n

n

nIan could tell that the skill was really good.

n‘I have read about a similar skill on the Dark Sorcerer page.’

nDark Sorcerers also fought by summoning creatures, so there were some Dark Sorcerers who had

nsimilar class skills to the Summoners.

nIan nodded, it would be helpful when hunting.

nHowever, there was one thing he couldn’t understand exactly.

n‘When using the skill for the first time, the two Linked entities’ Health is balanced. What does that

nmean?’

nIan decided to use the skill to understand it properly.

n‘I just finished a battle, so my pets’ Health all vary…’

nIan checked Ly’s and Big Guy’s remaining Health and activated the skill.

n“Ly, Big Guy, Link!”

nA red light glowed around Ly and Big Guy. Next, a faint chain appeared between the two pets.

nBig Guy’s Health, which was only 30%, started to rise.

n“Huh?”

nOn the other hand, Ly’s Health, which was almost at the maximum thanks to Bleeding, started to

ndecrease.

nSeeing that, Ian immediately understood.

n‘Aha! This is what balancing means. No matter what the maximum Health is, both parts’ Health

nbecomes the average of their percentage.’

nBoth Linked pets were given the mean of the remaining Health percentage.

nThe effect’s cooldown time was three hours and could be used only once, but it seemed like it could

nbe used well.

n‘However, it’s a double-edged sword. Now, it was useful because I used it when Big Guy’s Health was

nlower than Ly’s, as Big Guy’s maximum Health is high. However, if I Link them when Ly’s Health is

nlittle and Big Guy’s is at the maximum, things can get worse.’

nIan checked the things he needed to consider before using the skill. Then, he looked at the other skill.

n‘What is Assimilation?’

nThe skill’s information window appeared.

nAssimilation

nCategory: Active Skill

nSkill Level: Lv. 0

nProficiency: 0%

nCooldown Time: 60 minutes

nLasting time: 30 minutes

nUsage Limit: Can only be used on summoned pets. When the pet is dismissed or released, the skill is

ndeactivated.

nThe Summoner is assimilated to the pet.

nWhen Assimilation is applied, the Summoner’s battle stats’ percentage becomes the same as the

npet’s battle stats’ percentage. The Summoner receives an additional 20% of the stat that is highest

namong the pets’ stats.

nAs the Proficiency rises, the cooldown time decreases and you get more additional stats.

n…

nIan finished reading and was interested.

n‘My stats’ percentage becomes the same as the pet’s?’

nIan had to try that one as well.

nIan thought for a while and decided to use the skill on Bukbuk.

n‘Bukbuk’s stats are the most concentrated on one of them.’

nIan put down the pet.

n“Bukbuk.”

nBukbuk stuck its head out of its shell after being called.

nBukbuk-?

nBukbuk was always so cute. That made Ian smile.

n“Stay still. I’m going to use this skill.”

nBukbuk nodded.

nIan got ‘permission’ from Bukbuk. He then put his hand on Bukbuk’s shell and used the skill.

n“Assimilation!”

nA blue light came out from Bukbuk and was absorbed by Ian.

nWhen the skill was activated, Ian opened his statistics window and checked his stats.

nHe laughed, “Ha! My stats are really just like Bukbuk’s!”

nCounting Defense Force added by his gears, Ian’s Defense Force was almost 1500 now.

n‘I am almost as invincible as Big Guy.’

nHowever, his Attack Force and Speed had dropped.

nBut then…

nBuk- Bubuk-!

nBukbuk got excited. It laughed and crawled around Ian.

n“What, Bukbuk? What’s the matter?”

nBuk-!

nBukbuk looked very happy.

nIan suddenly became nervous.

n‘What? He is even more excited than when eating meatballs!’

nThen, Ian saw his own hologram right next to the statistics window.

n“What the-!”

nIan couldn’t help but shriek!

nThe hologram looked too shocking.

n‘There’s a shell on my back, and my head is so big! I also have become shorter…’

nHis stats were not only things assimilated to Bukbuk.

nHis appearance was assimilated, too!

nIan’s body was now like Bukbuk the big-headed turtle’s.

n‘My good looks…’

nIan hastily deactivated the skill.

n“Deactivate!”

nHuuung-

nIan returned to his usual self again. He let out a sigh of relief.

n“Hu… I should try to not use this skill on Bukbuk.”

nIt didn’t matter, as he probably would use the skill on Ly or Rake.

nHowever, Ian had a bad feeling that he would someday have to use the Assimilation skill on Bukbuk.

n‘I will rather use it on Big Guy; I would never use it on Bukbuk, ever.’

nMeanwhile, Bukbuk, who was excited about its master’s funny looks, was sad to see him return

nnormal again.

nIan glared at Bukbuk, “Why are you laughing?”

nBuk-!

nBukbuk’s face said it wanted Ian to ‘transform’ again. Ian frowned, “Was it funny?”

nBukbuk nodded without a second of hesitation.

nBukbuk!

nIan shook his head.

n“Do you know why I just changed like that?”

nBukbuk stared at Ian with curiosity. Ian told it the sad truth.

n“I have become like you, you idiot.”

