Chapter 133: Evolving but not a summon

Words : 1237 Updated : Oct 6th, 2025

Chapter 133: Evolving but not a summon Lloyd’s breathing was heavy—his chest rising and falling in sharp, rhythmic bursts, a clear sign of the exhaustion plaguing his body. His stamina was returning, but at a painfully slow rate. Worse still, the integration he had just undergone felt as though it was peeling the very fabric of his soul from his control—bit by bit, like a thread unraveling from a worn cloak. If things continued at this rate, he was certain of his fate: he would either die from the overwhelming strain or become easy prey for any creature lurking in the shadows, waiting for a weakened target to devour. Luckily, Silver had rushed to his side. Already reverted back to her human form, she knelt beside him and placed both hands on his back, her palms emitting a soft glow as she initiated the healing process. Warmth surged through Lloyd’s body. It wasn’t just the physical pain that began to ebb away, but the internal struggle of integration that also felt momentarily subdued. The healing was swift—remarkably so. Within minutes, the unbearable ache in his muscles faded, replaced by a dull throb. His bones no longer screamed with agony, and though he wasn’t at full strength, he had recovered just enough to stand—just enough to survive another day. Lloyd dismissed the integration aura that had been clinging to him like a second skin. He turned to Silver, a weary but genuine smile etched across his face. "Thank you." Silver gritted her teeth, letting out a short hiss before replying. "No need for that... after all, we’re friends." Lloyd chuckled lightly. For a moment, he’d thought he would never see her again—never get the chance to tease her or hear her sarcastic remarks. That fleeting fear had struck a deeper chord within him than he’d expected. But now, she was here, alive. And somehow, that made everything feel just a little more bearable. "Fuck, that bolt hurt like hell!" Fex’s voice rang out from nearby, followed by a pained laugh. He clutched his gut and bent forward, his face twisted with discomfort. Despite Silver’s healing, the damage he had taken still lingered in the form of a deep, internal sting—like shards of glass stabbing from the inside. He had taken the worst of the blow, and it showed. The other two chuckled in unison, and for a fleeting second, laughter replaced the despair. But the silence that followed was deafening. Each of them drifted into their own thoughts, their gazes cast outward, though it was clear they were all focused on the same thing. They had survived—but only barely. They hadn’t eliminated the enemy. The mission, as far as objectives were concerned, had failed. And that reality settled over them like a thick fog—uncomfortable, suffocating, and inescapable. After a few moments of stillness, Lloyd finally rose to his feet, his legs slightly shaky. He walked over to where his sword had been embedded in the dirt. Gripping the hilt firmly, he pulled it free and slid it back into his scabbard. "Our job here isn’t done yet," he said, his voice carrying a righteous tone that caused the expressions of both Silver and Fex to sour. They had barely survived, and now he was ready for round two? Silver’s arms suddenly felt like dead weight, her exhaustion returning tenfold at the mere thought of more fighting. Fex grumbled, clearly just as displeased. "Man, I need another bottle of whisky—" But his words were cut off. A bright light suddenly illuminated the sky, blinding for a moment. Then, from that celestial glow, a massive object descended, crashing into the earth with a thunderous impact that sent a wave of tremors through the ground. The air itself seemed to pulse with the aftershock. All three of them froze. Whatever it was... it wasn’t an object. It was a being. "You’re all still alive?" The man stepped forward with a twisted, senile smile across his face. His tongue ran over his lips slowly, hungrily. "Good." --- Meanwhile— The beast moved on all fours, its massive frame covered in a thick, dark shell that resembled the carapace of a monstrous crab. Alongside its grotesque head were two huge pincers—razor-edged and made for one purpose: cracking open anything in its path. It rushed forward with terrifying speed, bearing down on Shia Vantress—the head general of the military—who was still struggling to regain control of her movements. Her limbs felt sluggish, weighed down by the aftereffects of a previous attack. The beast closed the distance rapidly, its shadow enveloping her. But just before it could strike, a flash of violet energy streaked through the air and slammed into the creature’s skull. There was no visible wound. No gore. No scream. Yet the massive beast collapsed instantly, its momentum halting as it crashed lifelessly into the dirt. Zhendeya stood nearby, her arm still extended from the attack. She was Shia’s closest friend, and one of the most gifted summoners alive. Though the Abyssal-ranked beasts presented no real challenge to her, the Monarch-ranked ones forced her to exert effort—a challenge she met without hesitation. Suddenly, a hulking figure burst from beneath the rubble—a humanoid beast standing on two legs, its eyes bloodshot and wild with rage. It let out a guttural roar that split the air and charged straight at her. Zhendeya remained still, calm, her eyes locked on the charging beast. As it closed in, she lifted her hand and launched a blast of energy. The creature dodged with surprising agility, leaping to the side and then lunging again, jaws wide open—aimed straight for her head. Her expression didn’t waver. With precision, she thrust her left hand forward, her palm colliding directly with the beast’s skull. The force wasn’t immense, but the effect was devastating. A brilliant white beam shot from her palm and pierced through the creature’s cranium. There was a sickening pop as brain matter sprayed into the air, the intense heat of the energy leaving scorched trails in the air. The monster’s body collapsed instantly. Despite being Abyssal-ranked, it had fallen in one blow. From a distance, Shia watched, awe painting her expression. "That’s insane, Zhen! You killed them all." Zhendeya narrowed her eyes, scanning the battlefield. She muttered in a low tone, almost to herself. "All of them..." Bodies littered the area—both Abyssal and Monarch-class beasts. And yet, despite it all, she didn’t feel drained. If anything... she felt sharper. "At this rate, you might even be able to beat me," Shia teased, grinning. But Zhendeya didn’t laugh. She knew better. Compared to Shia Vantress, she was still limited. Even with her extensive control over various energy forms, her powers had boundaries. Shia tested her limbs again. Her arms, her legs—they no longer felt as heavy. She could move. She walked up to Zhendeya and followed her gaze to the far side of the battlefield. There it stood. The Nyxaris leader. A monstrous hybrid beast cloaked in swirling black energy, its aura rippling like smoke curling up from a burning pyre. There was something deeply unnatural about it... something wrong. And yet, it was familiar. Both women recognized it instantly. "So all this while... this bastard’s been gathering energy for a first evolution?" Shia’s voice was laced with fury as her fists clenched. Zhendeya reached for her blade, her eyes darkening. "A Nyxaris evolution... not in a place like this."

Chapter 133: Evolving but not a summon

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