Damion looked down from the twilight sky. It was now almost dusk.

He glanced at Liam and Beta. The words of the Ruler of the Ruby Tower echoed in his mind. He watched Liam and Beta draining away at his disciple’s summon, and he clenched his fists.

“That thing consumes other lifeforms. It somehow looks like the Lady of the Ivory Tower… No wonder Tower Lord Michael sounded concerned.”

His eyes narrowed, glaring dangerously at the oblivious duo. “They’re a threat.”

The corners of his lips stretched wide across his face, smiling with a creepy grin. “And what do Cardinal members do to threats?”

“Master! Behind you! Watch out!”

Damion flashed and disappeared from the spot. Liam’s eyes could not follow Damion’s movements. A trail of dust flung across the air. Liam took his hands off the metal prism and tried to turn around while guarding his face with his arms.

But he was not fast enough.

In a blink of an eye, Damion appeared right behind Liam. His immense shadow covered the metal barrier in front of Liam and Beta. He launched a kick at Beta, and Beta flew off before crashing onto the ground.

Damion hunched over and whispered into Liam’s ear.

“Scream for me, Dysfunctional.”

Liam shuddered, from the foreboding feeling. It was too late to defend himself. He flinched and tried to turn around. However, Damion forcefully slammed his head into the metal prism. Liam grimaced from the pain and shut his eyes. Damion’s aura erupted into the air. A heavy weight slammed down on the surroundings, forcing Liam onto his knees.

Liam attempted to cover his head, bracing for broken bones or worse. Suddenly, a different voice sounded from behind him.

“Decently done, Liam. Now, stand up.”

His eyes widened as he looked up, surprised at seeing Hansel behind him. He never felt so relieved seeing his mentor. Twisting his body around, Liam jumped up and searched for his attempted murderer, and he found him.

Damion returned to his group of three, standing with a crazed look in his eye.

Liam quickly patted down his body for injuries, but he felt no pain. He sighed a breath of relief. Too many times did he encounter Death today.

Hansel’s voice turned cold, dropping an octave lower.

He solemnly commanded Liam, “let me and Antwon handle this. Take your summon and meet back with the others up in the cave.”

***

I kept my eyes on Damion as Liam ran back.

“This psychopath killer. Today, you die! You dared to take another life! My disciples can finally rest in peace.”

Antwon walked up beside me, and I thought he would help me take down the serial killer.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

“You saw what he did, Antwon. He tried to murder another of my disciples.”

It was time for me to pay back my grudges, but that devious bastard interrupted my conversation.

“Haha! I didn’t kill anyone. You can’t kill me, Hansel!”

“He’s right, Hansel,” Antwon unexpectedly seriously stated.

I exploded! All my pent up rage erupted, and I unleashed my aura. The earth trembled, and the air became heavy.

“This was only the beginning, Damion! But that Antwon- !”

I jerked my head and glared at Antwon. I was almost more angry at him. I couldn’t believe what I just heard.

“The hell?! What are you even saying, Antwon?! You saw everything that just transpired! If I didn’t move, he would have killed Liam!”

“You are right. He would have killed Liam. But he didn’t. We can’t prove anything except for attempted murder.”

“Screw that! I’m killing him!” I brushed off Antwon’s hand.

“Dammit, Hansel. Can you stop and see reason for a change?! You’re not the only one who lost a disciple, alright?! I lost new disciples as well!”

Antwon forcefully grabbed my shoulder and whispered in my ear.

“We can’t kill him. But that doesn’t mean we can’t kill his summons.”

“Fuck!”

My boiling rage toppled over. It wasn’t enough. Killing his summons would only be as good as momentarily crippling him. This monster would still be on the loose. Who knows when he would strike again. There was a sharp viciousness in Antwon’s reply.

“Either that, or we kill all of them. Those young Ruby Climbers included. Everyone from our side would have to swear not to ever talk about it either. War will happen if word gets out. Or if you’re okay with war, then prepare your guild for losses. Many from both sides will die.”

My rage bubbled to a simmer.

I looked at the faces of the new Ruby Climbers. They were more composed than my new lot of disciples, but they were still greenhorns. I saw fear behind their facades.

“Was I going to stoop to the same level as that murdering freak? Was I willing to kill those pompous brats to keep this whole thing silent? And if word did get out, was I okay with the death of countless climbers and civilians…”

My determination faltered. However, the horrid images of my decapitated disciples’ faces flashed in my head, and my heart pumped burning hatred into my body.

“My dead mutilated disciples deserve revenge! They deserved Damion’s head accompanying them to the underworld! This sick bastard should have long been killed!”

My conflicting emotions tore me inside. My rampaging anger rushed through my body, urging me to chop off Damion’s head right now. But the part of me as the Vice Guild Master of Adonis Guild knew better.

I knew better.

That was why Kai entrusted me with the guild and the kingdom. Thinking of Kai and my responsibilities cooled my head.

My heart ached.

“… I’m sorry my disciples… You will all have to wait just a bit longer.”

I turned and looked Antwon straight in the eyes.

“Fine. But he’s leaving the Tower half dead.”

Antwon stared with a deadpan face. I’ve seen the look in his eyes before. He was serious. We were in the same boat, but Antwon was better at controlling himself in these situations. He nodded, and I sighed.

“Damn it, that Kai! No wonder you worry about me becoming the next Guild Master. I’d probably start a war at every turn. Shit. Maybe Sal would be better for the job.”

Antwon looked over at Damion, bringing out his summon.

“You eat what you sow, Damion! Esile, come out.”

Thick long fur, white as freshly fallen snow, emerged from the fracture of space. The earth shook as a pair of strong hefty legs shook the earth. The ground froze over with thin sheets of ice. It stood twice my height with a massive muscular figure. I recognized Antwon’s signature summon. The yeti stood upright with its arms swinging down to its knees.

It raised its arms and bellowed out a roar. Even I felt shivers. But now was not the time to dally.

“Duard! Duark!”

Damion called out a rare summon. The earth melted as a pair of enormous lava golems walked onto the ground. Their eyes and mouth glowed a blazing white. The cool air turned sweltering hot. Their molten bodies pulsed to the rhythm of a heartbeat and illuminated the ravine with a fiery glow.

“Nost!” I called out my longtime friend.

The ground rippled and softened, welcoming my summon. A master of the earth element, the claws of my earth dragon stepped onto the manipulated soil. Jagged rocks formed scales along its snout to its tail. A pair of boulders shaped like wings hovered above its back.

The four creatures stood in the corners of a square pattern. They eyed each other evaluating third foes.

“Long time, eh Esile?” My summon greeted Antwon’s with an aged voice.

“Nost.” Esile curtly returned the greeting. His eyes remained locked on his mortal enemies.

“Iccccee-“

“Moonkkey.”

“Hahahaha!” The two lava golems broke into laughter.

The two birdbrains were not funny. Sometimes I couldn’t comprehend their slurred speech.

“Been a while since I’ve seen the two. Seems like they didn’t get any smarter, huh