Chapter 55: Don’t judge a book by its cover

​Chapter 55

​Knowing that Smith was about to initiate a summoning call, the Elders, along with Jacob,Velvet and Brenda, stepped back into a semi-circle on one side of the room. Smith remained in the center of the study. Looking toward the open space opposite him,so he initiated his first summon.

​Just like before, a portal began to materialize. However, this one possessed a rugged, bronze-like texture. As the portal fully stabilized, a sudden vibration rippled through the room. It felt as though a localized earthquake had struck, with the portal at its epicenter. Though it was merely an illusory pressure rather than actual seismic activity, the sensation was so intense that the room felt as if it were truly trembling from the shear presence of the portal.

​Then, a figure stepped through—surprising Smith completely. The first to answer the call was the giant humanoid beast.

​When her massive foot made contact with the floor, it sounded like a prehistoric titan stepping out of a cave. Every step carried an immense weight, as if a multi-ton creature walked the earth.

​She wore heavy, full-plate armor reminiscent of an ancient gladiator. The plates were so thick—more than double the thickness of Brenda’s armor—that visible gaps were left at the joints, exposing the heavy lining underneath. The armor itself was as much a weapon as it was protection, bristling with brutal spikes along the shoulders, knees, and ankles. Every inch of her body was lethal.

​Her head was enclosed in a cylindrical bucket helmet, styled like an ancient Crusader’s, featuring a narrow T-visor. Behind the slit glowed a pair of sharp, red eyes that exuded the aura of an apex predator hunting its prey.

​Laid casually across her shoulder was a colossal battleaxe nearly two meters long. Its double-sided blade was as wide as a door panel and looked heavy enough to split a car in half without resistance. Hanging from her waist was a massive double-headed meteor hammer attached to a thick iron chain nearly ten meters long, with each iron head weighing at least ten kilograms.

​Standing there in full gear, she radiated a suffocating, oppressive pressure.

​Smith had already seen her back in Scarlet’s corridor, but what amazed him now was her speed. She had been the fastest among the five girls to answer the summoning call. It seemed one couldn’t judge a book by its cover—despite her massive frame, her reaction time was extraordinary.

​Without dwelling on it further, Smith summoned his system interface to inspect her status panel:

​Name: Magenta

​Title: The Apex Gladiator (Legendary)

​Rank: Novice

​Battle Arts: Heavy Arts

​Having previously checked the status panels for Velvet and Brenda, Smith navigated directly to the Title details with practiced familiarity:

​Title: The Apex Gladiator

​Title Effect: Increases Attack and Defense by 200%.

​The dramatic stat boost didn’t surprise Smith. Judging by her equipment and fighting style, it was clear from the start that Magenta favored raw, overwhelming power.

​Next, he examined her Battle Arts skills:

​Skill 1: Heavy Stomp (Stage 1): Gathers immense force into a single footstep, striking the ground to generate a shockwave in a fan-shaped cone ahead. Creates a localized seismic effect.

​Skill 2: Heavy Strike: Inflicts secondary internal penetrative damage on the target upon impact, bypassing external defense.

​Smith nodded in appreciation. Both skills were exceptionally practical. Disrupting an enemy’s footing with a shockwave opened them up for a follow-up attack, while internal penetrative damage was downright terrifying. Even if an opponent managed to block a blow with a shield or heavy plate, the internal shockwave would still crush their organs beneath the armor.

​Smith glanced at the massive battleaxe—which was wider than his own torso—and realized that most opponents wouldn’t even survive the initial physical blow, let alone the secondary internal damage. Her skill set was built purely for brute force, fitting her perfectly.

​While Smith was reviewing her stats, Magenta scanned the room. Seeing Smith in his wheelchair at the center, flanked by Velvet and Brenda, and surrounded by unfamiliar people, she remained calm. Sensing no hostility or threat from the Elders, she unsummoned her heavy gear.

​The transformation left everyone in the room stunned.

​They had expected a battle-hardened brute beneath the steel, but what emerged was entirely different. Magenta stood remarkably tall with a towering build, but her figure possessed striking, exaggerated curves. She wore a simple brown tunic that did little to conceal her physique—her chest area alone was noticeably larger than an adult man’s head. Beneath her slim waist were wide, sweeping hips, contrasted by a cute face framed by short, fiery red hair.

​If not for her imposing height—which easily towered over a fully grown man—she would have looked like a conventional beauty. The contrast between her delicate face and massive frame was breathtaking.

​Magenta stepped forward toward Smith. Velvet and Brenda immediately stepped up to welcome her. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

​"Welcome, Magenta! Welcome to the family!"

​Magenta smiled warmly and pulled both girls into a tight hug. Because Smith was seated in his wheelchair, she couldn’t embrace him directly, but the hug looked like a mother holding two children. Velvet and Brenda barely reached her chest, their faces buried directly against her soft, massive bosom.

​Watching the scene, Smith mentally wished he could be the one caught in that hug to experience the softness himself. Realizing his thoughts were veering into dangerous territory, he shook his head vigorously, blaming his inner demons for corrupting his mind.

​After the brief reunion, the Elders standing off to the side shifted anxiously. Judging by her presence when she stepped through the portal, they knew she was a high-tier Titled Queen—at least Golden-ranked. However, they lacked her system interface and needed confirmation. They waited patiently while the three Queens caught up, already aware that Smith’s Queens shared a deep bond with one another.

​Once the girls finished embracing, Magenta looked down at Smith.

​Smith waved his hand gently. "We’ll catch up properly in a moment. The others are still waiting anxiously on the other side, so we shouldn’t keep them waiting."

​Magenta nodded understandingly and stepped to the side.

​Just as Smith was about to initiate the next summon, he realized he hadn’t informed the Elders about Magenta’s title. Mentally scolding himself for letting his mind get distracted earlier, he turned his wheelchair toward the Elders.

​"As you can see, this is the first Queen I have summoned," Smith announced calmly. "And just as you hoped... she possesses a Legendary Title."

​Although the Elders had braced themselves for good news, hearing the word Legendary confirmed out loud sent a wave of electric excitement through the room. They had been prepared to be content even if the remaining Queens were only Golden-ranked, but having another Legendary Titled Queen as an ally was an unprecedented boon.

​Like children who had just tasted their first piece of candy, the Elders stared eagerly at the open space beside Smith, their eyes gleaming with anticipation for the next summon.

​Seeing their exaggerated expressions, Smith chuckled, shook his head, and initiated the second summoning call.