The Seven Demon's Tamer

Everyone startled except Leo, of course, who had tracked Master Sung's movement with the enhanced perception his silver gaze technique granted him. He'd seen the man approach since they got into the room.

"How did you get here!" Mara blurted out, her voice higher with surprise.

"I'll take that as a rhetorical question," Master Sung replied, his gaze meeting Mara's with those unsettling red pupils, causing her to gulp.

He definitely wasn't as conversational as he was back then, or maybe he was... Just not for Mara.

He turned his attention to Ryder, and his expression shifted to something that might have been warmth if not for his red eyes.

"Nice meeting you again, Ryder." Master Sung patted his shoulder with casual familiarity.

"Yeah," Ryder said flatly, trying to appear as calm and casual as he could. "Nice meeting you again too."

"Now, would you mind explaining why exactly we are here? I thought we were going to be transported to the Red Eastern guild headquarters."

Master Sung chuckled lightly before he responded. "Don't be in a rush.

"You can believe whatever I say." He moved toward the platform, composed as he spoke. "I told you yesterday that you would be taken to our headquarters, so rest assured you will be—and from inside this room."

Ryder took a cautious step backward, his mind racing through possibilities, none of which were particularly comforting.

What could Master Sung mean by transporting them far away while remaining inside this room?

Such a statement sounded like something you'd hear in movies right before the bad guy pulled out a weapon or revealed that the room was actually a death trap or something along those lines.

"Don't overthink it," Master Sung said, noticing Ryder's change in composure after his last statement. "Everything is possible with the right familiar's affinity."

He paused dramatically, clearly as if he was enjoying the reactions from Ryder and his crew. "Have you ever heard of the affinity of teleportation?

"That is the means by which you will be transported."

"You mean instant transportation through portals!" Ryder exclaimed in surprise, his eyes widening with surprise. "That's actually a possible affinity for familiars!?"

The idea was mind-boggling to Ryder because the only times he'd ever seen portals were during the two breach incidents he'd witnessed.

The idea that portal creation was just another beast ability, like breathing fire or enhanced strength, was fascinating and terrifying at the same time.

It should be possible for them to potentially open a breach by themselves from the astral shadow plane to planet Terra if familiars are capable of creating portals by themselves.

"Yes," Master Sung replied calmly. "There are countless beast affinities, even more intriguing ones you wouldn't believe exist."

His red pupils seemed to gleam as he continued. "Teleportation is just a small fish in a big pond. There's lightning, as well as flame—like you saw me perform yesterday.

There's earth manipulation, mind alteration, spike generation, energy nullification, and so much more."

Brok raised his hand sharply, like a student in class, and asked, "Um, mind alteration? That sounds... concerning."

"Everything here is concerning," Leo muttered, clearly fascinated despite his hate toward familiars.

Master Sung smiled at their reactions, the expression somehow managing to be reassuring despite his gleaming eyes. "You'll familiarize yourself with all these abilities when you get to the Red Eastern headquarters.

The world is far more complex and wonderful than most people ever realize."

Suddenly, Master Sung hopped with an abnormal leap backward, his movement so casual that his facial expression remained impassive before and during the leap. His robes billowed dramatically as he descended softly at the center of the elevated platform in the room.

They all watched quietly, knowing instinctively that something significant was about to happen.

The air in the room seemed to thicken with anticipation, and Mara could feel the hair on her arms standing up.

From the air slightly above the platform, electric-like energy began to crackle with intensity, increasing every second.

The electrical energy that danced and twisted started converging slowly into a perfect red circle that hung in the air, resembling a mirror but showing no reflection.

The lightning continued to dance within the circle, its patterns reminding everyone present of the previous day's events at the village portal breach, but they knew this was different though.

Gradually, shadowy figures began to emerge from within the crackling circle, or more appropriately, portal, descending calmly to the platform with fluidity.

A total of three individuals had arrived through the portal, and each of them radiated the kind of presence that made it clear they were not ordinary people.

The first, positioned to the right, was a woman with long ash-colored hair that seemed to move in a breeze that existed only around her.

She was dressed in robes similar to Master Sung's but less enigmatic, maintaining an impassive face. Her eyes were a startling violet color, bright and beautiful. Almost resembling a cartoon character and definitely a Japanese hottie.

The second, positioned to the left, was also a woman, but with rich brown hair that fell in waves to her shoulders. She was dressed in similar fashion to her companion, though her robes had a different design.

Her eyes were a warm amber color, just as vibrant as her companion's, and resembling an easterner as well like her companion.

The last figure, standing in the middle, was a young man with striking orange hair that seemed to somehow glow like it had its own built-in light.

He was clad in armor unlike the other two. The armor wasn't bulky or cumbersome—instead, it seemed to fit him like a second skin. He was Japanese also.

"These are the exclusive assistants of the Red Eastern guild," Master Sung announced, his voice carrying deliberate pride. "They all have unique powers and will be helping to make the preparations you'll need in order to blend in perfectly at our guild base in Tokyo, Japan."

"Oh, how silly of me," Ryder said, slapping his forehead with an exaggerated gesture. "I was too occupied with the thought of going to the base without even thinking properly about necessary briefing."

He paused, considering the idea. "I suppose you can't just drop foreign visitors into Tokyo without some preparation, can you?"

"Exactly right," Master Sung confirmed with approval. "Visiting a foreign place such as Japan is not something anyone should suddenly jump into without proper preparation.

One should at least know, most importantly, about language basics and a couple of other necessities."

"All right," Ryder concluded. "I'm all ears."

He looked around at Mara, Brok, and Leo, then added, "We all are."