I Became the Youngest Summoner in the Strongest Guild

14. Arcana Online

Numerous wyverns flying in the sky.

They had gathered many of their kin to push out those chicken-heads and take over the valley.
The day of the final battle.
Today is the day wyverns become the rulers of the valley.
But something feels off.
The reconnaissance team we sent hasn't returned.
We can't even imagine they've been defeated, are they slacking off somewhere?
It's not too late to purge the useless ones after we take over the valley.

"Brothers, the day of the final battle has come."

As numerous wyverns cut through the sky in perfect unison towards the griffins' nest, something felt strange.
The instinct I've relied on all my life was telling me.
That if we approach, we'll die.
Trying hard to ignore it, I approached the nest, and saw the griffins, but something was off.
Where were the griffins smaller than us, and why were there so many enormous griffins in sight?

At that moment.
I heard screams, and looking around, I saw many of our kin being hunted by the griffins.
While I was dumbfounded, unable to process the situation, I heard a voice.

"Welcome. You've come to the right place if you're looking for your grave."

Looking up at the sky, I saw a griffin with a size clearly different from the others.
For a moment, I broke out in a cold sweat and was about to make an excuse when the world flipped upside down.
The last thing I saw in my life was the moon, realizing it was beautiful, before the world went dark.

*
*
*

[Is the Valley of Death called that because you die if you enter?]
I received a quest to steal a griffin egg, but I was torn apart as soon as I entered. What's the recommended level?

[Comments]
- Around 60, isn't it?
- [Author] I'm level 60 but I was one-shot... My job is Warlord...
- A Warlord got one-shot? Did you go in without equipment? I'm going to check right now, and if you're lying, you're dead.

[Don't even approach the Valley of Death.]
Earlier, someone said a Warlord got one-shot, so I thought it was a lie and went in, but I got one-shot too. My level is over 70 and I'm a Holy Knight, is this right!?

[Comments]
- Did you go in without any equipment? lol
- [Author] Stop talking nonsense, I went in with full buffs and still got one-shot!?
- Stop lying.
- [Author] You crazy bastard, go see for yourself!!

[Valley of Death verification. (video)]
First of all, these aren't the griffins we know. See that huge body? They've grown at least twice the size we've seen before, and there's one that looks like a named monster among them, don't even get close to it. You'll be torn apart.

[Comments]
- What is that? Did you enter a dragon's nest instead of a griffin's nest? lol
- Please stop already, we're all going to die at this rate
- They say everyone really died, please take down the post lol

[The Valley of Death is called that because you die when you enter and come out as a corpse?]
Hmm, is that so?

[Comments]
- This guy's really nailed the concept lol
- You, get out, really lol
- [Author] Hmm, is that so?
- "Hmm, is that so?" my ass lol

"Leader! Did you check the community!?"
"I'm looking at it now."

Information is money and power.

To maintain a top 10 guild, you need to monopolize more information than others.

Other guild members have gone to clear quests or party hunts, so only Sasha and I are left.

I had no choice but to dispatch Sasha.

"Sasha. Please go."
"Heeeng. Alright."

Sasha, who always grumbles but follows my orders well.

As she tore the scroll taken out from her inventory, she disappeared with a bright light.

«Teleport Scroll»
Can teleport to any place you've been to before. (Some areas excluded)

While collecting other information until Sasha returns with the intel, just as I was taking a sip of tea, an alarm rang from the communication channel.

The color indicating importance was displayed as red.

It's an emergency situation.

"What's going on?"
"Th-this place is no joke! Kyaaak!"

With a scream, the communication was cut off.

Clutching my throbbing head, I took out a scroll from my inventory and tore it.

In an instant, the location changed and I could see the Valley of Death.

I took out a sword from my inventory.

A sword I happened to obtain through a hidden quest due to my unique characteristic.

The item that made me a high ranker.

«Twin Dragon Sword»

Entering the valley and climbing up the stairs, I saw numerous griffins.

They had grown at least twice the size of the griffins I'd seen before.

Among them, I saw one particularly giant griffin.

