ă€ŠTalent Awakening: Draconic Overlord Of The Apocalypseă€‹


 Chapter 1: The Awakening Ceremony

    <h4>Chapter 1: The Awakening Ceremony</h4>

    Megacity I sector IV.

    The sun beat down on Aegis Academy, its harsh light reflecting off the cracked concrete of the za where the graduating ss of 235G stood huddled.

    It had been 332 years since the apocalypse, and the scars of that time could still be found all over the city. Everyone present was nervous, as they all stood to witness the ancient ritual that was about to unfold.

    Today was the Talent Awakening Ceremony, the day these young people would discover their worth in this unforgiving world.

    Talents, supernatural abilities awakened by the chaos of the apocalypse, were the key to survival. With them, humanity had fought back the monsters and carved out a life in this chaotic world.

    Talents were all known to have ranks, ranging all the way from F, to SSS. A powerful Talent was a ticket to the good life, a ce among the city''s elite.

    Everyone in the crowd became absolutely silent as they gazed at a man in blue robes as he stepped on the stage. Magister Vance, the Academy''s grizzled Headmaster, raised his staff, its tip topped with a blue orb. Behind him, an massive blue crystal shimmered, its surface swirling with nebulous energy.

    "The first student," Magister Vance'' voice echoed across the za. "Jace Thornton!"

    Anky boy with a mop of unruly brown hair stepped forward, his face pale. He sped the hand of his friend, a stocky redhead named Leo, on his shoulder.

    "Wish me luck, Leo," Jace choked out, his voice barely audible.

    With a nervousugh, Leo squeezed Jace''s shoulder. "Knock ''em dead, buddy!"

    Jace walked with to the crystal, his heart pounding against his ribs. He ced his trembling hand on its cool surface, and the air crackled with energy.

    The crystal pulsed with an intense blue light, a glow that also came from Jace''s own body.

    A shimmering system window materialized in the air before him, disying his name and a single, glowing letter: "C."

    "Jace Thornton! Awakened Talent: Enhanced Strength (Rank C)!"

    The crowd erupted in a cheer. A C-rank Talent, while not the coveted A or S rank, was still a valuable asset. Jace''s chest puffed out with pride. He ran back to Leo, earlier he was nervous, but now he was beaming with confidence.

    "See that, Leo?" Jace boasted, a smirk stered across his face. "Got a C rank talent, seems I''ll be bing a part of the big leagues."

    Leo managed a thin smile. "Yeah, well, you wouldn''t forget your old buddy when you''re living the life right?"

    Jace scoffed. "Don''t worry, bro. We''ll find a ce for you in my new life, maybe as my equipment cleaner."

    Magister Vance cleared his throat, silencing the crowd. "Next, Amelia Rose."

    A girl with reddish brown hair stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the crystal. Unlike Jace, she waspletely calm, seemingly ready to ept her fate, whatever may be.

    As she ced her hand on the crystal, silence suddenly descended the za. The light show repeated, the crystal and Amelia''s body glowing brightly. This time, however, the hovering window disyed a different letter: "D."

    Magister Vance sounded disappointed as he spoke. "Amelia Rose ¨C Awakened Talent: Elemental Maniption (Fire) (Rank D)."

    The entire crowd wore a look of utter disappointment on their faces. A D-rank Talent was barely enough to secure a decent job, let alone a life of luxury. Amelia, however, remained unfazed. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, and a small ember flickered in the palm of her hand, seemingly defying the scorching sun.

    Magister Vance called out another name, and the ceremony continued. Meanwhile, in the buzzing crowd, a beautiful girl with flowing blonde hair and purple eyes, tugged on the sleeve of Alister, a boy known for his raven hair and striking yellow eyes.

    "Alister," shs spoke softly, sounding somewhat afraid, "do you think I''ll get a powerful Talent?"

    Alister, being the realist that he was, offered a small smile. "It''s hard to say, Yanzi. These awakenings are notoriously unpredictable."

    Yanzi''s smile faltered, a shadow creeping across her cute face. A powerful Talent was the key to a secure future, something she desperately craved.

    "Don''t worry, Yanzi!" Chase, a slightly bulky guy standing beside Alister, interjected. "You haven''t gone yet! Keep your chin up."

    Yanzi offered a weak smile. "You''re right, of course. Besides," she added, squeezing Alister''s hand tightly against her chest, "I have my own good luck charm, right?"

    Alister''s cheeks flushed a warm red. "Yanzi, don''t say things like that," he mumbled, flustered.

    Chase chuckled. "She''s got a point, though. Having a genius like you for a friend is bound to rub off on us. We''re destined for greatness, right, champ?"

    Alister could feel his blush deepening under their scrutiny. He was considered a prodigy, well known for his exceptional scores inbat training and his near-unmatched control over his mana reserves, the attention always made him feel self-conscious. Everyone, it seemed, pinned their hopes on him to be the star of this year''s awakening ceremony.

    The nervous murmur of the crowd swelled as Magister Vance boomed, "Yanzi Vance!"

    Yanzi squeezed Alister''s hand onest time, her purple eyes sparkling with hope and a touch of fear. "Wish me luck, darling," she murmured, her words sending a jolt through Alister.

    "Y-yes, of course," he stuttered.

    "Good luck now Yanzi." Chase yelled as he waved at her as she left.

    As Yanzi walked gracefully towards the crystal, whispers followed her.

    "There she is, the Academy''s angel!"

    "She''s no angel but a goddess!"

    "The hottest girl this year, no doubt."

    "I wonder what kind of Talent she''ll get?"

    "You know, it isn''t fair that Alister is gifted with both the skill and the love of our goddess."

    "I was heartbroken when I first found out they were a thing."

    Arriving on stage, she ced her hand on the crystal, and the entire za held its breath. The now-familiar light show erupted, covering Yanzi and the crystal in an ethereal glow. But this time, the hovering window disyed a different symbol: a zing "A."

    A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. An A-rank Talent! It was a rare and coveted power, granting its wielder immense potential and a life of privilege. Magister Vance''s voice boomed with a hint of awe, "Yanzi Vance! Awakened Talent: Lighting Control (Rank A)!"

    Yanzi''s face lit up with pure joy. She rushed back to Alister, a bright smile practically illuminating her face. Throwing her arms around him, "Seems like your good luck rubbed off on me after all!"

    Chase whistled, his eyes wide with admiration. "Congrattions, Yanzi! That''s amazing!"

    As the apuse subsided, Magister Vance stroked his beard, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

    ''If Yanzi, with her notoriously poor mana control, could awaken an A-rank Talent, then I can''t help but wonder what our academy''s prodigy, Alister, would awaken.'' The old man smiled slightly, the thought was getting him excited.

    Recently, monsters had be increasingly powerful, causing the city''s top guilds to put pressure on the academies to intensify their training in order to increase the chances of awakening powerful talents.

    Contrary to what some believe, a powerful talent would not be born in a weak vessel; as such, it was always necessary for students to be trained rigorously to enhance their chances. At least then, those who awakened weak talents would not be useless and could still manage a basic job if they secured a ce as a guild member.

    And so, Alister, with his well-toned physique,bat prowess, and excellent mana control, was surely destined to awaken a powerful talent, or at least everyone believed he would.

    Magister Vance getting more and more excited decided to abandoned the predetermined order, his voice booming through the za, "Alister Hazenworth! Your turn hase!"

    Alister''s jaw dropped. He hadn''t expected the principal to call him forward so suddenly. A feeling of excitement and fear coursed through him.

    Hundreds of eyes were now fixed on him, their expectations a heavy weight on his shoulders.

    He straightened his posture, took a deep breath, and strode towards the crystal.

    "You can do it darling, I believe in you." Yanzi yelled as she waved her and at him, wishing him good luck.

    "Go make history bro, awaken some bizzare talent that will leave everyone stunned in slience." Chase said, clutching his fists, his body practically beaming with excitement.

    Alister paused and gazed at them momentarily, then smiled, proceeding to continue on towards the crystal.

    "Guess it''s the moment of truth huh?"

    "I wonder what sort of bizzare talent he''s gonna awaken, I mean Yanzi awakned an A rank talent right, then he should at least awaken S rank then."

    "How bizzare would it be if he awakens a trash talent?"

    "No way, don''t be dumb."

    "But you know, it would be kinda fun if he did."

    "A prodigy with a trah talent, it has a nice ring to it."

    As his hand touched its cool surface, a gasp escaped his lips. The familiar blue glow erupted, but this time, it was different. It intensified with each passing second, growing into a blinding white light that engulfed the entire academy grounds.

    A collective scream ripped through the crowd as they scrambled to shield their eyes. The light intensified, then condensed into the form of a colossal dragon, its wings outstretched, its roar echoing through the air.

    The ground trembled beneath its booming roar. It was a talent awakening unlike any they had ever witnessed at an awakening ceremony.

    As the light slowly subsided, the dragon dissolved, leaving behind a absolute silence. Everyone, from Magister Vance to thest student, stared at the crystal, their eyes wide with shock, impressed and confused they didn''t know what to make of what just happened. One thing was for sure, Alister''s talent had to be a powerful one.

    The principal, wore an expression of shock as he approached the hovering window that disyed Alister''s Talent. He cleared his throat, his voice barely a whisper, "Alister Hazenworth... his awakened Talent is..."

 Chapter 2: Utter Disapointment

    <h4>Chapter 2: Utter Disapointment</h4>

    Magister Vance''s voice boomed, his words echoing through the za, "SSS-rank!"

    The crowd erupted in chaos. Gasps, shouts of shock, and a wave of frantic murmuring filled the air. An SSS-rank Talent? It was a legend, a power so immense it was almost considered mythical.

    "Is that even possible?"

    "Is the system broken?"

    "An actual SSS-rank Talent?"

    "Guess that''s the academy''s prodigy for ya, he''s filled with surprises."

    "I knew he was strong but this is something else."

    "The guy''s gonna go down in history!"

    In all the voices and cheers, a voice rose from the crowd. Yanzi, her face beaming with pride, pumped her fist in the air. "That''s my darling!"

    Chase was also enthusiastic, his voice strained from yelling. "Yeah, bro! You did it!"

    Alister, however, remained standing there. A smile could be seen at the corner of his lips, a flicker of relief in his eyes. But before it could fully bloom, Magister Vance cleared his throat, silencing the crowd once more.

    His expression, however, had shifted from awe to something simr to disappointment. As he spoke, his voice carried a feeling of regret. "Alister Hazenworth," he began, "Awakened Talent: Summoner (Rank SSS)."

    The excited cheers suddenly stopped, silence descended upon the za, filled with a sense of utter disappointment. The atmosphere suddenly felt thick and suffocating, as if the news could not be any more worse. Summoner. An SSS-rank Summoner, yes, but a Summoner nheless.

    Alister''s smile faded, his face suddenly became pale. He mumbled to himself as he couldn''t believe what he just heard and now saw on the system window before him, "It can''t be, why... Why a summoner?"

    The whispers started again, this time they weren''t nice or joyful, no, they were more sharp and with a cruel edge.

    "Such a waste."

    "All that potential, for a Summoner?"

    "He always acted so high and mighty."

    "Maybe this is karma for his arrogance."

    "See, I told you he would awaken a shit talent!"

    Yanzi''s excited expression crumbled, she now wore a look of confusion. Chase, too, looked lost, his earlier excitement, faded with a dawning understanding of the negativity swirling around them.

    Alister felt deeply hurt. He felt like fate was ying a cruel joke on him.

    ''All those years I spent... Giving it my all... for this...?''

    He clenched his fists tightly. He wanted a talent that would signify all the backbreaking effort he put in to get here. Instead, he wasbeled with a Talent that, despite its status, was considered inferior, merely a talent in name.

    Unlike most other talents, summoners had no real offensive power of their own and were bad atbat. The equipment they needed to summon monsters was very expensive due to the nature of the materials used.

    Even if one had the necessary equipment, it didn''t guarantee the summoning of a powerful monster. Additionally, there was the challenge of taming the monster; many summoners died during the taming process either because their mana was notpatible with the monster or the monster overpowered and killed them.

    Even if a summoner managed to summon and tame a powerful monster, they couldn''t always have it by their side. A sessful summoner had to be wealthy; otherwise, if they were just an ordinary person who managed to scrape together the money to enter the profession, they could be killed if they didn''t hire a bodyguard.

    Because their equipment was expensive, they were often targeted when they went on missions in the wilderness. Thus, summoner was a high-risk ss that required a massive amount of money, and its results were entirely dependent on chance.

    Alister dragged his feet back to where Yanzi and Chase stood. The joyful cheers that had burst out moments ago were now reced by mockery and whispers. Each nce andment felt like an attack on his pride, breaking his dream of bing a powerful awakened.

    He a forced smile on his face as he reached them. "Looks like it''ll be you''ll taking care of me now, huh, Yanzi?" he joked, his voicecking its usual confidence.

    Yanzi and Chase, however, remained silent. Their concerned expressions from moments ago had turned into something colder, a distance gaze that made Alister shiver.

    "That''s unfortunate, Alister," Yanzi finally spoke, her voice was missing its usual warmth. "Such a useless talent for someone who always acted so high and mighty."

    Alister''s forced smile faded slightly. "Useless? My talent is SSS-rank..."

    "Rank doesn''t mean everything, Alister," Yanzi continued, her tone sharp. "A Summoner, even an SSS-rank one, is still a Summoner. How do you n to take care of me? You can''t expect me to be the one taking care of my man?"

    His confusion deepened. "What do you mean?"

    Yanzi met his gaze unflinchingly. "Don''t y dumb, Alister. The future I envisioned... didn''t involve you being a glorified monster babysitter."

    Alister felt a knot of dread in his stomach. He looked to Chase forfort, but even his friend seemed to be battling a whirlwind of emotions.

    "Chase?" Alister asked, his voice barely a whisper. "This isn''t like you, say something."

    Chase scuffed his feet on the dusty ground, avoiding Alister''s gaze. "Look, Alister," he began, his voice thick with guilt, "Both my parents suffer from mana discharge syndrome, and I have a little sister who''ll be starting at this academy next year. She needs someone to pay her fees."

    It was clear what Chase was trying to say. Due to the fact that Alister had awakened a basically useless talent, he would need support from his friends for a while before he would be able to stand on his own. And Chase didn''t think he would be able to provide that support; he already had much on his te.

    His words hit Alister hard. It was clear, although they never said it they hoped to be able to gain greatly by befriending someone as skilled as he was. Yanzi''s dreams of a luxurious life and Chase''s hopes for a secure future had all depended on Alister awakening a powerful talent. An SSS-rank Summoner, however, was not what they had hoped for.

    "So... all this time..." Alister mumbled, a cold emptiness blooming in his chest. His gaze grew distant, his eyes trembling slightly.

    "It''s not your fault, Alister," Chase said in a cold tone. "It''s just... This friendship was more of a strategic move for me, and since there is no longer a benefit for it I want to end it, look you''re a smart guy, I''m sure you can figure something out. But unfortunately I can''t support you."

    Chase''s words felt empty. The power he wanted to change his situation was now out of reach. He was no longer the prodigy destined for greatness. No. Right now he was just Alister, the boy with a "useless" talent, a burden rather than a support.

    Alister felt a throbbing in his chest. It wasn''t an emotion he was used to, so he hadn''t figured out the name for it yet. All he knew at that moment was that the people he believed to be his friends had abandoned him because of his powerful yet practically useless talent.

 Chapter 3: Another System?

    <h4>Chapter 3: Another System?</h4>

    The principal gazed at Alister with a sad look in his eyes. Running this academy for years, moments like these were amon sight for him now.

    He knew it was never good to get one''s hopes up before the awakening ceremony because hopes like that were often dashed. But when it came to Alister, a part of him wanted to believe things would be somewhat different. After all, he knew all the hard work the boy put in.

    ''Such a shame for such a radiant soul to be treated so poorly,''

    He thought, knowing Alister''s life had been far from easy. Before he had even be a student at this academy, he and his now bedridden sister were living in the wastnds, the world beyond the city''s gates, densely popted by monsters.

    It is still a mystery to this day how they were able to survive in such a world without talents. But the fact they did always made those who saved them that day believe they were nothing short of miracles. Their lives were preserved so they could one day lead humanity to greater heights.

    Magister sighed, The Awakening Ceremony, was a day often exposed to the cruel realities of human nature. He cleared his throat, forcing a smile as he addressed the crowd.

    "Alright, let''s move on to the next student. Chase Turner, your turn."

    Chase, wearing a stoic expression on his face, offered Alister a single, cold nce. "This is goodbye, Alister. Don''t me me for this. It''s a decision I have to make." He then turned and walked towards the crystal, leaving Alister standing alone on the dusty za.

    Yanzi lingered for a moment, her gaze lingering on Alister''s downcast expression. "We can''t be seen together anymore, Alister. It might give people the wrong idea." She said, before she too turned away, leaving Alister feeling utterly alone.

    With a heavy heart, Alister turned to gaze as Chase ced his hand on the crystal. The familiar blue light erupted, bathing Chase and the crystal in its ethereal glow. This time, however, the light intensified much faster, pulsing with a white brilliance that momentarily blinded the crowd.

    Magister Vance, his eyes wide with surprise, squinted as the light subsided. A collective gasp filled the air as a shimmering window materialized above Chase, disying his awakened Talent.

    "Chase Turner!" Magister Vance boomed, his voice filled with awe. "Awakened Talent: Absolute Zero (Rank S)!"

    The crowd erupted in a frenzy of cheers and apuse. An S-rank Talent, a powerful ability that granted its wielder immense control over ice! It was a rare and coveted power, a proof of Chase''s exceptional potential.

    Chase, a wide grin stered across his face, raised his hand. A massive shard of ice suddenly materialized out of thin air, hovering above his palm. With a flick of his wrist, he shattered it into a million shimmering fragments that rained down on the za, sending chills down the spines of the onlookers.

    Alister could only stare, a mix of emotions churning within him. Relief, for Chase had awakened a powerful Talent, and a flicker of envy, a feeling he quickly squashed. But mostly, he felt a need to work even harder.

    "But would it ever be enough?" he wondered, gazing down at his open palms. Blisters from his training could still be seen. He had his doubts; after all, his hard work so far didn''t get him what he wanted. He let out a sigh, deciding to let go.

    Chase, his chest puffed out with pride, locked eyes with Alister. "That''s how you awaken a Talent, Alister," he said, with a condescending tone.

    Alister, however, no longer felt the sting of his former friend''s words. He straightened his posture, an intense glint lingering in his eyes. "I just have to keep moving forward... just like I always do." he muttered, his voice barely a whisper. This awakening ceremony may not have gone as he nned, but it had ignited a fire within him. He wouldn''t let their rejection define him. He would prove them all wrong, SSS-rank Summoner or not. He would find a way to carve out a life in this world.

    Alister let out another sigh. He was a realist. Despite the lingering pain of being abandoned, he knew life rarely stopped to let you wallow. It was often easier to just let go, even if it was painful. He could get over the pain if he just ignored it. He had learned this lesson the hard way.

    "Guess it''s best I head over to the dorms and get my things ready to leave," he muttered, turning away from the excited crowd. Even the cheers for Chase seemed distant now, muffled by the sudden silence within him.

    As he pushed his way through the crowd, a sudden, unexpected noise echoed in his head ¨C a booming voice. Before he could react, a blinding sh erupted before him, and a bright yellow window materialized before his eyes.

    [Host found, system binding...]

    The words scrolled across the window in a strange, blocky font, apanied by a series of progress bars that appeared to be loading.

    ''A system? What system? I don''t understand, is this any different from the already existing talent interface?''

    His mind raced with questions. This wasn''t anything he''d seen before. He instinctively reached out, a finger brushing against the yellow window. Nothing happened.

    [System binded sessfully.]

    [Congrats, you have gained the status of ''yer''.]

    [Ding!! Congrats to the yer for awakening The Dragonforge - an overlord system.]

    Alister''s brows furrowed. ''yer? Overlord system?''

    This was unlike anything he''d read about in the countless books consumed about Talents and monsters. A strange sense of unease settled in his stomach.

    ''What is this, some sort of talent window error? Is that a thing?''

    ''Alright, close the talent window.'' the hovering yellow window stubbornly remained in ce, causing him further confusion.

    Taking a deep breath, he focused on the words it disyed. ''Dragonforge... overlord system... it doesn''t sound familiar.''

    Deciding to approach it another way, he recalled.

    ''The system window I''m familiar with is blue, and is used to disy Talent information... Perhaps this system... could bepletely different.'' Thought seems bizarre, but it was the only logical conclusion.

    With that thought in mind, he mentally called out, ''Talent window.''

    Immediately, a familiar blue window materialized beside the yellow one. This one, however, held the information he was familiar with:

    ˇ¸Name: Alister Hazenworth

    Age: 19

    Gender: Male

    Talent: Summoner

    Talent Rank: SSS

    Talent Info: Allows the user to summon monsters from other realms to fight alongside them. Talent rank bonus (100% taming sess rate).

    Stats:

    - Strength: 70

    - Agility: 85

    - Intelligence: 95

    - Endurance: 60

    - Luck: 80

    - ?Summoning Power?: 100

    - Mana: 1200

    ˇŔ overallbat power: 1690 (Rank E+)ˇą

    Seeing the talent window materialize further confused Alister, ''Two system windows? How is this even possible? What is Dragon forge?''

 Chapter 4: A Mandatory Quest

    <h4>Chapter 4: A Mandatory Quest</h4>

    ˇŞThe system voice echoed in his head again.

    [Dragon forge is an Overlord system, allowing for the yer to ''level up'' by gaining experience. The system was dubbed this name because it was detected that the yer possessed a dormant draconic aspect and was also a summoner.]

    Alister stared at the system window, shocked, bewildered. ''A dormant draconic aspect?''

    He knew about dragons from the textbooks he read.

    ''ording to what I remember, they are supposed to be the monsters that appeared early on in the apocalypse. I believe it was mostly because of them the world was brought to such a state.''

    Dragons, mythical creatures of immense power that were practically legends. But a dormant aspect within him? It sounded more like a bedtime story than reality.

    Hesitantly, he focused on the yellow window again. It seemed to respond to his thoughts, highlighting specific words and offering additional information in smaller windows that popped up besides the bigger one.

    [Draconic Aspect]: A hidden gic anomaly within the yer that grants them a trace of draconic potential. This potential can manifest in various ways, depending on the individual.]

    [Summoner (SSS)]: The yer''s awakened Talent allows the yer to summon monsters from other realms. The Dragonforge system will enhance the yer''s summoning abilities allowing the yer to summon forth unique draconic summons.]

    Alister''s mind raced, ''A draconic aspect?''

    ''Could that be the reason me and Miyu were able to survive back when we lived in the wastnds?'' his thoughts momentarily drifted to his bedridden sister, memories of their hardship momentarily shing before his eyes.

    ''But if it was dormant, how did this system detect it and not the other one? And how is it rted to being a Summoner?''

    He ced his hand under his jaw as he thought further, ''So wait, Because I have a draconic aspect, I can only summon dragon monsters, that must be the monster that my mana will bepatible with then.''

    Hesitantly, he asked another question, ''Can you exin how the Dragonforge system works?''

    [The Dragonforge System is aprehensive growth and advancement tool. Bypleting quests, defeating enemies, and acquiring experience, the yer can level up, unlocking new abilities, enhancing existing ones, and potentially awakening their dormant draconic aspect.]

    [(Quests): Depending on their nature, they could be mandatory or optional. These are tasks assigned by the system that offer rewards uponpletion. Quests can range from simple tasks like gathering resources toplex challenges like defeating powerful enemies.]

    [(Experience): Earned throughpleting quests, defeating enemies, and various other actions. Experience is necessary for leveling up and unlocking new abilities.]

    Alister read through the information, a spark of hope flickering within him. Maybe... maybe if this strange system was real, and would allow him to be able to really get stronger, by ''leveling up'' then this could be a chance to turn things around.

    Suddenly, a new message popped up in the yellow window, titled:

    [Starter Quest: Summoners can fight too]

    [Quest details: Raid a gate, with or without a party and single handedly kill at least five monsters.

    (Reward): 100 EXP, Beginner''s Guide to Summoning (Rank E), Basic gauntlet (Rank E).

    Quest nature: mandatory.

    Time limit: 24:00:00

    Failure: Death/System deactivation.]

    Alister stared at the quest details disyed in the yellow window, his mind reeling. "Mandatory quest? Death penalty for failure? Isn''t this a bit much for the first quest...?" He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. "But, to kill monsters without abat rted talent could prove to be difficult."

    Just then, someone bumped into him, their shoulder sending a jolt through his arm. "Hey, watch it, statue!" a mocking voice snapped. Alister recognized the voice ¨C it belonged to a student from a rival ss who had always enjoyed belittling him. He ignored thement, muttering to himself, "I need to find a quiet ce to learn more about this system and the quests before I attempt anything."

    Pushing through the throng of students, he finally reached the edge of the crowd. Just then, A sudden, boomingugh echoed from the sky, drawing everyone''s attention upwards. Heads tilted back as a figure descended from the sky,nding with a dramatic thud that sent a shockwave through the za and created a small crater. Dust billowed, momentarily obscuring their appearance.

    As the dust settled, gasps filled the air, as everyone present recognized the person before them. A woman with vibrant purple hair and red eyes stood amidst the debris, her imposing figure d in advanced ck and purple armor that gleamed under the afternoon sun.

    This was none other than Anya Petrova, the infamous Guild Master of the Berserker Guild. Anya was a legend in her own right. Known for her unparalleled strength, her reckless battle tactics, and her insatiable hunger for power, her boisterous personality ensured she left asting impression wherever she went.

    Cracking her knuckles and neck with a series of pops, she grumbled, "Those damn barriers are getting more annoying every time. Took me ages to get through them."

    With a booming voice, she addressed the stunned crowd. "Alright, you lot! Who was the one who caused that crazy light show during their awakening?"

    An unnerving silence descended upon the za. Murmurs started to spread, some specting that Anya must have witnessed the massive dragon conjured form Alister''s awakening. Just then, Magister, his face frowned in anger as he stepped forward.

    "Anya! As I recall, I specifically requested you stay away from the Awakening Ceremony this year!" he yelled.

    Anya simply smirked, a glint of amusement in her crimson eyes. "Rules are like chains, old man," she said in a theatrical voice. "They''re meant to control the weak. Naturally, someone as powerful as me doesn''t need to follow them!"

    Anya waved a dismissive hand at Magister. "Just rx, like always, I''m here to snatch the top talent and I''ll be out of your hair."

    Magister''s eyes narrowed as he retorted, "I can''t let that happen again this year, Anya. Your attitude nearly caused all the other guilds to withdraw their sponsorship from the academyst year."

    This wasn''t the first time Anya had pulled a stunt like this. Every year, she''d descend upon the Awakening Ceremony in simr fashion, her sights set on scouting and recruiting the most promising student. Her sess in snatching top talents had earned her the nickname "Talent Snatcher," a title she wore with a certain mischievous pride. It was also a major reason why the Berserker Guild remained dominant across multiple megacities.

    Anya shrugged nonchntly. "If you won''t cooperate, I''ll just proceed like I usually do." She began scanning the crowd, her gaze flitting across faces, until her eyesnded on Alister. A wide smile, genuine this time, spreading a cross her face.

    "Don''t get any ideas," Magister warned, his voice filled with frustration.

    But Anya ignored him, instantly leaping forward toward Alister. "Hey kid," she called out, her booming voice easily drowning out the murmurs of the crowd, "are you interested in joining my guild?"

 Chapter 5: Unexpected Response

    <h4>Chapter 5: Unexpected Response</h4>

    Alister basically stood frozen, caught between the shock of Anya''s sudden appearance and the unexpected offer she presented. His fingers twitched slightly, the weight of the moment was practically pressing down on him.

    Magister wanted to step in and stop Anya, but seeing as Alister was being recruited, he decided to let things y out.

    ''Perhaps that usual gift of hers will be able to put the boy on his feet.''

    He thought as he stroked his beard. He knew Anya had a way of always getting the top talent to join her guild with a fairlyrge sum. With that money, Magister was sure everything else would surely sort itself out.

    ''Joining the Berserker Guild? A powerhouse of elite fighters?'' Alister thought, almostughing at how absurd it sounded. ''Can a Summoner like me even fit into that picture?''

    His eyes darted back to Anya, who seemed to be waiting for his response. She noticed his hesitation and stepped closer, her presencemanding attention. "In case you didn''t know," she said, her voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd, "there''s a substantial down payment of 100,000 Union Credits if you join my guild. It''s a bit of a wee gift from yours truly, so, what do you say?"

    The crowd buzzed with whispers, heads turning and eyes widening. "Down payment for a rookie?" someone near him muttered. "I''ve never heard of such a thing."

    A reply came from behind. "I''ve heard only the Berserker Guild does that. They say it''s guild master Anya''s way of making sure nobody refuses her offer."

    Alister''s heart pounded, his breath quickening.

    ''With that kind of money, I could finally afford an alchemist to examine Miyu,'' he thought, his gaze drifting to the ground as he considered the possibility. Hope flickered in his chest, a small me that threatened to overshadow his doubts. He was about to speak, to ept Anya''s offer, when a sharp voice pierced the air.

    "A Summoner at the Berserker Guild?" It was Chase, his voice was filled with mockery as he stepped forward, his shoulders back and chest puffed out. "Highly unlikely."

    All eyes turned toward Chase, who took the opportunity to push past a few students and position himself closer to Anya and Alister. Anya''s gaze narrowed slightly as she looked him up and down, her arms crossing over her chest. "And who are you to question my judgment?"

    Chase smirked, tilting his head arrogantly. "I''m Chase Turner," he said, a hint of bravado in his voice. "From what I understand, your guild only takes in the strongest awakened each year."

    Anya raised an eyebrow, a slight frown creasing her forehead. "Indeed," she replied, her voice steady and challenging. "But what''s your point?"

    Chase''s smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "Then wouldn''t it be more logical to recruit me?" He pointed a finger at Alister, his expression dripping with disdain. "This guy''s just a Summoner. I, on the other hand, awakened a powerful S-rank Talent ¨C Absolute Zero!"

    Alister felt a flush of anger at Chase''s words, his hands balling into fists at his sides. He wanted to shout back, to defend himself, but he couldn''t find the words.

    Anya''s expression remained unreadable. "Is that so?" she murmured, she didn''t sound surprised, her words seemed to silence the crowd.

    What none of them knew was that guild master Anya could see the raw potential emanating from individuals, a faint glow like invisible mes, not her talent but more like battle instinct. And right now, two such mes flickered right in front of her.

    One, the one radiating from Chase, was a pale blue, impressive but ultimately ordinary. The other, emanating from Alister, was a vibrant yellow me, pulsing with an intensity that surprised even Anya.

    It was a power hidden beneath the surface, a power that spoke of a potential far greater than anyone suspected. A slow smile spread on Anya''s lips. This unexpected turn of events was far more interesting than she anticipated.

    Anya could sense the tension between the two boys. She was smart enough to tell they obviously knew each other by how Chase acted, and she could sense a bit of rivalry between them because of the way Chase behaved and Alister chose to say nothing.

    ''This could get interesting,'' she thought. ''I wonder what I shouldˇŞ''

    "Thank you for the offer, ma''am," Alister''s voice suddenly boomed, snapping Anya out of her train of thought. His response was unexpected, "but I doubt a Summoner like me would be of much use to the mighty Berserker Guild. You should consider scouting a better talent instead."

    A murmur rippled through the crowd.

    "Did he just reject the Berserker Guild?!"

    "He''s probably just delusional. Doesn''t he realize how lucky he is?"

    "Is he crazy? That''s a once-in-a-lifetime offer!"

    "Hey, get real, a Summoner in the Berserker Guild? What a joke."

    "He would most likely just get kicked out a couple of days after joining."

    "Ya, most of the members havebat rted talents a summoner would just be baggage."

    Some expressed their shock at Alister refusing such a prestigious offer, while others simply echoed his sentiment ¨C a Summoner, after all, wouldn''t exactly fit in with a guild known for its brute force.

    Anya, however, remained unfazed. A faint smile on her lips. There was something about the intensity in Alister''s eyes, an undying spirit that intrigued her. ''He may be a Summoner,'' she thought, ''but that spirit... I like him already, would have wanted him to join regardless, but s I''m here to recruit, not subjugate.''

    "Well, if you''re sure," she replied yfully, "I can''t force you. You never know what the future holds. So chin up kid," she turned to Chase, her smile widening, "since you seem more interested, wouldn''t you mind joining the Berserker Guild?"

    Chase, his chest puffed out with pride, beamed. "dly!"

    Anya pped him on the shoulder with surprising force. "Excellent! Then let''s get going."

    Just then, Yanzi, who had been watching from the sidelines, interjected. "Hey! I have an A-rank Talent! Can''t I join your guild too?"

    Anya chuckled. "Sorry, missy. Can''t take away all the top talents now, wouldn''t want the other guild masters hunting me down for being greedy."

    With a wink at Chase, she said, "Alright then, let''s be off!"

    As they turned to leave, Chase shot a final nce at Alister, a cold intensity dripping from his voice. "Goodbye, Alister."

    Alister watched him go, clenching his jaw so tight his teeth almost grated together.

    Magister Vance sighed, watching how things unfolded. He walked over to Alister, his weathered face etched with a hint of concern. "Alister," he said, his voice low, "meet me in my office before you leave."

 Chapter 6: Unexpected Generosity

    <h4>Chapter 6: Unexpected Generosity</h4>

    Alister stood before the massive wooden doors of the headmaster''s office, his things already packed into a small stuffed bag he had on his back. He didn''t have much to begin with, and it didn''t look like he would be leaving with much either.

    ''I wonder what he wants to talk to me about.'' Alister thought as he proceeded to knock on the door.

    "Come in." The headmaster''s response came, calling Alister in.

    "Pardon me." Alister said as he proceeded to open the door and stepped into the office. His eyes were greeted by a scene that he was all too familiar with.

    Alister took a small look around, noticing some changes in the office. The usually cluttered desk was now carefully organized, and the shelves that usually held a collection of scrolls and trinkets now had on them a few well-chosen artifacts. The air seemed quieter, more calmer than he remembered.

    His eyes drifted back to Magister Vance, who stood near the window, gazing out with a thoughtful expression. Alister cleared his throat. "You wanted to see me, sir?"

    Magister turned slowly, letting out a deep sigh. "First, I owe you an apology, Alister," he began, his voice filled with regret. "My granddaughter, Yanzi... her attitude towards you was uncalled for."

    Alister''s frowned slightly as he mutterd. "Yanzi..."

    "Yes," Magister continued, moving away from the window and seating himself behind therge oak desk. "She takes after her father, in more ways than I intended. You see, when I was younger, I taught her father that only results matter. Talent ranks, achievements, statusˇŞthey were all that counted." He shook his head, a shadow of guilt crossing his face. "Her father was born with a D-rank talent. Despite his best efforts, he always felt inadequate because of that. It seems he passed that belief onto Yanzi."

    Magister sighed again, his gaze drifting back to the view outside. "I realize now, perhaps toote, that I''ve contributed to that mindset. And for that, I am sorry."

    Alister listened quietly, absorbing the weight of the headmaster''s words. The brief silence that followed was thick with unspoken words.

    "Is that why you called me here, sir?" Alister asked, breaking the silence with a calm but steady voice.

    Magister turned to face him, his eyes searching Alister''s as he noticed the boy tilted his head downwards, avoiding eye contact. He paused, choosing his words carefully. "No, Alister. I called you here because I need to understand something. Why did you turn down Anya''s offer? With the money she promised, you could have helped your sister and secured your footing, even if you were expelled from the guildter. At least then, things wouldn''t seem so bleak for you."

    Alister sighed deeply, feeling the weight of the question. "I''m not one to second-guess my decisions, Headmaster. I''m sure you know that about me." He lifted his head, locking his gaze wath Magister''s, firmly. "It might seem foolish to everyone else, and perhaps it is. But right now, I have my reasons for saying no."

    Alister Momentarily nced besides himself.

    [21:06:33 remaining for questpletion.]

    Gazing at the system window he thought, ''I have to understand what this system is. If the failure penalty for the quest is as real as it seems, then I can''t let myself die and leave Miyu behind.''

    ''Joining the guild would mean I would have to get registered, have a guild member uniform made for me, and be given amodation. A day could easily pass with all those events.''

    ''There is a chance this might really just be a talent window error and that I''m making a very big mistake, but knowing what could happen on the slight possibility it is real, then I have no other option.''

    Magister studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly, a look of understanding in his eyes. "Very well, Alister. I respect your choice. Just remember, the path you walk may be harder, but it is yours to choose."

    Alister nodded in return. "Thank you, sir."

    Just as Alister was about to leave, Magister called out to him. "Wait, Alister," he said, rising from his seat and walking toward him. cing a hand on Alister''s shoulder, he continued, "Hold out your palm."

    Puzzled, Alister did as he was told. Magister ced a Union credit card in his hand. "The pin is the numbers that correspond with the letters of your name," he exined. "Although this isn''t as much as what Anya offered, this card holds 40,000 Union credits. You should be able to get some basic equipment and support yourself for a while."

    Alister''s eyes widened in surprise. "I can''t ept this sir," he said, shaking his head.

    Magister tapped his shoulder gently. "Don''t be so stubborn, Alister. Just say thank you. We both know you barely have any Union credits because you spend most of it on your sister. Take care of yourself once in a while."

    Alister''s stern expression softened into a grateful smile. "Thank you, sir," he said earnestly. "I''ll make good use of it."

    "Good." Magister simply replied with a smile.

    With a nod, Alister turned to leave. As he closed the door behind him, Magister stroked his beard thoughtfully, murmuring to himself, "I hope that boy finds happiness for both himself and his sister. It''s sad, but this is all an old man like me can do."

 Chapter 7: Got An Apartment

    <h4>Chapter 7: Got An Apartment</h4>

    Now outside, strolling down the streets from the academy, Alister wrapped himself tightly in a long ck scarf-like cloak. The path was crowded with students, all making their way out. Some wore expressions of excitement, others looked devastated, and some appeared indifferent, their feelings somewhere in between.

    As he walked, Alister''s thoughts drifted back to the quest the system had given him: ''Clear a gate, with or without a party, and kill at least 5 monsters.''

    He thought about the quest. "If I join a party and kill five monsters, that fulfills the quest," he thought aloud. "But if I go in alone, there''s no way the dungeon would have only five monsters. How could I clear the gate by killing just five?"

    Suddenly, the system chimed in, its voice cutting through his thoughts.

    [The yer seems to have forgotten. The system specified to kill at least 5 monsters, not ''only 5 monsters.'' It does not restrict the yer from killing more than the specified amount.]

    Alister nodded as he realized. "That''s right," he muttered to himself. Then, he chuckled softly. "But of course, I''ll be joining a party. There''s no way I''m going to try soloing a dungeon. I''m not that powerful, and I definitely don''t have a death wish."

    Alister continued down the busy street, the sounds of students'' conversations and the buzz of the city filling the air. His thoughts were a whirl of possibilities and ns. He needed to find a party to join for the quest, but first, he had to secure a ce to stay. The academy dorms were no longer an option, and he needed a base of operations while he sorted everything out.

    He pulled his cloak tighter around himself as a cool breeze swept through the street. As he walked, he nced at the storefronts and buildings lining the path, looking for any signs that advertised apartments for rent. The city around the academy was always busy, full of opportunities and challenges alike.

    Passing by a row of shops, Alister spotted a noticeboard pinned with various advertisements and announcements. He approached it, looking through the papers for rental offers. His eyesnded on a flyer that read: "Affordable Apartments for Rent - Close to the Academy - Inquire at Greenleaf Realty."

    "Greenleaf Realty," he murmured to himself. It sounded promising, and the proximity to the academy was a bonus. Because often at times when the dorms were filled, new enrolling students tended to look for outside amodation options, which were usually simple and small so students could afford them.

    Although the money given to him by the headmaster was a ratherrg sum Wich could allow him better options, but he still had to make sure he could feed himself, buy equipment and pay his sister''s bills, so an easily affordable option was most optimal. He noted the address and decided to head there.

    As he made his way through the throngs of people, Alister couldn''t help but think about his sister, Miyu. Securing a stable ce to live was crucial, not just for him but for her as well. ''A ce she cane home to,'' he smiled then thought further, ''like the sound of that.'' He sliently hoped that if things ever got better he would make sure his sister had afortable ce to live.

    After a short walk, Alister arrived at Greenleaf Realty, a modest building with a green leaf emblem above the door. The building had marks of time and decay, cracks running along its foundation, but it still gave off a weing aura.

    He pushed open the slightly rusted door, the Inside, was whole lot more weing. A friendly receptionist sat behind a polished wooden desk, surrounded by potted nts that brought a touch of life to the worn-out space.

    "Good afternoon," the receptionist greeted with a warm smile, her fingers pausing over the holographic keyboard in front of her. "How can I help you today?"

    "Hi," Alister replied, stepping closer and pulling his hood down. "I''m looking for an apartment to rent. I saw your advertisement near the academy."

    "Of course," she said, closing her previous work and pulling out a binder filled with listings. She adjusted her sses and leaned forward, her eyes looking through the pages. "We have several options avable. Are you looking for something close by?"

    "Yes, preferably near the academy,"

    "And something affordable."

    The receptionist nodded, flipping through the binder. "We have a few options that might suit you," she said, tapping a page. "There''s a studio apartment about a ten-minute walk from here. It''s small but cozy, and it''s one of our more budget-friendly options."

    "That sounds perfect," Alister said, a look of relief passing across his face. "Can I see it?"

    "Certainly," she replied, standing up and smoothing out her skirt. "I''ll take you there. It''s not far, and we can walk."

    Alister followed her out of the office, the door creaking shut behind them. They stepped into the bustling street, making their way through the flow of people and the asional drone whizzing overhead.

    The buildings around them were abination of old and new, with remnants of futuristic technologybined with the crumbling infrastructure. Alister''s gaze wandered, taking in the vibrant graffiti that could be found on the walls and the vegetation that had begun to reim some parts of the city.

    They arrived at a simple building wedged between a bakery and a bookstore. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, blending with the crisp, clean smell of books. Alister took a deep breath, savoring the moment. The building''s look was weathered, its body marred by cracks and creeping vines, but it had a certain charm.

    The receptionist led him up a narrow staircase that creaked slightly under their weight. Their steps echowing off the walls that had peeling paint and old posters.

    At the third-floornding, she unlocked a door and stepped aside for Alister to enter first. The studio was indeed small, but it had a warm, weing feel. Sunlight streamed through arge window, casting a golden glow across the room.

    It was furnished with a simple bed, a small table, and a kitchte tucked into one corner. Alister stepped inside, running his hand along the smooth surface of the table and peering out the window at the city below.

    "It''s modest, but it''s a good ce to start," the receptionist said, standing in the doorway with a smile. "And the rent is 500 Union credits per month, including utilities."

    Alister nodded, taking in the space. It was far from luxurious, but it was exactly what he needed. He turned back to the receptionist,

    "I''ll take it."

    "Great," she replied, her smile widening. "Let''s go back to the office to handle the paperwork."

 Chapter 8: Going For A Raid

    <h4>Chapter 8: Going For A Raid</h4>

    Alister stood at the outskirts of the city, adjusting his cloak as he gazed at the bustling scene. He nced down at his new gearˇŞa simple chestte, some light armor, a thicker scarf that was magic-resistant, and a dagger. As he fingered the edge of the scarf, he thought to himself, ''It isn''t much, but it should be enough to raid a dungeon and hopefully allow me to kill some monsters.''

    He sighed, remembering the intense haggling he had to endure to get this scarf at a bargain. ''I''ll have to make sure I put it to good use and avoid physical attacks that would damage it. I might never get a good deal like this again.''

    With a simple nod, he tightened the scarf around his neck and began walking along the city outskirts, looking around the groups of people gathered there. Despite the fact apocalypse that had long descended upon the world, it didn''t stop new dungeons from spawning and spewing out monsters. These areas, where numerous dungeon portals opened, were referred to as mana zones. For those not affiliated with a guild, these zones provided a rare opportunity to earn a living.

    The air was filled with the voices of people calling out for teammates.

    "Looking for a D-rank healer for an C-rank dungeon raid!"

    "Need one more C-rank tank for a D-rank dungeon. Quick run, good loot!"

    "Forming a team for a C-rank dungeon. Must have at least C-rank talent or above!"

    Alister winced at the requirements, his shoulders slumping slightly.

    ''I''ll have to find a team that wants to raid an F-rank dungeon since my stats are only E-rank,'' he thought, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration.

    He continued to make his way through the crowded area, his eyes darting between groups, hoping to spot someone with lower requirements. His feet shuffled on the dusty ground, and he adjusted the strap of his small bag on his shoulder, feeling the weight of time pressing down on him.

    After searching for a while, he still didn''t find anyone suitable. He paused, looking up at the sky, noticing the colors shifting as the sun began to set. "Damn, it''s already sunset," Alister muttered, his gaze lingering on the sun descending behind the massive city walls in the distance.

    He pulled up the system window with a flick of his wrist:

    [10:03:12 remaining for questpletion.]

    ''Damn, only ten hours left,'' he thought, his fingers tapping nervously against his thigh. ''Raiding a dungeon would take at least five hours, assuming my team is skilled. Considering I''m looking for a low-ranking team, it could easily be eight hours. And that''s hoping I manage to kill the necessary monsters in the remaining time.''

    He sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. ''But if I keep up this search, my time could run outpletely before I even find anyone... Will I... have to raid a dungeon alone after all?''

    The thought of going into a dungeon alone made his stomach churn. He wasn''t sure he was powerful enough to take on even an F-rank dungeon by himself. He clenched his fists at his sides, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in his chest as he contemted his limited options.

    Suddenly, a voice cut through the noise of the bustling mana zone. "I wonder what the academy''s genius is doing in a ce like this?"

    Alister turned around to see the familiar face of a girl with reddish-brown hair and striking blue eyes. She wore a simple outfit simr to his, blending in with the people around them. It was Amelia Rose, a ssmate known for her calm and collected demeanor.

    "Amelia," Alister called out, letting out a weary sigh. "Looking for work. Why else would I be out here?"

    Amelia''s expression shifted to one of mild curiosity as she took a step closer. "So, the rumors about you being the awakened with the most potential but the shittiest talent are true? You really awakened a shitty talent?"

    Alister''s shoulders sagged slightly as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Are you asking because you don''t know, or are you just trying to look down on me? You should have been there when it happened, so I don''t see why you''re even bothering to ask."

    Amelia shrugged, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Actually, after I awakened my talent, I left the academy grounds immediately. I''m not like the others who have time to cheer for people they barely know or who won''t have any impact on their lives."

    Alister had to admit, she had a point. "Well, that''s that. Anyway, I''ve got to find a team so I can raid a dungeon,ter."

    Amelia reached out, stopping him with a gentle touch on his arm. "Wait up. If you''re looking for a team, why not join ours? We''re just one member short."

    Alister raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Who''s ''we''?"

    Amelia turned and pointed to a group standing by a dungeon portal. "Some of our ssmates," she said, indicating a ragtag bunch of graduated students. "Some of the ones a star like you wouldn''t have known about."

    Alister followed her finger and saw a couple of guys and a girl. Thenky guy in the group was waving and calling out to Amelia, "Rose, hurry up! We''re tired of waiting!"

    Amelia nced back at Alister with a slight smirk. "So, what do you say?"

    Alister met her gaze, his face serious. "Is it an F-rank dungeon?"

    "Yeah," Amelia replied, nodding. "That''s all a team like ours can handle at the moment."

    Alister considered the offer, his mind racing through the options. Joining a team would increase his chances of surviving andpleting the quest. He nced at his system window:

    [09:58:45 remaining for questpletion.]

    ''Damn, less than ten hours left,'' he thought, feeling the weight of the ticking clock pressing down on him. ''I don''t have time to keep searching. This might be my best shot.''

    He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, nodding. "Alright, I''ll join your team."

    Amelia''s calm expression shifted into a rare, approving smile. "Great. Let''s get going then."

    As they walked toward the group, Alister adjusted his gear onest time, ensuring everything was secure. The sounds of the mana zone buzzed around him, but his focus narrowed on the task ahead. He was about to face his first dungeon raid, and he couldn''t afford to fail.

    "Hey, look who''s joining us!" Amelia announced as they approached the group.

    Thenky guy, who had been waving earlier, grinned broadly. "Well, if it isn''t Alister the Genius! Wee aboard, man."

    Alister managed a small smile, trying to ease his nerves. "Thanks. Let''s hope we all make it through this in one piece."

    The group exchanged nods and smiles, and with that, they turned toward the portal. The shimmering, swirling energy of the dungeon entrance loomed ahead, casting a bright blue glow over the ground.

    As they stepped closer to the portal, Amelia turned to Alister, her voice steady. "Stick close to us, and we''ll get through this. Remember, teamwork is key."

    Alister nodded, gripping the hilt of his dagger tighter. "Got it."

 Chapter 9: Union Report

    <h4>Chapter 9: Union Report</h4>

    When the apocalypse descended, the monsters wiped out 70% of the world''s poption. Then, humans awakened their talents and fought back to survive in this unforgiving world. Massive iron walls now surrounded the ces they referred to as megacities. In these megacities, the remaining humans thrived as they slowly built up their strength and began reiming their world from the monsters. Guilds were tasked with the duty of retaking thends beyond the walls and expanding human territory.

    There are a total of 10 megacities around the world, dubbed I to X. As one would expect, Megacity X is thergest, serving as the central hub of ''The Union,'' a massive organization that manages nearly everything concerning the megacities. Comprised of the surviving world leaders, The Union assigns missions to the guilds. Within The Union, a single man holds all the power: the Union President, Galisk, a man rumored to have been partly responsible for the world being in such a state.

    In the massive, sleek white and blue Union building marked by a giant blue "U," a woman walked through its halls. Most of her body was d in white and golden armor, indicating her role as a swordswoman. Her red hair flowed down her back, and her eyes were concealed by a white blindfold with a golden cross, despite it she could still see perfectly. She was Unami, Galisk''s personal assistant.

    Unami approached the enormous doors of Galisk''s office, her footsteps echoing softly on the polished floor. She knocked gently and announced, "Sir, I have a report."

    "Come in," a voice echoed from beyond the doors.

    Given permission, the doors creaked open, revealing a vast office bathed in soft, ambient light. The room was filled with a collection of holographic windows disying various data streams and reports. At the far end, a massive window took up the entire wall, forming the shape of the building''s distinctive "U."

    The Union President, Galisk stood there, his gaze fixed on the world outside. His hair was a mix of white and brown, it gave him an aura of wisdom and authority. He wore a tailored brown, white, and gold suit, each detail carefully crafted, with golden crosses embedded into the fabric, symbolizing his high status within The Union.

    Unami halted before his massive desk, choosing to remain silent, not wanting to disturb his thoughts. She waited patiently.

    After a moment, Galisk turned away from the window, his yellow eyes focusing on her. His expression, though stern, softened slightly as he acknowledged her presence. "Begin your report."

    Unami inclined her head slightly and began her report. "Sir, we have received new intelligence regarding the recent activities within the outer territories. The Guilds have made significant progress in reiming some of thends beyond the megacity III''s walls. However, there have been increased sightings of higher-tier monsters near the newly established outposts. This could indicate a shift in the monster''s strategies or possibly a new emergence pattern that we have not yet ounted for."

    Galisk listened intently, his eyes narrowing slightly as he thought about what she said. "What about the progress in the inner cities? Any developments there?"

    "Yes, sir," Unami continued. "The inner cities have shown remarkable resilience and adaptation. The civilian poption is growing steadily, and there are promising reports of new talents emerging among the younger generations. However, there are also concerns about potential unrest in some areas due to resource distribution issues."

    Galisk''s gaze turned thoughtful, his fingers tapping lightly on the arm of his chair. "Ensure that the resources are redistributed more equitably," he instructed. "We cannot afford to let internal conflict weaken our efforts. And regarding the higher-tier monsters, increase surveince and deploy more specialized units to monitor and address the threat. We must be proactive in our defense."

    Unami nodded, making mental notes of his directives. "Understood, sir. I will ry your orders immediately."

    "In addition to the other matters, sir," she continued, "there have been increasing instances where dungeons, initially measured and believed to be a certain rank, have escted in difficulty during raids. The ranks of these dungeons are doubling or more, catching teams off guard and leading to a significant rise in casualties over the past week."

    Galisk''s eyebrows drew together in a frown. He leaned forward in his chair, his fingers tapping on the desk before him. "What do the experts believe is the cause of these sudden rank increases?"

    Unami shifted slightly, the light from the holographic disys reflecting off her golden armor. She took a moment before responding, choosing her words carefully. "The experts are not certain yet, sir," she replied. "They are investigating multiple theories, including the possibility of hidden variables within the dungeons or external influences that might be causing these fluctuations. However, none of the theories have been conclusively proven at this time."

    Galisk''s eyes narrowed as he listened to her words. "If that is the case,"

    "then we must take immediate precautions. Henceforth, if a dungeon is measured to be of a certain rank, only awakened individuals with capabilities two or three ranks higher should be authorized to raid it. We cannot afford to lose more lives to these unpredictable esctions."

    Unami nodded in agreement. "Understood, sir. I will ensure that this new protocol ismunicated to all relevant parties and that additional safety measures are implemented immediately."

    Galisk nodded, his mind already shifting to the next set of decisions he needed to make. He nced back at the holographic windows disying the data streams and reports. "And keep me informed of any further developments or discoveries regarding these dungeons. We must get to the bottom of this anomaly."

    "Of course, sir," Unami replied, her tone resolute. "I will keep you updated with any new information as soon as it bes avable."

    Galisk then asked, his voice sounded like he expected something, "And... any hope in finding it?"

    Unami, maintaining herposed demeanor, shook her head slightly. "No, sir. We have yet to locate any ces that suggest anything significant being buried or locked away."

    They were talking about treasure, or at least something someone once treasured deeply.

    Galisk leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming a slow, thoughtful rhythm on the armrest. "Very well," he said with a sigh. He lifted his hand in a dismissive wave. "You may leave."

    Unami nodded and took a step back, her armored boots making a soft clinking sound on the polished floor. "I will excuse myself then," she said, turning on her heel. Her red hair swayed slightly as she moved toward the door, the light catching the golden cross on her blindfold.

    As the doors closed behind her, Galisk stood up, the quiet hum of the holographic disys filling the room. He walked slowly to the window, his footsteps echoing in the vast office. He ced his hand on the cool ss, feeling the smooth surface under his fingertips as he looked out and witnessed as night slowly came.

    The moon was climbing higher, and stars twinkled faintly in the sky. Galisk''s eyes traced their patterns, searching for answers in their silent light. He tilted his head back slightly, the faint lines of worry on his face softening in the gentle glow of the night.

    "A treasure you would fight the world for," he murmured, his voice barely audible. He rested his forehead against the ss, closing his eyes as if trying to recall a memory. "What exactly were you talking about?"

    ...

 Chapter 10: The Goblin Cave Raid

    <h4>Chapter 10: The Goblin Cave Raid</h4>

    Alister and the small group of raiders stood at the edge of the dungeon portal, its swirling, blue glow was very different whenpared to the fading light of the evening.

    Amelia Rose was by his side, her calm demeanor sliently assured him. The othersˇŞtwo young men and a womanˇŞhad already introduced themselves: Erik, anky swordsman with a nervous deminor; L, a cheerful healer with a quiet but excited look on her face; and Jarek, a bulky warrior who seemed to be the unofficial leader of their makeshift team.

    As they stepped into the portal, a cold shiver ran down Alister''s spine, the sensation of being transported to another realm felt alien to him. The world around them blurred and shifted, and then they found themselves standing at the mouth of a dark, damp cavern.

    The air was thick with the musty scent of earth and decay, and the distant echoes of dripping water added to the chilling atmosphere.

    A blue system announcement appeared before their eyes, its text glowing softly in the dim light:

    ˇ¸Dungeon: Goblin Cave

    Objective: Clear the dungeon by eliminating the Goblin King and his minions.

    Rank: F Rank

    Time Limit: 8 hoursˇą

    Along with the blue system window, the yellow one seen by only Alister appeared before his eyes with a message:

    [Notice to the yer! The yer has stepped into a dungeon with a constantly increasing mana frequency.]

    [Meaning the dungeon''s rank will continue to increase depending on how long it takes before it is cleared.]

    [The yer has been advised to proceed with caution!]

    ''The dungeon''s rank will continue to increase? What is the system talking about?'' a hint of panic creeped into Alister''s thoughts. ''Is the system responsible for this? First the death penalty, now a dungeon with an increasing rank... is it really trying to kill me?''

    Jarek nodded at the blue system window announcement, gripping his battle axe tightly. "Alright, team," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Stay sharp. These caves can be tricky, and goblins are known for their traps. Stick together, watch each other''s backs, and we''ll get through this."

    Amelia adjusted the straps of her armor, her eyes looking around the cavern entrance. She extended her hand, conjuring a small me that flickered above her palm, illuminating the dark path ahead. "Remember, goblins may be small, but they''re cunning. Expect ambushes so don''t let your guard down."

    Erik shifted on his feet, looking around nervously. "I''ve got the front," he said, his voice emanating his anxiety. "I''ll try to spot any traps before we stumble into them."

    L gave a small nod, holding her staff close. "I''ll stay in the middle," she offered. "I can heal any injuries if things get rough."

    Alister tightened his grip on his dagger, his eyes narrowing as he peered into the darkness. ''Stay focused,'' he told himself. ''This is just the beginning. I need toplete the quest here.'' He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the time limit pressing on him. The system''s warning about rank increase lingered in his mind, a reminder that danger could escte at any moment.

    As they moved deeper into the cave, the light from the entrance faded. Amelia''s me provided a steady glow, and Erik took out a torch, lighting it to help guide their way. The air grew colder, and the sound of their footsteps echoed in the narrow passageways.

    It wasn''t long before they encountered their first challenge. A group of goblins, their beady eyes glinting in the dim light, emerged from the shadows ahead. They were armed with crude weaponsˇŞrusty swords and makeshift clubsˇŞyet their malicious grins and hunched clearly meant they were ready for a fight.

    Jarek stepped forward, his axe at the ready. "Here we go," he muttered, his muscles tensing for the fight. With a mighty swing, his axe cleaved through the first goblin, the devastating blow sending the creature flying into the cave wall. His talent for immense physical strength made him a formidable force on the battlefield.

    Amelia stood back, focusing her mana. She thrust her hand forward, sending a stream of mes towards the goblins. Incinerating several goblins at once, their screams echoing through the cavern.

    The goblins let out a series of guttural snarls and charged. Alister darted to the side, his dagger slicing through the air as he targeted the nearest goblin. The creature screeched in pain and fury as he stabbed it through its abdomen, its greenish blood sttering the cavern floor.

    Alister heard the system''s voice again.

    [Level up!]

    Erik, despite being nervous earlier, moved as quickly as he could, his sword shing as he deflected the goblins'' attacks. "Watch out for the one on your left, Jarek!" he shouted.

    L stood her ground, holding her staff ready to heal. "Hold on, Erik!" she called, casting a healing spell on him as he took a hit from a goblin trying to nk him. Her talent for healing was crucial, keeping the team in fighting shape.

    Amelia continued her barrage of me attacks, keeping the goblins at bay. "Keep pushing forward!" shemanded, "We need to clear them out quickly."

    As they fought, Alister felt a surge of power coursing through his veins. ''What was that just now... did I get stronger?'' he questioned as he stood and gazed at his hand then flexed his wrist, feeling the increased strength inside them. He felt stronger and refreshed, all the fatigue from the day felt like it all just disappeared. ''Is it an effect of the system? I heard it say ''level up'' just now.''

    Before Alister could wrap his head around what he just experienced, he noticed another goblin approaching him from the corner of his eye, charging in for an attack with its rusty dagger.

    Alister sidestepped to the left, as the goblin''s dagger sliced through the air as it swung it.

    Being thebat genius he was, he instantly counterd, following up with a side thrust of his dagger to the goblin''s side.

    The creature screeched in pain and fury as hended a blow, its greenish blood sttering the cavern floor. He pulled out his dagger to counter again, as he did he noticed a slight increase in his speed and skill.

 Chapter 11: The Goblin Cave Raid Part Two

    <h4>Chapter 11: The Goblin Cave Raid Part Two</h4>

    With a swift of his heel, he dodged another goblin''s swing and drove his dagger into its skull, feeling the resistance of flesh and bone giving way under his strike.

    ''Did I really just do that?'' Alister thought, a feeling of shock and excitement flooding his senses. The energy surged through him again, and for a moment, he felt invincible.

    [3 of 5 monsters killed!]

    [The yer has leveled up!]

    He continued his attacks, his strikes finding their mark, he was feeling confident in himself again.

    ''If I continue just like this, I should be able toplete the system quest.''

    His movements were smooth, almost instinctual, and each sessful hit fueled his excitement.

    However, as the battle raged on, Alister couldn''t help butpare himself to his teammates. Jarek swung his battle axe with devastating power, each strike split through several goblins with ease. Erik, with hisnky frame, moved surprisingly fast, his sword shing as he deflected and countered attacks with skill. Even when he stumbled, he quickly recovered with backflips, his nerves seemed to be steadied by the intensity of the fight.

    Amelia, standing back and conjuring streams of me, directed skilled and powerful long-range attacks that incinerated goblins before they could get close, those that managed to get past would then be cut done by her de. Her control over her talent was absolute, and she moved with confidence and power that Alister somewhat envied.

    ''No matter how fast I get, I''m still not as strong as them,'' he thought, ncing at Erik''s swift movements and Jarek''s brute strength. ''And Amelia... she''s on another level entirely.'' this was the reality of summoners in a fight without their summons, they didn''t have enhanced strength like those with physical based talents, or obliterated enemies with discharge type talents and would thus be left behind on the battleground.

    Despite his increase in speed, Alister felt a bit inadequate. His strikes although effective, seemed small inparison to the sheer force and power hispanions wielded. ''I shouldn''t feel down, this is only the beginning, I''ll continue to level up and get stronger.''

    After a tense and chaotic battle, the group managed to fend off the goblins, their bodies littering the cave floor. Breathing heavily, Alister looked around at his teammates. They were bruised and weary, but victorious.

    "Good work, everyone," Jarek said, his voice a mix of relief and praise. "But this is just the first wave. The Goblin King is still ahead, and he''ll be a lot tougher than these grunts."

    Amelia wiped her de on a goblin''s tattered clothing and nodded. "Let''s keep moving. We can''t afford to lose time."

    ...

    Meanwhile, deep within the dungeon, where the air grew thicker and the shadows seemed to cling more tightly to the stone walls, the Goblin King was performing a dark ritual. The chamber was wide and cavernous, lit only by the flickering mes of torches mounted in crude stone pirs. Arge, crude altar could be found at the center, carved from ck stone and stained with the blood of countless sacrifices.

    The Goblin King was massive, covered in tattered robes with bone trinkets around his neck and dark rune symbols could be found all over his body, as he stood before the altar. His eyes gleamed with malevolent intent as he looked around the gathering of goblins before him.

    ~Kekeke~

    He hissed.

    These were his subjects, a horde of twisted creatures whose lives were his tomand and expend as he saw fit.

    A low, guttural chant echoed through the chamber, reverberating off the stone walls.

    "~To you, dark one, I present this offering: the flesh of my flesh, the bones of my bones, and the blood of my blood, hoping you may be willing to pull me into the abyss.~"

    The Goblin King raised his staff, the tip of which glowed with a sickly green light, casting a bone chilling glow over the gathered goblins. As the chant grew louder, a sense of dread filled the air, causing the lesser goblins to tremble and whimper in fear.

    With a swift motion, the Goblin King brought his staff down upon the altar. The green light intensified, and the staff emitted a high-pitched sound.

    At hismand, the goblins began to march forward, one by one, toward the altar. Each goblin that approached was met with a swift, brutal end as the Goblin King mercilessly struck them down, their blood pooling around the base of the altar.

    The air was thick with the stench of blood and the cries of the goblins that met their end, with the Goblin King wearing a sinister grin on his face. He continued, his eyes fixed on the growing pool of blood. As the sacrifices piled up, the altar seemed to pulse with dark energy, absorbing the life essence of the fallen goblins.

    Then, with a final, triumphant shout, the Goblin King thrust his staff into the center of the altar. There was a blinding sh of light, followed by a deep, loud boom that shook the very foundations of the dungeon.

    The bodies of the sacrificed goblins began to disintegrate, their flesh and bone breaking down into a thick, viscous liquid that condenses into a single, floating orb of blood.

    The orb hovered above the altar, pulsing with a strange, red glow. A system window appeared before the Goblin King, its text glowing with a strange red light:

    ˇ¸ B-Rank Item: Blood Orb of the Abyss obtainedˇą. This was a relic of immense power, a forbidden artifact capable of bestowing unimaginable strength upon its wielder.

    The Goblin King let out a sinisterugh, a deep, rumbling sound that echoed through the chamber and sent shivers down the spines of the remaining goblins. He could feel the raw, untamed power radiating from the orb, and he knew that with this artifact, his reign of terror would be unstoppable.

    With a wave of his staff, the Goblin King made the orb hover into his grasp. As his wed hand closed around it, the blood orb began to glow brighter, its power seeping into his body. He could feel the surge of energy coursing through him, heightening his senses and amplifying his strength. The goblins around him cowered in awe and terror as their king was transformed into a more powerful monster.

    But the Goblin King''s ns did not end with just making himself stronger. With a sinister grin, he raised the orb high above his head and unleashed its power upon his minions.

    The orb emitted a blinding red light, sending out waves of energy that flowed into the remaining goblins. They screamed and convulsed as the dark magic flowed through their bodies, their bodies twisting and growingrger, their muscles bulging.

    In mere moments, the ordinary goblins had been transformed into hulking Goblin Champions, their eyes sharpened and focused like those of a predator''s. They were now powerful warriors, far more dangerous than themon goblins Alister and his team had faced earlier.

    Each champion let out a guttural roar, their bloodlust ignited by the power coursing through them.

    The Goblin King''s enhanced goblin horde let out their battle cry. Now turning to face the passage way that would lead towards Alister and his raid team, the goblin king pointed and gave them a signal.

    ~kikik keke~

    The goblins responded to their king''s words and begun charging out.

 Chapter 12: Preparing for the Worst

    <h4>Chapter 12: Preparing for the Worst</h4>

    Outside the dungeon, a crowd had gathered, their eyes fixed on the portal''s sudden transformation. What had been a simple, blue-hued rift was now a bone chilling dark red, signifying a sudden and drastic shift in it''s rank.

    Murmurs of concern quickly escted into rm as people realized the implications of this change.

    "Did you see that? It just jumped from F to A rank!"

    "Whoever went in there is doomed! They wouldn''t stand a chance."

    "They were probably all F or E ranks."

    "An A-rank dungeon is way out of their league. It''s a death trap now."

    In the growing chaos, someone shouted urgently, "Get a Union official here! We need an exination!"

    Minutes passed, and the atmosphere grew tense. The crowd watched anxiously, their eyes darting between the portal and the distant horizon, raid teams that were about to raid before couldn''t help but pause, hoping for an exination from a Union official so they wouldn''t meet the same fate. Finally, two figures approached, pushing through the crowd.

    The first was a tall man with a stern expression, his ck hair neatlybed and his Union insignia prominently disyed on his suite. He had a sword sheathed attached to a belt by his side. He gave of the aura of someone used to taking charge in crisis situations. His name was Viktor Anders, a high-ranking Union officer known for his decisiveness and calm under pressure.

    Beside him walked a woman whose demeanor was very different whenpared to his. She gave off this yful confidence, her ample curves were perfectlyplimented by her form-fitting attire.

    Her bright green eyes seemed to sparkle with a mischievous glint in them, and a teasing smile could be seen on her lips, though one could tell a sharp mindy beneath her yful exterior. This was Celia Marlowe, another Union official, known for her quick wit and unconventional approach to problem-solving.

    As they reached the front of the crowd, Viktor looked around the scene with a calm but serious expression, his gaze shifting sharply from person to person. "What''s the situation?"

    A member of the crowd stepped forward, wiping sweat from their brow, and pointed frantically towards the portal. "The dungeon''s rank just spiked from F to A. There are people insideˇŞprobably low-rank raiders."

    Viktor''s eyes narrowed, as he focused on the red portal. He took a step closer, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "This isn''t good,"

    "How could a dungeon''s rank spike up all the way like that? This contradicts all the data we were sent. Those inside... won''t survive."

    Celia, standing next to Viktor, let out a low whistle. Her eyes widened, and she raised an eyebrow as she slowly understood the wight of the situation. "Well, this is unfortunate," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice as she folded her arms across her chest.

    "We were just about to deliver the new orders from headquarters over the channel." She nced at Viktor, then at the crowd, tapping her fingers lightly against her elbow. "Seems like we missed the mark by just a hair."

    The crowd turned to her, a murmur of anxiety practically filled the air. She cleared her throat and took a step forward, then began by saying. "From now on, all dungeon raids must be conducted by teams at least two ranks above the dungeon''s rank. This is to prevent exactly this kind of scenarioˇŞwhere a dungeon''s rank suddenly spikes, leaving underprepared raiders trapped in a nightmare."

    A voice from the crowd broke through the silence. "What''s the point of telling us that now?" someone snapped, throwing their hands in the air in frustration. "Those people are already in there, and they were probably counting on it being just an F-rank dungeon! The Union should have told us about this eariler."

    Viktor stepped forward, his expression stillposed. He raised up a hand to calm the rising agitation. "There''s nothing we can do for them now," he said firmly. "We can''t intervene until the dungeon is cleared or they''re all dead."

    The crowd fell silent as Viktor''s words sunk in. The reality of the situation was grim. The raiders inside were on their own, facing dangers far beyond their capabilities.

    Celia ced a hand on her hip and looked around the anxious faces her. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, her voice cutting through the mummers. "Listen up," she said, her tone more serious now. "Our job is to monitor and manage these situations. We can''t change what''s happened, but we can ensure it doesn''t happen again. An announcement would be made over the Union channel shortly."

    Celia, Then turned to face Viktor, "So, what''s the n, Viktor?" she asked, leaning slightly toward him.

    Viktor, who had been staring intently at the portal, turned his gaze to meet Celia''s. "Given the situation, once the people inside die... And the rift opens again, we''ll have to step in and clear it ourselves,"

    "We can''t afford to let this A-rank dungeon pose a threat to the city."

    Once a dungeon failed to be cleared, there was a very high chance for it to break because the earlier team would have already expended the time limit. This meant the monsters inside could pass through the rift and enter their world. Given that the portal was within the city, this was not a wee thought.

    Celia nodded, her expression thoughtful. "And what about the Berserker Guild? Aren''t they usually the first to handle these high-risk situations?"

    Viktor sighed, a look of frustration crossing his face. "Normally, yes. But they''ve been issued another mission out in the wastnds. Most of their top-ranking members are engaged there, dealing with a surge of high-tier monsters. That leaves the city with only a handful of their lower-ranking members, who franklyck the experience and strength to handle an A-rank dungeon."

    A high-tier talent didn''t make someone abat genius or a battle warlord; it simply meant they had a lot of power. However, power without the proper skill to wield it was often pointless. It''s not that the low-ranking members were unskilled; they simplycked the experience in fighting monsters that their seniors had.

    They were primarily trained to fight humans and had sparring sessions with other humans. It''s very obvious that monsters and humans fought differently; therefore, it was always best to let them try their hands at low-ranking dungeons while being supervised.

    Celia''s brows furrowed as she listened to what Viktor said, her fingers drumming lightly against her arm. "So, it''s just us then? We''ll have to handle the cleanup once this rift resolves?"

    Viktor nodded grimly. "Yup, it shouldn''t take too long if we put in a bit more effort than we usually do."

    Celia let out a slow sigh, then straightened up, her yful expression returning just a bit as she gave Viktor a confident smile. "Well, at least it won''t be boring. So, now we y the waiting game."

 Chapter 13: On Guard

    <h4>Chapter 13: On Guard</h4>

    As Alister and his team pressed deeper into the dungeon, the air grew heavier with the stench of blood. Goblins continued to pour out in waves, their numbers seemed endless. Alister fought alongside his teammates, but his movements now seemed more cautious.

    His dagger sliced through the air as he parried a goblin''s rusty de, then swiftly countered with a strike to its throat. The goblin copsed with a gurgle, adding to the growing pile of bodies on the cavern floor.

    ''Is it just me? Or are they getting stronger?'' Alister thought, his chest heaving as he breathed heavily.

    ''This is starting to get harder than I thought, I can''t afford to let my guard down.''

    He nced at the hovering yellow system window as he thought further, ''Thatst one should have been enough toplete the quota.''

    [Starter Quest: Summoners can fight too.]

    [Quest details: Raid a gate, with or without a party and single handedly kill at least five monsters.

    Questpletion status: Monsters killed 5/5, Complete the raid 0/1.

    Time left: 01:45:12.]

    ''So I guess, all that''s left now is getting out of the dungeon in one piece.''

    Despite his efforts to stay alert, Alister found himself momentarily caught off guard by a quick-footed goblin. With a snarl, the creature lunged forward, its de finding a gap in Alister''s defenses and sinking it''s rusty dagger into his shoulder.

    "Ughaaa!" Alister cried out, the pain shot through him, but adrenaline momentarly sped up his reflexes. Gripping his dagger tightly, he retaliated with a desperate thrust, piercing the goblin''s chest and ending its life. Blood seeped from Alister''s wound as he staggered back, clutching the rusty dagger and pulling it out from his injured shoulder.

    "L, I need healing," Alister called out, his voice strained with pain.

    "O-oh ok." L rushed to his side and knelt beside him, her hands glowing softly as she ced them over his wound. A warm, tingling sensation spread through Alister''s shoulder as the healing took effect. He winced but nodded gratefully as the pain began to fade.

    "Thanks, L," he said, rolling his shoulder to test out if he could still use it inbat. The wound was gone, but the exhaustion remained.

    As they resumed their advance through the dungeon, Amelia observed Alister closely. She noted his skilled movements and how precise his strikes were, yet something seemed off.

    "Alister," she called out, stepping closer to him. "Why aren''t you using your talent? And now that I think about it, you didn''t tell me what it was when I asked you back when we were outside."

    Alister nced at her briefly, then looked away, his expression slightly conflicted, he let out a sigh then said. "I can''t use it inbat."

    L overheard what he said and was curious about what he meant by his statement, so she leaned in and asked, "What do you mean, Alister?"

    Amelia joined in, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Yeah,You''re skilled enough to be more aggressive. So what''s your talent?"

    Alister sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I''m a summoner," he exined reluctantly. "You guys may look done on me for not having abat-rted talent. But right now, that''s the least of my problems."

    Amelia was surprised by what he said, but her respect for him only grew. "You''re a Summoner, yet you''re still managing to keep up with us despite that."

    L chimed in supportively, cing a reassuring hand on Alister''s shoulder. "You''re doing amazing, Alister. Don''t sell yourself short."

    Alister managed a small, grateful smile, though embarrassment could clearly be seen on his face. "Thanks for trying to make me feel better, L. But honestly, I''ve only taken down six goblins during this entire raid," he confessed ruefully.

    "If anyone deserves the praise, it''s Erik and Jarek. They''ve been doing most of the heavy lifting, clearing out goblins left and right. I''ve just killed the already weakened ones that managed to get past them."

    Amelia nodded as she agreed, casting a nce toward Erik and Jarek who were currently engaged in dispatching another group of goblins.

    "They are strong," she admitted, then turned back to Alister. "But remember, we''re working together, so everyone contributing is to be expected."

    Alister was slightly taken by surprise with the way she seemed indifferent towards what he just revealed. He smiled slightly, then nodded, appreciating Amelia''s encouragement. The team took a moment to catch their breath and regroup before pressing on.

    Erik and Jarek exchanged a few words, strategizing for the next wave of goblins they were sure to encounter. L checked everyone''s injuries, ensuring they were ready to continue.

    "We need to stay alert," Jarek said, his tone serious. "The deeper we go, the stronger the goblins seem to get. We can''t afford to be caught off guard."

    "Agreed," Erik added, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Let''s keep our formation tight and watch each other''s backs."

    With a collective nod, they resumed their advance.

    As Alister, Amelia, L, Erik, and Jarek continued their march through the dimly lit carven of the dungeon, the air around them seemed like it became thick, not only was it harder to breathe but they all felt chills run down their spines.

    Alister felt the change immediately. The air was dense, and it pressed on his chest, making every breath harder than thest. His hand tightened around the hilt of his dagger, his eyes looking around the shadows for any sign of movement.

    ''This must be what the system talked about when it mentioned rank increase, the air in here is already putting me on edge.''

    He felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead and tried to shake off the creeping anxiety. "Does anyone else feel that?"

    "Y-ya," Erikk stutterd. "This ce is giving me the creeps," he said with a forced chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. "Feels like something''s watching us." His muscles tighten as if anticipating a sudden attack. He shifted his stance, keeping his sword at the ready.

    "This isn''t normal.... Be on your guard guys. Something''s not right." Amelia mutterd, her eyes darting around as well.

    Jarek gripped his battle axe firmly, every muscle in his body coiled and were ready for action. "Everyone, stay sharp," he said, his deep voice steady but alert. "The dungeon''s trying to mess with us. Don''t let it get in your head. Keep your eyes open and your weapons ready."

    Each of their steps echoed against the cold, stone walls, and the flickering torch lights they walked passed casted long shadows on the floors. The further they ventured, the more the oppressive atmosphere seemed to close in on them.

    Jarek took point, his broad shoulders and muscr frame made him an imposing figure as he led the way. Behind him, Erik moved gracefully, his lean body ready forbat.

    Amelia and Alister followed closely, while L brought up the rear, her eyes darting around, alert for any sign of danger.

    They had barely moved deeper into the dungeon when a new wave of goblins emerged from the shadows.

    "Kikiki."

    An ominousugh suddenly echoed.

    And the figures of goblins slowly came into view, these goblins, however, were different from the ones they had faced before. They wererger, their eyes seemed to emanate a dark energy, and their movements were more coordinated.

    "Watch out!" Erik called out, his voice echoing through the narrow passage. He leapt forward, his sword shing in the dim light as he engaged the nearest goblin. His de cut through the air, but the goblin parried the strike with brute strength, "What the...'''' he muttered in shock, as he witnessed the goblin grabbed his sword with it''s bare hand Forcing Erik to quickly adjust his stance.

 Chapter 14: Getting Overwhelmed

    <h4>Chapter 14: Getting Overwhelmed [Bonus Chapter]</h4>

    As Erik''s de was caught mid-air by the goblin''s bare hand, he felt a chill run down his spine. This was no ordinary goblin. It wasrger and stronger than the ones they faced earlier, withrge muscles that bulged under its greenish skin, and eyes that glowed with a strange red light.

    Blood dripped from its ws, and Erik''s grip tightened around the hilt of his sword, trying to pull it free from the goblin''s tight grasp.

    "Erik, watch out!" Jarek shouted, charging forward with his battle axe raised high, his eyes fixed on the goblin.

    With a powerful swing, he aimed to cleave the goblin''s arm. His axe descended swiftly and brutally, severing the goblin''s arm clean off.

    The severed limb dropped to the ground, releasing Erik''s sword just in time for him to dodge an attack from another approaching goblin.

    Jarek''s axe then embedded itself into the stone floor with a loud ng, sending sparks flying.

    Before Jarek could recover, another goblin lunged at him from the side. Its ws raked across his armor, the sharp edges screeching against the metal and leaving deep gouges. Jarek grunted and yanked his axe free, swinging it in a wide arc.

    ''I don''t understand, since when do goblins have ws?'' Jarek wondered, slightly caught off guard by the attack.

    The goblin leapt back, but not before Jarek''s axe caught its leg, slicing deep into the flesh. Blood sprayed across the floor as the goblin stumbled, its eyes burning with rage.

    Alister found himself surrounded by a trio of these massive goblins. They circled him with the look of a predator stalking their prey. He could feel their oppressive gazes piercing through him, making him feel like they were starting to predict his moves.

    His dagger was covered with goblin blood, but his hands shook as he tried to fend them off. He swung his de desperately, his muscles straining with every move. His brathes werebored, sweat streaming down his face.

    ''This is bad... I''m starting to get exhausted.''

    Each goblin easily parried his strikes, their rusty daggers scraping against his armor and drawing shallow cuts on his arms and legs.

    "These aren''t ordinary goblins," Amelia yelled, her voice strained as she unleashed a torrent of mes at an advancing group.

    The fire engulfed them, but instead of retreating, they walked through. Their skin charred and blistered, emitting a sickening smell, but they didn''t look the least bit afraid. "They''re champions!" she shouted, her eyes wide as she realized.

    "Everyone, regroup!" Jarekmanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. The team moved instinctively, forming a tight circle with their backs to each other, weapons ready. L stood in the center, her hands glowing with her healing talent, as she slowly healed the wounds that her teammates sustained.

    "T-they''re healing too fast," L observed, her voice trembling. She watched in shock as a goblin Erik had wounded earlier slowly stood on its feet, its injuries closing before her eyes. "It''s like they''re regenerating."

    Amelia unleashed another burst of me, but the goblins barely flinched. "This isn''t working," she muttered, she was frustrated. "They should be burning, but they''re just walking through it."

    Alister was struggling to keep pace. Each goblin he managed to strike down seemed to rise again, more furious than before.

    ''I don''t understand, why aren''t they dying... it''s like they''ve be zombies or something.''

    He closed the distance between himself and a goblin. Noticing an iing attack aimed at his skull, he shifted his head slightly, causing the de to graze his left cheek, leaving a slight cut.

    Now close enough, he stabbed the goblin in the heart, his dagger sinking deep into its chest. He paused briefly to catch his breath, only to watch in shock as the goblin pulled itself off the de and lunged at him, its wound knitting together before his eyes.

    ''And they''re fighting without fear or concern of what happens to them, it''s almost as if they''ve gone mad.''

    Blood poured from the puncture wound, but the goblin showed no signs of slowing down. "What does it take to keep these things down?" Alister gasped, retreating back into the circle, his legs began to shake due to exhaustion.

    ''I was hoping to quickly kill some of them and level up again so my strength would be recovered. But with the way things are going they are gonna overwhelm us.'' Alister thought as he gritted his teeth, his grip on his dagger tightening.

    "Hit them harder," Jarek yelled, though he, too, looked uncertain. He swung his axe with all his might, severing the arm of a goblin. Blood spurted from the stump, but the creature barely slowed. It continued its attack, using its other arm to swipe at Jarek.

    Jarek''s arm muscles bulged as he tried to fend off the attacks, but now his axe started to feel heavy in his hands. "Damn it!" Jarek cursed, stepping back to avoid the blow, his boots sliding on the slick, blood-soaked floor.

    Erik, was now visibly struggling. His sword shed as he fended off attacks, but for every goblin he cut down, two more took its ce.

    His body started to feel heavy, and his speed dropped as he was slowly bing exhausted. Each parry and strike taking more effort than thest, his shirt was soaked with sweat and blood, and his hands were starting to tremble. "We can''t keep this up," he panted, ncing around at hispanions, his chest heaving.

    As the battle raged on, the air was filled with the shing of steel and the guttural growls of goblins. Amelia was in the midst of summoning another wave of mes, her eyes locked on a cluster of goblins charging toward her. Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her.

    She turned to see a massive goblin,rger and more muscr than the rest, wielding a club studded with jagged metal, emerged from the darkness. Its eyes glinted as it raised its weapon high above its head. Before Amelia could react, the club came down with a thunderous crash.

    "Amelia, look out!" Erik shouted, but his warning came toote.

    The club smashed into Amelia''s side with brutal force, sending her flying through the air.

    <strong><i>Boom!</i></strong>

    She mmed into the stone wall with a sickening thud, the impact sending a jolt through her body. Blood sprayed from her mouth as she crumpled to the ground, unconscious, her eyes still open.

    Her face seemed to be frosen with an expression of shock.

    "Amelia!" Alister yelled, his voice cracking with shock. He tried to rush to her side, but the goblins kept him at bay.

    L''s eyes widened in horror, and a scream tore from her throat. "Amelia!" She made a move to go to her, but Jarek grabbed her arm, holding her back.

    "Stay focused, L!" Jarek yelled, his own face pale with fear. "We can''t afford to lose you too!"

    Ameliay motionless against the cold wall. The goblins, sensing weakness, closed in around her, their dark eyes glinting with mischief.

    Alister''s heart pounded in his chest, a cold sweat running down his back. He looked around at his exhausted teammates.

    Erik was fighting off two goblins at once, his movements slowing as exhaustion took a toll on his body. Jarek was barely standing on his feet, he looked like he could fall over at any moment, his axe heavy in his hands.

    L was trembling, her eyes darting between Amelia''s motionless body and the approaching goblins.

    "Are we..." Alister''s voice was barely above a whisper, his grip tightening on his blood-stained dagger. "Are we all gonna die here?"

 Chapter 15: A Promise To Keep

    <h4>Chapter 15: A Promise To Keep</h4>

    As the battle raged on in the dim, oppressive cavern, a faint yellow glow flickered in Alister''s vision. He turned his head slightly, and there it wasˇŞthe system window, floating before him. The screen showed a rapidly depleting health bar.

    [Warning to the yer: HP dangerously low!]

    [15/100%¨€???????]

    [Additional warning! Time left: 00:52:10.]

    [The yer has less than an hour toplete the first quest!]

    The message shed urgently, it was a sign his body could give in at any moment, and from the look of things, either he died at the hands of the goblins or the system penalty would be the one to end him instead.

    Alister gritted his teeth, his vision was starting to get blurry as the strain of the battle was starting to get to him. He could feel every cut, every bruise, and all the pain was threatening to make him fall unconcious.

    ''This... isn''t looking good,'' Alister thought, his mind racing as he looked around at his teammates.

    ''I''m running out of time, and they''re just too strong. How are we supposed to survive this?''

    L was desperately trying to keep everyone''s wounds from bing fatal, her hands glowing with the faint light of her healing talent.

    But even her abilities seemed inadequate because soon after they would just substain another serious wound. Erik, bloodied and bruised, was barely holding his ground, each swing of his sword slower and less precise than thest.

    Jarek, his usually indomitable spirit now visibly shaken, fought valiantly but with increasing signs of exhaustion. And AmeliaˇŞAmeliay still where she had fallen, her blood pooling beneath her motionless body.

    Alister''s heart sank as he watched the goblins champions, closing in from all sides. Their eyes gleamed, causing him to nearly loose hope, no wound the goblins substained no matter how seriousˇŞclosed almost as soon as they were inflicted. And their sheer numbers were pushing them to a corner.

    ''They''re healing faster than we can damage them,'' Alister gritted his teeth and thought futher. ''If we can''t find a way to stop them, we''re done for.''

    Suddenly, a goblin lunged at him from the side, its rusty dagger aimed at his abdomen. Alister twisted his body just in time, the de shing across his ribs instead of plunging into his flesh.

    He winced at the sharp pain but forced himself to counter, driving his own dagger into the goblin''s neck. Blood sprayed across his arm as the goblin gargled and fell back, only for its wounds to begin closing almost immediately.

    Behind him, Erik cried out in pain as another goblin''s ws scratched across his back, tearing through his leather armor and leaving deep, bloody gashes.

    Erik staggered but managed to turn and deliver a desperate sh to the goblin''s chest. The creature barely flinched, its regeneration quickly closing the wound.

    Jarek swung his axe with what little strength he had left, cleaving through the leg of an advancing goblin. The creature toppled but began crawling forward, its eyes locked onto Jarek with a hateful re. "Damnmmmmm itttt!" Jarek roared, kicking the goblin back, his boot covered in blood.

    L''s face was pale, she looked terrified as she tried her best to heal her teammates faster than the goblins could harm them.

    But she too was starting to get exhausted, and tears streaked down her cheeks. "I-I can''t keep this up," she sobbed, her hands trembling as she channeled her mana to heal again.

    And then there was the massive goblin, the one wielding the brutal, studded club. It had watched from the edge of the battle, its eyes glowing with delight. Now, it stepped forward, its enormous frame casting a long shadow over the group.

    "Brace yourselves!" Jarek shouted, though his voicecked its usual confidence. He raised his axe in a defiant stance, ready to meet the goblin''s charge.

    The goblin roared, raising its club high above its head. With a thunderous swing, it brought the weapon down on Jarek, who managed to block with his axe. The force of the blow sent shockwaves through Jarek''s body, his knees gave out under the strain.

    The goblin swung again, this time hitting Jarek in the side. The massive impact hurled Jarek across the cavern, mming him into the stone wall. He crumpled to the ground, blood flowing from a deep gash in his side, his breaths started to be ragged gasps.

    "Jarek!" Alister cried out, but there was no response. The massive goblin turned its gaze toward him, a cruel smile twisting its ugly face. Alister raised his dagger, but his hands were shaking, and his vision blurred from the pain and exhaustion.

    The goblins pressed their advantage, their numbers overwhelming the group''s defenses. Erik was driven to his knees by a flurry of attacks, his sword slipping from his grasp. He tried to rise, but a goblin''s kick sent him sprawling, his head hitting the ground with a sickening thud. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    L screamed as another goblin grabbed her by the hair, yanking her head back. She fought to free herself, but the creature''s grip was too strong. Her healing faded, leaving her helpless against the monster''s attack, plunging a dagger across her abdomen.

    Alister tried to fend off the goblins surrounding him, but their relentless attacks were too much. He felt a de slice across his back, another stabbing his thigh, and he fell to his knees, his strength nearly gone. The massive goblin loomed over him, its club raised for the killing blow.

    "Am I..." Alister''s voice was barely a whisper, his vision narrowing to a tunnel as he stared up at the impending doom. "Really just gonna die like this?"

    The goblin''s club came down with a massive swing.

    <strong><i>Boom! </i></strong>

    Alister was sent hurling trough the air, his weak hand letting go his his dagger.

    Alister''s body skidded across the cavern floor, the slickness of the blood making his journey even more chaotic and painful. His body, already bloodied and bruised, bounced and rolled before finally crashing into the jagged wall.

    The impact sent a shock of agony through his body, causing him to gasp and clutch his side where a sharp rock had gouged into his flesh, piercing through to the other side, bloodied.

    Above him, rocks and debris loosened by the collision tumbled down, ttering around him andnding on his legs and arma. Hey there, momentarily stunned, as the cold, damp stone pressed against his skin and the blood from his wounds mingled with the filth of the cave floor.

    The pain was excruciating, but Alister found himself oddly detached, his mind drifting away from his pain.

    ''So, this is really it for me, huh?'' he thought, his vision fading in and out as he struggled to remain conscious. ''I thought... things would finally change... But it seems I was wrong...''

    He coughed weakly, tasting his own blood in his mouth. ''I always gave it my all, so... a death like this doesn''t faze me...''

    As the darkness began to close in, a memory surfaced, sharp and clear.

    He saw a young teenage girl, his sister, Miyu, her long ck hair flowing over her thin shoulders, and her bright yellow eyes filled with hope and a touch of fear. She sat in her hospital bed, gazing out the window with a wistful expression.

    "Big brother," she said, her voice soft but filled with a longing that made Alister''s heart ache as he remembered the moment.

    "Yeah, what is it, Miyu?" Alister in the memory replied, moving closer to her side. He tried to keep his tone light, but the worry was always there, lurking just beneath the surface.

    "I want to step outside," Miyu said, her eyes still fixed on the world beyond the ss. "I''ve been in this room so long... I''ve forgotten what the outside world is like."

    Alister''s throat had tightened, and he struggled to find words. What could he say to her? He hated how powerless he felt, unable to fulfill such a simple wish.

    Noticing his silence, Miyu had turned her gaze back to him, a sad smile spreading on her lips. "I''m sorry, that was a dumb question," she had apologized, her voice barely above a whisper. "Obviously, I''ll be able to step out when I feel better."

    She paused, her eyes filling with a sorrow that tore at Alister''s heart. "I just hope... I would be able to see it soon."

    Her words struck him like a dagger, and he clenched his fists against the sheets of her bed. "Don''t worry," he said. "I''ll make sure you see the outside world again. I''ll find a cure for you no matter what."

    Miyu''s expression shifted to one of concern, worried that her words might have put pressure on him. But Alister forced a smile, standing up from the chair beside her bed and ruffling her hair gently. "After all, your brother is a genius. If anyone can find a cure for you, it''s gonna be me."

    Miyu smiled, happy at her brother''s enthusiasm, she tilted her head, closed her eyes then said. "It''s a promise then."

    Alister grined as he nodded, "Yeah, it is!"

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    "That''s right... I made a promise to her... I''d make sure she sees the outside world again..."

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    "So... I won''t die this easily... something like a couple of wounds won''t stop me from saving her." As he spoke, the Sclera of his eyes slowly turned ck, his yellow Iris began to glow and look more reptilian.

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    The system''s voice echoed in his thoughts again.

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    [Ding!! New skill detected!]

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    <strong><i>[SKILL: Draconic Rage!] </i></strong>

 Chapter 16: The Beginning Of A Solo Raid

    <h4>Chapter 16: The Beginning Of A Solo Raid</h4>

    Suddenly, a wave of oppressive energy seemed to ripple through the air, sending a chill down the spines of the goblins. One by one, their heads turned toward the source of this unsettling changeˇŞthe spot where Alistery, previously motionless.

    Steam began to rise from his bloodied and bruised body, hissing softly as it evaporated into the cool, dank air of the cavern. The goblins hesitated, they weren''t sure if what to make of this, but there was one thing they were sure of.

    Fear!

    They suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of fear, simr to the moment when the goblin king performed the ritual, sacrificing their brethren to summon the blood orb.

    However, this fear felt different, like being trapped in a thick fog and facing a powerful enemy. They knew they would have to defend themselves to survive, but they all felt uncertain.

    Could they even manage something as simple as defending themselves? Against whatever this was? This uncertainty made them feel that there was a high chanceˇŞ they could suddenly meet their end, and they was nothing they could possibly do to prevent it.

    Alister''s eyes, suddenly snapped open with a fierce, bright light. He gritted his teeth and slowly pushed himself up, ignoring the searing pain in his limbs. As he rose, the heavy rocks and debris that had pinned him down rolled off his body.

    The change in the aura around him did not go unnoticed. The goblins, sensing the shift in his demeanor and the surge of power emanating from him, took involuntary steps backward, their previous confidence giving way to unease.

    Inside Alister''s mind, the system''s voice echoed.

    [Ding!! New skill detected!]

    ˇŞ

    [Skill: Draconic Rage Lvl1]

    ---

    Description:

    An overlord would never fall in the heat of battle, especially one who rules over all dragons. As the embodiment of an indomitable guardian with a noble mission, both your pride and what you wish to protect are on the line; as such, you cannot lose. An overlord''s fury ignites when facing those who dare obstruct the path to his aspirations. The wrath of an overlord is all-consuming, and all those who incur it shall not be spared. Go forth and give enlightenment: an overlord is not to be trifled with.

    Effects:

    - Empowered body: All your stats would be increased by 50%, channeling the raw power of your draconic bloodline.

    - Fortified Defense: Iing damage is reduced by 20%, reflecting the nature of a dragon''s scales.

    - Fury of the Overlord: Each sessful hit increases your attack speed and critical hit chance by 10%, stacking up to 10 times, intensifying your wrath with every strike.

    - Unstoppable Force: While Draconic Rage is active, you are immune to stuns, and other incapacitating effects, including poisons and curses.

    - Fear!: Enemies within a 50-meter radius suffer a 20% reduction in their attack speed and damage output. The yer''s presence makes all who stand before him tremble, regardless of whether they are stronger or weaker than the yer.

    ---

    Skill Gates:

    - Gate 1: Emergence [Locked]

    - Gate 2: Draconic Body [Locked]

    - Gate 3: New Law [Locked]

    - Gate 4: It All Comes to a Close [Locked]

    ˇŞ

    [Notice to the yer! Over use of this skill could cause the yer to go berserk!]

    The blue talent window suddenly appeared before Alsiter besides the yellow one.

    ˇ¸Abnormal increase in stats detected!ˇą

    ˇ¸Overallbat power is rising rapidly.ˇą

    ˇ¸- Strength: 105

    - Agility: 127.5

    - Intelligence: 142.5

    - Endurance: 90

    - Luck: 120

    - Summoning Power: 150

    - Mana: 1800

    - Overall Combat Power: 2535 (Rank D)ˇą

    Alister''s eyes burned with an intense glow, his sclera now ckened, and his irises gleaming like molten gold. He could feel the power coursing through his veins, an inferno of strength and rage that burned away his exhaustion and pain.

    Although he saw the system windows appear before him, he simply pushed them aside, wanting to focus on the raid at hand. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    He clenched his fists, feeling the raw energy surge through his body, amplifying his senses and heightening his reflexes. His muscles bulged with strength, and a low growl rumbled from his throat, echoing through the cavern.

    The goblins closest to him shrank back, their eyes wide with terror. Their instinctual fear of this transformed human outweighed their hunger for blood. Even the massive goblin champion hesitated, its eyes flicking nervously between its weapon and the rising threat before it.

    "What''s wrong?" Alister''s voice was deeper, carrying an edge of something that made them all intimidated. "Scared of a little heat?"

    He looked around, his sharp gaze taking in the scene. Erik and Jareky unconscious, their bodies bloodied and motionless. L was still conscious, but barely. She knelt on the ground, one hand pressed to a deep wound on her side, her face pale and strained.

    "L," Alister called out. "Hang in there."

    She looked up, her eyes widening at the sight of him standing. "Alister...?"

    He gave her a nod before turning his attention back to the goblins. They were closing in again, their eyes filled with fear and rage. Alister knew that his ordinary attacks wouldn''t be enough.

    These creatures were regenerating too quickly, their wounds knitting together almost as soon as they were inflicted.

    ''Their core,'' Alister thought, his mind sharpened by the draconic rage. ''I have to destroy their core.''

    With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged at the nearest goblin, his movements a blur. He grabbed the creature by its throat, lifting it off the ground. The goblin struggled, its ws raking at his arm, but Alister didn''t flinch. He plunged his other hand into its chest, feeling the sickening squish of flesh and bone giving way.

    The goblin''s eyes widened in horror as Alister''s fingers closed around a pulsing, ck core. With a twist, he ripped it out, and the goblin''s body convulsed before going limp. Alister crushed the core in his hand, ck ichor dripping from his fingers as he let the lifeless body fall.

    [Ding! Stats increased by 10%!]

    As his stats increased, a small change in his body could be seen, his nails turned ck and grew out, long enough to be considered ws.

    The system''s notification echoed in his mind, but Alister barely noticed. He was already moving to the next goblin, his enhanced senses making him move on instinct. The goblins were more terrified now, their confidence shattered by the sight of theirrade''s brutal end. Yet, driven by some primal instinct, they still attacked.

    Alister charged at them, his gritted teeth revealing some fangs had grown. He ducked under a wild swing from a goblin''s club, his ws raking across its abdomen. The goblin screamed, but Alister didn''t stop. He grabbed its head and twisted violently, the snap of its neck echoing through the cavern. As it fell, he tore into its chest, yanking out the core and crushing it beneath his heel.

    [Ding! Stats increased by 10%!]

    [Level Up!]

    Another surge of power coursed through him, and his mana started crackling around his eyes. Each kill brought more strength, and each core destroyed further diminished the goblins'' numbers.

    Alister was a whirlwind of destruction, his enhanced abilities making him nearly unstoppable. He felt his wounds healing almost as quickly as they were inflicted, the high-speed regeneration of his level ups keeping him on his feet. BloodˇŞboth his and the goblins''ˇŞspattered across the cavern floor.

    A goblin managed to w at his back, but Alister spun around, his fist connecting with its jaw and sending it sprawling. He was on it in an instant, his hand piercing its chest to rip out the core. The creature''s scream was cut short as he crushed its heart, the ck core disintegrating in his grip.

    [Ding! Stats increased by 10%!]

    [Level Up!!]

    The remaining goblins halted in their tracks, they were clearly afraid. Even the massive goblin champion hesitated, its club trembling in its grip as it watched Alister decimate its kin.

    Alister, now fully healed thanks to leveling up, turned his attention to the champion. "Your turn," he growled, his voice giving off a dangerous aura.

    The champion roared in defiance, charging at him with its club raised high. But Alister was faster. He sidestepped the initial swing, moving with a speed that left the goblin swinging at empty air. Before the champion could recover, Alister was on it, he instantly closed the gap, leaping up slightly, he dug his ws in the middle of it''s chest.

    With a sudden burst of strength, he tore the goblin''s chest open, exposing the ck core pulsing with dark energy. Alister didn''t hesitate. He plunged his hand into the gaping wound, ripping the core out. The champion''s roar turned into a gurgling whimper as its life force faded.

    Alister crushed the core in his fist, the goblin champion copsing to the ground with a final, echoing thud.

    [Ding! Stats increased by 10%!]

    [Level Up!!]

    [Level Up!!]

    [Level Up!!]

    Small, barely noticeable horns began emerging on his skull. As his body was healing up, increasing the temperature in the dungeon, he was breathing out steam, his mana crackling around his eyes intensified.

    The remaining goblins, witnessing the fall of therger goblin, broke ranks and fled, their terror overpowering any lingering thoughts of victory.

    Alister turned to face them, his glowing yellow eyes seemed to pierce through their souls as he said, "Let''s go, I can do this all day!"

    [Time left: 00:33:12.]

 Chapter 17: When Monsters Flee

    <h4>Chapter 17: When Monsters Flee [Bonus Chapter]</h4>

    Why exactly were dungeons given grades? Obviously, it was due to the difficulty of raiding them, considering the terrain, the monsters, and the nature of the final boss. A dungeon''s grade indeed reflected how challenging it would be to raid.

    However, the major factor in determining the grades has always been the strength of the monsters and how difficult the raiders would findbat with them.

    But what ifbat was not an option? What if the monsters didn''t fight back but instead ran desperately for their lives while the raiders simply ughtered them?

    In that case, the current grading system would hardly be necessary because the raiders wouldn''t need to worry about casualties, as they would essentially be on a wild deer hunt.

    So, in theory, if monsters ran from raiders instead of fighting them, even the weakest of raiders would be able to solo a dungeon, right?

    ...

    At this point, Alister had reached the maximum stacking limit of his stat boost from the Draconic Rage skill.

    Due to the nature of this skill, which initially increased his stats by 50% and thenpounded by 10% ten times, his stats were actually being increased by 289.06%.

    In essence, his base stats were being tripled, and he was rampaging through the dungeon like a tempest of destruction. However, such an abnormal and incredible increase in strength over such a short period of time was certain to have side effects, one way or another.

    ....

    Alister''s body surged with power as the Draconic Rage skill coursed through his veins. His muscles rippled and his senses heightened, every movement he made now gave off an aura of dominance.

    Small ck scales were appearing around his neck, making his dragon features more visible. He appeared to be at his peak, perhaps even better, but for some reason, he thought, ''I feel like I could fall unconscious at any moment.''

    The power flowing through him was bing too much for his body to handle. Although he did not have a scratch on him, he was starting to feel weaker than when he had been left bleeding under that pile of rubble earlier.

    He was far deeper into the cave now, his eyes locked on the hulking figure of the Goblin King. The creature stood taller and more imposing than the others, its dark green skin covered with rune symbols and a ne of bones around its neck. It gripped a blood-red orb in one hand and a jagged, rusted sword in the other, in actuality it was his staff that had taken that form.

    The Goblin King sneered, raising the blood orb, which began to pulse with a bright red light. Alister''s gaze fixed on it, noting how the orb seemed to draw energy from the surrounding blood, swirling into a concentrated, dark red mass. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The king''s lips curled into a cruel grin as he chanted in a gutturalnguage, causing the orb to glow brighter.

    ''Alright, time to end this,'' Alister thought, he couldn''t afford to waste time. Every second counted, not just for his life but for the lives of his teammates.

    With a sudden burst of speed, Alisterunched himself at the Goblin King, his movements a blur. The king barely had time to react before Alister was upon him, shing with his ws. The ws met the king''s flesh, cutting deep, but the goblin king retaliated with a powerful swing of its sword. Alister ducked under the arc, feeling the rush of air as the de missed him by inches.

    The Goblin King roared in frustration, lifting the blood orb high. Dark tendrils of blood shot out from the orb, coiling and twisting like living serpents. Alister leaped around them, his enhanced reflexes allowing him to evade each strike easily. The tendrils struck the ground, exploding into small craters, but Alister remained untouched.

    ''He''s trying to poison me,'' Alister realized, noting the acidic hiss where the tendrils met the stone floor. ''But with this.... skill, it won''t work.''

    He was still new to this thing the system called a skill, it was a strange power but he remembered catching a glimpse of being immune to poisons.

    ''Stay focused,'' he told himself, forcing his attention back to the Goblin King.

    With a ferocious roar, Alister charged again, his movements smooth and lethal. He darted around, his body a blur, He then approached directly, the goblin king tried to counter but he feinted to the left, then struck from the right, his ws slicing through the king''s left side.

    Each hitnded with devastating force, easily digging into the goblin king''s flesh due to the enhanced strength of Draconic Rage allowing him to cut deeper and faster.

    "You think you can beat me, human?" the Goblin King spat, its voice a guttural growl. "You are nothingpared to the power of the blood orb!"

    ''This goblin can talk?'' Alister wonderd, ''The grade increase of the dungeon must have allowed it to gain some level of intelligence.''

    ''I do remember reading that high grade monsters have higher levels of intelligence and some can also talk.''

    "Is that so?" Alister taunted, a smirk spreading on his lips as he sidestepped another of the king''s attacks. "Because from where I''m standing, you''re the one who''s bleeding."

    Alister''s demeanor had changed noticeably, this wasn''t how he''d normally act, the skill was having an effect on his personality.

    The Goblin King''s body was riddled with gashes, blood oozing from the wounds despite its regenerative abilities. Alister pressed on, his shes relentless and merciless. He could feel the Draconic Rage pulsing within him, feeding his fury and driving him forward.

    In a desperate move, the Goblin King thrust the blood orb toward Alister, unleashing a barrage of blood spikes. The projectiles tore through the air, aimed directly at him. But Alister''s speed was unmatched; he weaved through the projectiles easily, closing the distance between them.

    "You''ll have to do better than that," Alister growled, his voice low and dangerous.

 Chapter 18: Raid Complete

    <h4>Chapter 18: Raid Complete</h4>

    The Goblin King''s eyes widened with rage and desperation as it witnessed how Alister easily dodged his attacks.

    The spikes collided with the cave walls, exploding on impact and sending shards of stone and streams of blood scattering through the air, the very ground beneath them trembling from the force of the sts.

    Alister''s movements were a blur, With each step, the earth seemed to buckle beneath his feet, tiny cracks rippling outwards as if the stone itself recoiled from his power.

    He closed the gap between himself and the Goblin King with terrifying speed, his enhanced strength and agility turning him into a living weapon, unleashing a series of deep cuts across the goblin king''s legs.

    The Goblin King swung its jagged sword in a wide arc, hoping to catch Alister. But Alister was already ahead of it. He ducked under the swing, the sword''s de slicing through the air where his head had been just a fraction of a second before. The king''s overextended strike left it vulnerable, and Alister didn''t waste a moment.

    He struck multiple times, his ws carving deep into the Goblin King''s flesh. The creature tried to retaliate, swinging its sword wildly, but Alister dodged each clumsy attack with ease.

    "Is this all you''ve got?" Alister taunted, his voice filled with disdain. "You''re supposed to be a king, right? Fight like one."

    The Goblin King''s eyes burned with fury. It raised the blood orb once more, channeling its dark energy, sending thick tendrils of blood shot out from the orb, twisting and hissing like serpents. Theyshed out at Alister, seeking to catch and crush him. Alister leaped back and easily dodged all of them.

    Once the attacks were over, he closed the distance between them again. He drove his ws into the Goblin King''s side, twisting the ws as he withdrew them to inflict maximum damage. The king howled in agony, dropping to one knee as blood poured from its wounds.

    "You''re outmatched," Alister said coldly, his eyes gleaming with the look of a predator. "Give up now, and I might make your death quick."

    The Goblin King snarled, refusing to give up. It clutched the blood orb tightly, its eyes flickering with fear and anger. Alister could see the creature''s mind working, plotting its next move even as it bled away.

    Wanting to fight back once more, the Goblin King thrust the blood orb toward Alister, intending to unleash onest attack. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    But then out of nowhere, the goblin king heard a loud whistle, and in the next moment his hand that was holding the orb was sliced clean off.

    In actuality, Alister swung his wed hand in a wide vertical arc with a huge burst of speed and instantly cut the arm off.

    The orb fell to the ground, rolling away as the Goblin King clutched its bleeding stump, its eyes wide with shock and pain. Alister didn''t give it a chance to recover. He followed up by thrusting his hand into its chest, and coiled his ws around it''s core.

    The Goblin King tried to fight back, swinging its sword with its remaining hand, but Alister was relentless. He ducked under the de, using his other wed hand to cut off the goblin king''s other arm.

    "You''re done," Alister said, his voice cold and condescending as he gazed at the goblin king intensely.

    And with that he ripped out the core, and crushed it.

    The Goblin King copsed to the ground, its body convulsing before finally going still. The cavern fell silent, the echoes of the battle fading into the distance.

    Alister stood over the fallen king, his breathing heavy but his body already starting to heal from the wounds he had sustained.

    The system''s voice rang in his head again.

    [Ding!! Quest Complete!]

    The system''s voice was followed by a flood of notifications.

    [Congrattions! You havepleted the quest: Summoners can fight too!]

    [Rewards will be granted shortly.]

    [Initiating dungeon loot harvest sequence...]

    Alister was intrigued by this new notification, but he didn''t have time to ask about it. He was feeling dizzy and needed to go and get his teammates out and get them to a hospital,

    ...

    He was back where he left his teammates.

    Moving over to where L was kneeling beside Amelia.

    "L," he called gently, touching her shoulder. "L, we need to move. The raid''s over."

    L looked up, her eyes red and swollen from crying. "Alister... Amelia... she''s gone. I tried to heal her, but... it was toote."

    Alister gazed at Amelia''s lifeless body, but for some reason he didn''t feel anything. She seemed like a nice person, but he never really knew her till just a few hours ago, so he wasn''t really attached.

    As someone who''s mastered the art of letting go so many times, his heart had shields when it came to moments like these.

    He knelt down, cing his fingers against her neck, but felt no pulse. Her skin was cold and pale, the spark of life extinguished.

    "I''m sorry," he whispered, closing her eyes gently. "We have to go, L. We can''t stay here."

    L shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I can''t leave her... I can''t..."

    "We don''t have a choice," Alister said softly, yet firmly. "We need to get out of here so we can take the others to a hospital so they don''t meet the same fate. Amelia wouldn''t want us to die here."

    He could see the reluctance in L''s eyes, the weight of her grief almost too much to bear. But there was no time. The others had to survive, to honor Amelia''s sacrifice by living on.

    "I''m sorry," Alister said again. He reached out, his hand and with a swift motion, he struck the side of L''s neck, knocking her unconscious. It was the only way to ensure she wouldn''t resist.

    Carefully, he lifted L''s limp body, cradling her against his chest. Then he moved to Erik and Jarek, checking their injuries. They were bloodied but alive, their breathing steady if shallow. He gathered them together, his enhanced strength from the Draconic Rage allowing him to carry all three without falling.

    As he made his way through the cavern, the system''s voice continued to echo in his mind, detailing the rewards and loot collected. But Alister''s thoughts were elsewhere, focused on the promise he had made, the promise that had driven him this far.

    ''I promised I''d find a cure for you, Miyu,'' he reminded himself. ''And I will. No matter what.''

 Chapter 19: Impossible Feat

    <h4>Chapter 19: Impossible Feat</h4>

    As the minutes dragged on outside the dungeon rift, the crowd grew increasingly restless. The rift, dark red, suddenly began to shimmer, then shifted to a bright white. This change was a widely understood sign: the dungeon had either been sessfully cleared or everyone inside had perished.

    The gathered spectators, their faces frowned in dread and grim curiosity, exchanged worried nces. Whispers of uncertainty spread like wildfire.

    "White means it''s over."

    "Do you think they all..."

    Viktor, standing at the forefront with his calm yet imposing demeanor, exchanged a nce with Celia. Her usual yful sparkle was momentarily reced by an expression of intense focus. Viktor''s hand hovered over the hilt of his sword, ready for any to step in and raid the dungeon.

    "It''s time to step in and get this over with," Viktor said. He started to walk towards the portal, its white glow reflecting of his intense eyes.

    Celia, her lips curving into a slight, excited smile, gave a quick nod. "Okay." She moved to follow Viktor.

    Just as they were about to cross into the rift, a voice from the crowd rang out, sharp and urgent.

    "Wait! Look, someone''sing out!"

    Viktor''s head whipped to see who said it, then back to face the rift, his eyes narrowing as he looked around the portal''s edge. Emerging from the shimmering white glow was a young man, stumbling and panting heavily as he carried what appeard to be his teammates. The crowd''s breath was held as they all paused to see who it was.

    It was Alister.

    But his appearance was strange, he had scales shimmering around his neck, eyes glowing with an intense yellow hue, and an aura of raw, primal power radiating off him.

    He was drenched in blood and covered in the grime of battle, his breathsing in ragged gasps.

    "Guess... we made it," Alister mumbled, his voice hoarse and barely audible over the murmurs of the onlookers.

    His eyes looked like they could close shut at any moment as he looked around the crowd,beforending on Viktor and Celia. The intensity of his gaze made Viktor''s heart skip a beat, and Celia''s usual confidence faltered for a moment.

    Viktor felt an involuntary shiver run down his spine. Alister''s presence was overwhelming, exuding a dangerous, almost monster like aura. Viktor''s hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of his sword, prepared to draw it at a moment''s notice.

    But before he could act, Alister''s eyes rolled back, and he crumpled to the ground, the light in his eyes fading as he lost consciousness.

    As Alister fell, the transformation that had overtaken his body began to fade. His scales retracted, the draconic glow in his eyes extinguished, and his form returned to that of an ordinary human.

    The silence that followed was suffocating, almost like the moment when everyone first realized an F rank team was trapped in an A rank Dungeon.

    "Did these people just clear the dungeon?"

    It was Celia who finally broke the silence, her voice cutting through the stillness. she asked in shock and a touch of admiration. Her gaze swept over the unconscious Alister and then back to the rift.

    Her words jolted Viktor back to reality. He tore his eyes away from Alister and looked toward the rift. To his shock, he saw the rift begin to close, its surface folding in on itself until it vanished entirely. This was the undeniable proof that the dungeon had been cleared.

    Viktor let out a long sigh, the tension in his body easing slightly.

    "I guess you''re right," he said, his voice tinged with both relief and awe. He sheathed his sword and turned to address the crowd.

    ''But... What was that just now.'' Viktor wonderd, gazing at Alister, and then to his now trembling hand that was on the holy of his sword.

    The crowd erupted in sherrs shock, an F rank team clearing an A rank Dungeon? That was bizarre, a kid''s bedtime story would be more believable than something like that. Yet at the same time they could all see that was clearly the case.

    "Did they really do it?"

    "They were just an F-rank team! How is that even possible?"

    "That''s unheard of. I thought for sure they were all goners."

    "They don''t look like much. Just kids. How did they manage to survive, let alone clear the dungeon?"

    "Maybe they had some kind of secret weapon."

    "Or maybe the dungeon glitched?"

    So many dabout and spection filled the air, such an aplishment seemed logically impossible, but humans as we all know, wanted to use their own logical reason to exin it.

    Viktor and Celia moved towards Alister''s unconscious body, their eyes still filled with curiosity and confusion at what had just happened. Viktor''s serious expression softened slightly as he looked down at the young man who had defied all expectations.

    "We need to get him and the others medical attention immediately," Viktor said, his voice firm but now tinged with urgency. "They''ve done something extraordinary here, but they''re not out of danger yet." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Celia nodded, her yful demeanor returning just a bit as she nced around at the crowd. "Looks like we''re going to have quite the story to tell back at headquarters," she said, a hint of her usual mischief creeping back into her smile.

    With that, Viktor and Celia began organizing the recovery of Alister and hispanions, their minds already turning to the next steps in the aftermath of this unexpected and astonishing victory.

 Chapter 20: Coming To Grips

    <h4>Chapter 20: Coming To Grips [Bonus Chapter]</h4>

    Alister''s eyes fluttered open, the harsh sun lighting through the window shining on his face, making him squint. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled his nostrils as he shifted on the soft hospital bed.

    He felt a dull ache around his entire body, but the immediate danger seemed to have passed.

    ''Where am I?'' he thought, blinking against the bright light. Memories from the dungeon raid flooded back like a tideˇŞhis teammates, the battle with the Goblin King, and the overwhelming surge of power from the Draconic Rage skill. He remembered L, Amelia, Erik, and Jarek, their faces shing before his eyes.

    He looked around the room, taking in the beeping machines, the IV drip attached to his arm, and the clean, white walls. "This must be a hospital," he mumbled to himself, the words sounding dry and raspy as they left his lips.

    As he tried to sit up, a sudden jolt of energy coursed through him, and the system''s interface materialized before his eyes, a translucent yellow screen hovering in the air.

    [The yer has several system notifications to look through.]

    [Congrattions to the yer forpleting the first quest!]

    Alister blinked at the words, their meaning sinking in. He had survived. They had made it out of the dungeon alive, despite the odds. ''It''s unfortunate but losses were inevitable.''

    He frowned, as the memory of Amelia''s unfortunate death shed before his eyes.

    [In recognition of the yer''s feat of soloing the boss raid, the yer has been given additional rewards.]

    [Notice! All harvested loot from the dungeon has been organized. Please check your inventory for details.]

    ''Inventory?'' Alister questioned his thoughts.

    Just as he did, another translucent yellow window appeared with sections and small boxes that seemed to hold items in them.

    [1. Goblin Core(s) (A-rank)

    2. Goblin Hide (C-rank)

    3. Rusty Daggers (B-rank)

    4. Clubs (B-rank)

    5. Mana Crystals (Various Ranks - C to A)

    6. Blood Orb (B-rank)

    7. Magic Form-Changing Wand (B-rank)

    -----(Additional rewards)--------

    8. Skill Card: Blood Maniption (D-rank)

    9.Skill Card: Blood Healing (D-rank)]

    As he looked through the list, Alister couldn''t help but feel excited.

    ''It''s actually all the loot from the dungeon...''

    ''That red orb the goblin king was holding is included as well...''

    ''With items like these I could sell them and get a ton of union points. With that I''m sure I would be able to afford summoner equipment and begin my journey as a summoner.''

    ''Additional rewards... More skills.''

    ''Now that I think about it, I was supposed to get some kind of hand book for summoning after Ipleted my first quest...''

    His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open. A nurse walked in, she looked surprised to see Alister awake, but relieved he was.

    "You''re up," she said gently, approaching his bed. "How are you feeling?"

    Alister cleared his throat, struggling to find his voice. "A bit sore," he replied, his voice hoarse. "But I think I''m okay." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ''I don''t remember having any wounds on my body after I left the dungeon, so this lingering weakness must be the side effects of my skill.''

    The nurse nodded, checking the readings on the machines beside him. "You''re lucky to be alive," she said, her tone serious. "You and your friends were brought in unconscious. They said you cleared an A-rank dungeon? That''s quite a feat."

    ''A rank!? All the way from F? Guess that exins the grades of the loot.''

    Alister gave a weak smile, still processing everything. "Yeah," he murmured, the weight of their aplishment settling over him. "Guess we did."

    Alister sat up a bit straighter, curiosity lighting his tired eyes.

    "How long have I been out?"

    The nurse looked up, her brow furrowing as she tried to recall the exact time. "Let me see... Today is the 15th of June, so you''ve been unconscious for 15 days."

    "Fifteen days!?"

    Alister repeated in shock He couldn''t believe he had been out for so long. His thoughts immediately went to his team.

    "What about my teammates? Are they okay?"

    The nurse''s expression softened. "They''re all doing fine now," she assured him. "They left the hospital around the fourth day after you were brought in. A top healer from the Union was in the area, so they got their wounds taken care of quickly. After a bit of rest, they were able to leave."

    Alister let out a sigh of relief, a small smile spreading his lips. "That''s good to hear," he murmured, genuinely d his team had made it out okay.

    "And," the nurse continued, "they left you some gifts." She reached over to a small table by the side of his bed and picked up a neat bundle wrapped in soft cloth. Handing it to him, she added, "I''ll step out now and give you some time to go through them."

    Alister took the bundle with a grateful nod. "Thank you," he said, watching as she left the room.

    He carefully unwrapped the cloth, revealing a collection of small, thoughtful items: a box of high-quality choctes, a sleek, modern wristwatch, and several letters.

    ''I kinda feel bad they''re the ones buying me stuff when I practically cleaned the dungeon of all its items. Oh well, to the winner the spoils as they say.''

    He picked up one of the envelopes, recognizing L''s name on the front.

    Opening it, he read:

    Dear Alister,

    I hope you''re reading this soon and are up and about. I can''t thank you enough for what you did back in the dungeon. Honestly, I don''t know how you managed it, but I''m grateful you did. You saved us all, and I owe you my life.

    We''ve decided to take a break for a while, reassess things, but don''t worry, we''ll be back in action soon enough. Take care of yourself and get better. Next time we need to grab a drink and talk about how you became some kind of superhuman!

    Best,

    L

    Alister smiled at the letter, feeling a warm feeling in his chest. He opened the rest, all with a simr message.

    Alister leaned back against the pillows, a sense of peaceing over him. Despite the chaos and danger they had faced, knowing things sort of turns out ok in the end gave himfort.

    He then sat back up with a slight more serious look on his face.

    ''Alright system, where are my rewards from the quest?''

    [Congrats the yer has received: 100 EXP, Beginner''s Guide to Summoning (Rank E), Basic wed gauntlets (Rank E).]

    [The items have been transferred to the yer''s inventory.]

    ''Inventory.''

    The window materialized, Alister wanted to reach into the window and pull out the book.

    [Notice! yer, the yer can view the guide from the system interface as long as it remains in the inventory.]

    [Notice! The yer has yet to view their status window.]

    [Notice! The yer also has unassigned stat points.]

    [Notice! Conditions have been met, the yer can now summon their first dragon.]

    [Will the yer like to proceed with their first summoning?]

 Chapter 21: First Summon

    <h4>Chapter 21: First Summon [Bonus Chapter]</h4>

    Alister''s breath caught in his throat as he read the system notification.

    [Notice! Conditions have been met, the yer can now summon their first dragon.]

    [Will the yer like to proceed with their first summoning?]

    ''Summon a dragon?''

    ''I can summon without buying necessary equipment?''

    [Affermative, the system will be the one to carry out the summoning.]

    [All of the yer''s summoning power and mana will be instantly consumed in this process. So the yer would feel nauseous after the process.]

    Alister''s mind raced, his pulse quickening. The idea of summoning such a creature filled him with both excitement and a touch of fear.

    ''Yes, system proceed with the summoning.''

    [Now opening mind spece.]

    In an instant, the world around him vanished. He felt a rush of air and suddenly found himself floating in a cosmic blue space, vast and endless, as if he had stepped into the very fabric of the universe itself. Stars twinkled in the distance, and nebulous clouds of energy swirled around him.

    ''Where am I?''

    Alister wondered. The serene beauty of the space was almost calming, despite the anticipation coursing through him.

    Ahead of him stood a massive double stone gate, its surface covered with beautiful carvings of dragon skulls.

    ''What is this ce?''

    Alister wondered as he looked around in confusion, he was in the hospital room a moment ago.

    [Summoning will now begin.]

    As if in response, the eyes of the dragon skulls began to glow a bright yellow, casting an bright light across the stone surface. The ground beneath the entire spece seemed to quiver, and the colossal gates creaked open.

    A blinding beam of light erupted from the gap, forcing Alister to shield his eyes with his arm. As the light dimmed slightly, he peered through the opening, straining to see whaty beyond.

    From the heart of the light, a massive figure began to take shape. It was a colossal dragon, its silhouette growing more defined with each passing moment. The sheer size of the creature was shocking, its presencemanding and overwhelming.

    As the dragon stepped forward, Alister could make out its polished ck scales. Massive wings behind it. Its ck horns curved, and its crimson eyes burned with an intensity that seemed to pierce through his very soul.

    ''Its massive... a little too massive.''

    His own size could badly bepared to the dragon, it was as it one stood before a massive two story building.

    ''Are you the sessor?'' n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    A voice echoed within Alister''s mind. The words interrupting his thoughts, and Alister instinctively knew it was the dragon speaking to him.

    The sheer force of the dragon''s presence was almost suffocating, its aura made a chill run down Alister''s spine.

    As he lifted his head to gaze at the creature, the dragon''s eyes locked onto his, almost as if it was sliently challenging him.

    ''The aura it gives off is very simr to the one I gave off when I was back in the dunguon. Now that I''m on the receiving end of it, I can see why the goblins couldn''t help but flee.''

    He slwallowed hard, feeling his body tremble slightly under the oppressive aura. Suddenly the system''s voice broke through his thoughts, congratting him.

    [Congrattions! You have sessfully summoned the ck Crimson Drake, Cinder Von Abkis-Void (A-rank).]

    ''A Drake, A-rank?''

    Alister''s eyes widened in surprise, lost in thought as Cinder''s voice echoed in his mind once more, sharper this time.

    "I asked if you are the sessor. If you do not identify yourself, I shall incinerate you where you stand."

    She narrowed her gaze, the intensity of her stare sending a chill down Alister''s spine. The dragon''s words were not a mere threat; they were a promise of what would happen if he failed to respond.

    ''But what exactly am I supposed to say? What does it mean by "sessor"?''

    The system''s interface appeared before his eyes.

    [Mini-quest: Tame your First Summon!:

    Details: Drakes are creatures of immense pride and will never yield to a being they see as inferior.

    Cinder Von Abkis is even more so, as an Overlord. As the sessor of ####, you must prove you are superior and use your sheer power to make her yield.]

    ''Sessor? Of whom? And why is the system blurring out parts of the text?''

    ''Did the system refer to it as... her? This massive Drake is female? Male monsters are usually bigger than the females, so how enormous would a male drake be?''

    Alister was lost in thought, almostpletely ignoring the Drake before him.

    ''How dare you keep me waiting in silence!''

    Cinder opened her dragon maw, revealing massive, razor-sharp teeth. More terrifyingly, mes began to gather in her mouth.

    Alister''s eyes widened in shock as he saw this, snapping back to reality. His thoughts raced.

    ''She really ns to go through with this! What am I supposed to do? She''s at least a hundred times my size, so fighting back would be pointless. I don''t even have abat-oriented talent in the first ce.''

    Suddenly, something clicked in Alister''s mind.

    ''Wait, my talent... showing my power...''

    A sudden smile spread across Alister''s face. His voice echoed in Cinder''s thoughts as he spoke.

    In that instant, Alister''s mana surged outward with a force far more oppressive than Cinder''s aura.

    "Is that how you act toward your master? It seems you are in need of some discipline."

    "Lesson one: in the presence of your master, you bow your head!"

    The sheer intensity of his power forced her head down, the mes in her maw fading into smoke as she closed her mouth. Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground.

    ''What sort of sorcery is this? What are you doing?''

    Cinder''s thoughts were filled with confusion and shock.

    Alister slowly walked up to her head, now firmly pinned to the ground, and said, "Nothing much, just making sure you understand how you should present yourself in my presence."

    In that moment, their eyes locked again. This time, it was Cinder looking up. What she saw in the depths of Alister''s yellow eyes terrified her, yet at the same time, she felt a strange sense of relief.

    ''Cinder pays her respects to the sessor.''

    Her voice echoed in Alister''s thoughts once more, an oath of her servitude and a silent sign of the respect she now had for this being she deemed her master.

 Chapter 22: Questions

    <h4>Chapter 22: Questions</h4>

    Alister''s eyes snapped open, the white hospital room ceiling recing the cosmic space moments before. Disoriented, he tried to recall where he was, the memory of the colossal dragon and the strange blue space swirling around him fading fast. But exhaustion overwhelmed him, his eyelids drooping shut once more.

    "Mr. Hazenworth? Can you hear me?"

    A soft voice cut through the fog clouding his mind. A woman in blue scrubs stood beside his bed, with a gentle smile on her lips.

    "Nurse?" Alister rasped, his throat dry.

    "What is it?"

    "People from the Union are here to see you."

    "People from the Union...?"

    The nurse gave a small nod. "Yes, they''ve been waiting for you to wake up. Seems like they have some questions."

    "Questions?"

    Alister echoed, shocked. Before he could ask further, the door creaked open and two figures entered the room.

    It was the same Union officers he encountered after he cleared the dungeon. Viktor with his usual stern demeanor and Celia, with a mischievous look in her eyes, stood beside him. They both walked up to the side of Alister''s bed.

    "You know..."

    Celia said, leaning closer with a mischievous smile.

    "You actually look kind of cute up close."

    Alister flushed slightly, feeling awkward under her scrutiny.

    "Thanks, I guess."

    He mumbled, shuffling ufortably under the sheets. Viktor cleared his throat, his voice sharp.

    "Celia, now is not the time to mess around."

    "Oh alright."

    Viktor turned his gaze towards Alister, letting out a sigh, he bowed his head.

    "Mr. Hazenworth, I apologize for the dy in making the announcement before your dungeon raid. It was a grave oversight on our part, and we take full responsibility for the unfortunate loss of your teammate."

    His actions were uncharacteristic of the usually stoic Union officers.

    Alister shook his head weakly.

    "There''s no need to bow, sir. It''s... tragic what happened, but none of us could have predicted it. We don''t me anyone."

    Viktor nodded. "Understood, I''ll take that as your eptance of my apology then."

    Lifting his head back up he proceeded to sit besides Alister turning his head to face him slowly. Celia did the same as well.

    "Now then, no to the reason we are here, there''s a major uproar within the Union. An F-rank team clearing an A-rank dungeon is unheard of. We''ve interviewed your teammates, but they all im to have lost consciousness during the raid. They have no recollection of how the dungeon was cleared."

    He paused, his eyes narrowing. "Except for L. She ims to have seen you fight your way through the goblins with surprising ease. However, considering your talent ¨C a summoner ¨C such feats seem a bit hard to believe."

    Viktor''s words suddenly made the air feel heavy and Alister felt like he was finding it a bit hard to breathe.

    "But."

    Viktor continued, his voice softening slightly. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "it can''t be entirely dismissed either. You were the one who carried your unconscious teammates out, and that speaks volumes, Mr. Hazenworth."

    Celia leaned forward again, her yful smile spreading on her face.

    "So, Alister, we want the full story. How did you, a summoner, clear an A-rank dungeon without any summons?"

    Alister felt a bead of sweat roll down his face. Things were gettingplicated, fast.

    ''I can''t possibly reveal the existence of the system or the fact that I have something like another talent... a skill.''

    ''And there isn''t any transaction history to suggest that I bought the necessary equipment to summon a monster.''

    ''So I can''t use Cinder as an excuse.''

    ''Even if I wanted to, she wouldn''t have been able to fit in a goblin cave, so saying she assisted me with the raid would be far from believable.''

    As Alister''s thoughts raced, Cinder could feel the unease her master was feeling, her voice suddenly echoed in Alister''s thoughts as she offered a solution to his problem.

    ''My lord, if you find their presence disturbing, then I will be more than willing to incinerate them for you.''

    ''No! You won''t be incinerating anyone!'' Alister counters, taking control of the mana that nearly surged out of his body.

    ''Understood my lord.'' Cider replied.

    Alister then let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly, he was going to tell them what happened, more from an observer''s perspective than the actual truth.

    Alister cleared his throat, the weight of their stares pressing down on him.

    "Honestly."

    "I''m not entirely sure what happened myself. When we entered the dungeon, things got bad... fast. There were just too many goblins, and..."

    "And I just didn''t want to die down there."

    Viktor''s gaze remained sharp, but Celia seemed intrigued.

    "So, you fought your way out? A summoner taking down an A-rank horde?"

    Her voice held a hint of shock, but also a spark of curiosity.

    Alister shook his head again.

    "No, not exactly. I... well, I felt this massive surge of power. Almost like as if something inside me... snapped. Maybe it has something to do with my talent rank being SSS rank."

    He knew it wasn''t the full truth, but it was the closest he could get without revealing the system or Cinder. He hoped it would be enough to exin his sudden burst of strength, leaving the specifics open to interpretation.

    Celia''s lips twitched at the corners, a mischievous glint returning to her eyes.

    "Something snapped, huh? That''s totally believable." She giggled, finding his words hrious.

    "Viktor, maybe there''s more to Mr. Hazenworth than meets the eye."

    Viktor frowned, a muscle ticking in his jaw. As he replied reluctantly.

    "Perhaps."

    "However, Mr. Hazenworth, while your exnation is... unorthodox, it does exin how you emerged from the dungeon with your teammates."

    Alister let out a relieved breath. It wasn''t ideal, but it seemed like he''d managed to avoid immediate scrutiny.

    Viktor let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly.

    "We''ll need a more detailed report once you''re fully recovered, Mr. Hazenworth. But for now, get some rest. The Union will be in touch."

    With that, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room, Celia following silently behind him.

    The door closed with a soft click, leaving Alister alone in the sterile white space. He let out a long sigh of relief, the tension draining from his shoulders. He''d managed to make his way trough the initial hurdle, but the weight of everything that had transpired settled upon him.

    "Once I''m back on my feet, I need to get some summoner equipment and register Cinder at the Union Office. Hopefully, they have a category for... well, Drake."

    The Union office did more than oversee the running of every mega city they were found in; they were also the best at creating and selling equipment. Although most people tended to go with cheaper options like random cksmiths and item crafters, it was widely known that the best equipment could only be found there.

    Although Alister would have loved to go for a cheaper option but it was only the union that had the necessary tools it would take to craft summoner equipment, so he would have to buy them there.

    It was also the ce where summoners registered their summons. Due to the nature of the world, it was notpletely impossible to find a stray monster roaming around after a dungeon break. So, it was always best for summoners to register their monsters with some sort of tag, cor, or marking. This way, if they were seen from afar, people would know not to be rmed.

    Alister ced his hand under his jaw as he thought futher, ''And considering it would be hard to exin how I summoned a monster without any equipment, I could also fake summoning Cinder there.''

    A wry smile yed on his lips.

    Finally, his thoughts turned towards Miyu.

    "I wonder how she''s holding up?"

    He knew he needed to check on her soon, offer his care and support.

    A sudden yellow glow filled his vision, interrupting his thoughts. The familiar system interface materialized before him, with a new notification.

    [Train your weak body (Daily)]

    Details: Dragons are not feared only because of how powerful they are, they are more terrifying because they seem to always grow stronger over time, no matter how strong they were previously. As an overlord of all dragons, such is your fate as well.

    [Chain-quest: The ws of an Overlord]

    Details: You havee to realize, dragons fight better with their ws than weapons, so train yourself in the art ofbat with wed gauntlets.

    Requirements: Masterbat with the wed gauntlet (0/1)

    Penalty: Until the yerpletes this quest, they are not allowed to raid a dungeon. If they attempt to raid, they lose 10 random stat points.]

    Alister stared at the notification, pausing in shock.

    "Wait, what? Daily training? And a penalty for not using ws? This system is getting more demanding by the minute."

    He groaned, rubbing his forehead. Looks like his daysying in bed were officially over. He was a dragon, apparently, and dragons had to train.

 Chapter 23: Smoke Screen

    <h4>Chapter 23: Smoke Screen</h4>

    It was a new dawn, Alister woke up from a dreamless sleep. To a te of lukewarm hospital food and a cheerful nurse beside his bed.

    "Good morning, Mr. Hazenworth! Feeling a bit better today?"

    Alister managed a weak smile.

    "Yeah, much better. Thanks."

    He choked down the nd food, grateful for anything that went down easy.

    The rest of the day passed in a blur of paperwork, checkups, and a surprisingly long lecture from a doctor about the dangers of overexertion. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the doctor cleared him for discharge.

    Stepping out of the hospital doors, Alister squinted in the harsh sunlight. The world seemed sharper, more vibrant after being cooped up indoors for so long. He took a deep breath of fresh air, filling his lungs with the scent of exhaust and city life. It wasn''t exactly the fresh breeze he dreamed of, but it was freedom.

    He reached into his pocket, pulling out the wristwatch L had left him. It was sleek and modern, very different from the beat-up digital watch he usually wore.

    [The yer has still yet to open their status window.]

    ''Alright, guess it''s time I check out this ''status window'' the system has been talking about''

    "Status window." Alister called out softly, his words followed by a yellow translucent window disying his stats.

    [yer: Alister Hazenworth

    Level: 15 [XP: 120/360]

    ss: ?Overlord? Summoner (Awakened Talent) (SSS)

    Stats:

    HP: 350/350

    MP: 1220/1236 (Partially depleted)

    - Strength: 106

    - Agility: 121

    - Intelligence: 131

    - Endurance: 96

    - Luck: 161 n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    - ?Summoning Power?: 100

    - Mana:

    Mana Regeneration: 5 MP/minute

    Avable Stat Points: 30

    Titles: N/E

    Skills:

    Draconic Rage Lvl1 (A-rank)

    Blood Maniption Lvl1 (D-rank)

    Blood Healing Lvl1 (D-rank)

    List of summons:

    Drake, Cinder Von Abkis-Void (A-rank)

    Current quest(s):

    -Train your weak body (Daily)

    -The ws of an Overlord (Chain)]

    ''Wow, my stats are higher than I remember. Must be the effect of leveling up,''

    He thought, his eyes scanning the numbers.

    ''Strength, agility, intelligence... And I''ve got thirty free stat points to allocate. How should I distribute these?''

    He considered his options carefully.

    ''I need to be well-rounded, but focusing on certain stats might give me an edge. Agility and intelligence seem crucial for a summoner. Strength and endurance are important too, especially if I end up in physicalbat situations.''

    After a moment of thought, he decided:

    ''I''ll put ten points into agility to boost my speed and reflexes, ten into intelligence for better mana control, and the remaining ten into endurance to help me withstand tougher fights.''

    With his stats allocated, Alister felt a warm feeling all over his body again, simr to the sensation he got from leveling up.

    ''Alright, now that that''s sorted, I need to register Cinder at the Summoner''s Association. So I''ll just rece some of my worn out equipment and buy summoner equipment then I''ll head over there.''

    Buying summoner equipment wasn''t just a necessary smokescreen for Alister. Purchasing equipment rted to one''s talent was a surefire way to increase its strength and effectiveness. Although he didn''t need it due to the existence of the system and his absolute taming capabilities, buying them would be the only way to exin how he was able to summon Cinder.

    But before he would go shopping, he had to go trade the items in his inventory for more Union credits... Which he did...

    ...

    Alister stepped out of the hover cab, the midday sun warming his face. The Union Office stood before him, a massive white building that scraped the sky. A colossal, blue U logo could be seen at the building''s front, reflecting the sunlight in a blinding ze.

    Pushing through the automatic doors, Alister was greeted by a scene of bustling activity. The vast hall, bathed in the soft glow of artificial lighting, resembled a high-tech marketce.

    He made his way through a crowd of awakened individuals, each d in equipment that hinted at their talents. A woman with flowing emerald hair browsed a selection of carved staffs, likely a user of an elemental talent.

    A group of bulky men with shaved heads, their arms with tattoos, clustered around a disy of massive warhammers, most likely guys with strength enhancent talents.

    He spotted a counter tucked away in a corner, manned by a friendly-looking woman with short brown hair and warm brown eyes. Her name tag gleamed ¨C Sarah. He approached with a smile.

    "Hi,"

    Alister''s said, his voice barely rising above the general murmur of the crowd.

    "I''m looking for some basic summoner gear."

    Sarah''s smiled, revealing a row of perfectly white teeth.

    "Wee to the Union Office!"

    "We offer a variety of starter kits tailored to different summoning styles. Perhaps you could tell me what type of summoner you are?"

    "Actually," Alister began, his voice dropping to a low murmur, "I was hoping to find some equipment that would enhance my..." he paused, unsure how to phrase it. "Reptile summoning abilities."

    Sarah''s smile fadded for a brief moment, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. This wasn''t umon.

    While the vast majority of summoners had an affinity for a specific element ¨C fire, water, earth, or air ¨C reptilian summons were incredibly rare.

    Thest one documented in the city archives dated back nearly a century ago.

    "Reptile summoning, huh?"

    "That''s certainly...unique. We do have a limited selection of equipment designed to amplify the bond between a summoner and their reptilianpanion. Would you like to take a look?"

    "Absolutely," he replied with a grateful smile.

    Sarah led him to a small disy case tucked away behind her counter. Inside, amongst vials of shimmering potions and cors,y a collection of items far more advanced. A pair of sleek, ck gloves made of a material that resembled dragon hide stood out the most.

    Beside them, a simple leather pouch with silver stitching and a small, engraved charm in the shape of a lizard caught Alister''s attention.

    "These gloves,"

    Sarah began to exin,

    "are crafted from the hide of a Lesser Wyvern. Wearing them strengthens the bond between you and your reptilian summon, allowing for greater control and a more efficient flow of magical energy during the summoning process."

    ''Control? Thought they were supposed to enhance my talent itself.''

    Alister picked up a glove, marveling at its smooth texture and supersonic design. He could almost feel a surge of power coursing through it, a faint hum resonating with him.

    ''Although they feel incredible,'' he thought, a genuine smile spreading his lips.

    "And the pouch?"

    Alister asked, his curiosity piqued by the unassuming little item.

    "That, Sarah exined, "is a specially crafted summoning pouch. The charm acts as a conduit, channeling your magical energy to enhance your summoning process. It also seems as a poket dimension to keep items."

    She nced around cautiously before leaning closer and lowering her voice further.

    "Let me be honest, reptilian summons are a rarity. This pouch is one of a kind, passed down through generations within some old lost family. It''s said to have a unique connection to reptilian creatures, enhancing the summoning process significantly."

    Alister''s eyes widened. This pouch, seemingly ordinary on the outside, held a hidden power.

    ''This could be the perfect way to exin how I summoned Cinder without revealing the system.''

    He thought. He couldn''t reveal the system or Cinder''s existence, not yet.

    "That sounds perfect," he said decisively, cing the gloves and the pouch on the counter.

    "I''ll take them."

    "So how much."

    Serah smiled, "That will be 15,000 union credits."

    Alister suddenly stood frozen, although he was utterly shocked by the price he heard.

 Chapter 24: The Hidden Cost [Bonus chapter]

    <h4>Chapter 24: The Hidden Cost [Bonus chapter]</h4>

    A cold sweat slowly want down Alister''s face. 15,000 Union Credits? That was a small fortune, especially for a new awakened like him.

    He had managed to scrape together a 27,000 from selling the loot he''d gotten from the dungeon raid, plus the left over the headmaster gave him he had somewhere around 51,000.

    But he would soon have to go visit Miyu and pay all sorts of bills, not to consider the fact he might not be going to the dungeon for a while because of the system''s new quest.

    So he couldn''t just part away with such arg sum like that.

    "Uh, that''s..."

    He stammered, his voice barely a whisper.

    "A little more than I was expecting."

    Sarah''s smile faded slightly, a look of understanding appearing in her eyes. Dealing with new awakeneds often meant encountering financial limitations.

    "Well,"

    She said, her voice softer now,

    "We do offer a payment n option, with a small down payment and interest rued over a set period. Would you be interested in hearing about that?"

    Alister''s heart pounded. A payment n was tempting, but the thought of debt hanging over his head was unappealing. He took a look at the sleek gloves and the unassuming pouch, their allure was undeniable.

    They might be the key to maintaining his secret and slightly amplifying his connection with Cinder.

    "Maybe not a full payment n,"

    He replied, his voice gaining a touch of confidence.

    "But is there any way I can... negotiate the price?"

    Sarah raised an eyebrow, a mischievous look lingering in her eyes.

    "Negotiate? Now that''s something you don''t hear every day. But tell you what."

    She leaned in conspiratorially, her voice dropping to a low murmur.

    "These items are quite rare, and I wouldn''t want them to sit gathering dust on the shelf. How about this? If you can answer a trivia question about reptilian summons correctly, I''ll give you a 10% discount."

    Alister''s eyes widened. A 10% discount would be a significant saving, bringing the price down to a more manageable level.

    ''Really... I thought the price was set by the Union, oh well, if she''s giving me a discount I might as well take it.''

    He had a decent understanding of dragons thanks to the books he read back at the academy, and a trivia question couldn''t be that hard, could it?

    "Alright," he agreed, a excited glint shing in his eyes. "Hit me."

    Sarah tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Here''s the question: What is the legendary weakness of most reptilian creatures, aside from their underbelly?"

    Alister''s mind whirred. He didn''t remember a specific weakness, but there were things he knew frommon knowledge. Most reptiles were cold-blooded, relying on external sources for warmth. Perhaps that was it? n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Extreme cold?" he replied, hesitantly unsure.

    "Bingo! That''s right! Seems you do know your stuff after all. Alright, 10% off it is. That brings the total down to 13,500 Union Credits."

    Alister felt relived. Although it was still arg amount he was now more willing.

    "Perfect," he said, a grateful smile spreading across his face. "I''ll take them."

    Sarah expertly wrapped the gloves and the pouch in a sleek ck box, her smile returning full force.

    "Excellent choice! These will definitely enhance your connection with your reptilianpanion."

    She paused, a look of curiosity appearing in her eyes.

    "Speaking of, what kind of reptile do you summon?"

    Alister hesitated. He couldn''t exactly reveal Cinder was a Drake, or the fact he had already summoned yet.

    "Well I haven''t exactly summoned a reptile yet, just taking a shot in the dark."

    Sarah chuckled knowingly. "Ah, well we all begin somewhere. Well, congrattions on your new equipment, and best of luck with your summoning journey!"

    Alister shed Sarah a grateful smile, his heart lighter with the discount, "Thanks." Alister replied. He tapped his Union Card against the sensor on the counter, the sound of a <strong><i>Ding!! </i></strong>Indicated his credits transferring. With a final wave goodbye, he turned and headed deeper into the Union Office.

    As he left Sarah''s smile suddenly turned snister. Causing a chill to run down his spine, ''Whats up with her.'' and then her smile faded to a cheerful one once more, futher making him more uneasy.

    He wasn''t entirelyfortable with the way Sarah''s smile lingered a little too long after their interaction, but he brushed it off as a shopkeeper''s satisfaction with a good sale.

    His next destination was within the same massive Union building ¨C the Summoner''s Association. Here, awakened individuals could register their summons, hone their skills, and participate in various challenges to test their abilities.

    As he made his way trough the bustling corridors, with all sort of sounds filled his ears. Boomingughter mingled with excited chatter and the asional roar of a summoned creatures.

    He weaved his way through the throngs of people, their attire reflecting the diverse range of summoning specialties.

    ''Most if them look like scouting summons.''

    Alister thought that depending on the size of a summoned monster, their roles could vary, just like the way awakeners had tanks and damage dealers. Summoned monsters could also take on such roles on the battlefield.

    Suddenly, whispers reached Alister''s ears. He caught sounds of small conversation that caused him to be a bit surprised.

    "Did you hear? That guy over there... he''s theone who cleared the A-rank dungeon?"

    "Yeah, apparently he has an SSS-rank talent!"

    "An SSS-rank? Isn''t that also called god rank? That''s unheard of!"

    "Yeah, I heard he was a genius from one of the five major academics."

    "Some say he was super talented but became a summoner."

    "Shame."

    "Then wait! How did he clear an A rank Dungeon if he''s a summoner?"

    "Some say he''s probably got some kind of god rank summon already!"

    "Then wait why is he doing here?"

    "We''ll find out soon enough, I bet. He''s probably heading towards the summoning practice area right now."

    Alister looked around a little, not enough to make things too obvious, ''This must be the uproar that Union officer was talking about.''

    ''Now that I think about it, I never got his name.''

    ''Well it doesn''t matter, I''m actually pretty suprised one of the major guilds haven''t attempted to scout me yet.''

    He smiled slightly, thinking futher, ''That will probably all change after I get Cinder registered.''

 Chapter 25: Fake Summoning

    <h4>Chapter 25: Fake Summoning</h4>

    Alister finally reached his destination ¨C arge hall filled with activity. In the center, circr tforms glowed softly with a blue hue, surrounded by ringed metal barriers. This was the designated summoning area, where awakened summoners could practice summoning theirpanions in a controlled environment.

    He looked around the room, a feeling of pride welling up within him. This was it, the moment he''d been waiting for ¨C the chance to officially summon Cinder.

    Spotting a uniformed woman with a neat bun and a nametag reading ''Aurora'' standing near a doorway, he approached her.

    "Excuse me, I''m new around here, but I''d like to summon my first monster."

    Aurora eyed him for a moment before responding.

    "First monster, huh?"

    "Well that''s rare. We don''t get many beginners these days, all eager and ready to make their mark. Most of them usually lose all hope after awakening as a summoner because of all the money involved."

    "You don''t seem like a young master from one of the seven houses or some rich kid either. So who knows, you might just give up too after finding out your summon is practically useless."

    A small smile appeared on Alister''s lips. This woman seemed no-nonsense, a quality he appreciated. He then asked.

    "So, where do I begin?"

    "tforms,"

    Aurora said, pointing towards the glowing circles.

    "Different sizes for different size summons. Since you''re new, you''ll probably want to start with the small section at the edge over there, marked S."

    She turned and started walking towards the tforms, leaving Alister to follow. As they reached their destination, Aurora stopped and pointed at the already inscribed magic circle within the tform.

    "Don''t worry about drawing the circle; it''s already done. Just ce your summoning conduit ¨C a fancy word for a focus item ¨C in the center, wear your summoning equipment, and then focus on the summoning process."

    Conduits were said to be items or materials somehow rted to the monster you were summoning. Whether it was a monster core or part of its body, these conduits helped increase the chances of summoning that specific monster.

    Although there was always the option of not using any, in that case, the summoner was cing their future in the hands of fate, and fate, as we all know, tended to be brutal more often than not.

    Alister nodded, taking in the information. "Understood," he said confidently.

    As an afterthought, he added, "Though, about the tform size..." He hesitated for a moment, a yful glint entering his eye. "Are you absolutely sure the small one will be... enough?"

    "What are you trying to say?"

    A look of calm annoyance crossed Aurora''s face before she raised an eyebrow. She seemed to sense his amusement, further making her more irritated.

    However, before she could respond, Alister turned around and began making his way towards thergest tform, marked XL, in the center of the room.

    "Umm... sir where are you going?"

    "Where else, I''m going to summon my monster." Alister replied, his tone strangely smug.

    A collective gasp rippled through the crowd of onlookers that had begun to gather. Whispers filled the air,

    "Isn''t that him?"

    "The one who cleared the A-Rank dungeon?"

    "What kind of monster does he think he''s summoning?" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Na, he probably had too much to drink now he probably thinks he is some sort of main character in a novel."

    Alister, reached the XL tform and stood confidently in the center. The tform appeared to be a bit dusty, hinting that it had been a long time since it wasst used. Regardless, a summoning circle was still engraved on it.

    "What does he think he''s about to summon? Some sort of mountain." A man chuckled.

    "That tform is way too huge."

    "Maybe the kid''s delusional. Thinks he''s a prodigy or something."

    "But wait, isn''t that... the guy who soloed the A-Rank dungeonst week?"

    "I''ve heard rumors about him being an SSS-Rank Summoner."

    A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The rumor mill, fueled by Alister''s unexpected dungeon feat, had churned out whispers of him possessing an exceptionally high talent rank.

    "SSS-Rank? Here? No way!" scoffed a burly man with a thick beard. "Those are legendary! We haven''t seen one in decades."

    "Maybe he''s bluffing," another voice chimed in. "Just some rookie trying to act tough."

    Alister chose to continue ignoring them.

    He let out a sigh, as he gazed at the summoning circle.

    ''I don''t have any material to serve as a summoning conduit, although I technically don''t need one. I''m simply summoning Cinder out if my mind realm, wouldn''t want to spend more than I already have.''

    Alister didn''t necessarily need a summoning conduit to activate the circle ¨C it would amplify the process, but for Cinder, it wasn''t strictly necessary since she was already in his mind realm, so he would simply just be pulling her out.

    However, not cing one would make it hard to believe such a summonig seeded. But he could always attribute the sess to his high talent rank, letting them believe whatever they wanted.

    Alister''s voice echoed in his mind, ''System.''

    [Yes yer?]

    ''Open my mind realm.''

    Alister''s yellow eyes began to glow slightly as he added.

    ''Let Cinder out, it''s time to get her registered.''

 Chapter 26: Summoning Chaos

    <h4>Chapter 26: Summoning Chaos</h4>

    Alister slid on the leather gloves, taking in a deep breath, filling his lungs, exhaling calmly.

    "Alright, let''s do this."

    As his words left his lips, he stretched out his right hand and the magic circle beneath him shon intensely causing people around to step back as they shielded their eyes.

    "What in the world is happening?"

    "The circle... it''s never reacted like that before!"

    "Is that... What kind of monster is he summoning?"

    The air was suddenly filled with raw magic power, gusts of wind bagen whipping into a frenzy as the circle reached its peak. Glowing tendrils of mana arced outwards, sending loose objects flying and stinging exposed skin.

    While all this happened, a crack began to appear in the air above the circle. A rift-like portal emerged, revealing a vague glimpse of a cosmic expanse on the other side. Suddenly, a massive ck creature with piercing red eyes appeared, gazing through the rift at the gathered humans. The eye was easily bigger than the tiny space ripped open.

    Mummers started filling the air as many spected what that was.

    "is that a demon!?"

    "The eye is massive!"

    "It has to be some sort of boss monster!"

    "Someone get the other union officials!"

    The possibilities of what could own the eye filled the air, the sight of its sheer size sending a chill down the spine of everyone present.

    Meanwhile, in a well-lit corner of the equipment store within the union building, Yanzi carefully examined a well crafted, midnight-blue chest te.

    Its surface shimmered with a faint magical aura, and high tire runes could be seen across its curvature.

    "This one," she said, holding it up for Kai''s inspection, "wouldplement my mobility style perfectly."

    Kai, a tall, broad-shouldered, brown haired young man with an easy smile, leaned in closer, his warm green eyes sparkling with affection.

    "Excellent choice. The dark metalplements your purple eyes quite well, enhancing your overall beauty."

    He wasn''t just charming; Kai was the second son of House Li, one of the seven major families that governed mega city I. His A-rank talent for spatial maniption set him apart, a genius in his own right.

    Unaware of the chaos Alister was unleashing elsewhere, they continued their equipment shopping spree.

    "What about these gloves?"

    Yanzi asked, her voice filled with excitement as she held up a pair of fingerless leather gloves with glowing blue runes.

    "They seem to have some minor mana channeling properties."

    Kai chuckled, taking one from her grasp and examining the intricate stitching.

    "Indeed they do. Perfect for maximizing your talent usage efficiency. Though."

    He teased with a yful look in his eyes, "perhaps your lighting maniption talent is already powerful enough to paralyze anyone who gets too close, leaving them stuck in a trance as they gazed upon you."

    Yanzi yfully swatted at his arm, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

    "Always the charmer," she smiled. "But it never hurts to be prepared, right? Especially with the test raiding up."

    Both of them were members of the Red Phoenix guild. Unlike all the other guilds, the Red Phoenix guild put new recruits through highly ranked test raids, corresponding to their talent rank, under the watch of a supervisor to assess their capabilities.

    Depending on their performance, they would either be official members or be kicked out immediately, regardless of their talent rank. So, they needed to get prepared.

    Theirughter echoed through the store. Satisfied with the chest te and gloves, Yanzi looked around the shelves once more.

    "Hmm, maybe a pair of reinforced boots would be good too. You know, for all the stomping I''ll be doing in the dungeon, we don''t know tye type or terrain yet so better toe prepared."

    Kai raised an eyebrow yfully. "Stomping? Sounds a bit barbaric, wouldn''t you say?" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Yanzi stuck out her tongue at him, a yful look in her purple eyes.

    "Just wait until you see me in action, then you will see how amazing I am."

    After securing the reinforced boots, they browsed through a selection of enchanted pouches and gemstone amulets, finally settling on a pouch capable of holding extra mana potions and a beautiful amethyst amulet.

    With their shopping bags filled with equipment, Yanzi stretched with a satisfied sigh. "Well, I think we''re good to go!"

    "Agreed," Kai replied, slinging his own bag over his shoulder. "Let''s head out before this ce gets any more crowded."

    As they exited the equipment store, sounds of amotion caught their ears. A crowd of people had gathered around the area of the union building, their voices raised as voices of confusion and excitement filled the air. A strange gust of wind, heavy with raw magical energy, ruffled their hair and sent a shiver down their spine.

    "What in the world is going on?" Kai frowned, his brow furrowing in concern.

    Yanzi shrugged, a look of curiosity in her eyes.

    "Beats me, but it looks interesting. Maybe we should check it out?"

    Kai hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, let''s see what all the fuss is about. Just be careful, alright?"

    Following the surge of energy and the growing din, they pushed through the crowd, finally arriving at the source of themotion.

    Before them, a massive pulsing summoning circle glowed intensly, the air crackling with raw magic.

    Kai nudged a nearby student, his voice barely audible over the voices of the crowd.

    "Excuse me, but what''s happening here?"

    The student, a wide-eyed boy with a shock of blonde hair, pointed towards the pulsating circle.

    "Some genius from one of the academies is trying to summon something! I don''t know what, but it looks scary!"

    Yanzi''s brow furrowed in confusion. "Summoning? This is a summoning!?" .

    The wide-eyed student nodded frantically.

    "Yeah! Some genius from the academies! They say he''s a real prodigy, but this looks way out of his league!"

    He pointed a finger towards the center of the swirling magic circle. "See? That''s him over there!"

    As Yanzi''s turned her gaze towards where he pointed, here eyes widned in shock.

    "Wait... isn''t that..."

 Chapter 27: The Summoning Gone Wrong

    <h4>Chapter 27: The Summoning Gone Wrong [Bonus Chapter]</h4>

    Yanzi''s breath hitched in shock as her eyesnded on the figure standing within the summoning circle. It couldn''t be! The dark robes, the ck hair whipping around his face in the gust of wind... it was him. Alister.

    A wave of emotions came over Yanzi. Confusion, anger, and a touch of fear wed at her heart.

    What was Alister doing here? And what in the world was he trying to summon? Her gaze darted between the figure in the circle and Kai, who stood beside her, wearing a concerned expression on his face.

    "Yanzi? You alright?"

    Kai asked, worried. He noticed the way her grip tightened on the strap of her bag, her knuckles turning white.

    Yanzi opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Her mind raced, trying to piece together what was happening.

    A thousand questions swirled in her head. Was this some kind of borate prank to get her back? Or was Alister truly summoning something powerful?

    Yanzi forced a smile, her voice strained.

    "I''m fine," she lied.

    Her smile couldn''t hold, though. The sight before them was horrifying. The rift in the circle had grownrger, revealing a hulking, obsidian-skinned creature with glowing red eyes. It reached out with massive, wed hands, digging them into the edges of the portal and pushing it wider, its roar echoing through the hall.

    Panic erupted. Shouts and screams rose above the creature''s roar as people surged backward. A group of men with stern expressions and imposing Union uniforms pushed through the crowd, barking orders.

    "Everyone back! Step away from the portal! This appears to be some sort of dungeon break!"

    "Dungeon break?"

    "I thought it was a summoning!"

    "He''s causing a dungeon break!?"

    Yanzi could barely notice themotion. Her eyes were locked on the figure in the circle, Alister. He stood rigidly, his back to the crowd, seemingly oblivious to the chaos he had unleashed.

    One of the high-ranking union officials, a tall man with a stern expression, broke through the line of officials. It was Viktor; he instantly recognized who was at the center of the circle.

    He strode to the front of the crowd, but he couldn''t get too close due to the gusts of wind and crackling mana. His voice boomed over themotion.

    "Alister! Step away from that rift immediately!"

    Alister, startled by the voice that suddenly called out to him, finally turned around. His eyes widened as he recognized the source of the booming voice - it was that Union official who visited him at the hospital.

    "Don''t worry, sir, I have everything under control."

    "Under control? Are you out of your mind, Alister? Whatever monstrosity lurks beyond that portal will devour you the first chance it gets!" Viktor frowned as he yelled through the gusts of wind, shielding his eyes.

    "Is this how you address your superiors, human? Do you defy the will of my lord?"

    A new voice, deep and powerful, echoed from the swirling vortex, sending shivers down everyone''s spine.

    Viktor froze, his gaze locked on the rift.

    ''Did that monster just... talk?'' He blinked, momentarily shocked.

    "It seems you are in need of enlightenment."

    As if on cue, the rift tore open further, revealing a colossal draconic head. Its obsidian scales glinted and its eyes burned with an intense red glow. Though many mistook it for a true dragon, the size andck of massive horns suggested it was a drake, a fearsome predator nheless.

    A collection of gasps and murmurs erupted from the crowd.

    "The summoning has gone wrong!"

    "That''s a boss monster for sure!"

    "I thought dragons were just myths!"

    Viktor felt a wave of dread wash over him. A chilling memory surfaced ¨C the overwhelming feeling of unease when reckless Alister emerged from a conquered A-rank dungeon.

    What was this crippling sensation that squeezed his heart and made his limbs feel heavy? He was a high-ranking union official, a seasoned fighter. This feeling was alien to him.

    ''What is this unease?'' he thought frantically. ''I''m a high-ranking official, a powerful fighter! This doesn''t make sense! Why can''t I move?''

    "It''s fear, human. Absolute, debilitating fear."

    "You know, deep down, that you are nothing in my presence."

    The voice echoed again in response, causing Viktor to lock gazes with the creature. He gritted his teeth and nced at the other officials gathered. He noticed they were all terrified, frozen in ce just like he was. Although they tried to hide it, he knew they were far from ready to fight this monster in such a state.

    "Go get the director!" Viktor yelled at the female union member, startling her.

    "R-right," she stuttered, hurrying towards the director''s office.

    As the woman disappeared down the hallway, Viktor steeled himself. He wouldn''t let his fear paralyze himpletely. He had to buy them some time. With a determined look in his eye, he turned back towards the portal, his gaze meeting the drake''s intense stare.

    The female union member burst into the Director''s office without knocking. The spacious room, usually calm and clean, was now thrown into disarray. Papers were scattered across the desk, and a half-eaten breakfast sat abandoned beside a steaming cup of tea.

    "Director! There''s... there''s trouble!" she gasped, her voice trembling slightly despite her haste.

    The Director, Aethel, a tall, gray-haired man with a weathered face and piercing blue eyes, looked up from a report with a frown. He gave off an aura of intense power despite his calm demeanor.

    "Calm down, Teia. What''s the matter?"

    Teia took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts.

    "It''s the union building... there''s a... a giant monster! It came from a rift that opened up in the central za, and it''s terrifying everyone!"

    Aethel raised an eyebrow. "A giant monster? borate, Teia. What kind of monster are we talking about?" he asked calmly.

    She fumbled for words, still shaken from the sight of the monstrous creature.

    "There''s been... a summoning gone wrong. A rift opened, and a... a giant was even on the other side, wanting toe out!"

    "It''s... it''s huge, with ck scales and glowing eyes! Viktor thinks it might be a dragon!" Teia blurted out, her fear causing her to override her respect for protocol. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    A look of surprise crossed the Director''s face, reced by a serious expression. He locked eyes with Teia, his gaze intense.

    "Are you absolutely sure, Teia? A dragon in the Union building? Those creatures are considered myths, not to mention the highly unlikely possibility of a rift forming in the union building."

    Teia met his gaze, her fear reced by a look of seriousness. "Yes, sir! I saw it myself. It''s unlike anything I''ve ever seen before."

 Chapter 28: Controlled Chaos

    <h4>Chapter 28: Controlled Chaos [Bonus Chapter]</h4>

    The Director didn''t waste any more time. He rose from his chair surprisingly fast for his age. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Very well," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument.

    "Prepare the emergency evacuation protocol, but discreetly. We don''t want to cause panic among the civilians."

    He grabbed a heavy coat that hung on the back of his chair and threw it on. He strode past the door, walking calmly despite the urgency of the situation.

    But instead of heading towards the elevators, he surprised the Teia by making a sharp turn towards the staircase.

    "We''ll take the stairs. It''ll be faster," he muttered as he descended the first few steps.

    As he ran down the stairs, so many thiughts swirled in his head.

    ''How could a rift have opened within the heavily warded Union building?''

    ''The mana disruptors embedded deep underground were supposed to prevent such urrences.''

    ''Yet, here we are, facing a potential dragon threat. We might have our work cut out for us.''

    Aethel thought. He had to protect the building, its inhabitants, and most importantly, contain this unexpected threat before it escted further.

    ...

    With a final, ear-splitting crack, the rift ripped fully open. From the vortex emerged the colossal ck Drake.

    A everyone present gasped in shock, from the seasoned officials to the wide-eyed students, instinctively took on battle stances. Weapons were drawn, elements materialized at fingertips, and they all wore a nervous expression on their faces.

    But before anyone could react further, the Drake surprised them all. Instead of unleashing a massive roar, or immidatly breathing fire, it lowered its massive head in a manner that could only be seen as a bow. Its deep voice boomed across the hall, as it spoke without moving it''s mouth.

    "Cinder greets her lord."

    Everyone present waspletly confused.

    "Why isn''t the monster attacking?"

    "Is that guy really controlling this monster?"

    "Did you hear that? It called him its lord!"

    Viktor, still gripping his weapon tightly, felt his mind spin.

    ''Is this some kind of illusion?''

    ''Could Alister really have summoned this monster, let alone control it?''

    "Everyone, clear the area immediately! This is not a situation for untrained bystanders!"

    Just then, a booming voice echoed across the space. Director Aethel, having sprinted down the stairs, made his way towards the crowd. His looked across the scene, his eyesnding on the monstrous Drake before him.

    For a moment, Aethel paused, his old face wore an expression of surprise and something simr to awe. He narrowed his gaze, taking in the sheer size and power radiating from the creature.

    "So this is what the presence of a mythical creature feels like."

    he said to himself, a faint chuckle escaping his lips. But the amusement in his eyes quickly vanished, reced by an intense look.

    The air felt suffocating, everyone felt tensed as Cinder and the Director locked eyes. Aethel scrutinized the Drake, searching for any sign of hostility.

    ''Why isn''t it attacking?''

    ''From what I''ve gathered this was supposed to be a Summoning that want out of control.''

    Aethel turned his gaze towards the figure that stood before the massive monster.

    ''Is it truly under this boy''s control, or is there another motive at y?''

    ''Now that I look at him, he looks fammr... Wasn''t he the boy Magister told me about? I believed he said his talent rank was...''

    Aethel smiled, ''Guess it''s all starting to make sanes now.''

    "My lord, these humans appear to stand against us. Should I incinerate them?"

    Cinder''s voice echoed, deep and intimidating as she broke the silence.

    A collective gasp arose from the crowd.

    The monster was really talking! And it was asking for permission to attack from a seemingly unfazed Alister!

    Alister, who had been staring at the Cinder with a calm expression, finally spoke.

    "No, Cinder. You will not incinerate anyone or anything."

    "Understood." Cinder replied.

    Seeing how she listened to Alister''s orders again caused everyone present to be futher impressed.

    "He must be a big shot then!"

    "If this is really his summon..."

    "If this is really his summon, then..."

    A well-informed student wearing a pair of sses stepped forward, pushing his sses up his nose.

    "That''s a giant-ss drake! And judging by its aura, it''s definitely S-ss at least! A monster like that found in the wild would require a guild master and their elite raid team to take down."

    "And that''s including the guild master! So, if this is his summon, doesn''t that mean he has the power to rival a whole guild?"

    Yanzi''s heart hammered against her ribs.

    ''Enough power to rival a guild? A summoner could have up to six summons at their peak. Six more of these Drakes... the city, no, the entire megacity would have to bow down to such power.''

    ''He would be at the top, with everyone beneath him, He would be treated like a king and no one would be able to stand up to him!''

    Yanzi suddenly smiled as she thought futher, ''And if I y things right, I''ll be the queen of that kingdom.''

 Chapter 29: Cinderâ€™s Registration

    <h4>Chapter 29: Cinder''s Registration [Bonus Chapter]</h4>

    The tension in the air felt like it could snap at any moment. Just as the silence felt like it was going on forever, Director Aethel surprised everyone with a loud bellyugh that boomed through the hall.

    The unexpected sound momentarily stunned the crowd, things to ease up.

    With a smile, Aethel strode towards Alister, Hisrge unmatched figure looked smaller next to the huge Drake Infront of him. He extended a hand towards Alister, his voice surprisingly warm.

    "Let''s all calm down now, shall we? There seems to be a misunderstanding."

    "What''s your name young man."

    Alister, slightly confused by the sudden shift in atmosphere, hesitated for a moment before hesitantly reaching out and grasping the Director''s hand.

    "I... I''m Alister."

    Aethel''s smile widened. "Ah, Alister," he yelled, his voice filled with amusement. "So you''re the one Magister told me about. I should have anticipated something like this."

    Alister''s eyes widened in surprise. "You know Headmaster Magister? But... how?"

    The Director chuckled, a touch of nostalgia in his voice.

    "Don''t be so surprised, young man. Believe it or not, Magister and I attended the same academy many years ago. We were... friends, close buds."

    Alister was suprised. Friends? Headmaster Magister, the stoic and seemingly ancient leader of the forth academy, friends with this battle-hardened warrior? It as hard to picture, to say the least.

    "But... Principal Magister appears... much older than you are." Alister stammered, voicing the question that he had on his mind.

    Aethel''s smile softened. "Ah, that''s the nature of those blessed ¨C or perhaps cursed ¨C with physical enhancement talents."

    He exined. "Aging slows, our bodies resist deterioration for far longer than the average human. It''s moremon than you might think."

    Aethel''s smile softened as he exined the mysteries of physical enhancement talents.

    "Now,"

    "I mustmend you on your... impressivepanion. What have you chosen to name this magnificent creature?"

    Alister straightened slightly.

    "Cinder," he replied, a touch of pride creeping into his voice.

    Aethel stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Cinder, an apt name. Powerful and evocative. Of course, with such a creature, registration is mandatory. We need to ensure the safety of the city and understand its capabilities."

    "Yes, of course," Alister replied.

    Aethel pped his hands once, attracting the attention of the crowd.

    "Aurora!" he yelled. "Aren''t you responsible for handling monster registrations in this sector?"

    Aurora flinched at the Director''s booming voice. Her head snapped up, and her eyes widened as she saw the colossal Drake looming behind Alister.

    "Y-yes, Director!"

    Aethel chuckled, a look of amusement in his eyes.

    "Excellent. It seems we have a new registration on our hands. Please, make sure you gather all the necessary details from Mr. Alister here about his... Cinder."

    Aurora''s face suddenly turned pale, she began pushing her way through the crowd, she approached Alister, her voice could barely be heard.

    "I-I''ll get Cinder registered right away, sir!"

    Alister simply nodded calmly, but he was feeling proud with the way things yed out. He had a giant Drake as a summon, and even the Union Director seemed to respect him, at least a little.

    As Aurora scurried away, her clipboard clutched tightly in her hand, a hush fell over the room.

    Everyone''s eyes were fixed on Alister and Cinder, the former a young man thrust into the spotlight, thetter a massive embodiment of raw power.

    Union officials, regaining theirposure, began barking orders.

    "Disperse! This area is off-limits until further notice!"

    Amongst the throng, whispers and spections flew like sparks.

    "Did you see that? A real drake!"

    "He must be a prodigy! What guild do you think he''ll join now?"

    "Any guild!"

    "With a creature like that by his side, they''d wee him with open arms! I wouldn''t be surprised if there''s a bidding war between the guild masters themselves!"

    While the crowd buzzed with spection, Aurora, holo-pad in hand, interviewed Alister for the registration process.

    "Alright, Mr. Alister,"

    "for registration purposes, I need some details about your...panion."

    "Uh, right," Alister stammered, still slightly overwhelmed by the turn of events.

    "Her name is Cinder, and as for his species..." He paused, ncing back at the colossal Drake. "I believe she''s a ck Crimson Drake."

    Aurora tapped furiously on her holo-pad. "ck Crimson Drake, got it."

    "And she is obviously in the giant ss so I''ll also put that down."

    "Are you aware of her grade or is that something I will have to measure?"

    Her words made Alister''s thoughts race, ''I remember someone saying she had to be S rank due to her aura, but when I summoned her the Overlord system said she was A rank.''

    ''But now the talent window is saying something entirely different.'' Alister shifted his gaze towards the blue talent window with its notification.

    ˇ¸Name: Cinder

    Species: ck Crimson Drake N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ss: Giant

    Rank: S

    Gender: Female

    Total Combat Power: Unassessable (Due to limitations in standard assessment methods)

    Bound To: Alister (Master)

    Stats:

    HP: Immense (???)

    MP: High (???)

    ATK: Devastating (???)

    DEF: Imprable (???)

    M.ATK: Potent (???)

    M.DEF: High (???)

    SPD: Impressive (???)

    Skills:

    Draconic Might: (Passive) Cinder''s immense size and power naturally bolster her physical attack power and defense.

    Incinerate: Unleashes a torrent of searing mes that can incinerate entire swathes of enemies. (Range: Long, Area of Effect: Large)

    Crushing w: Delivers a bone-shattering swipe with a massive w, capable of tearing through most forms of defense. (Target: Single, Damage: High)

    Sonic Boom: With a powerful beat of her wings, Cinder creates a devastating shockwave that can knock down structures and disorient enemies. (Range: Medium, Area of Effect: Medium)

    (???) - ??? (Two or more skill slots are currently unidentified)

    Note: The system ran into an error due to the fact the monster in question doesn''t to full under the possible summon category.ˇą

    ''A monster that doesn''t fall under the summon category, there was a summon category?''

    ''Doesn''t sound like something I was taught back at the academy, must be rted to something the talent window system controls or knows about.''

    ''Seems I''ll have to just go with the flow and say she is an S rank then.''

    Alister then said, "Cinder''s an S-Rank monster."

    A look of surprise crossed Aurora''s face, her pen hovering over her notepad.

    "An S-Rank? Are you sure, Mr. Alister? That''s..."

    Alister cut her off. "Yes, I''m sure. It''s important to be urate in the registration, wouldn''t you agree?"

    "U-understood." Aurora stutterd as she began imputing the information in a holo-pad.

    ...

    Kai let out a dramatic sigh. "Alright, alright, that settles it. We''re alreadyte. Let''s get moving."

    He grabbed Yanzi''s arm, clearly eager to leave the chaotic scene. But Yanzi, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous glint, muttered something only she could hear.

    "This is my chance."

    Kai didn''t hear what she said properly, leaned down and asked, "What was that, Yanzi?"

    Before he could get a reply, Yanzi surprised him by breaking free of his grasp and striding purposefully towards Alister.

    "Yanzi!"

    "Where are you going?" Kai yelled, his voice filled with confusion.

    His outburst drew Alister''s attention. He turned, his gazending on Yanzi as she approached him with a smug smile stered on her face.

    Walking up to him, she stopped, swirled her hair, then smiled as she said.

    "Oh, Alister."

    "You caused quite a stir, didn''t you? All this... power, this magnificent creature. You must be doing all this for a reason, right? And I just know what that reason is."

    "You want me back, don''t you?"

 Chapter 30 Shattered Pride

    30 Shattered Pride

    Alister paused, then gazed at Yanzi with an indifference that bordered on coldness. Gone was the flustered boy of the past; in his ce stood someone who seemed to have aged years in a matter of moments.

    "You''re mistaken, Yanzi."

    Yanzi, clearly taken by surprise by his icy demeanor, scoffed.

    "Mistaken? About what? Are you so shy you can''t even admit it?"

    "Yanzi, what are you doing?"

    Kai''s voice cut through the air, breaking the silence.

    Yanzi whipped around, a forced smile on her face.

    "Just having a chat with an old ssmate, Kai. We used to be in the same academy."

    Kai raised an eyebrow "Oh, really? Well, I''ll be waiting for you over there."

    He pointed towards a group of people gathered near the entrance.

    Yanzi waved dismissively. "Okay, darling. Just a minute."

    As Kai disappeared into the crowd, Alister couldn''t help but ask,

    "Is that your boyfriend, Yanzi?"

    A smug smile appeared on Yanzi''s lips. "Is that jealousy I hear in your voice, Alister?"

    Alister''s response was a sudden chuckle.

    "Jealous? Me? Not even close."

    "If anything, I''m relieved. The thought of walking around with a ticking time bomb like youˇ­ well, let''s just say I feel a touch of sympathy for the guy."

    Yanzi''s smile fadded for a moment, as she suddenly wore a look of anger.

    "Oh, you''re angry that I left you, big deal!"

    "But you still love me, don''t you? Otherwise, why would you have tracked me down the day I went shopping, just to perform this summoning ritual?"

    "What? Tracked you down?" Alsiter asked, clearly confused.

    Yanzi''s smile returned, wider this time, as she wore a look smug satisfaction.

    "Don''t y dumb, Alister. You must''ve paid some top-notch information broker to find out where I was, right? So you could have your little hero moment and win me back."

    She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.

    "I see right through you, Alister. Your high and mighty act won''t work on me."

    "But you know what? If you admit you want me back, and beg me to stayˇ­"

    It was slient all over again. Aurora, caught in the crossfire, looked between Alister and Yanzi, feeling more uneasy with each passing moment.

    Cinder, sensed Alister''s anger spiking. Her massive head turned, red eyes narrowed at Yanzi with a low growl in her throat.

    Alister finally broke the silence.

    "Delusional, Yanzi. That''s the word I''d use to describe you."

    "I don''t know who you think you are, but clearly, your perception is skewed. Maybe that exins why the Headmaster feels such regret over raising your father. I mean, look how you turned out."

    "Do you truly believe you''re some kind of prize, that the world revolves around you? Please, don''t make meugh, the only thing you have going for you is your appearance." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    A look of hurt crossed Yanzi''s face, quickly turning into an expression of defiance. She opened her mouth to yell, but Alister cut her off, his voice rising in volume.

    "Back at the academy, in case you''ve conveniently forgotten, you were deadst in both practical and theoretical studies."

    "It was only due to the Headmaster''s miscedpassion that you weren''t expelled. You were thest person anyone thought would even graduate, let alone awaken an A-Rank talent."

    "You were disrespectful to your tutors, constantly used your grandfather''s influence to bully others. You were, in essence, a terrible human being. Looking back, I can''t believe I ever felt something for someone like you. But for that, I suppose I should be grateful. You opened my eyes to the truth. But don''t expect my thanks."

    He straightened his posture, then turned around to face Aurora as he said, "Now, if you''ll excuse me, I have far more important things to attend to than listening to your self-absorbed nonsense."

    With a final nce in Yanzi''s direction, Alister started walking towards Aurora.

    Yanzi stood frozen, her face flushed with a look of anger and humiliation.

    Lightning suddenly bagen crackled around Yanzi with fury that was like the storm of emotions brewing inside her.

    "Howˇ­ dareˇ­ you, Alister! Just what makes you think you can look down on me? Because you were some genius model student?"

    Alister, caught off guard by the sudden crackling of lightning, stopped in his tracks. He turned around, looking unfazed despite her little disy.

    Aurora, wide-eyed with panic, screamed.

    "Ma''am, people aren''t allowed to use their talents inside the Union Office! It''s against thew!"

    But Yanzi ignored her.

    "It doesn''t matter what you say, Alister!" she yelled in anger.

    "I am an Elemental! You are just a mere summoner! How dare you look down on me!"

    Before anyone could react, Yanzi lunged forward, a ball of crackling lightning forming in her outstretched hand, aimed directly at Alister. The attack was so sudden, so unexpected, that Alister had no time to react.

    Just as the ball of lightning seemed on the verge of connecting, a deep, guttural roar echowed throughout the hall. Cinder reacted with lightning speed ¨C her own kind, that is.

    Her massive head turned towards Yanzi, red eyes zing with fury.

    "Insolent human!"

    Her voice boomed, shaking the very foundations of the building.

    Cinder whipped her leg around so fast It didn''t seem possible for her size. The massive limb connected squarely with Yanzi''s abdomen, the impact sending the young woman flying across the hall like a ragdoll.

    She screamed as she soared through the air, her body twisting and turning, before crashing with a loud boom into a ss disy case on the opposite side of the room.

    The deafening boom echoed through the hall, causing a stir of confusion and panic. People whipped their heads around, searching for the source of the sound that seemed to rattle their very bones.

    A crowd of curious onlookers, began to gather around the spot where Yanzi hadnded.

    There, in the shattered disy case,y the young woman. Her limbs were bent at unnatural angles, and jagged shards of ss protruded from her flesh. Blood, bagen to pool around the marble floor.

    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!

    Zurbluris

 Chapter 31 A Promise Or A Threat? [Bonus Chapter]

    Chapter 31 A Promise Or A Threat? [Bonus Chapter]

    Gasps and whispers rippled through the crowd. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "What happened?"

    "Did some kind of monster attack her?"

    "We are in the Union Office, that''s impossible."

    "Maybe it was an explosion? I heard a crackle just before the boom!"

    "Look at her! That poor girl."

    "What is going on here!"

    Kai pushed his way through the crowd, wanting to find out the cause of the sudden gathering, his expression suddenly turned pale as his gaze fell on the scene before him.

    A strangled cry escaped his lips. "Yanzi!"

    He rushed over to her side, ignoring the shards of ss that littered the floor, and knelt beside her.

    "Yanzi, wake up! What happened?"

    He gently shook her shoulder, but received no response. He felt terrified, wanting to find out if she was still alive he quickly checked her pulse. He felt relieved as his fingers thankfully detected a faint, erratic heartbeat.

    Looking around with anger and desperation, Kai locked eyes with Alister, who stood at a distance, Cinder towering protectively behind him.

    Anger caused Kai to frown intensely.

    "What did you do?"

    He yelled, using Alister, he had left Yanzi with him, and so only he could be responsible for her being in such a state.

    Alister knew he had to exin, but the memory of Yanzi''s attack still burned fresh in his mind, as so he chose silence, simply gazing coldly from the distance.

    The crowd began to murmur what they thought they saw.

    "Whoa, did you see that giant lizard thing swing its leg? It looked like it swatted her like a fly!"

    "Are you sure it wasn''t her who attacked first? Didn''t you see the sparks around her hands?"

    A woman with a sharp voice said, pointing at the traces of Yanzi''s lightning attack that had fizzled harmlessly on the ground near Alister.

    "Maybe it was an ident? Some kind of freak ident with her talent going out of control?"

    The crowd suddenly fell silent as a man with a shaved head pushed his way through, his Union uniform indicating him as a security guard.

    "Alright, everyone back up!" he boomed, his voicemanding attention.

    "Medics are on their way."

    The crowd grumbled butplied, shuffling back a few steps. Whispers continued to fly, filled with spection and fear.

    "Do you think that giant creature will attack us next?"

    "Don''t be ridiculous."

    "It only attacked her after she tried to attack the summoner guy."

    "But what provoked her in the first ce?"

    As the medics arrived, Kai''s voice echoed through the hall.

    "These people won''t be enough! We need to get her to my grandfather ¨C he''s the best healer in the entire city!"

    Ignoring the words of the approaching medics and the shocked gasps of the crowd, Kai knelt beside Yanzi. He winced as his hand brushed against a shard of ss embedded in her flesh, drawing blood from his own palm. With tenderness and urgency, he scooped Yanzi into his arms.

    Blood dripped from her mangled limbs, staining his clothes red as he carefully lifted her.

    From across the room, Alister watched in silence, The anger in Kai''s eyes burned into him as he gazed at the young man.

    "What''s your name?"

    Kai suddenly stopped moving, his gaze locking onto Alister. he yelled, his voice tight as he barely suppressed his anger.

    It was silent all over again. The murmur of the crowd died down, all attention focused on the exchange between the two young men.

    "Name''s Alister,"

    Alister replied, sounding like he couldn''t care less.

    "Alister."

    The name seemed to ignite a firestorm within Kai.

    "Mark my words, you will pay for what you''ve done today. I''ll use every ounce of my family''s wealth and influence to make your life a living hell. You''ll regret the day you crossed paths with me!"

    As the final word left his lips, a strange phenomenon urred. Green mana pulsed around Kai''s body, emanating from his very core.

    His body shimmered for a split second, then vanished entirely. In his ce remained only a faint mist that dissipated quickly into the air.

    Alister, caught off guard by the sudden disappearance, could only stare.

    ''That must be his talent.'' he thought.

    The words hung heavy in the air, a clear reminder of the consequences he might face. Had he truly been too harsh on Yanzi?

    Or did she get what she deserved for provoking him? The questions swirled in his mind as the situation settled upon him. The summoning ritual, meant to be a sort of smoke screen for him, had spiraled into a chaotic meet up with an old acquaintance, leaving behind a trail of injuries and unanswered questions.

    Now, with Kai gone and Yanzi critically injured, Alister found himself potentially facing trouble from a powerful family. His journey as a summoner, just beginning to take shape, had already taken a dramatic and uncertain turn.

    Alister let out a heavy sigh, he turned towards Aurora, her eyes suddenly widening with shock as he did.

    "Do you need anything else from me?" he asked, his voice wasn''t warm and weing as it usually was.

    The coldness in his tone sent a shiver down Aurora''s spine. The confident young man who had arrived moments ago now seemed distant, burdened by the events that had transpired.

    "N-no."

    "I think I have everything I need for the Monster''s profile."

    Alister nodded slightly. "Thank you for your time, then. Cinder, return."

    As he spoke the simplemand, Cinder''s body began to glow, slowly deconstructing into a swirling vortex of golden particles. The light intensified for a moment before fadingpletely.

    ''I shall be ready whenever you need me, my lord.''

    Cinder''s voice echoed within Alister''s mind, as he closed his eyes shortly, taking a deep breath to steady himself.

    With a final nce at the cordoned-off area where Kai teleported with Yanzi, Alister turned and walked towards the exit of the building.

    The image of Yanzi''s broken limbs, the look in Kai''s eyes, still vivid in his mind.

    He had a feeling this was just the beginning, the first ripple in a wave of consequences yet to unfold.

    ''Doesn''t matter, all I have to do is get stronger.''

 Chapter 32: A Desprete Plea [Bonus Chapter]

    Chapter 32: A Desprete Plea [Bonus Chapter]

    ?

    A swirl of emerald light erupted in the luxurious foyer of the Li family estate, discing a priceless Ming vase and sending it crashing to the floor.

    Kai tumbled out of the shimmer,nding with a heavy thud on the polished marble floor.

    Hey there for a moment, panting heavily, the adrenaline leaving his body in a rush. "Damn," he rasped, pushing himself up with a grimace.

    "That''s the furthest I''ve ever teleported in my entire life."

    His eyes darted around the spacious foyer, taking in the familiar surroundings. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow on beautifully carved furniture and priceless artwork. But the beauty held no appeal for him at that moment.

    His gaze fell on the two figures approaching him, their faces etched with concern. "Master Kai!"

    One of the butlers, a wiry man named Chen, eximed.

    "What happened? You''re bleeding and... the youngdy you were with... what happened to her body?"

    Kai didn''t waste time with exnations. Blood dripped down his arm from a shard of ss embedded in his flesh.

    "Chen!" he yelled in desperation. "Take me to my grandfather! Now! Yanzi... she''s badly injured. She could die!"

    The two butlers exchanged a hesitant look. Chen, the cautious one, cleared his throat. "Master Kai, the Lord Patriarch is currently in an... important meeting with the Head of the Wei family. We wouldn''t want to interrupt."

    "Interrupt?!" Kai roared, frustration boiling within him. "Don''t you understand? My girlfriend is dying! She needs a healer, and my grandfather is the best in the city! If you don''t take me to him right now, she could bleed to death, goddamn it!"

    The butlers flinched under the force of his outburst. Kai''s emerald eyes usually looked yful and bright, but now they looked dangerous, like he was ready to murder someone. This wasn''t the same young master they were used to.

    Seeing the sheer intensity in his gaze, the other butler, a portly man named Bao, stepped forward.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Very well, Master Kai." Bao sighed. "We understand the urgency. Follow us - we''ll take you to the meeting hall. But be warned, interrupting the Lord Patriarch can have severe consequences."

    Kai nodded, not caring about protocol at that moment. All he cared about was getting Yanzi the help she desperately needed. As the two butlers led him through the corridors of the estate, the weight of his decision settled upon him.

    He had gambled on his grandfather''s love for him, hoping it would outweigh the inconvenience of his intrusion. The fate of Yanzi, and perhaps the future of his rtionship with her, hung in the bnce.

    ...

    In the massive meeting hall of the Li family estate, sunlight streamed through the high arched windows, illuminating the beautifully carved mahogany table that dominated the space.

    Seated at its head was Kai''s grandfather, Lord Han Li, a man whose age could be seen only in the silver streaks in his beard and the look of wisdom etched in the lines around his eyes.

    His sharp gaze was currently fixed on the figure opposite him, Elder Wei Feng, the wizened head of the Wei family.

