CHAPTER 593

【 NEW FEATURE: BATTLEFIELD SUMMONING 】

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After returning to her divine kingdom, Evé did not immediately issue the deal she had agreed upon with the God of Dwarves and Forging through a divine oracle. Instead, she chose to observe and plan more carefully before taking further action.

Although the Dwarven Kingdom lies in the southeastern reaches of the Desert of Death, the geographical distance is still considerable, even by divine standards.

While the Desert of Death now falls fully under Evé’s sphere of influence, and her teleportation array network has successfully been extended to Sandstorm City, that city is positioned in the very heart of the desert, which was a region still harsh and difficult to traverse despite her growing control.

Under such conditions, even though the current teleportation relays allows players to travel seamlessly from Winterhold in the northern Elven Forest to Sandstorm City, the leg of the journey that stretches from there to the Dwarven Kingdom remains a significant undertaking. It is not a simple walk and while certainly this distance might be trivial for Gold- or Legendary-rank experts, but for players, it is a different matter.

If they had to make the journey entirely on foot, Evé estimated the operation would unfold much like the previous campaign in the Desert of Death: painfully slow and riddled with setbacks, with squads gradually falling behind and the group thinning out over time.

Of course, with the current player population numbering in the hundred thousands, even if a large portion were delayed, as long as a core group managed to reach the destination, there would still be enough firepower to complete the campaign.

But then again, was such inefficiency really necessary?

Given the vast distance, if no contingency plans were in place, players who perished in battle would be unable to return in time to contribute further. In effect, they would lose access to their greatest advantage: the ability to respawn and redeploy quickly.

Without a proper system to compensate for that, the battle would become a one-way march with no second chances.

From this perspective, the most efficient method would be similar to the strategy used during the war in the Underground: constructing a long-range teleportation array to directly send players right into the battlefield.

However, the distance between the Dwarven Kingdom and Sandstorm City is significantly greater than that between Blade’s Edge City and Blackrock City in the Underground.

If teleportation arrays were used for this, the energy cost would be astronomical.

Therefore, after careful consideration, Evé decided to adopt a more convenient and unconventional approach, which is to leverage her power as a true god.

Rather than teleportation, the solution she came up with was summoning.

True gods especially those who draw strength from faith possess the ability to respond to summons.

And so, as long as the location falls within their territory of influence, or if the summoner is a devout believer capable of acting as a temporary anchor within the divine network, a god can receive the summon and transmit items or individuals to the designated location.

This mechanism is somewhat akin to a reversed offering, or rather a form of advanced teleportation integrated with the divine faith network, albeit with more limitations.

In essence, a true god can transfer or substitute an entity linked to their divine network, causing it to appear temporarily beside the summoner. This process allows the summoned being to bypass normal physical limitations and manifest directly where they are needed most.

Summoning, in this context, can be categorized into two distinct types: permanent and temporary.

Permanent summoning is often reserved for rewarding devout believers. It allows gods to bestow powerful gifts or companions, but the cost is substantial. This method requires a significant expenditure of divine energy and, functionally speaking, operates as a full spatial teleportation.

Temporary summoning, by contrast, is far more energy-efficient. It typically involves believers activating summoning arrays provided by their patron deity to call forth high-ranking entities for combat or assistance. This type is classified as spatial substitution rather than true teleportation.

Teleportation is a single, complete transfer, final and absolute. Substitution, however, works by temporarily bending or exploiting the rules of space, allowing a summoned presence to exist in a location for a limited time. Once that duration ends, the effect collapses, and the summoned entity vanishes or returns to their prior location.

That being said, due to a widespread lack of technical understanding, most mortals tend to treat all forms of summoning as essentially the same.

In the wider Universe, for example, evil cultists often summon demons, while high-ranking clerics of major churches call forth angels—both typically through spatial substitution rather than direct teleportation. To the average observer, the visual effects appear identical, further blurring the distinction.

