The three Sen mbers stood before the others with various expressions that told entirely different stories, each one completely opposite from the others.
"Hey Sung, it's been a while, hasn't it?" Zhou Sen wrapped his arm around Master Sung's shoulder in a friendly gesture that completely threw everyone off guard, his casual deanor so unexpected. "How have you been doing, old friend?"
Despite his fearso red hair that blazed like stagnant fire and his intimidating athletic build that spoke of countless hours of intense training, Zhou's voice carried a warmth that surprised everyone.
His grip on Master Sung's shoulder was firm but undeniably friendly, like an old companion greeting another after a long separation—sothing no one, not since Ryder had begun traveling with Master Sung, would dare attempt. Not even Akira, who seed relatively comfortable around Master Sung, would reach such lengths of familiarity.
"Zhou," Master Sung responded with what could almost be called a genuine smile, returning the friendliness with warmth. "I've been managing the chaos, as always. Though I must say, this isn't exactly the ti for pleasantries—there's a rather significant matter at stake here."
"You've been managing the chaos?" Mikasa Sen repeated, her lodious voice carrying curiosity. "From what we've been hearing through the guild's grapevine, you've been having quite the adventure lately. The rumors have been... interesting, to say the least."
"Hi," Ryon greeted with complete blankness, offering a casual wave of his hand as if the simple gesture was so difficult, his eyes as expressionless as a statue's. Clearly, he is the introverted type.
The dark bags under his eyes seed to be so deep, like he hadn't slept for weeks. His long black hair cascaded down his back in waves that moved without any apparent wind, his presence alone seed to give off an eerie feeling.
"Listen up, everyone," Master Sung began, his voice taking on an authoritative tone as he directed his speech towards the Sen. "These are the new allies of the guild, including the black-marked summoner that has been brought to your attention for quite so ti now.
It's ti you all make introductions."
"Ohhhhh!" Zhou's eyes widened in shock. "The black-marked summoner!" His excitent was clear, radiating from him like heat from a burning sumr sun.
The Sen's eyes quickly scanned everyone standing with Master Sung, and with unwavering confidence, they imdiately identified who they were looking for. They instantaneously recognized him the mont they set their eyes on him.
For them being the strongest summoners in the entire guild, Ryder hadn't expected anything less from them. The Gamma Flow technique alone could help experienced practitioners sense energy readings, so it ca as no surprise to anyone present that they could pinpoint him so quickly.
What was surprising was the intensity of Zhou's reaction.
"Oh, hello there, uh..." Zhou's grin extended across his face and he began to playfully approach Ryder with steps that seed like those of a predator stalking its prey. "What might your na be, if I may ask? Though I suppose I should already know, considering how much I've been looking forward to this eting."
"I am Ryder," he replied with cautious politeness, extending his hand out for what he hoped would be a simple handshake. "Nice eting you."
Instead of the expected handshake, a loud, deafening screech that sounded like a cross between a banshee's wail and the squealing noise of tal grinding against tal resonated from Zhou's throat, causing Ryder to stumble backwards in alarm and cover his ears.
Zhou hugged himself tightly and scread to the sky like an over-excited little girl who had just been given a truck full of candy for breakfast.
"I can't believe it! I can't believe it!" he squird in joy, his voice cracking with emotion as he bounced on his toes. "It is truly you! The only black-marked summoner in the entirety of humanity in this current age!"
Without warning, he suddenly zood forward with speed that was nothing short of impressive, grabbing both of Ryder's hands in a grip that was surprisingly gentle despite his obvious excitent.
An embarrassed bead of sweat ran down Ryder's temple as he scratched his head with his free hand, completely unprepared for this level of worship-like attention.
"Ye-yes, yeah, yeah, that's... that's right," he stuttered, his usual confidence completely shaken.
Brok and the others behind them suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter, so loud that it echoed through their vicinity. Even Master Sung couldn't help but chuckle.
"I had expected sothing more... composed from a Sen-ranked mber, but this..." Brok managed to get out mid-laugh, his shoulders still shaking, but Zhou remained completely unconcerned, focused on Ryder as if nothing else in the world mattered.
