The forest was quiet.
A new planet.
A new beginning.
And James was already planning his next move.
He stood in a small clearing, rubbing his hands together as if preparing for something extremely important.
Martis and Sampon watched him.
James suddenly began placing small stones in a circle on the ground.
Then he drew strange patterns with a stick.
Then he clasped his hands and whispered something under his breath.
Sampon raised an eyebrow.
"…What are you doing?"
"A ritual."
"For what?"
"For luck."
Sampon stared at him.
"You're joking."
James continued arranging things carefully.
"Random summons are RNG based," James said seriously. "We need luck."
Sampon slowly turned toward Martis.
"…Is he serious?"
Martis crossed his arms.
"Yes."
James then knelt and began chanting nonsense words he clearly made up on the spot.
Sampon sighed deeply.
"This is stupid."
Five minutes later—
Sampon was holding two stones.
Martis was standing beside him holding a stick used as a "ritual staff."
Martis looked at Sampon.
"This is your fault."
Sampon shrugged.
"You joined too."
James finally stood up proudly.
"The ritual is complete."
He wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead.
"Now the summon will definitely be good."
Martis and Sampon said nothing.
James opened his system window.
Random Summon
He clicked it.
James closed his eyes.
He intertwined his fingers and waited.
A moment later—
He opened them.
The system window appeared.
[Congratulations! You have pulled an R (Rare)!]
James blinked.
"…Rare?"
Before he could react—
Information flooded his mind.
---
A battlefield.
Bodies everywhere.
Mountains of corpses.
Blood flowing like rivers.
At the center—
A woman knelt.
Surrounded by the dead.
Her long black hair was soaked in blood.
Her expression was empty.
But the aura surrounding her was monstrous.
Even the sky trembled.
She raised both hands.
Gathering everything she had left.
Her life.
Her power.
Her existence.
All condensed into a single orb of energy.
The heavens seemed to respond to her will.
She placed the orb onto the ground gently.
Then—
Her body collapsed.
Dead.
---
James gasped as his consciousness snapped back.
"…What the hell was that…"
He quickly opened Designated Summon.
There it was.
[Desdemona — R (Rare)]
James clicked it.
Light gathered in front of him.
A figure appeared slowly.
A girl.
Long black hair.
Pale skin.
Dead black eyes.
A small beauty mark rested on her cheek.
She wore a flowing dark blue hanfu, giving her an almost noble elegance.
The moment she fully appeared—
She bowed gracefully.
"Thank you for summoning me."
Her voice was calm.
Soft.
James nodded awkwardly.
"…Uh… welcome."
Then he asked the usual question.
"What are your skills?"
Desdemona tilted her head slightly.
"I… Do not remember."
James blinked.
"…What?"
Sampon leaned forward.
"You don't know your own skills?"
She shook her head politely.
"No."
Both James and Sampon stared at her.
Then suddenly—
James' system rang.
A new message appeared.
[Summon Background Authorization!]
Another line appeared beneath it.
[You have summoned the very embodiment and concept of Jinx.]
James read the word slowly.
'…Jinx.'
He frowned.
'A person who brings misfortune…'
'…or causes streaks of bad luck.'
Sampon whistled softly.
"Well that sounds dangerous."
James immediately opened a telepathic link between them.
He explained the system message to both Martis and Sampon.
Sampon's eyes widened slightly.
'So she's basically living bad luck.'
James nodded.
But before they could discuss further—
Martis spoke.
'I already know.'
James and Sampon turned toward him instantly.
'You know?' James asked.
'How?'
Martis answered casually.
'I created her.'
Silence.
James blinked.
Sampon blinked.
'…You what?'
Martis simply looked at Desdemona calmly.
As if seeing something very familiar.
While James and Sampon stood there—
Completely puzzled.