I Alone Am an EX-Class Summoner

Chapter 29

Wow.

That was real?

- Heh.

Baek Jin-woo stared at Poryong who was smiling and gripping her staff with both hands, unable to hide his astonishment.

Hun-gyo had been absolutely right.

As soon as he had suggested to replace the usual dungeon team with Lamba, the Sheriff and three Lava Drakes, Poryong had visibly panicked.

He had also told her.

"We'll do a dungeon with just the two of us after you learn 'Linked Strike'."

So he'd spent the day doing dungeons before returning in the evening to an unexpected sight.

[Summoning: Explosive Dragon Sage]

[Race: Human]

[Level: EX (Isolated Classification)]

- Isolated due to balance-breaking factors found in certain circumstances.

[Level: 42]

[Stats]

Strength: 20

Intelligence: 85

Stamina: 20

Agility: 20

HP: 22,000

MP: 500

Critical hit chance: 55%

Critical damage: 185%

[Skills]

- Explosive Dragon Wave: Sends dragon-shaped flames forward.

- Explosive Dragon Linked Strike Technique: Enables you to store Explosive Dragon Wave.

She had truly mastered it.

"Hun-gyo definitely has extraordinary insight."

The first emotion that came to mind was joy.

No matter what caused it, the moment Poryong mastered Linked Strike, her value skyrocketed.

For reference, even during Battle of the Summoners, no player had taught Explosive Dragon Techniques to an Explosive Dragon Sage.

Only JinuGod had done it.

Poryong's wishes?

Baek Jin-woo didn't think much of them.

Some might ask, "Shouldn't you scold her for being so cunning?"

Or, "Is it okay to let it go?"

"Why bother?"

This is where good players and bad players differ.

Whether or not you directly confront a summon's wishes.

A summon's wishes are like quests.

Completing these quests also benefits the player!

Thinking of it as an extension of the game, most players would have played the same way as Baek Jin-woo.

It's just that experiencing it in reality makes it more immersive.

"I can just use it to my advantage."

The desire to stay close to him was endearing at first, wasn't it?

"Poryong! Well done. You really worked hard."

Baek Jin-woo smiled as he ruffled her hair.

- Thank you, Jin-woo Nim.

"Good."

Rustle, rustle.

Baek Jin-woo pulled something out of his jacket.

It was a shiny VIP company card.

"Since you succeeded as promised, today is a chicken and beer party for everyone! Hun-gyo."

- Yes, my lord!

"Give the summoning a rest until tomorrow evening."

- Rest... from training, you mean?

Yes.

Exactly.

Hun-gyo's wish was all about training, wasn't it?

But well.

He could handle it tactfully.

After all, he was an experienced player.

"You said it yourself, didn't you? Rest is also a form of training. From now on, let's make it a rule. Whenever someone learns a new skill, we'll combine rest with a bonding party. Didn't you say teamwork was important?

- Oh, if that's the intention, then I'm all for it. Teamwork between summons is indeed an essential part of the training.

"Exactly, exactly."

As expected, his head was completely filled with thoughts of training.

Baek Jin-woo chuckled as he made a phone call somewhere.

- Yes, please deliver 50 chickens and 10,000 cc of draught beer. Yes, sir! 50 chickens is right!

The local chicken shop.

That was for the humanoid summons.

- Is this Brother's Butcher Shop? Bring all the meat you've got today, plus whatever's in stock. Yes, everything. No, I'm not joking.

Even the local butcher.

Today was a feast day for both humanoid and non-humanoid summons.

"With a 1 billion won company card, this much is only fair."

Even if they held a feast every time a skill was learned, it was hard to imagine spending 1 billion won on food.

Frankly, he wasn't sure if it was even possible.

"And Poryong."

- Yes, Jin-woo Nim.

"Since you learned a skill this time, it'll be just the two of us in the dungeon next week."

- Really?

Poryong's face lit up with joy.

"Now that you've learned Linked Strike, the next thing you need to master is Transformation."

Explosive Dragon Technique Transformation.

A skill that allows the user to shape the dragon flames as desired.

From Transformation, a variety of uses become possible.

It could form a shield, build walls or create gusts of wind.

Of course, mastering this skill won't be quick.

"It requires mana control at its absolute peak."

Still.

Not to ask unless he spoke first.

"Are you sure it's okay?"

"Yes, I wanted to challenge him at this time anyway."

"I see..."

"Oh, and I won't be using any equipment this time."

"You're not planning to sell the information?"

"No."

This time Lamba, Hun-gyo and Poryong were key participants.

He didn't want to reveal their existence too soon.

"And above all."

Communication was very important in the Tower of Trials.

If he wore equipment, the summons wouldn't be able to talk.

"Do what you feel comfortable with, Jin-woo."

"Thank you for understanding."

"Oh, it's not about understanding."

Yoo Ji-ah smiled.

"Once you start climbing the tower... Jin-woo's value will skyrocket."

Indeed.

Yoo Baek's business opportunities seemed endless.

"By the way, can I ask you a favour?"

"A favour?"

Baek Jin-woo tilted his head.

What kind of favour?

"It's just a real favour, so you don't have to say yes."

"Sure, let's hear it."

"Well, there's a national team selection competition in two months."

"Oh."

He knew about it.

He had looked it up and read about it.

Every year, around the end of June, ten players were chosen to represent the country.

Players affiliated with both the headquarters and the major guilds could participate.

And those selected?

They would compete in the World League at the end of the year.

Against ranked players like Rachel and MoscowMan.

Fighting against the best ranked players in the world to earn rewards from the system.

"Don't individuals need recommendations to join?"

Although YooBaek was a management group, it wasn't technically a formal guild.

Since it only managed one player, it was treated as a single entity.

"With a recommendation from a Congressman, it's possible! Actually... um, Congressman Park Chang-seok, who supports our company..."

Yoo Ji-ah started to explain.

What had happened at the headquarters and how Congressman Park had impulsively made a bet with another congressman.

"Hm."

Baek Jin-woo stroked his chin.

Participating in the national team selection didn't seem too difficult. The problem was...

He would have to compete against world class players.

It was a bit daunting, but also...

"Eight months from now?"

Until then, it seemed manageable.

If Poryong mastered 'Devour' by then, that was it.

"If you're selected as a national representative, you'll receive immense support. The current government spares no expense for proven players."

"Hmm, really?"

Money.

He needed money.

To summon another EX-level summon.

"PVP-wise, though, Dol-dol is broken."

Dol-dol.

The nickname for B-grade Cyclone Slayer that JinuGod had used in the past.

Baek Jin-woo had once held the top spot in the Player vs. Player rankings with Dol-dol.

Back then, he had defeated Rachel's five summons (including S-grades) in five seconds with Dol-dol before it was deleted...

"How much support do they give?"

"It varies from year to year, but you'd probably get several high-level summoning scrolls. Maybe even a top-tier scroll..."

"Oh."

A top-tier Summoning Scroll?

[Grade C: 94%]

[Grade B: 5%]

[Grade A: 1%]

A scroll with these probabilities, with a chance of a Class A summon.

Currently, there were no such scrolls on the market, and their value was astronomical.

Their price was basically whatever one was willing to pay.

Only a nation could procure such a thing, as even large guilds couldn't dream of it.

"This is irresistible."

After some thought, Baek Jin-woo nodded.

"Okay. Let's aim for two months."

"Yes, I understand. Thank you!"

Under the desk, Yoo Ji-ah's clenched fist shook with excitement.

"Congressman Park Chang-seok."

Don't forget this debt.

"We're not talking about just any player here - this is JinuGod, JinuGod!"