"I summoned you earlier, you know," Zhou Sen continued with an almost manic gleam in his eyes that reflected the intensity of his obsession more than re interest. "Even before you got recruited as an ally of the Red Eastern Guild. Ming Fan told you, didn't he? I specifically requested your presence through proper channels and everything!"
"Oh!" The mory suddenly flashed through Ryder's mind like lightning striking a clear sky. "That's right! During the period when Yuki had used the knowledge transfer back then, Ming Fan did ntion sothing about that."
"What took you so long? Why didn't you co to imdiately?" Zhou's voice took on an almost sad edge, like a child asking why their favorite toy had been taken away. "I've been waiting and waiting, checking every day to see if you'd finally arrived!"
"Um, uhh..." Ryder began, clearly struggling to find words, especially since he still didn't understand Zhou's personality—was he a maniac or a psychopath?
"Because I didn't want him to," Master Sung interjected. "He needed to familiarize himself with this guild first, understand our ways and our people. He also had other important matters to attend to."
"Oh, is that it?" Zhou asked, and to everyone's complete amazent, he simply fell backwards onto his butt like a disappointed little kid. Montarily, all his Sen-level dignity was abandoned. "I never knew that was the reason. I thought maybe you just didn't want to et or sothing like that."
The sight of this powerful, red-haired summoner sitting on the ground looking dejected was so comical that everyone burst into laughter.
"But now there's nothing to worry about!" Zhou Sen's mood shifted instantaneously. "I don't really mind the wait, honestly. They say good things co to those who wait, and it's probably better to save the best battles for last anyway!"
"Just after I help protect you from whatever's coming," Zhou continued, his eyes taking on that manic gleam again as he remained seated on the ground, "we'll fight a battle to the death!"
From his dejected position on the grass, Zhou Sen suddenly reached out and grabbed Ryder by the arm, his eyes literally glittering with joyful anticipation. "Wouldn't you just love to spray so blood around with ? I promise you it would be absolutely, incredibly fun!"
All of Ryder's previously laughing companions instantly froze, their laughter dying in their throats.
"Did he just say..." Brok muttered, his voice barely above a whisper as he began stepping backwards instinctively, "that spraying blood would be fun?"
He needed no further confirmation to know that this particular Sen mber was a complete and utter maniac. With the sudden shift in mood he was showcasing, Brok knew sothing was off with this man. He had found it funny along with his companions at first, but now, it was giving him the creeps.
"Let go of him, dammit!" Mikasa snapped with authority that cut through Zhou's bloodthirst, smacking Zhou's hands off of Ryder's arm with enough force to make an audible *thwack*.
"I know you're an idiot, but try to act smart sotis! You're supposed to give a good first impression, not terrify our new allies into fleeing for their lives!"
Zhou didn't even struggle or protest as he willingly allowed Mikasa to drag him across the ground by his collar, his body leaving a small trail in the grass as she pulled him back toward the group. His expression remained cheerful, an ear-to-ear grin still present on his face that didn't seem like it would ever fade.
"You never properly introduced the others," Mikasa spoke to Master Sung once she had successfully kept Zhou in check, her lodious voice soothing their hearts. "It wouldn't be right if we didn't introduce ourselves properly to all of our new allies."
"Isn't that right, Ryon?" she asked, turning to address the eerily quiet mber of their trio.
"I don't care," Ryon responded in monotone. "Tell the attackers to hurry up and co. Let's get this whole ss over with already so I can go back to my ditation." ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by novel[f]ire
His complete lack of interest in anything happening around him was almost as terrifying as Zhou's manic personality, though in a completely different way.
While Zhou's emotions were excessive, Ryon was an absence of emotion.
"Dammit!" Mikasa bit her lip in frustration, her composed and understanding personality cracking slightly. "You guys truly never know when to adjust your behaviors to match the situation! We're eting important new allies, not attending a funeral or planning a massacre!"
