SSS Ranked Shadow Monarch: Summoning Infinite Shadows-Chapter 217: The Best you Got?

Aren looked at his opponent. He was a slim-looking, pale dude who had on mage-like robes with some Snape-looking patterns all over them. His eyes were purple, his hair slicked back, his entire presence screamed of that of a snake or something.

Aren looked at him for a few seconds. He felt that something was a bit off about this dude, but regardless, he walked toward the center of the platform, ready to go.

He could sense the presence of Loki watching him from the stands. Though Aren now knew that Loki wasn’t really here, but a projection.

Gods were no normal beings that would just come to the gods’ domain just to see someone. Aren was even sure there had to be rules in place against that. So whatever that Loki was, he was sure it wasn’t the real thing.

Turning his attention back to the opponent, he drew a deep breath, summoning his entire dark armor and wolf guard.

He looked at the dude and spoke, "I don’t plan to go even slightly easy on you, just so you know."

His opponent smiled, a very creepy smile that showed his sharp teeth. "You don’t have to worry, you’ll lose, and maybe if I’m generous, I’ll allow you to keep your life," his opponent said before spreading his arms apart and instantly, a massive snake monster appeared, rushing toward Aren.

Its purple scales gleamed under the light, its fangs dripped with poison. The snake was extremely fast, reaching Aren in only a second.

’So he’s a summoner, ’ Aren thought as he watched the snake approach.

He smiled and instantly summoned Riker, who appeared with a massive downward slash. The snake, not expecting the sudden summon, couldn’t dodge as the blade came crashing down on its head.

Boom.

The collision shook the ground. The snake was thrown back several feet, and Riker skidded back as well before reentering his stance, ready to move again.

The snake recoiled, a massive gash on its head bleeding dark blood, yet it was still strong enough to continue fighting.

The opponent frowned at the sight of Aren’s summon. He hadn’t expected Aren to be a summoner as well.

In anger, he stretched out his hand. Instantly, three more snakes formed, smaller than the first but still massive. All four lunged at the same time.

Aren remained unmoved.

Riker stepped in front of him, took his stance, and lowered his sword to his side, closing his eyes briefly. When he opened them, his hooves kicked against the ground with explosive force.

He launched forward like a rocket toward the three new snakes and slashed in a wide arc, intending to rip through all of them at once.

But the opponent had anticipated this.

The moment Riker attacked, the summoner clenched his fist. The snakes scattered in three different directions at the last second, narrowly dodging the strike. They surrounded Riker and lunged from multiple angles.

Riker spun swiftly, blocking attacks from three sides. Still, one snake managed to sink its fangs into his hand.

He twisted his body and slammed the base of his sword into the snake’s head, knocking it away before retreating quickly to Aren’s side.

"Hmm. Seems like this summoner is pretty competent," Aren muttered.

He looked at his opponent and saw confidence and pride in the man’s eyes. The summoner clearly believed he was winning and likely had more hidden tricks.

Aren glanced at Riker.

"How about we show him this is just child’s play?" Aren said.

Riker nodded.

He tightened his grip on his sword and took another stance. With a deep breath, he burst forward again, faster this time.

Aren moved as well, circling from the side to flank the summoner.

As the three snakes lunged at Riker, he weaved between them like a nimble predator, dodging each strike with precision. Landing lightly, he unleashed a rapid barrage of slashes that tore through their tough scales, drawing blood that sprayed into the air.

The snakes crashed to the ground, writhing in pain before retreating slightly.

Their summoner winced, clearly feeling their suffering. He tried to regain control, directing them to press the attack.

But his focus broke.

Aren was already there.

Like a bullet.

"One thing about summoners," Aren said as he closed the distance, lightning crackling around his hand, "they rely too much on their summons."

"How dare you come close to me!" his opponent roared.

He pulled out a crystal and crushed it instantly.

A massive cloud of purple gas exploded outward, thick, toxic, lethal enough to drop a person in seconds.

But before it could spread.

Aren activated his domain.

The world shifted.

Inside the domain, the poisonous gas simply ceased to exist.

The opponent froze in shock as the surroundings transformed. He tried to move, but shadows shot from the ground, wrapping around his limbs and locking him in place.

The same shadows ensnared his snakes.

In one swift motion, Riker stepped in and beheaded them while they were restrained.

The moment the summoner realized his snakes had been killed and he himself was captured, rage surged through him.

Even though the shadow tendrils wrapped tightly around his body and mouth, preventing speech, he acted instinctively.

He pricked his own finger.

A drop of blood fell to the ground.

Within the domain, a magical circle formed, glowing red before shifting to deep purple. The ground trembled.

From it burst a massive dark-purple snake, at least three times larger than the previous one. Two horns curved from its head, and its fangs dripped blood-red venom.

It launched at Aren instantly.

Aren did not retreat.

He did not summon.

He simply pulled his arm back. Lightning and fire crackled together around his fist.

And he punched.

The blow slammed into the snake’s lower jaw, shattering it instantly, continuing upward to crush the top of its skull. The force snapped its head back violently.

Aren extended his will through the domain.

Shadows wrapped around the massive serpent, yanking it downward and slamming it into the ground.

Then he took out his Ancient Devourer.

In one clean motion, Abisa severed the snake’s head.

Silence followed.

Aren turned to his restrained opponent.

"Is that the best you’ve got?" he asked mockingly.