As the words left his lips, the air in the cavern shimmered with spectral energy, coalescing into a form before him. From the encompassing darkness, a figure quickly materialized, its presence as mysterious as the cavern's ancient secrets. The summon, an arcane entity from a realm of shadow and spirit, stood in silence, its long robe trailing along the cavern floor with the regal grace of a monarch's cloak. The fabric was a subtle shade of blue, a delicate whisper against the enveloping darkness of the cavern.
Dante's gaze fell upon the spectral summon, noting the ragged cloth that adorned it from the waist down, hinting at nobility fallen to ruin. Despite the tatters, there was an elegance to its posture, a regal bearing that commanded respect. The robes seemed to move with a life of their own, undulating softly as if stirred by an unfelt breeze.
Its eyes, a haunting cyan, shone with an enigmatic light, deep and knowing, like portals to a world where life and death were but facets of the same coin. The glow provided a deathly illumination, casting Dante's shadow against the cavern walls.
In a flash of inspiration, Dante felt compelled to name this eternal ally. Drawing from the cherished narrative depths of "The Divine Comedy," he looked at the summon with a knowing smile and said:
"I shall call you Virgil, for you will be my guide through this unknown journey."
The summon, now named Virgil, seemed to acknowledge its new name, a faint glow emanating from its ethereal form. Dante sensed an unspoken understanding between them, a mutual recognition of the path they were destined to walk together.
The air crackled as The Game acknowledged this new bond:
Name acknowledged. Player 'Dante Fellan' and his first summon 'Virgil' are now unified in existence. Recognized as a singular player entity. 'Virgil,' transcending the bounds of a mere summon, is free from skill limitations and his fate is irrevocably tied to Dante's.
Virgil gains passive skill: 50% stats increase due to boon.
Virgil is endowed with the ability to level up.
Virgil possesses the capacity to acquire new skills.
Virgil can equip, consume and use any item if it meets the requirements.
All future boons designated for Dante Fellan will be conferred upon Virgil.
Virgil shares the Mystique stat with Player Dante Fellan.
Virgil has gained the skill: Summon Dante Fellan.
Virgil has gained the skill: Unsummon Dante Fellan.
In this moment, Dante fully realized the implications of his choices. Virgil had evolved beyond the simple role of a summon; he was now a true partner, seamlessly integrated into Dante's existence. This shift in roles was profound - with Virgil's ability to summon and unsummon Dante, Dante had, in essence, become akin to a summon himself. But this was all part of his plan.
Dante was presented with a complex problem: to maximize his advantages under specific initial conditions. He meticulously crafted a set of circumstances that he believed would yield the best results, considering his limitations and the sacrifices he could make without causing undue hardship. Now, it was time to test the efficacy of his strategy in this new and unknown world.
Dante lingered in anticipation, but the voice – which he had mentally dubbed 'System' – offered no further guidance. Resolving to move forward, he turned his attention to the long-awaited revelation of Virgil's stats:
Name: Virgil
Class: Undead Summoner
Level: 1
HP: 45
MP: 40.5
Might: 9
Finesse: 9
Mystique: 12
Essence: 13.5
'He has the same base stats as mine, enhanced by 50%,' Dante noted. This alignment made sense, considering that they were not only of the same class but technically the same player entity in the game. Curious, Dante reviewed his own statistics and observed that his Mystique had indeed increased to 12, as he had anticipated. He couldn't help but notice a newfound fluidity in his thoughts, a smoothness he hadn't been fully aware of earlier amidst the flurry of System's updates. It was a subtle yet distinctly pleasant sensation.
He also discovered a significant change to his only skill:
Active Skills:
Summon Virgil
Summon Virgil, MP cost: 0, CD: 180 s.
Dante checked the skills available to Virgil, noting they mirrored his own. The choice laid before him: to summon a skeletal warrior or to conjure a weapon. He surmised that Virgil's inherent stats would likely outmatch those of any lesser summon, making the conjured weapon a tempting choice. However, uncertainty loomed —the skill's description was vague, leaving Dante to wonder if actual bones were required or if the weapon would materialize from the ether. Unwilling to make a gamble based on the unclear wording, Dante opted for caution.
Active Skills:
Summon Skeleton Warrior (R1 L1)
Summon a rank 1, level 1 skeleton warrior to fight by your side. Limit: 1, duration: 300 s, MP cost: 10, CD: 180 s.
Summon Dante Fellan
Summon Dante Fellan, MP cost: 0, CD: 180 s.
Unsummon Dante Fellan
Unsummon Dante Fellan, MP cost: 0, CD: 180 s.
