Episode 2: First Summon
Yeah, I was curious.
What was this Special Reward?
What could it be?
No need to ask.
《YES》
Pop! Pop!
《A total of three Special Rewards rewards will be granted.》
“Whoa!”
Three Special Rewards?
I didn’t know what they were, but I couldn’t help but let out a gasp of awe.
《The first Special Reward is being granted.》
《Congratulations! Lucifer-nim has awakened as an adventurer.》
Flash!
In that instant, I instinctively knew I had become an adventurer.
Knowledge of how to access my status window, summon creatures, the marketplace, and various other functions flooded my mind.
Awakening as a Special Reward?!
This alone was already a jackpot!
And there were still two more to go?
《The second Special Reward, ‘Apocalypse Summoning Tome,’ is being provided.》
Apocalypse Summoning Tome?
What’s that? I barely had time to think.
Thud!
A thick, dark purple book dropped in front of me.
When I tried to pick it up, it was surprisingly heavy—probably around 10 kilograms.
“Whoa, what the heck is this? What’s it for?”
As if answering my question, the system responded.
《You can perform an ‘Apocalypse Summon’ using the received summoning tome.》
“Apocalypse… what?”
Then came the final Special Reward.
《The third Special Reward, ‘Apocalypse Summon Selection Ticket,’ is being granted.》
As the message appeared, a dark purple ticket materialized and was promptly absorbed into the Apocalypse Summoning Tome I was holding.
I stared at it blankly, then realized something odd.
Apocalypse Summon?
It sounded like a new rank of summoning ticket.
But as far as I knew, there was no “Apocalypse” rank in Legend Seven.
The game had six ranks:
《Common – Advanced – Rare – Hero – Legendary – Mythical》
‘So, with Apocalypse, does that make seven ranks?’
It seemed a new rank had been added that I didn’t know about.
Since it was called a “Selection Ticket,” it likely allowed me to choose a summon from that rank.
The question was where this “Apocalypse” rank stood among the existing ones.
‘It’s gotta be higher than Rare, right? It’s a clear reward, after all.’
I wasn’t greedy enough to hope for Legendary or Mythical.
Those two ranks, even their summoning tickets alone, cost astronomical amounts.
Of course, even a low-rank summon could be useful in my hands.
They’d just be a bit limited in application.
Still, if it’s a high rank, that’d be even better, wouldn’t it?
“Come on! If it’s a Special Reward, make it worthy! Let me get something good!”
I took a deep breath and rubbed my hands together.
It’s the usual ritual for anyone playing a collectible RPG—a personal superstition for better pulls.
With probabilities this brutal, you can’t help but cling to superstitions.
《To use the Apocalypse Summon Selection Ticket, please open the Apocalypse Summoning Tome.》
As the message appeared, I looked at the summoning tome I’d received as a Special Reward.
A thick, dark purple book, intricately decorated with moon and sun motifs.
At a glance, it almost looked like a card binder.
My hands were sweaty as I lightly touched it.
“Hoo!”
After a deep breath, I carefully opened the book.
At that moment, a screen flickered before my eyes, making me doubt my senses.
【Apocalypse Summon Selection Ticket】
Description: A selection summoning ticket bound to Lucifer-nim, allowing the summoning of episode villains.
[List]
- Siren of the White Valley, Ruinbringer (Dark)
- Priestess of Defiance, Marena (Light)
- Liberator of Death, Caligo (Dark)
- Lord of the Skies, Ariel (Light)
- Black Prince, Theo (Dark)
- Immaculate Lion, Lucevar (Light)
- Witch of the Apocalypse, Hertia (Dark)
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
‘Summon episode villains?!’
This Special Reward was truly something else.
To be able to form a team with episode villains from the start?
But…
‘…Is it okay to summon villains from scratch like this?’
Unlike when Legend Seven was just a game, in reality, summoning doesn’t guarantee a contract.
Most summons agree to contracts, but high-rank or particularly temperamental ones might refuse and vanish entirely.
