Chapter 258: Target An Overlord, Insult His Generals


    ?


    A few seconds earlier...


    BEEP


    "Chargeplete..."


    "Firing now." She squeezed the trigger, causing the bullet to spring forward with a massive shockwave and burst of wind, tearing through the air and heading directly for Alister.


    Draven, with the fastest perception among all the dragon generals, instantly noticed a single object moving far faster than everything else around them, heading straight for his lord.


    In those split seconds, his purple eyes red with lightning visible through the visor of his helmet. Purple lightning began to arc around his body, as though he were charging up to move with his lightning-fast reflexes.


    He reached out with his left hand, calling in his thoughts, ''Come forth, Storm Cleaver.''


    In that instant, a ck rift materialized before him, with the hilt of his greatsword emerging slightly.


    He reached for it and grasped it in his palm, pulling it out with a burst of motion as lightning crackled all around. The runes on the weapon red to life, and his speed seemed to increase slightly.


    ''To attempt to harm my lord in such a way...'' He thought as he directed his gaze towards the speeding bullet.


    He ced his right leg before him, holding his sword with both hands below as he crouched slightly, preparing to swing.


    ''Is a sin of unfathomable consequence!''


    As the bullet broke through the ss and approached, Draven finally swung his de in a powerful vertical arc. In those split moments, the bullet was split in half, followed immediately by a massive...


    BOOM


    A thunderous explosion rocked the hall, sending plumes of thick smoke billowing across the room. Voices rose in shock, mingling with gasps and coughs as guests scrambled to regain their senses.


    "Cough—what... what just happened?"


    "I can''t see anything! What''s going on?"


    "My arm! Ah-someone, please help!"


    "What was that? Are we under attack?"


    As the smoke from the explosion began to clear, the guild members and Union representatives quickly sprang into action, organizing the crowd and tending to those who had been injured.


    "Everyone, stay calm!" us called out, his voice firm as he yelled. He nced at Anya, who had snapped out of her daze, and nodded to her. "Guildmaster, let''s start moving people out of here."


    us called out but found Anya standing still, her expression distant and unfocused. He moved closer, concern in his voice. "Guildmaster, are you alright?"


    When she didn''t respond, he repeated, "Guildmaster-are you okay?"


    Anya blinked, seeming toe out of her daze, she then smiled then muttered, "Well wasn''t that fascinating."


    "What?" us asked, confusion deepening in his gaze.


    Her voice was barely a whisper, filled with disbelief. "Alister''s summon... it just prevented some kind of attack."


    "It seems someone wants our little Summoner dead."


    "Wait what!?"


    "Forget about it, let''s focus on the evacuation."


    Anya then yelled. "All Berserkers, prioritize the evacuation! Help anyone who''s injured and get them to safety!" shemanded, motioning for her guild members to take action. Grimm, stepped forward to assist. "Let''s keep this organized," he said seriously. "We don''t want a stampede." He directed people toward the exits, his calm demeanor helping to steady the crowd.


    Nyra guided small groups of civilians and reporters toward safety with assertive gestures. "Follow my lead! Let''s keep moving, people!" she urged, waving them through the smoke.


    Meanwhile, Ma swiftly began helping injured individuals to their feet. "Stay close and lean on me if you need help," she said, ushering them away from the thickest of the smoke. Over by the other guilds, the Blue Seals'' Aria kept her stern expression as she coordinated with her guild members, making sure the injured were assisted first. "We''re not weaklings here, Blue Seals-let''s prove it," she said as she led her group through the chaos.


    Eryx, shed a yful grin, nudging Arden of the Red Phoenix guild as they helped the crowd disperse. "Didn''t expect things to get this lively, huh?" he quipped, trying to ease the tension. Arden let out a smirk, though hispetitive spirit shone through. "Chaos or not, we''ll handle it better than you, Eryx," he teased, before guiding more people toward the exit.


    Aethel, the Union Branch Director, stood off to the side, analyzing the scene with a cautious eye. "Union members, assist the injured first and prioritize getting civilians out," he ordered.


    "Yes sir."


    Over by the White Comets, Kaida''s striking red hair made her easy to spot as she moved quickly. "Healer here!e forward! Anyone hurt that needs immediate attention," she called, as she walked around helping those with broken bones and deep cuts caused by shards caused by the explosion.


    Ren, calm and charismatic, helped reassure the crowd, "Everything is under control. Please stay calm and follow our instructions," he repeated, guiding civilians away from the smoky


    area.


