Chapter 139: Demonic summoner

Chapter 139: Demonic summoner [mass release 1/4] The battle between both sides was nothing short of intense—a savage and relentless clash of will and survival. Each of them managed to maintain a fighting edge against the monstrous beasts that surrounded them. There was no room for hesitation. The atmosphere pulsed with bloodlust and fear, the sky above dimmed by the shadows of conflict. Kaela was swift, her movements as fluid as smoke in the wind. With her darkness ability, she created barriers of pure shadow that blocked the advancing beasts just before they could reach her. She didn’t stop there—she countered with slicing tendrils of dark energy, inflicting damage with precision. Each attack was tactical, executed with a finesse that kept her safe and her enemies at bay. Rayla and Ashen took the fight differently. Having exited the rooftop, they now moved to the open streets, where they had more space to maneuver and avoid their opponents. It was a strategic decision—they prioritized defense, working in tandem to create distance between themselves and their attackers. The streets echoed with the clang of their weapons and the roars of beasts closing in. Surprisingly, Rivet was holding his own. He had changed—grown in strength and resilience. His overwhelming speed made him almost untouchable. He darted around the battlefield like a blur, his strikes landing hard and clean before the enemy could even anticipate the blow. Whatever doubts had once existed about him were quickly being erased with each calculated movement. Even Kairos, who had recently integrated with his new abilities, was pushing his limits to stand his ground against the monstrous worm that lunged and thrashed before him. He sidestepped a projectile it hurled—a vile orb of something corrosive and dense—missing him by just an inch. It grazed his coat, which shimmered faintly but held firm, reinforced by the strength of embedded beast cores. But something felt wrong. Though the projectile hadn’t touched his skin, he felt as though something had. A tingling burn crawled up his spine. And he was right. Ding! [Venom has entered your system. Effects will soon take place.] "Damn!" Kairos clenched his fists, his breath coming in ragged draws. His stamina was already draining. His hands felt like they were bound with lead, heavy and stiff. The exhaustion from earlier—when he had summoned both of his beasts—was catching up to him. It didn’t take long before the drowsiness began to seep in. His vision distorted, the world elongating and shaking like noodles tumbling from a height. His legs wobbled beneath him, muscles failing to obey. His head drooped slightly, and then— The massive, fanged worm lunged. Its segmented body coiled and angled, launching with deadly velocity, its gaping maw lined with grinding teeth aimed squarely at Kairos. And then— WHAM! Rivet came from the side like a comet, slamming into Kairos and knocking them both off their feet. The worm flew overhead, missing them by mere inches. Its enormous frame crashed into the side of a building with an earth-shattering impact, sending a massive chunk of the structure crumbling down as it fell in a heart-plunging descent to the ground below. Kairos winced but exhaled with a weak laugh. Rivet had saved him. But it wasn’t over. The mighty Torrent Bull charged. The beast thundered toward them, seeing its opportunity. The two boys were still down, vulnerable. Kairos tried to stand—tried to force his body to respond—but the venom-induced fatigue had his limbs bound like anchors. He couldn’t lift himself. Rivet wasn’t faring any better. The drowsiness clung to him as well, making his movements sluggish. Neither of them had known the beast’s ability could sedate like this. "Stand, come on! Straighten up, you!" Rivet growled through clenched teeth, slamming a fist into his own knee, trying to spark some clarity, some alertness. It didn’t work. "Aaahhh!" he yelled with raw determination as the bull closed in, hooves stomping hard enough to crack pavement. Time was running out. He had no choice. His mind raced toward one forbidden option. To call his summon. A heavy decision. Their factions—especially the Thorne family—prohibited such action. For them, using a summon without authorization was a punishable offense. But death... death was a far worse consequence. Rivet placed his trembling hands on the ground, focusing, forcing his mind into that sacred space of summoning. But he was too slow. SPLOOSH! The bull collided. A spray of blood burst into the air. Rivet’s body was flung backward, landing hard on the ground, hot blood painting his face. Pain seared across his chest, but it wasn’t from a fatal blow. "What...!" he muttered, his eyes narrowing. The bull’s head was missing. Its body stood for half a second, then collapsed on its side with a lifeless thud, blood spraying from the stump of its neck like a broken fountain. It had happened too fast. Neither Rivet nor Kairos had seen it. Their minds were fogged from the venom, their reactions too slow. But someone had moved—someone had intervened. A lone figure stood before them, the air around him humming with a familiar and dangerous energy. Carlos. "Are you alright, Kairos?" he asked, his voice still blank in tone, but this time, it carried a sharp edge of fury. Kairos nodded slowly, grimacing as he fought the venom’s grip. "The beasts can make you drowsy if you come in contact with them—" he stopped, eyes darting to Carlos. The realization hit him. "You... you touched one when you killed the bull." Carlos remained quiet. Kairos sighed. "Worry about the others. I’ll recover." Rivet, still lying beside him, clenched his jaw. His gaze burned toward Carlos. So this is the aura of the forbidden family... he thought, swallowing hard. A screech erupted. The next beast attacked—an octopus-like creature barreling forward, its grotesque tentacles flailing. It swung them in succession toward Carlos, but he moved with uncanny speed, evading every strike with flawless precision. He raised his hand and fired a beam of pure darkness. The beam struck several tentacles. At first, nothing happened. Then the infection began. A creeping blackness spread along the wounded areas like ink in water, rising quickly up the limbs, wrapping the creature in a suffocating web of corruption. The octopus screeched in agony, its body convulsing violently before it collapsed in a twitching, high-pitched death cry. Kairos watched, stunned. He never used this ability when we trained... or even during the expedition. Is this even his full power? His perception of Carlos shifted in that moment. Rivet, on the other hand, allowed a grin to tug at the corner of his lips. "Finally, you arrive. Just in time." Carlos’ eyes twitched, resentment flooding his usually calm expression. "I’ll fucking kill you!" he growled, his eyes locking onto the final enemy standing before them. Ravin. He stood with his usual unnerving smirk, licking his lips as if savoring the moment. He winked. "Let me explain a few things to you first..." Kairos and Rivet both rose slowly, readying themselves for another battle. Their bodies ached, but the fog of drowsiness was beginning to fade. They could finally fight again, and they wouldn’t take any chances this time. "In all this," Kairos asked coldly, "what’s your gain?" Ravin tilted his head, as if giving it a genuine moment of thought. Then he shrugged and responded simply, "Revolution. To this world." Carlos narrowed his eyes. "You call this revolution? Shut the fuck up, you insane freak! You tricked me... and I intend to repay you with my own hands." Ravin Elteth laughed—a sound so out of place, so sudden and disturbing, that it chilled them. It wasn’t the laugh of someone nervous or mocking. It was the laugh of someone who already knew how this would end. Then it happened. Kairos felt a sharp, searing pain pierce his chest. His breath caught. His heart skipped a beat. His body staggered back. He looked down. A sword’s glistening blade protruded from his stomach, gleaming with his blood. Time froze. He turned, slow and trembling, his eyes filled with confusion, betrayal, and disbelief. It was Mike. "Die, you demon!" Mike screamed, eyes wide with manic determination as he shoved the blade deeper. Kairos couldn’t move. He couldn’t even cry out. His mind was racing, his breath shallow. Across the field, Rivet and Carlos froze in complete horror. Kairos had been stabbed.