Woodbury Middle School
Harvey was not here that morning.
Maxwell checked Class 1-2 during break time. He asked someone if he was around, but he said,
"Who's Harvey? The guy from that book with the light bulb on it? Man, it was really popular last month-"
And other classmates said something along those lines. Like his existence was completely wiped away.
Yeah... Maxwell is in a plot now.
Regardless, after a night's worth of getting scolded by Elle, and a thorough examination of the Brave Frontier app, he felt a little more prepared now.
Apparently, the Brave Frontier game was still there, but there is also a button found on the main menu, which read 'Summoner's App'. The app game itself was more of a pretext for any person to secretly access the app.
"Mr. Sheffield," his teacher was saying, having pulled him aside some time before he went home.
The teacher looked to be in her twenties, having black hair tied in a ponytail with a brown band. She wore a lavender shawl over her grey blouse, and a lavender shin-length skirt. She was like a sharp teacher who looks out for everyone, but would not forgive any rule breaking whatsoever.
"Yes Miss Riswell?" Maxwell replied.
"You still need to complete that homework by tomorrow. I expect my students to do their schoolwork smoothly."
Maxwell wanted to groan. How was it fair that no one else knew about the little destruction at the mall?
"I'll get it done," he reassured her.
"You better."
Day two, and he was already being watched out for.
Maxwell took care to walk on the pavement as he walked through the town park, avoiding kids throwing Frisbees and elders taking afternoon walks.
Around this time, Maxwell would have hung out with a friend if he could, but he still had not found a single one. But he had other pressing matters to deal with.
Like his starter Unit for this... game he was pushed into.
He had received a Summon Ticket for a Divine Summon, but there were instructions in the mail saying that this must be done in a secluded area, as the process would be 'very bright'. As always, the Summons are random except for some special cases. Apparently, the element of the Unit you receive can depend on the area you are in, like getting Water Units by Summoning near a lake.
He glanced at his phone. It showed a big list of the game rules:
Any violation (other than Rules Three, Four etc.) will result in an instant death.
1. (UPDATE AS OF 3 JULY 2016) There are two sides, that one a new Summoner must choose during the 1st of November: Gauntlets (Lucius, the God of the Gate) and Glaives (Bergus, a minor god and leader of the rebels). Those who will not pick a side in time, purposely or not, however...
2. The game allows any Summoner to make his or her own choices, like killing people in Reality Battles, except their own Glaives/Gauntlets, Guild Members or Friends, if they are registered to be on your side. Other than that, it is a dog-eat-dog world in a sense. That is, as long as the rules are not violated.
3. Summoners are to complete a mission within an allotted period of time. Failure to do so will force you into an Active State for the next 24 hours, with a bounty on your head. After completing it, you have a day before the next mission arrives. Optional missions are given as well to complete in your own time.
4. Observers are not to be attacked or harmed, lest you receive punishment from the game's rules or the Observers themselves, depending on how powerful they are. However, the game rules do not protect them if a mission involves them (killing, kidnapping, protecting etc.), or if the Observers themselves permit it.
5. Your phone is your lifeline. While the durability is roughly three times better, it can still be destroyed with enough force (like a laser). This can be replaced with another Summoner's Phone, but otherwise, the owner of the destroyed phone will lose the use of Summon powers. Other benefits such as magic MAY be retained however.
6. Any innocent bystanders must not know about the game. Violation of this rule is imposed on the responsible Summoner(s) through heavy fines of zel, karma, or whatever objects of value, in proportion to the amount of damage caused.
7. If there should be a special breach of Rule Six (such as a Reality Battle while a person wanders into the battle zone), with the favor and testimony of an Observer(s), the bystanders are sworn to secrecy and are allowed to even become involved in the game. Bystanders, however, share the same penalties with Summoners when dying and reviving, and so may become Summoners. They are also obliged to follow the same rules. Memory wipes were found to be difficult to maintain, thus leading to the creation of this rule.
And yes, reviving people within a short period of time after their death is easier.
8. Summoners have an Active and Inactive Status. The former allows use of the Tracking program, Summoning, Fusion and Evolution of Units, summoning objects from the mass inventory inside the phone, even magic, at a large cost of being tracked by other Summoners. The latter status prevents use of the mentioned functions, but allows Summoners to remain undetected by Active Summoners, and a lower rate of monster encounters.