    Aiko, always elegant and critical, surveyed the scene with a sharp gaze, making mental notes. "Razorgrin, Hiroshi, Goro-search the perimeter and find out if anyone looks... suspicious."


    She directed, her attention to detail ensuring the situation remained orderly.


    In the organized chaos, some of the more daring reporters lingered, curiosity oveing their caution as they searched the crowd, clearly wondering where Alister was. Their whispered questions grew louder as they dared to ask, "Where''s Alister?"


    A sudden, powerful gust of wind surged from the podium, sweeping through the entire hall. Everyone instinctively raised their arms to shield their faces as the wind cut through thest of the smoke, clearing the air in an instant. The intense pressure that had filled the room finally faded, and Alister emerged in full view, calm and unharmed.


    Aethel, taking a deep breath, immediately began to approach Alister. He opened his mouth, intending to ask if he was unharmed, but before he could speak, Mar''Garet stepped forward, her spear pointed directly at him. Her eyes zed with fury. "You humans have a lot of


    exining to do," she dered coldly as she shot him a death re.


    Beside her, Cinder''s face twisted with anger. Her horns extended slightly, and her tailshed behind her, her red eyes burning with the same intensity as Mar''Garet''s. "It''s always the


    humans," she spat. "They''re always up to no good."


    Aethel, visibly shocked, raised his hands in a cating gesture. "Wait! I think there''s been a


    misunderstanding-"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Before he could finish, Alister''s calm voice cut through the tension. "Stand down," hemanded, ncing at Mar''Garet and Cinder. "Both of you."


    Reluctantly, Mar'' Garet lowered her spear, though her eyes didn''t lose their intensity. Cinder''s


    horns and tail retracted slightly, but her gaze remained fixed on the crowd, searching for any


    signs of further threats.


    Just then, Draven spoke. "I know who''s responsible," he announced, causing the others to


    look his way.


    "A human shot a projectile at our lord from a building a few hundred meters away." Aethel''s eyes widened in shock as the realization struck him. ''An assassination attempt?''


    He thought, piecing together the scene in his mind. ''That must have been what he swung his sword at... that projectile must have been a bullet.''


    Like Anya, Aethel had caught a glimpse of Draven''s swift movement, though it was only a blur. The dragon had moved with such speed that everyone else seemed frozen in ce. ''These creatures are powerful beyond belief,'' he thought warily, ''and yet they follow Alister without question... Why is that? Is he somehow stronger than them?''


    ''Is that even possible?''


    Draven spoke to Alister without turning to face him, a fierce look in his gaze. "My lord..." he said, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.


    "May I have your permission to retrieve the perpetrator?" As he spoke, he slowly turned to


    face Alister, his eyes crackling with ck and purple lightning, a sign of his intense, raging


    emotions.


    "I promise to bring their head."


    Alister''s expression remained calm but firm. "Granted. But don''t kill them-we need to find


    out who hired them. Do not let your emotions make you disobey my orders," Alister said as he narrowed his eyes, causing them to glow slightly.


    "Understood... My lord."


    VOOM!


    In the next instant, Draven seemed to vanish, moving so fast none could keep up with his movements, moving that fast so the one responsible wouldn''t be able to escape. Alzuring stepped forward, his eyes sharp as he too spoke in an intense tone. "I demand to be


    part of the hunt, young lord," he said.


    Alister nodded. "Very well, Alzuring. Go with Draven."


    In that instant, the sky dragon''s wings sprouted from his back, and he instantly took to the sky, bursting out through the shattered ss.


    Seeing all this happen, the Union branch Director Aethel spoke, "Mr. Hazenworth, how can you send those creatures out there? What if they endanger citize-"


    "You need not worry, sir. Like I said earlier, my dragons..."


    He turned to face him as he then finally said, "Are loyal."


    Just then, Terra''s gaze swept over the crowd. Suddenly, her eyes fixed on a figure in the crowd


    - a woman who seemed out of ce due to some equipment she wore under her union uniform, moving hurriedly toward the exit.


    Terra''s eyes narrowed, and in a sh, she sprinted forward, her voice ringing through the hall.


    "You with the ck hair and blue eyes, halt!" shemanded.


    The woman nced back, a look of fear crossing her face, then quickened her pace, clearly


    trying to escape. Terra''s face tightened with frustration as she called out, "Imand you to


    stand still."


    In that instant, the woman''s legs turned to solid stone. She stumbled forward but was forced


    to stop, frozen in ce.