The light of the advanced summoning chamber dimmed and its gates slowly swung open.
Walked out from the building were five people.
Or rather, two people and three figures.
Those that I could say for certain were humans were the pair of men dressed in wide-sleeved eastern clothing.
There was still the slight air of youth to them. I would say they were still in their 20s, approaching 30.
Both men had long black hair. But one let his hair loose on his back, while the other tied it into a thin long braid which style only common in Tchakran culture.
The man with his hair loose carried three swords on his back. One broadsword and two slim twin-swords.
While the braided one had a long tasseled spear extending from his.
"What a strange place. I've never seen anything like this in Tchakra."
The one with loose hair said.
I immediately observed him.
[Fangli Sinchua (★★★) Lv.1 (Exp 0/10)]
[Class: Warrior]
[Strength: 16/16]
[Intelligence: 10/10]
[Stamina: 14/14]
[Agility: 14/14]
[Skills: Basic Swordsmanship Lv.2, Basic Dual-Swords Technique Lv.2, Switching Lv.1, Nimble Movement Lv.1]
Judging from his status window, this man must be skilled in the Three-Swords Technique.
An eastern martial art skill that was mastered only by minority of warriors throughout the Golden Dawn Provinces.
A solid talent for the forged land.
"Brother Fangli, look at their training grounds and the number of their warriors! I thought only the martial arts sects in Tchakra put so much effort in mastering the Ways of Discord!"
The braided man said.
[Haoban Qiang (★★★) Lv.1 (Exp 0/10)]
[Class: Warrior]
[Strength: 17/17]
[Intelligence: 10/10]
[Stamina: 12/12]
[Agility: 14/14]
[Skills: Basic Spearmanship Lv.3, Insight Lv.1, Nimble Movement Lv.2]
This warrior used a martial art unique to Tchakra.
His special tasseled spear had a flexible shaft which enabled him to fight his opponent with unconventional moves.
Seeing that these two Tchakran warriors were already comrades upon arriving here, they would be a formidable force when paired up together.
But even combined, these two 3-stars could hardly compare to each of the heroes summoned alongside them.
"By the Tears of Indra! That strange voice was not lying when it said I would be joining an army. I'm getting excited already!"
A spirited woman who seemed to be in her late twenties shouted with a strong voice.
Her thick silver hair made a huge bundle like a lion's mane on her head.
Strange golden markings akin to lightning bolts were crossed over her sky-blue eyes.
Over her pristine black armor which was layered with thick gray fur cloak, hanged a large battle axe.
The weapon's shaft was forged of a strange bluish-black metal. The ivory head seemed like it was carved from the fang of a very large beast.
[Ulrica Indragyn (★★★★) Lv.1 (Exp 0/10)]
[Class: Dragonblood]
[Strength: 19/19]
[Intelligence: 10/10]
[Stamina: 19/19]
[Agility: 19/19]
[Skills: Intermediate Battle-Axe Technique Lv.1, Determination Lv.1, Battle Endurance Lv.1, Battle Madness Lv.1, War Cry Lv.1]
[Seal Slot: 1/1]
[1: Kin of Indra (A-, Lv.1)]
[A mark of one with the blood of the ancient God of the Sky.]
[Effect: Lightning Immunity, Fear Resistance, Magic Resistance +20%, All Stats +5%, Lightning Attribute +10%]
[Exclusive Skill 1: Tears of Sky God]
[Exclusive Skill 2: Lightning Stride]
Dear Goddesses…
Another Guntur warrior since Jyrgil.
But not just any Guntur warrior.
She was a Near-Kin! Someone who shared a blood with the ancient being, Indra!
The Near-Kin was like a royalty to the Guntur folks.
Only a Near-Kin could lead the entire Lands of Never-Ending Thunder.
Records of the Northern Storm told how a single Near-Kin could rival one hundred warriors in battle.
This spirited woman was someone with that tremendous potential!
And the figure next to her was just as equal in strength.
"We are summoned here to serve the Master, yes? Then I shall offer my burning heart to the ruler of the forged land."
Said an elderly man with thick and long grayish brown beard.
He was shorter than even the little Tarran. An uncommon stature for someone with that mature visage.
Even so, the short elderly man had no problem moving around in those glimmering heavy armor of his.
The huge majestic halberd hanging on his back seemed to weigh like a twig given how unburdened the short man seemed to be moving.
All his equipment was made of the most beautiful and most robust metal I had ever seen.
[Djhotti Flamma (★★★★) Lv.1 (Exp 0/10)]
[Class: Battle Warden]
[Strength: 18/18]
[Intelligence: 14/14]
[Stamina: 20/20]
[Agility: 13/13]
[Skills: Intermediate Polearm Technique Lv.1, Knight's Determination Lv.1, Battle Endurance Lv.1, Combat Logic Lv.1, Foresight Lv.1, Warrior Chant Lv.1, Enchanted Smithing Lv.5]
[Seal Slot: 1/1]
[1: Keeper of Agni (B, Lv.1)]
[A pledge to uphold the spirit of the Primordial Flame.]