    Elder Wei, despite being an elder as well, also sported a well-defined physique and was deep in conversation.

    "Lord Han, the Wei family has made remarkable strides in our armored suit technology. These suits, unlike conventional equipment, are capable of augmenting the physical capabilities of even an Unawakened or an F-Rank individual to that of a D-Rank or even a C- Rank warrior. It''s a revolutionary breakthrough, one that not even the Union could..." Boom!

    Elder Wei''s voice was suddenly cut short by the sound of a heavy oak door being flung open with a bang.

    All eyes turned towards the entrance, where Kai stood, his face pale and his eyes holding a look of desperation. Blood streamed down his arm, staining his white shirt. Behind him, the two butlers exchanged nervous nces.

    Lord Han Li''s brow furrowed in a deep frown. He had instilled strict rules of etiquette in his grandson, and this tant disregard spoke volumes of the situation''s gravity.

    "Kai," he yelled, his voice echoing in the vast hall. "What is the meaning of this interruption? Do you have any idea how rude it is to barge in on a meeting of such importance?"

    Kai, however, ignored his grandfather''s words. He strode towards the table, his gaze fixed on his grandfather.

    "Yanzi," he gasped, his voice ragged. "She''s... she''s been critically injured. We need your help, Grandfather. Now!"

    The room fell silent. Lord Han Li''s stern expression softened slightly as he took in his grandson''s disheveled appearance and the raw desperation in his eyes. Elder Wei, who previously looked excited, now wore an expression of concern.

    Ignoring the silence in the room, Kai reached his grandfather and gentlyid Yanzi''s unconscious body on the floor. Blood had stained her pale skin and her ragged breathing sent a jolt of fear through him.

    Lord Han Li wasted no time. He reached out, cing a hand on Yanzi''s body. A soft golden light bloomed from his palm, covering her entire body.

    The light gave off a calm weing warmth, and a gasp escaped Kai''s lips as he witnessed the miracle unfolding before his eyes.

    Yanzi''s mangled limbs straightened out, the unnatural bends rxing back to their natural state. The crimson stains on her skin vanished, turning back into a healthy flush.

    Even the shards of ss embedded in her flesh were pushed out, dissolving into harmless particles of dust that drifted away in the golden light.

    In a matter of seconds, what had been a seemingly disfigured figure with serious injuries was now a peacefully sleeping young woman.

    As Yanzi was healed, Lord Han also ced his hand on Kai, healing the gash on his arm and the sting of the ss shards. He looked down at his now-smooth skin in shock.

    Elder Wei, who had been a stoic observer until now, pped his hands once, breaking the stunned silence.

    "Extraordinary, Lord Han. That was truly remarkable! The first time I''ve witnessed your talent in action. No wonder they call you the ''Hand of God.'' So this is what a true S-Rank

    healer is capable of!"

    Lord Han Li offered a calm nod, his expression calm. He knew the implications of his actions. Healing Yanzi in front of a respected figure like Elder Wei could open doors, but it could also attract unwanted attention.

    Elder Wei then turned to Kai as he fell to his knees in relief and asked, "Now boy, straight to business. What is responsible for leaving your beloved in such a state?"

    His tone was intense, as if silently promising to make who or whatever caused this to pay in

    blood.

 Chapter 33: A Visit

    Chapter 33: A Visit

    ?

    Meanwhile, across the city, Alister stood outside a brightly lit snack shop, his reflection staring back at him from the massive ss disy windows.

    Inside, colorful treats basically called for him, a collection of sweet delights that could brighten any day.

    But he wasn''t for himself. He was here to get something for his sister, Miyu. The weight of the day''s events hung heavy on his shoulders.

    He wanted to see Miyu''s smile, even a small one, it would be more than enough to brighten his day.

    The shop was filled with all sorts of pastries, each more beautiful than thest. There were ky croissants dusted with sugar, glistening fruit tarts with zed berries, and delicate cupcakes piled high with frosting.

    Alister''s gaze lingered on a vibrantly colored macaron tower.

    "Miyu always loved macarons," he murmured to himself, picturing her bright eyes lighting up at the sight of them.

    Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in his mind, a voice that only he could hear - the System.

    [Notice! There are still 09:03:45 left for daily questpletion.]

    Taking a deep breath, Alister muttered to himself.

    "Well, I guess just standing here like this won''t help anything."

    He reached for the shop door, the calm ring of the bell echoing as he pushed it open.

    The warm scent of sugar and vani filled his nostrils, momentarily dispelling the thoughts swirling in his mind.

    As he stepped inside, the friendly smile of the shop owner greeted him.

    "Wee! Can I interest you in some of our fresh pastries today?" she spoke, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

    Alister nced at the disy case once more, his gaze lingering on the macaron tower.

    He turned to face the woman by the counter and spoke calmly, "Some macarons... please."

    ....

    Momentster, Alister stepped out of the brightly lit shop, the weight on his shoulders feeling a little lighter thanks to the box of macarons nestled in his hand. He knew the hospital where Miyu stayed wasn''t far, a walk he''d done countless times before.

    "Thanks for the purchase! Come see us again soon!" the shop owner chirped behind him. Alister offered a small nod and disappeared into the crowd.

    ...

    As he walked down the road past holographic ad posts and bus stops, he couldn''t help but nce at the hovering system window with the timer, his mind shing back to the moment The received the chain quest.

    ''Toplete mastery ofbat with the wed gauntlets.'' the words echoed in his thoughts. It was strange, to say the least.

    ''Achieving mastery of a particr fighting style typically takes years, if not a decade. Although the system seems to make me stronger by leveling up, how long does it expect me to take to achieve mastery? Is there even a reward for it?''

    Alister let out a calm sigh.

    ''Guess I''ll find out how long it takes as I continue to level up.''

    As Alister continued to walk, the hospital slowly came into view, causing him to quicken his pace. He pushed through the revolving doors and made his way to the reception counter, where a nurse was busy typing on a holographic keyboard.

    "Excuse me."

    "I''d like to visit a patient."

    Alister said, keeping his voice steady.

    The nurse looked up, her expression polite but professional. "Oh, it''s you Mr Hazenworth. Who are you here to see?"

    "Who else but my sister, Miyu," Alister replied.

    The nurse nodded, checking her screen before handing him a visitor''s card. "Here you go. The doctor has been trying to contact you for a while. After you visit your sister, please make sure to see him."

    Alister took the card, feeling a bit uneasy due to the nurse''s words. "Thank you," he said, then headed toward the elevator.

    ...

    The elevator dinged softly as it reached the fourth floor. Alister stepped out and walked down the hallway, the sterile scent of antiseptic filling the air. He stopped in front of Miyu''s room, hesitating for a moment before knocking softly.

    "Come in," a faint voice called from inside.

    Alister pushed the door open gently. Miyu was sitting up in bed, her frail frame propped against a stack of pillows. Despite the paleness of her skin and the dark circles under her yellow eyes, she managed a weak smile when she saw him.

    "Hey, Alister," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

    "Hey, Miyu," Alister replied, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him. He walked over to her bedside and held up the box of macarons. "I brought you something."

    Miyu''s eyes lit up, a sparkle of joy breaking through her exhaustion. "Macarons! You remembered."

    "Of course," Alister said, sitting down beside her. He opened the box, revealing the colorful treats inside, "I got your favorites. I know how much you love these."

    Miyu giggled as she reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as she picked up a pink macaron. She took a small bite, savoring the sweet, delicate vor. "These are perfect," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Alister."

    For a moment, the weight of his quest and the System''s demands faded away. Seeing Miyu''s smile, even for just a moment, made everything else seem insignificant. Alister watched as she enjoyed her treat, feeling a warmth spread through his chest.

    "How are you feeling today?"

    Miyu shrugged, her expression growing more serious. "Some days are better than others."

    Alister watched Miyu savoring her macaron, a smile forming on his lips. Suddenly, Miyu''s eyes gleamed with mischief.

    "So, where''s Yanzi? Have you two taken things to the next level yet?" she asked, grinning yfully. "Should I start preparing to be an aunt?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister let out a dryugh. "Very funny, Miyu. What do you think I am, some sort of dog?"

    Miyu chuckled, herughter light and infectious. "Loosen up, Alister," she said, grabbing another macaron and handing it to him. "Here, have one."

    He epted the macaron, biting into it as he settled back into his chair. The sweetness spread across his tongue, but Miyu''s next question nearly made him choke.

    "So, what sort of talent did you awaken? It should have been past your awakening ceremony

    by now. What is it?"

    Alister''s lips curled into a smug expression. "If you want me to tell you, you''re going to have to call me ''big brother.""

    Miyu rolled her eyes, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Oh,e on, Alister. What exactly do you get from me calling you that?"

    Alister faked a tearful expression. "Back when we were young, you would call me that all the time. But ever since you grew up, you just call me by my name. Oh, what I would give to go

    back to those precious days."

    Miyu let out a sigh. "Alright, fine, big bro-"

    Before she could finish, she started coughing up blood violently and suddenly lost

    consciousness. Alister''s eyes widened in shock as he yelled, "Miyu!"

 Chapter 34: Against the Inevitable

    Chapter 34: Against the Inevitable

    ?

    The white walls of the doctor''s office seemed to press in on Alister as he listened, his heart felt heavy in his chest. The doctor, a woman with tired eyes behind her sses, spoke in a calm tone, her words echoing in the silence.

    "Mr Hazenworth, Miyu''s condition has unfortunately taken a significant downturn. The Aethelric Dust impurities in her bloodstream are a byproduct of the decay process. These dust particles are clogging her bloodstream, hindering vital flow and potentially causing obstructions in vital organs. With the way things are going I''d say he has two months at best."

    Miyu suffered from Aethelric Decay, a rare and aggressive disease that attacks the lungs. Due to the long time she and Alister spent living beyond the walls, they had inhaled all sorts of harmful particles in the unhealthy air. Inhaling the polluted air should have caused them to die ages ago, and this was what led to the rapid deterioration of Miyu''s lungs.

    If it were that simple, a healer would have been able to cure her. However, the particles they inhaled were mostly the remains of monsters and dangerous chemicals, all mingled with the potent mana present in the air. The process of healing, which focuses on closing wounds, is naturally insufficient in this case, as it cannot expel toxins or purge mana from the body. So, this renders traditional healing methods ineffective, given theplex mixture of magical and toxic elements deteriorating her body.

    Alister stared at the doctor, his mind numb.

    ''Two months? It''s way too soon.''

    "There''s... there''s still no cure?" His voice came out a hoarse whisper.

    The doctor shook her head sadly. "Unfortunately, no, and research is still ongoing. We haven''t yet developed a sessful treatment n. Not that you would be able to afford it."

    Alister''s despair and anger could be felt in his voice as he spoke. "So, what are you telling me? You''re just letting her... suffer because I haven''t paid the growing mountain of bills?"

    The doctor flinched, her voice sounding defensive. "Mr. Hazenworth, please understand that we''re doing everything in our power to keep your sisterfortable."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "The cost of keeping her alive like this will be high, although we have some experimental procedures that should slow down the rate of the deterioration. However, we do not run a charity organization here. If you at least want to give her some more time, some hope, if I may be so bold, I must ask that you settle your earlier debts with us."

    Alister mmed his hand on the desk, the sudden noise shattering the silence. "Hope? You call this... this nightmare... hope? My sister is dying, and all you offer are expensive procedures with no guarantee of sess?"

    Shame flickered in the doctor''s eyes. "Sir, I know this is incredibly difficult, but-"

    "Difficult?" Alister cut her off, his voice cracking with emotion. "Difficult doesn''t even begin to describe it, she is in pain, she''s suffering! I''ll do anything, anything at all to save her!" Fury caused Alister to grit his teeth intensely. He reached into the folds of his worn cloak, his fingers brushing against a familiar object. With a cold look in his eyes, he yanked out a gleaming Union Credit Card.

    "Here."

    He said, flinging the card across the desk. It skidded across the polished surface.

    "Swipe it. Everything I owe, and a little extra is all in there. Apparently, reliable healthcare in this city is a luxury I can''t afford. Seems I''ll have to rely on myself to save her in the end."

    His voice was filled with cynicism. The doctor flinched, feeling uneasy as he gazed at her behind his shoulders, his eyes glowing slightly.

    "Consider this a down payment. I''ll find a way to save my sister, even if it means venturing into the wastnds and hunting down whatever legend or mythical cure you haven''t bothered to research."

    He didn''t wait for a reply, the air was filled with his unspoken challenge. With a final, withering re, Alister spun on his heel and stormed out of the office. The doctor watched him go, a look of guilt mingled with a touch of respect in her eyes. Perhaps, just perhaps, the boy had the fire in him to defy the cruel hand of fate.

    The doctor let out a sigh in the silent office. "Kids these days are so hot-headed. I''d love to see how exactly he ns to find a cure himself."

    ...

    Alister walked down the dimly lit hallway back to Miyu''s room, his footsteps echoing off the sterile floors. He passed some nurses who muttered among themselves as they saw him.

    "I heard a rumor he''s a summoner."

    "Another rumor says he summoned a massive dragon."

    "That must be a fabricated lie. If he were so strong, why is he struggling to pay the bills?"

    Alister clenched his fists but kept walking. Arriving at Miyu''s door, he paused for a moment before opening it and stepping inside. The room was bathed in soft,te afternoon light, and Miyu was awake, staring out the window with a distant look in her eyes. She turned her head slowly as he entered, offering him a faint, weary smile.

    "So, what''s the word from doc?" Miyu asked.

    Alister managed a smile. "Just peachy. She said you''ll get better in no time. Just a few weeks and-"

    "Liar."

    Miyu interrupted, her eyes narrowing.

    "You are such a bad liar, Alister. You know, when you lie,"

    She pointed at him.

    "your left hand tends to twitch."

    Alister paused, then nced at his hand, noticing it was still. "Wait, really?"

    Seeing his confusion, Miyu burst intoughter.

    "You are so gullible."

    Alister looked irritated. "That''s no way to act, Miyu. Why would you lie like that?"

    Miyu''sughter faded, and she said, "If you weren''t lying, you wouldn''t have bothered to

    check, oh self-proimed genius."

    Alister sighed. "That''s no way to talk to your older brother."

    Miyuughed softly, but her face soon turned serious.

    "You don''t have to lie to try and make me feel better. I know my body better than anyone. I''m getting weaker."

 Chapter 35: The Word Of An Overlord [Bonus Chapter]

    Chapter 35: The Word Of An Overlord [Bonus Chapter]

    ?

    She nced at her hand, watching as it shook. "It could happen any day now. I could just di

    "Miyu, remember my promise?"

    Alister interrupted, walking up to her side and sitting down.

    He took her trembling hand in his, his expression softening. "The one I made a couple weeks ago?"

    "That I''d find a cure and make sure you see the outside world again?"

    Miyu''s eyes filled with tears, but she nodded. "But... with the way things are going, how are you sure-"

    "I asked a question. You should give me an answer first before saying anything else." Alister said, interrupting her.

    Miyu began to tear up. "Ok, I remember. But how are you nning to find a cure?"

    Alister smiled, his hand gently squeezing hers.

    "That''s for me to worry about and for you to wait for my return."

    Miyu wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, sniffling softly.

    "Here you go again, acting like you''re some kind of superhero."

    Alister chuckled softly, his shoulders rxing slightly.

    "Hardly. I''m no hero, but I am your older brother, and I have a promise I intend to keep. So rest easy and don''t you dare talk about dying again."

    Miyu nodded, her tears flowing freely now. "Okay... brother. I''ll wait for you."

    ''She finally called me brother.'' Alister. Smiled.

    There was a moment of quiet between them, the only sound was the soft sounds of medical equipment in the background. Alister gently pulled Miyu into a hug, his arms embracing her frail body.

    Suddenly, the system''s voice echoed in Alister''s thoughts as the yellow window materialized. [New Quest! The Word of an Overlord:

    The word of an overlord is worth its weight in gold, for more often than not, their promises shape or destroy destinies!

    As the overlord of all dragons, you have made a promise!

    You will find a cure!

    Quest Completion Requirement: Craft the Omnipotent Elixir and give it to your sister (0/1).

    Reward: a piece of Overlord''s broken Crown. (?? - Rank).]

    Alister''s eyes widened as he gazed at the system window, his grip on Miyu tightening momentarily in surprise.

    ''Omnipotent Elixir?''

    ''Broken crown?''

    He wondered, his mind racing with thoughts of what this quest could mean.

    The cityscape outside the hospital windows had slowly changed into a scene of twinkling lights as Alister finally stepped out of the automatic doors.

    The harsh midday sun had given way to a gentle, star-dusted twilight. The weight of the day - the doctor''s words, the credit card, the worry for Miyu - made his shoulders feel heavy, yet there was hope. He had a n, a desperate one, but a n nheless.

    ''I''ll get all the resources to craft this Omnipotent Elixir the system talked about.''

    ''But for now I should get home and call it a day.''

    He hailed a sky-taxi, got in and the vehicle zoomed off. The ride to his apartment was a blur of neon advertisements and fleeting glimpses of the city''s underbelly.

    As he stepped out onto the familiar grimy street where his tiny studio apartment resided, he couldn''t help but let out a sigh. Climbing the stairs and walking up to his room, he reached into his pocket, and retrieved a room card.

    "This must be the first time I''ve actually used this thing,"

    He said, the words barely audible over the evening traffic.

    Sliding the card into the reader beside the door, a satisfying click could be heard as it slid open. He pushed open the creaky door, stepping into the cramped studio apartment.

    The space was just like he remembered it small at best - a single bed, a kitchte with a sputtering sink, and a window offering a view of the city''s skyline.

    He dropped the small bag of groceries he''d managed to buy near the table, letting out a small yawn as he did.

    A yellow glow suddenly materialized in the corner of his vision. The System notification.

    [04:55:26 left for questpletion.]

    Alister grimaced. He''d nearly forgotten about the daily quest. He still had that cryptic ''Train your body'' quest hanging over him,pletely untouched.

    "I suppose I''ll find out what that''s all about," he sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.

    A rumble from his stomach cut through his thoughts.

    "On second thought,"

    "First things first. Food, then the System."

    He shuffled over to the kitchte, the meager supplies in his bag.

    With a sigh, he took off most of his gear and began to go through the groceries.

    The meager ingredients in the bag didn''t offer much but Alister managed to put together a nice meal nheless. He heated a dented pot on the hot te, his stomach growling

    impatiently as he did.

    He tossed in some pre-packaged noodles, a handful of dehydrated vegetables, and a questionable meat substitute that vaguely resembled something once alive.

    After a couple of minutes it was ready, it might not have won any awards, but it was hot, filling, and most importantly, it tasted good.

    He wolfed down his meal perching on the edge of the bed, the flickering light from the window casting long shadows across the room. With a satisfied sigh, he pushed the empty bowl away, his gaze falling on the yellow glow emanating from the corner of his vision.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Alright, System,"

    He muttered, wiping his greasy fingers on a towel.

    "Let''s see what this whole ''Train your body'' quest is all about."

    He mentally willed the System window forward, the interface appearing before his vision. The quest log disyed the following details:

    [Train your weak body (Daily)]

    [Details: Dragons are not feared only because of how powerful they are, they are more terrifying because they seem to always grow stronger over time, no matter how strong they were previously. As an overlord of all dragons, such is your fate as well.]

    [And what better way to train thanbat?]

    "Combat?"

    The next instant, a yellow rift appeared before him. Alister leaped backwards at first, thinking

    it was a dungeon, but the system quickly notified him.

    [The yer need not worry, that is just the training grounds.]

    [The yer should step through and begin the daily quest.]

    Taking a deep breath, Alister steeled himself and stepped through the rift. The world around

    him shifted in an instant. He found himself in a vast, open ruined city under a clear, starry night sky. The air was dusty, and the ground beneath him felt solid and real, almost too real

    for a mere training simtion.

    ''This air... it smells, oddly familiar.''

    [Wee to the training grounds, yer. Begin yourbat training by surviving until the

    time runs out.]

    [Good luck!]

    "Surviving? I thought you said it wasbat training?" Alister asked, clearly confused.

    Then Alister heard a loud roar in the distance, arge four legged creature was approaching, it''s blue eyes glowing in the night.

 Chapter 36: Ripples [Bonus Chapter]

    Chapter 36: Ripples [Bonus Chapter]

    ?

    In one of the branch offices of the Blue Seals guild, specifically the one in Mega City I, the atmosphere was electrifying, as a small sparring session was ongoing.

    The branch master, Eryx Vandergard, was in the center of it all, his long red hair tied back in a loose ponytail that swayed with his every movement.

    His piercing purple eyes glinted with excitement as he sparred with some of the new recruits. Eryx was known for his battle junkie attitude, always eager to test his limits and push others to theirs much like the guild master of the Berserker Guild.

    His unique talent, Counter, allowed him to anticipate and neutralize attacks with ease; it worked by redirecting the force of an attack nearly ten times more powerful than it originally

    was.

    Among the recruits was a tall, muscr man named Rnd, whose brute strength was matched only by his clumsy footwork with a strength enhancement talent.

    There was also Eliza, a swift and agile woman with short, cropped hair and a sharp gaze that missed nothing with a basic eleration talent. Lastly, there was Kieran, a young prodigy with a natural affinity for physicalbat, his talent ''Impact'' allowed an attack to deal twice the amount of damage after it had made contact the first time. His movements were surprisingly fluid for someone of his age.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eryx practically danced around their attacks effortlessly, his Counter talent making their every move seem sluggish inparison.

    With a smooth motion, he deflected Rnd''s heavy strike with his forearm, sidestepped Eliza''s swift kick, and ducked under Kieran''s punch. As Rnd tried to follow up with a sweeping kick, Eryx leaped over it,nding behind him and tapping his shoulder lightly to signify a hit.

    "Keep your bnce, Rnd," Eryx advised, spinning just in time to catch Eliza''s punch, redirecting her momentum and sending her stumbling forward. He stepped aside and dodged Kieran''s high kick, then used a gentle push to off-bnce him as well.

    Suddenly, the training room''s doors burst open, and a woman with short, dark blue hair and a stern expression stepped in. It was Aria Valen, the vice branch master.

    "Eryx, we need to talk. It''s urgent," she called out, her voice her tone cold andmanding.

    Eryx stopped mid-motion, narrowly avoiding another of Rnd''s strikes. He sighed and straightened up, waving a hand to signal the end of the sparring session. "Alright, recruits, that''s enough for now. I hope to spar with you again soon."

    As he walked over to Aria, the recruits slumped to the floor, panting and exchanging uneasy looks at each other.

    "He''s gonna kill us with hunger at this rate, we''ve been at this for the past three days, my legs are getting numb,"

    Rnd muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

    "Yeah, should we even stick around? I know he says he''s starving us so we can be prepared for the day we go out on a mission in the wilderness, but this is just overkill." Eliza said, stretching her sore muscles.

    Kieran shrugged, a look of seriousness in his eyes, "Guys have to get better. If we quit now, we''ll never improve. We just have tond one hit on him, and then he promised we would eat something."

    The other two turned and looked at him intensly, suddenly Eliza spoke up, "In case you have forgotten... that was three days ago dumbass! How are we supposed to fight on an empty stomach? Don''t tell me... are you in cahoots with him? Are you actually nning to get us killed?"

    She said as she slowly walked up to him, she wasn''t tall yet for some reason it looked like her shadow was towering over him.

    Kieran shrugged, "Alright... Eliza... just calm down..."

    Meanwhile, Eryx approached Aria with a yful grin. "Oh dear Aria, the way you called out to me earlier was so lovely. I''d like for you to call me one more time."

    Aria clearly looked irritated as she pinched his arm. "Stop it, Eryx. This is serious."

    Eryx winced butughed, rubbing his arm. "Alright, alright. What''s so urgent?"

    Aria''s expression softened slightly but remained serious. "We''ve received word about a summoner who managed to summon a giant ss drake at the Union office. Here, take a look." She clicked a button in a watch she had on and a holographic window appeared, showing a recording of the incident.

    Eryx watched the footage, his eyes widening with interest. The summoner in question was Alister,manding the massive drake with an impressive disy of power.

    Eryx''s lips curled into a knowing smile. "I see what you''re getting at, Aria. Once this video spreads, all the branch masters in this Mega City will be on his case. We need to find his address and approach him first to join the Blue Seals."

    Aria nodded but voiced her concern, crossing her arms and furrowing her brow. "What about Guild Master Anya of the Berserker Guild? She''s still around and could cause some problems."

    Eryx shrugged nonchntly, stretching his arms above his head.

    "I''ve never been one to worry about things beyond my control. If she snatches him before us, then it''s unfortunate. We aren''t at the level of the guild masters yet, so a duel for him would be pointless, although it would be lovely to try. But I''m not a fan of pointless effort. So if we can hurry and get to him first, then it''s all good."

    Aria tilted her head slightly, tapping her chin thoughtfully before nodding. "I''ll get our best people on it. We''ll track him down and make our move."

    Eryx''s yful demeanor returned for a moment as he winked at her, leaning in slightly. "Excellent. And, Aria, you really do have a lovely voice when you''re serious."

    Aria gritted her teeth, her face flushing slightly as she pinched him again, harder this time, twisting his skin. "Focus, Eryx. We have work to do."

    "Ow, ow, ow, I get it! Just stop twisting! I can feel pain too, you know!" Eryx yelled, wincing and stepping back, rubbing the sore spot.

 Chapter 37: Ripples Part Two

    Chapter 37: Ripples Part Two

    ?

    Meanwhile...

    As the massive aircraft of the Red Phoenix Guild approached the outer barrier of Megacity I, the city''s defense personnel monitored its progress closely. Inside the control tower, technicians checked and rechecked their systems, ensuring everything was in ce for the guild''s arrival.

    "Control, this is Phoenix Leader requesting clearance to enter Megacity I airspace," the pilot''s voice crackled over the radio.

    "Megacity Control to Phoenix Leader, clearance granted. Proceed to barrier ess point for authorization," responded the controller.

    In the cockpit, the pilot adjusted the controls, bringing the aircraft towards the magical dome that encapsted Megacity I. The barrier, a feast for the eyes, a true marvel of magical and technological integration, it protected the city from external threats while allowing authorized aircrafts to pass through.

    "Phoenix Leader to Megacity Control, approaching barrier ess point," the pilot reported, guiding the aircraft to the designated entry point.

    Outside, the dome glowed as it recognized the authorized approach, momentarily parting to create a clear pathway through which the aircraft could pass.

    Ground personnel observed as the Red Phoenix Guild''s gship made its way through the barrier, eventually touching down smoothly on the designated runway.

    As the aircraftnded, the massive doors of the vessel opened, revealing the Red Phoenix Guild''s branch master, Arden, and his team stepping out onto the tarmac. Arden was amanding figure with his ck hair, piercing green eyes, and a sharp jawline.

    Arden looked around the area briefly, nodding to the ground crew who approached with respect.

    "Good to be back." he said.

    "Any updates from the city''s perimeter?"

    One of the ground crew members stepped forward, a tablet in hand.

    "Sir, perimeter reports are clear for now. No recent activity from hostile entities."

    "Excellent," Arden said, his gaze shifting to his team as they began to remove their advanced air filter masks, revealing their faces.

    A senior guild member approached Arden, acknowledging his arrival with a nod.

    "Branch Master Arden, refreshments are ready for you and your team in the hover limo."

    The guild member informed him, pointing his hand towards the sleek vehicle parked nearby. "Thank you."

    Arden replied with a nod. "Let''s debrief there. We have preparations to discuss for the next Clearing operation."

    He directed, leading his team towards the hover limo where refreshments awaited-a brief moment to rx before they would go into nning and strategizing to maintain the city''s safety and expand its borders against the wilderness beyond.

    As the Red Phoenix Guild members approached the massive ck hover limo, its massive size stood out on the tarmac.

    Compared to regr limousines, this one wasrge enough for someone to stand at their full height inside, resembling more of a small bus due to its design and capacity.

    Before boarding, attendants holding what looked like specialized vacuum cleaners swiftly removed dust particles from the guild members'' attire. In order to ensure they wouldn''t bring in any unknown microorganisms or diseases.

    Many of them had traces of the wilderness outside, where they had been engaged in Clearing activities. Once cleaned up, they entered the spacious interior of the limo.

    Inside, plush seating lined the walls, providingfort and a sense of luxury. As the vehicle hummed to life and lifted off the ground, the members settled into their seats, the sound of the engines drowning out the sounds of the outside world.

    Seated beside Branch Master Arden was a seasoned guild member named Marcus. Marcus was a veteran Clearer, known for his skill and strategic mindset.

    His face had scars, the marks of countless battles against the wilderness creatures that threatened the city''s expansion.

    Despite the scars etched on his face, Marcus''s eyes were just as sharp and calm as they had ever been, a proof to his loyalty to the guild.

    "Raids have been particrly challengingtely."

    Arden said, his brow furrowing slightly as he gazed at his trembling left hand, a sign of the toll the battles were taking on him.

    "The creatures beyond the walls seem more aggressive, almost as if they''re coordinating their attacks."

    Marcus nodded, his gaze fixed on the city skyline passing by outside the limo''s tinted windows.

    "Yes, I''ve noticed the same pattern."

    "If this continues, we may need to request additional support from headquarters."

    Marcus hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

    "Speaking of support, Branch Master. there''s something else I wanted to discuss with you."

    Arden turned towards Marcus, his expression attentive. "What is it, Marcus?"

    Marcus adjusted his posture.

    "There''s been talk among the scouts about a remarkable individual who recently surfaced on

    our radar."

    "A potential recruit, one who could significantly strengthen our guild."

    Arden''s interest was piqued. "Tell me more."

    Marcus nodded, leaning back slightly as he recounted the reports.

    "This individual has been observed demonstrating extraordinary abilities."

    "They possess a rarebination of skill and potential that could prove invaluable to our

    operations."

    Arden considered this information carefully, his mind already evaluating the strategic

    implications.

    "Have we identified this person?"

    "Yes,"

    Marcus confirmed. "Our scouts have been monitoring their movements closely. They seem to

    operate independently."

    Arden nodded thoughtfully, his gaze drifting to the cityscape passing by outside the limo''s

    windows.

    "Continue monitoring their activities," he instructed. "If they prove themselves worthy and

    are willing to join our ranks, we should extend an invitation."

    Marcus shrugged awkwardly, a faint crease forming between his brows.

    "I don''t think we can afford to sit around sir."

    Arden turned to him with curiosity in his eyes.

    "What do you mean?"

    "I think it''d be better if I just show you," Marcus replied.

    "Pull up the footage." He called out.

    In response, a massive white holographic window materialized before them, disying a

    video of Alister summoning Cinder, the giant drake.

    Arden leaned forward, his gaze fixed on the hologram.

    "Remarkable," he murmured. "He must be a summoner." Turning to Marcus, he asked,

    "What rank is he?"

    Marcus smiled faintly. "ording to our intel, he''s an SSS rank."

    Arden''s eyes widened in surprise. "God rank talent? Talent ranks like that actually exist? I

    thought they were only a myth."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "So did I," Marcus admitted. "The highest rank we''ve ever encountered before was SS." Arden furrowed his brow. "So, what are you trying to tell me with this footage?" Marcus''s expression turned serious. "It was leaked on the inte a couple of hours ago. By now, it''s likely reached all the guild branch masters. There''s a very high chance they''ll be

    coming personally to secure him."

    Arden nodded thoughtfully. "So, you''re saying-"

    "Yes, Branch Master."

    Marcus said, meeting Arden''s gaze steadily.

    "You might have to go personally to recruit him."

    A grin spread across Arden''s face.

    "All the more reason, then."

    He reached for a ss of wine, raising it to his lips and taking a long sip. Setting the ss

    down, he casually wiped his mouth with his thumb.

    "I can''t wait."

 Chapter 38: Ripples Part Three [Bonus Chapter]

    Chapter 38: Ripples Part Three [Bonus Chapter]

    ?

    Around the area of the branch office of the Berserker Guild in Megacity I, Sector III, the night was a beautiful sight, with stars twinkling brightly in the clear sky. The city''s towering structures were bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, casting long shadows that seemed toe alive in the gentle breeze.

    A group of seven individuals emerged from a D-rank dungeon a few kilometers away from the building, their faces illuminated by the soft blue glow of the rift they had just exited. The team consisted of six new recruits and one seasoned member of the guild. Among the recruits was Chase, Alister''s former friend, whose impressive S-rank talent, Absolute Zero, had made him a standout during the raid.

    Two of the new recruits, both women, approached Chase with wide smiles.

    "That was amazing, Chase." one of them, a tall woman with ck hair hair named Lisa, said. "Your control over ice is incredible."

    "Yeah," the other woman, with dark blue hair and bright blue eyes named Mia, agreed, nodding enthusiastically. "And your coordination with the rest of us was spot on. We wouldn''t have made it through without you."

    Chase, despite his intimidating build, smiled modestly and nodded. "Thanks, but it was a team effort. We all did great."

    Meanwhile, the other three new recruits, standing a bit apart, muttered among themselves. One of them, anky young man with a slight sneer named Derek, whispered, "He''s such a show-off. Just because he''s got an S-rank talent..."

    "Yeah," another recruit, a stocky guy with short brown hair named Karl, agreed, shaking his head. "Acts like he''s already the best."

    The third recruit, a quiet young man with dark eyes and a serious expression named Ethan, simply shrugged, "Let''s just focus on getting better ourselves."

    The supervisor, a seasoned guild member with a grizzled appearance and a no-nonsense attitude named Gregor, pped his hands to get their attention. "Alright, everyone, gather up! We''re heading back to the guild now. Move it!"

    The recruits quickly obeyed, falling into line as they made their way to the waiting vehicle. The supervisor kept a close eye on them, ensuring no onegged behind. "Let''s go, people. We''ve got a debriefing to attend, and I don''t want to keep the branch master waiting."

    As they approached therge hover vehicle, its sleek ck frame reflecting the starlight, Chase couldn''t help but feel aplished. Despite the whispers of jealousy from some of his peers, he knew he had proven his worth tonight.

    Once inside the vehicle, it hummed to life, lifting smoothly off the ground. The soft whirr of the engines filled the cabin as it began its journey back to the guild. The recruits settled into the plush seats.

    Lisa and Mia, still buzzing with excitement, couldn''t help but chat about the sess of their raid.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "That went so well!" Lisa eximed, her eyes sparkling. "If we keep this up, we''ll be raiding higher-ranking dungeons in no time."

    Mia nodded vigorously. "Definitely. We worked together really well, and Chase''s Absolute Zero was a game changer."

    As they chatted, Derek pulled out his smartphone, an older model that looked worn from use. Darven nced over and raised an eyebrow.

    "You''re still using that old thing?" Ethan asked, incredulous.

    Derek shrugged, his expression indifferent. "It was a gift from my mom. I''m keeping it until it breaks or until I can afford a better one."

    Ethan smirked. "Suit yourself."

    As the vehicle glided smoothly through the city, the gentle motion and the low sound of the engines made for a rxing ride.

    Derek continued to scroll through his phone, the glow of the screen reflecting on his face. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he yelled out, "Whoa!"

    The supervisor, Gregor, snapped his head around, his eyes narrowing. "What the hell was that about?"

    Lisa and Mia both jumped, clutching their chests. "Geez, Derek, you nearly gave us a heart attack!" Lisa scolded.

    The other guys muttered their disapproval as well. "Yeah, not cool, man," Ethan added. Derek, looking sheepish, held up his phone.

    "Sorry, sorry. It''s just... check this out! This video is blowing up the inte right now." He showed the screen to the others, which disyed a video of a summoner summoning a massive drake. The scene was chaotic, with union officials scrambling to contain the beast. "Who is that?" Mia wondered aloud, her eyes fixed on the screen.

    "The guy must be the strongest summoner in history," Ethan spected, leaning closer to get a better look.

    Chase sat silently, his arms folded, trying to ignore the conversation. But as Derek kept watching the video, Ethan, asked, "What rank is that summoner supposed to be?"

    Derek nced at the video''s title. "ording to this, he''s an SSS rank summoner." Chase''s head snapped up at the mention of the rank. His eyes narrowed as he leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Give me that," he demanded, grabbing the phone from Derek''s hand.

    "Hey, don''t break it!" Derek yelled.

    Chase stared at the screen, his eyes widening in shock as he recognized the summoner. His grip loosened, and the phone slipped from his grasp, ttering to the floor, its screen cracked

    slightly.

    "Dammit, Chase! You broke it!" Derek yelled, scrambling to pick up his phone.

    But Chase was too stunned to respond. His mind raced, reying the video in his head. The realization of who he had just seen left him momentarily speechless.

    The rest of the recruits looked at him, puzzled by his reaction.

    Lisa and Mia exchanged nces before turning to Chase, their curiosity piqued by his

    reaction.

    "What''s up, Chase?" Mia asked gently.

    Chase muttered, his eyes still wide with shock. "But it can''t be..."

    "What can''t be?" Ethan leaned forward, his brow furrowed.

    Chase snapped back to reality, shaking his head. "I-It''s nothing."

    Derek, the one whose phone had been dropped, red at him. "I don''t care what''s on your mind, Chase. You''re gonna have topensate me for the damage to my phone."

    Lisa, rolled her eyes. "Derek, you''re being dramatic. It''s just a few cracks. Big deal."

    "Damage is damage," Derek yelled in response, crossing his arms. "He shouldpensate me."

    Chase suddenly gritted his teeth, his fists clenching. "It doesn''t matter. Even if things turned out like this, I''ll still stand by my decision. In fact, when we meet up again, I''ll show him I''m

    better."

    The others looked at him, clearly confused. They still didn''t understand what Chase was

    talking about.

    Mia, concerned, leaned closer. "Chase, do you know the guy in the video?"

    Chase took a deep breath, his gaze hardening with seriousness. "Yes, in an old time,"

    "He is my rival. Alister."

    ...

    In the Berserker Guild''s branch office, located in a towering skyscraper, the atmosphere was anything but calm. On the top floor, in a room lit only by the distant city lights filtering throughrge windows, Guild Master Anya sat behind a desk, her purple hair flowing down her back and her piercing red eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.

    Anya held a tablet in her hand, watching a video intently. The footage disyed Alister,manding a massive drake effortlessly. A smile spread on her lips as the video ended.

    "I knew he would surprise me." she said.

    Beside her stood the branch master, a tall man with short, spiky hair and a stern expression, and the vice branch master, a woman with a sleek bob cut and sharp eyes. Both watched Anya closely, sensing the intensity of her focus.

    The branch master broke the silence. "Guild Master, what do you n to do?"

    Anya slowly lowered the tablet, her gaze never leaving the screen until it was out of sight. Her

    eyes glowed slightly brighter as she leaned back in her chair, a confident smile spreading

    across her face.

    "It''s obvious."

    "It''s time for another talent snatching."

 Chapter 39: Survival Or Combat Training?

    Chapter 39: Survival Or Combat Training?

    ?

    ''This... air... isn''t this the wilderness?''

    ''Why would the system send me out here? How far away am I from the city?''

    The figure in the shadows slowly stepped out, revealing the body of a massive wolf with white fur. The blue talent system window suddenly materialized before Alister, detailing the

    creature''s information.

    Monster: Silver Wolf

    Rank: D

    ss: Medium

    Stats:

    - HP: 1,500

    - MP: 500

    - ATK: 200

    - DEF: 100

    - M.ATK: 150

    - M.DEF: 80

    - SPD: 250

    Skills:

    - Bite: A powerful bite attack that can cause severe bleeding.

    - Howl: Summons nearby pack members to assist in battle.

    - eleration: Increases speed and evasion duringbat.

    Total Combat Power: 2,780

    Remark: They usually move in packs.

    Just as Alister finished reading the information, the wolf charged at him, its eyes glowing and its maw dripping with saliva. Alister''s instincts kicked in, and he shouted.

    "Cinder,e forth!"

    A rift tore open beside him, and with a thunderous BOOM, the massive ck drake, Cinder, emerged.

    mes instantly erupted from Cinder''s maw, engulfing the charging wolf in a searing mes. The Silver Wolf didn''t even have time to yelp before it was reduced to a pile of ash.

    Alister wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart still pounding from the adrenaline rush. He nced around, checking for any more surprises that could be in store for him.

    The intensity of the heat was so immense that it began to melt the structures where the mesnded. The sheer heat caused Alister to raise his hand to shield his face, and its brightness also affected his eyes.

    Finally, Cinder stopped.

    "Impressive, Cinder."

    Alister said, patting the drake''s scaly hide.

    "Let''s stay alert. If these wolves move in packs, there could be more of them."

    [Notice to the yer!]

    [This was intended to be the yer''s training session, relying on your summon to defeat your enemies will defeat the entire purpose of the quest!]

    [Notice! The system has discovered a w in the quest details, readjusting....]

    [Quest reissued!]

    [Train your weak body (daily): The yer is expected to survive and fend off all the monsters until the time runs out: 01:00:00.

    Questpletion condition: the yer has to ''personally'' kill at least 50 monsters in this time frame, else the time would reset.]

    Alister nced at the system window as the voice echoed in his head.

    ''Seems the system has a point... relying entirely on Cinder wouldn''t allow me to personally grow stronger, but it didn''t say she couldn''t support me.''

    ''Now that I think about it, this kind of environment would also be best to train inbat with the wed gauntlets.''

    "Inventory."

    The inventory materialized, and Alsiter put his hands into it and pulled out the gauntlets.

    They were pitch ck, with ws just like the system said.

    They were a bitrge, but as he slid them on, the edges and lines around them glowed yellow momentarily as they shrunk to Alister''s hand size.

    Cinder tilted her massive head, eyeing the wed gauntlets with curiosity.

    "What are those, my lord?"

    Alister flexed his fingers to get a feel for the weapon. "These? They''re my weapon of choice."

    Cinder saw a resemnce with actual dragon ws and she nodded.

    "I would expect nothing less from my lord. What are your ns here?"

    "Well," Alister replied, adjusting his stance, "training, I guess. Stay sharp. We have visitors."

    As he spoke, more Silver Wolves emerged from the shadows and on top the remains of buildings, surrounding Alister and Cinder. Their eyes glowed, and low growls filled the air. Cinder tensed, ready to unleash another torrent of mes, but Alister held up a hand to stop her.

    "Take the ones on the left."

    "I''ll handle the ones on the right."

    "Understood, my lord."

    With a sudden burst of speed, Alisterunched himself at the wolves on the right, his gauntlets gleaming in the moonlight. He shed at the first wolf, his ws tearing through

    its fur and flesh.

    On the left, Cinder''s mes sprung forward, consuming the wolves that simply froze up in fear. Her eyes never left Alister as he fought.

    The Silver Wolves began circling Alister as they noticed his weapon seemed deadly. These beasts were fast, their movements almost a blur in the dim light.

    ''This isn''t like the time back with the goblins, they seem much more coordinated.''

    The next wolf lunged at him with a sudden burst of speed. Alister sidestepped, but not quickly enough. The wolf''s ws raked across his arm, leaving deep gashes. He winced in pain,

    stumbling back.

    [Notice: Blood Healing activated.]

    [Notice: Blood Maniption activated.]

    ''Blood what?''

    Alister watched in shock as the blood that had started to pour from his wound reversed its

    flow, seeping back into his body.

    The gashes on his arm began to close, steam rising as the skin knit itself back together.

    ''Incredible.''

    Alister thought, flexing his newly healed arm.

    ''These must be those skills the system said I got after the goblin raid.''

    ''If I were to guess, Blood Maniption must be responsible for the blood returning to my body, and Blood Healing... well the healing.''

    ''Although.. I can''t afford to rely on them too much. My stamina isn''t infinite after all.''

    He focused on the wolves again, hardening his gaze. Another wolf charged him. Alister shifted his weight, ready to meet the attack. This time, he ducked under the beast''s lunge, but its ws still managed to catch his leg, tearing through his pants and slicing into his flesh.

    [Notice: Blood Healing activated.]

    [Notice: Blood Maniption activated.]

    Steam rose from the wound on his leg as it slowly healed. Alister gritted his teeth, trying to push through the pain. He swung his gauntlet in a wide arc, shing the wolf across its side

    and sending it sprawling.

    ''I need to anticipate their moves better. They attack in patterns.''N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ''They are four legged creatures, so the way they would move in order to make a leap for an attack would be very different from humans or goblins.''

    Two wolves came at him from different angles. Alister narrowed his gaze as he twisted his body to avoid one, but the other managed to nip at his shoulder, its teeth scraping against his

    skin.

    [Notice: Blood Healing activated.]

    [Notice: Blood Maniption activated.]

    ''Calm down. Focus.''

    His yellow eyes glowed slightly, his pupils became more reptilian.

    He took a deep breath, centering himself. The next wolf lunged, and this time, Alister was

    ready. He dropped to one knee, thrusting his gauntlet upward into the wolf''s belly. The ws dug deep, tearing through flesh and muscle. The wolf let out a pained yelp, copsing at his

    feet.

    Another wolf pounced. Alister rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding its bite. He came up on one knee, shing at the wolf''s legs with his gauntlet''s ws. It stumbled, and he finished it

    off with a quick swipe to the throat, the ws cutting deep.

    ''I''m getting the hang of this.''

    He felt a w sh across his back, tearing through his shirt and skin. He spun around,

    shing wildly with his gauntlets, forcing the attacking wolf back.

    [Notice: Blood Healing activated.] [Notice: Blood Maniption activated.]

    The pain subsided as the wound healed, steam rising from his back.

 Chapter 40: Claws and Fury

    Chapter 40: ws and Fury

    ?

    Alister''s wounds steamed as they healed, but the pain still lingered. He nced at Cinder, who watched him intently.

    "We need to keep moving," Alister said.

    "There are more wolves out there."

    Cinder nodded, her massive body shifting slightly as she prepared for the next wave. They moved forward, making their way through the debris of fallen buildings scattered throughout the wilderness. Each step Cinder made seemed to make the very earth quake. As they did, Alister was breathing out steam from his mouth softly, his yellow eyes glowing intensely, making him look like some sort of monster.

    The next wave of wolves came swiftly. They emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing and teeth bared. Alister tightened his grip on his gauntlets, his mind focused.

    "Come on, let''s get this over with."

    The first wolf lunged at him, and Alister leaped forward, sidestepping with his ws shing through its side. Blood sprayed, and the wolf fell, but there were more behind it, though they were starting to be hesitant.

    The death of their pack members was starting to get to them, and the massive dragon a few feet behind added to their sense of dread. They began to yelp as they ran away.

    "Cowards," Alister muttered.

    "Alright, Cinder, incinerate them."

    Cinder''s mes sprung forward, incinerating the retreating group of wolves that had tried to nk them. The heat melted the surrounding debris, creating pools of molten metal and stone. But there were always those who dared to test their courage, and they would unfortunately meet the same fate.

    Finally, thest wolf fell, its body reduced to nothing on the ground.

    [Notice! Questpleted! Monsters eliminated 50/50!]

    [Mini-Quest: An overlord finishes what he starts. Quest details: you just eliminated a pack of silver wolves; all that is left is to take out their alpha! Reward: Sand draconic summoning conduit.]

    Alister stood in the carnage as he gazed at the system window, his chest heaving and his body radiating steam as his wounds slowly healed. He wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes scanning the area for any remaining threats.

    ''Summoning conduit? For summoning a dragon? Another one?''

    ''Also, now that I think about it, I''ve killed so many monsters, why haven''t I leveled up?''N?v(el)B\\jnn

    [Notice! When the yer has a summon out, the amount of experience gained is split evenly between the yer and their summon.]

    ''Makes sense, I haven''t leveled up because it seems like I''m gaining experience from fighting F-ss monsters instead of D, probably even lower if lower grades existed.''

    Cinder approached, her mes flickering softly. "Well done, my lord."

    Alister nodded, still catching his breath. "Thanks. But we''re not done yet. The Alpha is still out there."

    They continued moving forward, making their way through the ruins and debris. The air grew colder; Alister''s mind was focused, ready for whatever came next.

    They finally reached arge clearing, where the remaining wolves gathered. At the center stood the Silver Wolf Alpha, its fur a deep, almost metallic silver. The beast''s eyes glowed with a blue light, and its presence gave off power and dominance.

    The blue talent system window appeared, revealing its information.

    Monster: Silver Wolf Alpha

    Rank: C

    ss: Large

    Total Combat Power: 6,000]

    Alister nced at Cinder, who nodded. "You know what to do."

    "I''ll take care of the others," she replied, her voice steady.

    Alister stepped forward, his eyes locked on the Silver Wolf Alpha. The beast let out a low growl, its eyes narrowing.

    "Alright, let''s do this."

    The Alpha wolf lunged at him, its speed and power could be seen as the earth buckled beneath its feet. Alister barely had time to react, rolling to the side as the beast''s massive ws shed through the air where he had just stood.

    He came up on one knee, shing at the Alpha''s side with his gauntlets. The ws tore through fur and flesh, but the Alpha barely flinched, its thick hide absorbing most of the damage.

    The wolf swung its massive paw at him, and Alister ducked, feeling the rush of air above his head. He countered with a quick sh to the wolf''s underbelly, but the Alpha twisted, its body moving sprinly fast and nimbly.

    The next moment, its teeth were snapping at Alister''s arm. He pulled back just in time, the wolf''s jaws closing inches from his skin.

    ''This thing is faster and stronger than any of the others,'' Alister thought, his mind racing. ''I need to be quicker, more precise.''

    His glowing reptilian eyes focused even further.

    The Alpha attacked again, and Alister leaped to the side, using the debris around him to his advantage. He pushed off a fallen building,unching himself at the wolf''s back. His ws dug in, and he dragged them down its spine, but the Alpha jumped, throwing him off. Alister hit the ground and rolled,ing up on his feet just as the Alpha charged. He jumped,nding on a crumbling wall and using it to gain height. The wolf mmed into the wall, shattering it, but Alister was already moving, his gauntlets glowing as he gathered his

    strength.

    The Alpha whirled, its eyes locked onto him. Alister grinned, his confidence growing despite the odds. He dashed forward, ducking under the wolf''s swipe and shing at its legs. The ws cut deep, and the Alpha howled in pain, stumbling slightly.

    ''Got you.''

    But the victory was short-lived. The Alpha recovered quickly, its eyes zing with anger. It lunged, and Alister barely managed to block with his gauntlets.

    It''s massive paw connected with Alister abdomen with massive force, causing him to cough

    up blood.

    The force of the impact sent him skidding back, his feet digging trenches into the ground. The wolf didn''t stop. It was on him in an instant, snapping and shing with its ws as fast

    as it could.

    Alister dodged and counterd what he could, his movements growing more desperate as he tried to find an opening. He felt a w rake across his back, tearing through his flesh. As he made a backflip in an attempt to gain some distance.

    [Notice: Blood Healing activated.]

    [Notice: Blood Maniption activated.]

    Steam rose from the wound as it healed, but the pain and fatigue were beginning to wear on him. ''I can''t keep this up forever,'' he thought, gritting his teeth. ''I need to finish this.''

 Chapter 41: The Next Summon[Bonus Chapter]

    Chapter 41: The Next Summon[Bonus Chapter]

    ?

    The Alpha charged again, and Alister met it head-on. He ducked under its swipe, shing at its belly with all his strength. Blood gushed out from the wound. The ws bit deep, and the wolf yelped, staggering. Alister pressed the attack,nding blow after blow.

    The debris around them exploded under the sheer strength as their battle intensified. Alister leaped from one crumbling structure to another, using the terrain to keep the Alpha off bnce. Hended a powerful kick to its side, sending it crashing through a wall.

    The Alpha rose, blood dripping from its wounds, but its eyes were still full of fight. It howled, the sound echoing through the wilderness. Alister braced himself, his gauntlets ready.

    The final sh was a blur of motion. The Alpha''s attacks were a whirlwind of ws and teeth, each strike a potential death blow. Alister moved with everything he had, his body a blur as he dodged and countered. He felt a w sh across his arm, the pain sharp.

    [Notice: Blood Healing activated.]

    [Notice: Blood Maniption activated.]

    Steam rose from his arm as the wound healed. Alister gritted his teeth, focusing on the wolf. He leaped, his ws aimed at the Alpha''s throat. The wolf snapped at him, but he twisted in mid-air, his ws slicing through its neck.

    The Alpha staggered, blood pouring from the wound. It let out a final, defiant howl before copsing to the ground.

    Alisternded heavily, his body screaming in pain. He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving the fallen Alpha. The beast''s bodyy still, its eyes dimming as life left it.

    [Notice! Alpha eliminated!]

    [Congrats to the yer forpleting the quest!]

    [The system has begun harvesting all the loot!]

    [Reward: Sand draconic summoning conduit acquired!]

    [Level Up!]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    [Notice! Gentle durability used up, weapon broken!]

    As soon as the system gave the notice, the gauntlets rippled with cracks and then instantly shattered to pieces.

    ''Guess that''s it for the gauntlets, but I''m actually really surprised. They held up really well for mere E-rank weapons.''

    Alister nced at the system window, feeling relieved. He turned to Cinder, who had finished off the remaining wolves ages ago and was watching all along with a proud look in her eyes.

    "Well done, my lord."

    Alister nodded, a weary smile on his face. "Thanks, Cinder. That was tougher than I expected."

    He took a moment to catch his breath. Although he was instantly healed due to leveling up, he was still exhausted. There was still steam rising from his skin, a sign of the toll the battle took on him, and perhaps due to his draconic blood.

    [Notice! It has been detected that the yer has a sand draconic summoning conduit!]

    [Does the yer wish to summon a dragon?]

    Alister let out a sigh, then said, "Yes."

    [Now opening mind realm.]

    The world faded around him, and Alister found himself standing in his mind realm. With the massive draconic doors standing before him.

    But just before the summoning would proceed, the system chimed with another notification.

    [Ding!! An overlord takes matters into their own hands!]

    [Relying fully on his strength and the strength of his forces!]

    [Mini-Quest: The system assisted the yer with their first summoning, now the yer has to do it with the help of ''Beginner''s Guide to Summoning (Rank E).'']

    ''I was wondering when I''d get to open it, was almost starting to think it was going to be absolutely useless,'' Alister thought as he ced his hand below his jaw thoughtfully.

    The system opened a window, disying the contents of the "Beginner''s Guide to Summoning."

    Alister read in his thoughts, ''Dragons are beings of extremes, and sometimes extreme emotions, as creatures who pride themselves in what they are good at they are well aware of what emotion to put at the forefront of their mind. When summoning a dragon, it is important to know what sort of emotion to involve in the summoning, for it would be the cornerstone of the dragon''s personality.''

    Alister mumbled, "Emotions, huh? Does that really make sense? I don''t remember feeling any intense emotion when summoning Cinder."

    The guide instructed Alister to grip the summoning conduit tightly and channel his mana and emotion through it, and the summoning would begin.

    ''It appears to bepletely different from regr summoning that needs a circle, although I knew that would be the case, but never expected I would have to hold the conduit in my hand instead.''

    Alister then nced at the massive doors in the cosmic space, as if lost in thought.

    "Inventory." Alister called out.

    He then dug his hand into his inventory to pull out the sand summoning conduit, it appeared to be some sort of crystalized chunk of golden sand.

    "It looks so peculiar one would almost think it was some kind of diamond." Alister mumbled, turning the object around to have a look at it from a different angle.

    "Emotion, huh?" Alister wondered, as he did a memory of Miyu smiling shed before his

    eyes.

    He began to channel his mana and whatever that emotion was into the conduit. His yellow hued mana flowed through his hand and into the summoning conduit, causing it to slowly

    start glowing.

    A massive beam shot out from the conduit to the door, and the dragon skulls glowed as the conduit slowly disintegrated until the st stopped. The massive stone doors took on a golden hue, appearing as if they were made of sand.

    And then they slowly creaked open, with the same blinding light seeping through like the first

    time.

    Suddenly a voice boomed, "To those who wish to call themselves my master," it echoed, "surely a test of intellect should be more than enough to prove your superiority."

    The blinding light intensified before fading, revealing the massive doors standing open.

    A magnificent dragoon, its scales shimmering like the finest desert gold, emerged from the opening. Its deep blue eyes, seemed vast and filled with wisdom, they seemed to hold the swirling cosmos within their depths.

    [Congrattions! You have sessfully summoned The SandStorm Dragoon, Terra Von Archi-Void (B-rank).]

 Chapter 42: Riddles

    Chapter 42: Riddles

    ?

    But unlike Cinder''s massive size, this dragon was considerably smaller but no less grand. In fact, its scales made it look like royalty. As it also gave off an aura of power and wisdom.

    ''Test of intellect? I believe Cinder''s was a test of strength, right? Or at least something simr. Is this how it''s going to be with every dragon I summon? Some kind of test for each of them?''

    The dragoon seemed to narrow its gaze as it noticed something within Alister, something familiar. Although one could hardly tell due to its scales, the dragoon smiled.

    The Sandstorm dragoon lowered its head slightly, its voice a deep rumble, "You have passed the initial test. However, a true master is not only strong but also wise. Are you prepared to face the challenge of the mind?"

    "I shall ask you three riddles, and if you. Youngd, answer them all correctly, I shall pledge my absolute loyalty."

    The system Suddenly materialized before Alister with a quest notification.

    [Mini-Quest: An Overlord''s mind is as sharp as his body: The SandStorm Dragoon, Terra Von Archi-Void, has challenged you to prove your intellect. She will ask you three riddles, and if you answer them correctly, she will pledge her loyalty.]

    ''Another female? Why is her rank lower than Cinder''s?''

    [Notice to the yer! Terra''s rank is a reflection of the intensity of the emotion and the amount of mana the yer channeled into summoning her.]

    ''I thought you said the emotion I feel is only supposed to be responsible for her personality, not her strength.''

    [Notice! That as well as the fact that the yer did not use all of their summoning power and mana in the process. The fact the yer is conscious is a clear indicator of that.]

    Listening to the system''s words, the moment after the first summoning shed before Alister''s eyes, back to the time the system notified him all of his summoning power and mana would be used, resulting in him falling unconscious right after.

    ''Seems you are right... but system, what emotion is she supposed to be a representation of?'' [Curiosity.]

    As Alister heard the system''s words, that moment of Miyu smiling shed before his eyes again.

    ''Guess I still wonder how she''s fairing, putting on a smile like that despite how she might actually feel inside.''

    The dragoon''s deep blue eyes narrowed slightly, its gaze catching the fleeting look of doubt in Alister''s expression.

    "Lad, are you not interested in the challenge? You seem awfully quiet."

    Alister, snapped back to reality, offering a slight smile. "Forgive me, Terra," he said. "I was merely lost in thought."

    He straightened his posture, a glint of seriousness now appearing in his eyes.

    "Ah, right, where were we? You want to test my intellect with a little quiz, huh? Go ahead then. I may not look it, but I too possess a mind not to be underestimated."

    The dragoon''s gaze narrowed further, its golden scales catching the soft cosmic glow of the mindspace.

    "A bold im,d."

    "But boasting holds little weight here. Tell me, why do I test you, and why do all dragons test their potential masters?"

    "A dragon only submits to a grater being not out if fear, but rather to be there to withess what hights their said master shall ascend to in their lifetime."

    "That being said, a master is not expected to be perfect, else they wouldn''t need help, but at best they must have potential."

    "And so, I shall alsoe forward to confirm that fact."

    "I shall now ask a little riddle, Listen close, and listen well."

    "I have no voice, yet I can speak volumes.

    I have no body, yet I can travel the world.

    I have no life, yet I can spark wars and build empires. What am I?"

    Alister scratched his chin, as he furrowed his brows concentrating. "Oh, that''s a tough one."

    He mumbled, cing his hand thoughtfully under his jaw.

    A thunderousugh boomed from Terra, shaking the very fabric of the mind realm.

    "Giving up already,d?"

    Alister chuckled, shaking his head.

    "Now, now."

    "Acknowledging a challenge is not the same as surrendering. This riddle is indeed a tricky

    one."

    He paused, then smiled, narrowing his gaze as he said.

    "But the answer is not beyond me."

    "The answer, is an idea."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "How so?" Terra asked, wanting to see if Alister was absolutely certain of his answer.

    Alister exined, with a confident tone in his voice.

    "Ideas have no voice, yet their power to influence can be deafening. They travel the world, carried by whispers and songs, shaping cultures and destinies. Though without lives themselves, ideas can ignite wars that consume nations and inspire the creation of empires that stand for millennia."

    Terra''s deep blue eyes gleamed with a look of approval.

    "A well-reasoned answer,d."

    "You demonstrate a keen mind. We dragons are powerful, but even the strongest beast can be brought low by a well-ced idea."

    A satisfied smile could be seen on Alister''s lips. Answering the first riddle had boosted his confidence.

    Terra, however, wasn''t finished yet. Her voice echowed against.

    "Very well,d."

    "You seem to possess a sharp wit. Now, for a second question, a bit moreplex.

    "I am alwaysing, but never arrive.

    I am always present, but never here.

    I am always moving, but never travel.

    What am I?"

    The riddle hung in the air, a puzzle for Alister to untangle. The first riddle focused on the intangible power of ideas, but this one felt more abstract. He furrowed his brow, a thoughtful expression settling on his face.

    As he thought about Terra''s second riddle. The first one tested his understanding of concepts, but this one felt like a an impossibility.

    "Alwaysing, but never arriving..." he muttered, pacing a small circle in the mind realm. "Always present, but never here..."

    The minutes seemed to stretch on forever, untill Alister finally spoke, "Time?"

    "An interesting attempt,d," Terra Said.

    "But not quite."

    Alister felt a drop of sweat roll down his forehead.

    "Two more wrong answer, and the challenge ends." Terra said as she leaned forward, her

    gaze narrowing.

 Chapter 64: Chat Part Three

    Chapter 64: Chat Part Three

    ?

    Hearing Beatrice''s story, Alister raised an eyebrow. "You must be an old member if you were going on missions with Aiko."

    Beatrice chuckled. "I may not look it, but I used to be a member of one of the guild''s elite raid teams."

    Alister was a bit shocked. "Really? How long have you been a member of the guild?"

    Beatrice blushed slightly. "Seven years."

    Alister''s eyes widened in surprise. "But you don''t look that old. Heck, I thought you were around my age."

    Beatriceughed softly. "Well, thank you. I get that a lot. It''s usually the case for physical enhancement talents."

    Axel leaned back in his chair, grinning. "See, Alister? Bea is full of surprises."

    Blitz nodded in agreement. "Yeah, she''s pretty amazing."

    Alister smiled. "I guess so."

    Axel and his sister turned to L, their eyes gleaming with mischief.

    "Now, on to the main course," Axel said with a grin.

    "L, you''ve been awfully quiet since Alister got here. You don''t have a thing for him now, do you?" Blitz teased.

    L turned red, her face flushing deeply. "It''s not like that," she stammered. "H-he just saved my life, that''s all."

    Blitz leaned back, a sly smile on her face. "Oh, saved your life, did he? I didn''t know Mr. Alister over here was such a charmer."

    Alister, caught off guard, raised his hands in defense. "It wasn''t anything like that," he said, trying to defuse the situation. "It was just a dungeon raid."

    L shot Blitz a look, half-annoyed and half-embarrassed.

    Axel chuckled, clearly enjoying the teasing. "Still, it''s not every day someone gets their life saved. Must have been pretty dramatic."

    Beatrice chimed in, "Come on, L, you haven''t told us your story yet. We all want to hear it."

    "In fact, why don''t you tell us about how Alister saved you?"

    "Yeah, yeah, tell us," Blitz urged as she leaned close to L.

    L tensed up slightly, her eyes darting around the room. Alister noticed her difort and his gaze narrowed, a look of concern passing through his eyes.

    ''I''m sure it still gets to her,'' he thought.

    "L, you don''t have to say anything if you don''t want to," Alister said gently.

    Blitz, unable to hold back her curiosity, interjected, "Why shouldn''t she want to tell the story

    "It''s fine. I can tell it." Before Blitz could finish, L interrupted her.

    Her voice was steady, but a slight tremor could be detected.

    She began, "It was a low F-rank dungeon. My friends and I wanted to raid it, but we didn''t meet the required number. So a friend of mine, Amelia, found Alister in the crowd of people wanting to participate in a dungeon raid and offered for him to join us. It was just a goblin cave. We killed the waves of goblins that came; for the most part, it was easy, a bit fun even.'' She paused shortly, catching her breath.

    "But something was off. The goblins were... getting stronger, much stronger than they should have been. We tried our best, but we were slowly overwhelmed. We all sustained... serious injuries..." Her voice began to shake as tears welled up in her eyes.

    Beatrice, Axel, and Blitz exchanged worried looks. "Um... L, you don''t have to continue if it''s too painful," Beatrice offered softly.

    "From the way you look, it seems... something truly sad happened."

    "Yeah, I wouldn''t have asked you to tell if I knew you''d end up like this," Blitz said, sounding a bit guilty.

    L shook her head. "No, I need to tell this. I tried to keep everyone''s injuries to a minimum, but it wasn''t enough. My friends fought as hard as they could, with everything they had, but things only got worse. Under all that pressure, we were caught off guard by a massive goblin that sent us flying with its massive club. Our wounds were severe. Amelia was already bleeding and unconscious." Her voice broke, and tears streamed down her face.

    A heavy silence fell over the group. Axel reached out and ced aforting hand on her shoulder.

    Gathering her strength, L continued, "We were scared. We had all given up hope. We thought we would meet our end there." Her voice was barely a whisper.

    Then, she looked at Alister, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and sadness. "And then, Alister... he got up from the rubble. He was covered in wounds, but his eyes burned intensely. He started killing the goblins one by one. With each goblin he defeated, he seemed to get stronger and faster."

    Blitz''s eyes widened in shock. "Wait, I thought he was a summoner?" she questioned.

    Blitz leaned towards Alister, her eyes wide with excitement. "Is what she said true?" she asked.

    Alister, wearing a nonchnt expression, said. "It is."

    Axel then asked, "How did you do it?"

    Alister took a sip from his cup then said. "That part''s a secret."

    Blitz pouted. "Boo, it''s no fun if you don''t tell."

    Beatrice cut in, "Anyway, what happened next?"

    L took a deep breath. "I wasn''t so sure. All I know is that he killed all the goblins and headed deeper into the dungeon. Once there were no goblins in the area, I crawled over to Amelia."

    "I called out to her, but she didn''t respond. I tried healing her, but it didn''t seem to work." Beatrice shifted her chair closer and patted L''s head gently. "It''s okay," she said softly.

    L nodded. "I''m alright."

    She wiped her tears.

    "Alister came back a couple of minutester and wanted the rest of us to leave. I was a bit reluctant to leave Amelia like that, so he knocked me out and carried me along with the

    others."

    Her expression began to look a bit more hopeful. "Although I''m sad I couldn''t save Amelia, I''m grateful that Alister saved all of us."

    Gazing at Alister, she said, "So thank you, Alister. I told this story because I wanted to let you know I''m truly grateful for what you did and I''m not petty enough to me you for leaving

    Amelia behind."

    Axel nodded, impressed. "Damn, that was a real hero story alright."

    Beatrice sped her hands together and said, "Alright, since we''ve all eaten and shared our stories, why don''t we call it a night and head to our rooms?"

    Blitz nodded in agreement. "Sounds nice, been itching to get some rest after what Miss Aiko

    put me and Axel through."

    Axel got up first and said, "Alright, we''ll be heading back now."

    Before he left, Axel paused, turned around to face Alister, and said, "Come to think of it, we

    haven''t really introduced ourselves."

    Blitz chimed in, "Yeah, you''re right." She said with a smile.

    "Oh, go ahead then." Alister said.

    Axel and Blitz grinned at each other. Axel began, "I''m Axel Morgan, the daring, grenade- juggling maniac, proud prankster and a guy who loves to live in the moment, I like to keep things interesting around here."

    Blitz followed with a mischievous grin, "And I''m Blitz Morgan, the fearless and mischievous partner-in-crime who catches those grenades and makes sure we don''t blow ourselves up, I''d dly follow my brother through everything, including miss Aiko''s intense punishments." Alister chuckled. "Alister Hazenworth, a hard worker I guess," he introduced himself.

 Chapter 44: Race To The Summoner

    Chapter 44: Race To The Summoner

    ?

    The next morning, the sun rose over magacity I, bathing the bustling metropolis in a warm golden light. The usual symphony of daily life yed out: hover vehicles whizzed through the air, people hurried along bustling sidewalks, and the scent of fresh ramen wafted from cozy restaurants. But beneath the surface of normalcy, a current of excitement crackled.

    A swarm of sleek, guild-marked hover vehicles, normally reserved for high-level operations, cut a path through the morning traffic. Curious citizens craned their necks, pointing and whispering.

    "Do you think they''re heading for the same ce?" a woman with a bright pink bob asked a gruff-looking man with a salt-and-pepper beard.

    "Most likely," the man grunted, adjusting his hat. "Rumor has it, it''s all for that new summoner, the one who summoned a drake."

    A group of students buzzed with excitement nearby. "For real?" a boy with spiky orange hair eximed.

    "All the top guilds are going head-to-head for some random guy? It''s gonna be a battle!" Across the street, a man with sweat going down on his forehead gripped the steering wheel of a beat-up hover van. Beside him, a young woman with a serious glint in her eyes clutched a worn holographic notepad.

    "This is it, Maya," the man rasped, he sounded desperate.

    "Ourst chance. If those rumors are true, we need to get there before anyone else."

    Their names were Kenji and Maya, veteran reporters for the struggling "Mega City Times." A string of bad luck and missed deadlines had them on the edge of unemployment. This, the biggest story mangacity I had seen in years involving a mysterious young summoner and a legendary drake, was their shot at securing their jobs and perhaps climbing to the top.

    "We can''t afford to bete, Kenji," Maya said, her voice sounding firm.

    "If the top guilds are all vying for him, it means he''s the real deal. This story couldunch us to the top!"

    Kenji mmed his fist on the steering wheel, feeling excited as his face hardened. "You''re right, Maya! We can''t miss this. Let''s go get that exclusive interview!"

    With a sudden burst of eleration, their battered van made its way through the traffic, driven by a desperate hope of clinging to their dream jobs and a chance to capture the hottest story megacity I had ever seen.

    -

    In the sleek, chrome hover vehicle of the Blue Seals guild, the air felt thick, so thick one could almost choke on it. Aria, her posture rigid and her expression serious, took a look through the holographic map projected on the windshield.

    "Eryx," she spoke up, her voice clipped, "I''m picking up a vehicle ID signature belonging to the Berserker guild''s vehicle. They''re approaching our position."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Eryx, his crimson hair a wild mane against the dark leather seat, sighed. "Ugh, figures. We may have gotten a head start, but they sure don''t waste any time."

    "Perhaps," Aria began, a touch of hesitation in her voice, "you should have considered the strategy I suggested yesterday."

    Eryx scoffed. "Park outside his apartment and wait for dawn? Aria,e on. That would make the Blue Seals look desperate, hovering around some kid''s house like hungry vultures. Besides, who knew you had it in you to propose such a cowardly tactic?"

    Aria suddenly became serious, her stern expression hardening further. "Cowardice has nothing to do with it. It''s about efficiency and minimizing unnecessarypetition."

    Eryx chuckled, a look of amusement softening his serious expression. "Alright, alright, Aria. You and your fancy efficiency," he said, leaning back in his seat.

    "But admit it, wouldn''t it have been a hrious sight? Imagine the look on the kid''s face if he woke up to a Blue Seals hovercraft parked In front of his apparentplex."

    Aria shot him an intense nce, but a small smile seemed to melt away her annoyance. "Perhaps," she admitted. "Butughter won''t secure the contract. Besides, who knows what kind of wee we''d receive from his drake. I''ve heard it talks, powerful and intelligent creatures like that won''t take kindly to disrespectful approaches towards their master. Trying to show our honesty by arriving early like that was an attempt to also win its favor. But with the way things are now it could attack us for all we know."

    A mischievous grin spread across Eryx''s face.

    "Now that''s a sight I wouldn''t mind seeing. Imagine the headlines - ''New Summoner Unleashes Inferno on Top Guild!""

    Aria sighed, shaking her head. "Don''t even joke about something like that, Eryx. We''re talking about a giant ss drake here. We need to approach this situation with respect and

    professionalism."

    "Fine, fine," Eryx waved his hand dismissively, a look of excitement still in his eyes.

    "So what''s the master n then? How do we ensure this kid chooses the Blue Seals over the others?"

    Aria tapped a finger against her chin, her brow furrowed in concentration.

    "The key, is to let him set the terms. A show of strength and prowess might impress some, but

    a genuine offer of partnership, of respect, will likely hold more weight."

    Eryx snorted. "Respect? From a powerful guild like ours, offering respect to some random kid? Come on, Aria, be realistic."

    Aria met his gaze unflinchingly. "He''s not just ''some random kid,'' Eryx. He''s a talented summoner, and ording to the reports, a clever one. He wouldn''t have summoned a drake without considering the potential consequences. We need to approach him as an equal, someone whose skills could be a valuable asset to the Blue Seals."

    "You know the more I''m hearing about this the more pissed off I''m slowly getting, but you haven''t really been wrong before so I''ll just let it go for now."

    "Also, I see your point, Aria. But let''s be honest, every other guild will be thinking the same thing. With the way things are going, this whole recruitment feels less like a negotiation and more like an auction."

    "If you know that then why are you against it?" Aria asked with an irritated look on her face.

 Chapter 45: Arrival

    Chapter 45: Arrival

    ?

    The sleek chrome hovercraft of the Blue Seals settled beside a small, red and ck transport belonging to one of the residences of the apartmentplex. Aria and Eryx stepped out, their expressions a study yet somewhat neutral.

    Across the street, Arden of the Red Phoenix guild stepped out of a fiery red supercar, his gaze sweeping over the arrivals.

    "Well, well, Eryx."

    "Haven''t seen you at one of these recruitment brawls in a while."

    Eryx shot back a yful jab. "Just taking a well-deserved break, Arden. Besides, some jobs require a bit more finesse than brute force."

    Aria spoke up with a stern look, "And we''re here to remind everyone that we aren''t that weak."

    Although among the top five guilds, the Blue Seals were considered to be the weakest, and more often than not, didn''t participate in many of such gatherings before.

    Arden chuckled. "Weak, huh? I can''t help but wonder what you both n to offer today." It suddenly became silent, broken only by the whirring of the hover vehicles. Then, a sleek ck limousine with tinted windows pulled up beside the Arden''s supercar. A collective feeling of unease rippled through the gathered guild representatives as the door hissed open. A man with dark brown hair, purple eyes, Cheng Zhi, branch master of the notorious ck Reaper guild, emerged. Wearing a look ofplete indifference. A shiver ran down the spine of even the most seasoned guild members.

    The ck Reapers were known for their ruthless tactics and shadowy dealings, also rumored to still be dealing in human and monster trafficking despite all thews and protocols put down by the Union. His presence seemed to cast a dark cloud over the otherwisepetitive atmosphere.

    Aria whispered to Eryx, "Great, just what we needed. The Reapers."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Eryx nodded. "Things just got a whole lot moreplicated."

    Cheng Zhi took a look around, his eyesnding on the other guild representatives, a grin suddenly appearing on his face.

    "Interesting turnout. I wonder who among you has the stomach for what''s toe."

    Arden smirked. "We all know you''re not here for a fair fight, Cheng."

    Cheng''s eyes narrowed. "Fairness is a luxury the weak can''t afford."

    Suddenly, the whirring of powerful engines filled the air. A massive, heavily armored hovercraft descended, emzoned with the insignia of the Berserker guild - a roaring bear. The door lowered with a loud thud, revealing a figure of woman with deep purple hair and piercing red eyes.

    Anya, the Berserker guild master, strode forward, her every step gave off power and prestige. Beside her stood a hulking man with a shaved head and a grim expression, the guild''s branch master, and a wiry, older woman with sharp eyes, presumably the vice branch master.

    "Surprised to see you all here," Anya yelled, her voice echoing across the small gathering. "I thought you''d all learned your lesson by now. Only the strongest get what they want."

    Eryx let out a sigh as he mummerd, "There she goes again, reminding everyone why the Berserkers are such a killjoy."

    Aria smirked. "Her confidence will be her downfall someday."

    Anya''s eyes shed with amusement.

    "Keep dreaming, Blue Seals. When you wake up, reality will still belong to the Berserkers."

    The assembled representatives shot each other intense nces, almost as if they could pounce on each other at any moment. Just then, another sleek vehicle, this one a shimmering silver,nded gracefully beside the Berserker transport.

    A young man with white hair and chillingly cold silver eyes stepped out, followed by a towering blue haired woman with a pair of sses.

    This was none other than Yuuto Tsukumo, guild master of the White Comet guild and infamous for his nickname, "Mr. Immortal." Despite his young appearance, bestowed upon him by his ''Absolute Regeneration'' talent, Yuuto was actually the eldest member present, his age hidden by his unique ability.

    Yuuto''s gaze swept over the crowd,nding briefly on each guild leader.

    "I see we''ve gathered quite the crowd," he remarked, his voice calm and even. "I trust we''re all here for the same reason?"

    Anya crossed her arms, smirking. "Of course, Sir Tsukumo. We all want the same prize. The question is, who''s going to get it?"

    Yuuto''s eyes glinted. "Youngsters, pray you all remember, it''s not merely power or cunning that shall win this day, but the virtue of wisdom and patience."

    The arrival of the White Comets sent a ripple of shockwaves that extended far beyond the assembled guild representatives.

    Windows on the lower floors of the apartmentplex creaked open, revealing a bunch of surprised faces.

    A woman peered out her window with a monocle perched on her eye.

    "Goodness gracious!" she gasped, clutching a string of pearls.

    "What in the world is all thismotion?"

    Down the hall, a man scratched his head in shock. Hovercrafts with the insignia of the top five guilds - the Berserkers, Red Phoenix, ck Reapers, Blue Seals, and White Comets - were practically parked bumper-to-bumper in front of their building.

    "Did I win the lottery and not know it?" he said, pinching himself to make sure he wasn''t

    dreaming.

    A group of teenagers gathered on the fire escape, their expressions a look of awe and excitement.

    "Dude, are those the actual guilds?"

    "I thought I only saw this stuff in the news!"

    "Seriously, this is insane!" another said, his phone already out, capturing the scene for his social media followers.

    "The top five guilds all at the same ce? What''s going on?"

    Themotion outside slowly reached a fever pitch as Anya, the Berserker guild master, addressed the other representatives.

    "We should grab the boy and go somewhere else before the paparazzi swarm the ce."

    "Agreed." Sir Yuuto said, nodding his head slightly. "But which one of you will be so kind as to notify him of our arrival?"

    News of the "great guild showdown" as Mrs. Watanabe dubbed it, spread like wildfire. Local news outlets scrambled to dispatch their crews, eager to capture a piece of what was shaping

    up to be a historic event.

    Meanwhile, oblivious to the chaos unfolding outside, Alister stepped out of his apartment, a leftover pastry clutched in his hand. He blinked in confusion at the sight of the gleaming

    vehicles and the gathering crowd.

    "What in the world..." he muttered, his voice barely audible over the growing din.

    All the guild representatives'' collective gaze instantlynded on him.

    "Seems there might not be a need to go notify him after all." Sir Yuuto said, smiling calmly

    right after.

 Chapter 46: Negotiations Begin

    Chapter 46: Negotiations Begin

    ?

    Alister found himself surrounded by a crowd of excited faces. Guild masters and

    representatives, all stared at him with a look in their eyes that made him feel like a prize racehorse.

    Before anyone couldunch into their pre-rehearsed recruitment pitches, Alister held up a hand, silencing the murmurs.

    "Whoa, hold on a second." he said, his voice surprisingly calm in all the chaos.

    "This is all a bit much. How about we talk somewhere a little less...crowded?"

    Anya, the Berserker guild master, raised an eyebrow but gave a slight nod. The others seemed to agree, the idea of a more private discussion appealing.

    "Excellent," Alister said, a small smile spreading on his lips. "I know just the ce."

    "But I''ll need a sec to change, be right back." Alister said as he turned around and stepped back into his room again locking the door behind him.

    Just like he said, the next second he emerged already dressed in a casual white hoodie and ck pants.

    Anya, the Berserker guild master, smirked. "Well, well, look at you, eager to get this over with, are we?"

    "Alright then, let''s not waste any more time. Let''s go."

    Alister, who had just re-emerged from his apartment door replied, "Alright, let''s get going then."

    Before anyone could react, Alister strode towards the balcony overlooking the street. A collective gasp escaped the crowd as they watched him climb onto the railing.

    "Wait... what''s he doing?" Eryx of the Blue Seals asked, his yful demeanor suddenly changed into a look of genuine concern.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Isn''t he a summoner, not a daredevil? He could break his legs!"

    Anya''s eyes narrowed, but she remained rooted to the spot, a look of something simmr to respect appearing in her eyes.

    Ignoring the gasps and shouts of the onlookers, Alister took a deep breath and... jumped.

    He didn''t leap gracefully, nor did he plummet like a stone. Instead, hended with a soft thud on the balls of his feet, a casual grin stered on his face.

    Silence suddenly fell upon the crowd. The guild representatives, mouths hang open, stared at Alister as if he had grown a second head.

    "What''s all the fuss about?" Alister asked, his voice filled with amusement.

    "It was just a little shortcut. Now, shall we get going to the ce I mentioned?"

    All of them still stood silent in shock.

    Anya, the first to recover herposure, let out augh.

    "Bold move, kid."

    "I like your style. Lead the way."

    As Alister led the guild representatives through the bustling streets toward a nearby restaurant, murmurs of curiosity and spection buzzed behind him.

    "Did you see that?" Arden whispered to Eryx. "How did hend like that without even flinching?" he said, smiling, clearly fascinated.

    Eryx nodded, his eyes still wide. "I don''t know, but it definitely wasn''t normal. There''s more to this kid than meets the eye."

    "Maybe it has something to do with his talent rank being SSS." Eryx said.

    Aria, walking a few steps besides him, exchanged a nce with Eryx. "I was hoping to offer him top A-rank bodyguards to ensure his safety at all times."

    "But it seems he wouldn''t be needing that if he''s that strong already."

    Cheng Zhi of the ck Reapers smirked. "He''s got some tricks up his sleeve, that''s for sure. Maybe he doesn''t need protection, but I''m more interested in how he achieved that feat."

    Anya chuckled. "Whatever his secret is, it''s impressive. But let''s see how he handles himself in a real negotiation."

    A crowd of people slowly followed behind Alister and the guild masters, pulling out their divices to imortaloze the moment by take pictures and recordings. Alister led the guild representatives away from the prying eyes of the increasingly agitated crowd.

    Kenji and Maya, finally arriving in their battered van, watched in dismay as the spectacle unfolded before them.

    "st it!" Kenji mmed his fist on the steering wheel. "We finally get a lead, and look at them! Already halfway to who knows where!"

    Maya, her brow furrowed in frustration, peered through the van window. "There goes our exclusive interview."

    Across the street, a pack of paparazzi had descended upon the scene like ravenous vultures. Cameras shed, microphones thrust forward, as they desperately tried to capture a glimpse of the young summoner and the high-powered guild representatives.

    "Who is he?"

    "They say he''s Alsiter, a real prodigy."

    "Which guild will he choose?"

    "Is this the rumored new summoner who summoned a drake?"

    The questions flew thick and fast, but without any answers.

    Kenji, fuming but not giving up, mmed the van into gear.

    "We might bete, Maya, but we''re not out. There''s still a chance to get a scoop. Follow them!"

    With a roar of the engine, the battered van hoverd forward, slowly following after the crowd. Meanwhile, the unlikely group led by Alister arrived at their destination - one of the pinnacle of luxury dining in menga City I, the Five Emperors Restaurant.

    The entrance slowly gilded open and a whole other wield of luxury weed them inside.

    Alister and the guild representatives got seated around a massive table, the atmosphere was tense as they settled into their seats. Anya, the Berserker guild master, leaned forward, ready to dive straight into negotiations.

    "Alright, let''s get down to busine-"

    "Hold on," Alister interrupted, raising a hand. "Before we start, let''s show some sincerity

    first."

    Arden of the Red Phoenix guild raised an eyebrow. "And what mey that be exactly?"

    Alister leaned back in his chair, a casual grin on his face. "How about you all treat me to a meal? I may not look it, but I''ve been eating a lottely. Or at least, it feels like my hunger just

    isn''t going away."

    The guild representatives exchanged puzzled nces, but Anya''s smirk returned.

    "Fair enough, kid. A full stomach makes for a sharper mind. Let''s order."

    Menus were quickly distributed, but only Alister picked up his.

    Aria whispered to Eryx, "He''s got a point. We need to show him we''re willing to invest in him,

    even if it means starting with something as simple as a meal."

    Eryx nodded, still intrigued by Alister''s earlier feat. "Let''s see how this ys out. He''s already shown he''s not afraid to take control of the situation."

 Chapter 68: First Bloodline Awakening

    Chapter 68: First Bloodline Awakening

    ?

    ''Seems there''s more of them, good.''

    ''System, check quest status.''

    [73/80.]

    Came the response.

    ''Good, I''m close topleting the quest.''

    The new wave was more diverse. Among the root monsters wererge, wolf-like creatures with fur made of dark, bristling vines and glowing red eyes.

    ''Wolves again? No, they still look like Treants.''

    A talent window suddenly materialized.

    Monster: Sinister Wolf Treant

    Rank: D+

    ss: Medium.

    Total Combat Power: 4700

    ''Must be some sort of mutation, or perhaps the Treant gained the ability to change forms.''

    They Growled as they circled Alister, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

    ''Here theye.'' Alister thought as he tensed up.

    One of the wolf-creatures lunged at him from behind, but Alister was ready. He spun around, his ws shing through the creature''s midsection. The monster yelped as it was torn apart, its body dissolving into a mass of writhing vines.

    Another wolf attacked from the side, its jaws snapping at his arm. Alister blocked with his gauntlet, the impact jarring but manageable. He followed up with a swift uppercut, the ws of his gauntlet tearing through the wolf''s head.

    The remaining wolves pounced simultaneously, their coordinated attack forcing Alister to push his reflexes to the limit.

    He ducked under one,shed out at another, and spun to kick a third, his leg connecting squarely with its jaw. His movements were deadly, each strike devastating. The wolves fell one by one, their bodies disintegrating into piles of vines and glowing embers.

    As thest wolf fell, a new, more menacing presence emerged from the jungle. A massive creature, towering over the ruins, stepped into the clearing. It was an amalgamation of stone and roots, its body covered in jagged rocks and pulsing with the same strange green light. Its eyes glowed brightly, and it let out a thunderous roar that shook the ground.

    ~Graaaaaaa~

    A bright green talent window suddenly materialized.

    Monster: Evil Vine Colossal Stone Treant

    Rank: C+

    ss: Medium.

    Total Combat Power: 6900

    ''This one must be the boss.''

    ''For some reason it seems the system didn''t issue a quest for defeating this one.''

    Alister steeled himself, his muscles tensing. The creature''s massive arms swung down at him, and he rolled to the side just in time. The impact shattered the ground where he had stood, sending a shockwave that knocked him off bnce.

    He quickly regained his footing and charged at the creature. The behemoth swung again, but this time Alister was ready. He leaped onto the creature''s arm, using his ws to climb up its massive body. The creature roared in fury, thrashing violently in an attempt to dislodge him.

    Reaching the creature''s head, Alister drove his ws into its glowing eyes. The creature howled in agony, its movements bing more erratic.

    Alister held on tightly, using his gauntlets to maintain his grip. With a final, powerful strike, he drove both ws deep into the creature''s head. The Treant shuddered violently before copsing, its body disintegrating into a pile of rubble and roots.

    Breathing heavily, Alister stood amidst the remains of his fallen foes. The jungle around him was silent, the only sound being the distant roars of Terra and Cinder.

    He surveyed the battlefield, noting the damage the monsters had caused. Trees were splintered, the ground was torn apart, and the air was filled with the acrid smell of sap and -crushed foliage.

    Satisfied with his victory, Alister took a deep breath and called out, "System, check quest status."

    A yellow window materialized before him, disying the current progress of his quest.

    [Ding! Congrats to the yer forpleting the daily quest!]

    [System has now begun looting!]

    [Quest Reward: ze Crystal (summoning conduit).]

    [Notice! Mastery ofbat with ws has reached intermediate level! (20%).]

    [Ding! The yer has reached level 20!]

    He had already met the required number of kills, but there was still time left on the clock.

    ''Alright, I guess I should call back Cinder and Terra so we can go explore around a bit.'' Alister''s voice echoed across a telepathic link to Cinder and Terra, ''Cinder, Terra, return, we''re done here.''

    ''Understood.'' they both replied. Proceeding to spread out their wings and begin flying towards Alister.

    Alister stood amidst the carnage, feeling aplished.

    "Today''s quest was a lot easier than yesterday''s, I didn''t even get a scratch on me so my blood healing and blood maniption skills didn''t activate." Alister said to himself, with a touch of

    pride in his voice.

    [Lootingplete!] The system''s voice suddenly echoed.

    Opening his inventory he took a look at the items Inside.

    ''Now that I look at it, several wolf items from thest daily quest are here, guess I didn''t really get a chance to go sell them.''

    ''Maybe I can put them up for sale when I get to the auction, some of these items are rare despite just being D rank, and the question of how I obtained materials of monsters beyond the walls won''t be asked.''

    While he was lost in thought, just then a sharp pain shot through his chest, as if an icy hand had gripped his heart. The pain was so intense that he stumbled backward, his knees buckling

    as he copsed to the ground.

    "W-what the hell is this?" Alister asked in confusion.

    His vision blurred as he clutched his chest, gasping for air. A heavy pressure seemed to be crushing his heart, and he was feeling dizzy. As the pain intensified, a voice echoed in his mind, the system''s notification.

    [Notice: yer has reached the level requirement. Commencing First Stage Bloodline

    Awakening.]

    ''Bloodline awakening? Does this have anything to do with my Draconic aspect?''

    The world around him faded to ck as the process began.

    His body began to heat up, sweat streamed down his body dripping on the floor. His heart began to warm up, emanating a soft golden glow that was causing his chest area to illuminate

    as he clutched it.

    [Reconstructing 15% of the yer''s bone structure.]

    [Notice! This is going to be an extremely painful process!]

    "Ughaaaaaa!"

    A primal scream tore through Alister''s throat as an excruciating pain erupted within him. His body tensed, muscles straining against an unseen force. The golden glow intensified, pulsing rhythmically as if a new life was being birthed within him.

    The ground beneath him trembled as a surge of energy radiated from his body. Vines and

    leaves withered and died in a radius around him, the vibrant jungle transformed into a

    scorched wastnd.

    Time seemed to slow as Alister endured the agony. The world around him blurred and distorted, reced by a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. He felt as if his consciousness was being pulled apart and reconstructed, every fiber of his being in upheaval.

    ''Damn it, what is this! I feel like if I even let up for a moment I could lose consciousness.''

    [Notice! Dragon soul is being reactivated!]

    [Notice this is going to be a very painful process!]

    ''Dragon soul? More? I have to-''

    Before he could finish his train of thought another pain shot through him, but it wasn''t in his

    chest, no, this felt like abound his abdomen area. Thousands of needles were poking around

    what felt like an orb-like object, at the same time it felt like those needles were also piercing

    all over his body.

    [Notice! Memory fragment found!]

    [Does the yer wish to re-assimte or discard?]

 Chapter 48: The Unreasonable Request

    Chapter 48: The Unreasonable Request

    ?

    Arden leaned back, his gaze somewhat intense, "You''ve got quite the head on your shoulders, kid."

    Alister finished, a confident smile on his face. "So, those are my terms. If any of you can meet them, then we can talk further."

    Alister''s thoughts raced, ''I know my request ispletely unreasonable, ridiculous in fact. But I need ess to a guild treasury if I want any hope of finding the materials necessary to craft the omnipotent elixir. Revealing that it''s the ingredients for the elixir I seek could result in the guild trying to control me, and I need my freedom to venture into the wilderness for my daily quests.''

    ''And I can''t raid dunguons due to the face the system said I''d loose stat points. I can''t make good on my promise if I end up making myself weaker.''

    Those were two of Alister''s reasons for making such requests. The down payment and the monthly pay were not only to afford Miyu''s bills but also to potentially visit the ck market in search of the necessary materials if he had to.

    The silence in the room felt tense as Alister finished stating his demands. The guild representatives exchanged uneasy nces, the magnitude of his requests settling in.

    Cheng Zhi was the first to speak, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So, basically, you''re telling us to our faces that you want to act and do whatever you want, be given permission to disobey our future orders, and be granted ess to our guild''s treasury. Look, kid, if you didn''t have a drake for a summon, I''d be beating the shit out of you right now."

    He stood up suddenly, pushing his chair back with a harsh scrape. "But since it seems you want to be so unreasonable, and there is no way I am agreeing to that, I guess I should start making my way back."

    Cheng Zhi made his way out of the restaurant, leavingplete silence in his wake. The other guild representatives shifted ufortably in their seats, clearly conflicted.

    Anya sighed, leaning back in her chair. "You have to understand, Alister, what you''re asking for is a lot. Autonomy is one thing, but unrestricted ess to our treasury? That''s a hard sell." Eryx nodded as he took agreed, his expression serious. "It''s not just about the money or the items, Alister. It''s about trust and responsibility. We can''t just hand over such privileges without assurance that they''ll be used wisely."

    Arden added, "We all see your potential, and we respect your skills, but these demands are... excessive. You''re asking us to take a huge risk."

    Aria, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, her voice measured. "We need to ensure that our investment in you is secure, Alister. What you''re proposing undermines that security."

    Yuuto Tsukumo watched the proceedings with a calm expression, his assistant observing the growing tension with interest.

    Alister remained calm, meeting each representative''s gaze steadily. "I understand your concerns. But if I''m tomit myself fully to a guild, I need to know that I won''t be stifled or undervalued. I want to contribute to your sess, but I also want the freedom to grow."

    The air in the restaurant seemed like it got thicker, with the staff ncing with unease towards that table. The other guild representatives began to voice their thoughts, each preparing to make their exit.

    Anya sighed, clearly frustrated. "Alister, you may be talented, very true, but I q can''t afford to give you that level of autonomy and ess. It''s just not feasible."

    She stood up, shaking her head, and began to walk away. "I''m sorry, but the Berserkers can''t meet those demands."

    Eryx followed suit, a look of regret on his face. "We were genuinely interested in having you join the Blue Seals, but this... it''s too much. We need to maintain some level of control and order."

    Arden, with a resigned shrug, also spoke up, "Financial security and autonomy are one thing, but unrestricted ess to our treasury is another. I can''t agree to that."

    He too got up and made his way out, leaving only Yuuto and his assistant.

    Aria, the strategist of the Blue Seals, hesitated for a moment before saying,

    "Good luck, Alister. I hope you find what you''re looking for."

    With that, she followed the others, leaving Alister alone with Yuuto Tsukumo and his assistant.

    The woman with the sses, who had been standing quietly beside sir Yuuto, stepped forward and softly called out to him. "Master Yuuto, we should go. The young man''s requests are illogical."

    Yuuto smiled, his eyes glinting with interest. "Wait, Aiko."

    Aiko, his assistant, looked slightly taken by surprise. "But, Master Yuuto, his demands are "

    Yuuto raised a hand, and she fell silent, nodding and stepping back respectfully.

    He turned his full attention to Alister, his expression one of genuine curiosity and amusement.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Alister, I will grant all of your requests. I may not be entirely sure of your intentions, but living as long as I have, I can easily tell... they are pure."

    Alister blinked, eyes wide with shock. Yet he couldn''t help but smile slightly. "You... Your serious?"

    Aiko''s eyes widened in shock. "Master Yuuto, are you certain? That is like giving him legal permission to steal from us. Any four of the items he picks could be well over a year''s worth of

    his pay."

    "Enough Aiko, you have never been one to qustion my decisions. Do you n to start now?" Yuuto asked, with a serious tone as he red at her slightly.

    "I-I wouldn''t dare." She stutterd in fear.

    "Good." Yuuto said with a smile.

    From her corner, Maya''s jaw dropped. "Did I just hear that right?" she muttered to herself, frantically scribbling in her notepad. "This is unbelievable!"

    Yuuto turned his head to face Alister, maintaining his calm demeanor. "Now, where was I, ah. Yes, Alister. I am serious. Let''s proceed to sign the contract, right now."

    Yuuto gave Aiko a brief nod. "Present the contract."

    Aiko hesitated, clearly reluctant. "Yes, Master Yuuto." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small chip. With a sigh, she slid it forward towards Alister.

    As the chip activated, a blue holographic contract materialized in front of them, the terms clearly stated. The only thing left was Alister''s fingerprint.

    Alister stared at the hologram, his eyes wide. "Just my fingerprint, huh?"

    Yuuto nodded, his expression calm as he smiled softly. "Yes, Alister. It''s as simple as that."

    Alister took a deep breath and pressed his finger against the holographic contract. As soon as he did, the contract turned white, and a red "Approved" stamp appeared on it. The hologram then retracted back into the chip, which floated back into Aiko''s hand.

    Yuuto rose from his seat, extending a hand to Alister. "Wee to the White Comets, drake summoner. You are expected to pack your things and move to headquarters immediately." Alister nodded, walking towards Yuuto and shaking his hand. "Understood."

 Chapter 49: Kais Burning Resolve

    Chapter 49: Kai''s Burning Resolve

    ?

    Kai sat in a dimly lit room within the grand Li family manor, his gaze fixed on Yanzi as shey on the bed. The gentle rise and fall of her chest was a small reassurance that she was still alive, but her continued unconsciousness weighed heavily on his heart.

    He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and sping his hands together. His eyes traced the delicate lines of her face, the soft curve of her lips, and the way her hair fanned out on the pillow. Memories of their time together flooded his mind, each one a reminder of the love he felt for her.

    "Yanzi," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

    "I remember the first time I saw you. It was at that aquarium my family newly opened. You were there, looking so beautiful in that blue dress. I couldn''t take my eyes off you."

    He smiled faintly, recalling the way herughter had filled the halls, bright and heartwarming.

    "I knew right then I had to know you. When we finally talked, it was like everything clicked. You were funny, bold, daring in a nice way, and kind. You made me feel like I was more than just the Li family''s Kai."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Kai''s smile faded, a look of doubt crossing his face. "I know a part of you probably liked me because of my family background. I mean, who wouldn''t be drawn to wealth and power? But I didn''t care. I still don''t. All that matters to me is you."

    Indeed, young Kai was a genius, but not a hard worker. For as long as many could remember, he was a cker, never putting much effort into anything. He lived like a yboy, spending money however and whenever he wanted, getting whatever he desired with ease.

    He reached out, gently taking her hand in his. "I''ve never been serious about anything in my life. Not really. I coasted through school, relied on my family''s influence, and never had to fight for anything. But with you, Yanzi, it''s different. I''m serious about you. I need you."

    His voice broke slightly, and he swallowed hard, trying to keep hisposure. "Please,e back to me. I can''t lose you. Not now, not ever. You''re the one thing in this world that I truly care about, the one thing that makes me want to be better."

    Kai squeezed her hand, willing her to wake up, to open her eyes and smile at him like she always did. "Yanzi, I love you. So much. Please, fight. Come back to me."

    The room fell silent, the only sound was the soft hums of the manor''s air conditioning. Kai sat there, holding her hand, his heart aching with each passing second of her unconsciousness. He would wait as long as it took, hoping and praying that she would return to him.

    Kai sat there for a while longer, lost in his thoughts and the quiet of the room. His eyes never left Yanzi''s face, and his mind reyed the events that had led them to this moment. Alister. The name echoed in his mind, a reminder of the crash that had brought Yanzi to this state.

    He clenched his fist, his jaw tightening with anger.

    "Alister," he muttered, his voice low and filled with anger. "You''re the reason she''s still like this. I''ll make you pay, no matter what."

    Just as he was filled by these dark thoughts, a knock on the door broke the silence. Kai looked up, startled, and saw a butler standing at the entrance.

    "Young master."

    "It''s time for yourbat training. Remember, in a few days, you will be participating in a test raid for your membership at the Red Phoenix Guild."

    Kai''s expression hardened, and he stood up, gently cing Yanzi''s hand back on the bed. He brushed a stray lock of hair from her face and leaned down, whispering softly, "I''ll be back soon. I promise."

    Turning to the butler, Kai nodded. "Thank you. I''ll be there shortly."

    The butler bowed again and left, closing the door quietly behind him. Kai took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions. He knew he needed to focus on his training, especially with the uing test raid, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Yanzi and the promise of revenge against Alister.

    Kai walked briskly through the massive corridors of the Li family estate, his thoughts still clouded with the image of Yanzi lying unconscious. As he turned a corner, he nearly collided with a tall, imposing figure. Just like him, this man also had brown hair and green eyes.

    "Brother," Kai said, stepping back topose himself.

    Standing before him was his older brother, Liang Li, the prodigious genius of the Li family. Liang was a member of the Reaper guild, but not just any member; he was on the elite strike team and the vice branch master. His reputation was legendary, and it was practically set in stone that he would be the next head of the Li family.

    Liang''s S rank talent, "Overwhelming," was a source of respect and fear. Many thought his ability allowed him to increase his speed, but they were both wrong and right. In reality, his ability shifted his mind from this dimensional ne to another, allowing the perception of time to be viewed at a much slower rate. To Liang, the world around him slowed to a crawl, and people became dolls, waiting to be broken.

    "Oh, look who it is," Liang said, his tone sounding condescending. "Didn''t expect to run into you, Kai."

    Kai immediately went on the defensive. "You keep making it sound like I''m a stranger. This is my home too, you know."

    "Not when I be family head it won''t be," Liang replied with a smug grin. "I''ll be sure the first thing I do is kick yourzy ass out of here."

    Kai gritted his teeth, struggling to keep his anger in check.

    Liang''s grin widened as he folded his arms. "Oh, I''ve been busy with work at the guildtely,

    so I didn''t get to see it, but I heard someone broke your new toy."

    Kai''s eyes shed with anger at the mention of Yanzi being referred to as a toy.

    Liang continued. "I also heard you ran away from the guy responsible, running back to Grandfather to fix it all up so you can y with it again. I knew you liked your toys, but I didn''t expect you''d throw away our family pride by running away like that."

 Chapter 50: A Duel

    Chapter 50: A Duel

    ?

    Kai''s fists clenched tightly at his sides, his body trembling with barely contained rage. "You don''t know what you''re talking about," he spat. "Yanzi isn''t a toy, and I didn''t run away. I did what I had to do to save her."

    Liang chuckled, his condescension only deepening. "Whatever you need to tell yourself to sleep at night, little brother. Just remember, when I''m head of this family, things will be very different."

    "Well, little brother, I have better things to do."

    Kai''s anger red, and he couldn''t hold back any longer. "Take that back!" he yelled, his voice echoing down the corridor.

    Liang stopped in his tracks, turning slightly to gaze at Kai with a cold, condescending eye. "Take what back, exactly?"

    Kai''s fists clenched at his sides. "What you said about Yanzi being a toy. Take it back."

    Liang''s smirk grew wider. "Yanzi is its name, huh? Fine, I''ll be sure to call it Yanzi from now on."

    Kai''s rage boiled over. "She isn''t an ''it'' either! If you don''t recognize her as a person, then you and I are going to have a problem."

    Liang turned fully to face Kai, his expression darkening. "A problem, huh? You''re amusing, little brother. But remember your ce. I won''t take back what I said, and there''s nothing you can do about it."

    The butler had been standing frozen, watching the whole exchange with unease. He stuttered to Kai, "Y-young Master, we should be going."

    Kai suddenly called out to Liang. "I challenge you to a duel!"

    Liang paused, turning back with a look of surprise and disdain. "What do you think you''re up to, Kai? I don''t have time for your childish games. Or are you just looking for a beating?"

    "Neither," Kai retorted. "I''m going to make you apologize and take back what you said." The butler beside Kai tried to intervene. "Please, Young Master, calm down. This isn''t like you. Let''s just go to the training ground so you can prepare for your test raid."

    Kai red at the butler. "Shut up. I''m going through with this. Besides, what better sparring partner could I get than the infamous vice branch master of the Reapers guild?"

    Liang chuckled, the sound cold and mocking, suddenly his expression turned serious. "I don''t know what you think you''re up to, Kai, but if it''s a beating you''re after, then I guess it''s my responsibility as your older brother to deliver."

    Some momentster, whispers spread across the manor like wildfire. A maid, wide-eyed and breathless, called out to some butlers and other staff members.

    "Did you hear? Young Master Kai has challenged Young Master Liang to a duel!"

    Gasps of shock and murmurs filled the air. The staff exchanged worried looks at each other, unable to fathom the audacity of such a challenge.

    One of the older maids shook her head.

    "This won''t end well. Young Master Liang is leagues ahead of him."

    Another butler, frowning, also spoke up, "Kai must be out of his mind to think he stands a chance."

    The maid who had spread the news took a look around at the gathered staff.

    "We should head over to the training ground to see. This isn''t something that happens every day."

    Reluctantly, the group began to make their way toward the training ground, their footsteps echoing in the hallways. As they walked, the atmosphere was thick with excitement and unease, everyone aware that this little sh could have serious consequences for the future of the Li family.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As the staff hurried toward the training ground, one of the younger maids, in her haste, rounded a corner too quickly and almost collided with a tall, imposing figure. She stumbled back, eyes wide with surprise and fear.

    Before her stood Liang and Kai''s father, Lord Jian Li, the third son of the patriarch. Known for his sharp mind and unmatched strategic prowess, Jian created and organized numerous sessful businesses owned by the Li family; it is said he was the one that sold the idea for the new model of the mana disruptors, a man both a business tycoon and a tech expert.

    Jian looked down at the maid, raising an eyebrow. "What''s the rush?"

    The maid, catching her breath, stuttered, "L-Lord Jian, I-I apologize. It''s just that... there''s urgent news. Young Master Kai has... he''s challenged Young Master Liang to a duel."

    Jian''s eyes narrowed slightly, a look of curiosity crossing his face. "Kai, challenging Liang?" he said, more to himself than to the maid.

    The maid nodded quickly, her voice trembling slightly.

    "Yes, my lord. It''s causing quite a stir among the staff. Everyone is heading to the training ground to witness it."

    Jian''s expression remained mostly indifferent, though his curiosity was piqued.

    "Kai taking action, finally," he thought aloud. "This is interesting."

    The maid blinked, not expecting such a reaction. Jian simply nodded and began to walk toward the training ground.

    "Let''s see what this is about," he said over his shoulder, his tone more curious than concerned.

    As Jian walked, the staff followed in silence, whispering among themselves about the unexpected turn of events.

    The thought of witnessing the duel had suddenly be much more intriguing with the presence of Lord Jian, whose approval or disapproval could significantly impact the oue and the family dynamics.

    ....

    The training grounds were a massive, open space,rge enough to amodate a small 50 by 50 house. It was filled with various training dummies and equipment, but these had been cleared out to make way for the duel between the young masters.

    The air was filled with anticipation as staff and family members gathered at the elevated viewing points, eager to witness the match.

    Kai''s father, Lord Jian Li, arrived with a calm demeanor, his curiosity hidden behind a look of indifference. He took his ce among the spectators, his sharp eyes observing the scene with interest. The maids and butlers whispered among themselves, all clearly excited.

    Liang, standing in the center of the training ground, held a sword with a confident grip. He couldn''t help but smirk as he saw the growing audience.

    "Everyone hase rushing over to witness just how helplessly you''ll fail, Kai."

    "Would you look at that, even father is here."

    Kai stood across from him, his stance firm and his expression filled with anger as he gripped twin daggers. He nced up at the elevated tform, meeting his father''s eyes for a brief moment. Jian gave a slight nod, acknowledging his son''s resolve.

    "Ready when you are, Liang," Kai replied.

    "Let''s get this over with."

    Liang''s smirk widened. "Very well, little brother. Let''s see what you''ve got."

 Chapter 51: Clash Of Brothers

    Chapter 51: sh Of Brothers

    ?

    The training ground was silent except for the murmurs of the gathered staff. The tension in the air was intense as Kai and Liang faced each other, their eyes locked in an intense stare.

    Kai tightened his grip on his twin daggers, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew this wouldn''t be an easy fight, but he wasn''t going to back down.

    Liang, on the other hand, stood with confidence, his sword glinting in the sunlight. His ability, "Overwhelming," had always given him an edge inbat, and he fully intended to use it to put his younger brother in his ce.

    "Ready when you are," Kai called out, his voice steady despite the feeling of unease within him.

    Liang''s smirk widened. "Very well, little brother. Let''s see what you''ve got."

    In an instant, Kai vanished from his spot, reappearing a few feet to the left. Liang''s eyes tracked his movement with ease, his ability already shifting his perception of time.

    Kai lunged forward, aiming his daggers at Liang''s torso. Liang sidestepped smoothly, his sword parrying Kai''s attack skilfully. The sh of metal echoed through the training ground, sending sparks flying in all directions.

    The force of their collision caused the earth beneath their feet to buckle slightly, sending ripples through the ground.

    "Is this all you''ve got?" Liang taunted.

    "I expected more from you, Kai."

    Kai gritted his teeth, teleporting behind Liang and shing at his back. But Liang was already moving, his perception of time allowing him to react almost instantaneously.

    He spun around, his sword deflecting Kai''s daggers once more, creating a gust of wind that rustled the onlookers'' clothing.

    "You''re too slow," Liang sneered, his eyes gleaming with a look of superiority.

    Kai didn''t respond, focusing instead on his next move. He activated his space condensation ability, making the distance between them seem shorter. He closed the gap in a blink, his daggers shing towards Liang''s throat. The speed of his movement created a gust of wind that whipped around them, causing the spectators to gasp.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Aiming for my neck now are you?" Liang said with a yful, almost mocking tone.

    He activated "Overwhelming," slowing his perception of time to a crawl. In this slowed state, he saw every detail of Kai''s attack, every muscle movement.

    He stepped aside, grabbing Kai''s wrist and twisting it, forcing him to drop one of his daggers. The ground beneath them cracked under the pressure, dust rising into the air.

    Kai winced in pain but didn''t stop. He teleported again, reappearing a few feet away. He raised his hand, manipting space to pull himself rapidly towards Liang. The sudden eleration caught Liang off guard, but only for a moment.

    Liang swung his sword in a wide arc, aiming for Kai''s abdomen. Kai ducked under the de, his remaining dagger slicing towards Liang''s leg. Liang jumped back, avoiding the attack by a hair''s breadth. The force of his jump caused the earth to tremble slightly, and a sharp wind followed his movement.

    "You think these tricks will work on me?" Liangughed, his voice echoing in the training ground.

    Kai didn''t respond. Instead, he activated space condensation again, this time making the distance between them seem even shorter. He teleported directly in front of Liang, his dagger aimed at his brother''s heart. The sudden movement created a vortex of air around them, leaves and dust swirling in the gusts.

    Liang''s eyes widened, but his "Overwhelming" ability kicked in. Time slowed to a crawl once more. He twisted his body, his sword moving to intercept Kai''s attack. With a deft flick of his wrist, he disarmed Kaipletely, sending the dagger flying across the training ground. Sparks flew as the metal collided, illuminating the tense scene.

    In the same motion, Liang brought the hilt of his sword down on Kai''s shoulder, knocking him to the ground. Kai gasped in pain, his vision blurring for a moment. The impact created a small crater beneath him, the ground giving way under the force.

    Liang stood over him, his expression a look of triumph and disdain. "You never stood a chance, little brother."

    "And for your information, I went easy on you."

    "So hurry back and go cling on to your broken toy."

    Kai struggled to get up, his body trembling with exhaustion and frustration. "I... I won''t let you talk about Yanzi like that," he panted.

    Liang''s smirk faded slightly, reced by a cold, calcting look. "You still don''t understand, do you? Strength is what matters in this family. And you, Kai, don''t have enough."

    "That''s why you ran away from the guy that broke your toy, remember?"

    He turned his back on Kai, dismissing him as no longer worth his time. "This duel is over."

    Kai clenched his fists, forcing himself to stand. "It''s not over until I say it is." Liang paused, turning slightly to look at Kai over his shoulder. "You''re delusional, Kai. But if you want another beating, I''m more than happy to oblige."

    Before Kai could react, Liang closed the distance with a gust of wind, his movements a blur. Hended a series of rapid strikes, each one swift and devastating.

    Kai tried to teleport away, but Liang was always one step ahead, his perception of time giving him the edge. The earth buckled and split under the force of theirbat, dust and debris filling the air.

    Everytime Kai would teleport away, Liang would instantly close the distance with his speed. Whipping up dirt with the gusts of wind created with their movements.

    Finally, with a powerful kick to Kai''s chest, Liang sent him sprawling to the ground. Kaiy there, gasping for breath, unable to muster the strength to stand. The ground where hended was shattered, small rocks and dirt scattered around him.

    Liang stood over him, his expression cold, as he stared daggers at him. "Stay down, little brother. You lost."

    The gathered spectators watched in silence, the reality of Kai''s defeat sinking in. Lord Jian Li, observing from the elevated tform, shook his head slightly, a look of disappointment and resignation in his eyes.

 Chapter 52: Recipe For Chaos

    Chapter 52: Recipe For Chaos

    ?

    Kai''s vision blurred, the edges darkening as consciousness slipped away. Thest thing he heard was Liang''s voice, cold and victorious.

    "And remember, Kai. Strength is everything, and the top of the world is reserved only for those who possess an ''Overwhelming'' amount of it."

    "Let this be thest time you try a stunt like this."

    "Else those limbs of yours will be reced with robotic prosthetics."

    Liang finally turned around and left his brother on the ground defeated.

    Kaiy on the ground, bruised and defeated, the weight of his failure heavy on his chest. The whispers of the onlookers filled his ears, each word a dagger to his pride.

    "Did you see that? He didn''t stand a chance."

    "Liang was toying with him the whole time."

    "Kai''s always been too weak. He should have known better."

    All he could think about was his own weakness, his inability to protect Yanzi, and the humiliating defeat at the hands of his brother.

    In anger and frustration, Kai mmed his fist into the ground, the impact sending a shockwave through the already shattered earth.

    "Damn it... Damn it all!" he yelled, his voice echoing across the training grounds.

    "Why did things turn out like this... The times I didn''t want anything, I got everything, the times I didn''t even try, I emerged victorious."

    "What''s so different now... why has everything changed?"

    Indeed, throughout his life of living with a golden spoon, Kaicked nothing, and thus never really wanted anything. Not the position of family head, not the shares of any of the family''s businesses, or some sort of position of prestige or power. He wasn''t ambitious.

    But now things had changed, he wanted to get back at Alister for what he did, he wanted to protect the image of the woman he loved, he wanted to punish his brother for looking down on him and mocking the woman he loved, he wanted the means to easily aplish all of that.

    He wanted power!

    ''Now... more than anything, that is what I want! The power to get my revenge, the power to teach my brother a lesson, the power to crush any and everyone who stands against me!''

    The onlookers fell silent as they all slowly began to disperse, there was nothing left to see here. As his words echoed in his thoughts, a strange sensation came over him.

    Suddenly, a red talent window appeared before his eyes, its message glowing ominously: The One Beyond The Abyss smiles upon you.[]

    -----

    In Megacity I''s Sector III, the massive, sturdy headquarters of the White Comet Guild could be found. Unlike other guild masters who had moved their headquarters to Megacity X, Yuuto had chosen to leave his in Megacity I, often saying this was the home where he created most of his memories he couldn''t bear to leave behind.

    A memory shed before Alister''s eyes.

    ...

    Alister walked through the sterile, white corridors of the hospital, the faint beeping of monitors and the quiet hum of medical equipment surrounding him. He paused outside Miyu''s room, taking a deep breath before pushing the door open.

    Miyuy in her bed, a gentle smile spreading across her face as she saw her brother enter. "Alister!" she eximed weakly, her voice filled with warmth despite her frailty. Alister forced a smile, trying to hide his concern. "Hey, Miyu. How are you feeling today?" Miyu shrugged lightly. "Same as always. But seeing you brightens my day."

    Alister took a seat beside her bed, his expression turning serious. "Miyu, I need to tell you something important. I''ve been offered a position at the White Comet Guild, and I''ll be moving to their headquarters."

    Miyu''s eyes widened slightly, a look of surprise and sadness crossing her face. "You''re leaving?"

    Alister nodded. "Yes, but it''s only temporary. I promise you... Miyu, I''ll find a cure. I''ll be back to save you."

    Miyu''s smile returned, softer this time. "I know you will, brother. I believe in you. I''ll be waiting for your return, just like I always do."

    Alister reached out, taking her hand in his. "I won''t let you down, Miyu. I swear."

    ...

    The memory faded.

    ''I won''t let you down. I promise...'' Alister thought.

    Alister now stood before the massive building with a huge whiteet emblem, unable to help but marvel at its sheer size.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Yuuto, standing by his side, said, "This will be your new home. Follow me, and I''ll show you to your room while introducing you to the others."

    "Understood," Alister replied.

    Aiko red intensely at Alister, but Alister returned an indifferent look, letting out a sigh as he followed behind Guild Master Yuuto.

    Stepping through the door, Alister was immediately struck by the sight of a quirky duo engaged in a peculiar and dangerous game.

    One of them, a young man with bright green hair and dark green eyes, he was bncing on a stack of wobbly chairs, juggling what appeared to be live grenades.

    His partner, a woman with a spiky pink hair and a mischievous grin, was tossing the grenades

    up to him while simultaneously trying to catch the ones he dropped.

    The chaotic scene was a whirlwind of color and danger, and it seemed as if disaster could strike at any moment.

    These two, Alister quickly learned, were the guild''s infamous troublemakers. Known throughout the White Comet Guild for their reckless antics, they often left a trail of chaos in

    their wake.

    The green-haired juggler was known as Axel, while the pink-haired dynamo went by Blitz. Together, they had a reputation for being both incredibly talented and unbelievably

    troublesome.

    Just as Alister was about to question the sanity of the guild, Aiko''s patience snapped. She stormed over to the duo, her voice sounding like a whip.

    "Axel! Blitz! How many times have I told you to stop this kind of behavior? You''re supposed to be members of this guild! You should act like it!"

    Axel''s face went pale, his juggling faltering as one of the grenades slipped from his grasp. Blitz caught it just in time, but the pair quickly scrambled to disassemble their dangerous

    setup.

    They both trembled under Aiko''s intense gaze, their bravado evaporating in the face of her

    fury.

    "P-Please, Aiko," Axel stammered, "we were just trying to lighten the mood..."

 Chapter 53: Welcome To The White Comet Guild

    Chapter 53: Wee To The White Comet Guild

    ?

    Aiko yelled, "Lighten the mood? You two keep pulling stunts like this for your own entertainment! Last time you blew up the meeting room because of your ''grenade dodgeball'' game! You nearly took out half the senior guild members!"

    Axel whimpered, "B-but Aiko, it was an ident! We were just-"

    Blitz cut him off, rolling her eyes yfully. "Yeah, an ''ident'' that happens every other week. We get bored easily, you know? Gotta spice things up!"

    Aiko pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly exasperated. Alister watched the scene unfold, a look of amusement crossing his face. These two were certainly... unique.

    Just then, Yuuto chuckled, cing a hand on Aiko''s shoulder. "Rx, Aiko. They may be a handful, but they''re valuable members of the guild nheless. Besides," he winked at the twins, "they haven''t blown anything up in at least a month, right?"

    Axel and Blitz exchanged sheepish grins. "Technically, it was two months," Axel mumbled. Yuuto turned to Alister. "Now, where were we? Ah yes, introductions. These two are Axel and Blitz," he gestured to the twins, "and they''re more than just your average troublemakers. They''re siblings, actually."

    "Twins, to be precise," Blitz corrected, puffing out her chest.

    Axel and Blitz were identical twins. Despite their outward appearance, they were a unique pair within the White Comet Guild. Their secret weapon, a talent they called "Rush," it wasn''t something they could activate on a whim.

    Unlike most talents, it manifested involuntarily whenever they found themselves in a dangerous situation. Like a reflex honed by years spent on the battlefield, Rush propelled them into a state simr to what athletes called "The Zone."

    In this heightened state, their minds becameser-focused, their bodies moving in perfect sync with their thoughts, their reflexes reaching absurd levels.

    Their physical capabilities skyrocketed, transforming them from yful pranksters into absolute maniacs during dungeon raids.

    While their talent was undeniably powerful, their inability to control its activation made them a constant source of both awe and exasperation for the guild.

    It is also believed it''s the addictive feeling of being in that state that causes them to court death on a daily basis.

    Yuuto sped his hands in an attempt to ease the atmosphere. "Alright, Aiko, why don''t you show Alister to his room while I go on ahead and call the rest of our avable guild members so we can have a proper introduction."

    Aiko straightened her posture as she adjusted her sses. "Understood," she said.

    She shot an intense gaze at the duo. "You both better not try anything while I''m gone, or else the consequences will be grim at best." her words sent chills down their spines.

    Blitz and Axel tensed up under her gaze, stuttering in fear, "W-we won''t try anything, ma''am, we promise."

    "For your sake, you better not," Aiko said, narrowing her gaze slightly. She lingered for a moment before finally turning around and calling for Alister to follow her.

    Yuuto chuckled and turned back to Alister. "Wee to your new home, Alister. I''m sure you''ll fit in just fine. Now, if you''ll excuse me, I have some wrangling to do."

    "Thank you sir." Alister said, as he bowed how head slightly.

    Yuuto waved his hands at Alister''s words. "Just Yuuto is fine. We''ll save the formalities for the official meetings."

    "Understood." Alister replied.

    With that, Yuuto turned and began walking away, calling out to various guild members as he went. Alister watched him for a moment before turning to follow Aiko, who had already started down a hallway.

    Aiko led Alister through the winding corridors of the headquarters. "Your room is in the north wing, it should berge for you and your summon." she said, her tone moreposed now that they were away from the twins'' antics.

    "You''ll find it''s equipped with everything you need, excluding what you will feed your drake. If you require anything else, just let me know."

    "Understood, I''ll get going then." Just then as Alister began to leave, Aiko called out to him.

    "Let me make this clear, boy." Aiko began speaking, causing Alister to stop in his tracks to turn back to look at her.

    "I don''t like you one bit, and throughout your days here I''ll always be on your case." She said as she shot Alister an intense cold gaze.

    "And the reason for that being?"

    Aiko paused before responding to his question. "You took advantage of Master Yuuto, and that is a sin I cannot forgive."

    "If you dare to disappoint him, I promise you, your days here will be over."

    Alister shot back a nonchnt gaze, "I''ll keep that in mind then."

    "Well, if you will excuse me, I''ll be heading over to my room now.

    "Once you are done, return back to the main building, someone will be there to lead you to the main hall."

    "Understood."

    Alister then continued on to his room as Aiko turned and walked away.

    Alister followed the winding hallway, Aiko''s words echoing in his mind. He couldn''t help but sigh. A challenge? He thrived on them. Just then, a chime echoed in his head, pulling him from

    his thoughts.

    [DING! Daily Quest: Train Your Body.]n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister sighed inwardly. He knew training was important, but meeting the guild members

    seemed more pressing right now.

    ''It would be best I handle this at night likest time.''

    He thought, silencing the notification.

    Reaching the north wing, he finally came face-to-face with his quarters. It wasn''t a room, it

    was a massive building.

    Towering at least three stories high, it dwarfed the surrounding structures. He whistled in

    surprise.

    This was definitely more than he expected.

    Approaching the colossal door, Alister noticed a small indentation beside it. It looked suspiciously like a thumbprint scanner. Intrigued, he ced his thumb on the smooth surface.

    A faint blue light pulsed, then a synthetic voice echoed.

    "Scanning... Identity confirmed. Wee, Alister. ess Granted."

    With a satisfying whoosh, the massive door slid open, revealing a glimpse of a luxuriously furnished interior. This was definitely going to take some getting used to.

 Chapter 54: Echoes Of The Past: A Glimpse Into Yuutos History

    Chapter 54: Echoes Of The Past: A Glimpse Into Yuuto''s History

    ?

    Alister stepped inside, his jaw almost dropping at the sight before him. Plush carpets stretched across the expansive floor, leading to a seating area furnished with armchairs and a low table that gleamed in the soft glow of Holographicmps.

    An entire wall with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a breathtaking mountain view.

    This was far from the small room he''d envisioned for himself, considering his rather bizarre request he was sure they would not now give him toorge of an aodation, since it was not specified in the contract.

    He muttered to himself, "This is a bit... excessive. I guess they are doing all this because of Cinder, huh."

    His gaze swept the room,nding on a vast, open area that seemed specifically designed for arge creature. Alister couldn''t help but wonder if it was meant to house Cinder. As he marveled at the craftsmanship - he couldn''t help but think there was no way this ce was built in a day, yet it certainly didn''t exist before yesterday, or at least he thought so - a voice echoed in the room.

    "A space fitting for a lord indeed."

    A small tear in reality shimmered beside him, and through it peeked one of Cinder''s massive red eyes. Following the eye, a considerably smaller tear ripped open, revealing Terra''s sapphire blue eye on the other side.

    "Spacious," Terra rumbled, her voice echoing through the chamber, "but I doubt it would be enough for the both of us at full size."

    "I doubt that too," Alister said.

    Having both his summons at full size in this enclosed space might have been a bit much, even for this massive clearing.

    "Looks like we''ll have to utilize our shrinking ability,dy Cinder," Terra said.

    Cinder''s booming voice filled the room, as she asked a question directed at Terra.

    "Battle form? What are you on about, Terra?"

    Terra chuckled, "Battle form. Surely you haven''t forgotten?"

    Alister raised an eyebrow, confusion etched on his face. "Battle form? What exactly is that?" Cinder, exined. "My lord, it is an ability unique to royal dragon-kin. We canpress our physical bodies and magical power, allowing us to unleash a more concentrated burst of destructive force. However, it''s best suited for one-on-one battles. While the power is amplified, most royals find the sudden size reduction disorienting. Additionally, our vision is hampered by the shift in perspective."

    "And frankly, the idea of shrinking myself down just isn''t appealing."

    Alister nodded. "While I''m curious to see what this battle form looks like, I don''t want to force you to do something you''re ufortable with. The space in the mind realm is more than enough for both of you at your full size. You may only ever need to do so if a battle arises within these walls, which hopefully won''t be the case."

    "Understood, my lord," both Cinder and Terra said before the rifts in reality flickered shut.

    Left alone, Alister turned his attention to the more mundane matter of finding his actual living quarters within this massive space. He wandered the plush halls, finally stumbling upon a massive room. Atop the hovering bedy a neatly folded guild uniform. He tossed his bag onto the floor with a sigh.

    "Seems they prefer it if I change into this upon returning."

    Alister looked around the room, it was advanced and seemed to be equipped with thetest technology.

    Across the room, his gazended on a curious object: a small ck device resting on a side table. It resembled an old smartphone, a relic from a bygone era perhaps even older than the apocalypse, before the holographic disys that dominated modernmunication. Alister picked it up, a frown creasing his brow.

    "Did someone used to live here before?" he thought aloud. Perhaps another summoner who possessed a giant-ss monster, it would exin the already prepped amodation. Maybe this building was used by them in the past, and the smartphone was simply left behind.

    Alister pressed the power button on the old smartphone. The screen flickered on, the disy damaged with cracks across the surface, and some parts had gonepletely ck.

    "Looks like that''s why it got left behind," he said, turning the device over in his hands

    looking round it''s back before looking at the screen again.

    Then, something caught his attention. The cracked wallpaper on the home screen wasn''t just any random image. It was a picture - a group photo.

    Guild Master Yuuto stood in the center, a bright smile on his face. nking him were two other figures.

    Alister squinted, piecing together the scene. The man on Yuuto''s left had brown hair and bright yellow eyes. A name came to mind.

    "Galen... no, Galisk." he said, recognizing the Union president. But here, Galisk looked much younger, his face yet to be hardened by years of worry and responsibilities.

    And Yuuto? He looked exactly the same. Not a hint of age touched him. Alister couldn''t help but mutter.

    "The rumors about him being immortal must really be true."

    His gaze drifted to the third figure. They appeared to be a woman with flowing silver hair, beside Yuuto. However, the damaged ck parts of the screen hid most of her face. She had on a percr silver ne of a silver lizard looking creature holding a yellow crystal. "They must have been old friends I guess," Alister thought aloud, a touch of curiosity in his voice.

    The silver haired woman brought to mind Miyu, but the resemnce ended there.

    He found himself staring at the ck section of the screen, almost willing it to be clear, to reveal the woman''s hidden face.

    A sigh escaped his lips.

    ''Im standing around too much. I should take a shower, change clothes, and head over to meet the others.''n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    First, though, he needed to find the bathroom. This ce was enormous, and making his way through it was proving to be a challenge in itself. He tossed the phone back onto the table, the image of the woman lingering in his mind.

    ....

    A couple of minutester, Alister had taken a nice bath and was now heading out of his building. As the massive doors hissed to a close behind him, his main focus was on something

    else.

    ''In thest daily quest, the durability of my wed gauntlet got used up, and it instantly broke. If I''m going to go for the daily quest tonight, I need to acquire another one, or else I won''t be able to slowlyplete the quest of masteringbat with them.''

 Chapter 55: Meeting The Others

    Chapter 55: Meeting The Others

    ?

    Alister frowned, furrowing his brow. The system hadn''t offered any alternative quests that rewarded wed gauntlets. Did he have to find one to buy somewhere? Just as his mind was filled with unanswered questions, a cheery voice broke through his thoughts.

    "Ah, there you must be, Alister! I''m Beatrice, but everyone calls me Bea! I''m here to guide you to the main hall where you''ll meet the others."

    Bea, a bundle of enthusiasm, practically bounced towards him. Her uniform, though neat, seemed a moment away from disarray, a loose strand of her pink hair escaping her braid or a button close to popping free. Her smile, however, was genuine and somewhat heartwarming. Before Alister could fully respond, Bea continued, her voice bubbling with excitement.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "So, is it really true? You''re the one who summoned the mythical drake? right?"

    Alister raised an eyebrow, a touch of nonchnce creeping into his voice.

    "Well, if the rumors weren''t true, would I be here?"

    Bea''s smile faded for a brief moment, a look of something simr to nervousness crossing her face. She recovered quickly, though, having a slightly awkward smile. "Right, of course! Silly me. Let''s get you over to the others."

    She gestured towards him, indicating he should walk beside her. As they began their walk, Bea continued to ask him questions, her voice barely containing her excitement.

    Bea was brimming with barely contained enthusiasm as she began leading Alister through the halls of the building.

    "This way!" she said, taking a sharp turn down a brightly lit corridor. She pointed out various sections as they passed:

    "Here''s the training grounds! Top notch equipment, and plenty of space to practice your skills."

    Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Word has it there''s a hidden chamber somewhere around here where they train the elite squads, or was it an arena... Don''t really remember now."

    They continued their walk, passing by what appeared to be a library and argemunal kitchen that smelled faintly of baking bread.

    Finally, they reached a set of massive double doors, their surface gleaming with a metallic sheen.

    Bea stopped, her smile widening. "Alright, Alister," she announced in a hushed tone, "This is it. The main hall. Prepare yourself!"

    Alister, calm and collected, simply nodded. As he did, a voice echoed in his head - Cinder''s booming tones.

    ''This smells like a den for warriors,'' she said.

    Terra''s voice, softer but no less firm, followed, ''Indeed. Individuals worthy of our lord''s presence.''

    The metal doors slid open with a hiss, revealing a sight that took Alister''s breath away for a moment.

    The massive white hall stretched before him, its walls covered with murals disying scenes from the cosmos. Rows offortable looking seats, arranged in a semi-circr pattern, filled the central area.

    At the far end, on an elevated tform, sat Yuuto. He looked every bit the part of a king, giving off an aura of power and authority. Beside him sat Aiko, her expression neutral as always.

    The moment the doors opened, the entire hall fell silent. All eyes turned towards the entrance, fixated on the figure of Alister stepping into the room.

    Alister, momentarily stunned by the sheer scale of the hall, couldn''t help but think to himself, ''This ce looks like some sort of massive ssroom.''

    The silence was shattered by Bea''s enthusiastic voice, a touch too loud for the hushed atmosphere.

    "I did it, Master Yuuto! I brought Alister, just like you ordered!"

    Yuuto, his gaze fixed on Alister, gave a small nod. "Good work, Beatrice. You may take a seat."

    As Bea scurried back to a seat in the crowd, a wave of murmurs rippled through the hall.

    "Who is that guy?"

    "Wait, isn''t that him."

    "Is that really him? The one who summoned the drake?"

    "I heard the guild master went himself to scout him."

    "Wait really?"

    "How did you not see it, it was all over the news!"

    "I heard he''s just a rookie, what''s he doing here?"

    Yuuto let the whispers simmer for a moment, then raised a hand for silence. Everyone fell quiet, their attention focused on him. He spoke with a clear,manding voice that echoed throughout the hall.

    "I''m sure most of you are already familiar with our newest member," Yuuto began. He pointed towards Alister, who managed to stay calm under the weight of a hundred stares.

    "This is Alister. The summoner who, as many of you know, sessfully summoned and tamed a drake."

    Yuuto''s gaze remained Alister''s for a moment, then he inclined his head towards the elevated tform.

    "Alister, please make your way up here."

    "Understood," Alister replied, his voice steady despite the sudden weight of attention. As he strode forward, his steps were measured and purposeful. He carried himself with an air of quiet authority that surprised even himself.

    Reaching the tform, Alister stopped a couple of steps from Yuuto. Aiko, who had been observing him with a neutral expression, suddenly shed him a sharp, intense re.

    ''Guess that''s her way of telling me to not get too close.''

    He halted in his tracks, raising an eyebrow with a touch of amusement.

    Yuuto, oblivious to the silent exchange, continued.

    "Since Alister is already an official member of the Guild, I''m sure no one here requires a demonstration of his abilities. You''re all vaguely aware of what he''s capable of, thanks to the rumors that have been circting. Therefore, I''d like to cut straight to the point. Which one of our esteemed squad leaders here would like to wee Alister onto their team?"

    His question hung in the air, causing a flurry of murmured conversations amongst the assembled Guild members. Several figures, all radiating an aura of power and experience, shifted in their seats, their eyes gleaming with a touch of curiosity and perhaps a hint ofpetition. It seemed Alister''s arrival had stirred the crowd considerably.

    A brown skin man with a single, gleaming eyepatch mmed his fist on the armrest of his seat, the sound echoing through the hall. The murmurs died down instantly, reced by tense

    silence.

    "Hold on a minute, Master Yuuto," the man boomed, his voice gruff andced with disbelief. "Are you seriously suggesting we all gathered here, a collection of the Guild''s most experienced squad leaders, just to fight over some rookie?"

 Chapter 56: Whats Yuuto Up To

    Chapter 56: What''s Yuuto Up To

    ?

    "Razorgrin," Yuuto began, addressing the one-eyed man by name, "I understand your concern. However, Alister''s circumstances are... unique. While he may technically be a rookie, his potential is undeniable. And as you know, the Guild thrives on fostering talent."

    Razorgrin scoffed, his beard bristling. "Potential is one thing, Master Yuuto. But raw potential doesn''t win battles, nor does it clear dungeons. We need experienced fighters in our squads, not some greenhorn who just stumbled onto a powerful summon."

    ''My lord, I don''t like this one, permission to incinerate him.'' Cinder''s voice echoed in Alister''s mind.

    ''My lord, this human is in need of enlightenment, he deserves to be put down for acting so disrespectfully. Only a fool speaks confidently of what they have yet to see.''

    Terra said, her voice echoed in Alister''s thoughts as well.

    ''Both of you should calm down. Actions towards people who could potentially be our allies should be frowned upon. Their attitude towards me is to be expected, so both of you should look past it for now. Do you both understand?''

    ''Understood.'' they both replied.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Yuuto''s gaze remained fixed on Razorgrin, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched, thick with unspoken words. Alister, meanwhile, remained calm on the tform, his mind in a whirlwind of thoughts.

    He understood their skepticism. He was, after all, an unknown quantity. Yet, a look of defiance could be seen in his eyes. He wouldn''t be dismissed so easily.

    Razorgrin wasn''t finished. He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low growl.

    "And then there''s the matter of his... bizarre demands, Master Yuuto. Its all over the news, ess to the Guild''s treasury? Refusal to participate in dungeon raids? I understand the down payment and the monthly pay - his monster might need some intense resources. But this is ridiculous! We can''t simply shower a rookie with riches and then allow him to shirk his duties!"

    A murmur of agreement rippled through the hall. The other squad leaders nodded, their expressions slightly simr to Razorgrin''s.

    Yuuto, however, remained calm. He steepled his fingers, his gaze was calm yetmanding.

    "Those demands were a result of the... delicate nature of the contract negotiations with Alister."

    "However, I assure you, certainpromises have been made. The treasury ess has been significantly limited to only four items, and while dungeon raids are not mandatory, Alister has agreed, as per the contract to participate in Guild missions when necessary."

    Yuuto straightened, a slight smile spreading on his lips, his voice ringing out through the hall. "But if you all qustion his strength, very well, then. Perhaps a demonstration is in order."

    Razorgrin''s frown deepened, his one good eye gazing intently at Yuuto.

    "And how exactly do you propose we do that, Master Yuuto? After all, Mr. Golden Rookie here has apparently decided he won''t be participating in dungeon raids."

    Alister narrowed his gaze, the nickname stinging slightly. He wasn''t a rookie, not truly.

    He''d faced his fair share of challenges in the wastnds, after all that was where he spent nine years of his life with Miyu before they were found. But these people wouldn''t know that.

    Yuuto, however, remained unfazed. A smirk spread on his lips. "Actually, Razorgrin, I was thinking of the uing Wastnds Disy Event."

    The Wastnd Disy Event was a massive annualpetition between guilds in the wastnds, where theypeted to see which guild could push furthest through the wastnds and bring back the most monster resources when it was finally over. The contest originated from the surge in the monster poption during that time of year. To prevent hordes or massive invasions, all the guilds had to give it their all and nearly wipe out the surrounding monsters.

    What made the event even more interesting was that the top guild would get to take half of everything all the other guilds obtained, adding a touch of excitement to the dire situation. It ensured all guilds gave it their all as they each strived for the top spot.

    But such an event was not always without casualties, and these were from the guild''s elite. So, suggesting that one would send out a rookie as a way to disy their potential not only soundedical, but it was also a silent p in the face to the veterans who ended up dying out there.

    For a moment there was absolute silence, not a single sound could be heard in the massive hall.

    Suddenly words of disbelief rippled through the air.

    "Can you believe it? Master Yuuto thinks he''s ready for the Wastnds Disy."

    "The boy has barely reached the training grounds, let alone the wastnds."

    "Some of us haven''t been given the honor to go there, let alone if we''d have the courage to."

    "The kid won''tst a day out there. It''s practically a death sentence," someone said with a smirk.

    The squad leaders spoke up as well.

    "The Wastnds Disy? Are you serious, Master Yuuto?" a grizzled man with a scarred face, named Hiroshi, one of the squad leaders, said.

    "He''s just a kid! He''ll be lucky to survive the first wave of sandworms," a young woman with fiery red hair, named Kaida, said, her brow furrowed in concern.

    "This is a prestigious event, broadcasted for all to see. Throwing an untested rookie into the mix is a disaster waiting to happen," a team leader with neatly styled hair, named Ren, said. Kaida spoke up again, "The Wastnds are no ce for someone inexperienced. Sandworms, wyverns, even the asional basilisk - it''s a brutal environment. He''ll be lucky to survive the first wave of attacks!"

    Aiko leaned closer to Yuuto, her voice barely above a murmur. "Master Yuuto, while I understand the desire to showcase Alister''s potential, wouldn''t a controlled environment be more appropriate for his first disy?"

    Despite the rising tide of doubt, Yuuto remained calm. He raised a hand, silencing the murmurs with a quietmand.

    "I understand your concerns," he began, his voice steady and authoritative. "The Wastnds Disy is traditionally a venue for experienced Guild members to showcase their prowess. However, it''s not unheard of for promising rookies to participate as well. In fact," his gaze moved towards Alister, "it can be the perfect tform for them to prove their mettle. And given Alister''s summon is a giant ss monster - the Wastnds Disy may be the only way for him to truly demonstrate its abilities."

    A low rumble of disapproval echoed through the room.

    "But Master Yuuto," a burly man with a handlebar mustache, named Goro, boomed, "this isn''t just any rookie! He''s barely stepped foot in the Guild, let alone set foot in the Wastnds! I don''t understand why it seems you are favoring him so much, this isn''t like-" Yuuto''s voice hardened, his expression turning stern. "I will not entertain further arguments on this matter. This is my final decision, and I expect it to be respected. No one is to question my judgment."

    A heavy silence descended upon the hall. The squad leaders exchanged uneasy nces, their expressions a mix of resignation and defiance. Reluctantly, they nodded in agreement.

    Yuuto''s demeanor changedpletely. A satisfied smirk crept across his face. "Very well," he said, his tone softening. "Now, Alister, if you would follow me to the treasury."

    As Yuuto got up and began to walk back beyond his throne-like seat, Alister couldn''t help but

    gaze at him with suspicion.

    In his thoughts, Terra''s voice echoed, ''My lord...''

    She didn''t evenplete her sentence before Alister replied, ''I know, there is something awfully suspicious about the way he''s acting.''

 Chapter 57: To The Treasury

    Chapter 57: To The Treasury

    ?

    Yuuto led Alister past a massive metal door, the echo of their footsteps filling the stairwell as they descended into the guild''s deep underground treasury.

    "Why stairs instead of an elevator?" Alister finally broke the silence.

    "I prefer walks like this," Yuuto replied calmly, "Sometimes silence can help one appreciate the good things they have in life."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Is that so?" Alister''s gaze narrowed.

    Yuuto nced over his shoulder at Alister, walking by his left side. "Is there something on your mind?"

    For a few moments, silence hung between them.

    Then, Alister spoke up, his voice cutting through the quiet stairwell. "Since I was young, I''ve grown ustomed to the concept of ''hard work is necessary in order to survive'', nothing goodes easy, nothing easysts long, and nothing longsting can be achieved without immense cost involved."

    Alister continued, his tone sounding a bit edgy, "What exactly is your motive behind all this? What exactly are you expecting me to shoulder by being so kind towards me?"

    Yuuto couldn''t help butugh softly, a sound that made Alister suddenly feel uneasy.

    "Never in my long life would I have expected to hear such lines from a neen-year-old," Yuuto remarked, his voice echoed with a touch of envy, "To be so wise yet so young. I''m already feeling envious."

    Yuuto ced a hand beneath his chin, a thoughtful expression settling on his face. "As for my motive..." His voice trailed off, the silence broken only by the sounds of their footsteps.

    Then, a sudden smile graced his lips. He turned to Alister. "Let''s just say I have a debt I wish to repay."

    "Debt?" Alister was confused. "I don''t even know what-"

    Yuuto cut him off. "Kids aren''t supposed to overthink things. Leave that to the adults. Besides, we''re here."

    A feeling of unease came over Alister. He was beginning to think Yuuto was stranger than he''d initially believed.

    ''He''s a strange one my lord, but he doesn''t seem to harbor malice.'' Terra''s said.

    ''Never the less I believe it would be best to keep your eye on him.'' Cinder spoke up as well.

    Finally, they stood before a colossal double door, its sleek white surface covered with a cosmic design and a central, luminouset emblem. It was breathtaking. Alister paused, his mind reeling. The image of the megacity''s colossal gates shed before his eyes. This was almost as massive as they were.

    Yuuto stood beside him, his gaze fixed on the door. "Alright, this is the Guild''s treasury. All my most valuable resources are stored here. I don''t know what you''re after, but please be considerate in your choices."

    Alister hesitated. "Understood. But I won''t hold back if what I need happens to be one of your prized possessions."

    Yuuto chuckled. "Ouch. You''re bold too. Well, let''s get this over with then."

    Yuuto then turned to face the door, cing his hands on the two sides, he leaned forward slightly.

    Watching this Alsiter''s thoughts raced, ''Wait... what is he up to, isn''t this one of this slide and open doors?''

    With a sudden surge of strength, Yuuto pushed against the massive doors. They creaked before slowly creaking open, revealing a massive chamber bathed in a soft, warming glow. Alister watched in shock as the immense doors yielded to Yuuto''s strength.

    ''I thought his talent was Absolute Regeneration? How is he so strong yet so small?''

    ''With strength like that... wouldn''t it be possible to say he''s as strong as, if not stronger than guild master Anya?''

    The question echoed in Alister''s mind.

    Yuuto wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, his expression one of exertion. "Opening these doors never gets easier," he grumbled, his voice echoing in the cavernous space.

    Alister was speechless. The moment the doors fully swung open, he was greeted by a sight that bordered on the surreal. Mountains of gold ingots stretched as far as the eye could see, interspersed with piles of gleaming armor and weapons.

    Exotic artifacts, strange and wondrous machinery, and countless other treasures were

    scattered haphazardly throughout the vast chamber.

    It was a treasure trove on a scale he had never imagined. His mind raced, trying to process the sheer magnitude of wealth before him.

    "This... is a treasure trove," he said in awe, his voice barely audible over the echoing silence.

    "How exactly am I supposed to look through all of this?"

    ''My lord, I can assist you,'' Terra''s voice echoed in his mind. ''My eyes are capable of

    identifying and discerning treasure from afar.''

    Hearing Terra''s words, Alister felt reassured, he let out a sigh of relief as he eased up slightly.

    ''I''ll be relying on you then,'' Alister replied in his thoughts.

    Yuuto, oblivious to their mental conversation, stepped aside.

    "With my help, of course. If you''re looking for something specific, you''ll need to tell me. I may be old, but my memory is still sharp."

    Alister shook his head. "I don''t need your help."

    Yuuto smiled knowingly, strangely unsettling. "Very well. I''ll be waiting here then."

    With that, Alister turned and stepped into the treasure hoard. The sheer scale of the room was overwhelming.

    Towering piles of gold were practically glowing, and the glint of precious metals and jewels filled his vision. He felt like a child in a candy store, but instead of sweets, he was surrounded by unimaginable wealth.

    It was a daunting task, but with Terra''s assistance, he hoped to find what he was looking for. Terra''s voice echoed in his mind, ''My lord, what are you searching for?''

    Alister focused his thoughts, ''System, open the crafting list.''

    The yellow system holographic interface appeared before his eyes, disying a list of items

    that would be used to craft the Omnipotent Elixir.

    Below the elixir''s name was a list of required ingredients:

    [-True Dragon Heart Crystal: A rare crystal forged within the heart of a dying true dragon, possessing immense life force.

    -World Tree Sap: A viscous, life-giving liquid extracted from the ancient World Tree found at the center of the earth.

    -Phoenix Feather: A single feather plucked from a living Phoenix, imbued with regenerative

    properties.

    -Ethereal Moonstone: A gemstone infused with the essence of celestial bodies, capable of channeling lunar magic and enhancing spiritual insight.]

 Chapter 58: The Search

    Chapter 58: The Search

    ?

    Now deep in the treasury.

    A rift opened up beside Alister, and Terra gazed at Alister expectantly, awaiting his response to her question about what he had been seeking inside the treasure trove. Alister met her eye, his expression calm yet thoughtful.

    ''I''m searching forponents to craft something called the Omnipotent Elixir,'' Alister exined in his thoughts.

    Terra''s eyes widened slightly in surprise, her curiosity piqued by the mention of such a legendary potion.

    ''The Omnipotent Elixir?'' she repeated, her voice filled with awe. ''That''s quite a task, my lord.''

    "As my memory serves, the items required are: a true dragon''s heart crystal, world tree sap, phoenix feather and an ethereal moonstone.''

    Alister nced back at the holographic disy hovering before him, showing the list of required items, he confirmed Terra was right.''

    "Indeed," Alister said.

    "They''re rare and powerfulponents, but I believe they can be found. Terra, if your eyes are truly capable of finding and discerning treasure. Can you help me search for them?"

    Terra replied. "Of course."

    "Leave it to me. I''ll begin searching for these items immediately."

    Alister smiled gratefully at Terra, "Thank you, Terra. Your assistance means a lot to me."

    With a nod in the mindspace, Terra turned and began to focus her attention inward, tapping into her innate abilities to sense and locate rare artifacts.

    Alister nced around the treasure-filled chamber, ensuring Yuuto was upied before speaking quietly to Terra. "Avoid being seen by Yuuto. We don''t want to draw unnecessary attention."

    Terra nodded in the mind realm. "Understood, my lord."

    "Check the north side while I search the south side," Alister instructed, his voice firm.

    With that, they both moved. Terra''s eye floated around, thanks to the capabilities of the mind space, scouting the area with nces. Alister, meanwhile, scanned the southern expanse, hoping to find a clue among the piles of treasure.

    However, as Terra began to hover further away, Alister felt a strange, chain-like sensation in his chest, pulling him back.

    He and Terra stopped suddenly, both of them feeling the unusual restraint.

    "What is this?" Alister muttered, confused by the sudden strange sensation in his chest.

    A notification from the system shed before him, exining.

    [Summoning distance limit reached!ˇŞthe maximum distance the yer''s summons can step out from the mind realm.]

    "I should have remembered this," Alister said. "A summoner can''t summon his creatures just anywhere; there''s a limit to where they can emerge from."

    Summoning distance is not to be mistaken for the distance away from a summon a summoner can be. This specific limit refers to the maximum distance from themselves that a summoner can make their summon emerge. Once emerged, a summon can travel as far as they want, and it won''t stop the summoner from being able to unsummon them.

    Understanding the situation, Alister turned to Terra''s hovering eye. "We''ll need to stay within a closer range. Let''s adjust our search patterns ordingly."

    Terra nodded, recalibrating her search strategy. "As youmand, my lord."

    With that, they resumed their search, this time more mindful of the summoning distance limit. Terra''s eye continued to sweep the area with focus, while Alister meticulously climbed through the treasures within their limited range, determined to find theponents for the Omnipotent Elixir.

    ''Based on the icons the system disyed,'' he thought to himself, ''I should be able to find the items. They should possess massive magical auras, so I should focus on detecting those.''

    He looked around the area, letting his senses attune to any powerful magical energies that might indicate the presence of one of the requiredponents, or at least an item with a strong magical aura.

    Meanwhile, back at the massive doors, Yuuto stood deep in thought. He let out a deep sigh, a rare moment of vulnerability slipping through his usuallyposed demeanor.

    "I never would have thought a time woulde when I''d be so excited I can''t even wait for something," he thought aloud. His eyes softened as a smile curved his lips.

    "I guess I should help the boy out a little, all this waiting is actually killing me," Yuuto said, his voice filled with a touch of amusement.

    "Besides, although it was left with me for safekeeping, there shouldn''t be anything wrong with returning it to its rightful owner."

    With a calm stride, Yuuto began to move, his mind set on assisting Alister.

    As Yuuto approached the entrance of the chamber, he paused, his eyes looking around the room for any signs of Alister.

    ''Alright... let''s do this.'' he thought.

    He allowed his silver mana to emanate from his body, allowing senses to expand, hoping to pinpoint the locations of the treasures that Alister searched for.

    He acted so confidently one would almost assume he was wall aware of what Alister was looking for.

    As his mana stretched across the entire treasury, he felt Alister''s presence, and... something

    else.

    ''Wait... this presence... isn''t it?''

    He smiled again, instead of thinking further he began to walk inside the treasury silently. Inside the treasury, Alister continued his search.

    Suddenly, Alister''s attention was drawn to a faint but distinct pulse of manaing from a

    pile of gold.

    ''That''s a strong aura, it must belong to one of items.'' Alister thought to himself.

    He approached cautiously, his heart pounding in his chest. As he sifted through the gold, a small, crystalline object caught his eye-its surface shimmering with a powerful blue light. As Alister held the crystal in his hand, a system window materialized before him, disying the item''s information.

    [Item status window

    Name: Eternal Bondmaster

    Rank: SS

    Description: This artifact has the unique ability to transform into a weapon that perfectly fits the wielder. Once it has taken the form of a weapon, it will bond with the user, allowing it to grow stronger as the user grows stronger. However, once it has taken its final form, it cannot

    change back.]

    Alister''s eyes widened in surprise as he read the details.

    "An SS rank item." He said to himself, as he admired the item.

    The Eternal Bondmaster was indeed remarkable, a item that could turn into a wepon capable

    of evolving alongside its wielder, anyone who saw such an item would not hesitate to take it

    for themselves.

    "This looks amazing."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "But it''s not what I''m looking for, I have to keep searching."

    Despite how amazing it was, Alister knew it wasn''t what he was currently searching for. He gently ced the crystal back among the other treasures and continued his search.

 Chapter 59: Yuutos Strange Change

    Chapter 59: Yuuto''s Strange Change

    ?

    The main hall gradually emptied as the meeting concluded, leaving behind a group of dissatisfied squad leaders. They gathered near the entrance, all wearing confused and dissatisfied expressions on their faces.

    Hiroshi, the grizzled man with a scarred face, crossed his arms and grunted. "I still can''t believe Master Yuuto is putting so much faith in that kid. What''s he thinking?"

    Kaida, the young woman with fiery red hair, shook her head, eyes narrowed in thought.

    "It doesn''t make sense. The kid hasn''t proven himself yet. The Wastnds Disy is dangerous, even for experienced members."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Ren, the highest-ranking squad leader with neatly styled hair, adjusted his sses and sighed.

    "Master Yuuto''s decisions are usually sound, but this... it feels like a gamble. There must be a reason behind it, his wisdom has always been his strongest quality."

    Razorgrin, his one eye gleaming with irritation, scoffed loudly.

    "Potential is one thing, but this feels like favoritism. I''ve never seen Master Yuuto act like this before. The kid''s barely set foot in the guild, and he''s already getting special treatment."

    Goro, the bulky man with a handlebar mustache, stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Master Yuuto isn''t one to y favorites. This is out of character for him. Even if that kid was the embodiment of genius, something is definitely off."

    Kaida took a look around the group with a thoughtful expression on her face. "We need to understand what''s going on. There''s something we''re missing here."

    Ren tapped his chin, then suggested, "How about we head over to Tibte Caf¨¦? We can discuss this without prying ears and figure out what Master Yuuto''s angle is."

    Hiroshi nodded, a smile spreading on his face. "Good idea. Having a drink while we talk doesn''t sound so bad."

    Kaida also agreed, her expression softening slightly. "I could use a cup of coffee. Let''s go." Razorgrin rolled his eye. "Fine, but let''s make it quick. I''m not in the mood for idle chatter." The group made their way out of the guild hall and toward the Tibte Caf¨¦, a cozy spot favored by guild members for its privacy and excellent coffee.

    Once inside, they found a secluded corner and settled into the plush chairs, the soft sound of conversations around them providing afortable background noise.

    Ren leaned forward, his sses catching the light as he spoke.

    "There''s definitely more to Alister than we know. But Master Yuuto''s behavior is the real mystery here. He''s never shown such kindness before, which means Alsiter means that much to him, or at least he feels like the boy deserves it."

    Hiroshi spoke up, his voice low and gruff. "Did anyone else notice how cheerful he was today?"

    As he spoke, they all turned to look at him. "I''ve never seen him like that before... he was smiling, he doesn''t do that. It was almost... unsettling."

    Kaida nodded. "Yes, he looked genuinely excited, which is not like him at all. He''s usually so level-headed and controlled, sometimes even cold."

    Ren, adjusting his sses thoughtfully, said, "It''s almost as if he was personally invested in the kid''s sess, like a gardiner watching over their roses. But why? What could possibly make him, of all people, so enthusiastic about a rookie?"

    Yuuto was immortal, and as one would expect, he had long since grown detached from the world. Losing all sorts of connections to the sands of time often would make anyone closed off.

    In fact, he didn''t talk often; Aiko usually handled things like that for him since she knew him so well. He didn''t favor anyone-what would be the point? They would only end up dead a couple decadester.

    And so now his current enthusiastic attitude was not only alien but strange.

    Razorgrin mmed his fist on the table. "Damn it, there has to be more to this! Master Yuuto''s never been one to favor anyone, let alone some greenhorn. There''s something fishy about this whole situation, I''m sure that brat has done something."

    Goro nodded, his expression serious. "Maybe he actually knew Alister some other way, and just decided to help the kid... Something like that."

    Hiroshi frowned. "I doubt it. Master Yuuto''s connections are extensive, but he''s not the type to show kindness without reason. Although, there''s always the possibility that there''s something personal going on."

    They all looked at him, Kaida intrigued. "Personal, like what? A family connection, perhaps?" Ren raised an eyebrow. "Family? You think Alister could be rted to Master Yuuto? That''s a stretch."

    Kaida shrugged. "It''s a theory. Master Yuuto may be immortal, but what if, before he achieved immortality, he had a family? A wife, a child... maybe Alister is a descendant."

    Their little space in the caf¨¦ fell silent as the idea took root, the squad leaders exchanging thoughtful nces.

    Goro was the first to break the silence. "It''s a fascinating idea, but highly unlikely. If he really was his descendant wouldn''t Master Yuuto have brought him to the guild ages ago, perhaps even raise him? The boy Alister is an orphan, right?"

    Kaida leaned back in her chair, as she wore a thoughtful expression on her face. "Maybe. But it''s worth considering. If Alister is indeed rted to Master Yuuto, it could exin why he''s being so nice to him."

    Razorgrin snorted. "Nice? This is more than just being nice. Master Yuuto''s practically bending over backwards for the kid. Would someone like him really treat his descendants far better than people who have been with him?"

    Ren shook his head as he disagreed with the idea.

    "I highly doubt it. While the spection is intriguing, we should focus on practical matters. We''re wasting valuable brainpower on hypotheticals."

    Kaida nodded, her eyes narrowing. "For now, let''s keep an eye on Alister. If he truly is a disappointment, we''ll need to ensure he doesn''t remain a liability to the guild."

    The group agreed. The mystery of Yuuto''s behavior and Alister''s unexpected rise was far from resolved, but for now, their priority was clear. They would monitor the rookie closely, keeping their ns flexible and their minds sharp, ready to act if needed.

 Chapter 60: An Ancient Treasure

    Chapter 60: An Ancient Treasure

    ?

    Back in the treasury, Alister continued to sift through piles of gold, high-grade items, and equipment, his search proving increasingly pointless. He was feeling frustrated as he mumbled to himself, "Is it really possible that one of the oldest guilds doesn''t have even one of the items on the list?"

    Gritting his teeth in anger, he decided not to give up.

    "I have to find it," he muttered, "for Miyu."

    He resumed his search, but now his frustration and fear were making him search haphazardly.

    Meanwhile, Terra floated her eye around thanks to the mindspace. Finally, her eye spotted something behind a pile of gold.

    "That must be it."

    "This powerful draconic aura... It''s unmistakable."

    Hovering past the gold, her eye fell on a peculiar silver ne. It had a lizard-like creature holding a yellow crystal that glowed vibrantly, causing Terra''s eye to widen as she gazed upon it.

    With her keen perception, she instantly recognized it: a true dragon''s heart crystal, one of the rare items her lord sought.

    The rift to the mindspace opened slightly more as Terra extended her massive ws, reaching out for the item before her.

    In his thoughts, Alister heard Terra''s voice. ''My lord, I found one of them.''

    ''Wait, really? I''ming over to you right now, maybe the other items could be close to that one.'' Alister thought, turning and running towards where Terra was. He knew her location through their bond.

    Back with Terra, as she picked up the ne with the crystal, she couldn''t help but marvel.

    ''It is truly remarkable, almost as if it was made from the heart of a mon-'' she trailed off.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Before Terra could finish her thought, a massive wave of mana washed over her. It felt immensely oppressive, so potent it seemed to suffocate her.

    ''W-what is this?'' Terra asked herself. ''The mana feels like it''s burning into my very being. The sheer magnitude and sharpness of it... One would almost think it belonged to...''

    Suddenly, Yuuto''s voice echoed. "I''m sure all that''s left now is to take a right, it should be around here."

    Hearing Yuuto''s voice, a chill ran down Terra''s spine. ''It''s him... It''s definitely him...'' she thought, time seeming to slow as she turned around. She saw Yuuto''s shadow approaching, her eyes widening in shock.

    In that instant, she involuntarily let go of the ne, withdrew her hand, and closed the mindspace.

    In the mindspace, Terra looked visibly shaken, her body trembling.

    Cinder, towering over her, approached with a concerned expression. "What''s the matter?"

    Terra slowly turned to look at her. "I-I just felt an aura simr to..."

    Cinder''s red eyes widened in shock. "Are you serious?"

    Meanwhile, in the physical realm, Yuuto arrived at the spot where the ne had been dropped. He picked it up, his voice filled with excitement. "Found it." He smiled childishly.

    Alister, still making his way through the treasury, heard Terra''s voice in his mind.

    ''My lord, I failed to retrieve the item.''

    ''Why?'' Alister asked, his pace quickening. ''What happened?''

    ''I was nearly discovered by Yuuto,'' Terra replied.

    Alister frowned. ''But I thought he was supposed to be waiting at the door?''

    ''He stepped in, master,'' Terra said, her voice sounding slightly serious.

    ''Please be cautious of him. I am not entirely sure what he is, but he is definitely powerful.''

    ''What he is?'' Alister asked, confused.

    Just then, before he could get an answer from Terra, Alister rounded a pile of gold and encountered Yuuto holding the ne.

    Yuuto''s expression was almost nostalgic, as if memories long buried resurfaced in his mind, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes-curiosity, perhaps, or something deeper.

    "Alister," Yuuto said, his tone calm but with an undercurrent of something Alister couldn''t quite ce.

    "This is quite a remarkable find, isn''t it?"

    As Alister''s eyesnded on the said item, the silver lizard, holding a yellow crystal, he couldn''t help but feel like he had seen it before.

    ''Wait, it''s that one the woman in that picture was wearing.''

    ''If it belongs to a dear friend, I doubt he would be willing to give it to me.''

    Alister folded his fists tightly as he thought further. ''But I have to get it, I have to convince him to give it to me.''

    Alister swallowed hard, trying to maintain hisposure. "Yes, Master Yuuto. It''s exactly what I was looking for."

    Yuuto studied him for a moment, his gaze piercing. "You seem very determined to acquire this ne. May I ask why?"

    Alister hesitated. He couldn''t reveal the real reason, not without risking too much. "It''s... it''s important for a personal project," he finally said, hoping it sounded convincing.

    For a moment there was slience.

    Yuuto''s eyes narrowed slightly as he smiled. "Very well. Although this particr item holds a lot of precious memories, I don''t mind parting with it if it''s you who wants it."

    ''What is he trying to insinuate by saying that? It feels like he''s deliberately doing this.''

    "But remember, Alister, everything in the treasury is the guild''s property. You must be careful with what you take and how you use it."

    Alister nodded, his heart pounding. "Of course, Master Yuuto. I understand."

    Yuuto handed him the ne, his fingers brushing Alister''s for a brief moment. Alister felt a jolt, like a spark of electricity, as their hands touched. Yuuto''s eyes seemed to gaze into him, and for a moment, Alister felt like his very soul was being scrutinized.

    ''What is this? I didn''t feel this when we first shook hands'' Alister thought.

    Then, just as quickly, the moment passed. Yuuto released the ne and stepped back. "I trust you''ll make good use of it."

    As Yuuto turned to leave, Alister couldn''t shake the feeling that there was much more to the guild leader than he had ever imagined. Terra''s words echoed in his mind, and he knew he had to be cautious. There was something about Yuuto-something powerful and ancient-that he didn''t yet understand.

    Just then, while he was lost in thought, a system window materialized before Alister, causing his eyes to widen in awe as he read it.

    [Item Status Window

    Name: Dragon Overlord''s Heirloom

    Rank: SSS+

    Description:

    An ancient ne passed down through the ages among dragon royalty. This exquisite piece is crafted from the condensed core of the first dragon, whose name is lost to time. It serves as a symbol of power and dominion, and can only be worn by the current overlord of

    dragons.

    Properties:

    - Immense Magical Power: The ne contains vast reserves of magical energy, capable of enhancing the abilities of the wearer to unimaginable levels.

    Special Abilities:

    - Draconic Aura: Radiates an aura of supreme authority, intimidating lesser beings andmanding respect from all dragons.

    - Core Resonance: Allows the wearer to tap into the primordial power of the first dragon, greatly amplifying their magical and physical capabilities.

    - Legacy of the Ancients: Provides the wearer with the umted wisdom and skills of past Dragon overlords, unlocking hidden potential and granting mastery over dragonkind.

    Restrictions:

    - Overlord Requirement: Can only be worn by the rightful overlord of dragons. Any other being attempting to wear the ne will be overwhelmed by its power and instantly

    obliterated.

    History:

    This ne has been a coveted heirloom for countless generations, symbolizing the ultimate authority among dragons. Its power and prestige are unmatched, making it one of

    the most sought-after artifacts in existence.

    Notice: The yer has not fuffiled the conditions to equip this item.]

 Chapter 61: Unanswered Questions

    Chapter 61: Unanswered Questions

    ?

    The day had gone by in a sh. Alister and Terra, given the chance, spent hours practically scouring all the treasures in the treasury. Despite their thorough search, they found no other items that could be used in the crafting of the omnipotent elixir.

    Yuuto, observing Alister''s growing obsession, eventually made him stop his search. If left alone, Alister would have decided to start examining each item one by one, and even Yuuto didn''t have the patience for that. So, Alister had to leave with only one of his desired items.

    However, Yuuto, being a man of his word, personally offered Alister three other items to meet the required item count specified in their contract. Despite his disappointment, Alister knew he had to ept thispromise.

    They stepped out of the treasury, Yuuto proceeding to close the massive doors behind them. Alister held the items he was given in his hands, unable to put them in his inventory with Yuuto still being so close by.

    With a respectful nod, they parted ways, heading to their separate rooms for the night. Alister felt a touch of relief and frustration. He had at least one of the items he needed, but the road ahead still seemed uncertain.

    Once far away from Yuuto and out of sight of the other guild members, Alister discreetly dropped the items into his inventory. He didn''t want to draw any more attention than he already had.

    Gazing at the system window with the items listed, Alister mumbled to himself, "Although they were never my goal in the first ce, they will undoubtedly help me in my efforts to find the necessary items in the future."

    [Inventory

    - Eternal Bondmaster (Rank: SS)

    - Phantom Spade''s Mask (Rank: A)

    - Ring of Haste (Rank: B)

    - Dragon Overlord''s Heirloom (Rank: SSS+)]

    Alister felt a bit satisfied with the items. ''Although it was not intentional, I wouldn''t be surprised if giving me these high-ranked items actually dropped the guild''s worth, even if it was by a decimal,'' he thought.

    As his eyesnded on the Dragon Overlord''s Heirloom, a memory shed in his mind.

    Back in the treasury, after reading the item''s status window, Alister had momentarily frozen with shock. His thoughts raced. ''Wait, if all this is true, then... That woman in the picture was once.... How? Who is she? Could she... Could she be...?''

    Yuuto walked past Alister with a smile on his face, but half of his face darkened.

    Alister''s eyes widened as he instantly whipped around to face Yuuto. "Who was the person who wore this ne before?"

    Yuuto paused and turned to look at him, wearing a puzzled expression. "Someone who wore that ne before? I don''t understand what you are talking about. What do you mean? It''s just another treasure in the guild."

    Alister''s voice turned serious. "Don''t y games with me. I saw you in a picture on an old smartphone with the Union president and a woman wearing this ne, and you yourself said it brings back precious memories. Who was she?"

    Yuuto looked further confused. "Alister, I don''t know what you''re talking about. That was an item my guild members and I got from defeating a boss monster."

    His expression turned downcast, as it seemed these memories surfaced to his mind.

    "I said it holds a lot of precious memories because many of my guild members died in the battle to secure that item. It brings back their smiles and the happy moments we shared. Those are the memories I was talking about."

    ''Wait... That doesn''t make sense. Is he trying to say he and his guild members were the ones that killed the first dragon? That''s crap... No wait, he said a boss monster. Maybe it was guarded and then stolen by a monster. That makes more sense, but that''s not what I''m asking.''

    Alister calmed down and spoke. "Look, sir, you just need to tell me this: do you or do you not know of a woman who wore this ne?"

    Yuuto let out a sigh. "Look, Alister, I don''t know what you''re talking about. Photo editing apps hade a long way even before the apocalypse. Anyone would want to take a picture with a guild master and the Union president. The photo you are talking about was most likely edited."

    Alister countered, "I''m no fool. The picture I saw was taken on an old smartphone. It looked ages old. I wouldn''t even be surprised if it was taken before the apocalypse or around the era it descended. But back then, there''s no way you would have been a guild master, nor would the Union president have been the Union president. Who would want to Photoshop pictures of people who would have been total nobodies?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Narrowing his gaze, Alister said, "You''re obviously lying to me."

    Yuuto turned around, his back facing Alister. "I may, I may not. All I know is you got what you wanted, Alister. Stop trying to poke into my past. You''ll get a headache if you do."

    "But-"

    Before he could finish, Yuuto''s silver mana surged out from his body like a raging inferno. It was the first time Alister had seen mana take such a massive form in his life. He instantly froze, an immense chill running down his spine.

    Yuuto''s tone turned cold. "Look, Alister, I''m not gonna lie. I like you, but don''t take my fondness as an opportunity to disrespect me. I just said I don''t know what you''re talking about, so you should let go of any questions on your mind. Are we clear?"

    Alister reluctantly nodded.

    Yuuto''s mana instantly faded, his expression turning yful. "I''m d we''re on the same page. Continue with your search now," he said as he walked back to the door, waving his hand.

    The memory ended.

    Alister let out a sigh of relief. "I''m d things worked out for me in the end," he said to

    himself.

    He walked up to a wall, leaning against it as he trembled.

    ''I really thought I was going to die.''

    ''Heck even the system was giving me warnings that my life was in danger.''

 Chapter 62: Chat

    Chapter 62: Chat

    ?

    The murmurs from other guild members around him snapped him out of his thoughts. He stood up straight, trying to regain hisposure.

    ''Guess I should head over to my room and change my clothes,'' he thought. ''Although it''s a bitte, I might have to visit the ck market and search further... on second thought I should save that for tomorrow, I''m beat.''

    Alister continued through the guild building, the whispers of other members following him like shadows.

    "What do you think he took from the treasury?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Did you see him holding anything? Maybe he didn''t get anything in the end."

    "Serves him right for being so arrogant."

    Alister sighed, shaking his head slightly. ''People will always talk, whether things go well or poorly,'' he thought. ''Not that I care.''

    As he walked, a sudden grumble from his stomach caused him to pause. He turned pale, mumbling to himself, "Damn... I forgot to eat. I was so busy looking for the ingredients Ipletely forgot, I don''t even think I had lunch, and that little breakfast the guild representatives offered that I ate this morning was practically nothing."

    Just then, a voice called out to him.

    "Over here, Alister."

    He turned around to see Beatrice waving her hand as she approached him. She stopped in front of him, catching her breath before standing up straight. Folding and tightening her fists, she said, "I''ve been looking for you."

    Alister tilted his head, a confused expression on his face.

    "Looking for me? Why?"

    Beatrice smiled. "Some friends and I are having dinner together and wanted to invite you." Alister blinked in surprise, his mind still partially preupied with the recent events in the treasury. "Dinner?" he asked, a bit distracted. "With your friends?"

    Beatrice nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yeah! We thought it would be nice to get to know you better. You''ve been the talk of the guildtely, and... well, we figured you could use a break."

    Alister''s stomach grumbled again, louder this time, as if emphasizing the point. He chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I suppose I could use some food. I''ve been so caught up in everything that I forgot to eat."

    "Great!" Beatrice eximed, her enthusiasm infectious. "Come on, let''s go. Everyone''s already at the Tibte Caf¨¦."

    Alister followed Beatrice through the winding corridors of the guild building, the whispers of other members gradually fading into the background. As they approached the Caf¨¦, it was a massive building owned by the guild, the warm, inviting aroma of food filled the air, making his stomach rumble.

    The Caf¨¦ was filled with activity. Guild members sat at long tables, chatting andughing as they enjoyed their meals. Beatrice led Alister to a table near the center, where a group of her friends were already gathered. They looked up as the two approached, their expressions a mix of curiosity and friendliness.

    "Everyone, this is Alister," Beatrice introduced, gesturing towards him. "Alister, these are my friends ¨C Axel, Blitz, and L."

    Axel, a prankster and troublemaker with a yful yet sheepish attitude, grinned widely. "Hey Alister! It''s been a while, I think we met this morning."

    "Didn''t you guys gather with the other in the main hall?" Alister asked.

    Blitz, equally mischievous, leaned back in her chair, a confident and slightly boastful smirk on her face.

    "Na,dy Aiko was all over our case, she really went through with punishing us so we couldn''t show."

    "Then why are you sounding so confident about it?" Alister asked a bit awkwardly, finding his attitude a bit strange.

    "Hi, Alister," a voice said, causing Alister to look at the other side of the table where a woman sat, he instantly recognised her.l, his eyes widening slightly.

    It was L, the same L who he had saved along with their teammates from an A rank dungeon raid. her cheeks turning a faint pink.

    "Oh, hi Lil-"

    Before Alister could finish she looked away swiftly, causing Alister to feel a bit awkward. ''Whats up with her... I thought she said she would like for us to talk again next time we met?''

    ''What''s up with the cold shoulder?''

    Alister focused his gaze on her, noticing the blush on her cheeks.

    ''Maybe she''s enbeharrsed about not being much help during the dungeon raid?''

    Alister let out a sigh as he thought, ''Guess there''s no helping it, she wasn''t really able to help when things got rough.''

    Alister finally settled into his seat as he said, "Thanks for inviting me. It''s nice to meet all of you again."

    As they all settled in, they ced their orders and tes of food were passed around, and Alister felt his tension slowly melting away.

    The conversation flowed easily, with Beatrice and her friends sharing stories about their adventures and the various challenges they had faced as guild members.

    "So, Alister," Blitz said between bites of her meal, "we heard you were in the treasury today. Did you find anything interesting?"

    Alister paused, considering his response. He decided to keep the details of exactly what he got to himself for now.

    "I did find some items that might be useful for my future endeavors."

    He said carefully. "But the search was more challenging than I expected."

    Axel nodded. "Yeah I''ve heard rumors that the treasury can be overwhelming. So much stuff packed in there."

    "Although I''ve never personally seen it, I''m sure my exploits one of these days will allow me to get the chance to pick something out," Axel said with a yful grin.

    Beatrice rolled her eyes, but her smile remained. "Knowing you, Axel, you''d probably go for the most outrageous thing you could find."

    Axel chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "You know me too well, Beatrice."

    As they continued to eat, the conversation turned to lighter topics, and Alister found himself rxing more and more. He was grateful for the break from the constant pressure of his quest and the tension with Yuuto.

    "So, Alister," Blitz said, her mischievous smile returning, "got any stories from your days back at your academy? You must have some good ones. Right?"

 Chapter 63: Chat Part Two

    Chapter 63: Chat Part Two

    ?

    Alister chuckled, thinking back to his academy days.

    "Oh, I''ve got a few," Alister said, chuckling. "There was this one time when my friends and I decided to sneak into the headmaster''s office. We wanted to find out what kind of rare

    artifacts he kept hidden away. Turns out, he was expecting us."

    Beatrice leaned in, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What happened?"

    "Well, we got caught, of course," Alister said,ughing. "But instead of punishing us, the headmaster gave us a lecture on the importance of respecting boundaries and the dangers of tampering with powerful items and artifacts. Then he showed us a few of them, exining their history and purpose. It was actually quite fascinating."

    Axel grinned. "Sounds like you got off easy."

    Alister nodded. "Yeah, we did. But the headmaster made sure we never tried anything like that again. He had a way of making his point without being harsh."

    "So, what happened after that?" Blitz asked, eager to hear more.

    Alister took a sip of his drink, thinking about how much to share. "Well, after that incident, we decided to focus more on our studies and training. We realized that knowledge and skill were far more valuable than sneaking around and looking for trouble."

    "That''s a mature way to look at it," Beatrice said.

    "Yeah, I guess it is," Alister replied with a shrug.

    "It''s funny how things change." His tone sounded slightly downcast as he remembered Chase and Yanzi.

    Alister''s story caused the others tough and nod in agreement.

    As theughter subsided, Axel leaned forward with a mischievous glint in his eye.

    "Alright, I guess it''s our turn," Axel said, nudging Blitz. "Remember that time we decided to prank our entire academy during the end-of-year festival?"

    Blitz grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, how could I forget? It was one of our best pranks ever."

    Beatrice raised an eyebrow, curious. "What did you two do?"

    Axel chuckled, his voice filled with amusement. "We rigged the fireworks disy, reconfiguring it. Instead of the usual fireworks, we set it up so that it would spell out ''Axel and Blitz rule!'' across the sky. It was supposed to be a harmless joke, but..."

    "But," Blitz interjected,ughing, "we didn''t ount for the wind. It blew the fireworks in all directions, and instead of a neat message, it ended up looking like a giant, colorful mess. Everyone was so confused!"

    Alister couldn''t help butugh at the image. "I can only imagine the chaos that caused."

    "Oh, it was total chaos," Axel said, still grinning. "The headmaster was furious. He made us clean up the entire academy grounds as punishment. But honestly, it was worth it just to see everyone''s faces."

    Blitz nodded, a fond smile on her face. "Yeah, even though we got in trouble, it was one of the most fun nights we had. And after that, we were known as our academy''s resident troublemakers."

    Beatrice shook her head,ughing. "I should''ve guessed it would be something like that."

    "Hey, at least we made things interesting," Axel said with a wink. "Life''s too short to always y it safe."

    Blitz raised her ss in a small toast. "To making things interesting!"

    The group joined in the toast, theirughter filling the air.

    As theughter died down, Axel turned to Beatrice with a teasing smile. "Alright, Bea, it''s your turn."

    Blitz nodded in agreement, leaning in with a grin. "Yeah, Bea, let''s hear one of your stories. You''ve got to have some good ones."

    Beatrice blushed slightly, shaking her head. "Oh, I don''t know if I have anything that exciting to share."

    "Come on," Axel urged, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "We all know you''ve got some stories. Don''t be shy."

    "Yeah, spill the beans, Beatrice," Blitz added, her tone yful and insistent. "We''re all friends here."

    Beatrice hesitated for a moment, then sighed, realizing there was no escaping their yful pressure. "Alright, alright. But don''t expect anything too wild."

    The group leaned in closer, eager to hear what she had to say.

    "Well," Beatrice began, a small smile spreading on her lips, "there was this one time during my early days at the guild. I was still trying to prove myself, you know, show everyone that I belonged."

    Axel and Blitz nodded, urging her to continue.

    "So, there was this training exercise," Beatrice continued. "We were supposed to navigate abyrinth and retrieve a special artifact. It was supposed to be a solo mission, but I ended up gettingpletely lost. I mean, I had no idea where I was going."

    Alister chuckled, imagining the scene. "Sounds like a tough start."

    "It was," Beatrice admitted. "But then I stumbled upon another member who was also lost- Aiko."

    Blitz and Axel''s eyes widened in surprise. "Aiko? The same Aiko who trains us now?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Beatrice nodded, smiling. "Yeah, back then she was just as strict, but she was still finding her own way too. We decided to team up, even though it was against the rules."

    Axel grinned. "Breaking the rules already, huh? Guess I''ll have something in my arsenal when she tries to scold us next time."

    Blitz wore a slightly nonchnt expression as she said, "Don''t think that''s a good idea. It could very well make things worse."

    "It would probably go something like, ''You''re attempting to ckmail a senior guild member? Double punishment for you.""

    Axel''s expression turned slightly pale as he imagined the scene. "I guess you have a point."

    Beatriceughed softly. "Yeah, anyway, we ended up working together and managed to find the artifact. When we got back, we were both prepared for a lecture, but instead, the guild master praised us for our teamwork. It was the first time I felt like I really belonged here." Blitz pped her hands together, beaming. "See? That was a great story! And you thought you didn''t have anything to share."

    "Yeah," Axel agreed, nodding. "It''s always nice to hear about how people find their ce in

    the guild."

    Beatrice smiled warmly, feeling more at ease. "Thanks, guys. I''m d I shared it."

 Chapter 64: Chat Part Three

    Chapter 64: Chat Part Three

    ?

    Hearing Beatrice''s story, Alister raised an eyebrow. "You must be an old member if you were going on missions with Aiko."

    Beatrice chuckled. "I may not look it, but I used to be a member of one of the guild''s elite raid teams."

    Alister was a bit shocked. "Really? How long have you been a member of the guild?"

    Beatrice blushed slightly. "Seven years."

    Alister''s eyes widened in surprise. "But you don''t look that old. Heck, I thought you were around my age."

    Beatriceughed softly. "Well, thank you. I get that a lot. It''s usually the case for physical enhancement talents."

    Axel leaned back in his chair, grinning. "See, Alister? Bea is full of surprises."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Blitz nodded in agreement. "Yeah, she''s pretty amazing."

    Alister smiled. "I guess so."

    Axel and his sister turned to L, their eyes gleaming with mischief.

    "Now, on to the main course," Axel said with a grin.

    "L, you''ve been awfully quiet since Alister got here. You don''t have a thing for him now, do you?" Blitz teased.

    L turned red, her face flushing deeply. "It''s not like that," she stammered. "H-he just saved my life, that''s all."

    Blitz leaned back, a sly smile on her face. "Oh, saved your life, did he? I didn''t know Mr. Alister over here was such a charmer."

    Alister, caught off guard, raised his hands in defense. "It wasn''t anything like that," he said, trying to defuse the situation. "It was just a dungeon raid."

    L shot Blitz a look, half-annoyed and half-embarrassed.

    Axel chuckled, clearly enjoying the teasing. "Still, it''s not every day someone gets their life saved. Must have been pretty dramatic."

    Beatrice chimed in, "Come on, L, you haven''t told us your story yet. We all want to hear it."

    "In fact, why don''t you tell us about how Alister saved you?"

    "Yeah, yeah, tell us," Blitz urged as she leaned close to L.

    L tensed up slightly, her eyes darting around the room. Alister noticed her difort and his gaze narrowed, a look of concern passing through his eyes.

    ''I''m sure it still gets to her,'' he thought.

    "L, you don''t have to say anything if you don''t want to," Alister said gently.

    Blitz, unable to hold back her curiosity, interjected, "Why shouldn''t she want to tell the story

    "It''s fine. I can tell it." Before Blitz could finish, L interrupted her.

    Her voice was steady, but a slight tremor could be detected.

    She began, "It was a low F-rank dungeon. My friends and I wanted to raid it, but we didn''t meet the required number. So a friend of mine, Amelia, found Alister in the crowd of people wanting to participate in a dungeon raid and offered for him to join us. It was just a goblin cave. We killed the waves of goblins that came; for the most part, it was easy, a bit fun even.'' She paused shortly, catching her breath.

    "But something was off. The goblins were... getting stronger, much stronger than they should have been. We tried our best, but we were slowly overwhelmed. We all sustained... serious injuries..." Her voice began to shake as tears welled up in her eyes.

    Beatrice, Axel, and Blitz exchanged worried looks. "Um... L, you don''t have to continue if it''s too painful," Beatrice offered softly.

    "From the way you look, it seems... something truly sad happened."

    "Yeah, I wouldn''t have asked you to tell if I knew you''d end up like this," Blitz said, sounding a bit guilty.

    L shook her head. "No, I need to tell this. I tried to keep everyone''s injuries to a minimum, but it wasn''t enough. My friends fought as hard as they could, with everything they had, but things only got worse. Under all that pressure, we were caught off guard by a massive goblin that sent us flying with its massive club. Our wounds were severe. Amelia was already bleeding and unconscious." Her voice broke, and tears streamed down her face.

    A heavy silence fell over the group. Axel reached out and ced aforting hand on her shoulder.

    Gathering her strength, L continued, "We were scared. We had all given up hope. We thought we would meet our end there." Her voice was barely a whisper.

    Then, she looked at Alister, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and sadness. "And then, Alister... he got up from the rubble. He was covered in wounds, but his eyes burned intensely. He started killing the goblins one by one. With each goblin he defeated, he seemed to get stronger and faster."

    Blitz''s eyes widened in shock. "Wait, I thought he was a summoner?" she questioned.

    Blitz leaned towards Alister, her eyes wide with excitement. "Is what she said true?" she asked.

    Alister, wearing a nonchnt expression, said. "It is."

    Axel then asked, "How did you do it?"

    Alister took a sip from his cup then said. "That part''s a secret."

    Blitz pouted. "Boo, it''s no fun if you don''t tell."

    Beatrice cut in, "Anyway, what happened next?"

    L took a deep breath. "I wasn''t so sure. All I know is that he killed all the goblins and headed deeper into the dungeon. Once there were no goblins in the area, I crawled over to Amelia."

    "I called out to her, but she didn''t respond. I tried healing her, but it didn''t seem to work." Beatrice shifted her chair closer and patted L''s head gently. "It''s okay," she said softly.

    L nodded. "I''m alright."

    She wiped her tears.

    "Alister came back a couple of minutester and wanted the rest of us to leave. I was a bit reluctant to leave Amelia like that, so he knocked me out and carried me along with the

    others."

    Her expression began to look a bit more hopeful. "Although I''m sad I couldn''t save Amelia, I''m grateful that Alister saved all of us."

    Gazing at Alister, she said, "So thank you, Alister. I told this story because I wanted to let you know I''m truly grateful for what you did and I''m not petty enough to me you for leaving

    Amelia behind."

    Axel nodded, impressed. "Damn, that was a real hero story alright."

    Beatrice sped her hands together and said, "Alright, since we''ve all eaten and shared our stories, why don''t we call it a night and head to our rooms?"

    Blitz nodded in agreement. "Sounds nice, been itching to get some rest after what Miss Aiko

    put me and Axel through."

    Axel got up first and said, "Alright, we''ll be heading back now."

    Before he left, Axel paused, turned around to face Alister, and said, "Come to think of it, we

    haven''t really introduced ourselves."

    Blitz chimed in, "Yeah, you''re right." She said with a smile.

    "Oh, go ahead then." Alister said.

    Axel and Blitz grinned at each other. Axel began, "I''m Axel Morgan, the daring, grenade- juggling maniac, proud prankster and a guy who loves to live in the moment, I like to keep things interesting around here."

    Blitz followed with a mischievous grin, "And I''m Blitz Morgan, the fearless and mischievous partner-in-crime who catches those grenades and makes sure we don''t blow ourselves up, I''d dly follow my brother through everything, including miss Aiko''s intense punishments." Alister chuckled. "Alister Hazenworth, a hard worker I guess," he introduced himself.

 Chapter 65: Just Another Night

    Chapter 65: Just Another Night

    ?

    Beatrice followed as well, "Beatrice Larkin, a proud member of the guild and always ready for a good story."

    L, still blushing, spoke up softly, "L Monroe, healer and... uh, grateful to have shared dinner with you guys."

    Axel and Blitz grinned. "Later, see y''all tomorrow!" they said together.

    L, blushing even more, got up from her seat. "I-I''ll also be making my way to my room. Good night, Alister," she stuttered.

    Alister smiled and told her, "Good night, L."

    Alister, stood up to leave, before he did he spoke to Beatrice, "Thank you for the invitation. This was just what I needed."

    She smiled warmly. "You''re wee to eat and chat with us anytime."

    Alister smiled back. "Okay," he said, then turned around and headed for his room.

    ...

    Alister walked past the massive metal doors of his living quarters and stepped inside. The doors closed behind him with a heavy ng, sealing him off from the outside world. He took a deep breath and surveyed his space, feeling the weight of the day settle on his shoulders.

    "What a packed day," he said to himself. "So many things happened in the span of just 24 hours."

    As he thought about the day''s events, a sudden notification from the Dragonforge system popped up in front of him, glowing faintly in the dim light.

    [Notice! 05:45:20 left for daily questpletion!]

    Alister''s eyes widened in shock. "I almost forgot about the daily quest," he said aloud. He quickly headed to his room and changed out of his guild uniform, recing it with his well- worn equipment.

    Sitting on the floor, he took a moment to gather his thoughts. "But before I can step out," he said, "Inventory."

    A yellow system window materialized before him. He reached into it, feeling the sizzle of mana as he pulled out two of the items he had acquired from the treasury.

    Alister dropped the items before him and gazed at them for a moment, taking in their shapes and auras. He picked up the Phantom Spade''s mask and examined it closely, its dark, smooth surface reflecting the room''s light.

    "It appears to just be a disguise item," he mused. "So I won''t be needing it for the quest. Maybe I could use it when I go to the ck market." He ced it back into his inventory with a slight sigh.

    "The real mystery now is how I''m going to get this item to take the form I want," he said, his eyesnding on the Eternal Bond Master crystal.

    The system''s voice suddenly echoed in response.

    [The yer simply has to ce their hand on it and channel their mana into it.]

    [Picturing your weapon of choice will also better help the process.]

    ''Picturing the weapon I want.''

    "Alright then." He proceeded to ce his hand on the crystal and began channeling his mana into it as he closed his eyes.

    Alister focused his mind on the image of a pair of gauntlets, their metal surfaces gleaming with a dark, obsidian sheen. He imagined sharp ws, their edges razor-sharp.

