SSS Awakening: Only My Summons Evolve

The group walked forward through the abrasive red dunes, their summons forming a defensive semi circle in the lead.

Every gust of wind carried a stinging spray of iron shavings that scrapped against their gear like miniature needles.

As the group walked on, Verso pulled up a translucent blue window as his eyes started scanning through the updated status window for the Reinforced Gargoyle.

---

[✦Summon Window✦]

Name: Reinforced Gargoyle

Title: -

Rank: Elite (50%)

Stats:

[Strength: 34]

[Agility: 36]

[Endurance: 37]

[Mana: 32] 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Manifestation: [Spear]

Abilities: [Stone Skin], [Mana Beam], [Sonic Screech]

---

’So I need a total of four elites to max out one beast soul completely...’ He calculated.

Even though the synthesis had been expensive in terms of materials, costing him two elite summons, but the results it had yielded were also undeniable.

’The stat increase is actually massive. I can actually treat this guy as a primary combatant now instead of just a tool for flight.’

Verso grinned slightly as his gaze shifted to the summons walking ahead of them. More specifically, he stared intently at the Yeti that Alice had summoned.

Even in the suffocating, metallic heat of the red desert, the Yeti radiated a visible swirling mist of frost. The air for five meters around it was noticeably chilled, providing a small pocket of relief for the group.

"How is that Yeti able to impact the environment so much?" Verso asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

The only summon that Verso had seen with that kind of environmental impact was Headmaster Alicia’s two headed ice wolf, which from what he knew was a creature of a higher tier than elite.

Hearing his question, Alice glanced back, her voice soft and patient as if she was explaining a basic concept to a child.

"That is an Elite tier Frost Yeti. It is one of the primary monsters of the Frozen Heart dungeon. One of its passive ability allows it to manifest localized sub zero winds so by nature it impacts the environment around it."

Verso’s ears perked up on hearing about Frozen Hearts. If a beast this powerful was just a normal primary beast there, he could not even imagine what the other stronger monsters in that dungeon were like.

"Isn’t that one of Clan Ragnar’s private dungeons?" Han Feng asked, his tone curious as he remembered reading about this dungeon previously.

Alice just gave him a simple nod answering yes.

Seeing this Moon let out a dry chuckle, throwing his arms behind his head as he walked.

"Well, I guess that means the rest of us will never get to see the inside of that place. Another good dungeon gone to the private clan stash."

"Are all the high tier dungeons owned by the Great Clans?" Verso asked.

After a week of hunting with Moon, he felt comfortable around nobles to the point where he could ask them questions which commoners were not suppose to know the answers to.

"Brother Verso," Han Feng answered with a small, knowing chuckle.

"It is more or less about politics. Almost all high ranked dungeons are monopolized by the Great Clans which means that any talented commoner summoners eventually have to align themselves with a family to keep progressing in their journey."

Han paused, turning his head slightly toward Verso, his smile widening as he shot the commoner boy an offer.

"But you do not have to worry about this. Clan Feng would be delighted to take a talent like you under its wing."

Verso stopped mid step as he looked at Han with a surprised look, he had not expected the Scion to scout him out this quick.

Just then a sharp, feminine cough interrupted Han as Alice glared at the green haired boy with her icy blue eyes.

"I thought we agreed on making sure there was no clan politics within the Academy. Save the recruitment pitch for the graduation ceremony, Han."

Han shrugged playfully, though his eyes remained on Verso.

"You’ll be fine, scum," Moon added, laughing.

"I’m pretty sure you’ve got some trick up your sleeve that will make the clans beg you to join, not the other way around."

Moon knew better than anyone in the group that Verso was a walking enigma. Which was exactly why he had chosen the him as his hunting partner.

Suddenly, the metallic sand beneath their boots began to hum. And then after a second, it did not just hum but it started flying up in air.

"We’re here." Han said, his voice dropping into a more serious tone.

The air around the group shimmered as everyone manifested their gear.

Moon equipped his black leather armor flared with runic light. Alice’s white dress was suddenly overlaid with translucent frost plate which looked like a piece of thin ice.

Seeing them, Verso didn’t hesitate, instantly manifesting the Sea Serpent Scale Armor. The shimmering blue scales clung to his torso. Bringing his arm forward he manifested the Black Scythe in his hands.

ROAR!

The red ground suddenly erupted.

A few dozen meters ahead of the group, a massive Metallic Sandworm surged out of the dunes. It was a nightmare to look at, made from segments of dull reinforced steel, it was as large as a train.

It stood thirty feet into the air, its mouth wide open, making the rows of teeth visible inside of its massive maw.

"Separate and start kiting! Do not let it reach you or catch your summons!" Alice shouted, her voice turning authoritative as she assumed the role of the leader.

The summons reacted instantly as the Berserker Knight and the White Tiger leaped in opposite directions, kicking up clouds of metal dust.

And then the Yeti slammed its fists into the ground, creating a patch of permafrost to slow the worm’s movement before it jumped in the opposite direction.

Seeing all of this, Verso looked at his Gargoyle and gave it the command to fly.

The Reinforced Gargoyle let out a stony screech, its new massive wings snapping open and with a powerful thrust it took to the air.

It started circling the massive steel beast from above waiting for the perfect moment to dive.