Damien moved cautiously through the dense forest, his steps measured as he approached the area where the column of lava had pierced the sky moments ago.
The acrid scent of charred wood began to fill the air, and the faint glow of flames flickered through the trees in the distance.
Pausing, he summoned his system panel for the first time in weeks. “Status.”
««««««••••••»»»»»»
Name: Damien Terrace
Race: Human
Level: 68
Exp: 1150/3240
Talent: E-Rank Summoner
Life Force: 8620/10000
Magic Essence: 1700/1840
Strength: 95 Agility: 92
Stamina: 95 Endurance: 95
Intelligence: 90
••••••••••
Skill: SSS-Ranked Summons
Subskills:-
Pact of Summons
Essence Devourer
Sensory Link
Essence Saving Mode
••••••••••
Available summons: 4
««««««••••••»»»»»»
A small smile tugged at the corners of Damien’s mouth. ‘Gold Rank already,’ he thought, satisfied with his progress. Closing the panel, he extended his hand, summoning Aquila.
«Summoning Aquila, the Griffin…»
«-50 units»
«Aquila summoned!»
The mythical Griffin appeared with a burst of light, its golden feathers shimmering brilliantly against the backdrop of the forest.
Now a Grade Four mana beast, Aquila had grown significantly larger, its wings spanning nearly fifteen meters, and its presence exuding authority.
Damien mounted Aquila swiftly, patting its neck as he gave his command. “Take us to the fire, Aquila. We’re investigating this.”
With a piercing cry, Aquila launched into the air, its powerful wings slicing through the sky. Damien gripped the reins tightly as the Griffin soared toward the part of the forest that now burned.
As they neared, Damien’s sharp eyes scanned the horizon, taking in the growing devastation below. Trees were ablaze, their charred remains collapsing into the ash-strewn ground.
“Whatever caused this,” Damien murmured to himself, “it’s not ordinary.”
~~~~~
Back at the site of the chaos, Keith and Narna stood in a tense standoff with the Obsidian Drake.
The enormous mana beast loomed over them, its obsidian scales glinting like molten glass in the fiery light. Its glowing orange veins pulsed rhythmically, and its piercing yellow eyes burned with unbridled rage.
The ground around them was scorched black, evidence of the drake’s earlier attack. Keith stood to one side, Narna to the other, the charred earth separating them like an invisible line.
Keith glared at Narna, frustration and disbelief evident in his tone as he yelled, “Why did you take the egg? I warned you not to do anything stupid!”
Narna crossed her arms, her expression stubborn. “You don’t understand, Keith. That egg is priceless! I couldn’t resist,” she retorted. “Do you know how rare this beast is? Do you know how valuable it will be?”
Keith’s hands tightened around the hilt of his sword as he glanced at the Obsidian Drake. It stood still for now, its massive frame emanating a terrifying aura. Its intense gaze alternated between the two of them, as though demanding its stolen egg back.
“It doesn’t care about the value,” Keith snapped. “It knows you have the egg, and it’s going to kill us both if we don’t give it back!”
Narna hesitated, glancing at her Life Key. Her confidence faltered for a moment, but she quickly masked it. “I’m not giving it back. Not now.”
Keith opened his mouth to argue further, but before he could, Narna’s stubbornness escalated into action. She channeled magic essence into her Life Key, summoning every single one of her tamed beasts.
In an instant, over a dozen mana beasts appeared around her, including her Grade Four Nightmare Wolf and Bullock.
“Attack it!” she commanded, pointing at the Obsidian Drake.
Keith’s jaw tightened in frustration as he stepped back, watching the chaotic scene unfold. “You’ve lost it, Narna!”
The tamed beasts charged at the Obsidian Drake, their roars and cries filling the air as they launched their attack. The Nightmare Wolf leapt first, its glowing red eyes locked onto the drake as it aimed for its neck.
The Bullock followed closely, its massive form barreling forward with terrifying speed. The weaker beasts attacked from a distance, launching elemental spells and projectiles.
For a brief moment, it seemed as though the combined assault might slow the drake down.
But the Obsidian Drake roared, its voice a deafening explosion of sound. The ground trembled beneath its feet as it reared back, its glowing veins flaring violently.
Keith felt the air grow thick with heat as the drake opened its massive jaws. “Narna, no!” he shouted, realizing too late what was about to happen.
Vwoooom!!
The drake unleashed another column of lava, the molten stream burning through the air with unrelenting force.
Half of Narna’s tamed beasts were engulfed instantly, their cries silenced as their forms were reduced to ash. The column continued its destructive path, carving a straight line through the forest for nearly a mile. Trees disintegrated in its wake, the ground left smoldering and barren.
Keith shielded his face from the intense heat, his mind racing. *We can’t fight this thing. Not like this.*
Narna stumbled backward, her confidence shattered as she saw the aftermath of the drake’s attack. “This can’t be happening,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
The Obsidian Drake turned its glowing eyes back to her, its fury undiminished.
~~~~~
High above the forest, Damien saw the column of lava erupt from the drake’s mouth. The destructive display made his heart pound, and he urged Aquila to fly faster.
As they drew closer, Damien’s sharp eyes caught sight of two figures in the midst of the chaos. Even from a distance, he could see the hulking form of the Obsidian Drake.
“What in the world is that?” Damien muttered.
Aquila let out a sharp cry, sensing the danger ahead. Damien’s grip tightened on the reins. “Easy, Aquila. Let’s get a better look before we decide what to do.”
From above, Damien observed the scene. The drake’s rage could be sensed from his distance as it unleashed its devastating attacks. The two figures—clearly human—seemed completely outmatched.
Damien frowned, weighing his options. ‘I could turn back and avoid this entirely…’
But as he watched the drake rear back for another attack, something inside him stirred. ‘Or I could step in and see what I’m capable of.’
He patted Aquila’s neck, his decision made. “Let’s get closer. It’s time to see what this is all about.”
Aquila let out another cry and dove toward the battlefield, the wind rushing past Damien as he prepared for whatever lay ahead.