    As he poured his mana into the crystal, he felt a tingling sensation in his hands, as if the gauntlets were already taking shape. The crystal began to pulse with a vibrant light, responding to his vision and will.

    The light grew brighter, filling the room with an intense glow. After a few intense moments, the light began to fade. Alister opened his eyes and saw the crystal had changed, now holding the form of the wed gauntlets on his hands.

    "It worked."

    Alister admired the wed gauntlets flexing his hands and having a feel for them.

    ''They seem to be replicas of the original one, I can''t tell them apart.''

    Feeling the weight and power emanating from them. He took a deep breath and said.

    "System, open the status window for the wed gauntlets."

    A transparent window materialized before him, disying the details of the gauntlets:

    Eternal Bond Master (wed gauntlets)

    - Rank: C

    - Traits:

    - Growth: Gets stronger as the user gets stronger

    - Unbreakable: The weapon cannot break

    Alister studied the information, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. ''The rank must have dropped due to its desire to adapt and grow with me.''

    ''Makes sense.''

    ''And it''s also unbreakable, so that means I won''t have to worry about recing it.'' Satisfied with his new weapon, Alister smiled slightly and rose to his feet. "I guess that''s all then," he said, preparing for the quest. "System, open the gate."

    A yellow rift appeared before him, shimmering with energy. He stepped through it, feeling the familiar tingle of mana as he was transported to a new location.

    He emerged in a massive jungle, the dense foliage intertwining with the ruins of buildings from the old world. The leaves above allowed only a few rays of the moonlight down, creating a scene that looked somewhat mythical.

    Trees and vines grew over crumbling structures, creating a surrealndscape where nature

    had reimed its territory.

    ''Guess it''s a new location.''

    ''Part of me silently knew that would be the case.''

    Suddenly a system window materialized before him.

    [Train your weak body (daily): The yer is expected to survive and fend off all the monsters

    until the time runs out: 01:50:00.

    Questpletion condition: the yer has to ''personally'' kill at least 80 monsters in this

    time frame, else the time would reset.

    Ouest reward: Random summoning conduit.]

    Alister studied the quest details on the system window and shook his head slightly. "It seems the system has adjusted the quest sincest time," he thought aloud. "An increased time limit, more monsters to kill, and there''s a reward now. Not bad."

    He took a deep breath, focusing his thoughts. "It''s nice and all, but what I would like to see is

    if I can find any of the ingredients for the Elixir out here."

    Lost in his thoughts about the Elixir, he was startled by the sudden appearance of root-like monsters with glowing green eyes emerging from the dense foliage around him.

    "I guess I can begin my search after Iplete this quest."

    Alister then raised his hand, his yellow eyes glowing slightly, calling out, "Cinder, Terra,

    come forth."

    Massive rifts opened up beside him, and from them, a towering Drake and a mighty Sand

    Dragoon stepped out.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "My lord, we are here and ready to serve." They both said.

    "Good, let''s get started," Alister said, the glow in his eyes intensifying.

    ...

    The moonlight cast a silver glow through the tall windows of Lord Han Li''s study, illuminating the room with a soft light. Lord Han Li stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the night sky, a thoughtful expression on his face.

    The streaks of silver moonlight highlighted the rich decor and the numerous scrolls and

    artifacts that lined the walls.

    The door creaked open, and Liang stepped inside.

    "Grandfather, you summoned me?" Liang asked.

    Lord Han Li turned from the window, his sharp eyes meeting Liang''s. "Yes, Liang, stand here

    and listen."

    Liang came to a halt near the center of the room, remaining standing as he waited for his

    grandfather to speak.

    Lord Han''s gaze remained steady. "I am sure you know what happened to Kai''s girlfriend."

    Liang''s lips curled into a slight smirk. "You mean his new toy?"

    Lord Han''s expression remained stern. "Yes. But that is not the reason I called you here."

    "It''s about that boy, Alister."

 Chapter 66: Plans In Motion

    Chapter 66: ns In Motion

    ?

    Liang''s eyes narrowed. "Alister? What about him?"

    "I need you to get rid of him, the boy stained our family''s reputation, and that is something we cannot let slide."

    By staining their family''s reputation, Lord Han was referring to the fact that Alister had wounded Yanzi, despite her being with Kai. Additionally, the fact that most of the public knew Kai had run away with Yanzi instead of facing Alister was already making their situation a hot topic on the inte.

    People didn''t care if he did it to save her, all they saw was a boy who ran away from a

    summoner because he had a drake.

    Liang''s expression suddenly turned nonchnt and slightly annoyed, "Grandfather, I''m sure by now the details of exactly what happened that day have gotten to you."

    "Kai ran away, shouldn''t ''he'' be getting punished for bringing disgrace to our family? Even if Alister''s did stain our family reputation or at least that was how it looked, Isn''t Kai supposed to be the one to get rid of him?"

    "He was the one who disgraced our family, not me. So I don''t see why you''ve called me for this. I''m not very keen on the idea of cleaning up after others."

    ''It''s obvious you aren''t asking me to do this just because of the family''s reputation. It''s because he broke your favorite grandson''s toy.'' Liang thought, still keeping a straight face although he clenched his fists in frustration.

    Lord Han turned his head to gaze at Liang. "I never expected you to do it personally. All I know is that I want that boy gone, and you will make sure things y out that way."

    Liang, still hiding his annoyance, couldn''t help but ask. "And how do you expect me to carry it out?"

    Lord Han turned back to the window, his voice steady. "The Wastnd Disy Event. Some of our spies in the White Comet Guild sent word that their guildmaster said Alister would be participating in the event."

    Liang momentarily looked surprised and then chuckled softly. "Wait really? A summoner? In the wastnds? That''s the worst joke I''ve ever heard."

    Heughed hard, holding his stomach as if trying to hold it in.

    Lord Han''s expression remained impassive as he turned to gaze out the window.

    "Underestimate him at your own risk, Liang," Lord Han said calmly. "Don''t forget the boy can summon a drake, he''s far past than just a summoner. And his presence in the Wastnd Disy Event could be more than a mere joke."

    Liang''s amusement faded as he considered his grandfather''s words. He knew better than to dismiss his concerns lightly. "So, you want me to ensure he doesn''te back from the event?"

    Lord Han turned to face Liang fully, his gaze piercing. "Precisely. The wastnds are unforgiving. It wouldn''t be unusual for a participant to meet their end there, even if they were well prepared. You will use whatever means necessary to see that he does not return."

    Liang nodded slowly, a calcting look crossing his face. "I understand. But I need more details. Who are our contacts within the White Comet Guild, and how can they assist me? It''s all going to be pointless if I can''t tell where he is."

    Lord Han moved to his desk, retrieving a small chip. He handed it to Liang. "Inside, you''ll find the names of our informants and instructions on how to contact them. They have been ced strategically to provide you with the necessary support. Ensure they remain undiscovered."

    Liang took the chip and slowly turned around and wanted to leave, "I believe that''s all, may I take my leave?"

    "One more thing, Liang," Lord Han said, his voice low. "This mission is of the utmost importance. Failure is not an option. Do you understand?"

    Liang gritted his teeth slightly, "Yes, Grandfather. I won''t fail." Still hiding his growing frustration within him.

    Lord Han nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now go and prepare. You have much to do, and time is of the essence."

    ...

    Liang stepped out into the dimly lit hallway, his mind already strategizing how to deal with Alister. Just as he was about to leave, he encountered Kai, who was leaning casually against the wall, a smug smile on his lips.

    "Guess you''ll be cleaning up my mess after all," Kai said, his tone filled with mockery. He sounded different, strangely confident, like all he had in his voice when they smoked before their duel was gone.

    ''Is this fool seriously looking for another beating?''

    ''And what''s up with his voice, does he think I''m one of his friends he can have a casual chat with?'' Liang thought.

    Liang''s eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, Kai continued, his voice filled with a touch of pride.

    "It''s almost amusing, isn''t it? Despite all your power and arrogance, Grandfather still sees more potential in me. Seems like being his favorite grandson has its perks."

    Indeed, Lord Han favored Kai far more than he did Liang. The reason for this was still unknown to both of them, but it was this fact that made Liang secretly hate Kai. He didn''t work as hard as Liang, nor was he stronger or smarter, yet it seemed like Lord Han just loved him more, and this frustrated Liang to no end.

    Liang gritted his teeth slightly, but managed to calm down. He straightened, his expression hardening.

    "Don''t get toofortable, Kai. Power is everything in this family, and I''ve got more of it than you''ll ever understand. Grandfather might see something in you now, but that cann/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    change quickly."

    Kai''s smile widened. "Keep telling yourself that. But with the way things are going, it looks like I''ll be the one to be the family head, not you, my pompous big brother."

    Liang gritted his teeth, tightening his fists as he stepped closer. "You think you can handle the responsibilities of being the family head? You''re delusional. You''re just a spoiled brat ying at being important."

    Kai shrugged nonchntly. "Maybe, but it seems Grandfather disagrees. He called you in to clean up my mess, not the other way around. That says a lot about who he loves more."

    Liang''s anger red, but he maintained his oppressive demeanor. "Enjoy your moment in the spotlight, Kai. It won''tst. I''ll make sure of that."

    Kai''s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "We''ll see about that. Just remember, while you''re out there trying to prove yourself, I''ll be here, solidifying my ce as the rightful heir."

    As Liang turned to leave, he forced a smile, a look of malice in his eyes. "Stop being delusional Kai, you should go cradle your broken toy. Wouldn''t want it to fall apartpletely now, would we?"

    Kai''s left eye suddenly red red as he asked, "What did you say?"

 Chapter 67: Down A Path Of Blood

    Chapter 67: Down A Path Of Blood

    ?

    Liang''s smirk widened as he took another step closer, relishing in Kai''s growing irritation. "You know, for someone who acts so high and mighty, you sure get flustered easily."

    Kai''s face contorted into a mask of rage. He was about tosh out, his fists clenched, when a deep, mysterious voice echoed in his head.

    ~ ''Patience, young one. Your time wille. Let him underestimate you.''~

    The voice was cold andmanding, dousing the fire of his anger. Kai''s breathing gradually slowed, and his clenched fists loosened. He took a deep breath and turned away suddenly, his voice calm, "I don''t have time for this."

    ''Something''s off, this isn''t like him. And what was up with the color of his eye?''

    Liang thought he was taken by surprise by the sudden change in Kai''s demeanor, although it didn''t show on his face.

    He narrowed his gaze, trying to decipher the meaning behind the shift. Something was off. But instead of pressing the issue, he decided to let it go for now. After all, he had more pressing matters to attend to.

    ''He must be up to something.''

    Liang smiled.

    ''Let him try, I''ll put him in his ce as many times as I need to.''

    With a final, cold nce at Kai, Liang turned and walked away feeling a bit uneasy. He couldn''t shake the feeling that something was brewing beneath the surface, but he was sure whatever it was, he was squatch just like he always did.

    Meanwhile, Kai strode down the hallway, his mind still reeling from the encounter with Liang. He gritted his teeth in anger, tightening his fists till they nearly turned white as he called out, "Helxon, why did you make me run away? Didn''t you promise me power?"

    "Didn''t you say that as long as you are by my side, I''ll get everything I want?"

    A shadow seemed to shift in the air beside him, forming into a spherical shape. It was dark, almost inky, but as it hovered closer, a portion of its surface seemed to shimmer, revealing a single, crimson eye.

    The eye spoke though it had no visible mouth, its voice deep and resonating in Kai''s thoughts.

    ~''I did promise you power, Kai. But poweres with a price. You must first prove your loyalty to the Dark One.''~

    Kai''s patience was wearing thin. "What do I have to do to prove my loyalty?"

    The eye seemed to consider its response before continuing.

    ~''The Dark One seeks those who are willing to sacrifice everything for power. You must demonstrate your absolute devotion. Only then will you be granted a portion of His might.''~ "What exactly does the Dark One want me to sacrifice?" Kai asked, his voice filled with suspicion. He wasn''t foolish enough to believe that there wouldn''t be a price to pay, but depending on what it was, he would say no.

    The eye seemed to chuckle, a low, ominous sound.

    ~''Fear not, young one. Your loved ones are safe.''~

    A chill ran down Kai''s spine. If not his loved ones, then what?

    "So, what am I sacrificing?"

    Suddenly, a grotesque shadow emerged from beneath the eye. It was a monstrous grin, filled with razor-sharp teeth. The shadow seemed to speak.

    ~ "Human sacrifices, of course. The more you offer, the stronger you will be."~n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    A crimson Talent window materialized before Kai''s eyes.

    [Quest: Prove Your Devotion

    Offer up the lives of 5 humans. Gender and age are irrelevant.

    The more gruesome the state of the bodies, the more Abyssal Points will be awarded. Additional Abyssal Points will be granted if the phrase "Look into the abyss, look beyond this fractured world" is written in the victim''s blood asrge as possible.[]

    Kai''s eyes narrowed, a sinister grin spread across his face. "You had me worried for a second there. If this is all the Dark One wants, then I''m more than happy to oblige."

    As he spoke, his left eye red red once more, revealing a ck, four-sided star inside it.

    ...

    Back in the wilderness, Alister sent both Terra and Cinder to raid different parts of the colossal ruined jungle a bit far on the side opposite from him. Their dragon aura intimidated the monsters around them, constantly chasing them away. If he wanted toplete the quest, he had to have at least some of theming at him instead of going on a wild chase because they chose to flee out of fear.

    Cinder soared through the air, her wings a blur. A torrent of mes engulfed a cluster of root monsters, their screams turning to sizzling vapor as their bodies were consumed.

    Terra, was practically a juggernaut, making her way through the battlefield. Her powerful tail swept through the enemy ranks, sending them flying like ragdolls. Her massive jaws mped down on a monster, crushing it with a sickening crunch. She stomped her feet and massive stone spikes emerged from the earth, impaling all the other monsters that tried to run from her.

    Meanwhile.

    As Alister stood alone in the dense, overgrown ruins, the jungle around him was filled with life. He could feel the vibrations of Terra and Cinder moving through the forest, their powerful presences driving some monsters towards him. He readied himself, his wed gauntlets glinting in the dim moonlight that filtered through the thick canopy above.

    The first wave of monsters emerged from the underbrush, their glowing eyes piercing through the darkness. They were root-like creatures, their bodiesposed of twisted wood and pulsing with a green light.

    Alister crouched slightly, readying his stance. As the first creature lunged at him, he sidestepped with a quick, smooth motion, the ws of his gauntlet shing as he shed through the monster''s wooden body. The creature emitted a high-pitched screech as it disintegrated into a pile of splinters and glowing sap.

    More creatures followed, Alister ducked and weaved through the onught, his gauntlets slicing through the air.

    Each swipe of his ws cut through the monsters, their bodies splintering and bursting into showers of sap and debris. The forest floor around him quickly became littered with the remains of the creatures.

    A particrlyrge root monster charged at Alister, its limbs thrashing wildly. It swung a massive arm at him, and he narrowly avoided the blow by rolling to the side.

    The arm smashed into a nearby tree, splintering it with a thunderous crash and sending shards of wood flying in all directions.

    Alister sprang back to his feet, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.

    ''This one may be of a higher rank than the others.''

    Monster: Sinister Vine Treant

    Rank: C

    ss: Medium.

    Remark: resilient against sharp attacks.

    Total Combat Power: 6200]

    ''If my ws won''t do any damage then all I have to do is use my fists instead.''

    He dashed towards the creature, his movements a blur. He leaped into the air, his gauntlets glinting in the moonlight. As he descended, he drove his fists deep into the monster''s center and took hold of its core, and ripped it out. The creature shuddered violently before copsing into a heap of twisted roots and fading light.

    [Level Up!]

    [Level Up!]

    Panting slightly, Alister took a moment to catch his breath. He could hear the distant roars of Terra and Cinder, still wreaking havoc in their designated areas. The ground beneath him rumbled as another wave of monsters fled, their roars and growls growing louder.

 Chapter 68: First Bloodline Awakening

    Chapter 68: First Bloodline Awakening

    ?

    ''Seems there''s more of them, good.''

    ''System, check quest status.''

    [73/80.]

    Came the response.

    ''Good, I''m close topleting the quest.''

    The new wave was more diverse. Among the root monsters wererge, wolf-like creatures with fur made of dark, bristling vines and glowing red eyes.

    ''Wolves again? No, they still look like Treants.''

    A talent window suddenly materialized.

    Monster: Sinister Wolf Treant

    Rank: D+

    ss: Medium.

    Total Combat Power: 4700

    ''Must be some sort of mutation, or perhaps the Treant gained the ability to change forms.''n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    They Growled as they circled Alister, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

    ''Here theye.'' Alister thought as he tensed up.

    One of the wolf-creatures lunged at him from behind, but Alister was ready. He spun around, his ws shing through the creature''s midsection. The monster yelped as it was torn apart, its body dissolving into a mass of writhing vines.

    Another wolf attacked from the side, its jaws snapping at his arm. Alister blocked with his gauntlet, the impact jarring but manageable. He followed up with a swift uppercut, the ws of his gauntlet tearing through the wolf''s head.

    The remaining wolves pounced simultaneously, their coordinated attack forcing Alister to push his reflexes to the limit.

    He ducked under one,shed out at another, and spun to kick a third, his leg connecting squarely with its jaw. His movements were deadly, each strike devastating. The wolves fell one by one, their bodies disintegrating into piles of vines and glowing embers.

    As thest wolf fell, a new, more menacing presence emerged from the jungle. A massive creature, towering over the ruins, stepped into the clearing. It was an amalgamation of stone and roots, its body covered in jagged rocks and pulsing with the same strange green light. Its eyes glowed brightly, and it let out a thunderous roar that shook the ground.

    ~Graaaaaaa~

    A bright green talent window suddenly materialized.

    Monster: Evil Vine Colossal Stone Treant

    Rank: C+

    ss: Medium.

    Total Combat Power: 6900

    ''This one must be the boss.''

    ''For some reason it seems the system didn''t issue a quest for defeating this one.''

    Alister steeled himself, his muscles tensing. The creature''s massive arms swung down at him, and he rolled to the side just in time. The impact shattered the ground where he had stood, sending a shockwave that knocked him off bnce.

    He quickly regained his footing and charged at the creature. The behemoth swung again, but this time Alister was ready. He leaped onto the creature''s arm, using his ws to climb up its massive body. The creature roared in fury, thrashing violently in an attempt to dislodge him.

    Reaching the creature''s head, Alister drove his ws into its glowing eyes. The creature howled in agony, its movements bing more erratic.

    Alister held on tightly, using his gauntlets to maintain his grip. With a final, powerful strike, he drove both ws deep into the creature''s head. The Treant shuddered violently before copsing, its body disintegrating into a pile of rubble and roots.

    Breathing heavily, Alister stood amidst the remains of his fallen foes. The jungle around him was silent, the only sound being the distant roars of Terra and Cinder.

    He surveyed the battlefield, noting the damage the monsters had caused. Trees were splintered, the ground was torn apart, and the air was filled with the acrid smell of sap and -crushed foliage.

    Satisfied with his victory, Alister took a deep breath and called out, "System, check quest status."

    A yellow window materialized before him, disying the current progress of his quest.

    [Ding! Congrats to the yer forpleting the daily quest!]

    [System has now begun looting!]

    [Quest Reward: ze Crystal (summoning conduit).]

    [Notice! Mastery ofbat with ws has reached intermediate level! (20%).]

    [Ding! The yer has reached level 20!]

    He had already met the required number of kills, but there was still time left on the clock.

    ''Alright, I guess I should call back Cinder and Terra so we can go explore around a bit.'' Alister''s voice echoed across a telepathic link to Cinder and Terra, ''Cinder, Terra, return, we''re done here.''

    ''Understood.'' they both replied. Proceeding to spread out their wings and begin flying towards Alister.

    Alister stood amidst the carnage, feeling aplished.

    "Today''s quest was a lot easier than yesterday''s, I didn''t even get a scratch on me so my blood healing and blood maniption skills didn''t activate." Alister said to himself, with a touch of

    pride in his voice.

    [Lootingplete!] The system''s voice suddenly echoed.

    Opening his inventory he took a look at the items Inside.

    ''Now that I look at it, several wolf items from thest daily quest are here, guess I didn''t really get a chance to go sell them.''

    ''Maybe I can put them up for sale when I get to the auction, some of these items are rare despite just being D rank, and the question of how I obtained materials of monsters beyond the walls won''t be asked.''

    While he was lost in thought, just then a sharp pain shot through his chest, as if an icy hand had gripped his heart. The pain was so intense that he stumbled backward, his knees buckling

    as he copsed to the ground.

    "W-what the hell is this?" Alister asked in confusion.

    His vision blurred as he clutched his chest, gasping for air. A heavy pressure seemed to be crushing his heart, and he was feeling dizzy. As the pain intensified, a voice echoed in his mind, the system''s notification.

    [Notice: yer has reached the level requirement. Commencing First Stage Bloodline

    Awakening.]

    ''Bloodline awakening? Does this have anything to do with my Draconic aspect?''

    The world around him faded to ck as the process began.

    His body began to heat up, sweat streamed down his body dripping on the floor. His heart began to warm up, emanating a soft golden glow that was causing his chest area to illuminate

    as he clutched it.

    [Reconstructing 15% of the yer''s bone structure.]

    [Notice! This is going to be an extremely painful process!]

    "Ughaaaaaa!"

    A primal scream tore through Alister''s throat as an excruciating pain erupted within him. His body tensed, muscles straining against an unseen force. The golden glow intensified, pulsing rhythmically as if a new life was being birthed within him.

    The ground beneath him trembled as a surge of energy radiated from his body. Vines and

    leaves withered and died in a radius around him, the vibrant jungle transformed into a

    scorched wastnd.

    Time seemed to slow as Alister endured the agony. The world around him blurred and distorted, reced by a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. He felt as if his consciousness was being pulled apart and reconstructed, every fiber of his being in upheaval.

    ''Damn it, what is this! I feel like if I even let up for a moment I could lose consciousness.''

    [Notice! Dragon soul is being reactivated!]

    [Notice this is going to be a very painful process!]

    ''Dragon soul? More? I have to-''

    Before he could finish his train of thought another pain shot through him, but it wasn''t in his

    chest, no, this felt like abound his abdomen area. Thousands of needles were poking around

    what felt like an orb-like object, at the same time it felt like those needles were also piercing

    all over his body.

    [Notice! Memory fragment found!]

    [Does the yer wish to re-assimte or discard?]

 Chapter 69: Memory

    Chapter 69: Memory

    ?

    In the sky, Terra and Cinder, mid-flight, were suddenly stopped by a surge of oppressive energying from the ground. They exchanged concerned nces, their dragon eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation.

    "That aura... it feels familiar," Cinder murmured.

    Terra nodded, her mind racing. "I feel the same, but I can''t quite ce it," she replied, her tone filled with worry.

    Before they could think further, another wave of energy, this time raw and unfiltered, waved past them. It was a wave of pure agony, a loud cry of pain that resonated with their primal instincts.

    "Our Lord is in danger!" Cinder yelled.

    Without hesitation, she surged forward, her wings beating furiously against the air.

    "We mustn''t let anything happen to him!"

    Terra followed close behind, her own fear propelling her forward. She roared, her voice echoing through the sky.

    Meanwhile, on the ground, Alister was engulfed in a maelstrom of pain. His body convulsed as the awakening process intensified.

    The system''s words made him confused.

    "What is this?" he groaned, his mind was practically in a haze due to all the pain he was going through. For a brief moment, rity returned, allowing him to think about the system''s message.

    ''Dragon soul... could this be rted to my Draconic aspect?'' he wondered, barely able to think straight.

    Ignoring the pain, he focused his will on the system. "Y-yes, re-assimte the memory fragment," he said, though his voice was filled with pain.

    [Processing...]

    Suddenly, Alister felt a weird sensation; it was like the reality around him shifted and changed, and for a moment, he didn''t even know he was Alister. Suddenly a scene yed before him.

    His eyes cracked open; the world was bathed in a crimson light. A violent cough racked his body, and a spray of golden blood spilled from his lips, each droplet shimmering briefly before fading to dullness on the scorched earth. The air was thick with the scent of iron and decay.

    His white hair was a tangled mess, stained with blood. The armor that covered his body was ruined with cracks, a mere shadow of its former glory.

    He raised a trembling hand to his face; the firmness of his skin against his hands wasn''t how he remembered it. His face was cracking.

    The world around him was a deste wastnd. Massive structures, once part of a thriving civilization, were now remains, consumed by a sinister ck me that flickered. Corpses were scattered like discarded toys, most covered in the red hues of their own blood. A few, however, had a simr golden hue.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    He felt a sudden feeling of despair. He wanted to scream, to weep, to understand, but his body refused to obey. His voice was a mere whisper, trapped in his weak body.

    Then, a voice, cold and indifferent, echoed in the silence.

    "##### end, this is all it led to. ## could have ### it all, #####, if only ### had listened."

    His gaze lifted, drawn to a shadowy figure standing directly in front of him. Behind it, a colossal crimson eye, encircled by a golden halo, dominated the sky. It was the source of the strange red glow that bathed the wastnd in crimson.

    The figure extended a shadowy hand.

    "### ## #### ## try again?"

    "###### make a deal, what do you say?"

    The memory ended.

    A sharp jolt snapped Alister from the abyss of his nightmare. He felt a weird solid substance encasing his body in a suffocating cocoon; using the strength he could muster, he slowly cracked it open.

    As he did, Terra and Cinder, now standing by his side, gazed in awe as the cracks seemed to be illuminated with a golden glow.

    "He''s waking up!" Terra eximed, her voice filled with excitement.

    Cinder''s eyes, previously clouded with worry, now held a flicker of hope. "Is he really?"

    The cracks rippled around, and the strange cocoon shattered, allowing him to feel the cool night air.

    His eyelids fluttered open, revealing the towering figures of Terra and Cinder looming over him. Terra was happy to see he was alright, excited even. "You''re awake! You''re finally awake, my lord!"

    Cinder leaned in closer, her massive head inches away from him, her voice filled with concern. "Are you hurt? Are you sick? Are you exhausted?"

    Alister was taken by surprise by her sudden show of worry; this wasn''t her usual stoic demeanor she usually had about her. He awkwardly shrugged, attempting a reassuring smile.

    "I''m fine," he managed to croak out.

    ''What was all that just now? My head feels so fuzzy; I can''t think straight... a deal? What was that thing talking about?'' Alister''s thoughts raced.

    Trying to sit up, he found himself tumbling back to the ground. Cinder and Terra exchanged worried nces.

    "Are you sure you''re okay?" Cinder asked, her voice gentle and still sounding worried.

    "Yeah, I''m fine, you don''t have to worry," Alister insisted, though his voice was weaker than he intended. As he tried to rise once more, his vision blurred, and he suddenly felt a wave of exhaustione over him.

    Before he could fully sumb to darkness, a system notification shed before his eyes.

    [All Skills leveled up to Level 2.]

    [Draconic Rage Gate 1: Emergence (Unlocked!)]

    The notification was lost in the growing fog of unconsciousness. As his senses faded, he heard Terra and Cinder''s worried calls, their voices growing distant.

    Suddenly, a bright glimmer of light caught his attention. It was momentarily blinding, but he couldn''t muster the strength to shield his eyes.

    Suddenly, a woman, cloaked in a powerful red aura, stood before him. Her silver hair and crimson eyes were striking against her ck and white armor.

    ''Wait... who is she...'' Alister wondered, weak as he was, his vision was blurry and fading.

    Gently, she lifted him into her arms. Beside her, another woman could vaguely be seen, her

    featurs were blurry, watched with an unreadable expression. And then, darkness enveloped himpletely.

    Although he was now unconscious, the system''s voice echoed.

    [New skill discovered!]

    [Draconic Hunger Lvl 2!]

 Chapter 70: Pranksters At Play

    Chapter 70: Pranksters At y

    ?

    It had been a week since then.

    It was now a day to the wastnd disy event, a highly anticipated gathering where guilds showcased their prowess by sending out a team to hunt for resources in the wastnds. Everyone was excited, but there was also pressure.

    Apart from the wastnd disy event, guild teams and sub teams had to be in top form to raid dungeons within their sector.

    On the guild''s training grounds, a massive space designed for members to train through variousbat situations and develop different attack strategies, preparations were in full swing.

    The training grounds were a massive space, dotted with mock battlegrounds, obstacle courses, and arenas where guild members sparred and honed their skills.

    While all this was going on, a certain prankster duo were up to their usual antics. Axel and Blitz stood before a drone with a camera and were streaming a live video of the training grounds. The drone buzzed overhead, capturing the action from above and broadcasting it to an eager audience.

    But unlike their guildmates they weren''t here to train, no, these two were here to carry out another one of their pranks.

    "Hey everyone, it''s your favorite pranksters, Axel and Blitz,ing to you live from the white Comet guild''s training grounds!" Axel''s voice boomed.

    Blitz chuckled, her voice a bit more calm but equally enthusiastic.

    "That''s right, folks. We''re giving you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the

    preparations for the wastnd disy event. But of course, that isn''t all!"

    "We are here to carry out one of our rgest'' pranks yet!"

    Axel then leaned forward towards the drone camera, grinning mischievously. "We call it, ''The Real Fake Monster!""

    Comments started to roll in rapidly:

    "This is going to be epic!"

    "Axel and Blitz at it again!"

    "Can''t wait to see what they have nned."

    "These two never disappoint!"

    Blitz then spoke, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she did.

    "That''s right, haven''t you all wondered exactly what makes members of the White Comet Guild so special? Why you didn''t get a chance to join the guild even though you wanted to? Well, we''re going to help you all find out!"

    Thements continued to pour in:

    "Yeah, why didn''t I make the cut?"

    "White Comet Guild secrets revealed?"

    "This is going to be so good!"

    "Show us the inside scoop!"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Axel leaned in closer to the camera, holding the suspense. "I''m sure you are all wondering how exactly we n to do that? Well, vo!"

    He pulled out a strange hexagon device with a slick ck and white design. It glowed faintly, its edges shimmering with a yellow light. Thements exploded with excitement and curiosity:

    "What is that thing?!"

    "Looks like expensive high-tech!"

    "Leave it to Axel to bring out the cool gadgets."

    "This prank is going to be legendary!"

    Axel exined, "This is a holographic device made by the Wei family. It was created to take the shape of small objects that can actually be physically interacted with bypressing atoms in the air using reflective capturing light technology. This can make hover chairs or elevate other office objects."

    He paused for effect, letting the audience''s curiosity build.

    "And this is where things get good. Due to our genius expertise in technology, we changed its program and boosted its power output. Now, instead of those small office hover chairs, we''ll be creating..."

    He grinned widely, leaning even closer to the camera. "Monsters!"

    Blitz chuckled, her enthusiasm practically infectious. "Stay tuned, everyone. You''re about to witness the prank of the century!"

    ...

    One of the sub teams in the training grounds, made up of fairly new members, Team Vortex, decided to take a break. The team consisted of four members: Leo, the calm and strategic leader; Mira, the cheerful and optimistic healer; Jax, the brash and impulsive warrior; and Aria, the quiet and observant archer.

    Leo wiped the sweat from his brow, ncing at his team. "Let''s take a break, everyone. We''ve been at it for hours."

    Mira nodded enthusiastically, her ponytail bouncing. "Great idea! I''m starving. How about we head to the caf¨¦ and stuff ourselves?"

    Jax stretched his arms, cracking his knuckles. "Finally! I could eat a horse. Or two."

    Aria, always the silent one, simply nodded.

    Leo took a deep breath and leaned against the wall.

    "We''ve been making good progress, but we need to pace ourselves. No sense in wearing ourselves out before our test raid tomorrow."

    In every guild new members had to form a team and raid a dungeon under the guidance of a supervisor, in order for it to be decided if they would be full fledged members or not.

    Mira smiled, her eyes twinkling.

    "Leo''s right. Plus, I heard they have a new dessert at the caf¨¦. Something with chocte and caramel. I can''t wait to try it!"

    Jaxughed, shaking his head. "You and your sweet tooth, Mira. But I won''tin. I''m in the mood for something sweet too."

    Aria finally spoke up. "The caf¨¦ does sound good. But we should be careful not to overindulge. We need to be in top form for tomorrow."

    Leo nodded in agreement. "Good point, Aria. We''ll eat, but let''s keep it bnced. We can''t afford to be sluggish during our test raid."

    Mira pouted yfully. "Fine, fine. I''ll restrain myself. But only because it''s for the good of

    the team."

    Jax grinned, punching Leo lightly on the shoulder. "You''re too serious sometimes, Leo. But that''s why you''re the leader, right?"

    Leo chuckled, pushing off the wall. "Someone has to keep you in line, Jax."

    As they made their way through the hallway,ughter and chatter filled the air. Jax was in the middle of talking about a particrly intense battle from earlier when a sudden, high- pitched growl stopped them in their tracks.

    A kobold, its eyes gleaming with malevolence, lunged at them from a shadowy corner. The team momentarily froze, shocked by the presence of a monster in the guild hallway.

    "What the-?" Jax shouted, reaching for his weapon.

    Mira shrieked and fell to her knees, clutching Leo''s arm tightly. "How did a monster get in

    here?"

    "Was there a dungeon break?"

    Leo quickly regained hisposure, stepping protectively in front of his team.

    "Everyone, stay calm. Let''s figure out what''s going on."

    Aria, her eyes wide with shock, had her bow drawn and an arrow knocked in an instant. "This

    shouldn''t be happening. We''re in the guild!"

    Before they could react further, arger kobold, almost twice the size of the first, emerged behind it. The ground seemed to tremble slightly with each step it took.

    Leo''s face turned pale, his voice barely above a whisper. "Isn''t that a kobold king, an A-rank

    monster?"

    Mira, still clutching Leo''s arm, fell back in sheer terror, her eyes wide with fear as the ground shook with each approach of the monstrous kobold king. "How... How is this possible? Where

    is everyone? Why is there a monster in the hallway?"

    Jax gritted his teeth, frozen in ce. He was just as scared as the rest of them. Before they could react further, the kobolds suddenly vanished into thin air, andughter erupted from behind them. Turning around, they saw two senior guild membersughing across the hallway, it was Blitz and Axel standing there,ughing their hearts out.

    "Damn that was priceless! They wanted to shit their pants." Axel said, trying to catch his

    breath.

    "Yeah... so much for preparing for their test raid." Blitz said, also trying to catch her breath fromughing too hard.

    "Wait... what?" Leo asked in confusion.

    [A/N: sorry for the dy in upload guys, caught a cold but I''m better, so things will go

    smoothly for now on.]

 Chapter 71: Bottomless Stomach

    Chapter 71: Bottomless Stomach

    ?

    Axel chuckled, his expression turning serious for a moment. "Don''t worry, it was just a little test," he assured them, his tone light. "You should probably get back to training."

    With that, Axel turned his attention back to the drone.

    "Well, that''s it folks," he announced.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Doesn''t seem to be anything special about this group. Neither curious nor observant, otherwise they would have noticed the little detail about the monsterscking shadows. Holograms, people, holograms!"

    Axel continued, "So, it seems these newbies weren''t geeks or geniuses but were just lucky."

    Comments started rolling in:

    "I knew it!"

    "T..T no fair!"

    "Just bad luck for us, I guess."

    "Those guys had no chance!"

    "They must have used connections or something."

    Blitz, still amused by the prank, nudged Axel. "Hey, there are plenty of other teams to mess around with. Let''s go!"

    Axel agreed, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Sounds like a n!"

    With that, the prankster duo turned and walked away, leaving Team Vortex standing in stunned silence.

    "I''ve heard rumors that they''re troublemakers, well-known around the guild," Aria said.

    Leo took a deep breath, trying to calm his team. "Let it go. They''re our seniors, and we need to respect that."

    Jax clenched his fists. "Respect? They''re just making fun of us!"

    Mira sighed, shaking her head. "It''s not worth it. Let''s just go get something to eat."

    Aria nodded. "We have bigger things to focus on, like our test raid tomorrow."

    Leo smiled, appreciating their support. "Exactly. Let''s stay focused on what''s important. We''ll prove ourselves where it really matters."

    Jax then let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly then he said, "Alright fine, let''s go." With that, the team headed to the caf¨¦.

    They stepped through the caf¨¦ doors, the enticing aroma of freshly cooked food wafting through the air. The team found a cozy corner table and settled down, their minds still buzzing from the earlier prank.

    Using the menu, they ordered their meals. Mira picked a chocte and caramel dessert, Leo went for a bnced meal with grilled chicken and vegetables, Jax ordered a massive steak, and Aria opted for a light sd.

    As they waited for their food, the conversation naturally drifted to the uing wastnd disy event.

    "This event tomorrow is a big deal," Mira said, her eyes twinkling with a mix of excitement and nerves.

    "Yeah, although I''ve seen some of them in the past when they were streamed online, but this year I heard the participants are going to be wearing body cams! Combining that with the drones to make it even more epic!" Aria said.

    Jax leaned back in his chair, a mischievous grin on his face. "Hey, Leo, do you know that Alister guy? The summoner they say is gonna be representing our guild? You were in the same ss back at the academy, right?"

    Leo shrugged awkwardly. "We might have been in the same ss, but we never talked. I don''t even know the first thing about the guy."

    "Although I ain''t gonna lie, he was really amazing back then, the way he made hard things look easy, acing tests and demonstrations left and right."

    "A part of me actually even idolized him." he smiled slightly.

    While Leo was talking, Mira gently nudged his shoulder, her voice soft. "Leo, look."

    Leo turned to her, curious. "What is it?"

    She simply pointed, directing his attention to the far side of the caf¨¦. Everyone seemed to be gazing in that direction with looks of awe on their faces.

    Following her gaze, Leo''s eyesnded on a table where a man with ck hair was scarfing down a bowl of food at an astonishing speed.

    Towers of empty bowls were stacked up all around him, and the sheer quantity of food and the speed at which he ate was far from human.

    Jax''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Who is that guy? How is he eating so much?"

    Mira giggled. "He''s like a human vacuum cleaner!"

    Aria, observant, whispered, "He''s probably someone really powerful. Look at the way people are staring at him."

    Leo paused, eyes wide. "That''s him," he said, voice barely above a whisper.

    The others turned to look at him, confusion written on their faces. "What are you talking about?" Jax asked.

    "That''s my ssmate," Leo continued, pointing slightly. "Alister Hazenworth."

    "Really?" they all asked, turning back to gaze at the man devouring his meal.

    As they watched, Alister finally dropped another empty bowl onto the towering stack beside him. Murmurs started to fill the air as several people wondered.

    "How can he eat that much?"

    "He has to be some sort of monster or something?"

    "Or maybe summoning drake''s gives you drake level appetite?"

    "Are you dumb? If that was the case all summoners would either die of starvation or be human boulders."

    "He ate like a fighter or warrior. Maybe he is that strong."

    "Na, I''m sure he''s just wasting cash, I heard he got a massive down payment!"

    Alister raised his hand, signaling the waitress. She walked up to him awkwardly, clearly

    unsure of what to expect.

    "Do you want more?" she asked hesitantly.

    "No, I''m full," Alister replied, his voice calm. He slowly rose from his seat, his ck hair covering almost the upper half of his face, making his eyes barely visible.

    "I''ll help myself out now," he said, turning to leave.

    The waitress nodded awkwardly. "I hope to see you again," she said, stepping aside.

    As Alister moved through the caf¨¦, more murmurs erupted around him.

    "He''s a total beast."

    "He gives off such a powerful aura."

    "Is it me? Or did you guys also notice he seems taller?"

    "Did he have a growth spurt?"

    As Alister walked past their table and headed for the exit, Leo and his team couldn''t help but

    compliment him.

    "He''s incredible," Mira said.

    "Yeah, I''ve never seen anyone eat like that, he''s got a bottomless stomach I''ll give him that."

    Jax added, nodding his head.

    Aria nodded, her eyes still wide. "He''s definitely someone to watch out for."

    Leo was thest to speak, his tone quiet but sincere. He smiled then said, "Yeah, he''s really

    awesome."

    ...

    Outside the caf¨¦, Alister let out a sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly. His thoughts raced, feeling exhaustion weighing heavily on him.

    ''Damn, I''m so exhausted. I haven''t been able to sleep for an entire week.''

    He rubbed his temples, raising his hair with his right hand and revealing his tired eyes, trying

    to clear his mind. The uing wastnd disy event loomedrge, and he knew he needed to be at his best. But he had been having nightmarestely. All in red. About that memory the system imed to have re-assimted.

    ''I thought the system had my best interest at heart, making me do daily quests every day regardless of whether I slept or not. It sounded more like a death sentence than a hope for my

    improvement.''

    The nightmares were a real problem. The strange part was that he knew exactly what would happen in them, yet the anger and despair would always be just as strong as the first time he experienced the memory, causing him to wake up right after.

    ''Make a deal, huh? What the hell was that monster even talking about?''

 Chapter 72: Sparks And Flames

    Chapter 72: Sparks And mes

    ?

    While Alister was lost in thought, a voice called out to him.

    "Alister!"

    He looked up to see L running toward him in the distance. She stopped to catch her breath as she arrived before him. "The guild master is waiting for you at the sparring arena. It''s your turn to spar with him."

    Alister raised an eyebrow. "So he''s done with the others already? That was fast. I guess I should hurry over then." He let out a sigh and started making his way toward the massive sparring arena.

    On the guild grounds, although there was a general training area, an evenrger area existed specifically for showcasing strength through battles. This arena was reserved for elite guild membersˇŞthe ones who could cause the most damage to their surroundings when they trained. It was a precaution to prevent them from identally hurting the lower-ranking members.

    Yuuto, the guild master, had decided to personally spar with the team participating in the wastnd disy event, Alister included. It was his way of ensuring they were in top shape. While on their way to the sparring arena, L nced at Alister, concern etched on her face. "Are you okay? You don''t seem like your usual self," she said, touching his arm gently.

    Alister let out a weary sigh, running a hand through his overgrown hair. "I''m just tired. I''ve been having nightmarestely, so it''s been hard to sleep. Combine that with the recent training with the guildmaster I feel like I could fall off my feet at any moment." he said, his shoulders slumping.

    L, sounding a bit worried, walked closer to him. "Have you tried taking any sleeping medications or pills? There''s this rare herb I''ve heard of that, when used to make a potion, calms the mind, prevents nightmares, and allows for deep sleep."

    "Although I''ve heard you could only get it at the ck market."

    Alister raised an eyebrow. "You don''t say? Well, I''ll look into it. Thanks for telling me," he replied, his expression softening slightly.

    L blushed slightly, looking away and fidgeting with her hands.

    "It was my pleasure." she murmured.

    Stuttering, she then said, "A-also, it seems the rumors are true. You seem to have really grown taller," she said, ncing up at him.

    Alister looked down at her and smiled slightly. "You don''t say? I guess it''s really obvious then if even you noticed," he said, straightening his posture.

    L nodded, a small smile spreading on her lips. "And your hair, it''s a bit overgrown. You should consider cutting it," she suggested, brushing a stray lock of his hair away from his face.

    Alister chuckled, shaking his head. "Lighten up a little. You''re starting to sound like you''re a mom," he teased, patting her gently on the shoulder.

    L blushed deeply, then forcefully pped Alister''s back. "I-I''m not a mom! I''m still young and have a bright future ahead of me!"

    Alister winced, rubbing the part of his back where she pped him. "Oww, that hurt, you know. I didn''t say you are a mom, I only said you sounded like one. And what''s so wrong with being a mom? What''s up with the sudden show of hostility?"

    His words made her blush even more, and she quickly turned around, her movements almost frantic.

    "G-good luck with your training," she stammered, zooming off before he could respond.

    Alister paused, watching as she ran away, her form growing smaller in the distance. He couldn''t help but mumble to himself,

    "What''s up with her? I thought I understood how people worked, but she''s a total mystery."

    He shook his head, a bemused smile on his lips, before turning his attention back to the path ahead. The sparring arena loomedrge before him, and with a deep breath, he resumed his walk, preparing himself for the session with Yuuto.

    Stepping through the massive passageway to the sprawling expanse that was the training area, Alister''s eyes fell on Yuuto sparring with Ren. Ren, wielding a powerful fire maniption talent, was unleashing a series of fiery attacks that lit up the arena.

    Around the arena, in high-up viewing spaces covered by a powerful protective shield, some lower-ranking members could be seen watching the fight. It was a way for them to pick up a thing or two aboutbat by watching the guild''s best duke it out.

    "So much for being done," Alister muttered as he gazed at Yuuto sparring with Ren.

    Renunched a barrage of fireballs, each one crackling with intense heat. Yuuto, however, moved with blinding speed, dodging the mes effortlessly.

    As the fireballs zipped past him, Yuuto''s eyes locked onto Ren''s. "Is that all you''ve got? Ren?"

    His movements were fast, fluid, and precise; one would almost think he was moving more on instinct rather than looking directly to dodge them, a proof of his absurd physical capabilities.

    Ren''s eyes narrowed as he intensified his attack. He thrust his hands forward, and a massive wave of fire erupted from his palms, rushing towards Yuuto like a tidal wave.

    "Wow, did you see that?" one of the lower-ranking members whispered excitedly. "Ren''s fire attacks are insane!"

    Another nodded, eyes wide. "Yeah, but look at master Yuuto! He''s dodging everything like it''s nothing!"

    Yuuto smirked, his voice cutting through the roar of the mes. "Impressive, but not enough," he said as he prepared to counter.

    The heat was so intense that even the spectators behind the protective shield could feel it. But Yuuto remained unfazed. He leaped into the air, leaping through the mes, his form a blur, andnded behind Ren with a thunderous impact that shook the ground.

    "Did you see that punch?" someone eximed. "He sent Ren flying like he was nothing!"

    Ren barely had time to react before Yuuto was upon him. "You''re too slow, you are messing up your footwork again," Yuuto muttered as his fist connected with Ren''s midsection, sending him sprawling across the arena.

    Ren rolled to his feet, mes flickering around him as he summoned his strength for another assault. With a roar, Ren unleashed a firestorm, the mes swirling and coiling like serpents. Yuuto didn''t flinch. Instead, he dashed through the inferno, his body a streak of motion. "You''ve got to do better than that," he said, closing the distance between them in an instant, his fist rearing back for a strike.

    Ren tried to raise a wall of fire to defend himself, but Yuuto was too fast. His fist shattered the barrier and mmed into Ren''s chest, sending him crashing to the ground. The impact created a crater, and Reny there, gasping for breath, his mes flickering weakly.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Yuuto stood over him, his expression calm andposed. "You''re strong, Ren, but you rely too much on your fire. You need to learn to adapt, to anticipate your opponent''s moves." Ren coughed, a wry smile on his lips. "Easy for you to say, master. You''ve got the speed and strength of a god."

    Yuuto extended a hand, helping Ren to his feet. "Strength and speed are nothing without strategy and adaptability. Remember that. Even the weak can outmatch the strong with a well-thought-out strategy."

    The spectators in the viewing spaces pped and murmured among themselves, having witnessed another disy of Yuuto''s unmatched prowess.

    Yuuto then said, "Alright, now, on to the main course." He turned to face Alister and smiled as he said, "Get over here. I''m curious to find out what you''ll surprise me with today."

 Chapter 73: He Knows But How Much?

    Chapter 73: He Knows But How Much?

    ?

    Ren dusted himself off as he walked over to where the other team leaders were standing, his steps a bit unsteady from the intense sparring match. Hiroshi, Kaida, Razorgrin, and Goro all looked up as he approached, expressions of mixed concern and camaraderie on their faces.

    "Good match, Ren," Hiroshi said, pping him on the back. "You held your own pretty well out there."

    Kaida nodded, her fiery hair catching the light. "Yeah, you were really pushing him. Your fire attacks were impressive."

    Ren chuckled, though it was clear he was still catching his breath. "Thanks. But master

    Yuuto''s still on another level. His speed and strength... it''s like fighting a force of nature. And he obviously held ck"

    Razorgrin, his one eye gleaming with amusement, grinned. "Well, you gave it your all, that''s for sure. I think you even made him break a sweat... a little."

    Goro stroked his mustache thoughtfully. "Your strategy was solid, but like master Yuuto said, adaptability is key. You''ll get there. We''ve all got room to grow."

    Ren sighed, looking over at Alister, who was preparing for his turn in the arena. "Speaking of room to grow, how do you think Alister''s going to do today?"

    Hiroshi shrugged. "Can''t really call Alister''s spars with master Yuuto actual training. All Alister does is trade some blows with him in hand-to-handbat. They do that till Alister is tired or just can''t go on anymore, and master Yuuto holds back the entire time."

    Kaida smirked. "Yeah, it''s more like an endurance test for Alister, he is a summoner after all. Master doesn''t even use his full strength. He''s just toying with him, really."

    "But you have to admit, he dose hold his own to a certain extent."

    Razorgrin crossed his arms, a faint frown on his face. "He may have more physical strength then other summoners, fact, he''s more skilled then most. But just that won''t be enough to survive the wastnds."

    ''Sorry for boring you all to death then, perhaps it would have been more normal for a summoner to actually go toe to toe with an immortal monster.'' Alister thought with a touch of nonchnce.

    Alister took on a battle stance, his fists clenched and his eyes focused. "I''m ready when you are, sir."

    Yuuto smiled, his eyes glinting with anticipation. "Not yet, Alister. Today''s spar is going to be a bit different. Today, I will be sparing with you and your summon."

    Everyone present yelled, "What?!"

    Lady Aiko, standing on the opposite side of the arena by one of the lower rows closer to the arena than the ones with protective barriers, instantly called out,

    "Master Yuuto! I thought we talked about this. Alister can''t use his summon here because of the risks involved and the damages causedst time!"

    Previously, Yuuto had attempted to spar with Cinder on the first day of their training. Naturally, as one would expect, her mes did drastic damage to the arena, though they nevernded on Yuuto because he dodged them effortlessly.

    Although the arena was in good shape now, it had been a real pain for the management team to fix it, and so it was decided it would be better to train with just Alister. After all If he, the summoner, were to lose consciousness, his summon would dematerialize regardless of how powerful it wasˇŞor so they thought.

    Yuuto turned to Lady Aiko, his expression calm but firm. "I understand your concerns, Aiko. However, this is a crucial part of Alister''s training. He needs to learn to properly control his summon. The risks are worth the potential gains."

    Yuuto then yfully said, "Although you have a point. So his drake will not be allowed to use its mes but only physical attacks instead."

    Aiko yelled, "That could be even worse! What if, as the summon is trying to defeat you, it causes too much damage to its surroundings? It''s not wise to let it do so."

    Yuuto then said, "What a real shame, if only his summon had better control over its physical capabilities." He said with a knowing smile.

    For a moment, Alister and Yuuto both stood there, narrowing their gazes at each other.

    Some people in the crowd began to mutter, wondering what Yuuto was up to. "What''s the guild master thinking? Letting Alister use his summon in this arena?"

    "I heard Cinder nearly burned the ce downst time. Why risk it again?"

    "Maybe the guild master wants to see if Alister can control Cinder better now. But it still seems reckless."

    "Do you think Alister''s control over his summon has improved that much? It would be impressive if it has."

    "It''s not just about control. It''s about him being able to properly coordinate his summon in the heat of battle. To ensure it is able to properly protect him and deal serious damage." "Still, if things go wrong, it could get messy real quick. I hope the guild master knows what he''s doing"

    Alister broke the silence as he said, "Sir, I don''t think it''s necessary to test my coordination with my summon here. As you said previously, the best ce to disy my skills will be in the wastnds. Using my summon here will simply cause too much damage to our surroundings."

    ''I''m sure he''s up to something. He''s acting like he did at the treasury again, and I don''t like

    it.''

    Yuuto chuckled. "Come on now, don''t be a bore, Alister. Do you really always need a reason to motivate you?"

    Alister frowned, puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

    Yuuto smiled as he slowly walked up to him. "Okay, how about this, let''s make a deal."

    For a moment those words caused a certain memory to sh before Alister''s tired eyes, but he shook it away.

    Arriving in front of him, Master Yuuto told Alister to bend his head slightly down. Alister did so, and Yuuto whispered,

    "Come now, if your summon is able toy a finger on me, I''ll tell you where you can find one of the items you are currently searching for. But you are not allowed to cause serious damage to the arena, or melt anything, so you have to make sure your summon has better control of

    its attacks."

    "Do you understand what I''m saying?" Yuuto smiled.

    Yuuto was referring to the remaining ingredients of the omnipotent elixir, as well as expecting a more refined form ofbat from his summon.

    Throughout the entire week, Alister had visited the ck market twice andpleted his daily training in the wastnds, but he was nowhere close to finding the remaining ingredients. And Miyu basically had two weeks and a couple of days left at this point.

    Alister remained calm after hearing Yuuto''s words despite the tempest of emotions his words had stirred.

    Terra''s voice suddenly echoed in his head, ''My lord, it''s obvious what he is requesting that

    you do.''

    ''He wishes to see Cinder in her battle form.''

    ''Would revealing such be wise, considering the fact he is still keeping secrets from you?''

    Alister replied, ''I know, it may not be, but I currently have no choice but to bite. It''s obvious he isn''t lying, not yet at least. He must have already known dragons can change form, so pretending in front of him would be pointless.''

    ''Besides, whatever estimate he has on me today will be irrelevant tomorrow. After all I''m only going to get stronger.''n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ''Infact I can use this as an opportunity, he acts like he knows it all, it would be nice to remaind

    him he dosen''t.''

    Yuuto stepped back, watching Alister intensly. "So, what''s it going to be, Alister? Will you

    ept the challenge?"

    Alister simply paused, yet to respond as his gazed lingerd on Yuuto.

    ''My lord, if this man stands against you, then I am more than willing to cut him down!'' The voice of a male dragon boomed in Alsiter''s thoughts.

 Chapter 74: Dragon Knight

    Chapter 74: Dragon Knight

    ?

    Alister then replied, ''Unnecessary, he is in a threat at the moment, Darven.''

    The male dragon, Darven, responded, ''I understand, my lord.''

    Alister then spoke up to Yuuto. "So if I understand what you said, we are basically ying a game of tag and all I have to do is catch you?"

    Yuuto smiled. "Well, yes."

    "But your summon cannot use its mes and must not damage its surroundings."

    "What about moving beyond the boundaries of the arena, will that count as a penalty to call off our deal?"

    "Of course, if your summon or you for any reason find yourselves beyond the boundary, then I would be the winner."

    Alister paused, his yellow eyes glowing slightly as he said, "Can I take that to mean there is a chance you could deliberately try to make me fail?"

    "I mean, it wouldn''t really be fun if it was just a chase, right?" Yuuto said with a smile.

    "A chase, huh?" Alister repeated, silently questioning Yuuto''s real goal behind this.

    Murmurs filled the air as many talked about whether they were really going to do this.

    "Is he seriously going to summon it here again?"

    "Last time was a disaster. What is the guild master thinking?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Maybe Alister has better control now?"

    "Even if he does, this still seems reckless."

    The team leaders all murmured, wondering what guild master Yuuto was up to.

    "What''s master''s n?" Hiroshi asked, scratching his head.

    Kaida frowned. "I have no idea, but it seems like he''s wants Alister to have better control."

    Razorgrin gritted his teeth as he crossed his arms, eyes narrowed. "I still don''t like the fact that it seems he''s giving the boy free rein."

    Kaida turned to Ren. "What do you think, Ren? You haven''t said anything."

    Ren paused, adjusting his sses before speaking. "I think he wants to train Alister to properly control his summon and explore more of its strengths."

    Razorgrin scoffed. "Since when is a disy of brute force not a good disy of strength?" "I mean, all the Drake has to do is burn down the monsters, right?"

    Ren let out a sigh then said. "As master Yuuto said earlier, strength and speed can always be taken down with a well thought out strategy, I''m sure that is also what he''s trying to teach Alister."

    "Maybe a way to make him always be on his toes and not rely too much on his summon. After all there is no rule that prevents guilds from using underhanded methods to secure their victory."

    The other team leaders agreed, nodding in understanding. "That sounds logical," Hiroshi said.

    ...

    Yuuto turned his attention back to Alister. "I''m ready when you are."

    Alister took a deep breath, focusing on the the details of their spar.

    "So, let me get this right," he said, summarizing the rules. "No mes, no damaging the surroundings, and staying within the arena boundaries. So, basically, whoever gets to touch the other wins?"

    Yuuto nodded, a yful glint in his eye. "Precisely. Let''s see what you and your summon can do, Alister."

    Alister then said, "Understood. So, sir, there is no rule that suggests I''m only allowed to use Cinder, meaning I can summon another dragon in her ce."

    Alister''s words puzzled Yuuto. "Wait, what are you-"

    "If it''s a game of tag then..." Alister''s yellow eyes glowed slightly, as he spoke the air around him seemed to shudder.

    "Come forth, Darven," Alister said, interrupting Yuuto. In that instant, a massive rift could be seen shattering open beside Alister, and with it came a massive oppressive aura and huge gusts of wind.

    For a moment, everyone paused. Those who watched from beyond the protective barrier all felt uneasy as they whispered among themselves.

    "Did you feel that? Something feels different in the air..."

    "I don''t like this. It''s making my skin crawl."

    "Should we be this close?"

    "Maybe... we should... step back a little?"

    "This feels different from before. Was the air this hard to breathe when he summoned his monsterst time?"

    The team leaders exchanged uneasy nces.

    "Do... the rest of you feel that?" Hiroshi asked, his eyes wide.

    "Of course, this aura... It''s stronger than before." Kaida muttered, her hair swaying in the wind.

    Razorgrin gritted his teeth. "That kid must be up to no good!"

    Goro called out with concern in his voice, "Alister, what are you doing?"

    Alister responded calmly, "Nothing much, just called forth my summon."

    Lady Aiko, standing on the opposite side of the arena, yelled at Alister, "I don''t know what

    you''re doing, but if you cause any serious damage to-"

    Before she could finish, a figure streaked out of the rift. Their movements were so fast it created a gust of wind as they emerged, leaving everyone frozen in ce.

    As the winds calmed down a bit, everyone simply gazed in silence. The figure that had appeared looked more like a human than a dragon or drake, although there was no denying the tail and the two pairs of ck horns it had.

    It was d in all ck armor and stood at a height that made it seem slightly taller than Alister. Its glowing purple eyes could be seen through the visors of its helmet, and purple lightning crackled around its body.

    The figure then slowly walked forward, turned around, and bowed before Alister as it said, "Darven pays his respects to his lord."

    The crowd behind the protective barrier murmured in a mix of awe and fear.

    "I don''t understand... what is that?"

    "Where''s the big one?"

    "Is that... a dragon in human form?"

    "Look at that lightning... it''s terrifying."

    "I feel like I''m going to get struck just standing here."

    The team leaders exchanged uneasy nces, their earlier apprehensions intensifying.

    Hiroshi whispered, "I didn''t know dragons could take on human form."

    Kaida nodded, her expression serious. "Even if they could, that isn''t Cinder."

    "Seems he already summoned another one."

    Razorgrin, his face twisted with distrust, muttered, "So, apart from the kid having free reign he''s keeping secrets too? Who the hell does he think-"

    Before he could finish, Darven shot him an intense piercing gaze, and in that instant his life shed before his eyes, causing him to instantly fall silent.

    Razogrin felt his knees give out, copsing under the weight of Darven''s intense gaze. The other team leaders nced over at him, with a confused yet curious look on their faces.

    "Razogrin, are you okay?" Kaida asked, her voice filled with worry.

    Razogrin stuttered, struggling to find his voice. "Y-yeah, I''m fine. Just lost my bnce for a

    moment."

    The others exchanged nces, knowing that was clearly not the case.

    Meanwhile, in the arena, Yuuto smiled at Alister. "I must say, I''m impressed. You''ve obtained

    another summon."

    Alister replied calmly as he narrowed his gaze, "You don''t seem all that suprised, considering

    the fact it looks almost human."

    Yuuto shrugged, "Ohe now, when you''ve seen as may things as I have nothing really

    surprises you anymore."

    Alister remained slient.

    Alister then asked, "Can we start now?"

    Yuuto nodded, a yful look in his eye. "Sure, anytime."

    Alister then said, "Darven, rise."

    Darven responded, "Yes, my lord."

    Alister nced at Yuuto and said, "See that man over there?"

    Darven''s gaze shifted to Yuuto, his glowing purple eyes narrowing.

    "I want you to catch him for me," Alister continued, "but you are not allowed to destroy the surroundings, and you are not to step beyond the edges of this stage."

    Darven nodded, his body tensing. "Understood." He turned to face Yuuto, his muscles coiling

    like a spring, purple lightning crackling around him.

    "Prepare yourself."

    "My lord has requested your capture. Be honored."

 Chapter 75: A Short Display Of Power

    Chapter 75: A Short Disy Of Power

    ?

    Ren''s thoughts raced, ''Is this why the guild master favored him so much? Normally, it takes a summoner at least a month before they are able to attempt another summoning due to the mental strain from taming and the amount of mana it takes to keep their summons under control.''

    ''But for him, it has only been a week and five days if I''m not mistaken, and the monsters he summoned are both considered mythical creatures. He appears tomand them

    effortlessly, although he stillcks proper coordination.''

    ''But with time, I''m sure he will learn that. If he does and the number of summons he possesses continues to increase, a day maye when he would be the single most feared man in this sector, no, this mega city and the world beyond.''

    Ren adjusted his sses that had slid down the ridges of his nose, causing them to glint softly as he thought further.

    ''Although that may be the case, I am still not in favor of the way he acts.''

    ...

    Yuuto felt a touch of irritation at Darven''s disrespectful tone. "Alister, you might want to teach your summon some proper mann-"

    Before Yuuto could finish, Darven charged at Yuuto with lightning speed, his body radiating purple lightning that streaked through the air. The ground beneath him crackled and sparked as he moved, a blur of dark armor and electric energy.

    Yuuto''s eyes widened slightly at the sheer speed of the attack. He barely had time to react but instinctively dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding Darven''s grasp.

    Darven skidded to a halt right at the edge of the stage, his fingers flexing as he turned to face Yuuto. "Strange," he said, sounding a bit surprised. "I missed?"

    He then straightened, his glowing eyes locked onto Yuuto. "Impressive," Darven said, a grudging respect in his tone. "You are the third being that has sessfully evaded my grip."

    Yuuto''s irritation faded slightly, reced by a calcting look. "You''re fast," he admitted, "but speed alone won''t be enough."

    Darven''s eyes narrowed, the purple lightning around him crackling more intensely. "We shall see," he replied, his stance ready for the next move.

    The team leaders stood in silence, the gusts of wind from Darven''s movement whipping around them and causing everything to blur. Ren''s sses nearly slid off his nose as he tried to process what had just happened.

    "Did... did the rest of you see that?" Ren stuttered, adjusting his sses.

    Goro, still looking bewildered, shook his head. "I''m not sure what I saw."

    "Could it have been that teleportation?" Kaida suggested.

    Razorgrin, still recovering from his earlier scare, managed to speak up. "No," he said, his voice hoarse but firm. "The guildmaster just said speed. That means he physically moved."

    The murmurs from the crowd grew louder as everyone tried to piece together what had happened.

    "Did it move that fast?"

    "Maybe it was some sort of teleportation talent?"

    "Monsters don''t have talents, you dumbass."

    "But there is no way it actually moved that fast."

    "No, it definitely did."

    "How could anything move like that?"

    "It was like he disappeared for a second."

    "Is this the true power of mythical ss monsters?"

    Yuuto steadied himself, a slight tensed look visible on his face. "Alister, you''re full of surprises," he said, keeping his eyes on Darven.

    Darven, not waiting for further instruction, charged again, his body a blur of purple lightning. Yuuto barely had time to react, his reflexes kicking in as he dodged to the side. Darven''s feet struck the ground as he came to a halt where Yuuto had been standing, creating a small shockwave that sent dust and debris flying.

    Yuuto''s movements were smooth and precise, each dodge narrowly avoiding Darven''s grasp.

    "This dragon isn''t giving me any breathing room," he muttered, sidestepping another lightning-fast grip.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Darven didn''t slow down.

    "If you lose focus, this could end in an instant," he said. He lunged forward again, his hand extending toward Yuuto with incredible speed.

    Yuuto twisted his body to avoid the grab, but Darven''s fingers grazed the edge of his clothing. The fabric tore with a loud rip, a piece of Yuuto''s sleeveing away in Darven''s grasp. Yuuto quickly spun out of reach, his eyes narrowing.

    Darven paused, examining the torn fabric in his hand before discarding it. "Impressive."

    Yuuto, breathing slightly heavier but stillposed, smirked.

    Darven charges once more. His purple lightning crackles with intensity, illuminating the

    arena.

    Yuuto managed to anticipate Darven''s movement. With a sidestep, he let the blur of ws and lightning whoosh past him. The air itself seems to rush by as Darven''s motion cuts through

    the empty space.

    Not stopping for an instant, Darven demonstrates his own agility. He pivots sharply on his heel, the momentum propelling him towards Yuuto in a lightning-fast arc.

    Yuuto reacts instinctively, dropping to a crouch just as Darven''s outstretched hand slices through the air above his head. A gust of wind whips, ruffling Yuuto''s hair.

    The crowd gasps and cheers with each near miss, the tension in the arena thick enough to cut with a knife.

    Their movements intensified, a blur of purple lightning and fluid movement. Each swift motion sent shockwaves through the air, stirring up dust and debris. The team leaders shielded their eyes as gusts of wind, whipped up by their incredible speed, whipped around them.

    "This is getting out of hand," Ren yelled, his voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd. His sses had long since slipped down his nose, offering little protection against the swirling chaos.

    Goro peeked through his fingers, his eyes wide with astonishment. "Where is Alister?" he shouted, his voice echoing in the arena.

    Yuuto heard the team leaders'' frantic calls for Alister. His mind momentarily flickered with

    concern.

    He nced around, searching for the missing summoner, a briefpse in concentration. ''Where did he go?'' he thought to himself.

    Darven, seizing the opportunity, grinned beneath his helmet. "Getting distracted in the middle of a battle?"

    Before Yuuto could react, Darven''s hand shot out, the air crackling with lightning. The distance between them was mere inches. Yuuto''s eyes widned with shock, but his body reacted instinctively. With a grunt, he channeled his mana into his feet, propelling himself backward with explosive force.

    Hended several meters away, heart pounding in his chest. Just as he thought he was safe, a cold voice echoed through the arena, sending shivers down his spine.

    "And that''s checkmate."

    Suddenly, a hand reached out from behind Yuuto and tapped his shoulder. The tap seemed to echo, causing every other sound and mummurs to fall slient.

    Yuuto''s eyes widened in shock as he spun around to face the one responsible. There, standing casually behind him, was Alister.

    "Darven, good work," Alister said calmly, his voice echoed over the silence of the crowd. "You

    may return now."

    Darven, without hesitation, nodded. A rift tore open in the air, a swirling vortex of darkness

    and light. With a blur of purple lightning, Darven sprinted into the rift, and it closed shut

    behind him, leaving no trace.

    Yuuto looked up at Alister, a touch of shock and amusement in his eyes. "Guess you win," he

    chuckled.

    Kaida, still processing the events, muttered, "Is it over?"

    Ren adjusted his sses, his mind racing toprehend what had just transpired.

    "Seems it is."

    Hiroshi shook his head in shock. "No way, it all started a couple of moments ago, right?"

    Ren, a small smile spreading on his lips, said, "I guess you can say that." Alister tightened his grip slightly on Yuuto''s sholder as he said, "Now sir, our deal."

    Yuuto with a touch of irritation, pped Alister''s hand off, "Easy there, don''t get carried

    away."

 Chapter 76: Crafting Trust, Seeking Cures

    Chapter 76: Crafting Trust, Seeking Cures

    ?

    The crowd was filled with excitement and curiosity after the match between Alister and Yuuto. Conversations filled the air, everyone preupied with the topic of Alister''s new summon and the remarkable vanishing act he had pulled off.

    "Did you see that speed?"

    "It was like it kept on disappearing."

    "I''ve never seen anything like it, and the fact master Yuuto was able to keep up was even more amazing!"

    "How did he move so fast? I thought his talent was regeneration?"

    "And that new summon of his. It looked like some sort of dragon knight. I''ve heard of mythical creatures, but this is something else."

    "Yeah, the way it moved... almost like teleportation."

    As the chatter continued, a guild member standing behind the protective barrier quietly turned away from the group. They slipped through the crowd, unnoticed, and made their way towards the edge of the arena.

    Once out of sight, they nced around cautiously before walking up to a shadowed corner. From their pocket, they pulled out a small, simplemunication device. Holding it close to their mouth, they whispered.

    "Alister has another summon. It appears to be some sort of dragon knight with incredible speed and reflexes."

    "I believe he called it... Darven."

    The device crackled softly as the message was transmitted. The guild member waited for a response, their eyes looking around the area to ensure they were not being watched.

    A voice on the other end, distorted and faint, replied.

    "Understood. Keep gathering information. We need to know everything about the capabilities of the creatures he summons, if you can still find out anything before tomorrow, make sure to report."

    "Will do," the guild member murmured, pocketing the device and blending back into the crowd.

    As the discussions continued around them, they kept their ears open, ready to gather any more valuable information about Alister and his mysterious summons.

    -

    Meanwhile, back in the arena, the excited murmurs continued as other people slowly made their way out:

    "That was insane! I can''t believe what we just saw."

    "If he can control creatures like that, who knows what else he can do?"

    "Alister''s going to be a force to be reckoned with, that''s for sure."

    "Yeah, and with summons like those, no one will be able to stand against him."

    "Do you think we''ll get to see his creatures in future dungeon raids?"

    "Forget about dungeon raids, we''re going to own this wastnd disy event!"

    "I hope so. This is just the beginning, I can feel it."

    The excitement and spection buzzed through the crowd, everyone eager to see what Alister would do next.

    ...

    Lady Aiko stood at the edge of the arena, her gaze distant as she reyed the recent events in her mind. The disy of power and speed from Darven, Alister''s new summon, left her lost in thought. The murmurs of the crowd slowly faded as people dispersed, but her mind lingered on the implications of Alister''s growing strength.

    "Lady Aiko," a voice interrupted her thoughts. Lady Aiko turned to see a female guild member approaching her with a sense of urgency.

    "Lady Aiko," the guild member called out again, slightly out of breath, "there is something I have to report."

    ...

    Meanwhile, Yuuto took a look at Alister, and said to him, "Walk with me," waving his hand for Alister to follow.

    Together, they made their way out of the arena and towards the guild''s main building, their footsteps echoing in the quiet corridors.

    "So, you have a bedridden sister, huh?" Yuuto broke the silence, ncing at Alister.

    "Yes," Alister replied curtly. "What is it to you?"

    Yuuto sighed, trying to ease the tension. "You need to learn to ease up a little. I''m on your side."

    Yuuto turned to face Alister, walking backward with a smirk. "So, you want to craft a cure, right? After all, what she has is notoriously known to be a death sentence."

    "Yes," Alister said, his voice firm. "And based on our deal, after I won, you agreed to tell me where I can find one of the items I''m looking for. So, which one?"

    Yuuto looked puzzled. "Sorry, what?"

    "The items I''m looking for," Alister repeated, frustration seeping into his tone. "You said you''d tell me where I can find one of them, don''t tell me you don''t n to keep to your word."

    Yuuto chuckled, turning back to walk normally. "Aren''t you supposed to tell me what you''re looking for first, so I can tell you where it is?"

    Alister stopped in his tracks, confusion written all over his face. "Wait, what? But you said you''d tell me, which means you know what I''m looking for."

    Yuuto then said, "Oh, Alister, aren''t you supposed to be a genius? I know most people think of me as some old immortal monster, but that doesn''t make me all-knowing or suddenly give me the ability to read people''s minds. I said I would tell you where to find one of the items because I was sure," he pointed a finger to the side of his head, "with this extensive knowledge of mine, I would certainly have an answer for you, not because I can read your mind or any sort of nonsense like that."

    Alister paused, a slight look of shock on his face. Indeed, a part of him had assumed Yuuto knew it all, being an immortal and the fact he was suspiciously so nice and all that stuff with the Overlord Heirloom. He had also assumed Yuuto knew the things he was looking for, what he was hoping to craft, and the fact he was most likely hoping to give it to his sister.

    And the fact Yuuto wasn''t offering to help him despite the fact it wasn''t necessarily his obligation, made him silently dislike the man.

    Yuuto observed Alister''s reaction, recognizing the shift in his expression. "Look, Alister," Yuuto said more gently, "I want to help you. But I need to know what you''re after. Speak up. We can find it together."

    Alister eased up a little. Perhaps Yuuto wasn''t the cruel, all-knowing being he had thought. However, the fact that there were still secrets rted to him, the heirloom, and his past that he was sure Yuuto knew but kept secret from him still made him keep his guard up. Alister''s thoughts raced, ''Telling him all the items I''m looking for could allow him to tell me the one I can quickly get my hands on. Better yet, if he has it stashed away somewherepletely different from the treasury. The only problem with that is there''s a chance he could figure out what I want to craft with them and how valuable it could end up being. Can I really trust him with everything, or do I have to pick one?''

    Just then, Terra''s voice echoed in Alister''s thoughts. ''My lord, calm down. Yuuto has no ill intentions towards you. In fact, from what I can tell, it appears he ns to be on the best

    terms with you.''N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ''Terra, are you certain?'' Alister asked.

    ''Indeed, my lord. These eyes of mine have never been wrong.''

    Alister let out a sigh and then said, "Alright, I''m currently looking for three items."

 Chapter 77: A Deal For Hope

    Chapter 77: A Deal For Hope

    ?

    Yuuto then told Alister to go on.

    Alister proceeded to tell Yuuto the items he was looking for, causing Yuuto to look slightly puzzled.

    Yuuto couldn''t help but let out a sigh. "Those are some high-grade items you''re looking for. If I didn''t know you wanted to save your sister, I would have thought you were trying to bring back the dead."

    ''Bring back the dead?'' Alister silently wondered.

    Yuuto then turned to face him. "But I know your intentions are pure, so no problem. However, as per our deal, I''ll only be telling you the location of one item."

    Alister clenched his fists, feeling silently frustrated. He then said, "Alright, tell me the one that would be the easiest to obtain currently."

    Yuuto smiled and said, "I''m sure you already know about the ck market. After all, you''ve snuck out two times now."

    Alister remained calm as he said, "As per the terms of our contract, I am allowed to go wherever and whenever I want, or am I wrong?"

    "No, you aren''t," Yuuto replied. "You just have to be careful the Union never catches you there."

    "I don''t see how this is rted to..." Before Alister could finish, Yuuto interrupted him.

    "Hold this." Yuuto pulled out a ck metallic card with a purple reaper symbol on it. "It''s an ess pass to the Reaper Guild''s exclusive auction. Cheng Zhi recently led a clearing that led to his guild finding a root belonging to the World Tree. They extracted some of its sap from there, and it will be going up for auction tonight."

    Alister collected the card and looked at it. "I would not have expected the old and wise Master Yuuto to be involved in illegal business."

    Yuuto chuckled. "Oh, please, it was ages ago. I was bored and curious back then."

    Alister then said, "Is that so? If that is all, I''ll get going now."

    Alister then turned around and began to walk away.

    "Alister, wait up," Yuuto called out to him. "I have a question I hope you are willing to answer."

    Alister narrowed his gaze. "Go on."

    Yuuto ced his hand under his jaw thoughtfully. "Back at the arena, try as I might, I couldn''t find you. How did you do that?"

    Alister smiled and shrugged. "Sir, I don''t know what you are talking about. You were so focused on Darven youpletely forgot about me."

    Yuuto chuckled. "Oh,e now, give me some credit. As a seasoned fighter with countless raids and clearings under my belt, do you really think I would really lose track of the position of another person who was supposed to be some ten feet away from me?"

    Alister tensed up slightly as Yuuto slowly walked up to him as he continued speaking.

    "I know you thought everyone else wouldn''t notice, since your summon became everyone''s main focus, and the gusts of wind caused things to look a bit blurry, as well as some dust slightly affecting everyone''s vision. But I''m not just anyone, and so I''m absolutely certain."

    Yuuto was practically inches away from Alister at this point, his silver eyes glowing slightly with his silver mana as he spoke in a dangerous tone.

    "Youpletely disappeared, didn''t you?"

    For a moment, there was a tense silence between the two of them. Out of nowhere, Alister let out a sigh, then smiled as he said, "Maybe I did, maybe I didn''t. What does it matter now? The spar is over."

    Alister''s words caused Yuuto to momentarily look surprised before suddenly bursting intoughter. "I see you are using the words I used back in the treasury against me," Yuuto said, pping Alister''s back repeatedly while heughed.

    "Good one."

    Yuuto''s ps were powerful, causing Alister to be pushed forward slightly as he stepped back. Taking a look back at Yuuto, Alister asked, "If we''re done now, can I go?"

    Yuuto paused, then smiled calmly. "Yeah, you can go now."

    "Thank you, sir. Later then," Alister said before turning to leave.

    Yuuto couldn''t help but look slightly nostalgic as he watched Alister walk away. He murmured to himself, "He''s just like you, attitude and all. It''s a shame you aren''t here to see him grow."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    With a sigh, Yuuto shook his head and said, "Well, enough standing around. I guess I should meet Aiko so we can go to that meeting. Although it''s a bit early, it''s never been my style to arrivete."

    ...

    As Alister made his way back to the guild''s main building, he noticed L standing near the entrance, waiting. She had a curious look on her face as she approached him.

    "Hey, Alister," L greeted with a friendly smile. "How did your training go? I heard your summon and the guild master really went toe to toe in the arena earlier."

    Alister rxed his posture and replied, "Yeah, it was a bit intense, things almost got a bit out of hand."

    L''s eyes brightened with interest. "That sounds intense. So, did you win?"

    Alister chuckled. "Well, guess you can say I did, although I''m sure if the guild master decided to make it an actual spar where he and my summon traded blows things would have beenpletely different."

    L nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer. "You must be pretty hungry after all that mana you used. W-want to head over to the caf¨¦ and grab something to eat together?"

    Alister considered the offer for a moment. "That sounds good. I could use a break and somepany."

    With a soft smile, L pointed toward the caf¨¦. "Great! Let''s go. I heard they have something new on the menu."

    As they walked together toward the caf¨¦, the weight of the day began to ease, and Alister found himself looking forward to a casual chat.

    As Alister and L strolled towards the caf¨¦, they came across an unusual scene near the guild''s training grounds.

    Lady Aiko stood with a stern expression, and Axel and Blitz were on their knees, visibly shaking.

    The two were being reprimanded for their recent antics, which had involved scaring newbie guild members and broadcasting it on their stream.

    Axel, with his usual confidencepletely stripped away, was practically shaking as he

    begged.

    "Ldy Aiko, please, we didn''t mean to cause so much trouble, It was a social experiment. We were just trying to obtain some new data!"

    Blitz, equally panicked, also spoke up, she was practically crying at this point "Y-yeah, Lady Aiko, we''ll make it up to you! Just... please go easy on us!"

    Lady Aiko, arms crossed and her gaze icy, replied, "You both need to understand that causing fear among the new recruits is uneptable. Not only were you damaging the reputation of our guild over the inte but you also caused some of them to consider leaving the guild." "With what both of you have done today, not even the guild master can save you."

    Axel and Blitz exchanged worried nces, their fear growing as Lady Aiko''s intense gaze seemed to piece through their souls.

    Just then, their eyes caught sight of Alister and L approaching. Seeing an opportunity, Axel and Blitz''s faces lit up with hope.

    "Alister! L!" Axel shouted, trying to get their attention. "Help us out here! Lady Aiko is

    being really tough this time!"

    Blitz, almost crawling towards Alister, added, "Yeah, Lady Aiko''s in a bad mood today! Please, can you talk to her for us? We promise to treat both of you if you can get us out of

    this!"

    Alister raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit awkward by their sudden desperation. He exchanged a nce with L, who was trying to suppress a chuckle at the scene.

    Lady Aiko then then said, "When I''m done with the both of you, you''d forget the concept of pranks even exist." She adjusted her sses, causing them to glint in the light.

    Axel and Blitz trembled under her gaze, hugging each other tightly in fear, "Please don''t kill

    us!"

 Chapter 78: Approaching Darkness

    Chapter 78: Approaching Darkness

    ?

    Afterdy Aiko''s rather intense punishment, Alister, L, Axel and Blitz made their way to the cafe as a group the tension began to ease up. Axel and Blitz, still covered in bruises and looking rather roughed up, practically pulled their feet behind Alister and L, muttering to each other.

    Upon reaching the caf¨¦, they found a cozy corner table and settled in. Alister and L ordered some drinks and snacks, while Axel and Blitz slumped into their seats, wincing slightly with each movement.

    Blitz red at Alister, rubbing her bruised arm. "You totally abandoned us back there, you know."

    Axel nodded, with a look of frustration and pain on his face. "Yeah, we really thought you could''ve at least brought out your summon to protect us. Lady Aiko was really scary this time!"

    Alister, sipping his drink, raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly did you expect me to do? Summon a dragon in the middle of the training grounds to save you from a well-deserved punishment?"

    L couldn''t help but chuckle. "You guys really should''ve known better than to pull those pranks on the newbies. Lady Aiko''s patience has its limits."

    Axel sighed, resting his head on the table. "We just wanted to have some fun. It''s not like we meant any harm."

    Blitz nodded as she too agreed. "Yeah, we were just trying to liven things up a bit. Didn''t think it would backfire this badly."

    "I mean, we didn''t even use explosives this time."

    Alister leaned back in his chair, studying them both. "Well, consider this a lesson learned. Lady Aiko''s not someone to mess with, especially when ites to the guild''s reputation."

    L took a sip of her drink, then spoke, "And next time, maybe think twice before involving newbies in your ''fun.'' They''re still getting used to everything."

    Axel and Blitz exchanged nces, then nodded slowly. "Yeah, we get it," Axel said, his voice sounding resigned. "But you could have at least tried to help us out a bit."

    Blitz leaned forward. "Just a little intervention would''ve been nice. We were practically begging for our lives!"

    Alister chuckled slightly. "Consider it divine punishment for all the praks you two have gotten away with. Besides, you survived, didn''t you?"

    Axel let out a dramatic sigh. "Barely. I swear, I saw my life sh before my eyes."

    Blitz nodded. "Yeah, for a moment there I thought she was really going to kill us."

    L giggled, shaking her head. "You two are hopeless."

    Despite their bruises andints, Axel and Blitz couldn''t help but smile.

    As they sat enjoying their drinks, and food, Alister nced around and then turned to Axel. "By the way, where is Beatrice? I haven''t seen her aroundtely."

    Axel shrugged. "She''s participating in a dungeon raid right now. After that, she has city patrol duty."

    "City patrol duty?" Alister asked, his curiosity piqued. "What''s that exactly?"

    Blitz, taking a sip of her drink, spoke up. "It''s when members of a guild, along with some Union officials, patrol the inner and outer parts of a sector they''re in charge of. They usually do it to stop crime and solve other problems. But sometimes there are cases where monsters sneak into the city or are just lurking around somewhere. Members on city patrol are expected to handle those situations too."

    Axel nodded in agreement. "Speaking of patrols, there''s been some bizarre news popping uptely."

    He grinned, a mischievous look on his face.

    "They''ve been talking about people getting carved up or mutted and left in alleyways. City patrol still hasn''t figured out if it''s the doing of a human, a monster, or both."

    "They say a clear reason or exnation of how the murders take ce still hasn''t been discovered, CCTV footage, fingerprints, nothing, and apparently the culprit always leaves a message."

    Axel grinned even further.

    "Look into the abyss, look beyond this fractured world."

    Alister looked at Axel with a touch of disappointment and exasperation, "If you are trying to scare me to get payback for not helping earlier it''s not gonna work."

    Axel looked a bit surprised, "What? No, I''m being serious." he mmed his hands on the table slightly to emphasize his point.

    L, wearing the same look as Alister then said, "But a part of you was actually hoping to scare us a bit, if not you wouldn''t have grind like that."

    Axel was surprised L also had the same reaction, he couldn''t help but let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly, "I swear, you two are the only newbies I know who could hear something like that and still keep a straight face."

    "But on a more serious note, I''m not lying, take a look."

    Axel proceeded to slip a small white cube to the table, the cube opened up a small hole and proceeded to create a holographic disy above it, showing the news report.

    Alister''s expression turned serious. "That''s disturbing. Any leads on who or what might be behind it?"

    Blitz shook her head. "Like Axel just said, nothing. The Union is keeping a tight lid on the investigation, but it''s got everyone on edge. Beatrice mentioned that the guild is stepping up patrols and security measures in response."

    Alister couldn''t help but slightly worry about the safety of the city and its inhabitants, but he wasn''t one to involve himself too deeply into something beyond his control, for now he needed all his focus on his sister''s health and uing auction.

    "Well, that''s that," Alister said, trying to shift the mood. "It would be best for us to put more positive thoughts on our minds from now on."

    Axel and Blitz exchanged nces, then grinned. "Hey, we heard you defeated the guild master using a new summon," Axel said, excitement in his voice. "You have to tell us all

    about it!"

    Blitz nodded eagerly. "Yeah,e on, spill the details!"

    "Was hearing a lot of talk about how it seemed to be teleporting and stuff."

    Alister let out a sigh. "Alright, alright, I''ll tell you." Just as he was about to begin, the system shed a message before him, butpared to past system windows, this one was different, it was massive and appeared to be held in the maw of a massive golden dragon head.

    [Ding!! New quest: Last stand(1/10):N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Darkness approaches and an overlord must take a stand!: #### has descended upon this world and is slowly making their move. Be ready when they strike and fight back!

    Questpletion requirement:

    - Summon your first wyvern army! (D rank)

    - Obtain 3 dragon generals: (3/3) - pleted)

    - Reach level 30 (second bloodline awakening) -- current level: 24.

    Reward: Piece of Overlord''s broken crown (?? - rank).

    Quest failure penalty: ??

    [Notice! Time left for daily questpletion: 04:02:34.]

    Alister''s eyes widened slightly as he read the new quest.

    ''Darkness approaches? An army of wyverns, is this rted to the reason the system hasn''t been allowing me to summon any other dragons?''

    In the past week, the system had stopped Alister from summoning any other dragons, despite

    therge number of conduits he now had, giving him the message, ''Max amount of dragon generals currently reached.''

    Not only did this message confuse Alister due to the fact the system never dubbed his summons as dragon generals in the past, but it also seemed like the system was deliberately choosing his summons instead of them being random. The fact they had a part of their surnames that was simr caused him to think that.

 Chapter 79: See The Stars

    Chapter 79: See The Stars

    ?

    And now the fact that the system was saying with all certainty his next summoning would bring forth an army of wyverns made him even more certain.

    Also, leveling up was slowly bing an impossibility. After all, for the past week, he had only been able to level up by four,pared to his earlier speed from when he first awakened the system. A part of him believed it was due to his so-called first bloodline awakening. He needed a lot more XP to get level up now, a little too much.

    But the week wasn''t entirely filled with downsides, because Alister now learned thatbining conduits to perform a summoning could bring forth a dragon with the resultingbined element. That was how he summoned Darven, a lightning dragon with a ze crystal and a Spark shard. At least that was an aspect of his life he felt he was in control of. "Alister, you okay?" Blitz asked, noticing his sudden change in demeanor.

    Alister quicklyposed himself and nodded. "Yeah, I''m fine. Just a lot on my mind. Anyway, about that summon..."

    L didn''t buy what he said, she could notice something was off, her gaze softening as her eyes stared curiously at him.

    Alisterunched into the story, describing the short intense sparring match with the guild master, how his summon was really pushing thi, and the tactics he had used to gain the upper hand, but not how he actually did it.

    Axel and Blitz listened with all the attention they could give, asionally interrupting with questions and loudughs. Despite the looming quest, Alister found himself momentarily distracted by their conversion and the shared excitement of theirpany.

    Alister then got up from his seat, telling the others, "I think I''d like to turn in for the night." Axel and Blitz nodded, their bruises barely hindering their enthusiasm. "Have a good night''s rest, Alister," Axel said. "Tomorrow is the big day after all."

    Blitz grinned. "Yeah, you need to be ready for whateveres."

    Alister agreed with a nod. "You''re right. See you guys tomorrow." He began walking away, his thoughts already drifting to the uing quests and auction.

    L, however, looked visibly tense, she is usuallyposed but now she had an uncertain look on her face. Axel and Blitz noticed immediately.

    "What''s up, L?" Blitz asked, concerned.

    Before L could answer, she suddenly got up from her seat and rushed over to Alister. "Alister, wait! I... I need to show you something."

    Alister turned, surprised by her boldness. "Alright, what is it?"

    Without waiting for his full response, L grabbed his hand and started pulling him out of the caf¨¦. "Come on, it''s important."

    Axel and Blitz exchanged puzzled looks as they watched the pair leave, wondering what could be so urgent.

    Suddenly, they grinned, knowing smiles spreading across their faces.

    Blitz folded her arms and leaned back in her seat, her eyes glinting with mischief.

    "You think maybe she''s making the first move?"

    Axel nodded, leaning forward with a curious yet yful look. "Most likely. It would exin the look she had on her face."

    Blitz smirked, tapping her fingers on the table. "Wouldn''t it be fun to see if she actually goes through with it?"

    Axel chuckled, shaking his head as he crossed his arms. "Oh, sis, this is a personal matter. Should we really spy on them like that?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Blitz''s smile widened as she leaned in closer. "Has that ever stopped us before?"

    Axelughed, running a hand through his hair. "None that I remember."

    Both of them shared a knowing nce, then suddenly stood up from their seats at the same time, their chairs scraping against the floor. As they moved, Blitz adjusted her jacket, while Axel stretched his arms, both clearly ready for a new source of excitement.

    ...

    L led Alister to the main guild building. It was now dark out, night had long since fallen, and most guild members were heading in for the night.

    She guided him past the corridors with a quick pace. When they reached the elevator, she saw it was in use and started leading Alister to the stairs instead. As they climbed, Alister asked, "What is it?"

    L looked back at him, her eyes practically shining with excitement. "Don''t worry. When we get there, you''ll like what you see. I promise."

    "Like what I see?" Alister repeated her words in confusion, taking two steps at a time to keep up with her.

    L just smiled and continued upward, their steps echoing in the stairwell. After what felt like endless steps, they finally reached the door to the rooftop. L pushed it open with a bit of effort, and they emerged on top.

    L, panting, slowly fell on her knees. "It''s been a while since I ran like that."

    Alister looked around the roof, squinting in the dim light but didn''t notice anything particrly amazing. He turned to her, tilting his head. "What is it you want to show me?"

    L, a bit confused by his question, slowly rose to stand properly.

    "What do you mean? Can''t you see it?"

    "See what?" Alister asked, his brow furrowing.

    His words made her slightly flustered, L then pointed above them, her arm extended and finger aimed at the sky. "The stars, you dummy."

    Alister followed her gaze and finally lifted his gaze upwards and noticed the beautiful night sky, filled with countless twinkling stars, as well as the massive barrier that encased the mega city, that could faintly be seen as it pulsed slightly.

    He blinked with a rxed look on his face, as he took in the view, his shoulders easing up. L smiled as she watched Alister admire the stars in awe. She broke the silence as she walked up to the protective railing, her fingers lightly grazing the metal.

    "I usuallye here whenever I feel stressed or when I have a lot to think about," she said, her voice soft but clear in the quiet night.

    She nced at Alister, her eyes filled with concern. "I brought you here because it seemed like something was on your mind, and I wanted to help."

    Alister gazed at her, then smiled softly, tilting his head at her words. "Well, It helped... thank

    you."

    His words made her blush, and she turned to look away, her cheeks warm. "I''m d I could

    help."

    Alister walked up to the protective railing, still gazing at the stars and he now stood besides

    L.

    For a moment there was silence, Alister then said, "It''s beautiful."

    "Indeed," L replied.

    Suddenly a voice echoed.

    "Boooo, boooo, this is an absolute snooze fest," came a voice. It was Blitz, she stood at the entrance to the rooftop, a disappointed expression on her face. Right behind her was Axel,

    who looked equally let down.

    "All those stairs climbed just to be alone on the rooftop and gaze at stars? Really?" Blitz teased, folding her arms as she walked up to them. Axel agreed with her by shaking his head.

    L''s blush deepened as she turned to face them with a look of surprise.

    "W-what are you two doing here?"

    Blitz shrugged, her grin widening. "We just couldn''t resist seeing what you were up to. But now that we''re here we can''t help but feel immensely disappointed."

 Chapter 80: Quick Hunt

    Chapter 80: Quick Hunt

    ?

    Alister, now alone, slowly made his way back to his living quarters. The night was still and quiet, his footsteps echoing softly in the empty passageway. As he walked, Terra''s voice echoed in his head.

    ''Yourrades are truly an interesting bunch my Lord,'' she said, her tone sounding both amused and thoughtful.

    Alister paused, thinking about her words.

    "Myrades? Them?"

    Terra''s voice was gentle but firm. ''Are they not? I assumed they were because you always seem a bit more... happy in their presence.''

    He smiled, her words sinking in. "I guess you''re right,rades, huh?"

    ...

    Passing through the massive metal doors of his living quarters, they slowly closed behind him with a heavy thud. As they did, Alister spoke in his thoughts.

    ''Dragonforge, unequip my uniform and equip my gear.''

    Immediately, his outfit changed, he was now suited up in hispletely ck gear, including chest tes, wed gauntlets, a massive ck magic-resistant scarf, ck shirt, and pants, Alister flexed his fingers, feeling the familiar weight of his battle attire, ready for his daily quest.

    "Open the gate," hemanded the system.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    [Gate opening.]

    The familiar yellow rift appeared before him, its glowing edges casting a warm glow in the dimly lit room. With a calm stride, Alister stepped through the rift.

    Now across, Alister found himself in the wastnds, standing atop a ruined building. He walked up to the edge, his boots crunching on the debris beneath him, and gazed at the horizon. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft silver glow over the destendscape.

    Below, the space teemed with all sorts of massive monsters, their massive bodies moving restlessly among the ruins.

    The system window suddenly materialized.

    [Quest: Train Your Weak Body (Daily)]

    Time Limit: 03:00:00

    Details: The yer is expected to personally kill 200 monsters in the given time limit. Failure to do so will result in the timer resetting.

    Reward: Random summoning conduit.

    Time left for daily questpletion: 03:25:16.

    Failure penalty:??

    Alister gazed at the system window and let out a sigh.

    "Again with the bizarre required kill count?"

    "The time limit is cutting it a bit close."

    "Well, it doesn''t matter."

    His yellow eyes turned reptilian, glowing slightly as he said.

    "Terra, Cinder, Darven,e forth."

    Suddenly, beside the ruined building, massive rifts materialized. From their depths, glowing eyes could be seen, piercing through the darkness. All the monsters present tensed up, raising their heads to look in the direction they could sense a strange aura.

    Beside and behind Alister, emerging from the rifts, three colossal creatures appeared. The smallest of the three, a dragoon with golden scales that shimmered like the finest desert gold, was Terra. Next was a drake with obsidian ck scales and crimson eyes that burned intensly, Cinder.

    Finally, thergest of them all, a colossal dragon with dark purple scales and eyes that crackled with lightning, its massive pairs of ck horns mede it seems even more powerful, Darven.

    As the three dragons emerged, the monstrous horde below didn''t waste any time. Panic spread among them, and they immediately began to flee, their instinct for survivalpletely taking over.

    Alister stood at the edge of the building, the wind waving his hair from side to side.

    The three dragons bowed their heads together. "We pay our respects to our lord," they greeted.

    Alister nodded. "Nice to see all of you again. As I saidst time, the three of you need to suppress your aura, or else these little outings of ours will start to get boring and uneventful."

    "Understood," they responded.

    "Also."

    "I''m pressed for time. I need you all in yourbat forms to personally support me in battle. Don''t kill the monsters-just leave them in a near-death state so I cannd the finishing blow."

    "Understood."

    In that instant, their bodies were covered in a brilliant white light as their colossal forms began to slowly shrink and hover to the ruined building Alister stood atop. As the light took on a humanoid shape, it dissipated, revealing three figures standing before Alister.

    A woman at the center, her silver hair cascading down her shoulders, with deep red eyes, dressed in ck and white armor. She had a pair of ck horns that curved upwards, pointy but not long ears, and a ck tail. This was Cinder, the Drake, the overlord''s all-consuming me.

    Beside her was a golden-haired, blue-eyed woman with a pair of white horns, dressed in white and gold armor that made her nearly look like royalty. With a golden tail that glinted softly in the moonlight, this was Terra, the overlord''s archive and his silent advisor.

    And the one who stood taller than both of them, obsidian armor made from his scales covered most of his body. With a ck tail that swayed from side to side, lightning crackling slightly around him, but unlikest time, he had his helmet off, revealing his ck hair and deep purple eyes. This was Darven, the overlord''s lightning-fast sword, ready and willing to cut down anything at a moment''s notice.

    "Good, let''s make this quick," Alister said, flexing his ws and stepping forward.

    With a nod, the four of them leaped from the ruined building, their bodies blurring as they descended. Alisternded with a loud thud, his body low to the ground, ws extended.

    Terra and Cinder, touched down beside him. Darvennded a bit forward ahead of the three of

    them.

    Instantly they began to charge forward, towards the monsters that had been scared off due to their aura earlier.

    For a while there was nothing, but soon some monsters came into view, seeing the monsters, darven smirked, instantly increasing his speed as he charged forward, the earth buckling beneath his feet, purple lightning cracking around his body.

    "Storm cleaver, answer my call!" he roared, his voice echoing through the wastnd. A dark rift opened up in the sky, swirling with purple lightning.

    From its depths, a colossal, obsidian greatsword descended, its impact upon the ground sending tremors through the earth. With a thunderous p, Darven sped up and gripped the sword with one hand, its surface etched with strange, glowing runes. A purple crest ignited on

    his arm, pulsing brightly with mana.

    "Let the hunt begin," Darven yelled with a touch of excitement.

    With a burst of lightning speed, Darven charged at the nearest monster, a colossal beast with tusks and jagged scales.

    He leaped off the ground with explosive force, propelling him forward. He swung his sword, cleaving the trough creature''s flesh and bone in an instant, and creating a massive gust of

    wind with his swing.

    The ground buckled beneath the force, and lightning crackled along the de. The beast roared in agony, its legs severed in a single, blinding strike.

    "First one for you, my Lord!" Darven shouted, his voice barely audible over the crackling electricity and the howling wind his movements created.

    "Good work Darven." Alister said in the distance, Darven smiled as he heard him, proceeding

    to charge towards the next monster.

    Cinder narrowed her gaze with a touch of irritation, "He''s getting carried away again."

    Alister, now before the monster Darven immobilized, flexed his ws, his eyes razor- focused. With a wide swipe of his ws, he instantly tore open the creature''s flesh, revealing its core. With a swift thrust, he grabbed it and ripped it out, ending the monster''s life

    instantly.

 Chapter 81: A Glimpse Of An Overlords Capabilities

    Chapter 81: A Glimpse Of An Overlord''s Capabilities

    ?

    Cinder didn''t want to be outperformed. Raising her right hand, she let out a barrage of me from her fingertips, each bolt of fire aimed to incapacitate but not kill.

    She waved her left hand in a wide arc to direct the mes as they arced through the air. The monsters screamed as their flesh sizzled, making them easy targets for Alister.

    "Burn, but don''t perish just yet," Cinder said, her eyes cold and distant.

    A monstrous spider, its chitinous exoskeleton aze, writhed in agony, its movements slowed significantly.

    Alister, with a burst of speed, charged forward, his wed gauntlets ripping through the softened, charred flesh of the monsters Cinder had burned.

    With his ws he executed swift, efficient strikes, each swipe ending the creatures'' suffering and covering him in their multicolored blood.

    "Keep theming!" Alistermanded, continuing to charge forward.

    Terra stood back, waving her arms strangely in the air. As she did, two golden stone crests radiating mana appeared on both of her hands and one looking like an eye on her forehead.

    The earth responded to hermand, vibrating violently before suddenly heaving upwards, propelling fleeing monsters back towards the group.

    The three of them looked in awe as the monsters were propelled into the air. Cinder and Darven looked particrly more surprised, turning to look at Terra behind them as they charged. Their dragon eyes made it clearly visible to them the smug look she had on her face, causing both of them to feel that they had to do even better.

    As the monsters rained from the sky, Darven and Cinder readied their attacks, but before they could act, massive spikes of stone erupted from the ground, piercing the beasts but leaving them alive enough for Alister to finish off. Their blood sprayed in the air, covering the floor below in both blood and their entrails.

    "Well done, Terra!" Alister called out.

    ''I aim to please, my lord,'' she said in his thoughts, knowing she was too far away for her voice to reach him.

    As the spikes retracted back into the earth, the monsters fell to the ground, writhing in pain but still alive. Alister leaped forward, swinging his wed gauntlets as they gleamed under the moonlight.

    The sounds of pained screeches, roars, and hisses could be heard as he ended them one by one, their blood sttering across his ck gear. His ws dripped with blood as he ced his leg on top of the quivering body of a dead monster, using his left w to adjust his ck scarf slightly, revealing his mouth as he let out a steamy breath with a cold and distant expression on his face.

    Darven watched Terra from a distance, apetitive spark crackling in his eyes. With a thought, his helmet materialized on his head, the obsidian armor encasing himpletely.

    "I will not be outdone by an Archi-Void," he said, his voice echoing.

    He burst into motion, his speed doubling in an instant. The ground buckled under his feet, and gusts of wind swirled around him as he moved.

    His eyes crackled with lightning, sending out streaks of electricity that paralyzed any monster that darede near.

    Darven''s body practically became a whirlwind as he moved, his massive ck sword shing as he swung it with even greater force and speed. He cut through the legs of the monsters, each strike apanied by a burst of lightning that left the creatures convulsing on the ground.

    He swung his greatsword in a wide arc, the de leaving a sizzling trail of purple lightning in its wake. The attack caught a group of three hulking beasts in its path, bisecting one clean down the middle and shearing the legs off of the other two. Their innards spilled out in a mess, and their death cries were cut short by choked gurgles.

    Darven spun on his heel, his eyes locking onto a massive monstrous reptilian creature that was attempting to flee. With a burst of incredible speed, he closed the distance in an instant.

    He raised his greatsword high above his head, the runes on its surface glowing brighter. Then, with a mighty roar, he brought the de crashing down in a devastating vertical strike.

    The force of the blow split the creature in two from head to tail, the stench of burnt flesh filling the air.

    Charging forward again, Darven incapacitated a particrlyrge beast, he sent out a burst of lightning that crackled through the air, paralyzing a group of smaller creatures nearby. "My Lord, over here!" he called out, his voice cutting through the chaos.

    Alister narrowed his gaze. He was starting to sense a sort of rivalry among his dragons, but he thought perhaps he was overthinking. They were all loyal, so what could they be fighting for? Alister let out a sigh as he surveyed the destruction Darven caused. "Darven, you are supposed to incapacitate them, not end them. Didn''t you listen to my orders?"

    Darven''s expression beneath his helmet suddenly paled. He immediately charged back, returned to Alister''s side, and got down on one knee, his hand above the other, his sword beside him as he bowed his head. "Forgive me, my lord. I got carried away."

    Alister let out a sigh, tapping his shoulder as he slowly walked past him. "It''s alright as long as you do better next time. Now hurry along, we still have a long night ahead of us."

    "Understood."

    Darven charged back into the fray, his movements a blur of lightning and steel. With each swing of his greatsword, he left monsters incapacitated, creating perfect opportunities for Alister to finish them off.

    Alister moved swiftly, his wed gauntlets slicing through the weakened flesh of the monsters. He ducked under a massive w swipe of a crippled monster, then plunged his gauntlets into the creature''s throat, ending its life in a spray of blood.

    As Alister finished off another monster, a sudden movement caught Terra''s attention. On a distant building, a creature with a back covered in metallic green spikes crouched menacingly. Terra''s eyes widened as she sensed its murderous intent.

    She was about to attack when the monster leaned forward, its gaze locking onto Alister. Without warning, itunched its spikes, which whistled through the air at inhuman speed, aimed directly at Alister.

    "My lord, look out!" Terra screamed.

    In her mind, her thoughts raced as she calcted, ''The spikes are moving too fast. At this velocity, they''ll reach him in less than a second. My earth wall won''t rise in time. Even if it did, the density and speed of the spikes would allow them to easily break through. There is not enough time to strengthen the earth with my mana, and there are too many for him to be able to survive a hit from them. The angle... they''re all aimed directly at his vital points. There''s no way he can dodge them all in time.''n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Boom.

    The spikesnded, creating a huge dust cloud. For a heart-stopping moment, Terra feared the

    worst. She began running towards him, her heart pounding.

    "My lord!" she shouted, her voice strained with worry.

    As the dust began to settle, a silhouette emerged.

    Alister stood firm, his left arm extended and covered in glinting ck and white dragon scales. His arm crackled with golden lightning, and in his grasp were all the spikes that had

    been aimed at him. The spikes nged loudly as he dropped them to the floor, their metallic echo ringing through the wastnd.

    "Seems the monsters are starting to get intelligent," Alister said nonchntly, his eyes crackling with golden lightning.

 Chapter 82: Partial Draconic Transformation

    Chapter 82: Partial Draconic Transformation

    ?

    Some seconds ago, Alister, with his high perception, sensed objects flying at him at an insane speed. His head instantly whipped around, and his eyes widened in shock as he noticed green metallic projectiles hurling toward him.

    ''Activate Draconic Rage!''

    He activated his Draconic Rage skill in that split second, hoping with his enhanced stats he would be able to counter or perhaps dodge the iing projectiles.

    But just then, the system''s voice echoed in his head.

    [Draconic Rage activated!]

    [Notice, the first gate ''Emergence'' has been opened!]

    Gate 1: Emergence:

    Capabilities:

    - Enhanced Transformation: Transforms the yer into a powerful draconic form, significantly boosting physical abilities and granting new skills through ''Synchronicity''.

    - Aura of Dominance: Exudes a powerful aura that increases the yer''s allies'' stats by 10% and further decreases enemies'' stats by an additional 10%.

    - Synchronicity: The yer is capable of channeling and personally using the abilities of his summons, based on the percentage of the yer''s bloodline awakening - currently 25%.

    - Now channeling abilities from summons: Cinder, Terra, and Darven.

    In that instant, Alister felt a drastic shift in his perception. Time slowed down significantly. His vision seemed a lot more sharper and shens of the position of everything on the earth around him were somewhat visible in his mind.

    ''This must be due to Darven''s lightning fast reflexes and Terra''s senses.'' Alister thought in

    awe.

    ''If that''s the case then...''

    The gauntlet on his left hand began to change slightly, suddenly scales began to emerge around his arm, suppriznly a mix of both white and ck, crackling with lightning.

    Drawing from Darven''s lightning-fast reflexes, he extended his left arm. Golden lightning crackled around his hand as he caught each spike mid-air, his hand was a blur as it moved.

    Time finally returned to normal speed.

    The spikes he caught sent a massive shockwave through his arm, but his draconic form absorbed the shock.

    The remaining spikes impacted the ground and sent vibrations around him, but he remained unfazed.

    Dust billowed into the air upon their massive impact, causing Cinder and Darven to pause and look back.

    The dust bagen to clear, revealing Alister was alright.

    "Seems the monsters are starting to get intelligent," Alister said nonchntly, his eyes still glowing with his Draconic Rage. He nced at Terra, who had stopped in her tracks, her expression a look of relief and awe.

    "My lord," she fell on her knees, her voice filled with respect and a touch of guilt.

    "I underestimated the speed of their attack. I''m sorry."

    Alister waved her off. "No need to apologize, Terra. We learn from these moments."

    "Like I said to Darven, just do better next time."

    "Rise to your feet."

    "Thank you, my Lord." Terra said, slowly rising.

    Alister flexed his hand, feeling the power coursing through him.

    Darven and Cinder regrouped with them, both of them looking at Alister with awe. They had sensed a familiar yet strange sensation, felt their powers being channeled through him.

    Darven and Cinder congratted Alister for obtaining his dragon form. Terra too congratted him with a warm smile.

    "Congrattions, my lord," Cinder said, her eyes shimmering with pride.

    "Well done, my lord," Terra also spoke up, her voice filled with genuine admiration.

    "Thank you."

    Darven stepped forward practically beaming with excitement. "My lord, was it my speed that served you well just a moment ago?"

    Alister, although not entirely sure what had really happened, nodded. "Yes, it was."

    Darven''s eyes lit up, and he practically beamed with pride. "I knew it! My lord, it is an honor to be of service!"

    Cinder and Terra exchanged nces, a look of disappointment in their eyes, but they quickly masked it, focusing on the pride they felt for their lord''s achievement.

    "We''ll continue to support you, my lord, in every way we can," Cinder said.

    "Yes, we are here to serve," Terra also spoke up.

    Alister, noticing Darven''s excitement and Cinder and Terra''s downcast attitude, couldn''t help but ask, "Why are you all acting this way? I''ve noticed you three have beenpeting with each other for a while. What is this all about?"

    They all paused, each looking at him with a look of surprise and hesitation. "You really don''t know why, my lord?" Cinder asked, her eyes widening slightly.

    "I don''t." Alister said.

    Terra stepped forward, her expression serious. "My lord, when a Dragon Overlord has found three dragons willing to serve him as his generals, they will all try to prove their worth, especially when hising of age ceremony is around the corner. Because once that timees, he must select one of them to be his right hand."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister was taken by surprise by this new fact. Before he could ask more, the system window materialized before him.

    [An Overlord''s generals are his ws! Although all are sharp, the Overlord must acknowledge one is sharper than the rest, the one who shall lead by your side andmand your armies!] [Serving by an overlord''s side is a dragon general''s greatest honor!]

    [Quest: Overlord''s sharpest fang:

    Details: Out of your three current generals pick one who will stand by your side as your right

    hand!

    Time limit: N/E

    Failure penalty: N/E]

    Alister stared at the window, the weight of the words sinking in. "I didn''t realize..."

    Darven stepped forward, he was now more calm, sounding slightly serious.

    "We each wish to serve you to the best of our abilities, my lord. Thispetition is not just for us but for you as well. We want to ensure that you have the best support possible." Cinder nodded, her eyes meeting Alister''s. "We only wish to prove ourselves worthy, my

    lord."

    Alister took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over his three loyal dragons. "I understand now. This means a lot to you all, doesn''t it?"

    They nodded, their expressions calm yet serious.

    Alister''s mind raced as he thought about the weight of their words. He knew that this decision could be a tricky one, but he also knew that with their support, he could face whatever

    challengesy ahead.

    "Very well, I''ll chooseter," Alister said, his voice firm. "Let''s continue forward. We have a

    lot to aplish, and I need each of you at your best."

    "Yes, my lord," they replied, their spirits lifted as they prepared to continue their hunt.

    The rest of that night the dragon generals still kept onpeting with each other it''ll Alister finally hit the required kill count and the quest was deemedpleted.

    [Questplete!]

    [Looting processing!] Alister also experimented with his draconic form, but he was yet to achieve full transformation, only being able to transform either one hand or one leg. There was even a time he grew a very sharp tail, with his generals supporting him as he did.

    Terra also tried exining the sensation of transformation to him, but it still seemed out of

    reach.

    Alister concluded that it must be due to the fact there wasn''t a deep emotion backing the

    Draconic Rage skill, because from its description, it empowers him when he has something to fight for. He surmised that simple curiosity wouldn''t be able to force Emergence to activate

    fully.

    [Level up!]

    [Notice! Mastery ofbat with ws has reached Advanced level! (50%).]

    And so with all that out of the way, it was time to head over to the auction.

 Chapter 83: Last Piece

    Chapter 83: Last Piece

    ?

    Meanwhile...

    Night time in mega city I sector I, holographic billboards flickered with advertising above, casting colorful glows onto the streets below.

    A pink-eyed brown haired woman dressed in a nice white and pink dress with a small ck Jacket, looked around nervously and shyly. She checked her techy holographic watch, looking a bit worried.

    Suddenly, a voice called out, panting. A young man with brown hair, green eyes, freckles, and a pair of sses showed up.

    "Sorry I''mte!" he said, catching his breath. "I know I was the one who called you out here, can''t believe I made you wait so long."

    She smiled. "Don''t worry, I just got here a couple of minutes ago too."

    The man straightened up, a smile forming on his face. "Shall we go for our date then? May?"

    The woman, May, paused, blushing for a moment as her thoughts raced, ''He''s just like I remember him.''

    She smiled back at him. "Yes, Nathan."

    Nathan''s smile widened slightly, his sses glinting in the neon lights, seeming to hint at something unsettling.

    ...

    After a short walk, they walked through the doors of a restaurant. May looked a bit worried.

    "I''ve never been to the inner rings before, so I''ve never seen a restaurant this fancy. Are you sure this is okay?" she asked.

    By "inner rings," May was referring to the inner and outer parts of the megacity. As one would expect, the standard of living decreased significantly as one moved from the center towards the walls. Life in the outer rings, though not life-threatening, was far more difficult. People had to do a lot more there just to scrape by.

    Nathan smiled, reassuring her. "Don''t worry, it''s my treat."

    They made their way to a table near the window. Nathan pulled out a chair for May before taking a seat himself. A waitress approached, her digital tablet ready.

    "Good evening. Can I take your order?" she asked with a polite smile.

    Nathan picked up the menu and quickly looked through it. "We''ll start with the truffle risotto and the lobster bisque," he said confidently. He nced at May, who was still looking at the menu with hesitation.

    "Go ahead, order whatever you like," Nathan encouraged, smiling warmly. "I told you not to worry."

    May smiled back, feeling more at ease. "I''ll have the grilled salmon with asparagus, please," she said, handing the menu back to the waitress.

    The waitress nodded as she inputted their orders into her tablet. "Great choices. Your orders will be ready in just a minute," she said before leaving the table.

    As they waited, May leaned forward slightly, a bit of enthusiasm in her voice.

    "So, how''s your job at the Blue Seals Guild going? I heard it''s reallypetitive to get in. You must be doing well if you can afford to bring me to a ce like this."

    Nathan chuckled, adjusting his sses. "It''s been challenging, but rewarding. The guild has high standards, but I managed to join them. And yeah, things have been going pretty well. What about you? How''s everything on your end?"

    May''s eyes darted around awkwardly. "Well... it''s been good, but not as exciting as working for a prestigious guild. I''d love to hear more about what you do there. It must be thrilling!"

    She shifted the topic, not wanting to trouble him with her own problems.

    Nathan leaned back, a proud smile on his face. "Well, there''s always something new every day. We get to handle some of the most critical dungeon raids, and my team is amazing. But it''s not just about the action; there''s a lot of strategy and nning involved too."

    May listened intently, nodding along as he spoke. "It sounds incredible. Maybe one day, I''ll get to see you in action," she said with a hopeful smile.

    Nathan''s eyes softened. "I''d like that. Who knows? Maybe you''ll join the guild too one day."

    May let out a forcedugh, clearly she didn''tpletely agree with him. "That would be something. But for now, I''m just happy to be here with you."

    Nathan sensed theck of sincerity in herughter and leaned forward, concern etched on his face. "May, are you okay?"

    May looked up, a bit startled. "Me? Oh, I''m fine," she replied, trying to muster a genuine smile.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Just then, the waitress arrived with their orders. "Here you go. Please enjoy your meal," she said, cing the dishes in front of them with a friendly smile before leaving the table.

    Nathan reached out and gently grabbed May''s hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "May," he said softly, "you can tell me if something''s bothering you. I''m here to support you, and I''m willing to listen to whatever''s on your mind."

    May looked at him, a bit unsure as she asked, "Are you sure? I don''t want toe off as not being genuine. I''ve been hearing about a lot of youngdies hooking up with rich second- generation guys just because they''re looking for a life offort. I recently read some stuff online that suggests not all men are really cool with that sort of thing."

    "Getting chased after all because of their money."

    Nathan narrowed his gaze suspiciously, but it was hidden behind the glint of his sses. Suddenly, he smiled and said, "If it''s you who wanted to take advantage of me, I wouldn''t mind."

    May looked slightly surprised, turning to face him with a mischievous look. "Oh, look at you. When did you be such a sweet talker?"

    Nathan tilted his head slightly, a yful glint in his eyes. "Come now, you know me. I''d

    dly do anything if it would make you feel better."

    May paused, looking more surprised. Nathan tightened his grip on her hand slightly. "So tell me, what''s on your mind?"

    May looked slightly downcast as she said, "You really won''t leave me, right?"

    Nathan chuckled softly. "Oh,e on, I should be the one asking you that."

    May let out a sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly as she said, "You know how when we graduatedst year and you said we should get together, and I told you no because I had some personal problems to deal with?"

    Nathan nodded, "Yeah, what about it?"

    "You remember I awakened as a C-ss summoner, right?" she asked.

    "Yeah," Nathan replied.

    "Well, it caused my parents to have a huge fight when I unfortunately gave them the news. Turns out my father had been borrowing all the money he used to send me to the academy all those years, hoping I would awaken a powerful talent and join a top guild, get rich fast enough to pay all the cash back."

    She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, "They kept on fighting till they finally

    got a divorce."

    "The pressure from the loan sharks was so much that my father ended up killing himself. And

    my mother, unable to bear the pain, practically drank herself to death."

    She balled her free hand into a fist as she recalled the painful memory.

    Nathan''s eyes grew cold as he listened to her story, in fact they couldn''t be colder, but the usual glint in his sses hid the intensity of his gaze.

 Chapter 113: To Learn From An Opponent

    Chapter 113: To Learn From An Opponent

    ?

    The supply of necessities was typically handled after a guild had cleared the area of surrounding monsters and secured the perimeter.

    It was done this way because, if they were attacked by a sudden influx of monsters while still in the process of offloading their transport from the aircraft, they would risk losing valuable supplies and potentially face greater casualties.

    So, it was decided that the pickup team would arrive with their supplies after the area had been cleared, ensuring a safe environment to offload supplies and harvest resources with a lower risk of monster attacks.

    Ren ced his hand under his jaw thoughtfully. "I''m not sure if I noticed arger truck out there. I was focused on the livestream, so I didn''t really check."

    Kaida let out a long sigh. "I''ll have to check it out myself then." She nced to her side and saw Alister, still fast asleep. She tapped his shoulder gently. "Alister, wake up. It''s time to eat."

    No response. A moment of silence passed as everyone stared at Alister.

    Kaida tapped his shoulder again, this time with more force. "Rise and shine!"

    Still no response. Razogrin raised an eyebrow. "Is he dead?"

    Hiroshi whipped his head towards Razogrin. "I know you don''t like the kid, but you don''t have to wish him death."

    Razogrin shrugged, his shoulders rising slightly. "It was just a question. Don''t make such a fuss over it."

    Before Hiroshi could respond, Ren spoke up. "He''s alright. His suit is still disying his life signals."

    "He must just be exhausted, that''s all."

    Goro pointed at Alister. "Should we leave him here to go eat then?"

    Ren shook his head. "No, it''s best to have him at our side. We don''t know what surprises the wastnd might throw our way."

    Kaida crossed her arms. "Nice and all, but who''s gonna carry him?"

    Razogrin, Goro, Hiroshi, and Rex exchanged a quick nce.

    Ren adjusted his sses. "Razogrin will do it."

    Razogrin scoffed. "Hell no. Unless you want to hear he identally slipped andnd on the floor with his back."

    Hiroshi rolled his eyes. "You make it sound like the armor we''re all wearing is made of paper."

    Razogrin smirked beneath his mask as he said, "Since you''re so sure, why don''t you be the one to do it?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Hiroshi red at Razogrin as he pointed his right hand at him. "Hey, that''s shifting the job to someone else. That''s irresponsible."

    Razogrin grinned. "Since you''re so responsible, why don''t you do it?"

    Hiroshi crossed his arms. "Hey, don''t use my words against me. That''s called cheating."

    Ren sighed, interrupting their bickering. He walked up to Alister and slowly lifted him from the ground. "He doesn''t look it, but he''s actually really heavy."

    Ren grunted as he hoisted Alister onto his shoulder, the young man''s weight surprisingly much for his size.

    Without another word, he turned and began walking out of the makeshift fortress, making Razogrin and Hiroshi nce at each other and feel silently guilty.

    ...

    Kan and Alexei charged at each other with a burst of speed, their swords trailing arcs of lightning as they moved.

    The battlefield seemed to blur around them, the two warriors bing streaks of light and shadow as they closed the distance. Kan''s eyes were locked on Alexei''s, every muscle in his body tensed and ready.

    Their swords met in a blinding sh, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through the ground. Sparks flew as the des ground against each other, purple lightning crackling around them.

    Kan gritted his teeth, pushing forward, but Alexei was stronger. He twisted his wrist, deflecting Kan''s sword to the side and forcing him to stumble back a step.

    Not giving Kan a moment to recover, Alexei followed up with a swift sh aimed at Kan''s midsection.

    Kan barely managed to parry, his sword shaking in his grip as he was driven back again. His boots skidded across the ground, kicking up dust as he struggled to maintain his bnce.

    Alexei pressed the advantage. He charged forward, his de slicing through the air. Kan dodged to the side, his body twisting to avoid the strike, but Alexei was already twisting his swing, bringing his sword down in a vertical arc.

    Kan raised his sword just in time, the des meeting with a sharp ng that sent vibrations up his arm.

    ''I have to find a way to keep up with him; he''s far more skilled than I am. The way he fights seems so refined yet so barbaric,'' Kan''s thoughts raced.

    The force of the blow sent Kan stumbling back, his feet barely finding grip on the uneven ground.

    Alexei charged with a fierce look in his eyes, his sword bing a blur as he unleashed a series of rapid strikes.

    Kan''s muscles strained as he blocked and parried, his movements growing increasingly desperate.

    ''He''s more experienced with a sword than I am. If things keep going like this, he''ll overpower me eventually.''

    They circled each other, their swords shing again and again, the sound of metal on metal ringing out across the battlefield.

    Each step they took sent clouds of dust billowing into the air, their feet leaving deep imprints in the bloodstained earth. Lightning crackled around them, the energy from their des sparking against the ground and vibrating the air with power.

    Kan''s breathing was ragged, his muscles burning from the effort of keeping up with Alexei''s attacks. He tried to find an opening, any gap in Alexei''s defenses, but the dragon knight was like a force of nature.

    Alexei''s sword came down in a powerful overhead strike, and Kan barely had time to raise his own de to block it. The impact forced him down to one knee, his arms trembling under

    the pressure.

    "What''s wrong, Kan?"

    "I thought you wanted to teach me a lesson?"

    "Is this all an Overlord''s sword can manage? Pathetic."

    Kan grunted, his teeth clenched as he fought to push back. But Alexei''s strength was overwhelming, and Kan could feel his own power waning.

    ''Come on, Alister, think. There must be something he''s doing that I''m not doing... Because this body is a lot more powerful than I''m used to, I can''t properly control my attacks without

    wasting energy.''

    ''I have to change that somehow.''

    Kan''s purple eyes became more focused as he gazed at Alexei, as if trying to learn

    something.

    Alexei felt something was off, so he twisted his de, forcing Kan''s sword to the side and

    leaving him open.

    Without pausing, Alexei''s fist shot forward, mming into Kan''s chest with the force of a sledgehammer. Kan was thrown back, his body tumbling through the air before crashing into the ground. He skidded to a halt, dust and dirt clinging to his armor as he struggled to

    rise.

 Chapter 85: Offering Part Two

    Chapter 85: Offering Part Two

    ?

    The pain instantly overwhelmed May, and she fell to her knees, her blood pooling around her on the cold pavement. She was panting heavily, each breathbored as she managed to choke out, "Nathan, run... get away..."

    Nathanughed, a cruel, mockaing sound that echoed off the alley walls. "Wait, you still believe I''m Nathan?"

    May, bleeding and growing pale, looked up at him with confusion and fear. "W-what do you mean?" she asked, her voice weak.

    Nathan smiled slightly, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Oh May, you really don''t get it? Well, I guess I should be a nice ''boyfriend'' and exin."

    As he walked up to her, his body began to fizzle like a red glitch. His appearance started to change-his freckles disappeared, his facial features morphed, and his hair took on a different style. Strange, tattoo-like markings appeared on his face around his left eye.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    May''s eyes widened in shock and horror as his appearance changed. Standing before her was not Nathan, but Kai Li, the second son of the House of Li and the New''s mysterious serial Killer.

    His face was now different, unmistakably menacing. Kai looked down at May, a twisted smile on his lips.

    "Surprise." he said, his voice filled with malice.

    "Nathan was just a role I yed. To get you, my dear May, thest piece of my game."

    May, struggling to stay conscious, managed to whisper, "W-why... why are you doing this? W-where Cough Cough is the real Nathan?"

    She coughed violently as she spoke, blood already filling her damaged lung.

    Kai knelt down beside her, his cold eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

    "The real Nathan? Oh, he''s around... somewhere."

    "But you don''t have to worry... he''ll be joining you here any moment now."

    "W-what is that s-supposed to mean?"

    "You''ll find out soon enough." Kai said with a smile.

    May''s vision blurred, but she fought to keep her eyes open, desperately seeking answers. "Why... why me, w-why are you doing this?"

    Kai, still smiling as he responded, "Oh, why, why you? Well... it''s nothing personal like a grudge or anything like that."

    "Let''s just say I had a kill count I had to meet and you were an easy target, an unfortunate victim of circumstance."

    May''s eyes widened in horror, tears mixing with the blood on her cheeks. "You''re... you''re a monster," she said with a touch of anger in her voice.

    Kai Li shrugged nonchntly. "Call me what you want. In the end, it doesn''t matter."

    Suddenly, another purple portal opened,rger this time, above the small alleyway. First, a hovering ck ball with a small opening revealing a red eye emerged.

    It was Helxon, who hovered over to Kai''s side. In the next instant, a grotesque flesh-like creature with massive jaws and eyes all over its body slowly emerged from the portal.

    May felt a shiver run down her spine.

    ''Is... this is the end?'' she wondered.

    The creature opened its massive mouth, revealing razor-sharp teeth. But it wasn''t to devour May. Instead, from the gaping maw fell a dead body, its limbs broken and bent at unnatural angles,rge chunks of flesh bitten away. The bodynded on the floor beside May with a loud thud, sttering her pooling blood around.

    ~ ''I''ve brought it here, just like you asked.''~ Helxon said in Kai''s thoughts.

    Kai smiled, "Good... now I''ll have enough blood to paint with."

    May, shocked, turned to face the body, whose face coincidentally ended up facing hers. Her eyes widened in horror, her jaw dropped, and she shook her head slowly in disbelief. Tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks as she let out a weak scream, barely audible due to her frail state.

    The person was none other than Nathan. From the looks of it, he was already dead, probably murdered hours ago.

    His pupils dted, his sickening pale skin stained with his own blood and the clear fact he wasn''t breathing were signs of that.

    Kai narrowed his gaze coldly at Helxon as he asked, "Did you make sure to properly clean the scene?"

    ~ ''Indeed.''~ Helxon''s shadowy teeth materialized with a sinister grin as he responded. Kai had murdered Nathan a couple of hours ago after he had returned from a dungeon raid. Now dressed and headed to meet May at their designated meeting spot, he saw Nathan''s date as a golden opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: to kill the boyfriend, pretend to be him, and then kill the girlfriend, finally reaching the necessary number of kills toplete his first quest.

    The union and the guilds had been tightening their investigationstely, making it increasingly harder tomit murder and leave a message.

    One might wonder, with his family background, couldn''t he have done this quicker by hiring a top assassin to get the job done? No, that would have defeated the whole aim of the quest he was given. He had to take the risks personally, a small price to pay for the power he sought.

    But then again, unlike Kai''s past victims, Nathan wasn''t random. No, he chose him, and his girlfriend just ended up being an added bonus. Kai wanted the messages he left to be taken even more seriously and to strike further fear into the hearts of the masses.

    What better way than to kill a member of a high-ranking guild? Bringing Nathan''s dead body here was also another calcted move.

    The fact that a member of one of the top guilds was not only powerless to defend himself but also failed to protect the love of his life would raise questions about thepetence of the guilds and make many believe that whatever wasing, the guilds couldn''t protect them

    from it.

    Inevitably earning him more abyss points.

    And for it to have its maximum effect as well as leaving no trails behind, he had to pretend to be Nathan and go on this fake date, have that fake romantic chat, and so on. CCTV cameras would have caught it all, further making it all believable when the case would be investigated. ~"This n of yours won''t have its max effect if we leave any loose ends, right?"~

    "I''m d you understand." Kai responded with a sinister smile of his own as he turned back

    to face May.

    He then spoke up saying.

    "See, just as promised, I''ve reunited the both of you."

 Chapter 115: A Voice

    Chapter 115: A Voice

    ?

    Kan''s thoughts raced as he assumed a battle-ready stance, leaning forward, his hand tightening around the hilt of his greatsword.

    ''Grip the earth... Lean forward, circte your mana...''

    Cracks rippled beneath his feet as the ws on his toes dug into the ground, anchoring him tightly.

    ''And leap forward.''

    In that instant, Kan sprang forward, his body streaking across the earth as purple lightning crackled around him.

    The ground beneath him buckled from the force of his leap, sending shards of stone flying as he moved.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Arriving right before Alexei, he paused momentarily to swing his sword.

    Alexei barely had time to react; from his perspective, Kan closed the distance in the blink of an eye.

    Instinctively, he swung his own sword in a wide, vertical downward arc, aiming to intercept Kan''s strike.

    But Kan''s speed was too much. Instead of meeting Kan''s de head-on, Alexei''s sword seemed to cut through empty space, or rather an afterimage.

    His eyes widened in shock, ''What? Where did he go?'' his thoughts racing as he scanned his surroundings in those split seconds.

    "You''re wide open." A deep voice said behind him, though it was clearly close by, because at the speed they were traveling, it would take a couple more seconds before any sound would reach his ears.

    He instantly knew it was Kan. Alexei looked behind him, where the voice came from, his eyesnding on Kan who had already leaned back, ready to attack.

    Alexei wanted to counter, but the momentum of his earlier swing caused him to overextend slightly.

    Kan''s eyes narrowed as he adjusted his grip on his greatsword, shifting it into a reverse hold. His left foot nted firmly on the ground, and with a swift twist of his hips, he brought the de down in a diagonal sh aimed at Alexei''s exposed side.

    ...

    The de moved in a blur, whistling through the air. Alexei barely managed to bring his sword back in time, parrying the strike with a grunt of effort.

    The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, the force pushing Alexei back several feet, his boots carving grooves into the stone floor. Sparks flew from the sh of steel, lighting up the space between them in brief shes.

    As Alexei made a huge leap backward, Kanunched into a series of rapid strikes, each one faster than thest. His sword moved, cutting through the air in deadly arcs-horizontal shes aimed at Alexei''s midsection, upward strikes targeting his arms, and quick, jabbing thrusts intended to pierce through his armor.

    Alexei was forced on the defensive, his eyes wide with frustration and anger. He swung his sword desperately, trying to keep up with the barrage, gusts of wind created in the process whipped violently around them, leaving massive sword marks.

    His legs moved quickly to maintain his bnce-left foot stepping back, right foot sliding to the side, pivoting as he blocked and parried each blow. But Kan was faster, his movements a blur.

    Each time their swords collided as they charged around, Kan''s de seemed tond with even more force, pushing Alexei to the limit, disrupting his stance and throwing him off bnce.

    At one point, Kan feigned a downward sh, causing Alexei to raise his sword high in defense. But instead of following through, Kan twisted sharply on his left foot, rotating his body to the right. His sword arced in a low sweep aimed at Alexei''s legs, the movement so fast that the de was nearly invisible.

    Alexei barely managed to leap back, but not without sustaining some damage. The tip of Kan''s sword grazed his armor, cutting through the scales and grazing his flesh, drawing a thin line of blood. Alexei grimaced in pain, stumbling slightly as hended, but swiftly rising to his feet.

    Kan didn''t give him a moment''s rest. He leaped forward, his greatsword already in motion for another strike. This time, he aimed for Alexei''s sword arm. The de came down in a sharp arc, the force of the swing creating a rush of wind that sent dust swirling around them. Alexei raised his sword to block, but the force of Kan''s strike was too much. The impact jarred his arm, sending a massive numbing shock up to his shoulder.

    His grip loosened, and Kan seized the moment. With a quick flick of his wrist, Kan twisted his de against Alexei''s, using the chance to wrench the sword from his grasp.

    The sword ttered to the ground, skidding across the floor beforeing to a stop several feet away. Alexei stared in shock, his hand tingling from the loss of his weapon. He charged toward his sword, trying to mount a counterattack, but Kan was already moving.

    Arriving right in front of him before he could reach his sword, Kan nted his foot firmly on the ground and shot forward again, this time angling his body low as he approached. He brought his sword around in a wide, sweeping arc, the de slicing through the air. Alexei had no choice but to dive to the side, rolling across the ground to avoid the strike.

    But Kan was already anticipating his move. He shifted his weight onto his back foot and turned again, his sword following Alexei''s movements like a predator tracking its prey. As Alexei tried to rise to his feet, Kan was upon him, his sword arcing down in a powerful vertical sh aimed at Alexei''s leg.

    Alexei managed to twist his body at thest second, avoiding a direct hit, but the de still grazed his thigh, cutting through scale, flesh, and muscle. He cried out in pain, his leg buckling beneath him as he fell to one knee.

    Kan stood over him, his greatsword raised high, its de gleaming in the light. Alexei looked up, his face a look of pain, fear, and anger. He tried to summon the strength to move, to fight back, but his body refused to obey. The battle had drained him, and Kan''s relentless attacks had left him on the brink of copse.

    Kan, breathing heavily but stillposed, slowly lowered his sword until the tip hovered just above Alexei''s chest. His purple eyes, glowing with the remnants of his lightning surge, locked onto Alexei''s.

    "It''s over, Alexei," Kan said, raising his sword, about to thrust it down and end his life. But then he felt a strange sensation in his chest as it suddenly tightened, causing him to pause and

    grip it tightly.

    ''W-what is this pain?'' Kan wondered. Out of nowhere, he heard a voice echoing in his head,

    definitely not belonging to the system.

    ~''It''s not his fault, he''s only a child.''~

    ~ ''He mes me for everything because he''s still not ready to face the truth of what happened; the pain would be too much for him to bear.''~

    ~''He may hate me for what he believes is the truth, but I won''t hate him; that''s what a big brother would do.''~

    The voice belonged to Kan, the original owner of the body Alister''s mind now inhabited. The words didn''t seem like they were directed at him, but rather as if they were Kan''s own

    thoughts.

    For the first time since Alister''s time as Kan, the body and mouth moved without his will.

    "I could end this now," Kan said. "But I won''t. This ends with you defeated, not dead.

    Learn from this, Alexei. Learn the difference between pride and arrogance."

    "My lord will unite us all under his protective barrier, and we won''t have anything to worry about. Not even the darkness."

    With that, Kan stepped back, withdrawing his sword and allowing Alexei to slump to the ground, clutching his wounded leg. The battle was over.

 Chapter 87: Underground City

    Chapter 87: Underground City

    ?

    He walked along the tform, the sound of dripping water echoing around him, until he reached a section of the wall that appeared no different from the rest. Pressing a hidden button, a small panel slid open, revealing a surprisingly new and well-maintained elevator. Its sleek metallic doors gleamed under the dim light, looking out of ce whenpared to the rundown surroundings.

    Stepping into the elevator, the doors closed silently behind him, and the elevator began its descent. The hum of the machinery was the only sound, a steady, almost soothing rhythm as he was carried deeper underground.

    After what felt like an eternity, the elevator came to a smooth stop. The doors slid open with a quiet hiss.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Stepping out of the elevator, Alister found himself in the heart of a bustling underground city, its vast space illuminated by mana crystal shards hanging from the cavernous ceiling. The crystals cast a mystical light that bathed the entire city in a soft, otherworldly glow.

    Alister raised the hood of his cloak over his head, the shadow of the Phantom Spade''s mask blending seamlessly with the dim surroundings.

    This was the underground city of Nocturnus, a haven for those who thrived outside thew, was a ce where a lot of mining took ce, as well as the smuggling of items not approved by the Union into the city.

    "This ce always gives off the vibe of a dungeon."

    Alister muttered to himself, his voice barely audible beneath the mask. He still wasn''t used toing here, the air here felt like it was always filled with danger and secrets.

    As he walked down the main road, he couldn''t help but notice how much busier it seemed today. People of all kinds-merchants, thieves, mercenaries, and shadowy figures-filled the streets, their voices blending into a constant murmur.

    The whole ce was a lot busier than usual.

    ''Must be because of the Reaper Guild''s auction.''

    Alister thought, his eyes looking around the crowd from beneath his hood. He continued to walk.

    Passing various stalls and shops, Alister noticed traders haggling over rare goods and contraband, their negotiations heated but discreet. The smell of exotic spices and the sound of unfamiliarnguages filled the air, adding to the sense of being in a different world entirely.

    He turned down a side street, seeking out a familiar vendor who dealt in rare items. The vendor''s stall was tucked away in a quieter corner of the market. Alister''s footsteps echoed slightly as he approached, the dim light casting long shadows.

    "Oh, Mr. Spade," the vendor greeted him with a nod, recognizing Alister instantly.

    "What brings you here today?"

    "I need to sell a few items, and quickly," Alister said, his voice sounding deeper due to the effects of the mask. He reached into his cloak, his hand slipping into his inventory, and pulled out a massive pouch, revealing a collection of rare and valuable items.

    "That magic trick of yours never gets old," the vendor said, referring to the fact that Alister seemed to pull out such a massive bag from under his cloak. Wearing a monocle, he examined the items closely. "Now, let''s see what you''ve got for me today."

    The vendor''s eyes widened slightly as he examined each piece, his fingers lingering over a particrly shiny amulet. "These will fetch a good price," the vendor said, looking up at Alister. "But why the rush?"

    "I need funds for an auction." Alister watched as the vendor kept looking around the collection of artifacts. Among them were shimmering scales, a glowing orb, and a set of finely carved bones. The vendor''s eyes widened slightly, his fingers itching to touch the pieces.

    "These are impressive," the vendor said, his voice filled with greed. "I''ll give you 500,000 Union Credits for the lot."

    Alister shook his head, folding his arms. "500,000? These items were obtained from monsters beyond the city walls. I''ve got scales from a Crimson Serpent, a Soulstone from a Wraith, and bones from an Undead Titan, and many more. Obtaining these wasn''t an easy task-I risked my life."

    "I''ll be taking 2 million credits at the very least, that is if you don''t want to ever do business with me again."

    "2 million!? What, do you think I''m made of union credits?"

    "You keep on using that to pull one over on me."

    The vendor rolled his eyes, scoffing. "And quit it with that ''beyond the wall'' crap. Do you actually expect me to believe that?"

    Alister began gathering the items back into his pouch. "No problem then. I''ll take my business elsewhere."

    "Wait!" the vendor called out, his voiceced with urgency. "I said I found it hard to believe, not that I wasn''t interested in purchasing."

    "I''ll give you 2.1 million, how does that sound?"

    Alister paused, looking back at the vendor. "So, we have a deal then?"

    The vendor let out a reluctant sigh, realizing he couldn''t let such valuable items slip through his fingers. "Deal."

    He pulled out his Union card and hovered it over Alister''s, the transactionpleting with a soft beep. Alister pocketed his card as he prepared to leave.

    "Pleasure doing business with you," Alister said, adjusting his hood as he prepared to leave. The vendor nodded, though the disappointment of losing the haggling match was clearly disyed on his face.

    Alister turned and walked away, the bustling sounds of the underground city fading slightly as he moved towards his next destination.

    As Alister made his way through the busy underground city, he made his way through the throngs of people, his eyes looking around the various signs and stalls for any indication of the Reaper Guild''s auction.

    He pulled his hood further over his head, blending into the shadows as he moved.

    Turning a corner, Alister''s gaze was focused on a distant sign when he suddenly collided with

    someone.

    He barely registered the impact, his sturdy frame absorbing the collision without stumbling. However, the person he bumped into wasn''t so lucky and fell to the ground with a small gasp. "Oh, ouch!" she eximed, looking up at Alister as she picked herself up. "The heck? You''re as sturdy as a wall!"

    Alister reached down to help her up, his gloved hand extended. "I''m sorry, I wasn''t paying attention. Are you alright?"

    She took his hand, her eyes momentarily looking at his masked face. "Yeah, I''m fine," she said, brushing the dust off her clothes. She was a young woman, dark blue hair and sharp red eyes and an air of confidence despite the mishap.

    "Not many people can knock me off my feet like that, you must be really strong huh?" Alister gave a slight nod, his tone neutral. "Good to know. Actually, you might be able to help me. I''m looking for the Reaper Guild''s auction. Do you know where it is?"

    The woman raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "The Reaper Guild''s auction, huh? You must be looking for something special. It''s not far from here. Head down this street," she pointed to a narrow, less crowded path, "and take the second left. You''ll see arge building with their emblem on it. You can''t miss it."

    "Thank you," Alister said, offering a brief nod of gratitude.

    "No problem. I''m actually going there too."

 Chapter 88: Masked Shadows

    Chapter 88: Masked Shadows

    ?

    Nocturnus wasn''t a ce one would say was beyond the Union''s reach; in fact, they were well aware of its existence. How could a massive underground city remain a mystery when it was directly under their noses?

    But if it was, one could only wonder how the Reaper Guild was able to smuggle illegal items into the city if they were aware of its activities.

    The exnationy in the fact the Union chose to turn a blind eye to Nocturnus, recognizing the benefits of having an illicit market that could be indirectly controlled.

    Humans are simple, self-serving creatures; they would often go to whatever lengths to get whatever they wanted, and there was no telling what they would do if deprived of it for too long. Trying topletely stop them was an impossibility that has been proven through history time and time again.

    The Union saw the benefits of letting the ck markets run, viewing it as a necessary evil to keep their otherwise insane world in a sane state. But that didn''t mean theypletely let the Guild do whatever they wanted. They would dly punish any guild that took things too far, but such a case had to ur first or at least be reported; it was a clear case of innocent until proven guilty.

    And so, with such a system, they could perfectly control the economy, allowing good and evil to go hand in hand.

    ...

    As the woman led Alister in the direction she had pointed out for the Reaper Guild''s auction, she couldn''t help but steal curious nces at him.

    "So," the young woman started, breaking the silence between them, "you have a name, Mr. Wall?"

    Alister nced at her from beneath his hood, his masked face revealing nothing. "You can call me Spade."

    "Spade, huh? Mysterious," she said with a yful smile. "I''m Karina."

    "Nice to meet you, Karina."

    "So, Spade, are you a mercenary?"

    "Secret."

    "Ok... what are you looking for?"

    "Secret."

    Karina''s curiosity was piqued. "Alright, what guild are you part of?"

    "Secret."

    "Do you ever give a straight answer?"

    "Not when ites to personal information."

    Karina sighed, a touch of frustration and amusement on her face. "You''re a tough nut to crack, Spade."

    Alister ignored her, keeping his focus ahead. He had no intention of revealing anything about himself, especially in a ce as unpredictable as Nocturnus.

    As they approached therge building Karina had pointed out, Alister noticed the emblem of the Reaper Guild prominently disyed above the entrance. The guards stationed outside were imposing, their stern faces scanning every passerby with suspicion.

    "Here we are," Karina said, her voice a bit more serious now. "This is the ce."

    They approached the entrance, and one of the guards stepped forward, blocking their path. "Cards, please."

    Alister reached into his cloak and pulled out the card master Yuuto gave him, presenting it to the guard. Karina did the same, handing over her card with a confident smile.

    The guard inspected their cards, and when he saw Alister''s, his expression changed slightly. "VIP section. Follow me sir," he said, leading Alister away from the main entrance. ''Guess I shouldn''t have expected anything less from master Yuuto.'' Alister thought. Karina watched him go, a curious look in her eyes. "Looks like you''re a big shot, Spade. See youter."

    Alister nodded and followed the guard through a different entrance. The path they took was less crowded, quieter, and led to a section of the building that was clearly more exclusive.

    Upon entering the VIP section, Alister was directed to a seat near the front. The room wasvishly decorated, with plush seating and a clear view of the stage where the auction would take ce. As he sat down, he noticed the woman next to him.

    She had long, flowing ck hair and piercing blue eyes. Her presence wasmanding, and two bodyguards stood watchfully by her side. At her feety a massive silver-furred, horned wolf, its cor gleaming under the lights. The wolf''s eyes seemed sharp with an almost human-like intelligence.

    The woman nced at Alister, her gaze sharp and assessing. "Oh, you''re not amon face. I guess something extra special must being out today if I''m now seeing new faces around here."

    She remarked, her voice smooth and confident.

    "Just here for the auction," Alister replied, keeping his tone neutral.

    "I see. I''m Zhang Lian," she said.

    Alister hesitated for a moment before responding. "Spade."

    "Interesting name. What brings you to this auction, Spade?"

    "Looking to acquire something specific," Alister said, his eyes briefly flicking to the stage.

    Lian smiled knowingly. "Aren''t we all?"

    "Indeed we are, but I never expected to meet a member of one of the major families at the ck market." Alister replied.

    "Oh, please," Lian said with a smallugh. "This is where we are seen the most. What better ce to acquire rare items and resources before they go public?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "I see." Alister replied, turning his attention back to the stage.

    The room filled with more VIP guests, each with their own air of importance and mystery. Conversations hummed around them, but Alister kept his attention on the stage, ready for the auction to start.

    The lights in the room dimmed slightly, signaling the start of the auction. A well-dressed auctioneer took the stage, his voice amplified by a subtle spell that projected his words clearly

    to everyone present.

    "Wee, esteemed guests, to the Reaper Guild''s exclusive auction. We have a fine selection of rare and powerful items for you today. Let us begin."

    As the auctioneer spoke, a pair of assistants carefully wheeled out a small pedestal draped with a luxurious velvet cloth. They unveiled it to reveal a strikingly ornate dagger, its de shimmering with an intense glow.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," the auctioneer continued, "this is the Shadow Dagger. Forged in the heart of the Cavern of Shadows, it is imbued with a unique enchantment that allows the wielder to move unseen in darkness. The dagger''s de is crafted from shadowsteel, a rare material that not only makes it incredibly durable but also grants it the ability to pierce most magical defenses."

    A murmur of interest rippled through the crowd as the auctioneer detailed the dagger''s

    properties.

    "The starting bid for the Shadow Dagger is 50,000 Union Credits. Do I hear 50,000?"

    Hands shot up around the room as the bidding began in earnest.

    "50,000!"

    "60,000!"

    "70,000!"

    The bids climbed steadily, the audience''s interest piqued by the dagger''s unique attributes. Alister watched the proceedings with a calm exterior, this wasn''t the item he was after, so he

    was patiently waiting.

    "80,000! Do I hear 90,000?" the auctioneer called, his voice rising with excitement.

    "90,000!" came a bid from the back of the room.

    "100,000!" another bidder countered.

    The auctioneer''s eyes sparkled with delight as the bids continued to rise. "We have 100,000!

    Do I hear 110,000?"

    Alister turned slightly to see who had made thetest bid. It was the girl he met eariler,

    Karina, but this time she had an air of authority, her eyes focused intently on the dagger.

    There was slience, no one rised their bids. "100,000 going once, going twice."

    He mmed his wooden hammer then yelled, "Sold!"

 Chapter 89: A Small Sign

    Chapter 89: A Small Sign

    ?

    The auction had gone on for a while now, but Alister hadn''t attempted to buy anything. He watched calmly as various rare and powerful items were presented. The room was filled with the sounds of excited murmurs and the voices of attendees as their bids were being shouted.

    Lady Zhang Lian, seated beside him, observing curiously how he seemed to be uninterested couldn''t help but ask.

    "What exactly are you after, Mr Spade?"

    "Why haven''t you tried to bid on anything yet?"

    Alister turned to her, his voice sounding nonchnt.

    "As I mentioned earlier, I''m after something specific."

    Lian''s eyes narrowed.

    "Oh, that again?"

    "You don''t have to act so cold, you make it seem like I''m after your life or something." she said mischievously.

    Before Alister could respond, the auctioneer''s voice echoed, drawing the attention of the entire room. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for one of the top items on our list today."

    A member of the Reaper Guild emerged from the side of the stage, pulling along a creature in chains. The creature was humanoid, with pointy ears, ash-colored skin, silver hair, and yellow eyes, it looked male.

    Scales showed up randomly on its skin. It looked beaten, wearing ragged clothing and showing clear signs of being starved, a clear attempt to make it more obedient.

    The auctioneer''s voice took on a dramatic tone. "What we have here is a remarkable find-a creature unlike any we have seen before. Not only is it more human than all the other monsters we encountered in the past, but it also appears to possess high intelligence."

    "Our guild encountered a group of these beings in the wilderness during one of our clearing missions."

    Lady Lian leaned forward, her interest piqued. "Interesting," she mused, her eyes scanning the creature.

    "I thought we humans were the only intelligent race that inhabited our world. I''ve only seen intelligent monsters in dungeons, but they are usually only boss monsters, but from what the announcer is saying, there could even be a society of these creatures out there."

    "Perhaps when the apocalypse urred hundreds of years ago, some other intelligent races invaded our as well."

    She turned to Alister, a sly smile on her face. "Or what do you think, Mr Spade?"

    But Alister was preupied. The system had suddenly red a notice in his mind, it''s white text appearing before his eyes:n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    [Congrattions to the yer forpleting a hidden quest: Where Are They Now? (1/30). Requirement: Find a member of a Dragon kin race.

    Reward: Ring of Focus made from a shard of Aloria''s Heart Stone (B rank).]

    A hidden quest? It was the first Alister had ever heard of it, the system didn''t even tell him such quests existed when it first exined its mechanisms to him.

    To be given a reward for finding a monster, it was clear the system was silently telling him to search for this race, and from the bracket besides it it could be a chain quest. Meaning more rewards, but at the moment Alister couldn''t care less.

    ''Three quests in a single day, Dragonforge is really going haywire. I''m d this one is more of a reward though.''

    Alister let out a sigh, his shoulder slumping slightly, he couldn''t help but feel relieved, if a quest popped up asking him to save that strange creature he would turn it down no questions asked. He wouldn''t want to make an enemy of all the city''s elite gathered here, there was no need to.

    Lady Lian''s voice brought him back to the present. "Are you alright? You seem lost in thought."

    Alister pushed aside his momentary distraction. "Yes, I''m fine."

    Aliayer couldn''t help but notice it seemed likedy Lian was talking to him more often, so he couldn''t help but ask.

    "Why the sudden interest in me, Lady Lian?"

    "Are you always this interested in the matters of total strangers?"

    Lian chuckled, a yful glint in her eyes. "Forgive me if I seem overly inquisitive, Mr Spade." "I just can''t help but wonder what a hidden master such as yourself would hope to gain here." "Hidden master?" Alsiter asked, clearly confused, it was the first he had heard of the term. "Ohe now sir, don''t y dumb with me, I''m well informed, that marking on the forehead of the mask you are wearing. I''ve heard it once belonged to an old guild that disbanded." "Most of its old members are believed to have gone missing, but sometimes you could find them wearing a mask like that."

    Before Alister could bring up something to disprove her point Lian spoke up again.

    "And that soft yet bright gleam it seemed to have can only belong to a certain old metal that would cost millions now."

    "So I am certain you are one of those said guild members."

    Alister''s thoughts raced.

    ''Is this an attempt at humor from Master Yuuto? Why does he keep handing out priceless treasures?''

    ''Well, not like it matters now. If he''s willing to lend a piece of his history to benefit me, then I don''t see a problem with it.''

    Alister simply stared at her, offering no response.

    Lian sighed, a touch of exasperation in her voice. "It seems your cold shoulder means I''ve nailed the nail to the head."

    Ignoring her, Alister turned his attention back to the auction stage. The bidding for the creature had finally ended, the hammer falling with a loud ng.

    "And the creature goes to...!" The auctioneer''s voice boomed through the room. "For the

    price of five million Union credits! Congrattions!"

    As the creature was led away, the auctioneer''s voice rose again.

    "Now,dies and gentlemen, we present to you the crown jewel of this auction. A treasure beyondpare!"

    ''This must be it.'' Alister thought, tensing up slightly,

    A velvet-covered box was brought to the stage. With a calm simple motion, the auctioneer lifted the lid, revealing a small, vial-like container filled with a green liquid that seemed to

    sparkle.

    "This, my friends, is sap extracted from a root of the still yet to be found World Tree. A substance with unmatched healing properties and invigorating effects."

    As he spoke, a green talent window materialized with the item''s information.

    [Item info window:

    Name: World Tree Sap

    Rarity: S-ss

    Description: A vial containing a small amount of sap extracted from the root of the legendary

    World Tree, a mythical entity believed to exist beyond the known realms. The sap emits a faint green glow, and its liquid seems to shimmer.]

 Chapter 90: Unexpected Competition

    Chapter 90: Unexpected Competition

    ?

    The auctioneer continued.

    "It is rumored to cure even the most terminal illnesses. The starting bid is one million Union credits!"

    Before the echo of the auctioneer''s words could fade, Alister''s voice cut through the room. "Two million."

    A massive gasp could be heard throughout the room as Alister''s bid echoed through the grand hall.

    Lady Lian''s eyes widened in surprise, her gaze flickering between Alister and the vial, but then she calmed with a mischievous smile.

    She knew this item was highly sought after, but she hadn''t expected such a bold opening bid. The auctioneer''s eyes lit up with excitement. "Two million, do we have any other bidders? This is your chance to possess a miracle in a vial!"

    For a moment there was silence; finally, a voice broke the stillness.

    "Two and a half million," a deep voice announced.

    Alister nced at the man who had made the bid. He had a tall build with a cold, calcting gaze. It was clear that this man was determined to acquire the World Tree sap at any cost.

    Alister raised the bid once more. "Three million."

    "Three and a half," the old man countered immediately.

    The air in the auction hall was now electrifying, and everyone''s eyes were focused on the two of them.

    Just when it seemed the contest would be between Alister and the old man, Lady Lian''s voice cut through the air.

    "Four million."

    A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Lady Lian joining the bidding war had taken everyone by surprise.

    It was clear that she was just as desperate to possess the World Tree sap as the other two. The auctioneer''s hammer hovered in the air, his eyes darting between the three bidders. It was clear that he was enjoying every moment of this escting bidding war. Alister turned his gaze toward Lady Lian, his voice steady but with a touch of intensity.

    "What do you think you''re doing?"

    Lian met his eye with a calm expression. "Bidding for the item, of course," she replied, a faint smile spreading on her lips.

    Alister narrowed his eyes slightly.

    "A moment ago, you sounded like you had an idea of who I might be. Do you really want to go against me?"

    Alister said, wanting to use whatever history this mask he wore had to his advantage.

    Lian''s smile didn''t leave her face. "Nothing of the sort, sir. This is just business."

    Alister''s gaze lingered on her for a moment, weighing her words. Then, turning back to face the stage, he said, "I see."

    "Five million," Alister suddenly called out, his voice firm and clear, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

    Without missing a beat, Lady Lian raised the bid again. "Five and a half million."

    The crowd murmured in astonishment as the bidding intensified.

    "Five and a half million? That''s no small sum..."

    "I guess that is the power of someone from one of the five major families."

    The old man who had been bidding earlier raised his hand, his voice echoing across the hall. "Ten million."

    A collective gasp rippled through the room as all eyes turned to the old man.

    "Ten million? He just doubled it like it was nothing!"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Who is that man? Does anyone recognize him?"

    "Must be some new rising tycoon."

    Alister, watching the scene unfold, couldn''t help but think to himself that he should have expected something like this.

    ''Of course, it woulde to this,'' he thought, his mind racing. Alister knew that he hadn''t saved up enough funds for such a fierce bidding war. His next bid would have to be hisst. There was no way he couldpete with the wealth of the old man or the connections that Lady Lian seemed to possess.

    As he prepared to make his final move, weighing his options, Lady Lian''s voice suddenly rang out, cutting through his thoughts like a knife.

    "Thirty million," she announced with a smug smile.

    The room fell silent; the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Alister froze, his thoughts momentarily derailed by the staggering bid.

    Lady Lian had tripled the old man''s offer, crushing any hope of a counter from him.

    Alister''s hand tightened into a fist beneath the table as he thought about his next step. He knew when he was outmatched. There was no point in raising the bid further; he simply didn''t have the resources to continue. This was no longer a fight he could win.

    The auctioneer paused, taking a look across the room. The intensity of the moment could clearly be seen, and he seemed to savor it.

    "Thirty million from Lady Lian. Do we have any other bids?"

    The attendees exchanged nces, but no one moved or spoke up. Lady Lian''s offer was simply

    toorge for there to be any other attempts.

    The auctioneer, noting everyone''s silence, let the tension really sink in before he finally

    nodded.

    "Going once... going twice..."

    The entire hall held its breath, waiting for the inevitable oue.

    "Sold! To Lady Lian for thirty million!" The auctioneer''s hammer came down with a loud

    thud, echoing through the room.

    The crowd erupted into apuse, acknowledging both the incredible sum and the skillful way Lady Lian had outmaneuvered herpetitors.

    Alister remained still, his frustrated expression hidden behind his mask. He had been bested this time, but he was already thinking ahead, plotting his next move.

    ''I have to make her give it to me... I have to take it...''

    ''I don''t have a choice in this; Miyu''s life depends on it.''

    Lady Lian, her expression as calm as ever, epted the congrattions from those nearby with a polite smile. As she waved her hand, she said, "Alright, Sir Spade, I guess I''ll be seeing youter. For now, I''ll be going." She rose from her seat and slowly exited the VIP section, her bodyguards and massive silver wolf following her as she did.

    Alister slowly turned around, clutching his fists as he watched her leave.

    ''My lord, what are you going to do now?'' Terra asked.

    For a moment, Alister paused, his thoughts racing. Using force seemed tempting, but it

    should only be ast resort as long as other options were on the table. But there was none, or

    perhaps there was.

    ''I''m going to have to talk to her. I''ll cut her a deal.''

 Chapter 91: A Deal

    Chapter 91: A Deal

    ?

    As the auction came to an end, the announcer took a final moment to address the attendees. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for attending tonight. We hope to see you again at our next event."

    The crowd began to disperse, murmuring with excitement about how the night went. Among them, Lady Lian and her bodyguards moved forward, retrieving a briefcase containing the precious vial of World Tree sap.

    They headed toward the exit. As they stepped outside, the night air of Nocturnus blew past them, cool and crisp.

    Lady Lian''s silver wolf walked beside her, looking around as they slowly headed for their transport. Her bodyguards were vignt as ever, always keeping a close watch on their surroundings, hands always close to their concealed weapons.

    It wasn''t long before one of the guards noticed something was off.

    "Lady Lian," he said in a low voice, his eyes scanning the area, "someone''s following us."

    Lian, maintaining herposure, smiled slightly. She began to turn her head to see exactly who would be following them. Before she could catch a glimpse, a voice rang out from behind them.

    "I''ll give you two options: either you give up that item in exchange for something I can offer, or I take it by force. Either way, you won''t be leaving here tonight with that briefcase."

    Lady Lian halted in her tracks, her bodyguards instinctively forming a protective circle around her. Her wolf instantly began growling.

    She didn''t need to turn around to recognize the voice; she knew it belonged to the man who had sat beside her during the auction-Spade.

    With a slow turn, Lady Lian faced him, wearing an expression of amusement and curiosity. "So, this is how you want to y it?"

    "I thought we were merelypetitors in a bidding war. But it seems you''re more desperate than I anticipated."

    Alister stood a short distance away, seeming rxed, yet at the same time ready for anything.

    "Call it whatever you will," he replied, his voice cold.

    "But I''m not leaving without that vial."

    "So I suggest making a deal. If you have an item or resource you wish to acquire from beyond the walls, then I''m more than willing to help you obtain it."

    Lady Lian tilted her head slightly, as if considering his words.

    "From beyond the walls? Oh please, what exactly do you n to offer that could possibly match the value of what''s inside this case?"

    The way she spoke seemed to hint at something.

    Alister''s eyes narrowed as he took a step closer. "The item will only have value if you''re alive to use it. Do you understand what I''m saying?"

    Lady Lian''s expression suddenly became serious. Her bodyguards tensed, their hands inching closer to their concealed weapons, ready to act at a moment''s notice.

    "You''re making quite the threat, Mr. Spade," she responded, her tone icy yet controlled. "But you''re assuming that I''m the only one at risk here."

    "You have a choice, Lady Lian. I''m not asking for your life, just the vial. We both know what that means."

    Her silver wolf, sensing its master''s distress, bared its teeth, growling louder as it walked up protectively in front of her. The bodyguards exchanged nces, awaiting hermand.

    "Stand down," she ordered. The bodyguards hesitated only for a moment before lowering their weapons, though they remained on high alert.

    "Fenrir," she then called out to her wolf, her tone softening just slightly. The massive creature, still baring its teeth and growling, looked back at her with a touch of loyalty and

    concern.

    "Calm down, it''s alright."

    The silver wolf slowly stopped growling, its ears ttening slightly as it took a step back, still eyeing Alister warily.

    Satisfied that the immediate threat had been defused, Lady Lian turned her full attention back to Alister.

    "I think we may have gotten off on the wrong foot, Mr. Spade."

    "I''d like to fix that."

    She took a step forward, cing her right hand above her chest.

    Alister remained silent, watching her with a guarded expression. He wasn''t quite sure where

    she was going with this, but he knew better than to let his guard down.

    "Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Lian Zhang, third daughter of the House of Zhang."

    "As you might imagine, my family has a certain... reputation to uphold. So we are always careful about who we associate ourselves with."

    "But I find myself in a position where associating with you, Mr. Spade, could be mutually beneficial. That''s why I decided to purchase the item, hoping you would approach me like this."

    Alister''s eyes narrowed slightly. "And what exactly do you n to do now that I''m here?" She took another step closer, her gaze locked on his.

    "I''m willing to offer you this vial," she pointed slightly to the briefcase.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "In exchange for something I believe you can provide: an alliance."

    Alister didn''t respond immediately, his mind racing as he weighed his options. He had been prepared to take the vial by force if necessary, but this... this was an unexpected turn.

    An alliance with a member of the Zhang family could open doors for him that were currently sealed shut. But it could also entangle him in the web of their power struggles, something he wasn''t entirely sure he wanted to get involved in.

    ''If she did all this just to approach me, then I can take advantage of the situation to get more out of her.''

    Lady Lian, sensing his hesitation, pressed on. "Consider it, Mr. Spade. Our cooperation could lead to greater opportunities, far beyond what either of us could achieve alone. This doesn''t have to end in conflict."

    She extended her hand, a disy of trust. "What do you say? Let''s make a deal."

    Although Lian hid it well, she was desperate for his help. Believing he was a hidden master, she thought there could be no other person better suited to help her in her current

    circumstance.

 Chapter 92: Alliance On An Overlords Terms

    Chapter 92: Alliance On An Overlord''s Terms

    ?

    The hover car glided smoothly through the streets of the city, thend above Nocturnus, as it carried Lady Lian away from the auction.

    The neon-lit city shing all shorts of coloured lights as they drove past. Inside the car, the atmosphere was calm yet at the same time it seemed tense, the noise of the engine was the only sound that could be heard since the sses were rolled up.

    Lady Lian sat in the backseat, her silver wolf, Fenrir, lying at her feet. She ran her fingers through its fur, her eyes distant as she stared out the window.

    The events of the evening yed over in her mind, particrly her encounter with Spade, the man had proven to be as mysterious as he was powerful.

    One of her bodyguards, seated in the front, nced at her through the rearview mirror. He noticed the thoughtful look on her face and the way her hand moved through Fenrir''s fur, as if seekingfort.

    "Lady Lian."

    "Is something troubling you?"

    She blinked,ing out of her deep thoughts, and let out a soft sigh.

    "I should have known it wouldn''t be that easy," she admitted, sounding somewhat frustrated.

    "Gaining the alliance of a master... seemes will cost me way more than I bargained for."

    Just then, the memory reyed before her eyes.

    Lian stood before Alister, her thoughts racing.

    ''This should be enough to secure a master''s alliance.'' she reassured herself, believing that everything was going ording to n.

    She was confident that her offer would win him over.

    But suddenly, golden mana erupted from Alister''s body, surging outward like massive mes. The air felt suffocating, and the sheer intensity of his aura sent a shiver down Lian''s spine.

    Her bodyguards instinctively tensed, eyes wide with shock as they struggled to remainposed. Even Fenrir, her loyal wolf, whimpered and dropped to its knees, unable to withstand the overwhelming pressure.

    The bodyguards exchanged uneasy looks at each other, unable to tear their eyes away from the sight before them.

    The power radiating from Alister was unlike anything they had ever encountered.

    "Incredible... his mana and aura... they''re beyond anything we''ve ever seen." One of them said, his wordsing out in a whisper.

    Lian''s mind raced in fear and awe. ''So... this is what a master is truly capable of.'' Her heart was pounding in her chest.

    Alister''s eyes glowed intensely through the visor of his mask, his gaze locking onto Lian.

    His voice seemed to cut through the air, sounding sharp and cold. "Tell me, child, correct me if I''m wrong, but did I just hear you suggest that I should be an obedient dog simply because you''re offering to give me back what you stole? Are you mocking me?"

    His voice seemed to sound even deeper.

    He took a step closer, and the golden mes seemed to re even brighter. Lian''s heart nearly flew out of her throat in panic. She had clearly underestimated him, and now she was facing the consequences.

    "Y-You misunderstand!"

    "I wasn''t suggesting that! I just meant that if you take this, I hope you''d be willing to help me with a problem I''m currently facing."

    Alister''s eyes narrowed, as he leaned forward.

    "And what if I choose to disagree?"

    Lian''s mouth opened, but no words came out. She felt the crushing weight of his power pressing down on her, and for the first time, she truly understood the danger she was in.

    If he wanted to, he could end them all here and now. His strength was undeniable-far greater than she had expected. She slowly came to realize that her attempt to force him into a partnership was not only bold but deeply disrespectful to this master before her.

    She couldn''t let things fall apart now, not when so much was at stake. Swallowing her pride, Lian lowered her head, she was about to lower her knees but felt them give out halfway, her voice trembling as she spoke.

    "P-please... forgive me. I meant no disrespect. I... I beg of you, Master Spade. Please consider my request. I need your help."

    "I-if it''s treasure and money I am willing to offer as much as I can."

    She could only hope that her plea would be enough to appease him, knowing full well that she had gambled everything on this moment.

    Alister strode forward until he was directly in front of Lian, towering over her. His gaze seemed to pierce through her soul.

    "If you''re truly desperate for my help..."

    "Then you must be more than willing to prove your sincerity."

    Lian''s heart raced as she looked up at him.

    "Y-Yes," she stammered, nodding quickly.

    "Good," Alister replied, a small smirk spreading on his face hidden beneath his mask.

    "I''ll be gone for a few days. In that time, I want you to search for two specific items. Whether or not I help you will depend solely on your ability to find these for me."

    His gaze narrowed, the intensity of his eyes locking onto hers.

    "Do you understand?"

    Lian could barely speak up as she said. murmured.

    "Understood."

    Alister then told her the items she would be securing for him.

    "First, you''ll need to find a Phoenix''s Feather."

    "And second, an Ethereal Moonstone."

    At the mention of these rare items, Lian''s eyes widened in shock. "Sir, but those items are-"

    "Do you understand?" He silenced her with a sharp look as he repeated, his voice leaving no room for argument.

    She hesitated, the weight of the task pressing heavily on her, but then she nodded. "I

    understand."

    "Good." Alister''s mana returned into his body, the oppressive aura dissipating as he stepped

    past Lian and approached one of her bodyguards.

    Without a word, he took the briefcase from the guard''s hands.

    "I''ll be taking what''s mine now." He said.

    Turning his back to her, Alister began to walk away, just as he reached a couple feet away, he

    paused and nced back over his shoulder.

    "I hope we meet again soon," he called out. He tossed a small card in her direction, the cardnding at her feet. It had a roughly scribbled number.

    "When you''re ready," he said, his voice fading as he walked away "call me."

    And with that, he vanished from sight, leaving Lian standing there, clutching the card, her

    mind racing with the daunting task ahead of her.

    The memory ended.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 93: And So It Begins

    Chapter 93: And So It Begins

    ?

    The bodyguard nodded, understanding her concerns.

    "He''s not someone who can be easily swayed,"

    "But you made an impression tonight, mydy. That''s a start."

    Lady Lian leaned back in her seat, her eyes drifting to the cityscape beyond the window.

    "An impression is one thing, but I need more than that. I can''t afford to fail when the stakes are this high."

    The important matter or project Lady Lian was referring to was the world''s first underground train transportation between Megacities.

    With the approval of the Union and the support of the Huang and Chen families, the Zhang family nned to use warding crystals to create devices that would prevent monsters from approaching or damaging the route.

    If sessful, this project would not only bring them abundant wealth and elevate their family''s standing but also significantly boost trade, something that was previously impossible due to theck of constant transportation between megacities.

    One might wonder where Master Spade, Alister, fits into all of this. The Zhang family needed more miners, as well as powerful individuals to protect the miners while they worked. Not wanting to spend more money than they already had, they decided not to enlist the help of a guild but rather to hire mercenaries.

    This is where Lady Lian''s situation became even more difficult. She was already considered useless because she was a summoner who only possessed a D ss monster, and now, if she failed to contribute to what could be the biggest project her family had ever undertaken, she would surely bebeled the "useless young mistress."

    Making her standing in the family far worse than it already was.

    The other bodyguard, who had been quietly listening, turned slightly in his seat to talk to her.

    "At least now we know what he wants," he said, wanting to reassure her.

    "If we can find the items he mentioned, then his support will be undeniable. And with his backing, your standing in the negotiations for the next big project will be unshakable."

    Lady Lian considered his words, a faint smile spreading at the corners of her lips.

    "You''re right," she said after a moment. "If I can deliver what he wants, I''ll have secured an alliance that will elevate my position within the family- and beyond."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    She nced down at Fenrir, who had calmed under her touch, its eyes half-closed.

    "But that means we need to move quickly."

    "We need to find those items and present them to Master Spade. If we seed, I''ll not only have his alliance but the advantage over my rivals."

    The bodyguards exchanged a nce, both of them silently agreeing. They knew the importance of this mission, not just for Lady Lian but for the entire House of Zhang. Her sess would be their sess, and they were determined to see her rise to the top.

    "Leave the preparations to us, mydy," the first bodyguard at the steering wheel said. "We''ll begin the search immediately and report back as soon as we have any leads." Lady Lian nodded. "Good."

    With all that out of the way, Lady Lian allowed herself to rx slightly, her fingers still trailing through Fenrir''s fur.

    The hover car continued its journey through the night, carrying her closer to her goals, her mind already racing with strategies for the next steps to ensure her sess.

    ...

    As the first light of day broke over the horizon, the city came alive. The time had finally arrived for the Wastnd Disy Event. Holographic billboards throughout the city all came on disying one thing, showcasing the faces of two Union officials who would be thementators for the event.

    A man with a confident grin and a woman who gave off the calm air of a professional appeared on the screens, both well-known figures in themunity. The man, dressed in a sharp suit, spoke first.

    "Good morning, everyone! I''m Marcus Reed, and I''m thrilled to be your host for this year''s Wastnd Disy Event!"

    The woman beside him nodded, a warm smile on her face. "And I''m Elena Cruz, here to bring you all the action as it unfolds. We''ve got an exciting day ahead of us!"

    Marcus leaned forward slightly, his voice full of energy as he continued.

    "It''s that time of year again-the moment we''ve all been waiting for! The Wastnd Disy Event is here! This is the day when our brave guild members head into the wastnds to push back the monsters and ensure another prosperous year for us all!"

    "Absolutely!"

    Elena spoke up, this time with a touch of excitement, "But this year, we''ve got something a little different-something that''s sure to make the event even more thrilling. For the first time ever, we''ll be bringing you a front-row seat to the action with live body cam footage from the guild members themselves. You''ll see what makes them the best of the best, up close and personal!"

    Marcus nodded, "That''s right! No more guessing what happens out there in the wastnds when dust clouds cover the cams of our drones. You''ll witness their courage, their skill, and their determination as if you were right there beside them."

    Elena''s eyes gleamed with anticipation as she smiled at the camera. "So, buckle up, everyone. This year''s event is going to be one for the history books. Get ready to see what our guilds are truly made of!"

    As their words echoed across the city, the excitement in the air grew. The Wastnd Disy Event was about to begin, and for the first time, everyone would have a front-row seat to the

    action.

    Marcus''s grin widened as he leaned closer to the camera, his excitement contagious. "Now, I know you''re all eager to get to the action, and so are we. So without further ado, it''s time to cut to the scene-let''s see our brave guild members as they prepare to embark on their mission!"

    Elena nodded enthusiastically, her tone matching Marcus''s. "That''s right! We''re taking you straight to the walls of the city, where the guild members are readying themselves to board their aircrafts. This is where it all begins."

 Chapter 94: Departure

    Chapter 94: Departure

    ?

    The morning air was crisp as Alister and the squad leaders stood before Guild Master Yuuto and Lady Aiko, just moments away from boarding the aircraft that would take them out of the megacity and beyond the outer defensive lines.

    The aircraft was ready, its engine on standby, awaiting its passengers. Each of the squad leaders was suited in the newly issued ck and white techy outfits, face masks covering the lower half of their faces.

    The suits were made to fit each individual, their smooth metallic surfaces glinting softly under the sunlight, a proof of the cutting-edge technology they were created with.

    Lady Aiko stood beside Yuuto, as she scanned each of them with her piercing gaze. She adjusted her sses before speaking to them.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "These suits are thetest from the Wei family. They are designed to boost your physicalbat prowess by up to 50% and are highly durable. They can withstand the weight of a two-ton boulder before even showing a scratch."

    Ren, the highest-ranking squad leader, adjusted his sses as well, practically copying Lady Aiko''s movements.

    "Thank you, ma''am."

    "I see mine are ording to the specifications I provided, and I''m really grateful."

    "You''re wee," came her reply.

    Yuuto, who had been silently observing each of them, finally spoke.

    "Alright, now remember everything I''ve taught you."

    he said, as he took a look at each of them.

    "This mission is not just a contest of skill and an opportunity to enrich the guild but a ce where your teamwork and coordination should shine through. Always make sure you have each other''s backs."

    One by one, the squad leaders nodded, each offering their thoughts.

    Hiroshi crossed his arms, his expression stern. "No need to worry, Master. I''ll give it my all, as always."

    "You can count on me, Master Yuuto. I won''t let you down," Kaida said with a touch of enthusiasm.

    Ren simply nodded, his demeanor calm but serious. "I''ll ensure the mission''s sess, sir."

    Razorgri let out a low grunt but nodded nheless. "We do this all the time, so it isn''t a big deal."

    Goro added, "Don''t worry, we won''t fail."

    As their words echoed in the air, Lady Aiko''s gaze shifted to Alister, who stood slightly apart from the others. Adjusting her sses again, causing them to glint, she gazed at him curiously.

    "And what about you, Alister? You haven''t said a word."

    Alister flexed his hands, the material of the suit creaking slightly with the movement.

    "Oh... sorry, ma''am. I''m not used to gear covering my whole body like this, so I was lost in thought." he admitted, his voice sounding slightly muffled by the mask.

    "It might take a little getting used to."

    In truth, his thoughts werepletely different.

    ''These suits are tight as hell! Why the hell do we even need them? How am I supposed to fight with my ws in this?''

    He sighed, but forced himself to remainposed on the outside.

    ''Anyhow, I''ll be relying on Cinder and the others, so I guess I don''t need to worry.''

    Lady Aiko raised an eyebrow but didn''t press further. "Just make sure you''re ready. Your life''s on the line now, so you can''t afford to space out like that."

    "Understood, ma''am," Alister said, straightening his posture slightly.

    "Alright then," Master Yuuto said with a touch of enthusiasm. "With all this out of the way, I believe it''s time Aiko and I head back; we''ll be heading out for another meeting."

    Yuuto turned around and began to walk away. "Alright now, see you allter."

    Just as he was about to leave, he paused. "Oh, nearly forgot something." He smiled, then walked up to Alister, cing his hand on his shoulder, making him lean forward slightly.

    "You don''t have to worry about anything. Give it your all out there and don''t hold back so much."

    "What-?"

    Before Alister could finish asking his question, Yuuto pulled away, then said, "Alright, you all better not die on me now." Yuuto waved as he walked away.

    As they prepared to board the waiting aircraft, Ren nced at Yuuto with a slightly uneasy expression, as if he was summoning the courage to say something.

    He adjusted his sses, then cleared his throat before speaking.

    "M-Master Yuuto, are you still not going to try stepping outside with us again? You said things would be okay by today, right?"

    The atmosphere shifted immediately. The other squad leaders, who had been enthustica, suddenly looked downcast.

    Their shoulders seemed to slump slightly, as if the weight of Ren''s question had pressed down on them. Alister, standing slightly apart from the others, noticed the change. He looked around at them, silently wondering what had caused this sudden shift in mood.

    Yuuto paused, his back still turned to the group. The silence stretched on, the air feeling

    thicker with each passing second.

    Finally, Yuuto slowly turned his head, looking over his shoulder before fully facing them. His expression was nk as he met Ren''s gaze.

    "Oh, Ren," Yuuto said, his tone light but firm.

    "We''ve talked about this. You don''t need me out there. You''ll all be fine on your own. You make it sound like you''re all kids going to the park without their parents."

    Ren stuttered, feeling less confident under Yuuto''s gaze. "Sir, butst time you said-"

    "Enough now, Ren," Yuuto interrupted, his voice echoing with a touch of sharpness.

    "You''re wasting time. Don''t make the people of this city watching from that drone over there think the White Comets are irresponsible."

    He nced pointedly at the hovering white drone nearby, its cameras pointed at them, broadcasting their every move to the citizens of the megacity.

    Ren''s voice hitched as he quickly regained hisposure.

    "U-understood, sir. We''ll be going now. See you when we return."

    Yuuto gave a brief nod, his expression softening slightly with a smile.

    "I''ll be here when you return. Remember, the city is counting on you."

    Ren took a deep breath, then turned to his team. "Everyone, let''s move out."

    All listened to his order and began boarding. The weight of the earlier moment still seemed to linger around them, but the seriousness in their eyes for the mission they were about to

    embark on seemed to mask it.

    As the aircraft doors slid shut behind them, the engines roared to life, and the craft lifted off, leaving Yuuto and Lady Aiko behind.

 Chapter 95: The Wasteland Display Event

    Chapter 95: The Wastnd Disy Event

    ?

    As the aircraft roared away from the drop zone, leaving behind a swirling cloud of dust, the live broadcast shifted to a pair ofmentators seated in a sleek, futuristic studio. The background disyed a live feed from the drone tailing the White Comets'' aircraft, along with real-time analytics andbat footage from the ongoing mission.

    Marcus, with his confident demeanor, leaned forward slightly as the camera zoomed in on the aircraft and nodded thoughtfully as he watched the footage.

    "Now, as we follow the White Comets'' aircraft heading into the Wastnds."

    "It''s worth noting that this is no ordinary aircraft. Unlike the standard military-grade transports used by most guilds, the White Comets are flying in what many consider to be the crown jewel of the Wei family''s engineering prowess."

    The camera panned over the sleek, aerodynamic lines of the aircraft, the polished metal surface gleaming under the harsh sun.

    "This beauty isn''t just for show, folks. It''s powered by a revolutionary AI system that sets it apart from anything else in the skies. The AI not only enhances navigation and defense mechanisms but also syncs with the team''s suits, creating a seamless flow of data and easier control. It''s all part of the White Comets'' strategy of sparing no expense to secure victory in this year''s event!"

    Elena, sounding more analytical, also spoke up.

    "Indeed, the Wei family has outdone themselves this year. These suits,bined with the aircraft''s AI, give the White Comets an edge that no other guild can currently match, but they are not the only ones sporting this technology! Apparently the Reapers are too."

    Marcus leaned back, now wearing an excited yet curious look on his face.

    "Speaking of simrities, there''s something else that''s noteworthy, something that''s stirred quite a buzz among the spectators. For the first time since the creation of the Wastnds Disy Event, two new guild members are being sent out into the field alongside the veterans!"

    He paused for effect, letting the suspense build. "Yes, you heard that right, folks. Two rookies are about to face the harsh realities of the Wastnds. The first is Kai Li, who recently joined the Reapers Guild. He''s already shown remarkable promise, and many are eager to see how he performs under pressure."

    Elena nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly as she spoke.

    "But the real spotlight, it seems, is on the White Comets'' own Alister Hazenworth, better known as the Drake Summoner. His reputation precedes him, and there''s been a lot of spection about how he''ll handle his first mission out in the Wastnds, even some rumors spreading that he already possesses another mythical summon."

    The feed switched to a close-up of Alister from Ren''s suite, still adjusting to the tight suite.

    "Alister''s summoning abilities are no secret."

    Marcus continued, his voice filled with excitement. "He''s already proven himself by taming a mythical grade monster, but the Wastnds are a different beast altogether. This is a true test of his skills and resilience. Can he hold his own against the nightmarish creatures lurking out there? Can he live up to the expectations of the White Comets?"

    "We''re about to find out, folks. Stay tuned as we continue to bring you live coverage of this year''s Wastnds Disy Event. The action is just getting started."

    ...

    Alister settled into his seat, adjusting the tight suit as best as he could. The material, though advanced, still felt off against his skin, and he couldn''t shake the sensation of being restrained somehow. He took a look around at the squad leaders, each lost in their own thoughts.

    Suddenly, Kaida broke the silence. She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Alright, team. Let''s go over our mission parameters one more time."

    Hiroshi grunted in agreement. "We do this all the time with our independent squads. With all of us here it''s going to be a walk in the park likest year. We don''t need to fuss over a n."

    Razorgrin scoffed, his one eye narrowing. "Comcency gets you killed. Stay sharp. Or are you forgetting we have a newbie to babysit?"

    Alister, feeling targeted, spoke up, his tone sounding nonchnt. "My summons can more than protect me, thank you very much. But I won''t be needing any help. If anything I would be asking for permission to go on ahead, I wouldn''t want my ''precious teammates'' getting caught in my crossfire." He narrowed his gaze slightly.

    For a moment there was silence, except for the aircraft''s engine.

    Razorgrin red at him intently as he said, "Oi, watch that tongue kid, else I''ll be taking off that mask and ripping it out. Seems all that luck you''ve got going for you is making you get cocky."

    "But if you get on my bad side..."

    He gave a dramatic pause, letting his words sink in. "it''s all gonna run out."

    Ren raised a hand to stop them before they took things further.

    "Enough."

    "Let''s keep our focus. Our primary objective is to clear out as many sectors of any hostile entities. Secondary objectives include resource acquisition and mapping unexplored areas."

    Goro nodded, using one of his hands he tapped a button on a close-by console, causing it to disy a green holographic terrain replica. "I''ve reviewed the terrain data. We''ll be facing roughndscapes and potential ambush points."

    "The ground still seems stable, no earthquakes, so no signs of sandworms either."

    "Good, then I guess we don''t have anything to worry about then." Ren replied as he gazed at the holographic replica of the terrain.

    "Sandworms? What are sandworms?" Alister asked, clearly confused.

    All the squad leaders suddenly looked at him with a look of surprise in their eyes. Again, there was another moment of short silence.

    Suddenly Kaida let out a loud bellyugh, "H-he... he asked what are sand worms, seriously?" she stuttered,ughing so hard she couldn''t talk straight.

    "You can''t be serious... if you thought that was some sort of joke then it''s not even funny." Razorgrin said, ring at him intensely.N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 96: The Wasteland Display Event Part Two

    Chapter 96: The Wastnd Disy Event Part Two

    ?

    For the first time here, Alister felt awkward. Did he ask something dumb? He wondered. Even if he did, what better time to find out what these creatures they had to take caution of were?

    "I wasn''t joking; I don''t know what sandworms are. The only time I''ve even heard about them was back then when Guild Master Yuuto introduced me to all of you, and Miss Kaida mentioned them."

    His words caused everyone to look even more serious. Kaida immediately stoppedughing; things weren''t looking funny anymore.

    Hiroshi looked slightly shocked as he asked, "Wait... what? Are you for real? How could you let the guildmaster send you out here when you don''t know what sandworms are?"

    "I guess being a talented genius doesn''t necessarily mean someone hasmon sense," Razorgrin smirked as he spoke. "Since you heard Kaida mention them, why didn''t you try to find out what they were?"

    "Or were you hoping your luck would save you if you encountered one?"

    "Enough of that," Ren said, sounding slightly irritated, causing all of them to instantly fall silent. He then gave Alister an intense look for a second before letting out a sigh.

    He decided it would be best to enlighten the young summoner. "Alister, sandworms are the wastnd''s second most dangerous creatures. They eat practically anything and everything. They are monsters of the Titan ss, ranked SS, meaning they could probably swallow your drake as well."

    "Not only are there no records of them being defeated by any means, but once they do appear, the massive earthquakes they create make it practically impossible to run away. So far, there isn''t a clear pattern to when or where they appear; they just do."

    "And when they do, massive casualties are impossible to avoid. Escaping from such a monster is not only considered a once-in-a-lifetime miracle but a feat worthy of a medal. Because they are sorge, their movements make updating maps a top priority, as a whole terrain would change drastically with their simple emergence."

    "Sometimes encountering one can mentally scar survivors, causing them to lose all will to live as theye to realize that perhaps even the walls of our megacity may not be enough to protect us."

    Alister swallowed hard as he slowly digested this information. "I see..."

    "So... have you all ever encountered one?" Alister''s question caused silence once more.

    "Yes, but that was a long time ago," Ren said, adjusting his sses as he did.

    "How did you all survive then?" Alister asked curiously, causing Ren to fall into an unsettling silence as he looked away.

    Suddenly, a soft chime echoed throughout the cabin. The AI pilot''s voice crackled over the inte. "Approaching the drop zone in ten minutes. All personnel prepare for deployment."

    The squad leaders began their final preparations. Kaida double-checked her gear, ensuring everything was in ce.

    Hiroshi flexed his fingers, the reinforced gloves of his suit responding well. Razorgrin inspected his weapons, his gaze sharp and focused.

    Alister stood up, stretching slightly to get used to the suit''s stiffness. He felt the weight of his summoning tools secured at his waist-a necessary facade he had to maintain as a summoner, especially considering the fact they were being watched live.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Ren approached him, cing a hand on his shoulder. He said, "Be careful out there. Don''t get toofortable and let your guard down just because you control powerful summons." Alister nodded. "Understood."

    Ren offered a small smile. "Stick close. The Wastnds are unpredictable. Trust your training, and you''ll be fine."

    Before Alister could respond, the aircraft swayed slightly, signaling their arrival. The rear hatch began to open, revealing the destend below.

    A harsh, scorchedndscape awaited them, dotted with jagged rocks and sparse vegetation. The skies above were a murky gray, casting an unsettling light over thendscape.

    Kaida took the lead, charging first and jumping out of the hatch, her voice excited. "Remember, this is being broadcast live. Let''s show the city what the White Comets are made

    of."

    Hiroshi smirked. "Guess it''s time to put on a show," he said as he jumped out as well.

    One by one, the remaining squad leaders jumped out, activating their suits'' descent mechanisms.

    Moving all together, they leaped from the aircraft, their bodies cutting through the air as it whipped around their hair. Alister paused for a brief moment, taking a deep breath. He closed his eyes and then opened them, revealing that they were now glowing slightly.

    He then charged and leaped out as well. As his body cut through the air, he grabbed the spell book by his side and called out, "Cinder,e forth."

    The squad leaders'' descent was swift. The suit''s built-in stabilizers ensured they fell as intended, allowing them tond gracefully on the rocky ground below. Dust clouds billowed around them upon impact, momentarily obscuring their bodies.

    Such an entrance was truly befitting the White Comets.

    As the dust settled, Ren activated hismunication device by tapping a button on the side

    of his mask. "Team, form up. Our first objective lies to the northeast. Stay alert."

    "Wait up, where''s the kid?" Razorgrin asked over thes.

    "What?" Ren asked, clearly confused. He looked around but saw no sign of Alister.

    "Don''t tell me he got cold feet after Ren told him all about sandworms?" Hiroshi said,

    sounding yful.

    "Yeah, seems likely," Razorgrin chuckled in response.

    "Poor Alister must have gotten petrified. Ren, you should have said those things all those secret agents in the movies say... what was it again... oh!"

    "It''s ssified." Kaida said.

    Ren let out a sigh as he said, "Enough of that. Alister, do you hear me? Where are you?"

    His reply came promptly. "I hear you, squad captain. I''m here, just had to get ready."

    "Get ready? Ready how?" Ren asked, confused.

    "Ha! He''s still back in the hatch. I told you all he was no-!" Razorgrin said, but before he could finish he was interrupted by a massive...

    Boom!

    A massivending nearby caused a huge boom, and the squad leaders instinctively tensed up for a fight, looking in the direction of the noise. They saw a massive dust cloud, and within it, two red eyes seemed to glow brightly.

    Alister''s voice echoed over thems again. "Nothing much, sir. Just had to call out my

    summon."

