Chapter 20: A New Companion (1)

[The Guardian Stone Tablet has been activated!]

When Popo was summoned—

There was only one Stone Tablet that glowed.

And Popo emerged from it.

“Huh?”

I stepped forward in one stride.

And then, I was surprised again.

Why?

“There are two.”

Two Stone Tablets were glowing.

One was large, and the other was small.

I didn’t know what the difference meant.

But one thing was clear—this time, two guardians might be summoned.

[Minimum level 25 confirmed.]

[Second Guardian, <Magic-Powered Battle Golem>, awakens from a long slumber.]

[Third Guardian, <Luminous Har>, awakens from a long slumber.]

“……!”

I was right!

From both Stone Tablets, brilliant golden light burst forth as new beings appeared before me.

Boom!

A being appeared in a stream of pitch-black light.

Its appearance was made of black iron and magical metals, its whole body encased in armor inscribed with magic runes.

Though the armor’s surface looked like ancient metal, within it flowed a constant stream of radiant red mana, and I could see an energy core faintly pulsing in its chest.

Its face was like a helmet with no expression.

Deep-set eye sockets burned with red mana light, and a dragon crest was engraved atop its head.

It looked like something straight out of an ancient legend—an intimidating, overwhelmingly destructive presence!

“But…”

My eyes narrowed.

“Why is it so small?”

Its tiny frame didn’t even reach my knees.

This little thing was a Magic-Powered Battle Golem?

Still, it’s too early to judge just by its looks.

This is the Dragon’s Lair.

Even an ant-sized being might wield the power of Hercules.

Don’t jump to conclusions!

“Hi there. Nice to meet you.”

I greeted the little guy.

“Ke…ron.”

Psssshhhhh

It let out a mechanical noise.

Then the red light in its eyes faded out completely.

Just like a powered-down electronic device!

“…?”

I blinked and poked at it.

But it didn’t move at all.

It really looked powered off.

And—why can’t I see its level or name?

Come to think of it, Popo’s information didn’t appear right away either. I think it showed up about five minutes later with the message,

[Guardian Contract has been inherited.]

“Don’t tell me it won’t inherit the contract because it’s powered off?”

Heh…

I gave a dry chuckle—then suddenly:

[The ultimate and most fearsome strategic magic weapon, Arkeron, has inherited the Guardian Contract.]

A system message popped up before my eyes.

And then—its level and name became visible:

‘Lv 251,

Magic-Powered Battle Golem

Arkeron

“……!!”

My eyes widened like they were about to split open.

Level 251?

Is that really 251?

I rubbed my eyes and checked again.

Yep—still 251.

“What the…?”

Insane!

I was so shocked I couldn’t even speak.

I had already realized, through Popo, that levels above 100 existed.

But now a level 200+ being suddenly appeared—and I was completely speechless.

‘At Lv 251, even if it’s small, it could probably conquer Earth solo.’

As expected from the Dragon’s Lair.

You can’t trust what you see!

“But… why isn’t it moving?”

No matter how I looked at it, it seemed completely shut down.

Is this really okay?

Even peering closer didn’t give me any answers.

For now, I’ll just move it next to Dania.

“Ah!”

But before that.

I turned my head again and looked around.

There were definitely two Guardians summoned this time.

One was Arkeron.

The other one… where is it…?

“Hm?”

A golden, fist-sized furball behind Arkeron caught my eye.

“No way…”

Is that it?

I walked up to the furball and squatted down in front of it.

Then, raising my index finger—

Poke!

I poked the furball.

“Chuu!”

!!!

I was startled.

I almost fell flat on my butt.

“Churuu—!”

What kind of sound was that?

From a half-squatting posture, I looked down at the golden furball.

Saaa—!

A soft golden glow began to seep out from the small lump, as if it was imbued with light.

Wriggle!

At that moment, the furball slowly began to unfold and reveal itself.

Like a blooming flower, the soft golden fur shifted gently and began to spread apart.

Poof!

A small, round body emerged.

‘Whoa.’

The shape was familiar.

It looked strikingly similar to a hamster I had raised when I was a child.

“Chuchu!”

With a chirp, its tiny ears twitched slightly.

The tips of its ears sparkled under the golden light.

Whip!

It lifted its head and began to scan the surroundings.

Its large black eyes reflected the light through the fur, twinkling like stars.

Those eyes were filled with curiosity.

Its tiny nose wriggled, seemingly sniffing the air.

Poof!

Then its short legs carefully emerged from the furball, and it fully unfurled at last.

Its body was small and round.