[Effect: Fire Immunity, Fear Resistance, Pain Resistance, Bleeding Resistance, Magic Resistance +15%]
[Exclusive Skill: Flame's Blessing]
A dwarf!
A passage in the records of the Flame's Campaign perfectly described the formidability of the resolute race.
'If you find an unarmed dwarf as your opponent, then lay down your weapons and sprint the other way.
'But if you find an armed dwarf as your opponent, then lay down your weapons, kneel, and pray your death will be swift and painless.'
Dwarfs dwelled themselves in the deadly jungles of Phirdaus.
Every day, every waking moment, they lived a hair's breadth away from death.
Few in all of Dunia could rival a dwarf on a direct confrontation alone.
The third figure next to the dwarf would be one of them.
"Tell this Master I'm ready to go to work. Show me the beasts they want me to kill. Human, monsters, I'll tear them apart in no time."
A tall muscular man with raven dark hair and deep violet eyes said with a yawn.
The brown coat, gray shirt, and torn black pants revealing his bare feet that he wore did not seem to match his wild visage.
They simply looked like rags stamped on his body. Like an animal trying to wear human clothes.
It was probably because of the pitch-black claws extending from his fingers and toes. Not to mention, the series of fangs in his mouth and his piercing stare of a predator.
[Graihan Tsrigel (★★★★) Lv.1 (Exp 0/10)]
[Class: Half-Beast]
[Strength: 20/20]
[Intelligence: 10/10]
[Stamina: 16/16]
[Agility: 20/20]
[Skills: Intermediate Combat Technique Lv.1, Determination Lv.1, Battle Endurance Lv.1, Super Sense Lv.1, Hunter of the Forest, Lv.1, Silent Prowl Lv.1, Quick Movement Lv.1]
[Seal Slot: 1/1]
[1: Devil of Chandra (B+, Lv.1)]
[One who embraced the ancient calling sounded by the Ruler of the Night.]
[Effect: Fear Resistance, Pain Resistance, Enemy Debuff 5% (effective on enemies with level lower than the hero/10% on beast-type enemies), All stats 10% increase on the verge of death (60 seconds)]
[Exclusive Skill: Transformation]
Lycanthrope!
A human with beastly natures.
His kind once wreaked havoc in the empire millennia ago.
The chaos was named the Invasion of Asura. A war against monsters, devils!
On recent years, I had heard of a lycanthrope decimating an entire Farista battalion all by itself.
Could this man be…?
[Goodness! Master struck a huge lode of diamond, didn't they?]
The fairy suddenly said with an enthusiastic smile.
I nodded immediately.
"A pair of 3-stars with great compatibility. And three 4-star heroes with unique backgrounds and rare abilities."
Unlike Yuxia and I, these 4-star heroes had an extension to their status window.
Seals.
I had known sub-race folks had powers differ to those of regular humans.
Could the Seals be representing those unique powers?
Was there a way for us to obtain them as well?
"Vice-Master Zeref!"
The Chief Administrator rushed up to me upon seeing the new arrivals on the second floor.
He understood that dealing with newly-summoned heroes were the administrators' responsibility.
Though considering the new arrivals, the administrator wondered if he was the proper person to perform the duty.
"No need to worry, Chief Rashgon. Given their unique backgrounds, I'll handle these new heroes personally."
I told the Chief Administrator.
The newly-summoned advanced heroes took notice of our exchange and approached us.
"Vice-Master? Are you the chief of this forged land, southlander?"
The Guntur warrior, Ulrica, asked.
"Master is the one who ultimately rules the forged land, as you must've known. I'm simply their deputy. Tasked to execute and reinforce Master's orders."
I told the silver-haired 4-star Near-Kin.
The dwarf, Djhotti, brushed his beard upon my words.
"That means you are Master's proxy. Since I accepted the contract to obey the master of the forged land, then I must obey your words as well, yes?"
"My duty is to overcome all the trials Master send their army upon. All I'm asking is for you to carry the same burden."
I replied him.
The lycanthrope, Graihan, nodded to me as he yawned with bored eyes.
"That is why I came here in the first place, daywalker. So just tell me when and where to fight. I'll be there. I will do the work I promised to do."
"I've agreed to obey Master as well. So if you're their second-in-command, then simply tell me where you want me to strike. My axe is yours!"
The Guntur warrior spoke. She was nothing like that abrasive Jyrgil.
The 3-star Tchakran warriors listened to the 4-stars' words with confused faces.
They then turned to me.
"I still have no idea how and why we got here. But I already understand I have to obey everything this Master asked of me in this place."
The warrior with the three swords, Fangli, said.
His fellow martial artist, Haoban, nodded at his words.
"If you need us to fight, then my sect brother and I will not hesitate to be in the frontline."
Each of them put their palms together and bowed to me like a disciple greeting their master.
Seeing the newcomers' agreeing attitudes, I could not help but form a warm smile on my face.
"Well then, on the behalf of Master Sigyn, I welcome you all to the forged land, heroes of Dunia."
Perhaps we would have a chance against the Great Houses after all.