    The dust slowly began to clear, revealing the figure of a giant drake. Standing atop its risen head was a young man with ck hair and yellow eyes-Alister.

    "I''m ready now, sir, so I''m sure we can get going," he said.

 Chapter 97: The Plan

    Chapter 97: The n

    ?

    N?v(el)B\\jnn

    In the aircraft of the Reapers Guild, the low sounds of machinery could constantly be heard. Six individuals were arranged in a circr formation, their faces lit up by the blue glow of the control panel.

    A man with styled ck hair and sharp green eyes that always had a look of mischief-Kael, the team leader-gave off the aura of a ruthless predator, his gaze intense as he looked

    around the group.

    His lean, muscr frame was covered in the same ck and purple tech suit as the rest of the team. A small smirk spreading on his face.

    Beside him was Aria, a dark blue-haired, blue-eyed woman, the team''s strategist, with a sharp mind and an even sharper tongue. She was already lost in the holographic disy, her fingers moving across the console gracefully.

    Opposite Kael sat Kai, the second young master. The way he sat radiated self-assured nonchnce that bordered on outright arrogance.

    Rex, a brute of a man, was a towering figure with a shaved head and a muscr build. His deep brown eyes were calm, but his presence alone was intimidating. He sat with his arms crossed, a frown roughing up his already rugged facial features.

    Mira, a quick-witted, sharp-tongued woman with blond hair and golden-brown eyes, sat next to Rex, a wide, nearly provocative grin on her face as she listened to a song through headphones, nodding her head repeatedly.

    Finally, there was Jin, a silent observer with an emotionless expression,pleting the circle. He was the team''s sniper. He had medium-length gray hair that fell over his forehead, and his gray eyes were always focused, always calcting. Although Jin was the quietest of the group, when he spoke, everyone listened.

    Aria exchanged a look with Kael and nodded.

    Kael suddenly spoke in amanding tone, a smug look on his face. "Alright, everyone, mics off," he said. He didn''t want what they were about to discuss to be heard over the live broadcast.

    But the cameras had to stay on; that was a necessity, for now at least.

    The sound of clicks echoed through the cabin as they obeyed his order. The silence that followed was filled with unspoken thoughts.

    "Alright, Reapers, we''re back out in the wild again."

    "Ready to kill some monsters, get famous while we do, and haul our loot back home."

    The team nodded, their expressions serious. Kael''s smirk widened as he continued, "But as I''m sure you all know, we have ''another objective'' this time around."

    "The main event starts in three days. We''ve got to obtain a substantial amount of kills in that time."

    "And that''s to get rid of a certain cocky kid who messed with the wrong people. We''ll be sending him to hell, and perhaps the remainder of his teammates along with him."

    "I trust that all of you have secured the necessary items to go up against the summoner?"

    Kai''s fingers stopped tapping as he leaned forward, his green eyes narrowing.

    "Have you forgotten, Captain?"

    "Alister is mine. You guys can handle the others."

    Kael chuckled. "Woah there, tiger," he teased, his smirk never fading.

    "No need to get all excited before the main event."

    "And unless you forget, he''s a drake summoner. Intel says he''s even got one super fast dragon knight by his side. You''re expected to teleport him back so the rest of us can watch your little

    execution. So we can step in to help you if it turns out you''re biting off more than you can chew."

    "Besides that, you still have to give it your all to reach your specified kill count."

    "So before you think about making the summoner''s head roll, why don''t you first make sure you don''t be a hindrance to this team?"

    His words made Kai grit his teeth in annoyance.

    "Do I hear a yes?" Kael asked, angering him further.

    "Y-yes, sir," Kai reluctantly said.

    "Good, see that wasn''t so hard."

    Boom!

    The sound of a fist mming into the side of the aircraft could be heard; it belonged to Rex, who was letting out some of his anger at the thought that he, along with the others, were being looked down on. Expected to ''team up'' if it turned out Alister was too strong.

    "I still get pissed when I hear that crap," Rex muttered, breaking the silence.

    "We''re pulling out all the stops for some kid who can summon a big lizard?"

    "Really? This is just overkill. I could solo that kid. Drake be damned."

    Aria rolled her eyes. "Of course you could, Rex. You''re the greatest thing since sliced bread. But this isn''t a one-man show. It''s a coordinated effort."

    "Branch master''s orders, as I''m sure you know."

    Jin, the silent observer, finally spoke, his voice low. "Overconfidence is a dangerous thing. But then again, it''s what makes us the Reapers."

    "That doesn''t mean even we shouldn''t use our brains once in a while."

    "The branch master said there were some logical inconsistencies with Alister''s summonings, hence the need to team up against him if the need arose."

    Jin was referring to the videos and union report Liang obtained that disyed Alister summoning, one of the videos from the Union office, and the other two from Alister''s training with Yuuto. During both of them, Alister wasn''t seen with anything one could consider summoning equipmentˇŞnot a spell book, the items he bought from the Union office, nothing.

    And even tracking his transaction history, there was no indicator of him ever purchasing a summoning conduit since then. How did he summon another dragon without one then?

    Then again, there was that peculiar report of him being the one to return with his team from an A-rank dungeon raid, and unlike the rest of them, he had no wounds. Indicating that he either hid the entire time while they fought, which was impossible, or he cleared it single-handedly after they lost consciousness.

    This led Liang to conclude that perhaps being an SSS-rank Summoner meant one didn''t necessarily rely solely on summoning abilities, nor did it make him dependent on equipment or conduits to summon monsters. Perhaps all Alister did at the Union was to keep this fact hidden from the public.

 Chapter 98: The Plan Part Two

    Chapter 98: The n Part Two

    ?

    Although he couldn''t understand why a boy his age wouldn''t want to be as shy as possible, showing off all his capabilities to gain respect and fame, this made him realize that the boy was no fool.

    There''s a difference between being very strong and bing an uncontroble monster with a target on your back. Showing only what one needs to, and not all they can, ensures they don''t make unnecessary enemies and can easily deal with any that do appear, because others would underestimate his true capabilities.

    This was why Liang insisted that the squad leaders of the Reapers Guild be present when Kai was nning his little revenge after Alister had been stripped of his equipment, ensuring he couldn''t summon any monsters.

    Because Liang was certain that just taking away his equipment wouldn''t be enough to stop him.

    Kael let out a sigh and said, "I feel your pain, Rex. When the Vice Branch Master told us we might need to team up against a summoner, I had my doubts too. But you know his gut feeling is never wrong, and his ns are usually wless. It''s just a necessary precaution, nothing more."

    "So don''t go taking out your frustration on our ride. I almost thought you''d send us crashing just now. Nearly gave me a heart attack."

    Kael leaned back in his seat, the smirk on his face still present as he nced at Aria, who was engrossed in the holographic disy.

    "Aria," Kael called. "How''s the tracking of our ''Underground disaster''ing along?"

    Aria''s fingers moved over the console, adjusting the disy as she responded, "I''ve located it."

    "It''s about a thousand kilometers east of our current position. We can intercept it easily before it reaches any unreachable zones."

    Kael nodded. "Good, that''s what I like to hear."

    "And what about the bait?"

    "It''s ready."

    "Perfect," Kael said with a smile.

    Kai, who until now still had no idea what the specifics of the n entailed due to histe arrival at the meeting yesterday, leaned forward, his brow furrowed.

    "I still haven''t been fully briefed on the specifics of the n."

    "All I know is that I''ll be teleporting back with Alister. But what about the body cams? Both ours and the ones on the White Comets-won''t they see using? And what about their top squad members? If I''m not mistaken, they should be just as strong as you guys are. How do you n on dealing with them?"

    Kael''s smirk widened, but before he could respond, Mira spoke up, her tone dripping with amusement.

    "You''re only this clueless because you were acting like an absolute ''young master'' yesterday," she teased, a yful look in her golden-brown eyes.

    "You thought you could just waltz into the meeting whenever you felt like it, didn''t you? Honestly, I''m d Vice Branch Master Liang didn''t bother to exin everything again. The look of frustration on your face was practicallyical."

    Kai''s eyes narrowed at Mira''s words, his pride stung by the jab. "I don''t need a lecture from you, Mira," he shot back, his voice edged with annoyance.

    Mira just chuckled, clearly enjoying his difort. "That''s ''Miss Mira'' to you, newbie. And if you don''t want to be left in the dark, maybe try showing up on time next time," she said, her grin widening.

    Kael finally intervened, his tone calm but firm.

    "Enough, you two," he said, holding up a hand to silence any further bickering. He turned his attention back to Kai, his expression serious now.

    "We''ve got contingencies in ce for the body cams. The Reapers aren''t stupid-we''ve nned for every possibility."

    "As for the White Comets'' top squad members," he said, his grin widening. "Let''s just say, we won''t be getting our hands dirty."

    "You just need to focus on bringing Alister back and finishing him off. We''ll handle the rest. Understood?"

    Kai clenched his jaw, but after a moment, he nodded. "Understood, Captain."

    "Good," Kael said, leaning back in his seat again, the smirk returning to his face. "Now, let''s get back to the matter at hand. We''ve got a lot of work ahead of us, and I don''t n on

    failing."

    The aircraft''s AI system chimed. "Approaching designated drop-off point. Preparing fornding."

    Aria looked up from her console and gave a nod. "Commencending procedures."

    The aircraft''s engines roared softly as it began its descent, the cabin filled with a faint vibration. The team members braced themselves as the craft touched down on the rugged terrain. Dust and debris were kicked up by thending gear, swirling around them.

    As the engines powered down, Kael rose from his seat. "Alright, everyone. Time to move."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Aria was already at the hatch, her fingers tapping the control panel to open the doors. The metal hissed as the hatch slid open, revealing the harsh, barrenndscape outside. She turned back to the team with a focused look.

    "Let''s make this quick and efficient. We need to get into position before we''re spotted."

    Rex, towering over the others, stood up and stretched, his muscles tensing as he prepared for action.

    "Time to see what this wastnd''s got for us this year," he said, his deep voice echoing with a touch of excitement.

    Mira adjusted her headphones, now with a serious expression on her face. "Looks like we''re ready to rock. Let''s hope our targets are as fun as they''ve been hyped up to be."

    Kai stepped up to the hatch, wearing a serious expression that broke into a smile as he muttered, "I''ming for you, Alister, and I''ll be sure to make you pay for what you did to

    Yanzi."

    Kael pped him on the shoulder, his smirk widening. "Come on, ease up a bit. If you tense up like that, you won''t be able to take in some of the beauty thiswlessnd has to offer."

    "I wasn''t tense; I was smiling," Kai said with a touch of irritation.

    "Yeah, I saw, smiling like a total freak. Thought you might have gone insane for a moment there because you were afraid or something. Wanted to snap you back to reality, is all," Kael

    said, still smiling.

    As the team filed out of the aircraft and onto the rocky ground, Kael took a deep breath, surveying their surroundings. The barrenndscape stretched out before them, as if eagerly

    awaiting their arrival.

    "Alright," Kael said, his voice cutting through the chatter. "Let''s get things started."

 Chapter 99: The Wasteland Display Event Part Three

    Chapter 99: The Wastnd Disy Event Part Three

    ?

    The wastnds echoed with the sounds of battle as the White Comets carved a path through the hordes of monsters. Each step they took vibrated with the crunch of bones, the roar of mes, and the shriek of wind slicing through the air.

    Thendscape was a chaotic battlefield, with the team pushing forward without slowing down. Their power and coordination were a sight to behold.

    As they tore through the monsters, thementators spoke over the live feed back at the megacity.

    ...

    "What an incredible disy from the White Comets! Just listen to those booms-each one marking the fall of another beast!"

    "Absolutely! They''re moving like a well-oiled machine, tearing through these creatures as if they were nothing!"

    ...

    At the forefront, Ren led the charge, his hands engulfed in mes that crackled and roared with a life of their own. His eyes zed with the same intensity as the inferno he controlled. With a swift, powerful motion, Ren thrust his right hand forward, unleashing a torrent of fire that spiraled through the air, crashing into a cluster of charging beasts. The mes consumed them instantly, reducing them to nothing but ash swirling in the wind.

    "And there goes Ren, with those signature mes of his! Those beasts didn''t stand a chance!"

    ...

    "Keep pushing forward!" Ren''s voice boomed across the battlefield.

    The air around him seemed to shimmer with heat as he continued his attacks. Suddenly, a massive creature emerged from the dust-a twisted abomination of flesh and stone, its body encased in jagged, rock-like armor. Multiple eyes glowed with a strange green light, and its maw dripped with toxic, sizzling liquid.

    ...

    "Oh no, what''s this? A new threat for Ren!"

    ...

    Not stopping even for a moment, Ren charged at the beast, his feet pounding against the cracked earth as he closed the distance. His right hand opened outward as if to hurl something, and with a powerful thrust, he unleashed another wave of mes. The fire shot from his fist, raging through the air before smashing into the creature''s chest. The impact engulfed the monster in a raging inferno, and it thrashed wildly as molten shards of rock and flesh flew in all directions.

    ...

    "Look at that disy of raw power! Ren''s mes are tearing that creature apart, piece by piece!"

    ...

    Meanwhile, to Ren''s left, Razogrin let out a thunderous roar as he swung his massive hammer over his shoulder. Despite his size, he charged forward with a surprising burst of speed, his muscles rippling beneath his techy armor. A smaller, swift creature resembling a cross between a wolf and a lizard charged at him from the side, its ws extended and fangs bared. Razogrin spun on his heel, bringing his hammer down in a wide, devastating arc.

    The hammer connected with the creature''s skull, and the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ground. The beast''s head exploded in a shower of blood and bone, its body crumpling as the force of the blow toppled several smaller creatures nearby. Razogrin swung the hammer back over his shoulder, a wild grin spreading across his face.

    "That all you got?!" he yelled, his voice booming as he charged into another wave of monsters. "Bring it on!"

    ...

    "Razogrin''s got no mercy today! He''s obliterating everything in his path!"

    ...

    Hiroshi darted through the battlefield like a blur, his twin daggers shing like silver streaks in the dim light. He was a blur of motion, almost impossible to track as he darted between the legs of a massive, rocky-armored creature. The beast''s legs were as thick as tree trunks, each step causing the ground to tremble. Hiroshi slid under its belly, slicing through the joints of its legs with precise, fluid strikes.

    ...

    "And there''s Hiroshi, slipping through those defenses like a ghost!"

    ...

    He twisted and turned, his movements seamless with no unnecessary actions. He kicked off the ground, flipping backward tond on his feet behind the creature.

    With a flick of his wrists, he sent a gust of wind slicing through the air, severing the monster''s legs from its body. As the creature copsed with a thunderous crash, Hiroshi dashed forward, his left arm swinging back to deliver the final blow. He leaped into the air, raising his right dagger high before driving it down into the monster''s exposed neck. ck blood erupted from the wound, and the creature let out a final, pitiful wail.

    "Watch your nk, Goro!" Hiroshi shouted, his sharp eyes catching a monster closing in on Goro''s side.

    A gust of wind propelled Hiroshi upward into the air, allowing him to rain down a barrage of wind des on the creatures below. But Goro had already expected the attack. He raised his

    battle axe high as the earth responded to his will.

    "Earth wall," he murmured.

    Massive bs of rock erupted from the ground, forming a protective barrier around him. The monster was diced to pieces by Hiroshi''s wind des, but its blood sttered harmlessly against Goro''s stone shield.

    "Thanks, Hiroshi," Goro said softly, his voice calm and steady.

    "d I could help!" Hiroshi replied, already dashing back into the fray.

    ...

    "Hiroshi''s on fire today! Not only is he taking down the big ones, but he''s got his teammates'' backs covered too!"

    "That''s teamwork at its finest! These guys are unbeatable!"

    ...

    Goro charged forward, the earth shifting and rumbling beneath his feet as it responded to his

    will.

    He mmed his foot into the ground, and massive spikes of rock shot up from the earth, impaling the serpent creatures that slithered toward him. His battle axe, asrge as a man, swung in wide, powerful arcs. With each strike, the ground cracked and shifted, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. A beast with three heads charged at him, its jaws snapping at the air, but Goro brought his axe down in a mighty swing, cleaving through all three heads in one blow.

    ...

    "Goro''s unstoppable! Just look at the way hemands the earth-nothing can touch him!" "They''re pushing forward with no signs of slowing down! This is the White Comets at their

    absolute best!"

    "At this rate, the wastnds won''t have a single monster left standing!"

    "Well, it''s truly fascinating watching them, but I think it''s about time we take a look at the star of the show, the one everyone is dying to find out just how well he''s doing."

    Where was Alister, many wondered? From the body cams of all the other guild members, he was nowhere to be seen. Was he on his own? Many silently questioned.

    In actuality, Ren had given Alister permission to raid an independent part of the area they were attacking because the intensity of Cinder''s attacks had thrown him and the other squad leaders off bnce. The heat was too much for them to bear.

    Cutting to his camera feed, everyone watched with curious expressions on their faces. Riding high in the skies on the head of a drake, mes erupted from its maw, reducing all monsters

    to ash.

    The monsters couldn''t even yelp or screech before they were burned down instantly.

    ...

    "Oh, I didn''t know it would be this fascinating!"

    "Alister''s drake is reducing the monsters to ash out there!"

    "Truly a remarkable disy here."

    "You don''t have to tell me twice, Marcus. His control is spot on, and the intensity of the

    mes seems to even melt the earth as they hit. But if he continues with this approach, how is The supposed to retrieve any resources?"

    "I''m sure he has a n, maybe he does, maybe he doesn''t. All we can do is watch to find out."

    Cinder roared, and the ground beneath them trembled as shended in the middle of a dense horde of monsters. With a powerful sweep of her tail, Cinder sent creatures flying in all

    directions.

    ...

    "Unbelievable!" Marcus shouted. "That''s raw power! It seems Alister is changing up his

    battle style now."

    "What could he be up to?"

    ...

    Cinder continued her attack with her mes, this time less intense.

    Suddenly, a colossal, armored behemoth emerged from the swirling dust, casting a long

    shadow under the gray sky. This was no ordinary monster; it was a field boss. Its scaled hide glinted in the dim light, and its multiple eyes glowed with intensity.

    ...

    "A field boss! Oh, this is going to be a tough one!" Marcus eximed, his voice filled withn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    excitement.

    "This is the same type of creature that caused the White Comets some trouble in thest

    event. Let''s see how Alister and Cinder handle this one!"

    Elena nodded. "Indeed. This creature is known for its thick hide and powerful regenerative

    abilities. It''s going to be a tough fight."

    "Let''s see if his drake lives up to the-"

    "Cinder... Reduce it to ash," Alister said, interrupting the spectators, his yellow eyes glowing

    brightly.

    In an instant, Cinder''s maw opened wide, and crimson mes erupted, engulfing the field

    boss in a fiery inferno. The creature thrashed violently, its roars muffled by the crackling

    mes.

    For a moment, there was silence as the world seemed to hold its breath. Then, as suddenly as

    it had begun, the fire subsided, leaving behind nothing but ashes and scorched earth. The field boss was gone.

    Thementators were speechless. Marcus finally managed to stammer out,

    ...

    "Is that all... really?"

    "Where''s the monster?" Elena said, sounding confused.

    For a moment, they both paused again, the silence stretching on for a while.

    "And... it''s finished. Unbelievable! The monster was reduced to ash just like the others. It didn''t even stand a chance."

    Elena''s jaw dropped. "I... I''ve never seen anything like that before. It''s as if the field boss was

    nothing more than a pile of paper."

    ...

    The megacity was in an uproar. Spectators were glued to their screens, their minds racing as

    they tried to understand what they just witnessed.

    "Did you see that?"

    "That was insane!"

    "I can''t believe it. A field boss defeated in seconds."

    "Alister Hazenworth... who is this guy?"

 Chapter 100: The Wasteland Display Event Part Four

    Chapter 100: The Wastnd Disy Event Part Four

    ?

    Kaida''s de gleamed in the dim light of the wastnd as she moved through the horde of monsters surrounding her.

    A beast leaped at her from the side, its ws extended. Kaida pivoted on her heel, her sword slicing through the air in a wide vertical arc. The de cleaved through the monster''s neck, severing its head from its body in one smooth motion.

    Without missing a beat, Kaida spun around, catching another creature mid-leap. She stepped back, her body low to the ground as she angled her sword upward, impaling the beast through its chest. With a grunt of effort, she shoved the monster off her de, watching as it copsed to the ground, lifeless.

    A third creature, this onerger and more intimidating, charged at her, its eyes glowing with rage. Kaida met its charge head-on, her feet light on the ground as she sidestepped its attack. Her sword shed in the air, cutting a deep gash across the creature''s side.

    The beast roared in pain, and she pressed the attack. Her sword became a blur as she delivered a series of rapid strikes, each one leaving deep cuts in its flesh.

    The monster staggered back, its strength waning, and Kaida continued her attacks. With a final, powerful swing, she brought her sword down on the creature''s head, splitting it open. The beast crumpled to the ground, its body twitching before going still.

    Kaida took a moment to catch her breath, her chest heaving from exhaustion. She wiped the sweat from her brow, smearing a streak of dirt across her forehead.

    She looked around the battlefield, taking in the carnage around her. The ground was littered with the bodies of dead monsters, their blood soaking into the earth.

    Ren, standing a few feet away, took a look at the aftermath of his own mes. The pile of monsters he had reduced to ash still smoldered, the mes swaying in the air as they consumed the remains. He turned his gaze toward Goro, who was dispatching thest of the creatures in his vicinity.

    "Goro," Ren called out over thems.

    "Secure the perimeter and build a wall. We''re done with this sector."

    Goro nodded, his expression serious as he hefted his massive battle axe over his shoulder. "Understood," he replied.

    He turned his attention to the ground, his hand outstretched as he willed the earth to hismand. The ground rumbled beneath his feet as bs of rock erupted from the earth, forming a solid barrier around their position.

    Just then, a massive explosion echoed through the wastnds close by, causing all of them to tense up.

    They instinctively tightened their grips on their weapons, taking on battle-ready stances, their eyes scanning the horizon for the source of the st.

    The dust that had been kicked up by the explosion began to settle, and out of the haze emerged a figure, walking calmly toward them.

    Alister stepped forward, walking calmly. His ck hair was tousled from the wind, and his armor wasn''t stained with the blood of the monsters like the others were, a sign that Cinder carried him throughout.

    As he approached the group, he spoke up over thems, "I''m done clearing my side."

    Hiroshi, who had been on high alert, let out a sigh of relief. He sheathed his twin daggers, shaking his head, exasperated.

    "Alister, you''ve got to stop with those massive booms," Hiroshi said, half-joking. "You''re going to give us all heart attacks at this rate."

    Razogrin, who had been resting his massive hammer on his shoulder, rolled his eyes and said, "Showoff."

    Ren walked up to Alister, his expression calm. Tapping his right hand on Alister''s shoulder, he said, "Good work, but why are you off your summon?"

    "You''re vulnerable like this."

    "Not to worry, sir," Alister began, sounding slightly confident. "There are no monsters nearby, so the chance of that happening is low."

    "Is that so? I guess we don''t have to worry, then."

    "Alright, Goro," Ren said, turning to face the others, "erect a structure where we''ll spend the night. We''ve done enough for the day."

    Goro outstretched his arms as he focused his will on the earth. Massive chunks of rock and soil erupted from the ground, twisting and turning in the air. With speed, they condensed into a massive structure, its shape simr to a primitive fortress. The ground trembled slightly as the final stones settled into ce.

    Razogrin, leaning on his colossal hammer, whistled. "Goro, old friend, your structure creation skills are reaching new heights. This could almost pass for a proper building back in the city, if only it had a coat of paint and some ss."

    Goro grinned, a touch of pride in his eyes. "Thank you, Razogrin. I''ve been practicing a lot, trying to improve my control."

    Ren nodded as they entered. "Good work, Goro. This will do for the night." He turned to the others.

    "Let''s get settled in. We can discuss our next move in the morning."

    "For now, we should be on the lookout. Another aircraft should being soon to harvest resources from the monsters we killed, as well as food."

    The group began to make their way towards the newly erected structure. As they walked, Alister caught up with Kaida, his gaze fixed on her curiously.

    "You seem more tired than the rest of us," he observed.

    Kaida chuckled lightly, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow.

    "It''s just a healer thing, I suppose. I can''t physically match up with the others. Even Ren is in a league of his own," she replied, sounding slightly amused.

    Alister''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You''re a healer? But you fought so well out there."

    Kaida chuckled, a hint of pride in her voice. "All thanks to items. You''d be surprised if you knew how many enhancement items I have hidden away under here." She patted her armor lightly, a mischievous look in her eyes.

    Alister tilted his head, a thoughtful expression on his face. "If you''re a healer, what are you doing here in the wastnds? Shouldn''t you be back at the guild?"

    Kaida chuckled lightly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Isn''t this the ce I''m supposed to be most? Think about it. Even the toughest warriors aren''t immune to wounds or poisons. Just because they are strong doesn''t mean they are unstoppable. What kind of raid team

    doesn''t have a healer?"

    Before Alister could respond, he was interrupted by the system.

    [Notice to the yer: 04:33:26 left for daily questpletion.]n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 101 The Meeting

    Chapter 101 The Meeting

    Meanwhile, back in the megacity, Yuuto and Lady Aiko walked side by side through a long, dimly lit passageway.

    The sound of their footsteps echoed softly off the walls, the only noise in the otherwise silent space.

    Lady Aiko''s hair swayed gently as she moved, the faint rustle of the fabric against her guild uniform adding a soft counterpoint to the steady thud of Yuuto''s boots.

    Yuuto walked calmly, his eyes focused straight ahead. Lady Aiko, graceful as ever, matched his pace. With the calm look on her face, one wouldn''t know a sea of questions raged in her mind.

    As they continued down the seemingly endless hallway, Lady Aiko finally broke the silence. Her voice was soft but carried a touch of curiosity.

    "Master Yuuto, do you have any idea why the Union Branch Director has called us for this meeting? It seems rather sudden."

    Yuuto nced at her briefly before returning his gaze forward. His brow furrowed slightly as he considered her question.

    "I have my suspicions."

    "It must be rted to the random serial murders that have been urringtely. The patterns, the frequencyˇŞthere''s something more to it. For the Director to call us in means things have escted, possibly to a point where our involvement is necessary. And you''re right, we''re certainly not the only ones invited."

    Lady Aiko nodded thoughtfully, her brow slightly furrowed. "If that''s the case, then the situation must be dire indeed. The murders have beenˇ­ unsettling, to say the least."

    Yuuto''s expression hardened, with a strange touch of familiarity. "They''ve been more than unsettling, Aiko. They''re deliberate, calcted. Whoever is behind them has a specific purpose, and it''s up to us to uncover it before more lives are lost."

    His words seemed normal considering the current scenario, but Aiko couldn''t help but feel there was more to it. Still, she decided not to say much and simply replied, "Yes, you''re right, Master."

    ...

    After walking for a while, they finally passed through a massive ck door withplex engravings, already open. What awaited them was arge hall, a massive space with no windows, illuminated only by blue holographic screens floating in the air, as well as a massive holographic replica of the city.

    In the center of the room, a massive ck table dominated the space, elevated by a set of stairs, with several ck chairs arranged around it.

    "What took you so long, old man? It isn''t exactly like you to keep the rest of us waiting like this," a female voice boomed across the massive hall, sounding somewhat irritated.

    Yuuto turned his head towards the source, and his gazended on Anya, the berserker guild master, her arms folded as she leaned back in her chair, a look of impatience clearly on her face.

    Around the table were the other guild representatives, all gathered at the request of the Branch Director, Aethel. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Now now, youngster, weren''t you taught to respect your elders? Where are your manners?" Yuuto said in a yful tone as he approached one of the avable seats, pulling it back and settling in.

    "I''m d you could make it, Sir Yuuto. We''ve been expecting you," Aethel''s voice boomed. He stood at the far end of the table, behind him a massive blue holographic screen could be seen. He bowed his head, a show of respect to the old and wise Yuuto.

    "Thank you, Aethel. You may rise. At least one of the youngsters here has some manners left in them," Yuuto said, gazing intensely at the other guild representatives, especially Anya.

    "Ugh, enough of the salutations already. Let''s get this over with."

    Boom!

    Anya mmed her hands on the table, fingers balled into fists, anger practically radiating off her body in a visible red aura.

    "Do you know how frustrated I felt when you told us all to gather here right before we could go out to the wastnds?"

    "I was nning to win this year, like I always do."

    "But if you keep up with all this pointless chatter, the other guilds will start to have hope," she said, her tone sharp and dangerous, as she red at Aethel.

    "Calm down, Miss Anya. The event will still go on for at least four more days; there is no need to be in such a hurry. This meeting will only take at most fifty minutes," Aethel said, wanting to calm Anya down before she took things further.

    "Whenever you talk like this, you make it seem like the rest of us don''t stand a chance at all," Cheng said with a touch of anger as well.

    Anya settled back into her seat as she asked, "Oh please, did you think this year would be any differenˇŞ"

    "Please, now is not the time to argue amongst ourselves. We have a very important matter to address." Aethel''s voice boomed, sharper this time, silencing both of them.

    "Tsk." Cheng sighed in a touch of annoyance, and both of them then fell silent.

    Aethel observed the room, ensuring that the tension had subsided before continuing. His gaze lingered on each of the guild representatives seated around the massive ck table. Though the atmosphere was calmer, the rivalry between them was still present.

    Yuuto leaned back in his chair, his silver eyes reflecting the blue light from the holographic screens. He remained silent, waiting for Aethel to get to the point.

    The Union Branch Director cleared his throat and began, "Thank you all foring on such short notice. I know that time is of the essence, especially with the Wastnd Disy Event underway. However, the matter at hand requires our immediate attention. As some of you may be aware, there have been a series of brutal murders in the megacity recently. These killings seem to be random acts of violence with no clear cause or motive, or at least until today."

    A holographic image materialized above the table, disying a map of the megacity marked with several red dots. "Each of these points marks the location of a murder. As you can see, the pattern is anything but random. The victims have been indeed randomly chosen, but the killings have been carried out with a level of skill that suggests a high level of nning."

    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!

 Chapter 102: The Meeting Part Two

    Chapter 102: The Meeting Part Two

    ?

    Aethel leaned forward, as his gaze swept across the faces of the guild representatives. "Our initial findings suggest the culprit behind these murders is not human. We believe it to be a highly intelligent monster."

    Anya burst outughing, her shoulders shaking as her hands pped the table. "A monster? Really? This is a joke, right?" Herughter slowly died down as she noticed Aethel''s serious expression. She leaned back, her smile fading. "You''re serious?"

    Aethel nodded. "Our analysis supports this theory. The skill and efficiency of the kills, the state of the bodies, coupled with theplete absence of the killer from any surveince footage, point to a non-human entity."

    Eryx leaned forward, his brow furrowed in thought. "Have you analyzed the footage frame by frame? Maybe there''s a glimpse of the monster, even a blurred figure."

    Aethel shook his head slowly, his eyes narrowing. "We''ve examined every frame multiple times. Nothing. It''s as if the monster vanishes into thin air."

    He paused, letting his gaze drop shortly before looking back up, his expression growing grim. "What''s even stranger is the istion of the victims. Most of them were alone when the attacks urred. It''s like the monster materializes out of nowhere."

    Arden, the branch master of the Red Phoenix guild, ced a thoughtful hand under his jaw, his other fingers drumming lightly on the table. "A monster that can appear and disappear at will? That''s unheard of. I''ve been in countless dungeons and clearings, and I''ve never encountered anything like that."

    Aethel nodded in agreement, shifting in his seat. "That''s precisely what makes this case so perplexing. It''s apletely new type of threat."

    Cheng leaned forward, crossing his arms over his chest. "So, what do you want from us, Aethel? We''re warriors, not detectives."

    He uncrossed his arms, pointing towards Aethel. "If you want us to hunt down this monster, just say so."

    Anya smirked, her fingers tapping on the table as she leaned back in her chair. "If that''s what this meeting is about, you can count me in. I could use a real fight to warm up before I crush thepetition in the wastnds."

    Aethel raised a hand to silence them, his gaze sharp. "Hunting down the monster would have been the usual solution, but from what I have seen, simply getting rid of it may not be a permanent fix."

    He paced slightly as he spoke. "The situation is far moreplex than that. We believe these murders are part of arger scheme. There''s a pattern that suggests they''re forming a ritual or spell of some kind. The killings are not just about taking lives; they''re about gathering power."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "We may have to capture and question it in order to get answers."

    Yuuto''s eyes narrowed, his posture stiffening. "You mentioned a ritual? Are you suggesting that someone... or something is using these murders to fuel a spell or some other form of dark magic?"

    Aethel paused, turning to face the group. "Yes," he replied, his voice serious.

    "Apart from being mutted, each of the bodies decayed far too fast. The time they disappeared from CCTV footage and the rate of decay when they were found is far too much."

    "Suggesting that they were drained of their life energy."

    Aethel ced both hands on the table, leaning slightly forward. "I believe these murders are connected to arger threat. After extensive analysis of the victims, we discovered a strange energy signature radiating from their drained bodies. It''s an unknown energy, undetectable by conventional means."

    The room fell silent as the weight of Aethel''s words sunk in. Yuuto leaned forward, his eyes narrowing in concentration as he rested his elbows on the table. "An unknown energy signature? That''s intriguing."

    Anya smiled, tilting her head slightly as she considered his words. "Indeed. What kind of monster can leave behind an unknown energy signature? A strong one, most certainly."

    Aethel''s expression grew more intense. "That is exactly what we need to find out. And I believe you five are the only ones strong enough to handle it."

    "We need to prevent any more murders, as well as find out if there is more we have to worry about."

    Cheng reclined in his chair, waving a hand dismissively. "A single monster that the guild representatives need to gang up on to defeat? Highly unlikely. I don''t know about the rest of you, but I''m busy. We can just let our elite teams handle it."

    Aethel''s gaze hardened as he straightened up. "I''m not asking you all to actively hunt for it. All I''m saying is if a murder urs in your sector, consider mobilizing personally."

    He let his eyes linger on each representative before continuing. "I''m certain only one of you can capture whatever we''re dealing with, without identally getting killed." Yuuto, who had been calmly assessing everything, finally broke the silence, leaning back slightly in his chair. "If this is a ritual as you suggest, then whoever or whatever is behind it isn''t just targeting random individuals. Each victim must have some significance, some purpose in this grand scheme."

    "Have you found any simrities between the victims?"

    Aethel nodded, pacing slowly again. "Not yet, but we believe the victims were chosen based on some unknown criteria. Their deaths are serving as catalysts, fueling whatever this ritual is meant to aplish."

    They spected, but they couldn''t be more wrong.

    Arden, who had been quiet until now, leaned forward slightly, his fingers inteced. "So let me get this straight, we have to capture this monster and bring it in for questioning?"

    "Indeed," Aethel confirmed with a nod, his eyes locking onto Arden''s.

    Eryx leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping on the table as his gaze drifted upwards in thought. "So, we''re dealing with an intelligent monster, capable of avoiding all forms of surveince and performing a ritual that uses human lives to gather power. Do we have any leads on where this creature might be hiding?"

    Aethel''s expression darkened slightly as he crossed his arms. "The most troubling aspect is the energy signature from the bodies. It dissipates rapidly after the killings, making it nearly impossible to track the creature."

    Anya''s impatience red, her fists clenching slightly. "So we''re practically blind then? I''m ready to fight, but this sounds like a dead end."

    Yuuto calmed her with a steady gaze, his voice even. "We must approach this systematically, Anya. Rushing in blindly could be a fatal mistake."

    Arden nodded, his gaze shifting to Yuuto in agreement. "Old Yuuto''s right. We need more information, but time is against us. This ritual must be stopped before it''splete."

    Aethel continued, uncrossing his arms as he gestured towards the table. "I didn''t say we are entirely without hope. We''ve already developed devices to detect powerful energy signatures like the one the creature emits."

    "All I meant by that was once detected, you have to move immediately or it could disappear again."

    With that, sections of the table rose, revealing strange blue devices. Aethel motioned towards them.

    "These are miniature versions of what we''ve sent to your guilds. They''ll alert you instantly if the creaturees within fifty meters."

    "Keep them on you at all times, certainly in the next few days all this will be behind us."

 Chapter 103: The Reason Behind The Motive

    Chapter 103: The Reason Behind The Motive

    ?

    The meeting was over and the guild representatives dispersed from the union building where they had had their intense discussion.

    Yuuto and Aiko made their way out of the massive union building, the dim lighting of thete evening sun casting long shadows across the stone floor.

    Aiko, her hands folded neatly in front of her, nced sideways at Yuuto, her curiosity bubbling to the surface.

    "Master Yuuto, do you n on actively participating in the search for this monster?"

    Yuuto walked calmly, his hands sped behind his back, deep in thought. The faintest of smiles spread on his face as he looked ahead.

    "Aethel is overestimating this creature."

    "The intelligence it disyed in carrying out the murders shows it''s well aware of its own limits. If it were truly a threat to guild masters like us, it wouldn''t be skulking in the shadows, picking off victims one by one. No, it would be more direct with its actions."

    Aiko nodded, understanding his words. "Your deductions are as wise as always."

    "But knowing this, are you still nning to search and capture it?"

    Yuuto''s grin widened, a sh of amusement in his eyes as he tilted his head slightly, ncing at her.

    "No," he said, his voice filled with a touch of mischief.

    "I''m going to leave this as a little bonus for Alister when he returns."

    Aiko sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. She had expected as much but hearing it still stirred a mix of emotions within her.

    "Why am I not surprised?"

    She said to herself before looking at him with a curious expression. "If I may ask, Master, why do you seem to favor Alister so much? It''s past time I got an answer."

    Yuuto slowed his pace, his expression turning thoughtful as he considered her question. He stopped walking, his gaze fixed on a point in the distance as if seeing something only he could understand.

    Yuuto chuckled softly, the sound echoed as they continued their slow walk. "Aiko, you should know me by now," he said, sounding yful.

    "I''ve always loved watching talents grow. Living as long as I have, you tend to appreciate-"

    "That is certainly not it," Aiko interrupted him sharply, her handing up to adjust her sses. She kept her gaze steady, refusing to let him finish the well-worn excuse she had heard many times before.

    Yuuto blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

    "W-what?" he stuttered, hisposure slipping just a fraction as he turned to look at her, his eyebrows raised.

    Aiko met his gaze, her expression firm but not too serious. "Please, be more honest with me." "I''ve heard that line so many times it''s practically cliche at this point."

    "Cliche!?" Youuto repeated, stunned by her words.

    Yuuto''s eyes narrowed slightly as if considering his next words carefully. "I just wanted a new powerful member in our guild, that''s all," he said, attempting a casual tone.

    "What''s so bad about that?"

    "Also wrong," Aiko responded smoothly, adjusting her sses once more. She looked rxed, but there was an intense glint in her eyes.

    Yuuto''s calm demeanor began to crack, and a touch of annoyance seeped into his voice. "And how can you be so certain?"

    "You can''t read my mind or-"

    "Father," Aiko''s voice cut through his rising voice, calm and gentle but with a small touch of vulnerability that made him pause.

    "Is this really something you can''t tell me? Am I not ready to know yet? I thought you''d already taught me there should be no secrets between family?"

    Her words caught Yuuto off guard, and his expression softened as he turned to gaze at the setting sun. The vibrant hues of orange and pink reflected in his silver eyes as he let out a long sigh.

    "Yes, indeed, I did teach you that," he murmured, almost to himself. "But it was so long ago, I didn''t expect you to remember."

    Aiko''s lips curled into a small smile. "You underestimate me, Father. You''re the only person I look up to. Your words are gold to me, so I always treasure them."

    Yuuto sighed again, shaking his head with a touch of pride and resignation.

    "Guess being an amazing father has its downsides."

    He said in a teasing tone. "I''m sure it''s your obsession with me that''s caused you to not have a boyfriend yet. You''re always following me around."

    Aiko''s cheeks flushed, and she stuttered, "That''s... That''s not it..."

    Yuuto shed her a mischievous grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

    "I''m just joking," he assured her. "I know it''s because you care, and I appreciate that. But you should also try to live a little. I''m not going anywhere, even in a hundred years."

    Aiko smiled, her blush fading as she nodded. "I know, Father. But someone has to keep an eye on you, right?"

    Yuuto chuckled, his heart warming at her words. "I suppose so," he agreed, patting her shoulder lightly as they continued walking, the sun dipping lower on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the world around them.

    Yuuto took a deep breath, then let out a sigh. "So, you want to know why I favor Alister, huh?"

    "Yes," Aiko replied, her eyes fixed on him with curiosity.

    Yuuto gazed up at the sky, watching as stye stars slowly became visible in the distance. "This could be tricky to exin," he said, his fingers tapping lightly against his chin.

    Aiko''s gaze remained steady. "Whatever way you try, I will certainly understand."

    Yuuto''s lips curled into a soft smile. "I''ll tell you a bit, but I don''t want you to start looking at the boy in a different light. The rest will reveal itself in due time."

    Aiko sighed, her shoulders rxing slightly. "You must have your reasons. I understand. So, what can you tell me?"

    Yuuto nodded, his expression bing more serious. "First of all, you could say he is a rtive of mine."

    Aiko''s eyes widened in surprise. "What? How?"

    Yuuto raised a hand, calming her down. "Not necessarily by blood, just a connection."

    Aiko''s brow furrowed. "Is that why you favor him so much then?"

    Yuuto shook his head with a gentle smile. "Of course not."

    Aiko''s curiosity deepened. "Then why?"

    Yuuto let out a resigned sigh, his gaze shifting to the stars beginning to twinkle in the darkening sky. "Aiko, you know how it''s necessary for a child to attend one of the academies to train in order to stand a higher chance of awakening a powerful talent?"

    Aiko nodded. "Yes, but how does that rte to Alister?"

    Yuuto''s eyes softened as he looked back at her. "The boy undoubtedly has potential. He''s smart, works hard to get what he wants. He has a golden soul-neither too naive nor too cold, just a nice bnce between both."

    "But if he is going to be ready for the things He''s going to face in the future, the burdens he will carry, he has to experience a lot more things now."

    "An rough future awaits him, one so intense he might be crushed under the pressure if he isn''t

    ready then."

    Aiko listened intently, absorbing his words. "So, you favor him because you want him to be prepared for what''sing his way?"

    Yuuto nodded, his tone taking on a slightly serious edge. "Yes, that''s part of it."

    Aiko''s curiosity piqued further. "What ising his way?"

    Yuuto''s eyes twinkled with a look of mischief. "You''ll find outter," he said yfully,n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    causing Aiko to momentarily wear an annoyed look on her face.

    Aiko''s lips curved into a small smile. "I suppose I''ll have to be patient then."

    Yuuto patted her shoulder gently. "Patience is a virtue, Aiko. And sometimes, the best things

    come to those who wait."

    Yuuto suddenly paused in his tracks, "Oh, speaking of Alister, there''s something I need you to

    quickly handle for me."

 Chapter 104: Countdown To Consequence

    Chapter 104: Countdown To Consequence

    ?

    Back in the wastnds.

    Alister''s gaze flickered briefly to the system notification, then back to Kaida. He paused for a moment, processing her words, before nodding.

    "You''re right. A good raid team needs bnce, and that includes a skilled healer."

    Kaida smiled, a look of exhaustion and satisfaction on her face. "d you understand. Now, let''s get inside before something else decides toe after us."

    As they approached the erected fortress, the others were already settling in, securing their gear and finding ces to rest. The structure, although it was hastily made, it was a nice form of protection from the harsh environment of the wastnds.

    Ren stood near the entrance, giving final instructions to the group. "Remember, stay alert. We may have cleared this area, but the wastnds are unpredictable. I''ll take the first watch."

    Hiroshi nodded, settling down against one of the walls. "I''ll take the second. Wake me when it''s time."

    Razogrin leaned his massive hammer against the wall and stretched out, clearly ready for some rest.

    "I''ll cover the third shift. Just make sure the motion sensor rms are in ce before you knock out, Ren."

    Ren gave a short nod. "Will do." He turned to Alister and Kaida as they approached. "You two get some rest. You''ve earned it."

    Alister nced at Kaida, who seemed relieved by the offer. "Thanks, Ren. We''ll take you up on that."

    Kaida found a spot near the center of the room, where the ground was a bit softer. She sat down, resting her sword beside her. Alister sat down nearby, still deep in thought.

    ''Ipletely forgot about the daily quest. What am I going to do about it?''

    Alister thought as he gazed at the system''s timer counting down.

    [Notice to the yer: 04:26:26 left for daily questpletion.]

    ''I can''t step out toplete it because then I would be seen killing monsters on my own out in the wastnds through the cam in the suit.''

    ''Even if I didn''t have the cam on me, there''s still a chance Ren wouldn''t allow me to step out at this time, and if I left through a rift without telling them, it could slow down the team if they start looking for me.''

    ''Besides that...''

    Alister lifted his right hand to his face, watching it tremble slightly.

    ''I''m still exhausted, so I don''t think I''ll be able toplete the quest even if I had the chance to.''

    Alister waspletely exhausted. He still hadn''t gotten a wink of sleep since the nightmares started guing him, and all the activities of yesterday were making things worse.

    He dropped his hand back to the floor, letting out a sigh as he called out in his thoughts, ''Dragonforge, what do the question marks in the penalty of the daily quest mean?''

    [Notice! The question marks in the penalty section mean the punishment for failing the daily quest could fluctuate depending on the magnitude of the quest and the conditions under which it was failed.]

    Alister''s thoughts raced as he considered the penalty for failing the daily quest. ''If that''s the case then maybe the punishment won''t be as bad as I think it will be... hopefully it isn''t.''

    With a sigh, he quietlymanded the system, "Disy my status window."

    In an instant, the systemplied, projecting a translucent screen before him.

    [yer: Alister Hazenworth

    Level: 25 [XP: 3160/3600]

    ss: tOverlordt Summoner (Awakened Talent) (SSS)

    Stats:

    HP: 357/1050 - [34/100%

    MP: 190/1639 (Nearly depleted)

    ](Physically exhausted)

    - Strength: 406

    - Agility: 441

    - Intelligence: 221N?v(el)B\\jnn

    - Endurance: 306

    - Luck: 200

    - +Summoning Powert: 100

    Mana Regeneration: 15 MP/minute

    Avable Stat Points: 0

    Titles: N/E

    Skills:

    Draconic Rage Lvl2 (A-rank)

    Blood Maniption Lvl2 (D+ -rank)

    Blood Healing Lvl2 (D+ -rank)

    Camouge Lvl1 (C-rank)

    Draconic Hunger Lvl2 (A-rank)

    List of summons:

    Drake, Cinder Von Abkis-Void (A-rank)

    SandStorm Dragoon, Terra Von Archi-Void (B-rank)

    Lighting Dragon Knight, Darven Von Valor-Void (A+ Rank)

    Current quest(s):

    The Word of an Overlord.

    Overlord''s sharpest fang.

    Last stand (1/10).

    Where Are They Now? (1/30).

    The ws of an Overlord (50%)

    Alister''s eyes scanned over the various statistics, skills, and attributes listed.

    Before he could fully process the information, a loud snore interrupted his focus. Alister nced to the side and noticed Razogrin sprawled out nearby, his massive chest rising and

    falling with each thunderous snore.

    Alister let out a sigh, shaking his head slightly.

    ''He''s so loud.''* he thought, a mild touch of annoyance crossing his mind.

    Shifting his attention back to his status window, Alister took a closer look. His gaze fixed on

    his experience points and the recent levels he had gained.

    ''Cinder really came through earlier.'' he thought, noting the substantial increase in his level.

    ''All those monsters she took down really helped me out.''

    ''d captain Ren allows me to raid the monsters on my own.''

    Alister''s exhaustion momentarily faded as he realized just how much stronger he had be. Yet, the weight of his current situation still pressed down on him, and his eyes flicked back to

    the system''s timer.

    Alister''s eyes lingered on the timer for a moment longer before he quietlymanded, ''Open

    my inventory.''

    The system responded instantly, disying the array of items he''d umted throughout

    his raid of the other sector eariler. His gaze quickly fell upon an item he''d nearly forgotten

    about in the chaos of the previous day.

    The Ring of Focus.

    It had caught his attention when he first acquired it, but with everything happening so

    quickly, he didn''t take the time to fully inspect it.

    Curious, Alister selected the item and opened its description.

    Item info window:

    Name: Ring of Focus

    Rarity: B-ss

    Description: A ring forged from the core of the 7th Dragon Overlord, Aloria. Known for her

    immense focus and unmatched ability to remove unnecessary thoughts from her mind, Aloria wielded this skill to dominate in both battle and strategy.

    Effect: The yer can designate a specific thought or memory to temporarily forget. The chosen thought will remain inessible until the ring is unequipped.

    Alister blinked in shock, his mind still processing what all this meant. A ring that could erase a memory from his mind, rendering it unknown until he chose to remove the ring. The concept seemed almost too powerful, too convenient.

    ''Could this really help me?''

    He wondered silently. The memory of the shadowy figure had been guing him ever since it surfaced-haunting his thoughts, invading his dreams. It wasn''t just the figure itself that disturbed him; it was the feeling that something crucial was slipping through his fingers, something he couldn''t quite understand no matter how hard he tried.

    He nced around, his eyes sweeping around. The others were slowly drifting off to sleep, their bodies finally giving in to exhaustion.

    Kaida had already settled in, her breathing was now steady. Razogrin, despite his earlier snoring, seemed to have quieted down somewhat, though the asional rumble still came

    from his direction.

    Goro was resting with his back against a wall, his massive arms crossed over his chest. Ren, remaining vignt, stood by the entrance, his body softly illuminated by rays of the moonlight that seemed to pierce through the gray clouds of the wastnds.

    Seeing that the group was secure for the moment, Alister pulled out the Ring of Focus from

    his inventory.

 Chapter 105: The Wasteland Display Event Part Five

    Chapter 105: The Wastnd Disy Event Part Five

    ?

    ?

    .

    .

    .

    .n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ''It looks simr to that ne,'' Alister thought, referring to the Overlord''s heirloom. Both items had a simr silver lizard-like design, this one curled around to form the ring with a small pink gem in its maw.

    ''Must have been crafted by the same artisan or something. I''ll ask Terrater if it bes important,'' he thought.

    With a deep breath, Alister slipped the Ring of Focus onto his finger. The moment the ring touched his skin, a cool sensation spread through his body, followed by a strange sense of rity. It was as if a veil had been lifted from his mind, leaving it unusually clear and focused.

    His eyes drifted towards the others again, and he noticed a small change in the way he saw them. Each of them seemed to stand out more, their presence more defined. It was as if he were seeing them for the first time.

    ''It feels... different, but nothing has changed yet, so I guess I''m supposed to designate the memory I want to forget, like the system said.''

    He closed his eyes, focusing on the memory he wanted to suppress-the shadowy figure, the uneasy feeling of dread. He concentrated on pushing them away, deeper and deeper into the recesses of his mind.

    The ring warmed up slightly around his finger, responding to his will.

    It was as if a part of his consciousness had been gently extracted, leaving a void where thoughts and memories once were.

    As the weight of the unknown began to lift, the shadowy figure, the recurring nightmares, the nagging feeling of something missing all of it seemed to fade into the background of his mind.

    For the first time in what felt like days, Alister felt calm. His mind was clear.

    It felt like an unknown weight had suddenly been lifted from his shoulders, so much so that he involuntarily closed his eyes, allowing sleep to overtake him.

    As he drifted off to sleep, a small smile crept onto his lips. Maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of the end of his troubles.

    ?

    [00:30:00 left for daily questpletion!]

    [00:20:00 left for daily questpletion!]

    [00:10:00 left for daily questpletion!]

    [00:00:00!]

    .

    .

    .

    .

    ?

    ?

    .

    .

    .

    ?

    [Daily quest failed!]

    [Penalty calcting......]

    [Considering conditions under quest failure...]

    [Penalty determined!]

    [Penalty Quest: The Weight of an Overlord''s Mantle!

    Description: The yer has failed in his role as an Overlord. He has failed to keep getting stronger, to carry the hopes of his people, and to obtain the strength to realize their dreams.

    As such, the yer needs to understand what happens to those who follow a weak Overlord or one who fails to perform his duties.

    Questpletion condition: The yer will be made to mentally experience the 9th Draconic War as a general who will die due to the ipetence of his lord. In death, the yer would wish such a thing would never repeat itself.]

    ...

    The moon hung high in the night sky, casting it''s silver glow across the barren, cracked earth of the wastnds. The air was filled with dust, and a faint rumble could be heard in the

    distance, signaling the approach of a horde of monsters.

    The Reapers Guild had taken their positions, each member ready for the iing monsters.

    Their dropship hadnded on a high rocky surface, providing a nice vantage point over the surrounding area. From here, they could see the monsters, twisted bodies of dark energy and raw muscle, charging at them from the horizon.

    Kael stood at the front, his eyes looking around the battlefield as the wind whipped his hair. His voice was calm as he called out over thems.

    "Everyone, you know your positions. Stick to the n, and let''s make this quick. No need to

    prolong their suffering."

    Rex, the towering titan of a man with steel-bending Talent, mmed his fists together, the ground beneath him trembling as he grinned.

    "Ready to break some bones, Captain."

    Aria was already moving, her fingers moving across her console as she synchronized the

    group''smunication.

    "I''ll keep our systems in check and monitor the battlefield. No surprises today." Mira adjusted her headphones, a yful smirk on her lips as she twirled her ive, a spear

    like weapon with arge photon de attached to a staff. Her talent enhanced speed.

    "Let''s make this fun, shall we? I could use a little entertainment."

    Kai stood slightly apart, flipping his daggers in his hands as he focused on the iing monsters. His eyes glowed faintly with his green mana as he tightened his grip around them,

    ready to spring into action.

    "Just give the word, and I''ll be wherever I need to be."

    Jin was already in position on a higher ridge, his sniper rifle assembled and ready. His eyes

    glowed with intensity as he focused, scanning the horizon for any signs of movement. His

    talent, st impact, ensured his shots packed an extra punch.

    "Targets in sight. On your mark, Captain."

    Kael raised his hand, signaling for silence as the first wave of monsters approached.

    "Aria, give us a scan. What are we dealing with?"

    Aria''s holographic disy disyed a series of data as she spoke, "Looks like a horde of Warped Behemoths. They''re fast, strong, but nothing we haven''t handled before."

    Kael nodded. "Good. Rex, you''re up. Keep them contained. Mira, cover his nks. Kai, be ready

    to clean up any stragglers. Jin, pick off the leaders. I''ll engage the main force and support as

    needed."

    Rex grinned, his muscles bulging as he stomped forward, mming his hands into the ground. The earth responded to his will, with massive steel barriers erupting from the ground, forming a makeshift fortress to funnel the monsters into a kill zone. "Let''s see them

    get through this!"

    Mira dashed alongside Rex, her ive spinning as it whistled in the air. As the first monsters charged, she ended them with swift strikes as she swung her weapon in a wide arc, her ive

    cutting through flesh and bone easily.

    "Come on, you ugly brutes! Let''s see what you''ve got!"

    Blood spraying all over her tech suit.

    Kai was already making his move, his body vanishing in and out of sight as he teleported between the monsters, his daggers shing in the dim light.

    He swung his daggers in a vertical arc, slicing through tendons and arteries with speed, causing the creatures to copse before they even realized he was there.

    "Too slow," he said as he disappeared in a blink, reappearing to take down another target.

    Jin''s voice came through thems.

    "Leader at two o''clock, 800 meters out. Taking the shot." A soft hiss echoed as his sniper rifle fired, the bullet soaring through the air before striking the Warped Behemoth leader right between the eyes. The creature stumbled, its movements halted as it copsed in a massive

    boom.

    "Target down."

    Kael charged into the fray, his sword zing as he struck down any monster that broke through the team''s defenses.

    His movements were smooth and well controlled, each strike perfectly timed to maximize

    damage.

    "Keep the pressure up. Don''t let them regroup!"

    Rex maintained the barriers, keeping the monsters contained while Mira moved around him,

    her ive carving through the horde.

    Kai continued to teleport across the battlefield, picking off any creatures that attempted to

    nk the team.

    He grinned as he pulled a particrly stubborn monster towards him, slicing its throat before

    teleporting away to avoid its copsing body.

    "Another one bites the dust."

    Jin''s rifle cracked again, another Warped Behemoth leader falling to the ground with a bullet

    through its skull.

    "Clear on my end. Moving to the next target."

 Chapter 106: The Wasteland Display Event Part Six

    Chapter 106: The Wastnd Disy Event Part Six

    ?

    "Oh? What''s this? It appears the Reapers have finally started their raid!" Marcus said, brimming with excitement.

    "Yes, Marcus, it seems they had been waiting for this moment. Perhaps this is the n they mentioned earlier when they muted the listening devices on their suits."

    "Oh really? Even if they''re aiming for a win by fighting while everyone else is resting, wouldn''t it have been more effective if they started as soon as they arrived?"

    "I''m just as clueless as you are, Marcus. As we always say, the only thing we can do is watch and find out!"

    ...

    Mira charged at a hulking humanoid monster with red skin and tusks. The creature swung its massive right limb in a fast vertical arc, bringing it down toward her with brutal force.

    As the limb descended, Mira smirked and leaped to her left, narrowly avoiding the limb as it crashed into the ground with a thunderous boom, sending dust clouds billowing into the air.

    ...

    "Mira''s speed is something else! Did you see how she dodged that attack? A direct hit from that beast would''ve crushed her!"

    "Not just her speed, but look at how she''s positioning herself. She''s always a step ahead, anticipating the monster''s moves, she makes it look easy!"

    ...

    Without losing momentum, Mira pivoted on her left foot, swinging her ive in a wide arc toward the monster''s exposed side. The de of the ive sliced through the thick hide of the creature, severing its ribcage with a loud crunch. Dark blood sprayed from the wound as the beast stumbled back, struggling to regain its bnce.

    Mira didn''t let up. She spun on her feet, bringing the ive overhead before driving it down into the monster''s knee. The de cut trough again, splitting bone and rendering the limb useless. The creature roared in pain, dropping to one knee, its massive hands iling as it tried to grab her. Mira swiftly yanked her ive free and leaped back, dodging the grasping ws by mere inches.

    ...

    "Oh, that was brutal! Mira''s not giving that beast a chance to recover. It''s already down on one knee, and she''s still pushing forward!"

    "That''s the Reaper way! She''s dismantling it piece by piece, not letting up until the job is done. Absolutely ruthless!"

    ...

    "Not so tough now, are you big guy?" she said with amusement.

    As the creature tried to rise on its feet, Mira dashed forward and delivered a final, powerful horizontal sh across its neck. The de tore through flesh and bone, severing the head cleanly from the shoulders. The head rolled away as the massive body copsed, lifeless, blood pooling around it.

    ...

    "And there it is! A clean decapitation. Mira''s technique is wless, and she''s making it look almost too easy."

    "She''s definitely in her element. That''s one less monster for the Reapers to worry about, but herees Rex!"

    ...

    Meanwhile, Rex held the front line, facing the iing horde with a grin on his face. With a roar, he mmed both fists into the ground, sending vibrations through the earth. The steel beneath the surface responded to his will, springing out as massive, jagged spikes.

    The spikes impaled the monsters charging toward him, skewering them while they were charging and instantly stopping their movements.

    "Come on! You can do better than that!" Rex taunted, raising his arms again.

    This time, the steel spikes bent and reshaped, creating massive steel walls on either side of the monsters.

    With a sudden motion of his hands, Rex pped the walls together, crushing the trapped creatures into pulp. He then opened his palms, and the walls expanded outward, sweeping away the corpses and creating more space for his next move.

    ...

    "Rex is bringing the pain with those steel spikes! He''s holding that line like a fortress! And the way he crushed them between this walls was turly brutal!"

    "Look at that control! He''s got them skewered before they even get close. Those monsters don''t stand a chance against him."

    ...

    Kai was a blur as he moved across the battlefield, his daggers shed in the moon light as he teleported from one location to another.

    He appeared behind a beast wanting to nk the group, and with a quick swing, he drove one dagger upward into the creature''s spinal column.

    The tip of the de severed the nerves controlling the beast''s lower body, causing it to copse.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Kai quickly followed up by shing the other dagger across its throat, severing the artery and windpipe in one swing. Before the beast could react, Kai had already vanished, reappearing above another creature as it jumped into the air.

    ...

    "And there goes Kai! He''s moving so fast it''s hard to keep track of him. That beast didn''t even see himing!"

    "That''s Kai''s specialty, strike fast, strike deadly, and move on to the next target before they even realize what''s happening!"

    ...

    He spun in mid-air, crossing his daggers over his chest before shing them outward in a scissor-like motion. The des tore through the creature''s shoulder joints, severing both

    arms clean off.

    The beast roared in pain, but Kai was already gone, reappearing behind it to plunge both daggers into the back of its neck, severing the spinal cord. The creature dropped to the ground

    instantly, lifeless.

    "Stay sharp guys." Kai''s voice said over thems.

    "We''re the ones that should be telling you that newbie." Mira respond sharply.

    Kai teleported to the next target, appearing in a low crouch as he drove his daggers upward into the soft underbelly of a charging beast. He twisted the des and yanked them out sideways, the intestines falling out before the creature before it could even know he was

    there.

    Jin remained perched on his high ridge, calm and focused as he lined up his next shot. He watched through the scope as a Warped Behemoth leader charged toward the team. With a calm movement of his hand, Jin adjusted his aim slightly to ount for the creature''s speed.

    He exhaled slowly and squeezed the trigger. The rifle kicked against his shoulder as the shot sprang out, and the bullet tore through the air, punching through the leader''s eye and exiting the back of its skull.

    The monster momentum carried it forward a few more steps before it copsed, its brain obliterated.

    ...

    "What a shot! Right through the eye, and that Behemoth is down for the count."

    "Jin never misses. That''s one more leader down, and he''s already lining up his next shot. The

    man''s a machine!"

    "No doubt about it."

    ...

 Chapter 107: A Failure Of An Overlord

    Chapter 107: A Failure Of An Overlord

    ?

    "Leader neutralized," Jin reported, already shifting his aim to another target. He tracked a smaller, faster monster making it''s way through the battlefield, its strange movements made it a difficult shot.

    Jin waited, watching the creature''s movment pattern, and then fired just as it moved into his line of sight.

    The bullet struck the creature in the throat, shattering its spine and causing it to tumble to the ground, unable to move. Jin didn''t waste time watching it die, he was already focused on his next target.

    ...

    "Another one down! Jin''s picking them off one by one, and with that kind of precision, the Reapers have nothing to worry about."

    "Indeed. Jin''s the guy you want covering your back in a situation like this."

    "And his talent makes sure each shot is a killing blow, truly outstanding."

    ...

    Kael, leading the charge, moved through the thick of the battle. His sword, glowing brightly with his blue mes, was a blur as he locked in a battle a particrlyrge monster that had broken through Rex''s barriers.

    The beast swung a massive arm toward him, but Kael ducked low, avoiding the swing while simultaneously thrusting his sword upward into the creature''s armpit, where the armor of muscle was thinner. The de pierced through and exited the other side, puncturing a lung. The mes on his sword caused the creature to scream it pain, its skin scorching.

    ...

    "Look at Kael, right in the thick of it! That''s a clean hit, straight through the lung. The monster''s done for!"

    "Kael''s not just strong; he''s tactical. Knows exactly where to strike for maximum damage. That monster never stood a chance."

    ...

    Without pausing, Kael stepped to the side, dragging his sword through the monster''s torso and out of its side. The creature stumbled, but Kael spun around, bringing his sword in a wide arc that cleaved through the monster''s abdomen, slicing it nearly in half. As the two halves of the beast fell apart, stem rose from them, Kael continued forward, shing through the head of another beast with a clean, upward stroke that sent it flying.

    "Keep pressing forward!" Kaelmanded, his voice steady. He charged forward.

    ...

    "Two kills in one! Kael''s tearing through them like it''s nothing."

    "That''s what makes him Captain. He leads by example, showing the others how it''s done. Pure skill."

    "Indeed it''s pure skill on disy here!"

    ...

    Aria''s voice came over thems, calm and collected despite the chaos. "We''ve got a new wave iing,rger than the first. Adjust positions and prepare for engagement."

    Kael nced at the horizon where more monsters were indeed approaching, their numbers far greater than before. He raised his sword, its de gleaming in the moon light. "Alright, Reapers, let''s show them what we''re made of. No mercy."

    Rex grinned, he was clearly enjoying the battle, one could tell with the look in his eyes as he got ready for the next round.

    "You heard the Captain! Let''s tear ''em apart!"

    Kai teleported to a new vantage point, taking a look at the iing horde.

    "Kai cover the nks. Don''t let any of them through." Kael orders over thes.

    Jin reloaded his sniper rifle. "I''ll keep the leaders in check. Just give me a clear shot."

    Mira twirled her ive as she prepared to engage once more. "Bring it on," she said with a fierce grin on her face, ready to face the next wave of monsters.

    ...

    ...

    Alister felt a sudden jolt in his head that caused him to slowly blink his eyes open.

    It felt like his mind was being violently pulled from the depths of a dark abyss. ''Ugh... What is this?'' he shook his head, as if trying to shake away the strange sensation he was feeling.

    His vision slowly began to settle and the first thing that came into view, he seemed to be looking through visors of a helmet he didn''t remember putting on, riding on the neck of a dragon as it soared through the air.

    ''What''s going on...?''

    ''What happened to my body?''

    He looked around in shock, he felt different, sounded different, and where he was now definitely wasn''t the stone structure Goro erected for them to spend the night in.

    The air was filled with the scent of smoke, and the ground below trembled beneath the weight of massive forces shing.

    Before he could get any more confused, the system materialized.

    [Penalty Quest: The Weight of an Overlord''s Mantle!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Description: The yer has failed in his role as an Overlord. He has failed to keep getting stronger, to carry the hopes of his people, and to obtain the strength to realize their dreams.

    As such, the yer needs to understand what happens to those who follow a weak Overlord or one who fails to perform his duties.

    Questpletion condition: The yer will be made to mentally experience the 9th Draconic War as a general who will die due to the ipetence of his lord. In death, the yer woulde to understand:

    An Overlord cannot amodate weakness.]

    [The yer has assumed the identity of: General Kan Von Valor-Void.]

    Reading the text that appears in the system''s window, Alister''s thoughts raced.

    ''Penalty quest? 9th Draconic war? Death?''

    ''Because I failed the daily quest?''

    Alister let out a sigh, the massive shoulders of his new body slumping slightly, ''I should have known the system wouldn''t take failure lightly, but making me experience death because of

    it... isn''t that a bit much.''

    Alister paused for a moment, raising up his right hand to gaze at it, noticing it was covered In a dark purple armor made of dragon scales, simr to Darven''s. Alister''s thoughts raced. ''Well, it doesn''t matter, I can''t worry about things that are beyond my control, it''s a waste of

    time.''

    ''I''m here now, the only thing I can learn a thing or two.. before this all ends.''

    No longer concerned about where he was, Alister took in his surroundings.

    The heat of battle was suffocating. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a blood-red glow across the ruinedndscape below.

    The fields below had been reduced to a scorched wastnd, littered with shattered weapons and dead warriors. The roar of dragons echoes like thunder in the distance, and Alister could feel the vibrations of their mighty wings beating the air, somewhere in the thick clouds of

    war.

    ''If this is supposed to be a war and I''m a general... Where are my troops?''

 Chapter 108: A Failure Of An Overlord Part Two

    Chapter 108: A Failure Of An Overlord Part Two

    ?

    The system''s voice suddenly echoed before Alister could look around any further.

    [Memories will now begin integrating...]

    ''Memories? What memo-''

    Before Alister could get an answer, he felt a massive jolt inside his brain, as if it were being electrified. His hands instinctively left the reins of the dragon he was riding and clutched his head in pain. The sensation was so intense that he couldn''t even muster the strength ton/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    scream.

    Memories began to flood his mind-not everything, just all he needed to know. He was General Kan Von Valor-Void, a lightning dragon who had pledged his loyalty to the first heir of the Dragon Overlord''s throne.

    After the passing of thest Dragon Overlord in his battle against the encroaching darkness, the dragons needed a new leader, a new Overlord, one who would inherit the heirloom left behind and push back the darkness invading their world.

    Perhaps, finally be worthy to pull out +Restriat.

    Most of dragonkind were instantly split into two factions: those who pledged their loyalty to the first heir and those who pledged their loyalty to the second. Both desired the throne, and until one was chosen as the true Overlord, none could wear the heirloom.

    And thus a war broke out.

    Of course, the Archi-Void advised against this, insisting that conflict should be thest resort for the dragon race, especially when their world was facing a battle against an impossible enemy.

    However, they were met with the question: how else could they resolve it? Both heirs had their pride to uphold; both were possible sessors to the throne.

    As the wizened keepers of dragon history and all their teachings and secrets, the Archi-Void suggested that the heirs handle it personally, but all the other dragon ns disagreed.

    "What sort of vassal wouldn''t support their lord in battle?" they said. Dragons, though beings of immense power, were often ves to their own pride.

    Not supporting their lord or proving their loyalty at such a time would certainly damage their dragon soul over time.

    Seeing that the rest of dragonkind couldn''t be reasoned with, the Archi-Void decided not to participate in such a conflict, stating they would serve whoever became the Overlord when all was over, and would not aid either side during the duration of the conflict.

    The strange sensation in Alister''s head finally subsided, and he felt an odd sense of rity. This wasn''t due to the focus ring he had on his real body while his mind was trapped in this simtion; no, it was as if he could feel General Kan''s absolute faith in his lord,ing from his heart.

    Just then, he heard a voice call out to him.

    "General Kan!"

    Alister now Kan-whipped his head to the left to find out where the voice wasing from.

    His eyesnded on a gray-skinned, muscr man with silver hair and yellow eyes. A pair of ck horns curved elegantly from his head. ck scales peeked through his skin, forming patches of armor-like ting that were more concentrated on certain areas of his body-his forearms, shins, and the length of his tail were heavily covered in these scales, giving him an almost armored appearance.

    He was a dragonkin, simr to the young one Alister had seen at the auction.

    This man was Zeran, one of Kan''s most trusted soldiers and a legendary warrior among dragonkind, despite not being a member of the main ns. He rode a massive, dark-scaled dragon, its wings slicing through the air with powerful strokes as it flew in perfect formation beside Kan''s.

    "General Kan," Zeran called out, his deep voice carrying easily over the roar of the wind, "the troops are ready. We await yourmand."

    He inclined his head slightly in a show of respect, his eyes never leaving Kan''s. There was an intensity in his gaze, something that could only be seen in the eyes of the two dragon riders who had led their forces through countless skies.

    Alister nced behind him, and the sight he saw caused him to widen his eyes in shock. Thousands of dragons could be seen, atop them riders either from the main ns or the lesser

    ones.

    Alister, or rather, Kan, could feel the weight of hisrade''s trust and expectation. It was a heavy burden, but one he had carried before, not as Alister, but as Kan. He nodded, fully embracing the role he had been given, and spoke confidently.

    "Zeran," Kan began, his voice calm yet firm, "we will not falter. We will see this through to the end and ensure that our lord ims his rightful ce as Overlord."

    Zeran nodded as he gok agreed, his expression was firm. "For the glory of our kind, and the future of our world."

    Kan raised his fist into the air, the wind whipping at his scales.

    "For Lord Hazerion! For the Dragonkind!"

    A thunderous roar echoed from the thousands of dragons gathered behind him, their voices shaking the very air. The ground trembled as they beat their wings all together.

    In the distance, the opposing army of dragons could be seen, a dark cloud against the blood- red sky. Their leader, the prideful General Alexei Von Valor-Void, rode at the front on a massive obsidian dragon, its eyes glowing with a bright purple light.

    Alexei raised his own hand, silencing his own troops. The world held its breath as the two generals locked eyes across the battlefield.

    "General Kan," Alexei boomed, his voiceced with arrogance, "you fight a losing battle. Your lord is weak and indecisive. He does not have the strength or the will to lead our kind."

    Kan narrowed his eyes. "Lord Hazerion is a wise andpassionate leader," he countered. "He will unite the dragons, not tear them apart like your lord seek to do."

    "With his power, he could protect everyone."

    Alexei scoffed. "Spare me your empty words. True power lies in strength, not hiding behind some shield, hoping for the best. Only Lord Hamerion can lead us to victory against the encroaching darkness."

    Silence fell over the battlefield. The dragons on both sides awaited theirmanders'' orders. Kan knew there would be no turning back. This war, this senseless conflict, had to end

    today.

    He raised his voice, his words echoing over the battlefield.

    He wanted to see if he could talk sense into these prideful creatures.

    "For too long, we have fought amongst ourselves!" he roared. "While the true enemy, the encroaching darkness, grows stronger with every passing moment. We are dragons! We are the protectors of this world! Will we allow our pride to be our downfall?"

 Chapter 138: Battle In The Heat

    Chapter 138: Battle In The Heat

    ?

    Ren''s eyes focused on the iing wave of Scorchws. The ground beneath him rumbled with their approach, each step they took causing more cracks to form in the already fractured earth. The air was thick with heat, almost suffocating.

    "Goro, Razogrin, you two take the front! Hiroshi, Kaida, cover their nks!" Ren shouted, taking a few steps back to give himself space.

    "I''ll hold the center and keep them from advancing further!"

    "Got it!" Goro and Razogrin replied, their voices booming.

    Goro gripped his battle axe tighter, feeling the heat of the ground seeping through the boots

    of his suit. He could see the Scorchws'' eyes glowing brighter as they closed in, their massive jaws snapping frantically.

    With a deep breath, Goro mmed his axe into the ground once more, causing the earth to heave and split, creating a chasm that several of the monsters stumbled into.

    Razogrin followed up with a powerful swing of his hammer, the impact sending a shockwave that cracked the ground further and toppled more of the Scorchws into the abyss. But the beasts wouldn''t give in that easily, crawling out of the fissures as fast as they could.

    "These bastards just don''t quit!" Razogrin grunted, bringing his hammer down on the head of a Scorchw that had gotten too close, crushing its skull with a massive crunch.

    "Keep at it!" Goro yelled, his voice strained as he used his earth maniption to hurlrge boulders at the advancing monsters.

    "We need to thin them out before they overwhelm us!"

    Meanwhile, Hiroshi darted around the battlefield, his twin daggers a blur as he shed at the Scorchws'' legs, aiming to cripple their movements.

    Each strike was apanied by a gust of wind, knocking the creatures off bnce and giving Goro and Razogrin the openings they needed tond their powerful blows.

    "Kaida, watch your back!" Hiroshi shouted as he spun around, deflecting a Scorchw''s snapping jaws with a gust of wind before slicing through its throat with a wind de strike. Kaida nodded, keeping her focus as she moved to support her teammates. She noticed a Scorchw trying to nk Goro and swiftly intervened, her sword cutting through its exposed tendon.

    "Thanks, Hiroshi!" Kaida replied, her eyes scanning the battlefield for the next threat. The heat was making it harder to concentrate, but she remained calm, waiting for the right moments to strike.

    "We need to stay close; these things are trying to split us up!"

    Ren, meanwhile, unleashed a torrent of mes, forming a zing barrier that forced the Scorchws to halt their advance. The creatures snarled and hissed, their scales glowing with the heat of the fire, but they couldn''t push through the inferno.

    "Not so fast!" Ren yelled, intensifying the mes, causing the front line of Scorchws to back away, their scales beginning to char and crack under the intense heat. "Goro, Razogrin, push them back! We need to regain control of the battlefield!"

    Goro and Razogrin responded with a surge of power. Goro raised his axe high, summoning all his strength as he mmed it into the ground. The earth erupted beneath the Scorchws, sending them flying into the air, where Razogrin was ready to smash them back down with his hammer.

    "Take that, you overgrown lizards!" Razogrin roared, his muscles bulging as he swung his hammer with ferocious force, sending the Scorchws crashing into the scorched ground. "Good work!" Ren called out, keeping his mes burning hot to maintain the barrier. He could feel the strain of the intense heat on his body, but he couldn''t afford to let up, not with more of the monsters closing in.

    "Kaida, Hiroshi, watch the nks! Don''t let any of them slip through!"

    "On it!" Hiroshi responded, quickly moving to intercept a Scorchw that had managed to circle around. His daggers shed like a whirlwind as he struck,nding a series of shes that left the creature bleeding.

    Kaida stayed close to Hiroshi, her sword becam a blur as she struck at the Scorchws that tried to take advantage of Hiroshi''s attacks.

    Together, they formed a defense on the nks, preventing any of the monsters from breaching their line.

    "Another wave iing!" Kaida warned, her eyes widening as she saw more Scorchws emerging from theva pits, their armored bodies glowing with the heat of the molten rock. "Damn it!" Ren hissed, realizing they were being outnumbered. He nced over at Goro and Razogrin, who were holding their ground but starting to show signs of exhaustion. "We need to end this fast! Everyone, give it everything you''ve got!"

    Ren gathered all the power he could muster, his mes roaring with more intensity. He concentrated the fire into a massive wave and hurled it towards the oing Scorchws, the sheer heat causing the air to shimmer and distort.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Burn to ash!" Ren shouted, the mes crashing into the monsters with explosive force, engulfing them in an inferno.

    The Scorchws roared in agony as the mes consumed them, their scales melting and cracking under the heat. One by one, they copsed, their bodies reduced to smoldering

    heaps.

    With the threat neutralized, Ren let out a sigh, his mes slowly dying down. He turned to his team, who were breathing heavily but still standing strong.

    "Well done, everyone," Ren said, his voice filled with pride. "We held the line. Now, let''s finish off any stragglers and regroup."

    The team nodded as they moved to clear the valley of any remaining Scorchws as they advanced forward. The battle had been intense, but Ren''s team had proven their strength once again.

    ...

    Back in the studio, Marcus and Elena were in awe as they watched the feed.

    "That was incredible!" Elena eximed. "Ren and his team handled those Scorchws like true professionals. Their coordination and power were off the charts!"

    "I agree," Marcus added. "They''ve shown exactly why they''re one of the top teams. The way they adapted to the situation and worked together was nothing short of impressive. The audience is loving it!"

 Chapter 110: On Ground

    Chapter 110: On Ground

    ?

    Kan''s breath caught in his throat, his mind racing to find a way out of this situation.

    ''I don''t understand. I thought the system said this is a simtion? Like a rey of events? Then howe he''s so perceptive?'' Kan''s thoughts raced in confusion; he wanted

    answers.

    ''Dragonforge, what is this? I thought you said this was just a rey of past events, that I''d be experiencing the war from the eyes of the general?''

    He called out in his thoughts, but there was no response, causing him to tense up slightly as he prepared for the battle. ''I should have known something like this would happen, simr to when it called the wastnds training grounds...''

    ''Could it be possible this simtion is actually reality?''

    ''Perhaps an alternate world?''

    Suddenly, something dawned on him.

    ''Wait... If this is actually reality, then there is a chance I could really die?''

    ''But from what I understood, Dragonforge only wanted to teach me a lesson.''

    His mind raced back to the first quest the system gave him and its death penalty. He started to consider that perhaps this ''simted death'' could still be real death. The system still hasn''t beenpletely honest with him on many things, so he had his suspicions.

    But he was sure it wouldn''t outright try to kill him; he wouldn''t be much of an Overlord if he were dead.

    ''If there is a chance this quest could really be the end of me, then I can''t let myself die at the end.''

    ''I''m sure I''ll be able to find a way back if I survive.''

    ''Whatever the case may be, I can''t agree with what Alexei said; things could getplicated.'' "Is that really a topic one brings up in the heat of battle, Alexei?" Kan asked, his deep voice seeming to vibrate the air around him as he spoke.

    "Are you trying to suggest that I''ve been somehow possessed? Taken over?"

    "Oh, please, I was going easy because I wanted to reason with you. Guess it was far too uncharacteristic of me to offer an opponent mercy."

    He momentarily removed his hand from the reins of the dragon as he motioned with his hand for Alexei toe forward. "Come now, let''s make this quick. I''ll be sure to make those scales of yours a nice scabbard for my sword one this is all over."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As he spoke, his eyes narrowed as they crackled with purple lightning, a silent threat.

    Kan''s words struck a nerve deep within Alexei. His face frowned in rage, and his dragon roared in response, the sound echoing across the skies.

    With a sharp pull on the reins, Alexei urged his dragon forward, the beast''s powerful wings pping furiously as it closed the distance between them.

    "You talk too much, Kan!"

    Alexei shouted. "You''re just dying your inevitable end!" His dragon''s massive ws extended, ready to tear into Kan''s.

    But Kan was unfazed. As Alexei''s dragon surged toward him, he leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he focused. Without warning, he yanked hard on his dragon''s reins, sending the beast into a sudden, steep dive.

    The dragon plummeted toward the ground at breakneck speed, the wind howling in Kan''s ears as he clung to the saddle.

    "What are you doing, Kan?" Alexei yelled, frustration seeping into his voice as he watched him rapidly descend.

    "What''s your n? All that talk, and now you''re charging straight for the ground again, where the dead rot beneath our feet?"

    Kan nced back over his shoulder, a cold look in his eyes.

    "Just how I like it."

    "The perfect ce to drop off another nameless nobody, destined to be forgotten in the sands of time."

    Alexei''s eyes red with fury. He gritted his teeth, his jaw clenched so tight it seemed like it might crack.

    "Kan!" he roared, his voice booming across the sky as he urged his dragon to dive after him, closing the gap with terrifying speed.

    As the ground rushed up to meet them, Kan''s expression remained calm. His dragon pulled up just before impact, its massive ws skimming the ground as it soared low over the battlefield, weaving through the chaos below. Then, in one swift motion, Kan leaped from the saddle.

    Hended in a crouch, the bloodstained earth crunching beneath his boots. Rising smoothly to his feet, he turned just in time to see Alexei''s dragonnd with a massive crash, the ground shaking from the impact. Without pausing, Alexei leaped from his mount, his sword crackling with lightning as he brought it down in a vicious arc.

    Kan''s dragon roared as it tried to put up a fight, but Alexei''s de was already slicing through the air.

    In one clean, powerful swing, the de cleaved the lesser dragon in two, its body splitting apart as the electric energy surged through it. The beast copsed, its lifeless halves crashing to the ground on either side of Kan, who stood unfazed.

    Alexei red at Kan, his sword still crackling with residual energy.

    "There goes your mount, dead. That''s what happens to those who rely on you," he said, eyes zing with disdain and a touch of something else. He clenched his left fist tightly, as if to

    mask something.

    Kan looked down at the corpse of his dragon; his eyes didn''t show any emotion. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet Alexei''s.

    Kan''s hand tightened around the hilt of his sword. "You''ve sealed your fate, Alexei," he said, his voice cold and measured. "There''s no turning back now."

    Kan''s eyes shed with a dangerous light.

    "You talk too much," he replied, his grip firm on his sword as he assumed a battle-ready stance, feet nted firmly on the ground.

    His sword crackled with the same purple lightning that had sparked in his eyes moments before. "Let''s see if your de can keep up with your tongue."

    In that instant, they both closed the gap between them, their swords swung, about to sh.

 Chapter 111: A need For Urgency

    Chapter 111: A need For Urgency

    ?

    Ren stood by the entrance of the makeshift fortress, his eyes narrowed as he looked at the horizon.

    The vast expanse of the wastnds stretched out before him, the harshndscape lit by the faint light of the moon.

    In the distance, a small dot began to growrger, drawing Ren''s attention. He watched it carefully, recognizing the sleek body frame of an approaching aircraft. A soft beep in his earpiece followed, indicating an iing transmission.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Ren, this is the pick-up team. We''re en route to your location. Estimated arrival in five minutes," a calm, female voice spoke through the earpiece.

    Ren nodded to himself, his eyes never leaving the approaching aircraft.

    "Copy that," he replied. "We''ll be ready for you."

    He turned back towards the inside of the fortress, where the rest of his team was beginning to settle in for the night.

    "Heads up, everyone," Ren called out, his tone serious but not harsh. "The pick-up team is on their way. Just keep an eye out while I and the captain talk."

    Hiroshi looked up from his spot against the wall, his eyes half-open with exhaustion.

    "Already? They must be eager to get their hands on the loot."

    Razogrin grunted as he agreed, shifting slightly to get morefortable.

    "Not surprised." He nced over at Alister, noticing he was still sleeping. "Tsk... The kid is a deep sleeper."

    "You can''t me him, though. I''m sure controlling a mythical drake to hunt monsters down would be exhausting for anyone," Hiroshi said as he slowly stood up.

    Ren then walked away.

    As the aircraft flew closer, its full frame became clearer a sleek, ck ship designed for speed and efficiency, with the White Comet''s emblem on its side.

    The craft slowed as it approached the fortress, itsnding gear deploying slowly. The ground shook slightly as it touched down, dust kicking up in a small cloud around it.

    The hatch on the side of the aircraft hissed open, and a ramp extended to the ground. The first to step out was a woman with striking blue hair that flowed like water down her back, matching her piercing blue eyes.

    She wore a white and ck tech suit designed for mobility and protection, though not as advanced as the ones Ren and the others had on. She had a confident andposed air as she approached Ren.

    She was Seraphine, leader of the harvesting team, a simple woman who''d rather be back at the guild ying games than out in the wastnds cutting monster guts open, but her B-rank talent, Appraiser, made her perfect for this role. Only a fool would turn down an offer from a top guild when there was practically no risk involved.

    "Ren," she greeted with a nod.

    "Seraphine," Ren acknowledged her with a nod of his own. "Good to see you."

    Seraphine''s eyes swept over the fortress and the team inside, assessing their condition.

    "Brought you some food supplies, as well as some stamina potions. I''m sure you guys are already out," she said, pointing towards the aircraft, where a few crates were being unloaded by her team. "Figured you''d need it after a day like this."

    Ren let out a sigh, ncing back at his tiredrades. "You''re not wrong. We could use the energy."

    "I was actually busy with a lot of other things yesterday, so I didn''t remember to get us any." "Wait, really? You of all people forgot something?" Seraphine asked with a look on her face as she folded both arms.

    "You make it sound like an impossibility. I am human too, you know," Ren said as he adjusted his sses, making them glow as he looked away in slight shame.

    "Seems something important must havee up to make even you miss something." She let out a sigh. "Oh well, must be the stress of the wastnds getting to you." She then paused, cing her hand thoughtfully under her jaw as she said, "Speaking of wastnds, how far do you think you and your team can push tomorrow morning? The more kills you rack up, the better our chances of staying ahead in the points."

    Ren considered her question, his mind was already mapping out the potential routes and targets for the next day.

    "We can push pretty far. Alister has proven to be powerful enough to handle sectors on his own, so I''m sure we can rely on him a bit more. The team''s exhausted, but we''ll manage. As long as we y it smart."

    Seraphine nodded. "Good. Just keep in mind that the other guilds, especially the Reapers, aren''t even sleeping."

    Ren''s eyes widened slightly. "What? They''re still out there?"

    Seraphine gave him a pointed look. "Yeah, they are going totally bananas out there. You can check for yourself. Your suit''s live stream function should give you a pretty good view of what everyone else is up to."

    With a quick click of his mod, Ren activated the live stream on his suit, projecting a series of feeds onto a holographic disy. His eyes scanned through the streams, showing scenes ofbat. The Blue Seals, Berserkers, and Red Phoenix were also still in the field, pushing their limits as they tore through the wastnd''s hordes.

    Ren let out a low sigh. "They''re really not holding back..."

    Seraphine crossed her arms. "And it''s only going to get tougher. Word is the guild masters haven''t even joined the raid yet. They''re still back in the city, locked in some kind of meeting with the Union President. Once they arrive, things are going to kick into high gear."

    Ren''s jaw tightened as he processed her words. "So we''ve only seen the beginning."

    "Exactly."

    "Make sure your team''s ready for it."

    As she spoke, two more figures emerged from the aircraft-the explosive duo, none other

    than Axel and Blitz.

    Axel, walking out, immediately noticed the countless corpsesying around, he let out a low

    whistle.

    "Looks like you guys really did a number on the monsters today."

    Blitz, not one to be left out, spoke up with a grin. "Yeah, where''s that spot Alister raided by himself? Bro took down a whole horde!"

 Chapter 112: A need For Urgency Part Two

    Chapter 112: A need For Urgency Part Two

    ?

    Ren''s eyebrows rose as he looked at Axel and Blitz, surprise in his eyes.

    "What are you two doing here?"

    "They volunteered to help with the harvesting," Seraphine said before either of them could speak.

    Ren sighed as he looked between Seraphine and the two pranksters.

    "Do you let just anyone into the wastnds now because they volunteer?"

    Seraphine shrugged. "They''re part of Razogrin''s attack team, so having them lend a hand with the loot doesn''t seem like a bad idea."

    Blitz, wanting to make things more interesting, walked up to Ren, striking a yful salute.

    "Team leader, Blitz reporting in for duty!"

    Axel, not wanting to be left out, did the same but with a more casual approach. "Yeah, thought we''de check out the action."

    Ren adjusted his sses, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "You two are thest people I expected to see here today, but now that you''re here, I suppose there''s nothing that can be done about it."

    Blitz''s eyes lit up with excitement. "Awesome! So, where did Alister go? I wanna see where he burned down that whole hor-"

    "But, just to be clear, if either of you pulls anything funny, I''ll be sure to report it to Lady Aiko immediately." Before she could finish her question, Ren interjected, his tone turning serious. The mention of Lady Aiko''s name caused Axel and Blitz to pale instantly.

    Axel shrugged awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood. "N-no need to be so serious, Sir. We just wanna see some burnt monsters."

    Ren raised an eyebrow. "Better be just that, or you''ll be facing Miss Aiko when we get back." Both Axel and Blitz turned around slowly, their enthusiasmpletely evaporated. "Forget about where Alister went," Blitz said, her voice barely a whisper.

    "W-we''ll just go help the others."

    Ren narrowed his gaze, a touch of annoyance in his voice.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Good, be gone now. The sight of you two brings shbacks of that little prank you both pulled at the hot springs."

    "W-we''re going, sir!" Axel and Blitz yelled together, their voices echoing as they picked up the pace and ran away.

    "Good riddance," Ren said, turning his attention back to the livestream.

    Seraphine chuckled. "Geez, sometimes you''re just as intense as Lady Aiko."

    "It''s only natural. She is another role model of mine," Ren said, still gazing at the livestream.

    Seraphine raised an eyebrow. "Okay, so what''s your n?"

    Ren nodded. "With this new information, it seems the good night''s rest we were all looking forward to can kiss goodbye. I''m already missing it since I didn''t have my share. Seems I''ll wake the others and tell them we need to push forward. I don''t want to bring shame to Master Yuuto again this year."

    Seraphine let out a sigh beneath her mask. "d you figured it out. So, I''ll go join the rest of my team with the harvesting. I''ve wasted enough time in chit-chat already."

    Ren nodded again. "The others and I will be leaving after you all are done with the harvesting to prevent any slip-ups. How long do you think it will take you?"

    Seraphine paused, considering her answer as she ced her hand under her jaw thoughtfully. "Probably another three hours. You guys really did a number out here, so it could even take longer."

    "No problem then," Ren replied. "Take your time."

    Ren turned to face the makeshift fortress, an intense look in his eyes. The news of the other guilds pushing their limits had ignited a fire within him. He couldn''t let his team fall behind. As he stepped back in, Hiroshi and Razogrin noticed him, their eyes heavy with exhaustion. "Wake the others," Ren ordered, "It seems we''ll be moving again sooner than expected." Goro stirred, his voice thick with sleep. "How so?"

    "ording to the livestream, the other guilds are still killing monsters, the reapers especially," Ren exined, his eyes still fixed on the holographic disy.

    Razogrin grunted, a touch of annoyance in his voice. "Crazy bastards. I hope they break an arm or two from overexertion, chugging down those stamina potions like water."

    Ren closed the holographic window with a swipe of his hand. "Can''t really me them. It''s apetition after all."

    Goro, who had been woken up by the sound of their voices, slowly rose and stretched, a pop echoing through the small space.

    "Seems we have our work cut out for us."

    Razogrin let out a low chuckle, his eyes half-closed.

    "You''re up early, big guy. Seems you want to get some action in too."

    Goro cracked his neck with a series of sharp snaps. "Not a bad idea if it will secure us the win. Hopefully they aren''t like this every day, or else one of us could get burned out quick."

    Ren nodded, his gaze flicking between the two. "Nice to see you''re both as alert as ever." He turned to face the others, his voice firm. "Although it''s a bit early, we''re moving out soon."

    As the team prepared to resume their journey, Seraphine and her team worked as quickly as they could, separating valuable materials from the monster corpses.

    Axel and Blitz, deciding to keep their word, helped in pulling apart the monsters and not causing any trouble.

    Just as Seraphine had predicted, her team finished their task in three hours. They loaded the gathered materials into the aircraft; they were all exhausted but proud of a job well done.

    Ren opened a channel to Kaida. "Kaida, wake up. We''re moving."

    A momentter, Kaida''s sleepy voice came through thems. "Huh? It''s time already?"

    "Change of ns," Ren replied. "We''re moving now."

    Kaida yawned loudly as she stretched her arms. "Why are you waking me up now? Thought we still had a few more hours."

    "Change of ns, we''ll be leaving immediately for the next sector," Ren exined. "But before that, we need to eat something before we go."

    Kaida considered this for a moment. "Did Seraphine bring any biggernd transport this time? It would be nice to catch up on some sleep while we drive."

 Chapter 113: To Learn From An Opponent

    Chapter 113: To Learn From An Opponent

    ?

    The supply of necessities was typically handled after a guild had cleared the area of surrounding monsters and secured the perimeter.

    It was done this way because, if they were attacked by a sudden influx of monsters while still in the process of offloading their transport from the aircraft, they would risk losing valuable supplies and potentially face greater casualties.

    So, it was decided that the pickup team would arrive with their supplies after the area had been cleared, ensuring a safe environment to offload supplies and harvest resources with a lower risk of monster attacks.

    Ren ced his hand under his jaw thoughtfully. "I''m not sure if I noticed arger truck out there. I was focused on the livestream, so I didn''t really check."

    Kaida let out a long sigh. "I''ll have to check it out myself then." She nced to her side and saw Alister, still fast asleep. She tapped his shoulder gently. "Alister, wake up. It''s time to eat."

    No response. A moment of silence passed as everyone stared at Alister.

    Kaida tapped his shoulder again, this time with more force. "Rise and shine!"

    Still no response. Razogrin raised an eyebrow. "Is he dead?"

    Hiroshi whipped his head towards Razogrin. "I know you don''t like the kid, but you don''t have to wish him death."

    Razogrin shrugged, his shoulders rising slightly. "It was just a question. Don''t make such a fuss over it."

    Before Hiroshi could respond, Ren spoke up. "He''s alright. His suit is still disying his life signals."

    "He must just be exhausted, that''s all."

    Goro pointed at Alister. "Should we leave him here to go eat then?"

    Ren shook his head. "No, it''s best to have him at our side. We don''t know what surprises the wastnd might throw our way."

    Kaida crossed her arms. "Nice and all, but who''s gonna carry him?"

    Razogrin, Goro, Hiroshi, and Rex exchanged a quick nce.

    Ren adjusted his sses. "Razogrin will do it."

    Razogrin scoffed. "Hell no. Unless you want to hear he identally slipped andnd on the floor with his back."

    Hiroshi rolled his eyes. "You make it sound like the armor we''re all wearing is made of paper."

    Razogrin smirked beneath his mask as he said, "Since you''re so sure, why don''t you be the one to do it?"

    Hiroshi red at Razogrin as he pointed his right hand at him. "Hey, that''s shifting the job to someone else. That''s irresponsible."

    Razogrin grinned. "Since you''re so responsible, why don''t you do it?"

    Hiroshi crossed his arms. "Hey, don''t use my words against me. That''s called cheating."

    Ren sighed, interrupting their bickering. He walked up to Alister and slowly lifted him from the ground. "He doesn''t look it, but he''s actually really heavy."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Ren grunted as he hoisted Alister onto his shoulder, the young man''s weight surprisingly much for his size.

    Without another word, he turned and began walking out of the makeshift fortress, making Razogrin and Hiroshi nce at each other and feel silently guilty.

    ...

    Kan and Alexei charged at each other with a burst of speed, their swords trailing arcs of lightning as they moved.

    The battlefield seemed to blur around them, the two warriors bing streaks of light and shadow as they closed the distance. Kan''s eyes were locked on Alexei''s, every muscle in his body tensed and ready.

    Their swords met in a blinding sh, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through the ground. Sparks flew as the des ground against each other, purple lightning crackling around them.

    Kan gritted his teeth, pushing forward, but Alexei was stronger. He twisted his wrist, deflecting Kan''s sword to the side and forcing him to stumble back a step.

    Not giving Kan a moment to recover, Alexei followed up with a swift sh aimed at Kan''s midsection.

    Kan barely managed to parry, his sword shaking in his grip as he was driven back again. His boots skidded across the ground, kicking up dust as he struggled to maintain his bnce.

    Alexei pressed the advantage. He charged forward, his de slicing through the air. Kan dodged to the side, his body twisting to avoid the strike, but Alexei was already twisting his swing, bringing his sword down in a vertical arc.

    Kan raised his sword just in time, the des meeting with a sharp ng that sent vibrations up his arm.

    ''I have to find a way to keep up with him; he''s far more skilled than I am. The way he fights seems so refined yet so barbaric,'' Kan''s thoughts raced.

    The force of the blow sent Kan stumbling back, his feet barely finding grip on the uneven ground.

    Alexei charged with a fierce look in his eyes, his sword bing a blur as he unleashed a series of rapid strikes.

    Kan''s muscles strained as he blocked and parried, his movements growing increasingly desperate.

    ''He''s more experienced with a sword than I am. If things keep going like this, he''ll overpower me eventually.''

    They circled each other, their swords shing again and again, the sound of metal on metal ringing out across the battlefield.

    Each step they took sent clouds of dust billowing into the air, their feet leaving deep imprints in the bloodstained earth. Lightning crackled around them, the energy from their des sparking against the ground and vibrating the air with power.

    Kan''s breathing was ragged, his muscles burning from the effort of keeping up with Alexei''s attacks. He tried to find an opening, any gap in Alexei''s defenses, but the dragon knight was like a force of nature.

    Alexei''s sword came down in a powerful overhead strike, and Kan barely had time to raise his own de to block it. The impact forced him down to one knee, his arms trembling under

    the pressure.

    "What''s wrong, Kan?"

    "I thought you wanted to teach me a lesson?"

    "Is this all an Overlord''s sword can manage? Pathetic."

    Kan grunted, his teeth clenched as he fought to push back. But Alexei''s strength was overwhelming, and Kan could feel his own power waning.

    ''Come on, Alister, think. There must be something he''s doing that I''m not doing... Because this body is a lot more powerful than I''m used to, I can''t properly control my attacks without

    wasting energy.''

    ''I have to change that somehow.''

    Kan''s purple eyes became more focused as he gazed at Alexei, as if trying to learn

    something.

    Alexei felt something was off, so he twisted his de, forcing Kan''s sword to the side and

    leaving him open.

    Without pausing, Alexei''s fist shot forward, mming into Kan''s chest with the force of a sledgehammer. Kan was thrown back, his body tumbling through the air before crashing into the ground. He skidded to a halt, dust and dirt clinging to his armor as he struggled to

    rise.

 Chapter 114: Between Pride And Power

    Chapter 114: Between Pride And Power

    ?

    Alexei then began to slowly walk up to Kan, his voice filled with disdain as he spoke, his sword swung over his shoulder.

    "I don''t know what you think you''re up to. Maybe you''re possessed. Either way, I honestly don''t care anymore."

    "Since you can''t even use the fundamentals of our n''s arts, you''ve be a stain upon the pride of our n, and I shall now dly rid our bloodline of the disgrace of your ipetence."

    He slowly raised his great sword overhead. The rune markings around it glowed brightly, and the de seemed to glow as well, as if bing sharper.

    Kan''s thoughts raced as he processed his words. Time seemed to slow down as he did.

    ''Fundamentals?''n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    ''n arts? Of course, there''s something I''m doing wrong. Now that I think about it, I remember how Darven used to move.''

    ''There was a strange way he moved his tail whenever he ran, cing it on opposite sides of his body with each step forward.''

    ''How his legs seemed to grab the earth with their ws before he would move in an instantaneous burst of speed and the glowing symbol he had on his hand when he wielded his sword. It seemed to be what was responsible for making all those strange symbols on the sword light up.''

    ''Alexei is doing the same as well.''

    It was all starting to make sense now.

    ''Although there might be others I''m not aware of, I''m sure if I at least use what I know now...'' His purple eyes shone brightly as he thought further, slowly looking up at Alexei, his brain kicked into overdrive.

    ''...then things will y out differently.''

    ...

    Often, people wonder what makes a genius so terrifying. Some would say it''s their ability to think outside the box; others might argue it''s their ability to learn new things more quickly than others.

    While these are indeed true, they can also sometimes be achieved by the average person with a little more effort. So, what exactly makes them so terrifying?

    I''ll tell you.

    What makes a genius truly terrifying is their ability to see connections and possibilities that others cannot even fathom.

    It''s not just about thinking outside the box; it''s about creating entirely new boxes that redefine the rules of the game. Their minds work at a level that allows them to anticipate, innovate, and adapt in ways that leave others scrambling to catch up.

    It''s this drive to push boundaries and their ability to turn the seemingly impossible into reality that sets them apart and makes them so terrifying.

    Imagine trying to win at a game where the set rules change every time. Is that even possible? Well, let''s just say a genius would, and they would make it look easy while they do.

    ...

    In those split seconds when Alexei''s descending sword was practically inches away from slicing Kan''s head clean off, Kan, with a burst of speed, reached out his hand toward his sword he had dropped earlier.

    Tiny ripples of lightning could be seening from Kan''s outstretched palm, as if trying to connect with the distant weapon.

    The draconic crest on the back of his hand red to life, causing the sword to start vibrating. Tiny ripples of lightning began emanating from it, as if seeking a connection with the onesing from Kan''s outstretched hand.

    Some of them connected, and then, in a sudden burst of speed, the sword flew from the ground,nding its handle in his grasp.

    The runes on the sword now shone brightly, as did the de. In that fraction of a second, Kan spun around, bringing his sword in to counter Alexei''s.

    Sparks flew as a massive shockwave was created, causing dust to be kicked up, cracks to ripple in the floor beneath their feet, and lightning to crackle violently around them.

    Alexei gritted his teeth as he began to be pushed back while Kan slowly rose to his feet. Alexei was enraged at this turn of events.

    From his perspective, the battle he had been inches away from winning was now slipping out of reach. It seemed as though Kan had been toying with him.

    Why hide his strength and allow himself to be pushed around, only to fight back at thest moment?

    Was it due to the influence of the lord he had sworn his sword to? Had he thrown away his pride as a dragon? As a Valor-Void?

    Why hadn''t he given his best all along? Alexei couldn''t make sense of anything that was happening-all he knew was that he felt insulted.

    The fact that Kan hadn''t given his all in their fight felt like a p to his pride as a swordsman. He felt as if he was being looked down on, and he wouldn''t stand for it.

    "Kan, how dare you! What game are you ying? Are you looking dow-"

    Before Alexei could finish, Kan interrupted him, saying, "I see now, it''s called a dragon crest, a symbol of one''s bloodline."

    Alexei was confused as to why he said something like that now. "What are you-"

    Before he could ask further, Kan took a step forward, pushing him back as he continued to talk as if he couldn''t hear Alexei at all. "And apparently, it amplifies one''s capabilities by increasing mana cirction and using one''s draconic aura to enhance the destructive power of their bloodline ability."

    "Meaning, based on how well one can use their crest and how much mana they have, they could theoretically increase their capabilities infinitely."

    "Fascinating."

    Suddenly, with a burst of strength, Kan pushed Alexei back with a forceful swing of his sword. The force sent him back quite a distance, causing his legs to dig into the ground as he slowly came to a halt.

    He stood his ground, dust rising around him, obscuring Kan''s figure, except for his two glowing purple eyes as he slowly stepped forward.

    Alexei prepared to attack but paused, readying himself, knowing the battle was about to get

    much more intense than it was just a moment ago.

    Out of nowhere, the system''s voice echoed in Kan''s mind.

    [Congrats to the yer for personally grasping the concept of ''Dragon Crests.'']

    [Congrats to the yer for personally grasping the concept of ''Bloodline Abilities.''] [Notice! It has been detected that this is a penalty Quest so no rewards will be given!] Kan heard the system''s voice in his head but chose to ignore it. He was more focused on what was in front of him. He let out a sigh which came out as steam, his body was overheating.

    A slight side effect of what he pulled a moment ago, he then said, "The only problem is, just like anything else, it has its disadvantages."

    "Overcirction could cause one''s body to slowly overheat, eventually leading to mana veins

    bursting."

    "But with the crest, I now also have better control over my physical capabilities. Meaning I

    "What are you rambling on about?" Alexei yelled in anger, interrupting him.

    "What is wrong with you? Have you gone mad? Is that what this is? Madness="

    "Madness, sanity... does it really matter? What matters is who stands at the end."

    Kan said, interrupting him, his intense gaze seeming to pierce through his soul. Alexei felt increasingly infuriated and was about to speak up again before Kan said, "So now, let''s try

    this again!"

 Chapter 115: A Voice

    Chapter 115: A Voice

    ?

    Kan''s thoughts raced as he assumed a battle-ready stance, leaning forward, his hand tightening around the hilt of his greatsword.

    ''Grip the earth... Lean forward, circte your mana...''

    Cracks rippled beneath his feet as the ws on his toes dug into the ground, anchoring him tightly.

    ''And leap forward.''

    In that instant, Kan sprang forward, his body streaking across the earth as purple lightning crackled around him.

    The ground beneath him buckled from the force of his leap, sending shards of stone flying as he moved.

    Arriving right before Alexei, he paused momentarily to swing his sword.

    Alexei barely had time to react; from his perspective, Kan closed the distance in the blink of an eye.

    Instinctively, he swung his own sword in a wide, vertical downward arc, aiming to intercept Kan''s strike.

    But Kan''s speed was too much. Instead of meeting Kan''s de head-on, Alexei''s sword seemed to cut through empty space, or rather an afterimage.

    His eyes widened in shock, ''What? Where did he go?'' his thoughts racing as he scanned his surroundings in those split seconds.

    "You''re wide open." A deep voice said behind him, though it was clearly close by, because at the speed they were traveling, it would take a couple more seconds before any sound would reach his ears.

    He instantly knew it was Kan. Alexei looked behind him, where the voice came from, his eyesnding on Kan who had already leaned back, ready to attack.

    Alexei wanted to counter, but the momentum of his earlier swing caused him to overextend slightly.

    Kan''s eyes narrowed as he adjusted his grip on his greatsword, shifting it into a reverse hold. His left foot nted firmly on the ground, and with a swift twist of his hips, he brought the de down in a diagonal sh aimed at Alexei''s exposed side.

    ...

    The de moved in a blur, whistling through the air. Alexei barely managed to bring his sword back in time, parrying the strike with a grunt of effort.

    The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, the force pushing Alexei back several feet, his boots carving grooves into the stone floor. Sparks flew from the sh of steel, lighting up the space between them in brief shes.

    As Alexei made a huge leap backward, Kanunched into a series of rapid strikes, each one faster than thest. His sword moved, cutting through the air in deadly arcs-horizontal shes aimed at Alexei''s midsection, upward strikes targeting his arms, and quick, jabbing thrusts intended to pierce through his armor.

    Alexei was forced on the defensive, his eyes wide with frustration and anger. He swung his sword desperately, trying to keep up with the barrage, gusts of wind created in the process whipped violently around them, leaving massive sword marks.

    His legs moved quickly to maintain his bnce-left foot stepping back, right foot sliding to the side, pivoting as he blocked and parried each blow. But Kan was faster, his movements a blur.

    Each time their swords collided as they charged around, Kan''s de seemed tond with even more force, pushing Alexei to the limit, disrupting his stance and throwing him off bnce.

    At one point, Kan feigned a downward sh, causing Alexei to raise his sword high in defense. But instead of following through, Kan twisted sharply on his left foot, rotating his body to the right. His sword arced in a low sweep aimed at Alexei''s legs, the movement so fast that the de was nearly invisible.

    Alexei barely managed to leap back, but not without sustaining some damage. The tip of Kan''s sword grazed his armor, cutting through the scales and grazing his flesh, drawing a thin line of blood. Alexei grimaced in pain, stumbling slightly as hended, but swiftly rising to his feet.

    Kan didn''t give him a moment''s rest. He leaped forward, his greatsword already in motion for another strike. This time, he aimed for Alexei''s sword arm. The de came down in a sharp arc, the force of the swing creating a rush of wind that sent dust swirling around them. Alexei raised his sword to block, but the force of Kan''s strike was too much. The impact jarred his arm, sending a massive numbing shock up to his shoulder.

    His grip loosened, and Kan seized the moment. With a quick flick of his wrist, Kan twisted his de against Alexei''s, using the chance to wrench the sword from his grasp.

    The sword ttered to the ground, skidding across the floor beforeing to a stop several feet away. Alexei stared in shock, his hand tingling from the loss of his weapon. He charged toward his sword, trying to mount a counterattack, but Kan was already moving.

    Arriving right in front of him before he could reach his sword, Kan nted his foot firmly on the ground and shot forward again, this time angling his body low as he approached. He brought his sword around in a wide, sweeping arc, the de slicing through the air. Alexei had no choice but to dive to the side, rolling across the ground to avoid the strike.

    But Kan was already anticipating his move. He shifted his weight onto his back foot and turned again, his sword following Alexei''s movements like a predator tracking its prey. As Alexei tried to rise to his feet, Kan was upon him, his sword arcing down in a powerful vertical sh aimed at Alexei''s leg.

    Alexei managed to twist his body at thest second, avoiding a direct hit, but the de still grazed his thigh, cutting through scale, flesh, and muscle. He cried out in pain, his leg buckling beneath him as he fell to one knee.

    Kan stood over him, his greatsword raised high, its de gleaming in the light. Alexei looked up, his face a look of pain, fear, and anger. He tried to summon the strength to move, to fight back, but his body refused to obey. The battle had drained him, and Kan''s relentless attacks had left him on the brink of copse.

    Kan, breathing heavily but stillposed, slowly lowered his sword until the tip hovered just above Alexei''s chest. His purple eyes, glowing with the remnants of his lightning surge, locked onto Alexei''s.

    "It''s over, Alexei," Kan said, raising his sword, about to thrust it down and end his life. But then he felt a strange sensation in his chest as it suddenly tightened, causing him to pause and

    grip it tightly.

    ''W-what is this pain?'' Kan wondered. Out of nowhere, he heard a voice echoing in his head,

    definitely not belonging to the system.

    ~''It''s not his fault, he''s only a child.''~

    ~ ''He mes me for everything because he''s still not ready to face the truth of what happened; the pain would be too much for him to bear.''~n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ~''He may hate me for what he believes is the truth, but I won''t hate him; that''s what a big brother would do.''~

    The voice belonged to Kan, the original owner of the body Alister''s mind now inhabited. The words didn''t seem like they were directed at him, but rather as if they were Kan''s own

    thoughts.

    For the first time since Alister''s time as Kan, the body and mouth moved without his will.

    "I could end this now," Kan said. "But I won''t. This ends with you defeated, not dead.

    Learn from this, Alexei. Learn the difference between pride and arrogance."

    "My lord will unite us all under his protective barrier, and we won''t have anything to worry about. Not even the darkness."

    With that, Kan stepped back, withdrawing his sword and allowing Alexei to slump to the ground, clutching his wounded leg. The battle was over.

 Chapter 145: Blinding Speed, Crimson Rage

    Chapter 145: Blinding Speed, Crimson Rage

    ?

    Darvenunched himself at the Crimson Berserk Ape, his feet propelling him forward with blinding speed.

    The ape, still trying to recover from the initial wound, tried to brace itself, but Darven''s speed was unmatched.

    He swung his tail in a wide arc, the sword at its tip gleaming as it sliced through the air. The de struck the ape''s shoulder, cutting through its tough, metallic hide and drawing blood.

    ...

    "This is incredible," Elena eximed. "I''ve never seen a giant ss move so fast."

    "Alister''s dragon definitely has the upper hand," Marcus agreed. "But that ape... still hasn''t shown us all it can do."

    ...

    The ape staggered back, its massive fists mming into the ground to steady itself. The impact sent shockwaves through the earth, creating deep cracks and causing the ground to shake violently.

    Magma erupted from the fissures, adding a hellish glow to the battlefield. Darven, unfazed, continued his attacks.

    Darven became a blur as he darted around the ape, his massive steps seeming to cause miniature earthquakes around the area, shing with his sword and striking with his ws. Each attack targeted the ape''s vital points, leaving deep gashes in its metallic flesh.

    ...

    "Direct hit!" Marcus cheered. "That''s gotta hurt. Is it just me or does it look like Alister''s dragon is fighting with some sort of... Dragon swordsmanship?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "You are not the only curious one, Elena." Marcus leaned forward slightly, "Although we may not be certain what it is, it''s clear to everyone watching that those are not just random movements."

    ...

    The ape roared in pain and frustration, its massive fists swinging wildly as it tried to catch Darven. But Darven was too fast, his lightning-fast reflexes allowing him to dodge every blow easily.

    With each passing second, Darven''s attacks seemed to get even faster. He soared into the air, then dove down with his sword extended, the de cutting through the ape''s thick hide and leaving a trail of sparks in its wake.

    ...

    "It''s... it''s moving even faster... How is that even possible?"

    "Beats me. If giant ss monsters start possessing the speed of tiny types, I can''t help but fear for the fate of humanity if we were to encounter one that isn''t tamed."

    "It would be a true disaster, that''s for sure. With speed like that, an entire raid team could be decimated in an instant," Marcus replied with a grim tone.

    "That may and may not be true," Elena said with a curious expression on her face. "How so?"

    "Our guild leaders should be more than capable of matching that speed. Even someone like Lady Anya has an SSS rank talent that enhances all of her physical capabilities, so she should be able to surpass it if she got carried away in the heat of battle."

    "So if a raid team led by her were to encounter such a monster, I''m sure it would most certainly not be a threat for long."

    "Seems you have a point, Elena. Alright, enough of that. Let''s keep our focus on our screens so we can find out who will be the winner in this sh of giants."

    ...

    The ape''s roars of fury grew louder, shaking the air and causing the ground to tremble. Elena and Marcus watched in awe, their eyes wide with shock.

    As if on cue, the Crimson Berserk Ape''s eyes glowed bright crimson. It let out a deafening roar, the sound vibrating through the wastnds and causing the ground to quake.

    The ape''s muscles bulged as it suddenly charged forward, faster, more frenzied. It had entered its Berserk state.

    ...

    "It appears the battle is about to get even more intense... I''m getting chills just thinking about it," Marcus said with a slight chuckle.

    ...

    Darven''s eyes narrowed as he sensed the change. The ape''s massive fist swung toward Darven, and he barely managed to twist his body out of the way.

    The impact sent Darven flying, his body crashing into a nearby massive ruined structure and shattering it into pieces.

    ...

    For a moment, bothmentators paused as they seemed lost in thought.

    "M-Marcus, did you see that? The crimson ape, did it move or did it... teleport?"

    "I''m not too sure myself, Elena. One moment it was here, the next it was sending Alister''s dragon flying."

    "What do you say we have a quick backtrack and watch it in slow motion?"

    "Good idea, Elena."

    With that, the live feed momentarily cut, now disying the scene that urred a moment ago, reying in slow motion. Even at this speed, Marcus and Elena couldn''t believe what

    they saw.

    "The ape... it actually moved..." Marcus said with awe.

    "That was really unbelievable. I guess every new year is always filled with new discoveries. Imagine giant ss monsters with such bizarre speed; it seems the union may have to create a new division of sses under the giant ss."

    ...

    Darven''s scales cracked, blood seeping from the wound.

    "You have managed to wound me... Impressive!"

    Darven''s words seemed to rile up the ape, causing it to charge at him, its eyes filled with rage,

    its roar shaking the air.

    Darven got back on his feet, his wings beating weakly as he tried to steady himself.

    His eyes locked onto the charging Crimson Berserk Ape. His wings unfurled with a powerful p, propelling him back into the fray.

    He lunged forward, aiming a swift strike at the ape''s side, but the ape''s speed matched his. It twisted its massive body, dodging Darven''s attack, and retaliated with a backhanded fist that struck Darven''s chest, sending him skidding across the ground.

    Darven dug his ws into the earth to halt his momentum, tearing up chunks of rock and soil. He leaped into the air, his tail swinging in a deadly arc, the sword at its tip aiming for the

    ape''s throat.

    The ape caught the de with its hand, its metallic hide sparking against the steel. It roared, pulling Darven closer and delivering a bone-crushing punch to his midsection.

    The force of the punch sent shockwaves through Darven''s body. He gasped for air, feeling the sharp pain. He retaliated with a flurry of shes, each one faster than thest.

    His ws raked across the ape''s face, leaving deep gashes, but the ape seemed unfazed. It roared in rage, throwing a series of punches.

 Chapter 117: Return Part Two

    Chapter 117: Return Part Two

    ?

    Kan guided the dragon into a slow descent, its wings gradually retracting as they neared the ground. The dragon''s powerful body moved through the streets until they reached an expansive courtyard near the grand citadel.

    The courtyard was filled with dragons resting on stone perches and dragon kin going about their duties. As Kan''s dragon touched down, the sound of itsnding vibrated through the stone.

    The dragon kin paused in their tasks to look up, some nodding in respect as they recognized the rider.

    Kan dismounted smoothly, his armored boots clicking against the polished stone floor as hended.

    He took a moment to pat the dragon, showing his thanks before handing the reins to a nearby attendant, who bowed before leading the dragon away to be cared for.

    Alister noticed losing control of the body again.

    ''At this point, I''m sure this is something the system isn''t aware of,'' Alister thought in Kan''s mind.

    The grand citadel stood before him, its towering structure and marvelous walls proof of the power and legacy of the dragon overlords.

    Kan made his way toward it, his steps echoing softly, his focus now on the task ahead- reporting to his lord.

    ''It''s like a massive castle, though it would nearly be an insult to call it just that...'' Alister thought as he took in the marvel through Kan''s eyes.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The massive gates of the citadel opened as he approached, the dragon knight guards standing at attention. Kan nodded to them, and they responded with a salute.

    Inside, the grandeur of the citadel was even more visible. The walls were covered with carvings depicting the legendary battles and triumphs of dragon lords throughout history. Torches flickered, casting long shadows along the stone corridors as Kan walked through. He passed by other riders and dragon kin, all of whom respectfully stepped aside as he made his way deeper into the citadel.

    The air was filled with the faint scent of incense and the distant echo of dragon roars from the mountains outside.

    Finally, Kan reached the doors of the throne room. Two enormous doors, delicately carved with the symbols of the dragon lords, stood before him.

    The guards stationed there pushed the doors open, revealing the vast hall inside.

    The throne room was a sight to behold-its high ceilings supported by massive golden pirs carved to resemble dragons.

    At the far end of the hall sat the throne of Hazerion, the first heir and lord of Ta''hedra.

    The throne itself was made of gleaming ck stone, with gold embedded around it along

    with glowing red gemstones that pulsed like the very heart of a dragon.

    ''He has such a powerful aura... Why did the system say he is weak?''

    ''I may not bepletely certain, but I''m sure he''s stronger than Kan.''

    Hazerion sat upon the throne, his presencemanded attention. His eyes, a deep molten gold, and his hair, spun silver, with a single ck strand, a pair of elegantly curved golden horns came out both sides of his skull, curving upwards. On both sides of the room stood his generals, five on one side, and four on the other, the ce where Kan should be.

    Hazerion watched as Kan approached. The room was silent, a little too silent.

    Kan walked forward, his footsteps echoing in the vast chamber. When he reached the foot of the throne, he stopped and, with a deep breath, lowered himself to one knee. Bowing his head, he ced a fist over his heart in a show of respect.

    "My lord Hazerion..."

    "...I have returned from the battlefield. The mission waspleted, though there isn''t much to report."

    "We suffered some casualties, but many of our riders returned."

    He paused for a moment, then said, "I stand ready to serve as youmand."

    The room remained silent as Hazerion''s gaze lingered on his general.

    Hazerion''s gaze softened slightly, and he seemed to exhale before he finally spoke.

    "Well done, Kan..."

    "...you have served me well, and your dedication does not go unnoticed."

    Kan, still on one knee, felt a sense of gratitude. His lord''s praise meant more to him than any title or treasure.

    It was the acknowledgment he sought, the assurance that his efforts were valued. Raising his head slightly, Kan looked up at Hazerion.

    "Thank you, my lord..."

    "...It is an honor to serve you and the realm."

    For a moment, there was silence.

    One of the generals, however, stepped forward, her armor glinting in the torchlight as she moved.

    This was General Lyria Von Nata-Void, a nature dragon of the highest order, known for her wisdom and fiercebat prowess.

    She was a striking figure, with long, flowing green hair and deep green eyes.

    Lyria''s gaze locked onto Kan with an expression that was both curious and challenging.

    "You took your time returning, Kan."

    "What dyed you? Surely the battlefield did not pose too great a challenge for someone of your skill."

    Kan, who had risen to his feet by now, gazed back at Lyria without flinching. He respected her immensely, knowing that behind herposed exterior was a warrior who had seen countless battles and emerged victorious from each one.

    Lyria''s questions were never frivolous; they were always aimed at uncovering truths that others might overlook.

    "There wereplications," Kan admitted.

    "But they were nothing I couldn''t handle in the end. The enemy was more... cunning than we anticipated, and they employed tactics that required a... different approach. However, I ensured that our objectives were met, and our forces returned with minimal casualties." Lyria''s eyes flickered with something simr to approval, though she did not express it openly. Instead, she nodded slowly.

    "Complications," she repeated, almost to herself.

    "War is full of them. It''s good to know you were able to adapt. We cannot afford to underestimate our enemies, especially now."

    Kan inclined his head as he agreed. He knew that Lyria''s concern was not a personal slight but a reflection of her deep-seatedmitment to the realm and its people. She had a reputation for being a perfectionist, someone who demanded the best not only from herself

    but from those around her.

    Hazerion, who had been observing the exchange with a thoughtful expression, leaned forward slightly on his throne. The movement drew everyone''s attention back to him, the air

    in the room shifting once more.

    "That is indeed good to hear," Hazerion said.

    Kan, facing his lord, then asked, "Indeed, my lord, again, how is your training of your barrier going? The darkness could arrive soon; it is important you are prepared when it does."

 Chapter 118: Shadows And Scales

    Chapter 118: Shadows And Scales

    ?

    By "barrier," Kan was referring to Hazerion''s bloodline ability, ''Scales of the Overlord.'' Unlike the other dragon ns, the royal one didn''t inherently possess the exact same dragon crest. Instead, they possessed parts of the full crest that the first proud dragon overlord, the dragon god, had all over his body.

    What this meant for them was that each royal family member would possess the crest mostpatible with them. However, it wasn''t impossible for a royal family member to be born with more than one crest at the same time, as was the case with the second heir, who had three crests on his body.

    Although there were also cases where a member born with one crestter awakened another, such instances in dragon history can be counted on one hand.

    Hazerion''s expression seemed to change slightly as if the question somewhat unsettled him. He looked slightly downcast, although the rest of his generals couldn''t tell because they hadn''t known him for long. Kan, who had always been by his side, could instantly tell, although he chose to say nothing of it.

    ~''I''m sure he''s trying as hard as he can. Asking like that must have put pressure on him.''~ Alister heard Kan thinking to himself.

    ....

    Hazerion''s gaze lingered on Kan for a moment before he rose from his throne. "Kan," he said calmly.

    "Follow me."

    Kan immediately bowed, his armored fist once again crossing over his chest.

    "As youmand, my lord."

    He replied, rising swiftly to his feet. He moved, following Hazerion as they exited the throne

    room.

    As they passed through the massive golden doors, Kan nced briefly back at the throne

    room.

    The doors slowly shut behind them, the sound echoing through the corridors. Hazerion walked at a calm pace, his silver hair swaying gently with each step, while Kan kept a respectful distance behind him.

    Back in the throne room, the silence that followed Hazerion and Kan''s departure was quickly broken by one of the remaining generals.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    A tall, broad-shouldered dragon knight with deep blue and white hair, with some of his blue scales shimmering on his body, stepped forward.

    His name was General Seraphis Von Azure-Void, a sky dragon well known for his calm demeanor and strategic mind.

    Seraphis turned to Lyria.

    "Do you believe our lord will be able to master his ability before the darkness eventually arrives?"

    Lyria considered the question carefully before responding.

    "Our lord has great potential..."

    "...but the strength of his bloodline ability is one that matures with age. Just as our scales grow harder over time, so too does his power. Trying to push him too quickly will yield little progress. The barrier is not something that can be rushed."

    Seraphis nodded, though his expression remained troubled. "Then time is not on our side," he murmured, more to himself than to Lyria.

    Before Lyria could respond, another voice cut through the room-a voice that most of the generals in the room found most unpleasant.

    General Neli''raj Von Abyss-Void, an ck Drake-an evil n that exists to carry out an Overlord''s devious deeds so he need not sully himself. Often mistaken as members of the Abkis-Void n due to both having simr qualities, like their silver hair, red eyes, ck scales and ck horns.

    But unlike them, and all the other ns, the Abyss-Void n took pride and pleasure in being as ruthless, cunning, underhanded, and nefarious as possible. Their bloodline ability, ''No Order,'' allowed them to temporarily alter or disregard certainws-Celestial or physical- but it could only be used on onew at a time, and thew could only be disregarded to the extent of their mastery of their crest.

    Although their loyalty to their lord was never questionable, for it was to serve that was their whole reason for existing, all dragons couldn''t help but feel uneasy around them. They were the reverse scale of dragon nature, and most didn''tpletely ept or even see them as dragons.

    Neli''raj leaned forward from where he stood. His presence was unsettling, his expression twisted into a grin that barely concealed his psychotic tendencies.

    Neli''raj''s voice was sharp and taunting as he asked, "So, are we all doomed to die then?"

    He chuckled, his eyes gleaming with a perverse kind of amusement.

    "If our lord cannot master his ability in time, will we all be reduced to nothing by the darkness?"

    The question seemed to hang in the air, his words causing the air in the throne room to suddenly feel uneasy. The other generals exchanged nces, but no one spoke.

    Neli''raj seemed to enjoy the difort he had caused, his grin widening as he watched for their reactions.

    Lyria, however, did not flinch. She gazed back at Neli''raj.

    "We are warriors..."

    "...we face death every day. If ites to that, we will fight to ourst breath. But do not underestimate our lord. He may be young, but his resolve is strong, and his potential is vast. The darkness is formidable, but so are we."

    Neli''raj''s grin faded slightly, but he quickly grinned widely again, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at Lyria.

    "Oh please, spare me the warrior crap. You, I, and the rest of us here all know we''re nothing but cowards. We didn''t want to die facing the darkness, and that was what drove us to swear our loyalty to the first heir."

    "Hoping his barrier that somehow protected him would do the same for us."

    "I mean, how wouldn''t we? We were terrified. Imagine a formless monster that not only ended the previous Overlord but took each of our n heads out with him as well. That thing ended my father, and he already scared me to the point I couldn''t look at his face, so something taking him outpletely shook me to my core."

    "Though watching the old man die was a delight in all the chaos, the face he made at the end got my blood all hot and pumping!"

    Neli''raj''s dark chuckle echoed through the throne room, his twisted grin still stered on his face. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he observed their reactions. Suddenly, another general stepped forward, he gave of a high and mighty aura. His hair was a deep crimson, matching the embers that flickered within his fiery gaze, a pair of deep red horns on the sides of his head.

 Chapter 119 In The Shadow Of The Dragon God

    Chapter 119 In The Shadow Of The Dragon God

    Some of his dark red scales emerged on his skin, adding to his imposing presence. This was General Vaelor Von Ember-Void, arval dragon known for his intense aggression in battle.

    "Enough..." he said, directing his words at Neli''raj.

    "...you disgust me, filth."

    Neli''raj''s grin widened, his eyes gleaming with a sadistic look. He straightened up, his posture shifting to a bow, a fake disy of respect.

    "I''m d I was able to get to you, Vaelor. It''s been too quiet around heretely."

    Vaelor''s eyes narrowed as the floor beneath them began to heat up, and he stepped closer to Neli''raj.

    "Care to repeat that? You filth?"

    Before things could escte further, another general intervened. She moved gracefully, with silver hair, yellow eyes, and a pair of elegant white horns curving back from her head. This was General Elzora Von Seraph-Void, a celestial dragon.

    "Enough, both of you," Elzora said.

    She positioned herself between the two, her gaze steady as she looked from Vaelor to Neli''raj.

    "Do you not feel ashamed, bickering like children in our lord''s throne room? We are supposed to be the pirs of his strength, not petty squabblers."

    Neli''raj''s grin faded slightly, though he still held onto his mocking demeanor.

    Vaelor, on the other hand, took a step back, his expression still hardened, but he respected Elzora enough to refrain from pressing the issue further.

    Elzora''s gaze softened just a fraction as she spoke. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Our lord has greater concerns than our petty squabbles. We face a darkness that threatens to consume us all. We must focus on that, not on our differences."

    Neli''raj crossed his arms, still grinning but less openly hostile.

    "You were always the voice of reason, Elzora. But some of us cope with the inevitable in different ways."

    Vaelor gave a low, frustrated growl but kept his distance, his eyes still locked on Neli''raj.

    "Watch your tongue, Neli''raj. You may serve our lord in your twisted way, but your methods disgust me, and they always will."

    Elzora sighed, sensing that while they had calmed down, there was still tension between them.

    "Let us focus on our duties. Our lord needs us united, not divided. The darkness will not wait for us to settle our differences."

    The air in the room remained tense, each general lost in their own thoughts about the uncertain future thaty ahead. Elzora turned her gaze back to the closed doors of the throne room, silently hoping that Hazerion would indeed prove himself before it was toote.

    ...

    As Hazerion and Kan walked through the silent corridors of the castle, the flickering torches cast long shadows on the walls. Hazerion led Kan to a part of the castle that few had ever seen. They approached arge set of golden doors adorned with carvings of dragons, their scales gleaming in the dim light.

    Without a word, Hazerion raised his hand, and the doors slowly opened, revealing a passageway.

    The walls of the passage were lined with golden runes, glowing faintly as if recognizing Hazerion''s presence. Kan, sharp-minded, felt a sense of awe as they continued deeper into the secured passage.

    Finally, they arrived at another set of doors, even grander than the first. Hazerion paused for a moment before pushing them open, revealing a massive chamber beyond. Inside, the chamber was filled with countless treasuresˇŞgolden coins, priceless artifacts, ancient weapons, and shimmering jewels of every color imaginable. The air was thick with the scent of old magic, and the atmosphere felt almost sacred.

    Hazerion walked slowly through the treasury, ncing at the treasures as if they were insignificantpared to the true prize hidden within. Kan followed closely behind, his eyes wide as he took in the vast wealth surrounding them.

    ''This is something else... It''s leagues ahead of what I saw at the White Comets... I mean, could anyone even use all this in their entire lifetime?'' Alister wondered as he gazed upon the mountains of treasure in this space.

    As they reached the center of the chamber, Hazerion stopped and turned to Kan.

    "Kan..."

    "...do you know the legends of ?Restria??"

    Kan shook his head slowly. "No, my lord. I have only ever heard that it is a sacred treasure to all dragonkind."

    Hazerion nodded, as if expecting the answer. "A tale is passed down about its story, one that few outside the royal bloodline know."

    He paused, his gaze drifting to arge, intricately carved pedestal at the far end of the chamber. "It is said that the dragon god, our first ancestor, was born from a willˇŞa will of a being even he could notprehend."

    Kan listened intently as Hazerion continued, "This being had a single wish for his creation. He said, ''I want you to be the one who brings about my downfall. Let me experience death for what it is.''"

    Kan''s eyes widened slightly at Hazerion''s words. He had never heard such a tale before. The idea that the dragon god, the most powerful of all beings, was created with the purpose of eventually destroying his creator was both unsettling and somwhat awe-inspiring.

    "Following his creator''s wish, the dragon god had to be unimaginably strong to achieve that goalˇŞso strong that it seemed impossible. And so, his creator gave him a gift, one that would allow him to grow stronger without limit."

    "It was ?Restria?."

    Hazerion''s gaze returned to Kan, a slight smile ying on his lips. "Do you know what happened next, Kan?"

    Kan shook his head once more. "No, my lord."

    Hazerion''s smile widened slightly, a look of nostalgia in his eyes. "The dragon god wreaked havoc in the cosmos, all for the sake of acquiring strength. For a long time, many did not know what to call this nameless creature. He brought forth not only destruction and agony but also a sense of ongoing inevitability, as if his deeds would continue for eternity."

    "And many wanted him gone, to be erased from existence. And thus, he was called a ''Dr-agon-on-gon,'' which meant ''Destruction, agony, all wish, would not go on for an eternity.''"

    Hazerion''s eyes gleamed as he smiled and then said, "But many said it was far too long, and thus he was called, a ''Dragon.''"

    "This history is etched in our nature, and it is why our aura is so intimidating to lesser creatures, why dragons always strive for strength despite how powerful we already may be."

    Alister, hearing all this in Kan''s mind, couldn''t help but wonder, ''Is this what the system wanted to teach me? If so, why do I have to die?''

    For the first time in a while, the system responded, [The yer needs to understand what happens to those who follow a weak Overlord.]

 Chapter 120: Hazerions Dilemma

    Chapter 120: Hazerion''s Dilemma

    ?

    Arriving before it, Kan''s eyes fell on a sword. It appeared to be made of pure gold, but one could tell from looking at it that was not the case. It seemed to twinkle with what looked like golden gxies inside of it. Along the sharp edge of the de were strange markings-runes, perhaps¨D different from normal, running from the tip to the golden handle, glowing white.

    Hazerion paused, his eyes lingering on the pedestal where ?Restriat rested.

    "The dragon god..."

    "......eventually grew strong enough to fulfill his creator''s final wish. With ?Restriat in hand, he ended the life of his creator, just as he was destined to."

    Hazerion''s eyes darkened as he continued, stepping closer to the sword, his gaze fixed on its gleaming de.

    "But after that... for reasons no one knows, he died. Whether it was instant or took a few years, no one can say for certain. Some believe it was the curse of the sword, others say it was the loss of purpose. But the fact remains, the dragon god, the most powerful being, met his end."

    Kan followed Hazerion in silence for a moment.

    Kan then decided to speak up.

    "Why are you telling me all this, Lord Hazerion?"

    Hazerion hesitated, his usual confident demeanor faded for just a moment. He nced at the sword, then back at Kan, his expression conflicted.

    "Because, Kan... I may not have made any progress so far-"

    ''Is this what the system is trying to talking about? Because he unable to grow strong fast enough he won''t be able to protect his people?'' Alister wonderd as he gazed upon Hazerion trough Kan''s eyes.

    Hazerion stopped, his voice catching in his throat. For a dragon lord of his stature to show such vulnerability was almost unheard of.

    He clenched his fists, taking a deep breath before continuing.

    "But I believe that if I can somehow get tRestriat to recognize me as a descendant of the dragon god, maybe... just maybe, I will be able to gain the strength needed. The strength to create a barrier strong enough to protect everyone."

    "Your n uses swords with runes like this one, right? I was thinking maybe you could-" Hazerion paused again, as if the words were trapped in his throat.

    Kan''s gaze lingered on ?Restriat, his expression hidden behind his helmet as he finally spoke.

    "Wielding a legendary sword like this and wielding an natural arms sword are twopletely different things, Lord Hazerion. Even someone like you should be well aware of that. The sword... it decides its wielder. And it''s not just anyone; it must be the overlord. And even among the overlords, the number who have been chosen by this legendary weapon can be counted on one hand. My lord... What I''m trying to say is... You should try to get over the thought of using tRestriat."

    "You have to first focus on bing the overlord..."

    "...first gaining recognition from the heirloom..."

    Hazerion stiffened, his eyes narrowing slightly as Kan''s words hit him. Before he could respond, Kan quickly spoke up.

    "I mean no disrespect, my lord, but-"

    Hazerion''s voice suddenly cut through the air, sharper than before. "I wouldn''t kill my brother... not for the throne, not for anything."

    Kan quickly spoke up, wanting to defend himself, "I didn''t say you have to be the one to kill him, my lord, just order someone else toˇŞ"

    "How will I be able to call him my brother after that?" Hazerion instantly said, yelling slightly.

    The tension in the room grew as Hazerion''s words hung in the air. His fists clenched, the golden light from tRestriat casting long shadows across the treasury.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Kan''s thoughts raced.

    ~ ''I''m just a Hippocrate, asking my lord to do something even I couldn''t go trough with... But if a decision isn''t made.... All of us will be doomed to perish.''~

    Kan immediately bowed, his head lowered. "I''m sorry for bringing it up, my lord. I was being far too forward. I''m just saying that if something isn''t done soon, it could be toote for all of us."

    There was a long pause, the weight of Kan''s words pressing heavily on both of them. Hazerion''s expression looked conflicted. Finally, he sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly as he wrestled with the decision.

    "Head back," Hazerion said, his voice quieter now. He turned away from Kan, his gaze once again fixed on ?Restriat, as if searching the de for answers he couldn''t find within himself. "I... I need time to think."

    "Yes my lord."

    Kan turned on his heel, ready to leave as instructed. Just as he reached the grand doors, the tter of footsteps echoed through the corridor outside.

    The doors burst open, and a dragon kin guard rushed in, his armor clinking as he moved. His face was paler than usual, sweat going down his brow. He dropped to one knee before Hazerion, his breathing in short, panicked bursts.

    "My Lord Hazerion!"

    "Your brother-he''s here! His forces have flown pasts the city walls! They''re invading as we speak!"

    "W-what? This isn''t what he and I agreed on. We said we wouldn''t pull innocent people into this?"

    Hazerion was referring to the agreement he had made with his brother: their generals would face off, and in the end, they would do the same. The one with the most victories would be dered the winner, and the loser would willingly surrender their life.

    Hazerion, who had grown to love his brother, now found himself in a position where he had to kill him to protect dragonkind, who desperately sought his protection. This tragic situation could have been avoided if their father had lived long enough to name a sessor.

    But since that didn''t happen, the brothers were forced to fight for the throne. In truth, Hazerion had no desire to rule; it was just that when the darkness first descended, he had been with his father, and many witnessed his ability to protect himself. Now, many sought to stand beside him.

    He couldn''t turn away those who had pledged their loyalty, so he had to fight his brother for their sake. He would have settled this personally, but their generals wanted to prove their loyalty, which led to this situation.

 Chapter 121: Sudden Change Of Plans

    Chapter 121: Sudden Change Of ns

    ?

    Now, Hazerion was thrust into a battle for the throne against his beloved brother because his people believed in him. He couldn''t abandon them without disgracing his father''s legacy. He had hoped that once the duel between the generals concluded, he could lose his match to his brother and die with the least disgrace possible.

    He was confident that his brother, a genius, would find a way to deal with the darkness once he was gone.

    But part of him felt guilty for wanting to die and leave it all behind. He saw how desperately his people clung to life, hoping he would save them, while he was ready to throw his own life away. So, he sought another way to grow stronger, which led him to seek tRestriat. Ironically, he needed to be an overlord before the question of his worthiness could even be considered.

    In the end, he was conflicted.

    There was no way out, no answer in sight, and he was gradually losing his will to live, though he hid it well. Questions about his progress in getting stronger only felt like jabs, deepening this feeling even further.

    Hazerion''s hands slowly clenched into fists, his gaze hardening as he processed the guard''s words. The conflicted emotions that had been visible moments ago were now reced with a serious expression.

    "How many of them?" Hazerion asked, his voice firm, though there was an

    Undeniable touch of anger.

    "Thousands, my lord," the guard answered, rising to his feet. "They came without warning, overwhelming the outer defenses. The city is in chaos."

    Kan stepped forward, "My lord, we need to act quickly. The defenses within the city won''t hold for long against the force of his generals along with an army of that size."

    Hazerion nodded, his expression darkening as he considered the dire situation.

    "Sound the rm. Mobilize every avable rider. We need to push them back before they reach the inner walls."

    The guard saluted sharply and turned to leave, but Hazerion stopped him with a raised hand. "And ensure the citizens are taken to safety. We cannot afford unnecessary casualties."

    "Yes, my lord!" the guard replied before sprinting out of the treasury, his footsteps echoing in the corridor.

    Kan looked at Hazerion and said, "My lord, now that things havee to this, you have to make up your mind. Do you wish to protect your people, or do you wish to spare the life of your brother?"

    His question caused Hazerion to visibly tense up.

    Kan bowed slightly to Hazerion before turning and rushing out of the treasury. The situation was serious, and every second was important. As he sprinted through the corridor, his mind raced with thoughts of the battle, the chaos that was about to unfold, and the choices Hazerion had to make.

    The hallway was dimly lit, the flickering torches casting long shadows against the stone walls. The sound of Kan''s armored boots echoed through the corridor as he moved. He turned a corner sharply, moving in a rush when suddenly-

    Thud.

    Kan collided with something soft, and a startled scream escaped the figure he had run into. He realized he had bumped into a young dragonkin maid, who had been carrying a stack of linens that nowy scattered across the floor.

    "I''m terribly sorry!"

    Kan immediately apologized, extending a hand to help her up. The maid, who appeared flustered but was unharmed, epted his hand. Her silver hair flowed down her back, and her dragon-like horns curled elegantly from her head. She seemed more surprised than anything.

    "T-thank you," she murmured as she rose to her feet, her golden eyes meeting his for a brief moment.

    Kan nodded, quickly gathering the scattered linens and cing them back in her arms. "My apologies again, but I must hurry."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    With that, he continued on his way, not allowing himself to linger. However, as he sped off down the corridor, the dragon maid''s eyes followed him, a confused expression crossing her face.

    In her right eye, a faint golden light slowly emerged, a small clock appearing within it for just

    a split second. She blinked, trying to make sense of what she had sensed.

    "How odd..."

    "I sense a time anomaly..."

    "Is it him? Did he really..."

    ...

    Kan quickened his pace but refrained from running at full speed within the halls of his lord''s home.

    Passing by maids and guards, he eventually reached the citadel''s massive doors and pushed them open. The sight that awaited him was anything but chaotic.

    His eyes immediately fell on the other generals standing in the corridor, all their gazes fixed on Hamerion. Hamerion stood on the head of one of his dragon generals, a ck drake who was in their dragon form and hovering in the air. Surrounding him were his nine other generals, along with both riders and riderless lesser dragons, all hovering in the air as well. Hamerion, their lord, had long ck hair held together by a hairpin, pair of golden horns curved upwards, with some strands at the front streaked with silver. He wore robes of white, ck, and gold, with golden essories. His golden dragon eyes were sharper than Hazerion''s, and the aura around himmanded respect. His shoulders were squared, his chest out, and the emotionless look on his face further enhanced hismanding presence.

    It was clear to anyone without needing to be told that the man standing before them was more of an Overlord than the lord they currently served.

    Hamerion spoke, his voice moremanding than his brother''s. "It seems you''ve all gathered. Good. All that remains now is my useless brother."

    Vaelor boiled with anger, the earth beneath him heating up, nearly melting as he responded.

    "How dare you speak that way abo-"

    "Watch your tone, Ember-Void, or else I''ll send you to meet your ancestors. I''m here for my brother. The rest of you should stay out of this-"

    "Oh, is that so? What special asion could possibly drive you to run to my home like this, brother?" A voice echoed behind Vaelor and the others, causing all of them to turn their heads to the source.

 Chapter 122: Brotherly Confrontation

    Chapter 122: Brotherly Confrontation

    ?

    The voice belonged to none other than Hazerion. He walked calmly, his poker face masking any unease he felt inside. Now standing among his generals, he gazed up into the night sky, his eyes locking onto Hamerion.

    "So, brother, tell me, what is it you want? Why are you here?"

    Hamerion gazed coldly as he hovered above them. "I''m here to get things over with."

    Hazerion narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

    "Don''t y dumb," Hamerion replied sharply. "The darkness attacked me and my people. We had to evacuate, and now we''re all here. We can''t beat around the bush anymore. Let''s settle this once and for all-our people need their Overlord."

    Hazerion''s expression tightened as he processed his brother''s words. "Are you saying we should abandon our previous agreement?"

    "Obviously," Hamerion replied, his voice filled with disdain. "Or did you not hear a single thing I just said?"

    Hamerion''s golden eyes zed with his golden mana as he locked eyes with Hazerion, his voice cold.

    "We will fight to the death, brother. The one left standing will be the next Overlord. It''s the only way."

    Hazerion''s eyes widened in shock.

    "This is madness, Hamerion. We''re brothers! How can you suggest we fight each other to the death over a position of power? There must be another way! I''m sure if we try hard enough, we can find a way we can all survive this."

    As he spoke, he noticed the generals around him looking at him with a touch of shock, nearing disappointment.

    Hamerion''s expression darkened as he voiced what everyone was thinking.

    "Have you no pride as a dragon, Hazerion? Do you even understand what it means to be an Overlord?"

    His words shook Hazerion''s confidence.

    "How dare you speak so lightly of such a sacred duty?"

    "An Overlord is more than just a title or a position of power-it''s a responsibility, a guardian role, a way of being. It''s a legacy that our royal bloodline embodies, and one that we will carry on until the end of time. This isn''t about power, Hazerion, it''s about who we are meant to be. If you can''t see that, then you''re unworthy of the title."

    Hazerion clenched his fists, his brother''s words stinging deeply.

    "How can you be so sure that if you be the Overlord, you''ll be able to defeat the darkness? Even our father, as strong as he was, fell with the heirloom. How can you be so sure you won''t meet the same fate?"

    Hamerion''s expression didn''t change. He crossed his arms over his chest, a look of disdain in his eyes.

    "I''m not like you and Father," he said coldly.

    "I don''t see why I need to state my obvious qualifications for you to understand."

    "I have more Overlord crests than Father ever did, and I''ve already mastered them."

    "My mana capacity far surpasses Father''s when he was my age, and Iprehended my bloodline abilities at just two hundred years old."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The surrounding generals exchanged nces, the air growing thicker with each word Hamerion spoke.

    "So you see..."

    "I''m stronger, I''m smarter, I''m more talented-and the best fit to rule. I will be the Overlord!"

    Hazerion''s breath caught in his throat; this wasn''t a side of his brother he had ever seen. The sheer force of Hamerion''s conviction sent a chill down his spine.

    Hamerion then pointed at him as he said, "So die already so I can lead our people to victory!"

    With that, Hamerion''s aura red, the raw power of his mana surging around him like a storm, the force of it pushing Hazerion back a step.

    Hazerion''s voice sounded heavy as he began to speak, his eyes downcast.

    "You know," he said slowly.

    "I wanted to give it all up. Throw my life away during our duel because I know you''re better than me. That''s a fact. Even normal dragons are stronger. I genuinely believed you would be a better Overlord."

    As the words left his mouth, a look of shock passed through the gathered generals. Their gazes were disturbed. Kan, standing closest to Hazerion, opened his mouth to speak, but Hazerion raised his hand,manding silence. Kan clenched his jaw, gritting his teeth in pain, but he obeyed.

    Hazerion continued, his voice growing more serious.

    "But then... everyone started to gather around me, believing in me, hoping I could save them. And for a time, I believed it too."

    His eyes flickered with a look of fleeting hope. "I practiced hard, wanting to do just that. I even asked my generals to send yours a message, telling you we could work together to save everyone, just like how we always did things together when we were kids."

    He paused shortly, then continued. "But myck of talent and strength became more clear to me the harder I tried."

    Hazerion looked up at his brother, his expression pained but serious. "So, I began to fall back on the belief that I should sacrifice myself so you the stronger, more talented one-could

    save our people."

    There was a moment of silence again before he continued.

    "But if this is how you''re acting..."

    Hazerion yelled, his voice trembling slightly as anger and sorrow mixed in his heart.

    "...so cold and heartless, when did you be like this...? How can I be sure my sacrifice would mean anything if you''re just going to lead all of dragonkind to their deaths?"

    "This isn''t the way, brother!"

    Hamerion''s eyes narrowed, his gaze hardening at his brother''s words. He clenched his fists, his mana ring dangerously as he struggled to keep hisposure.

    "How dare you question me?"

    "You think I would lead our people to their deaths? Are you mocking me?"

    Hazerion''s body tensed further as he replied, "No, I''m not mocking you, Hamerion. I''m saying that if you continue with what you want to do, leading our people into a battle without a n, it will be catastrophic."

    Hamerion''s raging mana suddenly calmed down, a genuine look of surprise now on his face.

    "A n?" he repeated, finding the question out of ce. "You''re asking if I have a n?"

    Hazerion gazed at his brother seriously. "I am. Do you?"

    For a moment, there was absolute silence.

    Hamerion threw his head back and burst into a loud, boomingugh, revealing his sharp fangs as his voice echoed through the night.

    "Oh, brother..."

    "...I used to believe that, despite yourck of strength, you had some degree of wisdom. Is this really the question you''re asking me now? If I have a n?"

    Hazerion''s muscles tightened, sensing the threat in his words. He could feel the disdain in his brother''sughter, the confidence that seemed to swell around him like a fortress.

    Hamerion''s expression turned deadly serious as hisughter suddenly stopped. His voice was a cold, sharp de as he spoke, "That is without a doubt the most foolish thing you''ve ever

    asked, brother."

    "It seems you are in need of enlightenment..."

    "...so I, as your beloved brother, will give it to you before I relieve your shoulders of your

    head."

    With those words, Hamerion''s mana surged again, this time with more intensity. The air crackled with his power; it was obvious to all he was going to resort to violence.

    All the generals on both sides tensed up, ready to sh. Hazerion''s breath caught in his throat, every instinct in his body screaming at him to move, to act. But he was rooted to the spot, torn between the brother he once knew and the monster that now stood before him.

    Hamerion''s eyes gleamed as he crouched low, gathering power in his legs. In a blur, he leaped

    off the head of the massive ck drake he had been standing on, his body cutting through the air. As he ascended, his body began to change, ck scales erupting across his skin, swiftly encasing him like armor.

    The transformation was quick; his body erged, muscles bulging beneath the thick, obsidian scales.

    A long, powerful tail emerged from his lower back, encased in the same ck scales,

    whipping through the air with force. His spine became longer, and wings erupted from his shoulder des, spreading wide as they caught the wind. In moments, Hamerion''s body had changed into a draconic humanoid appearance.

    His yellow eyes glowed brightly; the raw power within them could not be mistaken.

    Hovering above the battlefield, Hamerion looked down at Hazerion, his voice, deeper now, seeming to vibrate the air around him as he spoke.

    "To answer your foolish question, brother..." he said, pointing his sharp, dragon-like w at

    Hazerion.

    "...an Overlord doesn''t need a n. All he has to do is rely on his overwhelming strength!" Along with his transformation, a crest appeared on his forehead and on both of his hands, his body then encased in a golden glow. Along with him, all of his forces were enveloped in the

    same golden light.

    They all seemed to grow stronger-fangs sharpening, ws elongating, and scales bing more dense. It was as if Hamerion''s transformation was causing some sort of chain reaction.

    Hazerion''s eyes widened with shock as he muttered, "This is... the strength from an Overlord''s rage. I thought only the Overlord could use this."

    Hamerion''s lips curled into a cruel smile as he responded, "Wrong again, brother. As long as a

    sessor has something to fight for, something they feel strongly about, it can ignite their

    rage, ignite their strength!"

    Hazerion''s heart pounded in his chest as he watched the overwhelming power radiate from his brother and his forces.

 Chapter 123: Within The Chaos

    Chapter 123: Within The Chaos

    ?

    Back with Ren and the others.

    The group sat inside the truck, the hum of the engine the only sound as they ate their meals. The cramped space didn''t allow much room to move, but it was better than being out in the wastnd.

    Each of them asionally nced at Alister, who was still out cold against the wall. Kaida finally decided to speak up.

    "You know," she said, sounding concerned, "maybe we should think about sending Alister back for a check-up. It''s weird that he''s been out for so long."

    Hiroshi leaned in with a smirk. "What if he picked up some new wastnd disease? I mean, we''re in uncharted territory. Maybe he caught something no one''s seen before."

    Razogrin scoffed, crossing his arms as he stared at Hiroshi. "That''s ridiculous. He was high in the air riding his summon the entire time, and our air masks filter out all impurities. You think some little bug is going to get through that? Please."

    Goro nodded slowly. "Razogrin''s right. Our suits are designed to handle this environment. If something was out there, we''d all be feeling it. He''s probably just really exhausted."

    Razogrin, his expression turning more serious, grunted. "If you ask me, we should just let me beat him awake. That''ll solve this problem real quick."

    Goro shook his head. "That''s not necessary. He needs rest, not a beating."

    Ren, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke. "Enough," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly as his gaze lingered on Alister.

    "Wasting time waiting for a pick-up jet isn''t an option. We''re here toplete a mission, and we don''t have the luxury to dy."

    He looked around the group, his gaze lingering on Alister thoughtfully. "Alister is a summoner, so if it were something serious, we''d see more symptoms by now. Let him rest. He''ll wake up when he''s ready. In the meantime, focus on your meals and prepare for what''s ahead. We''ll be leaving soon."

    The group nodded, the discussioning to a close as they returned to their food.

    ...

    Back with the dragons, Alister suddenly noticed something strange. He could feel Kan''s body again, as if he had regained control. ''Why now, of all times?'' he silently wondered, his thoughts racing as he tried to understand the situation. There was no time to dwell on it.

    Out of nowhere, Hamerion''s body blurred forward with an insane burst of speed. His muscles coiled like steel cables and moved so fast that even Kan''s enhanced senses couldn''t track him.

    Before anyone could react, Hamerion''s massive ws grabbed Hazerion, and with a single, powerful motion, flung him into the city like a ragdoll.

    Hazerion''s body crashed through building walls with an earth-shaking impact, sending debris flying in all directions.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister, for the first time in this ''Simted'' reality, was shocked to his core. He had barely registered the speed at which Hamerion moved-it looked like he just teleported, but he knew that wasn''t the case. Although he wasn''t entirely certain how he did it, but he was sure Hamerion had moved just now. The fact he had covered such arge distance in a mere instant was what made it so shocking.

    ''W-what kind of power is this?'' he thought, his heart pounding in his chest.

    All around, Hazerion''s generals barely had any time to register anything as well, but they were all certain their lord had been attacked right in front of their eyes, and they couldn''t even see the attacker move. Instinctively, they prepared to leap into action, their mana swirling around their bodies as they prepared up to defend their lord.

    But just as they were about to attack, the air around Hamerion shifted, as if it elerated, something only those with the sharpest senses could perceive.

    Hazerion''s voice rang out telepathically, giving amand to one of his generals, ''Na''zehra, don''t let them interfere with me.''

    Na''zehra, the woman with ck hair, red eyes, and curved ck horns, stood near the front lines.

    She was the ck drake Hamerion was riding earlier, and she had already shifted into herbat form, her ck and white armor gleaming under the night sky.

    She smiled, a sinister curve of her lip as she responded aloud, "No need to worry, my lord." With that, her eyes shed brightly with crimson mana as she chuckled wickedly.

    In that instant, a red crest red to life above her chest, radiating with a power that made the air around her crackle.

    "Shattering Space Law," she said, her voice seeming to vibrate through the fabric of reality.

    In that instant, the space around them seemed to tremble before copsing in on itself. In a sh, all of the generals and the dragon riders in the air vanished from where they stood, as if plucked from reality.

    Each of them teleported to a location of Na''zehra''s choosing, leaving only Hamerion and Hazerion in their sh.

    Alister found himself crashing into a random part of the city, causing the dragon kin around to look in shock, wondering what had caused the suddenmotion.

    Alister, still reeling from the sudden shift, felt the air grow thicker. He gritted Kan''s teeth, trying to assess the situation, but the sheer scale of the powers at y left him at a loss.

    ''This is beyond anything I''ve ever faced. If Kan''s body can''t keep up, how am I supposed to stand a chance?'' Alister''s thoughts spiraled as he struggled to think of a n.

    Alister pushed himself up from the debris, dust and bits of rubble clinging to his armor as he stood up, his mind racing to make sense of what had just happened.

    ''It''s a good thing that dragon general sent us to a random location,'' he thought, looking around his surroundings warily. ''So I guess I don''t have to worry about getting caught in that battle for now... but what exactly am I supposed to do in all this?''

    Alister was certain the sheer scale of the battle between the two dragon heirs was beyond anything he could ever imagine, and it left him feeling out of ce, unsure of his next move. But he was certain, if there was any time Kan would die, it would most likely be tonight

    during this battle.

    As he tried to gather his thoughts, a voice suddenly cut through the silence.

    "Oh, you are a lot more sturdy than I thought."

    The voice was smooth, almost yful, yet there was an unmistakable menacing vibe in it.

    "No worries, I like my men strong. It just makes it all the more fun when I finally break them." She chuckled.

    Alister''s heart skipped a beat as he turned sharply, Kan''s eyes wide with shock. Standing there wasn''t someone he expected to encounter.

    Her silver hair flowed like a river down her back, her red eyes gleaming brightly. The woman before him was none other than Na''zehra Abyss-Void, the general who had used her bloodline ability to scatter him and the others across the city.

    ''It''s her, the one who caused the teleportation earlier... Is that what her crest can do? If that''s the case, then things could prove to be problematic, considering what I saw earlier. She might very well be able to match Kan''s speed.''

 Chapter 124: Aganist A Law Breaker

    Chapter 124: Aganist A Law Breaker

    ?

    Alister suddenly heard Kan''s voice in his head.

    ~ ''An Abyss-Void, the worst possible match for me. Wouldn''t it have been better if she went after Neli''raj? Seems I forgot they find facing enemies that can''t fight back entertaining.''~ ''What?'' Alister was surprised to hear Kan''s thoughts again, causing him to be confused.

    Before he could fully understand what Kan was saying, a torrent of information flooded his mind, causing him to wince slightly as the terrifying capabilities of the dragon general standing before him were revealed.

    ''No Order? Shatteringws? Isn''t that too powerful of a bloodline ability?'' Alister wondered, his heart pounding.

    Before he could think further, Na''zehra spoke, "Shattering Space Law."

    In an instant, she disappeared from her previous position and reappeared right in front of Kan, her crimson eyes gleaming brightly, an excited look on her face. Alister barely had time to register her sudden movement before she spoke again.

    "Shattering Force Law."

    Her finger moved with an almost casual flick, tapping against Kan''s armor. One wouldn''t expect such an attack to cause any harm, but the opposite was true in this scenario.

    The effect was instantly catastrophic. Kan''s body was propelled backward with a massive burst of force that caused a sonic boom, tearing through the air like a meteor.

    Alister felt the impact as Kan''s body smashed through buildings, the sheer force reducing walls to rubble and sending debris flying in all directions. The dragonkin around them screamed in fear, scrambling for safety as chaos erupted.

    Kan''s body crashed through onest wall, finallying to a stop in the wreckage.

    Pain radiated through every inch of Kan''s body, but it wasn''t due to all the buildings and structures he crashed through; no, it was due to the casual flick thatnded on his chest.

    Na''zehra''sughter echoed through the night air. "That was surprisingly easy," she said with excitement. "I thought you Valor-Voids gripped the earth at all times with your ws. I didn''t expect you to fly that far."

    ''That was dangerous,'' Alister thought. ''It seems what Kan thought is true; she''s a very bad match for him. If she can shatterws like that, this could be over before I even get a chance to fight back.''

    Alister struggled to his feet, Kan''s body trembling from the impact. Dust and debris clung to his armor, and his vision swam as he tried to focus. He knew he had to move, had to think of something-anything-to get out of this situation.

    ''Running is obviously out of the question; there is a very high probability Kan would take over if I tried something like that.'' Alister was trying to work out a n, but Na''zehra wasn''t going to give him the time to.

    She began to walk toward him slowly.

    "Don''t think you can just get away, little Valor-Void," she taunted, her voice sounding like a dangerous purr. "I haven''t even started with you yet."

    Alister forced himself to stand straighter, ignoring the sharp pain in Kan''s chest.

    "What do you want from me?" he asked.

    Na''zehra smiled, a mischievous look on her face that made it seem like she found a sick form of excitement from this. "What do I want? I want to see how much you can take before you shatterpletely. It''s not often I get to y with someone like you, someone so... firm."

    As she spoke, Alister''s mind raced. He knew he couldn''t fight her head-on; Kan''s body wouldn''t be able to withstand more attacks like those. If she could shatter spacew, shatter forcew, what would stop her from shattering otherws? The power Na''zehra wielded seemed far too powerful, and it seemed that the transformation Hazerion underwent must have made her even stronger.

    But Alister was certain, ''There has to be a limit...''

    Kan''s eyes seemed to be more draconic as Alister focused, his mind kicked into high gear.

    ''Perhaps a number of times she can shatter aw consecutively, or a limit to the number ofws she can shatter.''

    Kan''s eyes widened slightly as Alister thought further, ''Shatteringws... Come to think of it, it appears she says thew she wants to shatter before she makes a move with the corresponding brokenw."

    ''It could also exin why her crest is on her chest close to her neck like that; it must use her voice to activate.''

    Alister''s gaze shifted to the sword strapped to Kan''s side.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ''I just need to be faster than her...''

    ''I can move faster than sound, faster than she can react, so avoiding her attacks and dealing mine shouldn''t be a problem.''

    With a swift motion, Alister drew Kan''s sword from its sheath. The de gleamed under the dim light, catching the reflection of the chaos around them.

    Na''zehra paused in her steps, her eyes narrowing as she watched Alister prepare for battle. A sly smile curved her lips, a touch of amusement and anticipation.

    "Oh? You''re going to fight back? How entertaining."

    Alister didn''t respond, his focus entirely on his n. He bent his knees slightly, positioning himself for an explosive start. The air around him crackled with lightning as the crest on his hand red to life. The runes on his sword ignited, and his muscles coiled like a spring ready to release.

    ''As long as I move faster than she can shatter aw...'' Alister thought. ''I just need to keep her from uttering those words...''

    With a sudden, explosive BOOM, Alisterunched himself forward. The ground beneath his feet buckled from the sheer force of his movement.

    The world around him seemed to slow down as he moved like a bolt of lightning, a blur of motion that defied the eye''s ability to track. The air around him whistled, the sonic boom trailing just behind him as he surged forward.

    But then, out of nowhere, his legs betrayed him.

    Alister suddenly felt his footing slip, as if he could no longer grip the ground. He spiraled into the air, crashing down into the ground and tumbling into nearby buildings.

 Chapter 125: Keen Observation

    Chapter 125: Keen Observation

    ?

    Alister pushed himself up from the rubble, his mind still processing the unexpected turn of events. The pain from the impact radiated through his legs, and he could feel Kan''s

    frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

    The n had been perfect, or so he thought. But in that crucial moment, everything had gone horribly wrong.

    ''How did she do that?'' he wondered, struggling to make sense of what had just happened.

    His speed should have been more than enough to close the gap before she could react.

    Yet, it felt as if the very ground beneath him had slipped out from under his feet at the worst possible moment.

    Na''zehra''sughter filled the air. "Did you really think you could outrun thews of this world? You''re amusing, I''ll give you that."

    Alister gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand. His sword was still in hand, glowing faintly with the residual lightling of his attempted attack, but the confidence he''d had moments ago was shaken.

    "You should know this by now, one''s crest only requires their mind to activate. What''s to stop me from breakingws with my thoughts?"

    Curious and confused, Alister asked, "Then why have you been saying it out loud like you''ve been doing earlier?"

    Na''zehra responded in a smug tone, "Because it''s fun. Saying it out loud like that means you''ll expect what sort of move I''m going to make, but you still won''t be able to counter it." She used both hands to grab her face, licking her lips with her tongue, a blush on her face. "That feeling of helplessness is like poison to a dragon''s pride. Besides just your physical body, your dragon soul will slowly take damage over time as you fight back desperately! Yet you''ll be unable to do anything to save yourself."

    "And the face you''ll make at the end will be so priceless!"

    She shook her hips from side to side. "Oh, thinking about it now is making me hot all over."

    ''She''s crazy...'' Alister concluded, tightening his grip on the sword. Still curious about what sort ofw she shattered, he decided to ask.

    "So, whatw did you shatter this time?"

    "Ho? Curious now, are we? Well, I don''t mind telling you, that is my style after all." She paused, dropping her hands and cing the right one on her waist, "I shattered the Law of Motion just as you began to move."

    "Without it, all your speed amounts to nothing. You can''t control your movements, can''t even maintain your bnce. You''re like a puppet with its strings cut."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "I knew you''d want you use you speed to attack me before I could shatter anotherw." "I mean, what else could you have used besides your speed? You are a Valor-Void after all." Her words hit Alister, making him realize she had anticipated his n, knowing exactly how to counter it. Shattering the Law of Motion meant that his incredible speed had be his greatest draw back.

    Without the naturalws governing movement, his velocity had thrown him off bnce, making it impossible to execute his attack.

    Na''zehra took a step forward, her crimson eyes gleaming. "I told you, little Valor-Void, you can''t escape me. No matter how fast you think you are, I can always be one step ahead."

    Alister''s mind raced, searching for a way out of this situation. Na''zehra''s ability to shatterws was far more dangerous than he''d initially realized, especially now considering the fact she didn''t need to say it to activate it.

    She could nullify any chance he might have, reducing his most powerful abilities to mere parlor tricks.

    ''Think, Alister, think! There has to be a way to counter this...''

    But the more he thought, the more it seemed like every possible move was countered by her power.

    Na''zehra''s smile widened as she watched Alister''s scramble his head for an answer.

    "What''s the matter? Are you out of ideas already? Or perhaps you''ve realized just how futile it is to resist me?"

    Alister took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. If he couldn''t beat her head-on, he needed to find a way to outsmart her. Or make her fight the battle on his rules.

    Kan''s voice echoed in his mind, filled with a touch of frustration and anger. ~''She''s toying with me. I need to keep my head if I''m going to find a way through this.''~

    Alister knew he had to keep analyzing the situation, looking for any weakness, any pattern in Na''zehra''s actions that he could exploit.

    Alister''s gaze moved to the ruins around him. The destruction she had caused was absolute, but what if was something in the environment he could use-something she might not

    expect.

    ''If I can''t rely on speed, then I need to change how we fight this battle.''

    Alister thought, a new n forming in his mind. ''And if she wants to shatterws... I''ll force her to shatter the one that I want her to.''

    He looked back at her, thinking, ''But first, before I conclude on anything, for this to work, I have to confirm something.''

    Alister suddenly leaned back, twisting his hips, and with a sudden burst, he threw his sword at her. Na''zehra didn''t flinch, instead, she shattered the Law of Force, causing the sword to bounce off her body and crash into the rubble in the distance.

    "Getting desperate? You won''tst long if you''re getting worked up this early."

    "Oh, you need not worry..." Alister smiled beneath his helmet, "This is all part of my n." Na''zehra narrowed her eyes, a touch of irritation in her tone as she replied, "Is that arrogance I hear? I don''t like my men talking down on me. I suppose I''ll have to teach you some

    manners."

    In that instant, Na''zehra spoke up, "Shattering spacew."

    She appeard right in front of him. Without pausing, yelled with excitement, "Shattering forcew." She then raised her leg intending tond a devastating kick.

 Chapter 126: How To Fight A Law Breaker

    Chapter 126: How To Fight A Law Breaker

    ?

    Her leg sliced through the air with blinding speed, but instead ofnding, it passed right through Kan''s body.

    Her eyes widened in shock as she realized it was an afterimage. She quickly looked around, her mind racing as she searched for Alister''s real position.

    A voice cut through the silence. "Just as I thought. You can only shatter onew at a time."

    "And once a neww has been shatterd, the effects of the previously shatterdw return to normal."

    She spun around and saw Alister standing behind her, exactly where he had thrown his sword earlier. He slowly pulled the de from the rubble turning to look at her, residual lighting crackling around his body.

    What had Alister deduced? What was his n? Why was he able to dodge Na''zehra''s attack this time, and why didn''t she shatter the Law of Motion?

    Well, just as Alister suspected, all abilities have limits, and that was true in this scenario as well.

    Alister tilted his head slightly, a smirk hidden beneath his helmet. "I was worried for nothing," he said, sounding relieved, as if a burden had been lifted off his shoulders.

    Apart from the fact that the effect of a previously shatteredw would no longer exist once a new one was shattered, Alister also discovered that Na''zehra could only shatter threews consecutively.

    After the third one, she needed to pause for at least seven seconds before she could shatterws again.

    That was why he threw his sword, causing her to shatter the Law of Force. So when she shattered the Law of Space and the Law of Force again, she couldn''t shatter the Law of Motion to prevent him from moving.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Na''zehra chuckled softly, her eyes narrowing. She crossed her arms over her chest. "I don''t know where this sudden confidence ising from," she said, "but it won''tst. You were just lucky, that''s all."

    Alister took a step forward. He brought his sword to rest on his shoulder, his body crackling with lightning. "Why don''t we try again and find out?"

    With a burst of speed, Alisterunched himself toward a nearby pir. His body moved in a blur as he grabbed the base of the pir with both hands. He heaved it upward, his muscles straining as he tore the stone from its foundation. Pivoting on his heels, he swung the heavy pir in an arc, propelling it toward Na''zehra.

    Na''zehra''s eyes red as she extended her left hand, shattering the Law of Force. The stone pir shattered harmlessly against her body and fell to the ground, sending debris skittering across the city.

    In the brief moment that Na''zehra was focused on the pir, Alister used his lightning-fast speed to reposition himself behind her. He spotted a pile of metal shards in the distance. Extending his right hand, he channeled lightning into the metal. The shards lifted off the ground and hurtled toward Na''zehra.

    Na''zehra''s eyes widened as she saw the flying metal shards. With a swift motion, she raised her right hand and shattered the Law of Motion. The shards paused mid-air and then suddenly fell harmlessly to the ground around her, but the maneuver left her temporarily off- bnce.

    Seeing an opening, Alister leaped onto a crumbling wall to gain a higher vantage point. He shifted his weight to his left leg, gripping arge, jagged boulder with both hands. With a powerful grunt, he hurled the boulder toward Na''zehra.

    Na''zehra''s focus snapped to the iing boulder. She extended her left arm and shattered the Law of Motion, halting the boulder mid-air. The object fell to the ground with a massive BOOM, sending tremors through the earth and causing rubble to explode around her.

    As Na''zehra staggered from the impact, Alister sprang into action. He dropped down from the wall in a massive burst of speed, his crest ring, his body crackling with lightning. His right arm swung his sword in a wide vertical arc, aimed directly at Na''zehra. His de crackled with lightning.

    Na''zehra attempted to defend by cing both hands together in front of her, but her reaction speed was no match for Alister''s attack. She was slow-painfully so. Alister''s sword cut through the air,nding on her scales. Instead of cutting through, a loud ng echoed, sending a shockwave through the area. Dust and debris were flung into the air.

    "Seems your scales are quite sturdy, must be due to the enhancements from your lord''s rage, how lucky." Alister said tauntingly.

    Na''zehra was sent flying from the force of the attack, her legs leaving a trail in the earth as they dug into it. Eventually, she stumbled, her body swaying as she struggled to stand back up. Her eyes, wide with frustration, locked onto Alister.

    "You are getting awfully bold," she said, brushing dust off her shoulders and steadying herself, her eyes never leaving Alister.

    "You think you''re so clever," Na''zehra said, her voice filled with irritation. "But your little strategy is only temporary."

    Alister stood his ground, sword ready, and eyes sharp. His lightning crackled around him as he prepared for the next attack.

    Na''zehra raised her right hand and spoke sharply, "Shattering Stability Law."

    The ground beneath her shimmered and shifted, the rubble around her stabilizing instantly. Na''zehra then pointed her left hand forward, toward Alister, her eyes focused. "Shattering space Law."

    The air seemed to warp as Alister witnessed all the rubble in the earth being teleported. The next thing he noticed was shadows; looking up, he saw the rubble falling from the sky.

    Using his speed, he easily dodged all the falling debris and then repositioned himself on top of a nearby building. From this elevated vantage point, he scanned the battlefield, looking for any advantage.

    "Well, you''re not wrong," Alister called down to her, "but let''s see how you handle this."

    With a burst of speed, Alister leaped from the rooftop, his body moving in an arc toward Na''zehra. His right arm drew back, preparing for a powerful strike as he descended. Na''zehra''s eyes followed his movement. As he neared, she extended her right arm, her fingers twitching as she prepared to shatter the Law of Force again.

    But before she could react, Alisternded on the ground with a heavy thud. He immediately stomped the ground with both feet, causing a shockwave that sent chunks of debris flying into the air. The force was aimed to force Na''zehra into a position where she would have to use the Law of Force to counter the flying rubble.

    True to his n, Na''zehra''s eyes red as she shattered the Law of Force, pushing away the debris. This momentary distraction was exactly what Alister needed.

    she focused on the debris, Alister dashed forward, his body surrounded by a crackling aura of lightning. He swung his sword in a wide, horizontal arc, aiming for Na''zehra''s midsection. Na''zehra sensed the iing attack and twisted her body, barely managing to deflect the strike with her forearm. The impact sent a sharp ng through the air, and she staggered back, her bnce momentarily disrupted by the force of the blow.

    Alister pressed the advantage,unching another quick session of strikes with his sword. Each swing was faster than thest, his crest ring brightly as he pushed his body to its limits.

 Chapter 127: Shattered Reality

    Chapter 127: Shattered Reality

    ?

    Na''zehra shifted her stance rapidly, trying to block and deflect his strikes. She was clearly frustrated as she struggled to keep up with Alister''s endless attacks.

    "You''re quite a handful," Na''zehra gritted out through her clenched teeth. "But even you won''t be able to keep this up forever."

    Alister''s eyes were fixed on her. "Don''t get your hopes up. I''m just getting started."

    With a final burst of energy, Alister pivoted on his right foot, his entire body twisting as he initiated a high-speed spinning attack. His sword blurred through the air in a wide, horizontal arc, the edge slicing through the wind with a sharp whistle.

    Na''zehra''s eyes widened slightly, and she quickly brought both arms up to guard herself, her forearms crossed as she braced for impact.

    The sh between them vibrated through the battlefield, sending a shockwave that scattered debris and caused distant building to copse to the ground.

    Alister sensed the shift in Na''zehra''s energy, realizing she had regained the ability to shatter anotherw.

    He instantly stopped his attacks, withdrawing his sword with a sharp flick of his wrist. The force of his pullback created a gust of wind that rippled through the battlefield, sending dust and small rocks skittering across the ground.

    His feet struck the ground with a solid thud as hended several meters away, his sword held in a defensive pose.

    Na''zehra lowered her arms, her eyes narrowing as she watched him retreat. Her breathing was heavy, and a smirk began to form on her lips.

    "What''s the matter?" she taunted. "Running already? I thought you were just getting started."

    Alister gazed back at her. "I''m just pacing myself."

    "Wouldn''t want to end this too quickly."

    Na''zehra chuckled softly, a glint in her eyes. "Let''s see how long you can keep up this game, then." She shifted her stance, readying herself for the next round of their battle.

    Alister''s grip tightened on his sword as he prepared his next move.

    Suddenly Alister heard Kan''s voice again, ''Something feels off with the way she is acting, with her strength, the capabilities of her crest, she shouldn''t be this easy to deal with.''~

    ~''A battle with dragon of her n shouldn''t go this way even under normal circumstances.''~ ~''And considering the fact she''s being enhanced by her lord''s power, she should have decimated me by now.''~

    Alister''s thoughts raced as he tried to understand Kan''s words. Na''zehra should be stronger than this.

    He remembered that back when it seemed like Hamerion had sped up time around him, only he and his forces were able to move normally. If so, why wasn''t she able to match his speed now? Why was she letting him take advantage of her weaknesses?

    Her personality would make one expect her to be some battle hungry psychopath, but she wasn''t particrly aggressive with the way she had been fighting.

    The more Alister thought about it, the more off it all seemed now. Besides that, the feeling of using one''s crest-how it elerated the flow of mana in one''s body, the threat that one''s mana veins could burst if they over-circted, all that seemed to be nonexistent. How?

    ''She can shatterws, right?'' Alister''s thoughts raced as his mind began to piece together something. ''Force, motion, stability, and space...''

    ''From what I understand, that isn''t supposed to be her limit. The information I got from Kan''s memories said they could shatter anyw. So why hasn''t she shattered reality, time, or better yet, the mind...?''

    ''But what if she already has?''

    ''Like she did with motion, what if she already shatterd one of those fundamentalws with her mind and I didn''t notice?''

    ''Wouldn''t this battle end a lot more quickly that way...?''

    ''This battle... Is it even real?''

    Na''zehra noticed Kan''s sudden silence and smiled sinisterly. "What''s up with the sudden silence? Don''t tell me you''re done already... Oh, what a bore."

    Her words caused Alert to tense up again. Focusing back on her, he tightened his grip on his sword as he said,

    "This... None of this is real, is it?"

    Na''zehra tilted her head slightly to the left, pressing a finger to her face as she said yfully, "Oh? Seems I''ve been found out. Looks like the fun time is over."

    As she spoke, Alister tensed up further. Na''zehra continued speaking as she slowly began to walk toward Alister.

    "I''m not one to keep secrets anyway..."

    "...so I don''t mind returning everything to how it''s supposed to be."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    As she approached, Alister noticed he couldn''t move; he waspletely frozen in ce. ''Did she shatter thew of motion again?'' he silently wondered, but for some reason, he felt that wasn''t the case.

    She had already walked up to stand directly in front of him. She used the tip of her finger to tilt his massive sword to the side as she said, "Shattering realityw."

    In that instant, Alister noticed cracks suddenly emerge around him. Kan''s eyes widened in shock. The cracks began to ripple all around, soon surrounding everything.

    And then, out of nowhere-

    BOOM!

    It all shattered.

    Alister was no longer standing, holding Kan''s sword defiantly in front of him. No, instead, he found himself on the ground, in a pile of rubble, bleeding. His blood was golden, the scales in front of his chest shattered, the ones on his legs shattered as well, and his sword was

    broken.

    And standing above him, gazing down, was Na''zehra, with a sinister look on her face.

    Alister felt a sudden wave of pain, but for some reason, he wasn''t able to let out a scream. He suddenly felt too tired for that.

    ''Wait... When did...''

    It didn''t make sense. One moment he was having an intense battle, and the next, he was left bloody on the ground, his body covered in massive cuts and bleeding all over.

    A sudden wave of information flooded his mind-what had actually happened. The moment Na''zehra had appeared behind him, she had already shattered realityw, reconstructing the world around her to make the battle go the way she wished.

    The moment her fingernded on Kan''s chest, it shattered the scales there, even breaking some bones. That was the intensity of the pain Alister felt.

    And again, when he was stopped, and his legs were in pain, his bones there had been shattered

    as well.

    The time he threw his sword at Na''zehra, it broke in half.

    Why was he able to continue the battle despite being in such a state?

    The power to go on was given to him in this shattered reality.

    It was Na''zehra sick was of making him fight till he waspletely broken.

    What Alister thought he had discovered, the openings he thought he had exploited, were all

    given to him by Na''zehra.

    [System error detected!]

    [Unauthorized usage of a skill by the yer has been detected!]

 Chapter 128: A City Coverd In Blood

    Chapter 128: A City Coverd In Blood

    ?

    The sky was a murky gray, smoke rose to it from different points in the city. Massive booms could be heard all around, alling from an ongoing battle happening everywhere-the generals locked in a bloody sh, the riders shing in the skies above, the unmistakable sound of roars and shing steel ringing loudly.

    Alister felt his control of Kan''s body slipping, it was as if the general wanted to understand what this scene he saw before him ment.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Kan''s eyes widened as he took a look at the scene before him. City now now in ruins, and the pain courcing through his body was too much to ignore. His voice trembled as he mumbled, "What... What''s going on?"

    Na''zehra''s chuckle echoed, she leaned in close to him, a sick look of excitement on her face, her sinister smile widening as she took in the confused look Kan had on his face.

    His helmet was already shatterd now, revealing his scared, roughed up face.

    "Ah, being trapped in an alternate reality can do that to you. It messes with your mind, doesn''t it? But don''t worry, I''ll fill you in on what''s going down."

    She paused, then she suddenly pulled back. "But before that," she said, tilting her head slightly as her smirk grew more wicked.

    "I''m not satisfied with where we left off. I think we need another round."

    Out of nowhere, Na''zehra''s legshed out in a sudden burst of speed, her foot mming into Kan''s abdomen. He gasped, his eyes bulging as the impact forced the air from his lungs. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he was sent hurtling through the air like a ragdoll, crashing violently into the ruins of nearby buildings. The sound of crumbling stone and metal echoed across the ruined city.

    Kany in the rubble, his breathing ragged and shallow. He struggled to push himself up, his arms shaking as he tried to muster the strength to stand.

    But his body betrayed him, and he copsed back onto the ground. His scale armor, was now shattered, fragments of it littering the debris around him. Golden blood spewing from his numerous wounds, staining the ground beneath him.

    Na''zehra, with a single wave of her hand, shattered thew of space. In an instant, she was standing over him, her presence now felt suffocating and oppressive.

    She looked down at Kan with a mockingly sympathetic expression.

    "Oh, look at you..."

    "Trying to get back up again? You must really want to y some more, huh?"

    She crouched down beside him, tilting her head as she examined his battered body, tracing her hand across his chest.

    "Well," she whispered, her voice low and menacing, "I''m more than happy to oblige."

    Kan''s vision blurred as he tried to focus on her, but his body refused to cooperate. His fingers twitched, grasping at the dirt and broken stone beneath him, but the strength he needed to lift himself simply wasn''t there.

    Na''zehra slowly stood, her eyes never leaving Kan''s as she raised him with his hair.

    "Let''s see how much longer you canst for."

    Na''zehra''s grip tightened around Kan''s hair as she lifted him effortlessly off the ground. With a sharpugh, she began to m him into the ground repeatedly, each impact sending shockwaves through the debris-strewn city. Kan''s body crumpled as it was repeatedly mmed, blood sttering across the shattered earth.

    Chuckling darkly, Na''zehra finally raised him up to face her, her expression a twisted look of delight and malice.

    She looked into his dazed eyes, savoring his pain and confusion.

    "You''re still holding on?" she taunted, her voice a low, mocking purr.

    Suddenly, she shattered thew of force, Her fist mmed into Kan''s abdomen with a sudden burst, sending him hurtling through the air like a ragdoll. His body crashed into the ruins of distant buildings, the force of the impact causing them to copse in a cloud of dust.

    Kan''s vision swam, the edges of his consciousness flickering as he struggled to stay awake. His eyes fluttered, fighting the pull of darkness, but what he saw next jolted him back to full

    awareness.

    In the distance, he witnessed a horrifying scene-a group of dragon kin riders ruthlessly ughtering a dragon kin mother and her child.

    The mother''s desperate cries filled the air, mingling with the child''s terrified screams. The riders showed no mercy, their des cutting through flesh and bone, blood sttering across the ws and streets.

    Kan''s heart pounded in his chest, his breath hitching in his throat.

    "W-what... What is all this?" his voice was barely audible as he tried to make sense of the horror unfolding before him.

    Na''zehra''s sinister smile widened as she suddenly teleported beside him. She grabbed him by the hair again, yanking his head up to force him to witness the ongoing massacre. "Look," she hissed in his ear. "Look at the blood, the screams, the bodies all around you." Kan''s eyes widened in shock as he took in the carnage. The ground was soaked with blood, the bodies of dragon kin littering the battlefield, their lifeless bodies twisted in agony.

    The screams of the dying echoed in his ears, a symphony of despair and terror. Even Alister, deep within him, felt the surge of horror that gripped Kan''s heart.

    "W-what... What is this madness?" Kan''s voice trembled as he finally found the strength to speak, his words shaky and filled with dread.

    Na''zehra''s voice was cold, "It''s a purge," she said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

    "A purge?" he repeated, his voice cracking.

    "What do you mean?"

    Na''zehra''s expression remained indifferent as she exined.

    "All these dragon kin were given a choice-pledge their loyalty to Lord Hamerion, or face the consequences. They refused. And those who refuse to serve our lord must be executed. It''s as simple as that."

    Kan''s breath caught in his throat as he watched a dragon kin mother and her child, their faces twisted in fear, running towards him. Before they could reach him, they were cut down by one of the riders, their bodies crumpling to the ground in a pool of their own blood.

    His eyes widened further, the horror of the scene searing itself into his mind. He gritted his teeth, his voice trembling with fury and despair.

    "Did it have to go this far? Isn''t this too extreme?"

    Na''zehra''sugh was cold, devoid of any warmth orpassion.

    "Extreme?" she echoed, tilting her head as if considering the word. "No, we''re being merciful. They should have been tortured for their defiance, but instead, we''re letting them off easy. They turned down the offer to serve our lord, Kan. That''s a sin that deserves the

    harshest punishment."

    Kan''s heart pounded in his chest, the weight of her words crashing down on him. The sight of the ughter, the blood, the screams-it was too much. Yet, he could feel the anger and sorrow building inside him, the helplessness of the situation nearly crushing his soul. This was no longer just a battle; it was a massacre. And in the midst of it all, Kan felt a crushing despair, a sense of loss so profound that it threatened to consume him.

    As if all this wasn''t enough, he heard a voice.

    ''My generals, my people, I''m grateful you all put your faith in me. I''m grateful you were all

    willing to give me a chance.''

    ''You all believed in me, and yet, I failed to protect you all before the darkness even arrived.''

    ''I failed to carry your hopes and dreams.''

    ''I have failed as your lord...''

    ''I know forgiveness is not something I am worthy of.''

    ''Neither am I hoping you all are willing to offer it.''

    ''I am simply here to apologize... and bid you all farewell...''

    Crack.

    The telepathic message suddenly ended, and along with it, a sharp pain stung in everyone''s

    heads.

 Chapter 129: In The Shadow Of Death

    Chapter 129: In The Shadow Of Death

    ?

    .

    .

    .

    .

    ?

    .

    .

    .

    .

    ?

    Na''zehra suddenly let out a loud, mocking chuckle. With a swift motion, she mmed her hand against a nearby wall, causing debris to rain down.

    Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she spoke to Kan. "Was that a dragon soul transmission?"

    "Seems your lord had already kicked the bucket if he was able to send something like that. What has it been, 30 minutes? I thought his battle with my lord would take much longer than that. Guess I overestimated him."

    Kan''s face twosted with anguish, his body shaking as he slowly called out, "Lord... Lord Hazerion... Lord Hazer-" His voice broke off as he coughed up blood.

    Alister, still trapped within Kan''s mind, felt the surge of despair and helplessness seep into him.

    The connection between them made the emotions even more, intensifying the sense of loss.

    [Error! yer is trying to override the quest parameters!]

    [Error: The yer is attempting a forceful skill activation!]

    [Skill activation failed!]

    Na''zehra''s gaze snapped toward Kan, her smile widening as she saw his reaction.

    "Oh, what''s this?"

    "Are you like a baby calling out for his mother? Keep whining, Kan. Your lord died so easily because he was weak, and all these people dying around us are just fools who chose to apany him to the grave."

    Kan''s blood continued to drip from his mouth as he mustered the strength to speak through his pain.

    "I won''t let you get away with this," he managed to say between violent coughs, his voice strained.

    Na''zehra''s expression hardened, but her eyes still had a trace of amusement.

    "Oh, really?"

    "And what exactly do you n to do about it? You''re in no condition to stop us, and there''s nothing left for you to protect."

    Kan''s vision blurred as he struggled to remain conscious. His gaze remained locked on Na''zehra, the anger in his eyes where like the mes that slowly consumed the city.

    Na''zehra, gripping Kan by the hair and forcing him to meet her gaze. "You know,"

    "I could spare your life if you''re willing toe under my lord. He wees all those who are willing to serv-"

    "I would rather die," Kan interrupted, his voice a rasping growl, cutting through her offer without hesitation.

    For the first time, Na''zehra wore a serious expression on her face. "Then die."

    In a swift motion, she drove her hand into Kan''s chest, her fingers tearing through his scales and flesh. Kan gasped, his eyes widening in shock and pain as Na''zehra''s hand closed around his heart.

    With a twist, she ripped it from his chest, the still-beating heart pulsating weakly in her grasp.

    Kan''s breath hitched, his body trembling as he felt the life draining from him. The heart in Na''zehra''s hand gave onest feeble throb before it grew still, the light fading from his eyes.

    With a look of disgust, Na''zehra discarded the heart, tossing it aside like a piece of trash. Kan''s body slumped to the ground, lifeless, his golden blood pooling beneath him.

    "Death is the fate that awaits all those who dare to oppose my lord."

    "Now follow the others. Your lord awaits you in the afterlife."

    Without another nce, she turned her back on the fallen warrior and began to walk away. The chaos of the battle continued around her, but Na''zehra movedposure of one who had already imed victory.

    And just like that, everything wentpletely ck.