The golden fur reflected the light, making it look like a tiny golden star had appeared.

“Chu!”

With a bright smile and tiny, pink-tinted hands spread wide, it beamed.

For a moment, the entire space felt warmer and brighter.

“Wow.”

Unconsciously, my mouth fell open at the sight of this creature, radiating both loveliness and cuteness.

[The Guardian Contract of Chuchu, of the All-Purpose Collector Clan, Luminous Har, has been inherited]

At that moment, a system message appeared before my eyes.

Looks like its name is Chuchu.

What about its level?

[Lv 145]
[Luminous Har Clan]
[Chuchu]

“Whoa…”

This one’s level is no joke either.

If I hadn’t just seen the level 251 Guardian, I might’ve fainted on the spot.

Heh…

This moment made me realize just how insanely high the levels of these Guardians really are.

“Chu!”

Chuchu tilted its head, looking at me curiously, as if wondering why I seemed so dazed.

Yeah.

“Let’s head out first.”

I should introduce our new family member to Dania and Popo.

***

In the forbidden lands of the northern hemisphere, ravaged by an extreme cold snap.

A sense of immense silence and pressure spreads through the never-ending snowstorm.

Grrrrrrrrr—

Kyaaaaah!

Screeeech! Screeeech!

Terrifying, banshee-like howls pierce through the blizzard.

At the same time, the ground begins to tremble.

Thududududududu!

“They’re coming!”

“Damn it… Why did the wave have to start when the Grand Marshal is away?”

“We die here if we must! Pour your soul into defending this place until the Grand Marshal returns!”

“Grr… Yeah. You only die once, right? Let’s do this!”

Aleksei Volkov.

The superhumans directly under his Grand Marshal.

They steeled themselves with a vow to fight to the death until Aleksei Volkov returned.

The curtain rose on a battle where lives were on the line.

“Krrrrrk…”

“Guh!”

“Kill them!!”

“Growl!”

“Aaaaargh!”

“Damn it! Yoroko got his arm bitten off by Seollang!”

The battlefield turned into chaos in an instant, with the screams of superhumans and monsters tangled together.

The fierce fighting continued for several hours.

“Huff… huff…”

“Shit. I really might die here.”

“If I’d known it’d be like this, I would’ve visited my parents during my last vacation…”

“Damn it! Why are you all acting like you’re about to die already? Just a little longer… Just hold out a little longer… The Grand Marshal will come!”

The superhuman who shouted that glanced behind him.

The inner fortress.

The place where Aleksei Volkov was — it had now turned into a colossal ice fortress that engulfed even the stronghold.

An extraordinary phenomenon never seen or heard of before.

At first, everyone was worried for Aleksei’s safety, but soon they all reached the same conclusion:

– The Grand Grand Marshal must be surpassing the wall.

What made them so sure?

The lingering chill of magical energy emanating from that ice fortress.

It was the exact same signature as Aleksei’s mana.

That’s why they believed — with absolute certainty.

The moment that ice fortress shattered, they would witness a newly reborn Aleksei.

“Of course, we’ll probably be dead before that happens.”

Harwei.

Aleksei’s right hand.

He let out a dry laugh as he looked at his left leg, soaked in blood and unmoving.

“Krrrrrrrr…”

A chilling howl.

It came from the massive Seollang leading this monster wave.

That thing was the real problem.

If it had been just a normal monster wave, they could’ve held it back for days without the Grand Marshal.

“The wave keeps getting stronger…”

Even if they managed to hold off this wave, there might be another one coming next time — one they’d be powerless against.

Still, they had to fight.

They were humanity’s first line of defense against this nightmare.

They had to hold out with everything they had.

That was their duty.

“Everyone, be prepare to die…..!”

“Uhh!”

“Oh, an Ice fortress!”

“……!!”

Their eyes widened.

And then—

Fwoooosh!!!

A pure white pillar of light erupted from the ice fortress and shot into the sky.

BOOOOOM!!

The ice fortress shattered into pieces, and from its center emerged a superhuman radiating overwhelming presence.

“You’ve all done well.”

Aleksei Volkov.

His voice now carried a depth of power never felt before.

BOOM—!!!

With a single punch—

One-third of the monster wave in front of him was blown away.

A truly earth-shaking display of power!!

The moment they witnessed that—

Everyone understood.

Aleksei Volkov had ascended to the realm of the heavens — Level 80.

***

That day,

Breaking news spread rapidly across the world.

……….

