Aric sat on a rock near the edge of his pancake moat, watching Driplord the duck roast bugs with tiny blue fireballs. He opened his system menu, this time tapping the glowing tab labeled:
> [Summon Protocols & Requirements]
A block of text unfolded like a scroll of divine rules. Lysara read it aloud, arms folded.
> "Servant System 1.0: Only your first summon is free. Subsequent servants require resources based on your Rank and Realm."
[Servant Summoning Rules]
1. First Summon: Free (bound by starter rarity).
2. Slots Available: Based on Talent Rank + Place Rank
Example: A C+ Talent in control of a Town (B-) can summon up to 5 Servants.
3. Summon Cost: Varies per rarity. Paid in:
Soul Credits
Spirit Crystals
World Points
4. Cooldown Period:
Higher rank = longer cooldown unless overridden with Time Crystals.
> "Basically," Lysara summarized, "no one can flood the world with 10,000 servants unless they earn it. Even if their slot count is technically infinite, their summon materials are not."
Aric looked at the "∞" symbol glowing next to his Servant Slots.
"…So I could theoretically summon infinite protectors… if I somehow had infinite materials?"
> "Precisely. Except the system will also require higher and rarer offerings the more you summon. Think... exponential costs."
He scratched his chin. "Smart. A soft cap disguised as freedom."
Lysara nodded approvingly.
> "Also, random trivia: if you ever try to cheat the system, it spawns a 'Reset Enforcer' with no chill and zero dialogue options."
---
[Universal Lobby – Hidden Zone: Watcher's Hall]
Elsewhere, beyond the public eye, inside a starless void where only whispers dared speak…
A circle of cloaked figures watched the public Realm Board.
> "The EX-Rank boy—Aric Myles—he has infinite slots already." "Then we must observe how the system balances him… or if he will break it." "Has he unlocked the Nexus Tower yet?" "No. But soon. And when he does, he'll step beyond his 'Planet' realm."
They turned to a shadowed throne, where a giant crystalline eye pulsed.
> "Null is already moving."
---
[Back in the Syrup Citadel]
Aric finally looked at his inventory. Among the chaos—pancake mix, 14 fish (unexplained), 1 flaming banana (from a Banana Cult recruiter)—there was something new.
> [Rare Token: Architect's Echo Core]
Description: Used to summon a construction-class servant with infrastructure expertise. May also insult your taste in wall color.
"Perfect," Aric grinned. "Time to build my bathhouse."
Lysara sighed. "This is going to be hell, isn't it?"
"Oh, absolutely."
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