Passive Skills:
50% stats increase
He noticed that the Summon Dante Fellan skill required no MP, probably mirroring his own skill. It was a nice and unexpected benefit.
With a wry chuckle at the thought of commanding the undead, Dante issued the command with a mixture of levity and anticipation, "Let's see what you are made of... well, probably bones, but in any case..." His smile broadened. "Virgil, call forth the Oh Mighty Skeletal Warrior!"
The air within the cavern barely stirred as Dante's command was given, a stark contrast to the monumental events that had preceded. Virgil, silently standing beside Dante, initiated the summoning. The earth did not quake, nor did the shadows dance; the summoning of the skeletal warrior was a far subtler affair. In less than a heartbeat, bones assembled from the void, clicking into place with the precision of a master clockmaker's creation.
The skeletal warrior, now standing before them, was less a figure of awe and more a utilitarian asset, its form basic yet functional. It was not the grandiose entity of legend but rather a practical tool at their disposal — a lesser summon indeed, yet no less important for their journey.
Dante observed the skeletal warrior with a clinical eye, noting its potential in the battles to come.
Class: Skeleton Warrior (Rank 1)
Level: 1
HP: 25
MP: 3
Might: 5
Finesse: 3
Mystique: 1
Essence: 1
"As weak as expected," Dante quipped, his words cutting through the hush of the dimly lit cavern with a touch of wry humor. "He'll fit right in with the decor." Virgil offered no audible reply, yet his affirmation was as clear as the subtle shimmer in the air. His silence was profound, a quietude that spoke volumes, punctuated only by the ghostly azure flicker in his eyes — a cosmic twinkle from beneath the shadow of his dark blue robe.
Dante eyed Virgil with a blend of amusement and contemplation.
"I wonder if you'll ever fancy a chat," he mused. "Or perhaps silence is part of your eternal charm. We'll put that on the to-do list... for the distant future."
With the impending battles, Dante knew there was one last critical test to conduct—a risk that would validate the linchpin of his strategy. Beside his seemingly carefree words, Dante's true feelings were veiled by a thin veneer of nervousness. The outcome of this test would determine whether he could ascend to the role of the protagonist in this world or remain just another character. He had devised what he considered a cheat so significant that no Earth-based game would have allowed it. 'Here it goes,' he thought, "Virgil, unsummon me, then bring me back in ten seconds."
In an instant, Dante vanished, leaving the cavern in eerie stillness, as though he had never existed. The seconds ticked away, marked only by the steady drip of water from stalactites.
Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, Dante reappeared, slightly disoriented but whole. He quickly checked his screen, and his eyes lit up with excitement. A smile cracked on his face as he realized that summoning refreshed cooldowns—essentially, a summoned character reappeared with all their skills available, just as he had anticipated.
"Being briefly absent from the land of the living was... underwhelming," Dante quipped with a smirk, meeting Virgil's wordless gaze. "No tales of the afterlife to share, I suppose. I didn't even sense the passing of time. But hey, first test passed; now, let's move on to act two: the grand betrayal."
Dante's tone conveyed mock seriousness as he addressed his enigmatic partner, "Now, Virgil, don't take this personally. It's all in the name of science, and science demands your momentary departure." Without delay, he commanded, "Skeleton warrior, engage in some friendly fire, if you please. Virgil, don't take it to heart, or... whatever the equivalent is for a skeleton."
The skeletal warrior, a comical display of awkwardness, lumbered toward Virgil, swinging a rusty sword that posed more danger to tetanus than to its target. Each swing defied the art of swordsmanship, enough to make any seasoned combat instructor despair. Yet, despite the clumsiness, the warrior's strikes landed with an odd effectiveness. Virgil's HP plummeted to zero, and he dissipated as easily as morning mist. The warrior, clad in a hodgepodge of battered armor, stood apologetically, its rusted sword and dented shield seemingly regretful for their part in the charade.
Dante contemplated the climax of his experiment in silence, 'Summon Virgil,' he thought, choosing thought over voice. Virgil returned, his demeanor as serene and silent as before his untimely 'departure.' There wasn't so much as a ruffled robe to show for his brief absence.
He checked Virgil's skills and found them all available. This was a major breakthrough; the immortal duo had been born. Dante smiled, an overwhelming sense of satisfaction washing over him as he wondered how The Game had allowed for such a cheat. A thought crossed his mind—how many others had discovered cheats, perhaps even more game-changing ones?
As he looked ahead, Dante smiled, ready to face the challenges that lay before him. In his mind, he found a pleasant analogy from his rock climbing days. This journey was like a challenging track to climb, offering breathtaking views all the way to the top. It was time to take the lead, navigate the obstacles, and, if necessary, bleed a little along the way.