Cid stood in the clearing, his status screen dismissed, his mind already turning to the next logical step. He had a Summoner class. He had the Beastcall ability. But he had no actual understanding of how it worked in practice.
'Time to figure this out,' he thought, looking around to make sure he was alone. 'No instruction manual. No tutorial. Just trial and error. Typical.'
He planted his feet shoulder width apart, feeling slightly ridiculous but committed to the experiment. In every game he had ever played, summoning required some kind of trigger. A button press. A menu selection. A verbal command. Given that this was now reality rather than a game interface, verbal seemed most likely.
"Summon," Cid called out, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet forest.
Nothing happened.
He waited, counting to ten in his head. The forest remained unchanged. Birds continued their songs. The breeze continued to rustle leaves. No magical circle. No monster appearing from thin air. Nothing.
'Okay. Maybe it needs to be more specific?' He tried again. "Summon beast."
Still nothing.
Frustration built in his chest. 'Come on. There has to be a way to activate this. The ability exists. I can see it in my status. So how do I actually use it?'
He was about to try a third variation when something shifted in the air around him.
Ding.
The sound chimed inside his skull, resonating through his thoughts like a bell struck inside his own mind. Cid flinched at the unexpectedness of it, his hand going to his temple reflexively even though there was no pain.
The ground beneath his feet began to glow.
Lines of light traced themselves across the dirt and dead leaves, forming patterns that grew more complex by the second. Geometric shapes intersected with flowing curves. Symbols he did not recognize arranged themselves in concentric rings. The light was blue white, bright enough to make him squint but not so bright it hurt to look at.
Within seconds, a complete magic circle had formed on the forest floor, easily ten feet in diameter with Cid standing at its center. The lines pulsed with energy, and he could feel power thrumming through the ground, vibrating up through his legs and into his chest.
'Holy shit,' he thought, taking an involuntary step back. 'It actually worked. It's actually happening.'
The circle continued to glow, its light casting strange shadows on the surrounding trees. But nothing else happened. No creature appeared. No portal opened. Just the circle, pulsing steadily, waiting.
A haze began to form above the circle's center. Not smoke exactly. More like heat distortion, the way air shimmers above hot pavement in summer. Energy condensed and swirled, visible but intangible, gathering strength.
Then text appeared before Cid's eyes, a system message in that same robotic font.
[YOU HAVE COMMANDED THE WORLD WITH YOUR LEGENDARY ABILITY]
He stared at the words, his heart pounding harder now. 'Commanded the world? What does that even mean?'
Another message followed immediately.
[THE WORLD HAS HEARD YOUR CALL]
[A LIFE FORM HAS RESPONDED]
[YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DESIGNATE A COMMAND WORD]
[THIS WORD WILL BE USED TO ACTIVATE SUMMONS FROM THIS POINT FORWARD]
Cid read the message twice, his mind racing. 'A command word. Like a trigger phrase. Something I'll use every time I want to summon.' He frowned. 'So every summoner probably has a different word. Personal choice. Makes sense for a Legendary class to have that kind of customization.'
But what word? That was the question. It needed to be something he could say easily in the heat of combat. Something short. Something that felt right.
His mind went through possibilities. Call? Too generic. Come? Too simple. Appear? Too long. Manifest? Way too pretentious.
Then he remembered something. A manga he used to read during lunch breaks at school when he was younger, before he got completely consumed by Apocalypse Online. The protagonist had been a summoner too, though nothing like the class he now had. But the character had used a specific word when calling his creatures.
'Arise,' Cid thought, the word surfacing from memory. 'The summoner always said arise. I remember thinking it was kind of cringe at the time. Trying too hard to sound cool. But.'
He paused, reconsidering with a more honest perspective.
'I was probably just jealous. Because it did make the character look cool. And it's short. Single word. Easy to say quickly. Works for the concept of bringing something from nothing into existence.'
