SS Awakening: My Monster Merging System!

Zich looked up at Arnold for a moment without speaking.

Around them, the Shelter Lord’s presence was not aggressive, yet it carried enough weight to make the nearby players lower their voices. Even Helen stopped smiling, while Jayden stood a little straighter at the side. Cole and the Association members also watched quietly, waiting to see what Arnold would say.

His fingers brushed against the strap of his backpack.

’What does he want?’

Several thoughts crossed his mind quickly. It could be about the undead dragon. It could be about the last attack. It could also be about Rael and those idiots who had tried to rob him near the mountain.

’If it’s about Rael, I’ll just say self defense. Technically, they surrounded me first.’

Keeping his expression calm, Zich nodded once.

"Alright."

For a few seconds, Arnold studied him. His eyes moved from Zich’s face to his hands, then to the sword at his side. It was not a normal look. It felt like he was trying to measure Zich without asking anything directly.

Noticing it, Zich kept his posture relaxed.

A faint surprise crossed Arnold’s face, but it vanished almost immediately.

"Level ten," Arnold said.

At those words, Helen’s eyes widened.

Jayden’s face changed slightly.

Nearby, Cole also looked at Zich with clear shock.

’Oh. I reached level ten?’

He had been too busy surviving and seizing opportunities to check properly.

Despite that, Arnold’s expression remained strict, though his gaze deepened.

"You are still a beginner, yet you are already level ten on the second day."

"I’ve been working hard." Zich replied.

"Hard work alone does not explain this. How did you grow so quickly?" Asked Arnold in a serious tone.

Zich had expected the question.

Fortunately, he had already prepared an answer the moment too many people saw him near the dragon. The best lies were not completely false. They just needed to hide the important parts.

"I found a dungeon," he said.

Before Arnold could question further, he continued, "It was inside the mountain. I entered, killed the monsters I could handle, and gained points and levels there. The place had many silver skinned apes, so I farmed them for a while."

Hearing that, Helen looked at him with interest. "You found a dungeon alone?"

"Yes, I did."

Arnold’s gaze remained fixed on him, his tone growing more serious. "Did you clear it?"

Without hesitation, Zich shook his head. "No. I’m not stupid. The boss was there, but I was too weak, so I left before it killed me."

At that answer, Cole frowned slightly.

Arnold did not respond immediately either.

Instead, his eyes moved over Zich again. He had seen how the boy moved during the undead dragon fight. The timing, the courage, the use of summons, and the way he struck at the last moment were not normal for a beginner.

A low level dungeon boss should not have been impossible for someone like him.

Still, Arnold did not expose his doubt.

"You handled yourself well against the undead dragon," he said.

"Uh, thanks," Zich muttered, not used to praise.

Though Arnold’s voice stayed flat, there was a clear meaning behind it. He was not the type to praise easily, and the nearby Association members understood that. Several of them began looking at Zich with more attention.

After a brief pause, Arnold added, "Your summons are unusual too. Your class rank is likely high. At least B rank. Maybe A rank."

’Higher than that, actually,’

The world only knew about traditional summoners, those who could tame and summon living beasts. Zich’s spirit summoner class was closer to that of a necromancer, only far more unique.

With a calm motion, Arnold folded his arms behind his back.

"I will make you an offer. Become my disciple. I will guide you personally. With your talent, reaching Layer Two will not be difficult. Under me, you will avoid many mistakes that kill new players before they understand this mountain." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Hearing that, nearby players swallowed nervously, feeling that Zich was extremely fortunate.

A Shelter Lord offering to personally guide a new player was not a small matter. To most people in Layer One, it would be a chance they would accept without thinking.

Looking at Arnold, Zich considered what he had just said.

The offer was interesting. Arnold was strong. Very strong. The way he had handled the berserk undead dragon proved that. Having someone like that guide him would make things smoother.

But that interest cooled almost as quickly as it came.

’He’s powerful, yes.’

His eyes shifted slightly toward Arnold’s hands.

’But if he’s that powerful, why is he still a Shelter Lord here?’

The Ascension Mountain had higher layers. Stronger settlements. Better resources. Better monsters. Better opportunities. If Arnold was truly at the top, he would not be ruling a shelter in the beginner layer.

Zich did not look down on him, but he was not blind either.

’A good tree gives shade, but a bigger tree gives more.’

That was something his old man, Leon, had once said to him, and he could not help but feel it fit the current moment.

Lowering his head slightly in a polite manner, Zich replied, "I appreciate the offer. But I need time to think about it. A lot happened today, and I’m still trying to understand my own class."

Watching Zich for a few more seconds, Arnold nodded. "Fair. But think carefully. Opportunities do not wait forever."

"I understand."

After adjusting his backpack, Zich turned slightly. The soul orb inside him still felt strange, and the thought of Tiamant kept pulling at his mind. Compared to becoming someone’s disciple, he was far more interested in seeing what that dragon soul could become.

Helen took a small step forward. "You’re leaving already? Do you need me to accompany—"

"No!" Zich said without looking at her as he sprinted off.

The blond girl was left standing there with a pout on her face.

After he left, Cole walked up to Arnold.

"Shelter Lord."

Without taking his eyes off Zich’s back, Arnold replied, "Report everything about that kid before I arrived. I want his actions, his summons, his ranking movement, and anyone he interacted with."

"Understood," Cole nodded.

Arnold’s gaze shifted toward the fallen undead dragon.

"And find out where a monster of this level came from. A level 60 undead dragon should not appear in a beginner zone without a reason."

"I’ll start immediately," Cole said, then hesitated for a moment before adding, "What should we do about the event? It was called off early, but Zich is the clear winner by ranking."

***

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