The thing was, the Amazon race was originally considered one of the most difficult to level up.
Unlike other races that focused on physical strength or elemental magic, the Amazons possessed the ancient art of Summoning, a power inherited from the Daughters of the First Forest, women capable of forming pacts with creatures from other biomes in the world of Log Apofis.
This ability had one huge advantage and an equally huge curse: it did not level up automatically.
To strengthen the connection with summoned creatures, the player had to search for rare ingredients, artifacts, and totem trinkets, each of which served as an "enhancer" of the spiritual connection.
In essence, it was a skill that grew with the will of the Amazon herself.
[The stronger her spirit, the more powerful her summons.]
[The higher the level, the more expensive the price of error.]
The system even described it as follows:
[Race Mechanics: Amazon]
[«Amazon's Call or Call from the Daughters of the First Forest»]
[You are able to open temporary portals to the Mirror World by making contracts with creatures left outside the circle of life.]
[To maintain communication stability, you will need artifacts such as the Totem of Life, the Synchronization Stone, the Soul Sand Amulet, or other Summoner upgrades.]
This is why Amazon players often compared their class to real-life shamanism:
They had necklaces made of monster bones, masks, carved amulets, moonstone charms, and even strands of hair from defeated creatures.
These were not just decorative items; each detail amplified the "frequency of connection," preventing the summoning from disintegrating.
Although she appeared to be a simple boxer with a heavy shield, Aka-32 was well aware of the value of these amulets.
Her shield was not just a weapon, but a repository of seals through which she summoned her warrior spirits.
She told me herself that every new creature requires a new "anchor", an object to which it will be attached, like an amulet protecting it from evil spirits.
— Do you see this tooth?
She smiled, showing the pendant.
— This is the trophy of my first group victory over the boss of the location. If I lose it, the ants will disappear, and I will lose part of the level.
The challenge was that the higher the level of the Amazon player, the rarer the materials required, such as star egg fragments, ancient insect shell powder, or demigod beast blood.
Without these rarities, the summoning lost its stability, and the spirits could simply not obey, and in the worst case, attack their master.
Because of this, the Amazons were considered a "race of risk", powerful, but requiring a huge amount of patience, observation and a collection of artifacts.
However, in the hands of players like Aka-32, this skill turned into an art.
It was no wonder that many on the forums wrote that the Amazons, the only ones who can talk to the "soul of the game", and not just use its mechanics.
—My limit. Three dark ants, the amulet can't handle any more.
She raised her hand, and a summoning ring flashed on her wrist, along with the fang she was wearing, which was cracked and burned from the inside.
—To improve the summoning shield, you need rare materials. Relic fragments or at least the core of a dead queen. And you can't find them anywhere right now... not even on the first floor.
Aka-32 chuckled as she brushed the dust off her cloak.
—Well, it's okay. These will do. Now we'll have at least fifteen minutes of peace.
One of the ants snapped its jaws, as if responding to her words.
—Summoned creatures have a time limit.
She added, looking at the shimmering runes in the air: —With my current level, it's exactly fifteen minutes. After that, they crumble to dust.
She waved her hand through the air, activating a counter in the interface, and a timer appeared in the corner of the screen: [15:00].
—So, if you want to live, don't waste this time.
A group of poisonous flying insects hovered in the air, like a single swarm, trembling in anticipation of a signal. Their wings shimmered with a deathly glow, and green poison oozed from beneath their shells, spreading like a poisonous mist in the air.
The group of poisonous flying ants paused for a moment to observe the three dark ants that had emerged from the Amazon's shield.
At first, they did not understand, but as the dark ants began to attack the poisonous ants, they unleashed their aggression on the calling ants.
Everything was quiet for a moment.
They stopped, as if considering who these three dark ants were, who had emerged from the Amazon's shining shield.
The trio of massive creatures summoned by Aka-32 stood motionless, as if waiting for an order. Their bodies were like clumps of living metal, and each of their paws left deep tracks in the sand.
The first ant snapped its jaws sharply, and the second responded with a low, vibrating hum. In the next moment, the entire trio took off.
—Let's go!
Akah-32 shouted, and the ants charged the swarm.
The air exploded with flashes of poisonous spray. The flying insects scattered in panic, but it was too late, and the first ant grabbed one of the creatures in mid-air and squeezed its mandibles until it exploded into pieces.
The second ant grabbed another and stabbed its stinger-like tail into its abdomen.
The swarm immediately became aggressive. Hundreds of tiny eyes glowed red, and the entire mass of insects directed their anger at the dark ants.
As Aka-32's summoned creatures held their ground, the group members finally had a chance to catch their breath. As their HP bars gradually filled with green, the effects of the poison began to subside, and the air became slightly less viscous.
—They're holding their ground, look!
—These ants... they're not just tanks, they're like trained soldiers!
Aka-32 merely chuckled, clutching her amulet, which emitted a faint glow.
—Ten more minutes, then they'll disperse. So collect everything that falls.
In the background, you could hear the hum of battle, the clicking of shells, and the screams and screeches of wings.
Without wasting a second, I ran between the dead ants, picking up the dropped items, and most interestingly, the Fairy Queen's tattoo on my forehead began to glow again, collecting the souls of the defeated monsters:
[ Collected Souls: 32/1000]
My interface also flashed with loot lines:
[Obtained Item: Poison Ant Acid Gland (Common)]
[Obtained Item: Insect Wing (Rare)]
[Obtained Item: Chitin Fragment (Uncommon)]
—Oh, yes, let them fight as much as they want.
In the foreground, chaos continued, the swarm screeching, biting at anything that moved, while the dark ants fought silently, mechanically, and without fear.
But Aka-32 knew: once the timer reached zero, they would turn to dust. And then it would be up to them to carry on.
[Poison Ant's Acid Gland] is used in alchemy for damage potions and in crafting weapons with armor-corroding effects.
[Winged Poison Ant's Chitinous Shell]
The thick chitin segments that cover the body of the Winged Poison Ant resemble a stone that has been charred in a hellish flame. Upon closer inspection, dark grooves and red veins can be seen on the surface, as if the shell contains frozen blood.
When properly processed, chitin retains its strength but becomes light enough to be used in armor and amulets. It is particularly valued by blacksmiths and alchemists due to its natural resistance to poisons and acids.
[Charred Wings of the Winged Poison Ant]
Material for creating lightweight magical armor that enhances maneuverability. Used in alchemy for speed potions.