And, as I mentioned before, villains are generally ferocious and disobedient.
Back when it was a game, I managed to tame them through sheer effort, but would they listen to “Oh Hyun-woo” instead of “Lucifer”? That was uncertain.
Tick.
Moreover, I’d never heard of summoned creatures retaining memories of their user from the game, so these would likely be “untamed villains.”
In other words, I could end up in a dangerous situation, facing ferocious villains with nothing but my bare hands.
‘Tch… No way. If I rush in recklessly, I might end up in a bad spot. Better gear up a bit and summon them slowly.’
Let me say it again: I’m confident.
Even with ordinary summons, I could grow stronger faster than anyone else.
While building a solid foundation, I could plan strategies and setups in advance, then summon the optimal villain…
Tick.
“…What’s with this ticking sound that’s been going on?”
The incessant ticking was getting on my nerves when another message window popped up.
Wondering what it was this time, I checked the contents.
《The item usage time limit is running out. Time remaining: 05 minutes, 16 seconds.》
《If you do not complete the contract within the remaining time, the Special Reward will expire.》
“What the hell?!”
Why is the time limit so tight?
Sure, nothing in life is easy, but a Special Reward I waited ten years for expiring in five minutes? That’s just cruel!
No time to think about this.
I have to choose now.
Lose the villain summoning ticket entirely, or take the risk and aim for the jackpot.
The decision didn’t take long.
“This… damn game! Fine, I’ll take the shot!”
It might seem reckless, but I had some basis for it.
‘Summons cannot directly attack the summoner who called them.’
This was an unchanging rule, both when Legend Seven was a game and now in reality.
In the worst case, my tiny studio apartment might get trashed, but that’s a risk I could handle a hundred times over.
“Come on, think fast. Who’s the best choice?”
All the villains have exceptional individual abilities.
But some require heavy investment of resources to be effective.
Right now, I’m flat broke.
I mean, I just awakened as an adventurer.
‘A summon I can raise without resources. That’s the first condition.’
That rules out three of them already.
Four left.
‘I can only summon one right now. So it has to be versatile, able to overcome disadvantages in equipment, skills, and level.’
That eliminates two more villains from the list.
‘And above all… they’re villains. I shouldn’t expect them to listen to me. So, it’s better to pick one that’s easier to bond with. I need to raise their affinity quickly to make them obey.’
There’s one summon that meets all these conditions.
The Episode 1 boss.
The Queen of the Shadow Elves, Hertia.
I made up my mind and clicked her name with my finger.
《Summoning the Witch of the Apocalypse, Hertia.》
Whoosh!
Instantly, my room filled with swirling black clouds.
The vortex sent clothes, blankets, and dishes flying around.
‘Whoa, whoa, whoa!’
Cleanup might be a hassle, but who cares about that with this spectacle unfolding?
As the black clouds gradually subsided, a woman emerged from the swirling darkness.
Radiant, long silver hair.
Pale skin and delicate features.
Her captivating appearance didn’t inspire fondness but rather tension due to her chilling aura.
A smile graced her face, yet a sticky, murderous intent oozed from her eyes, like morning mist.
The Witch of the Apocalypse, Hertia.
In person, she felt even more villainous.
And that made it all the more satisfying.
Gulp.
I swallowed hard and slowly spoke to her.
“Her… tia?”
In that instant, her slender hand seized my throat.
“Urk!”
《Hertia has broken the summoning contract and is attacking the summoner!》
《Summoner’s health is at 80%.》
Summons cannot attack the summoner who called them.
This was one of the few consistent rules, both before and after the Great Cataclysm.
But this one just shattered that rule!
‘I… can’t… breathe…!’
I couldn’t breathe properly.
I knew she’d be hard to handle, but attacking an adventurer directly?
“How dare a mere human summon me?!”
“Urgh… hng…!”
“This body belongs to Lucifer-nim! Not some filthy creature like you!”
Amid the chaos, the name ‘Lucifer’ rang in my ears.
How does she remember that name?
I was told summons don’t retain memories of past summoners!
