Ch.33. Transformation

Aerial. A girl who had become famous even before enrolling here. As she stood before the summoning circle with her distinctive ginger hair, the room fell silent.

Her quiet expression itself exuded a solemn and cold atmosphere.

This was bound to be a summoning that would draw everyone’s attention.

People have expectations. Since the appearance of the Aptitude Bearers, those born with natural strength are powerful even without summoned spirits.

The level of spirits summoned by such individuals was inevitably of a different caliber.

Right now, Aerial had a high probability of summoning one of the most exceptional spirits among all Aptitude Bearers so far.

“I heard that girl Aerial is a promising talent?”

“What kind of spirit will she summon? Freya was already powerful.”

“That big guy Han Min-woo just received a ring from Perseus, but what will appear for this girl?”

It was like a gacha pull in a mobile game. The only difference was that you couldn’t reset and had to continue with whatever spirit was determined.

Amid those gazes, Aerial calmly stood before the summoning circle.

Tremendous magical power poured from her slender hands, filling the entire summoning circle.

She was different from the others.

Everyone watching realized it at a glance. The summoning circle rippled and began to emit vast magical energy.

Something powerful was coming.

While everyone watched with their mouths agape, a brilliant light burst forth in front of Aerial.

A sword stood proudly before her. It was a sword with a broad blade and double-edged like a Viking sword, with the edges aligned horizontally.

Like a coiled snake, it wrapped around the handle and near the blade.

Aerial confidently reached out and grasped the sword. At that moment, flame-like magical power enveloped her entire body.

The identity of this summoned spirit appeared on the screen.

[Summoned Spirit]

-Sigurd

-Medium: Gram

-Classification: Legendary Hero

-Rank: 5-Star

Someone shouted loudly.

“It’s Sigurd!”

“A 5-star hero… As expected…”

They each let out exclamations of admiration. Aerial gripped the sword without showing any particular reaction.

With Sigurd as her summoned spirit, the identity of the sword was obvious.

“It’s Gram! Gram!”

The magical power rippled and enveloped Aerial’s body again. Flame-shaped magical energy began to swirl around the simple sword form.

The host brought order to the noisy venue.

[A 5-star hero! You’ve drawn a hero from the highest rank classification. Aerial! That’s truly remarkable.]

Before the host could finish speaking, another great cheer erupted from elsewhere.

“It’s Xiang Yu!”

“The martial hero, Xiang Yu is the summoned spirit!”

“Another 5-star over there? What is this, a bumper crop of 5-stars?”

A tall man moved forward, drawing everyone’s attention. With his noble appearance, he stood out in his splendid attire and handsome features.

Gu Sang-heon.

He approached Aerial.

“Looks like we’re fated to meet. Both with 5-star heroes.”

With gentle eyes and a soft tone, he had looks that could captivate many women, but Aerial remained cold.

“Indeed.”

After uttering that single word, she hurried away.

Once the summoning ceremony ended, the first day’s schedule would automatically conclude.

As Aerial walked away with quick steps, she witnessed a scene.

“How about it? Join our family.”

Kim Do-hyun. A man with a 5-star spirit, Ifrit. However, he was stopping children here and there, inviting them to join his family.

‘Trying to form factions already? Pathetic. He should focus on improving his own skills.’

She glanced at him with disapproving eyes before heading to the dormitory.

She verified her identity with her smartwatch and found her room.

She had no time to appreciate the interior. As soon as she saw the bed, she jumped onto it with flushed cheeks and a wide grin.

“A 5-star! A 5-star! Sigurd! I’m so happy~ Ah~ 5-star… I really am amazing, aren’t I?”

Hugging her pillow and rolling around on the bed, she called with a happy face.

“Mamma. I got a 5-star. I did it!”

She was conveying her joy to her parents in a childishly high-pitched voice.

This was her true self, different from the calm and composed impression she had shown in front of the media and everyone else.

Aerial reported to her parents about what had happened today.

“The facilities are fine. Not as good as my room at home, but I won’t complain. Rooms that satisfy my standards are rare anyway. By the way…”

Aerial recalled the unusual sight she had witnessed today.

“I saw something strange today! Someone had a weapon appear without a summoned spirit! Yes, it’s true. It’s the first time I’ve seen such a situation. And the weapon that appeared was a card. I can’t even guess what it is. What? You’re telling me not to associate with someone like that? I wouldn’t have any reason to anyway.”

Aerial declared firmly. To her, whose future was already guaranteed, Do Jong-hyun’s existence was just that insignificant.

Just an extra A whose summoning had failed. A pebble that wouldn’t even appear on her path.

This would be the last time she’d remember him, and she wouldn’t bring him up in conversation again.

With that thought, Aerial ended the call.

*

I can only choose one?

“Wait. Wait a minute.”

I muttered frantically to myself like a madman. But I couldn’t help it.

Something that doesn’t exist in the future. And a choice where I can only pick one.

Which choice would be more beneficial? Naturally, I had to think about it.

But how am I supposed to know what’s what and make a choice?

“Isn’t there a manual? Even games usually come with some basic explanation.”

I looked at the status window and fell into contemplation. Surely pressing once wouldn’t immediately confirm my selection?

