Weakest Summoner

Chapter 7: Beyond the Second Gate

The bell of the Royal Academy rang three times.

Its deep sound traveled across the enormous campus, echoing between towers of white stone and blue crystal.

Students stopped in the courtyards.

Mages lowered their voices.

Knights glanced toward the eastern horizon.

Something had changed.

Kael stood alone on the highest balcony of the academy's main tower, staring toward the distant mountains.

Beyond those mountains was Ironroot Dungeon.

And beyond the Second Gate...

Something was waiting.

Kael clenched his fist.

The faint blue summoning mark on his hand glowed beneath his sleeve.

"I'll come back," he whispered.

A low growl came from behind him.

Kael turned.

Luna stood beside the balcony entrance.

Her silver-blue fur moved gently in the wind. Her crimson eyes were fixed on him.

"You heard it too?"

Luna growled softly.

Kael smiled.

"I guess we're both worried."

A shadow moved beneath his feet.

The darkness stretched outward before forming the shape of a massive wolf.

The Abyssal Iron Wolf emerged from Kael's shadow.

Its black fur absorbed the fading sunlight. Dark-blue markings pulsed along its body while its crimson eyes watched the mountains.

Kael looked between his two summons.

Luna.

The first creature who had ever trusted him.

And the Abyssal Iron Wolf.

The creature he had created himself.

Two different paths.

One purpose.

"We're going back to Ironroot."

Luna immediately stepped forward.

The Abyssal Iron Wolf lowered its head.

Kael's eyes hardened.

"But this time..."

He looked at the system window that appeared before him.

---

[Hidden Quest: The First Summoner's Legacy]

Progress: 2/7

Current Objective:

Return to Ironroot Dungeon.

Discover what lies beyond the Second Gate.

Warning: Recommended Party Rank — B

Current Summoner Rank — F

Failure may result in: Unknown

---

Kael stared at the final line.

Unknown.

The system had never used that word before.

Usually, it gave him numbers.

Percentages.

Warnings.

Conditions.

This time, it offered nothing.

That was more frightening than any number.

"What are you hiding from me?"

The system didn't answer.

Instead, another message appeared.

---

[Notice]

The Second Gate has opened.

Ancient mana circulation detected.

Multiple high-level entities detected.

One entity has recognized your existence.

Distance: 47 kilometers.

Recognition status: Confirmed.

---

Kael's expression changed.

"Forty-seven kilometers..."

Ironroot.

It was already awake.

Then—

A voice spoke behind him.

"You shouldn't go."

Kael didn't turn.

He knew that voice.

"Seraphina."

The silver-haired mage stepped onto the balcony.

Her long hair moved in the wind.

She wore the white-and-blue uniform of the Royal Academy, with a staff attached to her back.

Her expression was serious.

"I heard what happened," she said.

Kael glanced at her.

"What exactly did you hear?"

"That Ironroot's Second Gate opened."

"And?"

"And that the academy's ancient records describe what happens when it opens."

Kael turned completely toward her.

"What happens?"

Seraphina hesitated.

For the first time since they met, Kael noticed genuine fear in her eyes.

"The dungeon changes."

Kael frowned.

"Changes?"

"Yes."

She approached the railing.

"Ironroot wasn't originally built as a dungeon."

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"What was it?"

"A prison."

The wind seemed to stop.

Luna's ears rose.

The Abyssal Iron Wolf growled.

Seraphina continued.

"Thousands of years ago, before the current Kingdom of Elarion existed, there was an ancient civilization. They built Ironroot beneath the mountain."

"To imprison monsters?"

"No."

She looked directly at Kael.

"To imprison something they couldn't kill."

Silence.

Kael felt the summoning mark on his hand become warm.

"What is it?"

"We don't know."

"Then how do you know it's there?"

"Because the records describe it."

Seraphina pulled a small crystal tablet from her robes.

She activated it.

Blue light formed words in the air.

Kael read them.

IRONROOT — RESTRICTED RECORD

The First Gate contains the guardians.

The Second Gate contains the forgotten.

The Third Gate contains the one who remembers.

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"Three gates."

Seraphina nodded.

"The academy believes there are at least three."

"And what's beyond the Second?"

"We don't know."

Kael looked toward the mountains.

Then he remembered Aurelius.

The true Summoner does not command life.

The true Summoner gives life another form.

His stomach tightened.

