Chapter 2: Yusoha

Decades ago, an unprecedented crisis struck Earth.

Countless gates connected to various dimensions opened, and all sorts of magical beasts poured out, threatening human lives.

Humanity did not fall easily. The weapons invented throughout thousands of years of human history, forged in the fires of war, fortunately proved effective against these otherworldly beasts.

But enemies also appeared that humanity’s weapons could not harm.

The problem was, these enemies were overwhelmingly powerful.

Cities in numerous countries collapsed, and the number of deaths grew.

Yet, there was still hope. As humanity resisted the beasts, a new power was bestowed upon them.

A small number of humans awakened to mana, and these individuals could deal effective blows to enemies that firearms could not scratch.

Some infused their weapons with mana, while those skilled with firearms enveloped their bullets with mana to slay otherworldly beings.

That wasn’t all. Those who awakened to mana could summon beings from other dimensions that resonated with their mana’s nature.

These summoned beings achieved great feats, helping humans defeat the otherworldly beasts invading their world.

As time passed and the world grew accustomed to those who awakened mana and their companions.

People began calling the mana-awakened humans “Awakeners” and the otherworldly beings they summoned “Guardian Spirits.”

As a result, various organizations emerged. Most notably, guilds formed by Awakeners. In the face of humanity’s crisis, civilians and governments united, so early Awakeners were mostly under government control.

However, as governments increasingly sent Awakeners on grueling missions, they broke free from governmental control.

Of course, there were numerous conflicts during this process, but ordinary military forces couldn’t stop Awakeners. Firearms remained dangerous to them, but battles with magical beasts had elevated Awakeners beyond human limits.

Thus, Awakeners began forming their own organizations.

Considering themselves artisans of mana, they named their groups “guilds,” after the organizations of craftsmen from the past.

Numerous guilds flourished. Though Awakeners were few compared to ordinary people, they were supported by many others and skilled technicians, which fueled the guilds’ growth.

Through the combined efforts of guilds and governments, Earth gradually returned to a semblance of peace. But from the moment peace arrived, people began to turn on each other.

They tore into one another, clashed, and conflicts brewed between guilds, and between guilds and governments.

Amidst the rise and fall of countless guilds.

One guild stood firm, reigning above the rest.

Phantom.

It was a guild founded by Yuhyeok, a hero among the first Awakeners who fought against the otherworldly beings invading Earth.

As a result, Phantom held a significant position not only in South Korea but also worldwide, and the influence of Yuhyeok and his lineage was undeniable.

Many guilds bowed before Phantom, and even governments couldn’t touch it recklessly.

Yuhyeok was, after all, a key figure in saving Earth.

Naturally, the lineage of the mighty Phantom drew immense attention.

For example.

“Get out of my sight. You’re fired as of today. How the hell did someone as useless as you even get into Phantom?”

Like this arrogant woman who expelled an Awakener from the guild over a minor mistake.

Yusoha.

Yuhyeok’s granddaughter and the daughter of Yuhajun, the current head of Phantom.

She was an Awakener, befitting the Phantom lineage.

Not only that, but the sheer amount of mana she possessed upon awakening was unrivaled. Her mana was so abundant that it turned her hair and eyes the golden hue of her mana.

Having received elite education, her abilities were exceptional. One could say Yusoha was close to being a perfect all-rounder.

But even she had a fatal flaw.

She had yet to summon her Guardian Spirit.

Most Awakeners could summon their Guardian Spirit within a year of awakening. But Yusoha, despite ten years having passed since her awakening, still hadn’t summoned hers.

Now twenty years old, an Awakener without a Guardian Spirit’s power had clear limitations, no matter how strong they were.

Thanks to her immense innate mana, she could still hold her own against other Awakeners… but as time passed, she would inevitably fall behind.

Falling behind someone in ability was something Yusoha could not tolerate.

Her pride was sky-high.

It wasn’t about her position. She didn’t care much for titles.

When her older sister, Yudanha, was chosen as the next successor to Phantom, Yusoha, contrary to others’ expectations, didn’t throw a fit.

But she couldn’t stand her abilities being inferior to anyone else’s.

The moment someone compared her skills to her sister’s, she was consumed by inferiority and sought out whoever made the comment, ensuring they faced retribution.

One might assume this stemmed from losing the successor position to Yudanha, but that wasn’t the case.

It was simply her nature. Her pride demanded that her abilities always be the best. That was the very force driving her.

