Pick Me Up: A Different Han Islat

Han's vision blurred as consciousness returned to him. The acrid stench of smoke filled his nostrils, and the crackling sound of fire surrounded him. His body felt strangely heavy, and as he blinked the haze from his eyes, the scene before him sent a jolt of panic through his chest.

A small town was engulfed in flames. Wooden structures collapsed under the weight of the inferno, sending embers flying into the night sky. There were no people—no screams, no movement—only the oppressive heat and the thick, suffocating gas that clouded the air.

He staggered backward, trying to make sense of his surroundings. That's when he noticed the weight in his right hand.

A sword.

His grip tightened instinctively around its worn hilt. The blade was simple, unadorned, yet felt oddly familiar in his grasp. His other hand moved to his chest, feeling the rough texture of the simple clothes he was now wearing.

What the hell is this?

Just then—

Ding!

A violet light shimmered before him, forming familiar translucent letters in midair.

[In a small town of the Hime Province, there was a boy named "Han Islat."]

Han's breath hitched. His eyes widened as he took a step back.

"Wh… What?" His voice wavered.

He stared at the text in disbelief, his mind struggling to process the absurdity of it all. "What the hell is going on?"

Flames crackled around him as the system messages continued to appear before his eyes.

[Townia, the ground where humans live alongside other species.]

[An unknown enemy invades this peaceful land!]

[You, master! If you wish to save this world, climb the tower!]

[Many heroes will join you!]

"Master? Climb the tower?" Han muttered, his confusion deepening. "This… this is—"

Before he could finish his sentence, a sudden movement caught his eye.

A goblin.

Small, green-skinned, and grotesque, the creature leaped out from behind a collapsed building, its beady red eyes locking onto him. A rusted sword was clutched in its clawed hand, and a twisted grin spread across its face.

"A g-goblin?" Han's voice wavered.

[Tutorial Quest: Take down the goblins that invaded the town!]

Han barely had time to process the message before the goblin lunged at him, its sword swinging straight for his chest.

"What—!" He barely reacted in time, instinctively raising his sword.

Clang!

The impact sent a jolt up his arm, the goblin's strength far greater than he expected.

"Fuck!" Han gritted his teeth, pushing back with all his might.

[Combat will automatically proceed. Watch a high-class battle made by the Hero's AI!]

The words flickered across his vision, but Han was too focused on surviving to pay them any mind.

With a desperate shove, he knocked the goblin's sword away, leaving it momentarily defenseless.

His grip tightened, and with a roar, he swung down with all his strength.

Slash!

The goblin's body split in two, dark blood spraying across the ground.

Han looked down at the goblin's lifeless corpse, his breath shaky. His hands trembled as he stared at the blood-stained blade in his grip.

"I... just took another living organism's life—"

Before he could fully process it, a strange sensation crawled over his skin. His body began to glow, breaking apart into shimmering particles.

"Wait! What's happening!?"

In an instant, the burning town vanished.

When Han's vision cleared, he found himself somewhere else entirely.

Ding!

[Stage Clear!]

[Han (☆) level up!]

[Rewards have been given. Check your mailbox.]

The messages flickered before his eyes, but he ignored them. His gaze was fixed on his surroundings, his breath caught in his throat.

"This familiar scene…"

He recognized the grand architecture before him—tall pillars supporting a massive structure, worn with age but still imposing. Ancient stone buildings surrounded the plaza, their rooftops lined with dark tiles. A soft glow filled the air, the sky shimmering with ethereal light, casting a surreal atmosphere over the place. Blue petals drifted in the wind, floating gently as if welcoming him.

Han's heart pounded. There was no mistaking it.

"This… this is Pick Me Up!"

"Am I inside Pick Me Up?!"

But before he could process anything further, another system message appeared before him.

[Master, will you pull a comrade before the next stage?]

[Click the "Summon" tab in the menu!]

[The first summon is free!]

[500 Gems for High-rank Summon have been given.]

"Just what the fuck is happening? Pulling a hero?" Han muttered in disbelief. He instinctively reached out, and the moment his fingers brushed against the translucent summon button, the ground trembled.

With a loud clang, the massive doors of a towering structure in front of him swung open. A radiant golden light poured out, flooding the area in brilliance. Han winced, raising his arm to shield his eyes. The air crackled with energy, and shimmering particles of light coalesced at the center of the summoning circle.

[!★!Super!★!Rare!★!]

The silhouette of a figure took shape, stepping forward as the blinding glow began to fade.

A tall, elegant woman now stood before him. Her brown hair, tied into a ponytail, swayed gently behind her. She was clad in a magnificent set of white armor, the metallic sheen reflecting the residual light of the summoning process. A flowing cape billowed at her back, and in her right hand, she held a slender yet deadly rapier, its intricate hilt glinting under the ethereal glow.

Her eyes remained closed, but her presence alone exuded confidence and power, like that of a noble warrior descending onto the battlefield.

[Image Here]

[Master Anytng has received hero Shay (☆☆☆☆)!]

Han's gaze lingered on the knight before him, his mind struggling to process what had just happened.

"Summon? Did I get summoned here like that too? From a Pick Me Up player's summon?"

A chill ran down his spine at the thought.

Before he could dwell on the implications, the newly summoned hero opened her eyes.

"Did you summon me?" she asked, her voice firm yet carrying an undertone of curiosity. "Who are you?"

Han blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. He wasn't used to heroes speaking to him. But before he could respond, another screen materialized in front of him, filled with detailed stats and information.

[Shay Lathasterie (☆☆☆☆)]

[Lv.1 (Exp 0/10)]

[Class: Knight]

[Strength: 19/19, Intelligence: 10/10, Health: 18/18, Agility: 22/22]

[Skills: Combat Logic (Lv.1), Intermediate Swordsmanship (Lv.1), Knight's Determination (Lv.1)]

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Liked this chapter? I know that I'm just following the story for now, but I'll add my own soon.