Decision made, Cid took a breath and spoke the word aloud, dropping his voice to a lower pitch that he hoped sounded commanding rather than ridiculous.
"Arise."
The word hung in the air for a moment. Then another system message appeared.
[COMMAND WORD DETECTED: "ARISE"]
[CONFIRM SELECTION?]
[YES] [NO]
'No going back after this,' he thought, staring at the options. 'Whatever word I choose, I'm stuck with it. But overthinking it won't help. Trust the instinct. Go with what feels right.'
"Yes," he said firmly. "Confirm."
[COMMAND WORD LOCKED]
[DESIGNATION: "ARISE"]
[USE YOUR COMMAND WORD NOW TO COMPLETE THE SUMMONING]
The magic circle pulsed brighter, as though responding to the confirmation. The energy haze above it grew thicker, more substantial. Cid could feel something building, pressure mounting, like the moment before a thunderstorm breaks.
He looked into the circle, into that swirling mass of distorted space where something was trying to push through from wherever summons came from. His throat felt dry. His palms were sweating.
'Please be something useful,' he thought desperately. 'Please don't be something that immediately tries to kill me. Please.'
Cid raised his voice, putting as much command into it as he could muster.
"Arise."
The world exploded.
A shockwave erupted from the magic circle with the force of a bomb detonating, a wall of invisible pressure that slammed outward in all directions. Leaves tore from branches and filled the air like confetti. Trees swayed violently, their trunks creaking in protest. Dust billowed up from the forest floor in thick clouds that obscured everything.
Cid threw his arms up to shield his face, squinting against the wind and debris. His ears rang from the sudden pressure change. He could barely see through the chaos.
Somewhere in the forest around him, he heard animals fleeing. The sounds of small creatures crashing through undergrowth in panic. Low tier monsters, probably slimes or horned rabbits, running for their lives from whatever was manifesting.
The magic circle blazed so bright it was painful to look at directly. Ripples of pure energy rolled off it like waves, distorting the air. Lightning crackled across the circle's surface, yellow white bolts that jumped and danced, scorching the ground where they touched.
Then came a sound that made Cid's blood run cold.
The sound of chains breaking.
Massive, heavy chains snapping one after another. Clang. Crack. Clang. Crack. Each break resonated through the air with physical force, each one louder than the last. It was the sound of something enormous being unleashed. Something that had been bound and was now free.
The haze above the circle coalesced into a pillar of golden yellow energy, a column of power that shot upward like a geyser. White light mixed with the gold, swirling together in patterns that hurt to follow with the eye. The energy roiled and churned, taking shape, forming mass.
Cid's instincts screamed at him to run. Every fiber of his being recognized this as a threat on a fundamental level. This was danger. This was death. This was something so far beyond his ability to handle that even attempting to fight would be suicide.
His legs refused to move. Paralyzed by fear. By awe. By the sheer overwhelming presence of whatever was coming through that circle.
'I'm going to die,' the thought cut through his panic with crystalline clarity. 'I'm going to die by my own summon. Killed by the first ability I ever used in this world. That's how this ends.'
Through the swirling energy, through the haze of gold and white and lightning, Cid saw them.
Eyes.
Red eyes that glowed like heated metal, like rubies held to flame. Predator's eyes. Intelligent eyes. Ancient eyes that had seen empires rise and fall.
They locked onto him with the weight of absolute focus.
The energy began to dissipate, the light fading, the haze clearing like smoke blown away by wind. Form took shape within that dissipating power. Muscle. Fur. Mass.
When the light finally cleared enough to see properly, Cid forgot how to breathe.
It was a lion.
But calling it just a lion was like calling the sun just a light. This was something transcendent. Something that existed on a different level of reality than normal beasts.
Its form was majestic in the truest sense of the word, a presence that demanded recognition and respect by its mere existence. The creature stood easily five feet tall at the shoulder, larger than any lion that had ever walked the Earth. Its body was packed with muscle, every movement radiating controlled power.