It boasted an overwhelming size even compared to the other griffins.

"Is that a named monster."

Sasha, who had been running away in the distance, spotted me and came running towards me!?

"S-save me, Leader!"
"Don't come this way!"

I was terrified as Sasha, who had drawn aggro, approached with an enormous number of griffins.

I can handle drive hunting with dozens of griffins, but hundreds are too much.

Plus, that named monster.

Judging by the ominous energy I feel, it's not just any named monster.

I drew my sword from its sheath and swung it.

Three feet of steel swear to the heavens, mountains and rivers tremble.
One sweep clears all, blood dyes mountains and rivers.

At the strike I unleashed as a warning, the griffins retreated and Sasha hid behind my back.

"Huff. Huff. I-I thought I was going to die."
"Really. Please be more careful."

At that moment.

Among the hundreds of griffins, the giant griffin revealed itself.

"Humans. Are you thieves who've come to steal eggs?"

The fact that it can communicate confirms it's a named monster.

"No. We came to investigate the valley. I'm sorry, but can you tell us if anything has happened recently?"
"Nothing. Go back. This is the only warning."

After being thoroughly rejected, I retreated with Sasha.

And I updated the information.

The Valley of Death, which had a recommended level of 60, is now gone.

It's become a place that can only be hunted if numerous high-level players gather.

However, griffins don't drop any special loot.

Considering the cost of potions used for hunting, it would actually be a loss.

I guess it's good news for the griffins.

After leaving the valley, I gave an order to Sasha.

"As the leader, I'm ordering you. Check if Yuna has ever been to the Valley of Death."
"Huh? You think Yuna did this? Is that possible?"
"There's a possibility. There are only a few people who would do such an outrageous thing."
"Hmm. Alright."

As Sasha left for the City of Stars to investigate, I turned back and looked at the Valley of Death.

A story I heard in the early days.

The original name of the Valley of Death was the Griffin Valley.

The entire valley was a nest where griffins lived peacefully.

But when griffins were massacred by players, at some point the name changed to the Valley of Death.

"Are they going to reclaim their old name?"

*
*
*

Erica unni, smiling brightly while patting my head.

"What brings our pretty one here, who coldly rejected my offer?"
"Well... Are there any other jobs available?"

The place I'm currently at is the request room of the information guild.

Due to the number of griffins being more than I expected, I used up all my magic stones and now I have to work again.

While I was watching Erica unni, the head of the information guild, who was looking at me, she took out a scroll from her subspace.

"This should be suitable."
"Thank you!"

As I unrolled the scroll, a blue window appeared.

[A quest has arrived.]

*
*
*

On the way back to the hotel after leaving the information guild.

A lot happened today and I received a new quest, so I should move out right away tomorrow.

"Kyuung."
"Are you hungry?"

I took out the magic stones I got as an advance from my inventory and gave them to Yong-yong, who was delighted.

Fortunately, they gave me an advance. Otherwise, I would have been in big trouble.

I threw myself on the bed after returning to the hotel, and there was an unread message.

[You have reached level 30 and acquired a job-specific skill.]

You have acquired the Active Skill: Help!

«Help!»
When the skill is used, it summons a summon.

Mana used: 0
Cooldown: 72 hours

I've always acquired passive skills, but this is the first time I've acquired an active skill.

Moreover, if the mana used is 0, does that mean I can use it too?

I'm not sure if it can be used since my mana is sealed due to the Ring of Sealing.

For a moment, I thought about trying it out, but I shook my head.

I remembered when I got the Empathy skill last time and shouted loudly, and it's embarrassing.

More importantly, I only have one summon, Yong-yong, right?

I wondered if this was necessary, but I'm too tired for my brain to function.

"Yong-yong, then I'll see you tomorrow."
"Kyuung."

[Logout]

I took off the gear, zoned out for a while, then got up, finished my business, took out a triangle kimbap from the fridge, and checked the community.
I've been consistently checking for information since I got somewhat used to the game, but what's this now?
The board is filled with griffin stories.
I returned to my room, turned off my phone, and lay down on the bed.
'I know nothing about this.'