Chapter 69: When the Military Summoners come

Chapter 69: When the Military Summoners come [Mass release 3/6] First batch of mass release done. Kairos didn’t wait for confirmation. The moment Mirel’s words reached his ears, he stormed out of the cafeteria with inhuman speed, his footsteps echoing like thunder in the hallway as he raced toward the infirmary. Carlos’s eyes widened at the sudden exit. He immediately rose to his feet, his instincts tingling, and Darnell followed right behind him. The two rushed after their friend, unsure of what had just triggered such a reaction. ’Damn, what the hell is Kairos planning to do?’ Carlos questioned himself, his mind racing just as fast as his feet. It was unlike Kairos to act so impulsively. Normally, he was the calm, calculated one—the thinker in every scenario. This kind of hot-headed charge was more in line with Darnell’s temperament, not Kairos’s. But as they ran, something from their past came crashing into Carlos’s thoughts—Kaela’s warning back in the caves. Her voice echoed in his head, "His second summon is different... it doesn’t obey logic like the shadow wolf. It thrives on emotion. It controls him through it." ’Could it be... is the power of his second summon influencing him?’ Carlos wondered, his concern growing heavier with each step. ’Unlike the shadow wolf, this one... it’s ruled by rage, and it acts without pause.’ He only hoped they’d get to him before Kairos did something he would regret. Meanwhile, Kairos had already reached the infirmary. He flung open the double doors with force, the sound startling some of the recovering students inside. The sharp scent of antiseptics hit him instantly, mingled with the low hum of machines monitoring patients. Several students lay on sickbeds—some hooked to strange, glowing contraptions, others resting quietly with eyes half-lidded in fatigue. Kairos’s eyes darted across the room, scanning every face with unnatural sharpness. Rivet wasn’t here. He clenched his fists, feeling something tug at the edges of his mind—something primal. He moved deeper into the infirmary, pushing past medical personnel and unconscious groans until he came upon a separate corridor. A sign above it read: Private Healing Centers – Reserved for High-Risk and Elite Students Kairos didn’t hesitate. He walked to the first door and opened it, peeking in. A girl lay asleep inside. It was Rayla. He closed the door silently and moved to the next. Most rooms were either empty or held one patient each. A few contained heavy healing equipment humming with energy, others dimly lit like hospital vaults. Then, at the sixth door, he found him. Rivet. Kairos stepped inside. The room was spacious, sterile, with various monitors showing health stats on floating holographic screens. Rivet lay on the bed, clearly awake, his gaze lost in thought. The door’s abrupt opening snapped Rivet out of his trance. He turned sharply, ready to curse whoever had interrupted him—but the words died in his throat. Kairos. Rivet’s eyes narrowed, an uneasy mixture of bitterness and dread filling his chest. He had anticipated this encounter, but even he wasn’t prepared to face it head-on. Seeing Kairos again... it brought back too many memories. And the dull ache from his missing hand made everything worse. "You bastard," Kairos snarled, stepping forward. His voice trembled—not with fear, but with a rage that felt unnatural. "After everything... you still exposed the video?!" In one fluid motion, he grabbed Rivet by the collar and lifted him with surprising force. The pressure on Rivet’s neck made it hard to breathe. "It wasn’t my fault!" Rivet choked out. "Come on—how the hell am I supposed to upload a damn video with one hand? And write a whole description? You think I’ve got time to waste like you?" Rivet tried to shove him off, but his remaining arm wasn’t enough. The pain from his stump flared, reminding him of everything he’d lost. "I knew I shouldn’t have let you live!" Kairos shouted, eyes burning with hatred. For a brief moment, Rivet froze—not out of fear, but confusion. This wasn’t like Kairos. Something was off. But then, the realization hit him, and a dark smirk crept onto his face. "I see what’s happening here," he said slowly. "Your sanity... it’s slipping, isn’t it? Unlike that shadow freak that merges with your logic, the dragon—it’s got you. That thing inside you... it’s not just power. It’s hunger. Rage. Greed. Revenge. Lust. All it knows is emotion. And dragons? Dragons don’t like being controlled. They’re monsters. And now... you’re being played like a puppet." Kairos’s hands trembled. Then, suddenly, he let go. His fingers uncurled as if they’d been burned, and he stared at his hands. A system notification appeared in his vision. —[Risk averted: You have regained your sanity]— His eyes widened. ’What the hell...? What did I just do? What does "risk" mean?’ Then another message followed: —[There are certain defects and skills you’ve gained thanks to your reawakening.]— —[One of these risks is your inability to control your sanity and logic when exposed to emotional triggers. The Shadow Dragon responds to emotion, not reason.]— Kairos swallowed hard. A risk? He had never once considered that his greatest weapon—his mind—could be compromised. But now, it was clear. The more power he gained, the greater the cost. "I wasn’t the one who uploaded the video," Rivet said at last, his tone steadier. "But I take full responsibility. If you want a fight, then fine... we’ll duel. When I’m out of this damn bed." Kairos didn’t answer. His rage had burned out. His sense returned like a cold slap. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him with a resounding bang. Outside, Carlos and Darnell stood waiting. They hadn’t interrupted, trusting him enough to make the right decision—even if they didn’t know what it would be. "It might be better if we just head back to the room," Carlos suggested quietly, unsure if Kairos was even in a state to listen. Darnell nodded. "But the video didn’t reveal the real secret of your power. So... maybe it won’t be a big deal." Carlos wasn’t so sure. He shook his head as they started walking down the passageway. "Even so... the fact that his summon grows stronger by devouring beasts—and those strange arts he used—those things will attract attention. Dangerous attention." And almost as if the universe was eavesdropping, the sound of synchronized boots stomping echoed ahead of them. The trio stopped. The heavy, deliberate rhythm of a dozen hard-soled boots bounced off the walls. Soldiers. Military. But... why were they here? And why in the first-year building? Within moments, the squad came into view, all clad in the regulation black-gray uniforms of the Military Division. They moved like a single body, a wave of discipline and power. When they saw the boys, they halted in perfect formation—like a barricade of human steel. The leading soldier stepped forward. "Kairos Veyl," he announced in a deep, authoritative voice. "By order of General Albert, you are to be restrained. Whether it’s peacefully or by force is up to you." He paused, gaze hard as stone. "I suggest you choose wisely. Because the state of your body afterward... will depend entirely on that choice."