Chapter 120: The Mountain’s Crucible, Flesh Against Stone The sound cracked like thunder as the massive serpent-dragon Nidhogg slammed his tail into the waiting Sphinx. The strike split the air, stone chips spraying from the sheer force of impact. “You’re fucking dead, furball!” Nidhogg roared, eyes blazing. His voice was half threat, half exhilaration—the primal joy of battle. Sphinx snarled back, fangs flashing, claws digging furrows into the earth. The two divine beasts were already tearing at one another, a contest of dominance brewing like a storm. Their movements blurred, massive bodies clashing with seismic shockwaves. But Ryan? He didn’t even look back. Hands tucked casually into his blazer pockets, the young summoner walked past the chaos as if it were nothing more than two children squabbling in a sandbox. His stride carried him straight toward the Dragon King, who stoo

Chapter 122: The Mountain Trembles with Rage Alavenya’s sandals scraped stone as she climbed the winding trail toward her father’s secluded peak. The air was thin here, sharp with frost and the biting metallic tang of Dioki that often lingered after violent training sessions. Normally, she relished visiting this place—it was where the Dragon King meditated, trained, and from time to time, gave her rare words of guidance. But today her pulse beat unevenly. Two weeks had passed since that fiasco with the academy guests, and Mando had assured her again and again that everything would blow over. She had almost convinced herself it was done. Finished. Forgotten. But the summons came. Her father wanted to see her. And that was never casual. When she reached the plateau where he usually trained, her steps faltered.

Chapter 124: A Ledger of Secrets, A Teacher’s BlushRyan stood in front of the vice principal’s office desk, back straight, eyes sharp, and posture firm like a soldier before a superior. The air smelled faintly of paper, burning incense, and faint traces of dried herbs—Vivian’s office always carried that sharp, earthy tang. Across from him, Vivian sat with arms crossed, her sharp gaze sweeping over him with an authority that could cut steel. Franca lingered near the bookshelves, her arms full of scrolls, pretending to be busy but very clearly eavesdropping on every word.“So that’s the situation,” Ryan said finally, voice even, but his chest still buzzing with the intensity of the report he’d just unloaded. “Alavenya will be arriving at the Academy. She’s not coming quietly either—trouble is written all over her name.”Vivian tapped her slender finger against the polished wooden table. Her nails made a soft tok, tok, tok that echoed like the clicking of a