Damn it. I’m going crazy with the need to be cautious. Since this wasn’t in my future, decision anxiety was washing over me.

‘Alright, then I’ll choose something that seems reasonable. And make sure I won’t regret it even if it works out.’

The choices are simple. Pick something that seems reasonable among them.

Insects are obviously bugs, and just thinking about dinosaurs makes my heart race.

At the same time, my mind gets complicated?

“Is a dinosaur really the best choice?”

Yeah, honestly, dinosaurs are the best, right? I immediately pressed dinosaur.

[Dinosaur]

-Has the highest base stats, but is difficult to control due to strong bestial nature.

-The initial juvenile form is fixed as a half-beast form.

-Bestial nature can be controlled in half-beast form.

“What! The explanation really appears?”

I was worried for nothing. Half-beast form means half human and half dinosaur?

I quickly pressed the others to see their explanations too.

[Insect]

-Must actively utilize insect DNA. Other stats are low, but characteristics and adaptability are high, allowing for stat corrections.

-Special abilities correct stats.

The general explanations entered my mind. Each had some flaws, and I concluded that dinosaur was the best.

And looking at the explanation, I was convinced. Dinosaur it is.

Using high stats stably in half-beast form sounds good.

I’m a beginner. I’ll go with what seems easy and fun.

[View Sample]

As I pressed dinosaur, another message appeared. Is this a preview?

A half-beast proudly showed itself before my eyes.

The body was covered in reptilian scales and was much thicker.

The five fingers were extremely thick with claw-like nails.

A face between reptile and human. But it looks quite young. The eyes have vertical pupils but appear bright and clear. Not a baby, but a face that’s somewhere in between, not quite adult.

The tail is quite thick, making it look good for attacking.

Even if it resembles a human, a monster is definitely a monster. You can tell just by looking.

“Next is, the bug.”

The half-human half-insect wasn’t bad either.

Like a mantis that had become human, it had large eyes, two legs, and wings.

With antennae, it overall looked similar to Stingmon from Digimon.

Those compound eyes might trigger trypophobia, but I’ll ignore that.

Except for that, it’s actually not bad?

I really imagined some maggot or parasite, but with that armor, it actually looks cool.

Well, it’s not like I’m transforming, just borrowing power.

Just when I thought the explanation was over, more information came.

[Ways to Evolve]

-You can hunt by collecting DNA points for each monster.

-Additional species for evolution: Fish, Beast, Bird, Machine (Special)

I’m not stupid, so I roughly understand how this works. Hunt monsters, collect their DNA, and get stronger.

However, there’s a “special” category for machines. This needs to be checked. Like reading a manual after buying a product.

[Machine]

-Supports monsters as parts, not DNA. Can create equipment with special effects by consuming sub-cards. And can evolve if certain conditions are met.

It seems more difficult than other evolution routes, but it also looks extremely good.

Come to think of it, machine monsters are definitely hard to find in the early stages.

From the lowest F-rank to D-rank, there are none, and only one species appears from C-rank and above. The numbers increase a bit from B-rank, but they’re still fewer compared to other types.

Anyway, now that I’ve confirmed there are various evolution routes, I’ll go ahead.

[Do you want to select Dinosaur?]

-The basic juvenile form is fixed as a beastman.

-Other DNA can be utilized when evolving to higher forms.

“So I can use it later? Then there’s definitely no problem.”

The decision was made.

As I finished making all my decisions, the main card emitted light and transformed again. Finally, a face was engraved in the central portrait that had been empty.

[Main Card]

-Species: Dinosaur

-Name: Little Half-Dragon Sura

-Growth Form: Juvenile

-Characteristics: Ferocity (Stats gradually increase during battle. However, there’s a high possibility of becoming uncontrollable) Dullness (Gradually decreases stats and makes the body sluggish, making control easier.)

Strength: E

Agility: D

Resistance: D

Magic Resistance: E

Energy: D

Magic Power: E

Skills: Claw, Tail Whip, Bite

Evolution: Dinosaur

“Done!”

Finally, my card was complete. I was delighted holding my main card, which would become my new power. Then, a lightning-like light flickered on my wrist.

[Please scan the card]

The light from the card fluttered around. I held the card and swiped that light.

Like swiping a card through a card reader. My vision brightened, and all sorts of light was being absorbed into my body.

Finally, I can use this power. Amidst my joy, a status window appeared.

[Card recognition complete. Half-Dragon Sura transformation]

Huh? What did it just say?

“Wait? Transformation? Hey! Are you joking…”

I shook my head while looking at the status window, but the light from the card was already enveloping my entire body.

A moment later, the light disappeared, and I was standing alone in this space.

[After transformation, only the set card can be used, so card replacement is possible only after canceling the transformation.]

It’s telling me new information, but that’s not what’s important right now.

Wait, transformation?

I ran to the bathroom. Even my footsteps sound different.

“No. It can’t be…”

Desperately denying, I looked in the bathroom mirror.

There, exactly as I had seen in the video, was my reflection.

“Me, a monster… Me, a monster! Aaaah!”

I’m screwed.

In a place where people hunt monsters and tremble at the thought of them, I’ve become a monster.