The Astral soul system-Chapter 216: Summon

The shadows beneath the beast’s feet suddenly popped out of the ground before wrapping around it’s feet.

The beast let out another bellow before moving it’s feet, destroying the tendrils. Zyro couldn’t be exactly sure but it looked almost effortless, which was bad news going forward, and once again he couldn’t keep up with his expenditure.

"I really am three times weaker in every single way possible"

The system had told him already but he just had to be sure.

"Lucky for me,you look like you’re only twice as strong as me,so this should be doable"

He knew Zaine would probably be upset but Zyro pulled out his sword,opting to just tune out the sound of his voice for a while.

Nothing suggested this thing had any long range attacks,at least yet so he felt pretty confident keeping his distance, his speed was luckily still a bit above it.

It immediately started charging at him again and Zyro once again resorted to dashing, coating his feet in shadows and avoiding that horn. The dungeon was cramped but that was to his advantage since the beast couldn’t gain speed and momentum as long as he stayed near the walls.

Seeing it charge for him again, Zyro decided to attack this time as he jumped out of the way, slashing at it’s shoulder as hard as he could.

The loud ringing of metal striking metal reverberated for a breif second in the hollow structure but it didn’t have much effect.

"I’m not strong enough to break through it with a sharp edge. Bludgeoning damage would be better for a fight like this"

Though all he had right now were his fists and he doubted they’d be more effective than the actual sword, though maybe a skill could change that.

He contemplated striking with a barrage but that would take too much time... unless he got creative.

He suddenly dropped his weapons and started charging towards the beast himself, preparing to attack. Seeing him approach it angrily charged to meet him but a huge mass of shadows popped out under it, multiple wrapping around each leg. The moment one broke,two more would replace it and it did manage to slow it down.

Halfway through, Zyro stopped ,planted one foot in front of him and the other to the side, taking a silly looking stance

He raised his fist, activating the skill, the rhino was still speeding towards him but if he’d timed it right it would get to him just in time.

His fists started glowing faintly as energy surged and gathered, and just as the beast was right in front of him, he moved the leg in front to the side in a wide arc, dodging without moving from his position. He was now lined up with it’s unprotected side and the skill cooldown ended at that second. In a flash his fist landed multiple times against it’s metal hide.

Bellowing loudly it crashed into the ground, rolling for a few meters

Zyro looked at his hands. Punching metal was about as good an idea as you’d expect, luckily he had no self inflicted injuries.

The beast got up and Zyro managed to see a couple of indentations in the armor, though he doubted it was deep enough to cause damage.

"Dang, about as effective as a good ranged attack. Should I try a more concentrated energy attack. "

Though when he remembered the cost of such, he immediately forgot about it.

"Having fun?"

Theia asked.

The sword and shield suddenly lifted up into the air and flew into his hands, benefits of branding items.

"Yeah,I guess. Just... getting use to... living"

Ever since he’d left the arcade they’d all been forced to consider things they never had before.

The cost of food, supplies, basic necessities, even life, and now power, their own.

They hadn’t lived like royalty before but their previous conditions were one where nothing was really a necessity. As long as you were alive,you were okay. Right now he couldn’t help but notice that.

Is this what living was like?

The beast bellowed again and Zyro prepared to dodge.

"Perhaps finesse? There should be openings in its armor somewhere"

Though he was disappointed when it pointed it’s horn at him and like a bullet,shot it towards him.

Zen barely had time to react, raising his shield and although it managed to block it it left a clear mark.

"Dang it"

He dropped the shield and was met with the sight of the beast right in front of him,a new horn aimed at his abdomen.

It rammed into him with crushing force, it’s horn forcing it’s way through and out of his body

For a good second, Zyro felt like he’d lost the ability to breathe but he quickly regained his bearings and before either of them could think of a way out of this,he stabbed the sword into it’s eye, avoiding the armor and thrusting it straight into it’s skull.

The beast roared but didn’t stop, slamming Zyro who was still skewered into the wall and driving the sword even deeper into it’s head.

Zyro laughed maniacally. For the boy who knew only joy this was exhilarating. He grabbed the beast wherever he could and held it tight, making sure it couldn’t escape.

The codex dropped lower before suddenly what looked like dozens of shadow tendrils popped out of it, wrapping them both together and keep them trapped. He wasn’t entirely sure how he did it but he understood he could, and that was good enough.

He freed his hands and completely forgetting about his energy depletion he started spamming barrages, dropping hammers onto its armored skull over and over again as hard as he could.

[Soul blade]

The illusory blade popped out of the codex stabbing downard and avoiding layers of armor to hit at it’s flesh.

"Damn, even under the armor you’re tanky. Fine then"

[Equip Freya]

"Zyro,I don’t think this is a good idea"

Freya wanted but he was far too giddy to listen.

The blade tendrils immediately gained an electric coating,electricuting them both

[Recieved damage]

[Electric damage bonus]

[Calculating...]

[-100 HP]

Zyro froze, his mind and body glitchinand the beast similarly trembled for a few seconds before stopping completely

After a few seconds they both fell to the ground, neither moving and both still impaled.

"Zyro?"

Theia called but he still didn’t move.

