Lords & Towers: God Of Speed

[Summoning Tower

Unit: Demons of the 72 Pillars

Description: Allows the summoning of demons belonging to any of the 72 Pillars. Each one possesses unique specialties, ranging from combat to creation or alchemy.

Available Units:

[Bael Clan Demon — Low Rank]: 10,000 gold

[Bael Clan Demon — Mid Rank]: 100,000 gold

[Bael Clan Demon — High Rank]: 1,000,000 gold

[Sitri Clan Demon — Low Rank]: 10,000 gold

…

[Phenex Clan Demon — Low Rank]: 10,000 gold

…

[Agares Clan Demon — …]

…

[Valefor Clan Demon — …]

…

[Astaroth Clan Demon — …]

…

[Barbatos Clan Demon — …]

…

And so on for all 72 Pillars. They're a bit pricey, but not excessively so. A low-rank demon is equivalent to a level 10 Lord, and since each one has a unique specialty, their power is even greater. Definitely worth it.

Kaito moved on to the next option, since it was the one he understood the least just by name.

---

[Summoning Tower of Extraction and Mutation — Phoenix Regeneration

Extraction: Allows you to register one of your controlled species and create a summoning tower based on it.

Mutation: Modifies the registered species by adding a mutation gene.

Gene "Phoenix Regeneration": An extremely powerful gene that boosts regeneration to nearly immortal levels. It can even regenerate after death, unless killed by a holy attribute or revived too many times in a row without recharging energy.

---

Kaito read in silence, considering the possibilities. If he could, he would apply that gene to himself. Phoenix regeneration was incredible.

The system had already explained the 10,000 extraction points earlier.

Since the difference between the mission version of himself and the real one wasn't very large, there weren't many extraction options. Because of this, he wasn't sure whether that was a lot or not.

Still, extracting his cooking skills only cost 100 points, so he did it without hesitation. After eating so well for so long, there was no way he could go back to his old food: roasted wolf meat over a fire.

Lastly, he checked the summoning card.

---

[Summoning Card

Description: Allows you to summon people from the Mission World to Gaia.

At least 50% affection is required.

Warning: Affection is a safety measure. Summoned individuals are not pets and will not automatically be on your side. They are real people. Use with caution.

Note: Only one person can summon an individual. In the case of multiple cards with the same target, the final decision will depend on the mission rank linked to that world.

Possible summons:

Tojou Koneko (Shirone) — Affection: 60% — Likes you ]

---

'…Strange.'

That was all Kaito thought.

Summoning real people? And they wouldn't be loyal? Then what's the point?

Also, the system emphasized that they are "real people."

Real?

High School DxD wasn't real. Just on his server, there were over a thousand versions, and worldwide, more than a million variants. There's no way that's a "reality."

Still, there's an easy way to find out.

Kaito used the card.

A girl appeared before him.

It was Koneko… but not the Koneko he knew.

She looked similar, yes, but this Koneko seemed his age. A little shorter, but not as much as the Koneko from the mission. Her body was more developed—not at Rias or Akeno's level, but definitely more voluptuous than before. And her face… though serious, showed a certain warmth. Not the usual blank expression, but that of someone who's simply quiet.

The girl looked at him, cautiously.

"Who are you?"

Kaito didn't get a chance to answer.

The girl clutched her head with both hands, as if in great pain, and clenched her teeth.

A few seconds later, she straightened up and looked at him.

"Kaito… so you're a Lord."

She smiled. Not the usual robotic smile of Koneko, but a real one. A smile filled with emotion.

"Koneko…? What's going on? Why do you look like that?"

Koneko became serious and looked at him.

"It's a long story."

She sat down on the ground, looked at Kaito, and began to speak.

"It was midway through my first year. Everything was going well. We had just gotten a new peerage member. He was a pervert, yes, but a good person who helped Rias with her engagement. We were all happy for her.

But then, everything fell apart.

One day, portals appeared all over the sky—on Earth, in the Underworld… everywhere.

At first, they were manageable, but they kept getting stronger. When we were on the verge of collapse… something changed. We awakened something called the 'system.' It allowed us to grow stronger by defeating those creatures. It gave us hope.

But it wasn't enough. The creatures kept coming—bigger, more terrifying. Eventually… one appeared that was so massive it covered an entire continent.

The strongest among us attacked, but nothing worked. In the end… everyone died… we all died.

Then, we woke up in a white space. There, the entity behind the system spoke to us.

It said we weren't the first world to fall. That it had tried to save many… but all had failed.

It gave us a choice: instead of disappearing, we could offer our world as a training ground for those who could save others. If we were lucky, maybe our world would be resurrected.

Most accepted. And a decision was made.

Our souls were split into countless fragments. Each one was sent into a simulation of our world… waiting for a Lord to save us."

Kaito listened in silence.

"So… you're not the Koneko I knew?"

"I am" she replied. "I'm also the one many others knew. But now, having been summoned, my soul has reunited. I only have the memories from before I was fragmented… and from the fragment that met you."

"I see…"

Kaito processed everything slowly. Were they supposed to become strong to fight those things? Was that the true purpose?

But Gaia didn't feel like a training ground. The mission for Lords was to conquer, yes—but not necessarily by force. He conquered the Kobolds without a single fight.

Gaia wasn't made to train.

From Kaito's perspective, Gaia was made to escape.

A kind of Noah's Ark.

Kaito stopped thinking for now. Whatever the case, his goal remained the same: to become strong enough that no one could threaten him, and from now on, to protect his family in case those things ever attacked Earth.

He opened his status screen. In the race section, there was an alert. Upon pressing it, a message appeared:

[The skill "Original Demon of Speed" wants to modify your race.

No scroll required.

Accept?

- Yes -No]

Kaito pressed "Yes."

Immediately, a burning sensation swept through his body. He collapsed to the ground, screaming in pain. Koneko ran over, alarmed.

"Kaito?! What's happening?"

But he didn't hear her. He could only feel his bones breaking and rebuilding over and over, his muscles tearing and reshaping, his organs flooded with blood. The pain was unbearable. Minutes later, it stopped.

Breathing heavily, Kaito stood up. Something felt… different.

He ignored the notifications and ran to a nearby bucket of water to see his reflection.

He had changed.

Now he stood 1.85 meters tall. His once-black hair now so dark it seemed to absorb light. His eyes, a deep crimson, seemed to gaze into your soul. His face… more harmonious, as if someone had polished away all the tiny flaws. If he used to be a 75/100, he was now a solid 95. And he didn't give himself a higher score only because he wasn't a girl.

"So? What do you think?" he asked, looking at Koneko.

She clapped theatrically but sincerely.

"Very handsome."

Kaito blushed slightly.

"It's gonna be hard getting used to a Koneko who talks… and has emotions."

Koneko stepped closer, smiling.

"You don't like it?"

Kaito smiled back.

"I never said that."

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+15 chapters in advance on Patreon.

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(just delete the hyphen)

80 power stones = 1 extra chapter (cumulative)