Izumi flipped through the pages of the book, his fingers tracing over the old, worn paper. His eyes scanned the text, and his heart pounded in excitement when he finally understood what it was.
"This isn't just any book…"
It was a guide to summoning.
The pages contained detailed rituals—spells to summon demons, beasts, and other creatures beyond human understanding. A grin slowly formed on his lips. This was exactly what he needed.
A real fight. A way to test himself.
No more punching the air. No more kicking corpses. A real battle.
Without hesitation, he turned to the first summoning ritual and carefully read through the instructions.
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There were three steps:
1. Draw the summoning symbol
2. Prepare five sacrifices
3. Cast the incantation
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"Simple enough," Izumi muttered.
His gaze fell to the floor, covered in a thick layer of rotting bodies. He had spent days in this place, surrounded by death, and by now, the sight and smell no longer bothered him.
With a sigh, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work.
The Ritual Begins
The first step was drawing the summoning symbol.
It needed to be etched in blood.
Izumi turned toward the nearest corpse, his expression calm. He had already stepped into a world where hesitation meant death. This was nothing.
"Sorry. I just need this."
He dipped his fingers into the dried blood of the dead and began drawing on the stone floor. The pattern was intricate—swirling lines, ancient markings, and runes that pulsed with something unnatural. It took time, precision, and full concentration.
After an hour, he stepped back, admiring his work.
"Done."
The second step was preparing the sacrifices. The ritual required five offerings.
Without hesitation, Izumi grabbed four corpses and dragged them onto the symbol, positioning them at each marked point.
Now, he just had to complete the final step—casting the spell.
The Summoning
He turned back to the book, carefully reading the incantation.
"It says my mana will be consumed during summoning… but since I'm in the tower, mana should be everywhere. If I run out, I can just absorb more."
With that thought in mind, he inhaled deeply and began chanting the spell.
The moment the words left his lips, the symbol ignited.
A deep, eerie red glow pulsed from the markings. The ground trembled beneath him. Then, without warning, the corpses vanished—burning away into ashes.
Izumi barely had time to react before a monstrous creature emerged from the center of the summoning circle.
And it's lunged at him instantly.
Izumi reacted on instinct.
He gathered mana into his right arm just in time to block the attack. A shockwave erupted from the impact, sending dust and debris flying.
The beast growled and attacked again, its claws slicing through the air.
Izumi dodged, channeling mana into his legs to enhance his speed. With a powerful leap, he twisted his body and delivered a devastating kick to the creature's side.
The monster was sent flying into a pile of corpses.
Izumi smirked, rolling his shoulders. "More."
The creature roared in response and lunged again. This time, it landed a hit.
Pain exploded in Izumi's side, but he gritted his teeth and fought through it. Instead of retreating, he stepped forward and slammed his fist into the creature's face.
A direct hit.
The creature let out a final, agonized shriek before its body crumbled into dust.
Aftermath
Izumi stood there, breathing heavily, his body covered in blood.
He looked down at his trembling fists, then at the empty space where the monster had disappeared.
He started to chuckle.
"I think I overdid it."
It was his first real fight, and he had given it everything he had. His legs suddenly felt weak, and he collapsed onto the cold stone floor.
Even though his body screamed in exhaustion, his mind was clear.
A smirk crossed his lips.
"That was a good fight… with my life on the line."
His fingers tightened into a fist.
"I need more."