The codex suddenly glowed as Syl showed herself. She hadn’t felt it was necessary to show up before, but now this idiot had gone and forced her to.

She crouched down in front of him and as hard as she could slapped him across the face

"..."

She scowled at the lack of reaction and just shrugged, this time coating her hand with wind and slapping him with it again.

This time he came to his senses, opening his eyes.

"You’re welcome"

Syl said before disappearing back into the codex.

Zyro groaned, slowly getting up. He looked down at the the body of the beast and then at the notification.

[Successfully defeated intermediate 3rd rank beast: Iron hide]

[Exp 20/3000]

"About a hundred and fifty more of that"

This was comparable to the evolution bottleneck he faced every ten levels. He once again looked down at the necklace wondering how hard it would be once he actually reached the bottleneck

Just the thought of it made him want to...

Unable to contain himself anymore, Zyro jumped into the air, unimaginably pumped up.

"Whoooo!"

He suddenly looked down, noticing the body of the beast was starting to disappear.

"Isn’t it supposed to take a bit longer than that?"

He sat back down to watch as it’s body turned to floating particles of light that disappeared . This was what usually happened with dungeon creatures so he wasn’t surprised, or at least he wasn’t until some of those particles of light flew right into his codex.

He felt a burst of energy pierce his soul and for a second he was drowned in information he couldn’t make heads or tails from, but it quickly disappeared.

Zyro was a bit stunned. It felt like getting splashed with water but when you checked your clothes they were dry. He wasn’t sure what had happened but his codex seemed... happy.

"Moirai?"

It flew towards him into his hands.

[Royal privilege detected]

[Obtained source code fragment(metal)]

[Home world: unknown]

[Updating Astral codex]

"Theia, what is this?"

"Something that is useless for you right now but will be useful for your allies"

"Like Jade?"

"Maybe"

"As for the source code, that’s directly linked to the beacon and this creature’s home world. It can’t increase your strength directly but if we kill more creatures and successfully slay the dungeon. We’ll be able to do one of my favorite things that royal privilege allows you to do?"

"What is it?"

"I can tell you, but i really want it to be a surprise. Trust me,it’s worth it"

Zyro already liked the sound of that. He wasn’t in anyway impatient and quite enjoyed suprises so he got up on his feet.

He picked up the crystal the beast left behind, making sure to change his gloves and not touch it with his bare hands

"Alright dungeon. Here i come!"

He took a single step forward when his watch suddenly started ringing.

"Huh?"

He looked at it and realized it was a call from the academy. Not a specified name but the academy profile itself,meaning either it was from Tim or gramps, or some of the other very few high ranking officials.

He accepted the call and an automated voice spoke.

"First year cadet Zen. You are to report to the office of lieutenant general Tim Frazier "

Yep, just as expected.

This was probably about his punishment. Although he doubted taking a pet on a field trip would warrant a huge punishment. It was still animal endangerment, insubordination, and blatant disrespect for rules .

The severity of the crime wasn’t the issue, the fact that he’d even done it in the first place was.

That and the fact that Zyro was still quite young, at least compared to his counterparts made his imagination start to go wild.

"Dang it, Zen"

He wasn’t really worried though, he didn’t really feel the severity of the situation but this still counted as a direct order.

Zen already had multiple counts of insubordination and disrespect before this, this was just the first time they were being punished for it.

"Looks like dungeon slaying will have to wait"

Theia literally deflated like a balloon onto the ground, pouting as she did.

"Sorry guys, it’s a direct order"

He said as he turned around to leave.

"Zyro, wait. You should -"

But he’d already stopped listening.

Theia shrugged. At least it would make for a good laugh.

It didn’t take long to reach the outside of the dungeon since he hadn’t gone particularly deep in the first place.

He spotted the guards and waved.

"Hey! Sirs "

They turned to look at him and both suddenly froze in shock, staring at him.

"I need to go. I got a call from the academy so I can’t continue with the dungeon"

Neither of them said anything and just kept staring.

"Unfortunately I only got one crystal. What do I do about the tax?"

The two exchanged looks almost as if they were wondering if he was serious.

"Just...forget about it. You can go. Just... put your finger print down to check out"

Zyro nodded and complied. Dungeons were monitored strictly in the academy. Time of entry and exit and other things were recorded diligently.

He checked out and immediately started running for Tim’s office.

The two guards exchanged glances again but didn’t know what to say.

"I don’t think he noticed"

*Sigh*

"I guess it’s true. The new batch of kids really are crazy."

Zyro kept getting weird looks on his way but he couldn’t stop no matter what so he didn’t wait to question.

In a few minutes he reached Tim’s office and knocked twice.

"Come in"

A familiar voice said from the other side and he opened the door, walking in

In the room already stood Ava, standing while Tim sat at his desk.

They both suddenly froze as they saw Zyro, looking down specifically.

’oh, not this again ’

"Um... Zen. Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes sir. I just came back from a dungeon so that’s why I’m a bit roughed up"

"Oh..."

Tim said before slowly pointing at Zyro’s lower abdomen.

"I think you should..."

Zyro finally looked down and saw the steel horn of the rhino still lodged deep in his body, piercing all the way through and popping out the back.

"Oh..."