Chapter 102: Summoner’s War 1 betrayal

Chapter 102: Summoner’s War 1 betrayal [2/5] The two boys, Carlos and Darnell, stepped out of the stadium and into the vast expanse of the academy grounds. A strange silence greeted them, far removed from the energy and noise they had left behind. The outside world now felt oddly hollow, as if the heartbeat of the academy pulsed solely within the contest hall. Probably because the contest had already begun, and most people were more invested in the excitement of the event than anything else. The two moved with purpose through the moonlit paths of the academy, their steps confident, as though they had walked these grounds countless times before. Carlos led the way, a calm focus etched on his face, while Darnell followed, his eyes darting left and right, absorbing every detail of their route. They eventually arrived at a stone fountain, its centerpiece a twisted statue of a man whose face had long eroded with time. Water streamed from his open mouth, spilling into the pool below with a soft, constant rhythm. The statue looked aged and cryptic, as if it had witnessed far more than it let on. Encircling the fountain was a short wall, only waist-high, carved with old runes and glowing faintly blue—perhaps from the reflection of the moon on the shimmering water, or perhaps from something more arcane. Perched on the stone wall were two figures. One was Lina, her presence as calm and assertive as ever. The other sat cloaked in black, the hood drawn deep to hide their face completely. Shadows clung tightly to this figure, and even the moonlight seemed to avoid its silhouette. Carlos and Darnell walked up quietly and sat beside Lina, choosing the side opposite the cloaked person. "Anything?" Carlos asked in a low, almost whispered tone. Lina shook her head silently, eyes fixed ahead. Then, unexpectedly, the cloaked figure spoke, its voice distorted—mechanical, altered by some kind of mask or device, stripping away any hint of gender or identity. "I have tracked down the location of the Target and mapped out his entire lab. The entry methods, weaknesses, guards, traps—everything you’ll need is in this envelope." From beneath the cloak, a gloved hand extended, holding out a plain, sealed envelope. The gesture was slow, deliberate. Darnell’s eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his expression. He had known that the factions had connections, but he hadn’t expected this level of infiltration. A spy inside the military base? And one working with Lina’s faction? It was difficult to digest. The group fell into a practiced rhythm, pretending to have a casual conversation. Smiles, quiet laughter, and idle words filled the space between them, a performance for any unseen eyes that might be watching. But beneath the act, tension simmered. The cloaked figure leaned forward slightly and continued, voice now sharper. "This mission holds the weight of everything we’ve built so far. Failure isn’t an option. Ravin Elteth may be elusive—may be a ghost—but this information is the closest anyone has gotten to finding him. Use it wisely." The mention of Ravin Elteth changed the mood entirely. Even the air around them felt heavier. He was a name cloaked in mystery, a man many believed to be more myth than reality. Always one step ahead, always out of reach. Lina exhaled softly and let out a slow, deliberate yawn. It was the signal. The cloaked figure stood, their motion fluid and silent. Without a word, they turned and melted into the night, disappearing as though they had never been there. Lina rose shortly after, walking over to a nearby bench where a small, unremarkable silver ring lay. She picked it up, turning it over in her hand. There was no visible compartment, yet she nodded knowingly—it was the storage medium. The envelope was inside. She turned back to the boys, her voice firm but calm. "We should be on our way quickly. And remember—we can’t fail this mission, no matter what." The two stood, and Carlos gave Darnell a confident pat on the back. "Let’s hurry to Ravin Elteth’s lab." --- Atop the massive structure, Titanfang, Professor Goldrics stood, his robes fluttering slightly in the night breeze. His eyes, stern and intense, were fixed on the horizon where the military base stood in solemn silence. There was something in his gaze—not just determination, but a weighty blend of sorrow and fear. If one looked closely, past the cold exterior, they might see a flicker of emotion glistening in his eyes. A glint of uncertainty. "So... it has finally come to this," he whispered. His voice barely rose above the soft howl of the wind, blending so seamlessly with it that one might think the night itself had spoken. Then, a subtle vibration buzzed in his coat pocket. He reached in slowly, pulling out a sleek black phone. A message blinked across the screen. ’It’s time.’ Goldrics exhaled. His face, once unreadable, now tightened with resolve. He dropped to one knee and slammed his palm onto the stone floor of the rooftop. The impact cracked the surface with a sudden boom, and from his palm, a strange white smoke began to spill out—first in wisps, then in surging waves, enveloping the entire rooftop in seconds. The smoke didn’t just hover. It twisted and pulsed, growing denser, shifting with life. From within the fog, forms began to rise—one after the other, hulking and monstrous. Not one. Not twelve. A hundred. These weren’t mere summons. They were Beasts. Real ones. Goldrics took a step back, visibly stunned by what he was seeing. He lifted his hand, now marked with a glowing sigil—the Forbidden Summoning Seal. A forgotten power, hidden even from the academy’s highest councils. "Dozens of Abyssal and Apex-ranked beasts," he murmured, eyes scanning the terrifying forms as they took shape. "And even... a few Monarch-ranked..." He ran his fingers slowly down his white goatee, awe flickering in his voice. "Ravin Elteth... you really outdid yourself." Then, he turned around to face the military base, his expression turning grim and resolute. "With this... we can destroy everything—the academy, the military stronghold, all of it." Goldrics raised his left hand, then snapped it forward with authority. "Destroy it all by all means necessary!" The beasts moved immediately. Those with wings took to the skies in great howls and screeches. Others dropped from the rooftop with earth-shaking thuds. Some began burrowing into the building beneath them, clawing through metal and stone alike. Each of them carried a single, shared instinct. Destroy. Kill. Annihilate.