Everyone else got their card.
Some summoned fox girls with nine tails. Others got fairy twins. One guy even pulled a dragonmaid and fainted on the spot.
Ren Arata?
Nothing.
He sat in the dark storage room behind the gym, away from the celebration. Dust floated in the sunlight, and his band didn't even blink. He had no card. No power. No partner.
"Guess I'm just defective…"
But then—
> [SYSTEM BOOTING...]
[EX-Class Host Detected]
[Unique Summoner Privilege Granted]
A glowing blue screen flashed in front of his eyes.
> [Private System Activated: Monster Evolution Summoner]
[Access Level: Host Only | Visibility: Hidden from All]
His body froze.
> [Starter Quest Complete: Endure Rejection]
Reward: First Summon Card (??? Rarity)
Bonus Unlocked: x2 EXP Multiplier | Skill Drop Enabled
A shimmering card appeared in front of him, floating mid-air.
He reached out, heart pounding.
The moment he touched it—light burst beside him.
A small figure formed in the glow.
A jelly-like creature with stubby arms, floppy ears, and shiny eyes landed with a squish on the floor.
"Pii~!"
> [Summoned: Slimelet - LV1]
Type: Beast | Rarity: ???
Voice Capability: Locked
Evolution: Unknown | Stage 1 of 3
Skills: Bounce Bash (Active), Goo Shot (Active)
It wobbled and rubbed against his foot.
Cute as hell.
> [New Quest: Trial Combat - Win 1 Battle]
Opponent: Training Drone LV1 (Simulated)
Reward: 100 EXP, x1 Skill Scroll, x1 Gacha Token
Battle Start - Turn-Based System Active
The air shimmered. A basic humanoid robot formed in a red square—an early simulation dummy with glowing eyes.
Battle Start
The screen flashed:
> Your Turn - Choose a Skill
1. Bounce Bash
Type: Physical | Power: 5 | Accuracy: 90%
Slimelet launches itself in a rapid body slam. Small chance to flinch the enemy.
2. Goo Shot
Type: Elemental (Slime) | Power: 3 | Accuracy: 100%
Fires sticky goo at enemy. Slight chance to slow enemy speed.
Ren pointed. "Bounce Bash!"
The slimelet gave a loud "Pii~!" and launched forward like a cannonball.
> [Bounce Bash hits!]
[Damage dealt: 5]
[Enemy HP: 5/10]
> [Enemy Turn – Laser Jab!]
[Hit! Slimelet takes 2 damage.]
[Slimelet HP: 8/10]
> Your Turn – Choose Skill
"Goo Shot!"
The slimelet burbled, then spat a blob of sticky slime at the enemy.
> [Goo Shot hits!]
[Damage: 3 | Enemy Speed Reduced!]
[Enemy HP: 2/10]
The robot twitched.
> [Enemy Turn – Missed!]
It moved slower from the goo.
Ren clenched a fist. "Finish it—Bounce Bash!"
The slimelet squished forward, body glowing softly—
> [Critical Hit! 7 Damage]
[Enemy Defeated.]
> [Victory!]
+100 EXP (x2 Multiplier = 200 EXP)
[Slimelet Level Up! → LV 3]
Rewards Unlocked:
– Skill Scroll (Basic)
– Gacha Token x1
– Bond Level +1 (Affection: 1/10)
The slimelet hopped into his lap, nuzzling him again.
"Pii~!"
She couldn't speak yet.
But she didn't need to.
> [Next Tutorial Battle Incoming...]
Objective: Train Monster to Level 5
Opponent: Combat Drone LV2 (Simulated Upgrade)
Reward: +300 EXP | Bonus: Unlock 1 Random Skill | Healing Item Unlocked
[System Tip: Combo Hit counts for more EXP!]
Ren stood in the empty supply room, system light still glowing in his eyes. Slimelet bounced beside him, full of energy.
"Alright, buddy. Let's run it back."
"Pii~!" the little blob squeaked, spinning in place like it was hyped.
A new enemy formed—sleeker than before, armed with two arms glowing with blue light. It stomped into the red square.
