Ethan stood alone at the center of the stage.
Thousands of eyes watched him.
Students, instructors, guests, and powerful summoners filled the massive hall of the academy. The atmosphere was tense. Today was the day every student had been waiting for—the day they would summon their contracted beast.
The instructor standing beside the ancient pillar looked at Ethan calmly.
"Place your hand on the pillar," he said. "If the pillar glows, you will summon a beast. Even if you fail to summond a beast you will gain strength beyond normal human, you will still pass the examination. Any questions?"
Ethan shook his head.
"No."
His voice was steady, but inside his chest his heart was beating loudly.
He stepped forward.
Before him stood the summoning pillar—an ancient stone structure covered with mysterious runes carved deep into its surface. Those runes had existed for thousands of years.
Ethan slowly reached into his shirt and took out the small locket hanging around his neck.
He clenched it gently.
Then he closed his eyes.
"Mom…" he murmured softly.
"Today I will summon a beast."
"I will become strong… strong enough to protect humanity."
"And the people who are precious to me."
His fingers tightened slightly around the locket.
"I hope you are proud of me."
After a deep breath, Ethan opened his eyes and placed his hand on the pillar.
For a moment—
nothing happened.
Then suddenly—
The runes on the pillar ignited.
A blinding light exploded from the stone.
The entire pillar began to glow so intensely that many students instinctively covered their eyes.
Gasps spread across the crowd.
"What—?!"
"Such strong resonance!"
Even the instructors looked shocked.
Among the honored guests sitting in the upper viewing area, an old man suddenly stood up.
Sheng Wen.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the stage.
"This… impossible…"
The pillar continued to shine brighter and brighter until the light became almost unbearable.
Then suddenly—
the light vanished.
Silence filled the academy hall.
Ethan slowly opened his eyes.
But he was no longer looking at the pillar.
In front of him—
a gate had appeared.
A magnificent gate made entirely of divine light floated in the air, its structure resembling something that did not belong to the mortal world. Soft golden radiance poured from its edges as if sunlight itself was flowing from heaven.
The gate slowly opened.
Everyone held their breath.
From within the gate—
a pair of wings emerged.
Large, white, and radiant.
Then another pair unfolded behind them.
Four wings.
A figure stepped out.
A girl descended gently from the heavenly gate.
Her long golden hair flowed like sunlight, and her golden eyes shone with calm, divine brilliance. On her back spread four majestic white wings that glowed faintly in the air.
The entire hall fell into stunned silence.
Then someone in the crowd suddenly shouted.
"An angel!"
The word spread through the crowd like wildfire.
"An angel…!"
One of the top students watching from the audience leaned forward slightly, a grin slowly appearing on his face.
"So it's an angel," he muttered.
"And with four wings… that must be a high-ranking one."
The angel slowly landed on the stage.
Her presence alone made the air feel sacred.
She was so beautiful that many people felt as if they were witnessing a being from a myth.
Even gods might fall in love with such beauty.
But not everyone looked at her with admiration.
Zhang Li stared at the angel with undisguised lust in his eyes.
Lucy stood nearby, watching the scene quietly.
Her expression was calm.
Unreadable.
The angel turned her head.
Her golden eyes met Ethan's.
For a moment, the world felt silent.
Then she spoke.
"I, Avenil, acknowledge you as a comrade… not as a master."
Her voice was calm and cold.
Yet strangely gentle.
Ethan blinked in surprise.
Then a small smile appeared on his face.
"That's fine," he replied.
"I don't need a pet."
"I need someone who can fight with me as an equal."
For the first time—
Avenil smiled.
A faint glow appeared on Ethan's hand.
A strange mark formed on his palm, shining softly.
"Channel your mana into this mark," Avenil said.
"If you wish to call me."
The crowd erupted into chaos.
"An angel…!"
"And it can speak freely!"
"Unbelievable!"
Never before had anyone summoned an angel.
And never had a summoned creature spoken with such independence.
High above the hall, inside a private viewing cabin, a man watched everything silently.
A faint grin appeared on his face.
"So…"
"He is the hope of humanity."
The man turned and began walking toward the exit.
But before he could leave—
CRACK.
A terrifying sound echoed through the sky.
Everyone froze.
Slowly—
people began looking upward.
Above the academy—
the sky was breaking.
A massive crack spread across the heavens, tearing through the blue sky like shattered glass.
The crack grew larger every second.
Fear spread through the crowd.
"What is happening?!"
Then—
a gate appeared within the crack.
A massive heavenly gate.
From that gate—
countless angels descended.
Their wings filled the sky like a storm of light.
The entire academy trembled.
A powerful voice echoed across the world.
"Humans."
"Return the summoned angel named Avenil peacefully."
"Or face heavenly punishment."
The shock quickly turned into fear.
Some people collapsed to their knees.
Others began praying desperately.
"Heaven…"
"Heaven is angry…"
Ethan slowly lifted his head and looked at the sky.
Then he spoke.
"I won't let you take her."
His voice was firm.
"Even if you are gods."
Suddenly—
a golden chain shot down from the heavens.
It wrapped around Avenil instantly.
The chain radiated terrifying divine power.
Several powerful summoners rushed toward the stage.
"We must stop them!"
But the moment they approached—
they were forced back.
The angels descending from heaven were far beyond their strength.
Humans were powerless before them.
Then—
something strange happened.
CRACK.
A small crack appeared in the center of the stage.
Time stopped.
The entire world froze.
Students.
Instructors.
The crowd.
Even the angels in the sky.
Everything stood still.
Only three beings could move.
Ethan.
Avenil.
And the angel sent by heaven.
The crack slowly widened.
From the darkness within—
a man stepped out.
And the moment he appeared—
the air itself seemed to bow.