Chapter 162: Weird rocks of the summon world

Words : 1188 Updated : Oct 8th, 2025

Chapter 162: Weird rocks of the summon world A few hours had finally passed, and the great darkness that had swallowed the entire desert landscape began to recede—abruptly, unnaturally. It was like watching an ocean tide retreat at impossible speed. The way it vanished didn’t feel right, and to Kairos, it felt even worse. His breath caught in his throat as his eyes followed the rolling wave of shadow fleeing into the vast, unforgiving expanse of the desert. The sun returned, fierce and merciless, bringing with it the blistering winds that screamed across the golden dunes like banshees mourning their prey. The air grew dense with heat again, and the sand beneath his feet shimmered like molten gold. The change had come so suddenly—so violently—that it chilled him to his core. Kairos remained silent, hunched beneath the shade of the cave that had been his sanctuary for the night. His muscles ached, his skin felt raw from grit and dry air, and exhaustion clung to him like a second skin. He hadn’t slept—not even for a second. Every time he shut his eyes, that same harrowing darkness from the night before crept back into his thoughts. The image of that massive creature being consumed—no, obliterated—still haunted him. The young summoner shivered, despite the heat. ’Lucky me... I survived a night.’ His legs gave in, and he dropped to his knees, coughing for breath. His body trembled, not just from fatigue, but from the echo of fear lodged in his chest. His lungs burned from the dry air, and every breath felt like inhaling fire. His eyes, dry and bloodshot, stared into the lightless space within the cave. But he knew—deep down—he wasn’t safe. Not even now. A beast could find its way into the cave and rip him apart. Or worse... that darkness could return, creeping across the land and finishing what it started. He couldn’t shake the feeling that it hadn’t truly left. That it was just hiding, waiting for the sun to fall again. He groaned softly, forcing his limbs to move as he pushed himself back onto his feet. His knees wobbled beneath him, his body protesting with every small motion. But he knew staying idle would get him killed. With grit in his teeth, he stumbled toward the cave’s entrance and leaned against one of the jagged rock pillars, its edges sharp and biting into his palm. Squinting into the light, he activated the eye of Clairvoyance. The world before him warped into a vision of transparency, extending his gaze far beyond the limits of human sight. Yet there was nothing—no creatures, no movement, not even a hint of life. Just rocks. As far as he could see. Endless. Hollow. Dead. Kairos narrowed his eyes, puzzled. ’Should I really go out? Climbing the cliffs can also mean sudden death.’ His thoughts spun in vicious circles. Climbing meant exposure. It meant putting himself in a position where a creature—or worse—could strike at him from above or below. There would be no hiding. No defending. Just his body, his bare strength, and the sheer force of his will against gravity and death. ’But if I stay here, I’m going to starve... or get killed eventually.’ It was a cruel gamble. One choice might kill him swiftly; the other, slowly. Both were painful ends. But at least one gave him a fighting chance. ’Better to take the risk and die... than to die without the risk.’ He exhaled sharply, dimming his eyes and stepping forward onto the desert sand once more. Immediately, he was met with the wrath of the heat, though it felt marginally more tolerable now. His new gear—tattered but protective—shielded parts of his body from the full burn of the sun and wind. It wasn’t perfect, but it was something. He wrapped the cloth tighter around his arms and pressed on, the desert stretching out in front of him like an arena daring him to continue. Activating Clairvoyance again, he scanned the nearby cliffs. His eyes caught a path—a torn ridge, not too steep and relatively within reach. If he moved fast, he could make it without drawing attention. If anything still lingered out there... He didn’t want to find out. He dashed forward, grit swirling around his boots as the wind howled louder, as if trying to chase him back. He reached the ridge and grabbed hold of the protruding rocks, lifting himself with the strength granted by his Integration. Sand slipped from his boots as he hauled himself up and over the ledge. The feeling of escaping the sand brought relief as profound as air to a drowning man. He could finally breathe again—though it was still with caution. He hated this desert. He hated the sand. And now... that hatred burned in his heart like a grudge etched in blood. Now higher, with an even wider view, Kairos activated Clairvoyance once more, scouting the surrounding area. Still nothing but stone. No caves. No shelter. No reprieve. Just a seemingly infinite climb upward, where jagged, spear-like spikes jutted from the mountainside like the bones of dead titans. The sky remained a pitiless blue. He had no idea how much longer until it darkened once again. He wasted no more time. The climb began. It was grueling, and his inexperience was obvious. His grip faltered more than once, fingers slipping off unstable handholds, boots skimming off slick rocks. Several times he nearly fell, his life hanging by nothing but the desperate strength in his arms and the luck of catching a ledge at the last possible second. He grunted, muscles burning, every part of his body threatening to give up. ’This is hell... worse than hell.’ It was slow progress, but eventually, after what felt like hours, he pulled himself onto a large stone platform. Panting heavily, he fell on his knees once more, letting the stone press into his skin. He wanted to scream—wanted to cry—but the dry air stole even that from him. Still gasping, he activated Clairvoyance again. This time... something changed. He blinked. Once. Twice. His heart skipped. There were more than just rocks here. Pillars—tall, human-sized structures—jutted up from the mountain like monuments to a forgotten civilization. Walls, partially crumbled, lined parts of the summit. Massive holes in the ground hinted at an ancient city, ruined long before his time. The eerie silence made it worse. The place didn’t just feel abandoned—it felt cursed. ’How is this possible?’ He stepped carefully, his eyes wide. "Human-sized pillars and walls in the Summon World? Long before built and crumbled—" A shiver ran down his spine. He wasn’t sure what this meant, but it didn’t feel right. And then... he noticed it. The world around him was dimming. The light was being devoured, not gradually—but like a curtain falling over the land. Even Clairvoyance could detect it—the edges of his extended vision turning gray, then black. Night was returning. Too soon. Too fast. Too wrong. Kairos clenched his fists. His heart thundered. ’No... not again...’ And above him, the sky bled into shadows.

Chapter 162: Weird rocks of the summon world

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