Light's Tistania Awakens
The Patron Spirit that had possessed Mainades's body glanced around a few times before smirking, as if it had grasped the situation.
"Heh heh. Arkram remnants, huh? Waking up after centuries, and it's here of all places. Whoever's behind this, it doesn't sit well with me."
Black energy surged wildly from her body in all directions.
"My rare descent into this realm's been ruined. Time for you to pay the price."
The erupting black energy coalesced into the form of a massive sword.
Carpe couldn't help but blurt out in awe, forgetting the dire situation.
"Whoa, Ragna Blade!"
-What's that, you otaku?
"It's something only the cool kids know about."
-Total bullshit, but whatever—why are you so chill right now?
"What can I do? No options left."
Carpe shrugged.
In Last Savior's lore, Patron Spirits were powerful entities that granted players quests, skills, and more. To NPCs, they were literally gods.
For one to descend in person? Fighting wasn't even on the table.
No, even if he wanted to, the penalty from Holy Sacrifice left him powerless.
-Normally, you counter possession with possession.
"Wait, players can do that too?"
-After second job change. The cost is insane, though—no one uses it even if they can.
"What's the price?"
-You lose your Patron Spirit. Gotta play without one afterward.
"Holy shit."
Just imagining it made him curse. In a game where Patron Spirits did all the heavy lifting? No way.
NPCs with one life might risk it, but players? Hard pass.
"Muttering to yourself? Arkram folk were always creepy, past and present."
With each step the Patron Spirit took, the ground cracked beneath its feet.
"Daring to act casual in my presence? Got some ace up your sleeve? Or just too stupid to read the room?"
With his HP at 1, what ace could there be?
His nonchalance came from the quest completion alert.
Dying now wouldn't void it. Probably.
"Die."
The moment the Patron Spirit swung the massive sword at Carpe—
Fwoosh!
The gem in Carpe's hand blazed red.
The soul stone reacts to the intense Patron Spirit energy!
No time to react.
The red gem slipped from Carpe's hand, merging seamlessly into the knight doll.
It happened in an instant.
Clang!
A sharp metallic ring echoed as wind whipped up.
"...Huh?"
When he came to, someone was blocking the Patron Spirit's sword right in front of him.
"Wh-who are you?!"
"A false god like you is unworthy of my name."
The silver-armored knight.
The girl, identical to the doll Carpe had just held, swung her sword fiercely at the Patron Spirit.
Stab.
Caught off guard by the sudden turn?
The Patron Spirit took the hit all too easily.
"Gah! Impossible... Arkram had power like this left?!"
"Watch your tongue. That's no name for your filthy mouth."
"How dare you!"
The Patron Spirit roared in fury, but the tide had turned.
The initial strike must have been fatal; it stayed on the defensive and ultimately took a sword through the chest.
"You... This isn't over..."
"I will hunt you down regardless. As many times as it takes."
"Ar... kram!"
Those were its final words.
Thud.
Mainades's corpse hit the ground, crumbling to ash and vanishing.
Considering its dramatic entrance, the anticlimactic end was shocking.
The silver knight turned slowly toward Carpe, confirming the Patron Spirit's dissipation.
-Whoa.
Her appearance was so flawless it even impressed Cheonma Jijon, who lived with "graphics nerd" as his nickname.
Her clear blue eyes fixed on Carpe.
After a brief moment—
So fleeting it seemed like an illusion, the corner of her mouth twitched upward.
"The Magic King's first sword. Tistania of Radiance."
Her voice was melodic yet firm with resolve.
"I awoke here under Arkram's guidance."
Huh?
This feels familiar...
"I shall ask."
Her golden hair, faintly tinged red, fluttered with mana.
Incredibly, Carpe's first impression wasn't "beautiful" or "noble"—
"Are you my master?"
It was a very real worry: Is this game gonna get sued for plagiarism?
"Tistania of Radiance?"
"Call me Tina, if you please. Long titles risk delaying responses in emergencies."
"Hmm. Tina, then."
"Speak freely with me. A king loses majesty if he honors even his vassals with formality. Master."
She spoke on one knee before Carpe.
She looked like she'd stepped straight from a novel—a knight incarnate. Awe was inevitable.
"Got it. So, Tina, you're a doll made by the Magic King himself?"
"Indeed. Precisely, a homunculus, but that suffices."
According to her, the Magic King poured his essence into seven such dolls.
His closest aides, who served until the final battle with the Patron Spirits.
Tina was the first created.
