I Can Summon Legendary Figuress

A month later...

A lone figure emerged from the edge of an endless wasteland, arriving at the point where scorched earth abruptly gave way to a sprawling valley stretching deep into an immense mountain range.

The contrast was so stark it resembled the divide between heaven and hell itself.

Behind him lay an ocean of cracked stone and blistering sand where even weeds refused to grow.

Ahead stood towering peaks draped in green forests, rivers weaving through the valleys like silver threads beneath the afternoon sun.

"Finally..."

The hooded figure reached up and pulled back his cloak, revealing Ethan’s tired face beneath layers of dust.

Without hesitation, he uncorked a flask and poured the remaining water over his head.

The cool liquid streamed down his hair and neck before disappearing almost instantly beneath the relentless heat.

It felt heavenly.

Beneath him, a sturdy draconic beast continued plodding forward with practiced steps.

The creature stood a little taller than a horse, covered in rough gray scales with a long muscular tail swaying behind it.

Unlike true dragons, its forelimbs were thick enough to support its body while powerful hind legs carried it effortlessly across uneven terrain.

It was a drake.

One commonly used throughout the borderlands.

For the past week, Ethan had done little besides ride across the Great Wasteland.

The endless sea of emptiness tested both the body and the mind.

There were no landmarks. No villages. Not even the occasional tree to provide shade.

Every direction looked exactly the same.

The scorching sun remained overhead from dawn until dusk, while freezing winds replaced it once darkness fell.

Ordinary travelers often lost themselves before reaching the opposite side. Others simply ran out of supplies.

Compared to those dangers... the heat was almost merciful.

"At least you’ll finally get to sell that bag of cores."

An older voice interrupted Ethan’s thoughts.

Riding beside him was another drake carrying a broad-shouldered elderly man whose appearance clearly separated him from humanity.

His ears were longer. His skin carried faint emerald patterns beneath its surface. Small horn-like ridges protruded from his temples.

He belonged to the Maqaue Clan.

Or rather... he used to.

"Yeah."

Ethan smiled faintly before glancing toward the heavy leather sack hanging from his saddle.

Inside were dozens of monster cores collected throughout the journey.

The Great Wasteland itself rarely provided opportunities to hunt, but the outskirts bordering human territory had become infested over the past two years.

Repeated raids. Collapsed battlefields. Abandoned military expeditions.

Every conflict left monsters roaming freely where armies once marched.

Especially after Davos’ disastrous invasion.

Many terrifying creatures had escaped into the wasteland afterward, turning sections of the desert into hunting grounds few dared approach.

Fortunately... monster cores remained valuable regardless of whose territory they were sold in.

"If nothing else," Ethan muttered, "this trip should at least pay for itself."

The old Maqaue chuckled.

"That’s assuming you don’t spend everything before reaching your destination."

Ethan laughed quietly.

"I’ll try not to."

Silence settled between them once more as both drakes continued toward the mountains.

The distant peaks grew larger with every passing hour.

Eventually Ethan broke the silence again.

"How much farther until we reach the Maqaue Clan?"

The old man scratched his chin thoughtfully.

"We’re inside their sphere of influence already."

He pointed toward the mountain range ahead.

"The main settlement lies much deeper within those valleys. It’ll still take us some time."

"But..."

A grin spread across his weathered face.

"...at least you don’t have to worry about getting lost and dying anymore."

He burst into restrained laughter while absentmindedly rubbing the strange mark branded onto his neck.

The slave seal.

Months earlier... that same mark had been carved into him by a priest serving the Church of Bark.

Servos.

Only two years ago, this very Demi-human had marched into the Wilderness Fortress alongside Davos’ army.

He had overseen the capture of countless human prisoners.

Thousands had become slaves beneath his watch. Including Ethan.

Life truly possessed a twisted sense of humor.

Now... their positions had completely reversed.

Servos walked ahead as Ethan’s slave instead.

The old Maqaue seemed to understand the irony better than anyone.

Sometimes he laughed about it himself. Other times... he simply sighed.

"You humans really are terrifying," Servos muttered.

"One mistake... and everything changes."

Ethan merely smiled.

He held no interest in humiliating the old man. Servos had long since accepted his situation.

Besides... he remained useful.

His mission required someone exactly like him.

Unlike previous journeys, Ethan hadn’t crossed into Demi-human territory simply to survive.

This time... he had come with a purpose.

The Lord of Bark had personally assigned him a mission—one tied directly to his evolution.

Before he could act, however, he needed something else.

Recognition.

Not overwhelming fame. Not enough to draw the attention of every powerful faction.

Simply enough that people knew his name. Enough that stories about him spread naturally throughout the region.

Without that... completing the mission ahead would become nearly impossible.

The Maqaue Clan offered the perfect starting point.

Servos still possessed connections there.

More importantly... the clan remained one of the weaker branches beneath the Dragon God’s influence.

That made it easier to move without attracting excessive attention.

Of course... there was still one obvious problem.

Davos.

The Demi-God had personally met Ethan before.

If their paths crossed... disguises would accomplish very little.

Fortunately, Demi-Gods weren’t individuals one casually encountered while walking through town.

They ruled. They commanded. They rarely concerned themselves with ordinary affairs.

Meeting one accidentally? The chances bordered on impossible.

...

Several hours later... the first signs of civilization appeared.

Stone roads gradually replaced cracked earth.

Wooden watchtowers overlooked winding mountain paths.

Small farming villages nestled between hills where streams provided fresh water year-round.

Compared to the barren wasteland... the difference felt almost unreal.

...

"The Dragon God Clan has completely lost its mind these past few months."

"So keep your head down, child."

"Locking down an entire dungeon because of ’lack of compliance?’"

"What kind of excuse is that?"

"It’s just pettiness. What else would you expect from those greedy reptiles?"

Outside a modest roadside inn overlooking a peaceful pond, several elderly Maqaues sat around a weathered wooden table sharing wine beneath the shade of bamboo trees.

The atmosphere remained calm despite the bitterness filling their conversation.

In Demi-human territory... money meant little. Laws mattered even less.

Power decided everything.

The stronger clan spoke. The weaker clan listened. Simple.

The Maqaue Clan happened to occupy an unfortunate position.

Although technically protected beneath the Dragon God Clan’s banner, they lacked the strength to challenge larger factions.

As a result... they often became convenient targets whenever politics demanded someone to blame.

Recently... one of their resource dungeons had been seized outright.

Officially, the Dragon God Clan cited "failure to comply with strategic objectives."

Unofficially... everyone understood the truth.

The Celestial Dragon.

For years, the Dragon God’s heir had pursued the legendary beast.

Instead... Bark had captured it first.

Humiliation spread throughout the Dragon God Clan.

Someone needed to answer for that embarrassment.

The Maqaues simply happened to stand closest.

"The Serpent God Clan hasn’t exactly been eager to help either."

One elderly Maqaue sighed before taking another drink.

"They started all this trouble. Now they’ve gone strangely quiet."

Another elder nodded.

"They’re waiting. Let everyone else bleed first."

The group collectively frowned.

None of them liked where events seemed headed.

After a long silence, one of the elders slowly turned his attention toward a familiar figure standing nearby.

"Davos."

The newly promoted Demi-God immediately stepped forward.

"Yes, Elder?"

"Gather the finest young men and women. We’re sending another expedition."

The elder’s expression grew serious.

"This time... they’ll enter Bamboo Mirage Dungeon."

Davos lowered his head respectfully.

"Understood."

A strange light briefly flashed across his eyes before disappearing just as quickly.

Without another word... he turned and quietly walked away.

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