[Congratulations. You are now a Registered Summoner.]
[Summoner System Activated.]
[New Features Unlocked.]
The light vanished as quickly as it came. Lin Fang staggered back a step, clutching the side of the desk, breathing heavily.
On his palm, something burned, not painfully, but undeniably, a glowing mark in the shape of a small, intricate glyph had appeared. It pulsed faintly, golden-white.
"Summoner…" he whispered.
Then, another screen flickered to life in front of him, this one different. Sleeker. Designed like a ring of floating sigils rotating in mid-air.
But for the first time in years, Lin Fang smiled, not just out of habit, but something more.
It was hope. To look forward to the future.
[Congratulations. You have received the Newbie Summoner Package.
[Contents: 1x Baby Panda (Summon Token), 1000 Store Coins, 1x 11-Draw Summon Ticket]
[System Feature: Lottery Wheel] – Unlocked
[Inventory] – Unlocked
[Pet Inventory] – Unlocked
[Main Quest: Updated]
[Side Quests: Added]
Lin Fang's jaw fell slightly open. "This is... finally starting to feel like a proper system."
A new panel appeared, displaying his current quest log:
Main Quest: Bind the Summoner System to a store location.
Side Quests:
Side Quest 1: Obtain a second monster.
Side Quest 2: Raise a monster to Level 10.
"Based on the main quest, it looks like I will continue to be a store owner, after all," he muttered, smiling faintly.
He tapped the [Baby Panda] summon token glowing in his inventory. A gentle burst of light erupted in the center of the room, like fireflies converging into form.
A small, round creature appeared, a fuzzy black-and-white panda no taller than Lin Fang's knee, with a shiny nose and oversized ears that wobbled with every twitch. Its black button eyes sparkled with a curious innocence.
It blinked, tilted its head, and let out a tiny sneeze.
"Ack! You little…" Lin Fang burst out laughing. "You're too cute!"
The panda waddled over and sat beside his leg, looking up expectantly.
Lin Fang squatted down. "You're basically a bear tank with a baby face, huh?"
He hesitated for a moment, then grinned. "Alright then. I'll name you… Po.
Monster named: Po
Please choose a core attribute for this monster.
Options Available: [Fire] [Wood] [Water] [Thunder] [Shadow] [Light] [Earth]
He paused, thinking, "Po was slow but sturdy. A tank for sure. But…"
"He's too cute to be scary. He needs something to match his vibe." Lin Fang tapped Light without overthinking.
Attribute set: LIGHT
Unique Evolution Triggered: Luminous Panda
New Species: Luminous Panda added to Shop,
"What?!" Lin Fang nearly dropped the screen.
He fumbled to open the shop panel.
Summoner's Shop –(Lv. 1)
Luminous Panda Egg
Grade: Legendary | Max Level: 50
Cost: 100 coins
*
Growth Pill
Effect: Raises companion's level by 3–10 (usable only if current level < 40).
Cost: 500 coins.
*
Lin Fang gawked. "Legendary? Level fifty? That's King Tier! The ones I sold before… didn't even reach past twenty! Man, I struck it rich."
His heart pounded in excitement. Those low-tier eggs had sat for years in his dusty shop like discounted furniture. Not a single one had this kind of potential.
He tapped on the Growth Pill for more details.
Growth Pill – Consumable
Raises monster level by 3–10 instantly, based on current level.
Only usable on monsters below Level 40.
Cannot be stacked.
Warning: Effects may vary per usage.
"Okay, that's amazing… but I need to be smart." He looked down at Po, who was now attempting to nibble on the corner of the rug. "Maybe I should let you level naturally for now. After all…"
His eyes drifted down to the coin balance: 1000 Store Coins.
Below the coin count was an icon labeled Coin Exchange, but it was grayed out. He tapped it.
Function Locked.
Coin exchange requires Store Binding. Please complete the Main Quest to unlock currency features.
"So I have to bind the system to a store next."
He leaned back against the desk, watching Po roll over and yawn.
"Looks like we're going to need a new shop… one that suits a summoner."
He smiled to himself, energy renewed. After seven long years, he is finally going to step forward.
In excitement, he momentarily forgot that he was making someone wait downstairs. When he realized, he hurriedly went downstairs to complete the transaction right away.
Chen Yu was already prepared with the electronic contract draft. Lin Fang signed where needed: transfer of ownership, loan reassignment, and exit agreement. It was all smoother than he expected. Almost too smooth. Money was transferred instantly.
