Heavy Metal [ A Monster Evolution LitRPG ]

Chapter 110 – Summoning.

Rusty tapped the screen, selecting the Monster Combat quest. The glowing interface immediately responded, the shimmering text dissolving into streams of light that coalesced into new instructions. The chamber around him hummed with energy as a low, resonant chime echoed from the summoning circle.

The new prompt was intriguing. He wasn’t sure how much of his status would be concealed, but it was probably better if most of it was. On the downside, there was also a part mentioning that he might be unable to use some of his abilities, leaving him feeling uncertain. Fortunately, one of his guides was there to clarify things.

“Ah, I bet this includes your loadouts and perhaps the stash tab. Better prepare the weapon you want to have beforehand.”@@novelbin@@

Alexander commented, bringing up the fact that Rusty was the only monster who could change his form using SP. He would be placed in a temporary form created through the summoning ritual. His inventory and loadouts would likely be inaccessible, so it made sense to decide on the form he wanted to take before entering. The summoning manual didn’t specify that he couldn’t use one of his alternate forms - such as the bulkier or lankier ones he had crafted the last time he was here.

‘It would be great if I knew what I was facing…’

Rusty considered his options carefully, pacing around the summoning chamber as the energy within the runes intensified, pulsating like a heartbeat. He glanced at the forms available to him. One was his larger, bulkier frame - the one with the highest destructive power and defense but the lowest agility. Then there was his lighter model, which allowed for greater joint flexibility and even climbing. Finally, there was his current body, balanced and without any significant weaknesses, though it lacked any standout strengths.

‘If it’s just a duel, this form would probably be best.’

After a moment’s hesitation, Rusty made his decision. He activated a loadout, and his body shifted into the towering, heavily armored configuration. To complement its bulk, he selected a massive iron tower shield and a poleaxe. With no idea who - or what he’d be facing, a versatile weapon capable of piercing, slashing, and bludgeoning damage seemed like the smartest choice.

“Alright, this should be fine… now do I just walk onto the summoning circle?”

“It does seem so Rusty, good luck.”

Alexander replied seemingly agreeing with the current setup. Aburdon on the other hand was a bit more ironic. 

"Oh, I'm sure you won't need luck, Rusty. Just try not to embarrass yourself too much out there."

Aburdon cackled as he floated closer to the summoning circle, his interest in the magic at work evident. Rusty paid him no mind, his towering form clanking as he adjusted the massive tower shield in his left hand and the hefty poleaxe in his right. The weapon’s shaft was much thicker than a standard poleaxe, custom-built to accommodate his enlarged hands.

After reaching the center of the circle, Rusty suddenly felt an unseen force rooting him in place. Lines of glowing runes spiraled outward from his feet, forming an intricate, shifting pattern that danced across the floor, alive with power.

“Here we go…” 

Rusty muttered, steadying himself as the energy surrounded his body. Strange straight lines appeared over his frame which then turned into a checkered pattern. He didn’t understand it but his whole body was glowing blue. Soon he saw a projection of his frame floating up along with his own conscience. For a moment he could see his frame standing inside of the summoning circle before the world went dark…

******

“What’s wrong?”

“I think she can’t do it…”

“Is she really unable to summon a monster? How did she get into the academy?”

The voices of teenagers filled the large arena-like structure. Many people were gathered, all of them wearing similar uniforms of a prestigious Mystwood Academy of Summoners, the premier institution for training those with the rare ability to summon and command otherworldly beings. Its name could be seen at the magical training arena where an event was taking place. In the center of the arena, two young women stood on opposite sides of a glowing summoning circle. 

“I don’t think Katherine will even need to do anything at this point…”

“The  Grandwell family has produced another genius, even if Gwendolin did manage to summon something, she could never win…”

“That’s true, the Rainstar family might be finished…”

The crowd murmured amongst themselves as Gwendolin Rainstar stood frozen at the edge of the summoning arena. Her palms were clasped tightly together, and her heart pounded in her chest. Strands of her raven-black hair had come loose, falling messily over her pale face, which seemed even whiter than usual under the weight of her stress.

The whispered ridicule of her peers echoed through the arena, each cutting word striking her pride like a dagger. Gwendolin’s grip tightened on the small crystal pendant around her neck - a cherished gift from her late grandmother. Closing her eyes, she took a trembling breath, summoning the courage to perform the spell she had practiced countless times.

