Heroine Creation: All My Summons Are Custom Made

Chapter 58: He Summoned Another Legend [Bonus Chapter]

An absolute silence blanketed the hall. It was a rare kind of silence; the heavy, breathless kind that only comes when reality itself has just been shattered in front of an audience.

As they all began to recognize the woman standing in front of Lancet, their gasps came one after the other.

It rippled through the stands like a wave. Eyes widened to the point of tearing. Fingers shakily pointed toward the center of the arena.

Up in the back rows, Kasto’s jaw had practically unhinged, his hands gripping his knees so tightly he could’ve popped his sockets. Beside him, Anita looked utterly bewildered, her eyes darting between Lancet and the lightning-clad warrior woman.

Higher up in the stands, Luke, who rarely showed emotion during these duels, actually leaned forward even with arms folded. Those typically stoic brows shoot up toward his hairline.

”He’s done it again!” someone muttered in the crown.

”Just who the hell is this guy?”

Like that, the murmurs ignited, spreading like wildfire across the stone tiers.

”Did you see that lightning? He summoned another legend!”

”Look at the armor... the crown! That’s not just any legend!”

”Wait, I’ve seen that crest in the history texts. From the Era of Ash... is that one of Servont’s vanguard?”

”Are you blind?! Look at the warhammer! That’s Thor! The strongest Valkyrie!”

”Holy shit!”

Down on the battle floor, Professor Chance’s formal expression was completely gone, shattered away by the presence of a legend. His eyes were wide behind his spectacles, his posture stiff.

A Year-1 student possessing one legend was an anomaly. But possessing two was a.... a paradigm shift!

Yet, no one looked more derailed than Nereus Grimlake.

The Year-3 Shadowmancer took an involuntary step back, the confident, cold gaze wiped away from his handsome face. His dark eyes refused to move away from Thor, transfixed by how terrifyingly glorious she looked.

’What is going on right now?’ Nereus’s mind scrambled, his meticulous composure fraying. ’He has another legend? He has Thor Stormchild? I spent days studying Astensia Valengard. I trained with Argus on how to counter her powers. I didn’t prepare for... for one of the greatest Elementalists in history!’

”This...” Nereus stammered, rigid and frustrated. ”This wasn’t the summon you were supposed to bring out! This isn’t the Ironwill Knight!”

Lancet stood with his hands casually in his pockets, projecting a cool confidence he barely felt.

He smirked. ”That doesn’t really matter though. Summoners are allowed to choose whichever summon is best suited for the situation. Isn’t that the first rule of tactical summoning?”

Nereus grit his teeth, knowing it was true.

Lancet smugly looked toward the referee. ”Professor?”

Chance cleared his throat, quickly reassembling his stoic demeanor. He adjusted his spectacles. ”You are entirely correct. A Summoner is not restricted to a single Summon, provided they have the Grace to anchor them. The duel continues.”

Nereus’s hands balled into fists. He forced himself to exhale, drawing the shadows around him closer. The cold confidence slowly returned to his eyes as he looked at the hulking, shadowy form of Argus the Moon Knight beside him.

”Fine,” Nereus spat, his voice dropping to a deadly chill. ”It doesn’t really matter. History book or not, my shadow is still strong enough to take down Thor Stormchild, too.”

Thor, deciding she had been patient enough, raised her voice with the sound of thunder.

”I demand an answer!!”

A rumbling of thunder could be heard in the hall, as if they were inside the clouds during a storm. Thor’s churning eyes swept around the room, her massive warhammer crackling as if eager to smash the floor. ”Where in Earth’s name am I?”

In the stands, the students exchanged baffled looks.

”Is this his first time summoning her? She looks completely confused!”

Lancet replied behind her. ”You’re at the Awakener Supreme Academy. I summoned you.”

Thor froze, and slowly turned to look at him. Once she saw him, she lowered her warhammer, her eyes narrowing as she studied him.

Her gaze was heavy. Lancet felt like he was facing judgement under a god. He could feel the heat of her lightning on his face.

Thor however, felt the thin, newly forged tether of Grace connecting them, and her scowl deepened.

”You,” she said, almost insulted. ”You think you can call upon me from the void? Pull me from my rest like I am some common puppet to dance for your amusement?”

Lancet’s heart hammered, but he remained as stoic as he could. If there was one thing Thor hated, it was cowardice.

’I wrote her personality myself,’ Lancet thought rapidly. ’She is fiercely proud. She hates cowardice and demands a fearless leader. So I can’t back down, and I shouldn’t order her about either.’

’That’s why summoning her now was the best move. That way, I’ve cornered her warrior instincts. I’ve given her an enemy and she’s forced to defend herself, helping me out in the process.’

Not to forget, this was also a chance to see her abilities in action.

”I don’t think you’re a puppet, Thor,” Lancet said smoothly, keeping his voice steady and resolute. ”I just really need your help right now.”

Thor scoffed mockingly. ”And why would I lift my hammer to help you?”

”Because for now,” Lancet said, nodding his head past her shoulder, ”you don’t really have a choice.”

Thor frowned, her grip tightening on the handle of her weapon.

”I’ve already summoned you into the middle of a Duel,” Lancet explained, sounding more serious this time. ”And that Shadow Knight right behind you? He’s going to attack anytime soon. I’m not giving you an order, Thor. I’m telling you to defend yourself.”

”What is all this time wasting for?” Nereus voiced. ”Let us start this Duel already.”

Right on cue, Professor Chance raised his hand high into the air.

”The Duel of Summons... Begins!”

”Argus,” Nereus whispered. ”Attack.”

Instantly, the giant, shadowy form of the Moon Knight exploded forward. The stone floor cracked beneath its boots as it surged toward Thor’s exposed back.

From the scabbard in its back, it withdrew a sharp, pitch-black greatsword that poured out black smoke. Argus raised the weapon high, ready to strike.

Thor, meanwhile, still had her back facing the opposition. Her silver-blue eyes stayed locked on Lancet for one more second.

After considering his words, she tentatively agreed. ”Very well then,” Thor said, her voice practically humming with raw electricity. ”I will turn this black knight to dust. Then, you and I will have our discussion.”

Lancet waited till she stopped looking at him to let out a sigh of relief.

Right after, Thor pivoted on her heel with terrifying speed.

With an even faster speed, she stepped into the path of the Shadow Knight, swinging the Hammer of Force with both hands.

Hot blue lightning erupted from the head of the warhammer just as it met the descending strike of the pitch-black greatsword.

BOOOOOOOM!!!

The clash of shadow and lightning sent a shockwave so violent it shattered the glass of the windows.

The students gasped with excitement. They’d got themselves a fight!