Chapter 90: Summoner risk averted

Chapter 90: Summoner risk averted It was finally the weekend at Titanfang Academy, and the students were free to do whatever they pleased. While many took the time to rest or enjoy their hobbies, Kairos had made a different plan. He had intended to spend the day practicing a new Feral Art alone—one he had been working on secretly. But as he woke up that morning, still groggy from sleep, his gaze immediately fell upon a message that had appeared on his phone. It was from Melvin. The message was simple and direct, asking Kairos to come see him. Kairos blinked at the message in surprise. It had been a while since he last saw Melvin, and truthfully, he hadn’t expected the eccentric second-year to reach out. Yet, despite the unexpectedness of it, a wave of excitement swept over him. There was something about Melvin that Kairos couldn’t quite put into words. His odd but dependable personality, the calmness he exuded even amidst chaos, and the way he had helped Kairos with all his equipment in the past—these things made being around him feel oddly reassuring. So, without wasting any time, Kairos got up early, earlier than usual even, and began preparing. He quickly checked his core weapons, ensuring each was properly maintained. His weapons, were carefully stored in his spatial ring—an artifact that had remained with him ever since their hunt on Planet Pascoloid. Thankfully, the ring had plenty of space to carry his arsenal while preserving their quality and condition. He slipped the ring on with a familiar motion, then cast a glance at his two friends. Strangely, they were still asleep, their forms barely shifting beneath the sheets. That was odd. This late in the morning and still asleep? Kairos considered waking them up but decided against it. He had no idea what they’d been up to all night, and frankly, he didn’t want to intrude. Quietly, he slipped out of the room and made his way outside. Navigating through the Academy was easier now. He had already familiarized himself with the route to the second-year dorms from his last visit, so the walk didn’t take as long. As he moved briskly in the cool morning air, he took the opportunity to ask the system a few questions—this time, about the mysterious Shadow People, the same race his ability belonged to. To his surprise, the system was more responsive than usual, something he noticed ever since he had acquired his second summon. It felt different, more complete—as if the system had evolved with him. [I have just a little knowledge of the Shadow People as of now] the system responded. [All I can tell you is that they possess a key ability that they have kept hidden from the world since the year 2025, when the Primordial Push occurred.] 2025? Kairos raised an eyebrow at the thought. That long ago? It seemed the Shadow People were not just some forgotten faction, but an ancient group that had weathered the storm of time. If they truly existed since that fateful era, then they must have been among the original factions formed after the world changed forever. Yet the system’s knowledge remained sparse, which only added to Kairos’s frustration. The answers he sought were out of reach—either locked behind forgotten history, or with the factions, or preserved only in the memories of the Shadow People themselves. Kairos folded his arms as he walked, his mind swirling with questions. One in particular lingered more than others. "System, where are you from? And who created you?" There was no immediate answer. He waited... and waited longer. By the time he reached the second-year dormitory, Kairos had nearly given up on receiving a reply. But then, just as he was about to dismiss the thought, he heard the familiar chime of the system in his ears and saw the notification flash before him. [This question cannot be answered just yet. Get stronger and conquer your next three evolutions. Then this question will be replied.] Kairos’s eyes widened in shock. "Three evolutions?" That revelation left him stunned. Was that how many transformations he still had left? He thought the form he had gained after acquiring his summon’s evolution was already his evolved state. But three more? What could he possibly become after this? What was left to gain? Before he could ask the system for more details, he found himself standing in front of Melvin’s room. As if sensing his presence, the door swung open automatically, welcoming him inside. He stepped in—and the mysteries of the system were forced to the back of his mind. There, standing anxiously in the room, was Melvin. His usual messy hair and oversized goggles were exactly as Kairos remembered, but the intensity in his eyes was new. Melvin was seated at his computer but quickly shut it down the moment he saw Kairos. Practically springing from his seat, he walked over with a mix of excitement and urgency. "Come have a seat and stop standing," Melvin ordered, pointing at the bed. Kairos didn’t hesitate. He made his way to the bed and sat, waiting curiously for what Melvin had to say. "You know you have a risk of being unable to control your emotions," Melvin began. "Violent sparks, outbursts... I figured that’s the risk tied to your two summons. Ever since the last time you came here, I’ve been working on a solution." Kairos blinked. He hadn’t even realized Melvin had figured out his risk so accurately. Melvin continued, voice quickening with enthusiasm. "I’ve done a deep analysis. From what I’ve seen, your Shadow Dragon feeds off dark emotions. It doesn’t just obey you—it thrives on the hate, greed, and lust for power you carry. That means, whenever you feel strong negative emotions, it integrates itself into your system. You might even summon it unintentionally." Kairos listened carefully. Melvin’s insights were eerily accurate. The guy talked fast and sometimes seemed like he lived in his own world, but his ability to observe and dissect things was on another level. It was almost like he wasn’t a student, but some ancient wizard in disguise. "So what do you think I can do to stop it?" Kairos asked, his tone more serious now. Melvin pouted his lips and shook his head playfully. "Well, come to think of it... I have no idea how to permanently stop it unless you kill yourself." Kairos flinched. That was unexpectedly blunt. "But here’s what I do know," Melvin said, growing more serious. "You have to maintain an even emotional plane—no anger, no jealousy, no greed. And honestly? I’m shocked you’ve managed it for this long. If it were me, I’d have wrecked half my machines already." His words were direct, but Kairos could feel the sincerity in them. "So... is there any solution at all?" Kairos asked again. And that’s when Melvin grinned. He turned back to his desk, rifled through a few drawers, and pulled out a small container. Inside were four white pills, perfectly round and unmarked. "This is a drug I crafted just for you," Melvin explained, handing it over. "It’s not perfect, but it’ll help. The effect kicks in about a minute after you take it. It sends nano-sized drones through your bloodstream that release a stabilizing compound directly into your nervous system. It won’t work if your emotions are already too out of hand, but it might just buy you enough time." Kairos opened the lid and peered inside. "Only four?" he muttered. "What do I look like to you? Harry potter?" Melvin snapped, clearly annoyed. Kairos chuckled slightly. Melvin was a mad genius—brilliant and insane in equal measure. The room fell into a brief silence, then Melvin turned to him with a mischievous smile. "Wanna train?" he asked. "I created a new robot. It’s got a bunch of features that’ll give you a proper challenge. Beat it—and I’ll owe you a favor." Kairos raised an eyebrow. A favor? That was unlike Melvin. He usually didn’t offer anything unless it was for science. But truthfully, Kairos didn’t need a reward. He had been itching for a challenge. Practicing against trees and inanimate targets could only do so much. He needed something that could strike back. "Yeah," Kairos said with a confident grin. "I’ll take that challenge." ***Author’s note*** Thank you all for waiting patiently, next Chapter drops soon, since I am feeling a bit better.