The lion's fur was a mixture of sparkling gold and pure white, each strand seeming to catch and reflect light in impossible ways. The pattern swirled across its body like living art, gold dominating the body while white accented in flowing streaks. But it was the mane that truly arrested attention.
The mane blazed. Literally blazed. Golden fire wreathed the lion's head and neck, flames that burned without consuming, without producing heat, flames that were more concept than combustion. The fire danced and flickered, casting dancing shadows across the clearing.
Yellow lightning sparked around the creature's form continuously, tiny arcs of electricity that jumped across its fur and crackled in the air around it. The bolts traced patterns, never still, never quite the same twice.
The majestic appearance extended beyond just physical form. There was an aura to this creature, a weight in the air around it that pressed down on everything nearby. Authority. Dominion. The absolute certainty of supremacy.
Cid stared up at the lion, and the lion stared down at him with those burning red eyes.
'I can feel its power,' Cid thought distantly, his mind struggling to process what he was experiencing. 'I can actually feel it. Like pressure against my skin. Like standing too close to a fire. This thing is on a completely different level. This is what EX Rank means. This is what five percent looks like.'
The lion took a step forward.
The earth shuddered.
Not a small tremor. A genuine shudder, as though the ground itself recognized the weight of what walked upon it and recoiled. The lion's paw left an impression in the dirt, deeper than it should have been, as though gravity affected this creature differently.
It took another step.
Another shudder rippled through the ground.
Cid's legs gave out. He sat down hard, unable to keep standing, unable to keep pretending he had any control over this situation. His mind raced through calculations, through possibilities, through desperate scenarios.
'It's going to kill me. There's nothing I can do to stop it. I'm level one with no weapons and no skills and this thing is a walking apocalypse. I summoned my own death. The irony would be funny if I wasn't about to die.'
The lion stopped directly in front of him, so close that if Cid reached out he could touch its chest. This close, the creature was even more overwhelming. He could smell ozone from the lightning. Could feel heat radiating from the burning mane. Could see each individual spark that danced across golden white fur.
Those red eyes looked down at him with an intelligence that was undeniable. This was not some mindless beast. This was a thinking being. A creature with will and personality and intent.
The lion held Cid's gaze for what felt like an eternity but was probably only seconds.
Then it moved.
The massive head lowered. The legs folded. The lion's entire body descended until its chest touched the ground, head bowed, the burning mane dimming slightly as though in deference.
It was bowing.
The Lion, this creature of lightning and majesty and overwhelming power, was bowing in submission to Cid.
For several long moments, Cid could only stare, his brain completely failing to process what he was seeing. The cognitive dissonance was too great. This thing that had terrified him seconds ago, that had made him certain of his imminent death, was now showing subservience.
A chime sounded, and a system message appeared.
[CONGRATULATIONS]
[YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SUMMONED AN EX RANK FAMILIAR]
[SPECIES: LION EMPEROR]
[DUE TO YOUR CURRENT LOW LEVEL, THE ABILITIES OF YOUR SUMMON HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED]
[FAMILIAR POWER SEALED AT 10% TO PREVENT SUMMONER DEATH FROM ENERGY BACKLASH]
Cid read the message three times, focusing on that last line. 'Sealed at ten percent. To prevent me from dying. So this thing is so powerful that even forming the summon bond could kill me if it was at full strength.'
The implications of that were staggering. If this was ten percent, what did one hundred percent look like? What kind of devastation could this creature unleash if it was unrestrained?
'And I have this at level one,' he thought, a slightly hysterical laugh bubbling up in his chest. 'The five percent chance. I hit it on my first try. That's the kind of luck that would normally be impossible. But my luck stat is ten, which is the baseline. So either I'm incredibly fortunate or the system wanted me to have this.'
Another display materialized before him, different from his own status screen. This one was focused entirely on the lion, showing details that he assumed were meant to help him understand what he now had access to.
━━━━
Name: ???
