Chapter 120: All Black Marks
The portal above them groaned like it was building up something, its violet edges crackling with malevolent energy. The thunder that had been rumbling moments before now fell into an ominous silence.
Valachi tilted his pale head upward, that single white eye locked on the portal above. His devilish smirk widened as he watched something massive begin to push through the portal.
"Ah," he said with the tone of someone greeting an old friend, "my dear companion has arrived. Though I must admit, I was rather enjoying having all of you to myself."
The second creature to emerge from the portal created by Yuki Nakamura was surprisingly humanoid, just like Valachi. However, it had an apparently different structure that made it appear far more threatening than Valachi.
It was floating quite menacingly in the sky, standing around ten feet tall with thick muscles that seemed to ripple beneath its skin while motionless.
The sheer bulk of this creature was enough to balance its towering height, giving it an appearance that belonged more in nightmares than reality.
From its back, two wings could be seen stretched out wide and draconic in appearance—covered in scales rather than feathers.
Each wing measured up to nearly fifteen feet from tip to tip, and yet the creature was suspended in the air unnaturally, in a way that made the wings seem like they were just for show and weren't the actual reason the creature was capable of flight.
The wings didn't even move at all.
Its skin was black as midnight, unlike Valachi with his pale complexion, allowing it to blend in with the darkness of the night as if they were one entity, and its pupils were red.
This creature had two eyes positioned in the same pattern as that of a human, giving it slight facial features that might have been considered almost normal if not for the eyes, glaring with evil.
However, there came its beast-like nature—two curved horns protruding and extending outward from both sides of its forehead, each horn several inches long and sharp enough to pierce through steel.
Just like Valachi, it descended down with a speed that made it seem like it teleported even in the eyes of the Sen, who were supposed to be capable of tracking movements that would be invisible to lesser summoners.
**Boom!**
The ground didn't just crack—it completely shattered upon impact, sending chunks of concrete and debris flying in all directions.
Unlike Valachi, who had demonstrated the intent of playing with his prey, this newly arrived creature showed no sign of friendliness or any other false emotion that might suggest mercy.
It bore a serious expression that was carved from stone, with pure focused killing intent. There was no amusement in its eyes, no glimpse of playfulness, just cold, calculating malice.
"Oh, hello Draki," Valachi said, the smile extending across his face as he gestured toward his newest companion. "I know this isn't the best way to start up an encounter in this world of summoners, but I hate the fact that we would have to share my toys."
"I wish I cared," Draki responded, his voice like a low rumble carrying a guttural effect. "We have our orders. Follow any order of the human that would not falter the chance of fulfilling the Dracogons' desire. No games."
**Rumble!**
"Nooo!" Ryder's voice was nearly lost as he expressed his horror, staring up at the portal that seemed to be preparing to allow something else to exit from it again. The word came out from him as little more than a whisper, but the terror evident in it was loud enough for everyone to hear.
Just one of these creatures was already more than enough of a threat. They were already afraid that two was overkill, and there seemed to be yet another one coming through.
Leo's blue-silver eyes were locked on the portal above, and what he could detect made his blood run cold. "This one's different," he managed to say through gritted teeth. "The energy signature... it's not like the other two. It's..."
**Boom!**
"It's not one creature," he finally finished, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's two consciousnesses sharing the same body."
This creature in particular didn't waste any time hovering above like the others. Instead, it shot itself down like a bolt of lightning striking the ground, moving with such force that it created a powerful wave that shattered all the remaining traces of glass nearby and left everyone's ears ringing.
At that moment, the entire picture came into view, and it wasn't just one creature—what had descended was a being with two heads, which was in fact more appropriate to refer to as two separate entities sharing a single body.
A creature that looked like a fusion between a dragon and something demonic had descended to the ground with earth-shaking force.
Scales covered every inch of its body, gleaming under the night sky and reflecting the violet light from the now-closing portal above. Powerful wings, easily twenty feet from tip to tip, folded against its back.
Multiple horns protruded from both heads—not just the simple pair that Draki possessed, but something that was almost a crown of bone spikes. Fangs the size of combat knives could be seen from both mouths that couldn't close shut for some reason.
But perhaps most disturbing of all were the eyes—four of them total, two per head, and each one burned with a different pair of flames. The left head's eyes glowed with red flame, while the right head's eyes blazed with angry orange flames.
The portal above them finally closed. The violet light faded, leaving only the normal darkness of night.
This should have caused them to sigh in relief—at least no more of these nightmare creatures would be descending from above.
But what had already arrived was too much stress for them to even show the slightest sign of relaxation. Their hearts continued to pound against their ribs heavily, and cold sweat continued to pour down their faces despite the cool night air.
Four black-marked beasts from the Astral Shadow plane against a handful of red-marked familiar owners and one black-marked summoner.
Is survival even a possibility at this moment? This was the question that occupied every mind present, though none dared voice it aloud.
Even thinking it felt like admitting defeat before the battle had truly begun.
"What a shame I will have to share," Valachi said with clear disappointment, gesturing toward his newly arrived companions. "I would have loved to take my time with each of you, but it seems that thought has been thrown out through the window."
"There's no point in struggling with you all and fighting over our first victims on this planet," Draki added, speaking toward his companions that had gathered around him, his deep voice carrying finality.
"We are not prey..."
A voice muttered in a low tone from behind the group, but due to the intensity already in the air and the oppressive silence that had fallen over the battlefield, the words carried much louder than they should have—just enough for everyone to hear.
"What did you say?" Valachi asked, tilting his pale head to one side like a curious predator. His single white eye focused on the area where the voice had originated, searching for the source.
"Oh," Valachi's voice stretched out the word like taffy, savoring each syllable. "I think I heard something interesting. Something that suggested someone here still has fight left in them."
His devilish grin spread even wider, if such a thing were possible.
"Would the speaker care to repeat that statement?" Valachi's voice was slow and cold now. "I do so hate it when my toys mumble. Speak clearly, little weaklings, so we can all appreciate your final words."
But then, with calm, steady footsteps that seemed to echo with supernatural clarity across the battlefield, Master Sung walked forward.
There was no hesitation in his movement, no tremor of fear, no sign that he was anything other than completely prepared for what was about to unfold.
"I said we are not prey!
And I will not give you the privilege to disrespect us, black-marked beast."