I Ascend Alone-Chapter 16: First Summon

A shock ran up my arm. My dagger stopped, barely piercing his flesh. Like trying to stab through iron.

My eyes widened. What the hell is this guy made of?

The warlord's grin widened. Then, before I could react, His elbow smashed into my ribs.

A white-hot pain exploded in my side as my vision blurred. My body flew through the air, crashing into the ground with a brutal roll. The impact knocked the air from my lungs.

I gasped, struggling to get up.

He turned to face me, rolling his shoulders. Completely unharmed.

A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest. "Not bad, little rat." His voice was thick with amusement. Like he was toying with me.

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to my feet. My ribs ached, and every breath felt like fire. I couldn't win against him head-on. That much was obvious.

The warlord took a slow step forward, savoring my struggle. He knew. He knew I had no chance against him. And then, I glanced around.

The elite orcs had formed a loose circle around the chamber's edges, their weapons lowered but their eyes sharp. They weren't joining the fight. They were waiting for their leader to finish his game.

I exhaled slowly.

This is my chance.

The sub-quest still burned in the back of my mind:

[Sub-Quest: Kill an Elite Orc Inside the Castle]

Penalty for Failure: Death.

If I was going to die anyway, I'd rather do it on my own terms.

I shifted my stance, making sure the warlord saw me tremble. I let my breathing hitch, forced my posture to slump slightly—the perfect image of a cornered prey. Then, I turned and ran.

"Pathetic," the warlord scoffed. He didn't chase. He didn't need to. He thought I was already broken.

The elite orcs barely reacted. They didn't see me as a threat anymore.

As I sprinted, I adjusted my trajectory, making it seem like I was heading for the exit—until, at the last second, I twisted my body and veered straight toward the nearest elite orc.

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His eyes widened in shock.

I activated Phantom Step, my body flickering as I closed the gap instantly.

Before he could even lift his weapon—

SHNK!

My dagger sank into his throat.

His mouth opened in a silent scream as blood gushed from the wound. His hands clawed at my wrist, but his strength was already failing.

A notification flashed before my eyes.

***

[Sub-Quest Complete]

Rewards: +12 Stat Points, [Eclipse Legion] Acquired.

***

The moment the body hit the ground, the warlord moved, faster than before.

The warlord's massive hand blurred toward me, a monstrous force aimed to crush me where I stood.

I couldn't dodge. I barely had time to register the incoming attack when—

CLANG!

Vance's sword clashed against the warlord's wrist, diverting the trajectory just enough for me to stumble backward.

A second later—

BOOM!

Dane's hammer smashed into the warlord's ribs from the side, sending a shockwave rippling through the air. The impact barely pushed the warlord back, but it forced him to shift his stance.

"Focus, kid!" Vance shouted, his blade sparking as he locked weapons with the warlord. "Now's not the time to space out!"

I gasped for breath, my heart pounding. I was seconds away from death.

While Vance and Dane kept the warlord engaged, I seized the brief moment of safety and pulled up my system window.

***

[Main Quest: Survive the Mutated Gate]

Objective: Clear the Mutated Gate

Time Limit: Indefinite

Still active, no changes. But beneath it..

[Sub-Quest Complete]

Rewards Acquired: +12 Stat Points, [Eclipse Legion]

***

My fingers trembled as I scrolled down to my stats.

Twelve free points. That was a massive boost—one I desperately needed.

I exhaled sharply. No hesitation.

I immediately distributed the points:

+5 to Agility. I needed more speed. If I couldn't overpower my enemies, I had to outmaneuver them.

+4 to Strength. My attacks barely did anything against stronger enemies. I needed to hit harder.

+3 to Intelligence. If I took another hit like before, I might not get back up next time.

The changes rushed through my body, my muscles tightening, my senses sharpening. I felt it instantly.

And then, a new skill manifested before my eyes.

[Eclipse Legion] (High-Tier Summoning Skill)

Allows the user to create and command shadow warriors formed from the lingering essence of fallen foes. These warriors retain combat instincts but are bound to the user's will.

I clenched my fists. "A high-tier summoning skill?"

My gaze flicked toward the fallen orc at my feet. Could I...?

I took a deep breath and activated Eclipse Legion.

The moment I did, the shadows beneath the corpse began to shift.

A cold pulse rippled through my body as the shadows beneath the fallen orc began to twist and writhe, like living smoke. The corpse twitched—then sank into the darkness, as if being devoured by an unseen force.

Then, A figure emerged.

A warrior clad in pure black armor, its form flickering like a mirage. Its eyes glowed dimly, a haunting silver light in the darkness. Despite having no visible mouth, I could feel its silent obedience, waiting for my command.

***

[Eclipse Legion: Shadow Warrior Summoned]

- Unit Rank: Elite Orc

- Retains combat experience from its former life

- Bound to the summoner's will

***

A rush of exhilaration coursed through me. "This... This was insane."

But before I could fully process what I had just done—

BOOM!

The ground shook as Dane and Vance continued their desperate battle against the warlord. Sparks flew as Vance barely deflected a brutal downward strike, his feet skidding across the floor.

Dane took the opportunity to swing his hammer into the warlord's side, but the monster barely flinched. It retaliated with a backhand strike, sending Dane crashing into a nearby pillar with a deafening CRACK!

"Dane!" Vance growled, tightening his grip on his blade.

The warlord loomed over them, his blood-red eyes gleaming with amusement. "Pathetic."

I clenched my fists. We're going to lose at this rate.

I turned to my newly summoned shadow warrior, my heartbeat quickening. "Attack the warlord. Now." The shadow warrior moved instantly.

In a blur of darkness, it shot forward, twin curved blades materializing in its hands.

The warlord's amused expression twisted into shock as the shadow warrior appeared behind him in an instant.

SCHLING!

A black blade sliced across the warlord's back. It wasn't a deep wound, but it was enough to make him stagger forward, his red eyes burning with sudden rage.

"What—?!" Vance's eyes widened. "Where the hell did that come from?!"

I stepped forward, my own blade in hand. "We have a chance. Let's take it."

The warlord roared, turning to face my summoned warrior. But now, with his attention divided—

Vance and Dane moved.

"Now!" Vance shouted, his sword flashing forward.

Dane, still groggy from the hit, gritted his teeth and pushed forward.