Title: The Lion Emperor
State: Sealed – Low Level Manifestation
Rank: EX (Nerfed)
Level: 1
ABILITIES:
1. Spark Pounce
A lightning assisted leap forward. Deals moderate physical damage combined with shock damage. Inflicts brief stun on impact. Effective for closing distance or creating escape opportunities.
(Sealed form of its future Thunder Sovereign Dash)
2. Static Dominion Growl
A commanding growl that releases a wave of static authority. Reduces enemy attack strength. Weakens magical beasts' morale and courage. Can interrupt minor spell casting.
(Sealed form of its future world shaking roar)
3. Volt Fang Strike
Bites with concentrated lightning channeled through the fangs. Inflicts Numb status effect, slowing enemy movement. Briefly lowers target's defensive capabilities.
(Sealed form of the future Judgment Fang)
4. Stormheart Pulse (Passive)
A faint surge from its lightning core. Provides very slow self regeneration during and after combat. Increases all lightning based damage slightly. Discharges weak shock when struck by physical attacks.
(Seed of its future Storm Crown Regeneration)
5. Lion Emperor's Flashstep
A pure lightning displacement technique. Allows instantaneous teleportation over short distances. Leaves a shock trail afterimage at the departure point. Afterimage delivers electric damage to anyone who touches it.
This is the inheritance skill you may learn from this familiar.
(The only ability not sealed in origin; the Lion Emperor's signature movement technique)
6. Imperial Form Shift
Allows the Lion Emperor to change into one alternate form at Level 1: Cub Form. Reduces size and presence for stealth or low threat situations. Can shift between forms at will with brief transition period.
(Additional forms unlock as summoner level increases)
7. Thunderbound Authority (Passive)
A weakened version of the Lion Emperor's natural dominance. Forces low tier beasts to hesitate or actively avoid attacking. Slightly boosts courage and elemental resistance of other summons in your roster. Effect strength scales with your summoner level.
(Early manifestation of its future Beast King Aura)
CURRENT RESTRICTIONS:
- 90% of total power sealed
- Roar Authority Suppressed: True Emperor's Roar currently inaccessible
- Storm Core Partially Closed: Regeneration rate and lightning output significantly reduced
- Territorial Dominion Locked: Area control abilities unavailable
- Evolution Paths Restricted: Cannot access higher forms until summoner reaches appropriate level thresholds
━━━━
Cid read through the entire display, his analytical mind cataloging each ability, each restriction, each implication. Even sealed at ten percent, this creature was absurdly powerful for a level one summon. Seven abilities when most creatures in the early game had maybe two or three. An inheritance skill that was a teleportation technique. Passive abilities that boosted both itself and other summons.
'This is broken,' he thought, a genuine smile breaking across his face for the first time since arriving in this world. 'This is absolutely game breaking. Even nerfed, even restricted, this is power on a scale that shouldn't exist at level one. And it's mine.'
The lion remained bowed, waiting patiently. Cid realized it was waiting for him. For acknowledgment. For acceptance of the bond that had just formed.
He reached out slowly, hesitantly, his hand trembling slightly. When his fingers touched the lion's mane, he expected heat from the flames. Instead, he felt warmth. Comfortable warmth. And underneath that, the steady thrum of barely contained lightning, energy that sparked against his palm without causing pain.
The moment contact was made, another system message appeared.
[FAMILIAR BOND ESTABLISHED]
[THE LION EMPEROR REQUIRES A NAME]
[PLEASE DESIGNATE YOUR FAMILIAR'S NAME]
A name. Of course it needed a name. This was not some mindless summon to be used and discarded. This was a being, an entity with intelligence and personality. It deserved a proper name.
Cid's mind went through possibilities, rejecting each one almost as soon as it formed. Nothing felt right. Nothing captured the essence of what this creature was.
Then a memory surfaced. Astronomy class. Years ago. The teacher had been talking about constellations and had mentioned one in particular. Leo. The lion. And its brightest star.
