CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 73: WRONG CALL

Richard sat in silence long after Raviel faded back into the shadows behind Akumo. The cave pulsed with dim, violet light, the glow of old runes etched across the floor. Every whisper of the darkness made him think—too much, too fast.

His thoughts ran around in circles.

Akumo...

Raviel...

Forbidden rituals.

Summoning monsters...

And above all—

Could Raviel read every thought that entered his mind?

It was an idea that wrapped around his spine like ice. Richard clenched his fists as he stared at the massive silhouette of the darkness-beast; Raviel’s presence was like a mountain made of pure shadow. What if every doubt, each hesitation, each rebellious intention was already in Akumo’s ears?

What if every ambition Richard buried deep inside himself... the ones even he feared...

was already disclosed?

As fear twisted beneath his ribs, Raviel turned his head, slowly, with the weight of a titan, and spoke in a low voice that felt like it came from inside Richard’s mind.

"Do not torture yourself, magician. I do not hear all thoughts. I am not a reader of souls—only a watcher of paths. I speak when the road you choose bends toward ruin."

Richard let out a sharp exhalation; the tension broke like a snapped chain. His heart steadied from what had felt like a bird trapped inside his chest.

"So... you don’t tell him anything?"

Raviel’s burning crimson eyes narrowed.

"If I intended betrayal, Richard, I would have no need for thoughts. I do only that which requires guidance. Your secrets—your past—are your own."

Those words changed everything.

Richard straightened.

His spine stiffened.

His confidence rose yet again, like some old foe returning to the battlefield.

So, Raviel didn’t know what he had planned.

Akumo didn’t know either.

Yet, he was still the master of his mind.

Akumo, who had watched them both with a slight smile, finally spoke.

"Good. Your fear would have made you useless. Since you understand the nature of my beast... let us move to the next lesson."

Richard stepped forward. "What lesson?"

"The art of summoning darkness monsters," Akumo said. His voice grew deeper, older, carrying centuries of forbidden knowledge. "Not reanimation. Not simple magic. This ability lies between worlds—and only those who accept the corruption of power can wield it."

Richard’s pulse rose as he said, "Summoning monsters... your own beast army?"

Akumo nodded.

"It is far more dangerous than reanimation. And far more rewarding."

He stood, leaning heavily on the stone structure beside him, but his aura flared with the pride of an ancient conqueror.

"Listen carefully."

His voice cut through the cave like a blade.

"In the world of darkness, there are masters. Not animals, not spirits-masters whose forms twist reality. When one is summoned, your blood must sign a contract. But only if you hold enough strength to withstand them. Overpower them. Prove your worth. Only then will they kneel as your servant."

Richard swallowed. "And if the summoner fails?"

Akumo smirked.

A quiet, deadly smirk.

"Then he dies instantly—his energy drained to nothing. Some monsters devour the summoner’s soul before the body has time to fall."

He looked right into Richard’s eyes.

"And if the wrong monster answers the call...?"

He raised a hand and snapped his fingers.

"You are eaten alive."

A chill shivered through his bones, but Richard refused to look away.

Akumo turned toward the center of the cave to where runes formed a spiraling circle.

"Now watch."

He stepped forward, raising both hands. Dark energy swirled from the cavern walls, drawn to him as though the shadows themselves revered him.

Akumo’s voice deepened, speaking ancient words:

"Arah’tor... delv ra’ka... shuun mokh’ra..."

The air thickened.

The earth shook.

Richard’s skin prickled from head to toe.

When the last word left Akumo’s lips—

A tear in the air opened.

A wound of pure blackness tore into the world.

From nothingness, a horned shape materialized—huge, armored in scales that glimmered with darkness. The cave shook as the creature bowed its head.

"Why did you summon me, Lord Akumo?" the monster rumbled.

Richard stepped back, breath caught in his throat.

He’d fought dragons.

He’d fought warriors.

He had faced armies.

But he had never seen anything like this.

This thing...

This presence...

This aura that crushed the spirit just by existing—

It terrified him.

And at the same time, it lit something in him.

Power.

Real power.

The kind of power that could bend kingdoms.

Akumo smiled at the beast. "Raviel, stand down."

Raviel lowered his head, acknowledging the order with no hesitation.

Richard stared at Akumo, his voice trembling, "You... fought with this?

Akumo nodded. "We killed thousands together-magicians, warriors, beasts. Even when at death’s door, I could triumph simply by summoning Raviel.

