CHAPTER 270: THE SUMMONING

But suddenly, a strange sensation pulled at him as if his whole body was being lifted upward by an unseen force.

He felt a surge of powerful magic all around him.

Before he could react, the air itself seemed to twist.

A brilliant pattern of light spread beneath him.

It was a teleportation spell!

Dominic’s heart froze.

Someone had been waiting for this moment, watching for his guard to drop.

He tried to resist, but it was too late.

The spell had already taken hold, unfolding and collapsing faster than he could counter it.

The next thing he knew, Dominic was standing naked and unguarded in an unfamiliar room after being pulled away from Shiao Yi without warning.

In front of Dominic stood a woman with hair the color of a burning sunset.

Her bright red hair glowed against the deep blue of her unfamiliar clothes and her heavily made up blue eyes shimmered like jewels.

The gold and gemstones glittered around her neck, ears, and hair, which clear signs of wealth or high rank.

Even without trying, Dominic could sense her power.

The strong waves of magic spilled from her, brushing against his skin.

There was no doubt, this woman was the one who had pulled him here.

She stared at him with sharp, hungry eyes, the way a predator might study its prey.

Her lips curved into a delighted smile as she looked him up and down, clearly amused.

Dominic felt a surge of embarrassment at his exposed state, but he refused to show shame before a woman like her.

After straightening his back, he said coldly,

"Send me back to where I came from."

The woman tilted her head, her smile widening. "And what if I say no?"

Her mocking tone set Dominic’s teeth on edge.

He quickly began gathering energy in his right hand.

He already knew she was not someone he could reason with, her strength was too great.

In order to summon him here from a distant place through such a precise teleportation spell was proof enough.

Deciding not to hold back, Dominic focused his power and formed a blazing sword in his hand, the red fire curling and twisting into solid shape.

But the moment the weapon was complete, it flickered and vanished, as if swallowed by the air itself.

He realized instantly what had happened, she was using a suppression spell that blocked magical control.

A natural defense for a mage of her level.

Without hesitation, Dominic stepped forward to strike her physically, thinking that if magic failed, then force might still work.

The woman moved back just one step, but that was enough.

His fist missed her entirely and in that instant, bands of light shot out and wrapped around his body.

When the glow faded, heavy black chains bound him tightly from head to toe.

They were no ordinary chains.

The magic burned within them, scattering any energy he tried to summon.

No matter how hard he strained, they wouldn’t break.

Dominic grinding his teeth, while glaring up at her.

The woman smiled with pride and said,

"You belong to me now. Feel honored, for you shall become my husband."

What an arrogant, self-centered woman, Dominic thought bitterly.

He looked around the room carefully, studying his surroundings.

There were no windows and only smooth stone walls.

The space wasn’t large, but it carried a strange, heavy presence.

He could feel it, her magic filled the entire chamber, pulsing like a living thing.

The room itself seemed to breathe her power, absorbing, storing, and releasing it again.

It had become an extension of her will.

Any foreign magic, like his own, would be rejected instantly.

As long as he remained inside, he wouldn’t be able to use his full strength.

At the far end of the room stood a pedestal and on it rested a large, black, mirror like stone about the size of a human torso.

Its glossy surface gleamed with an unnatural light.

Dominic’s eyes narrowed.

He recognized it.

That was black agate stone, the rare mineral found only in the hidden northern villages of Minoan.

It was powerful catalyst that could amplify magic or act as the core of complex rituals.

It must have been the tool she used to summon him here.

That was bad, very bad.

Shiao Yi had once told him that such stones could block special abilities.

If so, then not even Shiao Yi’s telepathic powers would reach him now.

It meant that Shiao Yi had no idea where he was or that he was even alive.

Dominic’s chest tightened.

Shiao Yi was usually calm, but once angered, his power could become dangerous.

If Shiao Yi panicked, there was no telling what destruction he might cause trying to find him.

No, he had to escape this place, no matter what it took.

He had to get out of this room, find a way to break these chains and return before it was too late.

...

"What?!"

Just as Shiao Yi was slipping into a warm, peaceful sleep filled with satisfaction, he suddenly felt something missing.

The sharp sense of loss shocked him awake.

"What? Wh–what? What is this? Dominic?"

The heavy warmth that had been wrapped around him moments ago was gone.

The presence that had been pressed against him, so close, so real had completely vanished, as if it had never been there.

He jumped up, his eyes darting around to find the strong beautiful man with golden hair and blue eyes.

The forest was shrouded in darkness.

Even the stars were hidden by the thick canopy of leaves.

Only the sound of the cool night wind and the quiet movements of nocturnal creatures filled the air.

Somewhere in the trees, a night bird called sharply and its cry echoing through the silence.

The sound helped Shiao Yi regain his senses, he realized how shaken he had been.

He quickly guessed what must have happened to Dominic.

Someone had used a teleportation spell that was focusing only on Dominic and transferred him away.