'Regulus,' Cid thought, the name resonating in his mind. 'The heart of the lion. The little king. One of the brightest stars in the night sky.'
He looked into those red eyes, and somehow he knew the lion understood what he was thinking. There was recognition there. Approval, perhaps.
"Regulus," Cid said aloud, his voice steady now. "Your name is Regulus."
[NAME REGISTERED: REGULUS]
[FAMILIAR BOND COMPLETE]
The moment the message appeared, Cid felt something shift inside his chest. Not painful. Just present. A connection that had not existed seconds ago. He could feel Regulus now, not physically but emotionally. A presence in the back of his mind that was distinctly other but also familiar.
It was like suddenly gaining a new sense. He could feel Regulus's satisfaction at being named. Could sense the lion's loyalty, absolute and unwavering. Could detect a fierce protective instinct directed toward him.
The bond went both ways. Regulus's head lifted, and those red eyes looked at him with new understanding. The lion could sense him too. Could feel his emotions. His determination. His grief and fear and desperate hope all mixed together.
They were linked now. Summoner and familiar. Partners bound by whatever force had made this world what it was.
Regulus rose to his full height, and despite having just witnessed the gesture of submission, Cid was again struck by how imposing this creature was. The lion was power personified. Even sealed. Even nerfed. Even restricted to ten percent of its true capabilities.
'I hit the jackpot,' Cid thought, looking at his new familiar with a mixture of awe and disbelief. 'Literally. The five percent chance. EX Rank. The Lion Emperor. On my very first summon.'
Another notification appeared, smaller this time.
[NOTE: REGULUS REQUIRES DAILY ENERGY TO MAINTAIN MANIFESTATION]
[CURRENT ENERGY COST: MODERATE DUE TO SEALED STATE]
[AS YOUR LEVEL INCREASES, ENERGY EFFICIENCY WILL IMPROVE]
[IF REGULUS IS DEFEATED IN BATTLE, RETURN COOLDOWN: 24 HOURS]
So there were maintenance costs. That made sense. Unlimited summons with no resource management would be too easy. And the twenty four hour cooldown for defeats meant he needed to be strategic about when and how he used Regulus. Losing his strongest summon for a full day could be catastrophic in the wrong situation.
'But I have him now,' Cid thought, reaching out to rest his hand on Regulus's side, feeling the subtle spark of electricity that danced across golden fur. 'I have actual power. Real power. Not much by this world's standards, probably. But infinitely more than I had five minutes ago.'
He looked down at his hand, at the faint traces of yellow lightning that now played across his fingers from contact with Regulus. Then he looked up at the lion, at this majestic creature that had bowed to him, that was bound to him now by forces he did not fully understand.
The future suddenly seemed less impossible.
He was level one. Iron rank minus. The weakest possible classification. But he had an EX Rank familiar. He had the Lion Emperor Regulus at his side.
'Fang, Pyro, HealerQueen,' he thought, remembering his scattered party members. 'Wherever you are, I hope you're okay. I hope you got lucky too. Because I'm coming. I'm going to get stronger. Going to level up. Going to build a roster that makes this world tremble.'
His jaw set with determination.
'And then I'm going to find the way home. Back to Mom. Back to Dad. Back to Yuki. Whatever it takes. However long it takes.'
Regulus made a sound, something between a growl and a purr, as though responding to Cid's thoughts through their bond. The lion's tail swished once, and lightning crackled across its length.
Cid smiled, a real smile, the first genuine expression of hope he had felt since this nightmare began.
"Alright, Regulus," he said, his voice carrying a confidence that had not been there before. "Let's see what we can do together. Let's see just how far a Summoner and his Lion Emperor can go."
The lion's eyes gleamed with fierce approval.
And somewhere in the depths of Delevaro Forest, monsters that had fled from the summoning's shockwave cowered in their dens, instinctively understanding that a new predator had entered their territory.
A predator that hunted alongside a king.