But something was wrong.
Her vision blurred for a moment before sharpening, every detail of the world around her suddenly more vivid. The rustling of leaves, the distant chirping of birds, the subtle shifting of Kojo as he rolled onto his side—it was as if her senses had been cranked to their limits. The system notifications still hovered in her vision, the text blinking with an ominous finality.
Dungeon Core Secured: Processing Bond…
Amina sat up, gripping her chest as a wave of warmth spread through her body. It wasn’t painful, but it was intense—like her very being was being rewritten from the inside out. Her fingers dug into the dirt as the sensation built to a crescendo, then suddenly stopped.
Bond Established. Class Assigned: Summoner
Skill Tree Unlocked.
System Processing Additional Bonuses Based on User’s Attributes…
Her breath hitched. Summoner? That was what happened when someone bonded with a dungeon core. But she had never heard of a summoner that was also a fighter. Amina had spent her entire life training her body—she wasn’t some frail mage who relied solely on summons to fight.
A new notification appeared.
Due to Prior Combat Specialization, Unique Class Evolution Triggered.
Class Evolution: War Summoner
Amina blinked. She had never seen or heard of that class before. Her heart pounded as she opened her new status screen, scanning over the changes.
Name: Amina Okoro
Class: War Summoner (Unique)
Level: 5
Attributes:
- Strength: 12 (+2)
- Dexterity: 14 (+4)
- Constitution: 13 (+3)
- Intelligence: 11 (+1)
- Wisdom: 12 (+2)
- Charisma: 10 (+0)
Skills Gained:
- Summon: Wraithbound (Level 1) – Summons a spectral warrior bound to the user’s will.
- Tactical Recall (Level 1) – Instantly recall summoned creatures to user’s location.
- Enhance Summon (Passive) – Summoned creatures inherit a portion of user’s stats.
- Martial Conduit (Unique Passive) – The War Summoner can fight alongside summons without losing efficiency, unlike normal summoners.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Amina’s stomach twisted as she processed the information. Not only had she bonded with a dungeon core, but she had also gained a class that seemed tailor-made for her fighting style. War Summoner? That meant she could fight while summoning creatures to aid her. She wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or terrified.
Kojo groaned beside her, rubbing his head. “Ugh… what the hell happened?”
Scarface sat up, already scanning their surroundings, ever the cautious one. “We lived. That’s what happened. But something’s wrong with her.”
Amina met his gaze, knowing exactly what he was seeing. Her body felt different, stronger. The system’s influence was already taking effect. But what worried her wasn’t just the power—it was what came with it.
She was no longer just a normal delver. She was a Hybrid now. And Hybrids were watched closely.
“We need to move,” Scarface muttered, standing up. “The Delvers Association is going to notice what happened here.”
Kojo paled. “You think they’ll come for us?”
Scarface sighed, dusting himself off. “They’ll come for her.”
Amina clenched her fists. He was right. The moment the Association caught wind of what had happened, they would send someone to investigate. If they found out she had bonded with a dungeon core, things could get complicated fast. The Delvers Association didn’t tolerate unregistered Hybrids running around unchecked.
And worse—if the Enforcers got involved, there wouldn’t be a discussion. They’d decide whether she was a threat, and if they did…
She’d be eliminated.
The Road Ahead
The trio moved quickly, putting as much distance as they could between themselves and the collapsed dungeon entrance. They stuck to the tree line, avoiding the main roads where government drones patrolled. Amina kept checking her system notifications, but no more surprises popped up—for now.
After an hour of walking, Kojo finally broke the silence. “So… what now?”
Amina exhaled, considering their options. She needed to figure out her new abilities, but more importantly, she had to decide what to do about the Association. Going to them voluntarily was suicide. But staying hidden forever wasn’t an option either. She needed allies.
“There’s a place,” Scarface said, glancing at her. “A guild that might take you in.”
Amina narrowed her eyes. “What guild?”
“The Howler’s Guild.”
Kojo let out a low whistle. “You mean the Howler’s Guild? The frontline fighters? They don’t take just anyone.”
Scarface smirked. “They take people who can fight. And after what I just saw, I’d say she qualifies.”
Amina considered it. The Howler’s Guild was one of the top three in the country, known for their sheer combat prowess. If she joined them, she might be able to keep her Hybrid status under wraps—at least for a while. And if she grew strong enough, maybe she wouldn’t have to hide at all.
A notification flickered in her vision.
New Quest: Choose Your Path
- Option 1: Report to the Delvers Association (High Risk)
- Option 2: Join a Guild and Strengthen Yourself (Medium Risk)
- Option 3: Go into Hiding (Unknown Risk)
Amina took a deep breath.
She had made her decision.