The Guardian System: The strongest Summoner's quest to save his family-Chapter 370: Straight Lines in a Crooked World (2)

He found what looked like a main road cutting through the center of the complex. It was wider than the other passages and paved with the same black material as the walls.

The ash here had been disturbed recently by something moving through it. Multiple tracks led down the road in different directions.

Some were massive four-legged prints with deep claw marks. Others were smaller and bipedal, with a stride pattern that suggested something walking upright.

<There we go. Multiple species.>

Before Reidar could even choose what to do, one of his Sky-Hunters gave him a warning.

When Reidar looked up at the sudden movement, he saw three figures emerging from the warehouse across the street.

<Shit, this is definitely a problem.>

Since he did not know what those things were, Reidar chose to hide and observe, noting that although they walked on two legs, that was where the resemblance to humans ended.

They were tall with skeletal, elongated frames and skin that appeared to be made of fused rock, which cracked and shifted as they moved to reveal faint orange light glowing from the fissures as if molten material flowed beneath. However, what truly made Reidar's stomach turn were the disturbing appendages they had.

<Are those actually weapons?>

It appeared so, as each creature had weapons fused into its flesh; one had a sword melted into its right forearm, while another had a massive hammer embedded in its left hand, and the third had daggers where its fingers should have been.

The interface appeared.

—[Feral Ignis—Level 481]—

—[Feral Ignis—Level 478]—

—[Feral Ignis—Level 483]—

<Ignis. So that's what they are called.>

Reidar stayed still. The creatures hadn't noticed him yet, and the last thing he wanted was for them to do so since there were three of them and Reidar was still at level 464.

However, Reidar noticed they moved with some kind of purpose, as if they were searching for something.

<Or someone.>

The one with the hammer raised its arm and smashed a hole inside a wall.

<Shit… That wall didn't look that brittle!>

The creature pulled the hammer free and examined the hole. Then it moved on, continuing its search.

<What the…?>

Reidar had many thoughts going through his mind. He had seen his fair share of monsters, and while they were all different from each other, no one had weapons fused with their bodies. Reidar actually started thinking that these might not have been the result of mutated animals as on Earth.

<The native species. Maybe these… Ignis are the original inhabitants of this planet.>

Of course, Reidar had no proof. It might have been that these creatures fused with the weapons just because of chance.

What Reidar knew, though, was that they were undoubtedly searching for something.

Reidar slowly backed away. The Ignis were too close, and their levels were too high for him to engage directly. One-on-one, he might survive if he used his summons and environmental advantages. But three of them? That was suicide.

Although he needed to avoid detection, one of the Sky-Hunters above Reidar moved and made a noise that caught the attention of the Ignis with the sword. Its head snapped up as the glowing cracks in its skin flared brighter, and it stared directly at Reidar; for a moment, neither moved until the creature opened its mouth and let out a screech, prompting the other two Ignis to turn toward him while raising their weapons.

<Shit, I have been spotted.>

Reidar turned and ran because the monsters were swiftly approaching, and he sent a mental command to his Apex Ravens.

<Come pick me up!>

He ordered one of the ravens, but he quickly realized that they were not close enough to reach him in time.

The Ignis charged after him. The one with the sword almost reached him, closing the distance too fast for Reidar to even react.

Reidar summoned Sky-Hunters mid-sprint and sent them diving at the creatures. The insects extended their claws, raking across the rocky surface of the Ignis's face.

Sparks flew, but the creatures simply swatted them away.

[Your Summon (Vorathid Sky-Hunter) has been destroyed.]

[Your Summon (Vorathid Sky-Hunter) has been destroyed.]

[Your Summon (Vorathid Sky-Hunter) has been destroyed.]

[Your Summon (Vorathid Sky-Hunter) has been destroyed.]

Reidar veered left, cutting between two buildings and going through a narrow passage. The Ignis had to turn sideways to follow. That bought him a few seconds.

<Where the hell is that raven?>

He summoned more Sky-Hunters and sent them to the monsters, forming a swarm, diving and striking at the creatures as they squeezed through the passage. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

<That's not going to stop them. I need distance, and for sure, to break the line of sight. >

Reidar burst out of the passage onto a wider street and immediately cut right, heading toward a cluster of collapsed buildings. He could hear the Ignis behind him and read the notifications about dozens of his summons being slaughtered.

[Your Summon (Vorathid Sky-Hunter) has been destroyed.]

…

[Your Summon (Vorathid Sky-Hunter) has been destroyed.]

[Your Summon (Vorathid Sky-Hunter) has been destroyed.]

…

[Your Summon (Vorathid Sky-Hunter) has been destroyed.]

[Your Summon (Vorathid Sky-Hunter) has been destroyed.]

…

[Your Summon (Vorathid Sky-Hunter) has been destroyed.]

He reached the collapsed buildings and ducked into the ruins, climbing over debris and squeezing through gaps too small for the larger creatures to follow. The Sky-Hunters continued their harassment, buying him precious seconds.

[Your Summon (Vorathid Sky-Hunter) has been destroyed.]

[Your Summon (Vorathid Sky-Hunter) has been destroyed.]

Reidar kept moving until he emerged on the other side of the crumpled section and found himself in what looked like a large plaza.

<Damn! It's open ground!>

The Ignis smashed through the debris and freed themselves from the Vorathid Sky-Hunters harassing them.

But at that point, Reidar found a stack of crates in the middle of the plaza, nestled to the side of what looked to him like some sort of vehicle, a car, and ducked inside one of them. He summoned more creatures, sending them at the monsters and staying perfectly still, controlling his breathing.

The Ignis moved through the area, their heads swiveling as they searched, but then some of the Vorathid Sky-Hunters made noise and lured the monsters away from the area.

The only problem was that the noise actually stirred more monsters.