The annoyance in her voice suggested this was a constant struggle for her—being the only apparently normal person among three Sen-level summoners.
"My apologies on their behalf," Mikasa said with a short formal bow. "My na is Mikasa Sen, and I try to be the reasonable one among this group."
Behind her, she gestured toward the figure with heavy bags under his eyes. "That walking embodint of sorrow is Ryon Sen."
Her finger moved from Ryon to Zhou—the tall, lean figure with muscular build and pale skin who was still staring at Ryder with the intensity of a hawk and the grin of a demon.
"And our enthusiastic friend here is Zhou Sen, as you've already learned."
"We are the only three mbers of the Sen district, which makes us the most powerful summoners in the entire guild. Now, how about you introduce yourselves properly? I'd love to know more about the people who have attracted the attention of a higher guild."
"I an," Mikasa continued thoughtfully, "I am quite formidable, but no one ever fought over ."
Recognizing that this particular Sen mber was clearly the most reasonable and normal among all three, Mara stepped forward with what little courage she could muster and began to speak.
Her mind raced as she considered how to introduce herself and her comrades in the most impressive light possible. They should at least make the Sen feel like they were worthy of respect.
Pointing at Leo, she spoke with growing confidence: "This blue-silver-eyed man over here is known as the Summoner Slayer, and his na is Leo."
The stunned expression that imdiately appeared on both Mikasa and Zhou's faces made Mara's smile widen with satisfaction. Even Ryon seed to perk up slightly, though his expression remained largely unchanged.
'Perfect,' she thought to herself, 'I piqued their interest positively. I just need to keep up with our best achievents along with our nas.'
"On the other side," Mara continued, her confidence growing with each word, "is Brok, a forr mber of the terrifying underworld organization known as the Underlings!" She added so volu to her voice, purposely concealing Brok's mark rank.
Even Brok was caught off guard by her dramatic description of him. He would have given her a loud round of applause if he hadn't managed to hold himself back, impressed by her strategic thinking. He knew for sure he wouldn't have been able to do the sa if he had made his own introduction.
The Sen mbers all nodded approvingly upon hearing Brok's introduction. Though they probably had never heard of the Underlings organization, the fact that it was a kind of guild was enough for their acceptance.
"And my na is Mara," she concluded, "and I am a summoner who is capable of harnessing all seventy-seven of the Luo techniques."
She paused briefly before continuing: "I learned every single one of those techniques within a single day."
"Wow," Mikasa's jaw dropped at what she had just heard. "Are you absolutely sure about that? All seventy-seven techniques in one day? That's... that should be impossible."
"Yes, it's completely true," Akira chid in, her voice carrying the authority of soone who had witnessed the impossible firsthand. "I trained them personally, and they all accomplished the sa feat."
"Just how incredibly lucky were you to find all these anomalies so easily, Sung?" Mikasa muttered, her voice carrying evident admiration. "Finding one exceptional individual is rare enough, but four? And all at the sa ti?"
Master Sung's response was a smile. "Guess I was just as lucky as I've always been," he said.
"Are you really sure they need protection?" Ryon questioned, his monotone voice cutting through the atmosphere. "Because from what I'm hearing, it seems to they are quite capable of handling themselves without our intervention."
"Ryon!" Akira snapped, her voice sharp with disapproval.
Her sharp rebuke seed to bounce off Ryon's stoic face without even making him flinch. He simply shrugged and returned to his previous state of disinterest, though his eyes remained watchful as always.
Turning around with purposeful movent, Master Sung began walking toward the dojo that stood just a couple dozen ters away from their current position. The others quickly followed behind him. The building seed to loom larger as they approached the blood-stained black wood structure.
Upon entering the structure, they all naturally arranged themselves on the mat in the large, open room, forming what beca a perfect circle without needing any coordination. The interior of the dojo was spacious and bare, with walls that seed to absorb sound and light in equal asure.
Master Sung waited patiently for all of them to settle into comfortable positions before beginning his explanation. His expression had grown serious as he prepared to tell them everything.
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