> [Combat Drone LV2 Appeared!]
[Enemy HP: 20]
[Speed: Moderate | Power: Medium]
> [Your Turn – Choose Skill]
Skill List:
1. Bounce Bash
Type: Physical | Power: 5 | Accuracy: 90%
Launch attack with flinch chance.
2. Goo Shot
Type: Slime | Power: 3 | Accuracy: 100%
Sticky goo slows the target.
Ren thought fast. "Open with Goo Shot!"
Slimelet burbled, gathering a blob of sticky slime and hurling it.
> [Goo Shot hits! | 3 Damage | Speed Down Applied]
[Enemy HP: 17]
The drone's movement slowed visibly.
> [Enemy Turn – Jab Strike!]
[Hit! Slimelet takes 4 damage.]
[Slimelet HP: 6/10]
Ren winced. "You good?"
"Pii…" it squeaked, then gave a determined nod.
> [Your Turn]
"Now go for Bounce Bash!"
Slimelet launched like a spring-loaded missile.
> [Hit! 5 Damage + Flinch Chance Triggered!]
[Enemy HP: 12 | Enemy FLINCHED – Skipped Turn!]
Ren grinned. "Perfect!"
> [Your Turn – Combo Opportunity! +EXP Boost]
"Bounce Bash again!"
> [Hit! 5 Damage]
[Enemy HP: 7]
> [Enemy Turn – Attack Missed! (Speed Down)]
Slimelet wobbled in place, ready for the finisher.
"Let's end it—Bounce Bash one more time!"
> [Critical Hit! 8 Damage]
[Enemy Defeated.]
> [Victory!]
+300 EXP (x2 Multiplier = 600 EXP)
[Slimelet LV UP → LV 5]
New Skill Unlocked: Mucus Net
Type: Trap | Power: 0 | Accuracy: 100%
Launches a slime-web to immobilize target for 1 turn. Great for setup or disabling enemies.
Healing Item Unlocked:
[Berry of Vitality]
Type: Healing Item | Restores 10 HP
A rare berry that heals a monster to full health. Can be used once per battle.
The slimelet bounced in celebration, sparkles forming around it.
"Pii~ pii!"
Ren opened the item list, eyes wide.
> [Item List Updated:]
1. Berry of Vitality – Restores 10 HP.
Ren couldn't help but smile. "Looks like we've got our first healing item."
The slimelet jumped into his arms, nuzzling against him.
It still couldn't speak.
But that little "pii~" said everything.
After the battle ended and the drone shattered into sparks, Ren relaxed, watching Slimelet bounce around. The little slime was covered in glowing sparkles, clearly happy with its win.
"Alright, good job, Slimelet." Ren smiled, reaching into his bag. His fingers brushed the Berry of Vitality, and the berry glowed faintly in the dim light of the room.
> [Berry of Vitality Unlocked: Heals 10 HP]
[Can be used once per battle.]
Ren held the berry out, eyeing his little companion. "You earned this."
Slimelet bounced up to him, tilting its gelatinous form like it was curious about the fruit. The berry glistened, vibrant and fresh.
"Go ahead. Eat it." Ren encouraged, smirking slightly at the cuteness of it all.
Slimelet eyed the berry before stretching out its tiny, blob-like appendages. With a gentle "pii~" sound, it grabbed the berry, carefully holding it like it was a prized possession.
The berry was large compared to Slimelet's small body, and with exaggerated care, the little slime tilted it toward its face. Slimelet gave an adorable little wiggle before the slime took a cute nibble, its gelatinous body trembling as it savored the taste.
"Mm~!" Slimelet made a content, high-pitched sound, the berry disappearing into its gooey form as it finished the snack.
> [Slimelet has consumed the Berry of Vitality!]
[HP fully restored to 10/10]
[Slimelet's satisfaction increased. (+5 Affection)]
[System Notice: Monster is happy! A stronger bond forms.]
Ren chuckled, watching Slimelet with amusement. "Good job. Looks like you like it, huh?"
