Welcome to the Innocent World-Chapter 278: Summoning of Swords

The night sky sprawled vast above the island, a glittering canopy of stars shimmering under the moon’s pale glow, casting a silver sheen across the restless ocean below.

Across from me, Alaric had risen to his feet. Blood trickled down his cheek, a thin crimson line that he wiped away with the back of his hand, his red eyes glowing with unyielding defiance.

I turned to face him, my boots crunching on the broken ground, my dark aura flaring slightly. "Still not done, huh?" I said, my voice a mix of exasperation and taunt, my smirk sharp as I tilted my head, sizing him up.

The crowd on the beach below buzzed with nervousness. A guy in a tank top, clutching a beer, shook his head, his eyes wide. "Damn, that alien’s tough," he said, his voice thick with awe. "Taking a hit like that and still standing?"

His friend, a lanky guy with sunglasses perched on his head, nodded, his brow furrowed. "Yeah, I know, right?" he said, squinting at Alaric’s blood-streaked face. "That was a strong shot by Zero, and he’s just... there."

The first guy crossed his arms, his voice steady but cautious. "Well, Zero’s got the upper hand so far, so it’s okay, I guess," he said, glancing at his friend. "He’s been owning this fight."

His friend frowned, his eyes fixed on Alaric’s calm demeanor. "Yeah, but that alien looks way too chill," he said, his voice low. "Like he’s got something up his sleeve. That’s not a good sign."

The first guy sighed, his jaw tightening. "If we wanna stay alive, we’ve gotta bet on Zero," he said, his voice firm. "He’s our only shot."

His friend nodded slowly, his eyes darting between me and Alaric. "Let’s see how this goes," he said, his voice heavy with anticipation.

I shrugged, my black coat shifting as I leaned back slightly, my smirk unwavering.

"Sighhh, you’re still standing," I said, my voice dripping with mock disappointment. "You’ve got some serious knack for resilience, I’ll give you that."

Alaric’s red eyes narrowed, his voice low and serious, cutting through the air like a blade.

"I underestimated you," he said, his tone devoid of mockery, his blood-streaked face hardening with focus.

I raised an eyebrow, exhaling loudly, my voice laced with sarcasm. "Now you’re realizing that?" I asked, shaking my head in disappointment. "Took you long enough, alien."

Alaric’s jaw tightened, his red aura flaring brighter, tendrils curling around him like flames. "But it doesn’t matter," he said, his voice cold and resolute, his eyes never leaving mine.

I tilted my head, my smirk sharpening with curiosity. "Hmm? You gonna do something now?" I asked, my voice casual but edged with challenge, my dark aura pulsing in response to his growing intensity.

Alaric didn’t answer directly. Instead, his lips curled into a faint, menacing smirk.

"Summon," he said, his voice low and commanding, the single word echoing with power.

The air shifted, a low hum vibrating through the ground as Alaric’s fingers twitched. His red aura swirled faster, spiraling under his right hand’s palm, glowing brighter until it coalesced into a massive, jagged sword, its blade pulsing with crimson energy.

He clutched the weapon tightly, his knuckles whitening, the sword’s edge glinting ominously in the moonlight, its presence sending a chill through the air.

A woman in a sundress clutched her friend’s arm, her voice trembling. "That alien just summoned a sword!" she said, her eyes wide with fear and amazement. "It’s huge!"

Her friend, a man clutching a beer, nodded, his brow furrowed. "That thing looks menacing," he said, squinting at the weapon. "Like the devil’s own teeth, all big and flat with jagged edges. Zero’s gotta be careful."

A younger guy nearby, his phone raised to record, shook his head, his voice tinged with excitement. "Zero’s got this," he said, his eyes locked on me. "He’s faced worse than some creepy sword."

I tilted my head, my smirk widening as I studied Alaric’s blade, my dark aura pulsing faintly. "Ohhhhh," I said, my voice amused, almost playful. "That’s some heavy-looking sword you got there, alien."

*Grr...* Alaric dragged the jagged blade across the ground, sparks flying as he pointed it straight at me, his red eyes blazing with intensity, his red aura flaring around the weapon. The concrete groaned under the sword’s weight, a low rumble echoing through the air.

I chuckled, leaning back slightly, my black coat shifting.

"Well, you don’t have to flex that hard," I said, my voice dripping with taunt as I raised my right hand, palm facing the sky.

"I’ve got my own, you know." My dark aura surged, swirling above my palm, condensing into a sleek, thin black sword, its blade shimmering with shadowy energy, sharp and deadly in its simplicity.

I gripped it tightly, waving it down with a quick flick of my wrist, the air hissing as I took my stance, my smirk sharp and confident.

The crowd erupted, their gasps turning to cheers. "Whoa, Zero’s so amazing!" a woman shouted, clapping her hands, her face lit with excitement. "He’s got a sword too!"

The man with the beer grinned, raising his drink. "That’s our guy!" he said, his voice thick with pride. "Zero’s not letting that alien show him up!"

Alaric bent his knees, his red aura flaring brighter, the jagged sword glowing with crimson energy as he prepared to launch.

I mirrored him, bending my knees, my black aura surging around my sleek sword, my smirk unwavering as I locked eyes with his serious, blazing red gaze.

*THUD!* The ground shook as we both launched, leaving twin craters in the concrete as we charged straight toward each other, our swords raised.

Alaric’s face was a mask of cold focus, his red aura trailing like a comet, while my smirk held firm, my dark aura swirling like a storm. The air hummed with anticipation, the island holding its breath.

The night sky crackled with tension, our auras clashing—my black storm against Alaric’s red fire—as we hovered, our swords locked in our hands.