Alyssa didn't move at all as the poisoned needles shot toward her. The girl could only widen her eyes, and her face looked desperate."What are you doing?" Eryk shouted as he watched Alyssa seem helpless against Black Widow."Clawbringers!" Eryk shouted as he dashed towards Alyssa with sharp claws sticking out of all ten fingers.The claws tore and cut the invisible spider threads wrapped around Alyssa and Duri's bodies.Duri was soon released. He stretched out his vines to protect Alyssa.Slap! Slap! Slap!Poisonous needles shot through Duri's body."Eeuh!" Duri groaned at the poisoned needles."Alyssa, wake up!" said Eryk.The girl seemed to have snapped out of her reverie. When she saw Duri injured and in pain from the poisoned needles, Alyssa mustered up her strength to attack Black Widow.But the spider summoner had already jumped backward and away. Black Widow stretched out spider threads from her palms. With the help of those threads, she jumps and swings here and there."What
When Eryk saw Black get hit, Eryk immediately approached."White!" he called the summoned spirit."Yokai!" White darted like a shadow in the night without a sound and merged with Eryk's body.A pair of clawbringers protruded from Eryk's hands. He ran after Raven. Raven's cloak made from crow wings also serves to help him fly. When Raven turned and was ready to flap her wing cloak from behind, Eryk's clawbringer had already clawed Raven's back in a cross position.Slash!Raven's back was ripped apart by the clawbringers.But, when the claws swung and were about to rip Raven's back, Eryk was startled, and it was as if he was in a trance.Eryk seemed to float and be transported to another world. Raven seemed to change into a figure dressed in black with long hair and a snake symbol ring on his finger. The man with a pale face grinned at Eryk.'What's wrong with me?' thought Eryk as he felt his body floating in the void. Eryk's tears suddenly dripped down profusely without him being able
Evan Harris realized too late when the crow summoner's attack came from behind. Evan's back was torn. As a result of the attack, Evan's rage boiled over, and he exerted his true power.Evan Harris suddenly radiated powerful energy, and his entire body was enveloped in blazing flames. The summon spirit left inside Evan's body was a phoenix spirit. The flaming bird flew from Evan's palm and grew more prominent.The phoenix formed a torrent of orange flames. He shot up while spitting out a shot of fire that hit Raven.Raven was thrown with a body burning flames. Crows in great numbers scattered out of his body, and Raven disappeared. After a few seconds, the scattered birds came back together to form Raven.A black hole appeared above Evan's head. A figure dressed all in black came out of the hole."Venom!" Evan Harris shouted in a booming angry voice.The pale-faced man with long black hair smiled broadly at Evan. "Harris !" Venom replied. "It's time you gave up."Venom took out his lig
Barbro gave them a grave face. "Why? You guys are disappointed that it's just this old church and me?"White also seemed annoyed that her efforts to provide them with shelter were not appreciated. White looked away and flew towards the corner of the church to warm herself with the morning sun.Eryk was still holding Alyssa's unconscious head while staring at the church building. The church looks badly damaged by the fire. The stones blacken in large patches. And half of the tiles were gone, leaving charred wooden ribs exposed to the weather like exposed ribs. The church building made Eryk imagine a rotting creature pecked at by vultures."Not everyone can have a feather bed and running water," says Barbro. His lips curled down slightly before his smile returned on its own. "Come in! I know you guys have nowhere to go."The doves rose from the ground and flapped their wings. They entered through a gaping hole in the roof and perched on a high log. White also joined them and watched Ery
White jumped off the roof and landed on one of the wood piles not far from the fireplace. Because her movement made some pigeons disturbed and flew away."What else haven't you told me, White?" Eryk asked."Didn't you hear everything from Evan Harris? Your mom is also a bird summoner—all kinds of birds.""So?"White turned her head in annoyance. "Don't you think maybe you also have the same ability, Eryk? You just haven't realized it yet.""Is that so?"Black's turn was to fly out of the window and land near Eryk."I thought. You seem to have inherited your mother's abilities," Black said. "How do you think you can talk to me? I'm a crow. I am also not a summoned spirit bound to you. But you can talk to me."Eryk had not thought about that before. "But, the other summoners—""You mean like Evan Harris and Alyssa? They were highly skilled summoners, Eryk. As for you… even before you entered into a contract with White, you already understood the language of the birds." Black convinced E
"It would be unfair if you started a fight against Sam. How about we start with me as a fellow bird summoner?" bargained Barbro."Well, fine. No problem," said Eryk. "Whichever I'll try."Barbro sat in the nave beneath the missing white cross. He sat hunched over the empty altar table, and his legs dangled from the edge."Are you ready?" exclaimed the dove summoner."Come on, Eryk!" shouted Black from the balcony above."Give him a lesson, Barbro!" Sam shouted next to the crow."I am ready!" said Eryk.Barbro whistled like he did back in Eryk's lair. Then there was the roar of hundreds of doves' wings that descended from the roof beams and landed at Barbro's feet."Okay, that's an awesome start," muttered White, tilting her head."I can't stand it," Black whispered, covering his eye with a wing. "Can the albino bird compete with hundreds of pigeons?"Eryk stretched out his arms and summoned the birds with the power of his will. Eryk felt warmth rising from the bottom of his stomach. T
"Power of will," said the dove summoner. "And With frequent practice! Because my ability to control spirits was not inherited from my parents. I got it myself through effort and searching.""So-"Barbro interrupted Eryk. "Even if that ability was inherited from your parents, you still need to train it. Everything doesn't happen naturally. Like when you were a baby. You also need to practice eating. Is not it?""Teach me then!" said Eryk."It took months," said Barbro. "No, years of intense training. There isn't enough time.""I can learn quickly," said Eryk, trying to sound more confident than he actually felt.Barbro smiled. "Even if you could do that, you're not a fighter, Eryk. The people we will face… are brutal. No mercy."Black and White joined them at the bottom of the stairs. Black's beak was tightly clenched, showing tenacity."We can't give up, Eryk. We can't just hide.""Why are you so excited?" quipped White."Is it right?" asked Barbro. "Stay here with us. We'll be safe."
Eryk had a dream. A dream he had never had before. Eryk seemed to watch as a tall, pale stranger moved the knocker on his parent's house door. The moonlight glistened in his snake ring."That's Venom. Do not open!" shouted Eryk. But no sound left his lips. The door opens by itself.Eryk felt the horror that sent him flying. This time, Eryk entered his parents' house and stood behind Venom.The door slammed shut behind them.Eryk saw his parents standing side by side in front of the dining table. On the table were two half-filled wine glasses. Eryk's mom faced Venom with determination. The folds of her white dress fluttered around like bird wings. It was as if she controlled the air around her."Get out of my house!" Eryk's mom ordered through clenched teeth.Eryk could see the sweat glistening on his mother's forehead as if she was exerting herself."I won't say where it is!""Do not come close!" shouted Eryk's dad. He stood next to his wife, brandishing a fireplace stick.Venom just
Alyssa and Joker, accompanied by Wanda, meet the Lightning Summoner. He is a tall man with a large spear weapon that can emit electricity.The man sat opposite Wanda in a cafe. Meanwhile, Alyssa and Joker stood not far from them but could still hear their conversation."Is it true that the weapon made by Iron killed Kayes?"Flash, the Lightning Summoner, looked very surprised by the information that Wanda had just conveyed.Gloomily, Wanda nodded. "That's right."Suddenly, Flash stood up and yelled angrily in front of Wanda."Why was Kayes just killed now? Did Iron mean to frame me and make me the culprit? Was Iron also the one who snatched the sealed summoned spirit from Sandra's hand? Was he the one who killed Sandra that time?"Wanda was furious. She stood up straight with her back to the cafe window and glared at Flash."Why are you asking me that? I should be the one demanding answers from you. Because only you and Iron rejected Sandra's decision to sell the sealed summoned spiri
"Joker?" shock Alyssa and Duri together.“Belinda?” asked Joker, who was no less surprised when he saw Alyssa's appearance at his weapon shop.Alyssa growled and clenched her fists. "Don't call me by that name!""Oh, sorry, I forgot. However, among the Guardian Summoners, you are known as Belinda the viper.”"Joker, what are you doing here?" asked Alyssa. "Shouldn't you be level nine?"Joker shrugged his shoulders. “You can see for yourself. I'm trading here. How could I pass up an opportunity to make money? I can easily sell my collection of antique objects here. You, I mean you guys, what brought you here?”Alyssa took a deep breath. He pulled a stool in front of the table and sat down without being invited.Joker came out from behind a counter displaying various types of rare weapons and went to the mini fridge to get a can of soda."You look really tired," Joker said as he handed Alyssa the cold soda."Yes. There's a lot going on here. And I feel no progress. Even though I have to
"I don't agree with that method!" the other Guardian Summoner members protested. "That strategy will harm the villagers.""That shouldn't worry you. Because the villagers you are referring to here are none other than the summoners themselves. Each of them should be able to fight and protect themselves. And the villagers should not relax but join in the struggle with us against the destroyers.""But-"Alyssa glared at the stubborn young man. "The battle this time was completely orchestrated by me–Alyssa Harris, vice-leader of the Guardian Summoners. Please obey my orders!"After the meeting did not go smoothly, they finally disbanded. Alyssa returns to town, where her inn is. He walked accompanied by Duri.Duri appears dressed as a warrior, although his skin is still green. Duri's body, in its original form, looked firm and muscular. He always escorted and watched over Alyssa.As soon as they entered the city gates, Alyssa and Duri gasped in shock. Above the fortress gate that protecte
After the main prize was given, which was won by Eryk, suddenly, the vast, boundless field has now turned into a city. The town's appearance resembles the cities on levels one and two.Eryk and the other participants realized that the field they had just seen was a floating island where the arena matches were usually held.Lizard immediately ran away as fast as his foot could take it. But, the testers seem to let it be."Why did you let him when you found out he was cheating?" Rosemary shouted at the level three examiner through the loudspeaker before her."According to the rules we have explained," replied the examiner. "The only rule in the land of shadows is to deal with summoners who kill each other. The examiners and organizers will not take any action concerning theft and other crimes. But, because now you are still in the level three area. Even though the match is over, I still give the same rules."Rosemary suddenly grinned and glanced at Eryk. They both nodded their heads at e
Returning to the centre of the competition arena was much more troublesome and difficult than leaving it to seek the outer limits of the field. Eryk got lost several times and walked too far. However, they started to find summoners running last and slowing down."We are getting closer to the centre of the arena. In a moment, the centre of the field should be visible.""Hey, Young Man!" said the turtle summoner who strolled. He rides his turtle. "Why did you return to the centre of the arena? Did you find the limit? You should have crossed that line to survive.""Sorry, Old Man, it seems we failed to find the outer boundary of this field. Too vast and impossible. We haven't even reached it after an hour of running.""Gosh, if you guys who are as strong and as good as this can't even find it, what about my turtle who strolls and me? How many hundreds of years would it take us to get to the outer limits of the field? This is simply impossible. I could return with you and repeat this exam
"Watch everyone!" exclaimed the examiner through the loudspeaker. "We will immediately carry out the challenge at level three without rest. You will be able to rest after going through this challenge."Everyone was making a fuss. They haven't finished calming down after the tension in the previous level two challenge. And now, when they arrive at level three, they hope to rest for a while but are offered the next battle instead."I'm a kind examiner!" said the figure through the loudspeaker. "I will not burden you with serious and difficult challenges. There is only one challenge this time. You have to find the boundary of this field. Only the first 20 participants who manage to find the field's outer boundary will be selected and will qualify for the next stage."Everyone was whispering. The remaining 40 summoners will be eliminated in half. Everyone started to get excited and threw away the tiredness and tension before. Now they welcome new challenges to defend life and death."Spec
"Trying to kill us with this stuff?" quipped one of the summoners.But she still dared to open the gift box. Her eyes immediately lit up when she saw a beautiful dress there."Wow! How did you know I wanted this beautiful dress?""Time to open the gift box!" shouted a food summoner. He let out a scream as he earned so many gold coins."Eryk, what did you get?" White asked.Eryk opened his gift box and got a giant clam shell made of crystal."I don't know if this thing can be of any use? How about you?" replied Eryk.White opened her gift box and showed a pen made of goose down. The cell has solid toxic ink."Oh, I got some golden hairclips here. Not too bad," said Rosemary.Then they turned Black."Why haven't you opened your gift box yet, Black?""I was too scared to open it. I'm not sure if I deserve a prize? I've never had a surprise before," said Black, who looked such a melodrama when he received his first gift box."Just try it," said a summoner. "Your gifts are quite interestin
"The competition has just started," muttered someone in front of the level two area surveillance monitor.The figure in the black robe pressed a button.After rescuing the summoners almost mired in the crater, Eryk and the others started to rush off to find another place with fewer traps."We should head back to town. This forest is not safe at all. And I'm not sure there will be an exit in this forest.""I'm sorry," said Rosemary. "I have already given the wrong advice.""There's nothing to be sorry for, Rose. We are all struggling and trying our best."They returned to the city. While on their way to the plaza, they saw that many summoners had died, trapped in a battle, or by attacking each other with their teammates. Everything was prepared by the testers at level two."In fact, I suspect this level two area has no way out," Black said defensively. He was still carrying Rose on his back.While in the city centre, Eryk accidentally found a building slightly different from the usual
"Crow summoner spies?" Eryk asked. "I guess that's a bit impossible. If it is true that this land of shadows upholds rule and justice."Their conversation was cut short by an announcement."Participants, we have a little surprise for you on this wild night. The competition will be carried out earlier than the actual schedule."The two summoned spirits, Eryk and Rosemary, were surprised to hear the sound from the loudspeaker. Even though they are sure that a new competition will be held tomorrow morning. Suddenly the schedule was accelerated tonight, and they had no preparation."Testing at level two this time is a bit different. You don't need to come to the arena. We'll do it out in the open."Eryk and the summoners on the second floor also clearly heard the announcement. They all started scattering out of the house and their respective comfortable places.The summoners gathered in the plaza and filled the streets with panicked faces. They need clarification.Midnight and they were f