Slimelet gave a little spin and jumped into his arms, nuzzling against his chest, her gooey body making the softest sound as she cuddled into him.
"Pii~ pii!" The little slime cooed, seemingly asking for more attention.
Ren gently rubbed her back. "You're quite the handful, aren't you?"
> [Slimelet's Affection for Ren Increased: +5]
[Current Affection: 15/100]
Ren's smile widened. He couldn't help it. Slimelet was still just a little creature, but there was something undeniably cute about watching her eat that berry and nuzzle into him like that.
"Well, that's enough for now. We've got a long road ahead, but I think we're off to a good start."
Slimelet gave a contented sigh, curling up in his arms as Ren continued to look at the system and the growing bond between them.
Ren stood in his dorm room, Slimelet resting comfortably in his arms, still glowing with excitement after their training battle. He was scrolling through his system updates when a new notification suddenly appeared before him.
> [SYSTEM NOTICE: Card Capture Tutorial Initiated]
[System Message: Wild Monsters Roam the Wilds Near the Academy.]
A shimmering prompt appeared before Ren's eyes, and the system's voice echoed in his mind.
> [System Notice: Wild Monsters roam freely in the wilds surrounding the academy. These creatures are untamed and dangerous, but any student can capture them using the Card Capture system.]
Ren's eyes widened. "Wait, capture them? I can actually catch wild monsters?"
> [System Message: Yes. All students can capture Wild Monsters by engaging them in battle and using Monster Cards to seal their essence. The process involves lowering the monster's HP to 30% or below, then using a Card Capture Token to seal it.]
Ren felt a surge of excitement. So it wasn't just a matter of battling the monsters—it was about sealing them into cards. This was something he could already take advantage of, while other students were still in the early stages of their monster summoning.
> [System Message: All students are in the process of summoning their first monsters. They have not yet been taught the Card Capture process. You, however, have gained early access to this feature.]
Ren grinned. He had the knowledge, and now it was time to use it to get ahead of the rest.
> [System Tip: To perform a Card Capture, follow these steps:]
1. Engage in battle with a Wild Monster.
2. Weaken its HP to 30% or below (but not zero).
3. Use a Card Capture Token to seal the monster's essence into a Monster Card.
> [System Tip: The strength of the monster affects the difficulty of the capture. Stronger monsters may require multiple cards or specialized techniques to capture successfully.]
Ren mulled over the process. "So, I need to weaken them but not let them hit zero HP... or they'll vanish completely. That's tough. But I guess that's the risk of capturing them."
> [System Notice: Correct. If a monster's HP reaches zero, it will be erased completely—its essence lost, like pixels vanishing.]
Ren frowned slightly at that. It would be easy to mess up a capture if he wasn't careful. No more reckless attacks.
[New Quest Unlocked: Wild Monster Capture]
Objective: Capture your first Wild Monster using a Monster Card.
Reward: +500 EXP | +1 Random Item
Ren quickly glanced at his inventory. One Monster Card was provided by the system for the tutorial. It shimmered with latent energy, ready for use.
> [System Notice: You have 1 Card Capture Token Available.]
Slimelet, content and excited, chirped happily from Ren's arms. Ren gave the slime a soft pat. "Ready for some real adventure, Slimelet?"
The slime bounced energetically, her gooey body shimmering with excitement.
> [System Notice: Wild Monster Encounter Possible. Proceed to the Forest of Valtara for your first Wild Monster Encounter. Warning: Level of Monsters May Vary.]
Ren felt his pulse quicken. He was ahead of the other students. Most were still in the process of summoning their first monsters, while Ren could capture wild creatures right now.
Ren stood outside his dorm room, feeling the buzz of excitement as he gazed down at Slimelet, who was happily bouncing in his arms. Today, he was going to test out the Card Capture system for real—capturing his first wild monster.
As Ren walked toward Verdant Hollow, the dense forest on the academy grounds where wild monsters roamed freely, the forest around him seemed alive with anticipation. The trees were thick, the air cooler, and every rustle in the underbrush hinted at potential encounters.