When it was all done, the assistant gave him a respectful nod. "The loan liabilities are now cleared. You'll receive confirmation via system mail."
Chen Yu added, "And remember, you have one month to vacate. After that, company contractors will begin demolition."
Lin Fang nodded wordlessly.
He didn't feel joy. Or grief. Or even relief.
The store, his tiny, dusty store, was no longer his.
When they left, the silence returned.
He locked the glass door for what was likely the second-last time. The street outside was still quiet, the neon signs of the neighboring noodle shop flickering weakly.
Lin Fang climbed back up the stairs, sank into his old chair, and stared at the ceiling for a while.
The money, 1.15 million credits, sat neatly in his personal account now. But his thoughts weren't on it.
They were elsewhere.
He raised his hand. "System."
Summoner System Online
[Pet Inventory]
[Main Quests]
[Summoner Shop]
[Lottery Wheel]
He tapped the last one that he hadn't explored earlier.
The interface shifted. A circular wheel emerged on the screen, gold-rimmed, divided into 36 neat partitions. Each segment pulsed softly, some with icons, others blank.
Six of the slots had colorful creatures, stylized animal designs labeled with multipliers: x1, x2, x3, x5, x10, x20. Some kind of jackpot?
Fifteen other segments showed shimmering coins in increasing values, x1 to x500.
The rest? They were blank.
The system prompted: Use 11x Summon Ticket?
He didn't hesitate. "Do it."
The wheel spun.
Bright and fast at first, then slower, heavier, more deliberate. It made a low, satisfying ticking noise as it passed each slot. After several tense seconds, the results appeared one by one:
*Thunder Eagle Shard x8*
*Coin x20*
*Thunder Eagle Shard x5*
*Thunder Eagle Shard x3*
*Coin x140*
*Blank*
*Thunder Eagle Shard x6*
*Thunder Eagle Shard x4*
*Coin x82*
*Blank*
*Blank*
*Ding! You earned, Thunder Eagle Shard: x26, Store Coins: +342
"Not bad for a free 11x ticket…" Lin Fang muttered. He tapped on the Thunder Eagle shard.
Monster: Thunder Eagle (Wind + Lightning Affinity)
Rarity: Epic
Assimilation Requirement: 100 shards
Progress: 26 / 100
He leaned back, eyes narrowing with interest.
"A flying-type monster, but still has lower potential than Po." Then he shrugged in indifference, "But then again, Po is a beginner's gift. Obviously, the system would give me a pretty damn good one."
He glanced at the coin count: 1342.
Just enough for two more 11x draws. If he gets enough coins, it will be three turns as each one costs 500 coins. He hesitated only for a second but eventually fell into temptation.
"One more round."
Confirm: Spend 500 Store Coins?
"Confirmed."
The wheel spun again, this time even more slowly, like fate was holding its breath. The results flicked across the screen:
*Ding! You earned, Thunder Eagle Shard: x44, Store Coins: +80
Lin Fang whistled low.
"That brings me to 70 shards total… just thirty more to go."
He hovered his hand over the X11 button again. "Should I try one more round?"
But then his eyes flicked to Po, who had climbed up to the windowsill and was now clumsily trying to swat a sunbeam. His eyes lingered on the little panda for a few seconds, imagining a baby eagle flying all over the house.
Lin Fang couldn't help but smile. "Alright, let's do this."
He clicked on X11 once again.
However, this time, the rewards are quite surprising.
His facial expression froze as the final reward flickered across the screen.
*Ding! You earned, Thunder Eagle Shards: x8, Store Coins: +102
Lin Fang stared at the numbers, his lips tightening. Total Thunder Eagle Shards: 78 / 100, Store Coins Remaining: 524
"Just twenty-two more," he murmured. "One more x11 spin and I'll get there."
Temptation tugged at him again, sharp, insistent. He hesitated only for a heartbeat before making his decision.
"Let's end this."
He tapped the X11 Draw button. 500 coins vanished in a blink.
The wheel spun.
Slower this time. The ticking dragged. His stomach churned slightly as the light circled, then slowed… and finally stopped.
*Ding! You earned, Thunder Eagle Shards: x4, Store Coins: +38
Lin Fang froze.
The silence hit like a hammer.
Thunder Eagle Shard Total: 82 / 100, Coins Remaining: 62