Chapter 155: Summoner Exam

Words : 1079 Updated : Oct 8th, 2025

Chapter 155: Summoner Exam The first class of the day was the Summoners Battle Class, and like clockwork, all students had returned to the routine of waking up early and preparing for their respective schedules. The air was heavy with that usual academic morning haze—silent yawns, half-hearted steps, and minds slowly adjusting to a rhythm they never truly mastered. Kairos, Carlos, and Darnell stirred from their rooms, each moving through their personal routines. Clothes straightened. Weapons checked. Faces washed. Yet, something felt slightly off. Kairos noticed it first. Carlos, despite finishing his morning preparations quicker than anyone else as usual, didn’t immediately leave. He lingered in the hallway, calmly leaning on the doorframe as if waiting for them—something he hadn’t done in weeks. It was unusual. Too unusual. Carlos was acting the exact same way he had when the academy term began. Friendly. Cool. Charismatic. Almost... not suspicious. And that was what made him even more suspicious. Kairos narrowed his eyes, thoughts swirling dark and sharp like a blade honed by paranoia. ’This bastard plays his role too perfectly, hiding his identity and true motives behind a mask of charm and normalcy... But I’ve seen far better acting back in the slums I grew up in, and even that never fooled me.’ With that, Kairos silently decided to keep his guard higher around Carlos. No sudden moves. No blind trust. Only caution. After a quick breakfast at the cafeteria—just stale eggs, overcooked sausages, and weak tea—the trio headed straight for the Summoners Battle Class. But when they arrived... Something was wrong. The atmosphere felt heavy, like stagnant air before a thunderstorm. Students stood idly in groups, whispering amongst themselves. Others leaned against the walls, waiting, confused. There was no direction. No drills. No order. And more notably... No Sergeant Lloyd. He was gone. The one man whose presence was like iron—firm, unshakable, and ever-commanding—was absent. In his place stood a soldier no one recognized. Young, broad-shouldered, but lacking the hard, aged look of experience. Kairos stared. "Could it be... Sergeant Lloyd didn’t survive the attack from a month ago?" It was the first thought that entered his mind. And likely the first that entered every other student’s. But the idea gnawed at him. No—refused to settle. After all, Lloyd had shown tremendous skill, an indomitable will that refused to falter. The man had given him secret Feral Art techniques—books written in ancient print, rich with a strength that couldn’t be faked. A man like that dying... so easily? Impossible. The unfamiliar soldier stepped forward, cleared his throat, and spoke loud enough to silence the room. "Practice on your own. Take textbooks from the library section. Spar with each other. In war, you cannot ask for others to hold your hand to learn a technique. One must be able to teach oneself." The logic was sound, but the mention of war twisted the air. Students stiffened, some exchanging nervous glances. The weight of that word did something more than frighten—it warned them. Something had changed at the academy. So, with little complaint, students began to split into groups, retrieve books, and practice at their own pace. As for Kairos, there wasn’t much new to learn. Most of the books available were ones Sergeant Lloyd had already simplified for him, techniques that had become second nature by now. So, he spent the rest of the class refining his basics—stances, summoning flow, core exercises—all in silence. Eventually, the class came to a quiet end, and students dispersed to their next schedule, hopeful that it would be different from the oddity that was the Summoners Battle Class. Kairos left Carlos and Juno behind and walked alone toward the Environment Survival Class. A strange weight settled on his chest, an anxiety that wasn’t entirely born from nerves, but something deeper—an unsettling instinct. Upon arriving at the classroom, his eyes scanned the area quickly. No instructor. No Sergeant Fex. No replacement. The benches were empty, the walls silent, and not even a training assistant loitered nearby. His heart gave a soft thud, and a subtle thread of worry took root. Moving toward his usual seat, a familiar voice and presence pulled his gaze away. He stopped in his tracks. Two girls. Kaela, her dark hair cascading over her face like a quiet storm. And Veyna, daughter of the Crimson Vanguard, her presence unmistakable even without her famous crimson-etched uniform. A brief wave of excitement surged through Kairos’ veins. He felt it—some strange thrill. But he quickly pushed it down. ’Don’t be a pervert, Kairos. Just go and say hi...’ He started walking, his feet light but his mind heavy. That’s when he realized something troubling— He had absolutely no idea how to talk to girls. Back in the middle of chaos, battles, or emergencies, his words just... flowed. But now? In calmness? In the silence of no threat? He was paralyzed. After a long mental battle, he finally reached them and blurted out the first thing that stumbled from his mouth: "You guys are alive and well." He immediately winced. That came out wrong. Terribly wrong. His tone made it sound like he expected them to be dead... or worse, wanted them dead. Veyna rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. Kairos couldn’t read Kaela’s expression, her face obscured by her hair, but he could feel the daggers in her stare. "Welcome back to the academy, shadow stain," Veyna said flatly. Kairos blinked. "Shadow stain?" he asked, furrowing his brows. She nodded with an amused look. "After your video of using the shadow went viral, that’s the name they gave you. Don’t you use your device?" Kairos crossed his arms and pouted slightly. "Not really. Shadow stain? That’s a really bad nickname." Veyna exhaled deeply, turning her gaze back to the book in her hands. "Just pick a book and read. This is the best class to spend the rest of your days in until the exam." There was something cold in her voice, something distant. And it wasn’t the same sarcasm she usually used. Kairos frowned. "And why is that?" he asked, a bit concerned now. Veyna turned her head slowly, her eyes meeting his. Her glare was icy. There was a flicker there—was it power? Pain? Strength? Maybe all three. "Because this exam is one that will test the mind and soul of your survival abilities," she said slowly. "And trust me, Kairos... you’ll need every bit of help you can get."

Chapter 155: Summoner Exam

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