Aleron had always remained cautious, knowing the Genesis Coil still had eyes on him. Yet what he hadn't expected was that he was already too late to react.
The live feed Vela had uploaded had already gone viral, spreading like wildfire across countless networks.
In one particular meeting room, far from the battlefield, a group of six middle-aged individuals sat around a large obsidian table, their gazes fixed grimly on the hovering holographic projection.
Concern and disbelief twisted across their faces as they exchanged uneasy glances.
"Didn't the Genesis Coil claim they eliminated Aleron already?" one of the men asked.
His sharp features closely resembled Aleron's own, though age had carved them into something sharper, colder, and far more hardened.
"I believe they did. But it seems there's been a miscommunication," another man said.
He had the aura of a well-mannered butler, seated with perfect posture. His words trailed off as his eyes locked onto the screen.
They all saw it.
The fact that Aleron, who had never contracted a summon before, was actually fighting a group of abominations with his summon.
In fact, it couldn't be called a fight, because what was displayed on the video was a one-sided slaughter.
The dragon tore through the grotesque beasts like a scythe through dry grass, its fury leaving trails of fire and destruction in its wake.
Their eyes gleamed with a strange, flickering light.
"According to the Prophet, our sons are the Children of Prophecy," said a cold, feminine voice.
The woman had crystal blue hair and piercing pale eyes, flowing with a mysterious light that shimmered unnaturally. Her aura was calm, too calm.
"This is exactly why we wanted Aleron to contract a summon. It seems our plan has finally yielded fruit, and the summon is no ordinary beast."
Aleron's father nodded at his wife's words, a thin smile curling on his lips. "Just as we anticipated. Like Axel, his summon is extraordinary."
But the smile faded as he turned toward the shadows of the room. His tone dropped, and became emotionless and slightly mechanical.
"Go. Bring our son back. He may be useful to the Devon bloodline after all, even after being worthless for so long."
His wife gave a small nod. "Unlike Axel, Aleron has always been… rather disappointing."
"Brother...?"
Just then, a startled voice echoed through the room.
A young man who bore nearly symmetrical features to Aleron stepped into view, his expression one of disbelief and awe.
As he walked, the space around him seemed to compress repeatedly, warping ever so slightly. With just a few strides, Axel reached the table.
Seeing him, Molly, his mother, smiled with obvious pride.
However, when her gaze followed Axel's and landed on Aleron, her eyes flickered briefly with a flash of disgust.
The coldness vanished just as quickly, returning to its usual serene calm.
"Son, what are you doing here?" Molly asked with a voice filled with motherly warmth as she looked at Axel.
At her words, Axel scratched his head awkwardly, his voice low. "I was curious, so I... uh… came to take a look." He stared at the floor as he spoke, a little embarrassed.
"Hah, that's nothing. I was only asking. You don't have to be so worried." Molly waved her hand gently, her smile lightening the atmosphere.
Axel exhaled quietly in relief, then turned back toward the screen.
"Is that... brother?"
It had been more than eight years since he'd last seen his elder twin. Axel had always been curious about his whereabouts but was always told the same lie—that Aleron was training.
Now, seeing him with his own eyes, a mixture of surprise and relief washed over him. All this time, he had suspected something might have happened. But it seemed he had been worried over nothing.
'Besides, brother's contracted summon looks strong too. Although not nearly as strong as mine... it's still something.'
Molly glanced at her husband, silently asking for his thoughts. Melody only gave a simple nod.
At that, she smiled again and replied, "Your brother is finally coming back from his training after being away for so long."
Axel's eyes lit up instantly. His excitement was visible, almost uncontrollable.
'No, I can't wait for him to return. I'll... I'll sneak out and go meet him first.
That idea planted itself firmly in his heart. Since his parents had never once allowed him to leave the Devon Household, sneaking out was the only option.
His gaze remained fixed on Aleron, and within his pupils danced a peculiar light.
He could feel it… countless strings of fate connecting the two of them were stirring.
He was finally about to meet his brother again after so long.
Brother... will you be excited to see me once again?
…
Unaware of the approaching reunion with his twin brother, Aleron moved rapidly toward the lady recording him.
The moment she realized Aleron had noticed her, the lady, Vela, didn't panic. Instead, she calmly sent a few thoughts to her contracted beast.
After all, no matter how strong Aleron and his dragon were, she was already an Origin Adept. She had no reason to fear.
The giant bird beside her flapped its wings and surged toward Aleron with rapid speed, cutting through the air with deadly intent.
ROARRRRRRRRRRRRR
Just then, Ashkar noticed the incoming threat. He let out a deafening roar, his voice echoing like thunder across the entire battlefield.
The roar carried ancient fury, shaking the atmosphere. Glasses in nearby buildings shattered, and spiderweb-like cracks spread violently across the streets.
The giant bird felt it instantly. A force, ancient and heavy, crushed down on its soul causing its speed to plummet.
Ashkar flapped his wings once. In one fluid motion, he was suddenly only two meters away from the struggling bird, whose wings were stiff with fear and pressure.
At the same time, Ashkar's voice echoed in Aleron's mind.
'Dad, should I eat the big bird? I think it'll be delicious…'
Aleron was puzzled but didn't think much about it. Vela had only recorded him, so she couldn't be considered an enemy. Not yet.
'Don't eat the bird for now,' Aleron advised, his eyes focused sharply through the lens of his infernal vision.
Thanks to his increased speed, he reached the lady's position in the blink of an eye.
Narrowing his eyes, he stared coldly at the woman who was still filming him without shame.
There was a sharp gleam in his gaze, and in a cold, commanding voice, he spoke.
"Turn it off."
He also wanted to test the new ability of the Infernal Eyes. If what the system said was true, then since the phone was flammable, it should burn.
Just as he expected, the moment his words faded, an invisible wave of energy pulsed outward. A pale yellow flame flickered into existence on the device before she could react.
Feeling the sudden heat, Vela yelped and quickly tossed the phone aside.
Her gaze turned sharply to Aleron, filled with shock. It was obvious he had done something. This wasn't a coincidence.
She could feel it. The young man standing before her was far more mysterious and dangerous than she had originally imagined.
"Young friend, I am not your enemy. I was only sent here to help you..." she began carefully, trying to soothe the tension in the air.
However, Aleron wasn't moved by her words. His expression remained cold as his eyes bore into her.
"What is your reason for being here? And why were you recording me?"
His brows furrowed. His voice was low but laced with warning.
Vela looked slightly embarrassed. She knew that recording a summoner and their beast in battle, especially without permission, was unacceptable.
Just as she was about to respond, a low rumble shook the earth.
She froze mid-breath, then slowly turned toward the source, her expression shifting from surprise to horror.
Her pupils shrank and her face paled.
A dark storm of energy pulsed in the distance, growing stronger by the second.