On one side was Katherine Grandwell, golden-haired and radiating confidence. Her smug smile made it clear she relished the attention. Her family was renowned for their summoning prowess, and Katherine had already proven herself by summoning higher orc variants and other various E-rank creatures, a true genius for her age. She adjusted her ornate silver-and-blue robe, clearly enjoying the murmurs of admiration from the audience.

‘Oh, why isn’t it working… I was able to do it a few times but nothing is coming out now…’

Gwendolin stood there, her simple academy robe hanging awkwardly on her wiry frame. She clutched the silver charm around her neck, trying to channel her energy. Summoning wasn’t just a skill but a magical ability - one that required precise focus and adherence to the summoning ritual. If a caster failed to channel their energy correctly, the ritual would inevitably fail.

When she was alone, the process wasn’t particularly difficult. But under the scrutiny of prying eyes, she could never seem to focus enough to summon anything - not even the weakest G-ranked monsters.

"She's just going to embarrass herself again."

"Does she even belong here?"

"Katherine’s going to wipe the floor with her."

Katherine smirked and raised her voice, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Maybe you should sit this one out, Rainstar. Spare yourself the humiliation."

Gwen clenched her fists, her heart pounding. She wanted to respond, to shout something clever or cutting, but her throat felt dry, and the weight of all those expectant eyes pressed down on her. She focused on the summoning circle before her, it had materialized but nothing yet had appeared. 

“Miss Rainstar”

The instructor’s voice cut through the noise, commanding attention. 

“Are you able to perform your summoning? If not, then I would ask you to step back and vacate the arena for the other students.”

"I–, I can do it!” 

Gwendolin blurted, her voice trembling as if she was about to cry. She tightened her grip on the pendant, her knuckles whitening. The crowd’s murmurs of doubt sharpened, but she forced herself to block them out. She had no choice but to try again - one last desperate attempt to prove herself.

Closing her eyes, she whispered the summoning incantation under her breath, each syllable quivering with raw emotion. She imagined the swirling energy of the summoning circle responding to her plea, her mind reaching into the unknown void where summoners drew their companions.

‘Focus... Breathe... Feel the pull of the magic, like Grandmother taught me.’

The pendant in her hand grew brighter, a faint, comforting warmth emanating from it. Her fear began to wane, replaced by a flicker of hope. Meanwhile, Katherine yawned theatrically, earning a few chuckles from the crowd.

“Oh, Gwendolin, we don’t have all day,” 

Katherine sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. 

“Some of us have real magic to practice.”

Gwendolin tried to ignore her, but her focus continued to waver. She knew this would be her last attempt as the instructors would not allow another failure. Her thin fingers trembled as she anticipated yet another disappointment. Then, something unexpected happened. She felt a force pushing from the other side, as if from a place beyond the void where summoned creatures originated. It pressed forward, almost as though it were being guided by her emotions.

The energy in the arena shifted as the magic summoning circle before her started to react. Gwendolin’s eyes snapped open, glowing faintly with azure light. The arena fell silent as the summoning circle flared to life. Runes inscribed on the ground began to spin and shift, glowing brighter with every passing second. Even Katherine paused her mockery, her smug grin faltering into a look of mild annoyance.

“What’s happening?”

“Is she actually... summoning something?”

“No way. It’s probably a fluke.”

The onlookers still didn’t believe she could complete the magic ritual. Even if she succeeded, they were certain the summoned minion would be weak. To no one’s surprise, a grayish orb of light emerged from the magical circle. Its strange, muted coloring gave it an almost corrupted appearance as if it were a twisted version of a wisp.

“What’s that? Did she summon a Will-o'-Wisp? But why does it look like that?” 

Laughter erupted among the crowd as they beheld the summoned creature. It appeared to be nothing more than a dim ball of light, a being known for its utter lack of combat ability, useful only for lighting a path for adventurers. It was even weaker than a G-rank creature, something incapable of attacking or defending itself.

The laughter of the crowd echoed through the arena, but Gwendolin couldn’t hear it. Her heart was pounding as the grayish orb hovered, pulsating faintly, just above the center of the summoning circle. She had expected something - anything but not this. Her hope was slipping away like water through her fingers. The laughter, the jeers, the disappointment… they were all crashing down on her at once. However, the orb began to shift.

