SSS-Ranked Awakening: I Can Only Summon Mythical Beasts

Damien remained still, his sharp blue eyes fixed on Lizella, watching her every movement as she smiled slightly at his observation.

Her confirmation came with a simple nod. "You're right," she said.

Then without waiting for a response from Damien, she continued. "The barrier concealing my hometown is designed to be undetectable to outsiders. Only those born within can normally sense its presence."

Damien smirked. "Guess I'm just special, then. I'm an exception and I certainly am not the only exception."

His tone was light, playful even, but there was a flicker of curiosity in Lizella's gaze.

She had already suspected he was different, but now she was even more certain.

She could have asked about it—his origin, his abilities, why he was capable of detecting something even high-ranked warriors had failed to notice.

But she chose not to.

Damien had never asked about her past. Not when he rescued her. Not even after.

So, she decided to do the same.

Without another word, Lizella slid off Aquila's back, her legs landing softly on the grassy plain. She took a few steps forward before stopping.

It was clear she had reached the boundary of the barrier.

Then, folding her hands together in a prayer-like position, she began to chant.

"By will and word, by key and light,

Break the seal, undo the night.

Stone and shadow, air and flame,

Part before me, speak my name..."

A hush fell over the group as Lizella chanted softly, her words flowing in an ancient tongue foreign to most of them.

"Let the path now stand revealed,

Bound no more by lock or seal.

By power sworn and passage true,

Open wide and let me through!"

The survivors watched in fascination, some whispering among themselves.

Others, however, were growing impatient.

"Is this really going to work?" one of them muttered.

Another sighed. "I don't see anything changing."

Even Damien, for all his patience, found himself raising a brow.

But then—the air shifted as she started the whole chant all over.

A faint ripple, like a wave in the fabric of reality, spread outward from Lizella's fingertips.

Moments later, the barrier reacted.

It shimmered into visibility, revealing a transparent dome-like structure, stretching far into the horizon, protecting whatever lay beyond.

The murmurs among the captives ceased instantly.

And then—figures appeared.

Two men in scaled armor emerged from beyond the barrier, striding forward with measured steps.

The armor they wore was crafted from beast hide and dragon-like scales, their cloaks bearing the emblem of an unknown order.

As they stepped through, the barrier split open, allowing them passage before sealing itself behind them.

Their piercing eyes scanned the group, quickly assessing the unfamiliar faces. Their expressions were unreadable—but their presence carried undeniable authority.

Then, their gazes landed on Lizella.

Instantly, they bowed.

"We greet the Young Lady," one of them said respectfully.

Lizella smiled at their gesture and motioned for them to rise.

She seemed to be enjoying the attention, but everyone else was confused.

Even Damien.

The survivors exchanged glances, clearly startled by the formality shown toward Lizella.

Who exactly was she?

And more importantly—why hadn't she mentioned any of this?

One of the guards, a tall man with dark silver hair, finally spoke.

"Lady Lizella, why are you just returning? And who are these people with you?"

His eyes swept over the survivors, but his focus narrowed in on Damien and his mana beasts—Fenrir and Aquila—who stood beside him like silent sentinels.

The second guard, a gruff-looking man with sharp eyes, was less subtle.

His glare fixed directly on Damien, his hand resting near his weapon.

There was no fear in his stance, only a deep wariness.

Damien wasn't afraid either.

But he felt Fenrir and Aquila's tension.

His summons were uneasy, their postures shifting, their instincts warning them that something was off about this place.

It was rare for either of them to react this way.

Which meant—these guards were more dangerous than they appeared.

Lizella turned back to Damien and the others before speaking.

She gestured toward Damien first.

"He is my savior," she said simply.

Then, she motioned toward the survivors.

"And these are the captives he rescued. Alongside me."

Her voice was calm, but there was a certain weight to her words.

The guards exchanged glances.

Damien noted the way their eyes flickered with recognition at Lizella's mention of being rescued.

Did they already know she had been captured?

Had they been looking for her?

The guard who had spoken first nodded after a brief pause. "Understood, Lady Lizella."

Then, she added something that caught Damien off guard.

"I need to speak with my mother immediately."

Damien's eyes narrowed slightly.

Her mother?

Hadn't she implied her parents were dead?

There was no time to ask, as the guards had already stepped aside.

"You are all permitted entry," the taller one said.

The other, however, was still staring at Damien's mana beasts.

His fingers twitched slightly at his side, as though prepared for something to go wrong.

And that was when it happened.

Grrrr...

Fenrir growled.

Aquila let out a warning screech.

Neither of them moved forward.

Damien could feel their reluctance, their instincts screaming against entering the town.

Their muscles were tensed, their essence flaring slightly.

It was clear.

They didn't trust this place.

Damien sighed.

He wasn't the type to ignore his summons' instincts.

If they were this unsettled, it was better not to force them inside.

With a flick of his wrist, he canceled both their summons.

Aquila and Fenrir vanished in bursts of light, retreating back into their respective realms.

The guards relaxed slightly.

But Damien didn't miss the way one of them smirked—as if they had just won some unspoken battle.

Interesting.

Now without his mana beasts, Damien moved forward, walking alongside the others as they passed through the barrier's opening.

The moment he stepped inside, he felt it.

The air was different.

The mana flow was denser, the very ground beneath him more alive with energy than anything outside.

Lizella, who had fallen back into step beside him, glanced at him curiously.

"Not going to ask questions?" she murmured.

Damien smirked slightly. "I figured you'd tell me when you're ready."

She let out a soft chuckle. "Maybe."

Their conversation ended there, but Damien's thoughts didn't stop. "Strange..."