Dark Warlock in the Apocalypse

A summoning? A sudden summoning?

Justin felt a rare sense of bewilderment in the darkness. He hadn't even reached level 30 yet, so why now? This was a complete deviation from the standard route. Even the system message he had just received seemed odd.

"Kargaron is summoning me? Not one of the Four Lords?" he thought.

Normally, if this were a regular advancement procedure, a message would have appeared indicating that one of the Four Lords was calling him to the Grand Arena of Ten Thousand Demons. But this time, the message only mentioned Kargaron by name. There was no location given, and even the suspicious term "compulsory" was used.

"I have no idea what's going on."

Just as his thoughts were becoming more tangled, the dark world around him suddenly brightened. As expected, the place where he was summoned wasn't the Grand Arena. Lava flowed like a river beneath a mountain of rock, and sulfurous gas billowed out. The clanging of hammers and metal echoed from all directions.

It looked like a forge straight out of hell, and Justin frowned.

"Where the hell am I now?" he muttered.

"This is my domain."

A deep voice rumbled, shaking the entire mountain. Justin turned toward the source of the voice and saw a massive shadow. Sitting atop a throne made of black iron was a giant with glowing red eyes. His entire body was clad in armor, obscuring his features.

"This is where the weapons of hell are forged..." the giant began.

"Cut the grand speech and get to the point. Why did you summon me?" Justin interrupted.

Kargaron, who had been building up his dramatic tone, trembled slightly at Justin's words. A moment later, a voice that seemed to be holding back anger came out.

"You insolent fool."

"And I'll continue being insolent."

"Damn it. You never back down. Do you not fear us at all?"

"Can you even touch me?"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

At Justin's sneer, Kargaron fell silent. Before coming here, Justin had received the absolute protection of the system. That meant Kargaron couldn't lay a finger on him. Even without that protection, nothing would change. No matter how powerful Kargaron was, the system wouldn't let any NPC harm a Pioneer.

"I don't have time for a power struggle. Just get to the point. To be honest, I'm in a bad mood after being forcibly summoned here because of you." Your journey continues with empire

"Fine. I'll get straight to the point."

"...?"

Justin tilted his head as Kargaron quickly backed down. What was going on? Wasn't Kargaron the most prideful of the Four Lords? What could have made him give in so easily?

"As you know, none of us chose you."

"...Is my memory distorted? I'm pretty sure I was the one who refused to choose any of you."

"And because of that, you've become a nobody. You've been living off your past glory without gaining any real power."

Kargaron continued speaking as if he hadn't heard Justin's words. His shamelessness was almost impressive.

"Until now, your past glory might have been enough. But that's no longer the case. There are those who have started to gain real power."

"Are you talking about the second advancement?" Justin asked.

"Exactly. Haven't you realized how much stronger they've become? And..."

Now you're no longer the strongest.

Kargaron's eyes gleamed from within his helmet as he spoke his ominous words.

"The situation has changed. Now you're the one trying to catch up to them. How long do you think it will take for you to stand beside them? Do you really think you can regain your former glory?"

"Actually, I reached level 27 after the first wave. At this rate, I'll hit level 30 by the second or, at the latest, the third wave..."

"Impossible! Glory is like smoke! Once it scatters, you can never gather it back again!"

"Can you listen for a second, you idiot?"

Justin sighed. Kargaron was stubbornly ignoring everything he was saying. Why was he so determined to paint him in a difficult situation? Everything had been going according to plan lately, and Justin had been enjoying life.

"I wouldn't mind watching you fall from your arrogance, but if the others start looking down on the Grand Arena because of you, that would be humiliating. So, I'm offering you a special chance."

"A chance? What kind of chance?"

"A chance to stand beside them more quickly. To surpass them once again and rise above all the strongest!"

With a loud clang, Kargaron slammed his fist onto the armrest of his black iron throne. The air around them rippled, forming an illusion.

"If you offer yourself to me, you will gain this power. Behold! With my authority, see what you could achieve!"

In the illusion, Justin saw himself clad in black armor, a red cloak billowing behind him. His staff had transformed into a sword, and in the midst of fierce combat, he swept through the battlefield with both sword and magic. It was the embodiment of every magic swordsman's ideal.

"What do you think? Doesn't it tempt you? Don't you want to flaunt this power to those who think they've surpassed you?"

"Nope, not interested."

"What...?!"

"I really don't feel like showing off."

Justin shrugged at the astonished Kargaron.

"What's the big deal about that? It's the same thing you offered me when I first came for my second advancement. Why are you repeating yourself?"

"You're falling behind! You're weaker than the others! Don't you understand what that means?"

"I knew that would happen when I decided to become the Apostle of Eternity. I've accepted it and prepared for it."

Kargaron's eyes trembled violently. His plan was completely falling apart, and he seemed confused.

"I was a mage all this time. What makes you think trying to become a warrior now would change anything? If I'm going to be a mediocre frontliner, I'd rather change classes altogether."

"You don't understand what you're saying! If you become my apostle..."

"And become a stronger warrior than a berserker? Yeah, sounds great. But I've never even swung a weapon before. Do I have to start from scratch?"

Kargaron was left speechless at Justin's remark. Even if skills and stats could be acquired, there was no shortcut to personal experience and mastery. Justin delivered the final blow.

"And the power you're offering? It's the same thing you offered when I was level 25. I'm two levels behind now, and you expect me to just take it and be grateful?"

"You... you're behind the others..."

"I've already accepted that I'll fall behind temporarily. I'm not in a rush."

"...Fine."

"If you have nothing more to say, send me back."

"Wait!"

Kargaron extended his hand urgently, all the previous dignity and authority gone, replaced by desperation.

"I admit, I made a mistake. You're someone with the ambition to become the Apostle of Eternity. You deserve better treatment."

"No thanks."