straight to the mine."
-Got it.
Kethar led. We slipped past squads naturally. They snickered again.
Getting old...
-Queeik!
-Queeek!
Twenty gnolls blocked us. Flanking rush. I summoned weapons left, Kethar and April took right.
"See? Cocky, now dying."
"Heh, watch."
More "worry." They figured we'd flop, just spectating.
-Queeeek!
I ramped speed, summoning more. Rear guildies perked up.
"What? Weapon summon?"
"Summoner like that exists?"
Ignored, focused. But issues.
Whoosh!
Whoosh whoosh!
One: too many gnolls. More piled, everywhere now.
Thung!
Thung!
Block advances first... Used crossbow to pick stragglers.
Thung!
Krunch!
Bolt pierced clean. Level 20+ mobs hit different—tougher, slower kills. Gear not cutting it.
Bleeding triggered.
Luckily, double-curved blades let all weapons apply Bleeding. Blades bit shallow, but bleed drained slow.
Gotta clump 'em...
Bunched? Party build shreds. Issue two: no real tank.
-...I'll do it!
Kethar stepped up, owning it. Sense of duty strong.
He donned Under Worm Shell tattoo—wolfman-sized armor. Boosted HP/defense big, but no tank setup yet.
At least...
-Raaargh!
Whoosh—!
Whiiir!
Kethar roared front. Waves pulsed, buffing me and April.
Steel Roar enhances Defense.
Shell option kicked in. Buffed our defense, Kethar tanked.
"Oho? Roar skill?"
"Nah, just gear. Fake."
Snickers nonstop. Getting annoying.
Poke poke poke!
-Gr... grrr...!
Gnoll scimitars stabbed Kethar. Dodgable, but...
Blood Thirst regen play?
"See? No tank, total mess. Right?"
"Yeah, bro! Heh."
One laughed.
"Leader, he's green. What tank body-blocks...?"
"Hmph. Not anyone can tank. That's why I geared up."
One boasted.
They missed it. Kethar—not a tank—was holding anyway.
-Queeeek!
Thud!
Clang!
Wolf agility. When one lunged us, he smacked weapon aside over grabbing. Stalled it natural.
Sharp eyes too.
Nailed bird count last time. Calm in chaos—tanker trait over DPS.
-...Clumped!
Bloody Kethar'd herded 'em. Cleanup time.
"April, ready."
"Gotcha!"
-Queeeek!
Now shut 'em up. Weapons spread, tagging Bleeding one-by-one.
Bleeding triggered.
-Gu... queeik...!
Deep cuts, not lethal. Level 25+.
"That kill gnolls?"
"Bro, his power's weird. Summoning weapons non-stop?"
"Still trash. Tch."
Chatty bastards.
"Shaaarrr!"
Shiiik!
April Transferred, spreading bleed.
-Queeik...!
-Queeek!
"Huh? Bleed spread?"
"Yeah, looks like."
They noticed. But plain bleed—not killer.
Staff's real juice now.
Kabooom!
April chained Injection Explosion.
Bleeding upgraded.
Wounds worsen dramatically.
Shlorp!
Shlooorp!
Bleed to Worsening Wounds, gashes ballooned. Blood gushed faucet-style.
Gush!
Sploooosh!
One-shottable now. Me and Kethar cleaned up.
580 EXP acquired.
(Territory: +10pt)
590 EXP acquired.
(Territory: +10pt)
550 EXP acquired.
(Territory: +10pt)
Twenty gnolls cleared in a flash, EXP poured in.
"L-Leader?"
"Wh-What the hell?"
"Hic-Hiccup!"
Guildies gawked, eyes bulging. One hiccuped from shock.