Chapter 72: The Thorne Summoner family

Chapter 72: The Thorne Summoner family [mass release 6/6] It was nighttime, and the three boys were lying on their beds. Two were already deep in slumber, the rhythm of their breathing slow and steady, but Kairos remained wide awake. Silence had finally settled across the room, and now that there were no distractions, he decided it was the perfect moment to finally check his system—the part of it he had ignored earlier amidst the chaos. With a deep breath, he summoned the familiar interface before his eyes. The semi-transparent screen hovered quietly in front of him, faintly illuminating his face in the dark. His eyes scanned the text displayed at the center. [You have 3 gifts and a single risk] Without hesitation, Kairos moved to check the risk first. He had to understand the dangers before embracing the power. The message displayed was all too familiar, the same warning he had seen before: [One summon is smart and recollected, another moves based on user’s feelings. Be careful of how you feel, because strong emotions will ruin your composure.] Kairos held his breath. That warning was a clear reminder of the volatile nature of his powers—Composure and Rampage. Two extremes of the same coin. They shouldn’t exist within the same space, like black and white, yin and yang. Yet, here they were—bound to him. He closed the system interface for a moment and then decided to delve deeper. His body remained on the bed, still and quiet, but his consciousness entered his Summon Space—a realm that existed within his own mind, a private domain that belonged to him and his summons alone. The atmosphere within the space was dark yet calm. The first presence he encountered was the Shadow Wolf, emerging from the darkness like a guardian spirit. It stood tall and silent, its body composed of pure living shadow, with glowing eyes that shimmered with a sense of wisdom. There was something different about it. Above its head hovered a notification: [Shadow Wolf has reached full child maturity] Kairos narrowed his eyes. So that was it. It had grown—evolved through their shared experiences. It was more composed, more restrained. The wolf now carried a quiet authority. Still, as reassuring as the Shadow Wolf was, it wasn’t what he came here for. His gaze shifted toward the distance, where a dark, almost ominous figure loomed—a massive black egg cracked open along its surface. Sharp fragments of its shell surrounded it like fallen armor, but at the center of the opening, a face peered out. The Shadow Dragon. Its piercing eyes stared back at him, unreadable. Though part of its body was now visible, it chose to remain within the shell, unmoving and silent. Above it, a floating message pulsed faintly: [Baby Summon. Please continue to grow it.] Kairos nodded to himself, trying to take everything in. He wondered what the dragon would become as it matured. What kind of power did it hold? What kind of mind? The mystery stirred a strange anticipation in him. Just as he entertained that thought, he felt himself pulled back into the real world, the familiar coldness of his room returning to him. He exhaled and then commanded the system again. "Show me the gifts," he whispered softly. [Ding!] [Multi-Summon Skill: You can now use both summons at the same time, along with their integration.] [Risk: This will weaken you faster over time.] Kairos froze, eyes fixated on the screen. So even this skill had a drawback. The ability to use both summons at once was incredibly useful, especially with integration included. But the price... it would drain him faster. He didn’t have time to overthink it. He moved on to the next notification. [Summoner’s Aura: Possess a shadow aura that places weight on people nearby, primarily to intimidate enemies. It grows stronger with continued use.] [Risk: It will dull your senses after use.] Kairos smirked. ’This one... I like.’ The idea of radiating a dark presence, forcing pressure on his enemies just by being near—that was something he could live with. The risk? Manageable. A slight dulling of his senses was nothing compared to the overwhelming strength this aura could bring. This power made him feel like a true shadow summoner. He could already picture himself stepping into a battlefield, his aura silencing even the most arrogant foes. Finally, the last gift revealed itself. [Shadow Usage for Attacks has become stronger. Instead of light stuns, you can now create more damaging attacks.] There was no risk. Just pure enhancement. Kairos leaned back on the bed, staring at the ceiling as a wave of satisfaction passed through him. ’No more light stuns... my attacks will hit harder now. Especially with a stronger set of gauntlets.’ His thoughts drifted. It hit him then. He still hadn’t apologized to Lloyd. Not just for destroying the gauntlets Lloyd had given him—but for everything. Lloyd had carried him out of danger during the last mission, had saved his life... and yet, Kairos had been too wrapped up in his own world to say a single word of thanks. His heart sank a little, regret creeping in. ’Maybe I should give him the Minotaur’s Core from the exhibition... That might make up for the gauntlet, at least a little.’ He turned to his side, dismissing all the notifications from the system. The room fell quiet once again. A rising itch pulsed in his limbs—the desire to test out his new abilities, to fight, to unleash the growing power building inside him. But he had to wait. Just for now. --- Meanwhile... Far away from Kairos’s quiet room and Titanfang, a floating island hovered high in the sky. It wasn’t held up by any visible force—no landmass beneath, no columns or structures—just sky, clouds, and the silent hum of magic or technology unknown. At the heart of this celestial island, a city stood tall. Medieval in architecture yet infused with sleek technological marvels, it seemed like a fusion between fantasy and futuristic innovation. Above the city, rising like a monument of authority, was a grand castle. The Thorne Family resided here—one of the greatest factions known across the world. Their name was synonymous with brilliance, structure, and unimaginable power. Their cities were well-planned, their technologies ahead of the world, and their summons—legendary. Inside the castle, deep within its core, sat the head of the Thorne family in a private chamber. He was surrounded by documents and reports, his eyes cold and calculating as he worked. The door opened. A female attendant entered, holding a transparent, glowing tablet without any physical form. She bowed slightly. "Sir, the report is in. The rumors are correct. Rivet Thorne lost his arm in a battle against an Abyssal Ranked Beast." The head of the Thorne family didn’t even flinch. His expression remained unreadable. To him, Rivet’s loss, while disgraceful, was an acceptable price. Anyone facing an Abyssal-ranked creature would pay something. But his true interest lay elsewhere. "Did you get information about the boy?" he asked, his voice low but commanding. The attendant stiffened under the weight of his tone. She quickly scrolled through the data and tapped her screen. Instantly, the tabletop before Thorne shimmered and projected a file. "You are dismissed," he said. She obeyed instantly, retreating from the room without another word. Thorne opened the file, his eyes narrowing with interest as he read: Name: Kairos Veyl Summon: Failed Legendary Summon Affiliation: None A slow, wicked grin stretched across his face. "This is just perfect... A certainly perfect find."