Karl gave the order, his voice steady despite the fatigue that tugged at his limbs. With the crystals secured, weapons gathered, and every companion accounted for, the group began their slow march back through the jagged tunnels.
Ember's shadow swept ahead, gliding silently over the rocks, her sharp cries cutting through the stillness to ward off any lingering danger.
The journey, though only 1.5 miles, felt longer under the combined weight of the Silver I serpent corpse and the sacks of precious crystals. Every step was measured, careful, as they navigated uneven paths. Fifty minutes passed before the glow of the Sanctuary Barrier finally stretched before them, soft and protective, a faint shimmer against the dark.
Once across its edge, Karl sent Ember to scout again, keeping watch for any trace of the rival lord. Inside the sanctuary, those who had remained behind gasped, their eyes wide with a mix of awe and fear.
They stared at the massive serpent's body, dragged through the protective glow, and listened in stunned silence as Karl's group recounted the battle—the rival lord, the clash, and their narrow, hard-won victory.
After getting information they are not marching Karl sent ember to rest with two bronze III crystal and Thorn received ten Bronze II crystals, the vines wrapping greedily around them as his aura pulsed brighter.
After all, beast can absorb crystal three times faster than humans a small advantage in the race against time.
Karl watched them, knowing that though their bodies were weary and the hours short, each crystal, each moment of preparation, brought them one step closer to surviving the coming storm.
Time was slipping away—and soon, they would need every bit of strength they could Before decisively battle.
Karl's hand hovered over the pile of crystals, their faint glow reflecting in his eyes. Twenty Bronze I crystals—enough, if he wished, to activate the portal and return to Earth. The thought lingered.
But what would await him there? Questions gnawed at the edge of his mind. He had been summoned, yes, but so had others—his own allies, even the rival lord and likely more people from earth would have been summoned. The world might not be as he remembered; it might be changed, dangerous, or even hostile.
He exhaled slowly, the weight of the decision pressing against his chest. His resolve hardened, spreading through him like fire. No—he would not abandon this place.
Not now, not when he had fought so hard to survive, and not when the power he had gained here could shape everything to come. The crystals glimmered, but his choice was clear: his people and this sanctuary came first.
Karl moved carefully among his companions, handing out the remaining spoils. Two Bronze II crystals went to Drael, Grok, and Sylus, not only that but Terran, Dren, Veyra, Renn and Liora all received 5 Bronze I crystal each.
Then, with seventeen summoning shards and 26 Bronze I essence crystals, Karl turned to the summoning gate.
For the first time since his arrival, Karl held the resources to summon freely. Crystals had once been his greatest limitation. Now, the situation had reversed—he had plenty of crystals but too few shards and he don't have any source of it other than summoning gate itself.
He paused, letting the weight of the moment sink in.
The Summoning Gate pulsed faintly in the heart of the Sanctuary; its stone surface etched with glowing veins like blood flowing beneath skin.
Karl stood before the Summoning Gate, his hand resting on the cool frame. The weight at his side pressed against him—seventeen summoning shards and twenty-six essence crystals.
Enough to call forth something far greater than they had ever attempted.
He didn't call anyone. He didn't need to.
One by one, heads turned. Conversations slowed and then stopped. The wounded pushed themselves upright, muscles aching but eyes curious. Even Ember tilted her head, her golden eyes gleaming with interest.
A quiet hush fell over the Sanctuary as everyone gathered, drawn by the unspoken gravity of what was about to happen.
Karl exhaled slowly, feeling the excitement and tension in the air. This was it.
He placed the shards into the gate. The stone grooves glimmered faintly, white lines snaking across its surface as the gate hummed with growing energy. Then he added the crystals, one by one. With each placement, the glow intensified, until the entire frame pulsed like a heartbeat—steady, alive, and vibrating with power.
A low rumble rolled through the ground, subtle at first, then deep enough to make the air itself tremble.
Renn swallowed, voice trembling. "Lord… what are you summoning?"
Karl didn't answer. He didn't know himself. The energy thrummed unpredictably, vast and strange, a force that could change everything—or nothing at all. All he could do was wait, heart pounding with hope.
The gate shuddered, trembling with the weight of energy within. Its glow flared higher, spilling pale, almost silver light across every face. The air grew thick and heavy, each breath tasting electric, charged, as though a storm hovered just above them. The low hum deepened, rolling like distant thunder, and the ground beneath their boots shivered with every pulse.
Some stepped back instinctively, hearts hammering, as if the light might consume them. Others leaned forward, drawn to the brilliance they could not tear their eyes from.
Then—
The gate erupted in a blinding flare.
Light twisted and stretched, forming strange shapes that moved behind the radiant veil. The pressure pressed down on their chests, sharp and insistent, making the very air feel alive, almost burning with unseen force.
Liora's voice barely rose above a whisper, trembling with awe. "This… this doesn't feel like a common summon…"
The glow sharpened, narrowing into a single, focused point. A silhouette moved forward within it. Even hidden, its presence pressed on them like a weight that could not be ignored, steady and unyielding.
Karl's jaw tightened. His chest rose and fell rapidly. This was no ordinary ally. This was something more.
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