“Even among the same species, you’re worlds apart from him! No dignity, no spirit! I’d rather kill you and die myself than belong to a pathetic wretch like you!”
《Summoner’s health is at 50%.》
The system flashed red, urging me to do something.
What the hell am I supposed to do?!
‘Give me some info, at least! You call this murderous summon a Special Reward?!’
As I cursed the system, a new tooltip conveniently appeared.
See, I knew they wouldn’t just let me die!
《Warning! A summon that breaks the contract and attacks the summoner will be erased if the summoner dies!》
Screw you, system!
It’s more worried about the summon than me!
The system clearly can’t be trusted.
But I’m not going to die like this.
What about my family? My sibling, left to care for our parents alone? My entire life?
No way I’m dying like this. Absolutely not!
《Summoner’s health is at 30%.》
Without realizing it, I bit my lip hard.
It seems I have no choice but to give up on Hertia.
No matter how much I hate wasting the selection ticket, my life comes first.
‘Reverse summon! Now! Reverse summon!’
《Attempting to reverse summon the Witch of the Apocalypse, Hertia.》
“Pathetic trick…!”
Crackle!
《The summon has refused the reverse summon!》
What the hell!
Not only is she attacking her summoner, but now she’s refusing to be reverse summoned?!
How am I supposed to stop this crazy woman’s rampage?
“Urgh, hng…”
It’s no use. My brain’s not working.
Lack of oxygen is making me feel sleepy.
‘Is this… the end…?’
My breath is fading.
My vision slowly darkens.
Beyond it, the past 28 years of my life flash by like a panorama.
‘Life… flashing before my eyes…?’
I used to laugh at how convenient this trope seemed in comics, but to think I’d actually experience it.
And most of the scenes flashing by are from Legend Seven.
I really was obsessed with that game. Even in this dire moment, it almost makes me chuckle.
But surprisingly, some of the information is useful.
‘My child! My child!’
Hertia’s life.
Born as a shadow elf, persecuted by other elves.
The joy of finding a partner and having three children despite hardships.
The despair when her cherished children were chosen as sacrifices for the World Tree.
The powerlessness after trying everything to change their fate, only to lose them.
The rage toward the shadow elf king who condoned it all.
The thrill of usurping the throne through force and burning down the elves and the World Tree after a long war.
Recalling her entire story, I revisited her words from our brief exchange.
Though short, there might be a clue in that conversation.
‘This body belongs to Lucifer-nim! Not some filthy creature like you!’
‘Lucifer…!’
Hertia was furious that a mere human, not Lucifer, had summoned her.
What if I could prove I’m Lucifer?
‘Think…! Come up with something!’
A way to prove to her that I’m Lucifer.
A path to save my life and, if things go well, make Hertia my subordinate.
‘…This could work!’
Finally, I thought of one method.
It’s a bit embarrassing, but this isn’t the time to be picky.
‘What’s a little embarrassment in a situation like this? Just close your eyes and do it!’
From now on, I’d act like my past self.
The Oh Hyun-woo from his late chuunibyou phase, full of youthful bravado.
I consciously lowered my voice.
Like swapping filters, I made it deep, dignified, and commanding.
Using my last breath, I uttered one word.
“Her.”
“?!”
Hertia looked startled.
The grip on my throat loosened slightly, giving me room to breathe.
I didn’t miss the chance and kept talking.
“That impatient personality of yours hasn’t changed.”
“How… how do you know that nickname…?”
Hertia, flustered, quickly released my throat and covered her mouth with both hands.
She seemed to suspect something.
I spread my left hand to cover my face.
Then, I tilted my gaze downward at a 60-degree angle.
It was the over-the-top, pretentious pose that 18-year-old Oh Hyun-woo thought was ‘super cool.’
“Didn’t I tell you? I’d make your dream come true. For Ser, Ner, and Bar—the dreams of your three lost children as well.”
In that moment, Hertia pointed at me with trembling hands and spoke.
“Could it be… Lucifer-nim?”