A flicker of flame sparked within the dull, gray sphere, faint at first but growing stronger with every passing moment. The laughter in the crowd faltered, replaced by murmurs of confusion. The orb of grayish light pulsed, swelling in size as flames erupted across its surface. It ignited into a blaze that shimmered with a spectrum of colors, like a twilight sky filled with vivid hues of orange, purple, and gold. The flames danced erratically, as if alive, casting long, flickering shadows across the summoning arena.

“What in the world is that?”

Whispers rippled through the crowd as the flames began to take shape, coalescing into an enormous silhouette. From the radiant blaze emerged a towering figure, its massive, armored frame shimmering as though freshly forged. Embers and ash swirled around its metallic body, glowing faintly in the flickering light. With a thunderous clang, a poleaxe slammed into the ground, followed by an iron tower shield whose immense weight cracked the stone beneath it.

“What is that, an iron golem?”

“No… it looks different?”

The murmurs of the crowd turned to stunned silence as the towering figure fully emerged from the summoning circle. Its frame was immense, easily twice the size of a human, and its armor gleamed with a dark, otherworldly sheen. The poleaxe in its right hand radiated an aura of authority and destruction, while the tower shield on its left seemed impenetrable, as if it could hold back an army. 

Gwendolin blinked, her mind struggling to process what she had summoned. This wasn’t the simple F-rank creature she had expected. The being before her was something far beyond anything she had previously summoned or her peers. Her trembling hands loosened their grip on her pendant as her disbelief was overtaken by awe.

Across the arena, Katherine’s smug smile had vanished, replaced by a tight-lipped expression of uncertainty. She took a step back, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized the towering figure. The instructor, who had remained silent during the earlier ridicule, stepped forward, their gaze fixed on the towering armored figure. A faint glow emanated from the instructor’s monocle as they analyzed the summoned being. Their eyes widened slightly in surprise, though they quickly composed themselves.

“Miss Rainstar...”

The instructor began, their tone more serious now. 

“Do you have any idea what you’ve summoned?”

Gwendolin shook her head, her voice catching in her throat. 

“N-no, I... I just followed the ritual... It just... came to me.”

She truly didn’t know what to expect; her only wish was to summon an F-rank monster. Even if she lost the battle, at least she wouldn’t be deemed a total failure by the other summoners. However, as she observed their reactions, she noticed something strange. The mockery on their faces had vanished, replaced by expressions of genuine shock at what she had summoned.

“Well then, let me tell you - this is a living armor. A unique iron living armor, E-rank. Well done.” 

The man announced after identifying the creature and for the first time in this summoner academy, she heard someone praise her. She felt like crying, but there was no time for tears. Her opponent  Katherine, wasn’t going to let this go unchallenged. Still, Gwendolin felt a hint of pride swell inside of her chest. She had done it. She had summoned something and that something was extraordinary.

‘But a living piece of armor? Did I have an affinity for those?’ 

She wondered to herself as she studied the grayish tint of the monster. It looked unusual for a living armor - larger, with weapons that appeared more refined. Its behavior was just as peculiar. Instead of standing still and awaiting orders like a typical summoned creature, it moved its head, scanning the arena and observing everyone present. It was as if this wasn’t just a simple summoned monster, but one with intelligence and a sense of self.

From the other side of the arena, Katherine scoffed, though her tone betrayed a hint of unease.

“An E-rank living armor? Impressive for you, Gwendolin, but don’t think it’ll save you. My red orc warrior will tear through that hunk of metal like paper.”

The crowd murmured in anticipation as Katherine raised her hand, commanding her summoned creature. The red orc snarled, its twin axes glinting menacingly as it pounded its chest, ready for battle. Its crimson skin seemed to shimmer with a faint magical aura, a sign of Katherine’s potent control over her summon.

Gwendolin swallowed hard. She had no experience commanding something like this. The monster stood there silently, and she stared at it, her mind flooded with uncertainty.

‘What should I do? Should I call out to it like Katherine always does? But… what if it refuses my orders? Sometimes monsters don’t listen…’

Her thoughts spiraled as she imagined every possible failure. But just as she was about to lose control, she heard something that stopped her cold.

‘Hello.’

‘Huh?’

The summoned monster… it had a voice. And somehow, it was speaking to her.