Chapter 59: Declaration of War From THE SUMMONERS

Chapter 59: Declaration of War From THE SUMMONERS The military base on Planet Pascoloid, the planet the academy cadets conducted their hunting tests, was in complete disarray, movements frantic as soldiers rushed from one corridor to another, clutching documents, processing emergency calls, and shouting orders across the command halls. Agent Tom gritted his teeth, fingers hammering away at his keyboard with desperate urgency. Sweat beaded down his temple, but he paid no attention. The message had come so suddenly, so violently, that it was impossible — unforgivable — to turn a blind eye. All of a sudden, their scouts had returned, wide-eyed and breathless, reporting an unimaginable terror: skeletal beasts roaming the forests, infecting any creature they touched within seconds. Minutes later, the military scout drones had confirmed their worst fears. High-resolution imagery displayed the horror unfolding outside — students, their students, being slaughtered at an alarming pace by these bone-wrought monstrosities. It wasn’t just an attack. It was a plague, spreading like wildfire, corrupting everything it touched. The realization hit the base like a hammer blow — the forest had become a deathtrap. A disease, a curse, had fallen over it, and there was no option left but evacuation. Yet even that would take precious time — time they didn’t have. The academy’s students were scattered throughout the forests on hunts, and nightfall was dangerously close — less than an hour away. When darkness fell, visibility would be lost, communications would falter, and the nightmare outside would only deepen. If they didn’t act swiftly, they could lose every single one of them. And that... that would be catastrophic. So the base, swallowing its pride, reached out for assistance — contacted Titanfang Academy for help. It was a gamble, a prayer that Titanfang’s elites could arrive before it was too late. Before the infection spread even further. Before a number of Abyssal-Ranked Beasts — creatures powerful enough to shatter armies — fell victim to the plague and transformed into something much, much worse. Tom clenched his fists tightly, his mind whirling. ’How could this happen? This forest was safe. We surveyed it for months...’ There was only one explanation forming, dark and heavy in his thoughts: ’The aliens are attacking us... secretly. They’re trying to wipe out the next generation before they even grow strong enough to defend Earth.’ It was a thought that settled like lead in his stomach. And he knew — he wasn’t the only one thinking it. ’Maybe... just maybe... the next war is coming sooner than we expected.’ --- Meanwhile, deep inside the winding caves beneath the forest, Professor Ravin Elteth sat comfortably on a metal chair, legs crossed, his eyes glued to an array of computer monitors. The screens displayed the secret tunnels and experimental sites he had crafted, hidden away from the world above. Cameras captured everything — even the faint tremors from the chaos erupting outside the caves. Ravin’s expression remained indifferent at first, even as the sight of skeletal beasts storming the forests flashed across his monitors. He calmly packed up his experiments, transferring delicate vials and biological samples into his high-grade storage ring with surgical precision. "This place is no longer safe," he muttered under his breath, voice cold. But just as he rose to leave, something unusual caught his eye on one of the side monitors. He paused. There, displayed clearly, was Lina’s team — a group of students — engaged in battle against his prized creation: Ny’kara, the Abyssal-ranked beast he himself had engineered through years of grotesque experiments. What he saw... made him sit back down, utterly captivated. The students fought valiantly — impressively, even — pushing their limits beyond what he had ever anticipated. The speed, the strength, the cooperation... It was enough to make even Ravin, who had seen horrors beyond imagination, raise an eyebrow in surprise. And then it happened. He watched, utterly stunned, as Kairos — the boy with dark hair — unleashed a summon, a black, writhing shadow that consumed Ny’kara’s corpse in a matter of seconds. ’Impossible...’ The shadow devoured the flesh, leaving only the bones behind, like a predator that had no use for anything but the essence of its prey. Ravin leaned forward, his breath hitching in excitement. His heart thudded against his ribs as questions flooded his mind. ’Is that even possible? A Summon ability... dissolving a beast like that? It consumed only the flesh, left the bones intact... Does it grow stronger by absorbing others?’ The implications were staggering. Kairos wasn’t just a student. He was something... more. A grin spread slowly across Ravin’s face, his tongue sliding across his lips in predatory hunger. The thought formed like a whisper in his brain: ’This boy will make an exquisite test subject.’ He quickly shook himself from his daze, reminding himself of more pressing matters. He still had to save his other experiments stationed deeper within the caves. The boy — Kairos — could wait. Besides, Kairos was a student of Titanfang Academy. Ravin had ways, contacts, and influence. Finding him later would be child’s play. ’Till next we meet... boy with the dark hair,’ he mused darkly, pocketing the last of his experiments. He would not forget that face. That shadow. No, he would hunt it down. Soon. --- Back at the military base, preparations moved fast. Two figures, clad in gleaming armor, walked with purpose towards the portal chamber. Lloyd and Fex — Titanfang Academy’s best — had been chosen for the rescue mission. No one else stood a better chance of success. Lloyd was a battle-hardened warrior, known for his unmatched skill with a blade and unshakable resolve. His chest piece, gauntlets, and core boots radiated quiet strength. His weapon of choice — his sword — hung at his side, pulsing with hidden power. Fex, by contrast, was fully encased in core armor from head to toe, moving with a quiet, lethal grace. A massive halberd rested sheathed across his back, its sharp edges promising death to anything foolish enough to get too close. Together, they approached the green-lit portal where a grim-faced military official awaited them. He delivered a swift, concise briefing. "This is a simple rescue mission," the officer said grimly. "Save as many students as you can before nightfall. Prioritize survival. If the infected beasts catch you off guard... retreat." Lloyd and Fex exchanged a silent nod, fully understanding the stakes. No mistakes. No hesitation. Lives depended on them. Fex stepped through the portal first, unflinching. Lloyd lingered a second longer, his thoughts clouded with worry. His mind wasn’t here — it was with the students scattered in the forest. His students. He clenched his fists, feeling the metal of his gauntlets tighten around his knuckles as anger simmered in his chest. ’How could this have happened?’ he growled inwardly. ’They said the area was safe... they said the scouts cleared it.’ But deep down, he already knew the truth. ’It’s the aliens... it has to be... damn those bastards.’ Their plan was obvious now — cripple their next generation. Turn their dreams of warriors into a graveyard of bones. His expression darkened, his body tensing with fury. ’I hope you’re all still alive...’ he thought bitterly, stepping forward into the portal. ’Because I’m coming. I’m coming, and if this is the start of another war...’ He gritted his teeth, his heart thundering. ’Then so be it.’