Chapter 51: Summoner meets abnormal Beast

Chapter 51: Summoner meets abnormal Beast Just like on the first day, the gates of the Military Base flung open wildly as the students poured out in waves, each group setting off for their assigned hunts. While some teams had already decided their destinations and marked them confidently on the map, others stood hesitantly at the front of the base, still deciding where to go. Kairos and his team were among the latter. They stood still for a moment, exchanging glances as they debated silently on what path to follow. While Lina eagerly scanned the digital map for a suitable location, Kairos had already made his decision. His voice broke the tension. "Why don’t we just head to the caves?" The question was blunt, direct, and hit the group like a shockwave. Everyone paused. Carlos frowned immediately, concern in his voice. "That’s the most dangerous place on the map. The rank of beasts there... it’s marked as uncertain. That’s not something you overlook, Kairos." But Kairos remained silent, his eyes steady, letting them come to their own conclusion. He wasn’t trying to scare them—he wanted them to understand the kind of challenge they were signing up for. Darnell didn’t seem fazed. They were all tired of fighting low-grade beasts anyway. Lina finally nodded, the corner of her lips lifting in a smirk. "Then let’s not waste time. Our goal is at least one hundred beast cores. That’ll maintain our current rank... and maybe even push us to first place." With a determined pace, the group set off toward the caves. The trek was longer than their journey to the forest. To avoid the path most groups were likely to take, they chose a roundabout detour leading to the back entrance of the cave system. The added effort cost them a few more minutes, but it was worth it. They wanted the beasts. Not the crowd. Eventually, they found themselves within a strange, gloomy terrain—a dark forest that surrounded the rear cave entrance. The air was damp, cold, and unnervingly silent. Unlike the bright and open terrain at the cave’s front, here, the trees loomed tall and clustered close, their branches curling like claws overhead. "Be careful, everyone," Carlos said in a low voice, his hand drifting instinctively to the hilt of his dagger. He wasn’t alone in feeling uneasy. Kairos and Lina were already on alert, weapons at the ready. Even though Kaela and Darnell looked calm, their stances betrayed their awareness. They were ready for anything. Ding! The sudden chime broke the silence. Kairos quickly reached for his phone, his eyes scanning the glowing screen. "A beast is nearby—and it’s not a basic one!" His voice was sharp with excitement and tension. He tightened the straps on his gauntlets, every muscle in his body coiled in anticipation. And then... the disturbance revealed itself. From the shadowed trees, it emerged. The beast didn’t sneak or hide like the others they had faced before. No, this one stepped out with deliberate pride, as if announcing its presence. It was massive—humanoid, muscular, towering over them with a grotesque cow-like head and a massive battle axe gripped tightly in its hand. Ding! Name: Minotaur. Class: Apex Ranked Beast. Weakness: Kill by fatal injuries. Kairos quickly read the notification aloud before pocketing the phone. This wasn’t just another beast. This was an Apex. And it was intelligent. Before anyone could act, Darnell stepped forward, already activating his integration as a glowing aura wrapped around him. "Let me handle this one. You guys just sit back and—" It happened in a flash. Without warning, an invisible force exploded before them, hurling Darnell, Kairos, Kaela, and Carlos violently into the air. It was like a bomb had gone off beneath their feet, scattering them into different parts of the forest. Kairos felt his body fling through the air, but with quick thinking, he summoned his Shadow Wolf mid-air. The loyal creature leapt upward, catching him. Kairos landed hard on the wolf’s back but stayed balanced. What the hell just hit me? Kairos’s thoughts raced. I heard it... something with more than one leg. But I can’t see it anymore. In front of him now stood not just one—but two enemies. Another Minotaur, this one holding a spear, glared at him with the same unsettling confidence. These beasts... they’re separating us deliberately. Their tactics... their intelligence... it’s higher than we expected. Suddenly, the Shadow Wolf tensed—and launched itself to the side. Kairos nearly lost his balance but managed to stay upright. An instant later, the very ground where they’d stood exploded in a violent blast, sending debris flying. "What?! It’s the beasts again!" Kairos gritted his teeth. Two Apex-ranked beasts? No—one of them feels... stronger. [Invisible Spider: Apex Ranked Beast, nearing Abyssal rank.] [Please approach with extreme caution.] Kairos’s heart pounded. Two Apex beasts... one near Abyssal rank... [If you can defeat both, your summon will evolve. So will you.] A wild grin spread across Kairos’s face. "Finally. This is the kind of fight I’ve been craving!" The Minotaur roared and charged, hurling its massive spear with a deafening roar. Kairos leapt, moving with impossible speed. He twisted mid-air and grabbed the shaft of the spear, using his momentum to hurl it away, letting it crash into the earth with a thunderous boom. I’ll have to use sound to track the other one. His eyes narrowed. His ears twitched to every rustle, every whisper. Then—there. A faint but rhythmic sound cutting through the silence. His Shadow Wolf heard it too. It pounced upward, swiping its paws through the empty air. It seemed like a meaningless swipe—until a sickening crack echoed, and a large body came crashing into the ground with a screech. "Nice work!" Kairos called, only to turn back and see the Minotaur’s leg rising fast—a kick aimed straight for him. Kairos ducked under it and slid away, his movements sharp and calculated. He wasn’t just dodging; he was analyzing. Measuring my strength against an Apex... When the Minotaur lunged again, Kairos didn’t retreat. Instead, he yelled, "Shadow Swap!" In an instant, he vanished into shadow—and reappeared beside his wolf. A brutal crack split the air. The Minotaur’s attack had struck something... else. Another shriek followed. It worked. Kairos grinned. I swapped places with the Invisible Spider. Thanks to the shadow wolf already knowing where it was... The Minotaur’s fist was coated in green blood. And part of the Spider’s figure—previously invisible—was now faintly visible. Their outsides might be hidden... but their insides aren’t. The Minotaur stepped back quickly, its eyes now on Kairos. "You see how dumb you are to be tricked? Now I can see you both without stress." Kairos turned to his Shadow Wolf. "Stay close." The two of them focused. Though the blood trails weren’t heavy, they were enough for their enhanced vision to follow. "I see... You are not like the other humans..." Kairos’s eyes widened. The voice was low, gurgling—unnatural. It came from the Invisible Spider. It was... speaking. Beasts didn’t talk. They couldn’t. So why was this one speaking now? And what the hell were they really facing?