nBukbuk’s eyes started to shake.

nIt thought of itself as a handsome turtle. There was no way it looked so funny.

nBuk-!

nBukbuk denied the reality.

nIan played with Bukbuk for a while then soon felt tired.

n“Hu, shall I sleep for a few hours now?”

nHe checked the playing time, it was almost 60 hours.

nEven he could no longer play.

n“At least, I finally reached Lv. 90.”

nIan knew how hard it was to raise 3 level from Lv. 90, but it felt different from Lv. 89.

nHe had reached the 90 and it gave him the strength to continue.

n“I should sleep for about 5 hours and then return.”

nIan dismissed all his pets, including the despairing Bukbuk, then logged out.

n…

n‘Hmm, Yuhyeon said the Virtual Reality department is in this building…’

nAfter Harin joined the Lotus Guild, she got more and more close to the members.

nJinsung and Yuhyeon especially talked a lot with her as they all went to the same university.

nHarin was a sophomore, but they were all of the same age, so all became friends.

n‘Anyway, why is Jinsung not reading my message? Is he in class?’

nIt was the first day of the semester.

nIt was the changing courses week, so Harin’s first class ended early. She had some free time now.

nSo, she had come to visit Jinsung and Yuhyeon’s Virtual Reality department.

nShe looked around in the hallway. A lot of students were glancing at her.

n‘Was there someone that pretty in our department?’

n‘What, does she major in Theater and Films? Or is she a would-be star?’

nHarin then saw a familiar face, “Oh, Yuhyeon! Yuhyeon, right?”

nYuhyeon was on his way back to the department’s student room with Sewon. He was startled from the

nvoice calling him and turned to that direction.

nHe was even more startled at seeing the person who called him.

n“Uh… uh?”

nThe person clearly seemed to know him.

nIt was a very awkward situation in which he didn’t know the woman but the woman knew him. He

npanicked, ‘But I do not know any girl this pretty…’

nHe thought like that and was about to say so, but then he suddenly recalled someone.

n‘Maybe, she is Harin?’

nHarin brightened at seeing Yuhyeon recognizing her, “Wow, you recognized me immediately!”

nThen, she complained about someone, “Ha! I haven’t made many changes. He was weird at not

nrecognizing me.”

nActually, Yuhyeon had not recognized Harin by her face.

nHe had guessed because Harin had sent him a message that she would come to visit.

nAnd, apart from that, Yuhyeon and Sewon were both dumbfounded.

nFrom a close distance, Harin was even more beautiful than when seen from afar.

nYuhyeon collected his senses and managed to speak, “You said you will come after all the classes.

nAre you done for today?”

nHarin shook her head, “No, not that. I have a long break between the classes, so I came to visit.”

nHarin then looked around and asked, “But Yuhyeon, where’s Jinsung?”

n“Did he not come today?”

n“Huh?”

nHarin was going to ask why, but she soon realized the reason and nodded, “He must be playing

nKailan at home because it is changing courses week.”

nHarin now knew Jinsung quite well. Yuhyeon could only laugh.

n…

nGrey robe.

nBlack pointed hat and a staff taller than himself. He looked quite funny.

nOn the North Continent, the Dark Sorcerer CoolHuni was working hard to raise his level.

n“Judgement of Darkness!”

nA black light came out of his hand and hit a Lv. 90 White Ogre.

nKwang-!

nWith large sound, the attack drained the Ogre’s Health.

nThe Black Skeletons around the Ogre were moving in harmony.

nHuni’s battle style was very organized and neat.

nHis fashion style was a little funny, but his control was impressive.

n“Good, my level will rise again soon.”

nCoolHuni killed the three White Ogres and sacrificed one of his Skeletons by using Absorbing Soul to

nrecover his Health to the Max.

nThen, he grabbed his hat with one hand and tilted his head.

n“Ian, where is he?”

nHuni didn’t forget.

nThe sad memory of the unfair defeat at the Rookies’ League.

nHe also recalled that turtle with a big head that made him tilt over it and fall.

nHe clenched his fist, his rage was burning like fire.

n“I am Lv. 85, so he must be over Lv. 80 by now.”

nThen, he shook his head.

n“No, he is a sly Summoner. Maybe he cheated and has gone over Lv. 85 already.”

nHuni muttered to himself. Then, he took out someone.

nIt was a doll that looked like a man.

nHuni glared at it and gritted his teeth.

n“Mean bastard, Ian!”

nPuk-

nHuni hit the doll with his fist. That wasn’t enough. He even used a skill on it.

n“Avenge of the Dead!”

nHowever, of course, the skill wasn’t activated on a doll.

nHuni steamed like that for a while. Then, he put away the doll and moved again to hunt.

n‘I must become stronger to beat that crafty Ian.’

nHuni moved with a determined look.

nOnce the summer vacation ended, he had been gaining levels slowly.

n‘I must try harder.’

nIf he couldn’t defeat Ian, then he had hunted hard, instead of doing his vacation homework, for

nnothing.

nThinking about how he had to stand at the back of his classroom with his hands raised because of the

nvacation homework, he felt even more humiliated.

nHuni walked a little faster.

n