He chuckled.

"You understand now? This is not a trick. Not a child’s spell. This is the pinnacle of darkness power—a tool of conquest."

Richard’s heart was hammering. Visions of revenge flickered behind his eyes: faces of those who’d defeated him, the army that had torn him down, humiliation at falling in battle-a fire that was fanned.

If he had a monster like Raviel...

He could rewrite his fate.

Everything that opposed him, he could destroy.

He could still redeem his legacy.

A fire was sparked in his veins.

"I must learn this," Richard whispered. "I must summon one myself."

Akumo raised an eyebrow. "You are eager. Too eager."

But Richard didn’t care.

"Teach me."

Akumo watched him for a long moment, then finally nodded.

"Sit. Concentrate. Feel the darkness within yourself. Summoning is not done with muscle. It is done with will."

Richard went to one knee, breathing deeply, his eyes closed. He reached inside himself, searching for that old spark of power-the one he wielded before death, before defeat.

The shadows stirred.

Whispers curled around him.

A pull.

A link.

A calling.

And then—

The darkness replied.

The ground cracked beneath him, a circle of black smoke forming instantly. Akumo’s eyes widened—not in admiration, but in sudden alarm.

"Stop! Richard—"

But it was too late.

A gigantic shape tore through the veil of reality.

Not Raviel.

Not anything stable.

Not anything controlled.

A monster stepped out-towering, hulking, dripping darkness like liquid shadow. Its chest rose in slow heavy breaths. Its eyes burned with feral hunger.

And in an instant, Richard felt the bond snap—like a rope pulled too tight and torn apart.

His control shattered.

The monster roared.

The cave shook.

Richard stumbled backward.

His heart slammed against his ribs.

Akumo growled, "Fool! You are not ready!"

The creature lunged at Richard with impossible speed. He barely rolled aside as the monster’s claws split the ground like thin cloth.

Richard launched a blast of magical energy—visual prowess exploding from his hands.

The explosion struck.

Smoke burst forth.

The monster did not flinch.

It turned its head slowly...

and attacked again.

Richard tried to defend himself, but the beast was too strong, too fast, too overwhelming. His feet slipped on the rock as he was pushed backward, the monster looming over him, jaws opening wide—

"Raviel!" Akumo shouted.

The command cracked through the cave.

Raviel moved like a bolt of living darkness.

He slammed into the summoned monster, lifting it off the ground and pinning it against the far wall. The two darkness creatures clashed in a thunderous crash that sent dust falling from the cavern ceiling.

Raviel’s grip tightened, shadows swirling around his claws.

Then he started to make a hand sign-ancient, complex, full of power.

A circle of sealing light burst beneath the creature.

The summoned monster shrieked, its form contorting and then vanishing piece by piece, until it was nothing but a dying echo.

As the last fragment vanished, so did the seal.

Raviel stepped back calmly.

Akumo turned to Richard with cold eyes.

"That," he said quietly, "is why I warned you.

Richard collapsed onto one knee, wheezing. Sweat poured down his face. His hands shook uncontrollably.

Akumo walked towards him.

"Do not summon again. Do not attempt reanimation. Not until your mind and strength recover. Your arrogance nearly killed you."

Richard lowered his head.

He fully comprehended.

He was weak.

Far weaker than he thought.

But weakness could be repaired.

Strength could be rebuilt. Power could be taken back. He nodded slowly, "I understand..." Akumo gave a thin smile. "Good. In months, when your power returns, you may try again. Richard didn’t say a word. He stared at the ground, breathing slowly, his mind replaying everything. Raviel’s power. Akumo’s control. His own humiliating failure. He needed more time. More strength. More understanding. But something else sparked in him... A question. A suspicion. A truth he suddenly wanted to uncover. He lifted his gaze and really looked at Akumo-at the power he displayed, at the authority with which darkness itself obeyed, at the history that was hinted between his words.

Who was this man, really? What was he, really? Shadows around Akumo fluttered, almost responding to Richard’s silent curiosity. And Richard thought: "I will ask him. I must know who he really is.

After this He apologised to Raviel "Sorry for my mistake. I was too quick to to did such hard things for early, It’s my mistake.I messed up all this things."

Raviel in calm way "Don’t say this to me, if you want apologise, tell this to Lord Akumo. He saved you by using me, rather you die then". But