    [Penalty Questplete!]

    [Now returning the yer''s conciousness to their body...]

    [Failed!!!]

    [2nd attempt....]

    [Failed!!!]

    Alister floated in the void, surrounded by the endless expanse of pitch-ck space. The only thing visible to him was the soft glow of his golden astral body, a construct simmr his physical form. He looked down at his hands, flexing them slowly, noticing how they resembled his normal, earthly body.

    "Kan''s dead, and the penalty quest is over," he said to himself, his voice echoing in the

    empty space.

    He clenched his fists tightly, a deep frustration simmering within him. He didn''t like how things had yed out-the way those people had died, the way he couldn''t save Hazerion. But there was something more, something deeper that troubled him. A strange sense of attachment lingered in his mind, emotions that didn''t fully belong to him.

    "These feelings... they''re not mine..."

    Alister whispered, his gaze drifting into the dark void. He knew he wasn''t the type to growN?v(el)B\\jnn

    attached to strangers or even feel angry for them. He had always been pragmatic, mostly focused on his own goals.

    Yet, Kan''s emotions seemed to be clouding his thoughts, seeping into his consciousness.

    It had to be because they had shared a body, their souls intertwined. It was the same as when

    he first heard Kan''s voice, the regret and sadness that had when he decided not to kill his

    brother.

    "Well, it can''t be helped," he sighed, letting his hands fall to his sides.

    "It''s all over now. I might as well move on and return to help the others in the Wastnd

    Event."

    Just as he resolved to move forward, a voice echoed through the void, soft but clear.

    "Young lord, please wait."

    Alister froze, feeling a sudden grip on his shoulder. He nced down to see a purple astral

    arm resting there, the touch gentle but firm. His eyes widened in shock as he recognized the

    presence behind him. Slowly, he turned around...

    It was Kan.

    "I don''t understand... How are you here?"

    Kan, his purple astral form glowing faintly, slowly dropped to one knee, bowing his head

    in respect.

    "How I am here doesn''t matter, young lord from a distant time. What matters is that I am.

    And if I may be so bold, I have a request."

    Alister remained silent for a moment, his mind racing. "Did you know I was using your body

    this entire time?"

    "Yes, young lord."

    "Then why did you let me?"

    "I was told to do so."

    "By who?"

    "That, I cannot say," Kan responded, his tone apologetic.

    Alister paused, his eyes gazing at Kan''s face. For a moment, it seemed like he wanted to

    argue, to demand answers. But instead, he let out a long sigh, as if deciding to let it go.

    "What do you want?"

    Kan lifted his head slightly as he spoke. "I know it''s not my ce to ask this of you, young

    lord, but I beg of you... avenge Hazerion. Avenge my people who couldn''t fight back to protect themselves... they didn''t deserve the fate that''s been forced upon them."

 Chapter 130: Fading Into Darkness

    Chapter 130: Fading Into Darkness

    ?

    Alister stared at Kan, his golden eyes reflecting the faint glow of his astral body. He folded his arms across his chest.

    "How do you expect me to do that?"

    Kan, still on one knee, looked up at Alister with a glimmer of hope in his purple eyes. "I''m sure you can do something, young lord. If your soul is able to transcend space and time, then..."

    Alister cut him off, shaking his head. "I can''t bring back the dead, Kan. Neither can I go back there to avenge your people. And believe me whan I say I tried to help you fight back, but couldn''t."

    His voice seemed heavy, but it didn''t seem to reach Kan.

    Kan clenched his fists, his body trembling with emotion.

    "Please, young lord."

    "I''ll dly give anything-my lord''s... My lord''s pride is at stake here..." Tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to spill over.

    Alister felt a wave of emotions wash over him, realizing they were still connected on some level.

    He could feel Kan''s desperation, his deep sense of loss. Alister crouched down beside him, his hair falling over half of his face, covering his eyes.

    "Look, what happened to your lord and your people is truly regrettable. Believe me when I say I can feel your pain," he said, cing a hand over his own chest.

    "Everyst bit of it. But it''s all gone now, and there''s nothing we can do. The only thing you can do is let it all go. Be free of your pride for once. Let it not be a chain that still binds you after death."

    Kan suddenly interrupted him. "No, it wasn''t a chain. I found joy in serving my lord."

    Alister blinked, feeling a sudden soothing sensation in his chest, a warmth that spread from where Kan''s emotions touched him.

    Kan''s astral form seemed to shine a bit brighter as he continued, "Serving my lord gave me purpose. Even before I swore my loyalty, I had always been by his side. I watched him grow, I watched him struggle, hope, and dream. Life by my lord''s side was something I wouldn''t trade for anything in the world."

    "There was never any chain, fact, life by his side was the best it could be."

    Alister could feel the sincerity in Kan''s words, and oddly, it made him feel better as well. There was something profoundly touching in Kan''s devotion, a purity that conected with him.

    Alister reached out and tapped Kan''s shoulder gently.

    "It''s unfortunate it came to an end, but that''s the fate that awaits all things."

    "So don''t regret that it ended, instead, be d because it happned."

    "And perhaps... who knows? Maybe your lord truly awaits you on the other side."

    Kan smiled slightly, though it was with a touch of sadness.

    "Perhaps," he said quietly, "you may be right. I should not keep him waiting."

    Slowly, Kan rose to his feet, his form shimmering slightly as it prepared to fade.

    "I''ll be going now, young lord. I wish you sess in all your endeavors, I am d I could do all I could to help you. Perhaps you may have grown stronger from this. And I pray to the dragon god, may a fate due to weakness not befall you."

    With those parting words, Kan''s astral body began to dissipate, the purple light fading into the darkness until there was nothing left but the void.

    Alister remained where he was, watching as thest traces of Kan vanished.

    Finally, he stood up, his thoughts swirling with the remnants of Kan''s emotions, and turned his gaze toward the endless darkness that surrounded him. With a deep breath, he whispered to himself.

    "It''s time to move on."

    [Penalty Questplete!]

    [Now returning the yer''s conciousness to their body...]

    ...n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Alister''s eyes slowly fluttered open. His vision was blurred at first, but as it cleared, he realized he was in arge, somewhat clustered space. Looking around, he could make out the details-metallic walls, control panels, and overheadpartments. He was inside a vehicle, likely some kind of transport. The sounds of engines confirmed his suspicion.

    He nced down and noticed he was strapped into a seat, the harness securely fastened across his chest and waist. The sudden change in scenery demanded questions-where was he? How did he get here?-but those thoughts were quickly pushed aside.

    Closing his eyes again, Alister focused his mind. He searched for a sensation he''d felt back when he was in Kan''s body. It was a small feeling, but one he had gotten used to-a warmth, a power that seemed to flow through him.

    As he concentrated, he began to feel his arms heat up slightly. Though he couldn''t see the glow due to the tech suit he was wearing, he knew it was there, just beneath the surface.

    Suddenly, a series of notifications rang in his mind:

    [Ding!! Congrats to the yer for awakening an Overlord Crest!: ws of an Overlord.] [Ding!! Congrats to the yer for awakening the bloodline ability, Void Rend!] [Ding!! Congrats to the yer, mastery over wedbat has reached (75%) mastery!] Alister''s eyes snapped open, a small smile spreading at the corners of his mouth.

    "I guess this is what Kan ment by saying he did do all he could to help me." he said to himself.

    Considering that he couldn''t take any rewards from the penalty quest, the knowledge and power he now possessed were worth far more than any material gain.

    "Oh, look who decided to wake up, it''s Sleeping Beauty!"

    Alister''s eyes snapped to the source of the voice,nding on Kaida, who grinned widely.

    Alister blinked, still processing the sudden shift in his surroundings.

    Before he could respond, Razogrin''s deep voice rumbled from the front of the vehicle. "The kid''s awake?" There was a touch of surprise mixed with a touch of humor in his tone.

    Hiroshi popped up next to Alister, his face inches away, peering at him closely.

    "Oh? He isn''t dead?"

    Alister was shocked as he tried to gather his thoughts.

    "Dead? Why would I be dead?"

    "Where are we, what is this... Vehicle?"

    "Hey, calm down princess." Razogrin said,

    "You were out cold for a while. Figured you might not make it through. Seems you

    unfortunately did."

    "What? What do you mean ''I unfortunately did'' were you hoping I''d die?"

    "Yeah pretty much." Razogrin said nonchntly.

 Chapter 131: The Calm Before The Storm

    Chapter 131: The Calm Before The Storm

    ?

    Anya sat quietly in the back of the hover car, the soft hum of the engine barely registering in her mind as she gazed out the window.

    Her wild purple hair, usually unrestrained, was neatly pulled back, revealing sharp, focused eyes that gleamed with anticipation.

    Despite her calm exterior, anyone who knew her well could sense the brewing storm within- the battle craving side of her that thrived on chaos andbat.

    The driver, a tall, muscr man named Doran, nced at her through the rearview mirror. Doran had been with Anya''s personal guild driver for years, a reliable warrior with a no- nonsense attitude.

    He was well aware of her dual nature-calm and collected one moment, a whirlwind of destruction the next. Right now, he could tell she was in her ''calm before the storm'' phase, and he knew better than to disturb it without good reason.

    "Doran, how''s my team doing on the leaderboards?" Anya''s voice broke the silence.

    Doran hesitated for a brief moment, then replied, "We''re sitting at second ce, Guild Master. Just a shy inch away from first."

    Anya''s gaze shifted from the window to the rearview mirror, her eyes narrowing slightly. The loom of intensity in her expression was unmistakable.

    "Second ce, huh?" she muttered, a touch of her battle-hungry nature beginning to surface. Doran nodded, keeping his tone even. "Yes, ma''am. Currently the Reapers are holding on, but our team is closing the gap. They''ve been pushing hard all night out there."

    A mischievous grin suddenly appeared on Anya''s face, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "So, they''re almost there... but not quite."

    She leaned back in her seat, her fingers drumming lightly on the armrest.

    "Tell them to keep up the pressure. I''m not interested in ''almost''-we need to be on top. And if they''re having any trouble out there, tell them their Guild Master is on her way. We''ll see who''s left standing when I arrive."

    Doran couldn''t help but smirk at her words, the familiar feeling of anticipation that always apanied Anya''s battle-ready attitude.

    "Understood, Guild Master. I''ll ry the message. They''ll be d to know you''reing."

    -

    Now about to board the ne.

    The aircraft''s ramp hissed open, the smooth metal surface reflecting the harsh lights of the hangar. Anya walked up to the ramp with the confidence of someone who had faced death countless times and came out on top.

    Her boots nked softly against the metal as she approached the interior of the aircraft.

    A small team of technicians were already waiting for her, one of them holding a sleek, advanced tech suit in his hands.

    The same one the Reapers and White Comets were able to recently get their hands on. The technician, a young man with nervous air around him, stepped forward as she approached. "Guild Master Anya..."

    "...we''ve got this new tech suit for you. It''s the best on the market right now-enhanced agility, reinforced armor, and integrated targeting systems. It''s what the top guilds are using in the wastnds."

    Anya gave the suit a short nce, her expression nither impressed nor disappointed. She appreciated the effort, but she had little interest in gadgets that imed to make her better.

    Experience had taught her that too much reliance on tech could be a hindrance in the heat of battle.

    She lifted her hand. "I appreciate the effort, but I won''t be needing it. Stuff like that just makes moving in battle a hassle. I don''t need a suit to slow me down when the real fight starts."

    The technician looked a bit surprised but nodded, quickly stepping aside.

    Anya continued her stride toward the cockpit, only to be stopped by Doran''s voice calling out to her.

    He had been with the Berserker Guild long enough to know that Anya wasn''t one for unnecessary gear, but he also knew the importance of certain precautions.

    "Guild Master," Doran said, "at least wear your mask. You''re heading into the wastnds, and you know how rough it can get out there."

    Anya paused, ncing at the mask Doran held out to her. It was a custom piece, designed specifically for her-sleek, ck, and with red markings that resembled the emblem of the Berserker guild.

    She took the mask from Doran, a slight smirk ying on her lips. "Fine, but don''t expect me to stop fighting if this piece of metal breaks out there."

    Doran smiled slightly, relieved that she agreed. "Wouldn''t dream of it, Guild Master."

    With that, Anya slipped the mask over her face, feeling it click into ce. She then turned to head further into the aircraft, as the ramp closed behind her and the aircraft powered up, Anya felt the rush of anticipation building once again.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    She was ready to go lead her team into the heart of the wastnds, and this time, there would be no second ce.

    ''I wonder how that boy is doing out there.''

    She thought, referring to Alister, crossing her legs and she sat, cing a hand under her jaw thoughtfully.

    Anya leaned back in her seat, a mischievous grin spreading on her face beneath her mask as she continued her thoughts aloud.

    "Lately I''ve been wondering about how exhrating it would be to face a mythical creature head-on. Imagine, a mythical drake inbat-I''ve heard they''re formidable, almost mythical in their strength."

    "Knowing the boy owns one, I can only imagine the thrill of testing myself against such a creature. One-on-one, just me and the drake, pushing it to its limits. It would be nice to see how much it could take before it breaks. Now that would be a challenge worth savoring." There was no doubt in her mind that she would be the one putting pressure on the monster, not the other way around. Such was the absolute trust Anya had in her own abilities.

    She paused, her eyes narrowing, she suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

    "But of course, securing our spotes first. The mission must bepleted before I start any drake hunting. It''s always best to save the most exciting part forst, after all." She said, folding her arms just below her chest.

    ...

    Atop this mountain of carcasses sat Kael, the Reapers Guild''s leader. His sharp green eyes gleamed with satisfaction and anticipation under the soft glow of the moonlight.

    The mountain of monster corpses seemed to serve as both a trophy and a reminder of his ruthlessness and skill.

    Kael leaned back against arge, twisted pile of corpses as he looked around the chaotic scene. The members of his team moved about, gathering their gear and prepping for their next sector. They had been going non-stop for several hours now, and yet, it didn''t look like they were were getting exhausted.

    Aria was at her console, tapping away and ensuring everything was on schedule. The

    asional crackle of radio static filled the air.

    Kael turned his head slightly, speaking to Aria.

    "How long until the pickup jet arrives to take this next batch of kills?"

    Aria nced up from her console, her blue eyes reflecting the soft glow of her equipment.

    "The pickup jet should be here in a couple of minutes, Captain. Everything is on track." Kael''s smirk widened as he leaned forward, his gaze shifting to the rest of the team. "Good. Let''s make sure everything is wrapped up neatly. We want to leave no room for error."

    As he spoke, Kai approached, his usual arrogance tempered by a rare focus. "So, will we be making any moves on our targets in the next phase?"

    Kael smiled. "Like I said before, easy there, tiger. Things will slowly fall into ce in due

    time."

    "It may not mean much to a rich kid like yourself, but getting all this turned into cash and then nearly tripled is what got me out here in the first ce."

    "Although the excitement of killing monsters and the thrill we''ll get frompleting our other mission are undeniable..."

    Kael nodded, the smirk never leaving his face. "I''ve got my eyes on the prize first; everything else is secondary. Besides, the other mission will be handledter. For now, we handle this cleanup efficiently. No surprises."

    Mira, stretching her arms and adjusting her gear, spoke up from a distance.

    "I can''t wait to see what''s next. This ce is crawling with monsters, and I''m itching for

    some more action."

    Rex, towering over the others, let out a low grunt. "Let''s get this done. I''m ready for the next

    round."

    Kael''s eyes twinkled with a mix of mischief and anticipation. "Alright, Reapers. Get ready. Once the jet arrives, it''ll haul this lot out so we can move on to the next phase. We''ve got a lot

    riding on this."

    "So, let''s ensure this ce is clean, I don''t want any stranglers, not a fan of surprises." "Mira, keep an eye out. Kai, double-check the perimeter. Jin, you''re on standby for any final

    shots if needed."

    "Let''s wrap this up quickly."

 Chapter 132: Go Big Or Go Home White Comets

    Chapter 132: Go Big Or Go Home White Comets

    ?

    Marcus leaned back in his chair, ncing at the monitor in front of him. "Well, folks, it looks like the Reapers are taking a short breather. While they catch their breath, why don''t we check in on the others?"

    The camera feed shifted, revealing the White Comets huddled around a holographic map, having a conversation.

    "Oh, what do we have here?" Elena asked. "It seems the White Comets are now working out a n of their own."

    Marcus nodded, a touch of skepticism in his voice. "Can''t me them. They''re currently rock bottom on the leaderboards. Not sure how they ended up there, but if they want any chance at iming the top spot now, they''re going to have to really bust their backs. Though, to be honest, it might already be beyond reach."

    "Speaking of the top spot, the Reapers really outdid themselves this year."

    "You don''t have to tell me twice," Marcus replied with a chuckle. "Last year, they were second, with the Berserkers nearly doubling their score. But it seems this year, the tables have turned."

    "Indeed," Elena agreed, leaning forward slightly. "But let''s put the Reapers aside for now. The White Comets are where our focus is at the moment. They''ve got a lot to prove, and it looks like they''re gearing up for something big."

    ...

    The White Comet Raid Team prepared for their next move.

    Ren nced at each of them, making sure they were fully focused. He stood before his team, his expression serious as he faced the group.

    Behind him, a holographic map of their target area-the well know Sector X-a sector that had still yet to be cleared since the starting of the wastnd disy event.

    The sector was practically overflowing with powerful monsters, each one seemingly more powerful than thest, and they were even stronger at night.

    And it''s map, was now in view. The sector was a vast valley known for its dangerous terrain, not exactly raider friendly with it''s extreme heat, the asion magma reaching the surface often made raiders loose their focus mid battle, as they didn''t want to burn to death or be shredded to pices by the monsters.

    "Alright, listen up," Ren said, his voice calm yet serious.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "I know we already went over the n..."

    "...but since Alister is awake, I''ll go through it again."

    "Sector X is where we''re heading. This valley is notorious for housing some of the most vicious monsters you''ll ever encounter. It''s an area where even the strongest of teams have perished, not to even mentioned venturing after dark. The monsters here are not only stronger but far more aggressive and unpredictable. We''ll be on edge the entire time."

    He pointed to the map, which zoomed in to show the various sections of the valley.

    "We''re targeting this sector for a reason. It''s where we''ll get the kills needed to raise our score and secure our ce at the top. But we need to be strategic, not only is the terrain a real problem, the monsters here vary in type-expect everything from A-rank Ravagers to S-rank Wraith Hounds. They''re fast, deadly, and some can even use the environment to their advantage."

    Ren pointed to a specific area on the map, an ominous-looking part of the valley.

    "This is where we''ll be raiding," he said, tracing a path with his finger. "We''re starting here on the northern edge, moving south, clearing out every monster we encounter. We''ll be sticking together as a team, methodically pushing forward, and tightening our grip on this sector."

    The map shifted slightly, and Ren turned to Alister. "Alister, you''ll be starting on the opposite side of the valley, over here."

    He indicated a location on the southern edge. "Your job is to work your way toward us, summoning both of your dragons-the Dragon Knight and the Drake. As you clear the area, we''ll be advancing toward you. The goal is for us to meet at the center. Once we converge, we''ll secure the perimeter, making sure no more monsters emerge."

    Ren paused, letting his words sink in before he continued speaking. "This is where you''re most important, Alister. Your dragons are going to give us the edge we need to dominate this sector, if possible finish your end as soon as possible and even progress towards ours, we might not be able to keep up with all the monsters. So in the event you need to help us, you must be already close by. So I expect you to not hold back. We need you to put on a full disy of power."

    "Understood." Alister replied calmly.

    Razorgrin, who had been listening intently, finally spoke up with a slightly irritated. "So what you''re really saying is that Alister''s got the edge over the rest of us?"

    "That we''re gonna need him to save us?"

    Ren gave him a steady look, his sses glinting, his voice firm. "His summons, yes. It would be foolish not to make full use of them. We''re a team, and each of us brings something crucial to the table. Alister''s dragons are our powerhouses for this raid. They''ll clear a path like nothing else can."

    "If we don''t want to bring shame to Master Yuuto this year, it would be best if we use all that is at our disposal."

    As Ren finishedying out the n, the camera feed broadcasting the event now disyed thementators seated in their brightly lit studio, their faces a look of shock.

    ...

    "Did I hear that right?" Marcus said, adjusting his earpiece as if he couldn''t quite believe the strategy he had just heard. "The White Comets are nning to split up in Sector X? And Alister is going to raid an entire side on his own?"

    Elena leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "This is unprecedented! Sector X is notorious for being one of the most dangerous areas in the wastnds. The idea of sending a single raider, even someone as powerful as Alister, to handle an entire section alone... it''s risky, to say the

    least."

 Chapter 133: Go Big Or Go Home White Comets Part Two

    Chapter 133: Go Big Or Go Home White Comets Part Two

    ?

    The broadcast cut to the live feed, showing spectators watching the stream from various locations-cafes, homes, and even on the streets. A murmur of concern and shock rippled through the crowds as they thought about the n.

    "Are they serious?"

    "They''re leaving Alister to handle that whole area by himself? That''s suicide!"

    "What are you guys talking about? Are you forgetting his drake can fly and it''s S-rank?"

    "He will be surrounded on all corners, remember it''s a valley, not the surface."

    "The fire from the Drake should make it easy though."

    "Might work out, who knows?"

    "Don''t you guys see the terrain? The monsters there might be immune to fire attacks." "Why is no one talking about the fact Ren just said he has another dragon to summon?" "Another one? So soon? No way!"

    Back in the studio, Marcus continued, "This is either a brilliant tactical move or a reckless gamble. But knowing Ren, he''s not one to make decisions lightly. He must have absolute confidence in Alister''s abilities... or he''s counting on those dragons to carry the day."

    Elena nodded. "It''s true. If anyone can pull off something this daring, it''s Alister. I''m sure he is full of surprises. I can''t wait to see just how well his drake will fare in such an environment."

    ...

    Ren nced around, ensuring that everyone was paying attention. "Alright, I''m sure everyone now understands the n."

    Hiroshi gave a mock salute. "Aye, Captain!" he said with exaggerated enthusiasm, a grin spreading across his face.

    Kaida, her expression a touch of concern and frustration, spoke up. "Is it really necessary to raid such a dangerous environment? We might be throwing our lives away if we go down there."

    Ren adjusted his sses. "The risk has been well calcted. The possibility of failure is less than forty percent."

    "Forty percent?" Kaida eximed, eyes widening in shock.

    "Less," Ren corrected, his fingers tapping lightly on his sses as if adjusting his vision. "I said less than forty percent."

    Kaida''s frustration grew. "If you''re so sure about that, why don''t we wait until daybreak? That way, the risk will be lower, and the reward will be the same."

    Ren shook his head slowly. "We''re already severely behind. Waiting until daybreak will only make things worse for us. Raiding by then won''t gurandtee us enough points to secure the top spot."

    "Then let''s go somewhere else. Why are you so dead set on this death trap? Come on, Captain, you''re supposed to be the smartest one here."

    Goro, who had been listening quietly, stepped in, speaking calmly. "Kaida, that was a bit out of line. The Captain has his reasons, and we need to trust his judgment."

    Ren nodded in agreement. "Goro''s right. You don''t have anything to worry about as long as we stick to the n and give it our best shot. Our current situation demands decisive action, and every moment we dy puts us at a greater disadvantage."

    Kaida sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Alright, I get it. I expect you all to keep an eye out for me down there."

    Ren gave a reassuring nod. "We will be. Let''s focus on our preparation and ensure we execute the n wlessly. We''ve got this."

    Hiroshi chuckled, nudging Kaida yfully. "Hey Kaida, are you scared you''ll get overwhelmed by monsters because you''re the healer?"

    Kaida shot Hiroshi an intense re, her eyes narrowing dangerously. Hiroshi visibly flinched, hisughter fading as he stammered, "Uh, forget I asked anything."

    Alister observed them in silence, his expression thoughtful.

    Terra, noticing Alister''s quiet demeanor, asked him I''m his thoughts. ''My lord, how was your rest? You seemed to be sleeping more than necessy. Did something happen?''

    Alister replied, ''You need not worry terra. It was just a dream.''

    Before Terra could ask further, Kaida leaned in closer to Alister, curious.

    "By the way, Alister, where did you get that ring from? I noticed it on your finger back at the makeshift fortress, but it wasn''t there before we arrived. When did you put it on?"

    Alister opened his mouth to exin, but before he could say anything, the truck''s AI voice interrupted.

    "We have arrived at our destination."

    The team fell silent, their attention shifting to the windows as the vehicle came to a stop. Razorgrin, stretching his arms high above his head, let out a long yawn. "I guess that''s our cue," he said, his voice rumbling as he slowly stood up. He headed towards the back of the truck.

    One by one, the rest of the team followed him. They emerged from the truck into the cool night air, greeted by the vast, star-studded sky and the bright orange glowing from the valley below.

    Ren nced at Alister, a serious expression on his face. "Don''t let us down," he said firmly, his eyes locking onto Alister''s.

    Turning to address the entire team, Ren pped his hands together, signaling the start of their mission. "Alright, it''s time for us to move out."

    The team readied their equipment, their breaths visible in the crisp air as they made their way towards the massive expanse of Sector X. Their footsteps echoed in the quiet night.

    As the team began to move out, thementators, still in their studio, couldn''t help but specte on the uing raid.

    ...

    "I wonder how things will y out," Elena said curiously. "This is an incredibly dangerous mission they''re about to embark on."

    "Indeed," Marcus agreed. "With Sector X''s history, the stakes couldn''t be higher. But with Alister on the team, there''s always an element of surprise. Let''s see what cards he ys."

    ...

    Meanwhile, Alister stood a few paces away from the others, flexing his muscles and stretching slightly. He frowned as he silently acknowledged the heavy, sluggish feeling in his body.

    ''It''s like a weight is holding me down.''

    He thought,paring it to the time he had used Kan''s stronger body. The memory of Kan''s overwhelming strength was very different whanpared with his current state.

    ''He was so much stronger than me, yet he died like that.''

    Alister let out a quiet sigh, pushing the thought from his mind. His eyes hardened as he focused on the task ahead. Without pausing futher, he raised his hand and called out, "Come

    forth, Cinder."

    Behind him, the air seemed to tear apart as a massive rift opened up, glowing with a

    menacing light.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    From within the rift, Cinder, the ck drake, stepped out, her dark scales gleaming under the

    night sky. She was a sight to behold, towering over the others with an aura of raw power.

    Thementators gasped, their excitement palpable.

    "Incredible!" Marcus eximed. "Cinder has joined the fray! I tell you no matter how many times I see it, I can''t help but gaze in awe."

    "That''s right Marcus, it sure is a sight for -"

    Before they could even finish their statment, Alister''s voice echoed through the night again.

    "Come forth, Darven."

    The ground trembled as an evenrger rift tore open behind him, the very fabric of reality seeming to ripple from the sheer force of it.

    BOOM

    Emerging from the rift was a massive dragon, its dark purple scales glinting softly in the

    moonlight. Darven, farrger than Cinder, let out a colossal roar that shook the valley, its

    sound echoing for miles around.

    Everyone watching the livestream was left in silence. For a moment, they all seemed to hold their breath. And then, they all asked the same question.

    "Is... Is that another dragon?"

 Chapter 134: Pride Of An Overlord

    Chapter 134: Pride Of An Overlord

    ?

    As Darven''s enormous body settled into the ground beside Cinder, the reaction from the livestream audience was instantaneous.

    More people went wild at the sight of Alister''s second dragon. The chat exploded withments.

    "Did you guys see the size of that dragon?! It''s huge!"

    "Alister''s got TWO dragons now? Is he even human? This dude''s on another level!"

    "How the heck did he manage to get another one so soon? And it''s even bigger than the first!" "Look at those scales, that dark purple hue... Is this some kind of ancient dragon species?" "Bro must have some secret method. No way he got that through regr summoning."

    "I heard a rumor that his dragon can also transform into a humanoid form! Imagine if it''s even stronger in that form! Wait... What if one is a girl?!"

    "That roar though... I felt that through the screen. I can''t even imagine how it feels to be near it in real life."

    "Okay, now I''m convinced. Alister''s team is going to wipe out everything in that valley. There''s no way those monsters stand a chance."

    "I''ll be starting a fan club for Alister''s dragons! Who wants to join me?"

    "But what if this dragon''s not fully under his control yet? It could go berserk or something." "Man, I wish we could get a closer look at that thing. It''s massive! What''s its attack power?" "This is insane... Alister''s about to be a legend if he pulls this off."

    Thements scrolled rapidly, with more and more people joining the stream, drawn by the sheer awe of a battle with two powerful dragons on the frontline. Everyone seemed eager to see what would happen next, their excitement seemed like it would make them burst.

    Hiroshi, who had been standing a short distance away from Alister, couldn''t help but express his own reaction.

    "Alister has a way of trying to end me with heart attacks," he grumbled, his hand over his chest as he tried to calm his racing heart. "Did his summon really have to roar like that?"

    Kaida, who was standing nearby, chuckled softly. "It seems like you''re the only one who gets shocked whenever Alister summons his dragons. Does this mean... you''re scared?" She was teasing him, a mischievous look in her eyes.

    Hiroshi narrowed his eyes at her, a touch of annoyance creeping into his voice. "I see. So you''re using my own words against me now."

    Kaida raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Is there a rule against that? Something I''m unaware of?"

    Before Hiroshi could respond, Ren, interrupted their little chat. "Stay sharp."

    "The jump''sing up soon."

    They both fell slient, looking ahead.

    The team moved together, heading towards the edge of the cliff. As they reached the precipice, they gazed down into the valley below, the bright light from the magma below illuminating their faces with an orange glow.

    The entire valley was crawling with monsters, their glowing eyes and shifting bodies was disturbing yet fascinating to watch.

    Hiroshi squinted, leaning forward slightly to get a better look. His eyes moved from one monster to the next, quickly assessing the situation.

    Small talent windows belonging to the monsters appeared in his view.

    "Let''s see... Dreadstalkers, Night Reavers, and-oh, there we go-Scythe Beasts. Yup, we''re starting out with A-Ranks."

    Ren adjusted his sses, his expression didn''t change one bit as he took a look at the valley. "A-Ranks or not, we proceed as nned. Alister, Cinder, and Darven will be starting on the other side. The rest of us will move in from here."

    Alister, still standing between his dragons, nodded silently as he heard Ren''s voice over thes. His mind already working through the n. He could feel the weight of the mission on his shoulders, but with Cinder and Darven by his side, the burden felt lighter.

    "Let''s not waste any time then," Ren said once more.

    "We''re already behind schedule."

    As if on cue, a sharp sound echoed in Alister''s mind, and the system''s voice echoed.

    [Quest: Pride of an Overlord!

    Description: An Overlord loses to no one! Your team is currently participating in a contest and is rankedst! As an Overlord, you cannot let this go on!

    Questpletion condition: Obtain overwhelming victory! The yer must win in such a way that others ced behind him will seem like a joke, as their scores will pale inparison to yours!

    Reward: Dark Quartz Summoning Conduit.]

    Alister''s eyes narrowed as he heard the message. His lips curled into a smirk, the thrill of the challenge stirring something primal within him.

    He muttered to himself, "A dragon that can shatterws, huh?" to Alister, it was obvious what the dark quartz could be used to summon, and the idea intrigued him.

    Darven, the massive purple-scaled Lightling Dragon, and Cinder, the fearsome ck Crimson Drake, both lowered their heads together.

    Their deep voices echoed through the air without the need to open their colossal maws. "We pay our respects to our lord."

    The livestreamments erupted with shock, the viewers awestruck by the sight of Alistermanding such immense creatures with such ease.

    "Is this real?!"

    "He has this level of control over those beasts?"

    "I''ve never seen anything like this. Alister''s on another level entirely!"

    "Is this even fair? How do youpete with a guy who''s basically a dragon lord?"

    Alister spoke calmly, despite the fact he was a bit excited. "Darven, Cinder..."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    He turned slightly to nce at the vast valley below them, filled with countless monsters

    crawling and swarming.

    "...I''m sure you both see the massive valley behind me."

    "Yes, my lord," they both replied in perfect harmony.

    "Good. We''ll be wiping it clean of monsters. None of them should be left standing by the time

    we''re done."

    As he spoke, his yellow eyes glowed with a faintly, gradually shifting into a reptilian form, reflecting the raw power hemanded.

    "Understood," they responded.

    Alister gave a final nod as he looked out over the valley. "Good. Now let''s get this over with."

 Chapter 135: Into The Valley Of Beasts

    Chapter 135: Into The Valley Of Beasts

    ?

    "Ladies and gentlemen, what we''re witnessing here is nothing short of incredible! Alister- our dark horse in this contest-has just revealed his second dragon, and if you thought Cinder was impressive, look at Darven! This thing is an absolute beast! And correct me if I''m wrong, but hasn''t it only been two weeks and a few days since he registered his first summon at the Union? Yet here he is with another dragon, and this one looks even stronger!" Marcus said, practically beaming with excitement.

    Elena responded, equally amazed. "You''re absolutely right! The speed at which Alister is summoning and bonding with these dragons is just absurd! Typically, even veteran summoners take months-sometimes years-to forge a bond strong enough to control a creature of this magnitude. And here we have Alister, practically outpacing the norms of summoning in record time. It''s almost like he''s rewriting the rules of what''s possible for summoners!"

    Marcus paused, letting the gravity of the situation sink in for the viewers before speaking again.

    "You know, seeing Alister''s meteoric rise makes me wonder-why does society have such a disdain for summoners? I mean, whenever someone discovers they have the talent, it''s often met with a sense of doom rather than celebration. What''s the root of that stigma?"

    Elena took a moment to gather her thoughts, her voice softening slightly as she delved into the history and society''s view on the matter.

    "It''s aplex issue, but itrgelyes down to the nature of summoning itself. Unlike other sses, which rely on skill, strength, or intellect, summoning has always been seen as a gambleˇŞa profession steeped in uncertainty. To be a sessful summoner like Alister is proving to be, you need to be rich, extremely lucky, and, of course, a genius."

    Elena paused briefly, then continued.

    "The reliance on chance is what dooms most summoners from the start. The creatures you summon are unpredictable-sometimes you get a weak beast, other times something uncontroble. And even if you''re lucky enough to summon something powerful you can control, you need immense wealth to sustain and equip them. Then there''s the intellectual aspect; you have to be a genius to figure out how to bond with these creatures, control them, and integrate them into your strategy. It''s a heap of challenges that most people simply can''t ovee. So, when someone discovers they have the talent, it''s often seen as more of a curse than a blessing."

    Marcus nodded thoughtfully, his voice more calm as he responded.

    "So, in essence, it''s the unpredictability, the financial burden, and the sheer intellectual demand that have turned summoning into a profession most people avoid and look down on. But Alister... he''s defying all of that, isn''t he? He''s showing that with thebination of all these factors, a summoner can be the most powerful force on the battlefield."

    Elena''s voice picked up again, now with a hint of excitement. "Exactly. Alister is breaking the mold, showing that summoning can be a pathway to unparalleled power if you have the resources, the luck, and the brains to back it up. He''s turning what was once considered a doomed profession into something truly legendary. And with two dragons under hismand now, I think it''s safe to say he''s only just getting started."

    As their conversation wrapped up, the feed returned back to a drone above Alister and his dragons that were about to take to the sky, heading towards the point they would begin their raid.

    ...

    "We''re jumping now." Ren said.

    Hiroshi, still slightly rattled from the earlier roar of Darven, nced down into the valley. His face tightened with focus as he watched the monsters shift and crawl beneath them. He adjusted his gear, took a deep breath, and nodded.

    "Right behind you," he said, mostly to himself, trying to push aside the lingering anxiety. Kaida, standing next to him, grinned, her eyes sparkling with a look of excitement.

    "Last one down''s a coward," she teased, then without waiting for a response, she leaped off the cliff, her body twisting gracefully as she dove into the valley below.

    Hiroshi let out a shortugh then followed her lead,unching himself into the air. The wind whipped past his face as he descended. He kept his eyes locked on Kaida, who was already adjusting her feet, preparing tond.

    Ren, who had waited for them to jump first, stepped forward. He leaned forward slightly, letting gravity take him over the edge. As he fell, he maintained his calm expression. His sses caught the light from the valley, reflecting the chaotic scene below.

    Razogrin cracked his knuckles as he approached the edge.

    "Alright, let''s do this," he said, with that, he pushed off from the cliff.

    Goro briefly checked his gear, making sure everything was in ce, then took a running start before leaping off the cliff.

    The five of them plummeted toward the valley floor, skilfully controlling their fall. The sounds of the monsters below grew louder as they closed the distance. Ren''s fingers twitched slightly, sparks emerging in his palm as he prepared to unlish his mes.

    Just before they hit the ground, Ren flipped mid-air, his body adjusting to the impact. Hended smoothly on the rocky terrain, his feet touching down with a light thud.

    Kaida followed suit,nding in a crouch, her hands brushing against the ground as she steadied herself. Hiroshi was the next tond, his boots kicking up a small cloud of dust as he hit the ground with a heavier impact. Razogrin came down with a thunderous crash, the ground cracking slightly beneath his weight, Goronded with a simr loud thud.

    They all rose to their full height, weapons at the ready, the valley of monsters now stretching out before them.

    The creatures had begun to take notice, their eyes gleaming in the light as they turned their attention toward them.

    Ren gave a quick nce to his teammates, ensuring they were ready. He then touched his earpiece, speaking to Alister.

    "We''re in position. You and the dragons take the other side. We''ll start the sweep now."

    Alister''s voice crackled through thes. "Understood. We''ll meet in the middle."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Alister soared through the skies, standing on Darven''s head as they tore through the air. The valley stretched on, but the end was in sight. Upon arriving, Alistermanded,

    "Both of you, touch down. We start here."

 Chapter 136: Storm Of Fire And Lightning

    Chapter 136: Storm Of Fire And Lightning

    ?

    BOOM~

    BOOM~

    Massive explosive sounds echoed throughout the valley as Darven and Cinder made their entrance, the force of theirnding shaking the earth beneath them.

    The pressure of theirbined weight was so immense that it caused magma to bubble up from beneath the surface, glowing in the cracks of the valley floor. However, the magma wasn''t a threatˇŞit was merely proof of the power these dragonsmanded.

    Alister stood tall on Darven''s head, his eyes sweeping over the vast expanse of the valley.

    "All sorts of monsters are slowly crawling into sight."

    "But I wonder if they even realize the fate awaiting them."

    ...

    Spectators in the live stream chat were already buzzing:

    "Did you see thatnding? The ground literally cracked open!"

    "Those poor monsters have no idea what''s about to hit them!"

    "I can''t believe Alister''s dragons are this powerful... I''m wondering why the monsters haven''t begun running for their lives yet... They are in for a world of pain!"

    Monsters of all shapes and sizes moved in the valley. Massive magma ogres with skin like cracked stone stomped around, their eyes glowing brightly.

    Wyrm-like creatures slithered between the rocks, their segmented bodies covered with jagged scales that ttered as they moved.

    There were also packs of shadow hounds, their bodies shifting in and out of the shadows as they prowled for prey, and massive insectoid beasts with mandibles strong enough to crush steel.

    Alister spoke softly, "Cinder, you will lead the main raid. Handle the monsters with your mes, while Darven will use his lightning to stop any monster that attempts to flee since his attacks will be a lot quicker."

    "That doesn''t stop you from attacking yourself, Darven, but you must make sure no monster runs away from our end."

    "Understood, my lord," they both replied.

    Cinder''s deep growl echoed before she let out a massive roar that vibrated the very sky. Her crimson eyes red with intense heat as she opened her enormous maw.

    From within, mes erupted, spewing out in a torrent. The mes roared across the valley, engulfing the monsters caught in its path.

    Thements went wild again.

    "Oh man, Cinder''s fire breath is something else! Those monsters are literally toast!"

    "Literally! Look at them getting incinerated, they don''t stand a chance!"

    "Who would''ve known watching monsters get burned alive helplessly like this would be so cool!"

    "But wait, if they continue on like this how will they get any points?"

    Thementators then spoke over the Livestream.

    ...

    Elena''s voice rang out, clearly excited. "Here ites! Cinder''s mes are wiping out the monsters like they''re nothing! The power she''s unleashing is simply terrifying."

    "It''s clear she''s not holding back," Marcus noted. "But with Alister''s strategy in y, they''ll need to adjust quickly. They can''t afford to destroy everything-not when they need the points to win the contest."

    ...

    Alister watched calmly, the brightness of the mes reflecting in his eyes.

    "Cinder," he called out. "We need to at least have the monster cores for points. Don''t reduce everything to ash."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Cinder''s mes immediately lessened in intensity, and she let out a rumbling, regretful growl. "My apologies, My Lord."

    The fire that flowed from her maw was now not as intense but still lethal, leaving the essential monster cores intact.

    Marcusmented with a hint of approval, "Smart move by Alister. They need those cores intact. Points are everything in a raid like this."

    "Smooth move, Alister! It''s all about strategy."

    "This guy is always thinking two steps ahead."

    "That''s why he''s the best-never loses sight of the goal."

    Many monsters trembled, instinctively taking to their heels in fear.

    "Darven..." Alister called calmly.

    Darven, standing beside Cinder, let out a low growl as the skies above darkened further.

    His maw opened wide, and inside, purple lightning crackled, illuminating his sharp fangs with a bright glow. The air grew thick, and the storm clouds above rumbled in response, with arcs of lightning shing between them.

    With a mighty roar, Darven unleashed a barrage of lightning from his mouth. The bolts shot forward with incredible speed, each one finding a target as if it were honing in on them.

    A massive magma ogre, its skin tough as stone, was struck squarely in the chest, the lightning piercing through its heart.

    The creature barely had time to realize it was dying, its momentum carrying it a few steps forward before it copsed, smoke rising from the smoldering hole in its chest.

    The lightning didn''t stop there. It leaped from the ogre''s body, arcing out to strike nearby monsters. A fleeing shadow hound yelped as it was electrocuted, its body vibrating violently before copsing in a heap.

    The lightning then jumped to a wyrm-like creature, splitting it in half with a sizzling crack. This chain lightning effect spread rapidly, killing multiple monsters in quick session.

    ...

    "This is absolute carnage!" Elena said, "Alister''s dragons are executing hismands wlessly. The skill, the sheer destructive force-it''s like watching an unstoppable force of nature."

    ...

    As they advanced, their massive feet crushed anything unfortunate enough to be in their path.

    A pack of shadow hounds was reduced to pulp beneath Darven''s wed feet, their bodies now nothing but bloody smears on the ground.

    Meanwhile, a massive insectoid creature tried to scuttle away, but Cinder''s tail whipped around, smashing it into the ground with a sickening BOOM, crushing it instantly.

    Alister stood at the top, his eyes observing the battlefield. His dragons were performing perfectly, just as he expected. As he surveyed the carnage, the ping of system notifications

    filled his mind.

    [Level up!]

    [Level up!]

    [Current level: 27.]

    ''Leveling here seems rather easy. Must be due to the fact the ce is crawling with high-level

    monsters,'' Alister thought.

    ''At this rate, it will soon be time for my second awakening.''

    Suddenly, another system notification caught his attention.

    [Notice to the yer!]

    [The yer has reached the level required for "group summoning!"]

    [The yer can now summon multiple dragons at a time, although the designated amount

    and the quality of the conduits used will determine their grade.]

 Chapter 137: Flames Of The Valley

    Chapter 137: mes Of The Valley

    ?

    "Watching Alister is fun, but we should check out how the others are faring," Marcus suggested, shifting the feed to the body cams.

    Elena then spoke up, "Good idea. Ren''s group is always impressive. I''m sure the audience is dying to see just how well they are doing."

    ...

    As Ren and his team pushed forward on the other side of the valley, the heat from thendscape intensified. The ground beneath them was cracked and scorched, with asional bursts of moltenva erupting from the fissures, creating a dangerous environment that demanded both caution and skill to navigate.

    The first wave of monsters came into view-massive, six-legged reptilian beasts with thick, armored scales that shimmered in the heat. Their eyes glowed bright red, and their mouths were lined with rows of sharp teeth. These creatures, known as Scorchws, were A-rank monsters. They were notorious for their brute strength and their ability to withstand intense temperatures.

    "Scorchws ahead!" Ren called out, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the advancing horde. "Goro, you take point! We need to break through their front line."

    Goro gripped his massive battle axe tightly. He nodded once, an intense look etched on his face. "Got it. I''ll open the path."

    "Hraaaaaaaaa!"

    With a battle cry, Goro charged forward, the ground trembling under his feet. As he approached the Scorchws, he mmed his axe into the earth with a force that sent shockwaves rippling through the ground.

    "Look at that power! The White Comets are doing surprisingly well," Elena eximed.

    "Goro''s earth maniption is throwing those Scorchwspletely off bnce! Seems he''s making the best he can of the terrain as well."

    "You are right," Marcus agreed, "and it''s not just that! He''s shifting his weight properly to put more power behind his swings."

    ...

    The earth beneath the monsters'' feet cracked and shifted, throwing them off bnce. One of the Scorchws stumbled, its legs sinking into the newly formed crevice, and Goro took the opportunity to swing his axe upward, cleaving through its armored hide with a loud crunch. Behind him, Hiroshi charged forward, his twin daggers glinting in the orange light. He circled around the Scorchws, using his wind maniption to create bursts of air that destabilized their footing.

    "I''ll keep them off bnce, Goro! Focus on the heavy hits!" he shouted.

    Goro grunted, continuing to hack away at the Scorchws, each of his swings more powerful than thest.

    "Perfect coordination there, this is something else," Marcus said. "Hiroshi''s wind maniption is giving Goro the opening he needs tond those devastating hits, and in all the chaos, it seems they are also managing to not get hit. Their footwork is not only mesmerizing but spot on."

    ....

    Meanwhile, Kaida positioned herself behind Goro, her sword at the ready. Although she was primarily a healer, she could still contribute to the battle.

    She waited for the precise moment when the Scorchws were disoriented by Hiroshi''s winds and Goro''s earth-shattering strikes. When one of the beasts staggered, she moved in swiftly, her sword shing as she aimed for the softer spots beneath their scales.

    ...

    "Kaida''s ying it smart, waiting for the right moment," Elena noted. "She''s going for those weak points!"

    ...

    She swung her sword in a wide horizontal arc, aiming to incapacitate by severing tendons. "Kaida, watch out!" Hiroshi warned as a burst ofva erupted near her position, forcing her to leap back just in time.

    The molten rock sshed dangerously close to where she had been standing, leaving the ground smoldering in its wake.

    "Thanks, Hiroshi."

    She adjusted her stance, wary of the terrain. "Razogrin, we could use some heavy support up front!"

    Razogrin charged forward. "On it!" he yelled, his voice like thunder.

    ...

    "Razogrin''s hammer is going to make short work of these Scorchws," Marcus said.

    ...

    As Razogrin approached, he timed his swings carefully, waiting for theva bursts to subside before bringing his hammer down with devastating force in a downward vertical smash.

    The impact was so powerful that it sent shockwaves through the ground, toppling several Scorchws at once. One of the creatures tried to swipe at him with its w, but Razogrin blocked the attack by swinging his hammer, the force of the blow causing the creature''s limb to crack under the pressure.

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "And there it is! Razogrin''s raw strength is unmatched!" Elena yelled with excitement, nearly pumping her fist into the air.

    "Alright, let''s check out Ren... He appears to be taking on a different approach. He knows those mes need to be hotter than theva if they''re going to do any real damage," Marcus observed.

    ...

    Ren, meanwhile, was in the thick of it, mes swirling around him as he unleashed his

    attacks.

    He had to put in more effort here, ensuring his mes were even hotter than theva around them. So he distanced himself from the others a bit, not wanting them to be affected by the heat of his attacks.

    He used his mes to create a barrier between his team and the monsters he was going to

    handle.

    "I''ll keep some at bay! Focus on finishing the others off!" Ren yelled.

    Ren moved smoothly, directing his mes. One of the Scorchws charged at him, but Ren reacted quickly, sending a wave of fire directly into its open maw.

    The creature roared in agony as the mes consumed it from the inside out, its body copsing in a smoldering heap.

    ...

    "That''s brutal!" Elena said, impressed. "Ren''s fire maniption is just deadly."

    ...

    The battle was intense, but each member of the team yed their role to perfection. The Scorchws were powerful monsters, their sheer size and strength making them difficult to take down, but nothing they couldn''t handle.

    "Ren, more of them areing from the east!" Kaida called out, spotting another wave of Scorchws advancing.

    Ren nced in the direction she indicated and saw the approaching threat.

    "We need to hold the line! Goro, Razogrin, keep the pressure up! Hiroshi, Kaida, back them

    up!"

    ...

    "Ren''s keeping them all on track," Marcus said. "If they keep this up, those Scorchws won''t stand a chance."

 Chapter 138: Battle In The Heat

    Chapter 138: Battle In The Heat

    ?

    Ren''s eyes focused on the iing wave of Scorchws. The ground beneath him rumbled with their approach, each step they took causing more cracks to form in the already fractured earth. The air was thick with heat, almost suffocating.

    "Goro, Razogrin, you two take the front! Hiroshi, Kaida, cover their nks!" Ren shouted, taking a few steps back to give himself space.

    "I''ll hold the center and keep them from advancing further!"

    "Got it!" Goro and Razogrin replied, their voices booming.

    Goro gripped his battle axe tighter, feeling the heat of the ground seeping through the boots

    of his suit. He could see the Scorchws'' eyes glowing brighter as they closed in, their massive jaws snapping frantically.

    With a deep breath, Goro mmed his axe into the ground once more, causing the earth to heave and split, creating a chasm that several of the monsters stumbled into.

    Razogrin followed up with a powerful swing of his hammer, the impact sending a shockwave that cracked the ground further and toppled more of the Scorchws into the abyss. But the beasts wouldn''t give in that easily, crawling out of the fissures as fast as they could.

    "These bastards just don''t quit!" Razogrin grunted, bringing his hammer down on the head of a Scorchw that had gotten too close, crushing its skull with a massive crunch.

    "Keep at it!" Goro yelled, his voice strained as he used his earth maniption to hurlrge boulders at the advancing monsters.

    "We need to thin them out before they overwhelm us!"

    Meanwhile, Hiroshi darted around the battlefield, his twin daggers a blur as he shed at the Scorchws'' legs, aiming to cripple their movements.

    Each strike was apanied by a gust of wind, knocking the creatures off bnce and giving Goro and Razogrin the openings they needed tond their powerful blows.

    "Kaida, watch your back!" Hiroshi shouted as he spun around, deflecting a Scorchw''s snapping jaws with a gust of wind before slicing through its throat with a wind de strike. Kaida nodded, keeping her focus as she moved to support her teammates. She noticed a Scorchw trying to nk Goro and swiftly intervened, her sword cutting through its exposed tendon.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Thanks, Hiroshi!" Kaida replied, her eyes scanning the battlefield for the next threat. The heat was making it harder to concentrate, but she remained calm, waiting for the right moments to strike.

    "We need to stay close; these things are trying to split us up!"

    Ren, meanwhile, unleashed a torrent of mes, forming a zing barrier that forced the Scorchws to halt their advance. The creatures snarled and hissed, their scales glowing with the heat of the fire, but they couldn''t push through the inferno.

    "Not so fast!" Ren yelled, intensifying the mes, causing the front line of Scorchws to back away, their scales beginning to char and crack under the intense heat. "Goro, Razogrin, push them back! We need to regain control of the battlefield!"

    Goro and Razogrin responded with a surge of power. Goro raised his axe high, summoning all his strength as he mmed it into the ground. The earth erupted beneath the Scorchws, sending them flying into the air, where Razogrin was ready to smash them back down with his hammer.

    "Take that, you overgrown lizards!" Razogrin roared, his muscles bulging as he swung his hammer with ferocious force, sending the Scorchws crashing into the scorched ground. "Good work!" Ren called out, keeping his mes burning hot to maintain the barrier. He could feel the strain of the intense heat on his body, but he couldn''t afford to let up, not with more of the monsters closing in.

    "Kaida, Hiroshi, watch the nks! Don''t let any of them slip through!"

    "On it!" Hiroshi responded, quickly moving to intercept a Scorchw that had managed to circle around. His daggers shed like a whirlwind as he struck,nding a series of shes that left the creature bleeding.

    Kaida stayed close to Hiroshi, her sword becam a blur as she struck at the Scorchws that tried to take advantage of Hiroshi''s attacks.

    Together, they formed a defense on the nks, preventing any of the monsters from breaching their line.

    "Another wave iing!" Kaida warned, her eyes widening as she saw more Scorchws emerging from theva pits, their armored bodies glowing with the heat of the molten rock. "Damn it!" Ren hissed, realizing they were being outnumbered. He nced over at Goro and Razogrin, who were holding their ground but starting to show signs of exhaustion. "We need to end this fast! Everyone, give it everything you''ve got!"

    Ren gathered all the power he could muster, his mes roaring with more intensity. He concentrated the fire into a massive wave and hurled it towards the oing Scorchws, the sheer heat causing the air to shimmer and distort.

    "Burn to ash!" Ren shouted, the mes crashing into the monsters with explosive force, engulfing them in an inferno.

    The Scorchws roared in agony as the mes consumed them, their scales melting and cracking under the heat. One by one, they copsed, their bodies reduced to smoldering

    heaps.

    With the threat neutralized, Ren let out a sigh, his mes slowly dying down. He turned to his team, who were breathing heavily but still standing strong.

    "Well done, everyone," Ren said, his voice filled with pride. "We held the line. Now, let''s finish off any stragglers and regroup."

    The team nodded as they moved to clear the valley of any remaining Scorchws as they advanced forward. The battle had been intense, but Ren''s team had proven their strength once again.

    ...

    Back in the studio, Marcus and Elena were in awe as they watched the feed.

    "That was incredible!" Elena eximed. "Ren and his team handled those Scorchws like true professionals. Their coordination and power were off the charts!"

    "I agree," Marcus added. "They''ve shown exactly why they''re one of the top teams. The way they adapted to the situation and worked together was nothing short of impressive. The audience is loving it!"

 Chapter 139: The Berserkers

    Chapter 139: The Berserkers

    ?

    Meanwhile, in a ruined city in the distance, overtaken by nature, crumbling buildings were covered in thick vines, and roots burst through the cracked concrete streets, twisting and curling around the remains of what was once a metropolis.

    The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, and the distant roars of monsters echoed through the ruins.

    Amongst the ruins, the Berserkers moved like a force of nature, their shes causing massive booms in the distance.

    They were carrying out their raid, cutting through hordes of evil dryads with unimaginable speed, as if they had done this thousands of times before.

    These dryads, twisted by dark magic,shed out with thorn-covered vines and root attacks, their eyes glowing with a bright green light.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    A massive vine shot forward, aiming to impale one of the Berserkers, but a silver-haired woman sped into view, intercepting the attack with a powerful punch. The vine exploded into splinters, unable to withstand the force behind the strike.

    "Ha! Is that all you got?!"

    A man roared, his red eyes gleaming with excitement. His wild silver hair swayed in the wind as he stood tall, d in a massive set of punching gauntlets that seemed to vibrate with his red mana. This was Halzor, the group''s ''challenger,'' always ready to dive headfirst into any battle.

    "Come on, you overgrown weeds! Give me something to break!"

    Heunched himself into the thick of the dryads, mming his gauntlets together with a sound like thunder. He cracked his knuckles and grinned madly, eager for the next hit.

    Nearby, the ground trembled, and metal shards erupted from the earth, spiraling upward before condensing into a massive, gleaming sword.

    It hovered in the air for a moment, then began to spin before being shot forward one by one like massive bullets.

    The sword easily cleaved through a group of dryads that had been closing in on Halzor.

    "You''re too noisy, Halzor," a cold female voice said. Floating above the battlefield, her silver armor glinting softly under the moonlight, was Ma, known to many as the War Goddess.

    Not just because of her silver hair, deep blue eyes, and silver armor, but for themanding air she had about her as she hovered in the air, gazing down with a cold, detached expression, like a goddess looking down on mortals from above.

    Telekinesis wasn''t her talent, as many seemed to assume. In actuality, it was absolute metal control, SS rank.

    "I don''t need to hear your chatter to know you''re doing your job. Just don''t get in my way," Ma spoke up again as she directed her metal constructs to pull from the dead dryads and head to deal with the next.

    The des whirled around her, cutting down dryads ruthlessly as she hovered effortlessly in the air.

    On the other side of the battlefield, another dryadshed out, its vine speeding towards Halzor from his blind spot. But before it could reach him, a massive, muscr figure moved into view, intercepting the attack with a shield made of what seemed to be solid stone. The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, but the man didn''t even flinch.

    "Halzor, you always rush in like an idiot!" he scolded, his deep voice echoing over the ruined city. He had a stoic expression, his bald head gleaming, and his skin was as tough as the earth itself, almost like living rock. This was Grimm, the team''s shield, well known as ''Stone.''

    "Watch yourself next time," Grimm spoke again as he raised his stone shield to block another iing attack. "I can''t always be bailing you out."

    "Rx, Grimm! I had it under control!" Halzor replied with a grin, even as he ducked under another vine andnded a punch that sent a dryad flying.

    Above them, in a tangle of vines and leaves, a shadow darted through the air, moving gracefully like a cat.

    Landing on a nearby crumbling wall, the woman observed the battlefield, narrowing her eyes. She was covered in a ck cloak that allowed her to blend into the shadows of the night.

    Without a word, she unsheathed a pair of twin daggers, their des gleaming ominously, and vanished again, only to reappear behind a group of dryads, slicing through the creatures with swift vertical arcs.

    "Too slow..." she said, her voice barely above a whisper. This was Nyra, the team''s assassin, known for her silent but deadly approach.

    She rarely spoke, but when she did, it was always with a touch of annoyance for anything that slowed her down.

    As the battle raged on, a dryad managed to break through the front line, lunging toward Ma with thorned vines. But before it could reach her, a powerful kick from a massive boot sent the creature flying back into the fray, smashing through a half-copsed building.

    "That one was too easy! Let me know if something bigger shows up!" a cheerful voice boomed. The kick hade from a towering man, his frame bulky with muscle, his skin a deep, earthy brown, and his hair a wild mane of ck. This was Thorin, the team''s powerhouse, whose sheer strength made him a one-man wrecking crew.

    Thorin was always up for a challenge, just like Halzor; their type wasmon among the Berserkers.

    "Ma, you really need to leave the small fry to me," he added with a wink as he cracked his knuckles, ready for the next target.

    Ma merely gave him a cold gaze before returning her focus to the battlefield, her metal des cutting down more dryads.

    Standing apart from the action, leaning casually against the ruins of an old fountain, was the team''s healer. Her ck hair flowed down her back, and her red eyes, so simr to Halzor''s, were half-open in boredom.

    She watched the battle with little interest, her attention more focused on the holographic screen she held, streaming the ongoing Wastnd Disy Event.

    "Idiots..." she muttered, not even ncing up as another dryad was obliterated by one of Thorin''s kicks. Her name was Ivy, and she was the group''s healer.

    But unlike most healers, Ivy didn''t fuss over her teammates or rush to help them. Instead, she only intervened when absolutely necessary, like when it was confirmed they couldn''t just walk

    it off.

    She always had this nonchnt air about her, as if the world around her didn''t matter.

    "He''s interesting."

    Ivymented, sounding indifferent as she watched the feed, her eyes fixed on Alister.

    The rest of the team might have been knee-deep in battle, but Ivy''s mind was elsewhere, focused on the enigma that was the White Comets'' summoner.

    "I wonder if he lets others ride on them too... I''m curious how something like that would feel

    like."

 Chapter 140: The Berserkers Part Two

    Chapter 140: The Berserkers Part Two

    ?

    The battlefield was filled with the sounds of shes, roars, and the slicing of metal through dryad bark.

    Thorin was grinning wildly, each of his massive fists smashing into the twisted creatures with enough force to shatter rocks.

    Halzor charged around the battlefield like a lightning bolt, delivering crushing blows with his gauntlets, his red eyes glowing with excitement.

    Ivy remained near the ruined fountain, her eyes still fixed on the holographic screen.

    "Hey Ivy," Thorin called out as he delivered a crushing kick to a dryad that had been trying to creep up on him.

    He turned, wiping his brow with the back of his hand, though he didn''t seem tired in the slightest.

    "How are our scores looking? We gotta be leading, right?"

    Ivyzily shifted her eyes from the screen to Thorin. She gave a small sigh, then looked back at the screen, swiping through a few stats with a flick of her finger.

    "We''re about three thousand points behind the Reapers,"

    She said, sounding as if she was talking about something as boring as the weather.

    Thorin''s brow furrowed, and he cracked his knuckles.

    "Three thousand? Ugh, I knew we should''ve taken out that Leviathan yesterday!"

    Halzor, overhearing this,ughed as he sent another dryad flying with a powerful uppercut.

    "No worries, Thorin! We''ve still got time to crush them-plenty of dryads left to smash!" Ma, gliding above them, rolled her eyes.

    "If you spent less time smashing and more time strategizing, maybe we wouldn''t be trailing."

    Thorin shrugged, unfazed by her critique, and simply grinned.

    "Strategy''s your thing, Ma. I''m here to make sure the monsters don''t get back up."

    Nyra, who had remained silent, appeared from the shadows again, her twin daggers glinting as she emerged from behind a fallen dryad. She sheathed her des.

    "If we fall behind, it''s because of your noise, Halzor. The Reapers are probably enjoying the silence while we struggle to hear ourselves think."

    Halzor just shed her a grin, ducking under another vine attack with a roll.

    "Come on, Nyra, admit itˇŞmy noise keeps things exciting!"

    Nyra only responded with a disapproving grunt, "At least you acknowledge its noise."

    Grimm, standing like a mountain, blocked yet another attack with his stone shield, the ground trembling beneath his feet. He looked over his shoulder at Ivy.

    "Ivy, any word on when the guildmaster''s going to get here?"

    Ivy finally pushed off the fountain, straightening her posture as she tucked her holographic disy under her arm.

    She nced skyward, she paused for a moment, as if calcting.

    "She''ll be here in a few. Her aircraft should be inbound any moment now."

    Thorin chuckled, stepping back after delivering a final punch to thest of the dryads. "Good. We could use the guildmaster''s touch. Always makes the big monstars turn tail and run, making raids more of a hunt."

    Halzor, his mana raging around his body, cracked his knuckles.

    "I''m ready for anything! Bring on the biggest monsters, and I''ll turn it into dust!"

    Ma floated down slightly, her metal constructs forming a deadly perimeter around her as she.

    "Focus on the task at hand, Halzor. The guildmaster''s presence doesn''t mean we can ck off."

    Ivy just shook her head as she resumed watching the holographic feed.

    "Try not to mess things up before she gets here..."

    "...wouldn''t want to embarrass ourselves now, would we?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Thorin, the team leader, spoke up. "You know what? You''re right. It''d be best if we clear things up and catch our breath a bit before the guildmaster arrives."

    Grimm grunted as he agreed, his stone shield resting on the ground for a moment as he took a look at the area.

    "Thorin''s got a point. We need to be ready to move on when she gets here. No sense in leaving a mess."

    Ma, still hovering above the group, gave a small nod. "Fine. Let''s wrap this up quickly."

    Halzor, cracked his knuckles and grinned. "Alright! Let''s smash these stragglers and show the guildmaster what we''re made of!"

    Nyra, still standing in the shadows, simply nodded. She swiftly moved to dispatch the few remaining dryads.

    With that, each of them took their respective roles, making quick work of the remaining enemies.

    Halzor threw a barrage of fists, sending the twisted dryads flying with every punch. Thorin joined him, his powerful kicks and punches toppling thest of the creatures, while Grimm provided steady defense, ensuring no surprise attacks caught them off guard.

    Ma floated overhead, her sword constructs slicing through thest dryads, while Nyra moved silently, her daggers shing as she took down any threats left in the shadows.

    Ivy watched from her spot near the fountain, her eyeszily looking between the battlefield and the distant sky. As thest of the dryads fell, the group gathered near the ruins, breathing a bit easier now that the area was secure.

    Just as they began to rx, the low hum of engines filled the air. They all turned their attention skyward, where a sleek aircraft appeared, descending slowly from the clouds. It hovered above them for a moment, casting a shadow over the ruins.

    The hatch on the underside of the aircraft began to open slowly, revealing the figure within. A woman stepped forward, her purple hair catching the light, and her red eyes glowing faintly. She was d in ck and golden armor, the metal tes fitting her body perfectly, giving off both power and grace. It was none other than Anya, the Berserkers guild master.

    A grin spread beneath her mask as she looked down at her team. Without hesitation, she leaped from the aircraft, crashing down with a massive thud. Her powerful impact kicked up dust and debris around her.

    "Looks like you''ve all been busy..."

    "Good. I was worried you''ve all been cking off."

    The team straightened up, standing at attention as the woman-their guildmaster, Anya- took a look at the battlefield. Even Halzor, usually the most reckless of them all, seemed to stand a little taller.

    Ma floated down to stand beside the others, her cold expression looking more calm. "We made sure everything was taken care of. We''re ready to move on yourmand."

    Anya nodded, pleased with what she saw. "Good work, everyone. Now, let''s finish what we started and show those Reapers who the real champions are." Her red eyes narrowed as they shined brightly, as if she was looking forward to doing just that.

 Chapter 170: Dust Rising Calamity Part Two

    Chapter 170: Dust Rising Cmity Part Two

    ?

    Ren narrowed his gaze, bringing his arms together and beginning to condense his mes. It seemed like he was rolling them around to form some sort of ball. The heat of the me ball intensified, slowly changing color as Renpressed it further.

    ...

    "Oh? What''s this? It appears as though Ren is preparing for some sort of killer attack," Marcus said.

    "Seems so. That could be his only choice since it seems he hasn''t called any of his team to handle these monsters, and their numbers are quiterge, yet he doesn''t seem fazed," Elena added.

    ...

    Ren appears to be done condensing; the ball of mes seems to turn into a very small blue sphere of fire. Ren held it tightly in his right hand, which was covered in his mes. He leaned back slightly, cing his left leg forward, and crouched down slightly. His right ming arm pulled back as he gazed intensely at the charging horde.

    ...

    "It appears as though he is preparing to throw something! What''s this, could it be a killer move he hasn''t shown us until now?!" Marcus eximed.

    Elena chimed in, "Saving the best forst, it seems. Apparently, Alister is not the only one capable of surprises."

    ...

    Ren''s muscles tensed, and then with a burst of strength, he hurled the condensed blue me ball towards the charging orcs.

    He then stood upright, turning his back to the charging orcs as he simply paused there, as if waiting for something.

    ...

    "Umm... it appears as though nothing has-" before Marcus could finish his statement, a massive explosion silenced him.

    ...

    KAK

    BOOM!

    A massive explosion suddenly erupted, drawing the entire team''s attention. They all turned their heads towards the source of the massive boom, the mes quickly billowing into the air and curling. A massive shockwave was created, raising up a huge wall of dust as monster entrails and debris slowly rained from the sky.

    Walking back calmly as if the mes behind him were non-existent, Ren adjusted his sses, causing them to catch the light, momentarily shing and obscuring his eyes.

    "Holy shit..." Hiroshi said in awe, as he stood gazing at the massive me that curled up into a mushroom-like shape in the air, slowly dissipating.

    Kaida chuckled slightly, "Seems even ''he'' tends to show off once in a while."

    Goro smiled awkwardly as he scratched the side of his face, "But... isn''t this too much? I doubt there will be anything left for the return team to retrieve if he decided to go all out like that." Razorgrin chuckled, "We can afford it. We are far ahead of ourpetition. In fact, we might as well just fight to show off since we''re still going to win in the end," he said as he tightened his grip on the handle of his hammer, his eyes narrowing.

    ...

    "Unbelievable! What a truly unbelievable disy of firepower!" Marcus eximed, pulling the mic of his earphones closer to his mouth as he yelled.

    "Hepletely obliterated them! Has he always been capable of this, or is this more of a massive performance to make his team win with a massive bang?!"

    "Not sure, Marcus, but one thing we''re all sure of is... that was absolutely breathtaking!" Elena chimed, clutching her fist as her eyes practically glinted with excitement.

    ...

    Back with Alister...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "What an amazing disy of power, for a human," Cinder said, as she, Darven, and Terra gazed in the direction of the explosion.

    Alister could sense a strange emotion of disgusting from Cinder due to their bond. "Cinder... do you... hate humans?" Alister asked, standing atop her head. It was something he had just pieced together. After recalling all of her words and the way she has acted since he summoned her, she didn''t seem to have a favorable opinion of humans.

    "My lord... it''s a long story."

    ...

    Goro''s massive axe continued to cleave through enemies, Razorgrin''s war hammer smashed down with devastating force, Hiroshi''s daggers struck with deadly uracy as he evaded attacks with ease, and Kaida''s sword picked off stragglers and low-rank monsters behind the team.

    Ren''s coordination was key to their sess. His strategicmands ensured that each member''s abilitiesplemented one another, creating a seamless and efficient assault on their enemies.

    As the final monsters fell, the team regrouped, breathing heavily but with expressions of satisfaction.

    "Excellent work..." Ren said, his eyes scanning the now-cleared battlefield. "Let''s-"

    BOOM

    A sudden earthquake shook the ground beneath them, causing everyone to lose their footing

    momentarily.

    "What the¨D" Ren began, looking around as the earth continued to tremble and massive cracks began to ripple around.

    Ren''s eyes widened with shock as he mumbled, "Wait... Don''t tell me..."

    ...

    Back with Alister, Terra''s eyes widened. She slowly turned her head towards Alister as she spoke, "My lord, something very powerful and dangerous is approaching."

    "Something dangerous? What do you-"

    Before he could finish, he could feel the earth tremble beneath Cinder''s feet, causing him to

    nearly fall when she momentarily lost her footing.

    Alister''s expression suddenly changed as he realized. "Wait... is this-"

    ...

    Elena and Marcus, observing from the body cams, wondered aloud, "What''s causing all this

    commotion?"

    "Is some powerful monster approaching? Is that the cause of themotion?"

    Elena then spoke up, "Could it be that-"

    SHHHHHHHH

    Suddenly the feed went out and the audio died too, leaving only noise. The signal was mysteriously lost. In the distance, Marcus and Elena could catch the sight of dust rising.

    A well-known signal to a major cmity.

    As Marcus and Elena lost signal, they frantically tried to contact HQ.

    "Come on,e on!" Marcus muttered, pressing the button repeatedly. "Why can''t we get

    through?"

    Elena nced at him, worried. "If this is as serious as it looks, we should fly back and report in person. The Union needs to send backup immediately."

    Marcus nodded in agreement. "You''re right. We can''t afford to waste any time."

    Turning to the pilot, Marcusmanded, "Lift us off the tform and head back to the city."

    The pilot swiftlyplied, and the massive tform they stood on began to ascend.

    As they gained altitude, Elena looked out at the chaos below. "I hope we can reach the city in time."

    Marcus clenched his jaw. "We have to. Lives depend on it."

    ...

    Back with Ren and the others, the signs were undeniable. Monsters were fleeing in all directions, the ground was shaking violently, and massive chasms were forming in the earth.

    Ren''s eyes darted around, piecing together the situation.

    "All of this points to...," Ren began, but Kaida interrupted, her voice trembling.

    "It... it couldn''t be..."

    Ren quickly took charge. "Retreat to the truck! Now!"

    But as they made their way, the ground split open, creating chasms that blocked their path. One particrlyrge chasm opened up beneath the truck, swallowing it whole.

    Kaida missed her step and nearly fell into one of the chasms, but Goro was quick enough to

    grab her, pulling her to safety.

    Dust rose from the earth, forming a thick cloud that blotted out the sun, casting an eerie shadow over the battlefield.

    In the distance, a massive figure emerged from the ground. A gigantic sandworm, its colossal form nearly touching the clouds, loomed menacingly.

    Ren tone turned grim as he watched the scene unfold. "Just as I feared, it''s a sandworm."

 Chapter 142: A Clash With A Field Boss

    Chapter 142: A sh With A Field Boss

    ?

    Hiroshi, agile and quick, maneuvered between the monsters, his daggers a blur as they sliced through tendons and joints, aiming to cripple, incapacitate, thennd the finishing blow.

    Kaida moved as best she could, her sword cutting down any creature that dared to approach. Razogrin brought up the rear, his war hammer mming into the ground with enough force to send shockwaves through the earth, the impact knocking enemies off bnce.

    Just as the team began to find their rhythm, the ground quaked violently beneath their feet, a tremor that sent cracks rippling through the scorched earth.

    Emerging from the shadows ahead was a massive creature-an A+ rank Field Boss known as Infernal Grendak.

    A bright red talent window suddenly materialized.

    Monster: Infernal Grendak.

    Rank: A+

    ss: Giant.

    Total Combat Power: 49,900.

    The beast towered over them, standing over twenty feet tall, with four massive, muscr arms ending in ws that glowed with the heat of molten metal. It was a giant ss.

    Its hide was a thick, armored crimson, with veins ofva coursing across the surface, and its eyes burned with an intense blue fire.

    ...

    "That''s Infernal Grendak! A high-ranking Field Boss!" Marcus''s voice boomed over the live broadcast. "This could be their toughest challenge yet!"

    "They''re already drained from the heat and the constant fighting, so things aren''t looking very good."

    "If they can''t take this thing down, it''ll be bad for them."

    ...

    Ren''s eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. "Hiroshi, disorient it with wind! Make it stumble!"

    Hiroshi nodded, moving as fast as he could despite his fatigue. He nted his feet firmly before leaping, daggers raised as he looked for the gaps between the monster''s body armor in its legs and cut a tendon. He then began to manipte the air around him.

    A gust of wind surged forward, swirling around Infernal Grendak''s legs, throwing the beast off bnce.

    The monster roared as it stumbled backward, crashing into the rocky walls and causing rocks to rain down.

    The creature staggered, its ws scraping against the wall as it struggled to regain its footing.

    "Goro, now!" Ren shouted.

    Goro roared in response, charging forward with his battle axe raised high. He took a wide step forward with his left leg, pivoting his body as he swung the massive weapon in a downward

    arc.

    The de of the axe cleaved into the creature''s left leg, a deep crack forming as Goro''s strike sent a spray of sparks and molten blood flying.

    He pulled his axe back again, sparks spraying in the air as he followed up with another heavy attack to the other leg with a swift pivot in his foot.

    The earth trembled beneath the force of the blow, and the shockwave rippled through the ground, causing nearby Night Reavers to stumble and fall.

    ...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "That''s a powerful hit from Goro, but Grendak is still standing!"

    "They need to find a way to bring it down faster, or they''re going to get overwhelmed."

    ...

    Ren could see the creature recovering quickly, its burning eyes locking onto Goro. "Kaida, aim for the gaps in its armor! Now!"

    Kaida''s eyes sharpened, and she moved swiftly, her sword at the ready. She charged forward, closing the distance between herself and Infernal Grendak.

    The monster saw her approaching and swung its ws at her.

    With a quick side-step to avoid a swipe from the beast''s ws, she spun on her heel. She struck, aiming for a weak point between the armor tes on its torso. Her de pierced through, and the creature roared in agony, its molten blood hissing as it hit the ground, evaporating.

    Its feet eventually gave out, and it came crashing down on its knees.

    "Razogrin, finish it!" Ren yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos.

    "Roger!"

    Razogrin, who had been circling around for the perfect angle, tightened his grip on his war hammer. He charged forward, his steps shaking the ground beneath him.

    As he neared the beast, he leaped into the air, raising his hammer above his head.

    "Haaaaaa."

    Time seemed to slow as Razogrin brought the hammer down in a crushing vertical arc, aiming directly for Infernal Grendak''s skull.

    The moment the hammer made contact, a massive shockwave went through the monster''s body, the impact so powerful that the ground shattered beneath them, sending cracks spreading in all directions.

    The creature''s skull caved in with a sickening crunch, molten blood and sparks flying everywhere as the beast copsed in a lifeless heap with a massive boom, dust billowing into

    the air.

    ...

    "Incredible! Razogrin just delivered the final blow!"

    "That was a brutal, well-coordinated takedown."

    "They did it, but look at themˇŞthey''re barely holding on," Marcus observed, his tone more

    serious now.

    "They''re making progress, but clearing Sector X doesn''t seem possible in their current states. Then again, perhaps Alister could pull off a miracle."

    "But all this has me curious, why did other teams fail or get wiped out in the past?" Marcus asked, turning to face Elena.

    "It''s not just the heat or the monsters," Elena replied, her voice dropping slightly. "The major cause of failure is a particr giant-ss monster that resides in the valley ahead." Marcus raised an eyebrow, curious. "Giant-ss? What makes it more dangerous than the one that was just taken down?"

    "This one is unlike any other," Elena exined.

    "As we all know, the stat all giant-ss monstersck is their speed. But what if that wasn''t

    the case?"

    "Such is the case with this monster. It possesses surprising speed for its size, making it easy to counter and overwhelm raiders."

    "So physical attacks nearly nevernd. And to make things even worse, it possesses high resistance to discharge-type talents. Lightning, fire, energy sts... none of it works well against this thing. Teams that relied on those abilities werepletely annihted." "That sounds like a nightmare," Marcus said, his brow furrowing. "If that monster is still out there, Ren and his team might be facing an even greater challenge than they realize." Marcus, curious, then leaned in as he asked, "Do tell, what is the name of this said monster?"

    Elena paused, as if wanting the audience to properly take in her words. "It''s the Giant-ss monster, S-rank Crimson Berserk Ape."

    ...

 Chapter 143: Against The Crimzon Berserk Ape

    Chapter 143: Against The Crimzon Berserk Ape

    ?

    As the dust finally settled, the figure of the massive Ape emerged from the haze. It stood nearly thirty feet tall, its red fur glowed with a fiery glow. The ape''s massive front muscles were strikingly different from the rest of its body-they appeared to be made of condensed ck metal, giving it a terrifyingly solid and powerful appearance.

    A deep crimzon talent window suddenly materialized.

    Monster: Crimson Berserk Ape

    Rank: S

    ss: Giant.

    Total Combat Power: 68,600.

    System remark: A Giant ss monster with both lightling fast reflexes and explosive strength.

    Alister''s eyes widened as he read the talent window. The totalbat power of the beast was shocking, rivaling even his dragons.

    ''Sixty eight thousand?! Even Darven only has abat power of Fifty five thousand.''

    ''Is that the difference between an A+ and S rank?''

    Alister quicklyposed his thoughts and issued hismand. "Cinder, incinerate it."

    "Understood."

    With a mighty roar, Cinder opened her massive maw and unleashed a torrent of mes. The mes surged forward, roaring like a wildfire as they engulfed the Crimson Berserk Ape.

    Alister could feel the intensity head despite standing some feet away atop Darven''s head. As the mes churned around the beast, for a few moments, the scene was consumed by roaring fire.

    The ground beneath the ape was scorched ck, the mes creating a blinding wall of heat. But as the fire finally subsided, Alister''s eyes widened in shock.

    The Crimson Berserk Ape stood unharmed, its massive body covered in smoke butpletely intact.

    A small System window materialized, [Attack Highly Ineffective.]

    "That''s impossible," Alister said, his voice edged with shock. He quickly assessed the situation.

    "Darven, Cinder, attack together!"

    Darven roared, his body crackling with lightning. He charged alongside Cinder, who prepared to unleash another torrent of mes. Darven''s lightning crackled and leaped from his maw, streaking through the air with blinding speed, while Cinder''s mes swirled around it.

    Darven''s lightning hit the Crimson Berserk Ape first, surging over its metallic muscle, going down and rippling into the earth.

    The mesnded as well, covering itpletely again. They continued their attacks for a while, the brightness and intensity causing Alister to shield his eyes and crouch slightly.

    Finally they stopped, as the intensity subsided Alister slowly opened his eyes, and was shocked with what he saw.

    The ape flinched slightly, but it''s metallic skin absorbed the lightning, the residuals crackled round its body but it was ultimately ineffective.

    Despite Cinder and Darven''sbined attack, the Crimson Berserk Ape remained standing, its crimson eyes glowing brightly. The smoke and steam emanated from the monster''s body but it was still not hurt.

    Alister couldn''t hold back his curiosity, ''System, open the monster''s status window.''

    Alister''s eyes were drawn to the system window as it materialized:

    [Monster: Crimson Berserk Ape

    Rank: S

    ss: Giant

    Stats:

    - HP: 30,370

    - MP: 2,540

    - ATK: 11,133

    - DEF: 9,108

    - M.ATK: 5,065

    - M.DEF: 6,651

    - SPD: 3,689

    Skills:

    - Ground Smash: Creates shockwaves with its fists that can shatter the earth causing magma to erupt, reguadless of surface level.

    - Roar of Fury: Unleashes a powerful roar that causes disorientation and fear in opponents.

    - Mama Distortion Aura: Significantly reduces damage from mana-based attacks.

    - Rampage: Increases attack speed and damage as it bes more enraged.

    - Berserk: The ape goes into a frenzied state, dramatically increasing its attack power and

    speed.

    Total Combat Power: 68,600

    Remark: A Giant ss monster with both lightning-fast reflexes and explosive strength. Extremely resistant to mana-based attacks.]

    "This monster has extreme mana resistance," Alister said aloud, "It seems regr breath attacks aren''t going to work on it."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Darven, still crackling with electricity, nced at the ape with a touch of respect. "A worthy opponent," he rumbled, his voice filled with admiration for the challenge.

    Cinder, her mes flickering, nodded in agreement. "Indeed."

    Alister, now understanding the gravity of their challenge, began to formte a new strategy. While lost in thought, the Crimson Berserk Ape suddenly unleashed a deafening roar.

    The sound echoed across the entire valley, reverberating through the air and causing a shiver of unease to pass through everyone nearby.

    Ren, fighting on the other side of the valley, paused momentarily. His eyes darted around, trying to locate the source of the terrifying sound.

    "What was that?!" Hiroshi shouted over the chaos, his voice strained from the battle.

    "That roarˇŞit''s unlike anything I''ve ever heard," Kaida said, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "It definitely wasn''t from Alister''s dragons."

    Goro, still battling a group of Scorchws, grunted. "We need to stay focused... We can''t ignore that. It felt... overwhelming."

    Ren adjusted his sses, his expression serious as he said oke to him. "It''s now you will be truly put to the test," he muttered under his breath. "I hope you won''t let Master Yuuto

    down."

    Meanwhile, Marcus and Elena, observing the live feed, exchanged worried nces.

    ...

    "What was that noise? It came from Alister''s direction," Marcus said, his brow furrowed. "We need to switch to a nearby drone and get a closer look."

    Elena nodded, her eyes narrowing as she directed the feed to a nearby drone positioned in the area. The screen flickered as the feed switched, revealing Alister and his dragons locked in a

    fierce struggle against the Crimson Berserk Ape.

    "Oh no," Elena eximed. "That''s the Crimson Berserk Ape! It''s enormous!"

    Marcus''s eyes widened in surprise. He noticed that Alister''s dragons were not attacking, their focus seemed directed elsewhere. "It seems Alister''s dragons are not currently attacking. What''s going on? Why the sudden pause?"

    Turning to his dragons, Alister called out, "Cinder, Darven, prepare for a coordinated strike. We need to hit it where it''s vulnera-"

    Before Alister could implement his n, the Crimson Berserk Ape suddenly charged forward with an explosive burst of speed.

    Its massive limbs pounded the ground, sending tremors through the valley and sending up clouds of dust and debris.

    The beast''s eyes burned with a red glow as it charged straight toward Alister and his dragons.

    Alister''s eyes widened in shock as the colossal ape approached. He was momentarily stunned by the unexpected advance, unable to give an immediatemand.

    The sudden rush of the beast created a chaotic atmosphere, making it hard to think clearly.

    Elena and Marcus, observing the scene, were shocked. Elena''s brow furrowed with concern. "Why aren''t Alister''s dragons moving? This doesn''t look like a usual tactic. Are they

    hesitating?"

 Chapter 144: Blazing trough Adversity

    Chapter 144: zing trough Adversity

    ?

    The live chat practically exploded with questions and spection. "What''s happening? Why aren''t the dragons attacking?"

    "Are they scared of the ape?"

    "Maybe Alister has a secret n?"

    "The dragons must be waiting for the right moment."

    "Come on, do something already!"

    "Ha! Seems they''ve met their match."

    "Maybe the ape is stronger than them."

    "Must be all out of options since their breath attacks didn''t work."

    As the chat continued to fill with questions and doubts, Darven suddenly spoke up.

    "My lord, grant me the honor of cutting down this foe!"

    Alister, quickly snapping out of his thoughts, paused for a moment before he nodded. "Go ahead, Darven."

    "Thank you, my lord."

    With that, Alister leaped from Darven''s head andnded on Cinder''s. The shift in his weight barely disturbed her as her eyes remained fixed on the Crimson Berserk Ape.

    In that instant, Darven charged forward with a sudden burst of speed, absolutely bizarre for his size. His wings spread open as he leaped into the air, a blur of motion. The ape momentarily paused, confused by the suddenly closed distance.

    As Darven soared into the sky, his powerful ws grabbed onto the ape''s shoulders. With a mighty p of his wings, he lifted the beast into the air and out of the valley.

    The ape thrashed violently at Darven''s legs, its massive roars echoing across the sky as it tried to break free.

    Elena and Marcus watched in shock, their eyes wide with awe at the speed Darven disyed.

    --

    "Did... did you see that?" Elena asked. "How did that dragon move like that? It was almost a blur."

    "Beats me," Marcus replied with a shrug, "but one thing is certain: if Alister''s dragon can move like that, it might very well be able to match the ape."

    Elena nodded, eyes glued to the screen. "Perhaps we are in for another dazzling disy of power?"

    -

    Darven called out, "My lord, I will handle this one. You and Lady Cinder should continue forward."

    Alister paused, his gaze seeming to harden slightly. "Darven... do not disappoint me."

    "I wouldn''t dare," Darven replied with a touch of pride as he ascended higher, the ape''s roars growing fainter.

    Alister turned his attention to Cinder. "Let''s move. We have to clear this sector and meet up with the others."

    "So clear the path."

    Cinder nodded. "Understood, my lord."

    Cinder opened her maw, unleashing a torrent of mes, scorching the ground ahead and incinerating the monsters in their path.

    The intense heat radiated from her, turning the battlefield into a zing inferno.

    ...

    Meanwhile, back with Ren and the others, they pushed forward, their tech armor taking serious damage from the attacks of the Night Reavers.

    Hiroshi, at the front line, swung his left dagger in a wide arc, slicing through the nearest Night Reaver.

    He moved swiftly as he charged to his next target. But as he turned to strike another, a Night Reaver lunged at him from the side, its ws aimed at his exposed nk.

    "Hiroshi, look out!" Kaida shouted.

    Hiroshi tried to dodge, but the creature''s ws raked across his side, tearing through his armor and flesh. He grunted in pain, staggering back as blood seeped from the wound.

    Ren, seeing this, shouted, "Kaida, to Hiroshi! Now!"

    Kaida instantly dashed forward, reaching Hiroshi''s side. She knelt beside him, her hands glowing with a golden light.

    "Stay still, Hiroshi, I''ve got you."

    Hiroshi winced but nodded, his face pale from the pain. "Thanks, Kaida."

    Kaida''s hands moved over the wound, her healing mana flowing into Hiroshi''s body. The gashes began to close, the bleeding stopping as the tissue knitted back together. Hiroshi''s breathing steadied, and some color returned to his face.

    As Kaida worked, Ren and the others formed a protective circle around them, fending off the attacking Night Reavers.

    Ren tried not to make his me attacks too intense, condensing and firing off small balls instead of an overwhelming wave, so the heat wouldn''t further affect the others besides him. "Hold the line!" Renmanded, his voice serious. "And watch yourselves! We can''t afford any more injuries."

    Goro and Razorgrin fought back-to-back. Goro created a stone barrier, forcing the monsters to climb over, and as they jumped down, they were ended mid-air with a swing of his axe.

    Razorgrin''s body glowed brightly with his yellow mana, his muscles bulging as he pushed his Strength enhancement talent. Each swing he made with his hammer was now apanied by a massive gust of wind, sending the monsters flying in a spray of blood.

    Just then, a booming sound echoed across the valley. Ren, Razorgrin, Goro, Hiroshi, and Kaida tensed up, their eyes darting above.

    "W-what? Another one?" Ren said in confusion, his sses sliding down his nose slightly.

    They spotted another giant-ss field boss monster-another towering Infernal Grendak.

    Ren gritted his teeth. "Shit!"

    "Woah... did I just hear you swear?" Hiroshi, now okay and standing on his feet, daggers at the ready, asked with a touch of humor. His reaction was due to the fact that such an act was very uncharacteristic of Ren.

    "Now isn''t the time for that, Hiroshi," Ren said in a serious tone.

    "Get ready," hemanded. "We have to put down this monster as quickly as possible."

    They all nodded, preparing for the intense battle ahead. Razorgrin flexed his fingers around the pole of his hammer, Goro''s grip around the one for his axe tightened, and Hiroshi''s daggers glinted in the light.

    Kaida took on a battle stance, a battle-ready expression on her face.

    But just as they readied themselves, Ren felt the ground trembling beneath his feet. His face

    went pale, and his eyes turned to the path of the valley in the distance.

    What he saw made his heart skip a beat-a massive group of monsters was charging their

    way, a relentless horde that threatened to overwhelm them.

    Hiroshi tensed, his grip tightening on his daggers. "Ren... do you have a n?"

    Ren took a deep breath. Things were looking grim, but panicking wasn''t his style. His mind

    began racing.

    "We need to split up. Goro, you and Razorgrin handle the Infernal Grendak. Hiroshi, Kaida, and I will deal with the oing horde. Kaida, keep your healing ready, and Hiroshi, stay close to her. I''ll burn as many as I can; the few that make it past me will be handled by the

    both of you."

    "Understood!" Hiroshi and Kaida replied.

    Goro nodded, his muscles tensing as he prepared to charge. "Understood, Ren. We''ll get going now." In that instant, the walls Goro had up previously fell down, and they charged forward.

    Razorgrin roared, swinging his hammer widely to get rid of all the other smaller monsters between them and the Infernal Grendak.

    Ren turned to Hiroshi and Kaida, his expression resolute. "Stay sharp, both of you. We can''t

    afford any mistakes."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Hiroshi nodded. "Got it, captain."

    With their n set, they sprang into action. Goro and Razorgrin rushed towards the Infernal

    Grendak, all of them giving it their best. Although they all listened to Ren''s orders, each of them knew they wouldn''t be able to go on like this much longer, and a part of them even wished Alister would show up soon.

    As Darven descended with the Crimson Berserk Ape clutched in his ws, he released the beast andnded heavily on the rocky ground.

    The impact sent a tremor through the earth, and Darven''s wings red wide to steady himself.

    He nced at the massive ape, which roared in fury as itnded heavily, shaking the ground. The Crimson Berserk Ape fixed its crimson eyes on Darven. The dragon''s lightning-purple scales shimmered under the moonlight light, and his sword, storm cleaver, had merged at the

    tip of his tail.

    Darven''s powerful wings beat the air, creating gusts of wind that whirled around him. His eyes narrowed as he prepared for the battle ahead.

    "Let''s be done with this. Come at me, beast." Darven said, his purple eyes glowing brightly.

    The ape suddenly let out a furious roar, a deep sound that shook the air. Darven instantly counterd, letting out an intense roar of his own as he now let out his dragon aura from his

    body.

    The shing of these massive roars was intense, the floor beneath cracked and buckled, the drone paused away As the air around vibrated intensely.

    "That roar is disorienting our feed." Elena said, noticing the way the video seemed to flicker.

    "Damn, the power of these monsters is no joke, I literally got chills!" Marcus said with a touch of unease.

    With a powerful surge, Darven swung his wings, sending a sharp gust of wind towards the

    ape.

    The force of the wind cut through the air, mming into the Crimson Berserk Ape and causing it to stagger back. Darven took advantage of the opening, charging forward with a burst of speed, the sheer force of his movement sending boulders flying like pebbles.

    He twirled around, and shed with the sword at the tip of his tail, a blinding streak of steel

    cutting through the air. The de bit into the ape''s side, making it past it''s metal like exterior, leaving a deep, searing wound.

    Sparks flew from the impact, and the ape roared in pain.

    "As expected, if magic won''t work I can always rely on my sword." Darven said without

    opening his maw.

 Chapter 145: Blinding Speed, Crimson Rage

    Chapter 145: Blinding Speed, Crimson Rage

    ?

    Darvenunched himself at the Crimson Berserk Ape, his feet propelling him forward with blinding speed.

    The ape, still trying to recover from the initial wound, tried to brace itself, but Darven''s speed was unmatched.

    He swung his tail in a wide arc, the sword at its tip gleaming as it sliced through the air. The de struck the ape''s shoulder, cutting through its tough, metallic hide and drawing blood.

    ...

    "This is incredible," Elena eximed. "I''ve never seen a giant ss move so fast."

    "Alister''s dragon definitely has the upper hand," Marcus agreed. "But that ape... still hasn''t shown us all it can do."

    ...

    The ape staggered back, its massive fists mming into the ground to steady itself. The impact sent shockwaves through the earth, creating deep cracks and causing the ground to shake violently.

    Magma erupted from the fissures, adding a hellish glow to the battlefield. Darven, unfazed, continued his attacks.

    Darven became a blur as he darted around the ape, his massive steps seeming to cause miniature earthquakes around the area, shing with his sword and striking with his ws. Each attack targeted the ape''s vital points, leaving deep gashes in its metallic flesh.

    ...

    "Direct hit!" Marcus cheered. "That''s gotta hurt. Is it just me or does it look like Alister''s dragon is fighting with some sort of... Dragon swordsmanship?"

    "You are not the only curious one, Elena." Marcus leaned forward slightly, "Although we may not be certain what it is, it''s clear to everyone watching that those are not just random movements."

    ...

    The ape roared in pain and frustration, its massive fists swinging wildly as it tried to catch Darven. But Darven was too fast, his lightning-fast reflexes allowing him to dodge every blow easily.

    With each passing second, Darven''s attacks seemed to get even faster. He soared into the air, then dove down with his sword extended, the de cutting through the ape''s thick hide and leaving a trail of sparks in its wake.

    ...

    "It''s... it''s moving even faster... How is that even possible?"

    "Beats me. If giant ss monsters start possessing the speed of tiny types, I can''t help but fear for the fate of humanity if we were to encounter one that isn''t tamed."

    "It would be a true disaster, that''s for sure. With speed like that, an entire raid team could be decimated in an instant," Marcus replied with a grim tone.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "That may and may not be true," Elena said with a curious expression on her face. "How so?"

    "Our guild leaders should be more than capable of matching that speed. Even someone like Lady Anya has an SSS rank talent that enhances all of her physical capabilities, so she should be able to surpass it if she got carried away in the heat of battle."

    "So if a raid team led by her were to encounter such a monster, I''m sure it would most certainly not be a threat for long."

    "Seems you have a point, Elena. Alright, enough of that. Let''s keep our focus on our screens so we can find out who will be the winner in this sh of giants."

    ...

    The ape''s roars of fury grew louder, shaking the air and causing the ground to tremble. Elena and Marcus watched in awe, their eyes wide with shock.

    As if on cue, the Crimson Berserk Ape''s eyes glowed bright crimson. It let out a deafening roar, the sound vibrating through the wastnds and causing the ground to quake.

    The ape''s muscles bulged as it suddenly charged forward, faster, more frenzied. It had entered its Berserk state.

    ...

    "It appears the battle is about to get even more intense... I''m getting chills just thinking about it," Marcus said with a slight chuckle.

    ...

    Darven''s eyes narrowed as he sensed the change. The ape''s massive fist swung toward Darven, and he barely managed to twist his body out of the way.

    The impact sent Darven flying, his body crashing into a nearby massive ruined structure and shattering it into pieces.

    ...

    For a moment, bothmentators paused as they seemed lost in thought.

    "M-Marcus, did you see that? The crimson ape, did it move or did it... teleport?"

    "I''m not too sure myself, Elena. One moment it was here, the next it was sending Alister''s dragon flying."

    "What do you say we have a quick backtrack and watch it in slow motion?"

    "Good idea, Elena."

    With that, the live feed momentarily cut, now disying the scene that urred a moment ago, reying in slow motion. Even at this speed, Marcus and Elena couldn''t believe what

    they saw.

    "The ape... it actually moved..." Marcus said with awe.

    "That was really unbelievable. I guess every new year is always filled with new discoveries. Imagine giant ss monsters with such bizarre speed; it seems the union may have to create a new division of sses under the giant ss."

    ...

    Darven''s scales cracked, blood seeping from the wound.

    "You have managed to wound me... Impressive!"

    Darven''s words seemed to rile up the ape, causing it to charge at him, its eyes filled with rage,

    its roar shaking the air.

    Darven got back on his feet, his wings beating weakly as he tried to steady himself.

    His eyes locked onto the charging Crimson Berserk Ape. His wings unfurled with a powerful p, propelling him back into the fray.

    He lunged forward, aiming a swift strike at the ape''s side, but the ape''s speed matched his. It twisted its massive body, dodging Darven''s attack, and retaliated with a backhanded fist that struck Darven''s chest, sending him skidding across the ground.

    Darven dug his ws into the earth to halt his momentum, tearing up chunks of rock and soil. He leaped into the air, his tail swinging in a deadly arc, the sword at its tip aiming for the

    ape''s throat.

    The ape caught the de with its hand, its metallic hide sparking against the steel. It roared, pulling Darven closer and delivering a bone-crushing punch to his midsection.

    The force of the punch sent shockwaves through Darven''s body. He gasped for air, feeling the sharp pain. He retaliated with a flurry of shes, each one faster than thest.

    His ws raked across the ape''s face, leaving deep gashes, but the ape seemed unfazed. It roared in rage, throwing a series of punches.

 Chapter 146: The Thunderous Clash

    Chapter 146: The Thunderous sh

    ?

    Darven tried to dodge, but the ape''s attacks were overwhelming. A fist connected with his wing, the bone snapping with a crack. Despite this, Darven remainedposed, falling to the ground, his movements bing more sluggish. The ape loomed over him, its eyes glowing bright crimson.

    ...

    "That hit was brutal," Marcusmented, his voice filled with concern. "Alister''s dragon is in serious trouble now."

    "Can he recover from that?" Elena wondered aloud.

    ...

    Darven rolled to the side, barely avoiding a crushing stomp, and swung his tail, slicing the ape''s leg. The ape stumbled but recovered quickly, its fists hammering down in a barrage. Each blow shattered the ground around Darven, creating craters and sending debris flying.

    ...

    "The crimson ape isn''t letting up," Marcus noted. "It''s like a relentless force of nature."

    "But look at Darven," Elena pointed out. "He''s still fighting back, still looking for an opening."

    -

    Darven put some distance between himself and the Crimson Berserk Ape. The ape roared, its wounds dripping with dark, metallic blood. Darven narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath, his chest glowing faintly.

    ...

    "He''s preparing for something," Marcus said, leaning forward. "This could be a big move."

    ...

    With a powerful exhale, Darven unleashed a concentrated breath of lightning. The bolt of pure energy shot forward, striking the ape. The lightning coursed through the ape''s body, entering through its numerous wounds.

    The ape convulsed violently, its massive body shuddering as the electricity wreaked havoc within it. With a pained roar, the ape fell to its knees, its strength finally failing.

    ...

    "That lightning breath! It''s incredible!" Elena eximed. "It appears the wounds the crimson ape sustained have now served as an opening for the lightning to get into its body."

    "He''s got it on the ropes," Marcus said, his voice full of excitement. "Alister''s dragon might just pull this off."

    ...

    Darvennded lightly on the ground, his eyes never leaving the fallen ape, watching as it slowly tried to get back on its knees.

    Finally, Darven spoke.

    "I was arrogant," he admitted, his voice had a touch of respect.

    "I underestimated you. I intended to not fight you at full strength so I would use defeating you in such a way to get praises from my lord. But now I see you''re truly a worthy adversary."

    "So in order to defeat you, I will have to put in some effort."

    As he spoke, a purple glow covered Darven''s body. His massive dragon body began to shrink, the glow intensifying until it revealed his humanoid knight form, hisbat form.

    ...

    "Wait... what''s this?!" Both Elena and Marcus eximed.

    "I don''t understand, did Alister''s dragon shrink?" Elena finally asked.

    "It appears so, but it appears it has taken some sort of humanoid form. Is that another capability of his dragons that we are not aware of?!" Marcus spected.

    "Alister isn''t even here yet his summon continues to amaze us!"

    ...

    Standing tall, Darven reached for his greatsword, Storm Cleaver, whichy beside him.

    "In recognition of your strength, I will be using one of my n''s most powerful moves."

    As he pulled it from the ground, runes red up along his arm and around the sword, glowing with a fierce light.

    ...

    "Are those runes..."

    "They sure do look like they are." Marcus replied, looking curiously at the screen.

    "But... I thought they were only used in alchemy and cksmithing?"

    "True, but the purposes of those ones may notpare to this one. Not only does this look really old but they seem like they''re amplifying his power!"

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Steam rose from Darven''s body as lightning rippled violently around him, causing tiny particles to rise up in the air.

    He lifted Storm Cleaver, positioning himself into a striking stance. His feet were nted firmly on the ground, his knees slightly bent for bnce.

    He held the sword with both hands, the de angled diagonally across his body, ready to strike. His muscles tensed, his entire being focused on the next move.

    "So I will be ending this battle in my next move."

    Darven''s eyes crackled with purple lightning as he then spoke.

    "Valor-Void Sword Art, 12th Form: Lightning Comet!" Darven said, his voice vibrating the air around him with power.

    ...

    "Did you hear that?" Marcus said, his eyes wide. "This is it-the finishing move!"

    ...

    In an instant, Darven propelled himself forward with a burst of speed, the ground beneath him shattering as he shot forward like a bolt of lightning, the earth beneath scorched by the lightning that surged from his body.

    He closed the distance with the ape in the blink of an eye, leaving a massive sonic boom in his wake, his sword a blur as it cleaved through the air. The de sliced through dozens of times, severing at an unknown pace in a split second, apanied by massive gusts of wind.

    The next instant, Darven was standing on the other side.

    For a moment, both Darven and the ape seemed to freeze in ce with the ape still intact, the wilderness around seemed to hold its breath. Then, slowly, Darven lowered his sword, his

    eyes softening with respect.

    "You fought well. Rest in peace now."

    The ape''s massive body remained motionless for a heartbeat longer before tiny crackles of lightning could be seen emanating from it.

    BOOM

    The crimson ape suddenly exploded, its body entrails sttered around in countless pieces, yet surprisingly only its core was intact.

    The battlefield, scarred and smoking, was suddenly silent as Darven stood victorious, his sword still glowing with the remnants of his mana.

    ...

    "Unbelievable! I''m not sure what happened since it happened so fast, but it seems the battle

    is over!" Marcus yelled. "Alister''s dragon did it. It really did it."

    "What a battle, it had me on edge the entire time, truly a remarkable disy of power here."

    ...

    Darven then spoke calmly, "Since I''m done here, it would be best I return to my lord."

    With that, he turned his gaze toward the horizon. In an instant, his body was enveloped in a

    sh of purple lightning.

 Chapter 147: On The Edge

    Chapter 147: On The Edge

    ?

    "Ok folks, let''s take a short pause."

    "Let''s recap what we''ve just witnessed," Marcus said, trying to steady his voice.

    "Darven, after an intense battle with the Crimson Berserk Ape, managed to turn the tide with his incredible lightning breath and then transformed into a humanoid form, showing us a whole new level of his power."

    "And his finishing move," Elena spoke up, "this ''Valor-Void Sword Art,''ˇŞI''ve never seen anything like it. The speed, the power... It was like he became a bolt of lightning himself." "Absolutely, Elena. And now he''s returning to Alister. This shows just how strong his sense of loyalty is. What we havee to learn from this is that not only are Alister''s summons intelligent, they seem to have a genuine high opinion of him, which is why they are so obedient. Unlike other monsters where the summoner constantly needs to establish a sense of dominance to prevent their monsters from acting out of line."

    "I can''t wait to see what happens next," Elena said, clearly excited.

    "With Darven back at Alister''s side, things are bound to get even more interesting."

    "True," Marcus agreed. "This is just the beginning. The battles ahead promise to be even more thrilling."

    "For now, let us return to watching Ren and his team as theyplete their raid of their half of sector X. The excitement never ends, for once that''s done, they could very well give the Reapers a run for their money."

    The feed switched to the body cams.

    ...

    The tide of battle began to turn against Ren and his team. Despite their earlier sess, the nearly endless waves of monsters were wearing them down.

    Each member was pushing their limits, their movements growing slower and erratic.

    Hiroshi found himself distracted by the pain in his left arm and leg, both of which now had deep, bleeding cuts.

    He gritted his teeth, his breath ragged. "Damn it... I can''t keep this up much longer." His grip on his daggers weakened slightly. He pulled up a vial, chugging down a blue potion. He discarded the bottle as he said, "That was myst potion... Ren."

    Kaida, her sword still slicing through the creatures, was visibly exhausted, panting heavily. Sweat poured down her face, and her movements were erratic. "They''re just... not stopping... We can''t go on like this. We need a n. We''re running out of stamina potions, so we can''t keep this up... Ren."

    Ren''s mind raced, his heart pounding as he assessed the situation. They were on the brink of defeat, and his team was suffering.

    ''This isn''t good...'' Ren''s thoughts raced as he struggled to keep up, burning down monster after monster. He took a short pause, reaching for a smallpartment at the waist of his suit. He pulled out a stamina potion, shortly opening his mask and chugging it down before closing his mask again.

    Although it recovered his stamina, it didn''t take away the aches in his body or the fact his mana was nearly depleted.

    ''I would have ordered a retreat, but we''re already boxed in,'' he thought, gazing at their backs to confirm the sight of monsters behind them.

    This was the reason Ren constantly ordered his team to maintain the line, ensuring the death of every monster they encountered as they progressed forward.

    It ensured they wouldn''t be in a situation like this, vulnerable to surprise attacks because the monsters went behind them.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    But despite their best efforts, it appeared as though they were already being attacked from both sides.

    ''Kaida appears to have depleted most of her mana, Razogrin and Goro don''t look like they would be able to clear a path with a joint attack, and we can''t rely on Hiroshi for any swift takedowns either.''

    ''Seems I''ll have to...''

    ...

    "Things aren''t looking good for Ren and his team," Marcusmented, his voice tense. "They''re being overwhelmed, and they''re all visibly exhausted."

    Elena nodded, her eyes glued to the screen. "Razogrin and Goro still haven''t managed to defeat Infernal Grendak, and they look like they''re on the verge of copse."

    ...

    Razogrin and Goro were still locked in battle with Infernal Grendak, but it was clear they wouldn''t be winning anytime soon.

    Razogrin''s war hammer strikes were losing their impact, and his breath came in heavy pants. "This thing just won''t go down."

    Boom!

    The situation worsened as Goro took a direct hit from Grendak''s backhanded swipe, sending him flying across the valley. He crashed into a rock formation, groaning in pain as he tried to

    get back up.

    "Goro!" Hiroshi yelled.

    Hiroshi instantly turned around, leaping to aid his friend. Ren''s eyes widened with shock when he saw this. "Hiroshi! What are you doing?"

    Hiroshi was breaking the line, meaning their already bad situation was only going to get

    worse.

    ...

    "Goro just got sent flying by Grendak''s attack," Marcus added, wincing as he watched. "And Hiroshi''s badly injured but wants to cover him. This isn''t good."

    ...

    Trying to cover Goro''s fall, Hiroshi was shed deeply in his right side by a Night Reaver the moment he lost focus and wanted to charge towards him. He hissed in pain, clutching his wounds as blood flowed freely.

    "Ahhhh."

    It didn''t take long for Kaida to be overwhelmed and attacked too. A monstrous w shed across her back, and she screamed in agony.

    "Kaida!" Ren called out in shock, but he was unable to reach her as the chaos continued to

    unfold.

    The Infernal Grendak threw a backhanded attack at Razogrin, who countered with a massive hammer swing.

    Boom!

    The impact sent vibrations up his arms, making them numb. "Damn it!" He said in frustration

    as he gritted his teeth.

    Out of nowhere, a monster shed him in the back, causing him to instinctively swing his hammer in defense. This left him open to another backhanded attack that sent him flying across the battlefield, his hammer left behind.

    ...

    "Is this the end for them?" Marcus wondered, his voice filled with dread. "They need a miracle at this point."

    Elena nodded, her eyes wide with concern. "I don''t see how they cane back from this. They''re all wounded and so exhausted."

    ....

    "Uahhhh..."

    Before Ren could gather his thoughts, he was suddenly punched in the gut by a magma orc, sending him tumbling backward.

    His vision became blurry as his sses shattered when his facended on the floor. His hask got damaged as well.

    Struggling to his feet, he wiped the blood from his mouth, his body aching from the attacks.

    "Yes... a miracle," Ren muttered, coughing up more blood. He rose shakily to his feet and called over thems, his voice desperate.

    "A-Alister... leave whatever you''re doing. Come save us. We can''t hold on much longer."

 Chapter 148: To Put Power On Display

    Chapter 148: To Put Power On Disy

    ?

    A few minutes earlier...

    Back with Alister, Cinder was zing through the horde of monsters, her fiery breath incinerating dozens at a time.

    Her massive tail swung, smashing enemies into the ground. Each strike and swing was apanied by a satisfying crunch or thud as she made short work of the beasts.

    Alister watched her calmly. "Good work, Cinder. At this pace, we should be meeting up with Ren and the others soon."

    "I am most grateful for your praise," she replied.

    Despite their progress, Alister couldn''t shake the feeling that things were a little too easy. His instincts told him something was off.

    Just as this thought crossed his mind, the system notification pinged.

    [Level up.]

    [Level up.]

    [Level up.]

    [Congrattions! The yer''s level has surpassed 30!]

    [Current level 32!]

    [It is now time for the yer''s next awakening.]

    [Would the yer wish to proceed with the awakening?]

    [YES.] [NO.]

    ''Pause the awakening for now,'' Alister said to the system in his thoughts.

    The battlefield was no ce for distractions, even those that could make him stronger.

    Suddenly Darven''s voice echoed in his thoughts, ''My lord, I have in the monster. I am now returning with its core in hand.''

    Alister felt a touch of pride when he heard Darven''s report. ''I''m proud of you. You''ve done well.''

    ''Your praise honors me, my lord. I should be by your side any moment now.''

    ''Good, I''ll be waiting.''

    Another notification followed quickly.

    [Darven has leveled up to Level 53!]

    [All wounds healed!]

    ''Darven leveled up? Dragonforge, can my dragons level up as well?''

    [Indeed, yer.]

    ''Then why haven''t they leveled up till now?''

    [Notice! The yer''s generals far surpass the yer in level, and experience gained from a kill

    is split amongst the yer and their summon. Hence the slow level-up speed.]

    [Notice! Once a summon''s level has reached a certain threshold, they will evolve.]

    ''Evolve?'' Alister asked. He remembered evolution being the reward for one of his generals

    back with the Overlord''s Sharpest Fang quest.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ''Does that mean there''s a chance for them to gain more abilities as well?''

    [Indeed.] Came the response.

    [Beyond just that, the dragon''s race will be elevated as well as their bloodline ability.] ''Meaning?''

    [The yer''s ck drake, Cinder, could evolve into an actual dragon.]

    ''I see, so choosing my right-hand general gives them the chance to evolve, meaning a stronger summon.''

    ''Seems it would be best to pick Darven in the end since he''s the strongest.''

    [Notice! It is best the yer pick a dragon who has more familiarity and a longer emotional attachment with them.]

    Alister read the notice and was visibly confused. ''Why?'' he asked.

    [The evolution process will be more effective, and better skills will be unlocked due to the existence of a stronger sense of familiarity and emotions.]

    Alister read and somewhat understood. The system was saying the general who had been by his side longest would be the best pick as his sharpest fang.

    ''I have a feeling this is more of an old tradition than an actual necessity.'' Alister thought. He remembered Kan told him he had been by Hazerion''s side before he pledged his loyalty to him, and the way Hazerion called him when he wanted to tell him about his progress seemed like he just trusted him more. So it was clearly obvious he was Hazerion''s sharpest fang.

    ''If it''s an old tradition, then I guess it would be best to follow it. The ancients always tend to be far wiser than their descendants.''

    The system chimed again. [Lootingplete. You have acquired the following from the battle:

    - Skill Card: Mana Distortion Aura (S Rank)

    - Skill Card: Berserk (S Rank)]

    Alister''s thoughts raced. ''Seems my previous theory is correct; skills only drop from boss monsters of rank A upwards and they are never more than two.''

    "Integrate the skills," Alister ordered, feeling the power surge through him as the system proceeded with the integration.

    [Integrationplete.]

    The system''s final notification caught his attention:

    [There is only 19:25:14 left for your daily questpletion.]

    Alister clenched his fists, feeling the skills merge. "We should get this over with."

    "Cinder, how''s it looking up ahead?"

    Cinder paused shortly, her eyes scanning the horizon.

    "The monsters are thinning out."

    Alister nodded. "Good."

    "Keep pushing forward. Darven will be rejoining us soon."

    As Alister and Cinder pushed forward, the crackle of thes broke through in Alister''s ears.

    "A-Alister... leave whatever you''re doing. Come save us. We can''t hold on much longer."

    Ren''s voice was strained, but clear.

    Alister''s heart skipped a beat. "I''m on my way."

    He turned to Cinder. "Cinder, take to the skies! We need to reach Ren and the others quickly!"

    "Yes my lord."

    In that instant, Cinder''s massive wings unfurled, creating powerful gusts that sent nearby monsters sprawling.

    With a mighty leap, she soared into the air, carrying Alister with her. Thendscape below blurred as they ascended, giving Alister a clear view of the valley.

    Alister gripped Cinder''s scales tightly as he scanned the ground. "Ren, give me your

    location!"

    "We''re near the eastern ridge, just past a broken watchtower at the edge." Ren''s voice crackled through thems.

    "I see you," Alister replied, spotting the group fighting desperately against the monsters. Their backs were against a crumbling stone wall.

    Blood dripped from multiple wounds, staining their armor. They were panting heavily, weapons held shakily in front of them, fighting desperately to stave off the relentless horde. It was clear they were moments away from being overwhelmed.

    "Cinder, dive!" Alistermanded.

    Cinder roared in response, angling her body downward. They plummeted toward the

    battlefield, the wind rushing past them.

    Alister watched as the field boss monster, Infernal Grendak, lumbered toward Ren and the others, each step shaking the ground. It raised a colossal, fiery arm, ready to deliver the final,

    crushing blow.

    ...

    "Can Alister make it in time?" Marcus said, "Or will this very well be the end of the White

    Comets."

    "I don''t know, Marcus," Elena replied, her voice trembling slightly. "They''re too injured to

    hold out much longer."

    ...

    Alister''s heart pounded. "Cinder, hurry!"

    Cinder roared and dove faster, but Alister could see she wouldn''t make it in time. The

    behemoth''s arm came down with terrifying speed, and it seemed inevitable that it would crush them beneath its weight.

    Ren looked up, his eyes meeting Alister''s. There was a touch of fear in his gaze, but he

    managed a smile.

    Alister gritted his teeth as his thoughts raced, his mind kicking into hyperdrive as his eyes

    focused. ''By our speed, Cinder and I won''t make it in time, and I can''t rely on her mes because Ren and the others could get caught in the ze.''

    ''Darven won''t be returning anytime soon, and even if I unsummon him and instantly summon

    him there, he won''t be able to prevent the monsters from ending their lives because his fighting style focuses on offense, not defense. I have to find a way to protect them first.''

    ...

    "And so we should give our prayers, that these bold warriors will be able to find peace once their souls have departed."

    ....

    Then it hit Alister as a voice called out in his thoughts, ''My lord, it pains me to think you may

    have forgotten about me.''

    Alister suddenly smiled slightly, relieved, and then out of nowhere, he called out, "Come

    forth, Terra!"

 Chapter 178: Battles Aftermath

    Chapter 178: Battle''s Aftermath

    ?

    Alister paused while in the air, looking down at the dead bodies scattered across the battlefield. Kai''s final words echoed in his mind, stirring a strange unease within him.

    He realized it would be better to leave no trace of this encounter, and feeding the bodies to his dragons seemed the most efficient way to ensure that.

    "Four of you,e forth," Alister called out.

    Four ck rifts opened up behind him, and out came four wyverns. With a swift motion of his hand, he pointed down towards the bodies.

    "Devour everything," hemanded.

    The wyverns descended upon the bodies, their jaws tearing through flesh and bone. Alister watched for a moment, a cold detached look in his eyes.

    [Devouring value 56%.]

    Once the wyverns had finished, leaving no trace of the Reapers behind, Alister let out a massive sigh, steaming out of his maw as he did, the wyverns that had finished their meal, returned to the rifts. Turning around, Alister then shot through the air with a massive beat of his wings.

    ...

    Back with Terra, Cinder, and Draven, the three stood around the unconscious bodies of Ren and his team. They were now a considerable distance away from the area where the sandworm had raged, the ground still marked by the aftermath of its emergence. Cinder, however, stood apart from the others.

    "Why would our lord want to save these humans?" Cinder asked, her voice had a touch of irritation. "What use are they to him?"

    Terra thought for a moment before responding. "Perhaps he is fond of them and wants to witness how they live out their lives. There is a certain fascination in watching humans grow and change."

    Draven nodded thoughtfully. "Or maybe he admires them for their strength and skill. They have proven themselves to be formidable fighters, even if they often find themselves in peril."

    Cinder scoffed at this idea, her tail flicking with disdain. "Have you forgotten we had to save themst time? And now, again, they needed rescuing. They are simply a baggage holding our lord down."

    Terra''s calm gaze met Cinder''s fiery eyes. "Every being, no matter how weak they may seem, can have their purpose. Our lord sees something in them, something worth preserving. It is not for us to question his judgment."

    Draven agreed, though his eyes remained fixed on the unconscious bodies of Ren and his team. "Our lord''s path is his own. If he chooses to keep these humans by his side, there must be a reason. We serve to support him, not question his decisions."

    Cinder let out a low growl but said nothing more. The bond between the dragons and their lord was unquestionable, even if their opinions sometimes differed. They would continue to follow Alister''s lead, trusting in his vision and his choices.

    As they waited for Alister to return, the three dragons remained vignt, their eyes looking around the horizon for any signs of danger.

    Suddenly, Terra felt a presence swiftly approaching from the sky. She could tell it was Alister, but she was confused about how he could be traveling so rapidly through the air.

    "Our lord approaches... but something seems odd."

    "What is it?" Draven asked.

    "He''s traveling abnormally fast through the air," Terra said, her gaze fixed on the distant sky. Cinder suggested, "Perhaps he''s riding one of the wyverns."

    Terra shook her head. "No, wyverns can''t travel this fast. This speed is extraordinary."

    Draven stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the approaching presence. "There''s also a powerful dragon aura apanying him. Could it be possible our lord has taken on dragon form?"

    "It is very possible," Terra replied, her voice tinged with awe. "But this aura feels much stronger than what I would expect from oneing of age."

    Cinder chuckled, her tail flicking with amusement. "He has done it before, so why should it take him longer to do it again?"

    Terra and Draven remained silent, acknowledging the truth in Cinder''s words.

    In the next instant, a figure plummeted from the sky,nding with a massive crash, sending dust and debris into the air. Despite the dramatic entrance, the three dragons remained calm. As the dust settled, a dragonbat-formed Alister emerged, his scales shimmering under the sunlight.

    The three dragons bowed their heads, paying their respects and greeting him.

    "Wee back, my lord. It appears as though you had an intense battle," Terra said, her voice filled with respect.

    "We await yourmand, my lord!" Draven said with excitement, his eyes gleaming with admiration.

    "Impressive as always, you are just as radiant as ever, even more so now," Cinder remarked, her tone as excited as Draven''s.

    Alister acknowledged their greetings with a nod, his eyes looking around the area.

    "Thank you for your patience. The battle is over, and we must head back to the city now. We can''t wait for the pickup team to arrive."

    Terra, Cinder, and Draven rose from their bows, ready to follow their lord''s orders. Alister walked up to the unconscious bodies of Ren and the others, his draconic features slowly retreating, revealing his busted-up tech armor and normal human appearance.

    He crouched beside them, seeing how they were covered in dust, and ced his hand on Ren to check his pulse. Terra stepped forward, her voice gentle as she reassured him. "They''re all okay, my lord, except for a few broken bones. They will survive if they get proper treatment."

    Alister sighed in relief. "We need to start making our way to the city so we can get a healer." Just then, Terra turned her head toward the horizon, her eyes narrowing in focus.

    While she did, Alister thought about making Draven carry them since he was thergest of the three dragons. "Draven, prepare to carry them," he ordered.

    Draven nodded, stepping forward. "Understood."

    But then Terra spoke up. "That may be unnecessary, my lord."

    Alister turned to her, puzzled. "Why?"

    Terra turned to him, a faint smile on her lips. "Because it seems help is already arriving."

    Alister looked to the sky and saw a massive aircraft flying towards them in the distance. His eyes narrowed, recognizing the White Comets logo emzoned on its side. A slight smile

    formed on his lips.

    "It seems you''re right, Terra."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As the aircraft slowly flew closer, the sight of it further gave Alister relief. His confidence in the situation solidified, knowing that reinforcements were on their way.

    The aircraft slowed down as it arrived before them, its thrusters facing downward as it slowly descended, kicking up a cloud of dust. Alister shielded his eyes from the swirling particles, peering through the haze as the aircraftnded. The lid opened, and a group of people stepped out, all dressed in simple tech equipment.

    At the front of the group was Yuuto, half of his face obscured by his hair. Alister wanted to greet him, but there was an intense aura around Yuuto that made him hesitate. Alister could hear Terra''s voice in his head. ''He''s practically radiating murderous intent.''

    ''Murderous intent?'' Alister silently wondered. ''I don''t understand... Did I do something

    wrong?''

    Alister wanted to ask if there was something on Yuuto''s mind, but the aura around him was so intense it seemed like the words couldn''t leave his throat.

 Chapter 150: Secrets And Trust

    Chapter 150: Secrets And Trust

    ?

    Once all the blood had gathered at the wounds it had spilled from, Alister then said, "Blood healing." The blood knitted together to form flesh and return to normal, closing the wounds.

    Ren and the others expressed their shock, eyes wide and mouths agape. Hiroshi stuttered, "Is this... really healing?"

    Kaida spoke up, "Yes, but no... It''s different."

    Razorgrin stepped forward, yelling, "What is this kid?"

    Alister responded, "This is me making sure you all don''t die. A little thank you wouldn''t hurt."

    Razorgrin red up, "Why you-"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Ren quickly intervened, "That''s enough." He slowly flexed his arms and twirled his shoulders, saying, "It''s surprisingly more effective than Kaida''s healing."

    Kaida felt offended. "Hey, my healing is just fine!"

    Ren walked up to Alister, with a sincere expression on his face. "I''m not going to demand an exnation. Everyone has a right to keep their own secrets, some cards they keep close to their chest. After all, only a fool ces all their cards on the table."

    He then extended his hand to Alister. "So thank you for saving us and healing our wounds. We owe you our lives."

    Alister reached out and grabbed his hand. "You''re wee then. I''m d I could help."

    Ren paused shortly, then said, "But..."

    Alister''s expression turned curious. "But what?"

    Ren''s gaze lingered on Alister for a moment before he spoke.

    "You shouldn''t keep secrets from your team. We''re supposed to trust each other and have each other''s backs. How can we do that if you''re going to keep things from us?"

    Alister raised an eyebrow. "You do know you and I have only ever talked to each other, what, like eight times now? There''s basically no difference between you and a stranger."

    Ren chuckled, acknowledging the point. "Fair argument."

    "So I guess you can... Slowly reveal things as you get to know us."

    Just then, a massive boom echoed through the valley. Everyone turned their heads towards the source. Darven hadnded, holding a massive orange orb in his hand.

    "My lord, I have returned."

    Darven walked up to Alister and ced the ratherrge core belonging to the Berzerk ape by Alister''s side and bowed respectfully.

    "You''ve done well, Darven," Alister said, his voice calm but he appreciated his efforts. "Now, you and Cinder should handle the remaining monsters in the valley."

    Darven nodded. "As youmand, my lord," he replied, straightening up.

    Cinder, who had been watching silently, gave a nod. "We''ll take care of it, my lord," she said.

    With that, Darven and Cinder took off, their bodies quickly disappearing into the distance as they moved to eliminate the remaining monsters.

    Terra, who had remained by Alister''s side, looked down at the group. "What will we do with them?" she asked, sounding curious. "The humans, I mean."

    "Humans?" Kaida asked, confused.

    "Yes, humans," Terra replied, leaning forward slightly as her blue eyes gazed down at Kaida. "Or are you not a human?"

    Alister stepped in, speaking up with a feirm tone. "Terra, stop that."

    Terra pulled back immediately as she apologized.

    "Forgive me, my lord," she said, her gaze shifting away from Kaida.

    Alister then turned to Ren. "Is it okay to call the operationplete? My dragons can handle it, so the rest of you can head back to rest."

    Hiroshi chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Oh? The newbie wants to put the veterans on the bench?" he teased, ncing at Alister. "I can''t say the thought of going back to our ride to chill while the score builds up isn''t intriguing, but if I did that, what pride would I have left as a superior? But I guess since my body hurts so much, I don''t really have another choice."

    Kaida rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with disappointment. "Just say thank you and stop being hard to please," she said, crossing her arms.

    Hiroshi shrugged, giving a half-smile. "What can I say? Sometimes the truth hurts to admit." Ren moved to adjust his sses, only to realize they were missing. A look of surprise crossed his face.

    Hiroshi chuckled, unable to resist a smile. "Seems your habit didn''t let you realize your sses were gone," he said.

    Renughed softly, shaking his head. "I guess you''re right," he admitted.

    Ren looked back at Alister, his gaze inquisitive. "Is there anything else you''re hiding?"

    Alister smirked. "That''s a secret. I am allowed to keep secrets, right?"

    Ren sighed, then smiled. "Then can I at least trust you to handle this? You won''t mess things up, no monster will be left standing when the pick-up team arrives?"

    Alister''s expression turned serious, his confidence clear. "Yes, you can rely on me."

    Ren could see the conviction in his eyes and smiled slightly. "I guess Master Yuuto knew what you were capable of. That must be why he ced so much faith in you and showed you such kindness."

    Ren sighed again, turning to the team. "Okay, team, let''s return to our truck."

    Razogrin''s eyes widened in shock. "You can''t be serious. We''re really gonna leave everything to this kid and his flying lizards?"

    Before anyone could respond, Terra''s voice echoed powerfully, her presence dominating the space. "Watch your tongue, boy. If not for my Lord''s kindness, you would have long been reduced to dust and lost to the wind."

    "If you dare speak out of line again, I assure you, you will regret it. An Archi-Void always makes good on their word."

    Terra''s aura spiked, causing chills to run down the spines of Ren and the others. The oppressive aura made the air feel heavy, and Razorgrin visibly shivered.

    Hiroshi stepped up to Razogrin, tapping his shoulder lightly. "Hey, don''t be a buzzkill. We''re

    all exhausted here. Don''t spoil this for us."

    Razorgrin clenched his jaw but nodded, recognizing the gravity of the situation. He lowered his gaze, taking a deep breath. "Alright, fine. I''ll trust you, Alister."

    Alister couldn''t help but feel oddly satisfied with his response. "Thank you. I won''t let you down," he said, though a touch of smugness crept into his voice.

    Alister called out to Ren, who was still within earshot. "Ren, once I''m done here, I''ll notify you so you can call the pick-up team."

    Ren turned, acknowledging Alister with a nod. "Alright."

    "And," Alister added, "once I''m done here, I''ll be off alone for a bit."

    Ren raised an eyebrow. "Why''s that?"

    "It''s just to feed my dragons," Alister exined, his voice steady, though it was a lie. "It''s a delicate and personal process they keep to themselves. So, I won''t be putting my camera back on either." This was his excuse so he would be able to carry out his daily quest.

    Ren paused, considering this. Then he nodded again. "Alright. Return once you''re done. This may have put us ahead of the other guilds, but it doesn''t stop them from catching up. So,

    hurry."

    Alister gave a sharp nod. "Understood."

    As they walked back, climbing over the steep slope that led to the top side above the valley, Hiroshi leaned over, a smirk on his lips. "So, you trust the kid, huh?"

    Ren adjusted slightly, still rattled from Terra''s earlier outburst. "I do. Master Yuuto saw something in him, and so do I. He''ll handle it."

 Chapter 151: Zhang Lians Responsibility

    Chapter 151: Zhang Lian''s Responsibility

    ?

    Marcus and Elena practically sat at the edge of their seats when the White Comets suddenly cut their feed. But they understood that they had just gone through a lot, and it was natural for them to want some personal space to recover.

    "Okay folks, seems the White Comets are in the clear and want some recovery time! They can no longer be our stars right now," Marcus said, his tone firm. "So we''ll probably get back to themter."

    Elena nodded. "For now, our focus should be on the Berserkers. Word is their guild master, Lady Anya, has arrived and is ready to lead them to victory!"

    Marcus clenched his fists in excitement. "Oh, so the Berserkers are back in the game. Seems the other guilds can''t afford to let their guard down!"

    "So why don''t we take a look at how our several-year winners are going to im victory yet again this year?"

    ...

    Meanwhile, in the Zhang family estate, Lady Liany on a luxurious couch in her mansion. She was dressed in a ck and silver dress while she watched the livestream on a blue holographic disy, her mind wandering as she observed the events unfolding.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "That Alister... He is an interesting young man," she mumbled to herself, her eyes fixed on the screen, recalling the moments from earlier before the feed was cut.

    "The air he has around him is almost simr to Master Spade. How interesting," she said, taking a sip from a ss of red wine close by.

    KNOCK KNOCK

    A knock echoed through the massive door of her room. "Come in," she called out.

    The door creaked open, and a maid stepped in, bowing slightly. "Pardon me, Lady Lian. The family head has demanded to see you. He awaits your presence in the meeting room."

    Lady Lian''s brows furrowed in confusion. "The next big family meeting isn''t until a couple of days from now. What does he want?" she said as she slowly set down the ss cup she held on a hovering table close by.

    The maid shifted nervously. "He demanded to see you personally, mydy. There is no ongoing meeting."

    Lady Lian narrowed her eyes, suspicion appearing in their depths. "Oh, really?"

    She rose gracefully, grabbing a furry scarf draped over a nearby chair. With a soft voice, she called to her wolf, "Fenrir, follow me. I wonder what that old man wants now."

    Fenrir, her majestic silver wolf, stood and walked beside her. Lady Lian stepped out into the hallway, passing by portraits of herself and Fenrir.

    The luxury of the mansion was evident in every detail, from the expertly crafted decorations to the polished floors, and the massive carvings hanging on the walls.

    Her two bodyguards fell into step behind her as she made her way to the main building, past the beautifully maintained garden.

    Upon reaching the main entrance, the bodyguards stationed there opened the doors and greeted her with deep bows.

    "Evening, young miss."

    Lady Lian continued her steps through the grand halls, passing by strange, hovering technology encased in ss disys.

    One particrlyrge ss disy caught her attention. Inside, a golden sword hilt hovered, emitting a soothing aura that seemed to calm the very air around it.

    Gazing at it, she paused, as if wanting to take in the sight. She finally let out a sigh, her shoulders slumping as she couldn''t help but murmur, "Father... Where did you go?"

    She reluctantly tore her eyes away from the disy and continued on her way, her expression turning serious, her steps echoing through the hallways.

    As she approached the meeting room, her mind raced with thoughts of what could have prompted this unexpected summons.

    She steeled her nerves for whatever awaited, knowing that in the Zhang family, nothing was ever straightforward.

    Lady Lian arrived at the doors of the family''s meeting room andposed herself. She took a deep breath and knocked before speaking.

    "May Ie in?"

    A deep voice from within responded, "Enter."

    She pushed open the heavy wooden doors, revealing a dimly lit meeting room. The room was dominated by a massive, sleek table that gleamed under the faint light.

    Hovering above the table were several holographic windows, casting a cool, blue glow that contrasted sharply with the darkness of the room. Shadows stretched along the walls, making the air tense.

    At the end of the room stood the family head, his back to her, staring out at the moon hanging in the night sky. He was a tall, imposing figure with a sharp, angr face and piercing blue eyes.

    His silver hair was neatlybed back, and he wore impably tailored silver robes that seemed to enhance his powerful presence.

    His name was Zhang Xian, and he was known for his no-nonsense attitude, sharp tongue, and equally sharp mind. His reputation for being both direct and insightful was well-earned, and it was these traits of his that allowed him to expand the influence of the family far better than his father did.

    "Lian," Zhang Xian said without turning around, his voice cold and demanding. "How goes your n to contribute to the family''s biggest project?"

    "I hope you aren''t nning to disappoint me yet again."

    Lian tensed, her fingers gripping the edge of her scarf. "I have managed to make contact with a master who will be helpful in the mining."

    "He and I havee to an agreement, and once I have fulfilled my end, he gave his word to help out the best he could," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

    Zhang Xian turned slowly to face her with a skeptical look on his face.

    "A master, you say?"

    "I highly doubt a master would be inclined to heed your request. They are detached from material things, so using money to persuade them is pointless."

    "Do not lie to me, child."

    "I would nev-"

    Lian opened her mouth to protest, but Zhang Xian cut her off by raising his hand, demanding

    silence.

    "I honestly didn''t call you here just to see if you had a n. Frankly, I doubt you even have one. Even if you did, it wouldn''t be remarkable, much like all you ever do. What I want is for you to personally strengthen our family by making a significant connection."

    Lian was confused. "What do you mean?"

    Zhang Xian fixed his gaze on her, his eyes hardening.

    "At your age, all your cousins and sisters have long since gotten married. The connections they bring through these unions are a significant part of why our family remains prosperous." Lian''s face darkened; she knew where this was going, and she didn''t like it. "This again?" Zhang Xian''s tone grew more serious. "Is this disrespect I hear, Lian?"

    Lian''s jaw tightened as she struggled to maintain herposure. "No, it''s not disrespect. I just don''t understand why this is suddenly so important."

    Zhang Xian stepped closer, his gaze turning cold. "It''s not sudden. It''s always been important. Our family''s strength lies not just in our resources but in our alliances. I''m sure you are well aware of that. And so, you, as daughter of this house, need to fulfill your responsibility in securing an alliance."

 Chapter 152: Zhang Lians Responsibility Part Two

    Chapter 152: Zhang Lian''s Responsibility Part Two

    ?

    Lian reluctantly spoke up and asked, her voice edged with frustration, "Who is it this time?"

    The family head paused, his piercing blue eyes lingering on her. "I''m sure you''ve been watching the live stream."

    "What about it?" Lian asked, her brow furrowing.

    Zhang Xian continued, "The one with the White Comets," he narrowed his eyes.

    Lian narrowed her eyes in return. "Don''t tell me..."

    "Yes," he cut her off, "the summoner boy. You''ll be marrying him."

    Lian felt a sharp sting at the implication. "Giving off your granddaughter to a child? Can''t you offer him some kind of old relic from the family treasures and ask him for a favor?"

    Zhang Xian sighed. "I''m disappointed in your level of intelligence, Lian, I thought it was supposed to be your greatest quility. If we did something like that, not only would the guild demand an official contract in order to get his help, but what''s to stop him from helping ourpetitors?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Besides, soon enough, that young man willck for nothing. Fame? He''s already famous. Money? A scale from one of his dragons could fetch millions of union credits. This is all he can achieve at his current level. Imagine how much more terrifying an existence he will be a year from now."

    He stepped closer. "And so we must capitalize on this chance, and offer him something he doesn''t have a lifepanion. Securing him as a member of our family will not only ensure the smoothpletion of this project but also help our family grow by leaps and bounds in the future. I''m sure even you can clearly see that."

    Lian clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "Grandfather, this is outrageous. He''s just a boy, and you''re talking about binding him to our family for life?"

    "You say that but what is to stop the other families from sending their daughters after him as well?"

    "And as I said earlier, I''ve already secured help from a master, so I won''t be-"

    "This is not up for debate, Lian." Zhang Xian''s expression hardened as he cut her off. "Reguadless of if you get that master or not, you will do as you are told. Our family''s future depends on it."

    It was obvious old Xian was going for the bigger fish in this scenario, that being Alister bing a member of their family and helping the family prosper, looking at a future with him at their aid till the end was far more intriguing than seeding in this one major project.

    Lian''s jaw tightened, her eyes shing with anger. "And what about my future? Do I not get a say in my own life?"

    Zhang Xian''s eyes locked with hers. "Your future is the family''s future. Do not forget your ce, child, or do you want to disappoint me like your useless father did?"

    Lian gritted her teeth, she felt stung from his words. She wanted to say something but old Xian spoke up again.

    "I let that boy have his way, and where is he now?"

    "The fool was most likely ripped limb from limb and chewed up to satiate the appetite of some monster in the wastnds."

    "All because he wanted to go on some adventure to look for the parts of some broken shiny sword."

    "Pathetic!"

    "Look, Lian! You are already useless enough as it is. That White Comet boy may have gotten lucky, but you certainly aren''t. You aren''t powerful, famous, neither are you lucky. In fact, that is the aspect of your life you are mostcking."

    "The only thing you have going for you is your sharp mind and your body. In fact, with that massive scar on your back, I should feel ashamed of letting someone marry you."

    "So I don''t know where you are getting this misced pride or high self-esteem from, child. You better drop it and do what I tell you."

    Lian turned away, her heart heavy with the weight of her grandfather''s demands. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Fine. I''ll do it."

    Old Xian''s stern gaze remained fixed on Lian as he continued speaking, "The Wastnd Disy Event will be ending in a couple of days. After it''s done, the Union usually holds a party to celebrate the guilds for their efforts. Naturally, the top families will be invited."

    "You should spark a me with the boy there. This is yourst chance to make something of yourself. I suggest you don''t mess it up."

    Fenrir, could sense her reluctance, rubbed its head against her side, sliently trying tofort her. Lian bowed her head reluctantly. "Yes, Grandfather."

    Old Xian dismissed her with a wave. "You can go now."

    Lian turned and walked out of the room, her steps felt heavy with the weight of her grandfather''s expectations. As she stepped out of the mansion, she encountered her two bodyguards waiting for her.

    "How did it go?" one of them asked, sounding concerned. "What did the family head want?"

    Lian remained silent for a moment, her thoughts swirling. She walked for a while finally pausing when she reached the garden, the moonlight casting a soft, silver glow over the

    scene.

    She looked up at the moon, her expression seemed nk. Her bodyguards could sense she seemed troubled, so they stopped and exchanged worried looks at each other.

    "Are you okay, Miss Lian?" the second bodyguard asked softly.

    Lian gritted her teeth, the frustration bubbling over. "I won''t be handed out like some prized goose."

    "I''ll prove I''m useful without having to give myself away."

    Fenrir nuzzled her side again, silently showing its support. Her bodyguards, reassured by her.

    Her bodyguards exchanged a nce before the first one spoke up. "We believe in you, Miss Lian. You''re smart and resourceful. You''ll definitely figure something out."

    The second bodyguard nodded. "We''re here to help you in any way we can. You aren''t doing

    this alone."

    Lian''s tense shoulders eased a bit, and she managed a small, grateful smile.

    "Thank you. I appreciate your support more than you know."

    She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. "We need to redouble our efforts to find the items Mr. Spade wants. If we impress him, perhaps we can secure his help again in the future."

    And so, that was her hope and her n: to prove her worth withoutpromising. However, she would soon learn that things don''t always go as nned.

 Chapter 182: Beyond the Battle: New Horizons

    Chapter 182: Beyond the Battle: New Horizons

    ?

    When Alister and the others arrived back at the White Comet Guild, they were greeted with a wee party. The remaining members of the guild gathered, pping and cheering as the team stepped off the transport.

    Smiles andughter filled the air as the guild members surrounded them, offering congrattions for their victory and safe return.

    The celebration carried on for most of the day, with food, music, and stories of their battle shared among the guild. Alister, though not usually one forrge gatherings, found himself swept up in all the fun.

    As the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Alister excused himself from the festivities. He had somewhere else he needed to be.

    Stepping out of the guild''srge entrance hall, he made his way to the busy streets. He raised his hand and hailed a cab, which pulled up almost immediately. Sliding into the back seat, he gave the driver a hospital''s address and settled in as the cab began to make its way through the neon-lit streets.

    As he sat in the back of the cab, his mind wandered. The celebration had been a brief distraction, but now his thoughts returned to more pressing matters.

    It had been some time since he and Lian made their deal for his help. He thought by now after returning she would contact him with good news.

    ''I hope my little fight with the Berserkers as Spade didn''t frighten her...''

    ''Things could get harder for me if she decides to not follow through with our deal.''

    Alister thought to himself, his fingers absentmindedly tapping on the armrest.

    "Or maybe she hasn''t contacted me yet... because she still hasn''t found all the items. Not yet."

    His gaze shifted to the city lights blurring outside the window. He felt a gnawing impatience, but he knew Lian was doing everything she could. Gathering rare and powerful materials wasn''t something that could be rushed, no matter how much he wished it could be.

    Alister sighed, leaning back into his seat. The quiet hum of the city buzzed around him, but his thoughts remained on Miyu. For now, all he could do was wait-wait for Lian to find what they needed, and hope that time wouldn''t run out before then.

    ''Status window.'' Alister called out in his thoughts.

    [yer: Alister Hazenworth

    Level: 38

    ss: tOverlordt Summoner (Awakened Talent) (SSS)

    Stats:

    HP: 2250/2250 - [100/100%

    MP: 7,656/10,678

    -Strength: 8,000

    -Agility: 8,500

    -Intelligence: 10,000

    -Endurance: 7,500

    -Dexterity: 7,000

    -Mana: 10,678

    -Luck: 80

    Totalbat power: 51,678 (A - rank)

    - ?Summoning Powert: 100%

    Mana Regeneration: 40 MP/minute

    Avable Stat Points: 23

    Title(s): The One Who Forced His Will On Others.

    Skills:

    Draconic Rage Lvl3 (S-rank)

    Blood Maniption Lvl3 (B+ -rank)

    Blood Healing Lvl2 (B+ -rank)

    Camouge Lvl1 (B-rank)

    Draconic Hunger Lvl3 (S-rank)

    Berserk Lvl2 (S-rank)

    Mana Distortion Aura Lvl2 (S-rank)

    List of summons:

    Drake, Cinder Von Abkis-Void (A-rank)

    SandStorm Dragoon, Terra Von Archi-Void (B-rank)

    Lighting Dragon Knight, Darven Von Valor-Void (A+ Rank)

    Current quest(s):

    The Word of an Overlord.

    Overlord''s sharpest fang.

    Last stand (1/10).

    Where Are They Now? (1/30).

    [Notice: The ws of an Overlord (100%)!]

    [Notice!! Congrattions to the yer forpleting the quest The ws of an Overlord!]

    Alister frowned as he stared at the glowing yellow window in front of him. The system was just now notifying him aboutpleting the quest The ws of an Overlord, even though the notification for the Wastnd quest came way earlier.

    ''Why am I just getting this notification now?''

    He had expected the notification back when the Wastnd Completion quest ended. It didn''t make sense for the system to wait so long to alert him, especially given how it usually reacted

    instantly.

    Just as he was about to dismiss the notification, a new message popped.

    [System Notice: The yer''s body has been undergoing a recalibration due to the massive fluctuation in stats. The questpletion was dyed until your body could properly adjust.]

    Alister''s confusion deepened for a moment, before the meaning of the message started to

    sink in.

    Constant fluctuation of stats... He recalled how his body had been forced through rapid changes due to using the Berserk skill-his strength, endurance, and mana levels raised rapidly now falling after he used the skill.

    ''Another side effect, seems I''ll really have to hold off using Berserk along with Draconic Rage unless I absolutely have to.'' Alister thought.

    It had been happening so fast that he hadn''t fully realized how much strain it was putting on

    him.

    [Your body''s adjustments have now stabilized, and your previous motions and actions have been recorded into memory.]

    Alister sighed and leaned back in his seat, the city lights shing by as the cab sped through the streets. It made sense now-the system had been waiting for his body to recover, ensuring that everything had been properly locked into ce before finalizing the quest.

    He couldn''t help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. For a moment, he had worried something was wrong, but now that he understood, it reassured him. It also exined why he had been feeling so exhausted since the fight with the Reapers. His body had been trying to keep up with the constant shifts in his powers.

    ''Well, at least that''s one less thing to worry about.'' he thought.

    Alister then dismissed the system screen with a wave of his hand, his thoughts lingered on the

    notification aboutpleting The ws of an Overlord quest.

    "Since it''s done now... that means..." he muttered, his mind racing.

    ''Dungeon raids.''

    A small smile appears on his face. ''I can finally participate in dungeon raids.''

    He leaned back, the excitement bubbling beneath the surface.

    "I can''t wait..." he whispered to himself.

    The cab continued to make its way through the city streets, but Alister''s mind was already elsewhere-inside the dark, dangerous depths of the dungeons he would soon face. [Notice! The yer has reached the sufficient level to open the Dragon god''s treasury.] [Items can only be obtained through the exchange of prestige points.]n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 154: Second Bloodline Awakening, Another Memory

    Chapter 154: Second Bloodline Awakening, Another Memory

    ?

    After they had flown for a while, Alistermanded his dragons to set down close to an extremely old football stadium, which was run-down and rusted. As they descended, the ruined structure came into view, its stands now crumbling and overgrown with vegetation.

    Alisternded gracefully and dismounted Terra. On the field, he turned to his dragons. "Terra, Cinder, Draven, watch over my body while I undergo the awakening process. Although with the three of you letting out your aura like this, no monster would daree close."

    "But it can never hurt to be careful."

    Draven nodded, his massive body casting arge shadow over the field. "Understood, my lord."

    Terra, her golden scales glinting in the fading light, also nodded. "We will keep you safe," she assured him, her eyes scanning their surroundings for any potential threats.

    Cinder stepped forward, a look of concern in her crimson eyes.

    "Are you sure you will be okay, my lord?" she asked, her tone filled with worry. "Last time, you lost consciousness and were in so much pain. Are you sure you can go through it again?"

    Alister paused, taken off guard by Cinder''s disy of worry. But this wasn''t the first time she had shown her soft side, so it didn''t entirely seem odd.

    He smiled reassuringly, cing a hand on her foreleg. "I''ll be fine, Cinder. It''s nothing I haven''t gone through before."

    Cinder let out a sigh of relief, though her eyes still held a trace of concern. "Alright, my lord," she said, stepping back to give him space.

    Alister then let out a sigh, calling upon Dragonforge in his thoughts. "Begin the awakening," Themanded mentally.

    In that instant, Alister''s body began to glow faintly as the process started. Although his tech suit hid most of it, his heart shone with a brilliant golden light. Alister''s knees buckled, and he copsed to the ground, clutching his chest as he heard the system''s voice echo in his mind.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    [Reconstructing 30% of the yer''s bone structure...]

    [Notice: This is going to be a very painful process!]

    "Ughaaaaaa!" Alister screamed, the sound echoing through the deserted stadium. He quickly gritted his teeth, trying to bear the excruciating pain that surged through his body. His muscles tensed, and he could feel his heart throbbing and heating up as if it were on fire.

    Cinder stepped forward, her eyes wide with concern. "My lord, are you alright?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

    Alister managed to lift his head, his face contorted in pain. "I''m fine, Cinder," he gasped. "Just... need to get through this."

    Terra and Draven exchanged worried nces, but they remained vignt, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential threats.

    The pain intensified, and Alister''s body convulsed. His vision blurred, and he felt as if his entire being was being torn apart and rebuilt from the inside. Every fiber of his body screamed in pain, but he refused to give in.

    ''Damn it... It''s a little bit more intense this time...'' Alister thought as he gritted his teeth. His canine teeth grew slightly, now resembling fangs, and the rest of them became sharper. He could feel the sensation of his bones breaking and reforming inside his body at an absurd rate, and the way his heart pulsed while it did.

    ''I''m... almost... losing consciousness again...''

    Just then, another system notification rang in his thoughts.

    [Dragon soul is being stimted!]

    [Ding!! Memory fragments have been found!]

    [Does the yer wish to reassimte or discard?]

    [YES.] or [NO.]

    ''This again....''

    ''By fragments... it means there are more than one... Wait, what was the first one?''

    ''I''m sure something like this happened in my first awakening, but I can''t remember what the memory was.''

    At this moment, in all this pain, Alister had momentarily forgotten about the ring of focus he had slid on his finger that was blocking out a painful memory that had been haunting him.

    Struggling with all this pain, he couldn''t think straight, and he just wanted to get this over with.

    ''Yes, re-assimte the memory fragments.''

    [Processing...]

    Again, Alister felt that strange sensation, as if the world around him was melting away, his sense of identity disappearing as everything went ck.

    His eyes cracked open, and he found himself standing in a massive hall, the floors made of white quartz and gold. All around him, many figures gathered, and beside him stood a young man with silver hair and blue eyes, dressed in silver and ck regal clothing.

    The man in silver spoke, "The best of the ten ns have gathered their finest so you can choose."

    He let out a sigh, "Yukeso, you have done well. Looking at this generation of dragonkind, I can''t help but feel impressed."

    Yukeso, the man in silver, couldn''t help but smile. "You honor me, my lord."

    He then smiled as his yellow eyes red brightly, a dragon skull-like crest appearing in their depths. "Now then, for me to choose."

    With those eyes, he looked around, seeing a sort of me flickering within the bodies of all those present. Many mes wererge, some faintly appearing on the surface of their skin. But then his eyesnded on one figure.

    She had ck and silver hair, red eyes, and was d in ck and silver armor. Her horns curved gracefully backward, and her me seemed to rage like a tempest around her, making the others'' mes seem like mere torches inparison to her inferno.

    He chuckled, "Oh? What do we have here? Even among primordials, such potential is one in a

    million."

    He suddenly pointed to her in the crowd. "You, the Abyss-Void with strangely parted ck and silver hair."

    She gracefully raised her head to reveal her dull red eyes. "Yes, lord," she spoke.

    He then said, "Rejoice, I have decided to make you my disciple. What are your thoughts?"

    She bowed her head again. "I am most grateful."

    He smiled. "Ho? Your mouth says one thing, yet your heart and mind say another. How

    intriguing!"

 Chapter 155: Fractured Memories

    Chapter 155: Fractured Memories

    ?

    This time, a bunch of fragmented memories flooded Alister''s mind, different iplete instances, but the few more important ones seemed to rey themselves at the front of his mind.

    Fizzle

    The memory suddenly flickered out with another appearing to take its ce.

    The sound of the sparking energy field surrounded the training grounds as the Overlord and ck-and-white-haired Abyss-Void, Mar''Garet, stood facing each other. In his hand, the Overlord held a long, gleaming spear, its de catching the light with each movement.

    Mar''Garet, holding a simr spear, eyed the weapon with a touch of curiosity and confusion. "My lord... why are we training with these? You should know my n has always only focused onbat with shorter weapons."

    The Overlord stood a distance away, looking rxed yet with no openings. He met her gaze with a stern look on his face.

    "It''s all for a purpose. You shouldn''t ask too many questions. Just focus on your training."

    Mar''Garet hesitated, her fingers tightening around the pole of the spear. Reluctantly, she nodded.

    "Yes, my lord," she said, suppressing her doubts. She shifted into a ready stance, mirroring the Overlord''s posture.

    He observed her for a moment before giving a slight nod. "Good. Now, let''s begin."

    In that instant, they both charged at each other, their spears shing in blinding lights. Fizzle

    The Overlord stood in a massive treasury, the room filled with gleaming treasures and artifacts from countless conquests. Behind him, a golden sword shone with an almost ethereal light, embedded in the earth.

    It was fRestriat.

    He turned to Mar'' Garet, his expression serious. "Your next training will be to shatter the space around your spear. By memorizing the location of this sword, you will make it momentarily appear as if the edge of your spear is the edge of this sword."

    Mar''Garet''s eyes widened in shock. "M-my lord... I-I don''t think I can do that. The aura around that weapon is..."

    "Hahahaha!"

    The Overlord chuckled, a sound both warm and intimidating.

    "I know you can," he said confidently. "In fact, I will be leaving you here, and won''t be returning until you do." He tapped her shoulder then began to leave.

    She opened her mouth to say something, but he simply turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the vast treasury as he waved.

    "Don''t disappoint me now."

    Fizzle

    The next instance, a few decadester, the Overlord stood before her in the training grounds, his silver hair flowing in the wind, his yellow eyes fixed on her with an intense gaze. Behind

    him, his generals watched from a distance.

    "You said you have seeded..."

    "...so show me the fruit of your training."

    Mar''Garet nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "Understood," she replied. She raised her spear, focusing her energy. "Shattering Space Law." The red crest above her chest red up.

    The air around the edge of her spear began to warp and shimmer, and for a moment, a gleaming edge of tRestriat appeared.

    The space around the spear seemed to distort, making it appear as though the sword''s edge was now part of her weapon.

    The Overlord''s eyes widened with shock. He chuckled slightly then said, "Wielding a sword the overlords couldn''t, and without having to touch the de. Fascinating..."

    The Overlord''s eyes sparkled with excitement. He motioned for her toe closer, a satisfied smile on his face. "Well done, Mar''Garet!" he said, his voice filled with pride, a big smile on his face.

    "I have to say, it seems you''ve surpassed my expectations."

    He smiled warmly, closing his eyes. "And so I''ve decided, you''ll be one of my generals. I need your talent by my side!"

    For some reason, Mar''Garet''s heart was ovee with an emotion she was not used to, a sting of pride and something else. She bowed her head. "I''m d to serve you, my lord. I''ll make sure I continue to surpass your expectations." She smiled slightly.

    "Oh? It seems you are honest for once. And that look on your face is good. You should smile more."

    "M-my lord, surely you jest, how could-"

    Fizzle

    The memory suddenly flickered again, another appearing to take its ce.

    Evening had settled in, casting a dim light over the realm the dragons called their home. Dark clouds loomed in the distance, seeming to approach slowly.

    The Overlord stood in his draconicbat form, his white, ck and golden scales glinting softly in the fading light.

    His massive golden wings were spread behind him, creating a massive shadow. Beside him stood his remaining generals, all d in the gleaming scales of theirbat forms.

    Mar''Garet stood before them, her heart racing with a touch of fear and anxiety.

    The Overlord''s gaze fell upon her, his eyes filled with a touch of seriousness and concern.

    "My lord... will you be returning?" Mar''Garet asked, her tone sounding edged.

    "We have to go and push back the darkness." the Overlord replied.

    Mar''Garet tensed up, her hands clenching at her sides. "Why aren''t you allowing me to follow you?" she asked, sounding frustrated.

    "I thought you said this is what you trained me for. This is the best chance I have to prove

    myself, IˇŞ"

    "You aren''t ready. I need you to keep getting stronger," he said sharply, his tone left no room for argument.

    "Following us into battle as you are now would simply be throwing your life away. All your

    hard work would have been for nothing."

    "Do you want that?"

    "Yes, it''s a general''s pride to die for their lord." she said, but he remained silent.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Finally he spoke, "I stick to my decision, you will remain here, Mar''Garet."

    Mar''Garet''s face tightened, and she felt a surge of anger.

    "My lord, you are breaking your promise," her voice trembled slightly, sounding hurt.

    "You said you wanted me by your side. You said you needed my talents-" "And I still do." He cut her off, "I need you to protect our guard our home while I''m gone." "The duty of protecting dragon kind is one of the greatest honors a general could even ask

    for."

    Mar''Garet eased up slightly, though she still looked uncertain. "My lord... you didn''t answer my earlier question, will you being back?"

    The Overlord let out a massive, heartyugh that seemed to shake the very ground beneath

    them.

    "Where''s that smile I told you to always have on your face? Don''t tell me you''re disobeying

    orders?"

    "What a rebellious disciple you turned out to be. Are you forgetting who your lord is?" Mar''Garet felt a bit exasperated by his words. "My lord, please you should-"

    "I am the strongest, I am the Overlord! I''ll definitely return victorious," he said with a confident smile spreading across his draconic features.

    Hisughter and confidence seemed to dissolve some of the fear within her. She nodded, a

    small smile on her lips.

    "I will guard our people and your throne, my lord."

    "And be sure to smile while you do."

    "... Yes, I''ll make sure I do, my lord," she reluctantly said, managing a small smile. "And I''ll

    be waiting for your return."

    The Overlord gave her onest look. Then, with a powerful beat of his golden wings, he took

    to the sky, his remaining generals following closely behind.

    Fizzle

    Another memory was about to reassimte but then...

    [Error! Notice to the yer, the current memory is being suppressed by the ring of focus!]

    [Memory reassimtion paused!]

    And then, Alister fluttered his eyes open.

 Chapter 156: Summoning The First Horde

    Chapter 156: Summoning The First Horde

    ?

    Alister groaned softly as he stirred, blinking his eyes open to find himself lying t on the cold, overgrown field of the abandoned stadium.

    He slowly pushed himself up, his muscles aching from the aftermath of the intense awakening process. His head throbbed slightly, and his vision was still a bit hazy.

    He sat up, running a hand through his messy hair.

    ''An... Abyss void... Mar''Garet.''

    ''My disciple...''

    "Ugh... How long was I out?" he muttered to himself. His heart was still pulsing with the residual energy of the awakening, but the intense pain had faded.

    "My Lord!" Terra''s voice broke through his foggy thoughts as she approached him. "You did it."

    Draven also bowed his head. "Congrattions, my lord." he said.

    Alister gave them both a faint smile, still catching his breath. "Thanks, Terra, Draven."

    But as he looked toward Cinder, her crimson eyes were filled with worry, her massive ws fidgeting slightly. She stepped forward, her enormous body looming over him.

    "Are you truly alright, my lord?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. "You were out for longer thanst time... I thought something had gone wrong."

    Alister chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I''m fine, Cinder. Really."

    Cinder hesitated for a moment, her gaze softening as she let out a low sigh. "If you say so, my lord," she murmured, though the trace of worry in her eyes remained.

    Alister gave her a gentle smile before slowly shifting onto his knees, wincing slightly from the lingering soreness in his muscles.

    As he straightened up, his eyes drifted toward the horizon. A soft glow was beginning to spread across the sky, signaling the approach of dawn.

    The night dark sky was slowly being painted with hues of gold and violet.

    ''Looks like it''s almost morning...'' Alister thought. He felt a need of urgency sting in his chest, realizing how much time had passed.

    "I need to wrap things up before Ren starts to get concerned."

    He exhaled, rising to his feet and brushing the dirt off his tech suit. His legs were still shaky, but he steadied himself.

    The system''s voice suddenly echoed through Alister''s mind.

    [Second awakeningplete!]

    [All Skills leveled up to Level 3.]

    [Draconic Rage Gate 2: Dragon Body (Unlocked!)]

    [Draconic Hunger Gate 1: Devouring (Unlocked) - (Can also be used on dragon horde as group devouring.)]

    Alister blinked as the notifications scrolled across his vision, a smile spreading to the corner of his lips. The fact he had gotten stronger made him feel a bit proud, but there was still something else on his mind that had him confused.

    "Draconic Hunger..." he murmured to himself, rolling the words around in his mind.

    He vaguely remembered skimming through the description a while ago. It mentioned something about getting stronger through eating, but that was it, nothing else in the details, he hasn''t been able to activate it but he felt it was silently responsible for his glutinous increase in appetite.

    ''Devouring?''

    He furrowed his brow, recalling the vague phrasing. Sure, dragons were known for their ravenous appetites, but this ability felt like it held more weight, something far deeper than just satiating hunger.

    Just then another system window with the skill''s updated information popped up.

    [Draconic Hunger: A strong body needs the most resources to be built, although training and oveing adversity polishes one''s skill, what they eat will ensure the continuous growth and make more room for further empowerment.

    Effects:

    Endless growth: Devouring anything will result in the yer obtaining ''Devouring value'' when max devouring value has been reached, all stats will be increased by 8%

    You are what you eat: depending on what the yer and his dragons eat, skills or titles can be obtained. Expanding their range of abilities and opening possible evolution paths.]

    ''So this is practically a skill that will allow me and my dragon to get stronger as long as we eat?''

    ''Dragonforge... my dragons won''t get chubby... will they?''

    [Fear not yer, the body construction of a dragon ensures they are always in peak shape, there is no such thing as excess nutrition only more chances to get stronger.]

    ''I see.''

    ''Meaning when I summon lesser dragons of lower grades, apart from killing monsters to allow them level up, they can also eat the defeated monsters.''

    ''Meaning they can get stronger even faster.''

    Alister then smiled as he said, "Seems I will be making use of this soon. Guess I didn''t lie to Ren about wanting to go feed my dragons."

    Alister then stood still for a moment, the wind stirring his hair as he mentally sifted through his thoughts.

    Terra''s golden eyes watched him closely, her sharp gaze catching a sudden smile on his face. "Something exciting, my lord?" she asked, stepping closer, her massive blue eyes filled with

    curiosity.

    Alister took a deep breath, steadying himself as he turned to Terra, Darven, and Cinder.

    "I''m about to summon lesser dragons. Be ready to wee our kin."

    The three of them exchanged nces, their expressions slightly excited. All together, they

    bowed deeply before him.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "We understand, my lord," they said.

    Alister took one final nce at his dragons before raising his hand.

    "Dragonforge.."

    His yellow eyes began to glow brightly as they seemed to focus.

    "...open the Mind Space. I''m summoning now."

    [Understood...]

    [Opening Mind Space...]

    Reality around Alister blurred and began to dissolve like mist evaporating under the sun.

    His surroundings faded into nothingness, and once again, he found himself standing in the vast, cosmic space that was his inner world.

    In the distance, the familiar massive stone doors loomed, their edges faintly glowing.

    Alister gazed at the doors, feeling a touch of excitement from what he was about to do.

    "Dragonforge," Alister spoke, his voice echoing in the void. "Do I need to hold a conduit to perform the summoning?"

    [No,] the system replied. [The yer only need to designate the number of conduits for the dragons you wish to summon.]

    Alister paused, thinking for a moment. Then, he finally spoke up.

    "Use up all the summoning conduits."

    "I want four hundred wyverns."

    [Processing...]

    The ancient stone doors before him began to tremble, dust and debris falling away as they

    slowly creaked open.

    A blinding golden light spilled out from the narrow crack, its radiance intensifying as the

    doors widened.

    The sheer intensity of the glow would''ve forced most people to shield their eyes, but Alister simply stood there, staring into the depths calmly.

    The sound of energy grew louder, vibrating through the very fabric of the Mind Space. Alister could feel the weight of hundreds of presences, dormant but approaching.

    As the doors fully opened, the golden glow receded slightly, revealing the massive forms

    within.

    Deep within the shimmering light, Alister saw the shapes of the wyverns-winged, draconic creatures, their scales glittering like gemstones. They slowly flew towards him, their eyes

    zing with their mana.

    Alister couldn''t help but smile. "Four hundred,"

    The system''s voice rang in his mind.

    [Summoningplete. Your wyverns await your orders.]

    [New quest! (Daily) Out on a hunt: Take your dragon horde on a hunt and eliminate 1000

    monsters!]

 Chapter 157: On The Move

    Chapter 157: On The Move

    ?

    Alister''s smile widened as he took in the sight of the newly summoned wyverns. They slowlynded on the floor and lowered their heads.

    Alister walked up to the closest one and used both hands to rub and pat its head. The wyvern closed its eyes, wagging its tail with excitement.

    Seeing the way it reacted, Alister couldn''t help but smile. Suddenly, another notification echoed.

    [Notice! Wyvern Hordebat potential (A-Rank) individual wyverns (C-Rank).]

    [Notice! Wyvern Horde base attribute: Null.]

    Alister was slightly surprised that these wyverns were C-Rank despite being sorge. Although they were far from being as massive as Terra, the smallest of his dragon generals,

    he could still tell they were at least in the medium size ss.

    ''Null in their case must mean they possess no elemental abilities. Seems they will have to rely on physical attacks.''

    Suddenly, another notification followed.

    [Ding!! Congrattions to the yer forpleting the quest: Last Stand (1/10).]

    [The yer has been granted the reward: Piece of Overlord''s Broken Crown (??-rank).] ''A quest? Seems I hadpletely forgotten about it,'' Alister thought.

    Just then, a shimmering object materialized beside him-a golden piece of some kind of object. Alister felt inexplicably drawn to it and couldn''t help but reach out and grasp it.

    As he thought, "It''s a piece of the crown," he said, examining the object and realizing it was strangely bent.

    "Must have gotten hit by something... Must be what shattered it into pieces in the first ce," he mumbled.

    He tried, but it seemed the item had no description and, of course, also had no rank. Despite the fact it seemed strangely attractive, one could only use the thing as some sort of shlight. But Alister knew it wasn''t useless. And so, with a sigh, he dropped it into his inventory.

    With a deep breath, he focused on the next steps. "System, return me to the physical world." [Understood...]

    The cosmic space around Alister began to shift and swirl, dissolving once more into the familiar surroundings of the abandoned stadium. The soft morning light greeted him, and he found Terra, Draven, and Cinder still waiting, their eyes fixed on him.

    "Terra, Draven, Cinder," Alister called. "We''re moving out."

    Slowly, a rift materialized around Alister, and from its depths, the wyverns flew out. Somended around him, while others circled in the sky.

    Terra, Draven, and Cinder watched as the wyverns flew around. "Are we returning, my lord?" Terra asked.

    Alister''s yellow eyes glowed brightly, bing more reptilian. "No, not yet." Alister motioned for Cinder to lower her head, which she did, and he leaped from the earth andnded on her head.

    "Then where to? I believe you said we need to return soon," Terra asked, noticing Cinder was about to take flight.

    "We''re going for a hunt, Terra. Worry not about how long we take."

    "With our numbers..." As he spoke, his tech suit seemed to be covered in a shimmering light. He was unequipping it and equipping his normalbat items, his all-ck raid set.

    He then finally said, "This should be over in minutes."

    "Cinder, let''s go."

    "Yes, my lord." With a mighty wave of her wings, Cinder sprung into the air, Draven and Terra doing the same, and the wyverns followed closely behind.

    They were now out on a hunt. How far they would have to go to aplish the specified kill count was unknown. But what was known was that with such arge swarm of dragons flying in the air, it would inevitably be noticed by someone soon. And it would undoubtedly be one of the guild raid teams.

    Meanwhile, at a far-off point in the wastnds...

    Boom!

    A massive boom echoed all around the ruined city as a gigantic mutated white tiger monster with three heads was sent flying like a ragdoll, dust billowing into the air.

    From its size, one could tell the creature was in therge ss. It certainly wasn''t a monster one would expect to be sent through the air like yesterday''s trash, and certainly not with such force that its massive frame tore through several buildings-well, not unless it was fighting a giant-ss monster.

    But... what if that wasn''t the case?

    ...

    "I''m telling you folks! It doesn''t get old no matter how many times I see it!" Marcus'' voice boomed over the livestream as he spoke with enthusiasm.

    Clutching his fists tightly as he watched the scene unfold through the cam on the basic armor of a certain bare-handed guild master.

    "Agreed, Marcus," Elena said. "It''s always a feast for the eyes. No matter how hard the monsters try, they can neither outrun nor overpower her. It really makes you think she is the final boss of some unbeatable video game."

    "Truly terrifying!"

    ...

    The mutated white tiger slowly rose to its feet, shaking off the dust. The other two heads noticed that the leftmost head had been bashed in and appeared dead, its blood staining their fur crimson and slowly dripping to the floor. The monster had not only lost one of its heads but also had its front left leg and right rib cage broken, the damaged areas turning purple. But these wounds were not the result of a battle, as one might think. No, these injuries were sustained as therge, fearsome monster tried to run for its life.

    From what? Many would ask. Another monster, perhaps? No, but indeed something simr. It was something, or someone, many people would often refer to as a force of nature.

    "Is it just me, or does it seem like all the monsters have been avoiding metely?"

    A female voice echoed through the dust, with footsteps softly echoing as a figure approached. She cracked her knuckles as her red eyes glinted with an unsettling look of delight. The grin on her face was certainly demonic, striking fear into the hearts of anyone whoid eyes on her, leaving thempletely paralyzed and unable to fight back as their undeniable end approached. Luckily for the white tiger, it was currently covered by a mask.

    The dust slowly cleared, revealing the figure of a woman. Her long purple hair flowed down her back in waves, her red eyes fixed on the monster before her. She wore a ck, nearly casual suit-like outfit with golden armor.

    This was none other than Anya, the guild master of the Berserkers, well known by her nickname, ''The Walking Cmity.''

    Anya stepped forward, her eyes never leaving the beat up white tiger. The creature let out a low, pained growl, its remaining heads in agony. Despite its dire condition, it attempted to

    rise, struggling against its injuries.

    "You know," Anya said, her voice calm and almost like she wanted to strike a conversation, "people say monsters are irrational creatures, although I somewhat agree you are all low on intelligence, I do not believe you are all only driven by instinct."

    "I mean, there are monsters like you that are obviously smart enough to run away before a battle has even begun. I mean an unintelligent creature wouldn''t be able to do that. No?"

    The tiger''s remaining heads snapped in her direction, but its efforts were weak and sluggish. Anya''s smile widened beneath her mask.

    She took another step closer, her boots kicking up small clouds of dust with each movement. The tiger''s attempts to move were slow and unsteady, and its breaths came inbored gasps. It was clear that it wouldn''tst much longer.

    Anya stretched out her arms, rolling her shoulders as if preparing for a casual workout. Her confidence was suffocating, her posture rxed yet gave off a deadly aura.

    "Let''s finish this."

    With a sudden burst of speed, Anya closed the distance between them. Her first punch connected with the tiger''s remaining right leg, the force causing it to explode in a shower of blood and fur sending it flying again. With another burst of speed, Anya was already in motion, leaping into the air following the flying tiger, she twisted her body into a high kick that shattered the right head.

    The creature''s remaining head roard wildly, its roars bing desperate and incoherent.

    Anya kicked the monster around, delivering a powerful series of kicks and punches. Her strikes were so fast and powerful that they seemed to blur, each hit causing the monster to convulse and thrash.

    Marcus and Elena watched from their studio, their expressions a look of admiration and

    respect.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    "Look at her go!" Marcus yelled. "It''s like she''s toying with it."

    Elena, eyes wide with awe, replied, "She''s incredible. The way she handles herself, it''s almost

    like she''s dancing."

    ...

    Anya''s leaps caused the earth to bucked beneath her feet. She ducked under a wild swipe from the tiger''s remaining head, countering with a jab that crumpled the monster''s rib cage. She followed up with a spinning kick that sent the beast flying backward.

    As the tiger finallyy still, defeated and broken, Anya stood over it, nearly broken a sweat.

    She looked down at the monster with a satisfied grin.

    "Haha!"

    "That was fun," she said, letting out a massiveugh. "But now, time to see what else the

    wastnd has in store."

    She turned to her guild members, "Let''s keep pushing forward. There''s always more work to

    be done."

    "It''s only a matter of time before we im our victory."

 Chapter 158: The Wasteland Display Event Part Seven

    Chapter 158: The Wastnd Disy Event Part Seven

    ?

    As Anya stood victorious over the defeated white tiger, her team continued their battle against the remaining monsters in the sector.

    Thorin, his fists still glowing with mana, turned his attention to a group of rampaging Razorback Boars,rge, spiked creatures charging through the rubble. He threw a powerful punch at one, sending it crashing into a nearby building.

    As hended another blow, he nced at Anya, grinning. "Did you see that? The guild master took that beast down like it was nothing!" Thorin shouted, his voice booming over the chaos.

    Halzor, fighting off a pack of Blighted Wolves with his gauntlets,ughed loudly as he crushed the head of one of the wolves. He leaped to avoid a swipe from another and called out to Thorin, "Yeah, I saw! So I won''t ck off, I also want a piece of the glory! Can''t let the rest of you upstage me."

    ...

    Marcus''s voice boomed over the livestream, "And Thorin''s making sure to live up to the hype! Look at those punches! It''s like watching a demolition crew in action!"

    Elena''s voice joined in, "Yes Marcus! But don''t forget about Halzor. He''s always been one for the spotlight, but who can me him with such strength? The way he''s handling those wolves is nothing short of impressive!"

    ...

    Ma, hovering above and using her metal constructs to slice through a horde of Gargantuan Scorpions, kept a calm expression on her face as she observed Anya''s disy. Joining in on the conversation, she said, "The guild master always makes things look easy. But that doesn''t mean you guys should let your guard down. We''re still in the middle of the wastnds, so stay sharp. Especially you, Halzor."

    Halzor, grinning through a mouthful of bloodied scorpion goo, replied, "There you go, always on my case Ma! Seriously, we do this every year, stop making a huge fuss over it."

    ...

    Marcus said, "Ma''s rightˇŞwastnd monsters are no joke. But watch her go! The chaos she''s wreaking with her constructs is like making an art of destruction."

    Elena agreed, "Absolutely! It''s like they are a well-oiled machine out there. It''s like once they are on the move, they cannot be stopped!"

    ...

    Nyra, appearing from the shadows behind a Stone Giant, watched with sharp focus. As the monster swung its massive right hand, she dodged with a backward flip, rolling and thenunching herself back at it. Climbing up its arm, she could see the core on its chest. Leaping, she plunged her daggers into it, causing the monster to crumble. As shended gracefully, she looked toward her teammates.

    "Don''t get too caught up in the excitement, Halzor," Nyra said with a slightly annoyed tone, cleaning her daggers. "We need to stay focused. The bigger monsters aren''t the only threat out here."

    Grimm, who had been defending the team with his stone shield against a swarm of Lesser Earth Elementals, grunted as he deflected a particrly heavy blow. Waving his hand, he caused earth spikes to impale approaching monsters, though his attacks weren''t very effective on Stone Giants.

    "Everyone, keep your eyes open. These elementals are tricky, and they don''t go down easily. We can''t afford to getcent just because the guild master''s showing off."

    Thorin, after sending another boar flying, chuckled. "Yeah, Grimm''s right. But seeing the guild master take down that monster like it was nothing... It''s inspiring!"

    ...

    "It is nothing short of legendary!" Marcus said, correcting Thorin''s statement. "Anya''s making it look easy, and her team is right there with her, keeping up the heat."

    ...

    Anya, from a distance, gave a heartyugh. "Good work, everyone! Just remember, there''s always more where that came from!"

    As the battle subsided and the remaining monsters were dispatched, Thorin wiped sweat from his brow and turned to Ivy, who was biting her finger as she seemed to be watching something on a holographic disy.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Ivy, where do we stand on the leaderboards?" Thorin asked.

    Ivy, sat atop a ruined building close by, her arms crossed and a touch of annoyance in her voice, nced at Thorin. "Thorin, this is the third time this morning you''ve asked that. Our score hasn''t changed since thest time you asked. It won''t until our pick-you team finishes harvesting the bodies. The more monsters we gather, the higher our score will climb. So just focus on doing just that. Besides, with the guildmaster here, are you really worried we''re gonna lose?"

    Thorin scratched his head sheepishly. "Alright, alright. Just thought I''d check. We''re all on the same side, right? No need to be so hostile."

    ...

    Marcus, on the livestream, "Thorin''s keeping an eye on the leaderboards as usual. It''s a smart move-staying on top of the rankings is crucial."

    Elena chimed in, "Absolutely, Marcus. But Ivy''s got a point. The pick-you team needs to harvest their loot for their numbers to get a boost. They''re working hard out there, so let''s see how their efforts pay off."

    "And there you have it, folks! Teamwork at its finest. Even when the scoreboard''s not budging, everyone''s ying their part to get those numbers up."

    ...

    Thorin noticed Ivy''s tense demeanor and couldn''t help butment. "What''s got you so pissed? You''re acting like the world''s gonna end or something."

    Ivy turned to him, her eyes shing with frustration. "The White Comets have turned off their

    feed!"

    Thorin raised an eyebrow. "And that''s our concern why?"

    Ivy''s voice suddenly rang out as she replied, "Um... Uh...Sector X, Thorin! Sector X! Without the feed, we can''t monitor their movements or n our strategies effectively. We could be walkinggging behind if they seed in their raid or missing vital intel."

    Thorin let out a sigh and gave Ivy a knowing look. "Are you sure it isn''t just because you want to see those dragons?"

    Ivy tensed up, her eyes narrowing at him. "What are you talking about, Thorin?"

    Thorin shook his head, his tone had a touch of exasperation. "Seeing such amazing creatures

    in reality can be exciting, Ivy, but please don''t let it affect how you treat your teammates. We''re all in this together."

    Yes, Ivy was a dragon lover, and although many did not know, she was the one who had created the dragon fan group and invited people to join in the live chat earlier.

 Chapter 159: Possible Encounter?

    Chapter 159: Possible Encounter?

    ?

    As the dust settled from the battle, Anya stood and surveyed the area. The white tigery defeated at her feet, and the remaining monsters had been dispatched. Her team was still excited and ready to go from their victory.

    "Alright, everyone, round up!" Anya called out, her voice echoing all around.

    "We''ve secured this sector, but we need to move forward to the next one. Grimm, Ma, I need you two to secure the perimeter here. Use your talents to create walls to ensure no more monsters can break through."

    Grimm nodded. "Got it, guild master. I''ll start on the stone walls."

    Ma hovered above, her metal constructs spinning around her. "Understood, guild master. I''ll handle the metal reinforcements."

    As Grimm began to manipte the earth, raising massive stone walls, Ma directed her metal constructs to connect them through the stone, creating a barrier. The rest of the team gathered around Anya, ready for their next orders.

    "Once Grimm and Ma are done, we move out immediately."

    "Stay sharp and stay together. We push hard, we push fast. We can''t afford any dys or mistakes since we''re heading for number one."

    She grinned, showing her set of sharp teeth. "Our next target is a sector said to possess smanders and wyverns. But before that, Thorin, make sure no stragglers are left behind. Nyra, take the lead and scout ahead."

    "Ivy, make sure you follow closely."

    "And as usual..."

    "I''ll be ahead, do try not to slow me down."

    Thorin punched his palm. "Understood, guild master! We won''t let you down! The other guilds won''t know what hit them!"

    Halzor smirked, cracking his knuckles. "I''m ready for more. Let''s keep this momentum going."

    "I''ll begin scouting now," Nyra said, immediately leaping forward to begin scouting. Grimm and Ma worked quickly, forming an imprable wall around the perimeter. Once the task wasplete, they joined the rest of the team and moved forward.

    ...

    Meanwhile...

    Alister soared through the sky, nked by his loyal dragons, Cinder, Darven, and Terra. The air crackled as they flew, the wind rushing past them. Suddenly, Alister''s eyes caught sight of a space teeming with smanders and wyverns below. A grin spread across his face, recognizing the perfect opportunity to test his forces'' might.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Ready yourselves," Alistermanded, his voice resolute. "This is where we prove our strength."

    Without pausing, he ordered his wyverns to dive into the fray. The wyverns let out fierce roars as they descended, their powerful wings beating against the air. Alister nced at his dragons.

    "Cinder, Darven, Terra, support the wyverns. Show them what we''re capable of."

    "Understood," Cinder roared in response, her massive form cutting through the sky. Darven and Terra followed suit.

    Alister''s voice then echoed in Terra''s thoughts, ''Also, Terra, be sure to keep an eye out for any approaching guilds.''

    ''You all belong to me, so it will be odd if you are all sighted out here while I was below fighting monsters by myself... Do you understand?''

    ''Understood, my lord,'' Terra responded.

    "Good." Alister said, his smile revealing his fangs. Feeling the adrenaline surge through him, he leaped off Cinder''s head, descending rapidly toward the ground.

    BOOM!

    With a resounding boom, hended among the smanders, causing a shockwave that made the earth tremble. The smanders turned their attention to him, hissing and snarling. Alister stood tall, his eyes shining brightly.

    "It seems my body has really gotten stronger," he mused aloud, a confident smile on his lips. "A fall that high without the suit would have definitely shattered every bone in my legs. But I''mpletely fine... Which is good."

    Alister suddenly flexed his fingers, his gauntlets, which had previously be part of his scales, slowly materializing around his hands.

    One smander lunged at him, jaws snapping. Alister sidestepped with ease. He then spun,nding a powerful kick to the smander''s side, sending it crashing into another approaching beast. The impact caused sparks to fly from the friction of his boot against the creature''s rough scales.

    As more smanders surrounded him, Alister became a blur as he moved. He ducked under a swiping tail, his ws extended, and raked them across the beast''s side. Blood sprayed from the deep gashes, painting the ground in crimson stters.

    A smander to his left spat a stream of fire, but Alister leaped into the air, twisting mid- flight to avoid the mes. Hended gracefully, immediately rolling forward and springing up to deliver a powerful uppercut to another smander''s jaw. The force of the punch sent a spray of blood and teeth into the air, the creature copsing with a weak roar.

    "Oh, I have yet to try out my bloodline ability... I believe it was called... Void Rend." In that instant, a golden crest marking red to life on both of Alister''s arms. For some reason, he didn''t need to ask the system; he instinctively knew how to use this power.

    He focused on a distant smander, its eyes locked onto him. Concentrating his energy into his ws, he felt his mana, begining to build up. With a swift swipe of his hand, the space around his ws seemed to warp and tear, a small rift forming.

    The rift shot forward like a dark tendril, slicing through the air. Despite the distance, the targeted smander convulsed as the invisible sh struck it. A deep gash appeared on its body, blood pouring from the wound as it copsed, defeated.

    A grin spread across Alister''s face. "So this is the power of Void Rend," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the chaos of his wyverns and dragons attacking all around him. Alister felt a strange urge to let out augh, but just as he was about to do so, he suddenly remembered the memories he recalled earlier. "It seems my habits in there are starting to get to me... But then again... Who was I... I never got to know my name or see my face, and how am I younger now?"

    Before he could think further, another smander charged at him, but Alister was ready. He sidestepped the attack, with a sudden burst of speed, the earth buckling beneath his feet as he moved in a blur. His ws glowed with golden mana as he activated Void Rend again, swiping at the space in front of him.

    The rift formed and shot forward, striking the smander and leaving a trail of blood in its wake as the beast fell.

    Alister continued to use Void Rend, each swipe of his ws creating rifts that struck down the monsters from a distance. The smanders fell one by one, unable to withstand his attacks.

    As another fell, Alister stood in the carnage, his breathing steady, his eyes still glowing with

    his mana. Blood littered the ground, mixed with monster entrails. Just then, his eyes drifted to the innards of a fallen smander, and he felt a strange urge.

    [Ding!! Draconic Hunger activated!]

 Chapter 160: Possible Encounter? Part Two

    Chapter 160: Possible Encounter? Part Two

    ?

    Back with Ren and the others, Kaida nced at the horizon with a concerned expression on her face.

    "Ren, isn''t Alister taking too long? Shouldn''t they be back by now?"

    Ren let out a sigh, he was equally worried. He clicked hismunicator and tried to contact Alister.

    "Alister, do you copy? Alister,e in." Static filled the channel, and no response came through. He frowned, attempting again. "Alister, are you there?"

    The signal remained dead. Ren''s brow furrowed deeper.

    "This isn''t good. I can''t get a signal through. Something might be wrong."

    Razorgrin, leaning against the side of the truck, scoffed. "He''s probably up to no good, like always, even after we decided to trust him. Besides, what''s the worst that could happen, the kid has three freaking dragons for pets," he said with a smirk.

    Ren shook his head, clearly troubled. "Even if that''s the case, we need to make sure he''s safe. We can''t afford to lose contact with them out there."

    Kaida nodded, her eyes looking around the horizon. "What should we do, Ren?"

    Ren thought about it for a moment before responding. "We''ll give it a few more minutes. If we still can''t reach him, we''ll have to go look for them ourselves."

    Razorgrin shrugged, with an indifferent expression on his face. "Whatever you say, Ren. But mark my words, he''s probably just messing around or doing something he shouldn''t."

    Ren ignored Razorgrin''s words, "Stay alert, everyone. We need to be ready for anything."

    ....

    Alister felt a strange pull in his stomach, an unfamiliar sensation that made the monster remains around him seem oddly ptable.

    ''The hell?!''

    He shook his head, dismissing the idea. "I won''t eat a monster," he said to himself, trying to push the bizarre craving away.

    Just then, the system notified him:

    [Ding!! The devouring value of your dragons has reached 40%.]

    Alister was a bit surprised at how quickly it had increased. ''Forty percent already?'' he thought.

    ''I thought we just got here a couple moments ago?''

    ''So can I consider that as one hundred and sixty of my dragons eating their fill or all of them eating a quarter of their fill.''

    Before he could think further, he sensed a threat behind him. Spinning around, he saw a fairlyrge smander leaping at him.

    Alister prepared to counter, his ws glowing with golden mana. But before he could strike.

    KRAKOOM!

    Purple lightning rained down on the smander, electrocuting it mid-air. Dravennded with a thud beside Alister and swiftly devoured the fallen smander.

    Alister, watching in surprise, remarked, "I didn''t know you ate monsters."

    Draven looked up, slightly shocked, and responded, "Surely you jest? Are there living beings that do not consume something for substance?"

    Alister''s expression remained serious as he repeated, "I''m not joking, Draven. I didn''t know you, Cinder and Terra ate at all."

    Draven tilted his head, clearly puzzled. "But... Isn''t that part of the reason you took permission to leave the others? To find sustenance and grow stronger?"

    Alister sighed, rubbing his temples. "How have you been going on all this while without eating anything?"

    "We''ve been relying on your magic power."

    Alister frowned. "That doesn''t make much sense to me. Exin further."

    Draven hesitated, struggling to find the right words. "It''s...plicated my lord. Your presence and your magic... it sustains us, somehow. I believe Terra would be better at exining such things."

    Before Draven could speak further, the system echoed Alister''s thoughts.

    [Ding!! An overlord''s presence boosts and supports the growth of the dragon race.]

    Alister slowly understood. "So, my mana alone has been enough to sustain you and help you grow?"

    "Exactly, though actually eating something is far better." Draven confirmed.

    Alister nodded, then asked, "Why haven''t you asked to eat before now?"

    Draven looked slightly embarrassed. "I thought it was your silent decision to keep us relying on your magic power, since it seemed you had a lot of it."

    Alister chuckled softly. "Well, I suppose it makes sense now. But if you need to eat, don''t hesitate to let me know. I want you all to be at your best."

    Just as Alister was about to continue with his raid, an ominous system notification appeared:

    [Warning!! Twelve of your wyverns have died!]

    Alister''s eyes widened in shock.

    ''What?!''

    Before he could fully process the information, Terra''s voice echoed in his mind.

    ''My lord, a group of humans is approaching. They''ve already in twelve of our kin.''

    "A group is humans? A guild?" Alister mumbled in shock, his heart racing.

    ''Must be a raid team of another guild.''

    ''They must be really strong if they are able to end the lives of twelve wyverns...''

    ''And pretty skilled as well to be able to target monsters so high up in the sky.''

    Before he could think further, Alister then felt a strange spike in conflicting emotions.

    He was calm a moment ago, but then there out of nowhere came this...

    Anger, but from what he could tell... it wasn''t his. Suddenly, Cinder''s enraged voice roared in

    his thoughts.

    ''How... How dare they!''

    ''Mere humans killing our kin?''

    ''Such is a sin that cannot be forgiven!''

    ''Leave it to me my lord. I shall personally teach these humans a lesson they won''t forget. How

    dare theyy their hands on our people!''

    Alister heard these words in a familiar voice, yet the manner of speech was strange to him.

    Alister was about to call out to Cinder to avoid making contact with the humans, but just then, another system notification appeared:

    [Ding!! Quest received!

    Responsibility Of An Overlord: As one who will be the Overlord, your duty to your people should always take first priority!

    you must avenge the deaths of your people. Objective: punish the one responsible and avenge your kin.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Reward: Azure rock summoning conduit.

    Failure Penalty: all stats permanently drop by 100.]

    Alister''s eyes narrowed as he read the quest.

    ''This just gotplicated...''

    Alister''s eyes remained fixed on the quest notification as he muttered.

    "But this doesn''t look like a quest I can afford to fail."

    His voice echoed telepathically to Cinder, Draven and Terra, his expression serious.

    ''I need you three to return immediately. We can''t waste any more time.''

    Cinder, still seething with anger, paused while she spared in the ar towards where she could

    sense their fallen kin,

    ''But my lord, we should-''

    ''Are you talking back to me?'' Alister cut her off sharply.

    Cinder''s voice died in her throat, and she fell silent. Alister continued, his voice firm.

    ''I will not let our people die in vain. I''ll make sure to punish whoever is responsible, but I cannot do that if the three of you are here. You''ll give away my identity. Which could make thingsplicated when we go back to the city.''

    Terra and Draven nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. ''Understood my lord.'' as they did, their firms slowly dissolved into particles of light, returning to the mind space. ''U-understood... my lord.'' Cinder reluctantly said, her body now beginning to dissolve things

    in the air.

    Alister''s hands reached into his inventory, pulling out the Phantom Spade''s mask, then he wore it on, his voice suddenly got deeper.

    ''And Cinder, when this is all over, you and I will need to talk.''

