Others Summon Dragons, I Summon Legendary Knights Chapter 4: Shocking Strength

Does every summon truly offer its own benefits? What rubbish! How could a low-rank summon ever compete with the horrors confronting him?

From the stands in a colossal open-roof arena, Godfrey observed two combatants squaring off on the expansive stage. Isolde positioned herself on one end, accompanied by her summon: a beast clad in white scales. Leathery wings unfurled like sails from a bygone war vessel on its front limbs, as its mighty rear legs and thrashing tail shook the earth. Yet, it was the creature's head that seized all attention—savage and reptilian, boasting a line of pin-sharp teeth ready to rip apart anything foolish enough to enter its jaws.

A White Wyvern. Tier 5.5, potential 7.0. Current tier 6.8!

Opposite them was Dale with his summon: an enormous, stooped bull reaching seven feet high at the shoulder. Pair of ragged horns thrust skyward, their pointed ends sparking with electricity, while hooked spines in matching electric color spiked from its spine. Black, insect-like armor sheathed its whole form, tough enough to repel gunfire.

The Armored Emperor Bull. Tier 5.2, potential 6.2.

Isolde and Dale alike had formed bonds with their summons long before mastering letters, granted potent allies from a young age.

Dale grinned with assurance, his typical arrogance subdued around Isolde. "My bull has reached 6.1 high-tier already, wielding lightning powers."

"Oh." Isolde replied shortly, nearly scornfully. Her wyvern raised its head, fixing the bull with icy, sharp eyes.

Dale's grin wavered, yet he gritted his teeth and commanded his bull. The creature lunged forward, bolts of lightning dancing over the stone stage with every pound. Energy gathered between its horns, forming a blazing thunderbolt.

A deep growl emanated from Isolde’s wyvern, its throat vibrating. White vapor billowed from its mouth, instantly trapping the advancing bull in ice while still in motion.

Students gasped in shock.

'Her wyvern... it possesses elemental breath!'

Ice crept over the stage, fracturing rock as it expanded. The iced bull exploded into fragments when lightning burst the frost, but the wyvern struck first. Its enormous scaled tail lashed out, slamming the bull's throat and hurling the protected beast sliding across the field, crimson leaking from its mouth.

Dale's arms shook as faint sparks flickered along them.

"Isolde wins." The instructor declared firmly and decisively. "Dale, call back your summon for rest. You faced her like a regular foe. Her summon surpasses yours, yet your loss stemmed from mishandling its strengths."

Dale clenched his teeth, withdrawing his bull.

As Isolde ascended back to the spectators, Godfrey's eyes remained fixed on her. Admiration trailed every gaze; beyond her beauty, her skill shone, her path brimming with glory. For a fleeting instant, her head turned, meeting his look.

Godfrey's mouth formed a subtle arc. 'Cool summon,' he mouthed without sound.

Her features lit with a haughty grin upon reading his silent praise.

"Snow wins."

That call yanked Godfrey's focus to the arena. His eyes bulged seeing Snow below a mesmerizing man-sized butterfly. Reddish glow on its wings sparkled akin to descending stars.

The glow had floated to the serpent summoned by another girl, petrifying both her and the creature into stone.

Silence gripped the arena in awe.

Snow casually flicked his fingers. His Glimmer-Wing Butterfly beat its wings once, dispersing vibrant dust that dissolved the stone curse. The girl crumpled sobbing, trembling, haunted by the terror of immobility within her flesh.

"Go easy next time. They are your classmates," the instructor warned sharply.

"I did go easy," Snow answered indifferently, stepping down from the stage.

Murmurs and exclamations swept the audience. The Glimmer-Wing Butterfly stood out as exceptional. Tier 6.0, potential 6.5. Lethal fighter, yet its curse chilled more: prolonged bonding enhanced its master's allure beyond measure.

Snow embodied that truth perfectly.

Before Godfrey absorbed the scene fully, the instructor called once more.

"Godfrey Daniels. You’re next."

Tension knotted in his chest, but a slow breath calmed him. Fists tightened then relaxed as he advanced. This marked his debut real clash as summoner, igniting a pivotal shift in his destiny.

Across the stage, a twin-tailed girl sneered, convinced of triumph.

Godfrey closed his eyes momentarily, remembering the luminous inscription on a slab near the throne of his knight discovery.

Summon: Knight-Captain of the Golden Order

Type: Hybrid

Tier: 3.0

Potential: 6.0

Description: [The supreme Knight-Captain of the Sword and Shield unit – unmatched among peers. Sworn soldier of the Golden Order. Alchemically enhanced to vanquish monstrous beasts. Carries a 50-pound sword, a 100-pound shield, and armor of 150 pounds. In Black-Out State, this knight-captain shatters his core strength boundaries, soars to new pinnacles, and replicates the powers of his enemies.]

Within his soul space, Godfrey flashed a grin. ’A Knight-Captain, huh? You’ll be known as Mountain.’

Godfrey's eyes burst open into reality, just as the girl's summon materialized—a colossal Iron-Clawed Crab with gleaming steel pincers, each capable of tearing through walls.

’Mountain... It’s time. Come out.’

A radiant golden array ignited next to him, summoning the gigantic knight. Gold and steel shimmered in the sunlight, a white cape flowing behind. A blazing sun emblem adorned its breastplate. With thunderous metal strides, Mountain moved past Godfrey, lifting his massive shield while positioning his sword for battle.

The girl laughed softly. Her crab lunged ahead, its claws hammering down with savage power onto Mountain’s shield.

A deafening clash echoed, yet the knight stood unmoved; his shield ignited with luminous runes. The captured impact energy burst forth, ripping gashes into the crab’s shell. The girl and her summon staggered back in disbelief.

Mountain dropped his shield and unleashed a mighty swing of his enormous sword, slicing clean through one of the crab’s steel pincers.

Shocked gasps filled the air as blood sprayed across the stage.

Mountain showed no mercy. Rage poured from his form as his armored boot crushed into the crab’s torso, hurling it backward. His blade lifted skyward, set for a lethal final blow.

"Stop!" Godfrey’s command cut through, edged with surprise.

Mountain halted instantly, his sword paused mere inches from the crab’s skull.

The arena fell deathly quiet. Even the instructor froze for a split second. Then, shouting a hasty directive, he charged in, scooped up the battered crab, and raced to the school nurse to mend its lost claw.

Students all around gaped at Godfrey, their eyes wide in astonishment.

No one could wrap their heads around the spectacle they had beheld.

....

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