Return of the Legendary Runesmith

Summoners are rare. Among thousands of magicians, only one might be born with this gift.

But they don't summon monsters from other dimensions. Instead, they fight and capture wild creatures, sealing them inside something like Adrian's time chamber.

There are old myths about demon summoners—those who could summon creatures from another world, known as the Lost World, which once belonged to the Fallen God.

But those are just legends. No one knows if they're real.

Some magical abilities are common. Basic elemental spells and body strengthening can be learned by any Acolyte with enough training. But monster taming and summoning—those are rare talents, awakened by only a few.

Then there are bloodline powers. But since ancient magical families have nearly vanished, finding someone with a true bloodline ability is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Adrian was sure this was the work of an Acolyte. There was no way so many demonic monsters could break through and reach deep into the heart of the nation unnoticed. The border guards would've stopped them. And trolls? They weren't smart or organized enough to pull off an invasion like this.

So someone must've brought them in.

He sprinted into the town, helping people along the way, when a sudden explosion shook the ground.

BOOOOOM

Panic spread instantly. People screamed and ran, convinced the monsters had broken through the defenses.

Adrian didn't stop. He turned and dashed straight toward the explosion.

It was a blue and white building—most likely an office, judging by the structure and the national insignia on the wall.

Adrian hurried toward it. As he got closer, he called out to a soldier who was helping people nearby.

"Is anyone still inside?"

The soldier glanced over his shoulder and shouted back while moving, "Yes! There are still people inside. Wait for backup!"

Adrian paused for a second.

This was a small town, and many soldiers had already fallen fighting the monsters.

He brushed aside any hesitation.

Without waiting any longer, he pulled out his spear and swung it in a sharp diagonal motion. A wave of water surged forward, clearing the rubble and fire at the entrance, giving him a safe way in.

Inside, the air was filled with smoke. A few people lay on the ground—unconscious, but still alive.

Without wasting time, he lifted one onto his shoulder and carried them out. He placed them a safe distance away, then turned back to get the others.

"T-There *cough* there are more... on the upper floor," said an old man, conscious but too weak to stand.

Adrian gave a firm nod, gently setting the man against the wall before stepping back inside.

The roars of monsters still echoed in the distance. That meant the summoner was still sending creatures toward Ariana.

He rushed through the corridor and took the stairs two at a time, reaching the upper floor. There were two rooms at either end. He checked the one on the left first—empty.

He spun around and sprinted toward the other.

He had only taken a few steps when a voice echoed from within.

"Not very punctual, are you?"

Adrian froze mid-stride. His hand instinctively reached for his revolver—

But he couldn't move.

Not out of shock.

Literally.

Thick green vines burst out from the ceiling and floor, coiling tightly around his wrists and ankles. In a flash, his arms and legs were yanked apart, locking him in place.

Gritting his teeth, Adrian strained to reach his revolver—but it was no use. His limbs refused to budge.

"You're a hard man to reach. Rarely leave the academy, and you're always surrounded by strong allies," said a voice from within the room.

A man rose from a chair behind a large desk. His long, rough black hair partly covered his face, but not the golden eyes that gleamed as they studied Adrian.

"What do you want from me?" Adrian asked, already knowing he couldn't grab his weapon.

The man stood, revealing a tall, lean figure as he slowly approached.

"What do I want? Hmm... I just have a few questions." He stopped right in front of Adrian.

The vines pulled tighter, lowering Adrian until their faces were level.

The two locked eyes.

Then the stranger reached for Adrian's belt and pulled out his revolver. He inspected it curiously, turning it in his hand.

"I've been wondering… where did you get this armament? I'm quite certain our world hasn't developed weapons like this yet."

Adrian clenched his jaw. "So you staged all of this... just because you were curious about a weapon?"

The man let out a chuckle. "What can I say? You've been a thorn in my side for a while now. First that little ambush at the academy… and then those fools who nearly toppled the Kingdom."

Adrian's eyes widened.

He... orchestrated both?

That meant... "Silverhorn..."

The main villain of the fourth arc.

Someone who shouldn't have appeared this early.

So why now?

The man flinched, the smirk fading from his face. His eyes, half-hidden beneath messy hair, slowly widened.

"You know me?"

Adrian narrowed his gaze. "Why are you here? It can't just be to see me."

The man didn't answer right away. There was unease in his expression—he clearly hadn't expected to be recognized.

The older man didn't like that. He'd worked hard to stay hidden, waiting for the right moment to act. So how did this Runesmith know about him?

Silverhorn seemed to dismiss the thought, brushing it aside for later. "The Staff of the Dark Lord... you have it, don't you?"

Adrian stiffened.

H-How does he know that?

"Don't look so shocked," the man said, grinning. "I'm very sensitive to magic, and that staff has a presence. Took me a while, but once I narrowed down who could be using such a weapon around the academy—and who was also at the palace during the incident—it wasn't hard to figure it out."

His grin widened. "I knew it had to be either you or that hot chick."

Ariana.

He continued, "And the moment I had my two candidates, I knew it was you. After all, if she really had the staff, why hide it for so long? She's had it for years."

Leaning in closer, he whispered, "Betraying your employer and stealing the staff... I wonder what would happen if that news got out?"

A cold chill ran down Adrian's spine.

And with that chill came a burning resolve.

This Acolyte needs to die.

°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. Adrian actually tried to use the staff around the academy to test it's abilities.

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