Reborn: Rise of the Greatest Summoner

"A Warpsnare?!"

Legolas was freaking out so much that he literally lost it.

Almost at the same time, a memory floated to his brain from where it was previously hidden. He had never seen it live once, he mostly heard of it through stories but got his first true impression about it through a player's video.

Dominator was so realistic that player's video capturing quality was determined by their level. For example, a Grade E player had no business capturing a Grade C battle, he'll mostly only see violent flashes of light.

The Warpsnare in action was captured by the Mage God, the strongest player from the Dominator community among all American VR game clubs.

Then, like Legolas, the Mage God was a rare Grade A player.

With thousands of skilled players in their in-game guild accompanying them in the battle for support, the Mage God fearlessly led his pro players as he engaged in a battle against one of the elite Grade A experts of the Psychic Revolution.

That day, the full Dominator saw the true power of a high-tier Summoner.

That day, Legolas saw the already mythical might of this shape-shifting and ability-stealing monster. Apparently, a Warpsnare was an extremely rare beast even in galactic terms that starts as a gradeless slime.

They survive by shape-shifting to blend in and protect themselves, while they thrive by stealing the abilities and powers of other monsters.

The Summoner's Warpsnare was a fully grown one who already stole thousands of abilities and powers, and could shape-shift into literally anything.

BOOM!

Legolas could never forget the high-quality video as they clashed.

He remembered as the Mage God led his warriors, casting powerful spells and chanting complicated incantations as he brought out the full potential of his main class. At that moment, his AOE abilities surpassed those of an Elementalist.

Despite being ganged up on, the Warpsnare and his master stood their ground. At some point, this beast turned and shapeshifted into a gravity-breathing monster, annihilating dozens of players.

At other points, he turned into monsters with horrible defensive abilities and even defensive Supreme Talents like Legolas's Physique of the Undying Cockroach.

At even other points, this monster shapeshifted into a literal mech!

As a metallic mech, his master got to connect to his beast to an unprecedented level where their synergy became unmatched. He didn't even need his other beasts, with his Warpsnare alone, he annihilated all the players.

That day, the myth of the Warpsnare became a legend to the players.

Apart from remembering this, Legolas also remembered it's creation. The Warpsnare was created by no single developer. As Maximus' idea, he invited developers from all the other classes to contribute in its creation.

The Warpsnare was the closest thing to a perfect beast.

It could shapeshift and react to literally any scenario so long that it had the time and opportunities to steal as many abilities as possible.

Legolas' eyes flickered as Edgar and Edge continued their conversation.

He soon made his decision. 'Edgar is the one'.

'He fulfills almost all my criteria, he is a Grade D Psychic, almost perfect for my needs. Besides, even if I'm not going after him due to his abilities and powers, the Warpsnare alone is enough to convince me to go after this guy'.

'The only thing is how can I convince him?'

As soon as Legolas asked this question, his eyes shone in an epiphany.

'Hehe…, the Almighty Hermit of course'.

This time, he decided to take the slow and steady route.

15 minutes later…

"Edgar, I'm so disappointed in you, I thought higher of you".

"I don't give attention to what others think of me". Edgar remained calm.

Edge finally stood up. "This is the end of our road, never contact me again. Help yourself, I'll help myself. I wish you good luck in your hunts".

"I'll look for another Psychic who is not a coward".

"Goodluck".

Edge gritted his teeth and left the bar, Edgar remained behind drinking.

During these 15 minutes, Legolas already embarked on an information gathering tour through his consciousness. The fact that the gray world totally masked his existence gave him the luxury to act in an unbridled manner.

His unbridled manner helped in his information gathering efforts.

He learned everything that he needed.

This planet was called Planet Austere. Like Planet Darvis, it was ravaged by an apocalypse long ago. The only difference was that unlike Planet Darvis that came out of it relatively unscathed, Planet Austere suffered far worse.

A permanent crack was breached through the atmosphere of this planet, exposing a red pathway like a bridge where intruders could easily enter the planet.

90% of this planet was already occupied by the beasts, the humans and other races here occupied less than 10%. To fight for their survival, the Hunter Society was established, an organization that train elite hunters to fight the monsters.

After learning all this, through addition and subtraction, Legolas concluded that Edge and Edgar were part of the elite hunters of the Hunter Society.

The so-called high-paying mission that Edge brought was a specific mission by a high echelon of the planet, it was a mission to capture the Warpsnare alive.

In exchange, every single hunter who participated in the hunt will have their level in the Hunter Society increased twice with monetary rewards and a whole lot of other minor rewards following it.

Edgar was tempted, but he was clearly too traumatized to take the mission.

'This guy has encountered a Warpsnare before'. Legolas' eyes narrowed.

'No worries though, all he needs to push him on is the motivation from an Almighty existence like the Hermit'. He smirked.

He waited a few more minutes until Edgar returned back to his room.

After observing Edgar for minutes, Legolas already knew that this guy was nothing like John. This veteran hunter would never fall for his word tricks, he was a practical warrior who only respected power.

This was why Legolas didn't even deem it prudent to introduce himself.

This time, he took the forceful route.

Through the powers of the gray world, Legolas invaded this Psychic's privacy and directly yanked his body away out of his bed and out of his planet.

Bzzz!

Instantly, Edgar disappeared out of Planet Austere.

"…!"

When he came to be, this Psychic was alarmed at what just happened but he didn't raise any alarm on suddenly discovering himself stuck in a gray world.

Edgar was quick as he took a defensive stance even as he brought out an Enchanted dagger whose blade edge gleamed in the gloomy world.

He didn't need to observe long, he soon saw the sole existence that was here.

"…!" This Psychic was alarmed, it took all his nerves and his psychiatric-related abilities to keep himself from freaking out and screaming in shock.

'This guy has great self-control'. Legolas was impressed, he accepted the challenge as he was pushed to embody the full persona of the Hermit.

Seated on his magnificent throne, the Hermit did not say a single word. Engulfed in the shadows, he radiated pure mystery as he looked down at the human who he just summoned into the gray world.

This time, Legolas didn't go for anything pretentious. He could already tell that Edgar was smart; this Psychic probably already felt the aura of a Grade A beast or warrior once and was why he didn't make use of Aaron's aura.

By simply letting the powers of the gray mist mask everything, revealing nothing about himself, he projected an aura of mystery and unfathomability.

He left his candidate guessing, this in his opinion was the appropriate strategy for a smart and likely overthinking warrior like Edgar.

Knowing nothing about this mysterious existence spooked Edgar to no end, his nerves were taut, his blood was flowing fast, the atmosphere inside him was extremely tense as he felt like he was before the butcher's knife.

The silence was grating at his very being.

He could no longer keep the silence, he felt that he would die of suffocation if he continued. He spoke first.

"W-who…" He regretted it instantly as he stammered.

Stammering already revealed his fear, Legolas won the first game.

"W-who are you?" He gritted his teeth and asked.

"…" The mighty existence directed a nonchalant glance at him.