However, for true gods, cross-dimensional summoning is inherently resource-intensive. Even temporary reverse-summoning—where a deity brings something from another realm into their own—demands a significant amount of energy, particularly when crossing dimensional boundaries.

Moreover, just like teleportation, the divine energy cost of summoning scales with the summoned entity’s power. Calling forth a seraph or a demigod, for instance, can consume an enormous amount of divine power, often making the effort impractical.

Because of these limitations, summoning is used sparingly. Even when the method is available, most deities prefer to reserve it for only the most critical situations.

To make things worse, true gods often impose steep requirements for summoning in order to force the summoner to bear part of the energy cost.

In more exploitative cases, some gods even intentionally set the cost unreasonably high, siphoning off the summoner’s magic power in the process.

From this angle, summoning generally consumes more magical resources than standard teleportation when dealing with true gods.

However, Eve’s case is quite different.

Her true form already resides within Seigües. This alone drastically reduces the cost of rituals such as offerings and reverse summoning, making these processes significantly more efficient for her than they would be for other gods.

In addition, the players are not ordinary believers.

Unlike the native born and raised within this universe, these individuals are consciousnesses transported from Earth, and each of them are intrinsically bound to the game system, which has been thoroughly assimilated into her divine network.

Because of this deep integration, summoning players requires far less divine energy. The process bypasses many of the conventional constraints and steps typically involved, thereby allowing for a more streamlined and cost-effective method of deployment.

Previously, the only limiting factor was the strength of Eve’s divine network. But now that she has millions of believers, she is capable of using more advanced forms of rituals to initiate a reverse summoning.

In theory, Evé can now bestow upon her believers or those who pray to her a new ability:

By paying a certain cost, they can summon players directly to their side.

This is a concept Evé had been considering for quite some time already.

As the world of Seigües continues to open up more for the players, it’s becoming increasingly unrealistic to expect them to rely solely on foot to travel around.

Therefore if this plan of hers proceeds smoothly, Evé could standardize and roll out this summoning mechanic, allowing players to act as mobile reinforcements all across the world. This not only aids in urgent situations but also allows players to gain experience points and increase their reputation.

Of course, the summoning of players still follows the spatial substitution model, meaning it is only temporary.

The rationale remains the same: lower energy consumption, and the added benefit of having the spatial laws automatically return the players to their prior location once their tasks are complete.

It is, in short, a perfect solution.

This time, regarding the covenant she made with thr God of Dwarves, Evé intended to test the waters first.

However, considering the number of players that would need to be summoned, she decided not to use ordinary believers as summoning anchors. Instead, she planned to create holy statues specifically designed for summoning players.

These statues would not need the same capacity to store divine power as traditional ones. It would be sufficient for them to serve as nodes within her faith network.

At that point, anyone could perform a prayer using the statue, pay a certain price, and summon the players.

Naturally, not all players would be eligible to be summoned. Evé would need to design a quest or subsystem tied to summoning, and only those who accepted the summoning-related mission could become valid targets.

“A summoning mission… Let’s just call it ‘Battlefield Summons.’ Players will be summoned to fight, and once their mission ends, they’ll immediately return back. It’s pretty much like the battleground feature in online games.”

“As for rewards, let’s include class advancement slots and Divine Artifact Repair vouchers. The former will appeal to Iron-rank players, and the latter will attract Silver rankers.”

“Also, I’ll need to assign an NPC to manage this new system. That guy Thranduil has been living quite comfortably in Sandstorm City lately. Since he’s so idle, I’ll just hand this over to him.”

While formulating her plan, Evé began channeling her divine power to craft the summoning statues.

At the same time, she released a new announcement and published the update on the official website…

༺⟐༻

Elven Forest, Chosen City

Ever since the players constructed their new cities, this original main city had become noticeably less crowded than before.

Naturally, as the main transportation hub of the Elven Kingdom (at least from the players’ perspective), Chosen City still remained one of the busiest and most vibrant locations in the game.

