The Second Summoning

The Dretch lunged forward with reckless abandon.

This was the advantage of summoned beasts—once tamed, they would obey their master's every command, even if it meant certain death.

In stark contrast, Chen Feng appeared cold and detached.

From start to finish, he showed no concern for the Dretch's injuries, maintaining his usual indifferent and emotionless demeanor.

What a joke.

Feeling sympathy for an abyssal creature might just be the most ironic sentiment in existence.

If there was any place in the world that could be considered the epitome of evil, the abyss would undoubtedly take first place.

The harsh environment of the abyss was one of perpetual scarcity. It teemed with billions of lives and countless species, yet very few of them ever sowed seeds or cultivated food.

Worms, enemies, and even their kin served as sustenance.

The abyss was a realm filled with ceaseless slaughter. Unlike human society, where the weak might survive another day, the losers in the abyss often became someone else's meal in the blink of an eye.

Compared to other species, abyssal creatures were more treacherous, more cunning, and far more dangerous—they were forever addicted to madness and malevolent power.

Moreover, the relationship between a summoned beast and its summoner was that of a slave to a master. When a summoner's roster of summoned beasts was full, some would even kill their own creatures to make room for more powerful ones.

Even more disturbingly, some twisted summoners would control succubi to serve their darkest desires, doing unspeakable things.

Although Chen Feng had no affection for the Dretch, he wasn't planning to sacrifice it just yet. The Tentacle Monster's arrogance had cost it dearly—its corroded tentacles had severely diminished its strength, despite its quick recovery.

Desperate to repel the Dretch, the Tentacle Monster lashed out with its remaining tentacles, smashing them repeatedly against the Dretch's body. Rotten flesh splattered everywhere—on the walls, the floor, even the windows—all of it corroded by the toxic blood.

The indiscriminate attacks had severely injured the Dretch. Half of its body was lopped off, and its belly spilled out some decayed innards and intestines.

But these injuries were far from fatal for a Dretch. They could regenerate by filling their wounds with mud and corpses. Once they devoured enough bodies, they would regain their formidable form.

In fact, a Dretch with devouring abilities could gain strength and even new powers from consuming corpses.

The Tentacle Monster, on the other hand, was in worse shape. Despite using its mucus to stave off the Dretch's corrosive acid, it was running out of energy. Once the mucus was depleted, it would face an even graver threat.

Zizi...

The Dretch closed in on the Tentacle Monster, spreading its arms wide to grab hold of it.

Pu-chi!

Under such immense pressure, the Tentacle Monster nearly exploded, its bright red blood squeezed out of its tentacles.

Some of that blood splashed onto Chen Feng, causing his face to flush. Suddenly, strange thoughts and desires surged within him.

His expression changed slightly, and he quickly bit the tip of his tongue. The taste of blood in his mouth helped him regain his focus.

The Tentacle Monster was like a twisted plaything of some evil god, filled with the power to control and subdue women. Even its blood was laced with powerful hallucinogens.

These hallucinogens were potent enough to affect men as well.

However, the Dretch showed no reaction. It didn't differentiate between genders; all of its desires had long since disappeared, except for eating and killing.

Everything happened too quickly. The Dretch had completely immobilized the Tentacle Monster, and despite its frantic thrashing, the Tentacle Monster was helpless. Its grotesque body was riddled with wounds, with flesh hanging in ragged strips.

Chen Feng picked up the boning knife that lay nearby and, with all his strength, hurled it at the Tentacle Monster. The blade buried itself deep in the creature's body, hastening its demise.

Weapon Throwing.

This was a ranged attack technique. Compared to melee fighters with innate advantages, Chen Feng had trained for a long time but was still just a beginner.

"In... on... fy..."

The Dretch's patience was wearing thin, and the Tentacle Monster's resistance only made it more irritable. Tightening its grip, the Dretch buried the Tentacle Monster's face into its own chest.

Suffocated and overwhelmed by a noxious stench, the Tentacle Monster found itself in a state worse than death. Its tentacles slowed, and after a moment, the very appendages that had violated countless female creatures fell to the ground, lifeless.

It was finally dead.

"Hoo!"

Chen Feng exhaled heavily, collapsing onto the ground.

Even though he hadn't directly participated in the fight, his mind had been racing, completely focused on the battle. A skilled summoner must be vigilant, watching every second on the battlefield.

If necessary, he would correct any mistakes made by his summoned beasts.

Chen Feng's current power was still quite low. Only after reaching the Silver level would the mental strain lessen. Every creature requires a process of growth and strengthening.

Even a dragon, when first born, cannot withstand the full force of an adult's strike.

The Tentacle Monster's body, though now a corpse, still held considerable value.

Its mucus and blood had potent hallucinogenic properties, and some alchemists loved to collect these bizarre materials. After a series of extractions, they could even produce aphrodisiacs powerful enough to overwhelm even high-level professionals.

These aphrodisiacs were highly sought after on the black market.

However, the Tentacle Monster's body had already been corroded by the Dretch. Even if it were refined, it would only yield a deadly poison, not some perverse pleasure.

But Chen Feng was more interested in the Tentacle Monster's corpse for another reason.

A sacrifice.

As a Bronze-level summoner, Chen Feng could summon two minions. The Tentacle Monster's body presented an opportunity—it meant that he could soon acquire a second summoned beast.

Chen Feng clenched his fist, walking over to the deflated remains of the Tentacle Monster. The once-majestic body now lay crumpled like a punctured balloon, with the boning knife still lodged in its head.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Feng withdrew the knife and slowly reached his right hand into the creature's brain. It was a grotesque act, but abyssal creatures favored such offerings. Torture, slaughter, disaster, evil, and brutal punishments attracted the attention of powerful beings.

Unlike the mindless Dretch, some conscious entities would even choose their summoners themselves.

The summoning began.

Chen Feng plunged both hands into the Tentacle Monster's brain matter, his face showing no emotion as a familiar incantation filled the air: "Oh evil spirits buried deep within the dark earth, heed the ancient covenant, listen to my whispers, and break through the boundaries of time and space. I offer you powerful flesh in exchange for your loyalty..."

A flicker of red light.

A strange scene unfolded before Chen Feng's eyes.