SSS Awakening: Only My Summons Evolve

Seeing the massive steel knight walk out the portal, the Elite Python did not wait a single second.

In an instant, the massive serpent uncoiled its body as it jumped forward like a released spring. The speed of its attack turning it into a weird green blur.

The wild beast had its jaws unhinged to a degree that seemed physically impossible, revealing rows of sharp needle like teeth which curved inward.

Seeing this Verso’s breath stopped.

’Moon really was not kidding. It really has an insanely high agility.’

He instinctively raised the Dark Scythe, his knuckles turning white as he braced for the possibility of the beast switching targets or worse, a second one emerging from the thick fog.

The Iron Clad Knight moved with a surprising slow grace as it did not dodge but instead met the Python’s attack head on. Bringing its massive Iron greatsword up in a vertical guard, the knight caught the snake’s strike.

The impact of Python’s attack was thunderous, as the force was enough to shove the towering metal knight backward, its heavy boots sinking deep into the stinking swamp mud.

Before the knight could reset its stance, the Python capitalized on its speed and with a rhythmic movement it flowed around the knight’s torso, coiling its twenty foot body around the summon in a tight spiral.

Verso was not able to peel his eyes off of this battle as it was not something he had previously seen.

This fight was entirely different from the elite fights he was used to in his System Realm. Usually, his Sea Serpent was an undisputed apex predator, mauling its opponents with one sided brutality. But here, it felt like this was a clash between titans.

The Python’s scales scraped against the knight’s spiked plate armor as a loud scrapping noise echoed throughout the mangroves. As the constriction grew tighter, the knight’s armor groaned under the pressure, the metal sounding like it was ready to buckle.

’Is this it? Do we need to run?’ Verso thought, his eyes darting toward Moon.

To his shock, Moon had not moved an inch. The red eyed noble still wore that manic, borderline insane smile, with his gaze fixed on the battle.

Just then Verso noticed the boy’s lips move, mouthing some sort of command that he could not hear.

As soon as the silent command was given, the knight’s visor erupted with a deep, blood red light and a dark oppressive aura began to pour out from the gaps in its armor like smoke. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Then, the knight let out a sound that made Verso’s blood run cold.

It was a groan. Not a human groan, but a hollow, vibrating sound that echoed through the overgrown mangroves, rattling the very roots of the trees.

The knight dropped its sword and grabbed the coils of the snake with its bare gauntlets. Slowly the knight did what Verso thought was impossible, as its metal arms began to push back at the Python.

The Python, sensing it was being overpowered, lashed out. It snapped its head forward, biting down directly on the knight’s helmet.

CRACK.

The sickening sound of metal shattering echoed through the clearing.

’That is it. The knight’s done. I have to summon the Gargoyle now or we are both going to end up as snake food.’ Verso thought, his hand already twitching to open a portal.

But to his dismay the knight did not collapse yet. Instead, it used the moment the snake was attached to its head to uncoil its body.

With a violent push, it shoved the rest of the Python’s body away and reached up, its massive iron fingers gripping the snake’s upper and lower jaws.

The red light in the visor intensified even more, turning blood crimson as the knight let out a second groan, louder and more harrowing than the first.

Verso felt the hair on his arms stand up. It was as if the summon’s strength had just undergone a massive, supernatural increase in mere seconds.

With a spray of hot, dark blood, the knight tore the lower jaw of the Python clean off.

The snake let out a wet hiss as its jaw was discarded into the mud like trash. But the knight did not stop there.

It slammed the thrashing, dying creature into the water, retrieved its greatsword in one smooth motion, and drove the blade straight through the center of the Python’s skull.

The snake tried to push against the force one final time as it shuddered its body violently, but it was all useless, as a second later it’s body went completely limp.

Silence reclaimed the clearing, broken only by the heavy breathing of the two boys.

Moon stood there for a long minute, staring at the dead beast with a look of intense expectation. Then sensing nothing, he clicked his tongue in irritation.

"Tch. No beast soul. What a waste of fucking time." Moon’s voice sounded noticeably drained.

In irritation he flicked his hand, and the Knight vanished back into his summoning space. As the summon disappeared, Verso noticed that Moon looked comparatively sluggish. His shoulders were slumped, and the usual spark in his eyes had dimmed ever so slightly.

’That increase in strength... it must have been some sort of berserk ability which cost him a lot of mana to use...’ Verso realized.

Although he had not been exposed to that much abilities, it was not hard to notice how Moon had used an ability of his to make his summon go berserk.

"You good?" Verso asked, stepping forward.

"You want to check if it dropped a crystal at least?"

Moon just shook his head with a disappointed look on his face. He looked like he didn’t have the energy to search the snake’s guts.

"Knock yourself out, scum. I’m taking a breather."

Verso nodded slightly, there was no way he was passing out on the possibility of free elite loot.

He walked over to the massive mangled head of the Python. Shoving his hand into the mess where the jaw used to be, he moved his hand around searching for any form of crystals.

Just then, his fingers brushed against something hard and unusually cold.

He pulled it out, expecting a standard blue attribute crystal. But his eyes widened the moment the light from the crystal entered his vision.

The crystal was blue, yes, but deep within it was pulsing red light which flickered like a heartbeat.

He had never seen a crystal like this before in his entire time of hunting in the realm world. As he held it closer to his eyes, the system’s interface flickered into his vision.

[Ability Crystal: Conceal]

Verso stood frozen, his heart hammering.

This was not an attribute crystal at all. This was something far rarer, something that only a few monsters in the known world were capable of dropping.

He looked back at Moon, who was still leaning against a tree with his eyes closed, taking shallow breaths.

’He has no idea...’ Verso thought, considering whether he should tell him about the ability crystal or take it for himself. But as he stood there he felt a pang of shame.

’I can’t do something this disgusting to someone who considers me a friend and brought me here to look after their back...’

He took a deep breath, as he turned to look at Moon with a bright smile.

"Hey man, I found something interesting, you should take a look."