I Got My System Late, But I'll Become Beastgod-Chapter 74: The King’s Summons
Chapter 74: The King’s Summons
The two small bottles glistened under the overhead crystal lights, their contents a thick, poisonous red.
Haider Ali held one up to his face, turning it slowly, his sharp eyes narrowing.
A heavy silence settled in the room.
"Hmm..." Haider murmured, his thumb tapping lightly against the glass.
"This poison... it’s the Red Flower of the West. One of the deadliest substances known."
The words left his mouth like a blade being drawn.
He set the bottle down with a soft clink and straightened, his gaze sweeping over the gathered students.
"Only one group is infamous for using it," he said grimly.
He paused just long enough for the tension to tighten.
Then, in a voice low and heavy:
"The Green Serpent Guild."
Aamir stood motionless, absorbing the revelation.
This time, no shock twisted his features. Just a quiet, knowing thought: Guessed it... in just one look.
Kunal’s face grew pale as the name of the guild fell from Haider’s lips. His fingers, which had been drumming against the wooden table absentmindedly, stilled. His eyes, wide with recognition, flickered nervously to the others.
Meera leaned in, sensing the change in Kunal’s demeanor. Her voice dropped to a whisper, though the tension in the room made it seem as if she were shouting. "You know them?"
Kunal’s jaw tightened, and he nodded slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. "They’re not just any assassin guild. They’re ruthless. Cold. Merciless. The Green Serpent is... they don’t just kill. They annihilate everything and everyone in their path. And the worst part? They don’t just leave a trail of blood. They leave nothing. No traces. No witnesses. They make sure you’re never found, not even in death."
He paused, the weight of his next words settling heavily on the room.
"Although... they’re not as powerful as my family. My family is one of the strongest assassin families in the world. Our influence, our reach—no one even comes close to it. But the Green Serpent... they’re dangerous, yes. They don’t play by the rules. They thrive in the shadows, and that makes them unpredictable. I’ve heard of them, but they’ve never been able to match us in strength or power."
Kunal’s eyes flickered, a distant, haunted look in them. "But that doesn’t mean they won’t try. And that makes them far more dangerous than anyone realizes."
Beside him, Afreen stepped forward, the faint furrow of a frown marring her usually calm face.
"The Green Serpent Guild? Aren’t they based in Galvia?" she asked.
Haider’s mouth twisted in something that wasn’t quite a smile.
"They thrive in shadows. Smuggling, assassinations, black-market trades... wherever there’s rot, you’ll find their roots."
His eyes darkened.
"But to use Red Flower this deep in Aryavrata..."
He shook his head slowly, the unspoken horror lingering in the air.
"You’re right," Haider replied, nodding slowly. "But Galvia has no reason to move against us. Relations are strong. Which means..."
He let the words trail off, the weight of the unspoken pressing on the room.
Afreen’s throat bobbed in a nervous swallow.
"...someone else," Haider finished, his voice darkening.
A rare crack showed in his stoic facade, a thin line of concern threading into his tone.
"And if it’s who I think it is..." He shook his head slightly. "Then it’s bad. Very bad."
Afreen’s eyes widened, her body unconsciously leaning forward.
"Who is it?"
Haider waved a hand, brushing off the question like an irritating fly.
"You’ll find out soon enough."
Then, stepping back, he looked at each of them — six young souls standing on the threshold of something far bigger than themselves.
"But before that," Haider said, his voice shifting, "there’s something else you need to know."
A ripple of unease passed through the group.
Even Seenu, usually brimming with restless energy, stood still, his arms crossed.
"Is it... bad news?" Afreen asked cautiously.
Haider smiled — not warmly, but with the kind of complicated smile that left your stomach tight.
"Can’t say it’s good... can’t say it’s bad," he said. "It just is."
He held their eyes a moment longer.
Then dropped the hammer:
"The King wishes to meet you."
For a breathless second, no one moved.
The words hung there, heavy as a guillotine, slicing clean through whatever petty worries they’d carried into the room.
Meeting the King... wasn’t just rare.
It was historic.
Then, six voices crashed together:
"The King?!"
Haider allowed himself a brief chuckle.
"Yes. The leader of Aryavrata himself has summoned you."
When Haider mentioned the King, Aamir felt his stomach twist into a knot. Meeting the King was not just an honor — it was a trial. A test of worth. His fingers itched to fidget, but he forced them still. Was he ready? Could he measure up? He didn’t know what to expect, but he knew it would change everything
Afreen frowned sharply, her mind racing ahead.
