Ascension of the strongest God

Alexa paused, her gaze shifting downward, and the realization hit her like a bolt of lightning.

Her lips parted, but no words came out as a bright flush of red crept up her cheeks. Embarrassment crashed into her like a tidal wave.

How had she not noticed? She had been so furious about being summoned—so consumed by her anger—that she had completely overlooked the glaring fact that she was completely, utterly naked.

She felt a deep, sinking sensation in her chest, an overwhelming urge to disappear into the earth, to vanish into the void rather than endure this humiliating moment.

And then... there was him—the bastard standing before her with an infuriatingly blank expression, pointedly looking to the side as if to feign innocence.

'Why am I even embarrassed?' she seethed internally. 'I should just incinerate him for daring to see my body.'

Her mortification swiftly transformed into irritation, then full-blown rage. Her crimson eyes darkened as she directed a smoldering glare at Kieran.

Meanwhile, Kieran sat stiffly, his body turned slightly away, doing his best to maintain a neutral expression. This was, after all, the first time in his life he had seen a woman standing completely bare before him. He had been momentarily stunned, so much so that he hadn't known how to react. But of course, his innocent mind bore no ill intentions toward the woman before him.

'Or at least, I hope she believes that...' Kieran thought nervously. 'Are all my summons going to show up naked?'

A nervous smile tugged at his lips as he kept his gaze firmly averted.

Unknown to him, Alexa's expression had grown dangerously dark.

'I have never been embarrassed in my entire life... and it's his fault I'm in this situation!' She clenched her fists, barely containing the seething rage boiling within her.

'He should pay!'

As if in response to her fury, flames roared into existence around her.

The air in the region changed in an instant. The temperature skyrocketed, an oppressive heat pressing down on everything. Even the oxygen itself seemed to burn under the intensity of her power.

Kieran felt the shift immediately. His body tensed as a bead of sweat formed on his brow. His instincts screamed danger.

"What the—?" His stomach twisted as a strong, malicious aura emanated from Alexa.

He wasted no time. Shoving his feet against the ground, he scrambled backward, trying to put as much distance as possible between himself and the swirling inferno of flames threatening to consume him.

But just as the fire surged forward, it came to an abrupt halt.

A sudden force slammed into Alexa's body, yanking her to her knees. A sharp, excruciating pain erupted in her head, as if something was trying to tear her apart from the inside.

She clutched her skull, gritting her teeth against the unbearable agony. Between her breasts, a glowing mark pulsed with radiant energy. She recognized it instantly, and frustration burned in her chest at the realization.

Her body trembled from the failed attempt to strike Kieran—and from the pain that punished her for it.

Slowly, the pain ebbed. She inhaled deeply, unclenching her fingers from her scalp as the throbbing subsided.

Meanwhile, Kieran—who had only a vague understanding of what had just happened—exhaled a deep breath of relief.

'Oh, so she was planning to roast me alive to hide her embarrassment. What a wonderful summon,' he thought dryly, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes.

"Do you really think I had any idea that my first summon would appear without clothes on?" he asked, dusting himself off. "And besides, how was I supposed to know a phoenix could take human form?"

Alexa kept her head low, silent as she absorbed his words.

Kieran took the chance to observe their surroundings, taking in the dark, ominous forest that stretched around them. Towering trees with thick canopies loomed overhead, casting long shadows across the damp ground. The air was heavy with an eerie stillness, disturbed only by distant rustling sounds that hinted at unseen creatures lurking nearby.

Above them, far in the sky, a large pentagonal star glowed faintly, suspended in the darkness like an ominous omen.

His jaw tightened as the realization settled in.

Those bastards actually threw me into the Senior Realm Gates...

The more he thought about the three idiots responsible, the angrier he became.

His gaze returned to Alexa. She still hadn't moved, but something in her posture shifted.

She tightened her fists and finally lifted her head, her crimson eyes locking onto his dull black ones.

"How did you summon me?" she demanded, her voice laced with restrained fury.

Kieran shrugged. "I don't really know. It's just... my ability. I was dumped in here in a terrible condition, so I tried to use my power to help myself—and poof—you appeared."

He deliberately skipped mentioning the system. He still didn't fully understand it himself, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to share that detail just yet.

Alexa exhaled sharply, running a hand through her fiery red hair. "Of course, it's your ability, you idiot. What I'm asking is—whose bloodline do you have?"

Kieran frowned. "Bloodline?"

Alexa gave him a long, scrutinizing stare before her expression twisted with frustration.

"Don't tell me you have no idea who your parents are."

"I'm an orphan. I never knew my parents," Kieran replied, his tone indifferent.

Alexa's gaze sharpened. Orphan? That didn't make sense. She could feel the divine essence radiating from him—there was no mistaking it. He had godly origins.

"You're lying," she muttered.

"I'm not," Kieran said plainly. "And honestly, I don't have time to play guess-my-parents with you. We need to get out of here. Otherwise, we're going to have a lot of problems."

He wasn't wrong. The amount of noise they had already made was enough to draw attention. It wouldn't be surprising if monsters were already closing in on their location.

Alexa studied him for a moment before scoffing.

"Fine. But let me be clear—I don't recognize you as my master. Don't expect anything from me."

Kieran raised an eyebrow. "You mean, aside from trying to kill me five minutes ago?"

Her glare intensified, but before she could respond, a low, guttural growl rumbled through the underbrush.

Both of them snapped their heads toward the sound.

A pair of bloodshot eyes gleamed from the darkness, piercing through the thick foliage.

A feral presence crept toward them, a creature hidden within the shadows, its breath heavy and ragged.

Kieran's muscles tensed. 'shit'

The real danger had just arrived.