    ''Un... understood, my lord.''

    "Good, now I will go and find out who exactly is the murderer." as he spoke he dropped the

    edge of his ck scarf, adjusting it slightly as his yellow eyes glowed brightly.

    ...

    Anya and her team moved cautiously across the rugged terrain, the air thick with the scent of sulfur and the low growls of the smanders.

    The sun was high up, casting long shadows over the rockyndscape. They were already in formation, with Ma in the air above, while Anya, and the others as they made their way across the treacherous ground.

    Ma hovered with her metal construct zipping through the air. She targeted wyverns with swords, her constructsunching, impaling them and sending them crashing, metallic shards that pierced the wyverns'' hide with explosive force.

    Each kill was met with a momentary flicker of satisfaction in her eyes as she adjusted her

    position for another strike.

    "Ma, keep those wyverns off us! We''re about to engage the smanders!" Anya called out,

    her voice barely audible over the roaring winds.

    Ma''s voice crackled through themunicator. "Got it, guild master. I''ve got the aerial

    threats covered."

    On the ground, Anya led the charge with her punches. Halzor, his massive gauntlets, smashed through smander ranks with explosive punches, each strike causing the ground to tremble. Nyra darted between the creatures, her des shing as she dispatched smanders by

    slitting their throats.

    Thorin''s focus was sharp as he parried a smander''s swipe with his bare hands. He watched

    as Halzor''s gauntlets crushed another smander, sending its remains skidding across the rocky surface.

    Nyra, moving like a shadow, struck at the important leg muscles in the spots of the creatures, immobilizing then ending them.

    "We''ve got to push through to the other side!" Anya shouted, rallying her team as they fought

    their way forward.

    Just

    as they were making progress, a roar echoed through the battlefield. Anya looked up to

    see a smander hurtling through the air, seemingly propelled from a distance.

    The creaturended with a thunderous crash, just inches from Anya, its massive body

    sprawling out before her.

    Anya''s eyes widened in surprise. "Who sent that our way?"

    Before she could process the situation, a voice cut through the chaos, calm and somewhat

    amused.

    "Well, this seems a bit... much. But oh well, I don''t have a choice now do I?"

    Anya turned towards the source of the voice, her gaze narrowing as she searched for the

    speaker in all the dust risen from the crash.

    Slowly... Two yellow eyes could be seen in the distance. And just then a masked figure

    emerged, all ck and wearing a strange ck mask. They then spoke up, their voice

    seemingly vibrating their surroundings.

    "Now tell me..."

    "Which one of you has been hunting wyverns?"

 Chapter 161: A Reason For Caution

    Chapter 161: A Reason For Caution

    ?

    Marcus and Elena, the livestreammentators, watched the scene unfold with confusion and a spark of curiosity.

    "Who is that?" Marcus eximed, his eyes widening. "I''ve never seen anyone like him before."

    Elena leaned closer to the screen, her expression equally puzzled. "He seems fairly strong, and he doesn''t look like he''s from any of the guilds."

    The livestream chat exploded with activity as viewers began to specte wildly about the mysterious figure.

    "Is that another raider?"

    "He''s definitely not from any of the guilds. If he was, he wouldn''t hide his face!"

    "Hoo! With the way things are going, he and the Berserkers will sh!"

    "No way, do you think that will really happen?"

    "I mean, he''se looking for trouble... right?"

    "He was talking about wyverns... is he angry that someone stole his kill?"

    "Could he be from some top-secret organization?"

    "Whoever he is, he''s cooked for sure."

    "He''s up against six SS ranks and one SSS rank. He won''t be surviving this."

    Marcus and Elena continued toment on the situation, trying to piece together what was happening.

    "This masked figure just took down a smander with ease, and they are supposed to be A- ss monsters," Marcus noted. "And those glowing yellow eyes... there''s something otherworldly about him."

    Elena nodded. "He might be as powerful as Guildmaster Anya, although I highly doubt it. But his appearance could change the entire dynamic of the Wastnd Disy Event."

    Back in the wastnds, Anya and her team remained on high alert, their focus now split between the smanders and the mysterious figure.

    Anya stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she addressed the masked figure with a cold gaze. She looked like she could snap his neck.

    "Who are you, and what do you want?"

    The masked figure''s eyes glowed brighter, and his voice vibrated the air.

    "Who am I...?"

    "I guess you can call me Spade..."

    "As for what I want, I''m sure I mentioned it earlier."

    "I''m looking for the one who''s been hunting down wyverns."

    Meanwhile, back at the White Comets, a certain silver-haired guild master was watching the livestream with a smile on his face. "Oh, Alister, what do you think you are up to?"

    Back to the livestream, the viewers could practically feel the tension in the air through their screens, and the livestream chat continued to buzz with excitement and spection.

    "This is insane!"

    "Whoever he is, he''s got nerves of steel to talk to Guildmaster Anya like that."

    "Do you think he''s here for revenge?"

    "Looks like things are about to get real interesting!"

    Marcus and Elena shared a nce, both understanding that whatever happened next would be major.

    The masked figure''s presence had introduced an unpredictable element into the event, and everyone was on the edge of their seats, waiting to see how it would unfold.

    Although Alister hade here toplete the quest so he could quickly return to his team, what he saw now made him realize things weren''t going to be easy.

    Alister had used the system to pull up Guildmaster Anya''s status window, waiting to have an idea of what he was up against. But what he saw now made his situation seem more grim, also leaving him with a lot of questions.

    ''I don''t understand... this doesn''t make any sense... this... how?''

    Sigh

    ''It''s just one thing after the other today...''

    Status Window

    Name: Anya Val Petrova

    Title(s): The Walking Cmity, Battle-Hungry Warrior, Relentless Hunter, Bloodthirsty Monster, The One Who Solves Problems with Force

    Rank: SSS

    Talent(skill): Draconic Rampage (SSS) (Bloodline blessing from #### the Second Overlord.) (Can only be revoked by the current Overlord.)

    Description: Strength, speed, endurance, and other stats continue to increase during dangerous situations. However, they revert to normal levels when the threats have been eliminated. It was a blessing granted to a tribe of humans that once worshiped ####, it was his way of rewarding their loyalty as they agreed toe under him as his vassals.

    It is hereditary and can be passed down, though only the females of the bloodline can inherit

    it.

    The blessing activates both by will or involuntarily, either in a battle situation or if the wielder feels threatened.

    Base Stats:

    - Strength: 20,000

    - Agility: 18,000

    - Intelligence: 14,000

    - Endurance: 16,000

    - Dexterity: 15,000

    - Mana: 5,497/6,000

    Total Base Stats: 89,000 Grading (SSS+)

    Special Note:

    - Bloodthirsty: Due to the effects of the blessing, the women of this bloodline are highly violent, battle-hungry, and quick to violence and as such only follow leaders stronger than

    them.

    - Warrior me: Due to their battle-craving violent nature, they have developed eyes that are able to see just how strong an opponent is as mes in or around their bodies. Though this is partly due to their blessing.

    - Bloodline Loyalty: The Overlord had the authority tomand obedience from this bloodline unless the blessing was revoked. (The yer has not met the conditions to activate

    this.)

    Warning! The target possesses far greater stats than the yer,bat is ill-advised.

    ''A vassal of the Overlord... Meaning her ancestors are not from this world.''

    ''The descent of the apocalypse must have also brought them here...''

    Anya cracked her knuckles snapping Alister out if his train of thought, her lips curling into an excited yet cold smile. "Why does it concern you that we''ve been hunting wyverns?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The masked figure, Spade, took a step forward. "Because I am the one who summoned some of these wyverns. They are my familiars, my family. And I am here to get back at whoever

    killed them."

    Anya chuckled loudly, she didn''t believe him. "Do you really expect me to believe that? A summoner possessing more than ten monsters? That''s unheard of."

    "Even if you were, which is obviously a lie, how are you so strong then?" She nced at therge smander that had crashed earlier as she continued talking, "As experienced as I am, I can tell... you sent this monster flying with a single punch, ending it with a single move. And it''s an A-rank monster."

    "With all that, you certainly aren''t a summoner, and besides that..."

    Her red eyes seemed to focus a bit further, her eyesnding on a raging golden inferno around

    him. She narrowed her eyes because she couldn''t help but feel she had seen a simr color before. But the difference in size was too much, so she decided to push some suspicions aside.

    She then said, "You are stronge... Really, really strong."

    Marcus and Elena, still following the events over the livestream, were equally skeptical about

    his ims.

    "Did he just say he''s a summoner with more than ten summons?" Marcus asked, astonished.

    Elena nodded, her eyes wide. "That''s incredible. Even the strongest summoner we know, Alister, only has three summons currently. Although the currently known highest amount of summons a summoner can possess is ten, it was a feat aplished by Ele Elis, who was a C- ranked summoner. Have we entered an era where overpowered summoners pop out left and

    right?"

    The livestream chat continued to buzz with shock and excitement.

    "Who is this guy?"

    "Could he be even stronger than Alister?"

    "This changes everything!"

    Spade held his ground. "Believe what you will, but I will not stand by while my precious

    family is hunted down. I do not wish for mindless conflict. So hand over the one responsible,

    then I shall take my leave."

    Anya smiled widely beneath her mask and readied herself for a fight.

    "If you want revenge, you''ll have to go through me."

    ...

    "This is going to be one for the history books," Marcus said, unable to hide his excitement.

    Elena nodded. "Whatever happens next, it''s clear that the Wastnd Disy Event just got a lot more interesting."

 Chapter 162: Clash

    Chapter 162: sh

    ?

    Anya cracked her knuckles, rolling her shoulders as she stepped forward, a confident grin on her face.

    "Everyone, stand back, I''ll handle him alone."

    Some of her guild members exchanged nces, but eventually, they all replied, "Understood, Guild Master."

    Ignoring the voices behind her, Anya kept her eyes locked on Spade, who stood motionless. She took a deep breath and began to approach him. She then slowly began to pick up her pace, her grin remained on her face, the thought of fighting a strong opponent excited her.

    Just then Spade narrowed his glowing yellow eyes. He then raised his hand, his ws emerging slightly and glowing with his golden mana, as he pointed a single finger to the floor and then waved.

    "Void Rend."

    His hand red up with his crest, far brighter than before as he put in more mana than he used earlier.

    BOOM!

    Suddenly, the ground beneath him shattered. A massive w-like mark carved itself into the earth, the force of it sending dust and debris swirling into the air, pausing Anya in her tracks. The sheer power of the attack left everyone in silence, their eyes wide with shock.

    Marcus and Elena, watching the livestream, were just as taken by surprise.

    "W-what was that?" Marcus asked, leaning forward in his seat. "Did he just split the ground with a single gesture?"

    Elena shook her head, her expression mirroring his astonishment. "That''s not something you see every day. I thought he said he was a summoner? Isn''t that like the power of an earth elementalist? Then, how did he do that? Who is this guy?"

    As the dust settled, Anya found herself standing at the edge of the newly formed small chasm. She looked down at the deep, jagged wound in the earth and then back up at Spade, her smile widening.

    Spade spoke up again, his tone cold, "As I just said, I''m not looking for unnecessary conflict... just hand-"

    "Cut the crap, that was impressive but don''t get cocky."

    Suddenly, Anya''s figure seemed to blur, making Spade''s eyes widen in shock.

    The next instant, she was directly in front of him, her left arm pulled back for a punch. ''She''s fast!''

    Anya threw a punch, her fist flying towards Spade with incredible speed. Spade managed to raise his arms to block it...

    BOOM!

    But the force of the punch was so powerful it sent him flying. The impact created a massive boom, shattering the surrounding earth and sending debris in all directions. Spade''s body hurtled through the air, crashing into the ground several meters away.

    Marcus and Elena, watching the livestream, were in shock.

    "Did you see that?" Marcus eximed, his voice full of awe. "Anya just sent him flying with one punch!"

    Elena nodded, equally stunned. "The sheer power behind that punch... it''s incredible. She''s not called the ''Walking Cmity'' for nothing."

    The live chat exploded withments, the viewers reacting wildly to the scene unfolding before them.

    "No way! That punch was insane!"

    "Anya is a beast! No one can stand up to her!"

    "Did she just shatter the ground with the shockwaves from the hit?"

    "Spade''s in trouble now. Anya''s not someone you mess with."

    Anya turned to face her team, her expression serious.

    "I''ll be right back."

    "Continue the raid without me. I''ve got to go teach that moron a lesson."

    Her expression suddenly turned intense, her red eyes glowing brightly, "No one messes with the Berserkers."

    Her team members nodded, "Understood, Guild Master," they replied together.

    "Good, don''t disappoint me now, we have an event to win."

    With a final nce at her team, Anya turned her attention back to Spade, who was getting back on his feet. She cracked her knuckles, her grin returning as she prepared to continue the

    fight.

    "Let''s see if you can handle this, oh Mr. Summoner!" she yelled, leaping forward with a massive burst of speed that caused the earth to buckle beneath her feet.

    As Spade slowly rose to his feet, he noticed the armor covering his arm was shattering, and a huge blister had formed on the arm he used to block the punch. He mumbled to himself, "This is bad. I''m lucky my body is stronger now; otherwise, that would have broken both of my

    arms."

    He sighed and thought, ''Things shouldn''t have gone this way, but as always... i don''t have a choice.''

    Spade then immediately activated Draconic Rage: First Gate. He could feel his stats elevating, the power of his general''s abilities flowing into his body.

    As he stood up, his eyesnded on a figure floating in the sky. He couldn''t help but let out a

    sigh.

    ''So, she''s the one responsible.''

    ''I''ll have to deal with her so I can get this over with.''

    Before he could do anything, he suddenly heard Anya''s voice. "Keep your eyes on your

    opponent!"

    Spade barely had time to react as Anya''s fist aimed directly at his chest. He quickly crossed his arms in front of him to brace for impact.

    Her punch connected with a deafening boom, sending shockwaves through the air and creating a crater beneath them.

    The force pushed Spade back several feet, his boots digging deep into the ground as he struggled to maintain his footing.

    "Ho? You''re smart," Anya admitted, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "You shifted your weight to reduce the intensity of the punch. But you''re going to need more than just brains to

    beat me."

    Spade gritted his teeth, feeling the surge of his stats from Draconic Rage fortifying his body, his eyes glowing brightly.

    "I didn''te here to fight you, Anya," he said in a sharp, cold tone despite the pain coursing through his arms. Slowly he lifted his eyes to look at her, his gaze bing more focused and

    reptilian.

    "But if you insist, then I''ll humor you."

    With a swift motion, lightning crackled beneath him, his eyes glowing. He was channeling Darven''s power. Lunging forward with sudden speed, he aimed a powerful punch at Anya. She met his strike head-on with a grin. Their fists collided, creating a blinding sh of light and a shockwave that rippled through the wastnds, sending surrounding smanders

    flying.

    The two fighters began to exchange a series of punches. Spade''s right hook was met by Anya''s left forearm block. She countered with an uppercut, which he narrowly dodged by tilting his head to the side. He retaliated with a straight punch, but Anya deflected it with her palm, redirecting the force harmlessly to the side.

    The gusts of wind created from their sheer movements shattered the earth beneath them,

    creating massive creaters.

    ...

    Marcus and Elena could barely keep up with the action. "This is unbelievable!" Marcus shouted. "They''re evenly matched, blow for blow!"

    Elena nodded, her eyes glued to the screen. "This fight is going to be one for the history

    books. Neither of them is backing down!"

    In the live chat, viewers were losing their minds.

    "Anya is raging out there!"

    "Spade''s power is off the charts, why isn''t he summoning anything though?"

    "What would be the point? This is a fist brawl!"

    "This is intense! Look at them go!"

    ...

    Anya smirked. "Not bad, Spade. You might just make this interesting."

    Spade narrowed his eyes, his golden aura ring brighter.

    "I''m just getting started."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Anyaunched herself at Spade, delivering a series of rapid punches. Spade managed to block most of them, but the sheer speed and force of her attacks kept him on the defensive. Her fists were a blur as she aimed at his face, torso, and legs. Spade deflected a punch aimed at his head with his forearm, not wanting his mask to get dented, but Anya immediately followed up with a knee to his midsection, kicking the air out of his lungs. He twisted his body to absorb the blow, grunting in pain but staying upright.

    "You''re tough, I''ll give you that," Anya said between strikes. "But can you handle this?"

 Chapter 163: Pressure From An Overlord

    Chapter 163: Pressure From An Overlord

    ?

    With a burst of speed, Anya moved behind Spade and aimed a powerful kick at his back. Spade twisted just in time to block it with his arm, but the force of the blow sent him skidding across the ground covering his equipment with dirt and billowing dust into the air. He regained his bnce, panting slightly, his eyes locked onto Anya.

    ''This isn''t going to work...'' He gritted his teeth, feeling the strain on his body.

    Just then, he focused his energy and activated Void Rend. His hands glowed with his golden

    mana.

    With a swift motion, he shed the air, sending a wave of void energy towards Anya. She barely managed to dodge, the attack grazing her shoulder tearing her armor and tearing through thendscape behind her, leaving a deep scar on the earth.

    Anya''s eyes widened as she examined the cut on her shoulder. "Impressive. But It''s going to be pointless as long as I don''t let there be any distance between us."

    She lunged at Spade again. She delivered a spinning kick aimed at his head. Spade ducked just in time, feeling the wind from her kick ruffle his hair.

    He countered with an upward punch aimed at her torso, but Anya twisted mid-air, avoiding the strike andnding gracefully a few feet away.

    Spade quickly shifted tactics, stomping his foot on the ground and causing a series of earth spikes to erupt in Anya''s path. She dodged and weaved through them like a wild beast, her agility seemed to keep increasing.

    She closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, her fist connecting with Spade''s chest. Blood spattered from his mouth as he staggered back, managing to stay on his feet.

    [Blood maniption activated!]

    [Blood healing activated!]

    "You''re persistent," Anya said, her tone almost admiring. "But I''m not done yet."

    Spade summoned more earth spikes, trying to limit her movements, but Anya smashed through them with sheer brute force.

    She lunged at him, her punchesing faster and harder. Spade blocked and parried as best as he could, but her relentless assault was beginning to overwhelm him.

    His arms ached from the impacts, and blood trickled from multiple cuts on his body.

    [Blood maniption activated.]

    [Blood healing activated.]

    In a desperate move, Spade activated Void Rend again, his hands glowing with golden mana.

    He shed the air, creating a vortex of void energy that spiraled towards Anya. She dodged to the side, but the vortex caught her arm, leaving a deep gash. She hissed in pain but didn''t slow down.

    With a roar, Anyaunched herself at Spade. She delivered a series of rapid punches to his midsection, each blow feeling like a sledgehammer.

    Spade tried to counter, but his movements were slowing, or at least Anya was getting faster. Anya''s fists were relentless, her strikes were spot on and more powerful. She finished with a devastating uppercut that sent Spade flying backward, blood spraying from his mouth trapped in his mask.

    Hended hard, skidding across the ground and struggling to rise. Anya approached him, her mana ring brightly around her body.

    "Congrattions, Spade," Anya said with a grin, "You are actually the first person apart from that old man who hassted more than two minutes. I''m impressed." As she spoke, her red mana surged around her body, making her aura even more intimidating. It was obvious her talent was still making her stronger.

    ''I can''t let our fight drag on; if it does, I''ll be at a serious disadvantage.''

    Just then the system shed a notification in front of Spade''s face, causing him to smile slightly.

    ...

    [Notice! Synergic effect found! Skill: Berserk (S) can improve skill: Draconic Rage (S).]

    Spade''s thoughts raced, ''I see, Draconic Rage uses my anger to give me strength, so activating it when I''m not seriously in an angerd state will not make it as strong as it should be. But the skill Berserk directly raises my strength by making me forcefully enter an angerd state.''

    ''So that means, Berserk can maximise the effects of Draconic Rage.''

    Spade slowly rose to his feet, his gaze sharp as he spoke, "The ability you possess is truly enviable, to be able to grow limitlessly stronger as a battle progresses. I now see why you are always so confident and always give off this... suffocating aura."

    Anya narrowed her eyes, suspicion creeping into her expression. "How did you find out what my ability-"

    "Activate Berserk."

    Spade cut her off. In that instant, the yellow glow in his eyes turned bright red, and his mana crackled around him in the form of red lightning. The air around him vibrated with raw power.

    ...

    Marcus and Elena, watching the livestream, were amazed. "Is... Spade now controlling lightning?" Elena asked, her curiosity piqued. Turning to Marcus she asked, "I don''t understand Marcus... Have you ever heard of or seen someone who possessed two talents?"

    Marcus shook his head. "No, not unless the person is... Some kind of monster."

    ...

    The system''s voice echoed in Spade''s head, notifying him of his skill activation:

    [Berserk skill activated. A strange synergy has urred between Draconic Rage and Berserk.

    The effects of Draconic Rage have temporarily risen to SSS. All stats +300%.]

    [Any sessful kill in this state will now raise the yer''s stats by 30%.] [Warning: Due to the nature of the skill and its focus on anger by feeding on negative memories, Usage will have adverse effects on the yer''s personality.]

    [Due to this fact, a limit has been ced on the skill''s activation duration: 00:30:00.]N?v(el)B\\jnn

    [Deactivation will also oure when activation is unnecessary or the yer is not in a dangerous situation.]

    Spade felt an overwhelming surge of power, his muscles bulging and his senses sharpening, and for a moment there was a flicker of a crest in his eyes.

    The ground beneath his feet cracked and splintered from the sheer intensity of his aura as lightning arcked outward from his body, leaving intense scorch marks on the earth around hin. His breaths came out in heavy bursts, each exhale nearly sounded like a growl.

    Anya took a massive leap back, a look of surprise in her eyes, although she wasn''t one to admit weakness, but she could very well tell the something unsettling was happening to the

    man before her.

    The aure he gave off became suffocating, and it sent a chill down her spine. But yet she couldn''t help but smile.

    "So, you had a trump card after all. Alright! Seems things are about to get fun-"

    "You are getting in my way, and I''m starting to find it very irritating. Anya." Spade suddenly

    spoke up, his voice cold and menacing,

    Anya, visibly irritated, snapped back, "What?"

    Before a moment could pass, Spade seemed to disappear and reappear before her.

    The earth where he stood suddenly shattered, forming a huge crater. He had moved so fast that he had already reached his destination before the ground had time to register his

    movement.

    Anya''s eyes widened in shock. She attempted to throw another punch, but Spade caught her fist mid-air, shocking her. She noticed his hand felt strange, like it was somewhat rocky, and her eyesnded on what seemed to be his arm covered in scales.

    Besides that, she couldn''t help but feel weaker. Her strength seemed to be sapped by his

    overwhelming presence.

    [Notice! Due to the effect of Mana Distortion Aura, the yer''s touch and mana have

    temporarily deactivated all abilities in surrounding targets.]

    "And that is no way to speak in the presence of the Overlord."

    "It seems you need to be taught proper manners."

    Spade spoke, his voice filled with authority. Both of their crimzon gazes locked but Spade''s

    seemed more intense, crackling with red lightning.

    ''W-what is this aura... I can''t use my talent, and I can''t pull my hand out if his grasp.''

    ''This aura... It feels... It feels like that of the Union president!''

    His other hand suddenly fell on her shoulder, and out of nowhere, he said, "First of all,

    Kneel."

 Chapter 164: Overlord Against The Berserkers

    Chapter 164: Overlord Against The Berserkers

    ?

    Red lightning raged from his palm into her body, weakening her. He then applied pressure to her shoulder and forced her to her knees, her kneecaps mming into the ground with a

    massive...

    BOOM!

    Creating a small crater and causing the protective armor there to shatter. In that moment, everything fellpletely silent. In the wastnds and even on the live stream, no chats wereing; everyone and everything witnessing this moment seemed to have their jaws

    dropped, all paused, all shaken by what they just witnessed.

    Anya was on her knees. The guild master of the strongest guild was kneeling before a masked man, and it didn''t look like she would be getting back up any time soon.

    She couldn''t muster the strength to resist his push. Now, she found herself on her knees as he looked down on her with a look of disgust in his eyes.

    The way he did it so calmly, as if it were second nature to him, sent shivers down her spine, causing her eyes to widen with shock.

    Suddenly, she stopped trying, her gaze falling as she dropped her head down as if downcast, her hair causing the upper half of her face to be darkened.

    Spade had made it clear that he was no longer holding back.

    Finally, Marcus broke the silence, "Um... Correct me if my eyes deceive me but... Was guild master Anya... Just made to..."

    "Kneel?"

    The live chat erupted once more.

    "This is insane! Spade just overpowered guild master Anyapletely!"

    "Did you see how fast he moved? Unbelievable! He literally vanished!"

    "Do you guys think he''s going to kill her?"

    "Isn''t this bad?"

    "If Lady Anya is SSS rank, what rank does that make him since he defeated her?"

    "Guild master Anya looks so shocked! I''ve never seen her like this!"

    Marcus and Elena were equally stunned. Marcus could barely contain his excitement. "This suddenly became so one-sided. Spade is showing his true power, and guild master Anya doesn''t look like she can fight back! This is beyond anything we''ve seen before!"

    Elena nodded, her eyes wide with shock.

    "He can''t be a random nobody; he has to be some big shot to be able to bring her to her knees like that. Talk about the humiliation! Anya might be in real trouble here."

    Spade tightened his grip on Anya''s shoulder, his red lightning crackling menacingly around them.

    "Remember this moment, Anya. This is what true power looks like. Now, for your next lesson, stay put, and don''t interfere."

    "An overlord''s orders are absolute. Do you understand?"

    With that, Spade slowly removed his hand from her shoulder and walked past her. As he did, she remained there, not standing up, which surprised everyone who witnessed this, wondering if she was really going to listen to his orders.

    [Ding!! The yer has obtained a title!]

    [Title: The One Who Forced His Will On Others.]

    [Title effect: the effects of ''Fear'' while Draconic Rage is activated increases by 50%, and when the skill isn''t active, people tend to take your words more seriously.]

    The live chat was in shock.

    "Is guild master Anya really staying down?"

    "This is unreal. She''s just kneeling there!"

    "Is the guild master of the Berserker Guild really going to listen to some random guy''s orders?"

    Spade then turned his gaze towards the sky where Ma hovered, causing her to visibly shiver. He then said,

    "It''s time to get this over with."

    Ma''s eyes widened in fear. Spade then said, "Come down calmly, I''ll make this quick."

    His directness surprised her. "Y-you''re crazy! Who do you think you are? Did you really expect me to listen to you?"

    "Hmm, another one in need of discipline it seems," Spade said, as red lightning began crackling violently around his body.

    ''Now... How do I get her down from there?''

    As Spade thought about how to deal with Ma, he sensed movement behind him.

    Anya''s remaining team members were rushing in to save their Guild Master. Leading the charge was Halzor, his gauntlets glowing with intense mana.

    "Get away from her!" Halzor roared, leaping into the air with a powerful jump, aiming a crushing blow at Spade.

    Spade turned, his eyes narrowing. He effortlessly sidestepped Halzor''s attack, causing the ground to crack where Halzor''s fistnded.

    Without missing a beat, Spade countered with a swift punch to Halzor''s abdomen, sending him skidding backward.

    Halzor gritted his teeth, pushing himself up. "You''re not getting away with this!"

    Spade''s expression remained cold. "You should have stayed out of this."

    Thorin and Grimm rushed in next. Thorin''s fists crackled with mana as he charged, while Grimm used his earth maniption to create a barrier, hoping to trap Spade.

    Thorin swung a mana-infused punch at Spade, who caught it with one hand, his grip tightening, breaking the bones. He then twisted Thorin''s arm, intensifying the pain and forcing him to his knees before delivering a massive knee strike to Thorin''s chest, causing him to cough up blood as he was sent flying back.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Grimm''s barrier closed in, but Spade''s eyes glowed with his red mana. He activated Void Rend, shing through the stone barrier effortlessly. Grimm barely had time to react as Spade''s void energy cut through his defenses, shing off four fingers from his right hand because he wasn''t able to move away in time, knocking him to the ground as he screamed in

    pain.

    "Pathetic," Spade said, turning his attention back to Ma. He needed to find a way to bring her down from the sky.

    Meanwhile, Ma had been preparing her metal constructs, ready tounch an attack from above. She sent a barrage of sharp metal projectiles towards Spade, hoping to pin him down.

    Spade raised his hand, summoning a barrier of earth to deflect the iing attacks. The metal projectiles nged against the stone shield, but some managed to cut through, grazing Spade''s arms, tearing his clothing, and revealing some white and ck scales.

    Nyra, moving stealthily, attempted to get behind Spade for a surprise attack. Her daggers gleamed as she aimed for his vital points.

    Spade sensed her presence just in time, twisting his body to avoid her strike. He grabbed her wrist, twisting then breaking it, forcing her to drop her weapon.

    "You should have known better," Spade said, proceeding to send her flying with a kick to her

    midsection.

    Spade looked at the fallen members of Anya''s team and then up at Ma.

    "Your turn."

    "Void Rend."

 Chapter 165: From Chaos To Command

    Chapter 165: From Chaos To Command

    ?

    Anya''s thoughts raced...

    ''W-what is this strange sensation? Why couldn''t I look him in the eye?''

    ''This feeling in my heart... It''s strange and unnerving.''

    ''I feel humiliated, but there''s something else I can''t quite ce.''

    ''Stop this! I need to snap out of this; I have an event to win, and my team needs me.''

    She slowly raised her head, and the first thing her gazended on was Spade holding a

    roughed-up Ma by the hair; she had blisters and cuts all over. The sight made her heart sink further, but it also sparked a fire within her.

    Spade noticed Anya looking at him. He looked back at her, his eyes cold.

    "I''m done here."

    He said, flinging Ma to Anya''s side. Ma coughed up blood as she hit the ground.

    Spade then turned around and began to walk away. Slowly, his body began to fade as if he were turning invisible.

    In the next instant, a massive boom could be heard, as if something made a major leap. With that, Spade was gone.

    ...

    Marcus and Elena,menting over the livestream, were shocked by how things had yed out.

    Marcus, barely able to contain his shock, eximed, "Did you all see that? Spade just wiped the floor with the Berserkers! And he surprisingly didn''t even kill any of them!"

    Elena nodded, her eyes wide. "It''s unbelievable. Who is this guy? To take down Anya ''and'' her team like that and then just disappear... I''ve never seen anything like it!"

    "Did he really do all this just because of some wyverns?"

    The livestream chat exploded withments:

    "Who the heck is this Spade guy?!"

    "Did you see how he handled them? Insane!"

    "I thought Anya was unbeatable! What just happened?!"

    "He''s got to be some kind of legend or something."

    "Is it just me, or does he look like he''s done this before?"

    Ivy rushed over to the side of her teammates, her hands glowing with healing talent. "Hang in there, everyone. I''ll get you back on your feet."

    Halzor groaned, clutching his side. "Ivy, focus on Ma first. She''s hurt bad."

    Ivy nodded, moving to Ma. "Ma, stay with me. You''re going to be okay."

    Ma coughed, wincing in pain. "I''m not... He was so... Ivy."

    As Ivy worked, Anya gritted her teeth, slowly rising to her feet. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions: anger, confusion, and a burning desire to meet him again. She clenched her fists, her gaze hardening as she looked in the direction Spade had disappeared.

    "Spade," she said under her breath, "I''ve seen your aura. So if I ever encounter you without your mask, I will definitely kill you."

    ...

    [Notice! Berserk Deactivated!]

    [Notice! Draconic Rage''s Rank has Dropped to S!]

    [Draconic Rage deactivated!]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    [Congrattions to the yer forpleting the quest!]

    [The yer has now obtained the Reward: Azure Rock Summoning Conduit!]

    Now at a considerable distance away from them, Alister suddenly took off his mask, revealing his face.

    As the effects of Draconic Rage and Berserk left him, his feet suddenly fell to the floor. The soreness spread through his entire body, a harsh reminder of the toll using these powerful skills had on him, and the sharp pain and dullness he could feel in his head he could only deduce was the effect of the Berserk skill. He winced, taking a moment to catch his breath. "Cinder, Darven, Terra," he called out, his voice echoing through the wastnd. "Come out." In response, three rifts materialized and his dragons stepped out from the shadows, surrounding him.

    Cinder approached first, clearly concerned. "My lord, are you alright? You look exhausted." Alister nodded, a slight smile on his lips. "I''ll be fine, Cinder. Just... feeling the aftereffects."

    Darven lowered his head to speak. "You were absolutely radiating back there, my lord; it was a sight I was d to witness."

    Cinder''s eyes lit up with a touch of excitement. "Indeed, my lord. You showed them your power. They won''t forget this."

    Terra stepped closer, her expression calm and thoughtful. "You seeded in your mission, but you need to rest. And again, what was that aura you had around you, my lord?"

    "Even with my eyes, I couldn''t tell what it was, but I was certain it was sinister and I would advise against the use of it."

    Alister sighed, leaning against a nearby rock. "I know, but the circumstances left me no choice. Let''s forget that; we should immediately head back to Ren and the others."

    ...

    Alister then re-equipped his battle suit, feeling its systemse to life as it adjusted to his

    body.

    "Cinder."

    "Lower your head."

    Cinderplied immediately, her massive head descending to the ground. Alister climbed up with ease, settling into a secure position atop her head.

    "Alright, let''s head back."

    Cinder spread her enormous wings, the air around them rippling with her powerful aura. With a mighty leap, she took to the skies, her wings beating as they ascended. Terra and Darven followed close behind.

    ...

    Ren sat in the van, his fingers drumming anxiously on the dashboard as the engine idled. The rest of the team, including Hiroshi, Kaida, and Razorgrin, were scattered. The silence was tense, broken only by the asional rustling of equipment or a frustrated sigh.

    Ren nced at the van''smunication console. "Come on, Alister. Pick up," he said, hitting the call button again, his patience wearing thin.

    Finally, the line connected. "Alister, where are you?" Ren yelled.

    There was a moment of static before Alister''s voice came through, calm yet firm. "I''m close

    by; I''ll be with you any moment now."

    Ren blinked, confusion and frustration mingling on his face. "What do you mean, any moment? We need you here, now. You said this wouldn''t take long. Where are you?"

    Before Ren could get a response, a massive boom echoed through the air, shaking the ground beneath the van.

    The team exchanged rmed nces as they quickly opened the doors and stepped outside.

    As they emerged, they were met with the dazzling sight of Alister''s massive dragons. Their powerful wings stirred up dust and debris as theynded, their immense bodies casting long shadows over the van and the surrounding area.

    Alister stood atop Cinder, his battle suit gleaming in the sunlight. He looked down at Ren and the others and said, "Sorry for the dy, Captain."

    "There were some minor...plications. But I''m back now, and we''re ready to move

    forward."

    Ren''s frustration melted away, and he couldn''t help but sigh. He nodded. "d to have you

    back, Alister. Let''s get back to our mission."

 Chapter 195: A Forgotten Order

    Chapter 195: A Forgotten Order

    ?

    Mar''Garet froze mid-step, her eyes narrowing dangerously. Slowly, she turned her head to face him, her crimson gaze locking onto his. "What did you just say?" Her voice was low, filled with barely contained fury.

    Alister took a step forward, his expression calm but his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Your lord''sst order. Myst order. What was it?"

    Mar''Garet''s grip tightened on her spear, her anger ring. "You''re not only impersonating him, but now you dare to im I''m not following his orders?"

    "That''s it! I won''t tolerate this any longer!" She whirled around, her spear raised, ready to strike.

    But in an instant, before she could act, Alister moved, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. His smile widened, taunting. "Oh? You really can''t remember your lord''sst order? I''m just asking a simple question. No need to get so hot-blooded, Mar''Garet. You just need to answer, that''s all."

    Her eyes burned with rage as she yelled, "My lord asked me to protect his people and his throne-"

    "That''s incorrect," Alister interrupted, his voice cool and steady. His smile only deepened.

    Mar''Garet recoiled, disbelief and fury shing in her expression. "What!" Her voice trembled with anger, and she braced herself to retaliate, but Alister''s next words stopped her cold.

    "Myst order to you, Mar''Garet," he said softly, stepping even closer, "was for you to smile. Remember?"

    For a moment, silence hung between them. The weight of his words cut through her rage, and Mar''Garet''s eyes widened in realization. The memories surged back-her lord''s final words, spoken with a warmth she had long buried.

    "I am the strongest, I am the Overlord! I''ll definitely return victorious," he said with a confident smile spreading across his draconic features.

    Hisughter and confidence seemed to dissolve some of the fear within her. She nodded, a small smile on her lips.

    "I will guard our people and your throne, my lord."

    "And be sure to smile while you do."

    "... Yes, I''ll make sure I do, my lord," she reluctantly said, managing a small smile. "And I''ll be waiting for your return."

    Alister watched as the recognition flickered across her face, his smile still in ce, but it eased up slightly.

    Mar''Garet''s expression faltered, her fiery demeanor suddenly downcast. Her confident stance weakened, as if Alister''s words had reached deep into her guarded heart.

    Alister wondered in his thoughts,

    ''Was that all it took?''

    Had his mention of those final words truly broken through her defenses so easily?

    But suddenly, a shift in the air alerted him. Mar''Garet''s hand tightened around her spear, and in an instant, she swung it in a wide arc. Alister seemed to vanish from where he stood, his form flickering as the spear sliced clean through his afterimage. He reappeared effortlessly beside Alzuring, his calm, amused expression still in ce.

    "Trying to strike your lord when his guard was down?"

    "I know you''ve always been desperate for a win against me, but you can''t use underhanded methods like that."

    Mar''Garet remained silent, her eyes sharp with a look of defiance and uncertainty. Slowly, she began walking toward him, her armored boots echoing in the space.

    With each step, she moved further from the summoning doors. As if responding to her decision, the massive doors behind her began to close, sealing shut with a low rumble.

    Watching this, Alister''s gaze darkened slightly. "Should I take that as your decision to stay?"

    Mar''Garet halted, her spear now held loosely at her side. Her voice was harsh, though there was an undeniable tremor beneath it.

    "I don''t know who you are, but many people were there the day my lord and his generals went out to battle. You must have heard those words from someone."

    Despite her defiant tone, Alister could sense the deeper pain behind her words. He could see it now-Mar''Garet had waited for him, clinging to the hope that her lord would return. She must have seen signs, small glimpses that reignited her faith, only for disappointment to crush it each time.

    And so, she decided to wait, not allowing hope to consume her with regret, but never fully abandoning the chance of his return. It was the only way she could endure the endless void of time, surviving on the thin thread of hope while refusing to let it rule her.

    Alister''s expression softened, understanding the struggle within her. "What are the chances of that happening?" he replied, his voice now more somber.

    "Many of our people died that day. Those who ran away wouldn''t bother passing such words to their children. What would be the point?"

    His words struck a chord, and for a moment, Mar''Garet''s gaze softened, if only for a moment. She remained still, her grip on her spear tightening as she wrestled with the emotions surging through her.

    Mar''Garet''s eyes narrowed as she studied him carefully. "What happened to your hair?" she asked slowly, her voice filled with disbelief. "It''s short... and ck now. Your face... your aura... you even look younger. How can you exin all that? What happened to you?" Alister let out a deep sigh, as if the question weighed on him. "In all honesty, I''m not certain. I''ve lived all my life as Alister Hazenworth, and it''s only recently that I''ve started to recall memories of a past life that seemed to belong to me. I guess you could say I got another life somehow."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    At his words, both Alzuring and Mar'' Garet''s eyes widened in shock. They yelled together, "Reincarnation?!"

    Alister shrugged awkwardly at their intensity. "I guess so."

    Alzuring''s expression shifted from shock to fascination. "Fascinating," the dragon rumbled. "Rebirth is a concept known to the members of the dragon ns, believed to be an ability of the celestials. There has always been a huge debate on whether the dragon godprehended it, and that if he were to appear again, the dragon race would surely thrive. Could it be that the young lordprehended such an ability before your death?"

    Alister paused, unsure how to respond. He had no memory of mastering or even hearing about such an ability, but Alzuring''s words lingered.

    Could that really be the exnation? It seemed to be the most usible reason for why he had memories of a life he hadn''t led yet felt deeply familiar.

    But deep down, although he had never voiced it aloud, Alister believed it might be connected

    to the system that governed his abilities.

    Still, he chose his next words carefully. "Perhaps. I have no memory of mastering such a

    power, but maybe that was the case. It''s one possibility, after all..." He trailed off, ncing at Mar''Garet, her expression still guarded but less aggressive now.

    "Regardless of how I''m here, the memories remain," he said. "And those memories connect

    me to the life I once led."

    Alister let a small smirk creep across his face, his eyes locking with Mar''Garet''s. "So, is that enough for my rebellious disciple to recognize her lord?"

    Mar''Garet paused, her expression going nk. The silence between them stretched, the

    tension thick in the air.

    Without warning, Mar''Garet swung her spear in a wide arc, slicing through the space in front of her. To Alister''s surprise, a dark rift appeared, swirling ominously. He tensed, ready to react, as she calmly reached her left hand into the rift. The air crackled with energy as her hand emerged, gripping a second spear, its ck and silver surface gleaming with mana.

    Her voice was steady, but there was a fierce look in her eyes.

    "What you''ve said may be true, but it could just as easily be a lie," she stated, her gaze sharp as the tip of her spear. "The only way I''ll believe you is if you can beat me in a spar."

 Chapter 167: The Perfect Plan

    Chapter 167: The Perfect n

    ?

    Rex, Jin, and Mira moved as fast as they could through the deste wastnd, their footsteps barely making a sound on the soft, sandy ground.

    Rex carried the signal jammer carefully in his arms. His eyes looked around the horizon for any signs of monster movement as he led the way.

    Jin moved with the aura of a predator, his sniper rifle slung over his shoulder as he kept watch for any threats. Mira, the smallest of the trio, followed closely behind as she clutched a small, portable control unit.

    "Alright," Rex whispered,ing to a halt near a rocky outcropping. "This should be a good spot. We''ll nt the jammer here and make sure it''s well-hidden."

    Jin nodded, crouching down beside him. "I''ll keep an eye out for any unwanted visitors," he said, his eyes already scanning the surroundings through the scope of his rifle.

    Mira gave a sharp nod, then Rex carefully set the signal jammer on the ground, and Mira quickly went to work, covering it with sand and rocks until it was nearly invisible.

    "How''s it looking?" Rex asked, ncing over at Jin.

    "All clear so far."

    "Good," Rex said, turning his attention back to Mira. "Let''s make sure it''s ready to activate once the White Comets are in the area."

    Mira pressed a few buttons on the control unit, and the signal jammer''s light flickered momentarily before settling into a standby mode, ready to be activated at a moment''s notice.

    "Perfect," Mira said, a satisfied smile on her lips. "Now let''s get out of here before any drones get close."

    The trio quickly and quietly retreated from the area, their eyes constantly looking around for any signs of the White Comets or other potential threats. Once they were a safe distance away, Rex tapped a button on the side of his mask, activating themunicator.

    "Kael, the jammer is in ce and ready to be activated."

    "We''re moving to the next location."

    "Good work, Rex," Kael''s voice crackled through thems. "Proceed back to meet Kai. Make sure to keep an eye out for any movements from the White Comets."

    "Will do," Rex replied, pocketing the device.

    Meanwhile, Kael and Aria were making their way towards the designated spot to nt the sandworm bait.

    "Are you sure this will work?" Aria asked, ncing over at Kael.

    "Positive," Kael replied, his eyes focused on the path ahead. "The sandworms are highly sensitive to this stuff, ording to young master Liang. Once it''s in ce, it will only take a couple of hours before one of them surfaces."

    "But to do that... we need some bait."

    As they neared the designated spot, close to the sector the White Comets would be raiding soon, a low growl echoed through the night.

    Kael stopped, motioning for Aria to stay back. From the shadows emerged a monstrous four- legged creature, its red eyes glowing in the darkness.

    "Seems we won''t have to go looking," Kael said with a smile, slowly pulling his sword.

    It was a hulking beast with razor-sharp ws and scales that glimmered under the moonlight.

    The moment Kael drew his sword, its de ignited with blue mes.

    "Alright, let''s get this over with."

    With a single, powerful strike, Kael plunged his ming sword through the chest and into the heart of the monster.

    It let out a pained growl before copsing to the ground, its body twitching before it finallyy still. Kael pulled his sword free, the blue mes extinguishing as he sheathed it.

    Aria, who had been watching from a safe distance, approached. She watched as Kael pulled out the vial of glowing orange liquid, carefully spreading it over the fallen creature. The liquid seeped into the beast''s wounds, causing its body to pulse with a strange orange light. Seeing all this, Aria couldn''t help but let out a sigh. "I still don''t understand why you made me, a Healer,e out here," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "My skills are better suited for supporting from the backlines, not running around in the wastnds with you."

    Kael nced at her, smiling beneath his mask. "Ohe now, don''t be such a killjoy. Outings like this will do you some good once in a while, to get those eyes of yours out of those holographic screens. Besides, having a Healer close by is never a bad idea. You never know when I might need your skills."

    "You and I both know that isn''t the case; you just like putting people in ufortable situations for your own amusement. It''s a messed-up habit of yours."

    "Same with this jammer, it was never part of young master Liang''s n. But because you feel it would be more fun to make the White Comets struggle more, you decided to include it in

    the n."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "I''m sure you were hoping to catch a shocked or slightly shaken expression on my face while we''re out here."

    Kael''s smile widened beneath his mask. "So you have me all figured out, oh sweet Aria?" Aria huffed, crossing her arms. "Your sense of humor is messed up, you know. You''re going to have to make it up to me for putting me through this unnecessary stress."

    Kael chuckled softly. "Deal," he said, finishing his task and stepping back to admire his work. "Now, let''s get back to the others. The sandworm should be drawn to this spot soon enough."

    "Then we''ll be able to get rid of the Summoner, the White Comets, and secure the top spot all in one fell swoop."

    The two of them quickly made their way back to their rendezvous point, Kael''s mind already focused on the next steps of their n.

    And that simply involved Kai securing the Summoner and then ending him, while the remaining White Comets were devoured by a sandworm. The n was perfect, and it seemed nothing could go wrong.

    But unknown to them, to endanger ones team mates and to be looked down upon in such a way was an unfortunate method to ignite an overlord''s wrath. Forget emerging first; they would be lucky if they were able to escape with their lives.

 Chapter 168: The Last Day Of The Wasteland Display Event

    Chapter 168: The Last Day Of The Wastnd Disy Event

    ?

    It was finally thest day of the Wastnd Disy Event.

    Marcus and Elena stood on a raised tform that hovered above the wastnds, their faces illuminated by the rising sun.

    The crowd buzzed with excitement over the livestream chat as the final day of the Wastnd Disy Event was about to begin. Marcus adjusted his earpiece, his voice vibrating through the speakers as he began thementary.

    "Wee, everyone, to the grand finale of this year''s Wastnd Disy Event!"

    He announced with enthusiasm. "It''s been an incredible journey so far, and today marks the climax of all the intensity and excitement we''ve witnessed over the past week."

    Elena nodded, her eyes shining with excitement. "Absolutely, Marcus! From the very first day, this event has been nothing short of spectacr. Let''s start by talking about Alister''s three dragons. They''ve been the highlight of many battles, showing both might and intelligence." "Indeed, Elena," Marcus continued. "Cinder, the Drake, with her massive frame, imposing presence, and fiery breath, has been a force to reckon with. Terra, Alister''s other summon, has been an amazing earth elemental master. And who could forget the debut of the mysterious new dragon knight, known as Darven? His sword skills were unmatched."

    Elena leaned forward, her expression excited. "And speaking of mysteries, we had the unexpected appearance of Spade. His presence added an entirely new level of intrigue to the event. No one saw iting, and his skills left everyone in awe."

    Marcus chuckled. "Spade''s arrival was definitely a game-changer. Although I don''t think the Berserkers like him so much. His prowess inbat was nothing short of legendary."

    Elena turned to a hovering drone camera. "But let''s not forget the incredible disys of skill from each of the individual guilds. The White Comets, with their wless formations and coordination, have shown why they are among the best. The Berserkers Guild, always a crowd favorite, brought their signature blend of cunning and raw power."

    Marcus nodded. "The Red Phoenixes also deserve a mention. Their resilience and adaptability in the face of overwhelming odds were truly inspiring. Each guild has brought something unique to the table, making this event one of the most memorable in recent history."

    Elena smiled warmly. "It''s been a week filled with breathtaking battles, unexpected encounters, and moments of sheer bravery. As we move towards the final showdown, I can''t help but feel a sense of pride for all the participants. They''ve given it their all, and we are the lucky ones to witness it."

    Marcus raised his hand towards the horizon. "And now, as the sun rises on the Wastnd Disy Event, we await the final moments that will determine the ultimate victors. Stay with us, everyone, as we bring you live coverage of the concluding battles. This is Marcus and Elena, signing off for now, but we''ll be back with more action shortly!"

    The crowd erupted in cheers and apuse, the excitement buzzing in the air. Marcus and Elena exchanged a nce, knowing that this final day would be etched in the memories of all who witnessed it.

    ...

    Alister stood atop Cinder as the sun zed high in the sky. The wastnd stretched out before him, a vast expanse of sand and rocks, interrupted asionally by the movement of low- grade monsters.

    Terra, the Sandstorm Dragoon, and Darven, his lightning dragon, moved through the battlefield, theirbined attacks dispatching the monsters with ease.

    Terra''s golden scales shimmered in the sunlight as she unleashed a flurry of sand and wind, disorienting the monsters before delivering crushing blows with her powerful tail.

    Darven rained down lightning from his maw, and Cinder followed up with her mes.

    Together, they formed an unstoppable trio, with Cinder''s fiery breath incinerating any stragglers that dared to approach.

    As Alister watched his dragons in action, a familiar notification pinged in his mind.

    [Ding!! Congrats to the yer! Yourprehension of the abilities of your dragons has increased!]

    [Synchronicity during Draconic Rage will be more powerful!]

    Alister smiled beneath his mask, feeling a sense of pride and aplishment.

    Just then, hismunicator crackled to life. Ren''s voice came through, clear.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Alister, this is Ren. We''re wrapping up in our sector. I need you to round up and head to thest sector. Let''s finish this off so we can head home and celebrate."

    Alister nodded, even though Ren couldn''t see him. "Understood, Captain. We''re on our way."

    He patted Cinder''s neck, signaling her to take off. The massive drake beat her wings, lifting them both into the air. Alister looked around the battlefield onest time, ensuring Terra and Darven were ready to move out.

    Terra gave a nod, her deep blue eyes meeting Alister''s.

    "Let''s go," Alister called out, his voice carried by the wind. "We''ve got one more sector to clear before we can call it a day."

    Cinder soared through the sky, Terra and Darven close behind. As they flew towards the designated sector, Alister couldn''t help but nce at his inventory where the Azure summoning conduit rested.

    He was getting a bit excited to summon another general, busy with daily quests and taking out his wyverns for hunting when he could, he decided it would be better to summon both generals when he got back.

    Reaching the final sector, Alister prepared himself for thest push. The thought of returning home with the others and talking about it with his sister filled him with excitement. Today, they would finish strong, and tonight, they would revel in their hard-earned victory.

    Cindernded gracefully, her wings stirring up clouds of dust as they touched down. Terra and Darvennded beside them, all three just before the truck.

    Ren greeted Alister with a nod. "Good timing, Alister. We just finished clearing our sector."

    Hiroshi couldn''t resist making ament. "Hey Alister, after seeing Terra in action, you know you could sell one of her scales and instantly be super rich, right?" His eyes sparkled with mischief as he grinned.

    Terra''s deep blue eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of annoyance in their depths. "I do not like your tone, human."

    Hiroshi chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Just saying, it was only a joke, Miss Terra. You''re a walking treasure trove. And Alister, don''t be surprised if some crazy big shots approach you when we get back. They''ll want to know more about your dragons."

    Alister let out an exasperated sigh. "I think I''ll pass on selling scales, Hiroshi. But I appreciate the thought."

    Ren stepped forward, looking at the team with a serious expression as he adjusted his sses. "Alright, everyone. We''ve got onest sector to handle. Once we clear it, we can head home and celebrate. Let''s make this quick and efficient."

    As they moved towards the final sector, Alister couldn''t help but think about Hiroshi''s words.

    His dragons were indeed remarkable, and it was only a matter of time before their reputation drew attention from powerful figures.

    He knew they had to be prepared for whatever problems or opportunities came their way.

    "Let''s finish this," Alister called out to his dragons.

    "Onest push, and then we can enjoy our victory."

    With that, the White Comets advanced into the final sector, ready toplete their mission and secure their ce as the most formidable guild in the Wastnd Disy Event this year. Meanwhile, a few hundred meters away, Kael stood with a massive grin on his face as he said, "Mira, activate the jammer."

 Chapter 169: Dust Rising Calamity

    Chapter 169: Dust Rising Cmity

    ?

    Marcus and Elena resumed their positions on the hovering tform as the camera drones hovered around, capturing every moment. The live chat was on fire, the excitement reaching it''s max as the final battles began.

    Marcus adjusted his earpiece and smiled at the camera.

    "Wee back, folks! As the Wastnd Disy Event approaches its thrilling conclusion, we have a treat for you. What better way to enjoy the final moments than to watch the top team in action?"

    Elena nodded enthusiastically. "That''s right, Marcus! The White Comets have proven time and again why they are a force to be reckoned with. Their coordination, skill, and sheer resolve have been nothing short of inspirational."

    The drone camera panned over the battlefield, focusing on Alister and his dragons as they prepared for the final push. The screen switched to the body cams of Ren and the others to view the dragons from below, capturing the awe of the viewers, watching as they then split up.

    "And so, let''s join them on this final leg of their journey," Marcus said, his voice filled with excitement. "Stay with us, everyone. This is the moment we''ve all been waiting for!"

    Elena then said, "Again, this is Marcus and Elena, your hosts for the Wastnd Disy Event. Let''s witness history in the making!"

    ...

    Ren and his team charged through the final sector, ready to showcase their skills onest time. Ren''s mes raged around him as he prepared to lead the charge.

    "Goro, clear a path with your axe!" Renmanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. Goro nodded, hefting his massive battle axe. He advanced towards a Stone Wyrm that was slithering towards them, its thick, armored hide glinting in the sunlight.

    Goro nted his feet firmly, bracing himself. With a powerful, vertical swing, he brought the axe down onto the Wyrm''s back.

    The impact shattered the creature''s thick scales, sending a shower of debris and causing the Wyrm to thrash around in pain. The blow broke several of its ribs, and blood sprayed from the deep wound.

    "Nice job, Goro!" Ren called out, his eyes looking around the battlefield.

    ....

    Marcus''s voice came through the broadcast. "No matter how many times I see it, I can''t help but be left in awe when I witness the sheer power behind Goro''s axe swing. It''s simply incredible! You can see the Stone Wyrm''s scales shattering under that immense force. Truly an enviable disy of raw strength!"

    "Razorgrin, take care of the Giga Scorpioning from the right!" Renmanded. "On it!"

    Razorgrin charged, swinging his massive Warhammer into action. He spotted the Giga Scorpion as it charged towards them with its pincers snapping. Razorgrin''s muscles tensed as The prepared to strike.

    With a powerful horizontal swing, he aimed for the Scorpion''s side. The Warhammer crashed into the Scorpion''s carapace, splintering it and causing blood to seep from the cracks. The Scorpion''s screech echoed through the wastnd as it staggered back.

    Snapping it''s pincers at him, but he instantly delt with them with major swings of his hammer.

    ....

    "And look at Razorgrin''s overwhelming power, he''s not even giving the monster a chance to fight back!" Elena''smentary followed, "Despite not letting up for days, the White Comets are still giving it their absolute best! That Warhammer strike hit the Scorpion right where it would do the most damage, following up by destroying its pincers Futher ensured it wouldn''t be able to fight back!"

    ...

    Razorgrin then dodged an attack from it''s stinger, rolling to the side and thennding a finishing smash.

    "Keep the pressure on!" Ren shouted, adjusting his stance. "Hiroshi, use your wind to deal those ded Vipers!"

    "Aye, Captain!"

    Hiroshi darted forward, his twin daggers shing in the sunlight.

    The ded Vipers were closing in with their venomous fangs bared as they hissed. Hiroshi moved with incredible speed, enhanced by his wind maniption.

    He spun in a rapid circle, his daggers slicing through the Vipers'' bodies. His wind-based movements allowed him to evade their strikes effortlessly.

    The Vipers fell to the ground, their bodies sliced open and bleeding.

    "Talk about a miniature tornado of death! Hiroshi''s agility is unmatched! You can see how he uses the wind to enhance his speed and precision."

    "Slicing through those ded Vipers like they were fruits ced into the blending machine. They didn''t stand a chance."

    ....

    "I''ve got them dealt with, Ren!" Hiroshi called out, a grin on his face. "What''s next?"

    "Kaida, watch our backs and deal with any stragglers!" Ren instructed. "Those Direwolves areing up behind us!"

    "On it!"

    Kaida swiftly moved into position, her sword ready. She faced a charging Mutant Direwolf with a confident smile.

    As the Direwolf lunged, Kaida executed a diagonal sh, her de cutting through the creature''s neck as she sidestepped a swing from its ws.

    Blood sprayed from the wound, and the Direwolf copsed, its movements ceasing as it died. She didn''t pause; another leaped forward intending to pin her down.

    She crouched low, stepping forward slightly, using her sword to cut through its abdomen, causing it to tear open and blood to spray out, painting her tech armor crimzon.

    She sidestepped a couple of other wolves like that, kicking up dust as she did, finally plunging her sword into the heart of thest wolf.

    ...

    "The finesse of Kaida''s swordy still amazes me," Elenamented. "It''s breathtaking to see a healer who can fight this well."

    "Although she isn''t using as much power or force as the others, she finds a way to minimize movements and aims for vital parts of her enemies so she can end a battle instantly. Instead of getting pulled into a sh of strength where she would obviously have a disadvantage, she always aims to end an opponent within three strikes!"

    "To be able to find and exploit such openings is a skill one can say is only possible for the best

    of the best!"

    "True," Marcus agreed. "But there has been a rumor going aroundtely that she might be using prosthetic limbs, hence why a healer like her is able to keep up with the others." "You may have a point, but like you said, it''s just a rumor," Elena said. "Even if it was true, such a disy of skill is not something gaining prosthetic limbs can make possible without already posessing the necessary skill."

    "So she is still an amazing and skilled fighter nheless."

    ...

    "Direwolves down!" Kaida reported.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Great work, everyone!" Ren shouted, mes erupting from his palms as he prepared for the

    next wave. "Stay focused, we''re almost done!"

    Grhhhhh

    An intense roar echoed from a distance,ing from one of Alister''s dragons as they cleared

    their side of the sector.

    ...

    Marcus''s voice rang out, "Listen to that roar! It''s clear that Alister''s dragons are making an impact on the battlefield. Just a few more minutes with Ren and his team, then we''ll switch right over to Alister''s body cam feed! I''m sure we''re all dying to witness three mythical

    monsters in action."

    ...

    Ren''s mes burst through the air, scorching a Sand Behemoth that was attempting to nk them. He moved into position, directing the fire to engulf the beast''s side. The Behemoth roared as its hide sizzled and burned, its movements bing erratic from the pain. Ren finally stopped as the monster ceased its movements, adjusting his sses and taking a moment to look at it before moving forward to face the next monster.

    Just then he spotted group of orcs holding stone clubs, charging towards them in the distance, the stomping of their massive feet causing dust to billow around them.

 Chapter 170: Dust Rising Calamity Part Two

    Chapter 170: Dust Rising Cmity Part Two

    ?

    Ren narrowed his gaze, bringing his arms together and beginning to condense his mes. It seemed like he was rolling them around to form some sort of ball. The heat of the me ball intensified, slowly changing color as Renpressed it further.

    ...

    "Oh? What''s this? It appears as though Ren is preparing for some sort of killer attack," Marcus said.

    "Seems so. That could be his only choice since it seems he hasn''t called any of his team to handle these monsters, and their numbers are quiterge, yet he doesn''t seem fazed," Elena added.

    ...

    Ren appears to be done condensing; the ball of mes seems to turn into a very small blue sphere of fire. Ren held it tightly in his right hand, which was covered in his mes. He leaned back slightly, cing his left leg forward, and crouched down slightly. His right ming arm pulled back as he gazed intensely at the charging horde.

    ...

    "It appears as though he is preparing to throw something! What''s this, could it be a killer move he hasn''t shown us until now?!" Marcus eximed.

    Elena chimed in, "Saving the best forst, it seems. Apparently, Alister is not the only one capable of surprises."

    ...

    Ren''s muscles tensed, and then with a burst of strength, he hurled the condensed blue me ball towards the charging orcs.

    He then stood upright, turning his back to the charging orcs as he simply paused there, as if waiting for something.

    ...

    "Umm... it appears as though nothing has-" before Marcus could finish his statement, a massive explosion silenced him.

    ...

    KAK

    BOOM!

    A massive explosion suddenly erupted, drawing the entire team''s attention. They all turned their heads towards the source of the massive boom, the mes quickly billowing into the air and curling. A massive shockwave was created, raising up a huge wall of dust as monster entrails and debris slowly rained from the sky.

    Walking back calmly as if the mes behind him were non-existent, Ren adjusted his sses, causing them to catch the light, momentarily shing and obscuring his eyes.

    "Holy shit..." Hiroshi said in awe, as he stood gazing at the massive me that curled up into a mushroom-like shape in the air, slowly dissipating.

    Kaida chuckled slightly, "Seems even ''he'' tends to show off once in a while."

    Goro smiled awkwardly as he scratched the side of his face, "But... isn''t this too much? I doubt there will be anything left for the return team to retrieve if he decided to go all out like that." Razorgrin chuckled, "We can afford it. We are far ahead of ourpetition. In fact, we might as well just fight to show off since we''re still going to win in the end," he said as he tightened his grip on the handle of his hammer, his eyes narrowing.

    ...

    "Unbelievable! What a truly unbelievable disy of firepower!" Marcus eximed, pulling the mic of his earphones closer to his mouth as he yelled.

    "Hepletely obliterated them! Has he always been capable of this, or is this more of a massive performance to make his team win with a massive bang?!"

    "Not sure, Marcus, but one thing we''re all sure of is... that was absolutely breathtaking!" Elena chimed, clutching her fist as her eyes practically glinted with excitement.

    ...

    Back with Alister...

    "What an amazing disy of power, for a human," Cinder said, as she, Darven, and Terra gazed in the direction of the explosion.

    Alister could sense a strange emotion of disgusting from Cinder due to their bond. "Cinder... do you... hate humans?" Alister asked, standing atop her head. It was something he had just pieced together. After recalling all of her words and the way she has acted since he summoned her, she didn''t seem to have a favorable opinion of humans.

    "My lord... it''s a long story."

    ...

    Goro''s massive axe continued to cleave through enemies, Razorgrin''s war hammer smashed down with devastating force, Hiroshi''s daggers struck with deadly uracy as he evaded attacks with ease, and Kaida''s sword picked off stragglers and low-rank monsters behind the team.

    Ren''s coordination was key to their sess. His strategicmands ensured that each member''s abilitiesplemented one another, creating a seamless and efficient assault on their enemies.

    As the final monsters fell, the team regrouped, breathing heavily but with expressions of satisfaction.

    "Excellent work..." Ren said, his eyes scanning the now-cleared battlefield. "Let''s-"

    BOOM

    A sudden earthquake shook the ground beneath them, causing everyone to lose their footing

    momentarily.

    "What the¨D" Ren began, looking around as the earth continued to tremble and massive cracks began to ripple around.

    Ren''s eyes widened with shock as he mumbled, "Wait... Don''t tell me..."

    ...

    Back with Alister, Terra''s eyes widened. She slowly turned her head towards Alister as she spoke, "My lord, something very powerful and dangerous is approaching."

    "Something dangerous? What do you-"

    Before he could finish, he could feel the earth tremble beneath Cinder''s feet, causing him to

    nearly fall when she momentarily lost her footing.

    Alister''s expression suddenly changed as he realized. "Wait... is this-"

    ...

    Elena and Marcus, observing from the body cams, wondered aloud, "What''s causing all this

    commotion?"

    "Is some powerful monster approaching? Is that the cause of themotion?"

    Elena then spoke up, "Could it be that-"

    SHHHHHHHH

    Suddenly the feed went out and the audio died too, leaving only noise. The signal was mysteriously lost. In the distance, Marcus and Elena could catch the sight of dust rising.

    A well-known signal to a major cmity.

    As Marcus and Elena lost signal, they frantically tried to contact HQ.

    "Come on,e on!" Marcus muttered, pressing the button repeatedly. "Why can''t we getn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    through?"

    Elena nced at him, worried. "If this is as serious as it looks, we should fly back and report in person. The Union needs to send backup immediately."

    Marcus nodded in agreement. "You''re right. We can''t afford to waste any time."

    Turning to the pilot, Marcusmanded, "Lift us off the tform and head back to the city."

    The pilot swiftlyplied, and the massive tform they stood on began to ascend.

    As they gained altitude, Elena looked out at the chaos below. "I hope we can reach the city in time."

    Marcus clenched his jaw. "We have to. Lives depend on it."

    ...

    Back with Ren and the others, the signs were undeniable. Monsters were fleeing in all directions, the ground was shaking violently, and massive chasms were forming in the earth.

    Ren''s eyes darted around, piecing together the situation.

    "All of this points to...," Ren began, but Kaida interrupted, her voice trembling.

    "It... it couldn''t be..."

    Ren quickly took charge. "Retreat to the truck! Now!"

    But as they made their way, the ground split open, creating chasms that blocked their path. One particrlyrge chasm opened up beneath the truck, swallowing it whole.

    Kaida missed her step and nearly fell into one of the chasms, but Goro was quick enough to

    grab her, pulling her to safety.

    Dust rose from the earth, forming a thick cloud that blotted out the sun, casting an eerie shadow over the battlefield.

    In the distance, a massive figure emerged from the ground. A gigantic sandworm, its colossal form nearly touching the clouds, loomed menacingly.

    Ren tone turned grim as he watched the scene unfold. "Just as I feared, it''s a sandworm."

 Chapter 171: A Guildmasters Wrath

    Chapter 171: A Guildmaster''s Wrath

    ?

    Back at the White Comet''s guild office, Yuuto gazed, eyes wide, at the static holographic screen. It was a look of shock but also something else-a look that could kill. The man looked like he had seen a ghost, but instead of fear, he felt anger and wanted to eradicate it from this world.

    He stood up from his seat, lowering his head slightly, causing his silver hair to darken the upper half of his face. It was clear he was upset about something.

    He suddenly reached into the side of his guild uniform, pulling out a small white cube device. With a soft touch of his right index finger, it expanded into a holographic phone-like device with a blue translucent screen.

    He calmly dialed a number and put the phone to his ear. As it slowly rang, he walked up to the massive window behind his table and chair, reaching out to touch it slightly. Although he didn''t seem to apply much pressure on the ss, cracks suddenly rippled on its surface.

    ~BEEP~

    "Oh? What''s this? To what do I owe the pleasure, Guildmaster Yuuto?"

    A voice suddenly came from the phone. It was Cheng Zhi, branch master of the Reapers Guild,

    a guild well known for its shadowy dealings. Yuuto had had previous, personal dealings with the guild, but back then it was more out of curiosity than genuine interest.

    "Cheng, I''m going to ask you a question, and I want a straight and honest answer."

    "Do you understand?"

    Yuuto spoke calmly, but there was an intensity behind his words. He was in a foul mood, a state he hadn''t entered in years, for the simple belief that anger clouds judgment and a leader always needs to reason with a clear head.

    Perhaps now his judgment was getting clouded. What could be the cause of this aura of rage that seemed to surround him?

    Well, it was simple: the fear of losing his precious guild members, his family.

    And the strong desire to punish who was responsible, or at least whoever wanted his family dead.

    He was certain they were in danger due to the signs he witnessed before the signal was lost. Others couldn''t be absolutely certain, but that wasn''t the case for Yuuto. He knew very well which of the guilds could be capable of such a thing.

    Cheng smiled as he got into a pool in his vi, ady nearby handed him a ss of wine. He nodded, dismissing her, then said,

    "Who am I to refuse a request from Mr. Immortal? Please ask away."

    "I''ll answer honestly..."

    "...to the best of my ability."

    Yuuto''s eyes moved slightly to gaze at his phone due to Cheng''s choice of words. He then spoke.

    "Why are you trying to get my guild members killed?"

    "There is no argument or conflict between us, so it''s obvious someone else put you up to this."

    "Who is it?"

    "What are you talking about? I don''t understand what you are- "

    Suddenly Yuuto cut him off, his tone so intense it was suffocating.

    "Look...."

    "....boy, think twice before you lie to me. I don''t know where you''re getting this misced confidence from, but I''m not going to tolerate it."

    "Do you take me for a fool? That I would think this was some ident?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Don''t make meugh."

    "Depending on how you talk, I could personally decide to rid this entire megacity of the Reapers Guild, and not even Galisk would be able to stop me."

    "You would just disappear, and it would be like you were never here."

    "Do you understand?"

    Yuuto spoke, casually referring to the Union president as if he were someone random, as if the world''s strongest awakened wasn''t even a threat to him.

    As he spoke, his silver eyes began glowing, bing slightly reptilian. Along with it, a silver clock-like crest appeared in his right eye.

    Cheng Zhi momentarily fell silent. Yuuto then spoke up, saying, "Now tell me, who put you up to this, and I''ll let you and your kids go and focus on the real problem."

    There was a brief pause; neither of them said anything.

    Suddenly Cheng spoke up, "Look, old man, perhaps living for hundreds of years has caused you to have a few screws loose. I mean, what the hell, man? Who could give me orders? No one, that''s who."

    "This must all just be a really big misunderstanding. Geez, old man, sending threats to a guy trying to chill on his day off is messed up, you know."

    "Do you go bothering every shady guy you know all because something messed up is going down somewhere?"

    Yuuto''s tone remained serious as he asked, "Should I take this to mean your kids are doing this independently?"

    "Again, randomly cing me. I''m not so sure about what you are talking about, but I''m sure they''re giving their best out there to represent my guild''s interests. I mean," Cheng suddenly smiled, "what else could they be up to?"

    And by his guild''s best interest, he was refering to the Reapers having to get rid of Alister due to the request of the Li family. And due to the nature of the request, to make it all look like a major ident, Ren and the others needed to apany the young summoner to the grave. For a few seconds, there wasplete silence. Suddenly, Yuuto began tough.

    "Hehehehehe... Hahahaha."

    "Haaaaa!"

    A sound so unsettling one would easily mistake him for some sick bastard if they didn''t know him. He then let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. His mana suddenly began to emanate from his body as he spoke in a deep tone, his hair slowly raising upwards. "This is so foolish. Imagine, me of all people, expecting truth from the likes of you. As if I need it. I almost forgot people like you only understand thenguage of force." Suddenly Yuuto''s mana raged out of his body, with a massive boom, shattering the massive ss window before him and sending all the contents of his office flying to the other end of the room, crashing into the wall.

    He then spoke, saying, "So let me make this clear to you, Cheng. If even one of my kids doesn''t return, then you can kiss goodbye to any more days off since you won''t be alive to get

    any."

    ~BEEP~

    Yuuto''s mana then began to calm down, the raging energy gradually subsiding until the room returned to its previous state. He took a deep breath, his eyes returning to their normal silver hue. He dropped his phone back into his guild uniform pocket, his face regaining its usual

    composure.

    "Aiko," he called out.

    The door to his office opened, anddy Aiko stepped through. She wasn''t bothered with the sight of the office in ruin, but rather stood attentive, her eyes reflecting her usual readiness.

    "Yes, Guildmaster? What do you need?"

    Yuuto nced at her, his expression firm. "Get a ride ready. Depending on how things go, I

    may have to go worm hunting."

    Aiko nodded, understanding the gravity of his words. "Understood. I''ll make the arrangements immediately." She turned on her heel and left the room, her footsteps echoing down the corridor as she moved to carry out his orders.

    Yuuto stood by the shattered window, looking out at the city below, his mind already focused on the steps he would take to protect his guild and deal with the threat at hand.

 Chapter 172: Dust Rising Calamity Part Three

    Chapter 172: Dust Rising Cmity Part Three

    ?

    Back in the wastnds, with Ren and his team, a deep brown talent window suddenly materialized before them:

    Monster: World Eating Sand Worm

    Rank: EX- [Extreme.]

    ss: Titan.

    Total Combat Power: 698,890. (EX rank)

    System remark: A monster that slowly devours worlds, growing infinitely in mass until the entire world is devoured. It is believed that it would obtain the status of a celestial after they devour a''s core.[]

    Ren and his team stood frozen for a moment, their eyes wide with shock as the massive sandworm emerged from the earth, its colossal body nearly touching the clouds.

    Its tip was pointed and covered, as if to aid it with burrowing, and with a slow movement, it slowly opened its mouth, multiple skin parts of its tip peeled open to reveal massive rows of teeth and a strange orange glow within it Is maw.

    The creature let out a massive screech, causing the ground beneath them to tremble violently, causing massive chasms to form and reshape the terrain.

    "Move! We need to get out of here!" Ren shouted, snapping his team out of their shock.

    They turned and sprinted, trying to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the sandworm. The ground continued to shake, making it difficult to maintain their bnce. Goro grabbed Hiroshi just as he stumbled, pulling him away from a newly formed chasm.

    "Thanks, Goro!" Hiroshi panted, his eyes filled with fear and gratitude.

    "No time for thanks, we need to keep moving!" Goro replied, his grip firm as he kept him steady.

    The sandworm proceeded to plunge itself back into the earth, continuing its path of destruction, burrowing through the earth and sending shockwaves that fractured the ground even more. Multiple cave-ins began to happen. The earth around previous paths where the sandworm had eaten fell down, causing more dust to rise into the air as the earth shook violently.

    Ren tried to maintain hisposure, but the sheer scale of the chaos around them was overwhelming.

    "Ren, what do we do since the truck is gone?" Hiroshi asked, pointing to where their vehicle had been, now swallowed by a massive crack in the ground.

    Ren''s heart sank, but he pushed down his fear. "We need to find higher ground and get away from this thing!"

    Just then, Alister came to mind. Perhaps he could carry them out of this with the help of his dragons.

    Ren tapped on hismunicator, desperately hoping to contact Alister. Static filled his earpiece, and no matter how many times he tried, he couldn''t get a signal.

    "Damn it!"

    "There''s no signal."

    "W-what about the livestream?" Kaida asked, her voice trembling.

    Ren quickly checked his device, hoping to see the feed from Marcus and Elena. But all he saw was a nk screen with the same static interference.

    "No signal there either."

    "Something''s jamming allmunication."

    "We have to keep moving!"

    They continued, frantically running away as fast as they could, the terrain shifting and cracking beneath their feet. Dust clouds rose from the earth, obscuring their vision and making it hard to breathe, as the air filter masks couldn''t filter out this much dust.

    "Ren, we need a n!" Razorgrin shouted, wiping the dust from his face, but it simply smeared due to his previous sweat, his eyes looking around their surroundings for any sign of a safe ce.

    "I know!" Ren yelled, his mind racing. "We need to find cover and regroup. Look for anything that can give us a vantage point or some protection from that thing!"

    That was what he said, but even he didn''t believe it.

    Goro pointed to a rocky outcrop he could vaguely make out in the distance, still stable despite the shifting ground and the rising dust, or so it seemed. "Over there! That might give us some cover!"

    They made their way towards the outcrop, stumbling and dodging falling debris. Hiroshi and Goro helped Kaida up multiple times after she fell, her physical capabilities weren''t as good as the others, thus the constant need for assistance.

    The sandworm''s movements continued to send shockwaves through the ground, making every step harder than thest.

    Finally, they reached the outcrop and took a moment to catch their breath. The massive body of the sandworm could be seen in the distance as it emerged again, letting out another massive screech.

    "What now, Ren?" Kaida asked, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.

    "We hold here and wait for a chance to move again," Ren said, his eyes scanning the horizon. "Or... we''ll figure out how to get through to Alister. In all honesty, only he can save us now."

    They nodded, even Razorgrin didn''t have any hesitation in his eyes.

    Meanwhile, Alister flew above the clouds atop Terra. Her blue cosmic eyes shone brightly, as she could see clearly through all the dust, in search of Ren and the others.

    "Damn it! Ren! Ren, can you hear me!" Alister yelled over the staticm link. Meanwhile, as Ren and his team huddled behind the rocky outcrop, trying to catch their breath and make sense of the chaos around them, Ren''smunicator suddenly crackled to life with faint static. His heart leaped as he heard a familiar voice cutting through the noise. "Ren### ### Ren, ###can you hear me?####"

    Ren''s eyes widened, and he ced his hand on themunicator on his ear, pressing it close. "Alister! Alister, we''re here! We need you now! The sandworm isˇŞ"

    The static grew louder, but he could vaguely make out Alister''s voice. "I''m #### already... looking for ### you... How far... from ### the sandworm?"

    Ren looked back at the monstrous creature, its massive body still wreaking havoc in the distance. He estimated quickly.

    "About sixty meters east! We''re about sixty meters away from it!"

    There was a brief pause, filled with the sound of static, then Alister''s voice came through still

    broken. "H##old... on... We''re...ing!"

    Ren felt a touch of hope and turned to his team.

    "Alister is on his way! We just need to hold out a bit longer!"

    Goro nodded, gripping his weapon tightly.

    "We''ll make it. Just stay ready."

    Suddenly, Ren and the others heard a massive roar echoing from the sky. They looked up, and suddenly the dust above them clearedpletely, revealing the sun''s rays shining directly

    onto their outcrop, bathing it in light.

    At that moment, the sun also illuminated Alister and his dragons soaring majestically down toward them. The moment seemed breathtaking; Alister seemed radiant.

    "I''m here, captain!" Alister yelled, reassuring them.

    Ren and his team let out sighs of relief, their tense bodies rxing for the first time since the

    chaos began.

    But their relief was short-lived. Without warning, the ground beneath them trembled

    violently. The outcrop shuddered and suddenly caved in.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "No! Hold on!" Ren shouted, but it was toote. The ground gave way, and they all

    plummeted into the darkness below.

    "Ren!" Alister yelled.

    "Terra div-"

    "Found you."

    Alister was suddenly interrupted when he heard a voice speak out behind him. Out of

    nowhere, a hand reached out to grab his shoulder, causing a chill to run down his spine.

    Alister whipped around to see a familiar face. "Kai? What are yo-"

    Before he could finish his statement, both he and Kai, suddenly vanished.

 Chapter 173: To Incure An Overloads Wrath

    Chapter 173: To Incure An Overload''s Wrath

    ?

    Terra was left confused. She felt Alister''s presence suddenly leave her mind and thought he might have leaped towards Draven or Cinder, but he wasn''t with either of them, which puzzled her.

    She frantically searched the sky and then looked down, wondering if he had jumped. Her deep blue eyes scanned every inch of the chaotdscape below, but she still found nothing.

    "Where is the young lord?" she asked, her words directed at Draven and Cinder.

    ...

    Alister suddenly found himself far away from where the sandworm was raging. He was plummeting from the sky, slightly disoriented and unable to control his fall. The ground rushed up to meet him, and hended with a massive boom, the impact creating a crater around him.

    Alister slowly got to his feet, his body aching. He looked around, trying to make sense of his surroundings. Thendscape was barren and unfamiliar, with strange, twisted rock formations and an eerie, unnatural stillness.

    "What the hell?"

    "Where am I? I was sure I just saw Ka-"

    Before he could gather his thoughts, two shots rang out, piercing through both of his legs.

    BANG

    BANG

    Alister screamed in pain, his legs buckling as he copsed to the ground. Blood poured from the wounds, and he gritted his teeth, bearing the pain.

    [Blood maniption activated!]

    [Blood healing activated!]

    Steam slowly began to rise from the wounds as they started to close, but before they could healpletely, a figure appeared out of nowhere, moving with a burst of speed. Alister barely had time to react before a powerful kick was aimed at him. He managed to block it with his arms, but the force of the blow sent him flying backward, crashing into a nearby rock formation.

    "And stay down!" a voice suddenly yelled.

    "Ha! Young master, you''re quite the feisty one."

    "Can you me me? I''ve been waiting for this for a while, and now that it''s time, I can''t help but get right into it."

    "But I won''t make this fast. I''ll be sure to make it as painful as possible for him, so that he''ll regret what he did to Yanzi."

    ''Yanzi?''

    Alister wondered as the dust from his crash slowly began to clear, just then Terra''s voice echoed in his thoughts, ''My lord where are you? What happened? There was a sudden presence and then you disappeared.''

    ''I was teleported,'' Alister responded.

    ''Teleported!? Should we forget about the humans and make our way to you?''

    ''No, continue your search, I can handle myself, you and the others need not worry.'' Alister responded, reassuring her.

    ''Instead focus on finding my team and ensuring their safety.''

    ''Understood... We will not disappoint you.'' The telepathic link ended.

    Just then another voice spoke up in his thoughts, ''Take care, my lord.'' The voice belonged to Cinder.

    Alister smiled slightly, responding, ''I will, ensure you help Terra find Ren and the others.'' ''Understood, my lord.''

    The telepathic link ended again.

    The dust finally cleared to reveal the figures of six individuals. Each of them wore ck and purple tech suits with a scythe symbol on the left side of their chests, the symbol of the Reapers Guild.

    The ones who had been talking a moment ago were Kai and Karl. Alister recognized Kai and deduced that the person who shot him must have been the man with ash hair standing at the side with a sniper in hand, Jin.

    It was obvious they hadn''t brought him here for a chat, and the fact that they had just whisked him away before he could save Ren and the others already had him in a foul mood.

    "What is the meaning of this?" Alister said, rising to his feet as he slowly took a step forward, his armor and face covered in dust.

    "Oh? Boy, isn''t this a surprise," Kael said with a sarcastic tone. "You''re standing despite getting your legs shot by Jin. Fascinating."

    "Guess the word from Master Liang about you being more than just a summoner was-" "I just asked a question," Alister narrowed his eyes. "What is the meaning-"

    BANG

    Another shot was fired, this time not aimed at Alister, but it tore past the side of his left cheek, drawing blood as it went past to shatter the massive rock formation behind him, silencing him.

    "You don''t talk to the captain like that," Jin said with a cold tone, sniper pointed at Alister. "Easy there, Jin," Kael said, using his left hand to lower the sniper. "Remember, he''s young master Kai''s ything. You can''t go damaging him more than you already have."

    Jin finally pulled back his sniper. Kael then turned his gaze back to Alister and said, "Now to answer your question, young summoner, you messed with the wrong people, so now you have to pay back with your life. So I guess you can call this... Compensation."

    "Compensation?" Alister repeated.

    "Yes, Compensation," Kai said with a crazy smile, causing Alister to redirect his eyes towards him. "Although... it was going to be difficult since we were all going to be wearing body cams and you were going to be with your teammates."

    "So..."

    Kai chuckled slightly. "We had to get rid of both of them."

    Alister''s face suddenly darkened as he lowered his head slightly, his hair covering the upper half of his face as he asked, "What exactly do you mean by ''get rid of them?""

    Kai''s smile widened further. He was seeing Alister in pain, and it was giving him a sick sense

    of satisfaction. "What else do you think?"

    "We are the ones responsible for the signal jamming..."

    "As well as the appearance of the sandstorm that ambushed your teammates."

    "Speaking of them, did you see the face the red-haired one made as the ground gave out under them? Man, it was totally hrious." Kai chuckled.

    "Shut up..." Alister said, his anger rising.

    "I mean, ording to our intel, he''s supposed to be your team captain, and he was making a face like that? Talk about pathetic! Even the rest of them were as pitiful as their leader."

    "With expressions that had lost all hope."

    "Shut up..."

    "And it''s all your fault, you know. They wouldn''t have died if they never met you. They suffered for your sins. Don''t you feel guilty for making them die because of summoner trash

    like you?"

    "But don''t worry, I''ll be sure to send you to them soon, but only after I make you pay for what your overgrown lizard did to my sweet Yanzi."

    Just then Kai teleported directly in front of Alister, swinging his dagger towards his abdomen, but in that instant, time seemed to slow down.

    Out of nowhere, a system window materialised before Alister.

    [Ding!! New quest!]

    [An Overlord''s Wrath:

    Description: A group of foolish humans have carefully plotted to take YOUR life and dared to

    pull the members of your team into it. As an Overlord, you cannot let this slide.

    Questpletion requirements: End the lives of all six humans [0/6]

    Quest reward: XP +456.

    Failure Penalty: Death.]

    With a sudden burst of speed, much to Kai and the others'' surprise, Alister backhanded Kai''s

    attack, sending his dagger flying. In that momentarypse of concentration, Alister shifted his weight to his right leg, lifting the left, andnded a powerful kick on Kai''s jaw that pushed

    him back, sending him crashing to the sand.

    BANG!

    Jin shot, the speed of the bullet kicking up a small cloud of dust that slowly began to settle.

    But much to everyone''s surprise, Alister caught the bullet with his right hand, in between his thumb and index finger, proceeding to drop it harmlessly on the ground.

    At this point, each of the members of the Reapers tensed up, weapons ready. Each of them knew one needed to be at least SS ss to dodge Jin''s bullet, let alone catch it.

    Hearing Yanzi''s name again had further irritated Alister. "So..."

    "...let me understand what''s going on here."

    "You guys are the ones responsible for the appearance of the sandworm that endangered my

    teammates in your attempt to end my life..."

    "All because of some human trash?"

    Alister gritted his teeth, clenching his fists, and slowly raised his head to reveal his glowing

    reptilian eyes as he gazed intensely at them.

    His voice suddenly became deeper, "Is this supposed to me some kind of joke?"

    Boom!

    His mana suddenly raged intensely, causing the air around to whip violently, kicking up dust

    and sending debris flying everywhere.

    "What the hell!" Rex eximed.

    "Kael, what the hell is this? Did the young master tell you about the summoner kid going off

    like some kind of bomb?" Aria yelled as she and the others shielded their eyes. "No, goddammit! Obviously not. What kind of a dumb question is that? You make it sound

    like you weren''t at the strategy meeting."

    "Then what is this? How the heck does the kid have this much mana?" Maria asked.

    "He can''t be human, that''s how."

    "A human can''t have this much mana!"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Ummm... Kael... The summoner kid... He''s growing," Jin pointed out.

    "The... hell," Kael said as he strained his eyes to look past the massive inferno of mana, his

    voice nearly strained with fear. In it stood a transforming Alister.

    [Dragonic Rage active!]

    [Second gate opened: Dragon Body!]

    [Berserk active!]

    [Dragonic Rage''s grade has increased to (SSS).]

    [All stats increased by 300%.]

    There, in that raging inferno of golden mana, Alister''s body erged slightly as it was slowly

    encased in ck and white scales.

    For the first time, Alister was performing a proper draconic transformation. A tail grew from his lower half, tearing out of the suit. His erged body did the same, as his fangs becamerger. He grew a pair of ck horns as his face was slowly encased in white scales, taking on a

    slightly more dragon-like shape. ck limbs sprouted from his back, slowly turning into golden wings.

    The crests on his arms red brightly, and then out of nowhere, he let out a massive roar.

    ~ Graaaaaaaaaaa~

 Chapter 174 Overlord Against The Reapers

    Chapter 174 Overlord Against The Reapers

    How would a raider know they had encountered a powerful monster? Well, there were always three clear signs. And depending on the intensity of each of them, battle with such monsters would be seen as suicide, not bravery.

    First, the air would be suffocating. In the presence of an extremely powerful aura and dense mana, weaker life forms would feel an immense invisible weight bearing down on them, making breathing more difficult and their movements slower; at times, they may freeze up entirely.

    Second, instinct. No matter how hard one may try, the body is always honest with itself, regardless of one''s opinion or thoughts. In all living beings is engraved a single will: survival.

    At times, it may be personal, or it might involve the need to sacrifice one''s life for the continuation of others. Although there are many aspects of life it is involved in, instinct essentially exists to serve one purpose: to ensure the constant existence of life in the cosmos.

    And before thisˇ­ monster, they found themselves frozen in ce, their instincts all screamed for them to run as fast as they possibly could, but their bodies betrayed them.

    And thirdˇ­

    The materialization of a special monster talent window.

    Before Kael and his team, a golden talent window materialized, further increasing their unease. As if the zing inferno of golden mana before them wasn''t enough, this only served to intensify their unease.

    ˇ¸Monster: Dragon Overlord (Candidate) Rank: SSS+ n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ss: Medium

    Total Combat Power: 206,712 (SSS+ Rank)

    System remark: A descendant of the ancient Dragon God, a being that once shook the cosmos. It is the absolute ruler of all dragon kind, a regal being even the celestials fear. Although the reason is unknown, it is believed that wherever the Overlord goes, darkness follows. ˇą

    Kael''s thoughts raced as he stared at the monster status window.

    ''Dragon Overlord... SSS+ rank? How can this be? Has Alister been a monster all along, pretending to be human?''

    ''How is that even possible?''

    ''This changes everything. We might be way in over our heads here.'' he gritted his teeth.

    Rex felt a shiver run down his spine. "What the hell... Is this real? An SSS+ Ranked monster? No wonder he''s has so much control over his dragons. I thought he was just a strong summoner."

    Jin''s usually steady hands trembled slightly.

    ''SSS+? That exins how he caught my bullet. Even if my shotnds... Will it be able to pierce through those scales? A monster in human form... And I thought I was the hunter.''

    Mira''s grip tightened around her ive. "Kael... What''s the n now?"

    Suddenly, Alister''s mana subsided, but it could still be seen faintly radiating from his body.

    His majestic dragon form could clearly be seen, his white and ck scales glinting in the sunlight, his golden wings seemed to glow slightly, and the tip of his tail seemed particrly sharp, one would almost mistake it for a sword.

    Kael called out to his teammates, about to tell them the course of action. "Alright, Rex we need you to keep that thing off from us as much as possible, Jin, look for any spaces in between those scales and take a shot, it got through before it might do so again. Aria, stay as far away from us as possible and try to heal us wheneverˇŞ"

    "Void Rend."

    Alister said as he raised his left hand, shing his ws through the air.

    VIZZZ

    In that instant, his golden mana shot outward as massive beams of lightning in the shape of enormous w marks, moving forward with lightning speed.

    CRACKLE

    PFFSSS

    As the ws shot forward, leaving a massive scar on the earth causing dust to billow into the air, what followed was a small fountain-like sound.

    Blood sttered all over the side of Kael''s face and armor, his eyes widened in shock as he then proceeded to slowly turn his head towards his right.

    His eyesnded on a sliced-up Aria, her body sliced into five pieces from her head down, her eyes red, pupils dted, one of the eyeballs out of its socket, organs spewed out covered in dust as her blood slowly turned the ground where shey crimson, broken bones protruded through the diced-up flesh, sparks of electricity could be seen as the diced-up parts of her tech suit cracked with energy.

    Kael felt his legs give out as he turned to witness it, a chill running down his spine, a cold sweat going down his back. Frantically he began crawling back, but his eyes never left Alister.

    Kael''s mind struggled to process what had just happened. His eyes widened as he saw Aria''s lifeless body on the ground.

    "How did... I don''t understand... Aria...! Aria!" he screamed, his voice nearly choked with grief and a touch of rage.

    Alister then proceeded to walk forward, slowly, the ws on his legs digging into the sand, his long tail swinging from side to side as he moved majestically.

    "The first step to dealing with any raid team..." He spoke without opening his maw, his deep voice vibrating the air around him, his yellow eyes cracked with lightning that streaked as he moved forward, "...is getting rid of the healer."

    "But the rest of you don''t have to worry, just like Kai intended to do with me, I''ll be sure to properly take my time dealing with each of you."

    "I just didn''t like the idea of you all regenerating like zombies, so she had to go. I''m sure you all understand."

    [Ding! [1/6] targets eliminated.]

    [All stats +30%.]

    "What did he just... How did he..." Mira mumbled as she took a few steps back.

    Rex''s iron surged around him, ready for a desperate defense. "Damn it! We can''t let him do this to us!"

    Jin''s sniper rifle trembled in his hands. "How did ite to this? We were supposed to be the hunters!"

    Mira''s eyes zed with fury. "Kael, get a grip, we need to kill that thing! Now!"

    Kael''s grip tightened on his ming sword. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "We fight with everything we''ve got. Rex, like I said earlier, use your iron to create barriers. Jin, aim for his weak points. Mira, enhance your speed and try to nk him."

    "And young master Kai..."

    "Try to find any openings."

 Chapter 175: Overlord Against The Reapers Part Two

    Chapter 175: Overlord Against The Reapers Part Two

    ?

    Kael gripped his ming sword tightly, his mind racing as he formted a battle n. "Rex, get those iron barriers up. Jin, find your position and take aim. Mira, use your speed to nk him. Kai, teleport around and look for openings."

    His voice was steady, but the intensity of the situation was getting to him.

    Rex wasted no time. He mmed his hands into the ground, and with a rumbling groan, massive iron walls surged up around Alister. The dragon''s golden eyes glinted with a touch of annoyance.

    "Do you think this can hold me?" he taunted, his voice vibrating through the air.

    Alister raised his wed hand and shed through the air.

    "Void Rend!"

    A series of golden lightning ws shot out, slicing through the iron walls as if they were made of paper. The walls crumbled, and Rex barely had time to react before Alister charged at him with a burst of speed, his tail whipping around like a sword. It was as if he teleported, instantaneously appearing before him.

    BOOM

    A massive crater suddenly formed where he previously stood, the earth reacting momentster. He had already moved.

    Rex brought up his iron armor just in time, but the force of the tail strike sent him flying backward, crashing into a distant boulder with a deafening boom.

    Kael took advantage of the distraction. He charged at Alister, his ming sword leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

    "Take this, you monster!" he yelled, shing at Alister''s exposed side. Alister''s scales shimmered in the sunlight, and the de barely made a scratch.

    Alister swung his massive wed hand at Kael, who barely managed to dodge, the w slicing through the air with a whistle and embedding itself in the ground, leaving a deep gouge, slicing a shin piece of Kael''s tech armor off.

    Jin had found his position, his sniper rifle trained on Alister''s head. He took a deep breath and fired.

    BANG

    The bullet, enhanced with his talent, traveled with incredible speed and impact. But once it hit Alister''s scales, it dented then fell harmlessly to the desert sand.

    "You''re going to have to do better than that," Alister said, his voice rumbling.

    Mira darted in from the side, her ive a blur as she aimed for Alister''s legs, hoping to slow him down.

    She moved with blinding speed, her ive striking harmlessly against his scales, causing sparks to fly. Suddenly, Alister seemed to vanish before her, dust rising a momentter, causing Mira to look around frantically in search of him.

    "Where is he, where did he-"

    "You are a rather bold one." Alister''s voice echoed from behind her, causing her to freeze as she slowly turned her head to look at him.

    Suddenly, Alister swung his tail, and Mira had to use all her speed to avoid being sliced in half. The tail hit the ground, leaving a deep, smoking trench.

    Kai appeared behind Alister, his twin daggers shing as he aimed for the dragon''s back. He teleported around Alister, trying to find an opening, but Alister was always one step ahead. "Die, you monster!"

    "Don''t get ahead of yourself, Kai."

    With a roar, Alister spun around, his ws shing through the air. Kai barely managed to teleport away in time, the ws missing him by inches.

    "So much forpensation. How are you going to avenge your sweet Yanzi if you keep teleporting like a coward?" Alister growled. He raised his hands, and bolts of golden lightning formed in his grasp. He grabbed hold of them, proceeding to throw them, targeting Kai.

    Kai teleported frantically, but the lightning chased after him, each bolt striking the ground with explosive force and leaving craters in their wake. One grazed him at his side, destroying that side of his armor, tearing through his flesh and causing him to grunt in pain.

    Rex had recovered and was back on his feet. He mmed his hands together, and massive iron spikes erupted from the ground, aiming to impale Alister. Alister dodged and weaved, his movements impossibly fast. He punched one of the spikes, shattering it into pieces that flew like shotgun bullets. Seeing this, Rex raised his arms to shield his head.

    Some of the iron shards embedded in Rex''s iron armor, denting it severely.

    Kael, at a distance, threw a condensed fireball at Alister, the explosive power aimed directly at his chest. Alister opened his maw and let out a st of golden mes, meeting the fireball mid-air. The resulting explosion was blinding, and the shockwave sent Kael skidding backward, his armor scorched and smoking.

    "Is this all you''ve got?" Alister roared, his voice filled with contempt. He shed his ws through the air again, and more lightning ws shot out, targeting the team. They dodged and scrambled, but the ws left deep gashes in the ground, sending up clouds of dust and

    debris.

    Jin fired another shot, this time aiming for Alister''s eye. Alister''s head moved slightly, and the bullet hit his horn instead, exploding and leaving a tiny crack.

    "Annoying insect," Alister hissed. He raised his hand andmanded the earth, massive boulders lifting into the air and hurtling toward Jin. Jin rolled to the side, but one of the boulders clipped his leg, sending him tumbling and leaving him with a nasty gash.

    Mira tried another nking maneuver, her ive glowing as she spun it around. She aimed for Alister''s tail, hoping to disable his most dangerous weapon.

    But Alister''s tail moved with lightning speed, whipping around and striking her side. She flew through the air,nding hard and coughing up blood, her armor cracked and her ive knocked from her hands.

    Kai teleported directly above Alister, plunging his daggers down. Alister looked up, his eyes glowing with his golden mana. He shot a bolt of lightning from his hand, hitting Kai mid-air. Kai screamed as the lightning coursed through his body, and he fell to the ground, smoke rising from his charred skin.

    Rex, with a roar of defiance, created a massive iron fist andunched it at Alister. Alister met it with his own punch, the collision sending shockwaves through the ground. The iron fist shattered, and Rex was thrown backward, hitting the ground hard and struggling to get backn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    up.

    Kael, desperation in his eyes, charged again, his sword zing with even more intensity. He aimed for Alister''s heart, but Alister caught the de in his wed hand, the mes extinguishing instantly. Alister squeezed, and the sword shattered, the pieces falling to the

    ground.

    "Pathetic," Alister spat. He backhanded Kael, sending him flying with a boom, crashing into a massive rock formation in the distance, the impact cracking his armor. He coughed up blood, blood dripping from his nose, eyes red as he was dazed.

    Alister then turned to the fallen team members, his golden eyes cold and merciless as his gaze

    pierced through their souls.

    "This is the end for you."

    Rex struggled to his feet, blood dripping from his wounds. "You think you will be able to get away with this... You monster?"

    Alister chuckled, then he said, "You tell me. I mean, no one is watching right now, right? Or

    am I wrong?"

 Chapter 176: Overlord Against The Reapers Part Three

    Chapter 176: Overlord Against The Reapers Part Three

    ?

    "If someone was, you all wouldn''t have nned to end me here, right?"

    Unknown to Alister, the system let out a notice: [Notice, -??- has been detected.]

    [-??- has increased by 2%.]

    Still gazing at Rex, Alister suddenly smiled, an act one would consider uncharacteristic for him given the current scenario.

    His sharp sets of teeth revealed themselves, causing each of the Reapers to feel a chill run down their spines.

    Their n was to say the signal jamming also affected them; it was the only way Kai would have all the time he wanted to deal with Alister. But now it seemed that n had backfired. "So as long as there is no one watching, then there are no witnesses." Alister said. Alister''s maw opened, and a torrent of golden mes erupted, engulfing Rex. Rex screamed in agony, and the rest of the Reapers watched in shock as he was consumed by the mes. His screams died out as the mes finally consumed him, leaving nothing but charred remains.

    [Ding! [2/6] targets eliminated.]

    [All stats +30%.]

    Alister slowly turned his head to face the others as he said with a touch of excitement, "That''s two, four more to go."

    Jin gritted his teeth, his ash-colored mana shining bright in his eyes as he aimed his rifle at Alister''s eye again.

    He fired, but Alister swatted the bullet away with his w. The recoil of the gun from putting so much mana into it sent a shockwave that knocked Jin off his one good leg.

    Alister suddenly darted towards Jin, appearing before him, pausing to look down at him, his shadow covering him menacingly.

    "Now, let''s make that three."

    He suddenly grabbed Jin''s neck and lifted him off the ground. Jin scrambled as hard as he could but couldn''t break free.

    Alister then pulled back his other hand, straightening his finger, making his arm take on a spear-like shape.

    With a sudden burst of speed, he plunged his arm through Jin''s chest, his hand emerging from his back, covered in blood, dripping to the sands below.

    Jin gasped, his heart pierced through. This was the end for him, but he didn''t want to go out without a fight. He pulled out a small tinum dagger from his side, proceeding to stab Alister with it, intending at least to wound him. He put all his strength into his arm to be able to swing as powerfully as he possibly could.

    CLANG!

    The knife shattered harmlessly against Alister''s scales, its pieces falling to the desert sand. In that shock, he lost hope, his strength waning, limbs eventually going limp.

    [Ding! [3/6] targets eliminated.]

    [All stats +30%.]

    Alister turned his golden eyes towards Mira, Kai, and Kael, his gaze piercing through their souls like a predator hunting prey. He then said, "Now, which of you would like to go next?"

    Mira, having witnessed Rex and Jin''s gruesome deaths, felt fear grip her heart. She hesitated, her legs trembling, her breath hitched, her eyes shaking. "W-we can''t do this... He... He''s going to kill us... All of us," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

    In his thoughts, Kai''s mind raced. ''Helxon... Help me... I need more power...''

    Helxon''s voice echoed in his thoughts, - ''Unfortunately, Kai... One must first offer something to the dark one before he lends his power to them.''~

    Kai gritted his teeth, managing to rise to his feet, mumbling, "This... Wasn''t what you promised me. You said you''d give me more power, enough power to kill Alister..."

    Helxon, although he couldn''t be seen, smiled sinisterly as he replied, ''That was under the assumption that he was human trash as you described... But as I''m sure you can see, he''s a monster.''~

    Kai gritted his teeth, his left red eye bleeding as he slowly walked to pick up the daggers he dropped when he was struck by lightning earlier. "Are... you saying that as I am now, the dark one can''t do anything for me? Anything to make that bastard pay for what he did?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    As he spoke, his grip tightened around the hilt of his dagger, gazing at Alister in the distance with an angry expression, teeth gritted.

    Helxon smiled even further as he replied, ~ ''Well, there is one way...''~

    "What is it? Tell me, tell me no-"

    Just then a red system window materialized before Kai, causing him to pause and look in shock when he read what he saw on the system window.

    ''You... You''re asking me to...''

    ~ ''Yes... I''m d you understand. This is the only way, you have no other choice.''~

    For a moment there was a pause before Kai then raised his head, murmuring, "Are you telling me... That this... This is the only way?"

    ~''Yes, it is. Have I ever lied to you?''~

    ~ ''Don''t you want to get revenge for Yanzi?''~

    ~ ''Don''t you want to see her wake up?''~

    ~''Don''t you want to make him fear you? To make him suffer?''~

    "I do, but... What of sacrifices? Can''t I offer up the dead bodies of my teammates?" Helxon raged in Kai''s thoughts, - ''Uneptable! The dark one only takes offerings in in his name! Not random casualties.''~

    ~ ''Besides, even if you were to continue offering sacrifices for power, then you would need to do this first.''~

    Kai gritted his teeth in anger, with a touch of fear as he asked, "But won''t I... if I..."

    ~ ''Fear not, young one.'' ~ Helxon said, reassuring him, ~ ''The dark one has taken a liking to you, so you need not worry. Simply believe and disy your sincerity, then you will be rewarded without fail.''~

    Kai took a moment to gather his nerves, then he thought to himself, ''I''ll do whatever it takes to make him pay, to see her smile again, and if this is a necessary step in doing so, then it''s nothingpared to all that awaits me.''

    Kai was still recovering from his injuries, but he didn''t let that stop him from what he nned to do next. He teleported behind Alister once more, daggers positioned for a strike.

    Alister anticipated the move, twisting his body and swatting Kai away with a casual flick of his tail. Kai hit the ground hard, coughing up blood and gasping for breath.

 Chapter 177: Overlord Against The Reapers Part Four

    Chapter 177: Overlord Against The Reapers Part Four

    ?

    Mira watched in shock as Kai''s attack was dealt with so easily, seeing him try his best to stand despite the intense burns he must have had all over his body from the lightning strike.

    She saw how Alister watched as Kai tried his best, proceeding to kick him in the abdomen every time he tried to get on his feet. He was obviously far stronger; with his totalbat power, he should have done away with the rest of them like he did Aria.

    She remembered what he said, the sick smile he had on his face before he proceeded to burn Rex to an unrecognizable corpse.

    "He''s toying with us... We don''t stand a chance against him... And if we all keep this up..."

    "Then..."

    "We''ll all die here..." Finally realizing how dire their situation was, she turned to flee.

    "No... I won''t die here. I have my whole life ahead of me!" she yelled.

    She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, using her talent to enhance her speed. Kael and Kai watched in shock as they saw her go.

    Alister watched her as well. Suddenly smiling, he said, "How interesting."

    VOOM

    With a sudden burst of speed, he chased after her, appearing right before her face in the next instant, covering miles in mere moments.

    "And where do you think you''re going?"

    "Don''t tell me you are abandoning your team?"

    "Is that the attitude one should expect from a member of the Reapers'' elite raid team?" "Howical."

    He stepped forward towards her slowly, step by step, causing her to look in terror as she stepped backward, her legs trembling.

    Out of nowhere, Mira suddenly fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.

    "P-please, spare me! I beg of you, sir, I... I didn''t know... this was just a mission. I have no ill intentions towards you... please... I''ll do anything," she begged, her voice trembling.

    Alister shook his head slowly. "A, how sad. Unfortunately, mercy is not amodity I can afford to give out," he said.

    "But don''t worry. For your surrender, I''ll ensure you don''t suffer." With a swift, merciless swing of his tail, Alister decapitated her, her blood sttering on his scales. Mira''s body crumpled to the ground, lifeless, blood staining the earth crimson.

    "Mira!"

    Kael screamed her name, his voice filled with anguish and rage. He clenched his teeth, his eyes zing with fury. Blue mes erupted from his hands, forming into massive fireballs.

    "You monster, to kill with such a look is sickening. You deserve to die."

    "Oh please, you call me a monster, but are you forgetting the sick look you had in your eyes when you said Kai would be killing me aspensation?"

    "And for Yanzi of all things, I must say it was hrious."

    Alister paused slightly before continuing, "I may be a sick monster now, but only God knows how long you''ve been a sick bastard."

    "If anyone deserves to die, then it would be you." Alister said, pointing a wed finger at Kael, grinning right after. His words made Kael grit his teeth, his anger rising.

    "Die!" he yelled, charging forward.

    He hurled them at Alister, the mes creating a series of powerful explosions.

    The inferno raged around Alister, but he walked through the fire unscathed, as if it were nothing more than a gentle breeze. His scales glowed in the light, reflecting the destructive power of Kael''s attacks.

    "I mustmend you, that was rather impressive, but do tell. Is that all?" Alister taunted.

    Kael''s heart pounded in his chest as he hurled more fireballs, each one more intense than thest. The ground shook with the force of the explosions, but Alister remained unaffected, advancing towards him steadily.

    With a roar of frustration and despair, Kael charged at Alister, with mes zing around him. Alister effortlessly dodged the strikes, moving in a blur. He grabbed Kael by the throat, lifting him off the ground.

    Kael struggled, his mes flickering weakly as Alister''s grip tightened.

    "Your efforts aremendable."

    "But ultimately futile." He squeezed, and Kael''s neck snapped with a sickening crunch. Kael''s body went limp, and Alister tossed him aside like a broken doll.

    [Ding! [5/6] targets eliminated.]

    [All stats +30%.]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Kai, thest remaining member of the team, watched in horror as hisrades were ughtered one by one. His body trembled with a touch of fear and rage.

    "You monster!" he screamed, summoning everyst ounce of his strength.

    He teleported frantically, daggers shing as he tried tond a hit. Alister batted him away

    with ease, toying with him. Kai''s movements grew slower, his strength waning.

    With a final burst of energy, Kai lunged at Alister, aiming for his heart. Alister caught the dagger in his hand, shattering it effortlessly.

    "It''s over, Kai, join your team now in the afterlife." he said.

    Alister''s wed hand shot forward, piercing Kai''s chest. Kai gasped, blood spilling from his mouth as he looked into Alister''s cold eyes.

    Kai managed a smile, "This isn''t the end... I''ll be back, and when I do... I''ll make sure to make you suffer, I''ll take away everything precious to you, I wonder how everyone will react when they find out Mr prodigy is actually a monster..." He chuckled weakly.

    "You''ll be abandoned. Labeled a freak and hunted down, and I''ll be sure to watch as you drown in agony and wish for death."

    "An then I... will be the one tond the finishing blow." He whispered, his vision fading to

    ck.

    [Ding! [6/6] targets eliminated.]

    [All stats +30%.]

    [Questpleted!]

    [Notice! All threats neutralized, Berserk deactivated.]

    Alister''s dragon body shrunk slightly but his scales remained. He proceeded to pull out his

    ws from Kai''s body.

    VIZZZ

    Alister felt a massive stinger in his head, causing him to wince slightly.

    ''Side effects of the skill deactivation...'' he thought.

    His mind raced back to what Kael said a moment ago, "But... Was I really smiling?" he wondered, deciding to push it aside since he decided it didn''t really matter, at least for now. But unbeknownst to him, by doing that, a certain emotion inside him died.

    He surveyed the battlefield, the bodies of the Reapers scattered around him. "What a mess..." he muttered, his stomach nearly churning at the sight of the bloody scene.

    "But now that this is over with, I should start finding my way back to the others." Turning away from the carnage, his power had grown, but there was still much to do. He stepped over the fallen, moving forward, and then with a massive beat of his golden wings, he took to the skies.

 Chapter 178: Battles Aftermath

    Chapter 178: Battle''s Aftermath

    ?

    Alister paused while in the air, looking down at the dead bodies scattered across the battlefield. Kai''s final words echoed in his mind, stirring a strange unease within him.

    He realized it would be better to leave no trace of this encounter, and feeding the bodies to his dragons seemed the most efficient way to ensure that.

    "Four of you,e forth," Alister called out.

    Four ck rifts opened up behind him, and out came four wyverns. With a swift motion of his hand, he pointed down towards the bodies.

    "Devour everything," hemanded.

    The wyverns descended upon the bodies, their jaws tearing through flesh and bone. Alister watched for a moment, a cold detached look in his eyes.

    [Devouring value 56%.]

    Once the wyverns had finished, leaving no trace of the Reapers behind, Alister let out a massive sigh, steaming out of his maw as he did, the wyverns that had finished their meal, returned to the rifts. Turning around, Alister then shot through the air with a massive beat of his wings.

    ...

    Back with Terra, Cinder, and Draven, the three stood around the unconscious bodies of Ren and his team. They were now a considerable distance away from the area where the sandworm had raged, the ground still marked by the aftermath of its emergence. Cinder, however, stood apart from the others.

    "Why would our lord want to save these humans?" Cinder asked, her voice had a touch of irritation. "What use are they to him?"

    Terra thought for a moment before responding. "Perhaps he is fond of them and wants to witness how they live out their lives. There is a certain fascination in watching humans grow and change."

    Draven nodded thoughtfully. "Or maybe he admires them for their strength and skill. They have proven themselves to be formidable fighters, even if they often find themselves in peril."

    Cinder scoffed at this idea, her tail flicking with disdain. "Have you forgotten we had to save themst time? And now, again, they needed rescuing. They are simply a baggage holding our lord down."

    Terra''s calm gaze met Cinder''s fiery eyes. "Every being, no matter how weak they may seem, can have their purpose. Our lord sees something in them, something worth preserving. It is not for us to question his judgment."

    Draven agreed, though his eyes remained fixed on the unconscious bodies of Ren and his team. "Our lord''s path is his own. If he chooses to keep these humans by his side, there must be a reason. We serve to support him, not question his decisions."

    Cinder let out a low growl but said nothing more. The bond between the dragons and their lord was unquestionable, even if their opinions sometimes differed. They would continue to follow Alister''s lead, trusting in his vision and his choices.

    As they waited for Alister to return, the three dragons remained vignt, their eyes looking around the horizon for any signs of danger.

    Suddenly, Terra felt a presence swiftly approaching from the sky. She could tell it was Alister, but she was confused about how he could be traveling so rapidly through the air.

    "Our lord approaches... but something seems odd."

    "What is it?" Draven asked.

    "He''s traveling abnormally fast through the air," Terra said, her gaze fixed on the distant sky. Cinder suggested, "Perhaps he''s riding one of the wyverns."

    Terra shook her head. "No, wyverns can''t travel this fast. This speed is extraordinary."

    Draven stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the approaching presence. "There''s also a powerful dragon aura apanying him. Could it be possible our lord has taken on dragon form?"

    "It is very possible," Terra replied, her voice tinged with awe. "But this aura feels much stronger than what I would expect from oneing of age."

    Cinder chuckled, her tail flicking with amusement. "He has done it before, so why should it take him longer to do it again?"

    Terra and Draven remained silent, acknowledging the truth in Cinder''s words.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    In the next instant, a figure plummeted from the sky,nding with a massive crash, sending dust and debris into the air. Despite the dramatic entrance, the three dragons remained calm. As the dust settled, a dragonbat-formed Alister emerged, his scales shimmering under the sunlight.

    The three dragons bowed their heads, paying their respects and greeting him.

    "Wee back, my lord. It appears as though you had an intense battle," Terra said, her voice filled with respect.

    "We await yourmand, my lord!" Draven said with excitement, his eyes gleaming with admiration.

    "Impressive as always, you are just as radiant as ever, even more so now," Cinder remarked, her tone as excited as Draven''s.

    Alister acknowledged their greetings with a nod, his eyes looking around the area.

    "Thank you for your patience. The battle is over, and we must head back to the city now. We can''t wait for the pickup team to arrive."

    Terra, Cinder, and Draven rose from their bows, ready to follow their lord''s orders. Alister walked up to the unconscious bodies of Ren and the others, his draconic features slowly retreating, revealing his busted-up tech armor and normal human appearance.

    He crouched beside them, seeing how they were covered in dust, and ced his hand on Ren to check his pulse. Terra stepped forward, her voice gentle as she reassured him. "They''re all okay, my lord, except for a few broken bones. They will survive if they get proper treatment."

    Alister sighed in relief. "We need to start making our way to the city so we can get a healer." Just then, Terra turned her head toward the horizon, her eyes narrowing in focus.

    While she did, Alister thought about making Draven carry them since he was thergest of the three dragons. "Draven, prepare to carry them," he ordered.

    Draven nodded, stepping forward. "Understood."

    But then Terra spoke up. "That may be unnecessary, my lord."

    Alister turned to her, puzzled. "Why?"

    Terra turned to him, a faint smile on her lips. "Because it seems help is already arriving."

    Alister looked to the sky and saw a massive aircraft flying towards them in the distance. His eyes narrowed, recognizing the White Comets logo emzoned on its side. A slight smile

    formed on his lips.

    "It seems you''re right, Terra."

    As the aircraft slowly flew closer, the sight of it further gave Alister relief. His confidence in the situation solidified, knowing that reinforcements were on their way.

    The aircraft slowed down as it arrived before them, its thrusters facing downward as it slowly descended, kicking up a cloud of dust. Alister shielded his eyes from the swirling particles, peering through the haze as the aircraftnded. The lid opened, and a group of people stepped out, all dressed in simple tech equipment.

    At the front of the group was Yuuto, half of his face obscured by his hair. Alister wanted to greet him, but there was an intense aura around Yuuto that made him hesitate. Alister could hear Terra''s voice in his head. ''He''s practically radiating murderous intent.''

    ''Murderous intent?'' Alister silently wondered. ''I don''t understand... Did I do something

    wrong?''

    Alister wanted to ask if there was something on Yuuto''s mind, but the aura around him was so intense it seemed like the words couldn''t leave his throat.

 Chapter 179: Event End: Those In Search Of The Overlord

    Chapter 179: Event End: Those In Search Of The Overlord

    ?

    ''What the hell is this?'' Alister wondered. The intensity of the murderous aura he felt from Yuuto easily rivaled his own when he was in his dragonbat form with his Berserk skill activated.

    Yet, at the same time, it didn''t seem like his aura was present. If it were, the people behind him would show signs of unease or fear. Perhaps it was something only those with enhanced senses could perceive.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As Yuuto made his way toward them, Alister and his dragons tensed up. With each of Yuuto''s steps, Alister''s heart beat even faster.

    He could practically hear only his heartbeat as his eyes focused intensely on each step Yuuto took.

    Terra and the others exchanged nces, each assuming a battle stance, ready to unleash an attack on Yuuto if he did anything to Alister.

    But then, Yuuto walked past Alister, making him release a massive sigh of relief as he grasped his chest where his heart was.

    Following closely behind Yuuto was Lady Aiko. She also walked past Alister, heading straight for Ren and the others.

    ''I-I thought I was going to die...'' Alister thought, barely catching his breath.

    Yuuto paused before the unconscious bodies of Ren and his team, taking a look at each of them. He then let out a sigh, a small smile on his lips as he turned to Aiko. "They''re alive." Aiko yelled out, calling for the healers. "Healers,e and tend to them!"

    Healers quickly emerged from the aircraft, rushing to Ren and the others to provide the necessary treatment. Alister watched, feeling a touch of relief and gratitude. As the healers worked, he took a moment to gather his thoughts and steady his breathing.

    Yuuto turned back to Alister, his intense aura now softened. "You did well, Alister. Thank you for saving them."

    Alister nodded, still slightly on edge but relieved that the immediate danger seemed to have passed. "You''re wee, sir."

    Terra, Cinder, and Draven rxed their stances. As the healers continued their work, the tension in the air eased, and they all rxed fully.

    Suddenly, a voice called out, "Alister!" breaking through his thoughts.

    He turned his head to see a woman running toward him from the aircraft. She was among the group of healers, with a concerned expression on her face as she approached.

    It was L, closing the distance between them. She reached him and immediately began assessing his condition with her eyes, her hands hovering as if ready to start healing at any moment.

    "Are you okay? What happened? Are you hurt?"

    Alister managed a reassuring smile, though he could see the anxiety in her eyes.

    "I''m fine, L. Just a bit tired from the battle. But it''s over now."

    She looked him over, her healer''s instincts kicking in. "You don''t look fine. You''re covered in dust, and there''s damage to your armor. Let me take a look."

    Alister raised a hand to stop her. "Really, L, I''m okay. There are others who need your help more than I do." He pointed to the unconscious bodies of Ren and his team. "They need immediate attention."

    L''s eyes followed his finger, and her expression softened with understanding. "You''re right. I''ll start with them. But promise me you''ll let me check you over once we''re back in the -city."

    Alister nodded. "I promise. Thank you, L."

    She gave him a small smile before hurrying over to Ren and the others, her hands already glowing with her healing talent. Alister watched her for a moment, appreciating her dedication and the care she showed for everyone.

    Yuuto watched the exchange between Alister and L with a knowing smile. "Ah, to be young again."

    Alister, puzzled, looked at Yuuto. "What does that mean?"

    Yuuto simply shook his head, saying nothing more. The healers had finished their work, and the unconscious bodies of Ren and the others were carefully carried into the aircraft. Yuuto turned to Alister and said, "We''ll be returning now."

    He paused, then added with a smile, "However, we don''t have room for your dragons in here. You''ll need to unsummon them."

    Alister smiled in return. "Understood." He raised his hand, and with a gentle motion, the dragons broke into particles of light, disappearing from sight. As thest of the particles faded, Alister stepped into the aircraft with the others.

    The interior of the aircraft was spacious, filled with various pieces of technology and equipment. Alister found a seat and settled in, the hum of the engines aforting reminder that they were heading back to the city.

    He nced around at the team, noticing L was seated beside him, though for some reason she couldn''t look at his face, her cheeks flushed.

    Alister felt a bit awkward about how she was acting but decided not to focus on it.

    Just then, the system''s voice echoed in his head as a yellow holographic window materialized. [Ding!! Congrats to the yer forpleting the quest: Pride of an Overlord!]

    [Reward: ''Dark Quartz Summoning Conduit'' has been ced in your inventory.]

    Alister was slightly shocked when the notification popped up before him, blinking in surprise. For a moment, he stared at the glowing yellow window, then sighed in realization.

    ''It does make sense,'' he thought. ''The wastnd disy event is over, after all. It was around this time we left on the first day.''

    A smile crept onto his face as he muttered to himself, "With this, tonight I''ll be summoning two dragon generals."

    L, who was seated beside him, overheard him speaking but couldn''t quite make out what he said. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she leaned in slightly. "What did you just say,

    Alister?"

    Alister nced at her, then shrugged casually. "Oh, it''s nothing."

    L blinked, slightly taken by surprise. "O-Okay," she stuttered, before sitting back, her cheeks slightly flushed as she tried topose herself.

    And with that, the wastnd disy event came to a close, with out young Summoner eagerly looking forward to expanding his forces, as well as telling his sister all about it when he got

    back.

    ....

    Somewhere, far far away in the heart of the wastnds, hidden deep within a dense forest teeming with mutated wildlife, a secret vige thrived.

    The thick canopy above cast shadows across the settlement, where gray-skinned people with tails, pointy ears, small horns, and striking silver hair moved about their daily routines.

    Their piercing yellow eyes gleamed under the muted light as they worked, hunted, and tended to theirmunity.

    At the center of the massive vige stood arge hut, its walls covered with ancient symbols

    and talismans.

    Inside, an elderly woman sat cross-legged before a shimmering orb, her hand moving in slow circles over its surface. Her glowing yellow eyes flickered as if gazing beyond the present moment, searching for something only she could see.

    Behind her stood a younger woman, tall and powerfully built, her skin marked with tribal patterns that symbolized her strength and position.

    She shifted restlessly, her gaze fixed on the old woman as she urged her on. "Elder Nari, have

    you seen anything yet?"

    Her voice was filled with impatience but there was a touch of respect, the weight of hope

    heavy in her tone.

    The elder continued her ritual in silence, her focus never wavering. Moments passed, the tension in the room thickening with each second. Then, finally, the old woman stopped, her eyes losing their intense glow as she turned to face the warrior. A slow smile crept across her weathered face as she called out the younger woman''s name.

    "Sarai," Elder Nari said, her voice soft but filled with certainty. "I have found it... the aura of

    the Overlord."

    "An Overlord lives in thesends my child!"

    Sarai''s breath caught in her throat, her golden eyes widening in shock before they sparkled

    with excitement.

    "The Dragonkin shall not be doomed to extinction!" she eximed. "If we have our great ruler and protector by our side, we can reim our future!"

    Elder Nari nodded solemnly. "Yes, Sarai. Our protector walks the earth once more. But finding him is only the beginning. The path ahead is treacherous. You must be ready." Sarai''s heart raced, but her expression suddenly steeled. "I will not fail. For the Dragonkin, for our survival, I will find him and bring him home."

 Chapter 180: A Warm Welcome

    Chapter 180: A Warm Wee

    ?

    The screen flickered to life as Marcus and Elena, the charismatic hosts of Megacity I''s Wastnd Disy event, appeared before a massive digital backdrop disying footage of the recently concluded Wastnd Disy event.

    Both wore sleek, professional Union suits, but their expressions were filled with the

    excitement that followed such a monumental event.

    "Good afternoon, everyone! I''m Marcus, and with me is the ever-insightful Elena," Marcus began, his voice steady as the camera zoomed in for a close-up.

    "That''s right, Marcus!" Elena chimed in with enthusiasm.

    "And what a show it''s been! After days of intensepetition and high-stakes battles, the Wastnd Disy event has officiallye to a close!" Marcus eximed.

    The backdrop transitioned to a wide shot of the event''s final moments, showing aircrafts from each guild returning from the dangerous wastnds.

    Marcus nodded. "The winners? None other than the White Comets, securing the top spot with their strategic brilliance and Alister''s powerful performances. A truly dominant force throughout the event."

    Elena leaned in, smiling. "No surprises there! The White Comets showed incredible coordination, not to mention some impressive leadership from Ren on the field, with their MVP none other than Alister and his trio of mythic summons. But let''s not forget about the Reapersing in second. They were fiercepetitors this year, although..."

    Her voice trailed off, leaving Marcus to pick up where she left off. "Yes, although word just came in that the Reapers have gone MIA after the final battle. No official word yet on what happened, but it''s definitely strange. Some specte they were caught up in the site of a sand worm emergence. e."

    Elena''s smile faltered slightly as she added, "Unfortunately so. Given the random nature of sand worms, predicting an emergence is still not possible. The White Comets got caught up in it as well, but luckily for them, their Dragon Summoner saved the day. Kudos to Alister for having his team''s back."

    "Moving on-The Berserkers took third ce, much to everyone''s surprise given their rawbat prowess and streak for winning years in a row. They could have easily suppressed the Reapers, but apparently the appearance of Spade broke more than just their bones."

    "And even if they did, surpassing the White Comets would have been a significant hurdle, considering they had the support of three mythical monsters," Marcus added.

    He nodded as the screen transitioned to show the rankings. "And let''s not forget the Red Phoenix Guild in fourth ce. They put up a strong showing, though they were just edged out of the top three. Finally, the Blue Seals finishedst, but their efforts can''t be denied."

    Elena gave a soft chuckle. "The Blue Seals had a rough time out there, but they held their own. It''s all about learning and growing in events like this."

    Marcus turned to the camera. "With the Wastnd Disy event officially closed and the winners decided, all eyes are now focused on weing home our champions-especially the White Comets'' Alister Hazenworth."

    "That''s right, Marcus," Elena agreed. "We''ll be keeping you updated as new developments unfold. But for now, congrattions to the White Comets and all the guilds whopeted!"

    The screen faded as the broadcast transitioned back to highlight reels from the event, leaving viewers buzzing with excitement.

    As the aircraft of the White Comet Guild descended toward thending tform, everyone inside stood, bracing for the final touchdown. The atmosphere was heavy with an odd silence. Ren and the others had regained consciousness, but there was no chatter, no celebratory words-just silence.

    Alister stood among them, his mind still reying the recent battles. He barely registered the sounds of the engines slowing as they neared the runway. Just then, Yuuto nced over at him.

    "Alister, are you ready?" Yuuto asked, his voice mischievous, with a touch of curiosity.

    Alister blinked, slightly confused. "Ready for what?" he asked, his brows furrowing.

    Yuuto smiled faintly, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh? You don''t know?" He stepped closer, the small smile on his lips widening. "Well, I suppose it''s my responsibility as Guildmaster to enlighten you, then."

    Alister tilted his head, trying to understand what the guildmaster was getting at. Before he could say anything, Yuuto continued, his voice now lower and teasing. "You''re famous now, Alister. How do you n to handle that?"

    "Famous?" Alister echoed, the word feeling foreign on his tongue. It seemed almost absurd to him, as if it didn''t belong in the same sentence as his name.

    Yuuto chuckled, clearly enjoying Alister''s confusion. "You''ll see."

    The aircraft''snding gear touched down with a soft thud, and the engines began to quiet as the craft settled on the runway. The hatch slowly opened with a hiss, revealing the outside world.

    To Alister''s shock, a huge crowd had gathered just beyond thending pad. They stretched out as far as the eye could see, people craning their necks, holding up signs, and shouting excitedly. The noise hit him like a wave, loud and overwhelming.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Yuuto, everposed, stepped forward first, making his way through the throng with ease. But the moment the members of the guild''s clearing team stepped off the ramp, the crowd

    erupted.

    "They''ve arrived!"

    "It''s the White Comets, baby!"

    "Ren! Team leader Ren! Over here!" a woman screamed, practically jumping up and down in excitement.

    "Ren! Are you single? Are you looking for a girlfriend?"

    shes from cameras lit up the scene as the guild members descended the ramp. Reporters surged forward, microphones at the ready, calling out to anyone from the guild they could

    spot.

    "White Comets! How does it feel to take first ce in the wastnd event?"

    "Team leader Ren! What was the hardest challenge in the wastnd?"

    "Hiroshi! Kaida! You two were amazing out there!" someone called from the side, waving a sign with their names written in bold letters.

    "Kaida, how does it feel knowing your guild surpassed the Berserkers this year?" another reporter called, barely managing to get close enough to the team.

    But the real shift in the atmosphere happened when Alister stepped out. The moment he appeared, the crowd seemed to collectively pause, as if stunned by his presence. Then, the frenzy escted.

    "Alister! It''s him!" someone screamed, pointing as the crowd''s attention zeroed in on him.

    "Dragon Lord!" a voice from the back called out, and soon, the chant spread like wildfire.

    "Dragon Lord! Dragon Lord!"

    The crowd began chanting his title, their voices growing louder with every passing second.

    "Alister, over here! What''s it like tomand dragons?"

    "Dragon Lord, what''s your next big move?"

    "Dragon Lord, can you summon one of your dragons right now?"

    "Is it true that all your dragons can take on humanoid form?"

    "If so, isn''t Cinder female? How far does her loyalty go? Will she do absolutely anything you

    ask her to?"

    Alister took a step forward,pletely taken by surprise by the wave of voices calling his name. The sheer energy from the crowd was overwhelming, and he could hardly process what was happening. It was all too surreal.

    Yuuto, standing nearby, smirked and locked eyes with Alister from the distance. Although his voice couldn''t be heard over the noise, Alister could tell what he was saying just by watching his lips move. "See? I told you. You''re famous now."

    ''Famous...'' Alister thought, the word feeling so alien to him as he looked around, hearing his name being shouted by hundreds of people. It almost didn''t feel real.

    Yuuto chuckled at Alister''s expression, then suddenly, Lady Aiko pped her hands to ease

    the crowd as she spoke up. "That will be enough now, please! Our team members are all very exhausted, as you all may know, so I suggest you save these questions for after they recover and are ready to discuss at ater date."

    Slowly, the crowd began to clear up. "Thank you," she said, proceeding to lead the remaining guild members closely behind Yuuto.

    But as they moved, the focus remained fixed on Alister. The chants of "Dragon Lord!" filled the air, louder and more fervent by the second. Alister was now the center of their world, the hero of the White Comet Guild and, in their eyes, the legendary Dragon Lord.

 Chapter 181: A Warm Welcome Part Two

    Chapter 181: A Warm Wee Part Two

    ?

    The White Comets had all settled into the sleek, ck guild transports that were waiting for them. The hover vehicle was built for speed, cutting through the bustling streets of Megacity I with ease.

    At the back seats of the transport sat Ren, his team, Yuuto, and Lady Aiko, while the other hover transport trailing behind carried the guild''s healers and support staff.

    Inside, there was silence. It wasn''t the peaceful kind, but the heavy, suffocating kind that lingered after a long, exhausting battle. Everyone seemed lost in their thoughts, reying the chaos they had just survived.

    Yuuto, choosing to lighten the mood, cleared his throat. The sound, though soft, echoed in the quiet space, drawing a few eyes his way. His expression was casual, almost amused, as if he was trying to brush away the tension.

    The way he acted seemed to hint that this silence was caused by something other than exhaustion.

    Hiroshi, sitting beside Ren, shifted in his seat and let out a loud, exaggerated sigh. He finally broke the silence with a smirk, turning toward Alister, who was staring nkly out the

    window.

    "So, Alister," Hiroshi began, his voice yful, "how does it feel to be famous now? Dragon Lord and all that, huh?"

    Alister shrugged, still staring out at the city lights passing by. "Odd," he said simply, as though fame was something entirely foreign to himˇŞan inconvenience more than anything. Hiroshi chuckled, shaking his head. "Odd, huh? Well, you''ll get used to it," he said with a grin. "I remember back when we cleared an event like this for the first time. Man, thedies were swarming all over me-practically begging for my attention. Couldn''t keep them away!"

    Just as Hiroshi puffed his chest, clearly relishing the memory, Kaida cut him off with a sharp snort, arms crossed. "That wasn''t you, idiot. That was Ren. No woman in her right mind would fawn over you."

    "The hell? You make it sound like I''m some kind of monster. Let me tell you, ady in a suit tapped on my shoulder back there, she clearly wanted to get me to look her way!" Hiroshi said with a smug smile.

    "More like she wanted you to get out of the way so she could see Alister. If my now ringing ears do not deceive me, they were all calling out ''Dragon Lord,'' not ''Hiroshi.""

    The group erupted into chuckles, the tense air finally breaking. Even Yuuto couldn''t hide his amused smirk. Hiroshi blinked, caught off guard, before throwing his hands up in mock surrender.

    "Okay, okay, I get it! But one day, mark my words, I''ll be the one they''ll all be after!" Hiroshi spoke with confidence, yet none of them could take him seriously.

    Ren, who had been silent up until now, nced sideways at Hiroshi. Adjusting his sses, he said, "Maybe your goal should be getting more kills than Alister''s dragonsbined."

    "Definitely then you''ll be the next hot topic," he added, his voice calm but with a touch of amusement.

    Hiroshi groaned, rolling his eyes. "Not you too, Ren! Come on! Where is your pride as team leader? Throwing hurtful jabs at my dream is not cool."

    "Really? That''s your dream?" Razorgrin asked, sounding genuinely surprised. "Don''t you think you''re setting the bar a little too low there?"

    "Buff guys like you wouldn''t understand, Razorgrin," Hiroshi countered, waving his hand dismissively at him.

    Yuuto looked at the group with a yful gleam in his eyes. "Ah, it''s nice to see you all easing up a little, but tell me, is that all you five have to say?"

    Theughter died down, and the transport fell into silence once more. The mood inside shifted, bing heavier as they neared their destination. For a while, no one spoke; the only sound was the soft hum of the engines as they cut through the city.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Ren, seated at the middle opposite Alister, adjusted his sses. His fingers lingered on the frames as if he was buying time, carefully choosing his words. Finally, he turned to Alister, his voice calm but with some weight behind it.

    "Alister."

    At the sound of his name, Alister blinked and looked at him. The others followed suit, their gazes settling on him with an intensity that made the moment feel even heavier.

    Ren paused for a moment, his eyes meeting Alister''s before he continued, "Thank you... for saving us back there."

    The words hung in the air, and for a brief second, no one else spoke. Then Hiroshi, Kaida, Goro, and Razorgrin exchanged nces, their faces reflecting a touch of relief and awkwardness.

    "We''ve been meaning to say it..."

    "...but I think we were all a bit... embarrassed."

    "Yeah... We were quiet because..." Hiroshi said, pausing, rubbing the back of his neck. Letting out a sigh, he decided not to beat around the bush.

    "Well... we showed you some pretty... ipetent sides of ourselves out there. It wasn''t exactly our proudest moment."

    "We let you carry too much of the burden on your own. And you had to step in when we couldn''t handle it. You saved us... twice." Kaida finally spoke up as well.

    Alister, who had been quiet throughout, watched them closely, his gaze moving from one to the next. He could see the sincerity in their eyes, the unspoken apology behind their words.

    "We didn''t know how to face you after that..."

    "But... we want you to know how grateful we are." Ren finished, his expression softening.

    "I''m grateful as well, and I apologize for my previously rude behavior towards you," Razorgrin said, bowing his head slightly. "I hope you can forgive me. I look forward to working with you in the future."

    Goro also spoke up. "Although you and I haven''t spoken much, I can''t deny that I didn''t exactly have a high opinion of you either. I''m sorry for that."

    There was a collective silence again, but this time, it felt different. It wasn''t heavy; instead, it felt warm. Each of them waited, their eyes on Alister, unsure of how he would respond.

    Alister looked down, the weight of their words sinking in. Finally, he let out a sigh and said, "Seriously, you all had me worried that the sandworm left you traumatized. That you might

    never speak again."

    "Geez," he added with a faint smile. "Seems I was worried for nothing."

    Alister paused, then suddenly spoke up. "I won''t be taking the apology."

    The sudden statement caused Goro and Razorgrin to tense up, sharing an awkward nce. Their earlier relief faded as they exchanged looks of confusion and unease.

    Alister, noticing their reaction, quickly followed up. "How you acted was harsh butpletely natural. There''s nothing to feel sorry for. To be honest, even I wouldn''t have

    trusted someone like mepletely-someone who climbed so high out of nowhere. I get

    it."

    His words hung in the air for a moment, easing the tension. Goro and Razorgrin slowly rxed, their expressions softening as they listened.

    Alister continued, "And as for thanking me..."

    "There''s no need. Like Ren said back in Sector X, we''re a team after all... Right?" he smiled.

    Hearing this, Ren couldn''t help but pause, looking in shock. Suddenly he chuckled.

    "You''re right."

    As he calmed down, Ren then extended his hand toward Alister. "I didn''t do this properly the

    first time we met. I''d like to set things right."

    Ren straightened up, his gaze meeting Alister''s with sincerity. "Ren Tanaka..."

    "...team leader of the White Comets'' first attack team. And you are?"

    Alister smiled, reaching out to grasp Ren''s hand firmly. "My name is Alister Hazenworth, and

    it''s a pleasure to be a member of this team."

    Ren''s smile widened. "The pleasure is all mine. Wee to the White Comets, Alister."

 Chapter 182: Beyond the Battle: New Horizons

    Chapter 182: Beyond the Battle: New Horizons

    ?

    When Alister and the others arrived back at the White Comet Guild, they were greeted with a wee party. The remaining members of the guild gathered, pping and cheering as the team stepped off the transport.

    Smiles andughter filled the air as the guild members surrounded them, offering congrattions for their victory and safe return.

    The celebration carried on for most of the day, with food, music, and stories of their battle shared among the guild. Alister, though not usually one forrge gatherings, found himself swept up in all the fun.

    As the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Alister excused himself from the festivities. He had somewhere else he needed to be.

    Stepping out of the guild''srge entrance hall, he made his way to the busy streets. He raised his hand and hailed a cab, which pulled up almost immediately. Sliding into the back seat, he gave the driver a hospital''s address and settled in as the cab began to make its way through the neon-lit streets.

    As he sat in the back of the cab, his mind wandered. The celebration had been a brief distraction, but now his thoughts returned to more pressing matters.

    It had been some time since he and Lian made their deal for his help. He thought by now after returning she would contact him with good news.

    ''I hope my little fight with the Berserkers as Spade didn''t frighten her...''

    ''Things could get harder for me if she decides to not follow through with our deal.''

    Alister thought to himself, his fingers absentmindedly tapping on the armrest.

    "Or maybe she hasn''t contacted me yet... because she still hasn''t found all the items. Not yet."

    His gaze shifted to the city lights blurring outside the window. He felt a gnawing impatience, but he knew Lian was doing everything she could. Gathering rare and powerful materials wasn''t something that could be rushed, no matter how much he wished it could be.

    Alister sighed, leaning back into his seat. The quiet hum of the city buzzed around him, but his thoughts remained on Miyu. For now, all he could do was wait-wait for Lian to find what they needed, and hope that time wouldn''t run out before then.

    ''Status window.'' Alister called out in his thoughts.

    [yer: Alister Hazenworth

    Level: 38

    ss: tOverlordt Summoner (Awakened Talent) (SSS)n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Stats:

    HP: 2250/2250 - [100/100%

    MP: 7,656/10,678

    -Strength: 8,000

    -Agility: 8,500

    -Intelligence: 10,000

    -Endurance: 7,500

    -Dexterity: 7,000

    -Mana: 10,678

    -Luck: 80

    Totalbat power: 51,678 (A - rank)

    - ?Summoning Powert: 100%

    Mana Regeneration: 40 MP/minute

    Avable Stat Points: 23

    Title(s): The One Who Forced His Will On Others.

    Skills:

    Draconic Rage Lvl3 (S-rank)

    Blood Maniption Lvl3 (B+ -rank)

    Blood Healing Lvl2 (B+ -rank)

    Camouge Lvl1 (B-rank)

    Draconic Hunger Lvl3 (S-rank)

    Berserk Lvl2 (S-rank)

    Mana Distortion Aura Lvl2 (S-rank)

    List of summons:

    Drake, Cinder Von Abkis-Void (A-rank)

    SandStorm Dragoon, Terra Von Archi-Void (B-rank)

    Lighting Dragon Knight, Darven Von Valor-Void (A+ Rank)

    Current quest(s):

    The Word of an Overlord.

    Overlord''s sharpest fang.

    Last stand (1/10).

    Where Are They Now? (1/30).

    [Notice: The ws of an Overlord (100%)!]

    [Notice!! Congrattions to the yer forpleting the quest The ws of an Overlord!]

    Alister frowned as he stared at the glowing yellow window in front of him. The system was just now notifying him aboutpleting the quest The ws of an Overlord, even though the notification for the Wastnd quest came way earlier.

    ''Why am I just getting this notification now?''

    He had expected the notification back when the Wastnd Completion quest ended. It didn''t make sense for the system to wait so long to alert him, especially given how it usually reacted

    instantly.

    Just as he was about to dismiss the notification, a new message popped.

    [System Notice: The yer''s body has been undergoing a recalibration due to the massive fluctuation in stats. The questpletion was dyed until your body could properly adjust.]

    Alister''s confusion deepened for a moment, before the meaning of the message started to

    sink in.

    Constant fluctuation of stats... He recalled how his body had been forced through rapid changes due to using the Berserk skill-his strength, endurance, and mana levels raised rapidly now falling after he used the skill.

    ''Another side effect, seems I''ll really have to hold off using Berserk along with Draconic Rage unless I absolutely have to.'' Alister thought.

    It had been happening so fast that he hadn''t fully realized how much strain it was putting on

    him.

    [Your body''s adjustments have now stabilized, and your previous motions and actions have been recorded into memory.]

    Alister sighed and leaned back in his seat, the city lights shing by as the cab sped through the streets. It made sense now-the system had been waiting for his body to recover, ensuring that everything had been properly locked into ce before finalizing the quest.

    He couldn''t help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. For a moment, he had worried something was wrong, but now that he understood, it reassured him. It also exined why he had been feeling so exhausted since the fight with the Reapers. His body had been trying to keep up with the constant shifts in his powers.

    ''Well, at least that''s one less thing to worry about.'' he thought.

    Alister then dismissed the system screen with a wave of his hand, his thoughts lingered on the

    notification aboutpleting The ws of an Overlord quest.

    "Since it''s done now... that means..." he muttered, his mind racing.

    ''Dungeon raids.''

    A small smile appears on his face. ''I can finally participate in dungeon raids.''

    He leaned back, the excitement bubbling beneath the surface.

    "I can''t wait..." he whispered to himself.

    The cab continued to make its way through the city streets, but Alister''s mind was already elsewhere-inside the dark, dangerous depths of the dungeons he would soon face. [Notice! The yer has reached the sufficient level to open the Dragon god''s treasury.] [Items can only be obtained through the exchange of prestige points.]

 Chapter 183: The Regressor: Quinton The Legendary Gear Mage

    Chapter 183: The Regressor: Quinton The Legendary Gear Mage

    ?

    Inner Rings of Megacity III... Sector II

    The dim, neon lights of the bar reflected off the sleek metallic walls, casting a blue and purple hue over the people seated around the circr table.

    The sounds of hovering service drones buzzed in the background as they delivered drinks to tables scattered across the lounge. The city outside came to life, the glow of hover cars and towering skyscrapers blending into a blur of colors through the expansive windows.

    At one particr table, three middle-aged men satughing; each of them wore nice suits, but one could tell they weren''t from these parts by how they acted.

    Their drinks fizzed in their ss-like containers. Elric, a brown-haired, green-eyed man, leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his roughed-up hair as he smirked at the ongoing chat.

    "I''m telling you," Elric said, swirling his drink with a flick of his wrist.

    "If this keeps up, we''re all going to die bachelors. Every single one of us."

    His friend Lucas, a reddish-brown-haired, yellow-eyed man who was seated beside him, pped the table, nearly knocking over his own drink as he roared withughter.

    "Speak for yourself! I''m still weighing my options, thank you very much."

    He raised his ss, stillughing, the red wine casting a shimmering reflection on his grinning face.

    Quinton, a man with ck hair and blue eyes, the third one in the group, took a long sip from his own drink, shaking his head.

    "Options? You''ve been weighing those options for five years, man! At this rate, you''ll be lucky if you get a bot to marry you."

    "Though I hear the ones in Megacity V are so advanced, it''s really hard to tell the difference between them and the real deal."

    "So what, you want to buy a wife now? Well, that sounds depressing," Elric said.

    "Shame we''re too poor to afford it."

    The trio burst intoughter, their voices rising above the sounds of conversations around the bar.

    "You know what? At least I''m not the one who got turned down by some edgy mercenary assassin," Lucas shot back, pointing at Elric with a mockingly using finger.

    Elric leaned forward, grinning. "Hey, that assassindy was an angel sent to me from heaven. How was I supposed to resist perfection?"

    Before anyone could respond, Quinton''sughter suddenly cut off. His face paled, his eyes widening as his hand instinctively covered his mouth.

    "Oh no..."

    Lucas blinked, confused. "Quinton? You alright?"

    But Quinton was already scrambling to his feet, knocking over his chair in his haste. His expression was a loom of panic and nausea as he half-stumbled, half-ran toward the bathroom.

    "Oh crap," Elric said, watching Quinton push past a couple near the entrance and disappear into the restroom.

    Lucas nced at Elric, stifling augh. "I knew he couldn''t handle the Sizzle shots. Those things are practically banned for a reason."

    "To be fair," Elric said, holding back a chuckle, "that drink is basically a chemical experiment in a ss."

    They exchanged a look before bursting intoughter again, the sound blending with the music in the bar.

    "So this is where you little thieves have been hiding," a gruff voice called out, causing both of them to instantly stopughing and look up to see the figure of a man looming over them with two bulky men by his side, both with mechanical eyes.

    For some reason, the sight of this man made them go pale, chills running down their spines.

    ...

    Quinton stumbled into the restroom, rushing toward the sink as nausea overcame him. He barely made it before he was doubled over, retching violently into the basin.

    The harsh fluorescent lights above flickered slightly, illuminating the chaos of his panic. After a few agonizing moments, he straightened, breathing heavily. He turned on the tap, letting the cold water rush over the sink to rinse it out. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he muttered to himself,

    "Damn, guess I had too much to drink."

    Just as he was about to step out of the restroom, a sudden sharp pain shot through his head...

    VIZZZ

    Causing him to stagger back. Quinton''s eyes widened, and he fell to his knees, his scream echoing off the sterile walls.

    Images shed through his mind like a chaotic slideshow-flickering memories, distorted visions of a world he didn''t recognize, people, ces, items, happy moments, sad ones, dragons, and symbols that felt ancient and powerful.

    He gasped for breath, grappling with the overwhelming sensations.

    ''What the hell is all this?''

    He wondered silently, his confusion only serving to increase his fear as he tried to piece together the whirlwind in his mind.

    Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the pain subsided, leaving him breathless and panting on the floor.

    Quinton blinked, trying to regain his bearings. The air of panic he had around him had simply disappeared; now he was strangely calm, too calm.

    He stood up to face the mirror only to find that a section of his ck hair had turned a vibrant blue, glimmering under the harsh lights.

    As he looked into the mirror, his eyes reflected gear-like symbols that had appeared in both irises, glowing faintly as they turned slowly, a metallic churning sound echoing in his mind.

    Quinton stood in front of the mirror, taking a deep breath; he steadied himself and called out,

    "Talent window."

    In an instant, a holographic screen flickered into existence before him, disying his status. However, his brow furrowed as he read the words ring back at him.

    Name: Quinton Roth

    Age: 42

    Talent: None

    Talent Rank: N/A

    Talent Info: No inherent talent identified.

    Talent Rank Bonus: N/A

    Strength: 492

    Agility: 387

    Intelligence: 501

    Endurance: 425

    Mana: 300

    Dexterity: 290

    Luck: 15

    Total Combat Power: 2,410 (Rank F)

    +Special Abilitiest: None[]

    ''So I''m back to where I was at 42, meaning there''s just two years till the next descent.''

    ''What of the talent that he promised?''

    "Seriously?" Quinton muttered, with an intense look of disappointment as his eyes went

    down his status window.

    "All that, yet I didn''t get the talent?"

    "Damn it!"

    But there was no time to dwell on it. He had to continue with what else he had nned to use

    in this scenario.

    "Seems I''ll have to follow his method in the end."

    "Gear-Forge..."

    The air around him seemed to crackle with blue mana as he felt a surge of power; his eyes

    shone brightly, and for a moment, there was the faintest figure of blue gears hovering behind

    him.

    "Modify talent to ''Gear Mage," he said. As he did, a sharp pain shot through him again, and tears began to stream down his face, blood droplets dropping into the sink.

    Talent Status Window:

    Name: Quinton Roth

    Age: 42

    Talent: Gear Mage (Blessing)

    Talent Rank: ?? (Talent rank not registered in the system)N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Talent Info: Create a cosmic gear and force your will on reality. (At a cost)

    Talent Rank Bonus: (Mastery over reality??%)

    Strength: 492

    Agility: 387

    Intelligence: 501 Endurance: 425

    Mana: 300

    Dexterity: 290

    Luck: 15 Total Combat Power: 2,410 (Rank F)

    +Special Abilitiest: Gear Forge.[]

    [Hidden Talent: Obtained!]

    [Special Perks: To Be Revealed]

    Quinton''s eyes widened, then he smiled slightly and said, "Open Administrator Module," he said, his curiosity piqued. A message shed on the talent window as it went red.

    [System Notice: Insufficient rights to open Administrator Module.]

    Quinton hissed in frustration, the reality of the situation hitting him. "Of course," he scoffed bitterly, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was too much to hope for."

    He took a moment topose himself, shaking off the lingering sense of disappointment.

    Just then, the restroom door swung open with a loud crash, and Elric burst in, his face bruised

    and bloodied, panic etched across.

    "Quinton! We have to run!" he shouted, his voice raspy. Quinton spun around, shocked as he saw the state his friend was in.

    "What the hell happened?!"

 Chapter 184: A Deal With A Devil

    Chapter 184: A Deal With A Devil

    ?

    Elric nced nervously at the door, his breathing in ragged gasps. "It''s him, Quinton! The guy whose artifact we sold to a dealer! He''s here, and he''s furious! We need to get out of here-"

    "Wait, who-"

    Quinton wanted to respond, but then he felt another sharp pain in his head, his mind racing with a sudden shback. This man-the one hunting them down, Kade Morgan-had been a thorn in their side for far too long.

    A low-life dealer who they were supposed to help deliver some S-rank artifact to a client. Instead, they had double-crossed him, selling it to another buyer for a higher price and running away with the money.

    The payout had given them a life of temporary luxury: nice hotels and ess to bars like this one. But now they were broke, having spent thest of their Union credits a couple of hours ago, and the dealer had caught up to them.

    Kade Morgan was notorious for his ruthlessness and merciless approach to those who crossed him.

    Especially ''nks''-individuals who were either too poor to attend an academy or were never epted into one, never obtaining a talent since they never participated in the awakening ceremony.

    This resulted in them either being forced to lick the boots of the city''s elites, being driven into a life of crime, or simply being left to rot in the outer rings of the megacity.

    And he was here to get his money back, either by forcing it out of them or selling them piece by piece to do it. Nothing was off the table.

    Quinton suddenly calmed down, wiping thest remnants of blood from the corner of his eyes.

    His fingers traced the edges of the sink, as if he were processing something far more interesting than the chaos happening outside the restroom.

    "Elric..." Quinton called softly, his blue gear-like irises catching the dim light.

    "I just remembered something important about our friend out there."

    Elric blinked, still holding onto his bloodied side.

    "What the hell are you talking about?! We''ve gotta run! They''re going to kill us!"

    "I don''t wanna be chopped to pieces and used as spare parts for some chubby inner ring rich guy!"

    Quinton slowly turned, his calm demeanor now twisted with a sinister smirk.

    "You don''t remember, do you? That guy''s always been a pain. But more importantlyˇŞhe''s sitting on something that could drastically change our lives."

    Elric''s eyes narrowed. "Of course he''s a pain... but what the hell are we going to do about it? What the hell are you even talking about?"

    "Stolen blueprint data," Quinton replied with a gleam in his eye. "High-end android schematics worth billions on the ck market. And right now, we''re sitting in a prime opportunity to take that from him."

    Elric''s face went pale. "Quinton, you''re insane. How are you so sure about what you''re saying? Even if what you''re saying is true, there''s no way in hell he''ll just hand it over. And we can''t get into a fight with him either; we''re not equipped to deal with-"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "We''ve already failed the job, Elric..."

    "Running now will only get us hunted down eventually. But... if we take him down here, not only do we get those blueprints, but we wipe out a loose end."

    Elric swallowed hard, his breath shaky. "Lucas is down, man. We can''t-"

    Quinton''s eyes gleamed, and his hand reached out. "Gear Shift."

    The liquid soap dispenser on the wall was suddenly enveloped by his blue mana, swirling around it like a gentle breeze. With a flick of his wrist, the dispenser ripped free from the wall, hovering in mid-air toward him.

    "Gear Halt," hemanded, and it froze in ce, floating just a few inches from his face.

    Elric''s confusion deepened as he stared at the levitating dispenser. "How did you get a talent? I thought you didn''t have a-"

    "It doesn''t matter..."

    "The fact is, I have one now."

    Elric opened his mouth to say something, but Quinton stepped closer, patting him on the shoulder with a serious expression.

    "All our lives, we''ve lived in the shadows, waiting for a good life. We thought if we worked hard under Kade, it would pay off. But where did that get us? Nowhere. That''s why we decided to run with hisst deal, remember?"

    "I remember, but-"

    "Nothing will change if we go on like this," Quinton continued, his eyes burning with intensity. "Even if we survive, we''ll be living in constant fear of him finding us one day. Besides, how are we going to live down the guilt of leaving Lucas behind? Is that the life you want? Back in the shadows? Living with fear and uncertainty?"

    Elric hesitated, the weight of Quinton''s words settling over him. His fists tightened at his sides as he gritted his teeth.

    "Look, I''m not asking for too much, bro," Quinton urged. "Just trust me and have my back. Can''t you do that for me?"

    After a tense moment, Elric nodded slowly, though doubt still clouded his eyes. "But... what if The ends up killing us for real?"

    "Highly unlikely," Quinton smirked. "But even if he did, at least we''ll go out in style."

    Taking a deep breath, Elric steeled himself. "Okay, I''m with you."

    Quinton''s grin widened, the adrenaline surging through him as he felt the gears of his mind turning, plotting their next move.

    "Alright, let''s show Kade that the ''nks'' he underestimates are more than just fodder."

    He nced at the frozen soap dispenser, releasing it with his talent, watching as it fell to the floor with a loud ng. Then he gazed back at Elric, an intense aura radiating off him. "All you have to do is follow my lead. I''ll be sure to lead us to victory. Kade or his men won''t eveny a finger on us."

    Elric nodded, and both stepped out of the restroom door, preparing to face Kade and his men.

    When they entered the main room of the bar, Quinton''s eyes fell on the man who had tracked them down. He also noticed that all the other guests at the bar were gone-either sent away or perhaps they ran.

    The brute was nked by his two mechanical-eyed thugs, towering over Lucas, who was beaten to a bloody pulp, crumpled on the floor. Quinton''s gaze intensified as he saw the

    bloody state his friend was in, his expression growing even colder.

    The man sneered at them. "Seems you rats finally decided to crawl out of your hole. Guess you finally understand that running wasn''t going to save you this time."

    Quinton''s smirk only widened. "Who said anything about running?"

    Quinton stepped forward, the smirk never leaving his face as he addressed Kade Morgan. "I want to give you an offer."

    Kade let out a loud, mockingugh, his eyes glinting with amusement. "An offer? Well, I''m intrigued. Humor me. What method are you proposing to pay back the money you owe me?" Quinton chuckled softly, shaking his head. "No, no, no, Kade. You have it all wrong."

    "See, I won''t be paying back anything, Kade. That''s going to be you."

    "What!?" Kade snapped, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

    "But to make things fair, I''m going to give you two choices: the easy way or the hard way."

 Chapter 185: Gears Of Deception

    Chapter 185: Gears Of Deception

    ?

    N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Theughter faded from Kade''s face, reced by a cold, serious expression. His red mana red around him like a storm cloud.

    "Seems all that crap you''ve been drinking finally drove you insane. Well, it doesn''t matter. Even if your brain''s damaged, I''m sure I''ll get a nice price for the rest of your body."

    With a sharp gesture, he called out to the two bulky men nking him.

    "Show him what happens when someone thinks they can defy me. Beat the crap out of him."

    Elric''s eyes widened in horror, his body tensing as he prepared for the iing beating. Quinton, however, remained unfazed, his expression calm and calcting.

    "The hard way, it seems..."

    "How unfortunate," Quinton said, a wild grin suddenly appearing on his face.

    Before the thugs could charge, Quinton quickly activated his talent. His eyes shone brightly as the gears turned.

    "Gear Shift!"

    BOOM!

    The space around Quinton created a massive shockwave that shot forward, sending Kade and his men flying out the window like ragdolls, shattering all the ss on that floor of the building, killing the lights, and pushing aside most of the tables around him.

    Quinton stood at the edge of the building, a wild grin stered across his face as he watched Kade and his thugs hurtling through the shattered windows, their screams piercing the air as they fell.

    "Ahhhhh!"

    Kade''s voice rang out with fear. "You crazy bastard! You won''t get away with this!"

    As they plummeted, a sudden blue aura enveloped their bodies, halting their fall mid-air. Kade looked around, relief washing over him as he realized they weren''t descending any further. His goons shared his sentiment, their expressions changing from fear to shock.

    "What''s going on?" one of them shouted, struggling against the invisible force holding them in ce.

    Quinton''sughter echoed down from the building''s edge, his gaze fixed on the trio suspended in mid-air.

    "Kade screams like a little child?! So much for being a big boss in the underworld!"

    Elric, still stunned by the turn of events, crawled up to the edge to witness Kade and his men being suspended, and muttered, "How are you doing that?"

    Kade''s face twisted in anger, his fists clenching as he red up at Quinton. "If you go through with this, things could get real bad for you, Quinton!"

    Quinton''s tone turned cold as he leaned over the edge, his blue gear-like irises narrowing. "Or what? Your other workers wille seeking revenge for their boss?"

    He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Please don''t make meugh." His eyes widened as he spoke further, his tone bing even colder.

    "I''d be doing the world a favor if I got rid of filth like you. Your right-hand man Felix would simply assume the chain ofmand with a smile on his face."

    "Why look for his boss when he can be the boss?"

    Kade''s expression paled, the bravado slipping from his voice as he realized the gravity of the situation. "Y-you think you can just get rid of me? I have connections, they''lle looking for me-"

    "Connections?"

    Quinton interrupted, his smirk widening. "You think I care about your little web of friends with benefits? Those guys would just think you decided to cklist them and go on living their lives."

    "The world doesn''t revolve around you, Kade. You should know how people cut from the same cloth as you reason by now. I can''t believe you''re even using that as a bargaining chip."

    Kade gritted his teeth, he wanted to open his mouth to speak again, but then Quinton spoke up, silencing him.

    "And you can forget about CCTV footage. I destroyed all of them before I met up with you, so there is no proof I did any of this, and you already did us both a favor by getting rid of the witnesses. So the Union won''t have anything to hold me with either."

    "This could really be where it ends for you. Since there''s no clear cause of death and I and my boys are registered as nk citizens, what happens here tonight would simply be called..."

    "A suicide."

    "So for your information..."

    "I will get away with this." Quinton then grinned, tilting his head to the left, sending chills down Kade''s spine.

    Quinton continued, "So now, you either give me what I want, or we''ll see how many pieces you''ll break into once you hit the ground."

    Kade finally grew calm, his fiery bravado fading as he realized the seriousness of the situation. With a sigh, he looked up at Quinton.

    "What do you want?"

    Quinton smiled, satisfied with Kade''s change in tone. "Now you''re speaking mynguage. See? That wasn''t so hard, was it?"

    Leaning casually over the edge, Quinton''s voice dropped to a calm, almost friendly tone. "I want the blueprints for the CR-72 Android model. You obtained them on the 15th ofst month, through a hacker named Valkyr. The data transfer waspleted by midnight, if I recall correctly."

    Kade''s face nched, his shock clear. "How... how do you know all that?"

    "The how isn''t necessary. The fact is, you have it, and I want it."

    "I can''t hand that over! You don''t understand! Someone will kill me if I give you that." Quinton''s expression turned cold again. "Dying then, or dying now-pick one."

    The color drained from Kade''s face entirely, panic creeping back in as he stammered, "T-that data... it was stolen for HyperTech Industries. Their stock prices have been tanking ever since Synergy Corp released their new model, so they wanted ess to the blueprints to create something just as good-or better."

    Quinton sighed, his patience wearing thin. "I''m not interested in the backstory. Get to the point."

    Kade swallowed hard, his voice shaking. "If I hand over the data to you, both of us will be targets for thesepanies. You don''t understand how powerful HyperTech and Synergy are. We won''t be able to live in this Megacity, Quinton! They''ll hunt us down. Please, choose something else... anything else!"

    Quinton''s grin widened, his tone chilling. "Too bad. I still want it."

    Kade''s eyes widened in disbelief, and he shook his head. "You''ve gonepletely insane!"

    Quinton let out a low chuckle. "One has to be a little insane to be sane in today''s world."

    He took a step closer, looking down at Kade with an air of superiority. "Besides, I''ll be making a ton of modifications. By the time I''m done, it''ll be like an original idea." Kade, still suspended in the air by Quinton''s power, scoffed. "What''s the point? You don''t own apany. You don''t have the resources or the manpower to build an android, let alone get it off the ground. You''re just being stubborn."

    Quinton''s eyes shed dangerously as he leaned forward. "Did I ever say I was going to be the one building the android?"

    Kade was caught off guard, his surprise evident for a brief moment before he smirked. "Ahh, I see now. You should''ve told me earlier that you wanted money." His expression softened as if he''d solved a puzzle. "Here I thought you were starting to act like one of those rich bastards, wanting an obedient harem of dolls."

    Quintonughed darkly. "You think too small, Kade. I''m not like them. But the data you''re sitting on... now that has potential. So, what''ll it be?"

 Chapter 226: A Storm Of Shards

    Chapter 226: A Storm Of Shards

    ?

    With a flick of his wrist, Chase unleashed a storm of ice shards that pierced through the undead, each shard embedding itself with a sharp crack. "Ice Shard Barrage!" he shouted, the sound of ice shattering echoing in the air as the undead staggered backward, frozen in ce.

    "Impressive!" Xaiver called back. "Keep it up, Chase!"

    Chase pushed further. He thrust his hand forward, causing sharp ice spikes to spring up from the ground. They shot up like spears, impaling any undead that stood where they emerged.

    "Ice Spikes!" he yelled, gritting his teeth in concentration. The spikes erupted from beneath the feet of another group of undead, catching them off guard and freezing them solid in an instant.

    "Damn, that''s awesome!" Mia shouted as she used her wind maniption to propel herself into the air, dodging an iing swing from a rusted sword. "Keep those spikesing, Chase!"

    With a nod, Chase continued to create ice spikes, maintaining a steady barrage while his teammates engaged the undead. One particrly agile Undead Dragon Kin charged at him, sword raised, past the multiple ice shards he hurled at it. Chase simply narrowed his eyes, seeming unfazed. Once it was close enough, Chase summoned a spear of ice and hurled it.

    "Ice Spear!" he shouted, the spear piercing through the undead''s chest before erupting in a burst of frost, freezing it solid.

    The team pressed on as they adapted to the chaos. Derek stepped up, manipting the earth beneath his feet.

    "I''ll create some cover for us!" he shouted, raising a wall of stone between the team and the oing undead. The wall erupted from the ground, blocking several undead from reaching them.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Nice one, Derek!" Lisa shouted, swinging her mede to catch an undead off guard, slicing its neck clean off. mes slowly emerged around her as she struck down another creature, their bodies engulfed, embers swirling around her. "Let''s turn up the heat!"

    As the wall crumbled and the undead began to break through, Xaiver charged around the iing monsters, his speed allowing him to evade effortlessly. He spun and shed, taking down more and more monsters.

    "Keep pushing! We''re doing great!" he encouraged, ncing back at his team as they rallied together.

    The undead charged forward, their decayed limbs jerking with speed as they swung rusted swords and ws. Chase stepped back, his arms raised, summoning another wave of Ice Spikes. His hands trembled slightly from the intense mana drain, but his movements were not sloppy yet.

    As the spikes erupted from the ground, they impaled several undead, freezing them in ce with loud, cracking ice.

    Mia darted through the air, her light frame lifted by swirling gusts of wind beneath her feet. With her Wind de, she shed horizontally, sending a sharp arc of wind that sliced through the legs of the undead, causing them to copse in a heap.

    She twirled mid-air, dodging a w swipe from another as it tried to leap at her, its ragged body barely missing her as she soared higher.

    Below her, Derek stood, his feet nted wide as he manipted the earth beneath him. He thrust his hands forward, sending a Stone Fist from the ground-arge chunk of earth that smashed directly into an undead Dragon Kin warrior, shattering its bones and sending it flying back.

    As more undead pressed closer, Derek raised his arm, creating a Stone Shield that deflected a powerful swing from one of the rusted swords, the impact sending tremors through the stone, but it remained firm.

    Lisa moved in close to the frontlines, her mede ignited brightly. She took a deep breath, her legs shifting into a ready stance as she charged forward, her sword cutting cleanly through a charging undead. She twisted her body to the left to avoid a sword swipe from another undead, then shed upward, severing its arm with a quick flick of her wrist.

    Embers could be seen around her as she struck again, mes leaping to consume the remains of her foes.

    "Behind you, Lisa!"

    She swiftly turned around to see a particrly massive undead bringing its fangs down on her.

    VOOM.

    Before it could touch her, Xaiver zipped past her, his sword shing in the dim light. He ducked under an iing strike from an undead''s sword, his knees bending deeply before he countered with an upward sh, cleaving through the creature''s torso.

    As it fell to its knees, he delivered a killing blow by slicing its neck.

    He straightened his back, whipping his head to check the rest of his team before darting toward the next threat.

    Chase breathed heavily, his breathing out as a cold mist around him. The mana drain was getting to him, but he pushed forward.

    An undead broke through the ice wall he made, rushing straight for him, but Chase was ready. He twisted his wrist, summoning a spear of ice. With a swift throw, the Ice Spear pierced the undead through the chest, freezing it mid-stride before shattering into shards.

    To his left, Karl let out a roar as he charged into a group of undead, his heavy body plowing through them. His massive war hammer swung in wide arcs, crushing skulls and shattering bones with every strike.

    He ducked under an iing de, nting his feet firmly on the ground before swinging his hammer upward, lifting an undead off the ground and sending it flying back into the horde.

    "Good work everyone! Keep the pressure up!" Xaiver shouted, his movements bing a blur. He was nearly everywhere at once, cutting through undead with swift, clean strikes. He pivoted on his toes, narrowly avoiding a w swipe before countering with a downward sh that severed an undead''s head from its shoulders.

    The wave of undead began to thin, their numbers dwindling as the team worked in perfect synchronization. Lisa twirled her sword, mes licking the air as she cut down another two with a quick double strike. Mia swooped down, using her wind to throw off an undead''s bnce before slicing through its back with a sharp, focused wind de.

    Derek raised both hands, summoning a final Stone Fist that crashed down on a remaining undead, smashing it into the ground with a massive...

    BOOM.

    The few remaining undead stumbled forward, their movements sluggish and weakened.

    "Almost there," Chase muttered, his voice strained from the exertion. He summoned onest wave of Ice Spikes, sending them shooting from the ground, impaling the final undead in

    their path.

    As thest of the undead fell, their bodies crumbling into dust, Xaiver raised his hand, signaling the team to halt. "Everyone, hold. We''re clear... for now."

    The team gathered in the center, their breathing heavy but relieved. "Rest for a moment," Xaiver instructed, his tone steady. "But stay on your toes. This dungeon won''t give us much

    time before the next-"

    "Graahaaaa."

    The air was suddenly pierced by a massive roar that echoed through the city. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a chill crept down their spines.

    "W-what was that?" Mia gasped, her eyes wide as she looked around.

    "Everyone, stay alert!" Xaiver shouted. The team instinctively turned their heads toward the

    source of the sound.

    In the distance, against the backdrop of the dark sky, a massive bluish glow could be seen approaching in the clouds.

 Chapter 187: Hunted By Fame

    Chapter 187: Hunted By Fame

    ?

    As the cab came to a stop outside the hospital, Alister took a moment to gather himself before the driver turned around with a friendly smile.

    "That''ll be 50 Union credits," the driver said, ncing back at Alister.

    With a nod, Alister reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek card. He held it close to a sensor on the door, and the mechanism beeped in response. After a brief moment, the door unlocked, allowing him to exit the cab.

    As he stepped out, the driver called out, "Hey, aren''t you that Dragon Lord kid everyone''s been talking about?"

    Alister felt a rush of heat rise to his cheeks and awkwardly shrugged. "I guess so."

    The driver beamed, clearly excited. "My son and daughter really look up to you! They think you''re so cool. When can they see your dragons in action again?"

    Alister let out a forcedugh, feeling a touch of pride and embarrassment. "Soon, I guess." "Sounds nice, well, you take care now."

    The driver''s car then zoomed off into the distance.

    Just as he turned to head into the hospital, a notification pinged in his mind.

    [+14 Prestige Points]

    Alister paused, a smile creeping onto his face. So that was how it worked-gaining points for simply being recognized. It felt good, but he knew he had a long way to go before he could secure the Omnipotent Elixir.

    As Alister slowly stepped towards the hospital, he paused, looking up at the towering building with a frown on his face. A touch of guilt came over him as he remembered something important.

    "Her treat..." he muttered under his breath. He had promised to always bring her something, hadn''t he? Macarons-her favorite treat. But in all the excitement, celebrating with everyone after their recent victory, he hadpletely forgotten.

    He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I can''t show up empty-handed," he said to himself, shaking his head. "The shop is just a few blocks away. It won''t take too long."

    Deciding to make a quick trip, Alister turned to start walking when a sudden voice pierced the air.

    "Is that the Dragon Lord?!"

    Alister froze, a cold shiver running down his spine. He turned slowly to see a woman pointing directly at him, eyes wide with excitement.

    Before he could respond, other women nearby turned their heads.

    "Where?" one of them asked.

    The first woman, almost giddy, pointed again. "Over there! That''s him!"

    Alister felt his stomach knot, his difort growing by the second. He mumbled to himself,

    "I don''t know why, but I''m starting to feel a bit uneasy..."

    The pointing woman''s excitement was contagious. As if on cue, the others also began yelling out his nickname.

    "Dragon Lord! It''s him!" they screamed, their voices growing louder.

    In a panic, Alister nced around. People walking by were now staring, curious about themotion.

    Many began murmuring amongst themselves, wondering if it was really him. Some started pulling out their phones, ready to snap pictures or record videos.

    Alister clenched his fists, trying to keep his cool, but inside he was screaming. This was not the attention he needed right now. Just as he was about to take a step back, he noticed the

    women charging toward him, excitement in their eyes.

    "Oh no," he whispered.

    As the crowd charged towards him, Alister felt a surge of adrenaline. His instincts kicked in, and before anyone could reach him, his body began to slowly vanish from sight. The excited shouts and cheers turned into confused murmurs as people came to a sudden halt, looking around frantically.

    "Where did he go?"

    "He was just here!"

    "I swear I saw him a second ago."

    "How did he disappear?"

    Unbeknownst to the crowd, the doors of the hospital quietly opened, and an invisible figure slipped through. Inside, Alister sighed in relief as he stepped into the hospital''s quiet halls, his camouge slowly undoing itself. His body reappeared in fragments, until he stood fully visible once again.

    [Ding!]

    [ +70 Prestige Points]

    He let out a long breath. "I never knew stuff like this could be so terrifying..."

    He mumbled to himself, shaking his head. "I was popr back at the academy, but not to the point where people wanted to chase me down for pictures."

    "Seems my n to get macarons backfired."

    "Unfortunately I''ll sadly be visiting, empty-handed..."

    As he walked towards the reception desk, the soft sounds of hospital activities and the voices

    of the people there seemed to calm him down. When he reached the receptionist, he greeted her with a polite nod.

    "Good evening, I''m here to see my sister," he said.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The receptionist''s eyes widened as she recognized him, and her mouth opened to shout, "Dragon L-"

    Before she could finish, Alister swiftly ced a finger over her lips. "Shhh, calm down," he whispered with a small smile. "I just want to see my sister, and I don''t want to be seen. Can we keep it quiet?"

    The receptionist blinked, taken by surprise for a moment, but then nodded quickly. "O-of course," she stammered, barely able to contain her excitement.

    But then the nurse gave Alister a puzzled look. "Why are you visiting the hospital today?" Alister raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What do you mean?"

    The nurse blinked, her expression softening as she seemed to realize he didn''t know. "Oh... you didn''t hear? Your sister''s been transferred."

    For a moment, there was a pause...

    Out of nowhere, the color drained from Alister''s face. "What?" His voice came out strained, shock creeping in. "Transferred? Where do you mean?"

    She hesitated, ncing nervously at her clipboard. "I mean, she was-"

    But Alister didn''t wait for her to finish. His heart skipped a beat, panic rising in his chest. He bolted from the reception, rushing down the hall, ignoring the receptionist calling after him. "Wait! Alister!" the receptionist''s voice echoed, but it was no use.

    His mind raced as fast as his feet, thoughts spiraling out of control. He gritted his teeth in

    anger.

    ''The head doctor... could she be the one who transferred her?''

    His fists clenched at his sides as he ran. ''She should know Miyu''s condition is unstable. Moving her around when she''s not healthy is reckless... diabolical!''

    ''If anything happens to her I''ll...''

    Alister''s shoulder crashed into a nurse as he rounded a corner, and she spun, almost dropping

    the tray she was holding.

    "Hey! Watch it!" she shouted, ring at him, but he didn''t stop.

    Another doctor sidestepped to avoid him and yelled, "This is a hospital, not a track field!

    Show some respect!"

    But Alister barely heard them. He was focused, his thoughts consumed by the fear of what had happened to Miyu. He had to check if she was really gone. Had to know what they''d done. Arriving at the elevator, his eyes darted to the panel, but the arrow indicated it was in use and not stopping anytime soon. He felt frustrated. He nced around quickly, spotting the stairs. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward them, throwing the door open and racing up two steps

    at a time.

    Alister reached the floor where Miyu''s room was usually located. His breath was still normal, but his heart was pounding. He forced himself to slow down. He needed to stay calm- rushing in blindly wouldn''t help. As he approached her door, his hand hovered over the

    handle, hesitating for a moment.

    ''What if she''s really gone?''

    Steeling himself, he slowly slid the door open. The room was cloaked in darkness, with only

    the soft silver light of the moon filtering through the window, casting its soft glow across the bed. His heart skipped a beat as his eyes looked around the familiar space.

    And then he saw it.

    The bed.

    Empty.

    Miyu wasn''t there.

    Alister''s eyes widened in shock.

    "No..."

    His pulse quickened again, panic and frustration swirling together. He gritted his teeth, rage

    simmering beneath the surface.

    ''So she really moved her!''

    Just as he was about to storm out and confront the head doctor, a voice cut through the silence

    from the far corner of the room.

    "I knew you''d show up here."

 Chapter 188: Unspoken Suspicions

    Chapter 188: Unspoken Suspicions

    ?

    Alister''s breath hitched as his gaze shifted to the far corner of the room. At first, it seemed like a trick of the dim light, but then he saw them-two glowing silver eyes staring back at him from the darkness. His muscles tensed, and his heart pounded in his chest. Slowly, the eyes moved, gliding toward him, a figure emerging from the darkness.

    As the figure stepped forward, Alister''s own yellow eyes began to glow with a cold, predator- like intensity. His expression hardened, a glimmer of murderous intent shing in his eyes.

    He clenched his fists as he spoke, "What are you doing here... sir?"

    The figure paused mid-step, seemingly unfazed by Alister''s sharp tone. There was casual amusement in the stranger''s voice as they chuckled lightly.

    "Yikes, calm down, Alister," the figure said, stepping into the moonlight that spilled through the window.

    Pausing to look at the city''s beauty beyond it, "You know, the view up here is really nice. Your sister must have really liked it." The figure could feel Alister''s bloodlust intensifying.

    "If I wasn''t mistaken, I''d say I just felt a trace of murderous intent from you. That is no way to act towards your guildmaster."

    As the figure finally came fully into the light, the silver glow of the moonlight seemed to make their silver haire alive, shimmering with an almost magical aura.

    There was no mistaking that silver hair, nor the confident smirk on the man''s face or his voice. The man standing before him was none other than Yuuto, the guildmaster of the White Comets.

    "Sir..." Alister muttered under his breath, still on edge.

    Yuuto grinned, a yful glint in his silver eyes. He folded his arms and tilted his head, watching Alister with a calm yet curious expression.

    "Surprised to see me, Alister?" Yuuto asked, raising an eyebrow.

    "I had a feeling you''de running here after hearing the news about your sister. Didn''t want you choking the head doctor, so I had to make sure I''d personally inform you."

    Alister didn''t stop ring, but his fists slowly rxed as he decided to process the situation.

    "What is your reason for being here? When did you even leave the guild?"

    Yuuto''s expression became slightly serious as he spoke. "That doesn''t matter, what does is the fact that I was the one who issued the transfer."

    "I sent Aiko over to pick Miyu up while you and the others were back in the wastnds."

    Alister''s brows knitted together. "Why would you do that?"

    Yuuto''s gaze slowly turned to gaze back at the city illuminated by the moonlight. "Your sister''s illness was only getting worse, Alister."

    "At the rate things were going, the time she had left would have been cut in half. I couldn''t let her die here while you were out there fighting for the guild."

    Yuuto then turned to gaze at Alister as he spoke with a calm look on his face. "What kind of guild master would I be if I let something like that happen?"

    A chill ran down Alister''s spine. "But... the doctor said she had two months. It''s only been half that so far. How can your prediction be better than theirs?"

    Yuuto''s eyebrows raised in surprise at Alister''s response. He chuckled lightly, a glimmer of amusement in his silver eyes. "Obviously, because I know better, that''s how."

    Alister''s voice was tense as he asked, lowering his head, "Is she ok?"

    Yuuto gave a small nod, his silver eyes gleaming. "Of course. She''s in good hands, although her condition is getting worse but at a slower rate."

    Alister let out a breath he hadn''t realized he was holding. His shoulders loosened, but there was still an invisible weight hanging in the air.

    "Why the transfer? Couldn''t you have brought more advanced equipment to her here?"

    Yuuto sighed, his expression softening. "Is that question even necessary? This space wouldn''t have been able to contain the necessary equipment needed even if I decided to take that approach. You should be thanking me, not asking unnecessary questions."

    Alister felt gratitude rising in his chest. He opened his mouth to thank Yuuto, but before he could say anything, Yuuto continued, cutting him off.

    "Besides that," Yuuto added, his tone shifting as he smiled, "I couldn''t let her be a target or a bargaining chip to control you..."

    "I knew that after the event in the wastnds, you''d inevitably make some enemies. So I decided it was necessary to help you protect her."

    Alister''s brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"

    Yuuto calmly walked past Alister, heading toward the door. His voice took on a teasing tone as he asked.

    "Do I need to remind you who gave you the mask you wear, Mr. Spade? Or the fact you annihted the Reapers?"

    Alister''s gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing at the mention of those words. The tension in the room thickened as his thoughts swirled. Yuuto noticed the shift in Alister''s demeanor and turned, shing a grin tapping his shoulder.

    "Ease up. I''m not going to punish you for anything. You must have acted in self-defense, I''m sure. I know they were the ones behind all that happened."

    "But you taking out a team of SS ranks is a feat worthy of a medal. Your dragons must have really outdone themselves." he said with a knowing smile, his gaze locked with Alister''s. Then suddenly, he let out a sigh.

    Yuuto waved a hand dismissively as he walked past him and into the hall. "We shouldn''t waste too much time here. You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow. So why don''t you follow me? Let''s go see your sister and call it a night."

    Terra''s voice echoed softly in Alister''s mind, ''My lord...''

    Before she could continue, Alister cut her off.

    ''I understand, it''s obvious he knows.''

    ''But besides that... Something about him is beginning to feel familiar.''

    ''Somehow simr to Anya...''

    As Yuuto walked down the hallway, Alister''s gaze sharpened. His yellow eyes shifted, taking on a more reptilian appearance as he focused intently, trying to activate his ability to open But just as was about to delve deeper, the system shed a

    Yuuto''s status win

    message in front of him.

    [Notice! The yer currently isn''t allowed to perform this action.]

    Alister''s heart skipped a beat, his eyes widening in shock at the unexpected notification. He

    slowly refocused his gaze on Yuuto, his mind racing.

    ''I may be wrong... but... I think he may be some how rted to a dragon.''

    ''Or he might just be one.''

    Unbeknownst to Alister, Yuuto smiled to himself, sensing the weight of Alister''s gaze on him. He paused briefly, letting his smile fade back to its usual calm expression before turning his

    head slightly.

    "Why are you standing there like a statue?" Yuuto asked with a touch of amusement. "Come now, don''t tell me you n to stand there all night?"

    Alister nodded silently and fell into step beside Yuuto. Together, they walked toward the

    elevator, the soft click of their boots echoing in the quiet hall. As they moved, Alister''s

    thoughts wandered.

    It was true-a part of him still didn''t like Yuuto. His methods were always so cryptic, and there was something about him that made Alister uneasy. But the fact remained:pared to everyone else, Yuuto was the closest thing to an ally he had beyond his dragons.

    As they stepped into the elevator, the quiet sounds of the machinery apanied the

    descent. Alister leaned back against the wall, watching the dim floor numbers tick down. His mind was still racing with a thousand thoughts when Yuuto suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. "Alister," Yuuto''s tone was calm but serious. "I want you to answer this question honestly. And it has nothing to do with the wastnd disy event."

    Alister nced at him, his yellow eyes narrowing slightly. He wasn''t sure where this was

    going, but he nodded after a moment.

    "Alright."

    Yuuto''s silver eyes glimmered under the artificial light as he asked the question, his voice

    low.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "If a time were toe, and you had to make a choice, would you abandon the world to save your sister, or would you abandon your sister to save the world?"

    The question hit Alister like a bolt of lightning, but his answer came in an instant, there was

    no need to think about it.

    "Abandon the world to save my sister."

    Yuuto paused, his expression unreadable for a few moments. Then, a weak chuckle escaped

    his lips, and a touch of disappointment appeared in his silver eyes.

    "You''re not ready."

    He said softly, shaking his head. "That wasn''t the correct answer. But I''m sure you''ll find the

    right one soon."

    Before Alister could react, the elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, and they both stepped out. The hallway ahead stretched into the distance, but Alister''s mind was elsewhere, racing through the conversation.

    ''If the answer I picked wasn''t the correct one, then logically the second option must be...

    right?''

    His brows furrowed in confusion. ''But the way he spoke... he made it sound like both answers were wrong. So why ask the question at all?''

    His thoughts churned as they continued walking, Yuuto now silent beside him. The question nagged at Alister, twisting around in his head like a puzzle with no solution.

    Yuuto''s cryptic ways had always frustrated him, but this time it felt different, more personal.

    Alister stole a nce at the man walking beside him.

    ''What game is he ying?''

 Chapter 189: Flawless, Yet Flawed

    Chapter 189: wless, Yet wed

    ?

    In the grand meeting hall of the Li family estate, the atmosphere was thick with tension, a palpable weight that filled the expansive room. The moonlight streaming through the high arched windows did little to soften the darkness that clung to the space like an unsettling presence.

    Lord Han Li sat at the head of the mahogany table, his eyes distant but simmering with fury. Across from him, his son Jian Li stood rigid, while Liang sat with a cold, emotionless expression, as if the tension in the room didn''t even reach him.

    The heavy silence was shattered by the sound of Lord Han mming his fist onto the table.

    "Kai... dead," he growled, the words barely escaping through gritted teeth. "My grandson, gone, because of some random bastard summoner?"

    "You must be joking!"

    "How dare that mere summoner go against my family!"

    "It must have been one of his dragons. That''s the only exnation. He''s insulted me. Devouring a member of my bloodline."

    Jian Li stepped forward, eyes filled with sorrow but with a touch of suspicion. "Father, it''s not just the filthy summoner we should me. We need to look within our own ranks."

    His gaze flickered to Liang, a trace of usation sharp in his tone. "Liang. You hated your brother. You''ve always hated him. So you must have set him up to fail! I refuse to believe that Kai''s death wasn''t somehow orchestrated by someone close. His own flesh and blood."

    Liang didn''t flinch under his father''s re. Instead, he folded his arms and leaned back in his chair, his expression calm but defiant.

    "I hated Kai?"

    He scoffed, a bitterugh escaping his lips. "Yes, we didn''t get along. But don''t you dare use me of something so vile. Father, you insult me."

    "The n that led to this mission was indeed mine, but it was reviewed by Grandfather himself. It was wless. We both approved it."

    Lord Han''s eyes narrowed dangerously at the reminder. His own grandson, Kai, had been lost in the Wastnd Disy event to a n he approved. A carefully calcted n, designed to single out Alister and get rid of him.

    The old man''s fist clenched tighter, the veins in his hand bulging as he recalled the details.

    "Yes... the n was supposed to work. That summoner wasn''t supposed to pose any real threat on his own. The raid team had the upper hand!"

    His voice began to rise again, a storm of emotions brewing inside him. "It was foolproof!"

    Lord Han suddenly stood, grabbing a delicate ss cup in front of him and hurling it against the nearest wall.

    The ss shattered into a thousand glittering shards, scattering across the marble floor. The violent sound echoed through the hall, the tension in the room reaching a boiling point.

    "But no!" Lord Han spat, pacing back and forth, barely able to contain his wrath.

    "Not only did that summoner somehow fight back, but he ended their lives. My grandson''s life!"

    Liang gritted his teeth slightly at his grandfather''s words.

    Lord Han then turned sharply, his eyes zing as he fixed his gaze on Jian and Liang. "That summoner must pay, he must be dealt with immediately. We must use all the power our family can muster and make that child realize the sin he hasmitted."

    Liang remained unmoved, though his eyes now held a touch of irritation.

    "Grandfather," Liang began softly. "Perhaps this summoner, Alister..."

    "He may possess more summons than he disyed during the event, and perhaps he doesn''t have the limitations or physical weaknesses regr summoners possess."

    "He is the third SSS-ranked Awakened ever recorded in history. He may be a summoner, but I believe we should start taking him more seriously. We should look at the worst but most likely scenario."

    "His summons may continue to be mythical dragons, he may not have a limit on the number of summons he can possess, and his physical capabilities could also be SSS-ranked. Who knows, he may one day be the right hand of the Union President."

    "If our attempts to subdue him all fail, he may one daye to seek revenge, and on that day the Li family will be eradicated."

    "Although it is understandable that his actions have been a p to our faces and a stomp on our pride, we should consider the future of our family if we decide to act out of anger."

    Liang was no fool. He was an ambitious, proud, and cunning young man, but he would never let emotion cloud his reasonˇŞwell, unless it came to Kai. He''d always known there were thin lines that divided confidence, arrogance, and outright madness.

    Although Alister had clearly not be some sort of unstoppable force, Liang had decided it would be best if they avoided him.

    This was not a calcted decision but more of a gut feeling he usually got, like a sixth sense of his that had never been wrong before. What caused this were all the unknowns surrounding Alister. He carried out extensive digging in hopes of better understanding the boy.

    But the more he found, the more questions he had.

    Found in the wastnds, absurd mana capacity, his talent rank, surviving an A-ranked dungeon without a single wound as a summoner with no summons, leaping from his balcony to meet the guild masters before he joined the White Comets, his sparring at the guild, his strange summoning of his dragon knight without buying any equipment, his actual number of summons, and so on.

    Nothing about the boy madeplete sense, and it seemed there was far more to him than he could assume.

    Silence fell again, but this time it was filled with unspoken words as Lord Han and Jian silently processed Liang''s statement.

    Lord Han stood still, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths as he forced himself to calm down.

    He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he fought the urge tosh out again.

    "It doesn''t matter, SSS-ranked or not, the fact is he isn''t a threat yet. If he will be, all the more reason he must be dealt with," he finally said through gritted teeth, his voice low but

    filled with rage.

    "The boy must pay for this. He will regret the day he made an enemy of the Li family. So you mustn''t fail this time."-his eyes locked onto Liang.

    "Rid us of this thorn. No more mistakes. No more failures. My grandson''s death will be avenged, and the summoner''s dragons will be cut down and used to make equipment, one

    way or another."

    Liang narrowed his eyes. It was obvious his grandfather had heard what he said, but he didn''t care. He wanted to avenge his favorite grandson, and it was clear he wouldn''t be convinced otherwise, but he expected things to go this way.

    "Grandfather, making him suffer may not be on the table. If he perceives a threat and decides to act, our efforts may be thwarted."

    "So what do you propose?"

    "An assassination. In a few days, he will be attending the massive celebration event where the Union will split the resources brought back from the wastnds among the guilds."

    "In the moment that he is left alone, a professional mercenary sniper will take him out."

    "She is notorious in the underworld, they call her ''The Annihtor.""

    "She possesses an A+ talent, but has taken out numerous S ranked targets."