"But why? Why would the King personally want to meet these kids?"
"That," Haider said, scratching the back of his head, "I don’t know. I received the message early this morning. No details. Just the summons."
Aamir, a thoughtful crease cutting across his brow, raised a tentative hand.
"But sir... I’ve never heard of Aryavrata having a royal family."
Haider’s lips twitched in amusement.
"Because there isn’t one," he explained.
"The title of ’King’ is just that — a title. The man who holds it isn’t born into it. He earns it... by strength, wisdom, and power."
Aamir frowned slightly.
Strength, wisdom, power, he repeated inwardly.
In a way, it was more terrifying than a bloodline monarchy.
If the King ruled purely by merit... then he had to be unimaginably strong. A king who wasn’t bound by bloodlines, but by sheer power. A king who could destroy worlds if he chose to. The weight of that power pressed down on Aamir’s chest, making his breath hitch.
"Ohh..." Aamir breathed out, as understanding clicked into place.
Seenu scratched his head and voiced the obvious question:
"So... when are we supposed to meet him?"
Haider’s face pulled into an awkward grimace.
"Today."
"Today?!" Afreen’s voice shot up an octave. "But they just got back from their assessment!"
Before she could work herself into a full protest, the six students broke into eager chatter:
"We’re not tired, Miss!" they chorused.
Afreen blinked, staring at their eager faces — those who had just been through the grueling assessment and yet now, their eyes sparkled with excitement. She let out a long, weary sigh, shaking her head. "Fine," she muttered. "Go. Just... don’t get yourself in trouble."
Haider chuckled and beckoned them forward.
"Come on, then. Let’s get you there."
The air outside was cool and sharp as they made their way across the university grounds.
The paved stones underfoot were damp from the morning mist, and somewhere distant, a bell tolled noon.
The Teleportation Department was housed in a sprawling, domed hall, its ceilings lost in misty shadows. Ancient banners hung limp from the rafters, their sigils faded by time. Blue light from the runes etched into the stone floor made the air hum faintly, as if the walls themselves breathed magic. The faint smell of ozone hung in the air, thick with the promise of something otherworldly.
Inside the Teleportation Department, the scent of magic — sharp and metallic — filled their nostrils.
Arcane runes were carved into the stone floor, faintly pulsing with blue light.
"Vikram!" Haider called, waving to a tall man hunched over a console of glowing stones.
The man looked up, his perpetually grumpy expression souring even more.
"Royal palace portal? Who’s going there?"
"Not me," Haider said quickly. He jerked a thumb back at the students. "Them."
Vikram’s eyes widened. "Them?"
But he didn’t argue.
With a few curt gestures, he summoned a portal mage — an older woman whose hands moved in practiced, precise motions.
The runes flared.
The air thickened.
And slowly, a swirling portal took shape before them — a pool of liquid light floating upright in the air.
As Aamir stepped closer, the swirling portal distorted his reflection — stretching and twisting his features until he hardly recognized himself. He hesitated for half a heartbeat, heart pounding. Would crossing through this glowing barrier pull him into something beyond his control? Was there a point of no return? Then he stepped forward, the light swallowing him whole.
"He looks thrilled to help us," Seenu muttered under his breath.
Riya stifled a giggle, while even Aamir cracked a faint smile.
As the portal shimmered, Haider’s face grew serious.
He pulled Seenu and Aamir aside, lowering his voice.
"Listen carefully. That old man you’re about to meet... he’s clever. Very clever. He’ll tempt you. Offers, rewards, positions — things that’ll sound tempting."
Aamir and Seenu exchanged a glance, a flicker of uncertainty passing between them.
"But sir," Aamir said hesitantly, "wouldn’t it be good to work directly for the King?"
Haider’s mouth tightened into a firm line.
"No," he said. "Not for you. I trained you for more than being someone’s soldier — even if that someone wears a crown."
The quiet strength in his voice made their doubts waver.
A promise was being asked of them — silent, but powerful.
Seenu nodded first.
Aamir followed a beat later.
Without another word, the six of them stepped forward.
As they lined up before the shimmering portal, Aamir’s heart thudded painfully against his ribs.
He clenched his fists once, loosening the tremble in his fingers.
Ready or not, he told himself. This is it
The portal’s light licked at their clothes, tugging them inward.
One by one, they disappeared, leaving the familiar world of Nalanda University behind —
and stepping into the unknown heart of Aryavrata itself.
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