Thus, without a Guardian Spirit, she lived in daily fear of becoming weak, fueling her inferiority complex.

Those with Guardian Spirits never dared to show them off in front of her.

Except for those above her in rank—namely, members of the Phantom family who ordered them to reveal their Guardian Spirits—she would immediately crush any Awakener who flaunted their Guardian Spirit in her presence.

Years later, Yusoha’s inferiority had morphed into hostility toward others and arrogance toward those she deemed lesser.

She didn’t forgive even minor mistakes in her presence. Of course, she performed her duties flawlessly to preempt any objections, leaving no one daring to challenge her.

Awakeners who joined Phantom with grand dreams could say nothing against her actions, backed by the guild’s immense influence.

Her behavior drew much criticism and condemnation. Workplace bullying? The media’s attacks on Yusoha were far beyond such trivial accusations.

Yet she didn’t change her ways. To her, this was just.

She believed she didn’t need to listen to Awakeners who fell behind her, someone without a Guardian Spirit.

They should simply obey her commands.

Expelling Awakeners who didn’t meet her standards was nothing new for Yusoha, so Yudanha, watching her silently, let out a sigh.

“Again, Soha?”

“Sister.”

Her expression, looking at her sister, was already brimming with displeasure. Yudanha. The one who sparked Yusoha’s greatest sense of inferiority.

Yet, despite this, Danha cherished Soha. Not just because she was her sister. She knew where Soha’s inferiority stemmed from.

The absence of a Guardian Spirit. The lack of a companion to walk alongside her had twisted her.

Soha, too, knew this, so she never showed her inferiority to her family, including her sister. But hiding her inferiority didn’t heal the festering wound within.

Rather, being surrounded by such exceptional family members only highlighted her own shortcomings, leaving Soha no choice but to grimace.

“You’re holding the Guardian Spirit summoning ritual today, right? It’s already been three months since the last one.”

“Yeah.”

“Stay strong. You’ll definitely summon one today.”

“…It’s pointless. There’s no Guardian Spirit that’ll answer my call.”

A skeptical gaze turned toward Yudanha.

Inside Phantom’s massive guild, in a vast room filled with intricate rituals, was the place where the Phantom family conducted their Guardian Spirit summoning ceremonies.

Yusoha focused on the ritual at the center of the room.

Around her, several people stood ready, prepared for any unexpected events.

They watched Yusoha with tense expressions, bracing for any potential mishap.

“I hope she succeeds this time.”

She prayed fervently, as if pleading, pouring her mana into the ritual.

Golden mana flowed into the ritual, and soon the room began to tremble.

“…Thus, by the laws of the world, in resonance with my mana, I call upon the one who will protect me. I do not know your name, nor do you know mine, but our fates are intertwined. So, answer my call.”

Despite her tension, a calm voice echoed through the room, and the ritual began to glow.

“…”

Yusoha shed her usual arrogance, watching the ritual with a slightly tense expression. The process was the same as always.

The ritual glowing was something she’d seen countless times before.

But no being ever appeared above the ritual. It only ever glowed.

Today was no different. The ritual shone brilliantly, but no being was summoned.

Soha poured even more mana into the ritual, calling for the Guardian Spirit connected to her.

“Answer my call.”

Her voice remained calm, but her emotions couldn’t help but surge.

‘Another failure, huh.’

Despair began to settle in her body. She no longer had the strength to resign herself. Anger started to consume her.

The guards watching her grew even more tense.

‘Damn it. We’re gonna get chewed out again today.’

‘Why did I have to be on guard duty today?’

They thought to themselves.

Even as more time passed, the ritual only glowed, failing to summon any otherworldly being.

“F*ck.”

A curse slipped from Soha’s lips, and the guards’ faces hardened, as if expecting what was to come.

“It’s not working, as expected.”

As Soha spoke and began to retract the mana she’d poured into the ritual.

Something unusual happened.

The ritual, which should have dimmed, continued to glow.

“Huh…?”

The guards watching wore bewildered expressions.

The ritual still glowing despite the mana being withdrawn meant one thing.

A Guardian Spirit was being summoned.

“No way…!”

Joy spread across Yusoha’s furrowed face, and finally, her Guardian Spirit appeared before her.

Worn, broken armor and helmet, a tattered cloak. A shattered greatsword.

The Guardian Spirit that appeared before Yusoha looked utterly wretched, as if it might collapse at any moment.