However, many of the once-familiar veteran players had long since moved on to newer territories.

Some, like Little Salty Cat, had relocated to Mountpeak City and become completely engrossed in large-scale castle construction. Others, like Li Mu, had taken a more relaxed approach, often seen lounging around and amusing himself by coaxing his elemental fairy into flirting with Natsume’s female fairy, Ding-Dang.

Most of the max-level veterans had followed their respective guilds to establish manors and residences in newly built cities, each estate growing more extravagant and ambitious than the last. These areas had become symbols of status and influence. Meanwhile, a large number of lower-level or casual players continued to reside here.

In that sense, Chosen City had gradually taken on the role of a true beginner village.

Even so, the city’s central plaza remained as vibrant as ever. Over time, it had gained fame as a cultural and social landmark within Elven Kingdom.

Here, one could see groups of players chatting idly, testing out skills in friendly duels, or immersing themselves in virtual training simulations.

Moreover, every evening the city plaza would host feasts and celebrations, becoming a beloved tradition for many players.

The faces might change from night to night, but the festive atmosphere remained constant.

Of course, not everyone had moved. Some veteran players—either too lazy to relocate or simply fond of the city’s convenience—still resided in Chosen City.

One such group was the team led by Boxlunch and his fellow companions.

As a battle-hardened squad that loved roaming every corner of the game’s world, they continued to favor Chosen City as their central hub. Its strategic location and well-developed facilities made it an ideal base for operations, especially for players constantly on the move.

This was even more true now, with the Divine Artifact Restoration feature officially introduced and the entrance to the Labyrinth dungeon situated near the World Tree just outside the city. For Boxlunch’s team, relocating made no sense. It was simply too convenient—particularly for grinding rare loot and challenging Azazel, the final boss of the dungeon.

However, the landscape of the Labyrinth had changed drastically. With the addition of thirteen powerful sub-bosses scattered throughout its depths, reaching the innermost chamber where the original final boss, Old Man Azzie, awaited had become a rare feat.

Dedicated players had begun tracking appearances and success rates. Their findings revealed a stark reality: on average, only one or two teams each week managed to push through the layers of obstacles to reach Azazel’s palace. And even then, defeating him was no longer guaranteed as the old demon goat had grown significantly harder to defeat.

“Sigh… I’ve been grinding for ages and only managed to reach the Demon Lord’s Palace once. All I got was a Divine Artifact Repair Voucher worth 100,000 points. This is just brutal,” complained Calabash while gnawing on a skewer of grilled meat.

He was seated on a small wooden stool by a campfire.

Around him were his four old friends: Boxlunch, Optimist, Chopin, and I-Am-Invincible.

In addition to them, Nightingale and her younger siblings were also sitting nearby.

It was the weekend, and nighttime in Seigües, so Boxlunch’s team had taken a break from their usual dungeon runs to relax at the central plaza.

As for Nightingale, she was an old friend of the group—the kind you could casually eat grilled meat with while joking about each other’s appetite.

“Are we really going to have to grind contribution points this slowly?” Optimist sighed. “I calculated it guys and to fully repair all the damaged artifacts I’ve collected, I’ll need around five million contribution points…”

“Only five million? I’m already close to ten million!” exclaimed Chopin in surprise.

“Get lost! That’s just because you got lucky and picked up top-grade gear in the Shattered Divine Ruins. Of course your restoration cost is higher. All my finds combined don’t even total two million,” retorted I-Am-Invincible with an eye roll.

“Well, it also depends on the artifact’s condition, right? That staff I found was broken into three pieces and it’s completely unusable,” added Chopin.

These players chatted animatedly. They had all reached the Silver Lower Rank level cap, and their current goal was to collect a full set of six divine artifacts.

Listening to the players’ conversation, Nightingale shook her head and spoke.