> [System Notice: Wild Monster Encounter Possible]
[System Tip: Low-level monsters commonly found in this area. Suitable for beginners.]
Ren smiled, eager to see what kind of wild monster he would find. As he ventured deeper into the forest, a flash of green caught his eye. There, standing among the trees, was a Sprout Maiden. She was a beginner Grass-type monster, still young and agile, with vines wrapped around her arms and leafy green tendrils sprouting from her body. She noticed Ren immediately and seemed curious about him.
> [System Notice: Wild Monster Encounter: Sprout Maiden (Level 5)]
[System Message: The Sprout Maiden is a Grass-type monster. She can manipulate plants to defend herself.]
Ren's heart raced. This was the first wild monster he would capture.
He pulled a Monster Card from his bag, ready for the battle. "Alright, Slimelet. Let's show her what we've got."
With a small bounce, Slimelet leaped into the fray. Ren immediately commanded, "Use Mucus Net!"
Slimelet launched a sticky slime-web at the Sprout Maiden, wrapping it around her body and effectively immobilizing her for a turn. The Sprout Maiden struggled briefly but was caught, unable to move freely for the moment.
> [Slimelet used Mucus Net! (Effect: Immobilizes target for 1 turn)]
[Sprout Maiden's HP: 28/30]
[Sprout Maiden's Speed: Reduced]
The Sprout Maiden hissed, frustrated by the slime net. But she wasn't out of the fight yet.
Without hesitation, Ren quickly followed up, shouting, "Now, Goo Shot!"
Slimelet fired a glob of sticky goo at the Sprout Maiden, hitting her directly. The goo coated her, and the sticky substance made it harder for the Sprout Maiden to move.
> [Slimelet used Goo Shot! (Damage: 3, Effect: Slight chance to slow enemy speed)]
[Sprout Maiden's HP: 25/30]
[Sprout Maiden's Speed: Further reduced]
Ren could see the Sprout Maiden becoming sluggish. She wasn't ready to give up yet, though. With a growl, she snapped her vines forward, trying to lash out at Slimelet.
"Slimelet, dodge!" Ren called.
The slime creature jumped nimbly to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. The vines whipped through the air, missing their mark by inches.
It was time to end it.
"Bounce Bash, Slimelet!" Ren commanded.
Slimelet turned its gelatinous body into a projectile, launching itself forward and body slamming the Sprout Maiden with force. The impact sent the small Grass-type monster stumbling back, clearly winded from the hit.
> [Slimelet used Bounce Bash! (Damage: 5)]
[Sprout Maiden's HP: 20/30]
The Sprout Maiden staggered back, but her posture grew defensive as she prepared to retaliate. However, Ren knew it was time to end the fight. He reached for another Monster Card and held it high in the air.
"Card Capture!" Ren declared, activating the system's capture function.
A glowing light enveloped the Sprout Maiden as she was drawn into the Monster Card, her form flickering in the process before she was sealed inside. After a tense moment, the light faded, and Ren smiled, his heart racing with triumph.
> [System Notice: Wild Monster Captured!]
[System Message: Sprout Maiden (Level 5) successfully sealed into Monster Card.]
[System Notice: New Monster Captured]
> Monster Profile: Sprout Maiden (Level 5)
Type: Grass
HP: 30
Sprout Maiden's Abilities:
Vine Whip
Type: Physical | Power: 7 | Accuracy: 95%
Lashes out with sharp vines, dealing moderate damage. Effective against non-Elemental enemies.
Tackle
Type: Physical | Power: 4 | Accuracy: 100%
A fast, charging physical attack.
Growth
Type: Buff | Power: 0
Increases attack and defense when exposed to sunlight or fertile soil.
Description:
The Sprout Maiden is a Grass-type monster often found in meadows and forests. Known for her playful and curious nature, she is a beginner-level monster who uses her vines for defense and attack. Despite her beginner status, she is agile and can be a formidable opponent for other monsters in her tier.
Habitat: Verdant Hollow, Forest Meadows