9. (UPDATE AS OF 20 MAY 2016) Active Summoners hunting for any other Summoners are allowed to ONLY ATTACK other Active Summoners within the constraints of Rule 2, and if Rule 4 allows it, the Observers as well. Ambushes are permitted as well, if Dream Fields are not used.
Rule ten... and more...
Just reading all these rules could make a person's head hurt, but Maxwell had a rough idea of the system now.
Another funny thing was that there WERE cases where new Summoners may not realize they were picked for the game. The creators took mercy on them and allowed oblivious Summoners to live normally for a week, starting from 3 July 2016. Even new Summoners can take advantage of that peace and start building up strength without the fear of attacks.
Maxwell ended up not getting any of the one-week grace period, and luckily received a mission that had the time limit of ten days; he had less than one now:
Kill 20 slime monsters. Locations marked on your Spirit Map.
Maxwell was also told to find some weapons. What would make for a good one?
He remembers how Elle used to be captain of the kendo club back in Clemen. She sometimes taught Maxwell cool moves, including complicated movements, stances and all that, but it was worth being able to swing a bokken properly. Elle is a fan of swords after all.
And then there were all those comics, cartoons and anime with the swords. Star Wars even had their own set of combat stances!
Right, he was going to get a weapon alright.
~~~LD~~~
Park Mittle's Lake, four in the afternoon...
After quickly finishing his homework at his house, he snuck out with a bokken in a duffel bag and a new outfit for this to-be-rough excursion. He brought some medical supplies, snacks, drinks, even a bedroll, should things get out of hand, like spending the night on a tree, surrounded by killer mochis...
He wore a brown windbreaker with crimson red shoulders that matched his hair colors, a black T-shirt underneath and baggy forest green trousers with the number '9' in a faded brown color on his left shin. Grey and green sneakers helped if he needed to be stealthy. Slung over his left shoulder is a forest camouflage duffel bag containing his supplies.
Strapped to the back of his hips was his sheathed, thin, katana-type hardwood bokken, handle poking to the right of his hips, attached to a belt designed to hold the green leather sheath. The sumi kiri gata - the crossguard equivalent of katanas as Maxwell searched online - was colored red. It was almost as tall as him if he compared his height to its length.
Maxwell looked at his phone, now in Active Status, checking the Spirit Map. There is a pool of energy, marked as a portal from... somewhere to this spot by the lake. Apparently creatures, items, magic, even old places can spill into this spot, and they are not limited to Grand Gaia.
It was surprising how there were no people around at this hour. Maxwell could imagine taking photographs with his sisters when the weekend comes. Maybe the game's managers created illusions like construction signs to keep every curious human out.
The twelve-year-old placed a hand on his bokken's handle, ready to pull it out. Who knows what monsters would appear? So far the mission only said to kill slimes. Maybe it was just slimes in the area.
He shook his head of fear and focused on his phone. He swiped his finger to the Summon screen.
Currently, there are eight Divine Summons to choose from: six represented the six elements of Brave Frontier, while the other two are Divine Summon and Honor Summon respectively. This is meant for new Summoners and lasted for a month.
He did not hesitate to press on 'Fire Summon'.
A white, bright circle like Harvey had made materialized in front of Maxwell, on the ground, glowing with an unfathomable energy. He had wondered what magic circles would be like; now he got one in front of him.
"Please be a cool guy, please be a cool guy...!" Maxwell muttered excitedly, all attention on the circle now.
An ornamental rainbow gate came out of the circle.
A Five-Star Unit!
Maxwell stared at it for a moment before remembering to touch it.
First Unit... here I go!
A tentative brush was given. After that was a blast of light.
It opened...
And out stepped a rather imposing figure.
"Hmm...? Who are you, boy?" a gruff voice says.
The redheaded man stepping out of the gate wore no shirt, revealing his buff chest. Other than that, he wore armor covering his shoulders and lower body. A ragged cape fluttered behind him. Resting on his left shoulder was a burning greatsword, and his strong-looking arms suggested he can wield it with just one hand. As if that wasn't anymore intimidating than his wizened glare.
Everything about him screamed...
"Cool..." Maxwell muttered under his breath as the Gate disappeared. The area around them went back into a sunny afternoon.