    "Wasn''t a member of the raid team that got wiped out an SS ranked sniper? What difference

    will this A+ rank make?" Lord Han asked.

    Liang smiled. "True, but the bullets this sniper will use will be made of animantium. Very expensive, but it will ensure the job is done. And due to the talent of the shooter, even if the bullet is stopped, a massive explosion will ur right after."

    "So even if ites to it and she is forced to fire multiple shots, Alister will certainly be

    caught in the st."

    "And even if that fails, I''ll organize for the assassin to go undercover and join the guild. While they work there, they will be sure to get close to him. One way or another, they will find a way

    to deal with him."

    Lord Han paused for a moment. He seemed unwilling, not wanting to give Alister such an easy death, but he didn''t want to fail in avenging his grandson, so he reluctantly agreed.

    "Alright, get it done."

    "Understood." Liang, then gave a slight bow. "I will not disappoint you, Grandfather."

    Without further exchange, Liang turned and made his way to the grand doors of the hall, his footsteps echoing in the silence as he stepped out into the corridor.

    As the heavy doors closed behind him, Lord Han turned to his son, Jian, whose face still held traces of frustration and grief.

    "We will cut off all ties with the White Comets," Lord Han stated firmly, his eyes hardening. "All business deals, every connection we have with them-sever them immediately. Make it obvious why. We must send a clear message. They will know this is not just business butn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    revenge."

    Jian nodded, his jaw clenched. "Understood. I''ll see to it that they feel the full weight of this

    decision."

    Lord Han gave a slow nod of approval, the fire in his eyes flickering for a brief moment. "Good. The time for diplomacy is over. They will understand what it means to cross the Li

    family."

 Chapter 190: Shattered Glass And Bubbling Potions

    Chapter 190: Shattered ss And Bubbling Potions

    ?

    In the heart of the White Comets Guild''s main building, Alister walked down a sleek, polished hallway, his eyes darting to the people passing by inb robes.

    He nced at Yuuto, who was leading the way with a confident stride. The sounds of machinery and asional clicks of boots against the metallic floor echoed softly in the background.

    Alister furrowed his brow. "Where are we going?"

    Yuuto turned his head slightly, his usual grin ying at the corners of his mouth. "We''re heading to the alchemy section of the guild."

    "It''s run by our alchemy team leader, Elise."

    "Wait, there''s a team leader beyond Ren and the others?"

    "Yes."

    "You wouldn''t have seen her. Elise is always buried deep in her research. Doesn''te out much unless it''s urgent. But you''ll meet her today."

    They approached a pair ofrge, reinforced metal doors at the end of the hall. As they stepped closer, the doors slid open with a hiss, releasing a cloud of cool fog that billowed out into the hallway. Alister instinctively tensed, but Yuuto walked forward without hesitation, beckoning him inside.

    As they stepped through the doors, Alister''s eyes widened in awe. Theb was massive, filled with cutting-edge technology andplex alchemical equipment.

    Sleek countertops were littered with ss vials of glowing liquids, some bubbling with faint fumes. Above each workstation, green talent windows hovered, disyingplex alchemical forms in holographic disys, flickering as data constantly updated.

    The entire room had a faint greenish hue, a perfect blend of science and magic. Various devices, some mechanical and others entirely magical, hovered in mid-air, each connected by thin streams of energy.

    Alister nced around, marveling at the hovering apparatuses and the faint feel of mana in the air. He had never seen anything like it.

    Yuuto gestured to the expanse of the room. "Unlike the other teams in the guild, the alchemy team is made up entirely of alchemists. Every member here is focused on research, development, and creating advanced potions or artifacts to support the guild. Their work is essential, though they tend to stay out of the field."

    Just as Yuuto finished speaking, a woman in ab coat noticed the guildmaster''s arrival. She hurried over, her hair pinned back in a messy bun, with smudges of some alchemical substance on her gloves. Her expression was bright as she greeted him.

    "Guildmaster Yuuto! What brings you down here?"

    Yuuto smiled warmly. "Good to see you, Erika. Could you let Elise know I''m here?"

    Erika nodded eagerly, but before she could walk away, she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted across theb.

    "Elise! The guildmaster''s here!"

    From somewhere deep within theb, a faint voice responded, "What?!"

    Erika grimaced slightly but raised her voice again. "I said, the guildmaster is here!" "What?!" the voice responded again, louder this time but still faint from the distance.

    Clearly irritated, Erika sighed, narrowing her eyes as she yelled louder, "ELISE, THE GUILDMASTER IS HERE!"

    Suddenly, there was a loud BOOM in the distance, followed by the sound of shattering ss. Alister instinctively ducked as shards of ss flew into the air, theb momentarily engulfed in a cloud of smoke. Yuuto remained unphased as the shards seemed to fly past him, remaining calm as if this were amon urrence.

    Through the smoke, a figure emerged, coughing as she waved away the fumes. A woman with disheveled green and white hair, her goggles cracked, strode forward.

    She was in her mid-thirties, wearing a charredb coat, with a look of irritation and a touch of exasperation on her face.

    "Alright, alright! No need to shout!" Elise said, brushing soot off her coat as she approached them.

    Yuuto smiled slightly. "Good to see you''re still keeping busy, Elise."

    Elise shot him a wry smile, adjusting her goggles. "Busy''s an understatement, Guildmaster. What brings you down to my part of the guild?"

    Alister nced at her, still taking in the chaotic environment of the alchemyb. It was clear that here, creativity and chaos went hand in hand.

    Just then, Elise adjusted her cracked goggles, her eyes narrowing as she got a good look at Alister. Her brow furrowed in recognition, and she quickly pulled the goggles up to her forehead, a glint of surprise in her eyes.

    "Wait a second... I recognize you!" she said, a smile tugging at her lips. "You''re Alister from the Wastnd Disy event livestream!"

    Alister blinked, slightly taken aback. "You watched the livestream?"

    "Oh, absolutely!" Elise grinned. "Although I couldn''t watch all of it, I was lucky enough to witness some devastating moments with your dragons in action."

    "They were practically forces of nature out there. I must admit it was pretty cool."

    "Thanks... I guess."

    Elise grinned as she leaned forward. "Besides that... I''ve been dying to ask you something ever since."

    Alister raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

    Elise leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "Could I get a scale from one of your dragons? I''ve been stuck on this research project for months, andˇŞ"

    "Uhm." Yuuto suddenly cleared his throat, interrupting her. "Elise, there are more pressing matters right now than satisfying your own curiosity."

    ''The audacity! To suggest that a piece of our body should be given to help with your... research! How dare she!'' Cinder''s voice echoed in Alister''s head. ''My lord, surely I can be allowed to incinerate this one?''

    ''As I''ve said before, no incineration of guild members,'' Alister replied in his thoughts while keeping a straight face.

    Elise''s mouth snapped shut, blinking in confusion as she straightened up, letting out an exasperated sigh.

    "What is it, sir?" Elise asked, clearly sensing the change in tone.

    "Aiko brought a young girl to you not long ago," Yuuto said. "You were supposed to slow down the progression of her illness. How is she doing?"

    Elise''s eyes widened slightly as she replied, "Ah, yes, the girl Aiko brought in... I''ve been keeping an eye on her condition." She gestured for them to follow her deeper into theb.

    "Come with me. I''ll show you."

    With that, Yuuto and Alister followed as Elise led them through a maze of workstations and scattered equipment.

    As they walked, the air grew cooler, and the flicker of alchemical forms disyed on green screens became more sparse, reced byrger machinery and medical tools.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Elise nced back at Alister, her curiosity barely contained.

    "I''ll get back to that dragon scale thingter, by the way," she said with a wink before turning

    her attention back to the task at hand.

    Yuuto and Alister exchanged a nce, but neither said a word as they moved deeper into the

    lab, following Elise''s steps.

    As Elise led them through the alchemical workstations, her eyes darted from station to station, her mind never seeming to leave her work.

    "Mina, make sure that batch of Fluxweave Potion doesn''t overheat. You''ve got to keep the me steady, or we''ll end up with another explosion likest week!"

    Elise called out to a young woman working on a bubbling cauldron, her brow glistening with

    sweat.

    "Yes, ma''am!" Mina replied, immediately adjusting the heat with trembling hands, clearly aware of the consequences if she failed.

 Chapter 191: No More Holding Back

    Chapter 191: No More Holding Back

    ?

    Elise kept walking, not slowing down for a second, her gazending on another table cluttered with herbs and glowing liquid vials.

    "Jason, that mixture should be a translucent blue, not green. Did you add the Lathoros root too early? You need to wait for the Red Seraph Resin to fully dissolve before adding anything else."

    Jason, a tall alchemist with a nervous look, wiped his forehead and nodded quickly. "Sorry, ma''am. I''ll fix it right away."

    "Good. Fix it fast. We''re not in the business of creating toxic fumes in here."

    As they moved deeper into theb, the equipment and potions became more advanced. Elise''s tone shifted, bing sharper and more precise.

    "Martina, I need a full analysis of the Mana Stabilizer Matrix within the hour. Double-check the elemental readings from the previous run. I don''t want to miss anything this time."

    Martina, a woman wearing a headband to keep her frizzy hair out of her face, scribbled down notes while her eyes remained glued to the holographic disys.

    "On it, ma''am! I''ll make sure the runes are aligned correctly this time."

    "Good. Just don''t skip any steps."

    As they continued forward, Alister felt a small shift in the air, a sort of maic pull that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

    His gaze was drawn ahead to a massive cylindrical structure slowlying into view, gleaming with a metallic sheen and pulsating faintly with a soft golden glow.

    "Is that..." Alister''s thoughts trailed off as his eyes widened.

    His pace quickened instinctively, and before he knew it, he was running past Yuuto and Elise to stand directly in front of the cylindrical structure.

    Alister stood frozen in front of the massive cylindrical structure, his heart racing as the liquid inside shifted.

    There, suspended within the glowing liquid, was a figure in patient clothing, her features softened by the surrounding environment.

    His breath caught in his throat as he recognized her instantly.

    "Miyu..." he called out softly, his voice barely a whisper, with a touch of hope and fear.

    As if sensing his presence, her eyes fluttered open, and she turned her head slightly, though the oxygen mask obscured her face. The sight of his sister, helpless yet alive, sent a wave of relief crashing over him.

    Just then, Elise and Yuuto arrived behind him. Elise quickly stepped forward as she spoke. "This is all part of a high detoxification potion we''ve been administering. It''s designed to slow down the rot caused by Aethelric Decay, which has already started affecting her organs. God knows if her brain hasn''t been affected too."

    "The decay appears to have reached thete stages, so her bones will soon start to-"

    "I''ve heard enough!"

    Alister gritted his teeth, his hands balling into fists. He snapped, his sharp tone echoing in theb, cutting through the air.

    Elise was taken by surprise by the intensity of his reaction, her brow furrowing in sympathy. "You must have known her," she said softly, her voice tinged with regret. "I''m sorry for rambling. I didn''t realize."

    Alister took a deep breath, the anger fading away as guilt came over him.

    "I''m sorry, Elise. I shouldn''t have yelled like that. I''m just... I''m frustrated, that''s all. Seeing her like this... it''s... unbearable."

    "I understand."

    He turned back to Miyu, his heart heavy. The sight of her suspended in the glowing liquid, the oxygen mask clinging to her face, was almost too much to bear.

    He focused on her, and the familiar sensation of magic coursed through him. His dragon eyes glowed softly, and her status window materialized.

    yer: Miyu Hazenworth

    Level: 18

    ss: Overlord (Unawakened) (No Talent) (N/E)

    Stats:

    HP: 67/450 [15/100%

    MP: 50/200

    Strength: 4

    Agility: 5

    Intelligence: 6

    Endurance: 5

    Dexterity: 4

    Mana: 200

    Luck: 10

    Total Combat Power: 34 (F-rank)

    Mana Regeneration: 2 MP/minute

    Title(s): None

    Skills:

    Overlord Queen Song Lvl 1 (?? Rank)

    Condition: Aethelric Decay (poisoned - rot)

    Effects: (Stage 3) - Organs Weakening, Possible Neurological Impact

    (Under High Detoxification Treatment)

    Time left till target sumbs to poisoning: (16 days)

    Alister''s gaze lingered on the status window, his heart sinking as his eyes locked onto the time left. The number seemed to weigh heavily on him, dragging his spirits down as a storm of thoughts swirled in his mind.

    ''I have toe up with the necessary prestige points in that time,'' he thought, his brow

    furrowing.

    "But... Even if I managed to obtain the other item, and the total halves to 125,000... I''ll need to gain at least 7,000 points a day to obtain the elixir in time."

    He clenched his fists tightly, the frustration building as the sheer impossibility of it gnawed

    at him.

    ''Is that even possible?''

    The pressure was unbearable, and for a moment, despair shed across his face. He gritted his teeth, trying to push the doubts away.

    Turning back toward Yuuto, he forced himself to speak, his voice strained but controlled.

    "Thanks... for bringing me here... Sir."

    Yuuto, sensing the weight on Alister''s shoulders, simply nodded.

    "No problem. You should get some rest after a long day," he said with a faint smile, tapping

    him lightly on his left shoulder.

    Alister gave a small nod in return. "Yeah. I''ll head back to my room for the night."

    As he left, Yuuto watched him walk away, understanding Alister''s struggle but knowing there wasn''t much more he could do for him at the moment.

    Once Alister disappeared down the corridor, Yuuto turned to Elise. "That''s all for now. You should continue with your work."

    Elise nodded in agreement, her mind already shifting back to the tasks at hand. "Right,

    there''s still much to do."

    With that, Yuuto gave her ast nce and left theb, leaving Elise to continue her tasks.

    ...

    Alister returned to his massive living quarters, his footsteps echoing softly in the corridor. He approached the door, cing his hand on the fingerprint sensor. The door slid open with a

    soft hiss, and he stepped inside, greeted by the warm, weing voice of the AI.

    "Wee back, Alister. I hope your day has been productive."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    He paused for a moment, taking in the expansive space of his room. The ambient lighting adjusted to a soft glow as he entered, creating a calming atmosphere.

    With a weary sigh, Alister decided it would be best to take a shower and freshen up before he

    stepped out again.

    He needed to clear his head and prepare for whaty ahead. As he undressed and stepped into the bathroom, he felt the tension in his muscles begin to unwind.

    The warm water came down over him, washing away the stress of the day. He let his mind drift, thinking about the steps he needed to take.

    Once he was clean and rxed, he stepped out of the shower, towel over his head and he dried

    off quickly. He called out to the system and equipped his battle gear, feeling the weight of each of his equipments settle on his body.

    A quick look around them he noticed they were damaged, "Must have been back from that

    battle with Anya... Seems I''ll need to buy new equipment soon."

    "Although with my scales, I may not need anything new."

    "Either way, this will have to do for tonight..."

    "I''ll summon my two new generals..."

    "And I''ll go all out from now on. I can''t afford to hold anything back anymore."

 Chapter 192: Summoning The Fourth General

    Chapter 192: Summoning The Fourth General

    ?

    Alister took a deep breath and called out to the system. "Open the Rift."

    The system processed hismand, and momentster, a golden rift materialized before him, glowing radiantly. The air around it hummed with energy as the tear in reality widened.

    Without hesitating, Alister stepped through slowly. As he emerged on the other side, he was greeted by a dark and hauntingndscape.

    Standing on what seemed like the ruined structure of a skyscraper, Alister gazed down at a ruined city that stretched out before him, bathed in the crimson glow of a massive red moon that hung ominously in the sky. Looking at this, Alister''s thoughts raced.

    ''The moon is red?''

    ''It wasn''t that way back at the megacity...''

    ''... although I had read books back at the academy that suggested when the apocalypse hit, the Earth grew nearly ten times in mass, and other celestial bodies could be seen around it as well...''

    ''Perhaps this "red moon" is one of those bodies...''

    The structures of the old world were now overtaken by dense vegetation, with vines crawling up broken buildings and twisting around shattered debris. In the distance, mes still burned, sending up columns of ck smoke that obscured parts of the skyline.

    But what immediately caught Alister''s attention were the figures moving in the ruins. Dozens of them-humans twisted and emanating some kind of dark energy-stumbled through the streets. Their bodies were overrun by vines, flowers blooming grotesquely from their skin, and their faces seemed frozen in a moment of pain and rage, perhaps thest expression they made before they died.

    But they weren''t humans of the old world; no, Alister could tell due to the items and equipment many had on them. They were Awakened individuals from guild-clearing teams, turned into nt zombies, a fusion of life and death, nature and decay.

    Some of them were putrid skeletons in armor, rusted and busted, barely clinging to their skeletal bodies.

    Alister''s gaze narrowed as the system''s voice echoed in his head.

    [Notice! Analyzing surrounding entities...]

    Monster: Vined Horror

    Size ss: Large

    ss: gue Brute

    Total Combat Power: 54,070 (A-Rank)

    Talent: Thorned Regeneration (B-Rank) - Regains 10% HP every turn while within vine- infested terrain.]

    Monster: Deathbinder

    ss: Soul Harbinger

    Size ss: Medium

    Total Combat Power: 47,000 (B-Rank)

    Talent: Soul Harvest (B-Rank) - Absorbs 5% of an enemy''s mana to restore its own as long as it inflicts damage.[]

    Monster: Verdant Wretch

    ss: Corrupted Guardian

    Size ss: Large

    Total Combat Power: 53,500 (A-Rank)

    Talent: Nature''s Wrath (A-Rank) - Gains increased damage output when surrounded by nature-based attacks.[]

    [Warning The entities present in this area are significantly more intelligent and powerful than previously encountered threats. Caution is advised.]

    Alister clenched his fists, his dragon eyes gleaming as he focused on each of them.

    ''How peculiar... They have actual talents.''

    ''Perhaps it''s due to the fact they were once human, but...''

    ''The possibility that each of them possessed a talent rted to nature before their deaths is very unlikely...''

    ''Perhaps the nts that infested them modified their talents somehow.''

    ''A monster that can modify talents to suit its needs...''

    ''Indeed, it will be a truly intelligent life form.''

    "Good," he muttered, a cold look appearing on his face as his ck hair waved in the wind and his yellow eyes shone brightly.

    "I could use the challenge."

    His eyes scanned the horde of nt zombies and corrupted husks as they shuffled toward him, their twisted bodies.

    Alister took a deep breath and called out, "Cinder, Terra, Draven!"

    In an instant, the three emerged from rifts behind him, in theirbat forms, each radiating their Draconic aura around them.

    "We pay our respects to our lord," they said as they proceeded to bow before him.

    "Guard my body," Alister instructed. "I''ll be performing another summoning-two thisn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    time."

    "Understood," they replied in unison, their voices echoing.

    Alister''s expression hardened. "Also... I''ll be picking my sharpest fang today."

    At his words, a tense silence enveloped them, and the three responded, "Understood," their resolve forming in the face of his intent.

    Crouching down, Alister closed his eyes and focused. ''Open the mind space.''

    [Opening the mind space]

    Suddenly, Alister found himself in the mind space, hovering in a vast cosmic void, the stars twinkling around him, and before him, the massive stone doors with dragon skulls.

    The emptiness felt bothforting and somewhat empowering, a reminder of the limitless potential within.

    "Open my inventory," hemanded, causing a yellow window to materialize beside him. He nced at his summoning conduits, wondering which one to choose.

    "I should save the best forst."

    Reaching into the inventory, he pulled out the Azure rock summoning conduit, its crystal-like surface shimmering with a radiant blue glow. Holding the conduit in his hand, he said, "Time to proceed with the summoning."

    As he prepared, Alister mumbled to himself, wondering what emotion he should channel. "Fear? No, too unstable. Anger? Too chaotic..."

    He closed his eyes, delving deeper into his thoughts, searching for the right emotion. Finally, he decided on Resolve-a burning desire to protect and conquer.

    "Let it be... Resolve," he whispered, feeling the intensity build within him as he focused the emotion into the conduit.

    With rity, Alister began the summoning, channeling his mana through the Azure rock, causing it to shine brightly.

    A brilliant beam of light shot forth from the Azure rock conduit in Alister''s hand, surging through the air with blinding intensity.

    The beam raced forward, mming into the massive stone double doors that loomed before him. It held its energy for what felt like an eternity before finally dissipating.

    The doors began to groan and creak, their heavy frames slowly parting as they revealed the golden glowing from within.

    Alister was already used to this sight by now, having summoned before, but the anticipation

    still coursed through him.

    As the doors opened wider, deep sounds of footsteps echoed through the void, shaking the

    very ground beneath him.

    Each thud reverberated in his chest, announcing the arrival of something massive. Suddenly, the system materialized with a notification that echoed in his mind: [Congrattions to the yer for summoning the Sky Dragon Alzuring Von Azure-Void (S

    rank).]

    From the blinding light emerged a colossal blue dragon, its scales shimmering like sapphires with hints of white interspersed throughout its body.

    The dragon had a majestic pair of white horns that curved elegantly upwards, nearly forming

    a circle before suddenly pointing sharply into the air. Alzuring''s deep blue eyes glowed brightly as its massive wings unfurled, casting a shadow

    that enveloped the surrounding area. The air crackled with its mana as the dragon surveyed

    Alister, its presence both awe-inspiring and intimidating.

    "Greetings, young lord," Alzuring spoke, its voice echoing like thunder across the void.

    "I have answered your call. What is it that you seek?"

    Alister met the dragon''s gaze. "I seek your strength and support. Come serve under me as my

    general," Alister said as he extended his left hand in a weing gesture, narrowing his dragon eyes as he gazed at him, allowing his aura to emanate around him.

    Clearly trying to show he was apetent leader, Alzuring narrowed his gaze, leaning

    forward slightly.

    "I''m impressed with your confidence and prowess; the aura you possess is no less

    intimidating than mine. I would be more than proud to serve you, young lord."

    Alister''s face lit up slightly at thepliment, his heart swelling with a touch of pride.

    However, Alzuring''s tone shifted as he continued, "But first, you must tell me: what are your ideals, thews you live by that you would not break under any circumstance?"

 Chapter 193: A Leaders Convictions

    Chapter 193: A Leader''s Convictions

    ?

    Alister''s thoughts raced. ''This must be his test.''

    The gravity of the question weighed heavily on him. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding, "Is there a reason you must know?"

    Alzuring replied calmly, "Yes. A leader carries not only his own fate but the fate of all those who follow him. For him to properly lead down a path, he must not only believe in his own ideals but embody them. For he who is not even aware of the path he ns to tread has no right to lead others."

    "So tell me, young lord, what exactly are the ideals you live by? I shall then judge if you truly embody them before I pledge my loyalty."

    Alister considered Alzuring''s words carefully. This answer was important, for it would decide their partnership. He took a deep breath, ready to articte the principles that guided him through the chaos of their world.

    Alister''s thoughts raced as he processed Alzuring''s words.

    ''So he''s asking... Who am I?''

    He looked up at Alzuring, meeting the dragon''s gaze with newfound determination.

    "If I understand correctly, one''s ideals shape who they are?"

    Alzuring nodded, a glimmer of approval in his eyes.

    "Indeed."

    Feeling the weight of the moment, Alister took a deep breath and began to articte his beliefs.

    "First, family above all."

    "My family and allies are the most important to me. I would dly go through hell and do whatever I have to in order to protect those I care about."

    "And on that note, I will be as ruthless as I have to be. I won''t hesitate to cut down anyone or anything that threatens those I care about or those who block the path to my goals."

    "Only a fool offers his enemies mercy."

    The air around them seemed to shift, the seriousness of his words sinking in. Alister continued, his voice steady.

    "Second, nothing goodes easy. Nothing easysts long, and nothing longsting can be achieved without immense cost. If one hopes to achieve great things, then they should expect to give or sacrifice something of equal or greater value."

    "Many rely on and believe in me. I cannot disrespect them by not giving it my all."

    "Third..."

    "I''ve learned the hard way that pretending or sugar-coating things doesn''t get you anywhere. Life has taught me to face reality head-on, no matter how harsh it is. I will always be as real as I have to be; the world is a cruel ce, not one for wishful thinking."

    He paused, allowing the gravity of his convictions to resonate. "These are the truths I''vee to live by. They guide me in my decisions and actions."

    Alzuring regarded him with a contemtive expression, clearly impressed by Alister''s insights.

    "You speak with conviction. Your ideals are a reflection of your strength. Do you understand what this means for you?"

    Alister nodded, feeling a surge of purpose within him. "It means I''m willing to fight for those beliefs. I know the path I''ve chosen won''t be easy, but I''m ready for whatever it takes."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The dragon''s body shimmered slightly, as if pleased. "Then let us forge a bond that embodies those ideals. Together, we shall transcend the boundaries that confine us, and your strength will only grow from here."

    "May I ask your name, young lord?"

    "It''s Alister."

    Alzuring''s massive body shifted slightly, and with a graceful movement that seemed almost out of ce for such a powerful creature, he lowered his head, bowing deeply.

    "I, Alzuring Von Azure-Void, offer my loyalty to you, young lord Alister," the dragon dered, his voice vibrating the space around him.

    "From this moment onward, I shall serve you as your general, arade who shares in your ideals. My strength is yours tomand, and I shall fight by your side until the very end."

    As Alzuring''s head bowed, the familiar sound of a system notification echoed in Alister''s mind.

    [System Notice: Congrattions, yer Alister Hazenworth, for sessfully taming the Sky Dragon, Alzuring Von Azure-Void.]

    [Summoning Rank: S]

    Alister''s lips curled into a satisfied smile. The system notification confirmed what he had already felt a deep connection between him and Alzuring.

    He stepped forward, cing a hand on Alzuring''s bowed head, feeling the cool scales beneath

    his fingers.

    "I look forward to the future with you by my side," Alister said, his voice filled with determination. "Together, we will conquer any challenge thates our way. I have no doubt that with your strength added to my ranks, all of my goals shall slowly be within my reach."

    Alzuring raised his head, his eyes locking with Alister''s. "It will be an honor to fight by your side, young lord."

    Alister stepped back from Alzuring, his thoughts shifting to the next task at hand. The sky dragon had proven his loyalty, but Alister knew he needed more powerful allies if he hoped to achieve his goals. He turned to Alzuring with a calmmand.

    "Stand aside," Alister ordered. "I n to call forth another general to my aid."

    Alzuring gave a slight nod. "Understood, young lord." With that, the massive dragon took a step to the side, giving Alister the space he needed. His glowing eyes remained watchful, intrigued by what was toe.

    Alister reached into his inventory, his hand slipping through the void of items stored within. His fingers brushed against the smooth, cold surface of the dark quartz summoning conduit.

    He pulled it out, the object gleaming ominously in the fading light, its deep ck surface swirling with faint traces of purple and red energy.

    Holding the conduit tightly in his hand, Alister''s voice was low but clear as he muttered, "An Abyss-Void..."

    Just as the words left his lips, the system materialized before him in glowing text, capturing his attention.

    [System Notice: You are about to summon an Abyss-Void General.]

    [Abyss-Void summons typically harbor negative personality traits.]

    [To initiate the summoning, you must focus on your own negative emotions. These emotions will shape the essence of the Abyss-Void.]

    Alister''s brow furrowed as he read the notice. "Negative emotions?" he murmured, considering the system''s instructions. Abyss-Voids were known to embody traits like cruelty, anger, and maniption, but Alister wasn''t eager to call forth a general based on such

    characteristics.

    Still, the summoning required it, and he had no choice but toply.

    But what negative emotions should he use? Although he didn''t have personal experience with them, at least not as Alister Hazenworth, with what he had seen as Kan, they had a tendency to possess nearly psychotic personalities.

    He didn''t want to have to deal with that. But then something else came to mind as he began to recall the calm and level-headed Abyss-Void from his reassimted memories.

    ''My disciple, Mar''Garet...''

    ''System... Is it possible to summon dragons from my memory?''

    [It is possible, but if they had pledged their loyalty to another Overlord or the memories the yer has of them are vague, the summoning will fail.]

    [It is also important that the yer tries to recall the emotions associated with the memory.]

    [Notice! Summoning dragons from your memory will mean the yer will have no control over their desired personality traits.]

    [Will the yer like to proceed to summoning a dragon from their memory?]

    "Yes, summon Mar''Garet."

 Chapter 194: Summoning The Abyss Dragon

    Chapter 194: Summoning The Abyss Dragon

    ?

    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister closed his eyes, focusing on the dark quartz summoning conduit cradled in his hands. He channeled his mana into it, feeling the surge of power coursing through him.

    The conduit responded, absorbing his energy until it glowed with an ominous ck and red hue. With a deep breath, he directed his will toward the massive, now-closed stone doors before him.

    A beam of dark energy shot forth, striking the stone surface. The impact vibrated through the air as the conduit unleashed its power.

    [Summoning processing....]

    [The yer should begin bringing necessary memories to the surface...]

    Alister''s thoughts then drifted to the moments he had spent with Mar''Garet, recalling her loyalty and spirit. Memories of her training with the spear and their shared spars shed vividly in his mind, including some light-hearted moments ofughter, and the moment he left her to protect dragonkind in his stead. Remembering the forced smile she had on her face now made him feel slightly guilty, driving him to push harder against the conduit.

    Alzuring, standing at a respectful distance, watched in fascination.

    As the beam of energy subsided, the stone doors began to shimmer, a soft golden glow emanating from the cracks. Alister held his breath.

    But slowly, that golden light shifted to a fiery red, pulsing so intensely that it forced Alister to shield his eyes this time. An unsettling dark aura surrounded the doors, causing a chill to go down his spine.

    The doors slowly creaked open, revealing an abyss beyond. For a moment, the sight reminded Alister of something, but the moment he thought he knew what it was, he would forget it.

    From the darkness, footsteps echoed softly-an approach that sounded too delicate to belong to a creature of great size, like a dragon.

    Alister''s thoughts raced, ''She must still be in herbat form.''

    As the footsteps grew nearer, shes of a woman emerged from the depths. d in white and ck worn-out battle gear, she held a spear in her right hand, walking forward with the grace of a seasoned warrior.

    Suddenly, the system shed a notification.

    [Congrattions to the yer for summoning the Abyss Dragon Mar'' Garet Von Abyss-Void (SS rank).]

    Seeing this, Alister''s thoughts raced, ''A dragon? I thought she was a drake... like Cinder?'' ''Did she evolve?''

    Suddenly, another notification shed.

    [Notice! The summoned dragon possesses three titles!]

    [The One Who Fought For An Eternity!]

    [Protector Of A Kingdom Without Subjects!]

    [Bearer of A Tainted Desire!]

    As the system notifications shed in the corner of Alister''s vision, he couldn''t help but feel a touch of guilt. One didn''t need to be a genius to understand what these titles meant.

    ''She has fought as hard as she could... Even after she inevitably failed at her duty... She kept on fighting,'' was what Alister could deduce from the first two titles. As for thest one, he felt it reflected her hope to see him againˇŞa hope that never came true, or so he thought.

    Mar''Garet stepped forward, her armor battered and worn, her crimson eyes now dark and devoid of the light he remembered.

    Her expression was cold, distant-nothing like the fierce yet loyal warrior he had once known. She looked like some kind of lifeless doll, a sign that she had been through a lot. No one could tell how much.

    She came to a halt before him, her gaze sweeping the surroundings as though searching for something or someone.

    "Where is my lord?" she asked, her voice low butced with a touch of frustration.

    Alister blinked in confusion, her question catching him off guard.

    "Your lord? Mar''Garet, it''s me," he responded, stepping forward. "I''m right here."

    Her eyes narrowed, and her grip tightened on the spear she held, its sharp tip now pointed directly at him.

    "Do you think this is some kind of sick joke?" she spat, her tone tinged with fury.

    "I didn''t answer the call of that voice just to be mocked. I came here because I was told I would meet him-my lord, the one I swore my life to!"

    Alister''s heart raced, her words cutting through him like a de.

    ''That voice?''

    ''What is she talking about?''

    His mind whirled, piecing together the puzzle. Someone or something-had summoned her here, promising a reunion with her former lord. But the question was, who had deceived her?

    "Mar''Garet, listen to me," Alister began, his voice calm but firm. "I am the one who called you, and I am the one you swore loyalty to. I don''t know what voice you heard, but I am not here to trick you."

    Her red eyes red with doubt and anger, but beneath the rage, Alister could sense the pain that lingered in her soul, the weight of her past failures still crushing her spirit. Mar''Garet''s eyes shed with a fiery intensity as red mana red around her body like an inferno, casting a harsh light that illuminated the space around them.

    Alister narrowed his eyes, his expression hardening as he gazed at her coldly, unflinching in the face of her power.

    Alzuring, who had been watching, now raised his own aura. The space around his massive body rippled with raw blue mana, a violent pulse of authority that made the air tremble.

    His voice thundered, filled with fury. "You dare raise your aura in the presence of a member of the royal bloodline? That is a sin worthy of death! You are a disgrace to all dragonkind!"

    The sheer force of Alzuring''s presence caused the ground to shake, but Mar''Garet wasn''t the least bit fazed. She had seen worse, far worse, so she simply ignored him, her cold eyes locked

    onto Alister.

    Her voice was cold as she spoke, her spear still pointed toward him.

    "Look..."

    "...I don''t know what you think you''re up to, but I will not tolerate you impersonating my lord. It''s an insult I would dly kill you for, but I have no time to waste on such a trivial

    effort."

    She lowered her spear slightly but did not rx her guard. "Now, I''ll be removing myself from this ce. I must return to the duty my true lord entrusted to me," she said, turning as if ready to leave through the summoning doors without another word.

    As Mar''Garet turned to leave, the system shed another notification.

    [System Notice: Quest Issued!]

    Quest Title: Restore the Lost Bond

    Mar''Garet does not recognize you due to your altered appearance and aura. In her mind, you are not the Lord she once pledged loyalty to. To regain her trust, you must make her realize it is truly you, her Lord. Remind her of the bond you once shared and prove your identity.

    Objective: Make Mar''Garet pledge her loyalty once more.

    Reward: Random ss-Exclusive Skill

    Alister''s thoughts churned as he processed the new quest. He smiled slightly as he suddenly realized how to go about this.

    As Mar''Garet strode forward with unwavering confidence, her dark armor glinting ominously under the red glow from the doors, Alister suddenly spoke up, his voice cutting through the

    tension like a de.

    "Look at you," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "What a rebellious disciple you turned out to be. Can''t even follow your lord''sst orders to you."

 Chapter 195: A Forgotten Order

    Chapter 195: A Forgotten Order

    ?

    Mar''Garet froze mid-step, her eyes narrowing dangerously. Slowly, she turned her head to face him, her crimson gaze locking onto his. "What did you just say?" Her voice was low, filled with barely contained fury.

    Alister took a step forward, his expression calm but his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Your lord''sst order. Myst order. What was it?"

    Mar''Garet''s grip tightened on her spear, her anger ring. "You''re not only impersonating him, but now you dare to im I''m not following his orders?"

    "That''s it! I won''t tolerate this any longer!" She whirled around, her spear raised, ready to strike.

    But in an instant, before she could act, Alister moved, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. His smile widened, taunting. "Oh? You really can''t remember your lord''sst order? I''m just asking a simple question. No need to get so hot-blooded, Mar''Garet. You just need to answer, that''s all."

    Her eyes burned with rage as she yelled, "My lord asked me to protect his people and his throne-"

    "That''s incorrect," Alister interrupted, his voice cool and steady. His smile only deepened.

    Mar''Garet recoiled, disbelief and fury shing in her expression. "What!" Her voice trembled with anger, and she braced herself to retaliate, but Alister''s next words stopped her cold.

    "Myst order to you, Mar''Garet," he said softly, stepping even closer, "was for you to smile. Remember?"

    For a moment, silence hung between them. The weight of his words cut through her rage, and Mar''Garet''s eyes widened in realization. The memories surged back-her lord''s final words, spoken with a warmth she had long buried.

    "I am the strongest, I am the Overlord! I''ll definitely return victorious," he said with a confident smile spreading across his draconic features.

    Hisughter and confidence seemed to dissolve some of the fear within her. She nodded, a small smile on her lips.

    "I will guard our people and your throne, my lord."

    "And be sure to smile while you do."

    "... Yes, I''ll make sure I do, my lord," she reluctantly said, managing a small smile. "And I''ll be waiting for your return."

    Alister watched as the recognition flickered across her face, his smile still in ce, but it eased up slightly.

    Mar''Garet''s expression faltered, her fiery demeanor suddenly downcast. Her confident stance weakened, as if Alister''s words had reached deep into her guarded heart.

    Alister wondered in his thoughts,

    ''Was that all it took?''

    Had his mention of those final words truly broken through her defenses so easily?

    But suddenly, a shift in the air alerted him. Mar''Garet''s hand tightened around her spear, and in an instant, she swung it in a wide arc. Alister seemed to vanish from where he stood, his form flickering as the spear sliced clean through his afterimage. He reappeared effortlessly beside Alzuring, his calm, amused expression still in ce.

    "Trying to strike your lord when his guard was down?"

    "I know you''ve always been desperate for a win against me, but you can''t use underhanded methods like that."

    Mar''Garet remained silent, her eyes sharp with a look of defiance and uncertainty. Slowly, she began walking toward him, her armored boots echoing in the space.

    With each step, she moved further from the summoning doors. As if responding to her decision, the massive doors behind her began to close, sealing shut with a low rumble.

    Watching this, Alister''s gaze darkened slightly. "Should I take that as your decision to stay?"

    Mar''Garet halted, her spear now held loosely at her side. Her voice was harsh, though there was an undeniable tremor beneath it.

    "I don''t know who you are, but many people were there the day my lord and his generals went out to battle. You must have heard those words from someone."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Despite her defiant tone, Alister could sense the deeper pain behind her words. He could see it now-Mar''Garet had waited for him, clinging to the hope that her lord would return. She must have seen signs, small glimpses that reignited her faith, only for disappointment to crush it each time.

    And so, she decided to wait, not allowing hope to consume her with regret, but never fully abandoning the chance of his return. It was the only way she could endure the endless void of time, surviving on the thin thread of hope while refusing to let it rule her.

    Alister''s expression softened, understanding the struggle within her. "What are the chances of that happening?" he replied, his voice now more somber.

    "Many of our people died that day. Those who ran away wouldn''t bother passing such words to their children. What would be the point?"

    His words struck a chord, and for a moment, Mar''Garet''s gaze softened, if only for a moment. She remained still, her grip on her spear tightening as she wrestled with the emotions surging through her.

    Mar''Garet''s eyes narrowed as she studied him carefully. "What happened to your hair?" she asked slowly, her voice filled with disbelief. "It''s short... and ck now. Your face... your aura... you even look younger. How can you exin all that? What happened to you?" Alister let out a deep sigh, as if the question weighed on him. "In all honesty, I''m not certain. I''ve lived all my life as Alister Hazenworth, and it''s only recently that I''ve started to recall memories of a past life that seemed to belong to me. I guess you could say I got another life somehow."

    At his words, both Alzuring and Mar'' Garet''s eyes widened in shock. They yelled together, "Reincarnation?!"

    Alister shrugged awkwardly at their intensity. "I guess so."

    Alzuring''s expression shifted from shock to fascination. "Fascinating," the dragon rumbled. "Rebirth is a concept known to the members of the dragon ns, believed to be an ability of the celestials. There has always been a huge debate on whether the dragon godprehended it, and that if he were to appear again, the dragon race would surely thrive. Could it be that the young lordprehended such an ability before your death?"

    Alister paused, unsure how to respond. He had no memory of mastering or even hearing about such an ability, but Alzuring''s words lingered.

    Could that really be the exnation? It seemed to be the most usible reason for why he had memories of a life he hadn''t led yet felt deeply familiar.

    But deep down, although he had never voiced it aloud, Alister believed it might be connected

    to the system that governed his abilities.

    Still, he chose his next words carefully. "Perhaps. I have no memory of mastering such a

    power, but maybe that was the case. It''s one possibility, after all..." He trailed off, ncing at Mar''Garet, her expression still guarded but less aggressive now.

    "Regardless of how I''m here, the memories remain," he said. "And those memories connect

    me to the life I once led."

    Alister let a small smirk creep across his face, his eyes locking with Mar''Garet''s. "So, is that enough for my rebellious disciple to recognize her lord?"

    Mar''Garet paused, her expression going nk. The silence between them stretched, the

    tension thick in the air.

    Without warning, Mar''Garet swung her spear in a wide arc, slicing through the space in front of her. To Alister''s surprise, a dark rift appeared, swirling ominously. He tensed, ready to react, as she calmly reached her left hand into the rift. The air crackled with energy as her hand emerged, gripping a second spear, its ck and silver surface gleaming with mana.

    Her voice was steady, but there was a fierce look in her eyes.

    "What you''ve said may be true, but it could just as easily be a lie," she stated, her gaze sharp as the tip of her spear. "The only way I''ll believe you is if you can beat me in a spar."

 Chapter 196: A Duel Between Lord And Disciple

    Chapter 196: A Duel Between Lord And Disciple

    ?

    Mar''Garet''s eyes gleamed as she suddenly tossed the spear sideways toward Alister. He reacted instantly, catching it with a smooth, fluid motion. The weapon felt familiar in his grip, its weight bnced perfectly, and he gave it a quick spin before resting it at his side.

    "Alright," Alister said, "we can spar. But I have a few conditions, or else this won''t be a fair fight." He sounded like he was teasing, but there was a serious look in his gaze.

    "I can''t have my disciples showing me up when I''m not at my strongest, after all."

    Mar''Garet raised an eyebrow, her crimson gaze steady. "Go on."

    Alister''s expression grew more focused. "You''re not allowed to use your bloodline abilities or any of the powers you''ve gained since thest time we saw each other. Only your spear skills and physical capabilities."

    "In turn, I, too, will do the same."

    Mar''Garet''s lips curled into a smile, amusement appearing in her eyes. "You want to limit me like that? Fine. I''ll humor you," she replied confidently, gripping her spear tighter. "I agree to your conditions."

    Alister turned to Alzuring and then said, "Alzuring, I need you to mediate our battle."

    The dragon nodded. "Understood, young lord."

    As Alister twirled the spear in his hand, he couldn''t help but feel a touch of doubt.

    ''I''m saying all this, but I honestly don''t think I could really match Mar''Garet''s physical capabilities.''n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Just as the thought crossed his mind, the system''s voice echoed in his head.

    [The yer need not worry about being overpowered physically.]

    [The mind realm exists in your thoughts, not only to house your summons but to allow you to exert dominance over them should the need arise.]

    Alister''s eyes widened slightly at the notification. ''Are you saying I could be as strong as her... physically?''

    [Affirmative.]

    [The yer simply needs to think they are as strong as their opponent.]

    ''Alright then,'' Alister thought, taking the system''s words to the test. He simply thought he was as strong as she was, he wouldn''t do more than that, else it would be most unfair if him, he did have some honour. Twirling his spear once more, Alister then called out.

    "Alzuring, you can begin mediating."

    The dragon tilted his head, eyes narrowing as he looked at them both. "Are you both ready?" he rumbled.

    "Yes," they answered.

    Alzuring''s voice boomed, "Then begin!"

    The moment Alzuring gave themand, Mar''Garet charged forward with a burst of speed. Her spearshed out in a sharp horizontal arc aimed at Alister''s abdomen, the spear carving through the air with a loud whistle.

    Alister stepped back, cing his right leg behind him while his left remained in ce as he leaned forward with his spear.

    He swung his spear to parry, the shaft of his spear hitting hers near the tip. The sh of weapons echoed, sending sparks flying, but the force behind her strike made his arms shake.

    He quickly pushed her back, then spun his spear in a wide circle, using it to counter Mar''Garet''s thrusts when she aimed for his body with swift strikes.

    But then she decided to quickly close the distance between them. Alister, seeing this, threw out a sudden thrust. She didn''t blink, instantly dodging to the right, adjusting quickly, lifting her spear up, and then bringing it down in a downward sh aimed at Alister''s left shoulder.

    Alister quickly raised his spear horizontally to block, his feet bracing as he ced his left foot forward. The impact was hard, her attack pushing him back a few inches.

    ''We''re evenly matched... but she''s overpowering me with her skill.''

    "You''re slower than I remember," Mar''Garet taunted. She pushed him back with a sudden burst, leaping up into the air, spinning her spear in a tight arc above her head before bringing it down vertically.

    Alister quickly sidestepped to his right to avoid the downward strike. He counted swiftly, thrusting his spear toward her exposed side, but Mar''Garet had anticipated it. She twisted her body, using her spear for a defensive block.

    The sh sent vibrations up both their arms.

    "You''ve gotten rusty," she said in a cold sharp tone.

    Alister gritted his teeth, realizing she was right. She was faster, her footwork cleaner. Every time he tried to attack, she moved with far smoother movments, redirecting his strikes before they couldnd.

    She swung again, this time with a low sweep aimed at his legs. Alister hopped back, his feet shifting quickly. He countered with a thrust, but she easily twisted her spear to knock it aside.

    As the battle wore on, Alister found that he wadent able tond any ckean attacks. Each time he tried to take advantage of an opening, she was already two steps ahead. Her spear movements were quick, her footwork far more polished than his, never leaving an opening for long.

    ''This is a lot harder than I expected,'' he thought, as he blocked another one of her strikes. He had never expected Mar''Garet to be this relentless.

    She drove him back again, her right leg stepping forward, thrusting her spear toward his chest. He barely managed to parry it, his foot slipping slightly as he struggled to keep up. ''No, she may be more skilled than me, but there must be a pattern to how she deals her

    attacks.''

    He thought, and then something shifted.

    Alister''s dragon eyes suddenly became more focused, a flicker of a crest appearing in their depths.

    He began to watch her more closely, noticing the small ways she moved. The way she leaned slightly into her strikes, how her feet shifted to always maintain bnce. He started to pick up on her rhythm-how her left foot would always brace before a heavy strike, and how her right leg gave her the push for more forceful attacks.

    ''She''s predictable,'' Alister realized. ''She always braces herself before striking hard.''

    He watched her step forward again, her left leg shifting for another heavy strike. This time, he didn''t just block. He twisted his body, sliding his right foot back to dodge her swing, raising his spear at an angle to deflect.

    Her spear grazed his, but in the next instant he was already stepping forward, before thrusting at her abdomen.

    Mar''Garet''s eyes widened slightly, surprised by the sudden skill behind of his movement. She twisted her body, her spear moving just in time to block, but it wasn''t as clean as before.

    "Not bad," she said, stepping back, her feet shifting to regain her stance.

    Alister didn''t give her a chance, he pressed forward, his footwork slowly bing simr to hers now. His left leg slid forward as he swung his spear in a wide horizontal arc. She blocked it easily, but he didn''t let up.

    He twisted the spear as he reversed his grip, aiming low at her legs. Mar''Garet jumped back, but Alister closed the distance, stepping in with his right foot and swinging the spear in a

    quick upward arc.

    She blocked again, but her stance had faltered, her left leg slightly out of ce. Alister noticed it, pressing forward with more confidence.

    "I''m getting the hang of this," he said as he pressed his spear toward hers, their eyes locked

    as they gazed at each other intensely, Alister''s grip tightening as he moved faster, his

    footwork now copying hers almost perfectly.

    Mar''Garet''s gaze sharpened as she realized what was happening. He was learning, adapting.

    "You might have been able to block some of my attacks because you manged to predict my patterns..." she said, with a cold intense gaze. "But can you keep it up?"

 Chapter 197: Shattered Pride, Restored Loyalty

    Chapter 197: Shattered Pride, Restored Loyalty

    ?

    Their spears shed again, but this time Alister felt a shift in the battle. He wasn''t attacking randomly nowˇŞhe was reading her, predicting her movements. He could see the slight tension in her legs before she struck, the way her grip tightened before a powerful swing.

    He anticipated her next move-another low sweep-and instead of dodging, he blocked it cleanly, his footwork perfect as he countered with a thrust toward her shoulder.

    Mar''Garet barely had time to parry, her stance breaking for just a second as she stumbled back.

    Alister''s confidence surged. "I think I''ve got you now."

    She narrowed her eyes, but there was respect in her gaze.

    The tide of the battle had turned.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The pace of the battle escted as Alister began to assert himself. He leaped forward, thrusting his spear. Mar''Garet parried, but Alister quickly redirected, following up with a sweeping arc aimed at her legs.

    She jumped, narrowly avoiding the strike, but Alister anticipated her movement, spinning on his spear, lifting it above his head, and bringing it down in a powerful overhead swing. Mar''Garet deflected the blow but stumbled slightly, giving him the opening he needed.

    He pressed forward, unleashing a series of rapid thrusts with intense bursts of speed that made every move a blur. Mar''Garet countered each one, sparks flying all around them, causing the air to whip violently.

    Alister feinted to the left, then twisted his body, driving the spear toward her right side. She blocked it but was forced to take a few steps back.

    Alister seized the moment, stepping in closer and using a low sweep to disrupt her bnce. She barely managed to hop back, but Alister didn''t stop there. He charged in again,unching abination of strikes-quick jabs and wide arcs-testing her defenses. Mar''Garet responded, their speed evenly matched, but she couldn''t properly anticipate or block all of them.

    With a sudden shift, Alister changed his stance. He delivered a feigned thrust to her midsection, then quickly redirected the spear upward, catching her off guard as she raised her own weapon to counter.

    In a swift motion, he flicked his spear downward, sending hers spiraling from her grip. The spear flew through the air,nding several feet away.

    "Got you!" Alister eximed, breathing heavily as he stood, spear aimed at her. Mar''Garet seemed frozen in shock, slowly tilting her head to gaze down beneath her, her hair darkening half of her face.

    Alister, still catching his breath, straightened up and nced at Mar''Garet. "This is my win," he said, his voice filled with quiet satisfaction.

    Alzuring, watching from a distance, congratted him. "Your skill with the spear is truly unrivaled, my lord."

    Alister smiled, nodding as he acknowledged thepliment. "Thank you. If only my disciple would finally admit that- "

    "My lord, look out!" Alzuring''s voice suddenly boomed in warning.

    Alister''s instincts kicked in, and he snapped his attention toward Mar''Garet. She was charging toward him, but this time, she wasn''t holding her spear. For a moment, Alister was confused and rmed.

    ''Did she hate losing so much that she couldn''t ept defeat?'' he wondered.

    But something was different. She was faster now, closing the distance between them at an rming speed. Alister''s eyes widened in shock as he realized she was too close, too fast. His grip tightened on his spear, wondering if he would need to seriously put her in her ce. But what came next wasn''t an attack.

    Mar''Garet suddenly wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. Alister froze, his eyes widening in shock as she buried her face in his chest. Her voice was soft, trembling with emotion as she spoke. "My lord... it''s really you..."

    Alister, caughtpletely off guard, stood still for a moment, feeling the awkwardness of the moment settle over him.

    "Yeah... it''s me," he responded, his voice uncertain, his mind racing to understand what was happening.

    When she looked up at him, her cold demeanor hadpletely melted away. Her eyes, sharp and calcting earlier, were now warm, almost vulnerable. Her grip around his back tightened as she whispered,

    "I missed you."

    "I thought I''d never see you again."

    Alister hesitated, his mind conflicted. He knew Mar''Garet from his past, but this sudden shift in attitude unnerved him, it was new. Still, he decided to let it go, knowing she was someone precious to him, and she must have gone through a lot.

    "I... I missed you too," he finally said, though he felt uneasy saying so.

    She gazed up at him, her expression softening even more. "Really? How much?"

    Alister blinked, surprised by the question. "How much?" he echoed, not sure how to respond.

    Alister forced a smile, trying to push through the awkwardness. "A lot," he said softly, hoping that would be enough.

    To his surprise, Mar'' Garet''s eyes widened slightly, a sh of emotion crossing her face before she buried her head in his chest again.

    For a few moments, she held him like that, and just as Alister was beginning to feel slightly more uneasy, she suddenly pulled away. Without a word, she stepped back, moving toward where her spear had fallen.

    Alister watched her silently, his thoughts swirling. ''What is she up to now?'' he wondered, still trying to make sense of the sudden change in her behavior.

    Mar''Garet bent down, retrieving her spear, and then, to his further astonishment, she slowly walked back to him.

    When she reached his feet, she knelt down, her eyes lowered in deference.

    "Mar''Garet Von Abyss-Void greets her lord," she said, her voice sounding somewhat excited. "I am ready and eager to serve by your side once again," she smiled at the end.

    A look that almost seemed alien on her earlier cold face.

    Alister looked down at her, speechless for a moment. He hadn''t expected this, but seeing her like this stirred old memories. "Rise, Mar''Garet," he said, his voice a bit gentler now, "I look forward to a future with you as one of my generals."

 Chapter 198: The Cursed City Beneath The Red Moon

    Chapter 198: The Cursed City Beneath The Red Moon

    ?

    [System Notice!]

    [Congrattions, yer! You havepleted the quest: "Restore the Lost Bond."]

    [You have obtained the ss-exclusive skill: Dragon Path Artisan (SSS).]

    [Congrattions! Due to the acquired skill, a Dracotralysis Tree has grown in the mind

    space!]

    [The yer will need the help of an Archi-Void to make proper use of it.]

    [System Notice!]

    [Congrattions, yer, for taming the Abyss dragon Mar''Garet Von Abyss-Void (SS).]

    [The negative emotion she embodies is: Obsession.]

    [An Overlord needs to find their own way of keeping an Abyss-Void in line.]

    [Otherwise, they will act out based on your perceived emotions rather than your actual wishes.]

    [System Notice!]

    [Congrattions, yer! You have obtained 5 generals,pleting the hidden quest: "Overlord''s Right Arm."]

    [All your generals now possess "voluntary passage," meaning unless the yer decides to limit them, they are allowed to exit and re-enter the mind space at any time.]

    [Notice! The yer won''t be able to summon another general until their next awakening (Lvl 50), although normal summoning is still possible.]

    [Congrattions! You have discovered the skill: Spear Mastery (SS).]

    Alister blinked as the system messages shed in rapid session. He couldn''t read through all of them, but he got the general sense of what it was trying to say.

    He found himself back in reality. The surroundings of the ruined red moon city grounds came into view, with Terra, Cinder, and Draven standing nearby.

    "Congrattions on your sess, my lord," Terra said, smiling.

    Alister gave a nod. "Thanks," he replied, "but there''s more to be done."

    He stepped forward, gazing down at the ruined city as he spoke softly.

    "Alzuring, Mar''Garet,e forth."

    A rift tore open beside him, the air shimmering as the fabric of reality bent. From it, Alzuring and Mar''Garet emerged in theirbat forms.

    Alzuring was the first to step forward. He was tall, slightly taller than Darven. His sharp face was framed by two curling horns that extended from his forehead.

    His eyes, a deep sapphire blue, and his silver and ocean blue hair fell to his side. In his left hand, he held what looked like a white bow without a string, appearing to be made from the upper halves of his horns, both possessing sharp, pointy tips.

    He donned blue, white, and silver dragon scale armor, and on his back were smaller versions of his once massive wings. His long hair was tied together with a golden hairpin.

    Mar''Garet then stepped out. Her dark armor gleamed under the red moonlight, with all the previous damage gone, looking as though it was fresh out of an equipment shop.

    Her long, silver hair flowed down her back, and in her hand, she gripped her spear, its de gleaming under the crimson light.

    For some reason, when she stepped out, she looked around at the other generals, her eyes narrowing dangerously as she gazed at Cinder. Cinder noticed the strange hostility, narrowing her gaze intensely as well, but decided to ignore her, walking up to Alister''s side.

    As she approached Alister, her eyes softened slightly, but her posture remained poised and ready for battle.

    Mar''Garet did the same, both of them standing at Alister''s side as they gazed down at the ruined city crawling with monsters.

    Alzuring moved elegantly to the edge of the skyscraper, then looked down as he said, "What a peculiar sight... What cursed these creatures to such a foul fate?"

    Terra, standing nearby with her arms crossed, nced at the creatures Alzuring was referring to, adjusting a pair of sses on the ridge of her nose, from who knows where.

    She took a deep breath before answering, "These are what''s left of people who fell victim to a parasitic spore infestation. It''s a fungus-like parasite that invades the host''s body, gradually taking over their motor functions, mind, and eventually their entire body."

    "The nts erupting from their bodies are part of the spore''s reproductive cycle. It uses the bodies of its victims as both nourishment and a vessel to spread its spores further. The reason they seem... Undead-like is because the fungus controls their actions, using them to infect others and expand its reach."

    Terra''s gaze darkened as she finally said, "It''s not just a physical infestation. It attacks the very essence of what makes them human, leaving nothing but mindless husks driven by the need to spread. A perfect example of nature''s darker side... relentless, merciless."

    Alzuring''s gaze shifted back to Terra, his sharp eyes softening ever so slightly. "It''s reassuring to know that we already have an Archi-Void among the young lord''s forces," he said with a touch of respect as he nced at Terra.

    "You''ll be invaluable for what''s toe."

    "I appreciate praise, but may I ask what your name is?"

    "Oh, forgive myte introduction, I am Alzuring Von Azure-Void."

    "Terra Von Archi-Void." Terra responded. "d to make your acquaintance Alzuring, may we both fulfil our parts and serve our lord till the end."

    "Indeed we shall."

    Alister, listening intently, couldn''t help but notice the strange addition on Terra''s face. "Terra, why are you wearing sses?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, unable to hide his curiosity. She was a dragon with X-ray vision, whose eyes could see objects from miles away. Why would she need sses? Alister silently wondered.

    Terra smiled brightly, adjusting the sses with an almost proud gesture. "Ah, I observed that humans with higher intellectual capacities than others tend to wear them on their faces, so I thought it would be nice to have a pair as well," she said, her voice brimming with excitement.

    Alister was a bit confused with how she acted. He had never seen this side of her before-so excited, like she had found a piece of treasure. "And how did you even obtain those?"

    Terra''s eyes lit up as she eagerly exined. "It was in that valley where you summoned me to save your teammates. During the fight, I found these sses buried in the rubble. They were almostpletely melted down because of all the heat from the earth, but I managed to restore them."

    She raised a finger, excitement in her tone. "I used a precise cooling technique to reverse the damage. First, I froze the frames using arcane craft to solidify the metal without making it

    brittle."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Then I shaped them back to their original form with small, calcted pulses of energy, before finally repairing the lenses using tiny fragments of crystal I shaped using my bloodline

    ability."

    She adjusted the sses once more, as if to show them off. "I decided to wear them because they fit perfectly, and... I have grown to like that gesture human schrs make by adjusting

    them."

    Terra adjusted her sses once more and smiled. "I hope the sight of them doesn''t bother you, my lord. If they do, I''ll dly discard them."

    Alister looked at her, feeling slightly awkward about the gesture. "No, as long as you like

    them, you can keep them."

    Terra''s eyes lit up. "Thank you, my lord! I am grateful."

    Alister offered a small smile. "It''s my pleasure."

    He then turned his attention to Mar''Garet. "You haven''t properly introduced yourself to the

    others yet."

    Mar''Garet smiled, a glint of pride in her eyes. "Ah, right." She stepped forward. "I am Mar''Garet Von Abyss-Void, master of the spear and a loyal pupil of my lord. Most of what I know, I learned from him. I owe him much, and I will serve well by his side."

    There was confidence in her tone, and the others listened with respect. Alister gave a satisfied nod. "Good, since introductions are out of the way, we need to move quickly andplete the objective I brought you all here for."

    Alister narrowed his eyes dangerously as they glowed brightly. Other rifts opened up in the sky, and his Wyverns flew out of them as he finally said, "We have a long night ahead of us. We''re not stopping until every monster here is either eradicated or devoured."

 Chapter 199: A Heart In Turmoil

    Chapter 199: A Heart In Turmoil

    ?

    Meanwhile...

    In the Berserker Guild''s towering branch office, the sparring area had be a battlefield of twisted steel and shattered dummies. Anya, the Guildmaster, stood in the center of the chaos, her fists flying with bursts of strength and speed.

    She wore a tight ck crop top and gym-like pants, both clinging to her frame, showing off the sharp definition of her muscles as she attacked each target.

    Sweat gleamed on her skin as her purple hair whipped around her shoulders, her glowing red eyes narrowing with each punch.

    "Spade!" she yelled, mming her bare fist into a dummy with such force that the metallic frame shattered. "I''ll make you pay for this!"

    Each blow sent a training dummy flying, sparking from the damage, the sensors struggling to register the force of her hits before going instantly offline. System warnings red through the sparring room.

    [System Alert: Damage threshold exceeded. Repair required.]

    [System Alert: Training bots offline.]

    [System Alert: Excessive force detected. Equipment failure imminent.]

    Watching from the sidelines, the branch guild master, us, stood with his arms crossed.

    His bald head gleamed under the neon lights of the sparring room, and his dark brown eyes were locked on Anya, silently observing her as she tore through thest remaining dummies.

    Dressed in ck leather armor designed with silver metallic ents, his uniform signified his rank, glowing faintly as he shifted his weight.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Beside him, the vice branch guild master, Helena, was watching just as intently. Her sharp green eyes tracked every movement Anya made, her sleek bob of jet-ck hair motionless as if even her body was holding its breath. Dressed in a simr uniform, hers had green glowing lines, as she gazed with intense focus.

    "She''s going to break every piece of equipment we have at this rate," Helena murmured with a touch of frustration.

    "How long is she going to keep this up?"

    us shook his head, exhaling. "Who knows? I don''t think we''ve ever seen her this mad." His eyes looked toward the smashed remains of a training bot, wires hanging loosely from its side. "This ''Spade'' guy really pushed her over the edge this time."

    "Let''s just hope she calms down soon."

    "Indeed, or else the numbers in our bank ounts will," Helena said as another dummy crashed to the ground, its circuits sparking.

    us grunted in agreement but remained focused on Anya. His wristmunicator beeped, and a notification popped up.

    [Alchemist Team Leader calling.]

    us tapped the screen, bringing up a holographic image of one of the guild''s team leaders, Marik, the alchemist.

    Marik had dark blue hair that was styled in a slick, professional cut, and his piercing yellow eyes gave off an air of intelligence.

    He wore the guild''s signature uniform, with a bottle symbol glowing faintly on his sleeves.

    "Marik," us said, his voice gruff. "You''re free now?"

    Marik nodded from the other side of themunication, his expression sharp and focused. "Yes, theb work is done. I''m ready to carry out Guildmaster Anya''s check-up."

    Anya had requested a check-up to be carried out on her heart. Ever since her encounter with Spade, the mere thought of him would spike her heart rate, and her body would fidget all over. She would almost feel his arm on her shoulder as he told her to stay put back then, and the chill she felt down her spine made her uneasy, her cheeks flushed.

    The way it made her body feel was one she had never experienced before, and she didn''t like it.

    She deduced he must have poisoned her, but healing proved otherwise, so she wondered if it was something chronic and decided to get a check-up to get to the bottom of what was wrong with her.

    "Good. Get ready. She''s still working off steam, but I''ll let her know it''s time, so she should be with you in a few minutes."

    Marik''s yellow eyes looked toward the destruction visible in the background of the call. His brow raised slightly in shock, but he kept his voice neutral.

    "Understood, Branch Master us. I''ll be waiting."

    The hologram blinked off, and us turned his attention back to the sparring area. He waited for the right moment as Anya obliterated another dummy, the system trying and failing to keep up with the damage.

    "Guildmaster," us called out, his deep voice cutting through the noise. "It''s time for your check-up."

    Anya paused for a moment, breathing heavily, her fists still clenched. Her eyes flicked to us, glowing with the remnants of her rage, but she didn''t argue. Instead, she turned toward the final dummy, gritting her teeth in annoyance.

    With onest punch, the dummy crumpled under her fist, copsing into a pile of wreckage.

    With that, she grabbed a towel hanging on a nearby rail, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and slung it over her shoulder. Without a word, she began making her way to the exit.

    As she passed us, he gave her a nod. "Marik''s waiting for you."

    Anya said nothing, only giving him a nce as she headed toward theb, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

    Helena, still standing beside us, surveyed the wreckage of the sparring area, with a touch of exasperation and concern on her face.

    She sighed, shaking her head. "We may be the richest guild, but even for us, that''s going to leave a dent in our funds."

    us chuckled softly. "Well, we can always charge it to Spade''s tab once we find him."

    "You wish, even the Guildmaster herself was powerless against him. The only way we may be able to pin down the guy is if all branch masters from across the mega cities hunt him down together," Helena said with a touch of frustration.

    "Now that''s overkill. You make it sound like the man is a sandworm. Aren''t you giving him too much credit?"

    "Who knows," Helena shrugged. "He chose not to kill any of our guild members, even though he had the power to. So he obviously held back, and if he could subdue the Guildmaster after exchanging some blows, it really makes you question what his real strength looks like." They both stood there for a moment, watching Anya''s retreating figure as she left the sparring room in ruins, flickering with malfunctioning lights and broken equipment.

    ...

    Guildmaster Anya strode down the dimly lit hallway, the echo of her footsteps mingling with the low hum of machinery from the various rooms. Her towel hung loosely over her shoulder, the damp cloth absorbing the sweat from her intense sparring session. But as she moved, the adrenaline in her veins was not the only thing coursing through her body. Unwee memories began to creep in.

    Her mind drifted back to the Wastnd Disy event, to her brief but infuriating encounter with Spade. She could still feel the brush of his hand on her shoulder as he leaned in, his voice low and calm as he whispered...

    "Remember this moment, Anya. This is what true power looks like. Now, for your next lesson, stay put, and don''t interfere."

    "An overlord''s orders are absolute. Do you understand?"

    The audacity of his casual dismissal of her strength infuriated her. Saying what he disyed

    was true power raced through her mind, and her body fidgeted involuntarily.

    Her heart rate quickened, her muscles tightening as if she could still feel his presence

    lingering on her skin.

 Chapter 200: A Shocking Revelation

    Chapter 200: A Shocking Revtion

    ?

    Her cheeks flushed despite herself, thebination of anger and something else- something unfamiliar-flooding through her.

    She gritted her teeth, her jaw tightening as she clenched her fists at her sides.

    ''I''ll kill him, I''ll definitely kill him when I find him! He not only humiliated me but left my body in a weakened state.''

    ''He must have done something to make me weaker so I won''t be a threat when I hunt him down, but I won''t let that stop me. I''ll be sure to squeeze the life out of him as I strangle his neck, and I''ll make sure to watch the light go out in his eyes as I do.''

    Guildmaster Anya arrived at a small, unassuming office door at the end of the hall. The metal door slid open with a quiet hiss, revealing theb behind it.

    Inside, the alchemist team leader, Marik, stood waiting with his usual calm demeanor, his dark blue hair neatly styled, and his piercing yellow eyes glinting under the sterile light of theb.

    "Guildmaster Anya," Marik greeted with a respectful nod. "It''s good to see you."

    Beside him was a young woman, his assistant, dressed in a sleek whiteb coat. Her short brown hair framed her face, and her amethyst eyes were narrowed in focus.

    She bowed slightly, acknowledging Anya''s presence without speaking.

    "This is my assistant, Drina," Marik introduced. "She''ll be assisting me in the examination." Anya gave a curt nod, her patience clearly wearing thin as she stepped further into theb. The room was filled with various pieces of futuristic medical equipment-monitors, cables, and machines that hummed softly, waiting to be used.

    Marik adjusted his tablet as he began to exin. "We''ll start with an advanced X-ray scan to check for any internal anomalies that might be causing the issues. Once that''s done, we''ll connect a few monitoring cables to your body to measure your heart rate, neurological responses, and any other irregrities. After that-"

    "Enough!" Anya snapped, her voice echoing through the sterile room as her fists clenched tightly. Her glowing red eyes locked onto Marik. "Just stop exining and get this over with."

    Marik paused, unphased by her outburst, his expression still calm. He nodded once, turning toward the equipment without furtherment, while Drina quickly prepared the scanner. Drina stepped forward, gesturing toward therge scanner in the center of the room.

    "Guildmaster Anya, if you would please follow me."

    Anya gave her a sharp nod, striding toward the scanner. The machine was sleek and advanced, its surface illuminated by soft blue lights, with a cylindrical bed in the center.

    "Lie down here," Drina instructed, patting the scanner bed gently. "This won''t take long."

    Anyaid down on the scanner bed, her muscles still tense, eyes staring at the sterile white ceiling above. Drina pressed a few buttons on a nearby control panel, and the machine beeped to life, slowly pulling Anya into its cylindrical chamber.

    "Beginning scan," Drina said. The hum of the machine grew louder as a soft blue light shone over Anya''s body, scanning every inch of her anatomy down to the molecr level.

    Marik slipped on a pair of sses, the lenses lighting up as they connected to the scanner''s disy. He stared intently at the screen, analyzing the data as it scrolled through in real- time. Behind him, Drina watched as well, her eyes narrowing in concentration.

    The screen disyed a detailed holographic representation of Anya''s skeleton, muscles, organs, and blood vessels, each rendered perfectly.

    "Her bone density..." Marik muttered, his brow furrowing in awe.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    After a few more moments, the machine beeped, signaling the end of the scan. Anya was gently pulled out of the cylindrical bed, and she sat up immediately, eyes sharp.

    "So, what did you find?" Anya demanded.

    Marik pushed his sses up on the bridge of his nose and turned to face her. "Well, first off, your bone density is remarkable. It''s nearly fifty times that of a regr, unawakened person. In fact, your bones are nearly as strong as ste-"

    Before he could finish, Anya clenched her fist, mming it into the side of the scanner bed with such force that her fingers dug deep into the material, cracking and destroying it.

    "That''s not what I asked!" she snapped, her eyes glowing with anger.

    Marik let out an awkward sigh, stepping back slightly. "Right, well... aside from that, I didn''t find anything abnormal. Your organs are functioning perfectly, your bones are in pristine condition, and there are no strange particles in your blood or any abnormal energy signatures. Everything is... normal."

    "Impossible," Anya hissed, her eyes narrowing. "I know something''s wrong. Run the other

    test."

    Marik gave a nod, calm despite Anya''s intensity. "Of course, ma''am. We''ll proceed immediately."

    Drina quickly moved to a storage area, retrieving a set of cables designed to monitor vital signs and energy patterns. "I''ll get these ready right away," she said as she prepared for the next phase of testing.

    Drina carefully ced the helmet on Anya''s head, the device fitting snugly against her temples as small electrodes attached themselves to her scalp.

    She then began attaching cables to Anya''s arms, securing them with wraps designed to monitor the flow of energy through her body. More cables were draped around her chest and waist, ensuring every possible fluctuation would be detected.

    "All set," Drina said softly, stepping back.

    Marik looked at Anya with a serious expression. "We may not have detected any abnormal energy fluctuations before, but now we''re going to try something different. I want you to recall the memory of your encounter with Spade-describe it in detail while we monitor the readings. It might reveal something that previously went undetected."

    Anya''s jaw clenched, and her fingers gripped the edge of the bed. "Back when he ced his arm on my shoulder..."

    "His touch... it felt like it was sapping the strength out of me. I tried to fight back, but suddenly, he forced me to my knees."

    Her fists tightened. "His eyes... those red eyes, they looked down at me like they were a void, threatening to devour me whole. He leaned closer and told me..."

    She paused, her teeth grinding together. "He told me to stay put, that I shouldn''t interfere. In that moment, all of my strength just... vanished. I didn''t want to listen to him, but..."

    As Anya spoke, Marik and Drina both nced at the monitors, their eyes widening slightly as they noticed something that began to appear on the screen.

    "But my body... it wanted to listen," Anya continued, her cheeks flushing as she gritted her teeth in frustration.

    "For some reason, it didn''t feel wrong, but that''s impossible." Her voice lowered, seething

    with anger.

    "Isn''t that enough? Don''t push me, or I''ll make sure you lose your job!"

    Marik remained calm, adjusting his sses as he observed the data. "Guildmaster, please

    calm down," he said evenly.

    "We''re done here. Drina, remove the cables."

    Drina nodded, her expression nk as she moved, removing the cables and the helmet from

    Anya''s body. Once she was finished, she stepped aside.

    Anya sat up, her eyes still burning with impatience. "So, what did you find?"

    Marik adjusted his sses again, taking a deep breath before responding. "Guildmaster... are

    you familiar with the term ''love''?"

    Anya''s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Yes, what about it?"

    "Well..." Marik''s mouth moved as he told Anya what he found, causing her eyes to widen in

    shock, her cheeks flushed.

 Chapter 201: Thoughts On The Matter

    Chapter 201: Thoughts On The Matter

    ?

    Mar''Garet strode through the crumbling remains of the city, alone; she decided not to move along with the others, her spear in hand, the jagged ruins casting long, crooked shadows under the blood-red sky.

    The city was now overrun by grotesque humanoid nt zombies, their bodies twisted with vines and flowers.

    She grimaced, disgust written across her face as she eyed the abominations stumbling toward her.

    "Out of all the ces..." she muttered. "Reunited with my lord, only for him to send me off to deal with pests... and to talk with her, who is she?"

    Alister had sent off all of his generals and his wyvern to go on ahead to hunt without him; he and Cinder would stay back to have a much-needed talk he had been putting aside due to the fact they were always busy or pressed for time back in the Wastnd Disy Event.

    One of the creatures lunged at her, its body crackling with energy as vines whipped out, aimed at her legs.

    Mar''Garet sidestepped effortlessly, her movements too quick for the eye to follow. With a burst of speed, the ground buckled beneath her, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the earth as she vanished from sight.

    "Shattering, Space Law," she said, her voice filled with annoyance.

    She reappeared in a sh of violet-ck light, the very air shimmering around her as if reality itself had bent to her will.

    A trail of dark particles followed her every motion, energy crackling and rippling through space like a fractured mirror.

    She appeared behind the attacking monster, her spear raised high.

    "You don''t deserve my time, only my lord does," she said coldly, swinging the spear down in a clean arc. As her de met the creature, an explosion of ck and violet energy burst forth, tearing through its vine-covered torso.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Shattered energy particles shimmered like dark stardust in the air, slowly dissipating as the monster disintegrated into green sap and rotting petals.

    Another creature stumbled forward, its arms grotesquely elongated with thorny vines thatshed out like whips. Mar''Garet clicked her tongue in irritation.

    "Really?" she said to herself. "Why should she have his attention? While I get stuck with dealing with wretches instead?"

    She crouched low, her eyes glowing with a dangerous light beforeunching herself forward with another burst of speed.

    The ground cracked and shattered beneath her feet, sending a gust of wind that shook the nearby ruins. Her spear gleamed as it cut through the air, leaving a trail of violet-ck energy that rippled and shimmered like the broken shards of space itself.

    The monster barely had time to react before her spear pierced its chest. Energy exploded outwards, ripping through the vines and decayed flesh. The creature let out a twisted, garbled scream, but Mar''Garet didn''t stop.

    "Be quiet," she snapped, her voice filled with disgust as she twisted her spear. Another burst of energy followed, disintegrating the monster entirely, its remains evaporating into a cloud of dark particles.

    She straightened, her expression a touch of frustration and disdain as more nt-zombies shuffled toward her. One of them had glowing flowers growing from its eyes, releasing waves of pollen as it drew closer.

    "Her?" Mar''Garet muttered under her breath, watching the creature approach. "And what''s so special about her, I wonder? I fought by his side; I earned my ce. And now he sends me away... to handle this filth."

    "My lord is so..."

    She suddenly gritted her teeth. With another surge of speed, Mar''Garet vanished again, shattering space around her. She reappeared behind the flower-eyed creature, her spear already slicing through the air.

    Her spear carved through the monster''s neck. Dark energy trailed behind her weapon, crackling like lightning, as the creature''s head flew from its body, its vines withering and copsing in a heap.

    "I don''t even know how to describe him," she said with annoyance, more to herself. She whirled around as another group of the creatures approached, their bodies brimming with thorns and pulsing flowers. One of them had grown massive, its arms bulging with thick, vine-like muscles. With every step, it crushed the ground beneath it, sending tremors through the ruined streets. Mar''Garet''s eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a sneer.

    "And here I am, wasting my energy on you worthless things."

    The massive creature swung its arm down, vines unraveling and stretching toward her like a. Mar''Garet raised her spear, and with a flick of her wrist, she cut through the vines effortlessly. Violet-ck energy rippled out from her weapon, sending a wave of force that shattered the creature''s arm into pieces. The earth buckled and cracked beneath her feet as she lunged forward, driving her spear into the monster''s chest.

    The creature let out a final groan before copsing into a heap of broken vines and decayed nt matter.

    As thest of the monsters fell, Mar''Garet sighed, her irritation still simmering beneath the surface. She stood in the center of the ruined street, surrounded by the remains of the nt- infested monsters, their bodies reduced to nothing but green sap, broken vines, and shimmering particles of energy.

    "Finally, some peace," she muttered, her eyes flicking in the direction where Alister and Cinder were talking. A jealous look shed in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with her usual cold demeanor.

    "She better not waste his time," Mar''Garet whispered to herself, her fingers tightening around her spear.

    ....

    In the heart of the deste city, Draven, Terra, and Alzuring faced a horde of humanoid nt zombies and skeletons that emerged from the twisted remnants of nature.

    The air crackled with energy as Draven surged forward, his great sword gleaming with purple runes that pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat.

    With a swift motion, he swung his de, and arcs of lightning followed his movements, illuminating the darkness with bursts of light. Each swing left behind a trail of lightning, slicing through the air like a celestial de.

    As he made his way through the throng, Draven unleashed arcs of lightning from his palm, each bolt striking down monsters as if it was honing in on them with pinpoint uracy, igniting the zombies in explosive bursts of energy and intently destroying the skeletons.

    Sparks flew as the undead were reduced to charred remains, scattering dust and debris into the air. The ground trembled beneath him, craters forming wherever his attacksnded, sending shockwaves that knocked back the surrounding zombies.

    "Impressive work, as always, Draven," Terra called out.

    She stood firm, her eyes looking around the battlefield as she summoned the earth to her

    command.

    With a wave of her hand glowing with her blue mana, she transformed the nearby rocky terrain into fine sand, the grains swirling around her as if they were alive.

    "But aren''t you curious who our lord will select as his sharpest fang?"

    As Draven cleaved through another wave of the grotesque nt creatures, he cast a nce toward Terra, her sand swirling around her like a protective aura.

    "Cinder, without a doubt. He seems more attached to her."

    Terra paused, her brow furrowing in thought. "But what about me? The Archi-Void have been advisors to the overlords for generations. Surely that counts for something?"

    Alzuring, soaring above the battlefield with his wings spread wide, swooped down to join the conversation. He pulled back on his bow; as he did, a mana string was formed.

 Chapter 202: A Heart Left Unseen

    Chapter 202: A Heart Left Unseen

    ?

    It unleashed a powerful wind arrow that cleaved through a group of nt zombies and skeletons, their bodies disintegrating into dust.

    "Not all overlords select an Archi-Void as their sharpest fang," he interjected.

    "An Archi-Void can serve as an advisor and still not hold the title of sharpest fang. It depends on the needs of the overlord."

    With a flick of his wrist, Alzuring formed a miniature tornado, its fierce winds sweeping across the battlefield and obliterating another wave of undead. The air around him shimmered with particles of dust and debris, creating a dazzling disy.

    "What truly matters is loyalty and the resolve to protect and serve him to the end."

    "That is what our n names are supposed to embody."

    Terra nodded as she shaped the sand into a massive hammer, sending it crashing down upon a cluster of the undead.

    The ground quaked, and an explosion of sand erupted, blinding the zombies in a veil of dust.

    "Although it is undeniable that there is some pride and joy in being selected, we should still be able to be satisfied even if we aren''t the ones selected."

    "We are still serving him in the end."

    Draven nced at the devastation around them. "Indeed, let''s focus on the task at hand. We can worry about titlester. Right now, we need to clear the area and return to our lord."

    With that, the trio advanced, each unleashing their powers in a spectacr disy. Lightning arced through the air, sand flowed like water, and winds howled as Alzuring rained destruction from above.

    Together, they carved a path through the horde, leaving a trail of vanquished monsters and andscape further reshaped by the sheer intensity of their attacks.

    Meanwhile...

    Back on the skyscraper, Alister and Cinder stood several feet apart, their hair ruffled as the wind, carrying the smell of smoke, dust, and decay, blew past.

    There was a moment of silence between them, their eyes now fixed on the ruined city below, where thunderous booms echoed around them, caused by the wyvern and dragon generals devouring and cutting down the monsters.

    Shadows stretched along the crumbling buildings as the wyverns feasted on the fallen foes, their roars of excitement and victory echoing in the air after a sessful hunt.

    Draven and the others swiftly dispatched any that dared to rise again.

    A sudden notification appeared in Alister''s vision:

    [Notice: devouring value 62%.]

    He dismissed it with a wave of his hand, his focus drawn back to Cinder, who continued to gaze out at the horizon, her expression unreadable.

    "Cinder," Alister said, breaking the silence that wrapped around them, "I''m sure you know why I sent the others to deal with the monsters. I said we''d talk, remember?"

    Cinder turned to face him, her crimson eyes locked with his as she said, "Yes, my lord, I understand."

    "What do you want to discuss?"

    Alister stepped closer as he said, "I want to talk about how you nearly ignored my orders when those humans hunted down my wyvern."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    At his words, Cinder''s posture stiffened, her shoulders tensing as if bracing for an impending storm. She bowed her head, her long hair cascading forward like a curtain hiding her face. "I''m truly sorry for that, my lord," she murmured, sincerity in her tone.

    "I let my emotions momentarily cloud my reasoning."

    "It''s alright," Alister replied, his voice calm but firm. "I''m not angry with you. I just want you to exin something to me."

    Cinder raised her head. "I will do my best," she said with resolve.

    Alister smiled gently, attempting to ease the atmosphere. "You don''t have to be so stiff. I just want to talk."

    Her shoulders rxed slightly at his words, and she nodded. "Understood, my lord." "Good," he said, taking a deep breath. "Back then, and in several instances throughout our time together, I''ve observed that... you seem to harbor a deep-seated hatred for humans. Could you tell me why that is?"

    Cinder''s expression darkened in an instant; the warmth of her eyes faded, giving way to a tempest of emotions.

    She stiffened again, her hair casting a shadow over her face as she lowered her gaze, an unspoken barrier rising between them.

    "It''s... a long story, my lord," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

    Alister watched her closely, sensing the internal struggle within her. "Take your time. I want

    to understand... Can you tell me what happened?"

    Cinder tensed slightly, looking away as she mumbled, "Forgive me, my lord. But..."

    "I''d rather not talk about it."

    Alister could suddenly feel an intense wave of negative emotions flow into him. It was from Cinder-his bond with his dragons allowed him to feel what they felt and vice versa, and what he felt just a moment ago made his heart ache.

    His eyes widened in shock, his hand instinctively moving to his chest as his arm almost squeezed the fabric of his clothing. "I-I... never knew you were hurt this badly..."

    The weight in his chest was far heavier than any piece of armor he wore. It wasn''t how it seemed, but that''s how it felt.

    "This feeling..." he tightened his arm around his chest as he spoke. "It''s one of helplessness and guilt, a touch of anger... self-doubt and sadness..."

    "It''s... regret."

    His eyes moved back to gaze at Cinder, who stood in silence, looking the other way.

    "I didn''t even know it was this bad..."

    "I don''t understand... What could have caused you such pain?"

    Cinder''s hands clenched into tight fists, her body trembling as she kept her gaze averted. Her reluctance to share the painful past could be seen in every inch of her body.

    "I-I don''t think I can, my lord," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I-I... do not wish

    to relive those painful moments of my past."

    Alister stepped closer, his brow furrowed with concern.

    "You don''t have to be afraid. I just want to understand, to help. Y-you seem to have been carrying this burden alone for so long... but you don''t need to anymore. Tell me, I''m here to

    listen."

    Her whole body seemed to tense even more, and a soft, desperate plea escaped her lips. "Please... don''t push me."

    Suddenly, Alister felt itˇŞa wave of fear crashing into him through their bond, freezing his

    thoughts.

    His heart skipped a beat as a realization dawned on him.

    ''Is she afraid of me?'' he wondered, confusion flooding his mind. ''But why?''

    He had never seen her like this, never imagined that she, so powerful, so fierce, could be

    afraid. But was it truly because of him? His mind raced, trying to piece together what could

    have caused her to feel this way.

    Alister opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat. Half of his face darkened as he lowered his gaze as well, then turned around. He hesitated before softly

    saying,

    "Cinder... I''m here if you ever want to talk. I won''t push you, but know this-you, as well as the others, are all members of my precious family. I won''t stand by and let one of you suffer

    alone in silence."

    He took a deep breath, his voice softening further as he continued, "What I''m trying to say is... rely on me a little more."

    Alister then walked up to the edge of the skyscraper, ready to jump down as he said, "Well...

    with that out of the way."

    He suddenly turned back to face her with a smile on his face. "Why don''t we go join Terra and the others? We can''t let them outperform us now, can we?"

    Cinder''s eyes widened slightly, a touch of guilt stinging her. She managed a smile as she also walked up to the edge of the skyscraper and said, "Indeed, my lord... Let us go." With that, they both leaped off, pretending for that moment that the earlier conversation

    never happened.

 Chapter 203: Devourers Of Steel And Bone

    Chapter 203: Devourers Of Steel And Bone

    ?

    Alister made his way through the ruined city, the red glow of the sky reflecting off the shattered buildings around him.

    The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the distant booms of battle echoed through the hollow streets as his wyverns continued their attacks on the remaining monsters. A system notification shed in his vision:n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    [Prestige Points: 4567]

    He furrowed his brow, calcting. ''The most we can get per kill is between 4 and 8 due to the fact that most of our opponents are low-grade monsters, despite having high stats...''

    ''I have a feeling its somehow rted to this red moon... but we''ve made some progress.'' He cracked his knuckles, feeling his mana rush through his veins, ready to strike again.

    ''I should be able to hit seven thousand points before daybreak back at the megacity.''

    ''But I must admit this turned out to be really fast; by my calctions, we should be done in an hour and a half.''

    In the distance, a new wave of skeletons began to emerge from the shadows, their bones ttering as they moved toward him.

    Alister''s eyes narrowed. With a swift, fluid motion, he raised his wed hand and swung it through the air as he said...

    "Void Rend."

    His ws shimmered with a golden aura as he swung them through the air. Instantly, beams of w marks shot forward, cutting through the distance.

    The beams of mana tore through the skeletons, slicing them apart before they even had a chance to react. Bones shattered and fell to the floor, disintegrating into dust, leaving behind small red gems.

    [You have gained 6 Prestige Points]

    [You have gained 8 Prestige Points]

    [You have gained 4 Prestige Points]

    Alister charged with a sudden burst of speed, darting through the ruins as more skeletons tried to close in.

    His ws shone brightly as he unleashed Void Rend again, beams of energy shing through the enemies before they could even raise their weapons.

    The ground trembled beneath his feet as he moved, each step creating shockwaves that cracked the already fractured earth.

    Just as he finished clearing the wave of skeletons, another group appeared-humanoid nt zombies, with vines and emitting strange glowing spores.

    One zombie''s vinesshed out like whips, while another''s spores began to form a poisonous cloud around it.

    Alister let out a sigh, then dived into the fray with a burst of speed. His ws gleamed as he shed through the vineden zombie, severing its tendrils in a single stroke.

    The spore-emitting zombie instantly released its toxic purple cloud toward Alister. For a moment, there was no sound. The monster looked around, suspecting Alister was still unharmed, ready to retaliate again.

    Out of nowhere, a pair of yellow eyes shone in the purple mist behind the monster.

    Alister was already upon it, his hand instantly reaching out and crushing its skull, causing the monster to fall to the ground, lifeless.

    [You have gained 4 Prestige Points]

    [You have gained 4 Prestige Points]

    [You have gained 8 Prestige Points]

    [Notice! You have been poisoned!]

    [Blood Healing activated.]

    As thest of the nt zombies fell, a bright system notification appeared:

    [Devouring Value: 100%]

    [Several Wyverns have obtained special attributes and titles!]

    Alister swiped the air, opening the system window to view the updates for his wyverns. His eyes scanned the list of abilities they had gained:

    [Ability: Poison Breath.]

    [Ability: Steel Scales.]

    [Ability: Denser Bones.]

    [Title: Poison Eater.]

    [Title: Bone Eater]

    [Title: Steel Eater]

    [Notice! Samples of Steel, Bone, and Poison have been added to the Dracotralysis Tree!]

    [The yer canbine different elements to obtain unique types of dragons!]

    [Basic units have been formed!]

    [The yer can now give specific units specific instructions!]

    ''Steel? Are there monsters made of steel around here? Don''t tell me the wyverns are eating metal instead of monsters.''

    Sigh

    Alister''s thoughts raced, ''Those with Poison Breath can handle ranged assaults, the ones with stronger scales will be the defensive shield... and the wyverns with denser bones could be like frontline tanks.''

    ''Looks like the formation of a basic raid team.''

    He thought, pleased with the new titles. The Bone Eaters and Poison Eater would be especially useful in devouring any remaining enemies for additional power.

    He quickly sorted the wyverns into their new groups. Once he was satisfied, he closed the system window and took a deep breath.

    ''Alzuring.''

    He called out mentally, reaching for the bond he shared with his Sky Dragon.

    ''Take a look at the city from the sky and tell me how much of it we''ve cleared so far.''

    ''Also notify me if you spot any particrly strong monster.''

    A moment passed before Alzuring''s calm voice echoed in his thoughts. ''Understood, young lord. I will survey the area and report back shortly.''

    ''Good.''

    Alister exhaled slowly, watching the horizon as he made his way through the ruined city.

    His mind was focused as he looked around for any remaining threats.

    Suddenly, a massive BOOM echoed through the streets, the ground trembling beneath his feet as a massive figure emerged from a copsed building ahead. Dust billowed out like a cloud, swirling around the figure as it slowly stepped forward.

    The dust settled, revealing a hulking body made of iron and stone. Its eyes glowed deep crimson, and every step it took shook the ground with the weight of its heavy, metallic body. A gray talent window materialized in front of Alister''s vision:

    Monster: Iron Golem (B - Rank)

    Size ss: Large

    ss: None

    Total Combat Power: 64,070.(A - Rank)[]

    Before Alister could make a move, the golem let out a low, massive roar, the sound like metal

    scraping against rock.

    Just as Alister prepared to attack, two of his wyverns slowly approached from the sky, their shadows darkening the ground beneath them as theynded with loud thuds. Creating creaters beneath them.

    They attacked the iron golem, their ws and teeth tearing into its metallic body. The golem roared in agony as one of the wyverns bit down on its arm, pulling with such force that the limb was ripped clean off, sparks flying from the jagged metal edges.

    Alister stood back, watching the scene unfold with a slightly surprised look. "I guess that''s where the steel came from," he mumbled to himself as he watched his wyverns tear apart the

    golem with ease.

    The wyverns continued their assault, one biting down on the golem''s leg, while the other sank its teeth into the remaining arm. Metal groaned as the giant struggled, its body convulsing under the attacks.

    It tried to m its remaining arm down on one of the wyverns, but the creature was too fast, dodging and countering with a bite to the golem''s exposed torso.

    Alister observed the battle closely, his ws twitching slightly, wanting to get in on the fight, but he knew his wyverns had it under control. Besides, he was curious to see how they would

    devour such a monster.

    The iron golem was indeed strong, but because it was in pain, it seemed to focus on trying to escape rather than fight back, or perhaps it was intimidated by their aura. Either way, the monster was trying to save itself.

    But the wyverns didn''t let it run, another swiftly bit it by the side. As the final blow was delivered, the Iron Golem let out a final, metallic roar before copsing to the ground in a

    heap of shattered metal and stone.

    [You have gained 8 Prestige Points]

    Alister''s wyverns stood over the fallen monster, their eyes gleaming with mana, with bits of iron still clenched between their teeth.

    They let out massive roars before proceeding to eat the remaining metal, their teeth bending

    the iron with ease. Turning it into smaller bits and swallowing, they looked around, their eyes

    landing on Alister.

    They then decided to return to his side, their wings folding as they waited for hismand.

    "Well done," Alister said, patting one of the wyverns on the side as it closed its eyes. "Let''s

    keep moving. There''s still more ground to cover." With that, they roared, leaping off the ground as they took to the skies.

    Alister simply watched them go, as he nced up at the crimzon sky, sensing Alzuring high above, surveying the battlefield as requested.

    The city was slowly being cleared, and with each passing moment, Alister''s prestige points increased. Things were moving at a nice steady pace.

    [Notice! Healing ineffective!]

    [The yer is still poisoned!]

    [Notice! The yer''s hunger is rising.]

    ''Hunger?''

    Alister''s steps slowed, and a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him. His vision blurred

    slightly as he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

    He coughed violently, his handing up to his mouth instinctively. When he pulled it away, his fingers were smeared with blood-some of it tinged purple.

    He furrowed his brow, his breathing heavy as he stared at the strange color mixed with his

    blood.

    "What the...?" he muttered, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand.

    He took a shaky step forward, trying to clear his head. "I''ve never been poisoned before... I

    always thought I had some kind of resistance."

    ''But my wyverns ate something poisonous and are alright...''

    ''Maybe it''s due to the effects of the Draconic Hunger skill...'' ''Will I have to ease a nt zombie to gain immunity as well?''

    But before he could dwell on it further, his instincts screamed. His eyes widened, and in one

    swift motion, he jerked his head to the left.

    SWISH!

    A projectile shot past him, barely grazing his cheek, leaving a thin, stinging cut on his cheek.

    Alister''s eyes shone brightly, narrowing as he slowly raised his head to look at the attacker. Before he could confirm a visual, Alzuring''s voice echoed in his head, ''My lord, I would say we

    are 76% done clearing this entire city.''

    ''And as for powerful monsters-''

    Alister suddenly interrupted him, saying, ''No need to worry... I may have already found a

    few...''

 Chapter 204: Hunger Rising

    Chapter 204: Hunger Rising

    ?

    Alister''s eyes locked onto a figure in the distance, a humanoid zombie. Its body was entangled in decayed vines, and it seemed to be holding an old, blue-and-white, techy bow.

    Its eyes were red, glowing, and despite its undead appearance, its movements were far sharper than all the other monsters Alister had dealt with so far. As he gazed at it, a talent window materialized before his eyes:

    Monster: Ethan

    ss: Archer Zombie (A+ Rank)

    Size ss: Medium

    Talent: Gust Impact Shot (Poison Arrow) (A Rank)

    Total Combat Power: 64,700 (S-Rank)]

    Alister narrowed his gaze. "An A-ranked monster with S-rank stats... interesting."

    He clenched his fists, feeling the rush of adrenaline as he spoke with a cold tone, his eyes glowing. "Good, once I take you down, I''ll be even closer to my goal."

    Suddenly, his focus shifted as two more figures emerged from the shadows, nking the archer.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    One was massive, a zombie with rotting muscles bulging as it hefted a gigantic hammer over its shoulder. The other was a sleek, female zombie, her sword wrapped in vines, eyes glowing brightly as she walked toward him gracefully. Two more talent windows materialized: Monster: Brutus

    ss: Juggernaut Zombie (A rank)

    Size ss: Large

    Talent: Strength Enhancement (A + Rank)

    Total Combat Power: 67,300 (S-Rank)[]

    Monster: Lysandra (Field Boss)

    ss: de Dancer Zombie (A+ rank)

    Size ss: Medium

    Talent: Cleave (S rank)

    Total Combat Power: 69,800 (S-Rank)[]

    Alister''s eyes widened slightly as his gaze flickered between the three enemies.

    ''They''re strong...'' he thought.

    "The more, the merrier," he finally said, his ws flexing, dragon eyes bing focused.

    Suddenly, the bulky zombie, Brutus, let out a massive roar that echoed through the ruined city, shaking the ground beneath Alister''s feet.

    With a thunderous stomp, the juggernaut zombie charged toward him, hammer raised high, eyes glowing with murderous intent.

    Alister gazed intensely as he said, "Eager now, are we?"

    As he spoke, ck-and-white scales began to ripple across his body, forming a protective, gleaming armor.

    His yellow eyes shone brightly, while his tail grew out from his spine, twitching slightly as heat emanated from his body, his size increased slightly. His ws extended further, the ones from his legs digging into the earth, and his crest red along the back of his hands.

    Golden mana radiated around his body, also visible through the cracks in his scales, pulsing. The transformation sent waves of his mana rippling through the air.

    [Draconic Rage activated.]

    [All stats increased by 100%]

    [Draconic Body activated.]

    The system''s notifications shed briefly before his eyes as he crouched low, muscles coiling, the ws on his feet grasping the earth tightly.

    Then, with a burst of speed, he leaped forward, closing the distance in an instant, his powerful legs propelling him straight into the path of the charging zombie.

    Brutus swung his hammer down with devastating force, aiming to crush Alister in one blow.

    With reflexes far surpassing the undead brute, Alister twisted his body, then leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the hammer as it smashed into the ground, creating a crater where he had stood just moments ago.

    The shockwave from the impact sent debris flying, but Alister used it to his advantage, flipping off one of the airborne chunks of stone, ws glowing as he came down on Brutus''s exposed back.

    His ws shed deep, cutting through the rotting flesh like butter. ckened blood spurted from the wound, but that didn''t stop Brutus, roaring in fury as he swung his hammer again, trying to shake Alister off.

    "Not so easy, huh?" Alister said, his maw didn''t open but his voice vibrated the air around him.

    He wrapped his tail around Brutus''s arm, yanking the hammer off bnce. The zombie staggered, struggling to regain control, but Alister was already on the move again, his ws shing as he aimed for Brutus''s neck.

    Just as he was about tond the finishing blow, a sharp gust of wind tore through the air. Alister barely had time to react, leaping backward as an arrow from Ethan''s bow zipped past him, slicing into the ground where he''d been standing.

    Hended a few feet away, narrowing his eyes as the archer zombie notched another arrow, its red eyes fixed on him with intense focus.

    [Notice! The yer''s movements are slowing due to poison!]

    [Notice! yer is also experiencing weakness due to hunger.]

    [The yer''s hunger is rising...]

    [Draconic Hunger is reacting violently!]

    Alister felt his stomach tighten, his vision dazed for a moment. ''Damn it, all that food I ate at

    the wee party, yet I''m still hungry...''

    ''It''s obvious the system wants to make me eat a monster.''

    ''Although I don''t like the thought of having topromise...''

    Finally gazing back at the archer, he spoke up, saying, "You''re persistent..." wiping some

    purple blood from his lip as he steadied himself.

    Alister slowly noticed that other smaller undead zombies and skeletons began to pop up, some with weapons, others unarmed.

    ''Company...'' Alister thought as he looked around. ''I don''t have to worry about them dealing any physical damage; instead, I should try to see if I can find any poisonous ones.''

    Lost in his search, the female zombie seized the moment. Lysandra moved with a burst of speed, her sword wrapped in vines glowing with red mana as she charged from the side, intending to catch him off guard.

    Alister returned his focus towards her, flexing his arms, his body crackling with golden mana. "You know what? Come at me, all of you!"

    Alister''s gaze suddenly focused as he noticed the female zombie closing the distance between

    them instantly.

    Her eyes glowed a deep red and blue as she moved. Unlike the others, there was something off about her, an aura that sent a chill through his spine.

    [Notice! You have entered a starved state!]

    [Your dragon instincts will slowly begin to cloud your reasoning!]

    Suddenly, beyond his control, Alister began to salivate, a single drop escaping his closed

    dragon maw, dropping to the floor.

    ''This isn''t good...''

    ''I''m starting to feel... Really hungry.''

 Chapter 205: Blades, Blood And Hunger

    Chapter 205: des, Blood And Hunger

    ?

    Alister''s body surged with mana, his muscles rippling under his ck-and-white scales.

    The energy around him pulsed, sending waves of golden mana into the air as his dragon form flexed with every movement.

    His eyes were locked onto Lysandra, the de Dancer Zombie, her red and blue glowing eyes fixed on him.

    [Notice! You are in a weakened state due to hunger.]

    Alister swung his ws to counter, but she moved like a blur, vanishing from his sight for a second before reappearing at his nk. His ws merely shed through an afterimage.

    He barely had time to react as her sword cut through the air. The de sliced across his side, sparks flying as it met his scales.

    The impact of the strike sent a jolt of pain through his body, but while his thick dragon hide was sliced through, the cut wasn''t deep.

    ''What!?''

    Alister''s eyes widened in shock, then instantly narrowed, wanting to see the sword''s status window.

    Name: Tainted Animantium de

    Type: Weapon (Sword)

    Weapon Rank: S

    In that instant, Alister''s tail whipped around, moving like a massive whip, aiming to cleave Lysandra in half. She ducked, narrowly avoiding the blow, but the force of the tail''s strike sent a shockwave ripping through the air, splintering the ground beneath them.

    Debris and dust erupted, but Lysandra used it as cover, disappearing into the cloud.

    Alister snarled, mes flickering at the corners of his maw, his eyes scanning for her. From behind, he heard the whistle of an arrow slicing through the air. It hit his scales harmlessly and fell to the ground.

    Ethan, the archer zombie, had perched himself on a half-destroyed building,unching a barrage of poisoned arrows. He managed to hit the same spot on Alister''s scales multiple times, causing a crack before one finally broke through, embedding itself in his flesh.

    [Notice! You have been poisoned!]

    [Your movements further been slowed.]

    Alister twisted his body with a grunt and refocused on Ethan. With a wave of his hand, a massive boulder elevated off the earth, and he hurled it toward the archer.

    The rock soared through the air, a giant mass of earth and rubble. Yet, as it neared its target, Lysandra appeared from the shadows once more, her sword glowing with red mana as she shed through the boulder effortlessly, turning it to dust in midair.

    ''This hunger isn''t letting me think straight...''

    Alister coughed up some purple blood, his eyes refocusing on the monsters.

    ''I''m going to have to eat something... Anything...''

    Before Alister could react, the ground trembled beneath him. Brutus, the hulking Juggernaut Zombie, charged in with his hammer raised high. The brute''s eyes were aze with fury, and every step sent tremors through the ruins.

    Alister could feel the weight of the juggernaut''s charge as the massive weapon descended.

    Brutus''s hammer crashed down, but Alister sidestepped calmly, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow that left a crater where he had stood.

    The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling out, causing nearby buildings to tremble and copse.

    Brutus was about to lift his hammer to attack again, but then a scaled arm reached out and grabbed one of his.

    The zombie turned to see Alister''s wed arm dig into his flesh. Alister then spoke in a cold tone, "I''m sorry but..."

    "I''m going to have to borrow this."

    In that instant, with a sudden pull, Alister ripped the arm from the zombie''s shoulder, causing the other two to look in shock. Before Brutus could respond, Alister lifted his left leg and, tilting his body to the side slightly, he threw a kick to the zombie''s abdomen, sending him flying with his hammer still clutched in his right arm.

    BOOM!

    He was sent hurling through the air like a ragdoll, crashing into a ruined building. The shockwave caused the structure to cave in on itself, spikes suddenly emerging further to impale the zombie.

    But Alister knew it wasn''t dead since he didn''t get a notification. He then turned his head toward Ethan and Lysandra, a cold look in his eyes.

    They both watched as Alister opened his maw, proceeding to bite into the massive arm. The flesh easily gave way as his teeth tore through it, ripping chunks off and chewing. The monsters simply watched in shock as Alister did this several more times before finally discarding the mangled arm with some of its bones exposed.

    [You have devoured an undead monster!]

    [You have obtained some resistance to poisons due to consuming rotten flesh.]

    [Draconic Hunger activated!]

    [You have gained a fragment of: Strength Enhancement (Talent).]

    [Your hunger has been slightly satiated.]

    For a while, Alister simply stood there, then flexed his arms a bit before proceeding to clean his mouth, the ck blood smearing across his white-scaled dragon face.

    He then spoke, "That tasted a lot worse than I expected..." He gazed at the other monsters, who seemed frozen in ce.

    They were supposed to not be able to feel any emotions since they were all technically dead, but one could tell from their reluctance, and the fact some of them took a step back, that their actions were definitely being influenced by...N?v(el)B\\jnn

    FEAR.

    Meanwhile, the spikes pierced through the juggernaut''s rotting flesh, ck blood spewing from the wounds. But Brutus let out a thunderous roar and rose from the rubble, lifting his hammer with his one remaining arm as he charged, swinging it once more. The hammer arced down while Alister''s back was turned.

    Brutus thought this was an opening.

    But as the hammer neared its target, time seemed to slow down as Alister turned to lock eyes with him, sending a chill down the monster''s spine. With a swift, powerful motion, Alister spun around, his fist clenched tight, golden lightning crackling around it.

    His punch connected with Brutus''s hammer in a deafening sh of energy. The impact was so intense that a shockwave exploded from the collision, sending destructive ripples through the

    surrounding ruins.

    Brutus''s hammer didn''t stand a chance. It shattered under the force of Alister''s punch, shards of metal and energy scattering through the air. The brute staggered back, momentarily disoriented by the sheer force of the blow.

    But with Alister''s focus elsewhere, Lysandra seized the moment, darting toward him with terrifying speed. Her sword glowed a bright red as she aimed for his head, intending to

    decapitate him in one swift motion.

    "Getting bold now, are we?"

    Alister sensed her approach at thest instant. As the de came flying toward his neck, his

    head whipped around, and with a snarl, his maw opened.

    He caught the de between his razor-sharp teeth, the force of the attack barely phasing him. The sword shattered instantly, shards of Animantium and vine flying through the air. The female zombie''e eyes widened in shock as Alister chewed and swallowed the broken pieces of her weapon. His golden eyes burned with fury as mes licked the edges of his maw.

    [You have devoured a piece of Animantium!]

    [Draconic Hunger activated!]

    [The density of your scales has been enhanced slightly.]

    [Your hunger has been slightly satiated.]

    "Well that''s a suprise... Turns out Animantium tastes way better than rotten sh." Alister

    said, his voice vibrating with raw power.

 Chapter 206: Crackling Fury

    Chapter 206: Crackling Fury

    ?

    Suddenly, a voice echoed within Alister''s mind, the calm andmanding tone of Alzuring, his Sky Dragon.

    ''Young lord, the sectors have been cleared. Our forces have secured the entirety of the ruined city, and we are all making our way back to you now.''

    Alister responded, ''Good. It seems our kin performed well in battle?''

    ''Indeed, young lord,'' Alzuring confirmed.

    ''Good,'' Alister replied, his gaze drifting briefly over the battlefield, ensuring no threats approached.

    After a brief pause, Alzuring''s voice returned with a touch of concern. ''You appear to be struggling, should I intervene?''

    Alister nced at the remaining undead and shook his head slightly. ''You need not worry, I am just about done anyway.''

    ''Understood, young lord. Also, Lady Terra says she has found something... a strange egg. She wishes to show it to you.''

    Alister was slightly taken off guard at the mention of the word. ''An egg?''

    ''Yes, young lord,'' Alzuring continued. ''It appears alive, yet at the same time, it isn''t. It''s rather peculiar.''

    Alister''s curiosity piqued, though he kept his calm demeanor. ''Alright. I''ll finish here, and then she can show it to me.''

    ''Understood, my lord,'' Alzuring replied before falling silent once more.

    Alister then refocused on the zombies before him, golden lightning beginning to crackle violently from his body. His eyes narrowed as he spoke, ''Now, where were we?''

    Lysandra, the female zombie, nced around cautiously until her eyes fell on a discarded sword lying in the debris. She quickly picked it up, gripping the hilt tightly as she braced herself for Alister''s next move.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    From his perch, Ethan, the archer zombie, fired a flurry of arrows aimed at Alister. But before they could even near him, the crackling golden lightning surrounding his body zapped each projectile, disintegrating them in the air.

    Alister redirected his eyes at him. "You''re starting to get annoying."

    His hand clenched into a fist, and a crackling rod of lightning formed within his grasp. The raw energy vibrated through the air as Alister''s eyes locked on him with a deadly intensity. "Of course," he said, his voice low and threatening, "there''s always a way to end that."

    Alister gripped the lightning rod tighter as he spoke, "I''ve never used this before, but I grasp the idea. Now that I recall Kan''s memories, it makes sense."

    "And my connection to Mar''Garet helps me have some level of understanding as well."

    "So it should work if I try it."

    As he spoke, the monsters around him couldn''t help but tense up, as if they could all sense something momentous was about to ur.

    Alister''s voice seemed to echo unnaturally, vibrating through the fabric of reality itself. "Shattering, spacew."

    Time slowed, the air thickening as the very space around himpressed and folded inward. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from view.

    The zombies looked around frantically, their glowing eyes scanning the battlefield. They couldn''t find him. Suddenly, a radiant glow could be noticed in the distance, lightning flickering violently from a building behind them.

    There, atop the ruined structure, Alister stood. The archer zombie, perched precariously beneath him, looked up in shock and confusion, toote to react.

    "That''s one," Alister said coldly.

    In the next instant, the crackling rod of lightning he held thrust downward, piercing the skull of the archer zombie with ease.

    The electric current surged through the undead, frying its insides and sending sparks in all directions. But that wasn''t the end of it-the raw energy was so intense that it sent cracks rippling down the entire structure.

    The building beneath them shuddered before exploding in a devastating burst of debris.

    [Congrattions! You have defeated an A-ranked monster!]

    [500 prestige points obtained!]

    Massive chunks of stone and rubble went flying, mming into the surrounding undead. Vines and ck blood sttered everywhere as several of the zombies were crushed instantly, their bodies torn apart by the force of the st.

    In the midst of the chaos, a massive boulder hurtled toward Lysandra, the female zombie. Her eyes locked onto it, and in a wild motion, she swung the sword she had found. Her strikes were so fast that they sliced the boulder into mere pebbles, which flew past her harmlessly, scattered into the wind.

    Her eyes now turned back toward Alister, a dangerous glint in them, but her movements showed a hint of hesitation. Fear still seemed to slow her movements.

    Alister''s voice echoed through the dust, his two glowing yellow eyes piercing through the debris as he slowly made his way out, his footsteps heavy,nding with loud thuds with every

    step.

    "I see," he began, his voice calm yet with a touch of menace. "Your talent lets you cut through anything... as long as the sharp edge of that sword strikes it."

    Lysandra''s eyes widened slightly, the sword in her grip trembling for a moment as she stared him down.

    Alister continued, his gaze never leaving her. "I''m lucky I caught your sword''s sides between my teeth earlier." He gazed calmly, a chilling expression forming across his dragon-like face. "Else that could''ve been bad for me."

    Suddenly, there was a scuffle from behind. One of the smaller zombies, panicked by the scene unfolding, tried to flee. Before it could get far, Alister''s tail snapped like a whip through the air, cutting the undead clean in half. The two halves of its body fell to the ground with a sickening thud, ck blood pooling beneath it.

    Alister didn''t even look back. "What a peculiar talent," he said, his voice dripping with curiosity. His narrowed eyes bore into Lysandra, who now stood on edge, gripping her weapon tighter. "But I wonder... how long can you hold that sword before it breaks?"

    The air crackled with golden lightning still sparking around his body as the dust settled. His form loomed ominously in front of the remaining zombies, each of them hesitant to make a move, now fully aware of the monster they were up against.

    Alister''s gaze was cold as he watched the female zombie struggle before him.

    "I guess we''ll find out then," he said coldly, his voice a low growl. With a wave of his ws, he uttered, ''Void Rend."

    Massive ws of golden, swirling energy shot forward, tearing through the air toward the female zombie. She raised her sword, swinging it to counter the attack, and with a sh, the first w of energy dissipated. But her victory was short-lived.

    Her eyes widened as a second w, hidden behind the first, struck before she could react. The sharp, slicing energy cleaved through her left arm, severing it cleanly. The sword tumbled from her grasp, ttering to the ground.

    The female zombie looked toward the fallen sword, her remaining arm reaching for another weapon. But before she could act, a radiant golden aura suddenly red before her, blinding

    her momentarily.

    "Don''t even bother."

    Alister''s voice was calm yet filled with absolute authority as he suddenly appeared before her.

    In the blink of an eye, his wed hand wrapped around her neck, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. She struggled, her remaining hand wing at his iron grip, but it was futile. Alister''s strength was overwhelming.

    "You fought well, you must have put a lot of effort into your craft while you were alive," he said coldly, watching her feeble attempts to resist. The crackling golden lightning from his body sparked, singeing her decayed skin as he held her there, suspended in the air like a

    broken doll.

    "You may rest now."

 Chapter 207: Putting A General In Line

    Chapter 207: Putting A General In Line

    ?

    Alister tightened his grip around the female zombie''s neck, his ws glowing with golden lightning. "Void Rend," he whispered, and in that instant, the zombie''s head was cleanly sliced off, its body copsing to the ground in a lifeless heap. ck blood pooled around the severed head.

    [Congrattions! You have defeated an A-ranked monster!]

    [500 prestige points obtained!]

    "That makes two," Alister said coldly, his gaze shifting to the brute zombie, who stood frozen in shock at the sight of its fallenrade. It snarled, rage filling its eyes as it charged toward him with all its might.

    "Last one," Alister said calmly, preparing to deliver his finishing blow. But just as he was about to unleash the attack...

    WHOOSH!

    A spear suddenly shot through the air, piercing through the brute zombie''s back and emerging from its chest. The creature let out a guttural groan, stumbling forward as its strength drained away.

    Alister eased up, recognizing the spear immediately. The brute zombie copsed to the floor, dead, its life force extinguished.

    [Congrattions! You have defeated an A-ranked monster!]

    [500 prestige points obtained!]

    Alister barely had time to process the notification when Mar''Garet appeared beside the brute, her spear still lodged in the zombie''s corpse.

    She yanked it free effortlessly, her eyes looking around the battlefield with a piercing gaze. Spotting a few remaining undead creatures scattered around, she smirked.

    "Shattering, spacew," she whispered, her body blurring as she teleported from one target to the next.

    Each time she reappeared, her spear struck, ending the undead monsters one at a time. Thest creature, a skeleton, met its end beneath Mar''Garet''s boot as she stomped down on its skull, crushing it to dust.

    With the battlefield now cleared, Mar''Garet turned to Alister, her expression filled with satisfaction.

    "That''s all of them, my lord," she said with amusement as she twirled her spear effortlessly.

    Mar''Garet began making her way toward Alister, her face flushed with a bright blush and a seductive smile tugging at her lips. But before she could get any closer, a sudden warning shed before Alister''s eyes from the system.

    [Notice: A general is acting out of line. Your prey was stolen! As an Overlord, you cannot allow such behavior to repeat itself!]

    Alister''s thoughts raced as he read the message. ''This must be what the system meant when it said the Abyss-Void will act based on my perceived emotions rather than my direct wishes.''

    ''It seems I need to warn her before this bes a problem.''

    Narrowing his gaze, he called out coldly, "Mar''Garet."

    She stopped in her tracks immediately, her seductive smile fading as she answered, "Yes, my lord?"

    Alister began walking toward her, his eyes cold and intense. "You did something wrong just now. Do you know what that is?"

    Mar''Garet''s confidence wavered, and an uneasy expression crossed her face. "N-No, my lord," she stammered.

    Alister stood directly in front of her now, standing a few inches taller, he gazed down at her. "Oh? You don''t know what you did?" His voice was low but menacing.

    "It seems you are in need of enlightenment. You still have much to learn as my disciple."

    Her unease deepened, but before she could respond, Alister''s nextmand was swift and direct. "Kneel."

    Mar''Garet blinked in surprise, her eyes widening. "What?"

    Alister''s eyes zed with a dangerous glow as he asked, "Did I stutter? Or do I need to repeat myself?"

    Flustered and panicked, she quickly dropped to her knees. "No, my lord! I-I''m sorry!" "Good," Alister said, his voice cold as he spoke with an air of dominance. "Listen well." "Yes, my lord," Mar''Garet replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

    "Thatrge monster you killed just now was an opponent I intended to finish myself."

    "Yet you went ahead and took that from me. Was that a sign of disrespect? Or insubordination?"

    Mar''Garet''s heart raced as she stuttered, "N-No! I only wanted to help you so... so..." her eyes darted around as she shifted her legs slightly.

    "So what?"

    "So you would praise me, my lord."

    Alister''s gaze remained cold as he responded, "If you wish to earn my praise, then ask my permission before you steal my prey next time. Understood?"

    Lowering her head in submission, Mar''Garet quickly answered, "Yes, my lord."

    "Good." Alister walked past her without another nce, his presencemanding as ever.

    As he moved forward, he noticed his other dragon generals and their wyverns approaching from the sky.

    Behind him, Mar''Garet remained on her knees, her breathing out in steamy, visible puffs.

    Her face was red again, but now an excited smile was on her lips as she whispered softly, "My lord scolded me... he paid attention to me."

    "I''m so happy." She sped her face with both hands, a giddy smile spreading wider. "He was so serious too. He never gazed at me so intensely before."

    "Ahhh..."

    "He''s truly changed... how delightful."

    The wyverns were the first to approach Alister, their massive bodies casting long shadows as theynded before him.

    They lowered their heads in submission as Alister rewarded them with a small nod and tossed

    a few crystal shards into the air. The wyverns eagerly snatched them mid-flight, their massive

    jaws snapping shut with a resounding crunch.

    Alister then patted their heads, a small reward for their sess.

    Alister''s gaze then drifted toward the scattered remains of the A-ranked monsters that

    littered the battlefield. With a wave of his hand, he instructed some of the wyverns, "Go, devour the remains. Strengthen yourselves."

    With that, the wyverns roared and darted toward the fallen undead, tearing into the bodies as they devoured them.

    As the wyverns busied themselves, Alzuring descended from the sky,nding gracefully as his wings retracted into his body and vanished from sight. Terra was close behind, her wings doing the same as she touched down beside him. Both dragon generals in theirbat form kneeled before Alister, their expressions stoic but respectful.

    "We are done with our end, my lord," they said.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    In Terra''s hand, she held a crystal-like white egg, its surface shimmering faintly under the crimson moonlight of the ruined city.

    Alister''s eyes shifted to the egg for a moment, but before he could speak, the air crackled with energy as Draven shot toward them with immense speed.

    He stopped swiftly, dropping to one knee as he bowed his head. "The monsters in our sector have been dealt with, my lord," Draven reported, his voice calm yet filled with pride. Alister walked up to Draven and ced a firm hand on his shoulder. "Well done, Draven."

    The lightning dragon general''s eyes lit up with satisfaction. "It is always my pleasure to serve

    you, my lord."

    Just as the exchange ended, a massive explosion echoed a few buildings away, shaking the ground beneath them. Dust and debris scattered into the air as Cinder emerged from the wreckage, her crimson eyes gleaming through the haze.

    Her armor was covered in dust, but her expression remainedposed as she made her way

    toward Alister.

    "I have finished my task as well," Cinder announced, as she knelt on one knee. Alister patted

    her shoulder.

    "You have done well. I expected nothing less."

    With a warm smile, she replied proudly, "I am honored by your praise, my lord."

 Chapter 208: Overlords Sharpest Fang

    Chapter 208: Overlord''s Sharpest Fang

    ?

    Alister returned her smile with a faint nod. "So, what do we have here?" His attention turned back to the egg in Terra''s hands. He reached out and took the crystal-like egg, its surface cool to the touch. As he focused his gaze on it, a system window materialized before his eyes, revealing the details of the mysterious object.

    [Item: Crystal Egg

    Type: Chaos Beast Homunculus (False Deity)

    Status: Dormant

    Description: An item created by the world''s greatest alchemist, Zero Arkno, with his SSS ranked talent he nned to create the pinnacle of alchemy, a god!

    But even with his talent and the immense amount of resources he had in his hands, time was not on his side, and he could not see his dream of creating a divine creature through. Pressed for time, all he could create was this aberration, but the conditions for hatching it were unknown, even to him.

    Special note: this is an incubating chaos creature. The hatchling within is influenced by the Void and Chaosws.

    Potential rank: EX.

    Time to hatch: Unknown.

    As Alisterid his eyes on the egg, his thoughts raced. ''A man who tried to create a god? The very idea sounded absurd, yet somehow, it was also admirable.''

    ''The ambition to push alchemy to its absolute limits, such a dream would surely border on madness.''

    ''But it was equally likely that this very experiment had led to the city''s ruin. For something like this to be found in such a ce, one can''t help but specte.''

    He sighed, ncing down at Terra. "Terra, you and I will take a more in-depth look at thister. For now, I shall keep it."

    "We have more important matters to attend to."

    Terra bowed her head lower. "Understood, my lord."

    With a slow motion, a system window materialized, and Alister ced the crystal egg into his inventory, making it disappear from sight.

    He then turned his gaze to the rest of his generals, his expression growing colder. "Now that this is out of the way, the time hase..."

    "...for me to pick my sharpest fang."

    His words sent a ripple of tension through the group. The atmosphere thickened as each of his generals seemed to tense up slightly, trying to mask their anticipation and nerves.

    Mar''Garet was taken by surprise. ''Pick his sharpest fang...? The one who will always stand by his side? I thought he had made such a choice before I even became his disciple... Wait... This is another life he''s leading... So could it be possible he has to make the choice again!?''

    ''Wait... That means there is a possibility I could be chosen...''

    ''Although it hasn''t been that long since I began serving under him again...''

    ''So the chances of that happening are low... But... I am his disciple; he should know me better than all his other newer generals...''

    ''So my chances may be bright after all!''

    Mar''Garet then asked in a low voice, "My lord... Are you truly yet to decide?"

    Alister''s gaze shifted toward her. "Yes." Her face lit up for a moment.

    Alister then continued to say, "So, I would prefer if you do not interrupt me again."

    She flinched, her earlier confidence crumbling as Alister''s eyes narrowed at her. Silenced, Mar''Garet lowered her head further, too stunned to speak.

    Alister then said, "Good."

    He then turned back to face the others. Suddenly, a system window materialized before him:

    [System Notification:

    To carry out your choice, it is necessary that the yer follow these steps:

    1. Call out the full name of the chosen dragon general.

    2. Command them to step forward.

    3. ce your right hand on their head.

    4. Exin to the designated general why you have chosen them and what you look forward to with them by your side.

    -Their evolution will then ure.

    5. Conclude with the phrase: "Rise, my sharpest fang."

    Alister read trough the instructions. He then nced at the gathered generals, each of them eager and prepared for him to make his selection.

    Alister narrowed his gaze, letting out a sigh. His shoulders rxed slightly before he called out, his voice firm and resolute, "Cinder Von Abkis-Void, step forward."

    For a moment, Cinder stood frozen, processing his words. Her eyes seemed to light up as realization dawned, and she stuttered, "U-understood."

    She rose from where she had been kneeling, her movements deliberate and measured. As she rose, her gaze flickered toward the other generals. Each of them gave her a nod of approval, their expressions supportive, making her smile slightly.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    With renewed confidence, Cinder stepped forward and kneeled once more before Alister. He extended his right scaled arm, cing his hand on her head. His voice, though softer now, carried the weight of his decision.

    "Cinder, I have chosen you, not only because of your obvious strength, confidence, and often calm demeanor," he began, his words steady. "But also because of your calm and caring nature. While I know all of my generals care for me, you are the one who is most open about my well-being, often worrying about me."

    He paused, letting the words sink in, before continuing, "I am certain you care for each one of us here just as much, and that makes you stand apart. I look forward to your care, your

    support, and... perhaps..."

    Alister smiled slightly, then said, "you opening up a bit more."

    There was a moment of silence as the weight of his words settled in.

    As Alister finished speaking, a sudden radiant golden glow began to emanate from Cinder.

    The light swirled around her, growing brighter with every passing second.

    Alister slowly stepped back as her body became slowly encased in the shimmering aura, which

    pulsed with mana.

    Alister''s eyes widened, his gaze locked on her transforming body. The light surrounding Cinder grew even more intense, almost blinding, as the air around her seemed to hum with power, kicking up massive ghosts of wind. The other generals looked in awe.

    Suddenly asystem window materialized in front of Alister with a massage:

    [Notification: Cinder is evolving!]

    After what felt like an eternity, the golden glow began to fade, and Cinder''s new form was revealed. Her body appeared slightly more refined, her scales polished to a gleaming crimson

    sheen.

    Her body was looking more defined, more elegant. Her horns, previously rugged, were now sleek and polished, gleaming like sharpened des.

    When she opened her eyes, the red irises remained, but now, a smaller light red ring circled within her pupils, adding an extra depth to her gaze.

    A new system window appeared before Alister, disying a message that filled him with

    pride:

    [Congrattions! Cinder The Crimson Drake has evolved into Cinder The Firestorm Dragon!]

    [Cinder has been appointed as your sharpest fang!]

    [Your understanding of her abilities has risen to 75%!]

    [Cinder''s rank has Risen to SS!]

    Alister smiled slightly as he gazed upon her new form, his chosen Dragon general now even

    stronger.

    "Rise, my sharpest fang." Alister said calmly, yet his voice seemed to echo with power, as though the space around him quivered under the weight of his deration.

    Cinder smiled softly as she rose to her feet, her new form radiating a stronger aura.

    "I will be sure to live up to your expectations, my lord."

    Alister returned her smile, his gaze warm yet firm. Slowly, the dragonbat form began to dissipate, the scales receding, horns vanishing, until he stood in his human appearance again, d in his gleaming ck armor. His items reequipped seamlessly as thest of the

    transformation faded.

    "I have no doubt that you will," Alister replied softly.

    [Prestige points: 7896]

    ...

 Chapter 209: A Deal In The Dark

    Chapter 209: A Deal In The Dark

    ?

    Meanwhile...

    Lady Liang''s hover car glided through the neon-lit streets, its sleek, silver surface reflecting the colorful glow of the city. The hover car was silent as it approached a dimly lit district, the kind of ce that made her bodyguards uneasy.

    She nced at the towering buildings above, the shing advertisements disying everything from high-end technology to thetest synthetic entertainment.

    This part of the city, however, was anything but luxurious. The neon lights barely lit up the dark alleys, and the people walking by were shadowy figures, hidden beneath hoods and masks.

    Her bodyguard, Jiro, shifted uneasily in the front seat. "My Lady, this ce... it''s not safe. You shouldn''t be meeting a man like that here. People like him only care about money."

    Lady Liang smiled, a soft, dismissive smile as she nced at her reflection in the car''s window. Her face was illuminated briefly as they passed under a bright sign advertising some underground club.

    "Calm down, Jiro. Do you doubt your own abilities or think this man would dare cross my family?"

    Jiro tensed but remained silent. He knew better than to argue with her. She shifted in her seat and adjusted the silver belt around her waist, her tailored suit catching the low light. Her other bodyguard, Mundol, nodded slightly, though his eyes were still sharp, scanning every shadow.

    "Besides... It''s his love of money that makes him trustworthy," Lady Liang continued. "I have more than enough of it to ensure he won''t make a foolish move."

    The hover car slowed to a stop in front of a bar with a flickering neon sign that read "The Rusted Gear."

    The ce looked as shady as her guards had warned. The sign buzzed loudly, and a few broken windows added to the charm. Lady Liang stepped out, her high-heeled boots clicking on the pavement. Jiro and Mundol quickly followed, moving in to nk her.

    The streets were filled with shady characters, but none dared approach them. Lady Liang''s presence wasmanding, her reputation enough to keep any potential threat at bay.

    The bar''s interior was dark, smoky, and filled with low conversations that buzzed like flies. As she stepped inside, the noise didn''t stop, but she could feel the small shift in attention. Eyes followed her briefly before turning back to their conversations.

    The bartender, a scruffy-looking man with a cybeic arm, nced up. "What''ll it be?" he grumbled, wiping down the counter with a stained rag.

    "I''m here to meet someone," Lady Liang said. She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice but still keeping it sharp. "He goes by the codename ''Specter.""

    The bartender raised an eyebrow but didn''t ask any questions. "Wait here," he said, then called out to an assistant, a slim woman with brightly colored hair and mechanical legs. "Take her to the VIP section."

    The assistant nodded and motioned for Lady Liang and her bodyguards to follow her. They moved deeper into the bar and down some stairs, arriving somewhere else.

    Arge open space was lit with colorful lights and filled with all sorts of people, armed, walking around.

    Music filled the space, and waiters and waitresses went around serving.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    They walked past tables of people who were clearly mercenaries, hitmen, and traders, each engaged in their own dealings. Some discussed missions in whispers, while others reviewed data pads, taking on hits and jobs casually.

    "You sure about this, Lady Liang?" Mundol murmured, his eyes scanning therge open space.

    "Quite sure," Liang replied without breaking her stride. "These people are here to do business, nothing more."

    As they walked past a table, a gruff man with tattoos covering his face could be heard talking to a cloaked figure across from him.

    "You''ve got three days to retrieve that package, or the deal''s off. No excuses," the tattooed man growled, his voice rough.

    Another voice from the next table, this one more mechanical, chimed in. "The target is in Sector 7. The payout''s doubled, but the risk is high. Get in, get out, clean job."

    Lady Liang paid no mind to the conversations, though she noted how the underground hub operated efficiently, despite its chaotic appearance. Her bodyguards exchanged uneasy nces but remained silent, following her lead.

    Finally, they reached the VIP section. The assistant stopped in front of a secluded booth, where a man sat alone.

    He was dressed extravagantly, with a luxurious fur scarf draped around his neck, golden chains hanging from his neck, and tinted sunsses covering his eyes.

    A ss of something dark and expensive-looking was in his hand, but unlike many of the other VIPs, there were no women or hangers-on around him. He sat alone, looking like a king in his domain, yet without a crowd.

    "Lady Liang," the man said smoothly, noticing her, standing up and offering a slight bow. His voice was deep, almost too polished for a man of his trade.

    "I''ve been expecting you."

    "Specter," she acknowledged, sliding into the booth across from him. Jiro and Mundol took up positions nearby, keeping a careful watch on the entrances and exits.

    Specter smiled, azy, confident smile as he sat back down. "I trust the journey here was... uneventful?"

    "I don''t like unnecessary small talk, Specter. You know why I''m here. I believe we had a deal." Specter''s smile widened slightly, and he raised his ss in a mock toast before taking a slow sip.

    "Ah, yes. The feather of the Phoenix." He set the ss down carefully, watching her with a steady gaze. "You''re aware such items aren''t exactly easy toe by."

    "I''m aware," Lady Liang replied calmly, crossing her legs and keeping her sharp gaze fixed on him. "But that''s why I''m paying you such a high price, isn''t it?"

    Specter nodded, reaching into his coat. For a moment, both Jiro and Mundol tensed, their hands moving instinctively toward their weapons, but Specter simply pulled out a small,

    sleek case and set it on the table between them.

    "See for yourself," he said, gesturing to the case.

    Lady Liang didn''t move immediately. She locked her eyes with his for a few seconds longer before finally reaching out and opening the case.

    Inside was a single red feather, glowing brightly with a light that seemed to pulse like a

    heartbeat.

    A small red item window appeared.

    [Phoenix feather S rank]

    She studied it for a moment, then closed the case with a soft snap. "You''ve done well," she

    said, her tone calm, yet there was a hint of satisfaction in her voice.

    "I always deliver," Specter replied with a smug smile. "When the price is right."

    Lady Liang nced at him, her expression unreadable. "And noplications?"

    "None," Specter said, leaning back in his seat. "Though the Phoenix itself wasn''t too happy about parting with it, I assure you."

    "Good," she said, standing up, her bodyguards moving to her side instantly. She pulled out a small, sleek data pad and transferred the agreed-upon amount to Specter''s ount. A soft chime from his wrist device confirmed the transaction.

    Specter nced at his wrist and smiled again. "Pleasure doing business with you, Lady Liang.

    If you ever need another rare item or mercenary services, or perhaps you want to make

    someone disappear... you know how to find me."

    Lady Liang turned to leave, but before she walked away, she paused and looked over her shoulder. "Next time, I expect delivery to be a little quicker. Dys aren''t tolerated in my

    family."

    Specter raised his ss in acknowledgment. "Understood. I''ll keep that in mind."

    With that, Lady Liang and her bodyguards left the VIP section, stepping back into the smoky,

    neon-lit bar. The deal was done, and the feather was hers. She had one of the items she needed for her deal with Spade.

 Chapter 210: A Mysterious Monster

    Chapter 210: A Mysterious Monster

    ?

    Union Branch Office, Mega City I - Night Meeting.

    The dimly lit conference room in the Union branch office was filled with a low but intense aura. The shadows cast by the fluorescent lights stretched on the walls, highlighting the tense expressions of the board members seated around the long, oval table.

    At the head of the table sat Director Aethel, his piercing blue eyes surveying the room with a calm yet intense gaze.

    Viktor Anders, a high-ranking Union officer, stood at the front of the room alongside his assistant, Celia Marlowe. Viktor''s stern expression matched the gravity of the situation, while Celia''s bright green eyes still sparkled with mischief, as they usually did.

    She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, ready to contribute her insights when necessary. "Ladies and gentlemen," Aethel began, his voice low as he spoke. "We are here to discuss the recent emergence of the sandworm. Viktor, Celia, please share your findings from the site."

    Viktor nodded, stepping forward with confidence. "Thank you, Director. As you know, our team investigated the area of the sandworm''s emergence. Unfortunately, we couldn''t pinpoint a direct cause for its return. However, we believe this emergence is forced, or at the very least, unnatural."

    The board members exchanged worried nces. Kira, a sharp-witted analyst known for her skepticism, leaned forward in her chair. "What do you mean by ''forced''?"

    Viktor continued, "Based on our previous data, while the intervals of the sandworm''s appearances have been erratic, there has always been one constant: it remains dormant for at least six years. Now, it resurfaces just three years after itsst appearance. That defies our understanding of its patterns."

    Another board member, Donnel, a pragmatic strategist with a no-nonsense attitude, furrowed his brow. "And you''re suggesting that something has disturbed this cycle? What could possibly provoke a creature that has always operated outside the bounds of logic?"

    Celia stepped forward, a yful smile fading as she addressed the concern. "In previous instances, the sandworm has caused far greater destruction and has remained active for longer durations. This time, it seems different-it appears irritated, perhaps even attracted to something specific. We believe the conditions of the environment or an external force may have provoked it."

    From the corner of the room, Magnus, a grizzled veteran known for his bluntness, grunted. "So, we''ve got a creature that''s been lying low, and now it''s back to wreak havoc again? What if all our previous data has beenpletely off? What if it''s just random chaos?"

    Viktor held his ground. "I don''t think that''s the case. The destruction it causedst time was catastrophic and prolonged. This time feels... orchestrated. We sensed an energy in the area, almost like a disturbance in the mana concentration, which indicated that something attracted it."

    Hannah, the group''s environmental scientist, raised her hand. "That''s a valid point, Viktor. If something has indeed disrupted the sandworm''s dormant phase, we need to identify what it is before it esctes. The emergence itself could lead to environmental changes that we''re not prepared for."

    The director interjected, his voice cutting through the rising tension. "And what of the Reapers Guild? Have you made any connections to their sudden wipeout?"

    Celia nodded, her yful demeanor shifting to one of seriousness. "That brings us to a critical finding. We believe we may have identified what wiped out the Reapers."

    Viktor''s expression darkened, and he took a moment before speaking up. "As we all know, the Reapers were by no means close to where the sandworm emerged. So, the question of what wiped out an SS-ranked team is rather disturbing. Although it took a lot of manpower, we''ve finally found the cause."

    With a flick of his wrist, arge screen hovered down from the ceiling and lit up, booting up with a soft whirring sound. The members leaned forward, curious.

    Viktor continued, "While the system is booting up, I''d like to point out we were able to find pieces of the Reapers'' tech armor."

    "Luckily for us, we also found some of the chips that stored their body cam memory." "Although the signals for the live feed were jammed during their final moments, it didn''t stop their suits from recording. Although the chips in question are damaged, so we weren''t able to obtain a full-length video, just fragments we pieced together. But what we do have is revealing."

    The screen flickered on, disying static and distorted images at first, but then it slowly settled, causing a ripple of unease among the board members. Celia adjusted her posture, her yful demeanor suddenly bing serious as she focused on the screen.

    Donnel raised an eyebrow, he was clearly skeptical. "And what exactly is this supposed to be?"

    Viktor gestured toward the screen, where a distorted image of a white and ck-scaled humanoid monster could be seen. "As you can see, the visuals are fragmented, but they indicate a rapid engagement with an unknown monster. SSS-ranked."

    "I will now y the video feed."

    The feed disyed the Reapers.

    SHHHHH

    Rex mmed his hands into the ground, iron walls surging up around the monster. The dragon''s golden eyes glinted with annoyance.

    "Do you think this can hold me?" the monster taunted.

    The monster raised a wed hand and shed through the air.

    "Void Rend!"

    Golden lightning ws sliced through the iron walls. They crumbled, and the monster charged at Rex with incredible speed, tail whipping like a sword.

    BOOM

    A massive crater formed where the monster had stood.

    Rex barely raised his iron armor in time, but the tail strike sent him crashing into a distantN?v(el)B\\jnn

    boulder.

    Kael charged at the monster, ming sword drawn.

    "### this!" he yelled, shing at the monster''s side. The de barely scratched the scales.

    The monster swung its massive w. Kael dodged just in time, but the w sliced through the air, tearing off a piece of Kael''s armor.

    Jin took aim with his sniper rifle, focused on the monster''s head. He fired.

    BANG

    The bullet hit the scales, denting but falling harmlessly.

    "You''re going to have to do better than that," the monster rumbled.

    Mira darted in, ive aimed at the monster''s legs. Her weapon struck harmlessly against the scales, and then the monster vanished, leaving dust behind.

    "Where is he?" Mira wondered, looking around.

    "You ### rather bold," the monster''s voice echoed from behind her. She turned slowly.

    The monster swung its tail. Mira barely avoided the attack,nding hard as the tail created a

    deep trench.

    Kai appeared behind the monster, daggers ready. He teleported around, searching for an

    opening.

    "Die, ### monster!"

    "Don''t get #### of yourself, ###."

    The monster spun around, ws shing. Kai barely teleported away, the ws missing him

    by inches.

    "How are you going to ##### your #### ### if you keep teleporting like a coward?" the

    monster growled.

    He raised his hands, summoning bolts of golden lightning.

    Kai teleported frantically, but the lightning chased him, striking the ground with explosive force. One bolt grazed his side, tearing through armor and causing him to grunt.

    Rex managed to recover then mmed his hands together. Iron spikes suddenly erupted from

    the ground, moving as they aimed to impale the monster. The monster dodged, punching a spike, shattering it into shards.

 Chapter 211: A Mysterious Monster Part Two

    Chapter 211: A Mysterious Monster Part Two

    ?

    Kael could be seen as he threw a condensed fireball at the monster''s chest. The monster opened his maw, unleashing golden mes to meet it. The explosion blinded them all, sending Kael skidding backward.

    "Is this all you''ve got?" the monster roared.

    He shed his ws, sending lightning ws at the team. They dodged, but the ws left gashes in the ground.

    Jin fired another shot at the monster''s eye. The bullet hit the horn instead, creating a tiny crack.

    The scene fizzled and another took its ce...

    SHHHHHH

    "Pathetic," the monster said. He backhanded Kael, sending him flying with a boom, crashing into a massive rock formation in the distance, the impact cracking his armor. He coughed up blood, blood dripping from his nose, eyes red as he was dazed.

    The monster then turned to the fallen team members, his golden eyes cold and merciless as his gaze pierced through their souls.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "This is the end for you."

    Rex could be seen as he struggled to his feet, blood dripping from his wounds. "You think you will be able to get away with this... you monster?"

    The monster chuckled, then he said, "You tell me. I mean, #### is ##### right now, right? Or am I wrong?"

    In the next instant, the monster could be seen opening its maw as it let out an inferno of raging mes as Rex screamed at the top of his lungs.

    Fizzle

    The monster could be seen slowly turning his head to face the others as he said with a touch of excitement, "That''s two, four more to go."

    Jin''s ash-colored mana could be seen shining bright as he aimed his rifle at the monster''s eye again.

    He fired, but the monster swatted the bullet away with his w. The recoil of the gun from putting so much mana into it sent a shockwave that knocked Jin off his one good leg.

    The monster could be seen suddenly darting towards Jin, appearing before him in the blink of an eye, pausing to look down at him, his shadow covering him menacingly.

    "Now, let''s make that three."

    In the next instant, Jin was already above the ground with the monster holding him by the neck as it then pulled back its other hand, straightening its finger, making its arm take on a spear-like shape.

    With a sudden burst of speed, it plunged its arm through Jin''s chest, causing the feed to fizzle slightly.

    Jin gasped; it was obvious his heart was pierced through.

    Fizzle

    In the next instant, Kai''s voice could be heard as he spoke, "This isn''t the end... I''ll be back, and when I do... I''ll make sure to make you suffer. I''ll take away everything precious to you. I wonder how everyone will react when they #### ### #### is actually a monster..." He chuckled weakly.

    "You''ll be abandoned. Labeled a #### and hunted down, and I''ll be sure to watch as you drown in agony and wish for death."

    "And then I... will be the one tond the finishing blow," he whispered.

    Fizzle

    In the next instant, the monster could be seen in the air, and behind it, ck portals opened up, with wyverns flying down to devour the remains of the Reapers. Then everything went ck.

    The video feed ended, and silence fell in the boardroom. Victor straightened his back, ncing at the wall-mounted screen as it slowly retracted back to the ceiling.

    "That was all," he announced.

    Tension filled the room as board members exchanged uneasy nces. Each one understood the implications of the creature they had just seen.

    "That monster seems well-rounded," one member, Daniel, murmured, breaking the silence.

    "How is that even possible? It possesses abilities simr to three types of talent: physical enhancement, arcane abilities, and elemental powers. And those scales... they''re nearly indestructible."

    "If we want to take it down, regr weapons won''t suffice," another member, She, pointed out, her brow furrowed in thought. "We could always trying using an-"

    Before she could finish, Ma interjected sharply. "Which is very hard to find! It''s basically a resource extinct at this point due to all the wars they were lost in. Do you expect to equip an entire raid team with that? Even if we did, how are you even sure it will work?"

    "What if the monster dodges our attacks? As we all saw, its reflexes can''t even be followed with our eyes; it moves like a blur of lightning."

    "True," Tomas chimed in, crossing his arms. "Putting that aside, we now have another monster, almost as dangerous as the sandworm, and it is right outside our walls."

    Victor took a moment, eyeing each board member. "I understand your concerns. We are in uncharted territory here. The creature exhibits capabilities we have not documented before." "There''s a possibility this is a new species of monster," Daniel suggested, his voice tense. "We need to treat it as such. What do we know about its behavior?"

    She nodded, leaning forward. "That''s what we should focus on. If we can find a pattern or a weakness..."

    "Or a means to contain it," Victor added, his expression grave. "But until then, we must increase our defenses. Mobilize our resources, and gather more data."

    Ma raised an eyebrow. "And what if we find it impossible to contain? Do we have a

    contingency n?"

    "Then we must be prepared for all scenarios," Victor replied, his voice firm. "We can''t afford to underestimate it, especially with the sandworm threat still looming."

    A heavy silence hung in the air as the weight of the situation settled in.

    Victor turned his gaze to the Union Branch Director as he asked, "What are your thoughts on this situation, sir?"

    The director let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his temples. "Please make sure this information doesn''t leak to the Reapers Guild or the Li family. I don''t have the energy to start arguing with those fools about not throwing their lives away."

    He paused, thinking about the gravity of their predicament. "For now, we should send out drones to study the area. We need to determine if there are more of these monsters and observe their behavior. If they decide to stay where they are, we may let them live."

    A branch member raised a hand, about to object, "Sir! But-"

    The director cut him off sharply. "What do you think will happen if an army of those things seeks revenge because we couldn''t mind our own business?"

    "From what we''ve seen, it''s very intelligent. Its kin will likely be just as clever. If such a threat approaches, only the Union President will be able to save us. And do you really think he''ll spend his time cleaning up the mess made by some fools who couldn''t keep their noses out of

    trouble?"

    The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of his words settling on everyone present.

    The director continued, "As I said earlier, we will simply observe. But if it turns out that the monster decides to invade us first, we must be prepared for an intense battle."

    He then called out to one of the branch officers. "Get in touch with the other guild branches. We need to ask if they can help us with this situation."

    "But let us hope things don''te to that."

    "Understood sir, but what do you suggest that we call this monster in our files?"

    The branch director paused, closing his eyes as his thoughts raced, he then opened them as he

    said, "Let''s call it, The White Disaster."

 Chapter 212: Lessons In Strength

    Chapter 212: Lessons In Strength

    ?

    The midday sun hung high in the sky over the White Comet Guild''s training grounds, casting long shadows across the stone arena. Healers gathered in small clusters, some chatting, others sparring under the watchful eye of their leader, Kaida.

    Kaida stood at the center of the training ring, her red hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, catching the sunlight like a me. Her green eyes sparkled as she spun her training sword lightly in one hand.

    She wore the standard White Comet training uniform: a sleeveless, fitted tunic and dark breeches, with sturdy boots that went up to the knees, the white emblem of the guild proudly emzoned on her right chest. Across from her stood L, the newest member of the healer

    team.

    Kaida was the team leader of the healers; it was her responsibility to not only train them in how to be proper healers, but also how to fight.

    L stood facing her leader. Her brown hair, tied back into a neat braid, clung slightly to her forehead as beads of sweat formed from the heat and tension of the spar. She gripped her wooden training sword tightly with both hands, her green eyes fixed nervously on Kaida''s every movement. L''s uniform, though the same as Kaida''s, hung a bit loose on her small frame, giving her a lessmanding aura.

    Beatrice stood on the sidelines, her pink hair swaying gently in the breeze.

    "Come on, L, you''ve got this!" she called out, encouraging her. Her bright blue eyes shimmered with excitement as she watched the spar unfold.

    Kaida had a yful grin on her face as she circled L, sword heldzily at her side. "All right, L, remember what I told you-just because you''re a healer doesn''t mean you have to be defenseless on the battlefield. A healer who can fight is a healer who survives."

    L nodded, gripping her sword tighter. She charged forward, her wooden de aimed at Kaida''s midsection. But Kaida sidestepped easily, her feet moving fluidly across the stone floor.

    "Too predictable," Kaida said, bringing her sword up with a quick flick, parrying L''s strike to the side. "You need to watch my body, not just my sword."

    L stumbled slightly from the force of the parry but quickly regained her footing. She adjusted her grip and moved in again, this time swinging from the side.

    Kaida caught the swing with her sword at an angle, absorbing the impact with a slight bend in her knees. She leaned in close. "Good try, but don''t let your feet give away your intentions. You''re telegraphing your moves."

    Sweat ran down L''s face, but she didn''t give up. She took a step back, resetting her stance, and tried again. This time, she aimed low, feinting toward Kaida''s legs. For a moment, it looked like Kaida would block high, but at thest second, she adjusted, her sword sweeping down in a smooth arc to meet L''s de just before it connected.

    "Better," Kaida said, nodding with approval. "But you''re still hesitating. Commit to your strike!"

    L''s breath came in quick, shallow bursts as she moved backward, trying to catch her breath. Kaida, on the other hand, remained bnced, her feet light on the ground as she closed the distance once more. "Come on, don''t back away from me. The enemy won''t give you space. You need to press forward!"

    With that, Kaida advanced, her yful demeanor bing serious. She swung her sword at L in a rapid arc aimed at her shoulder. L raised her sword to block, but the force of Kaida''s strike made her arms tremble. The impact sent a shock through her body, but she held firm.

    "Good block!" Kaida acknowledged with a grin, but without pausing, she brought her sword down in a quick overhead strike.

    L barely managed to shift her de in time, catching the downward blow at an awkward angle. The wooden swords cked loudly as they connected, the force pushing L''s legs into a slight bend.

    Kaida didn''t let up. She pivoted on her back foot, bringing her sword around in a low sweep. L jumped back, barely avoiding the strike. "You''re getting better at dodging," Kaida said, "but you need to anticipate where the next strike wille from."

    Beatrice cheered from the sidelines. "You''re doing great, L! Keep going!"

    L''s chest heaved, her breathing in short bursts, but there was an intense look in her eyes. She wiped the sweat from her brow with her sleeve, her hands trembling slightly from the constant parries. She charged again, this time with more confidence. Her sword swung in a tight arc aimed for Kaida''s side.

    Kaida grinned, but this time she didn''t step aside. Instead, she met L''s de head-on, locking their wooden swords together. Their eyes met briefly, and Kaida''s grip tightened. With a swift movement, Kaida twisted her wrist, knocking L''s sword out of alignment and sending it flying from her hands.

    The sword ttered to the ground, and L stumbled, falling backward onto the hard stone floor. Her breath was knocked out of her lungs as she hit the ground, the sun ring down on her from above.

    Kaida stood over her, offering a hand with a smile. "And that''s why you never let your guard down, even when you think you''ve found an opening."

    L took her hand, pulling herself up, her face flushed. She was a bit embarrassed. "I-I''ll do better next time," she said.

    Kaidaughed lightly, patting her on the shoulder. "You''re doing great, L. It takes time, but you''re learning. And remember-out there on the battlefield, it''s not just about healing. You need to be able to stand your ground and fight. Keep that in mind."

    Beatrice jogged over, pping L on the back. "You did amazing! Don''t worry, team leader Kaida always makes it look easy. You''ll get there."

    Kaida nced at the other healers, all of them watching the match with curiosity. "All right, who''s next?" she called, spinning her sword with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "We''ve got plenty more training to do!"

    Before anyone else could step forward to spar with Kaida, a figure approached from the edge of the training grounds. Lady Aiko walked by, her blue hair catching the light as it swayed gently with her steps.

    She adjusted her sses, causing them to glint in the sunlight, her sharp eyes scanning the healers. The moment her presence was noticed, the gathered group stiffened slightly. "Morning, Vice Guildmaster," they greeted her all together, heads nodding respectfully. Aiko gave a small nod in return. She walked around a bit, finally pausing when her sharp gazended on L, who was still catching her breath after the spar.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "L," Aiko called out.

    L straightened, surprised to be addressed so directly. "Y-Yes, Vice Guildmaster?"

    "Are you fairly familiar with Alister?"

    "Y-Yes, I am."

    "Good. I need you to go fetch him," Aiko said, adjusting her sses slightly.

    L blinked, still somewhat disoriented from the sparring. "Fetch him?"

    Aiko nodded. "Yes. He needs to get what he''ll wear to the meeting with the Union and the

    other guilds. He''ll be going shopping."

    "Shopping?" L repeated, confused.

    Aiko turned, already walking away. "Yes. Now, get to it."

 Chapter 213: Preparations And Awkward Encounters

    Chapter 213: Preparations And Awkward Encounters

    ?

    "Shopping?" L repeated, the word sounding strangeing from Lady Aiko in such a serious tone.

    "Yes, shopping..."

    "Now, go. He needs to be prepared. The meeting is important."

    "He needs to look proper..."

    "Also, tell him he''s going to get a haircut. His hair is nearly overgrown."

    Without waiting for a response, Aiko turned around and was on her way, her blue hair whipping around behind her.

    "Get to it," she added over her shoulder, her voice leaving no room for dy. "Notify me when he''s ready to leave."

    L stood frozen for a moment, her mind catching up with the odd request, but before she could dwell on it,

    "Get to it," Aiko added over her shoulder, her voice leaving no room for dy. "Notify me when he''s ready to leave."

    "Understood, ma''am." L bowed her head slightly.

    Suddenly, out of nowhere, a voice called out, "Come on, L!" It was Beatrice.

    She walked up to her, a mischievous look in her eyes. "You should go with Alister when he goes shopping. This could be your chance to bond with him a little, don''t you think?"

    L''s cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. "I-It''s not like that, Beatrice!" she stammered, waving her hands frantically. "He''s just a friend!"

    Beatrice smirked, crossing her arms. "Oh, really? You can''t fool me. I''ve seen the way you look at him. How you fidget whenever he''s around."

    "Stop it!" L muttered, her blush deepening. "It''s not like that. I''m just... respectful, that''s all."

    Beatrice raised an eyebrow, giving her a knowing look. "If you say so. But if you don''t take your chance now, you might regret it forever. He''s already really popr, L. It''s only a matter of time before other girls starting after him."

    L''s expression softened slightly, her anxiety wavering as she considered her friend''s words.

    "Or better yet," Beatrice spoke again, lowering her voice to a whisper as she leaned into her ear, "there''s a rumor going around that his dragons can take on humanoid form. What if he ends up with one of them instead?"

    L blinked, a surprised and thoughtful expression crossing her face. For a brief moment, the idea made her pause. Then, she shook her head, letting out a forcedugh. "No way. That''s just ridiculous."

    Beatrice shrugged, a yful grin still on her face. "You never know. Either way, you should go talk to him now. Don''t waste this chance."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Alright, fine," L sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I''ll go inform him."

    L stood frozen for a moment, her mind catching up with Beatrice''s odd words, but before she could dwell on them, she hurried off, realizing Lady Aiko wasn''t one to tolerate dys.

    ...

    Meanwhile, Alister was in his living quarters, reclining in the bathroom, soaked neck-deep in arge bathtub filled with warm water. A small towel was draped over his face, the steam rising gently from the surface. He let out a long, contented sigh, sinking deeper into the soothing warmth of the water.

    Raising the towel slightly, he turned his head toward the orange-tinted ss door of the bathroom.

    Through the ss, he noticed the shadow of a person standing just outsideˇŞa familiar figure with a pair of horns and a tail.

    Alister''s eyes narrowed slightly, a look of exasperation crossing his face.

    "I would prefer it if you gave me some space, Cinder."

    "Go walk around a bit."

    "Understood, my lord."

    From the other side of the door, the figure, Cinder, walked away until her shadow was no longer visible.

    Alister sighed once again, cing the towel back over his face. "Now it feels strangely awkward to talk to her," he muttered to himself.

    "I''m going to have to prep the next room over for her to stay in. Though... she could always use that space meant for dragons just beside the living room..."

    He paused, his thoughts racing. "Although I doubt it''ll be able to contain her, considering her current size." Alister let out a faint sigh, sinking himself more into the bathtub.

    Cinder was now forced to stay by his side, or more specifically, the system didn''t let her return to the mindspace, stating she now possessed a "higher dimensional value" than his other summons. She also needed to fulfill her role as his sharpest fang. Alister simply thought she would be more like an assistant of sorts-he didn''t know the system literally meant she had to stay by his side.

    This meant she was going to have to follow him around wherever he went.

    Alister then ced a hand thoughtfully under his jaw, his fingers tapping lightly as he

    thought deeply.

    ''Maybe... I could get more prestige points from having her follow me around as a bodyguard.''

    ''It might seem odd...''

    But after a moment, he sighed. ''Still, the system is making things moreplicated than they need to be.''

    With another sigh, he muttered, "I should finish up here and head out. Master Yuuto said I have a long day ahead... so I should get out of the bath soon..."

    "After a few more minutes."

    ...

    Meanwhile, as Cinder roamed the vast living quarters, she took in her surroundings with a look of curiosity. The space was grand, muchrger than she had anticipated, with high vaulted ceilings and smooth marble floors that reflected the flickering light from some beautiful carvings on the walls.

    A few amazing art pieces could be found along the hallways, disying scenes of battles,ndscapes, and strange human festivals she had never seen before.

    Her eyesnded on a peculiar piece of furniture-a strange, low, cushioned seat with a curved backrest. She raised an eyebrow, remarking aloud, "Humans always have the strangest

    ideas."

    She continued her stroll, eventually arriving at a part of the building that caught her attention - a room filled with strange metallic contraptions and an odd collection of shiny surfaces. The smell of various ingredients hung faintly in the air.

    "What is this ce?" she mumbled, her tail swaying slightly behind her as she stepped inside.

    Suddenly, Terra''s voice echoed in her mind. ''It''s called a kitchen. I believe that''s what other humans refer to it as.''

    Cinder narrowed her eyes in thought, responding mentally, ''Since when did you be an expert in human architecture?''

    Terra exined. ''A pink-haired human female named Beatrice pointed it out to our lord when he was first shown around the estate. I merely remembered the term.''

    Cinder mumbled, "I see..." as her gaze wandered across the countertops and hanging utensils. She stepped closer to one of the surfaces and picked up a ss cup, holding it up to the light to inspect its craftsmanship.

    Terra''s voice echoed in her thoughts once more. ''I must admit, humans do possess fine craftsmanship. This piece is rather elegant.''

    Draven spoke up as well, ''I must agree, although I fancy the weapons they make more.''

    Cinder clicked her tongue, a faint smirk forming. "It''s probably knowledge they plundered from other races. They''re quick to im things that aren''t their own." Suddenly, Cinder heard a strange ding. She tensed slightly, her muscles coiling as she whipped her head around, scanning the room for the source of the noise.

    "What was that?" she wondered aloud, her tail swaying from side to side.

    Terra''s voice echoed in her thoughts as she said, ''I believe it to be the sound indicating

    someone wishes to gain entrance into our lord''s domain.''

    "Entry?" Cinder raised an eyebrow. "Which human would be bold enough to make such a

    request?"

 Chapter 214: An Unseen Rival

    Chapter 214: An Unseen Rival

    ?

    With narrowed eyes, she began to make her way toward the source of the sound, passing through the grand living room.

    The furniture seemed even stranger to her now, but she had no time to think that as she reached the door. She stared at it, unsure how to open theplex human contraption.

    ''You need to press that little blue circle at the side,'' Terra informed her, referring to a button used to open the door.

    Cinder nced to the right, finding the small button. She pressed it, and the massive metal doors slid open with a quiet swish.

    Standing before her was L, the shy healer. She was looking away, fidgeting nervously as she spoke. "L-Lady Aiko said you should step out to go shopping... for what you''ll wear to the meeting tomorrow..."

    As L turned her head to face who opened the door, she froze, eyes wide with shock. Her gazended on a tall, silver-haired woman with striking red eyes, and a pair of ck hornsing out from her head.

    L''s face went pale. "W-wait... Who are you?" she asked awkwardly, her voice trembling slightly.

    Cinder''s eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms, her tone cold. "I''ll be the one asking questions. Why have youe to my lord''s quarters?"

    "L-Lord!?" L eximed, her shock deepening.

    L paused, her eyes shaking as she processed the sight in front of her.

    ''Horns... she has horns.''

    L''s gaze shifted downward, and she noticed something else the slow swaying of a tail behind the tall woman.

    ''She has a tail too...'' L though, her mind racing.

    Her eyes widened, as it all hit her all at once. ''Don''t tell me...''

    Her thoughts shed back to her conversation with Beatrice, the words reying in her head.

    ''There''s a rumor going around that his dragons can take on humanoid form. What if he ends up with one of them instead?''

    L''s heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to piece together the situation.

    ''This woman... She must be Cinder.''

    L''s thoughts raced further, her mind spinning with questions.

    ''Why is she... walking around though? Did Alister summon her out... to walk around like this in his home? Why would he need to? Or... Could it be that...''

    Her eyes darted back to Cinder, a strange mix of emotions swirling inside her confusion, curiosity, and a hint of something else she couldn''t quite ce. ''No, I shouldn''t overthink things.''

    Taking a deep breath, she tightened her hands by her side, steadying herself.

    "You''re Cinder, right?" L finally spoke, her voice a bit moreposed than before. "Well the reason I''m here is that I''m looking for Alister. The Vice Guildmaster said I should fetch him for her. He needs to prepare... he has a big day ahead of him tomorrow."

    Her gaze cautiously met Cinder''s, trying to push aside her swirling thoughts and focus on the task at hand.

    Cinder''s red eyes locked onto L''s, narrowing slightly as if weighing her words. She didn''t respond immediately, and for a moment, the silence between them, felt intense.

    L swallowed nervously, trying to maintain herposure.

    ''Stay calm, don''t let her intimidate you,'' she reminded herself, but her pulse quickened as she felt Cinder was staring down at her.

    Finally, Cinder uncrossed her arms and gave a slow nod.

    "My lord is bathing. So you will have to wait a while before he will be able to follow, although I''ll notify him that you''re here."

    L blinked, caught off guard by the calmness in her voice.

    ''Bathing?''

    Her face flushed again, imagining interrupting him at such a time. She mentally scolded herself for the thought, quickly banishing it from her mind.

    Cinder turned and stepped back inside, before disappearingpletely, she nced over her shoulder at L. "Wait here."

    As the door slid shut, L let out a small sigh of relief, her hands unclenching from the tight fists they had formed by her side.

    Her thoughts swirled again, and Beatrice''s words echoed in her mind.

    ''If you don''t take your chance now, you might regret it forever...''

    ''This is exactly what Beatrice warned me about...'' L bit her lip, staring at the door. ''Is Alister really... spending so much time with her? But she is his summon.''

    She shook her head slightly. ''No, stop overthinking. Focus on the task.'' But the lingering uncertainty gnawed at her, making her wonder what Alister''s rtionship with Cinder truly

    was.

    ''I''m going to have to make some effort then...''

    ...

    Cinder made her way to Alister''s room. As she approached, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.

    Alister, freshly out of the bath, was adjusting the cor of his guild uniform, his ck hair still slightly damp. He nced up, catching sight of her in the reflection of the mirror.

    "My lord, a youngdy is outside," Cinder said bluntly. "She said the vice guildmaster called for you. Something about a big day tomorrow."

    Alister nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I see," he replied, fastening thest button on his uniform. "I''ll meet her shortly."

    He passed Cinder, heading for the door, but paused beside her, giving her a pointed look.

    "Also."

    "Before you enter someone''s room, you knock first. It''s a courtesy. It lets the person inside know your intention to step in. While you live here with me, I would prefer you adopt that habit. Understood?"

    Cinder''s red eyes met his, and after a brief pause, she gave a small nod. "Understood, my

    lord."

    "Good," Alister said with a faint smile. "Follow me."

    With that, he stepped through the door, Cinder trailing close behind.

    After a few moments...

    Alister arrived at the door, and as it slid open, he was greeted by the sight of L standing nervously, her eyes darting up to meet his. He gave her a warm smile, his voice casual and

    friendly.

    "Morning, L."

    L blinked, momentarily flustered by his calm demeanor. She quickly straightened herself, trying to push away the thoughts that had been racing through her mind.

    "Morning Alister."

    "Lady Aiko said you had to step out to go get what you''ll wear for the meeting tomorrow, and... um... get a haircut," she exined. "And I''m supposed to notify her before you leave." Alister raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "A haircut, huh?" He reached up to run a hand

    through his slightly overgrown ck hair.

    "Guess you have a point. It''s getting a bit unruly, isn''t it?"

    L nodded quickly, feeling relieved that he was taking it so well.

    "Understood then," Alister said, adjusting his cor onest time. "I''ll go get it done."

    As he stepped out, L''s eyes widened when she noticed Cinder silently emerging from the doorway behind him. Moving gracefully, the contrast between her silver hair, red eyes, and ck horns only making her look more striking.

    L swallowed nervously, her heart skipping a beat as her gaze shifted between Alister and Cinder, trying to understand the dynamic between the two.

    There was something about the way Cinder followed him, as if she was never far from his side.

    L took a deep breath, summoning her courage as she nced up at Alister. "Um, do you mind if Ie with you to go shopping?" she asked, her voice slightly shaky. "I could really use a few new things for my wardrobe."

    Alister raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Sure, I''m okay with that."

    L felt relief wash over her, and her enthusiasm bubbled up. "Great! I''ve been meaning to restock some of my clothes and check out a few new things."

    Alister nodded but then added, "But if you want to do that, you might want to wear something more appropriate-maybe your guild uniform?"

    L blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "What?" She nced down and noticed she was still in her training uniform, the fabric slightly worn and not at all suited for a shopping trip. A blush crept across her cheeks as she realized how silly she must have looked.

    A nervous smile appeared on her face as she chuckled awkwardly. "You have a point. I shouldN?v(el)B\\jnn

    probably change."

    "Take your time," Alister replied. "I don''t mind waiting for you."

    "Thanks! I''ll be quick," L said, turning on her heel and hurrying back toward her room in the main guild building, her heart racing with a touch of excitement and nerves. She bumped into a couple of people as she rushed trough, and she aplogized repeatedly. Finally arriving at her room, the opned the door with her fingerprint. And it closed behind her

    as she stepped in, she took a moment to steady herself, her mind racing with thoughts of what

    it meant to go shopping with Alister.

    She quickly rummaged through her closet, searching for her guild uniform and trying to shake off the lingering uncertainty from her earlier encounter with Cinder.

    After a few moments, she changed into her uniform, feeling a bit more confident in the crisp,

    clean attire. She took onest look in the mirror, smoothing down her hair and adjusting the

    cor.

    Satisfied, she stepped back out into and ran to meet Alister where he stood waiting close to his living quarters.

    He turned to her, noticing how she panted when she finally stopped, his expression warm as

    he spoke.

    "Ready to go?"

 Chapter 215: Unexpected Complications

    Chapter 215: Unexpected Complications

    ?

    L''s thoughts raced, her face pale as she felt a strange intensity from a woman with blue hair wearing a pair of sses who now stood before them, gazing intensely.

    ''When Lady Aiko instructed me to notify her when Alister would be leaving... I just thought she wanted to be sure he would follow orders... I heard a rumor that he was allowed to disobey them, so I was sure that was the reason...''

    And this woman was none other than Lady Aiko, and her reason for following Alister was not only to ensure he got the best of what he needed out of the day, but also to take control if a paparazzi were to show up.

    L''s thoughts raced further, ''Never would I have thought the reason could be that she wanted to follow him!''

    ''Why though? Does she need to?''

    ''Ahh, now I feel awkward.''

    The air surrounding her now felt almost suffocating as she stood before them, L''s posture stiff and nervous as she practically froze at Alister''s left side.

    They were just steps away from the main street, but it felt like they were in a different world entirely.

    Lady Aiko stood before them, her sses reflecting the sunlight as she adjusted them slightly. She then spoke.

    "So, Alister..."

    "...you mean to tell me that this woman beside you... is your summon, Cinder?"

    Alister sighed softly. "I believe I mentioned that earlier."

    Lady Aiko adjusted her sses again, a habit she had when thinking something through.

    "And, if I recall correctly, you also said, due to...plicated reasons, you can''t unsummon her, so she will now be forced to follow you around. Is that correct?"

    Before Alister could respond, Cinder stepped forward, her crimson eyes narrowed dangerously.

    "My lord, permission to incinerate this one. She''s beginning to get annoying."

    The temperature around them seemed to rise as Cinder spoke, her tone deadly serious. L went pale, her thoughts racing.

    ''Incinerate? Incinerate Lady Aiko!?''

    ''Wait-is that even possible?''

    Her heart pounded as fear crept into her chest. She stole a nce at Lady Aiko, who remained unfazed, her expression calm despite the threat.

    Alister narrowed his eyes, his gaze locking onto Cinder.

    "Cinder, stand down," hemanded.

    "The vice guildmaster is a trusted ally, and she means no harm."

    Cinder''s gaze was intense, but she bowed her head slightly as she turned to face Alister. "As you wish, my lord," she said, though her tone was still edged with frustration.

    L exhaled quietly, relieved that Alister had de-escted the situation. But the tension between Lady Aiko and Cinder still lingered as she noticed both of them were still gazing intensely at each other.

    Lady Aiko adjusted her sses again, her gaze moving between Alister and Cinder, clearly thinking about the unusual rtionship between them.

    "Well then," Lady Aiko finally spoke. "I suppose it can''t be helped. However, I would advise caution in how you manage your summon in public spaces, Alister. We wouldn''t want any... unnecessary incidents."

    "Like rumors spreading online of people getting hurt, property damaged, or..."

    She narrowed her eyes and said, "Fires..."

    Alister responded calmly. "I''ll keep that in mind."

    As they stood there, L couldn''t help but feel out of ce, caught between two powerful figures-one a seasoned leader, and the other a powerful summon.

    The uncertainty of her role in the moment weighed heavily on her, but she decided to stayposed, doing her best to push aside her swirling thoughts.

    Lady Aiko''s sharp gaze shifted from Alister to L, her piercing eyes locking onto her. "Miss Monroe,"

    "What are you still doing here? I thought you were training with Kaida and the other healers."

    L felt her heart skip a beat as her eyes darted around nervously. She hadn''t expected to be addressed so suddenly, and the tension of the moment made it even harder to think straight. She fumbled for words, stuttering awkwardly.

    "Uh, well... I thought maybe it''d be a good idea to... go shopping, too. You know, restock my wardrobe and stuff."

    Lady Aiko adjusted her sses, the reflective lenses catching the light once again. She let out a soft but stern, "No."

    L blinked, taken by surprise. "W-What did you say?"

    "I said no," Lady Aiko repeated, her tone firm and leaving no room for negotiation. "You can''t be skipping practice. There will be other opportunities to restock your wardrobe. Return to your training now."

    L''s face paled slightly as she stuttered, struggling toe up with an excuse. "B-But, ma''am... you see, I''m already tired after my sparring session, and I''m a bit sore. So, I don''t think I can-"

    "If that''s the case," Lady Aiko cut her off coldly, "ask another healer to heal you. And if you need more energy, get a stamina potion from the alchemists."

    L''s expression darkened, frustration bubbling up within her as she realized there was no escaping the situation. She bit her lip, trying to think of another reason. "ButˇŞ"

    Before she could finish, Lady Aiko''s voice cut through her thoughts, calm but sharp.

    "Miss Monroe, you were epted into the guild because your potential to grow was recognized."

    "But if you start deciding to prioritize personal errands over training, you may lose your position here."

    L swallowed hard, her will to fight backs enly left her, the weight of Lady Aiko''s words hit her. She stood frozen for a moment, her mind racing once again. With a reluctant sigh, she

    nodded, her shoulders slumping slightly.

    "I... I understand. I''ll go back to training."

    Suddenly, another voice spoke up, "Come now, Aiko, don''t be so harsh on the youngster. Let her live a little," the voice teased lightly. "She said she wants to restock her wardrobe-why

    not let her?"

    All eyes turned toward the approaching figure dressed in silver gear, his silver eyes glinting with a mischievous look. It was none other than the Guildmaster, Yuuto.

    Lady Aiko adjusted her sses, her sharp gaze focusing on him.

    "Understood, sir..."

    "...but what are you doing here?"

    Yuuto gave a casual wave of his hand, grinning. "I decided to tag along with you guys on this little trip. I haven''t really been out shopping muchtely, so I figured it would be a refreshing experience for me after a while."

    His yful tone suddenly took a more serious note as his eyes shifted toward Cinder, standing tall and intimidating beside Alister.

    "But, uh, don''t you think Cinder might attract a bit too much attention if she steps out

    looking like that? I mean, a woman who looks like a model, wearing all ck armor, with

    horns and a tail? That''s not exactly keeping a low profile..."

    "Wouldn''t it be better if she could get rid of the scale armor, the horns, and the tail? Maybe wear something a bit more... normal?"

    He said with a far too familiar tone, as if he was absolutely certain she could do it, rather than specting and giving a suggestion.

    His gaze met Cinder''s, both of them silently locking into a tense stare. The air between them became intense.

    Alister, sensing the rising tension, broke the silence. "Cinder," he called calmly, "could you

    do that?"

    Cinder''s gaze flicked to Alister, her eyes softening just a little as she paused. After a moment, she finally spoke. "I could."

    Lady Aiko adjusted her sses, already preparing to offer a logical solution. "Well then, you

    might-"

    But before she could finish, Cinder cut her off. "But I won''t." She turned her eyes back to Yuuto, her expression slightly intense as she spoke. "Wouldn''t want to end up being mistaken for a human... and identally hurting someone because of that, now would I?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Her words sounded more like a threat than a suggestion. The intensity of her gaze challenged Yuuto''s, a silent assertion of her own will.

    Yuuto''s silver eyes gleamed softly. His voice dropped, almost to a whisper as he spoke. "Is that so?" He''s gaze remained fixed in Cinder for a moment longer before straightening up, his yful smile returning but with a touch of seriousness underneath.

    "Well, I suppose we''ll have to make do, then."

    Alister narrowed his gaze, sensing something deeper between Cinder and Yuuto, but decided

    to hold his tongue for now. He let out a long sigh, breaking the heavy atmosphere. "So, when can we get going?" he asked, a touch of impatience creeping into his voice. "All this standing around is starting to get nerve-wracking."

    Yuuto''s enthusiasm returned as he pped his hands together. "Yes, let''s get going! No need to waste more time on-"

    Before he could finish, Lady Aiko interrupted him sharply, adjusting her sses. "There isn''t going to be a ''we,'' Guildmaster," she stated coolly. "You''re staying here, back at the guild."

    Yuuto blinked, caught off guard. "What? Why?"

    Aiko''s expression didn''t falter as she responded, "You need to ensure things run smoothly

    while I''m gone."

    Yuuto sighed dramatically, looking slightly deted. "If someone didn''t know better, they''d think I was the vice guildmaster. Since I''m not, what makes you think you can order me arou

    A sudden surge of mana from Aiko cut him off, her mana so intense that her sses cracked, causing Yuuto''s expression to shift to one of unease. Her tone was cold and authoritative as she spoke. "Sir, you are the guildmaster of a guild. You have an image to uphold. What do you think the public would say if they saw you, of all people, walking around a mall shopping?" Yuuto stammered, "Um... isn''t that supposed to be a normal thing to do?"

 Chapter 216: Shopping And A Meeting

    Chapter 216: Shopping And A Meeting

    ?

    Aiko''s eyes gleamed sharply as she continued. "Not for a guildmaster. They delegate. They send their assistants or have others handle such errands for them. A guildmaster isn''t just

    seen... anywhere."

    Yuuto stutterd, "B-but... the mall is a ce everyone goes to..." His voice trailed off, clearly feeling outmatched by Aiko''s forceful logic.

    Lady Aiko sighed softly, adjusting her cracked sses. "Sir, it''s not about what everyone does. It''s about maintaining a certain image. You''re the face of this guild. If you''re seen casually walking around doing mundane tasks, it undermines your position. People will question your leadership."

    Yuuto frowned, clearly struggling with the idea. "But... shouldn''t a leader be approachable? What''s wrong with being seen among the people?"

    Aiko''s eyes narrowed. "Approachability is one thing. Being seen as an equal, another. You mustmand respect, even when you''re out of sight. And respectes from maintaining a certain distance. A guildmaster isn''t just a person, sir. You''re a symbol. Act like one."

    Yuuto opened his mouth to argue but stopped, seeing the resolve in Aiko''s gaze. He sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, alright. You''ve made your point... I''ll stay behind and handle things here."

    Aiko nodded, satisfied with his agreement. "Good, sir. Now, if you''ll excuse us, we have business to attend to."

    Yuuto watched them for a moment longer, a look of understanding on his face. "Take care out there," he said, waving them off as they prepared to leave.

    L, who had been standing awkwardly to the side the whole time, shot a nervous nce at the guildmaster before following behind Aiko and Alister.

    The tension finally seemed to ease as they walked away, but L couldn''t shake the feeling that things were only going to get moreplicated from here.

    As Yuuto watched them walk away, he couldn''t help but let out a long, weary sigh. His silver eyes followed their figures, lingering for a moment on Aiko''s back. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, filled with both amusement and a touch of nostalgia.

    "Kids grow up so fast," he murmured to himself, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "When was thest time she talked back to me like that?"

    He tried to recall a time when Aiko had been more reserved, hesitant even, to speak her mind so bluntly. Now, there she was, standing her ground,manding respect not only from the guild members but even from him, her father, the guildmaster. He smiled faintly, a touch of pride and exasperation filling his chest.

    "Guess I''ve got myself to me for encouraging her all those years," Yuuto muttered with a sigh, running a hand through his silver hair. "She''s be sharper than I ever imagined."

    He stood there a moment longer, watching as the group disappeared from view as they took one of the guild''s transports.

    Despite the frustration of being left behind, he couldn''t deny the warmth swelling in his heart. After all, it meant he had trained her well.

    As Yuuto stood there lost in thought, he felt a faint vibration in his pocket. His brow furrowed slightly as he reached into his guild uniform and pulled out a small, metallic white cube. With a quick tap on its surface, the cube expanded smoothly, transforming into a phone.

    The screen illuminated, revealing a name that made Yuuto narrow his silver eyes.

    Without pausing, he answered the call, as he began walking back toward the guild''s main building.

    "It''s been a long while since west spoke," Yuuto greeted, with a small note of respect. "What''s the asion?"

    There was a brief pause on the other end, and whatever was said made Yuuto stop in his tracks, his expression turning slightly serious. His gaze shifted toward the ground, deep in thought.

    "A private meeting?" he echoed, his voice now quieter, more serious. He resumed walking, his pace slower than before as he processed the man''s words.

    "Alright then... when do you n to visit?"

    ...

    As they sat in the self-driving vehicle, the sounds of its engine were barely audible, and an awkward silence filled the air.

    L fidgeted in her seat, ncing asionally at Cinder, who sat beside Alister, her gaze fixed ahead calmly. Alister, seated across from them, seemed lost in his own thoughts.

    L bit her lip, feeling the weight of the quiet between them, and finally decided to break it. "So... Cinder," L began cautiously, her voice low as she nced at the powerful summon, "do you, uh... know if Alister likes anything in particr?"

    Cinder didn''t turn to face her, but L felt the sharpness of her attention immediately shift in her direction. After a long pause, Cinder''s crimson eyes slid to the side, locking onto L with a narrowed gaze.

    "What exactly are you asking?" Cinder''s voice was calm, but there was a dangerous edge beneath it, one that made L stiffen.

    L swallowed, her heart racing slightly. "I-I mean, like... if there''s something he enjoys. You know, like hobbies or favorite things. Something that makes him happy."

    For a moment, Cinder remained silent, her gaze nerve-racking, as if assessing L''s intent. Then she spoke, her tone cold.

    "Even if I did know... why would I tell you?"

    Her words hung in the air, the silence that followed even heavier than before. L shifted ufortably, her attempt to ease things backfiring. She quickly averted her eyes, realizing that she had struck a nerve with Cinder.

    Alister, who had been silent throughout, nced briefly between the two but chose not to intervene, letting the uneasy quiet return.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Lady Aiko, seated at the front of the self-driven vehicle, had been quietly watching the trio in the back. Her sharp gaze shifted from L, who seemed ufortable, to Cinder, whose cold demeanor hadn''t eased up, and finally to Alister, who remained stoic, seemingly unfazed by

    the tension.

    Adjusting her sses, she sighed softly. She then tapped a small screen on the dashboard. The self-driving vehicle responded instantly, slowing down. Aiko didn''t look back at them as she

    then spoke.

    "We''re here."

    As the vehicle smoothly came to a halt, bright daylight flooded the windows. Outside was the entrance of arge, modern shopping mall, its ss reflecting the midday sun, a massive holographic advertisement board up front. People walked in and out, going about their daily

    lives.

    Aiko turned slightly in her seat, casting a nce at the three of them. "Get yourselves ready," she said, her tone holding a hint of exasperation as she watched their reactions. "We have

    shopping to do."

    ....

    In his now-repaired office, Guild Master Yuuto was bathed in the warm morning light, casting long shadows across the room.

    The scent of polished wood and incense lingered in the air, adding a touch of calm to the spacious office. Behind his desk, Yuuto sat with his hands sped together, silver eyes

    studying the figure standing in front of him.

    Jian of the Li family stood tall, his posture rigid and tense. One could tell from a single nce the man was in a foul mood.

    His expression was calm yet serious, brows slightly furrowed as if the weight of his thoughts

    was too heavy to lift.

    There was no mistaking the intensity in his gaze, the sharpness that could cut through

    boulders.

    He wore his family''s colors-a deep crimson cloak fastened by a gold sp an outward disy of the Li family''s power and pride.

    Yuuto could tell this man was definitely here to cause some sort of trouble, though he chose

    to greet him with a smile.

    "Jian," Yuuto greeted warmly, gesturing for him to take a seat. "It''s been a while since we''ve had the pleasure of yourpany at the White Comet Guild. How have things been with you? I trust your family is doing well?"

    Jian nodded and took the offered seat, though he remained stiff, as if sitting was merely a formality. His hands rested on hisp, fingers tapping lightly against his thigh.

    "Things have been... eventful..." Jian replied, his voice sounding edged. At the same time, it

    was as if he was referring to something the White Comet Guild did that he wasn''t bold enough

    to say in front of Yuuto''s face.

    Or maybe he chose not to say so just yet.

    "The family is well, but with Kai''s passing..." His words trailed off briefly, allowing the weight of his son''s death to hang in the air. There was no need to borate further. Yuuto nodded slightly, his face softening. "I was deeply saddened to hear of your loss. Kai was a promising young man. I know that such a tragedy cannot be easy for your family." The mention of Kai seemed to intensify the air around Jian, his eyes darkening slightly as he nced at the floor, gritting his teeth slightly.

    "No, it hasn''t been easy," he said calmly, not giving in to the tempest of emotions inside him. "But the Li family has always been resilient. We will endure."

 Chapter 217: Bound By Contract

    Chapter 217: Bound By Contract

    ?

    Yuuto''s eyes lingered on him for a moment before turning his gaze out of the massive ss window behind him momentarily.

    "That''s good to hear," Yuuto said, leaning back slightly in his chair, trying to gauge the direction this conversation was about to take.

    But he was already vaguely aware of how it would go, considering what took ce in the wastnds, that is; Alister being the one responsible for his son''s disappearance.

    "The Li family has always been strong. Our guild has long valued our rtionship with your houseˇŞmutual benefits, longstanding trust. I''m sure we''ll continue to support each other in the days ahead."

    Jian shifted in his seat, the faintest flicker of anger crossing his face before it vanished under his usual mask of stoicism. His tapping fingers stopped. For a moment, he was silent, clearly choosing his next words carefully.

    Yuuto raised an eyebrow, noting the change in atmosphere. Jian seemed to be bracing himself.

    "Guild Master Yuuto," Jian began, his voice firm butced with something heavier, more ominous. "I''m afraid that the purpose of my visit today is not just to exchange pleasantries." Yuuto remained quiet, his gaze locked on Jian, waiting for him to continue.

    "The Li family hase to a decision." Jian''s eyes met Yuuto''s, unflinching. "In light of recent events, we will be severing all ties with the White Comet Guild, effective immediately."

    The words hit like a thunderp in the silent office. Yuuto''s rxed demeanor vanished in an instant, the lighthearted warmth of their earlier conversation dissolving into a sharp, cutting stillness.

    His silver eyes narrowed slightly, focusing on Jian with intensity. The guild master didn''t move, but the aura around him seemed to shift, filling the room.

    "Oh really? Care to fill me in on what these ''recent events'' are?" Yuuto''s voice was low as he spoke.

    Jian remained silent for a moment, the weight of his words still settling between them. His gaze remained steady, locked with Yuuto''s, as if gauging how far he could push.

    "The events in the wastnds," Jian said, his voice a bit tense. "Your White Comet Guild, specifically Alister, is believed to have been involved in the events that led to my son''s disappearance." His words were direct, no longer choosing to hide behind politeness.

    Yuuto''s expression remained unreadable, though his fingers drummed lightly on the surface of his desk. "So this is about Alister," he said slowly.

    "And you ''believe'' he''s responsible?"

    "I don''t ''believe,'' I''m sure of it," Jian replied, his voice rising slightly, the calm facade he had put on cracking just enough to show a touch of the anger brewing beneath.

    Yuuto chuckled slightly, amused. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, fingers inteced as he looked at Jian with a glint of curiosity in his silver eyes.

    "What makes you believe Alister had a hand in this?"

    "I''m dying to know."

    Jian gritted his teeth, his jaw visibly tightening. He couldn''t reveal the truth-that it was his family''s n that had backfired, leading to his son''s disappearance. Admitting that would be equivalent to confessing their own intention to harm a member of the White Comet Guild, something Yuuto would certainly not let slide, something he would dly go to war for. No, he had to tread carefully.

    Yuuto, noticing the hesitation, continued.

    "When the sandworm attacked, Alister gave his all to save his teammates. His armor was seriously damaged in his efforts-I know because I saw it for myself. I believe it was after that time the Reapers were discovered to be missing."

    "How does that connect to the White Comet Guild? Alister, grievously wounded, gave everything to protect hisrades. He even flew them to safety. When exactly would he have had the time or the strength to meet your son? Better yet, how would he have managed to wipe out an entire team without a trace? And why would he even bother?"

    Yuuto gazed at Jian with a touch of amusement as he spoke skeptically.

    Jian shifted ufortably, his fingers tapping lightly on his knee as he listened, but he heldN?v(el)B\\jnn

    his tongue for now, feeling the weight of Yuuto''s questioning bear down on him.

    Yuuto then pressed forward, his voice dropping lower, sounding more like a threat than a question.

    "Tell me, young Jian..."

    "Why and how did Alister make your son and his team disappear? And what makes you so sure he did it? Go on... I''m listening."

    "Who knows, we may just uncover a mystery here."

    The room fell into a heavy silence as Yuuto''s words echoed ominously, daring Jian to respond.

    Jian suddenly rose to his feet, his face a mask of cold resolve. "We''re done here," he dered, voice firm as he squared his shoulders. "I stand by what I said. The Li family will be pulling all of our support from the White Comet Guild."

    Without another word, he turned on his heel, prepared to walk out. But just as he reached the door, Yuuto''s voice cut through the tension, dangerously calm and sharp like a de

    unsheathed.

    "I think not."

    Jian froze, his hand hovering near the door, his entire body stiffening at the words. Slowly, he turned back to face Yuuto, eyes narrowing as he replied in an intense voice. "What?" Yuuto''s gaze narrowed, and he raised a single finger, as if lecturing a student who had just failed to grasp a crucial lesson.

    "Union Law, use 89..."

    "It pertains to partnerships between guilds, organizations, or influential families. Once such partnerships have been recognized by the Union, each party is expected to uphold their end of the contract until its conclusion."

    Jian''s expression softened slightly, his brows knitting together as Yuuto continued.

    "If, for any reason, either party wished to terminate the contract prematurely, they are required to provide a valid reason backed by verifiable evidence. Moreover,pensation must be provided to the other party for failing to honor the contract until its end." Yuuto leaned forward slightly, his tone taking on a dangerous edge. "Failure toplyˇŞ should aint be lodged-could result in either an extension of the contract... or the offended party being granted the right to adjust the terms of the agreement as they see fit." The words seemed to make the air suffocating around Jian. The small threat was unmistakable.

    Jian clenched his fists, ring at Yuuto, but the guild master remained unflinching, waiting

    for his next move.

    Jian''s expression hardened as he stared at Yuuto, his hands clenching at his sides.

    "Impossible..."

    "Being allowed to adjust the contents of the contract? That''s absurd. You must have made that up. I''ve never even heard of such aw in the first ce."

    Yuuto, remaining calm, leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Oh, it''s very real, I assure

    you. The use was created with the intention of making both parties respect their agreements and refrain from acting out."

    "It was meant to be more like a bluff, a silent leach on both parties."

    "But it''s there nheless."

    He tilted his head slightly then said. "But if you still doubt its authenticity, we can always

    head to the Union office and find out. Or better yet," Yuuto paused, pulling a small cube from his uniform and turning it into a phone with a tap, "I could contact the branch director and have him confirm for us."

 Chapter 218: Suspicions And Forced Decisions

    Chapter 218: Suspicions And Forced Decisions

    ?

    Jian narrowed his eyes, the air in the room thickening, but he chose to remain silent, watching as Yuuto calmly dialed a number. After a few moments, the phone BEEPED, and a voice came through.

    "Sir Yuuto," Director Aethel''s voice sounded crisp over the speaker. "What is the asion?"

    Yuuto, smiling slightly, ced the phone on speaker. "Director, I''m simply calling to confirm the existence and authenticity of use 89 of the Union Law. I am correct in believing it''s real, yes?"

    Aethel, seated at his office desk, narrowed his eyes slightly. It was clear to him that Yuuto, a seasoned and sharp man, wouldn''t forget such a crucial detail.

    The fact that he was asking now made it obvious someone else was listening in-someone who needed to understand the consequences of their actions.

    ''For this to happen just the next morning after the meeting...''

    ''Must be the Li family... Did they find something? Why the White Comets though?'' Aethel was right, yet wrong. He was assuming that the Li family were the ones involved due to the footage they must have obtained from the Union.

    It had to be them. After all, which family or organization would want to sever ties with a major guild? It made no sense, not unless was some act of revenge, and the Reapers Guild had no agreement with the White Comets, so it had to be the Li family.

    ''Could it be that they know something that we don''t?'' Aethel thought further. It couldn''t be a coincidence, but why would they me the White Comets? Deciding to not keep Yuuto waiting, he responded.

    "Yes, use 89 is authentic," Aethel replied.

    "Its contents are urate."

    "Thank you for your time, Director Aethel," Yuuto replied.

    "Anytime, Sir Yuuto," Aethel responded before the call ended with a BEEP.

    Aethel narrowed his gaze as he then mumbled, "The White Comets... the Li family would not make a bold move like this one without reason, so they must know the White Comets are responsible."

    "But if they acquired the footage and they know the White Comets are responsible and confront them with it... why is Sir Yuuto calling to confirm the existence of use 89? It wouldn''t work in such a scenario..."

    "Do they somehow know, yet not know?"

    "Without the footage?"

    The situation seemedplex, but Aethel''s sharp mind was pulling it apart, piece by piece. ''Then they must have known. Signals were jammed, so it couldn''t have beenmunicated.''

    ''So they knew beforehand, then they must have nned it...''

    He ced his hand under his chin as he thought out loud further, "Only the ones who were in the Wastnds could have been responsible..."