Maybe Ironroot wasn't simply connected to the First Summoner.

Maybe it was part of the reason his power had been erased.

"Who else knows about this?"

"The headmaster."

"Anyone else?"

Seraphina's expression darkened.

"There are people outside the academy who know."

"The organization watching me."

"I suspect so."

Kael looked down at his hand.

"Then they're going to Ironroot too."

"Probably."

"Why?"

Seraphina didn't answer immediately.

"Because whatever is beyond that gate may be connected to the ancient Summoners."

Kael's eyes sharpened.

That was enough.

"I'm going."

Seraphina sighed.

"I knew you would say that."

"Then why try to stop me?"

"Because you're F-Rank."

Kael smiled faintly.

"I've heard that before."

"This isn't a joke."

"I know."

"You survived a C+ monster."

Kael remained silent.

"You defeated an ancient guardian."

Still silent.

"You created a C-Rank summon."

The Abyssal Iron Wolf lifted its head.

Seraphina stared at it.

"But those things don't make you invincible."

"I know."

Kael looked at Luna.

Then at the Abyssal Iron Wolf.

"I'm not going because I think I'm strong."

He closed his hand.

"I'm going because I'm tired of running from something I don't understand."

Seraphina stared at him.

Then she smiled.

Just slightly.

"You're reckless."

"So I've been told."

"Stubborn."

"Probably."

"And strangely convincing."

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"Is that a compliment?"

"No."

She turned away.

"But I'll be coming with you."

Kael blinked.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"You're coming?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Seraphina looked over her shoulder.

"Because I'm an A-Rank Mage."

She smiled.

"And because someone has to keep you alive."

---

The Following Morning

The academy courtyard was crowded.

A group of adventurers gathered near the main gate.

Their equipment was far better than the gear Kael had worn during his first trip to Ironroot.

Armor.

Weapons.

Magic crystals.

Healing potions.

Scrolls.

Ropes.

Emergency teleportation stones.

The expedition was officially being treated as a high-risk mission.

Kael stood beside Luna.

The Abyssal Iron Wolf remained in his shadow.

Ronan approached first.

The D-Rank Shield Knight looked Kael up and down.

"You got stronger."

Kael smiled.

"So did you."

Ronan laughed.

"Not nearly as quickly."

Mira arrived next.

The Elemental Mage carried three magical staffs.

"Don't tell me you plan on entering that dungeon again."

"I do."

Mira sighed.

"I knew it."

Gareth arrived last.

The C-Rank Hunter examined the mountains.

"Second Gate."

He spat on the ground.

"Bad news."

Kael looked at him.

"You've been there before?"

"Near it."

Gareth's expression became grim.

"I've seen what comes out when the dungeon gets angry."

Mira looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

Gareth didn't answer.

Instead, he looked at Kael.

"How many summons can you use now?"

"Two."

Gareth's eyes narrowed.

"Only two?"

"At the moment."

Ronan laughed.

"That means there could be more later."

Kael nodded.

Gareth's gaze moved toward Luna.

"That's the wolf from last time?"

"Yes."

"It evolved."

"Yes."

Gareth's expression changed.

He crouched slightly.

Luna stared at him.

The hunter immediately stood again.

"Interesting."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Kael noticed the way Gareth looked at Luna.

He was studying her.

Not as a monster.

As something unusual.

Before Kael could ask, another voice interrupted them.

"You're all here."

Everyone turned.

Seraphina walked toward them.

Mira's eyes widened.

"Lady Seraphina?"

Ronan immediately straightened.

Even Gareth became cautious.

Kael looked between them.

"You know her?"

Mira whispered.

"Everyone knows her."

Seraphina ignored the attention.

She stopped beside Kael.

"The headmaster has authorized our expedition."

Gareth frowned.

"Why is an A-Rank Mage joining?"

"Because the mission requires one."

Ronan looked uncomfortable.

"Does the academy expect trouble?"

Seraphina looked toward Ironroot.

"Yes."

A cold silence followed.

Then—

The mountain trembled.

BOOOOOOM!

Everyone froze.

A shockwave rolled through the valley.

Birds fled from the surrounding forest.

Dust fell from the academy walls.

Kael's summoning mark burned.

A system window appeared.

---

[Emergency Alert]

Ancient Mana Surge Detected.

Source: Ironroot Dungeon.

Second Gate status: Fully Open.

Entity activity detected.

