Chapter 35: Summoners Core weapon

Chapter 35: Summoners Core weapon Kairos and Lina hurried out of the first-year building, following the directions etched onto the map enclosed within the mysterious letter. Neither spoke a word as they sprinted through the academy grounds, their eyes glued to the path ahead. The night air was silent, almost unnaturally so, and it made their rushed steps feel heavier, more urgent. Eventually, they arrived before a massive structure situated directly between the first-year and second-year buildings. They halted simultaneously, both of them staring up at the looming facility in silence. "What is this building?" Kairos asked in a low tone, his voice barely above a whisper. Lina remained quiet, her brows furrowing as her gaze scanned the unfamiliar place. Her silence told Kairos all he needed to know—she had no idea either. This time, they moved slower, more cautious. Kairos led the way, his hand gripping the cold handle of the door before gently pushing it open. Inside was a surprisingly well-maintained facility. The lighting was clean, sterile. Staff members moved about methodically, but the place wasn’t crowded. No one paid them any mind, as if their presence was entirely insignificant. It was eerie. The two continued deeper into the facility, silently following the map until they found themselves standing before a large, polished door. The hallway they were in was utterly deserted, making the tension between them more pronounced. Kairos stepped forward, placing his hand on the golden, ornately designed knob. He twisted and pushed, expecting something—or someone—on the other side. With instinct alone, he charged in, prepared for battle. But he stopped dead in his tracks. All around him were piles of unused materials, broken tables, rusted pipes, and scattered debris. Everything in the room looked as though it had been discarded—an oversized, forgotten storage closet. "This is just a storage room..." he muttered in disbelief. "Stop wasting time," Lina said firmly, stepping past him. Her tone carried more certainty than before. "The map clearly states there’s a secret hatch. No one’s here—I can sense it." She moved through the space with deliberate focus, her eyes scanning the room as she cross-referenced with the map. Without hesitation, she knelt near a cluster of crates. Her fingers brushed against the ground until they found a hidden latch. She pulled it open to reveal a narrow staircase descending into darkness. "It’s down there," she said, standing aside as Kairos stepped closer. His eyes narrowed at the black void below. "From here on out, we need to be extra careful. Begin your Integration—but don’t release it unless necessary. This could be a trap." Kairos nodded silently, his expression sharpening. Lina took the lead, descending slowly, and he followed, his steps light and silent. The stairwell was steep and cloaked in darkness. Even Lina found it difficult to navigate. She stumbled slightly but pressed on, her breathing steady. Kairos, however, relied on more than sight. He concentrated on his sharpened earring. Gradually, the ambient silence peeled away, replaced by something grotesque. He could hear it—deep, echoing breaths. Yells. Laughter. Whimpers. The sounds of suffering. It was hard to make out specifics, but one thing was certain: whatever was down there wasn’t normal. It was twisted. Deranged. "What do you think is down there?" Lina asked, her voice soft but wary. Kairos didn’t answer immediately. He paused, processing the flood of sensory information before replying. "I don’t know," he said at last, "but there are a lot of people." Lina nodded, her instincts echoing his words. She could feel it too—the numerous Summon auras that oozed from below. They were unmistakable. When they reached the final step, Lina moved confidently, her hand finding the door at the base of the stairwell. She turned the knob quietly and pushed it open. They stepped out onto a vast, dimly lit ring—an underground arena, aged and haunting. Kairos’s eyes widened as he took in the sight. The old stadium looked like it had seen centuries of battle. Dozens of students were gathered inside, some wearing alternate uniforms, others the same first-year attire as him. Then, his gaze locked onto one figure. Darnell. Beaten, restrained to a pillar like some animal. His body was battered, but he was alive. "What the hell...!" Kairos growled, his chest tightening with rage. His feet moved forward instinctively, his heart pounding. Gasps and murmurs erupted from the crowd the moment he stepped into the ring. Then, a bell rang—loud, metallic. "Well, well! Look at who we have here! The main character of tonight’s event!" a mocking voice boomed. Kairos turned, eyes flaring as he looked toward the elevated platform. Ashen. He stood with a smug grin, waving like a host at a twisted circus. "You did this?" Kairos asked, voice trembling with hatred. Ashen’s grin widened, a predator enjoying the scent of blood. "Of course I did. But it’s not entirely my fault, you know. Your friend—he gave up everything. Sacrificed himself so I wouldn’t even touch you. So in a way, it’s your fault, isn’t it?" He broke into maniacal laughter, holding his sides as though it was the funniest thing in the world. Kairos froze, the weight of Ashen’s words crashing into him. His mind flashed back to every moment Darnell had returned late, bruised, silent. It all made sense now. ’Damn it... he did it all for me.’ "You big idiot!" Kairos yelled, eyes on Darnell. "Did I ever say I couldn’t handle myself?! Why would you throw your life away like that?! You should have told me—or Carlos! We would’ve helped! You’re strong, but not that strong..." He halted, his vision catching something no one else could see—a faint smile forming on Darnell’s bruised lips. Typical Darnell. "Ohhh, are you gonna cry for him now? Hahahaha! This is why I don’t have friends!" Ashen taunted, laughing again. "You!" Kairos pointed at him, his voice thunderous. "Don’t think you’ll get away with hurting my idiot! Stop yelling like a frog and let’s fight this out!" Ashen’s expression darkened instantly. The insult sliced deeper than expected. He removed the ornate crown from his head, exhaling slowly before leaping down from the high platform. He landed with a thunderous thud, smoke billowing around his feet. He was unscathed. "I was going to pit you against another Legendary Summoner," Ashen said, assuming a bizarre stance—legs spread wide, hands placed behind him like a beast ready to charge. "But now? You’ve insulted me. I accept your challenge." Lina, watching from the side, stepped forward. "Kairos isn’t alone," she said calmly. "It wouldn’t be a fair fight if I didn’t join." Ashen didn’t care. She could be the daughter of a powerful faction for all he knew—or cared. He was confident, arrogant. His plan was simple: beat them both and lie his way out if necessary. "No matter," he replied. From his pocket, he pulled out a small dagger. He concentrated, and dark energy enveloped it. The blade expanded into a full-length longsword, radiating a strange purple aura. "I shall educate you both." He raised the weapon high and swung down with full force. A beam of purple energy tore from the blade, barreling toward them like a cannon of destruction. Kairos and Lina leapt aside just in time. The ground where they’d stood exploded, leaving a deep gouge in the ring. "What the hell is that weapon?!" Kairos yelled, eyes wide at the destruction. "It’s a Core Weapon!" Lina shouted from across the arena, tension evident on her face. This was no longer a fair fight. They were up against one of the top ten Summoners of the second year... and he had a weapon that could tear the earth apart... This was truly troublesome.