บท 30: Master's Touch

The world slowly began to shift. The once familiar walls of the dorm room suddenly began to dissipate. The soft warm, homely feeling that had always brushed against his skin gently got swept away by the fragrance of a cold chilly night.

For a moment, Ace had his eyes closed as the world around him swirled, shifting and sifting into untouchable pebbles. Soon, he was overshadowed by ethereal darkness and he felt his soul float in an endless cosmic orbit.

After a while, he could feel his feet settle on plain ground, forcing him to open his eyes again. The air was harsh and cold, but he was quick to adapt to this change in weather, twirling and turning to catch a glimpse of where he had been transmigrated to.

"What is this place?" He asked, looking around in amazement.

The once well arranged room he had walked into was now replaced by a dying world filled with ruins and uneven terrain. He could have mistaken the fort for a mountain due to the unending stones that shot out of the ground, forming a rocky fort that stretched across the canvas like thick forest.

[This is the 6th earth]

[Crushed into atoms of ruins four decades ago, but there's still life lurking around in this world despite succumbing to destruction]

"This used to be earth? If so, who destroyed a world like this one?"

[Humans from your world are partially responsible for the destruction of this earth which is the head station for hybridization of beasts that infiltrate every other world in the cosmic universe]

"And the life within this world?" Ace continued with a question, walking out of the rocky canvas into normal ground.

[The life that exist in this world are ghouls]

The system replied.

"Hence my mission here?"

[Affirmative, host!]

[Training your mind, summon(s) and practicing your skills is your mission here]

[Do note that these ghouls are alive and having a hint of mercy upon them will lead to your death, so as that of your summon(s)]

[...never to be heard of again!]

"Pfft!" Ace scoffed, not believing the system was undermining his prowess.

"My combat skills, how on earth do I have such knowledge?" He finally asked, hoping he would get a befitting answer to this mystery.

[...]

"System?"

[Apologies, host. My role is to give informations that are patently necessary to aid in your growth, not to digress off that jurisdiction]

"You do know something."

[...]

He chuckled softly, a sense of determination to uproot the truth with time fawning on him. "I'd like to summon my beast. I need to give her a name at least."

[At your service, host]

The system tab shut down by itself, preparing for the next course of events. Out of nowhere, a yellow rift tore open out of nothing just like it had happened the first time in the dungeon.

A swirling mist began to erupt out of the rift as it tore wider, forcing out the appearance of a brimming yellow eye that seemed to possess the ability to read into one's entire existence; perhaps, it could watch every single thing that happens in the world— the universe inclusive.

Ace could feel a monument shudder underneath his uniform and he was quick to take note it was his neck-piece being triggered by the summon. An amount of yellow energy sifted out of his neck-piece, forcing out an otherworldly aura as it enveloped him while being channeled directly at the rift.

Ace could feel wades of wings unfurl majestically, casting a shadow over him as the creature let out a low, resonant growl that echoed through the air, forcing his hair to flutter with the wind.

As the mist began to part, his summon began to pull its weight through the rift without constraint, honoring the call of its Master as it towered above the youngling.

A system notification crawled into his sight, announcing a dire update as it booted the dragon's stat which needed a little more 'master-touch'.

[Would you like to name your summon?]

With his eyes fixed on the beautiful beast towering above him like an ancient warrior, a smile graced Ace's lips as he found a perfect name to bless his dragon with.

"Nyx." He replied sharply. "Nyx Vespera Drakonis."

[Summon synchronized in progress]

[Name: Nyx Vespera Drakonis]

[Class: Celestial Dragon]

[Rank: SSS-rank]

[Sub class: Ignis(Fire)]

[Gender: Female]

As if pleased with the name her Master had chosen, Nyx bellowed into the air, casting out a torrent of fire that lit up the vast sky in an applausive aura.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the academy, a figure walked its way towards the director's office, their finger trailing over the wall frames as they walked on. With a sludge smile on their face, they said:

"Such an idiot!"

Without giving a command, the door floored open, revealing the high defination office of the director— Kai who was seated behind his oak table, gracefully swiping through an holographic screen that contained streams of data of students from the academy.

He looked up from his work and got up to his feet immediately, tendering a little bow at the figure that had just walked in.

"Y-you didn't inform me you would be coming."

The figure took a stroll towards the window, taking a blissful look at the students crawling on the base ground in groups.

"I was a little bored and thought a surprise visit would be perfect." He turned around, his gaze darkening a little. "I needed to catch you off guard, you know."

"It's an honor none regardless."

"He's met with Dawn already and I hope things are properly set up on your side." He continued, his grin fading, giving way to something more crude, more subtle.

Director Kai cleared his throat, and replied, "Everything is in order, and tomorrow will be the day."

The news brought joy to his lips again and he wandered off back towards the window, watching the world under his finger like he was a lord over them all.

His plans were finally falling in place, perfect and moving forward in accordance to his predictions. The night was the only hindrance to its fulfillment and when the heavens finally lifted the unending darkness and day converted the sky, the order of the world would be adjusted— so will its hindrances be annihilated.

"How will the world look like without you in it," He muttered, his eyes stretching towards the male's dorm which stood tall among the other buildings in the academy. "Ace Kiryū?"