Warning.

Warning.

Warning.

The seal has weakened by 3%.

---

Kael's face went pale.

"The seal..."

Seraphina read the message over his shoulder.

Her expression became serious.

"Three percent."

Mira swallowed.

"What happens at one hundred?"

Seraphina didn't answer.

Gareth did.

"It gets out."

---

Ironroot Dungeon

Three hours later, the expedition arrived.

The entrance looked different.

The ancient stone doorway that Kael remembered had been covered in blue light.

Runes glowed across the walls.

The wolf symbol.

The dragon.

The crown.

But there was something new.

A fourth symbol.

A black circle.

Three claw marks were carved through its center.

Kael stopped.

His system activated.

---

[Monster Archive Updated]

Unknown Symbol Detected.

Classification: Ancient Entity Marker

Threat Level: Unmeasurable

---

Kael stared.

"What is it?"

Seraphina stood beside him.

"The records call it..."

She hesitated.

"The Devourer."

The Abyssal Iron Wolf growled.

Luna's fur stood on end.

Kael slowly entered the dungeon.

The first floor was empty.

No goblins.

No wolves.

No monsters.

Nothing.

That was worse than encountering enemies.

They continued deeper.

Second floor.

Empty.

Third.

Empty.

Fourth.

Still nothing.

Mira whispered.

"Where did everything go?"

Gareth tightened his grip on his bow.

"They're hiding."

"From what?"

Gareth looked behind them.

"I don't know."

Then they reached the ancient chamber.

The chamber where Kael had first met Aurelius.

The murals were still there.

But something had changed.

One of the murals had been destroyed.

The image of the First Summoner was scratched away.

Only one word remained.

SUCCESSOR

Kael stepped closer.

His hand began glowing.

The room suddenly became silent.

Then—

A voice echoed through the chamber.

"Kael Arven."

Everyone froze.

Kael turned.

Aurelius appeared.

But this time, the ancient spirit looked different.

His face was tense.

His eyes were filled with urgency.

"Do not open the Third Gate."

Kael stared.

"Why?"

Aurelius looked beyond him.

At the Second Gate.

"It remembers you."

Kael's heart stopped.

"What remembers me?"

Aurelius opened his mouth.

But before he could answer—

CRACK.

The Second Gate split open.

A wave of darkness erupted through the chamber.

Ronan raised his shield.

Mira immediately cast a barrier.

Gareth drew his bow.

Seraphina raised her staff.

Luna stepped in front of Kael.

The Abyssal Iron Wolf emerged completely from Kael's shadow.

Its horns glowed.

Its crimson eyes burned.

Something moved beyond the gate.

A massive silhouette.

Four legs.

Long claws.

A body larger than a house.

Kael felt an ancient presence press against his mind.

Then a voice whispered directly into his soul.

I remember you.

Kael staggered.

"Who are you?"

The creature stepped forward.

Only one eye became visible through the darkness.

A gigantic crimson eye.

The system exploded with warnings.

---

[EXTREME WARNING]

Unknown Entity Detected.

Name: ???

Rank: ???

Level: ???

Threat: Unmeasurable

Survival Probability: 0.00%

Recommended Action: ESCAPE

---

Kael stared at the number.

Zero.

Not one percent.

Not five.

Zero.

The creature smiled.

Not with its mouth.

With its voice.

You have returned.

Kael's breathing stopped.

"Returned?"

Aurelius looked at him with sorrow.

"Now you understand."

Kael turned toward him.

"Understand what?"

The ancient Summoner whispered:

"You were not chosen by the First Summoner's Legacy."

The creature beyond the gate moved closer.

The entire dungeon shook.

Aurelius's voice trembled.

"You were part of it."

Kael's eyes widened.

"What?"

The creature roared.

The force shattered several ancient crystals.

Everyone was thrown backward.

Kael hit the ground.

His system flickered.

Then a new window appeared.

One he had never seen before.

---

[Memory Fragment Detected]

Previous Life Data: Locked

Soul Record: Damaged

Identity: Kael Arven

Status: Reincarnated

Compatibility: 100%

Ancient Summoner Authority: 1%

---

Kael stared at the final line.

"Reincarnated..."

His voice barely escaped his throat.

The creature beyond the gate laughed.

Welcome back, First Summoner.

And somewhere deep beneath Ironroot Dungeon—

something else opened its eyes.

---