The sun hung low over the Hunter Academy as the final magic trial came to a close. Sayaka walked with a new kind of presence, her every step lighter, more purposeful… yet her heart still confused.
Whispers followed her through the corridors.
"She defeated Karn with dark magic…?"
"I thought she had no mana—"
"Was that… forbidden power?"
But no one dared speak to her directly. The ones who had bullied her now shifted their gazes, avoided her path, as if suddenly reminded that even shadows could bite.
So this is what power feels like… silence in place of laughter. but its better than being a fooolish toy for them.
She didn't enjoy it. Not yet.
Now came the final trial of the selection exams — the Summoning Trial.
Sayaka stood in a long line of students outside the summoning grounds, a vast circular stone field with runic circles engraved across it.
The wind blew gently. Birds chirped distantly. For a moment, it felt like nothing dramatic would happen here.
"Students!" a sharp voice echoed across the field. The summoning instructor, a stern woman with crimson robes and a staff twice her height, stood at the center. "You will enter the circle one by one and summon your assigned beast! This is not just for show — it will determine your compatibility with mystical entities."
Sayaka swallowed, watching as student after student stepped into the summoning circle.
A boy summoned a white tiger, its fur glowing with divine energy.
A girl brought forth a celestial peacock, feathers radiant like a rainbow.
Another conjured a four-headed Houndom, black flames licking its jaw.
One by one, creatures both majestic and monstrous filled the field.
Sayaka's turn came.
She took a shaky step forward.
"Next, Sayaka of Class 1-A."
She stepped into the center of the summoning circle, her fingers trembling as they hovered over the rune glyphs.
I can do this… I have to.
She closed her eyes.
She focused every ounce of energy, of belief, into the circle.
But—nothing.
Not a flicker of light. Not a whisper of wind.
The runes beneath her feet didn't glow.
Only silence.
The invigilator frowned and raised her hand.
"Failure to respond. I'll mark this as—"
"Wait… one more chance," Sayaka said, her voice soft but firm.
The woman paused, hesitating. "…Fine. One last attempt."
Sayaka took a deep breath.
Then—
DING!
A bright purple window blinked into existence in front of her.
"Oi, Missy. You really like taking your chances, huh?"
System?
"Say, you want to summon the creature assigned by the gods? Just a minor warning: it's a bit... dramatic. Summon: [DESPAIR KING]. Proceed?"
✅ YES❌ NO
Her heart thudded.
Despair King?
Assigned… by the gods?
She reached out and pressed—YES.
The summoning circle pulsed.
First… once.
Then—BOOM—
A shockwave of violet and black erupted from beneath her.
The sky — darkened.
Clouds rolled in from nowhere, swirling like a vortex. The wind howled, tearing through the robes of instructors and students alike.
Lightning cracked in the heavens, not blue, but black and red.
The students shielded their eyes.
Some fell to the ground.
"W-What's happening?!"
"This isn't a normal summon!!"
"The sky… it's bleeding?!"
Sayaka stood at the center, hair whipping violently, her body glowing faintly with a dark aura.
And then it descended.
From the eye of the storm—
A creature vast, divine, and terrifying.
A bird with wings like shattered night, each feather trailing with whispers of sorrow.
Its body shimmered in hues of crimson, obsidian, and violet, eyes glowing like two dying suns.
A low, thunderous cry shook the very stone beneath their feet.
"That… that's—!"
"The Black Phoenix…"
"The Phoenix of Despair…?!"
Every instructor stood frozen.
Even the headmaster, watching from afar, widened his eyes.
"One of the Three Forbidden Summons… It hasn't been seen in ten thousand years…"
Sayaka stared upward, her knees nearly buckling.
I… I summoned that?
The bird slowly descended, circling her once.
And then — it landed, folding its wings behind her like a curtain of darkness.
The wind calmed.
The sky cleared.
Only silence remained.
"Well done, Missy," the system muttered. "You just shook the whole realm."
The invigilator's voice cracked as she lowered her hand:
"S-Sayaka of Class 1-A… has passed the Summoning Trial…"
She looked around.
Everyone stared.
Some in awe.
Some in fear.
Some… unsure of what they just witnessed.
Sayaka didn't know either.
Only that the Phoenix had looked at her.
And not once did it judge her.