<Guardian of the Northern Hemisphere, Aleksei Volkov, Reaches Lv 80 and Awakens as One of the Twelve Heavens!>

<The Mountain Himself, Aleksei Volkov, Achieves Lv 80! Ascends to the Rank of the Twelve Heavens!>

<Aleksei Volkov, Known as the Mountain, Reaches Lv 80 and Awakens!>

…..

News that Aleksei had reached Lv 80 spread like wildfire.

…..

– Ohh! The Grand Marshal finally did it!

– Hahhh… Congratulations!

– Humanity’s hero!! No more worries about monster waves in the Northern Hemisphere!

…..

People everywhere rejoiced as if it were their own victory.

Then—more breaking news hit.

…..

<The Northern Hemisphere Aleksei Breaks, His Limits with the Public healing Oil Elixir of the Archmage Emperor! The Secret Behind Reaching Lv 80>

– Aleksei Volkov awakened as one of the Twelve Heavens thanks to the Arcane Elixir of the Archmage Emperor…

It was revealed that the secret behind his success was none other than Transparent Public healing Oil.

<Aleksei Volkov Reaches Level 80 with the Magic Master’s Transparent Public healing Oil! The Superhuman World Is Stirring!>

The reason Aleksei Volkov was able to reach Level 80 and ascend to the Twelve Heavens was revealed to be Transparent Public healing Oil, sold by the mysterious Archmage Emperor.

This incident has sparked a wave of speculation about the true identity of the Magic Master…

<Aleksei Volkov and Hong Seolhwa Reach Level 80. Was the Archmage Emperor Behind Them?>

Aleksei Volkov, Guardian Deity of the Northern Hemisphere, successfully reached Level 80 with the help of the Archmage Emperor Behind.

This has brought renewed attention to the case of Hong Seolhwa, who had also recently reached Level 80. She publicly stated that it was by the grace of the Archmage Emperor that she achieved that milestone…

The Archmage Emperor!

He’s the one who brought both Aleksei and Hong Seolhwa to Level 80!

The Wall of Magic — Level 80.

A realm said to be reserved only for those chosen by the heavens!

And he helped people ascend to such a realm?

The Archmage Emperor… Is he a god?

ᄂWho exactly is the Archmage Emperor?

ᄂWhere can we find this Archmage Emperor?

ᄂI’ll buy any elixirs, herbs, or crops sold by the Archmage Emperor. I’ll pay double. If they’re in good condition, we can negotiate even higher. Please contact me.

ᄂDoes anyone know how to receive an elixir from the Archmage Emperor?

………..

Thus—

As word spread that the Archmage Emperor was behind Aleksei’s rise to Level 80, his name quickly became a hot topic across the entire superhuman world.

***

Meanwhile…

“Hey guys. Say hello. We’ve got a new member of the family.”

I was introducing our newest family member to Dania and Popo.

“Chuchu?”

Chuchu, snuggled in my arms, gently swayed her golden fur as it looked over at Dania and Popo.

“Popo?”

Popo tilted its head.

Then—

“Chuchu?”

Chuchu copied him and tilted her head too.

Left tilt.

Right tilt.

As if they were synchronized, they tilted in the same direction together.

What the heck are these two doing?

Were their vibes just that compatible?

“Chuchu!”

Chuchu leapt from my arms and trotted over to Popo.

“Popo—!”

Popo greeted her with a smile shaped like ^_^.

“Chuchu!!”

Chuchu responded with an innocent smile of her own.

Aww, look at these cuties getting along so well.

By the way, Chuchu’s ability… she’s a forager, right? What kind of things can it gather?

Could it possibly gather things from outside the rare zone?

If it can collect seeds of something like Seondo, that’d be a massive win.

I glanced over at the sprouting Seondo.

Whoa! It’s already grown to the size of my forearm.

「Immortal Peach (Seondo), LV 36]

Level 36 already.

I thought I was leveling up fast, but compared to that growth speed, I’ve got nothing to brag about.

I turned back and set down Arkeron—who I had been carrying—next to Dania.

[Kyuuu… Ar]

“Huh? You know who this is?”

[Kyu! I know. It’s Arkeron! The golem that protects the den!]

Oh?

As expected of the rare zone’s resident—Dania knew of Arkeron.

Then maybe…

“Do you also know why this guy isn’t working properly?”

[Kyuuung. I do!]

“!!”

It seemed Dania knew the reason why Arkeron wasn’t functioning properly.

“Then, if you know how to get him working again, could you tell me?”

[Kyuuu– that’s…]

“That’s what?”

What Dania said next made my eyes go wide.