The Summoning of Darkness

After returning to his room, Klaus sat in deep thought, his golden eyes flickering with contemplation. 

The **system's notification** echoed in his mind. 

**[System Notification: The World's Will has started to sense your presence. The next protagonist will be activated within a month.]** 

Klaus exhaled. 

The **next protagonist.** 

A piece on the board he would have to **eliminate.** 

But that wasn't the only problem. 

His subordinates were **awakening soon**. While most of them were **insignificant**, a **few mattered.** 

And one of them… 

**A noble's son.** 

The system had **no exact details**, only that this noble's son was going to **fade his trail** for something he had done. 

The **old Klaus wouldn't have cared.** 

He had been obsessed with **only one thing—cultivation.** 

But now? 

Now, things were different. 

Now, he had **a throne to claim.** 

His **golden eyes narrowed** as an idea surfaced in his mind. 

**The summoning chance.** 

His fingers twitched. 

**"System, how does the summoning work?"** 

**[System Notification: Click the summon button.]** 

Klaus rolled his eyes. **So simple, yet so ominous.** 

He exhaled deeply and **clicked.** 

The room **fell into absolute silence.** 

The air stilled. 

Time itself seemed to **halt.** 

And then— 

A **tear in space.** 

Right in front of him, **reality twisted** into a swirling **black hole**. 

Klaus watched, his expression unreadable. 

Something was **coming.** 

At first, it had **no shape.** A swirling abyss of **darkness and shadows.** 

Then, in an instant, the formless entity **shifted.** 

A **man emerged.** 

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Striking. 

His **raven-black hair** cascaded down his back, his **eyes the color of pure void.** He had the **face of a fallen angel**, devastatingly handsome—though still **not on Klaus's level.** 

The man stood there, confused for a moment. 

Then his eyes met Klaus's. 

And in an instant— 

He **dropped to one knee.** 

His voice was **low, reverent, and unwavering.** 

**"Greetings, my Lord."** 

A **screen materialized** before Klaus. 

---

**[Summon Details:]** 

- **Name:** Mike 

- **Locality:** 100% 

- **Cultivation:** Celestial Authority (Peak) 

- **Skills:** Darkness Manipulation 

---

Klaus's breath stilled. 

**Mike was more powerful than his entire family.** 

Except for his grandfather. 

But even then… 

Klaus knew. 

Even his grandfather **would struggle** against this man. 

Because Mike was **different.** 

Something **beyond mortal limits.** 

Klaus's lips curled into a **satisfied smirk.** 

**"Stand."** 

Mike rose, his posture **straight and obedient,** and silently took his place **behind Klaus.** 

For a few moments, neither spoke. 

Then Klaus turned, his **golden eyes gleaming** with chilling intent. 

**"Mike, I have a task for you."** 

Mike **lowered his head slightly** in acknowledgment. 

**"Find out everything about a certain noble's son."** 

Klaus's voice was **cold and precise.** 

**"I want every single detail."** 

Mike didn't ask questions. 

He simply **vanished.** 

A shadow dissolving into nothingness. 

Klaus leaned back, a slow, calculating smile stretching across his lips. 

This was **the first step.** 

And soon, the **game would truly begin.** 

--- 

### **An Hour Later** 

Mike **returned.** 

He **knelt once more, his void-like eyes gleaming with information.** 

**"I have the details, my Lord."** 

Klaus gestured lazily. 

**"Speak."** 

Mike's voice was **calm, sharp, and deadly.** 

**"The noble in question is Second Rank General Frank Gilbert. He has two sons—Mathew and George."** 

Klaus nodded, filing the names away. 

**"George was engaged to the Nelson family's third daughter, Riya. While neither of them are monstrous geniuses, they are still prodigies—both in the Essence Gathering Realm."** 

Mike's expression darkened slightly. 

**"However, an… incident occurred."** 

Klaus's eyes gleamed. 

**"Go on."** 

Mike continued, his tone like **a blade slicing through the air.** 

**"During a recent banquet held by the Nelson family, George was found half-naked with Riya's fourth sister, Nikki."** 

A heavy silence filled the room. 

**"It appeared that he was forcing himself on her."** 

A slow, cruel smile spread across Klaus's lips. 

**"And?"** 

**"He was immediately arrested."** 

Klaus hummed, leaning forward slightly. 

**"What else?"** 

Mike's eyes flickered. 

**"There's more to the story."** 

Klaus chuckled. 

**"Of course there is."** 

He already knew. 

A case like this? **It was never so simple.** 

The **Nelson family** would not have allowed something like this to become public unless— 

**It benefited them.** 

**"Mike."** 

Mike straightened. 

**"Yes, my Lord?"** 

Klaus's voice was **calm, yet suffocating.** 

**"Go to George."** 

Mike listened intently. 

**"Give him a proposal."** 

His **golden eyes burned** with ruthless amusement. 

**"One that I know… he won't refuse."** 

A dark **chill** filled the air. 

Mike **vanished again.** 

And Klaus? 

Klaus simply **laughed.** 

A **low, merciless sound.** 

Because now, the pieces were finally falling into place. 

And **soon, the world would know—** 

Why **offending a Blake… was a mistake.**