The Riftbeast's roar shook the air as it barreled toward us, dirt flying with every thunderous step.
"Trainer, now!" Seraphina's voice cut through the panic, sharp and commanding. Her halberd gleamed in the sunlight, but even she wouldn't be able to hold off something that big alone.
I fumbled toward the glowing interface in my vision, heart hammering. A single word blinked red: SUMMON.
I swallowed hard and focused. "Okay… okay, just like the old days…"
The interface expanded before me like a swirling holographic carousel. Colored orbs spun in a circle — familiar gacha colors: blue for common, gold for rare, rainbow for legendary. My fingers—well, my mind—hovered over the central orb.
"Please," I muttered. "Just let me pull someone useful."
I tapped the orb.
The world seemed to hold its breath.
A golden summoning circle flared to life in the grass, etching itself with glowing runes. The old, cheerful jingle of Fates Pull played — except this time, the sound didn't come from tiny headphones. It resonated through the air like an echo in a cathedral.
Light shot up from the circle, blinding for a moment. When it faded, a figure stood in the glow.
A girl, no older than me, with long mint-green hair tied in twin braids. She wore a flowing white-and-teal dress lined with silver charms that jingled softly as she moved, and a staff topped with a crystal heart floated into her hand. Her eyes sparkled like she'd just woken from a long dream.
"Trainer…?" Her voice was soft, like wind chimes. Then her eyes widened. "It's you! After all this time…"
"I—uh—yeah, hi! Could we maybe do the reunion thing after the giant murder monster isn't trying to eat me?"
She blinked, then giggled, covering her mouth. "Of course! Deploying Sanctuary!"
She slammed the bottom of her staff into the ground. A ripple of pale green energy expanded from her in a dome, and the Riftbeast's next stomp shook against a shimmering barrier instead of flattening me into the grass.
Seraphina didn't waste the opening. "Excellent timing, Lilielle!" she called, vaulting forward with her halberd. She was a blur of white and gold, spinning and striking, each slash leaving trails of light across the beast's thick hide.
Lilielle hummed as she cast, a soft melody wrapping around me like warmth, and I felt my panic settle just enough to breathe.
"Buff applied," she said cheerfully. "Don't die, okay?"
"Yeah, I'll… try my best," I muttered.
The Riftbeast howled, swiping at Seraphina, who flipped back with practiced grace. She moved like a dancer, her halberd carving deep arcs of light into its flesh. Shards of crystal sprayed from the wounds, evaporating into glowing particles.
Suddenly, the beast lunged, jaws wide enough to swallow me whole.
I barely had time to think "Dodge!" before Seraphina leapt in front of me, pushing me aside with a strong shove. I stumbled, hitting the ground hard, breath knocked out of me.
"Stay down!" she barked, halberd raised high.
Lilielle was immediately at my side, kneeling down and placing her staff between us. Her gentle hands glowed with healing light, warmth spreading through my chest and easing the sting of the fall.
"You really need to be more careful," Lilielle teased softly, brushing a stray lock of mint-green hair behind her ear. "But I'm glad you're okay."
I managed a shaky smile. "Thanks… I'm not so good at this anymore."
Seraphina rolled her shoulders, eyes blazing. "You remember everything, right? Focus on guiding us."
"I'm trying."
A new icon blinked on my interface — Binding Light. I willed it forward.
"Lilielle, now!"
"On it~!" she sang, releasing a burst of radiant chains from her staff. They wrapped tightly around the Riftbeast's legs, slowing the creature as it roared in frustration.
Seraphina took the chance to leap high. "Halberd's Wrath!"
She swung her halberd in a wide, sweeping arc, the strike hitting multiple parts of the beast with fierce energy. The impact sent a shockwave through the meadow. The Riftbeast let out one last shuddering roar before shattering into a thousand glittering fragments.
Silence fell. The fragments drifted into the air, dissolving like fireflies into the sky. In their place, a floating treasure chest appeared — because of course it did.
My knees gave out, and I collapsed into the grass. My hands shook, adrenaline still burning through me. "I… I actually survived."
Lilielle skipped over, the hem of her dress glowing faintly as her staff orbited lazily. She knelt beside me, smiling warmly. "You did more than survive. You summoned me again. I thought… I thought maybe you never would."
Guilt twisted in my gut. She'd waited all this time. They all had.
Seraphina strode over, her armor gleaming, her halberd resting against her shoulder. She wasn't smiling.
"Listen well, Trainer," she said, her voice low but steady. "Your return has awakened the Rifts. If you leave us again, more of those beasts will come — stronger, hungrier. We cannot hold them without you."
I swallowed hard. My room, my old life, all felt like a distant dream. I'd logged back in, and now I couldn't just… log out.
Above us, my interface flickered. A new message appeared in golden letters:
TUTORIAL COMPLETE. MAIN QUEST: RETURN TO THE HERO ACADEMY.
I stared up at it, then back at the two girls watching me like I was their last hope.
"…I am so, so screwed."
Taking a deep breath, I glanced back at their portraits in the interface, my mind focusing on their skills.
Seraphina — 5★ Offensive Warrior
Halberd's Wrath (Active): A sweeping strike that deals heavy damage to multiple enemies in front of her, with a chance to stun.
Guardian's Resolve (Passive): Increases defense by 15% when HP falls below 30%.
Radiant Charge (Ultimate) (Locked): Charges forward, dealing massive damage and knocking back foes.
Lilielle — 3★ Support Healer
Healing Breeze (Active): Restores moderate HP to all allies over 3 turns.
Protective Veil (Passive): A magical shield protects the wielder and her allies from some attacks, after taking enough attacks Blinding Light can be released to root enemies for 2 seconds.
Song of Renewal (Ultimate) (Locked): Heals all allies completely and removes debuffs.
I had no idea what was coming next, but one thing was clear — this wasn't just a game anymore.