Everyone stared at Ryan with mouths agape, except Maxwell, whose smirk grew wider with each passing second.
"A summoner? How typical," Maxwell said, laughing as he glanced at his brother's downcast face. To him, Ryan's awakening of one of the most useless talents was the ultimate proof of his inferiority.
"Oh, great. What's he going to summon? A dog?" someone in the crowd jeered, setting off a ripple of laughter.
"The strongest summoner alive couldn't even handle a C-ranked beast," another chimed in, their disdain echoed by nods of agreement.
Abilities were a defining aspect of power, but rarity didn't guarantee uniqueness. Dozens, even hundreds, could unlock the same ability. What set individuals apart was the grade of their ability, which determined their potential. Unfortunately for Ryan, summoning was universally considered the worst.
An F-ranked summoner might spend years mastering the craft, only to summon something as insignificant as a tick. Even the rare SSS-ranked summoners were limited to creatures like lions—impressive in the mundane world but utterly useless against even the weakest beasts ranked above them.
Maxwell's grin widened, his voice dripping with mockery. "Once again, you've proven your worthlessness, brother. You'll always be beneath me." He stepped closer, lowering his voice but not his venom. "I suppose the son of a whore could never amount to anything."
Ryan's fists clenched, trembling with rage. His mother's honor was sacred, and Maxwell's insult cut deeper than any blade.
"I'll make you pay!" Ryan roared, lunging forward in a blind fury.
Maxwell's smirk didn't waver. With a lazy flick of his wrist, a crackling red fireball materialized in his palm and shot toward Ryan. The force of the attack struck him squarely in the chest, hurling him backward into the dirt.
"Woah! Did you see that? He just awakened his system and already has skills!" someone in the crowd exclaimed, awe replacing their earlier scorn.
"Must be nice having an S-ranked talent," another muttered, watching Maxwell bask in their admiration.
Amid the murmurs of approval, one voice cried out in anguish. "Young master, no!"
Catherine, Ryan's loyal companion, pushed her way through the throng, her heart pounding in her chest. She reached him as he lay motionless on the ground, the faint rise and fall of his chest her only solace.
"Ryan!" she whispered, her hands hovering over his charred clothing. "You're alive, thank the heavens."
Maxwell's laughter rang out above the crowd. "Careful, Catherine. You might catch his failure like it's a disease."
Her head snapped up, eyes blazing with fury. "You've gone too far this time, Maxwell," she said through gritted teeth.
Maxwell only shrugged, his arrogance unshaken. "And what are you going to do about it? Defend the useless summoner? By all means, waste your time."
Catherine ignored him. Placing a hand on Ryan's shoulder, she whispered an incantation under her breath. The air shimmered around them, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished, leaving the crowd in stunned silence.
"He—he's gone?" someone stammered, their disbelief echoing through the group.
Back in Ryan's bedroom, Catherine gently lowered him onto the bed. His face was pale, and his breaths shallow, but he was alive.
"This isn't over, Ryan," she whispered, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "You'll prove them all wrong. I'll make sure of it."
"And how am I going to do that?" I'm too weak to even stand up to my brother, Ryan said with a chuckle at his expense.
"Don't say that, Master Ryan; you are not weak; don't forget that you have an SSS Ranked ability," Carolyn said. She knew how useless summoning talents were, but she couldn't care less; she would say anything to cheer up her young Master.
Catherine's hands were still on Ryan's chest, she was using her ability to heal the wounds Ryan had suffered at the hands of Maxwell.
"How am I supposed to do that?" Ryan asked, his voice weak and bitter. He let out a hollow chuckle, mocking himself. "I can't even stand up to my brother."
"Don't say that, Master Ryan! You're not weak," Catherine replied firmly, though doubt lingered in her heart. She knew how useless summoning talents were, but she pushed that aside. "You have an SSS-ranked ability. That's rare, incredible even!"
Ryan shook his head, the weight of her words doing nothing to ease his pain. "It doesn't matter. A summoner is a summoner, no matter the rank." His voice grew fainter as he spoke, the pain gnawing at his insides. He could feel Catherine's hands pressed against his chest, her healing magic desperately working to mend the damage Maxwell had caused, but it wasn't enough.
Catherine paused, her frustration boiling over. "If you give up now, you'll prove Maxwell right. Is that what you want?" Her voice trembled with urgency. "If you give up, everyone who mocked you today will be right. You'll be worthless to them, to yourself! So tell me, Master Ryan, why should I even try if you won't?"
Ryan winced, her words cutting deeper than he expected. He wanted to fight back, to argue, but what was there to say? She wasn't wrong. The truth stung worse than his wounds.
As his vision blurred and darkness began to creep in, a single thought echoed in his mind: Is this really how it ends? A failure, a nobody? The sickly, wretched son of a whore who died from one fireball?
His body felt heavy, his senses fading, until nothing but darkness remained. He drifted into the void, waiting for the inevitable. This is it. This is the end.
But then, a flicker of light pierced the darkness. Warmth spread through him, pushing back the cold emptiness. The light grew brighter, golden, and radiant until it consumed him.
Ryan's eyes shot open, and he gasped for air, hi,s chest rising sharply as though he'd been underwater. He sat upright, trembling, his mind racing to process what had just happened.
"Y-Young Master! You're alive!" Catherine cried, her voice breaking with relief. Tears welled in her eyes as she reached out to steady him. "It's a miracle!"
But Ryan wasn't looking at her. His wide eyes were fixed on something else—something only he could see.
[System assimilation complete.]
[You have been chosen by the gods.]
[The gods have decided to grant you life.]
[The gods have gifted you a healthy body.]
Lines of text scrolled before him, glowing faintly in the air. His heart pounded as he read.
[Status.]
[Name: Ryan RoyalBlood.]
[Age: 18.]
[Level: 1.]
[EXP: 0/100.]
[Status: Player.]
[Ability: Summoner.]
[Grade: SSS RANKED.]
[HP: 100/100.]
[Talent Points: 50/50.]
[Skills: 4.]
[Strength: 10.]
[Speed: 10.]
[Agility: 10.]
[Attribute Points: 0.]
[Gods unlocked.]
The final message sent a jolt through Ryan's chest, his lips curling into an astonished smile.
[Congratulations, Player. You have been chosen by the Olympic gods. You are a summoner, but not a regular one. Unlike others, you can summon the gods themselves to aid you in battle.]
[For now, you are too weak to wield their true power. Complete quests and defeat beasts to unlock your potential. Imagine commanding Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, and many more as your soldiers.]
Ryan's hands trembled as he reached out, as though trying to touch the words. His despair from moments ago felt like a distant memory, replaced by awe and a flicker of hope.
"Master Ryan?" Catherine's voice pulled him back to reality. She was watching him with a mix of relief and concern.
He turned to her, the fire of determination now burning in his eyes. "This isn't the end, Catherine. Not even close."