Snow blanketed the world. Silence reigned, broken only by the howling wind that cut to the bone and the distant roar of a beast reigning over death itself.
On the blood-stained snow, Kael, Lania, and Draven lay motionless. Their breaths shallow, mana nearly drained.
Above them, the Lost Ice Dragon hovered in the ashen sky, wings outstretched like a reaper's scythe. Its icy blue eyes locked onto the three. No hatred only an instinct to annihilate anything that dared resist.
"Heaven-Piercing Frost Spear..."
A spear of ice, dozens of meters long, formed in the air spinning with destructive energy then descended like a falling star to end all.
At that moment, Kael, who seemed on the verge of losing consciousness, found himself standing within an ancient forest shrouded in blue mist. In the center rose a towering tree that pierced the heavens, exuding an aura of ancient might fused with death.
Longlong appeared beside him, calm yet solemn.
"You're still not strong enough to form a full contract... but with the will you've shown, I'll open a temporary path."
In the shadows, a massive tree stirred its presence both sacred and ominous. Eyes of spirit opened within its wooden body, holding millennia of memories and wrath.
The Frost Spear fell.
"By my name, summon: Ancient Spiritwood Fiend World-Class Beast." Longlong's voice thundered.
BOOM!!
A deafening blast tore space apart. Snow exploded in every direction, a shockwave blowing everything aside.
As the smoke cleared
A colossal figure stood between the trio and death. Its body was formed of blackened green wood, crowned with a crown of writhing roots, its limbs branches of ancient trees that pulsed with life. In its soul-deep eyes swirled the spirits of a thousand forgotten souls. The Ancient Spiritwood Fiend had arrived.
Every step it took brought life to the frozen ground, with green grass rising from beneath the snow.
The Lost Ice Dragon roared its first true display of caution.
It dove forward.
"Frost Blade Gale!"
Blades of freezing wind sliced toward them. The Fiend raised a massive arm, spawning thousands of roots as shields, absorbing and disintegrating the frosty assault into ash.
"Rootheart Aegis — Ten Thousand Vines!"
From the earth, sharp vines erupted, wrapping tightly around the dragon's legs, squeezing through its scales. The beast hissed in agony.
"Soulwood Pillar — Heavenbreaker!"
A massive obsidian pillar, carved with ancient runes, dropped from the sky and slammed into the dragon's skull like nature's divine judgment.
BOOM!!
The Ice Dragon's body cracked, ice horns shattered, and violet blood poured down over its frozen eyes.
But it did not die.
With a roar that shook the mountain, it struggled to rise, wings twitching, mana flaring in one final act of defiance.
Kael gritted his teeth, preparing another summon but the Fiend stepped forward, calm as death itself.
Silence.
"It ends now," whispered the Fiend, its voice like the echo of primeval forests.
Its eyes opened swirling pits of green-black soulfire, the mourning of countless tree-spirits.
Longlong looked toward the mountain where the dragon stood. Then invoked the final technique:
"Soulroot Vision — Spirit Disintegration."
The Fiend's gaze pierced the dragon's eyes.
In that moment, time froze.
The dragon trembled violently. No roar, no resistance.
Its icy blue eyes widened. Then dimmed.
Dark mist spiraled out from its soul its essence being dragged out, as if the Fiend's eyes were not eyes, but soul-burning flames.
It tried to scream, but no sound came.
Its body cracked like brittle ice, then silently crumbled into nothing.
The Lost Ice Dragon vanished. Leaving no trace. Only drifting soul ash in the wind.
Silence returned.
The Ancient Spiritwood Fiend knelt on one knee, extending its arms to the fallen trio.
"Heartroot Rebirth — Life Renewal."
Green light spread.
Kael's wounds closed slowly. Draven gasped awake, stunned to see his Ancient War Titan emerging from its icy prison.
The colossal warrior in bone armor opened its eyes, growled softly, then bowed to the Fiend in silent gratitude.
But… what of the Fire Fox Spirit?
The Fiend shook its head. Its soul had faded beyond saving.
Snow still fell.
Lania dropped to her knees.
There on the ground a faint red pile of ash. Still warm.
It wasn't the dragon.
It was all that remained of her fox.
"No… No way…"
She trembled, lips bleeding from how hard she bit them.
Her hand reached out, touched the ash and recoiled like it burned.
"She's… really gone…?" Her voice dissolved into the wind.
The Fire Fox Spirit, her mischievous little flame, had stood by her through endless battles warming her in frozen nights, shielding her from death's edge.
Since leaving home, the fox had been her only friend. The fire in her heart.
And now…
Only cold ash.
Tears fell.
No sobs. Only despair in silence.
Draven turned away. Kael bowed his head. Grief tightening in his chest.
Even the Fiend soulless as it was paused, as if bowing to a fallen spirit.
"I… should have protected her…" Lania whispered, raising her tear-stained face.
A breeze passed by. Gentle. Strangely warm.
In that breeze was the scent of dry wood and warm flames.
And in it, she thought she heard… a tiny, mischievous giggle.
"…It's okay..."
A small ember flickered in her mind.
Not an illusion.
A final goodbye.
Lania wiped her tears. Stood.
"She protected us till the very end. If she's gone… then I must go on. For both of us."
She looked at the Fiend.
Nodded.
Then turned to Kael and Draven, smiling, though her lips still quivered.
"Let's keep going."
The Fiend turned to Kael. Its voice echoed—not through speech, but thought:
"The primal pact is awakened. One day, when your will surpasses the heavens… I shall become your weapon."
Light enveloped the wooden titan, and it faded into the void.
Longlong fluttered to Kael's shoulder.
"I've done all I can. The rest… is up to you."
The snow had stopped.
The three stood battered, but hearts ablaze anew.
The Ice Dragon had fallen. But ahead lay even greater threats more terrifying beasts yet to come.
"Let's move," Kael said, taking the first step on thawing snow.
"Our journey... has only just begun."
[End of Chapter 7]
Next Chapter 8: The World of Summoners