"Hmm?" the man grunted in question.
"You're Avant right!?"
"I am. I presume you're my Summoner?"
Maxwell nodded. "Well it's my first time summoning a Unit. It's been rough for me and all, but... I hope we get to work together."
The rookie stretched out a hand to shake, grinning. Avant glanced at the hand for a while, eyebrows raised slightly as if he recognized something.
He shook it, nodding.
Here was a buff man capable of leveling buildings if he were at his full power, now commanded by Maxwell. That was quite the responsibility a child has to bear from that moment on, but he can do it.
"It'll be a pleasure to work for you kid."
That sounds strange coming from a man clearly much more older than Maxwell, but it did not matter. He had one of the most popular Units, just like in the game!
"Okay, let's get started," Maxwell said with a grin, feeling more confident that he can tackle the mission.
"You have a mission already?" Avant asked.
Maxwell nodded, checking his phone. There was a notification sending him to the squad management screen.
He moved to Avant's status screen, noting that if this were a more simpler game the rookie was in, this man would have been classified as an obvious strength-type Unit.
Well the best defense is offense, just as the best offense is defense.
"Okay... uh Sir...?" Maxwell didn't know what to call him. It felt awkward to call him by-
"Avant is fine." He gets down to business a lot.
"Okay Avant, today we're hunting down twenty slimes!"
"I guess that's fitting for a rookie," Avant said to himself. "Where do we find them?"
Maxwell pointed to the small forest behind him, creeping near the edge of the lake. It was a lighter part of the Woodbury Pinewood, the one where the trees were not so thick to be lost in, so you could find a few clearings.
"I think they're all over there. The map said it was an Amateur-ranked area."
There are 101 ranks in total, all derived from the Arena Rank system; the first one is Rookie, which Maxwell currently was. It is easier to refer to his Rank as Level 0.
"Hmm..." Avant scrutinized his Summoner's equipment. "I see you have come prepared."
"I am. My sister taught me kendo, so I know how to use a sword, or well katanas at least. I'm a little rusty though, but maybe it'll all come back to me. And this bag here has all my supplies if I gotta camp out."
Avant gave an approving nod. "It is good to see there are still rookies that prepare, and people who fight."
The two walk into the forest, chatting less and less, feeling the air become more intense. This was not a safe area to be in.
A bounce put them on alert in their first encounter with a monster.
"Uh, it's... a slime. I think... it's a Sparky." Maxwell did not really expect much other than cuteness, and he was right.
"I'll take care of it," Avant gruffly said, letting the Sparky yell a tiny battlecry and jump at him.
He slapped it to the ground and promptly squashed it under his heel.
"That's... brutal," Maxwell commented.
"It is," Avant agreed. "I almost feel sorry for these little ones."
"Who are you calling little!?"
"Yeah! We'll show you!"
Three more slimes appeared: two Mossies and a Glowy.
"I can take the Burnies, but I think you should take the Glowy as practice. Can you really kill it?" Avant got his sword ready.
"I can," Maxwell confirmed, although more as reassurance for himself. Dropping his duffel bag to the base of a tree, he drew his bokken.
"Wood... You're lucky these aren't all Fire-types," Avant noted.
"I know Avant but I got this."
While Avant moved to stomp the Burnies into oblivion, Maxwell dashed forward and immediately stabbed at the pouncing Glowy.
The end was buried inside of it, catching it, so Maxwell rammed it into a tree.
It shuddered before turning into harmless white slime, dripping from the bokken's edge.
"Hey Avant, I killed it!" Maxwell called to his partner. It sounded lame, but it was quite the first time.
"I did too. Now we should go in further if we want to find more to hunt."
They trekked once Maxwell retrieved his bag, this time strapping it on from left shoulder to right hip to make it less of an inconvenience to drop it every time before a fight. His bokken was out now, blade ready to stun and smash.
There were monsters other than slimes though. There was a Dryad, which Avant cleaved into two, a few loud Mandragoras Maxwell smashed, even a human archer he recognized as Lario.
Avant quickly blocked the first few shots, letting Maxwell rush in for a stab to the neck. Lario barely avoided it and was about to turn Maxwell into a pincushion when Avant stabbed him in the chest.
When Lario flashed white and disappeared, he asked, "Are Units really dead like that?"
