Awakening: I Became a Legendary Spirit Summoner-Chapter 15 - : Celeste’s Fury, The Awakener Trio

"Damn it!"

"Why are you attacking us?"

A young man and woman stood side by side.

The man wielded a dark blade that seemed to ripple like liquid shadows.

While the woman raised her arms, lightning sparking between her fingertips.

"I'll repeat," Alexander said, gripping his [Void Blade], his voice calm but firm. "Why are you attacking us?"

Their opponent, a lone woman with a fiery glare, said nothing at first.

Her white hair clung to her face, and her staff glowed faintly with mana.

She stared at them with a look that could cut steel.

Finally, she spoke, "Because you're a bunch of murderers."

"Murderers?" Alexander frowned, confused. "We didn't kill anyone!"

"Yeah!" Emma, the Stormcaller, added, her voice defensive, "He was already dead when we found him!"

They were talking about Karl, the young man they had encountered lifeless in the [Living Forest].

Alexander had severed his corpse in half just to ensure there were no tricks, a decision they thought was practical at the time.

"And yet..." Celeste gritted her teeth, flames visible in her eyes, "Even if that is true, you still decided to attack a dead person."

She raised her staff, its tip crackling with fiery mana, her resolve unshaken.

...

Earlier...

When Celeste found Karl's body, she froze.

His lifeless form was crumpled on the ground, severed cleanly in half, his eyes wide open but devoid of life.

"N-No way..." she stammered, tears welling up in her eyes as the sight sank in.

Her hands trembled, but she forced herself to stay steady.

She knelt beside him, pressing her palm against the cold ground.

"Whoever did this... they're dead."

Her voice cracked, but her resolve only hardened.

She bowed her head briefly, a silent promise to her fallen rival.

Then, with a dark look in her eyes, she rose to her feet.

The remnants of [Dark Energy] lingering on Karl's corpse told her everything she needed to know.

There was only one person it could be.

"Alexander," she muttered under her breath.

He had showcased his [Void Blade] during the entrance ceremony, it was undoubtedly that.

She clenched her staff tightly and turned toward the [Mountain of Death], her mind set.

She kept leveling up, pushing forward.

Eventually, she reached a point where the monsters on the [Mountain of Death] were no longer a challenge.

She was about to climb higher when she saw them.

A group of three awakeners.

When she focused, she recognized them immediately.

Alexander. Emma. William.

As she knew about their profession, it simply appeared before her:

[Alexander, Level 8, Voidblade Sovereign (SS)]

[Emma, Level 8, Stormcaller (S)]

[William, Level 7, Iron Sentinel (A)]

Her calm demeanor shattered.

She clenched her staff tightly. Seeing them alive and well after killing Karl made her blood boil.

They were casually killing monsters, as if nothing had happened.

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Celeste felt pure rage.

Without hesitation, she raised her staff and aimed.

Mana Missile!

[-5 Mana]

Five blue orbs formed at the tip of her staff.

She fired them straight at the group.

Alexander and Emma noticed the attack. They jumped out of the way just in time.

But William wasn't fast enough.

One orb hit him, triggering the rest to explode.

The blast tore through him, killing him instantly.

His body collapsed in a lifeless heap.

Celeste didn't flinch.

She stared at Alexander and Emma, her eyes cold.

They were still standing.

Her anger didn't fade.

'Two more to go,' she thought.

And that's when we return to the moment before.

Alexander's calm demeanor cracked as anger flared in his eyes. "You'll regret that!" he shouted.

He activated [Sovereign Buff], his body radiating with dark energy.

Then, with a burst of speed, he dashed straight toward Celeste, his [Void Blade] cutting through the air.

Emma raised her hands, summoning a storm with [Storm Surge].

Dark clouds materialized overhead, and bolts of lightning struck down randomly, forcing Celeste to stay on the move.

But Celeste refused to back down.

She raised her staff, casting quickly.

A bright orb of energy formed at its tip.

Thunder Strike!

[-3 Mana]

The lightning bolt shot toward Alexander, but he sidestepped just in time, the ground behind him exploding on impact.

Emma took advantage of the chaos, summoning another bolt of lightning to strike at Celeste.

But the woman was faster, rolling out of the way and firing back with a Fireball.

[-4 Mana]

The blazing orb flew through the air, narrowly missing Emma but igniting the ground around her.

The battle raged on, each side refusing to relent.

Celeste's spells came fast and relentless, Fireball, Mana Missile, Thunder Strike, forcing Alexander and Emma to stay on the defensive.

But even as she pushed them back, she could feel her mana reserves dwindling.

'Just a little longer,' she thought to herself, gritting her teeth.

Emma made a critical mistake, stepping too far into Celeste's line of fire.

Fireball!

[-4 Mana]

The blazing projectile hit its mark, sending Emma sprawling to the ground.

She didn't get back up.

Celeste turned her focus to Alexander.

The Voidblade Sovereign scowled, his dark blade pulsing with energy.

"Only you and me now," he growled, dashing toward her again.

Celeste raised her staff, preparing another spell—

Ding!

[You cannot use Fireball (4 Mana) as your mana reserves are too low.]

Her heart sank.

"Oh..." she muttered.

Alexander smirked, realizing her predicament.

His grin widened as he closed the distance.

"YOU THINK I CARED ABOUT THEM?" he suddenly shouted, laughing maniacally. "I PLANNED TO GET RID OF YOU TOO ANYWAY!"

He raised his [Void Blade], ready to strike the final blow.

But just before he could land the hit—

Clang!

A glowing blade clashed against his weapon, forcing him back.

"What the—" Alexander's eyes widened in shock as a figure stepped between him and Celeste.

It was Karl.

His [Spectral Blade] shimmered in his hand, and his expression was cold and unreadable.

"You... How are you alive?!" Alexander stammered.

Karl didn't respond.

He simply advanced, his blade raised.

Behind him, the [Frenzied Rabbit] darted forward, its claws gleaming with deadly intent.

Alexander tried to dodge, but Karl was faster.

He lunged forward, locking Alexander in place with a flurry of strikes from his [Spectral Blade].

The rabbit seized the opportunity, leaping at Alexander's exposed neck and slashing twice with surgical precision.

Blood spattered the ground as Alexander stumbled back, his grip on the [Void Blade] faltering.

"This is... stupid..." he groaned before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

[You have killed Alexander Sovereign.]

Karl stood over the fallen body, his breathing steady but his mind racing.

Technically, it wasn't him who delivered the killing blow, it was his summon, but he still felt the weight of the moment.

'It had to be done,' he told himself. 'They killed me and were planning to kill Celeste.'

He looked over his shoulder at her.

She was backing away slowly, her eyes wide with shock.

"Thanks..." she whispered.

Then, after a pause, she added, "But... how are you alive? I saw your body. You were dead."

Karl turned to face her, realizing how weird it must have been.

"A little trick of mine," he said simply.