“Restoring divine artifacts is no easy feat. The Goddess Herself has already blessed you with such opportunity. You have no idea how difficult true artifact restoration really is…”

“Furthermore, divine artifacts usually require corresponding strength to wield effectively. The ones that suit you best are the most valuable. I don’t think it’s necessary to obsess over obtaining a full set of divine gear.”

She offered this comment sincerely.

“Ah, Nightingale, you just don’t understand… It’s about passion and pursuit,” Calabash replied.

Even Boxlunch, who rarely commented on such matters, nodded in agreement.

“That’s right. A full set of divine equipment is required to reach full gear completion.”

And indeed, by now, some wealthy players in Elven Kingdom had already equipped full sets of divine artifacts. Tests had shown that the durability of these divine gear was in a completely different class compared to regular equipment.

In other words, once equipped with divine gear, players no longer needed to worry about constant repairs.

Of course, divine artifacts could still be damaged, especially if overused or forced beyond their limits, which could lead to deterioration.

Just as the group was deep in discussion, a new system notification suddenly appeared in their field of vision…

【

】

【Announcement: Elven Kingdom will soon undergo a minor update. A new gameplay feature will be added. Please refer to the official website for further details…】

“Pfft… an update with no specific release time?” Calabash laughed as he read the announcement.

Naturally, he had no idea that this wording was chosen because Evé herself was uncertain when the Dwarven Kingdom’s envoy would arrive at Sandstorm City.

Everyone in the group chuckled but wasn’t surprised.

To be honest, Elven Kingdom often had spontaneous updates like this and it always felt like the developers were deciding things on a whim.

By now, the players had long since gotten used to it.

Following the announcement, the players opened the official website. As soon as they found the latest patch notes, their interest was immediately piqued.

“Huh? Battlefield Summons?”

“Is Elven Kingdom finally adding battlefield-style missions?”

As they continued reading, they saw the details of the new feature…

“What?! Silver-rank advancement slots can drop? And a large amount of contribution points? Plus vouchers for divine artifact repair?!”

In that instant, the group was fully energized.

༺⟐༻

In a small inn in Chosen City, Cao Língxuān burst through the door and excitedly called out to a well-known manhua artist who was staring blankly into space.

“Laoshi, Black Cat-laoshi! Did you see the official update? Battlefield summons are finally coming! And there’s even a chance to earn Silver-rank advancement slots!”

She rushed over to the corner of the room where a well-known manhua artist sat absentmindedly, his eyes drifting toward the window as if lost in thought. Her words snapped him out of his daze.

“This changes everything!” she continued, her face glowing. “The announcement said advancement slots can now drop randomly during battlefield missions! It’s way better than competing for drops in the Labyrinth where everything depends on RNG!”

Her enthusiasm was palpable, and with good reason.

Back when the 2.0 version of the Labyrinth Dungeon launched, both she and her mentor had already reached level 40, yet they still hadn’t managed to secure a single class advancement slot. The competition had been fierce, and their luck with drops abysmal—one disappointment after another. Lately, they had even considered hiring a high-ranked raid group to carry them through the tougher bosses just to increase their chances.

But even in the face of her enthusiasm, Black Cat offered only a weak smile.

“I saw it,” he said softly. “It’s great news. Let’s definitely try it out together when the time comes. But… there’s something I need to tell you.”

His tone shifted slightly, and Cao Língxuān immediately felt a twinge of unease.

Her heart skipped a beat. “Don’t tell me… the deadline got pushed forward again?”

“Correct,” he replied, unamused. “But no points for guessing.”

Cao Língxuān froze.

“…How many days do we have left?” she asked cautiously.

“One day,” Black Cat said without a hint of hesitation.

Instantly, she sprang into action. “Then we’ve got no time to lose! I’ll open the software right now. Let’s finish the rest in two days, tops!”

With clenched fists and steely resolve, she prepared to dive back into work.

Black Cat let out an awkward cough. “Ahem… I meant one in-game day.”

Cao Língxuān: “…”

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