"What do you mean kid?" Avant asked.
"I mean, they're alive and all, and I'm pretty sure they have hearts. Did they feel sad and hurt when they die?"
Avant's lips twisted into a grimace. "They feel pain, but once they die, they should fade back into the Gate. As for feelings... I think they'll know they can be sent back into the world to explore once again, or wander in wherever they are for all eternity."
"Avant, is it bad to kill them?"
The War Fire eyed the boy. He sure was a thinking type.
"I think we all do things for survival kid, and killing is one of them. These Units and monsters probably understood that the moment they stepped into these hunting grounds."
Maxwell looked at a unicorn that peacefully grazed on grass in the distance. The whole scenery before him was out of a fantasy novel, but he needed to train.
He nodded with determination. He cannot afford to be left behind by any powerful Summoners.
"Let's get going Avant! The clock's still ticking!"
They fought with greater vigor, Maxwell starting to remember his rookie kendo training. His attacks started becoming more powerful, more fluid, enough to create a nice cave-in if he accurately targeted a vital part.
Maxwell slashed aside a slime, then brought his bokken down on a toppled unicorn. Avant was hacking away at Weiss, who nimbly dodged a fatal strike.
He eventually went down after a wooden stab to the neck.
Once their scuffle was over, bodies and burns spotting the forest, Maxwell took out his phone that had rung quietly in his pocket.
He received a notice that the mission was over, rewarding him with some zel, karma and a few items, including a Sphere. He even leveled up to Amateur rank (or Level One), showing his progress.
He could try a few daily quests if he needed more rewards, but Maxwell felt beat. All that matters is going home for the time being.
"Avant, looks like we're done here. Great job!" Maxwell told Avant.
"Hmph. I prefer a bigger challenge next time."
It was still scary just going in for the kill, especially with a sword not meant to hurt anyone, but Maxwell felt like he could get used to it. It was not too different- scratch that, it may be very different to kill, but he remembered facing kendo trainees his age.
"But this should be good training for you. I also managed to gather some zel and Units to fuse you with!"
"And I can see you are already improving. Your sister must have trained you well."
Maxwell smiled at that. "She wanted to teach me for my safety, and I'm glad she did, even when it gets exhausting sometimes."
Avant raised an eyebrow at that. "And... your parents? What did they say about this?"
Maxwell hoped he did not sound upset. "I had their approval. They knew I liked to go to all sorts of places without anyone to look out for me."
Avant detected the sadness in his Summoner's voice, but decided to question it later. They were still inside monster territory after all. "Let's go back for—"
The sound of wood splintering came loudly from behind Maxwell.
"Whoa, what was that?" the boy asked aloud.
"Probably a powerful monster knocking a tree down. We should leave."
Avant was about to head back the way they came when he saw Maxwell running towards the sound.
"That kid...!" His Summoner was curious and reckless too, if not stupid.
As if no one has said this before, it was going to be a while before they get back home.
Author's Note: Some inspirations came from a few other BF fanfictions on this website, like The Adventure of Brave Frontiers by The Last Rebellion (the Spirit Map application came from the story's idea of a tracking system, including the active and inactive status). A few other stories (but not all, although I remember seeing one using SomeWanderingAnon's OC) about Units coming into our world inspired me to do this story, so dear readers, search for those stories and give them your thanks, because they are what led to the creation of this fanfiction. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor also helped me to think up of an idea for the Summoner's App system. I give credit to that game as well.
Now, I received a total of eight Summoner OCs. I honestly expected a non-Summoner, but fine. Here are the titles that I decided to give them that I feel would hint at their characters:
'Surfer Bum, Glum Forester, Hothead Freerunner, Antisocial Senior, Default Smile, Sweet Puppeteer, Hostage and Psycho, Miss Poor Communication Skills.'
...I do wonder if I insulted someone. Heck, most are sixteen-year-olds!
At any rate, not all OCs are to show in the early chapters, and not all of them may be what you expected. PM me if there is a problem. However, their roles may not be what you imagined (well, perhaps not evil).
Please leave a review, favorite and a follow!
EDIT (29 September 2016): Changed the Arena rank/level explanation. 100 levels seemed like a good divide between powerful and growing Summoners.
EDIT (2 October 2016): Changed Rules One and Two. Massive correction. Other than that, minor editing.