Bonus: She'd recognized Carpe as the Magic King's heir at first glance.
Asking if he was her master? Just a line she'd always wanted to say... This doll was no ordinary one.
-Who knew Magical Fist Lord was a summoner class?
Cheonma Jijon whistled.
It packed more firepower than a siege-mage, had surprisingly high HP for melee mage-swordplay, an 8-star crafting skill—and now a 9-star summon?
-"We threw in everything since we don't know what you'll like." What the hell?
At this point, it felt like the devs were legally breaking balance under the "Mythic" label.
-Anyway, good for you. Solo has limits eventually.
Every MMORPG fan dreams of it once:
One-Man Army! Enemy of Ten Thousand!
Soloing raid bosses that take hordes of players.
Toppling mega-guild fortresses single-handedly!
But it was near-impossible fantasy.
Even world #1 Gunter couldn't handle top-10 rankers alone—that was consensus.
True one-man army was novel fodder only.
-Summoners are a partial exception. Build 'em right, and it's feasible.
Necromancers, tamers, spiritists.
Those who fought via minions could solo raids.
But mains were usually frail, hitting walls eventually.
Carpe? Different story.
Overwhelming personal power from a Mythic class!
Plus mighty minions? For real...
-Hmm. Time to tweak the plan. Priority: minion-boost gear...
"Master. I've wondered since earlier—what's that stray ghost?"
-...Stray ghost? Hey, what'd you just call me?!
"Pardon the interruption."
She rose, drew her sword, and aimed it squarely at Cheonma Jijon.
"Grant permission, and I'll exterminate that worthless stray at once. Master, your command."
-...Worthless... stray...
Were Arkram folks secretly exorcists? Why else always call him a ghost on sight?
Cheonma Jijon, burly but sensitive inside, took another emotional scratch.
"Wait, no! Absolutely not!"
"Why? It bears a faint false god aura. Insignificant, but for safety, I propose elimination."
-Faint... insignificant...
"Stop! You'll kill him with words before the sword swings!"
Carpe quickly explained before she could strike. She listened silently, then nodded.
"I see. An inexplicable incident—you awoke in a false god's shell."
"Yeah."
"Perhaps a curse from those false gods."
"Nah, probably not..."
"Its aura's faint because it was once a mere human. But its knowledge reaches the heavens, making it your guardian spirit, not false. Understood."
She bowed deeply to Cheonma Jijon—a perfect apology.
"My rudeness to the Strategist."
-Hmph. Ignorance forgiven. But what's this "Strategist"?
"Is it not? One who guides the king must be Strategist."
-Hmm. Strategist... Not bad.
Cheonma Jijon repeated it, clearly pleased.
"Any other questions, Master?"
"Yeah, but first—change 'Master'."
"Issue with it?"
"Plagiarism vibes..."
"Plagiarism?"
She tilted her head at the unfamiliar term.
"If it bothers you, I'll change it."
"Yeah, just call me by name. Feels better."
"Impossible. A vassal cannot casually utter the king's name. I'll use 'Liege'."
"Ugh. Compromise for now, I guess."
'Liege' was cringey too, but better than 'Master'.
"Yes, my Liege. I swear to be your sword and annihilate your foes."
"Cool. Looking forward to it."
Quest event 'Possession' cleared. Links to next quest.
"Oh ho."
Hearing Tistania's oath must've been the clear condition.
As Carpe checked the next quest—
Beep-beep-beep!
"Ah, damn."
Logout timer warning. Quest details tomorrow, then.
"See you tomorrow."
-Rest well.
Carpe bid farewell to Cheonma Jijon, Mukhyang, and Tina, then logged out.
Whoosh!
Simultaneously, Cheonma Jijon's body shifted to his old room.
"Third time and still not used to it. What's the mechanic here?"
"Chyu!"
"...You're the biggest mystery, dude. Why follow me here? No spirit realm or whatever?"
"Chyuchyu!"
"Sigh, talking to you's pointless. I'm the crazy one..."
"Indeed, is this the Strategist's office? Quite unique."
Whip.
Cheonma Jijon's head snapped around. There stood Tistania, admiring the space.
"W-what?! Why are you here?!"
"Hm..."
Tina pondered his question before replying.
"I don't know either."
"This is nuts."
What the hell? What's going on?
Then—
Number of retainers increased.
'Room' function now unlocked.
Room is a rest and production space for player and retainers. Upgrading adds features and boosts retainer abilities.
You are the Room manager.
"...What the actual fuck is this."
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw