"What place is this?"Eryk and the others stood in front of a luxurious apartment building in the middle of Rockwool City. Eryk carried Alyssa on his back. He bent slightly and occasionally corrected Alyssa."This apartment is one of Master's properties. Several units are still vacant. For the time being, we can hide here safely.""Okay, we'll take Alyssa to where you want to go. After that, we have to continue the search. You're okay if you're left here alone with Alyssa?""Yes. We will be fine," replied Duri.Eryk led them into the apartment building after placing the key card in the scanner by the door. When they were about to enter the elevator, another resident noticed Eryk."Are you all right?" asked a middle-aged woman. "Is she hurt? I think you should go to the hospital." The woman looked worried for Alyssa.Eryk became awkward. He just realized that not all humans can see summoned spirits. Only summoners can see the presence of the summoned spirit. At this time, the middle-ag
Eryk and the two summoned spirits flew across Rockwool City and returned to the abandoned playground. The playground was covered in a lot of police lines. Eryk watched from one of the tall trees nearby. Indeed, there was not seen any human movement, let alone the police. However, Eryk remained vigilant and didn't take any risks by returning there."What are we going to do here?" Black asked. "You don't think you're returning to the lair?""I need your help," Eryk said to Black and White, who were perched on a branch above his head."I knew this would happen," Black grumbled."Only if you want. I still have White. She would never refuse my request."The white owl didn't argue. She only turned her head 360 degrees to express her approval and was ready to accept any task, even if it cost her life."Of course, I will help. Don't we have the same goal? Revenge for the actions of those who have hurt us, "continued Black.Eryk nodded firmly. "Your job is only to find out whether cat summoner
"What are you thinking? You don't look okay," White sneered as they walked together to find the Joker's house."My parents did everything they could to protect me so that the line of bird summoners would not be broken. However, I can't control various birds like my mom. I will ensure their deaths are not in vain," said Eryk."Your parents sound very brave," Black said. It was as if the crow could read Eryk's mind. They had arrived on the other side of the river. "You must be proud.""I think so," Eryk said again.They started up the river's north bank, where arched structures line the embankment. Shops and stalls are closed at night.His newest dream is an ever-present shadow. The screams of his parents as the snakes enveloped them sounded like a faint echo. Eryk didn't feel ready to tell White yet, not when his horror was so fresh.All his life, Eryk let bitterness towards his parents grow. But now it feels like the anger is misdirected. It was Venom who deserved to be the target of
White led them across the street. Eryk followed her. Now there was an odd silence as they left the busy city center. Even the air felt different, cleaner, and fresher.There were no streetlights to illuminate as Eryk, and the two birds flew along the winding road up the hill. It didn't take long for the sidewalks to disappear, either. Then the two birds flew away until they were barely visible. They passed between the pine branches.Eryk looked at the trees but could see no further than a few yards before the darkness engulfed the trunk. Occasionally they passed the driveways of houses and the sketchy form of settlements far away from the road.Eryk's nerves tingled. He often looked back. He felt as if something or someone was watching him. Going to a new place always makes him nervous. The farther away he was from the familiar place, the more worried he was."Are you sure the way through here?" Eryk asked. His voice sounded thin and hollow.Under normal circumstances, no one can hear
"You're visiting the wrong people's house, Young Man!" said the man in the clown costume, pushing the door as hard as he could.If only Eryk had thought carefully about this meeting before. Everything depended on what he would say next.Joker tries to close the door again. At that moment, Eryk realized something was wrong. Without much effort, Eryk pushed open the door quickly. It was as if Joker didn't have the energy to close his door before Eryk.Eryk immediately grabbed the man's hand, wrapped in white gloves. And at that time, Eryk was increasingly convinced that the figure behind the clown costume was a different person from what Eryk had imagined about the Joker figure."Tell me where your father is?" Eryk asked."What? Father?" Black and White, who were also paying attention, wondered.'Is that figure in the clown costume the son of the Joker? Is the real Joker really in Rockwool prison?'Only Eryk and the costumed clown figure can answer that."My name is Eryk Wayland. I'm a
Eryk pressed his palm against the wall and pushed hard. Part of the wall sunk inward. The hidden narrow door swung inward silently."How did you know the door was there?" asked White uneasily."I don't know," replied Eryk as he walked through the door. Or maybe, somehow, he actually knew.The room inside was somber. There is only dim light."This must be one of the towers because it is perfectly circular with a single-window high above. It looks more like a cell."Eryk saw a wooden chair, an old wardrobe, and a dirty sink. However, all those details went unnoticed. When Eryk's eyes were fixated on the object in the middle of the room.He saw a glass case containing a red velvet pillow. On the pillow lay a meter-long sword. The blade is black and slightly curved in the middle.It looked like an ancient artifact dug out of the ground and polished to a shiny surface. The hilt was protected by curved metal claws and covered in a thin, black leather layer. There is writing stamped along th
Black Widow stood in the doorway, looking around the ground floor of the Mowark House. When she realized it was too quiet, she fired bullets from her rifle, targeting every part and item on the ground floor.Eryk flinched and immediately ducked when the bullet hit the edge of the second-floor balcony."It's Black Widow!" whispered Eryk.The Joker's demeanor immediately changed. Like she went from an eccentric recluse to a mysterious figure. Joker moves close to the wall. She glanced at the stairs and made a clucking sound. Instantly her cats got up and gathered at her side. They released White and Black.Black is in pain when he escapes from the attacks of the cats. Unknowingly they heard the hissing sound of a large number of spiders."You seem to be getting lazy in your old age, Joker!" said Black Widow. "You don't want to let people like me enter your hiding place. Now get out, Old Cat. I know you are here. My beautiful spiders can sense the vibrations of your presence.""Old age?"
"You won't be able to find that girl!" blurted Joker.Black Widow encourages Joker to get out of her way. The gothic woman stepped towards the door, then stopped and said, without turning around."People say cat summoners have nine lives. Let's prove it.""What?" said Joker while starting to walk backward. There was a crackling sound as she stepped on her own glasses.Black Widow snapped her fingers. While doing that, the spiders' bodies straightened up again. Their gazes seemed to glow bright red."Finish her!" said Black Widow to her spiders, then left the room."No!" screamed Joker.Hundreds, maybe even thousands, of spiders start to enter and scatter. Eryk saw Joker grab a chair and swing it forward. The hitting of the chair only made the spiders hiss even more fiercely."What?" shouted Joker, fanning the chair. "Alpha. Beta. Omega! Get your claws out!"A most enormous spider landed from the roof with its thin thread. The spider jumps on Joker's face. Nimbly, Joker stepped aside.
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