    "Someone on the White Comet team must have been responsible... But... how would they evoke such a creature to act against them?"

    Suddenly it clicked. He remembered the boy who summoned a drake, as well as joining a top guild on his termsˇŞit was all on the inte.

    Aethel then narrowed his gaze as he mumbled, "Alister..."

    ...

    Back with Yuuto and Jian...

    Jian paled slightly, his confident fa?ade cracking as the gravity of the situation set in. Yuuto, sensing his difort, leaned forward, eyes gleaming with the look of a predator.

    "So, you see, young Jian," Yuuto continued, his voice dripping with condescension. "Not only did youe in here making baseless usations without any proof, but you also failed to bring any form ofpensation for breaching the contract." He paused for a moment, his words hanging in the air.

    "Which, as you now understand, puts your family in a rather precarious position."

    Yuuto''s eyes gleamed as he then spoke in a cold tone, his fingers tapping on the desk. "You know..."

    "With the authority granted by use 89, I have the right to adjust the contents of the contract as I see fit. I could make things very... ''unpleasant'' for the Li family."

    Jian''s heart sank at the implication. He could already feel the walls closing in. His family''s influence had shielded them for so long, but this was a different kind of danger-one that could ruin them entirely.

    Adjusting the contents of the agreement meant that he could do anything to them, and he would have theplete support of the Union. Nothing was off the table.

    They could practically lose everything.

    He swallowed his pride, his voiceing out hoarse as he gritted his teeth. "Please, Guild Master Yuuto," he said, lowering his gaze.

    "I-my familyˇŞwe didn''t mean to offend you. Please, forgive our actions."

    Yuuto, however, remained silent, his expression indifferent as if he hadn''t heard a word Jian said. The silence remained ufortably.

    Jian''s face grew paler, realizing that his plea hadn''t reached Yuuto. His voice grew more desperate. "We were wrong. I was wrong. Please, reconsider. I''m asking for forgiveness."

    Yuuto still said nothing, his sharp silver eyes watching Jian with a look of detachment, as if waiting for something more.

    Jian clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the situation crush him. Finally, in ast-ditch effort, he dropped to his knees.

    "Please!" Jian begged, his voice breaking. "My family and I are truly sorry for our actions. We were foolish. Please don''t punish us. We...we apologize for everything."

    Yuuto raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a slight smile of satisfaction. He waited for a moment, letting the tension build, before finally speaking.

    "Good."

    "Now, remember this, Jian," Yuuto said, standing up from his seat, making his way around his desk.

    Finally standing before the kneeling Jian, he leaned forward slightly. "I do not take disrespect lightly. Make sure your family knows their ce from now on."

    "Now run back, and always remember, I can decide to ruin that family of yours at any time if you decide to act out again. Even if you do have evidence then, the fact remains you acted out now, and I still reserve my rights to do so."

    Jian, still on his knees, nodded, relief filling him despite the humiliation. "We understand. It won''t happen again."

    Yuuto waved his hand dismissively. "You may go."

    Jian scrambled to his feet, his face flushed with a touch of shame and fear. Without wasting another second, he turned and hurried out of Yuuto''s office, his movements frantic as if

    fleeing a predator.

    The door closed softly behind him, but the tension he left in his wake lingered in the air.

    Yuuto walked back to his seat and sat in silence for a moment, watching the door before shifting his gaze toward therge window behind his desk.

    His silver eyes stared out at the sprawling view of the city below. He sighed softly, a weary exhale, and leaned back in his chair.

    "Fang Li..." Yuuto muttered under his breath, almost as if addressing an old friend. "Your descendants are bing a real hassle."

    "Imagine... trying to kill mydy''s son. Even the friendship we''ve shared might not be enoughN?v(el)B\\jnn

    to save them if they keep this up."

    For a long moment, Yuuto remained lost in thought, the weight of both duty and past alliances heavy on his shoulders. The Li family had crossed a line today, and if they weren''t careful, the consequences would be severe.

 Chapter 219: Curious Eyes And Hidden Doubts

    Chapter 219: Curious Eyes And Hidden Doubts

    ?

    Alister found himself in awe as he observed Lady Aiko expertly maneuvering through the bustling crowd of the mall.

    It wasn''t her physical presence that got him curious, but rather the small skill she seemed to posess-it seemed like an almost invisible aura that seemed to repel anyone who might consider approaching them.

    ''There''s something strange about her... There is this way she seems to use her aura... should I say murderous intent to not necessarily threaten people, but make them uneasy and agree with her.''

    ''Now that I see it, I partly understand why Axel and Blitz are usually scared of her.''

    ''And besides that...''

    [Notice! The yer currently isn''t allowed to perform this action.]

    ''I can''t look at her status window...''

    ''Is she the same as Master Yuuto?''

    As they walked, whispers followed them like shadows.

    "Look! It''s the Dragon Lord!" eximed a young woman, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

    A group nearby turned, pulling out their phones and snapping photos, while another voice -called out,

    "Can I get a picture with you, Dragon Lord?"

    "Alister! Can you sign this?" shouted a man holding a poster of the White Comet Guild.

    But before Alister could respond, Lady Aiko stepped in as she adjusted her sses, causing them to glint, her blue eyes shining slightly.

    "We are on important guild business," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

    "From which failure could take a direct hit on our guild''s reputation and future earning capabilities. If you do not wish to be held liable for damages by hindering us, it would be best to just wave."

    Her words seemed to make the air around them tense, like an unseen force that made the excited crowd uneasy.

    ''There it is again...'' Alister thought, narrowing his eyes as he noticed a small aura emanate from Lady Aiko''s body, but not enough for it to be threatening.

    One by one, the people in the crowd exchanged uncertain nces and slowly stepped away as they waved instead, as if her presence made them reconsider their enthusiasm.

    Alister felt a touch of respect and confusion at the effectiveness of her approach.

    As they continued to walk, Alister noticed curious stares directed at Cinder, the striking woman with silver hair who walked beside him.

    Dressed in ck gleaming armor, her tail waved around graceful behind her while her horns seemed to glint in the mall lights.

    Some onlookers whispered among themselves, wondering who this beautiful woman was. "Is she cosying as a character from some game?"

    "Woah man, look what she''s packing!"

    "She looks like a model, who is she?"

    "Maybe she''s a fan of Alister?"

    "No, no, no, don''t be dumb, if she was cosying or a fan why would Lady Aiko allow her to follow Alister around like that?"

    "Maybe she''s his bodyguard? He''s popr now, so it''s only natural he''d get one."

    "But if she''s a bodyguard, is it really necessary for her to wear armor and follow him around like that?"

    "Yeah, and what''s up with that tail... It''s so life-like, almost like it''s actually real."

    "And she has horns too."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    [Prestige points+45]

    However, the notion shifted when a brave soul ventured to voice an idea.

    "Wait... what if she''s one of Alister''s dragons? I heard his other dragon, Draven, can take on a humanoid form too!"

    "Wait, that would make sense!"

    "Yes, yes, so then that must be Cinder, the ck drake, right?"

    "No doubt about it, it''s definitely her!"

    "Take a picture, post it online!"

    "Damn, to have such a beauty follow you wherever you go, I''m jealous!"

    "Do you think maybe... they are a thing?"

    "No way, that''s crazy talk!"

    "No, think about it, she''s gorgeous and she will definitely be loyal since she''s already been tamed!"

    Silence suddenly came over them; humans, as usual, always tended to easily believe the more negative side of things, in this case, the more scandalous.

    Hearing all these words in the background, L''s gaze drifted toward Cinder, walking gracefully ahead of her. Her silver hair seemed to shimmer in the light, her horns and tail adding an elegance that made her stand out even more. There was no denying it-Cinder looked amazing, far beyond her.

    ''They''re not wrong,'' L thought to herself, her eyes lingering on Cinder.

    ''She''s gorgeous, powerful... far better than I am. Would Alister even think of me, when he has her?''

    Doubt began to creep in. As much as she admired Alister, she couldn''t help but wonder if she even stood a chance.

    Soon, a picture of Cinder walking beside Alister was uploaded online, all with the same question, ''Who is she, and what sort of rtionship does she have with the Dragon Lord?''

    The question would slowly be a trending topic, and unbeknownst to Alister, it was slowly growing his prestige point bnce.

    Alister nced over at L, noticing her distant expression. She seemed lost in thought, her usual energy dimmed. "Hey, are you okay? You seem kind of... out of it."

    L blinked, startled, and quickly forced a smile. "I-I''m fine! Just... just got a lot on my mind

    is all."

    Alister sighed softly, sensing her difort. He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck before saying, "You shouldn''t pay attention to what you heard back there. People say all kinds

    of weird stuff. I''m used to it, so I usually just ignore it."

    L''s eyes brightened a little at his words. "O-okay."

    But after a moment, her curiosity got the better of her. She hesitated, then asked, "Um, Alister... is what they were saying true, though?"

    Alister froze, a slight blush creeping up his cheeks. He fumbled for a response, caught off

    guard.

    "O-of course not!"

    L''s eyes widened in surprise. She had never seen Alister so flustered before. The sight of

    him, usually calm andposed, now struggling with his words made her burst into a fit of

    giggles.

    Alister blinked, confused. "What? What''s so funny?"

    "I-I''m sorry!" L managed betweenughs. "It''s just... I''ve never seen you make that face

    before. I couldn''t help it!"

    Alister sighed, shaking his head, but he couldn''t help the small smile that appeared on his face. "Yeah, yeah,ugh it up...

 Chapter 220: Unspoken Secrets

    Chapter 220: Unspoken Secrets

    ?

    Cinder suddenly walked up to Alister, her red eyes gleaming with a cold gaze as she spoke, "My Lord..."

    Her voice was lo low but intense. She stood close to him, her tail flicking impatiently behind her.

    "Shall I incinerate the humans here?" She turned to face a small group of men as she spoke, causing them to shiver slightly and feel uneasy.

    Alister sighed, already knowing where this was going. "Cinder, again, you are not allowed to incinerate humans," he replied firmly, his eyes meeting hers with a stern gaze.

    The small group of men let out sighs of relief, proceeding to quicken their steps and get away from there.

    Cinder opened her mouth to say something, but before she could speak again, Lady Aiko interjected, adjusting her sses with a sharp glint.

    "Stop wasting my time," she said, her voice crisp and cold.

    "I don''t have all day. I have important business to attend to."

    Cinder closed her mouth, her eyes narrowing slightly, but she obeyed Alister, stepping back without another word.

    Alister nced at Aiko, nodding, and they continued walking without further interruptions. As they walked further through the mall, Alister couldn''t help but notice the countless clothing stores they passed. He turned to Lady Aiko, his curiosity piqued.

    "Is there somewhere specific in the mall that we''re headed? You''ve passed so many clothing stores without even considering stopping at any of them."

    Lady Aiko nced at him, her expression calm. "We''re going to Finesse Fabrications," she replied.

    Alister raised an eyebrow, repeating the name questioningly, "Finesse Fabrications?"

    "Yes," Lady Aiko exined. "They are apany known for using high-grade dungeon materials to create clothing instead of armor."

    Alister found it odd and murmured, "High-grade dungeon materials for clothing? But won''t that make their clothing very expensive?"

    Lady Aiko adjusted her sses. "Yes, but that''s also what makes it the best."

    She continued, "As a member of the White Comet Guild, especially as our rising star, you can''t be caught dead wearing just any brand. You have to dress yourself in the best of the best."

    Alister''s expression shifted to one of awkwardness with a touch of shock. "I don''t suppose this is a gift from the guild?"

    "It''s not, it''sing out of your pay." Lady Aiko said as she looked at him tly.

    Alister opened his mouth, ready to argue about the unexpected expense, but the words died on his lips. He let out a sigh, resigning himself to the situation.

    "How long until we get there?" he asked, deciding to shift the topic away from the cost, as he took silently saw the benefits from such an endeavour.

    Lady Aiko nced at her wristwatch. "We should arrive in about ten minutes if we maintain our pace. Just keep walking."

    Lady Aiko and the group ascended some esctors, as they did Cinder found herself momentarily distracted by the sleek, metal ridges gliding beneath her feet.

    "What is this creature?" She mumbled.

    L noticed her unease had spiked slightly, deciding to exin to her, she then said, "They are sort of like moving stairs, people call them esctors."

    "Esctors? How percr," she mumbled in response.

    As they continued down heading towards their destination,dy Aiko paused slightly as she noticed a fammr face approaching from the other side of the hall.

    She had spotted a woman with a powerful presence, she had purple hair, red eyes, and was dressed in ck leather armor with golden ents that glow faintly, with the insignia of the Berserker guild - a roaring bear.

    She was none other than the Guildmaster of the beserkers, Anya Petrova. Behind her, us followed, carrying an armful of bags, grumbling as he tried to keep pace.

    "This is too much, ma''am! You''ve gone overboard again!" usined, visibly struggling with the load.

    "And most of this cost millions, you''re denying guild funds again."

    Anya waved him off dismissively. "Money has never been our problem, us. If we run low, we''ll just raid an S-ranked dungeon."

    "Pushes to shove I can always tell head quarters to send a check."

    us sighed but kept following, clearly used to her extravagant ways.

    As they neared, Lady Aiko decided to call out. "Guild Master Anya," she greeted, her voice cutting through the hum of the mall. "I would have never expected to see someone like you here personally. Couldn''t one of your team members have handled the shopping?"

    Anya smirked as she stopped in front of them. "I prefer to do my shopping personally. I don''t trust anyone else to get it right." Her eyes gleamed as she nced at Aiko.

    "But what about you? What brings you here without the old man at your side?"

    Lady Aiko adjusted her sses, the glint catching the light. "I decided to step out to help our new star," she said, pointing slightly to Alister, "look his best. Before I attend to other matters for the day, of course."

    Anya''s gaze flickered over to Alister, a glint of curiosity in her red eyes. "Oh? Look who it is," she said with a smirk, striding over to him and cing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Apparently, you''re quite the popr figure now. You''ve changed so much, I almost didn''t recognize you-"

    She suddenly paused mid-sentence, her eyes widening slightly as if something had caught her off guard.

    Alister smiled, ying it cool. "Well, a lot has happened. It''s only natural I''d change over

    time."

    Anya''s usual confident demeanor dissappeared for a moment as she stuttered, "Y-You don''t say..." Her gaze lingered on him, and her expression shifted slightly, as though something unsettled her. "H-how are the White Comets treating you, then?"

    Alister found her sudden stuttering odd, and his eyes narrowed suspiciously. He kept his gaze fixed on her, trying to read her reaction. "They''ve been treating me well. The guild members are slowly bing like family to me."

    Lady Aiko, sharp as usual, noticed the strange tension in the air. So did us, who gave Anya a curious look, but neither of them said anything. Something was definitely off, but it wasn''t

    the time to press the issue.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Sensing the difort, Lady Aiko intervened. "If you''ll excuse us, Guild Master Anya, we''re

    in a bit of a hurry."

    Anya hesitated for a brief second before nodding. "Of course. Don''t let me keep you." She gave onest nce at Alister, something still lingering in her expression, before she turned to leave, us trailing behind her.

 Chapter 221: Flames Of Doubt

    Chapter 221: mes Of Doubt

    ?

    As us and Anya continued down the hall, us quickened his steps to catch up, his curiosity getting the better of him.

    "Guild Master," he spoke, lowering his voice as he continued, "what was that back there? You were stuttering, you have never done that before."

    Anya paused mid-step, her hand gripping the handle of herst shopping bag tightly. Without turning to face us, she said in a low, serious tone, "Alister... might be Spade."

    us halted, his eyes wide in shock. "Spade? You mean the Spade?" He let out a nervousugh, shaking his head. "Come on, Guild Master. I know the kid''s famous and all, but isn''t that a bit of a stretch? He''s a Summoner, and didn''t you say Spade matched you physically inbat? And sheer strength is not exactly something Alister is known for."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Anya turned to look at us, her red eyes narrowing as she thought back to her encounter with Alister. "You''re right, he''s a Summoner," she admitted. "But Spade himself indirectly admitted to taming wyverns. You and I both know only Summoners can tame monsters... but that never stopped him from overpowering us, did it?"

    us frowned, considering her words. "Yeah, but-"

    Anya cut him off. "There''s something about him. These eyes of mine can see the strength people possess as a me in or around their bodies."

    "Although his me seems a bit smaller now, so I''m not sure if it''s really him or not."

    us cleared his throat, still processing what Anya had said. "So, uh... how do you n to approach this?"

    Anya''s expression remained firm as she resumed walking. "We''ll see each other again at the meeting tomorrow," she replied. "In there, surrounded by the other guild leaders, I''ll have more than enough time to get the answers I want. If there''s anything off about him, I''ll know."

    us nodded as he agreed with her. "I understand, but..." He trailed off awkwardly.

    Anya raised an eyebrow, her tone sharp as she asked, "But what?"

    us hesitated, ncing away before muttering, "Why are you... blushing, Guild Master? Your face is... totally flushed right now."

    Anya froze, her eyes widening in shock. "Blushing?" she repeated, her voice filled with shock. Her gaze darted to the nearest reflective surface, catching a faint glimpse of the pink tint on her cheeks.

    She quickly turned back to us, her expression turning serious. "You''re seeing things," she snapped, waving it off dismissively.

    "Let''s continue. We have another raid scheduled in our sector, and I don''t have time for your nonsense."

    us, not wanting to anger her, quickly straightened up and gave a firm nod. "Understood, ma''am." He fell back into step behind her, silently wondering if he''d really been seeing thingsˇŞor if something about Alister had rattled her more than she''d care to admit.

    As Anya walked away, her faceposed but her mind racing, she gritted her teeth, frustration bubbling inside her. She hated how rattled she felt, how out of control.

    ''Damn it! It''s all because of that crap Marik said.''

    Her memory shed back to that moment, the scene ying out vividly in her mind.

    Marik sat in front of her, his face tense, as if delivering this particr message made him uneasy.

    "Well... Guild Master..."

    "You know the... uh... abnormal readings we''ve detected in your vitals are not that strange..." Anya''s eyes narrowed, her arms crossed as she waited impatiently for him to get to the point. "Spit it out, Marik."

    He cleared his throat. "Right. So, based on the fluctuations in your heart rate and neural activity, it''s clear that what you''re experiencing isn''t anything abnormal like some sort of curse or illness. The levels of your neural and heart activity are... well, they''re more in line with someone experiencing strong emotional responses."

    Anya raised an eyebrow, still not understanding what he was getting at.

    Marik nced down at his datapad, visibly ufortable. "In short, your physiological responses... they''re consistent with someone who''s feeling... attraction. Excitement. The kind that onlyes when..." He trailed off, hesitant to finish his sentence.

    Anya''s expression hardened, her jaw tightening. "When what, Marik?"

    "When someone has developed... feelings for another person."

    "This Spade guy..."

    "You may have fallen in love with him."

    Marik''s voice was quiet now, but the words echoed in the room.

    Anya sat there, stunned for a moment. Her? Having feelings? In love? That was impossible. She was always in control. Always focused.

    Now, as she walked through the mall, Marik''s words reyed in her mind, over and over. ''Feelings for another person...''

    Her heart sped up involuntarily at the thought, and her eyes flickered back toward Alister before she could stop herself. The way her pulse quickened when she saw him... it infuriated her. She refused to believe it.

    ''That fool filled my head with crap, now I can''t think straight! Damn it.''

    ''This is ridiculous,'' she thought, trying to dismiss the unsettling emotions that Marik''s diagnosis had stirred. She was sure what she felt had nothing to do with love.

    But no matter how hard she tried to convince herself otherwise, the truth wed at her from the back of her mind. She had no exnation for why her heart behaved the way it did when she thought about Spade-why his mere presence caused her to feel so unsteady.

    Grinding her teeth, Anya forced herself to focus, trying to bury the thoughts. She wasn''t going to let a fool like Marik, or anyone else for that matter, control her emotions. She was a Guild Master, a warrior, and there was no room for weakness.

    But the doubt lingered in her mind, so she wasn''t evenpletely sure of herself anymore. The only way she could push those thoughts aside now was to think:

    ''epting that I feel such a way is a sign of weakness. It meens that I have agreed to let emotions that are beyond my control affact the way I act and reason.''

    ''But I will never let that be the case. For I am one of the strongest, and the strongest are always in control.''

    But only time would tell just how effective this approach would be for her.

    ...

    Lady Aiko and her group finally arrived at Finesse Fabrication, a high-end clothing boutique tucked in one of the mall''s more exclusive wings.

    The storefront gleamed under the bright, white light panels suspended above, its massive, transparent entrance nked by sleek holo-disys advertising thetest clothing

    collections.

    The name of the store glowed in neon-blue letters, that pulsed gently in the air as if it were

    breathing.

    As they stepped inside, they were greeted by the soft hum of synthetic strings ying a ssical melody in the background.

    The interior was an entirely different world from the mall outside. Large, open spaces filled with holographic mannequins showing off premium fashionable outfits floated gracefully in

    the air.

    Disy shelves made from slightly blue tinted ss hovered above the ground, shifting and rotating in response to customer presence.

    High-definition projections of famous celebrities in tailored outfits of their brand could be found on the walls, showcasing the boutique''s reputation.

    L''s eyes widened in awe, her breath catching in her throat as she took a look around the

    lavish surroundings.

    "This ce... it''s incredible," she whispered, her gaze darting from one glimmering disy to the next. "I''ve never seen anything like it. It''s like we stepped into another universe."

 Chapter 222: Beneath The Surface

    Chapter 222: Beneath The Surface

    ?

    Alister, who stood just behind her, chuckled softly, his tone calm as he remarked, "Yes, I have to agree, it''s almost like a different universe from the rest of the mall." His eyes scanned the room, unfazed by how grand everything looked because he had seen sights just as grand from Ken''s memories when he returned home.

    Lady Aiko strode confidently ahead, her presencemanding as usual, drawing the attention of several well-dressed patrons and staff.

    As Cinder walked beside Alister through Finesse Fabrication, she could feel the weight of countless eyes suddenly fix on her.

    Their stares followed her every step-some small, others not. A few customers whispered to one another, their words just loud enough for her to hear what they were saying.

    "Who is she?"

    "She''s got quite the figure," a manmented in a low voice, eyeing Cinder''s body before quickly looking away when she caught him staring.

    "What''s up with the horns and tail? Some sort of augmentation?"

    "I''ve heard rumors of nks getting surgery to imnt monster cores in their bodies. I''ve heard it gives them abilities but also physical side effects."

    "So do you think she''s some sort of mercenary bodyguard?"

    "She looks dangerous..."

    "It seems to add to her charm though."

    "What a waste; she could have easily be a model if she approached the right people." Although they all whispered so Lady Aiko and L couldn''t hear them, being creatures with heightened senses, Alister and Cinder heard them clearly.

    Again, Alister chose to ignore them, like he usually did, but then he heard a voice intrude on his thoughts, along with intense emotions of anger and disgust.

    ''They are always like this, such filthy creatures with no pride or dignity.''

    ''I wish I could make them all pay for what they did that night.''

    ''I wish... I could just wipe all of them off the face of the!''

    Suddenly, a fragment of a memory shed before his eyes: a massive ck dragony lifeless upon the snowy earth, battered and broken as all sorts of weapons were plunged into its body, past its cracked scales.

    Men d in armor seemed to be raising their hands in triumph, but Alister could barely hear their voices. Before he could try to make sense of what he was seeing, he heard a voice, weak and filled with crushing despair.

    "Please..."

    "Stand up... father!"

    As quickly as the scene appeared, it disappeared, his eyes adjusting back to the grand setting of the boutique around him.

    No one needed to tell Alister what those were: ''Cinder''s memories...''

    The moment was a mere instance, but Alister also felt rage towards the people that he saw, rage towards people of an era he never knew, and for some reason he was starting to get angry at the sight of the people here.

    Though he also knew it was the scene he had just seen that was having a little effect on his reasoning.

    He narrowed his eyes as they glowed slightly, looking at the people around, causing them to feel a shiver run down their spines as they fell silent.

    Cinder was gritting her teeth, holding herself back from burning this ce to the ground when, all of a sudden, Alister stopped in his tracks. She noticed Lady Aiko and L walking ahead, so she asked, "Is anything the matterˇŞ"

    Before she could finish, Alister turned to face her, the upper half of his face darkened by his hair.

    Cinder felt a bit uneasy at his sudden silence and was about to ask him if everything was alright, but then, out of nowhere, Alister raised his right hand and patted her head, ruffling her silver hair slightly.

    Her eyes widened in shock as she looked up at him. "My lord, is everything alright?" she whispered.

    Alister smiled slightly as he said, "It''s okay, Cinder. Ignore them; they aren''t worth the effort, so don''t get so worked up."

    Cinder wasn''t sure what caused him to suddenly act this way, but her cheeks blushed slightly as she replied, "Understood, my lord."

    Meanwhile, as L walked on ahead with Lady Aiko, she caught sight of a price tag on one of the clothing items, making her eyes widen in shock.

    "5 million union credits? Isn''t that too much? A person could easily livefortably for six months with that," she eximed. Turning around to talk to Alister, she realized he wasn''t there. She looked around, wondering where he had gone until her eyesnded on him and Cinder a few steps back, with Alister patting Cinder''s head.

    Seeing the blush on Cinder''s face, L was a bit shocked and stuttered, "W-What are they doing?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    L''s thoughts raced as she observed the scene before her. ''They''re acting so close... But I thought Alister said he and Cinder weren''t like that?'' She felt a feeling of confusion. ''But then why is he patting her head and smiling like that?''

    While L''s mind spiraled with questions, Alister received a notification from the system:

    [Your understanding of your sharpest fang has increased by 2%.]

    His eyes narrowed as he looked at the yellow window that appeared by his side, and he

    focused.

    ''Of course the system is responsible... So that was really a memory belonging to Cinder... Her father was killed by humans, huh?''

    ''Although that exins a lot...''

    ''I have a feeling that isn''t the full story.''

    Suddenly, Cinder spoke up, her voice drawing him back to the moment. "Um, my lord?"

    Alister turned to her, curious. "What is it?"

    She pointed ahead, her expression serious. "We are getting left behind."

    Alister followed her finger and noticed Lady Aiko striding ahead. He momentarily locked eyes with L, but she quickly looked away, hurrying to catch up with Lady Aiko.

    Alister nodded, acknowledging Cinder''s observation. "You have a point; we should hurry up then." He turned around and quickened his pace slightly to catch up with the others.

    Cinder paused for a moment, then smiled slightly. "Understood, my lord," she replied, quickening her pace to keep up with him.

    As Lady Aiko walked ahead, she adjusted her sses, a touch of irritation in her thoughts. ''Kids these days,'' she thought, shaking her head slightly. ''They''re so filled with energy.'' She nced back briefly at Alister and Cinder, who were now caught up, but she knew when they stopped earlier and Alister decided to calm her down.

    To her, they seemed caught up in their little world, and she couldn''t care less, but if they had dyed further... Let''s just say she would not have been so pleased.

    Finally, she approached an attendant, a tall woman dressed in a sleek, minimalistic red, white, and ck uniform. The attendant immediately recognized Lady Aiko, her posture straightening as she offered a respectful nod.

    "Oh, Lady Aiko," the attendant greeted with a formal tone. "Wee again to Finesse Fabrication. How may we assist you today?"

    Wanting to quickly get this over with, Lady Aiko''s voice was smooth yet decisive as she spoke.

    "Show me your best suit selections."

    The attendant''s eyes narrowed; she understood where this was going. Although Lady Aiko didn''t visit as often as other customers, she was still one of their big spenders.

 Chapter 223: Suiting Up In Style

    Chapter 223: Suiting Up In Style

    ?

    Her assumption was clear-she believed the suits were for Lady Aiko herself, likely expecting her to want something grand and bold to match her powerful and refined personality.

    "Of course," the attendant responded. "I''ll prepare something tailored to your-"

    "For him," Lady Aiko interrupted, stepping aside gracefully to reveal Alister, who stood just behind her. "The suits are for the young man."

    The attendant blinked in surprise, her gaze shifting to Alister. For a moment, there was a look of confusion, but then she quicklyposed herself, nodding once more as she processed the unexpected request. "Very well, for the young gentleman," she replied.

    She pointed toward a section of the boutique reserved for exclusive customers. "Please, follow me, and I''ll show you our finest selections."

    ...

    Lady Aiko, Cinder, and L stood just outside a changing booth with the curtains drawn, waiting patiently as Alister was inside trying on the suit.

    The atmosphere felt almost still, with only the soft hum of the boutique''s background music filling the space.

    Lady Aiko stood with her arms crossed, her expression as calm as ever, while Cinder nced asionally at the curtain, and L fidgeted nervously beside her.

    The attendant, standing nearby, began to speak, "The suit Mr. Alister is trying on is made from a blend of materials harvested from Grade-A monsters."

    "The primary fabric is woven from the silk of the Dark Arachnis, known for its remarkable durability and resilience. This particr silk is resistant to tearing and can withstand both extreme heat and cold, making it ideal for long-term use in a variety of conditions."

    She pointed towards a video disying different methods of testing out the clothing. "Additionally, the inner lining is crafted from the hide of a Frostbane Leviathan, a rare beast found in the far northern regions. Its hide provides instion, ensuring that the wearer remainsfortable in both cold and warm climates. The suit will also offer limited protection against physical damage due to the natural toughness of the materials." Cinder raised an eyebrow as she listened, impressed by the level of craftsmanship.

    L, meanwhile, seemed even more fascinated, her green eyes wide with curiosity as she leaned in slightly to hear better.

    "The buttons," the attendant continued, "are made from the crystalline scales of a Thunder Sarpent. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but they also have an inherent ability to channel small amounts of electric energy. This makes the suit resistant to static buildup, ensuring it remains smooth and elegant, even in adverse conditions."

    Lady Aiko gave a small nod, clearly satisfied with the quality. "And how long can we expect this suit tost?"

    The attendant smiled confidently. "With proper care, the suit willst for decades, possibly even longer. The materials are treated with a special enchantment that enhances their natural durability and ensures they maintain their shape and luster. It''s designed to endure rigorous use while still looking impable."

    As she finished, the curtain rustled slightly, signaling that Alister was about to step out. The three women waited, their attention shifting to the booth, wanting to see how the suit would look on him.

    As the curtain drew back, Alister stepped out, and immediately, he looked radiant and refined in the tailored suit. The dark, fabric clung perfectly to his frame, giving off this regal aura.

    The sleek fit design highlighted his broad shoulders, and the shimmering buttons added a small, regal touch to his appearance.

    Cinder''s Crimzon eyes widened in admiration, a rare smile appeared on her lips as she said, "You look stunning, my lord." Her gaze locked on him, clearly impressed by how well the suitplemented his fit frame.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    L, standing beside her, blinked a few times before blurting out, "You look like... like some kind of famous actor!"

    Her cheeks flushed as she realized how excited she sounded, but the awe in her voice was genuine.

    Lady Aiko, as calm as ever, adjusted her sses and gave a single nod of approval.

    "Impressive," she said. "It looks amazing on you."

    Alister, feeling slightly self-conscious under theirpliments, offered a polite smile. "Thank you," he said, his hand moving to the cor around his neck. He pulled at it gently, his

    brow furrowing slightly as he spoke, "It''s a bit tight, though."

    Lady Aiko shook her head slightly. "That''s because it''s new..."

    "Once you''ve worn it for a while, it will loosen up and fit morefortably." she spoke so

    calmly, as if she had dealt with this issue countless times before.

    Satisfied with what she saw, Lady Aiko turned her attention back to the attendant.

    "He''ll be taking this one..."

    "Wait what?"

    "Do you have any others? We''ll need a few more options for different asions."

    The attendant nodded quickly, a smile still on her face. "Of course, Lady Aiko. I''ll bring out a few more selections immediately." She pointed towards another area of the boutique, ready to present additional choices to meet Lady Aiko''s standards.

    Alister''s eyes widened in shock as Lady Aiko casually asked for more suits. He quickly

    interjected, "Wait, more? Aren''t these clothes like... really expensive?"

    Lady Aiko nced at him, her expression calm and unwavering. "They are..."

    "...but you''re going to need them."

    Alister narrowed his eyes, feeling a bit unsettled. "And how are you so sure about that?"

    Without hesitation, Lady Aiko replied, "Instinct." She straightened her posture slightly. "And my instincts are never wrong."

    Alister blinked, momentarily thrown off. "What? But that doesn''t make any-''

    Before he could finish his sentence, Lady Aiko raised her voice, "More suits!"

    The attendant, who had been standing nearby, immediately smiled, bowing her head slightly in response. "Right away, Lady Aiko," she said, hurrying off to fetch the next selection. Alister let out a small sigh, realizing that any further objections would fall on deaf ears. He nced at Cinder and L, who both seemed content to watch the scene unfold. With a resigned shrug, he muttered, "I guess I''m getting a new wardrobe today."

 Chapter 224: New Quest, First Signs

    Chapter 224: New Quest, First Signs

    ?

    After what felt like an eternity of trying on different suits and casual yet fashionable outfits, Alister finally stood by the counter, ready to check out. The attendant held a calctor, her fingers moving across the buttons as she called out numbers while adding up the cost of each piece of clothing.

    "Dark Arachnis suit, 1.5 million Union credits... Frostbane Leviathan outer coat, 2.2 million... Thunder Serpent essories, 500,000 credits... Casualwear bundle, 3.8 million credits..."

    Alister felt his stomach sink with each figure. By the time she finished, the total amount felt like a sledgehammer to the chest.

    "That will be 8 million Union credits," the attendant said with a polite smile, as though she were discussing the weather.

    Alister and L''s eyes widened in shock. "Eight... million!?" they both eximed.

    "That''s more than-more than most people make in a year!" L added.

    The attendant remained calm, her smile never fading. "Yes, eight million credits," she confirmed, nodding slightly as if this were a routine purchase.

    Alister turned to Lady Aiko, ready to give her his thoughts. "Lady Aiko, I-this is way too much. There''s no way I can afford this. I''ve only been paid by the guild once, and the Union hasn''t even handed out the prize from the Wastnd Dis-"

    Before he could finish, Lady Aiko raised her hand, silencing him mid-sentence. She stepped closer to him, her expression cold yetposed as she spoke.

    "Alister," she said, her tone leaving no room for debate, "your Union card."

    Alister froze. His heart raced as he looked at her. "I-"

    Lady Aiko leaned in, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous whisper that only he could hear. "Don''t y smart with me, Mr. Hazenworth. I know exactly how much goes in and out of that ount of yours."

    Alister blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "What?"

    "I know you''ve been acquiring money through... unconventional means," she continued, her words sharp. "I don''t know all the details, but I know you can easily afford this."

    He narrowed his gaze, feeling the weight of her words press down on him. She wasn''t guessingˇŞshe knew enough to put him on edge.

    "So," Lady Aiko added, stepping back slightly but keeping her piercing gaze locked on him, "would you rather exin the mysterious flow of funds into your ount, especially when you''ve told Master Yuuto you can''t go on dungeon raids? Or do you pay for this, we leave, and I pretend like I don''t know... like I always do?"

    Alister spoke calmly as he asked, "Was that supposed to be a threat?"

    Lady Aiko adjusted her sses as she spoke. "If it was, do you n to go against your vice guild master?"

    Alister paused slightly. Looking to his side, he noticed the intense gaze Cinder had locked on Lady Aiko; it looked like she could snap at any moment. Not wanting things to escte, he let out a sigh, then said, "I see no reason for it toe to that."

    He then pulled out his card and handed it to her.

    Lady Aiko smiled slightly, satisfied. "Good," she said softly as she calmly took it.

    Lady Aiko took Alister''s Union card and hovered it over the payment device. A soft beep echoed through the boutique, confirming the transaction waspleted.

    L stood beside Alister, her eyes wide with shock. "It actually went through?" she whispered.

    The attendant simply smiled, bowing slightly. "Thank you for your purchase, and we hope to see you again."

    Momentster, Lady Aiko, Alister, Cinder, and L stood before the grand entrance of Finesse Fabrications, the upscale boutique they had just left.

    Lady Aiko turned to Alister. "That will be all I''ll help you with today," she said calmly.

    She pointed to a spot further down the hall on the same floor. "There''s a salon nearby where you can get your hair cut. I suggest you go there next."

    Alister, still processing everything, nodded.

    "I must attend to other matters," Lady Aiko continued as she adjusted her sses. "Take care of your appearance. I''ll see you soon." Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

    L watched Lady Aiko disappear into the crowd and blinked. "She just left... just like that?"

    Alister sighed, ncing toward where Lady Aiko had been moments earlier. "Yeah, seems like it. Well, I guess I should go ahead and get this over with," he said, turning around to head toward the salon.

    As Alister began walking, both Cinder and L quickly caught up to his side. Cinder''s eyes widened as she noticed the many bags Alister was carrying, filled with the expensive clothes they had just purchased.

    "You''re carrying all that?" she asked, surprised. Without waiting for a reply, she offered, "Let me take some."

    Alister chuckled softly. "It''s fine, really," he said, though there was a slight strain in his voice. Cinder raised an eyebrow and insisted, "I insist, my lord."

    With a small smile, Alister nodded. "Alright, let''s do things like this..." He handed over a few of the bags to Cinder but still held on to some.

    Watching the exchange, L spoke up hesitantly, "Um... I-I''d like to carry some too."

    Alister paused, looking at her awkwardly. "Really?"

    L nodded eagerly. Alister let out a soft sigh, amused. "Okay, sure."

    To his surprise, L took every single bag from him, leaving himpletely empty-handed.

    "Uh... this feels a bit awkward," Alister muttered, scratching the back of his head.

    L''s cheeks flushed slightly, her gaze dropping to the ground for a moment. But then she lifted her head, a look of resolve crossing her face. This is my chance, she thought, her hands gripping the bags tightly.

    Gathering her courage, L spoke up softly, "So... um, do you have any other ns after this?"

    Alister paused mid-step, ncing at her. "Well, nothing much. Maybe train with my dragonster. I was hoping to a Master Yuuto for permission to-"

    Before he could finish, L interrupted with sudden enthusiasm, "What about lunch after this?"

    Alister blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected question.

    He hesitated for a moment, considering L''s offer. After a brief pause, he sighed and reluctantly agreed, "Alright, sure. Lunch sounds good."

    L''s eyes widened in surprise. "R-really?" she stuttered, almost as if she hadn''t expected

    him to say yes.

    Alister gave a small smile and nodded. "Yeah. But what about the shopping you mentioned earlier? Weren''t you nning to get a few things?"

    L stammered, her face slightly flushed, "I-I''ll be fine! You don''t have to worry about that. It''s not a big deal, really."

    Alister chuckled softly, noticing how nervous she seemed. "Alright then," he said, not

    pressing further.

    Just then, a system notification shed in front of Alister''s eyes, causing him to suddenly pause in his tracks.

    [Double Quest!]

    [Last Stand/Where Are They Now (2): You have taken your first step toward preparing for the descent of darkness. As an Overlord, you cannot stop until you are sure of total victory.

    Questpletion condition: Find a dragon kin tribe who inhabit the wastnds and are in

    need of an Overlord.

    Make them acknowledge you as their lord.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Reward: A ss-exclusive skill]

    Alister blinked as the system notification shed in front of him.

    ''Double Quest?'' he thought, his brow furrowing slightly. He had never seen a quest like this

    before. This was something new.

    ''Also the system''s choice of words is peculiar... It saying ''A'' dragon kin tribe... That wood

    mean there are more then one...''

    His eyes skimmed over the quest details again, lingering on the mention of the "dragon kin." The words brought back a memory-of that small dragon kin he''d seen at the auction. He hadn''t thought much about it since then, but now he found himself wondering,

    ''How is he doing?''

    Before he could dwell on it further, L''s voice broke through his thoughts. "Alister? Are you

    alright?" she asked, her tone filled with concern.

    "You seem like something''s on your mind."

    Alister snapped back to the present, offering a quick smile. "It''s nothing," he said, brushing off the thought. "Let''s hurry up so I can get that cut, and then we can grab lunch."

    He started walking again, deciding to push the strange quest from his mind, at least for now.

    There was plenty to deal with as it was.

    ...

    Meanwhile...

    Members of the Berserkers Guild Assault Raid Team gathered in front of the shimmering blue portal of the A-ranked dungeon gate. The air was filled with tension.

    The team was made up of new members, and this would be the first high-ranked dungeon

    raid since they became official members.

    Although they were anxious, they were definitely ready.

    At the front stood a orange haired, green eyed man in white and hold armor, Xaiver, the team leader; his confident smile seemed to cut through the anxiety that loomed over them. He looked at the faces of the newbies, making sure everyone was in position and ready for the

    challenge ahead.

    "Alright, listen up!" Xaiver called out, his voice steady andmanding. "This is an A-

    ranked dungeon, and we can''t afford any mistakes. Everyone needs to be at the top of their

    game." Chase, one of the newer members, stood off to the side, adjusting his gear and trying to calm the nervous flutter in his stomach by keeping a nk face. He nced around, taking in the anxious yet determined expressions of his teammates. Some were checking their equipment, while others whispered strategies amongst themselves.

    Xaiver stepped closer to Chase, noticing the young man''s unease. "You good, Chase? You''re

    our star yer here, so you don''t need to be so tense," he said, his tone soft, slightly teasing but still authoritative.

    Chase nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, sir, just... you know, a bit anxious. It''s my first A-rank

    raid."

 Chapter 225: Ruined Dragon City

    Chapter 225: Ruined Dragon City

    ?

    "Completely understandable," Xaiver replied, pping Chase on the shoulder. "Just remember what you can do. Your talent is a game changer."

    From the back, Lisa chimed in with enthusiasm, "We all believe in you, Chase! Just think of it as another day at the training grounds!" She swung her mede yfully, the fire flickering brightly along the de.

    Mia bounced on her toes, her wind maniption giving her a slight lift. "Yeah! And if we run into anything scary, we''ll just blow it away together! Right, Derek?" She turned to their earth-manipting teammate.

    Derek, who was adjusting the stones embedded in his gauntlets, nced up, a look of irritation in his eyes. "Sure, as long as I''m not the one getting sted by your wind. Just remember, you all have to watch your backs," he grumbled, crossing his arms.

    "Aw,e on, Derek! You worry too much! We''ve trained for this," Mia said, her energy unyielding.

    Karl, leaning against a nearby rock with his arms crossed, rolled his eyes. "Training doesn''t mean squat if you don''t have the guts to face what''s inside. Just try not to scream too loud if something jumps out, alright?" His words earned a few chuckles from the group.

    Ethan, who had been quietly observing, smirked slightly. "I think the real question is, who will scream first? I''m betting on Derek."

    Derek shot him a re. "Like you wouldn''t panic if a bone dragon popped out."

    "Let''s not jinx it," Chase interjected. "We just need to stay focused. We''ve got this."

    Xaiver, seeing the bond bloom between them, nodded approvingly. "Exactly! It''s about teamwork. Stick together, support each other, and we''ll make it through. Now, let''s get ready to step into the portal."

    Just as he said that, a talent window materialized in front of them, disying the dungeon''s details.

    Dungeon Name: Ruined Dragon City Type: Field Rank: A-rank

    The glowing interface faded away, and Xaiver stepped forward, pointing towards the portal. "Alright, team, this is it! On three, we step into the portal. One... two... three!"

    The team took a collective breath, ncing at one another with a touch of excitement and fear before stepping through the shimmering blue portal together, ready to face whatevery ahead.

    As the team stepped through the portal, they were met with the oppressive heat and smoke of the Ruined Dragon City. The air was filled with the smell of burning rubble and scorched earth.

    Flickering mes could be seen among the crumbling buildings, casting shadows across the destendscape.

    The sky was an inky ck, with not a single star or the moon in sight, almost as if they had all been swallowed whole by the dark clouds above.

    The remnants of the city sprawled out before them, with charred walls and toppled structures. In the distance, the growls of undead creatures echoed through the streets, sending shivers down the spines of the raiders.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Xaiver quickly assessed their surroundings, his voice ringing out above the crackle of mes. "Alright, team! Stay alert. We don''t know what we''re dealing with just yet. Keep formation and stay close."

    As they slowly moved deeper into the city, a talent window materialized in front of them as they heard the growls of a creature that crawled out from the corner of a burnt-out building.

    Monster Name: Undead Dragon Kin Total Combat Power: C

    The creature stumbled out, its flesh withered and gray, eyes glowing with a faint blue light. It raised a sword made of rusted metal, preparing to charge.

    Mia pointed it out. "Undead monster! They''re not too strong, but watch for their speed!" Xaiver took charge andmanded, "Chase, get ready to freeze it in ce. Lisa, Mia, stay on the nks. Derek, get some cover-up. Karl, be prepared to charge in if it gets too close." As the Undead Dragon Kin charged forward, Chase focused, channeling his mana. The air around him grew icy, and he thrust his hands forward, unleashing a st of freezing wind. The cold surged toward the creature, encasing it in ice and halting its advance.

    "Nice job, Chase!" Lisa cheered. "Now let''s finish it!"

    Swiftly, Lisa charged forward, her mede igniting into a zing inferno. She shed down, breaking through the ice and cleaving the undead creature in half. The two halves fell to the ground with a dull thud, releasing a faint plume of smoke as the mes consumed them.

    "Just like that! We make a great team!" she eximed, looking back at her teammates with a bright smile.

    "One down," Xaiver said, ncing around for more threats. "Keep moving. Stay vignt."

    The team continued deeper into the ruins, cautiously stepping over debris and avoiding patches of fire. As they ventured further, the distant growls of more undead echoed around them, mixing with the sound of crumbling stone.

    "Keep your eyes peeled," Xaiver cautioned, scanning the area for any signs of movement. "There could always be more lurking in the shadows."

    Suddenly, the faint rustle of movement drew their attention.

    "Something''s approaching!" Mia eximed, her eyes wide.

    From the shadows emerged a couple of other Undead Dragon Kin, their bodies shambling forward, swords raised. Xaiver quickly assessed the situation and yelled orders to the team.

    "Stay sharp! Everyone, ready yourself!"

    The first Undead Dragon Kin charged out, its sword glinting in the flickering light. Chase took a deep breath, and a chilling wind swirled around him as he thrust his hands forward,

    launching a st of freezing air toward the approaching creature.

    The icy st caught the Undead Dragon Kin mid-stride, freezing its legs in ce.

    As the monster struggled to free itself, Chase suddenly emerged before it. A spear made of ice materialized in his hand, and he grasped it, his eyes widening as he thrust it forward, piercing through the monster''s skull. It fell to the floor.

    "Nice shot!" Mia cheered, her wind maniption already causing the air to swirl around her as she charged forward.

    She summoned a powerful gust that knocked the frozen undead off bnce, sending it tumbling into a nearby pile of rubble. "Let''s keep moving!"

    As the rest of the team pressed on, Xaiver darted forward, using his enhanced speed to close the gap between himself and the next wave of undead.

    His de glinted in the faint light as he sliced through an approaching Undead Dragon Kin, executing one after the other with single swings of his sword.

    "More on the left," one of the team members shouted as another wave of undead surged from the ruins, skeletons this time, their bodies illuminated by the flickering blue mes in their

    eye sockets.

    The bone-rattling growls filled the air, intensifying the atmosphere as a touch of dread began

    to seep into the hearts of the raiders.

    "Isn''t that a bit too much?" a female team member murmured.

    "Stick together! Form up!" Xaiver yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos. With his enhanced speed, he darted ahead, his sword gleaming in the dim light as he continued to whittle down the numbers.

    As Xaiver engaged the undead, Chase took a deep breath, his heart pounding with adrenaline. The air around him started to be cooler. Ice began to swirl around his hands as he conjured a bunch of icy shards, sending them flying toward the nearest Undead Dragon Kin.

    ...

    Meanwhile, in what seemed to be a run-down castle, a skeletal figure d in ck armor from head to toe stood in the throne room, like a statue, facing a regal skeleton adorned with a pair of ck horns and a massive sword embedded in its chest. The sword pierced through the throne, and past the now visibly shattered ribcage, the bones of a tail could also be seen at

    its side.

    The armored figure twitched, and suddenly blue mes ignited in the visors of its helmet. It slowly turned around and murmured, "My lord, it appears we havepany."

    Turning back to face the motionless skeleton seated on the throne, the figure in ck armor continued, "You need not worry, my lord. Rest easy; I shall handle them myself..."

    "Forgive me..."

    "But... I may need to borrow my sword."

    The monster walked forward and began to slowly pull the de from where it was embedded

    in the throne and the ribcage.

    As it did, blue runes began to appear on the de, crackling with blue lightning. The figure then turned around and made its way toward the exit. As it moved, it walked past the skeletal remains of other figures who appeared to have died at the hands of this same de. Some were shed down the middle, while others had been slit from the side. From the looks of it, one could tell there was no struggle; each had been ended instantly where they

    stood.

    Reaching the exit, the figure in ck armor looked to the horizon, taking in the sight of the ruined city with mes in the distance. Its eyes thennded where a massive boom could be heard. The figure then dered,

    "I, Alexei Von Valor-Void, shall not allow any intruder to disturb the resting ce of my lord

    or his people."

 Chapter 226: A Storm Of Shards

    Chapter 226: A Storm Of Shards

    ?

    With a flick of his wrist, Chase unleashed a storm of ice shards that pierced through the undead, each shard embedding itself with a sharp crack. "Ice Shard Barrage!" he shouted, the sound of ice shattering echoing in the air as the undead staggered backward, frozen in ce.

    "Impressive!" Xaiver called back. "Keep it up, Chase!"

    Chase pushed further. He thrust his hand forward, causing sharp ice spikes to spring up from the ground. They shot up like spears, impaling any undead that stood where they emerged.

    "Ice Spikes!" he yelled, gritting his teeth in concentration. The spikes erupted from beneath the feet of another group of undead, catching them off guard and freezing them solid in an instant.

    "Damn, that''s awesome!" Mia shouted as she used her wind maniption to propel herself into the air, dodging an iing swing from a rusted sword. "Keep those spikesing, Chase!"

    With a nod, Chase continued to create ice spikes, maintaining a steady barrage while his teammates engaged the undead. One particrly agile Undead Dragon Kin charged at him, sword raised, past the multiple ice shards he hurled at it. Chase simply narrowed his eyes, seeming unfazed. Once it was close enough, Chase summoned a spear of ice and hurled it.

    "Ice Spear!" he shouted, the spear piercing through the undead''s chest before erupting in a burst of frost, freezing it solid.

    The team pressed on as they adapted to the chaos. Derek stepped up, manipting the earth beneath his feet.

    "I''ll create some cover for us!" he shouted, raising a wall of stone between the team and the oing undead. The wall erupted from the ground, blocking several undead from reaching them.

    "Nice one, Derek!" Lisa shouted, swinging her mede to catch an undead off guard, slicing its neck clean off. mes slowly emerged around her as she struck down another creature, their bodies engulfed, embers swirling around her. "Let''s turn up the heat!"

    As the wall crumbled and the undead began to break through, Xaiver charged around the iing monsters, his speed allowing him to evade effortlessly. He spun and shed, taking down more and more monsters.

    "Keep pushing! We''re doing great!" he encouraged, ncing back at his team as they rallied together.

    The undead charged forward, their decayed limbs jerking with speed as they swung rusted swords and ws. Chase stepped back, his arms raised, summoning another wave of Ice Spikes. His hands trembled slightly from the intense mana drain, but his movements were not sloppy yet.

    As the spikes erupted from the ground, they impaled several undead, freezing them in ce with loud, cracking ice.

    Mia darted through the air, her light frame lifted by swirling gusts of wind beneath her feet. With her Wind de, she shed horizontally, sending a sharp arc of wind that sliced through the legs of the undead, causing them to copse in a heap.

    She twirled mid-air, dodging a w swipe from another as it tried to leap at her, its ragged body barely missing her as she soared higher.

    Below her, Derek stood, his feet nted wide as he manipted the earth beneath him. He thrust his hands forward, sending a Stone Fist from the ground-arge chunk of earth that smashed directly into an undead Dragon Kin warrior, shattering its bones and sending it flying back.

    As more undead pressed closer, Derek raised his arm, creating a Stone Shield that deflected a powerful swing from one of the rusted swords, the impact sending tremors through the stone, but it remained firm.

    Lisa moved in close to the frontlines, her mede ignited brightly. She took a deep breath, her legs shifting into a ready stance as she charged forward, her sword cutting cleanly through a charging undead. She twisted her body to the left to avoid a sword swipe from another undead, then shed upward, severing its arm with a quick flick of her wrist.

    Embers could be seen around her as she struck again, mes leaping to consume the remains of her foes.

    "Behind you, Lisa!"

    She swiftly turned around to see a particrly massive undead bringing its fangs down on her.

    VOOM.

    Before it could touch her, Xaiver zipped past her, his sword shing in the dim light. He ducked under an iing strike from an undead''s sword, his knees bending deeply before he countered with an upward sh, cleaving through the creature''s torso.

    As it fell to its knees, he delivered a killing blow by slicing its neck.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    He straightened his back, whipping his head to check the rest of his team before darting toward the next threat.

    Chase breathed heavily, his breathing out as a cold mist around him. The mana drain was getting to him, but he pushed forward.

    An undead broke through the ice wall he made, rushing straight for him, but Chase was ready. He twisted his wrist, summoning a spear of ice. With a swift throw, the Ice Spear pierced the undead through the chest, freezing it mid-stride before shattering into shards.

    To his left, Karl let out a roar as he charged into a group of undead, his heavy body plowing through them. His massive war hammer swung in wide arcs, crushing skulls and shattering bones with every strike.

    He ducked under an iing de, nting his feet firmly on the ground before swinging his hammer upward, lifting an undead off the ground and sending it flying back into the horde.

    "Good work everyone! Keep the pressure up!" Xaiver shouted, his movements bing a blur. He was nearly everywhere at once, cutting through undead with swift, clean strikes. He pivoted on his toes, narrowly avoiding a w swipe before countering with a downward sh that severed an undead''s head from its shoulders.

    The wave of undead began to thin, their numbers dwindling as the team worked in perfect synchronization. Lisa twirled her sword, mes licking the air as she cut down another two with a quick double strike. Mia swooped down, using her wind to throw off an undead''s bnce before slicing through its back with a sharp, focused wind de.

    Derek raised both hands, summoning a final Stone Fist that crashed down on a remaining undead, smashing it into the ground with a massive...

    BOOM.

    The few remaining undead stumbled forward, their movements sluggish and weakened.

    "Almost there," Chase muttered, his voice strained from the exertion. He summoned onest wave of Ice Spikes, sending them shooting from the ground, impaling the final undead in

    their path.

    As thest of the undead fell, their bodies crumbling into dust, Xaiver raised his hand, signaling the team to halt. "Everyone, hold. We''re clear... for now."

    The team gathered in the center, their breathing heavy but relieved. "Rest for a moment," Xaiver instructed, his tone steady. "But stay on your toes. This dungeon won''t give us much

    time before the next-"

    "Graahaaaa."

    The air was suddenly pierced by a massive roar that echoed through the city. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a chill crept down their spines.

    "W-what was that?" Mia gasped, her eyes wide as she looked around.

    "Everyone, stay alert!" Xaiver shouted. The team instinctively turned their heads toward the

    source of the sound.

    In the distance, against the backdrop of the dark sky, a massive bluish glow could be seen approaching in the clouds.

 Chapter 227: Screams Of The Fallen

    Chapter 227: Screams Of The Fallen

    ?

    "W-what is in the sky?" one of the male guild members murmured.

    "It''s massive... Very massive..."

    "You guys don''t think it''s a..."

    "Graahaaaaaa!"

    Before they could finish their statement, a roar echoed again, and in the dark clouds, a figure emerged...

    It was a bone dragon.

    Its bones were covered by a blue me, and its body was sparsely covered by ck cracked scales.

    A blue talent window suddenly materialized: "Monster: Undead Bone Dragon

    Total Combat Power 62,476 (A rank).

    It emerged, its skeletal frame glinting in the dim light. Its blue me wings spread wide, casting a bluish glow that loomed over the group as it glided closer, the air filled with the echoes of its powerful ps.

    The dragon''s eyes glowed with a blue me, fixing on the team with intensity.

    "What the hell..." Chase whispered, feeling a touch of fear and awee over him.

    The dragon''s jaws opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth, and it let out another bone- chilling roar that sent shivers down the spines of the entire team. The sound vibrated the air with such intensity that most of them fell to their knees, closing their ears, while some already weakened structures further gave in on themselves.

    "It''s massive!" Derek eximed, his hands instinctively forming a defensive stance as he readied himself. "We need to be prepared for anything!"

    Xaiver narrowed his eyes, assessing the situation. "Everyone, gather your strength! We can''t let it intimidate us. We fought through the undead; we can take this beast down!"

    "This is certainly the boss monster."

    "Prepare yourselves."

    The bone dragon swooped lower, its massive wings sending gusts of wind that nearly knocked them off their feet.

    As the bone dragonnded with a massive BOOM, the ground shook beneath the team''s feet. Dust and debris swirled around them, obscuring their view momentarily.

    Xaiver turned to his team. "Everyone, get ready to engage! We''re taking this thing dow-" "Be silent!" Before he could finish, a loud voice cut through the air.

    Themand carried such force that Xaiver instinctively paused. The entire team turned their attention toward the bone dragon. From atop its massive head, a dark figure leaped into the air,nding just a few feet ahead of them with a resounding boom that sent shockwaves across the battlefield.

    As the dust cleared, the figure stood tall and menacing. A dark blue talent window flickered into view in front of them, revealing its title:

    Monster: Undead Skeleton Dragon General Alexei Von Valor-Void. (Boss)

    Total Combat Power 62,436 (A rank).

    The air around them grew heavy; the thick mana and auraing from both the bone dragon and the dragon general made the air nearly suffocating.

    "You humans never learn," the figure spoke, his voice cold and filled with disdain. "And I''m starting to get tired of it. No matter, I have a duty to uphold."

    Many of the guild members gasped, their eyes wide in shock. "T-two A-ranked monsters?" someone mumbled, their voice trembling with fear.

    Xaiver clenched his fists. "Calm down, everyone! We''ve trained for this!" His voice tried to rally the team, but there was a slight crack of uncertainty. "We can''t panic now when-" VOOM

    Suddenly, a massive de-like beam of energy erupted from Alexei''s hand, shing forward in a blinding sh. The air itself seemed to split as the force of the attack tore through the battlefield with devastating power. The ground beneath it cracked and splintered, leaving behind a deep, jagged scar that stretched across the earth.

    The shockwave that followed was nothing short of catastrophic. The wind howled in fury, whipping through the area with such intensity that most of the team was flung back like ragdolls as they crashed into the rubble around them.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Some tumbled through the air, their weapons scattering, while others desperately dug into the ground, trying to regain their footing in the violent gusts.

    When the gusts finally subsided and the dust began to settle, the scene was nothing short of a nightmare.

    Bodiesy strewn across the battlefield, severed and lifeless. Blood pooled beneath them, soaking into the dirt, turning the ruins into a bloodied graveyard.

    The blood stains spread across the earth, the dark red liquid seeping into the cracks left by Alexei''s attack.

    Screams of agony filled the air.

    "My leg! Oh god, my leg!" one of the guild members shrieked, clutching the stump where his leg had once been, blood spurting from the wound as his face twisted in unbearable pain.

    Another guild member, barely alive, writhed on the ground, his torso cleaved in two. His fingers twitched weakly as he tried to drag himself forward, leaving a thick trail of blood behind him. "Help... someone... please..."

    The sound of flesh hitting the ground echoed as another copsed, lifeless, his body split cleanly from shoulder to waist.

    Xaiver''s heart pounded as he took a look around the carnage, his breath caught in his throat. His mind raced, trying toprehend the brutal massacre that had unfolded in a split second.

    He could hear the desperate cries of hisrades, the haunting, bone-chilling screams that filled the air with the unmistakable scent of death. The stench of blood and charred earth suffocated him, making it hard to focus.

    "Damn it!" Derek yelled, pushing himself up from the ground, his face twisted in horror as he took in the grisly scene. "What... what the hell are we up against?"

    "I thought it was just an A-ranked monster?"

    A nearby healer, drenched in blood, fumbled with his supplies, tears streaming down his face as he tried to reattach a guild member''s severed arm.

    "Hold still! Please, hold still!" he pleaded, though his voice shook, as if he knew his efforts were in vain.

    But the true horror was Alexei himself, standing in all the devastation with cold, intense eyes. He looked down at the carnage, unmoved, as if it were nothing more than an inconvenience. "Trained?" Alexei''s voice was filled with disdain, cutting through the air like the edge of his de.

    "To go up against me?" He let out a dark, low chuckle, the sound echoing across the battlefield. "Is that supposed to be some sort of insult?"

    He took a slow step forward, his boots crushing the remains of fallen guild members beneath him as though they were nothing more than dust.

    "You humans... are nothing but insects. Pathetic, weak insects. And yet, you dare to intrude upon my lord''s home?"

    A mage from the group, blood dripping from his mouth, struggled to raise his staff, his hands shaking. "We... we have to fight," he muttered through gritted teeth, trying to rally whatever strength he had left. "We can''t let him win."

    But the look in Alexei''s glowing eyes was that of a predator toying with its prey. "Win?" he sneered, raising his hand once more as his dark aura rose above him like an inferno, crackling

    blue lightning.

    "You never had a chance."

    Xaiver''s heart raced, but he forced himself to focus. The sight of his teammates'' broken

    bodies made his blood boil.

    He clenched his fists, feeling his mana rising, bubbling just beneath the surface, until it erupted outward brilliantly.

    Green mana swirled around his body, growing denser and more intense with each passing

    second.

    The air around him crackled with raw power as the light intensified, surrounding him like a protective aura. His green eyes glowed brightly, reflecting the power coursing through him. It matched Alexei''s oppressive mana, pushing back against the suffocating aura of the undead

    general.

    Alexei sensed the shift in power, his blue eyes narrowing with curiosity.

    "How insulting..."

    "Do you actually believe you can stand your ground against me?"

 Chapter 228: Split Up

    Chapter 228: Split Up

    ?

    Xavier stood firm as he called out, "Chase!"

    "I''m handling this one. You and the others should focus on the bone dragon. Don''t let it tear the rest of the team apart!"

    Chase, still recovering from the shock, snapped his attention to Xavier, his eyes widening at the surge of mana surrounding him.

    "Sir, are you sure? That thing... it''s not like anything we''ve faced before!"

    "I''m sure." Xavier''s tone was intense, his gaze locked onto Alexei. "You guys can hack it, leave this bastard to me. Trust me! Everything will be fine."

    Chase clenched his fists tightly as he nced at the massive bone dragon, its blue me wings casting a ghostly light over the battlefield.

    "You heard him!" Chase shouted, rallying the others. "We take down the dragon!"

    A female healer, trembling but focused, began casting healing on the wounded. "Be careful, sir!" she called out.

    Xavier didn''t look back. His eyes were fixedpletely on Alexei. The green mana

    surrounding him red brighter, responding to his will. His body tensed as he prepared to face the undead general head-on.

    Alexei watched all of this unfold, a small touch of amusement in his blue-med eyes as his own dark energy red to meet Xavier''s.

    The ground beneath them cracked from the sheer force of the two opposing auras colliding in the air.

    "Ah, so you do have some fight in you after all. It appears you''re not just trying to be brave, but you possess genuine skill. Though I''m sure you know that alone may not be enough, yet you face me nheless. I must admit, I admire your courage," Alexei said.

    "Good. Let''s see how long youst before I tear you apart, just like the others," Xavier replied, twirling his sword as he widened his stance, ready for battle.

    For a few moments, they stood there, sizing each other up. Blue lightning began to crackle from Alexei''s body as he prepared for their sh.

    Then, in an instant, BOOM-both of them moved.

    CLANG!

    Their swords shed in a sh of blinding light, the sound of metal against metal echoing through the ruins.

    Shockwaves rippled out from the impact, kicking up dust and debris from the cracked earth. Sparks flew as their des screeched against each other, neither giving an inch as they pushed against one another, their auras shing just as intensely.

    Xavier gritted his teeth, his green mana ring as he twisted his de, breaking the lock between them. He sidestepped quickly, leaving a green afterimage as he aimed a quick sh toward Alexei''s side.

    But Alexei was just as fast. His body blurred, leaving a trail of blue lightning in his wake as he dodged, the electric current causing the nearby rocks to explode in showers of sparks. He countered with a powerful overhead strike, his de crackling with lightning.

    Xavier barely managed to block, their swords meeting with another loud CLANG.

    The force of their sh sent shockwaves rippling again, shaking the crumbling structures around them.

    A nearby ruined wall gave way, copsing in on itself as stones and metal beams tumbled down, sending clouds of dust into the air.

    Xavier, feeling the sting of the lightning crackling from Alexei''s body, jumped back, skidding across the ground as his mana red brighter, surrounding him like a protective shield.

    He barely had time to catch his breath before Alexei closed the distance again, his sword cutting through the air with incredible speed, leaving arcs of blue lightning in its wake.

    Each step Alexei took left scorched marks on the ground, the lightning sizzling and crackling, causing the very air to vibrate violently.

    Xavier stayed light on his feet, dodging and parrying the strikes, the pressure mounting with each sh.

    As they moved, their battle became a blur. They zigzagged across the ruins, their bodies blurring as they moved around one another, swords shing as they collided again and again.

    Meanwhile...

    Chase calmed himself, his breath steadying as he looked at the towering bone dragon looming above them, its blue me wings casting a glow across the battlefield.

    "Alright, everyone! Listen up!" His voice rang out above the chaos.

    "We need to focus on the bone dragon! I''ll lead the charge!"

    "Are you crazy?" Derek eximed, ncing nervously at the massive creature. "That thing could squash us like bugs!"

    "We can''t let it tear through our remaining members," Chase replied. "We''ve got to be smart about this. Karl, you take the front! Lead all the others with physical enhancement talents to create openings!"

    "Great, throw us to the meat grinder," Karl grumbled. "You really know how to inspire confidence."

    "Just trust me, okay?" Chase shot back, eyes sharp. "We''ve trained for this. Mia, you''re with me! Use your wind to keep it off bnce."

    "And Lisa, you and the other fire elementalists should nk it. Your mede hits harder- try to draw its attention."

    "Got it!" Mia replied, her excitement oveing her initial fear.

    "I''ll keep the wind flowing! Just like we practiced!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Let''s move!" Chase called, leading the charge as they raced toward the bone dragon, its massive form dwarfing them.

    As they approached, the bone dragon roared, a bone-chilling sound that vibrated through the

    air.

    It opened its maw and unleashed a torrent of blue mes, scorching the ground where they had just been. Chase dove to the side, rolling to avoid the deadly inferno.

    "Get ready!" Chase shouted, his voice echoing through the haze of heat and smoke. "Derek,

    now!"

    Derek, steadying himself, mmed his stone-embedded gauntlets into the ground. With a loud rumble, the earth quaked as a series of stone spikes erupted, aimed directly at the

    dragon''s legs.

    The bone dragon roared again, attempting to evade the attack, but some spikes struck, embedding themselves in its sparse scales.

    "Nice shot!" Chase yelled, pumping his fist. "Keep it distracted! Lisa, now!"

    With fierce determination, Lisa charged in, her mede igniting in brilliant hues of red and orange. "Hey, ugly! Over here!" she taunted, dancing around the dragon''s ws as she shed at its exposed joints. The mes licked against the dragon''s bones, leaving charred

    marks but failing to prate deeply.

    "Keep it busy! Mia!" Chase shouted.

    Mia sprang into action, harnessing the wind to propel herself forward. "Here I go!" she

    called, creating a swirling gust that pushed the bone dragon''s massive tail off course as it attempted to smash Lisa. The tail missed, crashing against the ground with a thunderous boom that shook the battlefield.

    "Watch out for its breath!" Derek warned, just as the dragon opened its jaws again, gathering

    blue mes.

    "Chase!" Karl shouted, eyes wide. "It''s about to breathe fire!"

    "Everyone, scatter!" Chasemanded, and they all dove in different directions just in time as the dragon unleashed its fiery breath, scorching the ground and leaving a charred mark where they had stood moments before.

    "Get back together!" Chase shouted as they regrouped, panting from the exertion. "Ethan,

    use your shadows! Get behind it and strike!"

    Ethan nodded, his eyes glinting with his purple mana. "On it!" He disappeared into the shadows, vanishing from sight as he made his way through the battlefield, reappearing just

    behind the bone dragon.

    "Now!" he yelled, his twin daggers glinting as he leaped forward, aiming for the joints where the skeletal dragon''s leg bones connected. His des struck, chipping away at the exposed

    bones causing it to loos it''s footing and stumble for a moment.

    "Just like that!" Chase yelled. "Keep it on its toes!"

 Chapter 229: Against A Bone Dragon

    Chapter 229: Against A Bone Dragon

    ?

    The dragon howled, swinging its massive, bone tail to retaliate, but Karl stood firm, using his warhammer to intercept the blow. "Not today!" he growled, muscles straining as he deflected the powerful strike, sparks flying from the impact.

    "Derek, go for its core!" Chase instructed, pointing as the dragon core, hoovering in his ribcage. "Now''s your chance!"

    With a grunt, Derek charged in, channeling the earth''s power through his gauntlets. He mmed his fists into the ground, causing stone spikes to shoot up, targeting the core trough exposed gaps between the dragon''s ribs. The dragon staggered, a deep, hollow roar echoing in the air as it stumbled back from the attack that caused a crack.

    "Good job, Derek!" Chase cheered, his heart racing. "Now, everyone! We hit it together on the count of three!"

    "Wait! Look!" Mia shouted, pointing at the bone dragon. As it roared, the ground trembled violently, the dragon''s mana summoning skeleton and zombie minions from the earth- undead creatures with bones aze in the same blue mes, rising to help it in battle.

    "Damn it! We''ve got more to deal with!" Derek cursed.

    "Chase!" Karl called, eyes darting around. "We need to take care of those minions before they overwhelm us!"

    "Everyone! Split up!" Chase ordered. "Focus on the bone dragon, but stay alert for the undead! Mia, Derek, let''s go!"

    As they engaged the bone dragon, the battle was thrown into chaos. Chase led the charge, coordinating strikes and dodges as the undead swarmed around them.

    Each attack had to be carefully coordinated else the dragon could either crush, or burn them to death, the air was filled with roars, battle cries, and the sh of steel against bone.

    "Stay together!" Chase yelled, cutting down a skeleton minion with a burst of ice magic, freezing it mid-charge. "We can do this!"

    "Enough with the pep talk Chase, it''s not helping!" Derek yelled.

    Lisa carved through the undead with her ming sword, Mia spun like a whirlwind, using wind maniption to push back enemies while keeping her focus on the bone dragon. Karl smashed through any skeleton minions that got too close, wielding his warhammer with more force with each swing, while Ethan darted between the shadows, striking from unexpected angles.

    But the bone dragon was alone with all the undead was getting too much for them. It spewed blue mes and summoned more undead with each roar, growing more furious with every attack.

    The battlefield was littered with bones and debris, the cries of the wounded echoing as the guild members struggled to hold their ground against the endless tide of undead.

    "Chase, we can''t hold them back much longer!" Mia gasped, her mana nearly exhausted as she pushed back a group of skeleton minions.

    "Just a little longer!" Chase urged. "We''ve got to take it down before-"

    "Graaaaaa."

    Suddenly, the bone dragon unleashed anotyer massive roar that shook the ground, sending a shockwave of dark energy outward. The force knocked most of the guild members off their feet, sending them tumbling.

    "Everyone, pull back!" Chase yelled, struggling to stand. "We can''t let this thing break us!" But as the dust began to settle, a new wave of undead dragon kin were rising from the ground, bodies glowing with blue mes, their hollow eyes locked on the team members.

    Derek grunted, blocking an iing skeleton minion with his gauntlets before mming it into the ground.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Shattered bones scattered across the battlefield, still glowing faintly with blue fire. "Chase!" Derek yelled.

    "Can''t you just freeze all these bastards? You''ve got an S-ranked talent, goddammit!"

    Chase ducked as another undead dragonkin swiped at him, its ws barely missing his face. The blue fire in its eyes intensified as it screeched, charging forward again.

    Chase spun an ice spear, slicing through its ribcage with a burst of ice magic, freezing the creature solid.

    "I could freeze them," he yelled back, "but it would drain mepletely. If I go unconscious in here, it''s the same as asking to get killed!"

    Another undead dragon kin charged through, its ming jaws snapping at Mia''s arm. She cried out, narrowly dodging the attack as its jagged bones raked across her side, tearing through her armor and drawing blood as she stumbled back, gritting her teeth.

    "We need a n!" Mia shouted, breathless, as she fended off another strike from the skeleton monster.

    Derek, still fighting his way through a horde of skeleton warriors, let out a frustrated growl. "What about you, Chase?" he asked, smashing a bone soldier''s skull into fragments. "How confident are you that you can end the bone dragon?"

    Chase''s attention snapped back to Derek, confused. "What?" he said, freezing one of the minions mid-charged, its blue mes dieing out in its sockets as it shattered against the

    ground.

    "Answer the damn question!" Derek shouted, shoving back another undead as it tried to tear into his side. His gauntlets red with mana, sending a shockwave through the bones, disintegrating it.

    "We don''t have time for this! The bone dragon''s core is already damaged-all we need is for someone to deal thest hit!"

    "Just like the way you end these minions by freezing thempletely... can''t you just freeze it''s core?"

    Chase''s heart pounded in his chest, and his eyes darted toward the bone dragon. He took a moment to think it trough, it didn''t seem possible any ice attacks weren''t getting past the blue mes that were around it.

    Besides that it could end him in an instant. That was what what happening to the others who were at the front.

    It swung its skeleton ws in wide arcs, knocking several guild members aside, their bodies crashing into the earth, some smashing across structurs like ragdolls. Cries of pain rang out as the undead closed in, their bone limbs shing through flesh, their ws leaving deep gouges in their victims.

    Guild members were falling-some were on their knees, blood soaking the ground beneath them as the undead army surrounded them.

    One man screamed as a skeleton dragon kin tore into his leg, blue fire burning up his body as the creature bit down harder, severing muscle and bone with a loud crunch.

    "Chase, if we don''t end it now," Mia gasped, swinging her de to decapitate an approaching minion, "we''re all dead."

    Chase snapped, "You are both putting pressure on me, is there a way to end it that I don''t

    know of?"

    "Can''t you guys see we are literally surrounded?"

    "Wait a minute!" Mia called out, ducking a strike from a skeleton minion, her sword shing

    as she severed its spine. "What if you threw an ice spear at the dragon''s core instead of getting

    in close?"

    Chase sidestepped another attack, ncing at Mia with a raised brow. "An ice spear? And

    what, pray tell, would make you think that would be enough to pierce through that thing''s core? It would just melt in all the mes." He parried a swipe from a skeletal dragon kin, its ming bones hissing as his ice-coated de struck its core.

    Derek, gritting his teeth as he shattered the ribcage of another undead, grunted in frustration. "Then why don''t you throw an Icence?" Chase shot back, his voice filled with sarcasm. "Wouldn''t an earthnce do better?"

    "The time it would take me to conjure something that powerful is too damn long!"

    Derek yelled, blocking an iing blow with his gauntlets before delivering a punishing counter, sending bones flying in all directions. "I''d already be surrounded and torn to pieces before I could even finish conjuring it."

    Chase grunted, shing through yet another wave of skeleton minions. The battlefield was quickly bing a nightmare, with bones and blue mes littering the ground, and the remaining guild members barely holding their ground.

    More of the undead dragon kin continued to rise.

    "Then what the hell do you expect me to do?!" Chase snapped in frustration.

    His ice talent condensed another de and he swung it ending another undead, but the

    creatures kepting.

    "If I get too close, it''ll take me out in one hit! I can''t just march up there and-"

    Karl, who had been holding the line, deflecting blows with his warhammer, suddenly spoke

    up. "What if we throw you there?"

    For a moment, the battlefield seemed to pause. Chase turned, his face etched with confusion.

    "What? Throw me?"

 Chapter 230: The Reckless Plan

    Chapter 230: The Reckless n

    ?

    "Yeah," Karl said, shrugging as he swatted away another skeletal minion like it was nothing. "What if weunched you straight at the dragon''s core? You wouldn''t have to walk through the undead. You''d get a clear shot."

    Mia''s eyes widened, and even Derek stopped for a second, his mouth hanging open in shock as he fended off another attacker. "That''s insane!" Mia eximed. "We could kill him if we

    throw him wrong!"

    "Or worse, we miss, sending him flying straight into the dragon''s mouth," Derek added, shaking his head, sending a shard of bone flying with a kick.

    But Karl wasn''t backing down. "I''m serious... If we time it right, Chase can hit the dragon''s core before it even knows what''s happening. We just need to make sure he hits his target."

    "Are you all out of your minds?!" Chase yelled, cutting down another minion with a swing of his ice sword. His ice magic surged around him, sending a wave of cold air in all directions. "You want tounch me at a bone dragon?!"

    "It''s either that or we get swarmed by these undead bastards!" Derek growled, his fists mming into the earth, creating a small shockwave that knocked several approaching undead into the air like ragdolls.

    "We''re running out of options here, Chase!"

    Mia''s eyes flickered between the bone dragon and the waves of undead closing in. "I hate to admit it, but Karl''s got a point. This might be our only shot. If you can hit that core-"

    Chase nced at the dragon, its massive skeletal form still burning with the blue mes that flickered between its ribs. The core, though cracked, pulsed with a dim light. He could feel the power radiating from it, giving rise to the endless army of the undead. If they didn''t take it out soon, they were all dead.

    Chase sighed, running a hand through his sweat-drenched hair. "You guys are insane." He looked at the bone dragon again, steeling his resolve. "But screw it. Let''s do it."

    "Who''s going to be doing the honors?"

    Back with Alexei and Xaiver.

    Each one of their strikes was apanied by shockwaves that shattered the ground beneath them, sending cracks rippling through the earth.

    At one point, Alexei dashed forward with lightning speed, leaving a zing trail of blue lightning in his wake. He shed upward, aiming to cleave Xaiver in two, but Xaiver twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the blow as the tip of Alexei''s sword grazed his shoulder.

    The lightning-infused de left a burn mark, and the force of the near-hit sent Xaiver tumbling back.

    Xaiver grunted, his feet digging into the dirt as he regained his bnce, his green mana raging around him like an inferno. He red at Alexei, who stood with an almost amused look in his me-blue eyes, sparks of electricity crackling around him as if they were part of his body.

    Looking at the wound that crackled with some electricity, Xaiver couldn''t help butment, "I must admit you are quite the skilled monster. Not only are you strong, but your sword is something else entirely."

    "To be able to cut through my SS-ranked armor like butter makes me wonder what it''s made of."

    Xaiver charged again, his sword low to the ground as he sprinted forward. His feet barely touched the earth as he dashed toward Alexei, the air around him shimmering with the force of his speed. He brought his sword up in a sweeping arc, aiming for Alexei''s neck, but Alexei once again dodged effortlessly, leaving behind a lightning trail as he moved.

    Alexei then replied, "You humans always possess a messed-up sense of priority. Imagine asking such a useless question in such a scenario. If it''s death''s embrace you crave, then stand still and let my de send you on your way."

    They shed in the center of the ruined city, their swords striking with such force that the ground beneath them cracked open, sending chunks of debris flying in every direction. The shockwaves from their blows knocked over nearby structures, causing them to crumble into dust. Pirs copsed under the sheer pressure of their fight.

    At one point, Alexei leaped onto a ruined building, his lightning-infused body flickering as he prepared to strike from above. Xaiver, his eyes sharp, followed with a burst of green mana, sprinting up the side of a nearby wall with such speed that it seemed like he was flying. They met in mid-air, their swords colliding in a brilliant explosion of light and sound, sending shockwaves rippling through the sky.

    Chunks of stone and debris rained down from the destroyed building as they pushed off each other,nding back on the ground gracefully. Xaiver''s boots skidded across the dirt, while Alexei''snding sent a pulse of blue energy rippling out, scorching the earth in a circle around him.

    "You''re fast, human," Alexei admitted, his voice echoing with cold amusement. "But you''re no match for me." He raised his hand, lightning gathering in his palm. "Let''s see how you handle this."

    In an instant, Alexei shed downward, sending a wave of crackling blue lightning toward Xaiver. The energy ripped through the air, leaving a glowing trail as it surged forward with incredible speed.

    Xaiver reacted on instinct, mming his sword into the ground. His green mana erupted in a powerful burst, forming a protective barrier that shimmered around him. The lightning struck the barrier with a deafening crack, sending sparks flying, but Xaiver remained in one piece, his muscles straining under the pressure.

    "Not bad," Alexei said, his voice cold. "But you''ll need more than that to survive." "Please... You are overestimating your abilities. You may not know it, but this battle of ours will be ending rather soon," Xaiver said as he narrowed his eyes, a small confident smile appearing on his face.

    With a roar, Xaiver pushed back, his green mana ring brighter than ever. He charged forward again, his feet barely touching the ground as he closed the distance between them, his sword gleaming as he brought it down in a powerful strike.

    Alexei met him head-on, their des crashing together once more, sending sparks flying. The impact caused the very ground beneath them to quake, and the force of their battle sent ripples through the air, shaking the remains of the battlefield.

    Around them, the ruins crumbled further, the already weakened structures falling apart under the weight of their battle. Dust and debris filled the air, but neither of them slowed. They moved with blinding speed, their swords shing in a symphony of steel and fury.

    Xaiver could feel the weight of Alexei''s power with each strike, but he refused to back down. But then, as they continued to sh, Alexei noticed something.

    CRACK!

    Alexei felt the bone along his right arm crack, causing his next swing to be sloppy and not as fast, allowing Xaiver to close the distance between them andnd a sh at his side, cracking his scale armor and revealing the bones of his ribcage.

    Understanding what this meant, Alexei made his lightning rage around his body in hopes of pushing Xaiver back.

    But Xaiver''s green mana surged around him, pushing against the lightning that surrounded

    Alexei.

    Lightning crackled around Alexei''s body once more, sparks arcking across his body as his skeletal structure pulsed with mana.

    Xaiver instinctively leaped back, narrowly avoiding a bolt of blue lightning that struck the ground where he had just been standing. Alexei''s figure shuddered, his body flickering

    between solid and ghostly.

    "What... what did you do to me?" Alexei growled, his voice had a touch of anger and confusion, his cracked arm trembling under the weight of his sword.

    Xaiver, standing a few feet away, raised an eyebrow, his expression calm. "I didn''t do

    anything. You did."

    "Impossible!" Alexei roared, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "Why would I harm

    myself?"

    Xaiver''s lips curled into a small, almost pitying smile. "Well... you did, and you didn''t."

    Alexei''s eyes zed with fury, his sword pointed at Xaiver with his hand trembling. "What nonsense are you spewing now? If you think you can hide your sorcery behind cheap tricks, you''re mistaken!"

    Xaiver chuckled softly, shaking his head as he took a step forward, his green mana swirling around him like a living aura. "Not sorcery. It''s calledmon sense."

    Xaiver''s voice lowered as he spoke, his tone dripping with cold logic. "You''re an undead. No matter how much power you think you''ve retained from your past life, your body will always deteriorate faster than a living being. That''s the price of being what you are."

    Alexei''s eyes narrowed as he red at Xaiver, the rage in his voice barely contained. "What

    are you insinuating?"

    Xaiver slowly began walking towards him, closing the distance between them, his expressionn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    cold as he spoke.

    "I''m saying that you, an A-ranked undead, chose to fight me-an SS-ranked awakened-and it was only a matter of time before your body gave out on you."

 Chapter 231: Battles End

    Chapter 231: Battle''s End

    ?

    What were the major determining factors of a dragon''s strength?

    There were many factors one could consider, such as the density of their scales, the strength of their aura, or the density and sheer amount of their mana. However, the factors everyone could understand and all could agree on were the quality of their bloodline and their

    bloodline ability.

    Naturally, those with the purest bloodline were the royal family, and below them were the n families.

    Among all others, the quality of a dragon''s bloodline and their bloodline ability could almost be considered the core determinants of a dragon''s strength. But there have been many cases in dragon history where those with a poor bloodline or weak bloodline ability rose to possess strength that easily rivaled the celestials.

    In those cases, they either continuously evolved, with their bodies adapting and bing more resilient, or they came toprehend a celestial ability, a means to manipte cosmicws. However, such cases were rare, and it is believed that the number of dragons who achieved this could be counted on one hand.

    Whatever the case, one fact remained:

    They all had bodies.

    Without a body, they wouldn''t possess their dragon eyes, which allowed them to be far more perceptive and learn faster than other races, or their dragon crest, which not only greatly enhanced their physical and magical capabilities but also, of course, their bloodline ability. Without all this, Alexei, as he was now, couldn''t possibly bepared to when he was alive. Now, he was simply a skeleton, with his soul controlling his movements through his hovering core in his chest.

    In his current state, he couldn''t possibly boost his strength in battle, though he could enhance his movement speed due to his understanding of the mana principles that created lightning.

    But in a battle against a living opponent who could match his speed, it wouldn''t do much to prevent his demise.

    ...

    Alexei''s grip tightened on his sword, the blue lightning crackling more intensely around him. His body seemed to tremble, not from fear, but from the strain of pushing himself far beyond what it could handle.

    "Do you really think... a crack in my bones will stop me?" he asked, his me-blue eyes zing with defiance.

    "Cracked bones or not, I''ll end you, human."

    Xaiver, still calm, shook his head slightly, narrowing his eyes as he held his sword low.

    "Go ahead and try; let''s see how that ys out."

    For a moment, they both remained silent.

    Suddenly, Alexei spoke up again as his hand tightened on the hilt of his sword.

    "Valor-Void Sword Art, First Form: Sky Sever!"

    With a burst of speed, Alexei pushed off his back foot, his body surging forward. His sword swept upward in a vertical arc from the ground to the sky, cleaving the air with a trail of crackling blue energy. The force of the strike was immense, the arc aimed to slice through Xaiver from hip to shoulder.

    Xaiver''s eyes widened as he noticed the movement, and he sidestepped with incredible speed, avoiding the de by inches. He could feel the raw power in Alexei''s attack, and he dared not block it head-on. Instead, as Alexei''s swordpleted its arc, Xaiver immediately countered with a horizontal sh aimed at Alexei''s exposed ribs.

    But Alexei didn''t let that stop him. He twisted his torso, barely managing to avoid the strike, though the tip of Xaiver''s sword grazed his cracked ribcage, leaving a deep cut. Alexei''s ming-blue eyes red in anger as he swung his sword horizontally in retaliation, aiming to cleave Xaiver in two.

    Xaiver ducked low, his knees bending as he crouched to avoid the horizontal sh, though it cut some of his hair, feeling the rush of air as the de sliced just above his head. As he ducked, his right leg extended out, sweeping across the ground in a wide arc, spinning his body to the left as he aimed a low sweep at Alexei''s legs.

    Alexei leaped back just in time, his feet barely leaving the ground as he avoided the sweep. His left footnded first, followed quickly by his right, steadying himself. He paused, noticing the cracks in his arm had spread, most likely caused by using the sword form earlier.

    But he didn''t let that stop him.

    "Valor-Void Sword Art, Second Form: Starfall Rend!"

    Alexei nted his feet firmly, then, with a powerful twist of his hips, he swung his sword in a diagonal arc from high to low.

    The de cut through the air like a falling star, aimed to cleave Xaiver''s torso clean in half. Blue lightning trailed behind the massive mana sword, leaving a crackling void in its wake.

    Xaiver dropped into a crouch, dodging the arc as it whistled overhead. The wind from the strike brushed against his skin, and the force behind it was enough to send shockwaves through the ground, kicking up dust as a small mountain in the distance was cleaved.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Xaiver rolled to the side, regaining his footing swiftly and charged in, closing the distance between them for another counterattack, this time a thrust aimed directly at Alexei''s core from where it shone through his cracked scale armor.

    Alexei roared in anger, pulling back for another attack. He turned on his right foot, swinging his sword in a reverse horizontal sh, this time from left to right, aiming for Xaiver''s

    midsection.

    Xaiver sidestepped to the right, his left foot moving first as he shifted his weight, narrowly avoiding the de once more. With Alexei overextended from the wide swing, Xaiver seized the opening. He stepped in with his right foot, closing the gap between them, and brought his sword down in a quick vertical sh aimed at Alexei''s shoulder.

    The de connected, slicing through Alexei''s armor and cracking the bone beneath. Alexei stumbled back, his feet dragging through the dirt as he fought to maintain his bnce. His left hand shot up instinctively to grab his cracked shoulder, blue lightning flickering erratically around the crack.

    "You''re falling apart," Xaiver said calmly, his green mana swirling protectively around him. He held his sword in a neutral stance, waiting for Alexei''s next move, his feet nted firmly, ready to spring into action at any moment.

    Alexei''s rage boiled over. With a roar, he charged forward again, his right foot mming into the earth as he raised his sword overhead with his remaining strength.

    "Valor-Void Sword Art, Third Form: Void Crescent!"

    Alexei swung his sword in a sweeping horizontal arc, the de carving through the air in a crescent-shaped sh aimed at Xaiver. This strike was faster than thest, and the lightning that trailed behind it was more vtile, sparking violently as it tore through the atmosphere.

    Xaiver ''s eyes widened. He couldn''t dodge backward this time-he would be too slow. Instead, just as he was about to throw himself to the side, the sh narrowly missed him to the left, slicing through the ground and leaving a deep gouge. Dust and debris flew into the

    air.

    Xaiver then said, "Seems your bones are already failing you."

    Alexei said nothing, cing his sword in his left hand as he gazed at his right, noticing his grip weakening and the limb trembling with every movement.

    But then he noticed his other bones shuddering violently. The force of the Third Form had sent cracks running all over his body, visibly splintering his scales under the strain. He

    clenched his teeth, but his me-blue eyes remained locked on Xaiver.

    Xaiver, now standing a few feet away, could see the toll the attacks were taking on Alexei''s

    body. "You''re pushing yourself to the edge."

    "You''ll break before I do."

    Alexei snarled, ignoring the warning. He raised his sword again, blue lightning crackling even

    more fiercely around him. His stance shifted.

    "Valor-Void Sword Art, Fourth Form: Horizon Split-"

    Just as he was about tounch another charged attack, his left leg gave way entirely, the bones cracking under the pressure. He staggered, barely able to remain standing, and in that split second, Xaiver closed the distance between them.

    Alexei''s attention snapped back to him, regaining his footing swiftly, but his legs were now shaky. He and the human continued to sh des, yet Alexei could no longer keep up with

    the relentless attacks.

    Xaiver kept finding openings to exploit, dealing more damage and further weakening Alexei.

    Xaiver ''s attacks seemed to be getting faster, but in reality, Alexei was slowing down from the umted damage. Hended a hard sh across Alexei''s ribs, cracking the bone beneath his armor. Following up, he delivered a quick strike to Alexei''s left shoulder, slicing through his armor and nearly severing his arm.

    In a blur of motion, Xaiver ducked under Alexei''s next swing, pivoting to sweep his sword horizontally. The de severed Alexei''s left leg at the knee. Before Alexei could regain bnce, Xaiver struck again, cutting through his left arm entirely.

    Alexei, his body crumbling, copsed to his knees, his remaining limbs trembling under his

    weight.

    Xaiver stood over him, his green mana still ring around him like an inferno, his gaze

    intense as he looked down at the defeated warrior.

    Xaiver''s sword hovered just above Alexei as he spoke. "It''s over."

    "This battle ends now."

    For a moment, neither of them moved. Finally, Alexei released his sword, the metal nging

    to the floor as its runes dimmed.

    Alexei then spoke, "Go ahead."

 Chapter 232: A Leap of Faith

    Chapter 232: A Leap of Faith

    ?

    Xaiver''s eyes narrowed as he raised his sword, green mana swirling fiercely around him, and with a swift motion, brought it down toward Alexei''s neck.

    As the de descended, time seemed to slow for Alexei. He could feel the sharp edge nearing him, the end approaching. In those final moments, a thought surfaced, one that weighed heavier than all his wounds, heavier than any defeat.

    ''I''m sorry, my Liege...''

    ''In the end, I couldn''t fulfill my promise...''

    A sh of sorrow appeared in his me-blue eyes, but he remained calm, epting his fate. Xaiver''s sword struck, cleaving through with ease, following trough Xaiver then plunged his sword through Alexei''s chest, shattering his core.

    As Alexei''s skull fell and rolled some inches away, a heavy silence followed, his me-blue eyes dimming as hisst thought faded into the void.

    Xaiver exhaled, his grip loosening on his own sword as he looked down at Alexei''s remains. "Well, that''s that..."

    "Time to head back to the others."

    He was about to walk away, but then he paused to gaze into the distance, "I just hope the porters with the subspace talent made it. Carrying all this back without them would be a nightmare."

    Just as he turned to leave, something caught his eye: Alexei''s sword, lying in the rubble beside him. The memory of its edge slicing cleanly through his armor shed in his mind.

    Curiosity and a sense of opportunity took over. Xaiver walked over, bending down to pick it up. The moment his hand wrapped around the hilt, he felt the weight of the de settle in his grip.

    "Damn..."

    "Heavier than I thought." He hefted the sword, adjusting to its bnce, a faint look of respect appearing in his gaze as he began to consider the weapon''s potential.

    Xaiver examined the sword more closely, saying to himself, "This thing... it''s definitely made from dragon scales. But, unlike that cracked-up armor this monster had on his body, this is in almost pristine condition," he noted, running his fingers along the hilt and edge, feeling the almost indestructible texture beneath his hand.

    "Not that I''m a fan of heavy gear," he said as he adjusted to the weight in his grip, "and I doubt any of the other team leaders would want to lug this around either. Wonder what it''d go for at auction... Dragon gear''s bound to fetch a fortune."

    Suddenly, a deafening BOOM echoed in the distance, snapping Xaiver out of his thoughts. His head whipped around to the source of the explosion-it wasing from the direction where the other guild members were battling the bone dragon. His eyes widened as he took in the rising plumes of dust and smoke.

    "Crap!" he cursed, clutching the dragon-forged sword tightly. "I almost forgot about the rest of the team." He clenched his jaw, already imagining Guildmaster Anya''s reaction to the casualties that happened under his leadership. "Damn it. She''s definitely not going to be happy about this."

    Without another thought, he turned and sprinted toward the explosion with a burst of speed that left cracks rippling through the earth....

    Karl grinned, a look of excitement igniting in his eyes. "I can do it! Just give me a moment." He nted his feet wide and hefted his massive hammer, its head glinting in the dim light.

    "Here''s the n: I''ll make a massive swing with my hammer towards you, but I won''t actuallynd the hit. Right before it loses momentum, you close in and leap off it, and that should send you flying straight toward the dragon''s core. You just need to aim true from there, Chase!"

    Chase stared at Karl, both impressed and terrified by the reckless idea. "You really think you can get enough momentum?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Trust me. I can swing this thing hard enough to send a boulder flying. You just need to focus on jumping at the right moment. We''ll make this work."

    Derek nodded, his expression serious. "Just make sure you time it perfectly, Karl. We don''t want Chase to end up as dragon food."

    Mia stepped closer, as she spoke, "We''ll create a distraction. If we keep the undead busy, you can concentrate on the swing."

    Chase took a deep breath, steeling himself. "Alright, just make sure you don''t miss. I don''t want to be a projectile going anywhere but straight into that core."

    Karlughed, the sound echoing against the backdrop of shing steel and rattling bones. "No pressure, right? Let''s do this!"

    As they rallied the others to create a diversion, Chase positioned himself behind Karl, ready tounch himself into the air. With the undead closing in, Mia and Derek went on the offensive, drawing the attention of the skeletal minions, allowing Karl to prepare for his powerful swing.

    With a fierce battle cry, Karl swung his hammer with all his strength, the air whistling around him as the massive weapon swung towards Chase. Chase could feel the power coursing

    through the air.

    "Now!" Karl shouted.

    Chase crouched low, timing his leap perfectly as he propelled himself to momentarily stand on the head of the hammer just before it lost its momentum.

    Feeling his muscles tense under the weight, Karl didn''t stop and made the full swing.

    The world seemed to slow as Chase was sent soaring through the air, the bone dragon''s core growing closer with each passing moment.

    He focused intently on the target, intending to throw his attack on the crack that was already in the core.

    ''Here goes nothing,'' Chase thought, reaching out as ice began building in his hand, the air around him growing colder.

    As Chase swiftly approached the bone dragon, he could suddenly feel the intensity of its gaze locking onto him.

    The massive creature''s eye sockets glowed as it noticed him, a glimmer in the mes sent a shiver down his spine.

    ''Crap, it has noticed me.''

    The air suddenly became tense as the dragon opened its maw. The sight of the dragon''s mouth widening seemed to freeze time for a heartbeat.

    His teammates, witnessing the dragon''s actions, felt the weight of fear pressing down on them. Derek''s fists clenched, and Mia''s breath caught in her throat.

    Then it happened: the dragon let out a deafening roar, a sound that shook the very ground beneath their feet.

    In the next instant, brilliant blue mes erupted from its massive maw, engulfing the air in a blinding sh of heat and light.

    Chase''s heart raced as he instinctively shifted to defend his life. He conjured a massive ice shield in front of him.

    As the mes raged toward him, Chase could feel the searing intensity building up, almost scorching his back that was not even facing the mes, forcing him to encase himself in a protective ice cocoon in midair. He focused, pouring his mana into the shield, hoping to withstand the dragon''s inferno.

    The mes were so intense it kept him airborne.

    However, as the mes raged, he could feel his mana depleting rapidly. The ice cocoon shivered and cracked under the intensity of the heat, and he began to panic.

    ''Damn it! This is bad... I''m using too much mana... I can''t keep this up.''

    The world around him blurred, the roar of the dragon drowning out everything else as dizziness overtook him.

 Chapter 233: Taking The Spoils

    Chapter 233: Taking The Spoils

    ?

    Chase gritted his teeth, willing himself to hold on, but the strain was too much. With each passing second, the ice shield weakened, fissures spreading across its surface. He could see the mes at the edges, threatening to engulf him entirely.

    But just whan he thought it was over...

    CLANG!

    A massive sound could be heard nging, in the next instant the mes stopped.

    Chase fell to the ground as his ice cocoon finally shattered, shards scattering around him as he panted heavily, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle in. Just as he tried to catch his breath, a dragonkin undead lunged toward him, its sharp, decayed ws aiming straight for his head. But in a sh, a guild member appeared, swinging a massive sword that cleaved through the undead creature with brutal efficiency. The de sliced through rotting flesh and shattered bone, spraying dark, foul-smelling blood across the ground as the creature copsed. The guild member turned to Chase, extending a hand.

    "Need some help?"

    Chase took the offered hand gratefully, pulling himself up. "Thanks... I owe you one."

    The moment was short-lived, as a sudden BOOM echoed nearby. Both of them whipped their heads toward the sound, just in time to see the skull of the bone dragon crash to the ground, sending a cloud of dust billowing into the air.

    Chase and hispanion stared in stunned silence, struggling to understand what just happened. "What... happened to it?" they mumbled in unison, eyes wide with shock.

    A voice cut through the haze. "You two alright?"

    They looked up and spotted Team Leader Xaiver standing atop the dragon''s skeletal frame. Chase''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Xaiver?! When did you get up there?"

    Xaiver smirked. "I climbed, obviously," he said, as if it were the simplest answer in the world. Before Chase could question further, Xaiver sheathed his own sword and gripped Alexei''s weapon with both hands. In one swift motion, he tore through the dragon''s ribcage, ripping bones aside with ease before leaping down to stand atop the creature''s exposed core, his bootsnding on the pulsing, hollow orb.

    With a serious look on his face, he plunged Alexei''s sword through the center of the core, twisting the de cracking and shattering it with that, silence suddenly fell over the battlefield.

    As Xaiver shattered the core, the massive skeletal frame of the bone dragon began to crumble.

    Its massive ribs, spine, and ws copsed in on themselves, falling to the ground in a rain of broken bones and dust. The ground shook with each impact, filling the battlefield with a thick haze.

    Around them, the glow that had controlled the movements of the lesser undead flickered and faded.

    The mes in their eyes extinguished, and one by one, the undead creatures copsed lifelessly to the ground, their bodies dissolving into ash and bones.

    Just as Chase and the others caught their breath, a shimmering talent window materialized before them, its golden letters glowing brightly against the darkened battlefield.

    Congrattions! Dungeon Cleared!

    The words hovered in the air, each teammate staring at it with a touch of exhaustion and relief. They had done it.

    The guild members erupted in cheers, their voices filling the air. Some high-fived, while others exchanged backps,ughter ringing out as they celebrated their hard-fought victory.

    The atmosphere was electric, a touch of relief and excitement as they embraced the moment, their exhaustion forgotten for the time being.

    Xaiver, taking charge of the situation, pped his hands to gather everyone''s attention. "Alright, healers, let''s get to work. Patch everyone up!" hemanded, his voice firm.

    The healers quickly moved to assess the injuries of their teammates, readying bandages to tend to the wounds inflicted during the battle.

    As the guild members began to regroup, Xaiver walked over to Chase, who was still catching his breath.

    "I don''t know what you were thinking going after the dragon like that," he said, a smirk forming on his lips.

    "But Imend your courage."

    Chase''s face lit up with pride at thepliment, but it quickly fadded as Xaiver added, "It was also a dumb move."

    "What exactly where you hoping your ice would do against its mes?"

    "Your talent my be S ranked by you sound also look at elemental differences, although rank is

    a clear indicator of strength, it dosent mean one can negete thews of physics all because they are of a higher rank..."

    "Well... Unless it a null type talent."

    The teasing tone in Xaiver''s voice took the edge off the criticism, and Chase chuckled, his earlier bravado calming down into a feeling of humility.

    "I''ll keep that in mind," Chase replied, a sheepish grin on his face. "But what''s that sword you''ve got there?"

    Xaiver nced down at the gleaming weapon in his grip, the light catching its edge. "This belongs to the boss monster," he exined, his tone shifting to one of admiration.

    "The strength and sharpness of this de are incredible. Dragon gear is no joke."

    "They are mythical grade monsters for a reason."

    Chase''s eyes widened as he examined the sword, marveling at its craftsmanship. "No wonder

    you took it from the beast," he said, impressed.

    "Exactly," Xaiver replied. "Now, let''s wrap this up and get out of here. Harvesters, begin

    looting! We need to gather whatever we can before we leave."

    "Also someone follow me so we can go harvest the boss'' remains"

    "Well take the casualty reportter."

    As the guild members set to work, the excitement of victory transformed into the hustle and bustle of securing their hard-earned spoils.

    ...

    Alister, L, and Cinder made their way through the mall, but it wasn''t long before they

    attracted attention.

    Alister had recently gotten a haircut, a drastic change that somehow made him

    unrecognizable. The new style entuated his features, making him look incredibly

    handsome, and the response was instantaneous.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    People turned their heads, whispering and pointing as he passed by,pletely oblivious to

    themotion he was causing.

    "Can we move a little faster?" L asked, her cheeks slightly flushed as she nced at the throngs of people staring at Alister. "I feel like we''re in a parade."

    Cinder smirked, unable to hide her amusement. "It is only natural for humans to admire

    amazing things, it is understandable they can''t advert their gazes from my lord, he is simply

    dazzling."

    Alister rubbed the back of his neck, clearly ufortable with the attention. "I didn''t think it would be this big of a deal," he said sheepishly. "It''s just a haircut."

    "Just a haircut?" L echoed, incredulity in her voice. "It looks like you stepped out of a magazine! We need to get you a face mask or something to tone it down."

    Cinder narrowed her gaze, "You wish for my lord to hide his face?"

    "why shou-"

    "Cinder, she has a point."

    "Understood my lord."

    After searching the nearby stores, they found a simple ck face mask. Alister put it on, sighing in relief as the stares began to fade. "Is this better?" he asked, his voice slightly

    muffled.

    "Much better," L replied, smiling as they resumed their trek through the mall. "Now we can actually move without getting mobbed."

    As they made their way toward the exit, Alister felt grateful for the mask, but he couldn''t shake the feeling of unease.

    He had never considered himself to be anything special, but today''s experience was a clear reminder that appearances could sometimes change everything.

    "Let''s just get out of here," L said, ncing back at the crowd. "I don''t want to stick around and find out what else happens if you keep drawing in admirers."

 Chapter 234: A Bite of Humility

    Chapter 234: A Bite of Humility

    ?

    As they stepped out of the mall, an awkward silence fell over the group. Just as they passed thest set of doors, an unexpected, low growl broke the silence, and Cinder immediately stiffened, her cheeks flushing slightly.

    Alister, startled by the sound, raised a brow and looked at her.

    "What... was that?"

    Cinder''s eyes narrowed, and she quickly turned her head away. "It was nothing, my lord," she replied softly, hoping the blush on her cheeks wasn''t noticeable.

    But just as she spoke, her stomach betrayed her again, growling even louder this time. Cinder felt her pride slipping as the blush on her face deepened. She tried to keep her usual stern expression, but it was no use.

    Next to her, L gave a small, shy smile, stuttering as she looked between them.

    "Um... C-Cinder, maybe... you''re a bit hungry?"

    Cinder shot her a sideways nce, stubbornly folding her arms. "No, I''m perfectly fine. This is nothing worth your concern."

    Alister chuckled softly, and Cinder''s embarrassment grew as she looked at him, her expression as close to a re as she could manage.

    "What... what is so funny, my lord?" she asked, trying to keep herposure despite her flushed face.

    He smiled, the warmth in his gaze softening her defenses just a bit. "It''s amusing, Cinder, watching you try so hard to avoid letting us help you," he said, his tone gentle but teasing.

    She nced down, looking almost defeated, and then shrugged stiffly. "I... I''m simply capable of handling things on my own."

    Alister nodded, respecting her pride, but then gave a slight nod to L.

    "Still, L did suggest that we should grab lunch earlier. I think we could all use a meal. How about we stop somewhere nearby?"

    L perked up at this, her eyes lighting up as she nced at Cinder. "Y-Yes! I think it''s a great idea. There''s a restaurant nearby that I''ve been wanting to try."

    Cinder looked between them, feeling her resistance bing pointless. She took a deep breath, letting out a small sigh. "If... if that''s what you want, my lord," she said, reluctantly agreeing.

    Alister''s smile widened. "Good. It''s settled, then."

    With that, the three of them headed to the restaurant, with Cinder walking a step behind. Her usual stern look now showed a touch of reluctant gratitude.

    ...N?v(el)B\\jnn

    After a short walk, they arrived at the restaurant, the exterioring into view-a striking blend of sleek metal and vibrant neon lights. The building stood three stories tall, with curved ss windows that glowed softly in the afternoon light, reflecting the city around them. Arge holographic sign above the entrance disyed the restaurant''s name: Celestial Delights.

    The scent of sizzling dishes wafted through the air, mingling with the soft sound of electronic music that floated from inside, creating an inviting atmosphere.

    The entrance was framed by a metallic archway, with delicate patterns that seemed to shimmer as they caught the light.

    L paused just outside, her eyes wide with curiosity as she took in the futuristic decor.

    "Okay, this looks like a nice spot! But..." She paused, ncing at Cinder, who stood still fully decked in her armor.

    "Is it really okay for you to go in like that?" she asked.

    "I mean, with your armor and... uh, your horns and tail still out?"

    Cinder, slightly irritated by the question, turned her re towards L, eyes narrowing slightly.

    "What''s wrong with my armor?" she snapped, her tone sharper than intended.

    "I wear this for a reason. It''s not like I''m here to cause a scene."

    L''s confidence faded, and she instinctively took a step back, her cheeks flushing as she stumbled over her words.

    "I-I''m sorry! I didn''t mean to-I just thought, you know, it might seem awkward, and... and I just wanted to make sure you werefortable!"

    Alister observed the exchange with an amused expression, but his tone remained calm as he interjected.

    "L has a point, Cinder. It will draw more attention, given the setting," he said thoughtfully, his eyes shifting between the two.

    "Though, you have every right to be yourself. It''s just that... well, not everyone is used to seeing a dragon in full battle gear, especially in a restaurant."

    "You may have your reasons for wanting to stay like this, but I would prefer if you toned it down at the very least."

    Cinder sighed, crossing her arms and shifting her weight, still feeling a bit irritated but now aware of L''s intentions.

    "I''m not here to make friends with every human who stares," she muttered, though her voicecked its usual bite.

    "But if it''s really that much of a problem... And my lord wants me to, I suppose I can..." She hesitated, looking down at her armor.

    "I can tone it down a bit, if that''s what it takes."

    As Cinder reluctantly agreed, a soft shimmer of light covered her body, casting a faint glow. Slowly, her armor began to fade away, piece by piece, until it was fully reced by an elegant ck and white dress that hugged her frame, flowing gracefully around her.

    Her tail disappeared in the light, though two small, dark horns remained visible, resting against her skull, giving a reminder of her dragon lineage.

    She shifted slightly, looking down at herself and adjusting to the new attire, feeling a bit unusual without her armor.

    Alister gave an approving nod, his gaze sweeping over her new attire. "This is far better, Cinder," he remarked, a faint smile ying on his lips. "Though, I have to wonder-why didn''t you listen to Yuuto when he suggested it earlier?"

    Cinder''s eyes narrowed, her tone turning sharp as she replied, "I don''t like him." The words came out with a force that left no room for interpretation, she simple didn''t like him. Alister raised an eyebrow, but instead of pressing further, he gave a brief nod. "Noted," he said simply, acknowledging her stance. Then his expression softened, and he motioned toward the restaurant doors with a slight grin. "Well then, let''s go fill our stomachs." With a faint, reluctant smile of her own, Cinder nodded, and they stepped inside, L trailing just a step behind.

    ...

    Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere buzzed with a touch of electronic music and soft

    chatter.

    Sleek, metallic tables lined the floor, each with a small, floating light fixture that emitted a gentle glow, illuminating the diners without overpowering the cozy ambiance.

    The curved ss windows allowed glimpses of the vibrant cityscape beyond, casting reflections of neon lights onto the polished floors and the curved ceiling above.

    Servers in dark uniforms made their way gracefully between tables, carrying tes that sizzled and steamed, filling the air with tantalizing aromas.

    Alister, Cinder, and L sat at a table near the window, which offered a prime view of the city. The table''s surface shimmered subtly under the ambient light, and a small, interactive menu screen flickered softly in the center.

    L held the ordering pad in front of her face, hiding her mouth as she peeked over it, her eyes wandering toward Cinder, who was examining the surroundings with an intense, slightly

    skeptical gaze.

    Noticing L''s quiet, thoughtful expression, Alister leaned forward, his voice gentle.

    "L, aren''t you going to order?"

 Chapter 235: A Dragons Favorite

    Chapter 235: A Dragon''s Favorite

    ?

    L blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "Oh! Y-Yes, right," she stammered, a faint blush rising on her cheeks as she looked down, fiddling with the ordering pad. She nced back at Cinder, gathering her courage.

    "C-Cinder... do you know what you''re going to order?"

    Cinder crossed her arms, ncing at the menu screen in front of her with slight suspicion, as though the electronic interface might be hiding some kind of trick.

    "I''ll pick something with meat," she replied, her voice firm. "Something straightforward."

    Alister chuckled, an amused glint in his eyes. "Well, while you''re at it, would you be open to trying a dessert?"

    Cinder raised an eyebrow, her expression guarded. "A... dessert?" She sounded out the word as if it were foreign.

    "Yes," Alister replied.

    "It''s a sweet course, usually enjoyed after the main meal. I''d suggest you try chocte."

    "Chokote?" Cinder repeated, clearly stumbling over the unfamiliar sybles, her brows furrowing.

    "Chocte," he corrected gently, smiling as she tried again.

    "Chocte," she said, finally getting it right. Her intense expression softened a fraction as she processed the new word, though she quickly masked it with a look of indifference. "I... suppose I could try it," she muttered, as though agreeing to some minor challenge.

    L, encouraged by Cinder''s response, lowered the ordering pad a little, a small, shy smile appearing on her face.

    "Um... it''s actually really delicious, Cinder. And there''s so many kinds, like with caramel or berries... I think you might like it."

    Cinder''s gaze flicked briefly to L, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "I''m willing to try it," she replied with a slight nod, as if to reassure her.

    The faintest hint of curiosity touched her expression as she added, "But only if my lord says it''s worth my time."

    Alister leaned back, pleased. "Trust me. I think you''ll be pleasantly surprised."

    As L tapped their orders into the pad, she stole another nce at Cinder, clearly fascinated by the dragon warrior''s proud, imposing presence.

    The server soon arrived, cing their drinks on the table, and Cinder picked up her ss, still keeping an eye on Alister, her expression was reserved yet attentive, as if she expected further instructions on the unfamiliar territory of dining out.

    As they waited for their meals, Alister leaned back in his seat, casually observing the atmosphere of the restaurant.

    His gaze asionally shifted toward the other tables, where people chatted andughed over their meals. Nearby, a couple was lost in conversation, while at another table, a group of friends snapped pictures of their desserts, theirughter filling the air. Alister seemed to rx into the setting, perfectly at ease.

    Cinder, however, sat upright, her posture rigid and alert, her eyes looking around the room with a touch of skepticism.

    Her eyes moved toward every sound and movement, her senses keenly attuned, as if expecting trouble at any moment.

    She watched the waiters moving between tables, her fingers asionally drumming against her ss as though she were weighing the situation.

    L noticed Cinder''s restlessness, and with a bit of hesitation, asjed a question. "Um... C- Cinder..."

    "is... is this your first time eating out? Like... in a ce like this?"

    Cinder turned to her, one eyebrow raised. "Why would I waste time eating in a ce filled with strangers?"

    "When I want to eat I prefer ces that are quieter. With... fewer distractions." Her gaze drifted over a nearby table where a family was cheerfully sharing a te of fries.

    Alister chuckled, pulling his mask, sipping his drink as he looked at her with a warm, knowing smile.

    "Well, sometimes it''s good to let your guard down, even just a little. A change of scenery can be refreshing."

    Cinder''s gaze locked with hos, her expression slightly softening, though she remained guarded.

    "Maybe," she replied, ncing down at her drink before taking a cautious sip, as if she hadn''t fullymitted to rxing just yet.

    L then pole up, going with the flow. "I think it''s... it''s nice, to see you here. And maybe you''ll even like the chocte dessert," she added shyly, a hopeful smile on her face.

    Cinder''s gaze flicked to her, and for a moment, the dragon warrior''s usually sharp expression softened, a touch of curiosity crossing her face.

    "I suppose I''ll see," she murmured.

    Just then, the server returned with their food, setting down tes filled with various dishes. Alister thanked the server with a nod, and Cinder nced down at her meal, inspecting it as though she were sizing up an opponent. She picked up her fork, cautiously poking at the food before finally taking a bite.

    The moment the vors hit her tongue, her eyes widened slightly, the usual stern demeanor giving way to a brief look of surprise.

    She quicklyposed herself, but Alister had already noticed, his expression amused.

    "Good?" he asked, a teasing hint in his tone.

    Cinder swallowed, giving a small nod. "It''s... eptable," she said, trying to sound

    indifferent, but the faintest touch of enjoyment lingered in her gaze.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    L stifled a small giggle, clearly charmed by Cinder''s reaction, and Alister couldn''t help but smile as well, taking in the small yet telling shifts in her demeanor.

    As they continued eating, Alister ate for more tes of food then the both of them, they way

    he kept ordering for more eventuallyd to people gazing at their table in awe of his sheer

    appetite.

    Finally it was time for desert.

    When the server brought out the chocte dessert-an artfully ted cake with a glossy, molten center-Cinder looked at it with a touch of curiosity and caution.

    Alister took a small spoonful, tasting it before he nodded, encouraging her. "It''s worth it,

    Cinder."

    Taking a deep breath, Cinder picked up her spoon, cutting into the dessert. She scooped a bit of the molten chocte, and reluctantly tasted it.

    As Cinder took her first taste of the dessert, her eyes widened, and she let her spoon slip from her fingers, the clink of metal on table soft yet noticeable. She lowered her head, sitting in

    silence as her thoughts raced.

    Alister tilted his head, watching her closely. "Cinder, did you... not like it?"

    L, trying to be helpful, offered cautiously, "Maybe it''s... because you''re a dragon? You

    might have slightly different taste b-"

    Before L could finish, Cinder lifted her head and addressed Alister directly. "My lord," she said, her tone serious, "what is the name you called this dish?"

    Alister hesitated, then replied, "It''s called chocte."

    "Chocte..." Cinder repeated, her voice softening as if tasting the word itself.

    "Understood."

    Without waiting further, she picked up her spoon again. This time, her pace quickened, and

    she scooped bite after bite with increasing speed, her usual calm deminor vanishing as the dessert''s sweetness seemed to take hold of her.

    "Cinder, maybe... slow down a bit," Alister suggested, a hint ofughter in his voice.

    "Yes, you don''t have to rush!" L added, smiling.

    But Cinder barely heard them, her attention focused entirely on the chocte until, atst,

    the te was empty. She lowered her spoon, taking a moment topose herself before

    bringing her hand to her lips, savoring the lingering taste.

    Alister leaned in, amusement in his eyes. "So... was it good?"

    Cinder looked up at him, her expression soft, her normally intense gaze momentarily rxed.

    "It was... amazing," she said quietly, a rare look of bliss breaking through her usually guarded

    face.

 Chapter 236: Moments of Sweetness

    Chapter 236: Moments of Sweetness

    ?

    Alister watched Cinder for a moment, initially caught off guard by her response, causing him to pause as he simply gazed at her.

    Her yful tone,bined with the faint blush on her cheeks, intrigued him. He''d never seen her so flustered before.

    Just as she noticed the look on his face, she raised her hand to clear her throat,posing herself and trying to act all calm and serious.

    "It''s good," she stated, her voice soft as she turned her gaze away, a touch of warmth still coloring her cheeks.

    "I, um, actually like this delicacy."

    "Chocte..."

    The way she admitted it surprised him. "Really? I didn''t expect that..." he said, a yful smile creeping across his face.

    Cinder nced at him from the corner of her eye, her expression softening as she continued, "Perhaps humans aren''t that bad after all."

    As she spoke, they all paused again, letting the words hang in the air. Suddenly, Alister chuckled softly, clearly finding all this entertaining.

    Feeling a bit attacked by the levity of the moment, Cinder crossed her arms and shot Alister a pointed look.

    "What is so funny, my lord?" she asked, her tone stern yet filled with curiosity. "I''m being serious."

    Alister raised an eyebrow, trying to contain his amusement. "It''s just... I never thought I''d hear you say that. It seemed so out of ce for you..."

    "Was it bad then..." Cinder asked, her gaze lowering as if feeling she had disappointed him.

    "No, certainly not... but let''s just say it was refreshing." He leaned back in his seat, his expression thoughtful.

    Cinder looked away, her cheeks still tinted with the faint blush from his words. "Understood... My lord..." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

    Alister, sensing the change in the atmosphere, stood up and stretched slightly. "Since we''re done here, we should begin to head back," he said, ncing at both of them.

    L agreed as she stood up as well, brushing off crumbs from her outfit. "Yeah, it''s probably a good idea to get back since you have a big day tomorrow."

    Just as they were about to leave, Cinder hesitated for a moment before reaching out and grabbing Alister''s hand.

    The sudden contact sent a jolt of surprise through him. With a soft blush creeping across her cheeks, she looked up at him, her eyes earnest.

    "Is it possible for me to... take some chocte along as we go back?"

    "My lord..."

    Alister blinked in surprise; he didn''t know she already liked the dessert that much, causing him to pause for a moment.

    "Of course, Cinder," he replied, a gentle smile spreading across his face.

    "We can get some for the road."

    Looking at the look they shared, L''s face darkened for a moment, reflecting a tempest of emotions, but then she quickly shook it off, widening her eyes in delight as she sped her hands.

    "That''s a great idea! We can all share some when we get back! Chocte is best enjoyed together, after all."

    Cinder nodded, her expression softening as she released Alister''s hand. "Thank you," she said quietly, a touch of relief in her voice.

    So they ordered some chocte to go, and with that, they made their way toward the exit, Alister''s mind racing with the pleasant surprise of the moment, while L chatted excitedly about the different types of chocte Cinder might like.

    ...

    Night soon approached, and the neon lights of the city slowly came to life.

    After they got Cinder some chocte, they got into a cab, the ride back to the White Comet Guild was quiet, each of them caught in their own thoughts.

    As they finally arrived at the guild entrance, Alister stepped out first, paying the driver as Cinder and L followed. The cab pulled away, leaving them alone just outside the gates. L walked slightly ahead, her steps slow and her gaze directed downward. Alister noticed the slight shadow over her face, her brow knitted in an unusual expression of disappointment.

    He exchanged a puzzled look with Cinder, who was quietly munching on her chocte pop, before he picked up his pace to catch up with L.

    As they passed through the guild gates, L suddenly stopped, making Alister halt just behind her. He opened his mouth to ask if she was alright, the words barely escaping him.

    "L, are you alˇŞ"

    "Alister... I had fun today," L said softly, interrupting him. Her voice caught him off guard, and he paused, tilting his head slightly in surprise.

    She turned to look back at him, and for a second, there was a vulnerability in her expression he hadn''t seen before. With a small smile, he pulled off his ck face mask, nodding.

    "I did too, L," he replied warmly.

    Cinder stood silently beside him, her eyes moving between them as she sucked on her

    chocte pop, her expression neutral but observant.

    "But..." L continued, her voice trailing off.

    "But what?" Alister asked, his curiosity piqued.

    "I don''t... know... Um..."

    She took a deep breath, her cheeks flushing slightly before she finally spoke. "So... next time we go out, I want it to be just us."

    She said, her words spilling out in a rush. "We''ll leave Cinder behind, and no one else should

    follow..."

    "Just us."

    Alister blinked, momentarily stunned by her request, and Cinder''s eyes narrowed, her expression slightly intense as she nced at L.

    "Wait, what?" Alister asked, a touch of confusion and surprise in his tone.

    Realizing what she had said, L''s face went red. She turned on her heel, practically

    stumbling over her own feet as she ran toward the guild doors.

    "J-just f-forget what I just said!" she called over her shoulder, her voice high and flustered.

    Alister stood there, his gaze following her retreating figure, a touch of surprise and amusement in his expression. He shook his head slightly, chuckling to himself as he turned

    back to Cinder.

    Cinder simply raised an eyebrow, finishing off her chocte pop with a final crunch. "She''s... an interesting human," she murmured, her voice had a small touch of irritation.

    Alister sighed, smiling as he chose topletely pull off the ck face mask as he said, "Yes,

    she is..."

    "She is indeed."

    ...

    L darted through the guild''s main building, her footsteps echoing off the polished metal floor, her cheeks still zing with embarrassment.

    Around her, the guild was as lively as ever, members and visitors alike milling about in groups

    or stationed at tables.

    The grand hall was bustling with chatter, the hum of voices mixing with the distant clinks of armor and tter of weapons.

    Lights embedded in the ceiling cast a soft glow, illuminating the reflective surfaces that lined

    the walls, giving everything an almost soft sheen.

    As she weaved past a crowd of guild members, the swirl of her own thoughts nearly

    overwhelmed her.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ''What was I thinking?''

    ''Did I really just ask him that? I must''ve sounded so dumb... and selfish!''

    Her heart pounded in her chest, both from her sprint and from the flood of emotions swirling

    within her.

    She could only imagine what Alister must be thinking after that slip-up, and each new

    thought seemed to tighten the knot in her stomach.

    ''What if he thinks I''m childish? Or worse... clingy?''

 Chapter 237: Fumbling Feelings

    Chapter 237: Fumbling Feelings

    ?

    Distracted by her racing thoughts, L barely noticed as Beatrice stepped out from the hallway up ahead, carrying an armful of herbs and equipment. Before she could react, she crashed directly into her, the two colliding with a surprised yelp.

    With a THUD, they both fell back, Lnding on the polished floor with a hard bump. She let out a small, pained "Ow!" as she rubbed her sore backside, grimacing slightly. The cool floor felt somewhat refreshing against her cheeks as she looked up, half-expecting to see an

    annoyed expression on Beatrice''s face.

    Instead, Beatrice, though startled, seemed more concerned than annoyed, her blue eyes wide with surprise as she gathered her scattered items.

    "L-L! Are you alright?" Beatrice asked as she knelt down beside her, helping her up.

    L''s embarrassment only deepened, and she could barely bring herself to meet Beatrice''s eyes.

    "I''m fine," she mumbled, scrambling to her feet and brushing herself off. But her heart was still racing, both from the fall and from her lingering thoughts about Alister.

    Beatrice blinked in surprise, steadying herself with a small gasp after the collision. Her eyes widened as she took in L''s flushed face and slightly ruffled appearance.

    "L! You came out of nowhere! What has you running around the guild building like that?" she asked, tilting her head with a slightly annoyed look.

    L gave a quick shrug, waving her hand as if brushing the question aside. "Oh, it''s nothing," she replied, bending down immediately to gather the scattered items with quick, almost nervous movements.

    Her fingers fumbled slightly as she scooped up several items at once, and she nced at Beatrice with a small, forced smile. "Here, let me help."

    Once they finished, Beatrice straightened, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she gave L an appreciative smile. "Thanks, L. I''d have been picking these up forever without you."

    "No problem," L said, ncing curiously at the assortment of supplies in Beatrice''s arms, her gaze lingering for a second too long before she looked up, almost hesitantly.

    "Where are you headed with all of this?"

    Beatrice shifted the items in her arms, adjusting her grip as she tilted her head toward a nearby hallway. "I''m taking these to the training wing. We''re setting up some new supplies."

    L''s eyes brightened, and she took a quick step closer. "Can Ie with you?" she blurted, her voiceing out a bit more eagerly than she intended.

    Beatrice''s eyes softened, and she smiled warmly, a touch of amusement in her eyes. "I''d be d if you did. I could definitely use a hand with a few other things."

    They started walking down the hall, L shifting from foot to foot, her fingers twitching slightly as she tried to keep pace with Beatrice.

    Beatrice nced over, her eyes scanning L''s face with a faint smirk. "So," she began, her tone somewhat yful, "how was your day?"

    L''s pace slowed down a bit, and she cleared her throat, her handing up to rub the back of her neck. "It was... alright," she mumbled, her eyes darting briefly to the floor before she forced herself to meet Beatrice''s gaze.

    Beatrice raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking into a knowing smile. "Oh? How did things go?"

    L''s eyes flicked to the side, her fingers drumming nervously against her thigh as she forced a smallugh.

    "Hehe..."

    "What do you mean?" she asked, her tone light and casual, though her gaze avoided Beatrice''s carefully, as if trying to y innocent, but her nerves betrayed her.

    Beatrice nudged L yfully with her elbow, a teasing grin on her face. "Come on now, don''t be like that! You know I''m talking about your date with Alister."

    L shrugged again, feigning nonchnce. "I wouldn''t really call it that," she replied, her voice a bit too casual, her eyes darting away from Beatrice''s curious gaze.

    "Oh,e on! Don''t y coy with me! I want to hear all the juicy stuff," Beatrice urged, her enthusiasm bubbling over. "Like, how far did you guys go? He went shopping, so did you shop too? Did hepliment your clothing? Did he-"

    L suddenly halted mid-step, causing Beatrice to stumble slightly and fall silent. "Lady Aiko followed us," L said, her tone shifting to a whisper.

    Beatrice paused, her eyes widening in surprise. "Wait, what? Why would she do that?"

    "I think it''s because she wanted to pick out his clothes and stuff about crowd control," L replied, her expression shifting to one of disappointment. She nced over her shoulder as if expecting Aiko to appear at any moment.

    Beatrice raised an eyebrow, processing L''s words. "Seriously? That''s... interesting," she mused, her curiosity piqued. "Lady Aiko picking out Alister''s clothes? That''s a twist I didn''t seeing."

    L sighed, her gaze dropping to the floor as they continued walking, her fingers nervously twirling a strand of hair. "Yeah, it was unexpected. She really seems to have a lot of opinions about style."

    "Well, maybe she just wants him to look his best; he is a really hot topic right now," Beatrice suggested, her tone yful again. "Or maybe she thinks he needs a little help in that department."

    Lughed softly, shaking her head. "Maybe. But I think she was just trying to keep an eye on us," she admitted, ncing back toward the direction they hade from. "Keeping an eye on you, or keeping an eye on him?" Beatrice teased, nudging L again.

    L shot her a yful re, but her lips twitched into a smile. "Both, probably," she said, rolling her eyes. "There was this one time she leaned in to whisper something in his ear, and the next moment, he agreed to pay for everything."

    "And the clothes were crazy expensive!"

    Beatrice nodded, her expression turning thoughtful. "Knowing her, she most likely threatened him. You don''t need to worry about her."

    "But I still want to hear more about your day with him. Did you at least have fun?"

    L hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly as she considered her answer. "Yeah, it was nice. We talked, and he... well, he was really easy to be around." Her voice softened, and a small smile crept onto her lips. "I guess that counts for something."

    "That''s more than something! Sounds like it was a date to me!" Beatrice chirped, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

    L yfully groaned, burying her face in her hands. "You''re impossible!"

    "But you love it," Beatrice countered, smirking as they rounded a corner, theirughter echoing through the guild building.

    L sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly as they continued walking. "Honestly, I don''t really like how things yed out."

    Beatrice''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Why? What happened?"

    L hesitated for a moment, ncing around as if ensuring no one else was listening. "He

    had his summon there."

    Beatrice blinked, struggling to process that. "A dragon? Walking around in public?" She

    found it hard to believe.

    "No, no! She was in human form," L quickly rified, her voice tinged with frustration.

    Beatrice''s eyes widened as she realized. "Wait... was itˇŞ"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Yes, it was Cinder!" L interrupted, her cheeks flushing at the memory.

    "She looked amazing. I mean, she had silver hair, red eyes, plum lips, and her skin practically

    glowed."

    "She looked like a celebrity!"

 Chapter 238: Paths Crossed

    Chapter 238: Paths Crossed

    ?

    Beatrice''s jaw dropped. "You can''t be serious! She tagged along? Why would she do that?"

    "I don''t know..." L replied, exasperation spilling into her tone. "All I know is that...." She trailed off, taking a deep breath.

    "He paid more attention to her..."

    L sighed deeply, shaking her head as if trying to dispel the confusion clouding her thoughts. "I just don''t know what to think anymore."

    Beatrice ced aforting hand on L''s shoulder with a look of understanding on her face.

    "That sounds reallyplicated," she said gently.

    L let out a sigh reluctantly, her shoulders slumping slightly as she finally replied, "I guess you''re right. I just... I don''t want to dwell on it."

    Beatrice nodded, her expression softening. "Well, you should put that behind you and rx for now. Focus on helping out here like you nned to."

    L managed a small smile, appreciating Beatrice''s encouragement. "You''re right. I need to get back to work. There are still a lot of tasks to finish before the day ends."

    "Exactly!" Beatrice replied. "And you know how much the team relies on you. You''ve got a knack for organizing things."

    L felt a bit more at ease, the weight of her worries lifting slightly. "Thanks, Beatrice. I really needed that."

    Beatrice gave her a reassuring pat on the back. "Now, let''s get to it! We''ve got this!"

    With that, L nodded and turned to head toward the workstations, ready to involve herself in the tasks ahead, leaving her worries behind, at least for the moment.

    ...

    Alister made his way back to his quarters just outside the main hall, carrying several bags filled with the clothing and essories he''d acquired earlier in the day.

    Beside him, Cinder carried a few bags herself, the two of them walking under the soft glow of the street lights.

    As they walked, Alister nced over at Cinder, as he asked "So, what did you think of today?" Cinder''s expression was hard to read at first, her gaze seemed focused ahead. After a moment, she sighed, tightening her on one of the bags.

    "I suppose I was... surprised by what humans can create," she spoke reluctantly, as she nced at him.

    "Some of it is... intriguing, I''ll give them that. But don''t get me wrong," her eyes narrowed, "I still don''t like them."

    Alister nodded, a small smile spreading on his face. "I understand," he replied. But before he could ask any more questions, the sound of footsteps andughter interrupted their conversation.

    "Alister!" a familiar voice called out to him, as Axel and Blitz, the energetic prankster twins, came bounding over, their faces lighting up when they spotted him.

    Axel''s eyes widened as he took a moment to observe Alister''s new look.

    "Wow, look at you!"

    He eximed, nudging Blitz with his elbow. "I mean, if you''re trying to make an impression, mission aplished!"

    Blitz grinned, eyes twinkling mischievously. "Honestly, Alister, if I were a little more innocent, I''d definitely have fallen for you on the spot." She gave him a yful wink, clearly impressed by his new look.

    Alister chuckled, raising a brow at herment. "Well, thanks for thepliment, Blitz."

    Axel pointed at the bags they carried, recognizing the style instantly.

    "Seems you went out to restock your wardrobe. Partly due to tomorrow''s meeting, right?" he asked.

    Alister nodded with a sigh. "Yes, courtesy of Aiko. She certainly made me spend a lot." The twins exchanged knowing looks and nodded. "We get it," Axel said with augh. "She''s done the same to all the team leaders at one point or another."

    "True," Blitz added, grinning. "She''s got a knack for making anyone shell out."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister smirked as he agreed with them but then noticed that Axel and Blitz were both staring, though not at him but a Cinder. Before he could speak, Axel pointed toward Cinder with raised eyebrows.

    "So," he said, a sly grin creeping onto his face, "this is Cinder."

    Cinder stiffened slightly, her gaze sharpening. "State your business here, and why you both have chosen to dy my lord for returning to-."

    "Calm down Cinder" Alister suddenly interrupted her before she could speak further.

    The twins went pale for a moment, clearly taken by surprize by her intensity. "She''s as intense as Lady Aiko!" Blitz remarked.

    Alister raised an eyebrow, curious. "You guys already know her name despite this being the first time you''re seeing her..."

    Blitz pulled out her phone, holding it up for Alister to see. "Daww, who doesn''t know her?" "She''s a trending topic! Everyone''s saying she might be more than just a summon to you." Alister sighed, rubbing his temples. "I''d prefer it if you didn''t believe every rumor you read online."

    "Oh, we don''t," Axel said, chuckling. "We just wanted to liven things up a bit."

    Alister narrowed his eyes, sensing there was more to this. "So, is there something you wanted to talk about? This path doesn''t exactly lead anywhere but my quarters." The twins exchanged a brief, silent look before they finally responded...

    leaving Alister with narrowed eyes as he absorbed their words.

    "Is that so?" he asked, with a look of suspicion in his eyes.

    Axel simply shrugged. "Well, that''s all. Good night, Alister."

    With that, they both strolled past him and Cinder, leaving a lingering sense of mystery in the air as Alister watched them go.

    ...

    Alister and Cinder arrived at his quarters, the massive metal doors slid open before sliding shut behind them.

    Everything went silent again, and the room''s soft lighting settled over them. Setting his bag down, Cinder turned toward him, eyes narrowed with lingering curiosity.

    "Do you believe what they said?" she asked.

    Alister gave a thoughtful hum, cing his bags carefully on the edge of the bed. "There was no harm intended, nor any malice in their words. I trust them-for now. But, as always, there''s a chance we could be wrong."

    Cinder raised an eyebrow but nodded, and together they droooed the clothing bags on the

    bed.

    "Anyway," Alister continued, dismissing the thought, "that shouldn''t be our problem for

    now."

    Cinder tilted her head, she could tell that his focus was shifting elsewhere. "What do you mean my lord?"

    He nced at her, a hint of seriousness in his gaze. "For now, we''ll need to carry out our usual hunts. But I n for us to go on a little search, something a bit more..."

    Cinder''s eyes sparkled with intrigue. "A search? For what?"

    Alister''s lips curved into a small smile. "Let''s just say... dragons."

    Alister then told the system to equip his roughed-up, all-ck battle equipment.

    As he suited up, Cinder was encased in a radiant light, her horns and tail shimmering as they

    materialized along with her armor.

    Once fully equipped, Alister turned his attention back to the system.

    "Open the rift," hemanded.

    The system responded immediately, and a vibrant yellow portal began to materialize before

    them, swirling and crackling with mana.

    Alister looked at Cinder, an intense look in his eyes as he then spoke. "Let''s go."

    With a nod from Cinder, they stepped through the portal together.

    ...

    As Alister and Cinder stepped through the portal, they found themselves in the deste wastnds, with the full moon hanging in the night sky, casting a silver glow over their

    surroundings.

    The air was thick with dust, and the only sound that could be heard for miles was the distant whisper of the wind across the barren ground.

    For miles around, there was nothing but rocks and the asional scrub brush, creating an unsettling atmosphere of istion, with no monster in sight.

    Just as Alister began to look around the vast emptiness, he sensed a sudden presence behind

    him.

    One by one, his generals materialized from the shadows, stepping into view as if willing themselves out of the mindspace.

    Alzuring, Draven, Terra, and Mar''Garet gathered around, their expressions a touch of

    curiosity and excitement.

    "My lord!" Mar''Garet squealed, rushing forward with an embrace that nearly knocked him off

    bnce.

    She wrapped her arms around him tightly, her cheeks flushed as she smiled. "I missed you!

    It''s not fair that you only let Cinder follow you around... You''re starting to make me jealous."

    Cinder shot her a sharp gaze but chose to say nothing.

    "Hands off our lord, Mar''Garet! Do you have no respect for personal boundaries?" Draven

    yelled, slightly irritated.

    With a sigh, Alister gently pushed her back, regaining hisposure. "Mar''Garet, as much as

    I appreciate your enthusiasm, I''d prefer if you gave me some space. We have alot to do

    tonight." Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and she looked away, a touch of embarrassment and excitement in her eyes.

    "Understood, my lord," she replied reluctantly, stepping back but still casting nces his

    way.

    As she did, she and the others got on one knee, bowing their heads as they spoke, "We pay our respects to our lord."

    Once they had spoken, Alister took a steadying breath. "Tonight, we''ll do things differently,"

    he announced.

    The other generals leaned in, their interest piqued. "Some of you will hunt down monsters

    while the rest of you guard my body. I want Terra and me to check out the Dragon Stratus Tree. I wish to explore its uses and want ample time to do so."

    Terra nodded, her expression serious. "The Dragon Stratus Tree? ording to dragon texts, it''s believed to be a divine ability of the overlord to determine the capabilities and growth

    rate of the dragon race!"

    Mar''Garet perked up again, clearly eager. "So some of us have to go? Hmmm? My lord, may I be so honored as to be given the role of protecting your body? I can keep you safe, I

    promise..."

    Alister spoke calmly as he fixed her with a bold gaze. "No, Mar''Garet. You need to lead the wyverns on the hunt with Alzuring. Your skills are better utilized there than guarding me."

 Chapter 239: Wings of Discovery

    Chapter 239: Wings of Discovery

    ?

    Alzuring nodded, speaking with a proud glint in his eye. "As you wish, young lord. I will assist Mar''Garet in leading the hunt. May our little ones gain much from this and continue to grow so they can meet your future expectations."

    By "little ones," Alzuring was referring to the wyverns, who,pared to the rest of them- besides Alister - were far younger.

    Mar''Garet, however, hesitated, clearly reluctant. After a brief pause, she finally sighed, giving Cinder a quick look before getting to her feet and turning away.

    Just as they both stepped forward, the wyverns emerged from the mindspace, their powerful wings stretching wide as they took their ce beside Mar''Garet and Alzuring, ready to follow their lead.

    As they left, Draven turned back to Alister and asked, "Why send just the two of them, my lord?"

    Alister''s expression remained calm as he responded, "I want both of them to gain experience in leadership. They are undoubtedly excellent warriors, but coordinating oneself and leading an army are two entirely different things."

    "In the future, I may have each of you lead independent forces. This may seem simple, even basic, but nevertheless, it''s experience, and there is always something to gain from any experience."

    Draven gave a slight bow of understanding, one hand before his abdomen, his lips curling into a faint smile beneath his helmet, impressed by Alister''s reasoning. "Sound reasoning, my lord. I should have expected nothing less from you."

    "You tter me."

    Then, Terra spoke, her eyes gleaming, her voice filled with enthusiasm as she clenched both fists in front of her. "So, does that mean we''ll be entering the mindspace now?"

    Alister nced at her with a nod. "Yes," he confirmed. "But try to calm yourself..."

    "You seem a bit... overexcited, or perhaps I do not understand the sheer magnitude of what we''re about to do."

    "Could you enlighten me?"

    Terra adjusted her sses, causing them to glint in the moonlight as she prepared to speak. "I''d be d to," she said.

    "The Dragon Stratus Tree as I mentioned earlier is a divine ability of the Overlord, a gift given to determine the capabilities and growth potential of the dragon race."

    "The Tree is said to be a metaphysical construct - a sacred structure that reveals not only a dragon''s strengths and natural inclinations but also the unique paths each dragon may take to unlock their true potential. Think of it as a tapestry woven from each dragon''s essence, their abilities branching out like limbs, each branch holding the power to reveal who they truly are."

    Alister listened intently as Terra''s voice grew softer. "For a dragon, being seen through the Dragon Stratus Tree is like having your very core acknowledged by the Overlord, recognized in a way that few are ever privileged to witness. The process is like gazing into the essence of the universe itself and being granted insight into how each dragon can truly flourish."

    Terra''s eyes gleamed with pride as she nced up at Alister. "And that''s where an Archi-Voides in," she said, straightening.

    "My role as an Archi-Void is to assist in manifesting and interpreting this power. An Archi- Void has a unique affinity for connecting with the Tree''s wisdom, helping to trante the possibilities into action. It''s my task to assist the Overlord in guiding dragons to the paths where they may reach their full strength, even into realms that might otherwise be out of reach."

    She sped her hands together, her voice turning slightly reverent. "It is an Archi-Void''s greatest honor to assist the Overlord in such an endeavor," she dered, her gaze fixed on Alister with immense respect.

    "To serve as the bridge between the dragons and the Dragon Stratus Tree is both a duty and a privilege that I hold above all else."

    Alister''s expression softened, understanding more deeply the profound significance this held for her and the entire dragon race.

    Although Alister said nothing, this was the first time he had seen Terra so enthusiastic, he almost didn''t recognise her, ''Although she speaks to me from time to time telepathically, I never knew she had this side to her...''

    ''We''ll I shoud have figured as much considering thengh she want to to get this sses she now has on...''

    ''She''s a nerd... No a schr... A truly enthusiastic and passionate schr.''

    Alister then spoke up, "Alright then, let''s step in."

    As Alister spoke Terra practically giggled and then the next instant a rift materialized and she stepped trough, as she did Alister looked to Draven and Cinder then said, "Both of you, I''m sure I don''t need to tell you what you have to do?"

    "Yes my lord." they both said as their bowed their heads slightly.

    "Good." Alister said, as he lowered his legs, sitting on the earth as he called out in his

    thoughts, ''System, open the mind space.''

    [Opening the mindspace...]

    With that Alister''s consciousness fadded.

    ...

    Slowly, Alister''s eyes fluttered open, finding himself in the cosmic expanse of the mindspace, but this time he noticed it was slightly different.

    ''The floor resembles an ocean,'' Alister thought. In the past, the mindspace used to be a massive cosmic space with an invisible floor he could walk on, but now it seemed as if he was standing on an ocean, the depths of which he could not see.

    All of this,bined with Terra''s fascination, suddenly made a question arise in Alister''s mind. ''Wait... Terra and all the other dragons always enter the mindspace, so why did it sound like she was excited to see it? Shouldn''t she have already seen it by now?''

    Before Alister could ask directly, the system responded:

    [The mindspace possesses differentpartments, just like any mind would. Eachpartment houses different things.]N?v(el)B\\jnn

    [From the yer''s summons, items, the summoning gate, and the Dragon Stratus Tree.]

    The system''s exnation made sense but left Alister with another question as he thought further, ''Wait... You just said differentpartments in my mind... Meaning there are more of

    them?''

    ''How manypartments are there in total, and what is each supposed to house?''

    There was a brief pause, but then the system responded, though not with an answer to his

    question:

    [Unfortunately, the yer currently isn''t allowed to obtain such information.]

    Alister narrowed his gaze, but before he could ask another question, Terra called out to him.

    "My lord! Isn''t the sheer size and sight of it so grand?"

    Alister noticed her voice seemed toe from behind him, causing him to turn around, his eyes widening as theynded on the sight before him.

    It was a massive tree, sorge it seemed to reach up to a ne Alister couldn''t see from where he stood, nor could he properly guess just how tall and massive it was.

    The tree was a white astral figure, semi-transparent, with its roots visible, running down into the water ground of this mindspace, pulling energy forth from its depths. Its leaves shone with a bright yellow glow, as if each one were made of gold, and on some branches high up, cosmic fruits could be seen.

    All their different colors shone as brightly as the leaves.

    ''All of this is inside my mind?'' he silently began to question the concept of the mindspace. A part of him began to feel that perhaps he was overlooking something the system mentioned in the past his dragon soul. Perhaps this ne was within his dragon soul?

    Even then, he couldn''t quite put any logic behind that thought since he also didn''t fully understand what a dragon soul was.

    Alister was about to ask Terra what exactly a dragon soul was, but he paused as he saw the excited look she had on her face. Terra''s eyes were gleaming, practically bouncing with energy as she looked at him expectantly.

    "So, my lord!" she eximed eagerly, "Where would you like to start? And what do you want

    to do first?"

    Alister let out a small sigh, a smile spreading on his face. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and it seemed almost impossible to hold back his own curiosity.

    He nced up at the towering, radiant tree that stretched up to unfathomable heights. "Let''s start at the top of this thing," he said, a touch of excitement in his own eyes, lighting up his gaze. "If we''re going to explore, we might as well get the full view."

    Terra nodded with excitement, her eyes sparkling.

    Alister mumbled to himself, "Now, how exactly are we supposed to get up there?"

    Before he could think about it further, he noticed Terra''s wings sprouting from her back while

    still in humanoid form, her wings spreading, her golden scales glimmering faintly under the golden glow of the tree''s leaves.

    "We fly, of course," she said with a grin before sheunched herself gracefully into the air.

    Alister chuckled, nodding as he replied, "You have a point."

    His golden mana surged through him as he shifted, his scales white and ck scales materializing along his skin, his tail extending from his spine, and his wings unfurling in one

    powerful sweep.

    [Dragon body activated.]

    Now fully in his dragonbat form, he crouched, feeling the weight of his scales settlefortably. With a strong leap, he propelled himself upward, the ground shrinking below as

    he joined Terra in the air.

    Alister ascended swiftly, his wings cutting through the dense, almost mystical air of the mindspace. He watched as Terra flew ahead, her movements were so smooth and effortless, as though she had spent lifetimes in the skies.

    And as they flew, seeking the tree''s top, Alister''s Prestige points continued to grow beyond

    his notice.

 Chapter 240: Beyond Mortal Bounds

    Chapter 240: Beyond Mortal Bounds

    ?

    After flying for what felt like an eternity, the branches finally gave way to a truly amazing sight: a vast clearing at the very top, covered in soft golden glow.

    Alister and Terra descended gracefully, their feet''snding with a soft thud, walking among the leaves of the branches as they looked around... Or specifically, Alister looked around, wondering what could be up here.

    He then noticed that Terra''s gaze was fixed ahead and decided to look ahead as well and then his eyes fell on a rather... Peculiar sight.

    At the center of the clearing hovered a golden orb, pulsing with a small but noticeable rhythm, as if drawing in energy from the entire tree.

    Tiny, shiny star like particles of light floated towards it, converging around the orb in an almost hypnotic motion.

    Alister narrowed his eyes, activating his dragon vision, hoping it would reveal something about this hovering orb. But he neither got a status window, or a warning, instead a nk status window appeared.

    [...]

    ''What?'' Before he could think further on what could be the possible cause of this never seen before nk window he heard terra speak in a rather strange tongue.

    "Eirn thal''astren..." Terra whispered softly, as her gaze remained fixed on the orb, her blue eyes glowing softly, she seemed as though she was in a trance.

    The words seemed to linger in the air, giving off an aura that felt ancient and profound.

    Alister turned toward her, his curiosity peaked by the unusual phrase.

    "What did you just say, Terra?"

    Blinking, Terra snapped back to the present, realizing she had spoken aloud.

    "Oh! My apologies, my lord," she said, a bit flustered.

    "It''s an old name... Eirn thal''astren in dragon tongue.... I believe, in thenguage you would understand... It would be called ''Celestium''s Heart.""

    "Celestium''s Heart..." Alister repeated with a thoughtful nod, tasting the words as though they were somehow familiar, yet mystifying.

    Alister''s curiosity deepened, and he turned to Terra. "Are you aware of what this orb is supposed to do?"

    Terra nodded confidently, her eyes gleaming. Reaching out, she extended her hand, and the orb floated gracefully into her arms.

    The moment her hands closed around it, a crest appeared just below her eyes-elegant, curling blue lines that spread across her face, giving her a regal, ethereal appearance.

    She took a breath, feeling an immense flow of information stream into her mind. As the sensation settled, she exhaled calmly. Turning to Alister, she asked, "How do you wish to proceed, my lord?"

    Alister nced around the massive clearing as he then spoke saying. "I''ll admit, I''m not fully aware of what this tree... Or orb is truly capable of. If you could do me the favor of exining, I would be d."

    Terra''s face brightened with a touch of pride as she gazed at him. "It would be my pleasure, my lord."

    Terra looked down at the orb in her hands, her voice low and reverent. "My lord, with Celestium''s Heart, you hold a power unlike any other, the ability to monitor, control, enhance, and even direct the growth of the dragon race itself-all ording to your will and strength."

    "Over generations, this power has led to the creation of new branches and types among the dragons."

    "When the Overlord wishes, they can adapt the dragons'' forms to suit new needs or prevent them from bing stagnant over time."

    She paused, tracing the lines of the crest on her face as if feeling the weight of her words.

    "For example, if the dragons were ever infected by some form of illness, I would have the insight to help you understand it, and with the power to change or enhance their bodies, we can make them immune to it. This constant evolution and adaptability over the ages is what made our race nearly invincible."

    Alister''s eyes narrowed slightly as he listened, intrigued. "So, the dragons of today are the result of countless Overlords making adjustments over millennia?"

    Terra nodded. "Precisely. Each Overlord has left their mark, refining and strengthening our race. But..." She looked at him with a gentle, encouraging smile.

    "For now, the influence you can exert is somewhat limited, considering you have not yet assumed the title of True Overlord. Even so, the Heart currently responds to only you-only a few ever gain that privilege."

    Absorbing Terra''s words, Alister''s thoughts raced.

    ''The ability to have total control over a race... its growth, structure, and form... isn''t that basically the power of a god?''

    Alister began to wonder. Perhaps the overlord mantle was more than just a supreme ruler who demanded absolute obedience from the dragon race.

    Perhaps it was also... their god, or a little dragon god-one they believed, no matter the storm, would ensure their triumph as long as their overlord stood by their side.

    Alister could clearly feel the power emanating from the orb, the tree, and this entire space. Yet, despite Terra''s exnation of the dazzling power the tree and orb held, he couldn''t shake the feeling that it wasn''t as absolute as it seemed.

    A part of him felt that perhaps it could fail-not in helping the dragon race adapt, but that some of the changes made might not be as effective as an Overlord hoped.

    ''I can''t help but feel that I''m forgetting something...'' His thoughts raced, and his gaze drifted to his right hand, where a pink-gemmed ringy on one of his fingers. He narrowed his eyes for a moment but then...

    Sigh

    He let out a sigh, averting his gaze and deciding not to overthink things. Redirecting his attention to Terra, he began to slowly walk around her, his tail swaying from side to side as he decided to ask.

    Alister tilted his head thoughtfully before asking, "What about regr evolution? Cinder evolved-what about others? Won''t they undergo any natural changes without

    intervention?"

    "Although this power is amazing it feels somewhat unnecessary..."

    Terra shook her head. "Without an Overlord''s presence, a regr dragon would take hundreds, even thousands of years before they''d naturally evolve and adapt to the changes around them. But the Overlord''s influence nurtures the entire dragon race''s growth, elerating their development."

    As she spoke, Alister recalled Draven once saying something strikingly simr back Before his sh with the Berserkers guild in the Wastnd Disy event. The memory resurfaced in his mind, reinforcing Terra''s point.

    Alister paused, then nodded. "I see. So, there''s no immediate need to use this power yet, no?" Terra blinked, a look of mild confusion crossing her face. "What?"

    Alister raised an eyebrow at Terra''s reaction. "Why the surprise? Is there some change you wish to suggest?"

    She nodded eagerly, her blue eyes practically gleaming as she began listing her ideas. "Yes, my lord. Imagine the poison wyverns: they could possess scales infused with lethal toxins, scales they could evenunch from their backs when threatened."

    "Or the metal wyverns-they could have the power to control metals in their surroundings, manipting armor, reshaping weapons, or even forging barriers with a mere thought. Each of them could be something far beyond their current limits." Alister crossed his arms, his gaze narrowing thoughtfully as he mulled over her words. "Is that so...? And suppose we were to make these changes. How would they go about adapting

    them?"

    Terra''s excitement only grew, her voice animated as she exined, "Well, my lord, if you were to channel your power through the Heart to control the Dragon Stratus tree, you could establish these traits as new gic pathways within the dragon race."

    "Each generation would then inherit these abilities naturally, and over time, they would be a part of their essence-unbreakable, unstoppable."

    She paused, her enthusiasm shifting to a slightly more serious tone. "But, my lord, understand that these changes would require a significant amount of your energy, especially without the full power of a true Overlord. It''s a long, intensive process, and while you could see immediate results in the current generation, embedding these abilities deeply enough for future dragons might take years."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Alister nodded, watching her closely as he took in the implications. "So, not only would I be enhancing them now, but shaping the entire future of the dragon race, generation by

    generation."

    Terra nodded, the smile returning to her face. "Precisely, my lord. We could guide them towards a perfected form, ensuring they grow stronger, more resilient and more united." Alister''s gaze drifted back to the Heart, pondering the power resting within his grasp. The possibilities were immense, yet there was an underlying weight to the responsibility.

    Just then the system window materialized before him.

    [Mini quest: Mantle of the overlord.

    Description: as an overlord, not only is it your right and privilege to rule over all dragons, but

    it is also your responsibility to ensure the dragon race''s continuous growth and development.

    Questpletion condition: make a change to one of your summons or subordinates.

    Reward: 500XP]

    Alister''s gaze narrowed as he was about to ask how they would begin, but just then, Terra

    spoke up.

    "My lord... That egg we found... In that red moon city."

    "I can feel a connection to it."

 Chapter 241: Playing God, Just A Little

    Chapter 241: ying God, Just A Little

    ?

    Alister''s eyes lit up with interest at Terra''s sudden mention of the egg.

    "That crystal-like egg?"

    "A connection, you say?" he asked, his gaze narrowing. "What exactly do you mean?"

    Terra spoke up saying. "My lord. With the Heart in my possession, I can sense the presence of all our kin... even their unique auras. It''s as if every dragon''s essence is now a thread that I can touch and influence."

    Alister''s brow lifted, intrigued. "And you''re certain you feel a connection to the egg we found?"

    She nodded firmly, her eyes locked on his with steady confidence. "I am certain. Among the dragons I can sense, each one carries a distinct aura-a kind of energy radiating from their bodies like mes. But this egg... it feels different, unlike any I''ve sensed before."

    "Different? How so?"

    Terra''s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she tried to describe the sensation. "Our kin''s auras are steady, a natural flow of energy that radiates outward. They''re like mes-clear, steady, and powerful. But this egg... its aura isn''t like that. It feels like smoke... constantly shifting, flowing up and down, fading in and out as if it can''t decide on its form."

    ''It can''t decide on its form? Perhaps this great alchemist... in his pursuit of creating a god... He may have included something from a dragon in his little project.''

    Alister tilted his head, considering her words carefully. "So, you think this difference could mean...?"

    Terra nodded. "It may be something entirely unique-a potential we''ve yet to encounter among dragons."

    "With my guidance and the Heart''s power, we may be able to unlock whatever dormant powers lie within it."

    Alister nodded, calling up his system, "Open inventory."

    As the interface materialized before him, he plunged his scaled arm and essed his inventory and carefully withdrew the white, crystal-like egg, its surface gleaming in the golden light.

    Holding it securely in one hand, he approached Terra as he asked, "How do we begin?" Terra nced at him, then motioned her hand in a circr motion for him to turn slightly. "I''ll need to ce my hand on your back..."

    "I serve as the conduit, I will channel the Heart''s power into you. You will then decide on the changes you wish to make."

    Alister paused for a moment but thenpiled, turning so his back faced her, the egg still held firmly in his hand. He felt her presence draw closer, her hand hovering near his shoulder de.

    "Brace yourself," she said softly. "When I channel the Heart''s power into you, it can be... overwhelming at first. You''ll need to calm your mind and focus."

    Alister took a steadying breath, calming himself. As Terra''s hand finally rested on his back, a surge of energy rushed into him. The sheer power of the Heart coursed through his veins, a force that was both intense and almost wild, pulsing like a heartbeat within him.

    The sensation was indeed overwhelming, the energy feeling almost too vast to contain. Alister gritted his teeth as his thoughts raced, ''It feels like an immense weight... And it feels as though I could get crushed if I don''t control it properly.''

    "No my lord... you are supposed to let it flow, trying to hold it back like that could get you hurt."

    "Deep breaths..."

    "Close your eyes... And imagine the power like a stream of water... Let it flow into your body." Terra advised

    Alister then focused, closing his eyes, he let the power flow through him, he steadied his breathing, as he did the sales around his head began to crack, as they did they suddenly shattered to reveal his human face, the scale shards hovering into the air and dissolving into particles of light, his horn remained on his skull and on his face...

    The same elegant blue crest-like lines appeared below his eyes.

    The energy felt smoother, it was no longer like an overwhelming tide but rather a flowing current he could direct.

    And it felt strangely weing, warm and fuzzy, soothing to the soul even.

    As Alister opened his eyes, his gazended on a breathtaking sight. Threads of radiant, colorful energy extended from the dark sky above, stretching down toward him and the world around them.

    He looked around, noticing some of the threads anchored to the Dragon Stratus trees, while others floated freely, some vibrant and thick, others dim and fading.

    "It''s... fascinating," he murmured, his gaze drawn to the well woven web of energy that surrounded them.

    Terra chuckled softly beside him. "Right?"

    Alister nodded, his eyes reflecting the glow of the threads. "Truly beautiful."

    One particrlyrge thread caught his attention-a bright, powerful string leading directly to Terra. He could feel its strength pulsing with her aura. Then he noticed a cluster of vibrant golden threads tied to himself, branching out and connecting to nearly all the other strings in some way.

    He traced a few of them, a smile spreading on his face as he recognized the familiar mana flowing through each.

    His gaze rested on a deep purple string. "This one... it''s Draven, isn''t it?"

    Terra nodded with a small grin. "Yes, exactly."

    Alister''s eyes moved to a bright blue thread, shimmering softly among the others. "And this one... Alzuring."

    "Correct again," Terra replied, her voice filled with excitement. "You can already tell their auras apart."

    Then Alister''s eyes fell upon a faint, thin bright purple string leading directly to the egg in his hand. Its aura was dim, but it was noticeable, but unlike any of the others, it seemed to fizzle, with the color changing sometimes. He turned to Terra, his curiosity piqued.

    "So, how do we go about awakening i ''he asked, holding the egg carefully.

    "First, we need to examine itsposition..."

    "Focus on the essence of the egg, feel its energy. There''s something within it that''s

    preventing it from awakening."

    Alister nodded, closing his eyes once more to center himself. He concentrated, reaching out with his senses, feeling the threads of energy connecting him to the egg.

    The crystalline surface glowed faintly, pulsing with a rhythm that matched his own heartbeat.

    As he delved deeper, he sensed the chaotic energy trapped inside-shing constantly like a

    storm.

    "I can feel it..."

    "There''s an instability in its energy, almost as if it''s caught in a loop."

    "Exactly my Lord!" Terra replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "That loop is what keeps it dormant. We need to find a way to break it. If we can identify the core elements within

    the egg, we might be able to change its nature."

    Alister focused harder, and gradually, he began to discern the underlying structure of the

    egg''s aura.

    Fragments of various elements floated within the energy, but they felt disjointed, unable tobine into something stable. It was as if the ingredients for a powerful potiony scattered

    and were unable to mix with each other.

    "What do you see?" Terra asked, leaning closer, she acted as though she coid not see it herself, but she preferd hearing Alister point his discoveries personally.

    To lecture and advise a young overlord was certainly one of the joys of a Archi-Void.

    "It''s a mix of energies-some elemental and some primal," he said slowly. "But theyck coherence. They''re not working together."

    "That''s it..."

    "Now, think about how we can change it. What if webine some of the elements that already exist in the Dragon Stratus trees? They have a strong connection to our kind." Alister thought about this idea, his mind racing. "What about metal and poison? Those are potent elements. They could forge a strong bond within the egg."

    Terra nodded thoughtfully. "It''s a viablebination. Metal can provide structure, while poison introduces an unpredictable element-perfect for a dragon of chaos such as this one." With that, Alister closed his eyes once more, channeling his energy into the egg. He envisioned the fusion of metal and poison, picturing a swirling vortex of colors-a metallic shards mixed with dark, toxic hues.

    As he concentrated, he noticed fragments fragments of the talents of the three zombies he went up against in the city hoveieh around.

    Causing him to pause and wonder, ''Perhaps I can include these as well...''

    Alister thenmanded these falent fragments to fly towards him, they appear as though feouts on the free hovered towards the egg, turning into particles of light.

    Alister felt the energy in the egg shift. He reached out with his thoughts, envisioning the vibrant strands of energy wrapping around the egg, binding it.

    Terra''s eyes widened as she witnessed how well he did it. "You''re doing it! Now, we need to ensure that the dragon is loyal once it hatches. Now, let''s tie its essence to yours." "Right," Alister replied, focusing intently. He envisioned one of his radiant threads, from above branching out and and hovering down towards the egg.

    With a wave of his hand, he pulled forth his threads, weaving it with the egg''s now stable dark

    blue thread. He could feel the connection taking root.

    Once he finished, a notification shed before him.

    [Congrattions! You havepleted the quest!]

    [New Dragon Type Created: Celestial Chaos: Poison Metal Dragon!]

    Alister''s eyes gleamed with a touch of pride as he read the message.

    "We did it, Terra... This is incredible!"

    But his excitmant was short-lived as another notification appeared, causing his excitement to

    fade slightly.

    [To hatch the egg, you must channel 3,000,000 mana.] ''What? Three million?'' Alister gasped, shocked by the staggering amount.

    ''That''s... that''s a colossal amount... ugh. I guess it makes sens... Considering that fact it''s a

    celestial...''

    ''A celestial huh?''N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ''What even is a celestial?''

    Befir he could get lost another one of his deep thoughts Terra''s voice echoed with excitement.

    "You did it my Lord!"

    "Although from the looks of it you''ll need to put in a lot of mana before the egg can hatch. But

    I believe you can do it!"

 Chapter 242: The Decision Made

    Chapter 242: The Decision Made

    ?

    Alister let out a satisfied sigh, his gaze lingering on the crystal-like egg, that was now pulsing with a faint aura as ity cradled in his hand. A small smile could be seen on his face.

    "I think we''re done here."

    But before he could enjoy the moment, Terra''s eyes lit up with excitement. She let the heart hover out of her grasp as she then pped her hands together, her expression brimming with enthusiasm, her cheeks flushed.

    "Wait, my lord! What about poison dragons? Or metal dragons? Or dragons with even denser scales?"

    She asked, practically bouncing on her feet. "Just imagine the possibilities! With this power, we could create entirely new types, each with unique attributes!" she smiled at the end, her eyes narrowed, her cheeks flushed.

    Alister blinked, a bit taken by surprise by Terra''s sudden burst of energy. He coughed softly, turning to look away from her, his scaled back facing her as he took a few steps forward, trying to maintain hisposure.

    "Calm down, Terra..."

    "You''re... very energetic today," he added, turning to nce at her over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow. "I''m used to seeing you a bit more reserved."

    Realizing her excitement had gotten the best of her, Terra''s eyes widened, and she immediately knelt, her flushed face returning to normal, as she now wore a more serious expression on her face.

    "My apologies, my lord," she said, her tone much more subdued as she bowed her head. "I didn''t mean to get carried away. It''s just... this discovery is beyond anything I''d ever dreamed of. I''ve never felt such potential within reach."

    Alister sighed, but a small smile remained on his face. "I understand, Terra. It''s... a big deal. We''ve created something entirely new, something that perhaps... hasn''t been seen before. Your excitement is justified." He walked up to her and lifted her chin gently, his gaze meeting hers.

    "But there''s no need to apologize for your passion."

    Terra''s eyes softened as she nodded, her previous exuberance reced with a more controlled sense of pride. "Thank you, my lord," she murmured.

    "I''ll temper my excitement."

    Alister nodded, pulling back as he let out a soft sigh. "Alright, let''s get back to the others. As I mentioned earlier, there''s still a lot more to aplish tonight."

    Terra gave a respectful nod. "Understood, my lord."

    She rose gracefully to her feet and began to walk closer towards Alister as they prepared to leave.

    Alister nced around, despite being disconnected from the heart, he could still remember when he saw Mar''Garet and Alzuring''s strings, causing him to narrow his gaze as he mumbled.

    "I wonder how many monsters Mar''Garet and Alzuring have taken down in our absence." With a spark of curiosity, he called out to the system, "System disy my prestige points." In an instant, the system responded, projecting his umted prestige points in bright letters before him.

    As Alister''s eyes fell on the number, he froze. The sheer volume of points shocked him, far surpassing what he''d expected.

    Completely unaware of Alister''s surprise, Terra spoke calmly beside him, ncing down at the tree they stood upon.

    "We may need to descend the tree first, my Lord. It''s a way of honoring those who flew down it in ages past, by following in their footsteps and doing the sa-"

    "What!?" Alister''s voice echoed through the mind space, filled with shock.

    Startled, Terra looked over at him, a touch of worry in her gaze. "My lord, is everything alright?" she asked softly.

    Realizing he had startled her, Alister took a steadying breath, quickly offering an apologetic smile.

    "Ah-sorry, Terra. I didn''t mean to shout. I wasn''t... I wasn''t talking to you," he rified, his heart still pounding as he processed the numbers disyed by the system.

    [Prestige Point Bnce: 26,789.]

    ''Twenty six thousand? Wasn''t it only seven thousand yesterday?''

    ''How did it be so much so fast?''

    The system suddenly materialized with an exnation

    [Notice! The yer''s Fame and Reputation have recently been a constant hot topic, hence the rapid increase in prestige points over time.]

    ''Fame and reputation?''

    With the thought of those words he had remembered what axel and Blitz had told him before The arrived at his living quarters.

    "She''s a trending topic! Everyone''s saying she might be more than just a summon to you."

    ''So this is all due to the rumors about Cinder?''

    Alister thoughts raced, If merely having Cinder follow him around had granted him this surge in prestige points, then what would happen if he openly disyed all his generals?

    Each of them had their unique strengths and personalities-perhaps his prestige would skyrocket if he allowed the world to see his entire force in action, much like the wastnd disy event. But where would he find such an opportunity?

    An opportunity to put his power on disy?

    ''Tomorrow''s meeting maybe? Perhaps I can have the five of them walk besides me? That would certainly have an effect.''

    He thought, but he knew there was a risk in putting on such a bold disy. Hatred, jealousy, envy, humans were such fickle creatures, prone to fall under the influence of negative

    emotions.

    As Alister stood at the edge of the tree, lost in thought about his potential problems his disy of power could bring, Terra''s voice broke through his thoughts.

    "My lord, is something troubling you?" she asked gently.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister blinked, quickly brushing it off. "It''s nothing, Terra. We should head back now."

    But just as he turned to descend, Terra stepped forward, gently but firmly halting him. "Is this about your sister? Are you worried about how to save her again?"

    Alister froze. The question had struck closer to home than he expected. He nced at her, his usualposed demeanor slipping slightly as he met her concerned gaze.

    He sighed softly then said.

    "I told you before," he murmured, "there''s no need to worry."

    But Terra didn''t back down. She took a deep breath, her expression growing serious. "As your advisor, it''s my duty to worry about you, my lord. Your struggles are my struggles. If I can''t help carry that weight, I''m failing in my purpose."

    "You''re an amazing person. You tend to think deeply about everything, and while that often helps you make wise decisions, you act as if you n to carry all your burdens alone."

    "I am your general, and I''ve pledged my absolute loyalty to you. All I wish is to serve you for the countless years we have ahead."

    "But if you never confide in me, never ask for my counsel-how can I fulfill my duty? How can

    I truly be of use at your side?"

    "How am I supposed to be proud as one of your generals?"

    "When I haven''t properly performed my duties."

    "You may not know this my lord, but it brings me greater pain when you do not call forth my strategic expertises in decision making, or the ns you have in mind."

    Alister felt her grip tighten on his sounder as she said, "Altho I have been silent for a while

    because I believed things would change in the future, but s if I do not tell you, you may

    never notice."

    "My lord, for a long while now I have felt useless, and would prefer it if you made more use of

    my skills."

    Alister''s gaze softened, realizing how deeply she cared about his burden. With a quiet sigh, he

    finally relented.

    "I do have a way to save my sister," he admitted, his voice carrying a weight he rarely

    showed.

    "But it requires that people notice me, that they speak of my actions and deeds." He avoided mentioning the system, but the meaning was clear.

    "I''ve considered bringing Cinder and the rest of my generals to tomorrow''s meeting, showing our power. But I worry... revealing too much could draw the wrong kind of attention. It might lead to enemies seeking ways to harm me... or those I care about."

    Terra listened in silence, then sighed. "My lord, life will always be filled with challenges and threats. Choosing the quieter path doesn''t remove obstacles-it only changes them. And people with the strength and ambition you possess... they''re always going to face scrutiny." She paused, a glint of confidence lighting her eyes. "Whether you choose to reveal your power or not, there will always be those who stand against you. But that doesn''t mean you should

    hesitate."

    "So, my suggestion, as your advisor, is that as an overlord... you should power through anyone or anything that stands in your way."

    "After all, you made a promise to yourself, didn''t you?"

    Alister raised his eyebrows, curious about what she was implying-though a part of him

    already knew.

 Chapter 243: Union Grand Meeting

    Chapter 243: Union Grand Meeting

    ?

    "No more holding back... I believe that was what you promised."

    Alister smiled slightly as he asked, "I''m surprised you know, tell me how did you find out about that?"

    "I was certain it was a personal thought."

    Terra smiled, "It was, but the connection between usmunicated how your felt, the desire

    to not restrain yourself, each of us felt it that night."

    "So since your already made a promise to yourself... Wouldn''t it be best to keep it?"

    "An overlord''s words are worth their weight in gold no?"

    "So let them know of your might, let any who dare stand before you either fall behind or fall before your power."

    Alister took in her words, letting them sink in. He knew she was right; hiding his strength wouldn''t protect him from future struggles.

    It might even make things harder, as people underestimated his capabilities or questioned his resolve. Standing tall was his path forward, no matter the obstacles.

    "I see you have a point." he said with a smile.

    "Then tomorrow, let us put on a show."

    He stepped forward to the edge of the tree, allowing gravity to take him as he fell gracefully from the tree, thinking.

    "Yes, I''ll move forward with pride and confidence."

    ...

    It was a long night after that. Alister and his dragons went on their hunts as usual, with Alister leading them across the Wastnds in search of any signs of the dragon kin tribe the system mentioned. Unfortunately, he didn''t find any signs, so with their huntpleted, they had to call it a night.

    ...

    It was finally time for the grand meeting, held at the Union''s grand hall in Sector Zero. It wasn''t in the morning, as Alister had initially thought, but rather toward noon, with the sun setting and the moon slowly emerging. Vehicles carrying both influential figures and members of the media could be seen parked around, as this was not only a ce for the grand meeting, but a very popr venue where alliances were forged, broken, and rekindled.

    And of course the ce to obtain the next big scoop.

    A reporter stood outside the grand hall, microphone in hand, wearing a well twlored ck suite look under the bright lights of the camera crew. She adjusted her earpiece, waiting for the signal, and then, with a calm, slightly excited expression, began her report as the live broadcast went on air.

    "Good evening, viewers!"

    She said with a warm smile. "We''reing to you live from the Union''s grand hall here in Sector Zero, where today, influential leaders, powerful guild masters, and representatives from all across the Megacity have gathered for what is know to be a very popr annual meeting."

    Behind her, the grand hall buzzed with activity, as figures of high status arrived in expensive vehicles, escorted by guards and entourages.

    The reporter pointed toward to the scene, her voice taking on a more excited tone.

    "As you can see, security is at an all-time high, with various factions represented here."

    "In recent days, we''ve seen a chilling resurgence of the strange murders that had previouslye to an end. Thetest victims have been discovered without a single wound-drainedpletely of blood and mana, leaving only dried remains. While the details remain a mystery, the pattern is unmistakable, and it''s left citizens, and even some of the most powerful guilds, concerned about safety."

    The camera panned briefly to the grand hall''s towering entrance, where the shes of photographers illuminated each new arrival.

    "With this meeting''s timing so close to these disturbing events, the Union has taken extra precautions to ensure safety, despite the gathering''s usual reputation as a peaceful forum. Many are wondering if tonight''s discussions will address the ongoing murders, and if any new alliances will emerge to tackle this pressing issue."

    The reporter turned back to the camera, her expression initially serious but then it was reced with a look of excitement again after a sigh, she cleared her throat then spoke up again.

    "Anyway."

    "Observers are especially eager to see Alister, the renowned Dragon Lord, and his arrival has been highly anticipated. It''s said he may arrive with his powerful dragon, Cinder, by his side in human formˇŞa rare and significant move that could send a powerful message to fans and rivals alike."

    "Many spections have been trending onlely about his rtionship with this humanoidpanion of his."

    "Shockingly many are of the belief that he is in a rtionship with her, and shockingly many support this union, especially the so-called ''Dragon Lord Fan Club'' that was created just recently, yet possesses a massive following of over two hundred thousand members and rising."

    "While some experts have chosen to point out that a child born of such a union could possess birth defects, many have used the cases of nks who took monster core surgery in other maga-cities yet possess fairly normal children as a way topletely crush the argument."

    As the camera continued to roll, a sleek ck vehicle pulled up near the grand hall entrance. Emzoned on its side was the unmistakable insignia of the Berserker GuildˇŞa bold symbol of a roaring Bear. The reporter''s eyes lit up, and with a quick nod to her cameraman, she pointed toward them.

    "It looks like the Berserkers have arrived!" she announced.

    "The camera is turning now to capture their entrance. As you can see, the Berserkers Guild, known for its powerful and disciplined fighters, is making quite the appearance."

    The camera shifted focus, zooming in as the doors to the vehicle opened. Out stepped several distinguished figures, each dressed elegantly in tailored suits and refined evening dresses, very different from their well known fierce and rugged reputations that often apanied their guild''s name.

    At the forefront was us, the Branch Guildmaster, his bald head gleaming under the soft glow of the evening lights, dark brown eyes looking around the crowd with a calm, observant demeanor, he didn''t raise his hand to shield his eyes despite all the camera shes, further giving him a calm andmanding aura.

    All the others stepped out behind him, from Thorin and Halzor, to Ma and Grimm. Finally,

    as thest figure stepped out, Anya emerged, her confidence practically beaming off her like an aura that illuminated the space, far more than any camera sh.

    The murmurs of the crowd seemed to hush as she graced the scene, a leader in both

    appearance and presence.

    Then they all began to call out to her.

    "Guildmaster Anya! Look here."

    "Could you wave for the camera?"

    "A short pose please."

    Photographers although behind the lines, we''re practically all over her, all their attention momentarilypletely captured by her.

    In all the excitement, Ivy couldn''t help but mumble in a low tone to the others, she clearly wadebtfortable with the setting. "I swear these huge-profile events are so exhausting," she said, rubbing the back of her neck. "All the cameras and the expectations... I can''t handle it

    sometimes."

    Thorin chuckled, then spoke. "Come on, Ivy! It''s just a bit of fun! Besides, we''re the Berserkers! We thrive in the spotlight!"

    Halzor joined in, leaning closer. "But you''ve got to admit, it''s a bit much. Everyone is just waiting for us to show off. I prefer a good fight over this stiff formality any day."

    Ma nodded, her brow furrowing slightly. "I get it, but we need to keep our reputation intact. Events like these are vital for our guild. Still, I wish they could be a little moreid-

    back."

    Nyra crossed her arms, a slight smirk spreading on her lips. "And miss out on the chance to make a statement? Please. If they want to see us, we might as well give them what they want. Besides we do this every year, and we''ll keep doing it till we retire, you better get used to it."

    Grimm interjected with his serious tone, "Let''s just remember why we''re here. There are important discussions to be had, even if this spectacle is a distraction."

    "Right," Ivy replied, rolling her eyes but smiling slightly. "Just let me know when it''s time to

    get serious."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As the members of the Berserker Guild made their way toward the grand hall, their confident strides left asting impression on the crowd.

    The sleek ck vehicle they had arrived in pulled away, and the reporter, eager to maintain the momentum of her broadcast, turned back to the camera with a gleam of excitement in her

    eyes.

    "And there you have it, folks! The Berserkers Guild has made quite the entrance, showcasing their powerful presence at this year''s annual meeting."

    "But the excitement doesn''t stop here! Our next anticipated arrival is none other than the

    White Comet Guild!"

    She adjusted her stance, clearing her throat, her enthusiasm brimming as she continued.

    "This is the guild that took first ce in the Wastnd Disy Event this year, well known not just for their skill but for their rising star, Alister, the Dragon Lord."

    As she spoke, a sleek, silvery vehicle pulled up, its surface glimmering under the light. The familiar insignia of the White Comet Guild-a soaringet streaking across a sky-was prominently disyed on the side, immediately capturing the attention of the gathered

    crowd.

    The reporter''s excitement escted. "Here they are! It looks like the White Comet Guild has arrived! And soon, we''ll be seeing the Dragon Lord himself!"

    With a quick motion, she gestured toward the approaching vehicle, her voice filled with anticipation. "Viewers, keep your eyes peeled for the arrival of Alister and his dragon

    companion!"

 Chapter 244: An Overlords Grand Entrance

    Chapter 244: An Overlord''s Grand Entrance

    ?

    As the sleek, silvery vehicle came to a smooth halt, the doors swung open slowly. Ren stepped out first, adjusting his sses, which glinted brilliantly in the sh of countless cameras.

    Dressed in a nice white suit, he took a look around the crowd with a calm demeanor, giving off a calm, confident aura that resonated with the onlookers.

    Following him were the other team members of the White Comet Guild: Kaida, her vibrant red hair catching the light; Razorgrin, whose imposing figure practically radiated strength; Hiroshi with his calm yet slightly smug presence; and Goro, the calm giant.

    Each of them stepped out one after the other, their collective vibe... the air they had around them closely resembled the powerful ones they had showcased during the Wastnd Disy

    Event.

    The reporter''s voice rang out, filled with enthusiasm. "And here they are, the team leaders of the White Comet Guild, making their entrance! Each one of them possesses the undeniable aura that captivated audiences just days ago!"

    As Ren walked past the eager crowd, he offered a slight smile and a friendly wave, instantly garnering more cheers and admiration.

    The reporter couldn''t help but remark, "Ren always knows how to please a crowd! His charisma is unmatched!"

    With the team leaders now on the scene, the excitement among the gathered crowd reached new heights, all eyes on the powerful figures of the White Comet Guild as they prepared to make their presence known at the annual meeting.

    The reporter held her breath, watching the vehicle door, fully expecting Alister to be the next to step out. But as the figure emerged, her eyes widened in surprise-it was Aiko Tsukumo, the White Comets'' vice guild master.

    The crowd''s excitement died down slightly, as they were somewhat disappointed that she wasn''t who they wanted her to be.

    The reporter, seeing this, couldn''t help but wonder aloud, "Could the White Comets be saving the best forst?" This unexpected arrival only heightened the anticipation for Alister''s grand entrance.

    Aiko stepped out, elegantly dressed in a striking white and ck dress that hugged her curves, leaving little to the imagination.

    She paused gracefully. Soon after, Yuuto, the guild master himself, followed, his silver hair seeming to shine under the shing cameras.

    He gave the crowd a calm, acknowledging nod as he joined Aiko, the two walking side by side toward the entrance.

    As they moved forward, Aiko leaned in slightly, her voice a low murmur meant only for Yuuto. "Sir, are you certain about this? You''re giving him free rein again. If his attitude remains unchecked, will we even be able to call him a guild member?"

    Yuuto smiled, unbothered, almost excited as he replied, "Rx, Aiko. He hasn''t broken any rules. Remember, his contract includes the right to disobey orders."

    Aiko adjusted her sses as she spoke skeptically. "Which is absurd. I understand that you want him to grow, but how will he ever respect your authority if he''s allowed to disregard your instructions?"

    Yuuto''s expression softened, his eyes glinting with an intensity Aiko hadn''t seen in years. "Aiko, you can''t expect a dragon to grow while it''s caged. Only when it''s free to spread its wings can it truly learn to soar. I want him to reach his full potential, and for that, he needs freedom."

    "Which is why I have given it to him."

    She opened her mouth to argue but caught herself, lost in the intensity in his eyes, the emotion they disyed. Was it joy? Bliss, maybe? She couldn''t tell, but what she could tell was that somehow the actions of that young summoner made him happy, and him happy was reason enough to let the matter go. Sighing, she said, "Very well, sir. I understand."

    She had decided to let Alister''s disobedience slide... but what exactly was the order that Alister chose to disobey? Why did it seem to make Yuuto so excited? One could only wonder.

    The reporter, meanwhile, refocused her attention on the vehicle, leaning forward as the camera zoomed in on the door.

    "Alright, folks," she said with bated breath. "The moment we''ve all been waiting for-"

    But before she could finish, the vehicle door closed with a sharp click, and it drove off, leaving the crowd and the reporter in stunned silence.

    The reporter blinked in confusion, her smile fading. "What!? W-where... where is Alister!?" she yelled, more to herself than to the camera.

    "Did he note to the grand meeting?"

    Nearby, other reporters shared in her shock, whispering questions and exchanging confused nces.

    "Could he be arriving on his own ride?"

    "One separate from the guild master? Highly unlikely; he may be a star, but no guild would put any member above the guild master."

    "Maybe he was dyed?"

    "Perhaps something personal came up?"

    "He wouldn''t miss this, right?"

    But just as another reporter was about to say something, a thunderous sound tore through the

    air-a sound so loud and intense it sent shivers down everyone''s spine.

    It was deep; it echoed loudly, like an earthquake, but with a more primal edge.

    It was a roar.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "RRRRAAAAAAOOOOOOORRR!"

    The roar echoed, vibrating through the air, lingering with such ferocity that it felt almost

    alive. Everyone froze, eyes wide in shock.

    "What...what was that?" one person stammered, looking around nervously.

    "That kind of roar...isn''t possible in the city!"

    "Impossible," someone muttered, shaking their head.

    "No monster capable of that sound could have entered without triggering every rm in the

    district."

    Then, breaking the murmurs of confusion, a voice called out, trembling with a touch of excitement and fear.

    "Look!"

    "Up in the sky! Something''s approaching!"

    All heads turned upward, and there, silhouetted against the night, a massive shape was heading toward them, cutting through the clouds as it approached with immense, almost

    terrifying speed.

    The crowd erupted in frantic whispers, their voices ovepping in a touch of awe and fear.

    "What... what kind of monster is that?"

    "Is it even a monster?"

    "It looks... it looks like something straight out of legend!"

 Chapter 245: An Overlords Grand Entrance Part Two

    Chapter 245: An Overlord''s Grand Entrance Part Two

    ?

    "Monsters that big shouldn''t be able to get into the city,"

    "How did it even make it this far?"

    A woman gasped, pointing. "It''s not just any creature... it''s a dragon!"

    Then, cutting through the noise, a panicked voice rang out.

    "Look closely! Someone''s standing on its head!"

    The female reporter''s instincts kicked in, and she turned urgently to her cameraman. "Zoom in! Quickly!"

    As the camera focused, the sight became clear: a man with dark, windswept hair stood calmly atop the massive dragon''s head as it tore through the sky, his ck tie and hair fluttering wildly in the wind.

    His yellow eyes gleamed like molten gold against the night, matching the almost unsettling glow of the dragon''s blood-red eyes. The entire scene gave off a chilling, powerful aura, and for a moment, no one dared to breathe.

    "It... it''s him," whispered a reporter, her voice barely audible. "That''s Alister!"

    In the next instant, the dragon was upon them, descending with astonishing speed. Its wings beat in a powerful, sweeping motion, sending gusts of wind tearing through the crowd.

    Cameras shed, but the sheer force of the wind made several reporters shield their eyes, clutching their equipment to keep steady. Women held onto their skirts, bracing against the whirlwind stirred by the dragon''s approach.

    With a deafening boom, the dragonnded, its enormous weight hitting the ground and shaking the pavement beneath everyone''s feet. The vibrations rippled through the crowd, leaving an eerie silence in their wake as the dust settled.

    Hiroshi, standing nearby with his usual smirk, leaned in and remarked to Kaida, "I swear, he does these grand entrances on purpose."

    Kaida chuckled, adjusting her hair against the aftershock of thending. "You''re probably right. The kid must feel like he''s the final boss of some videogame."

    All eyes locked onto Alister as he stood on the massive dragon''s head, its towering 26-foot frame casting a long shadow over the crowd.

    The creature''s immense presence alone was enough to silence the buzzing crowd, but Alister, stood with a calm intensity atop the dragon, drewing their awe, many gazed with their jaw dropped.

    Yuuto, observing from a distance, merely smiled, amused by the disy.

    Several union officials rushed out of the building, looking prepared to demand an exnation,

    "Just what is the meaning of-" a Union officials words caught in his throat as his eyesnded on the massive dragon towering over the entrance, its blood-red eyes fixed on them.

    Another official, younger but equally shocked, took a step back, muttering, "T-this...this can''t be real. How did a dragon get here?"

    A third official, visibly shaken, stammered, "We... we need to evacuate the building!"

    But before anyone could react further, the dragon let out a low, rumbling growl, and the officials shrank back, any trace of risitancw in their expressions added into with outright fear In a heartbeat, Alister leapt from the dragon''s head,nding with a thunderous BOOM that shook the ground.

    He dusted off his suit casually, adjusted his cor, and began striding forward, his yellow mana streaking from his eyes for a moment before they disappeared, making him give off a calm confident aura that left everyone frozen.

    Reporters and onlookers were stunned, whispers of shock rippling through the crowd.

    "How did he make that jump?"

    "Isn''t he supposed to be a Summoner?"

    "He should be injured after something like that!"

    "Right?"

    The female reporter, still gaping spoke to her cameraman with her gaze still locked on Alister. "A-are you getting this?" she asked breathlessly.

    The cameraman, equally in awe, nodded, shouting over the noise, "Every single second!"

    The reporter quicklyposed herself and resumed hermentary. "There you have it, folks! Alister, the Dragon Lord, has arrived in spectacr fashion!"

    "This... this entrance is like something out of legend! And that jump-he didn''t even flinch! Is it possible for an SSS-ranked Summoner to have a far sturdier body than some physical enhancement awakened?"

    Before she could continue, a sudden, blinding light erupted from the dragon, filling the area with a powerful glow.

    Everyone shielded their eyes, the female reporter eximing, "What now? Is this another part of Alister''s disy?"

    As the light dimmed, the crowd blinked in shock. Where the dragon had once stood was now a woman with dazzling silver hair and striking red eyes, her aura as intense as the dragon''s.

    She gave off an undeniable strength, yet there was a familiar elegance in her posture.A murmur spread through the crowd until someone shouted...

    "It''s Cinder!"

    Alister nced at her, his expression barely shifting. "Cinder," he said calmly.

    "Let''s join the others."

    Cinder bowed her head slightly. "I understand, my lord."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As Yuuto watched Alister and Cinder approaching through the crowd, he simply smiled,

    giving a nod to Aiko.

    "Looks like it''s time for us to make our way in," he said calmly.

    Together, they moved toward the building, keeping their pace in sync with Alister and

    Cinder''s stride.

    Around them, the crowd was in a frenzy, voices ovepping as they called out.

    "Alister! Dragon Lord, over here!"

    Shouted a fan from the back, waving a camera. Others tried to catch Cinder''s attention, amazing by her presence and beauty.

    Reporters fought to get their questions in, some yelling louder than others. "Alister, what''s your connection to Cinder?" one asked, her voice almost drowned out by another nearby

    reporter.

    "What is the actual number of summons currently under your control?"

    "Have you ever failed a summoning?"

    "Is it true you have a more personal rtionship with Cinder?"

    But Alister and Cinder didn''t stop for a moment, their faces calm and focused. The crowd''s endless stream of questions, spections, and cheers continued, with many desperate for just a nce from either of them.

    Yet, Alister did not yield, keeping the crowd in awe, and even those hoping for a response eventually fell silent as he walked past, trailing a powerful aura.

    The White Comet Guild members followed right behind him, their serious expressions hinting that they, too, weren''t about to entertain the crowd''s questions.

    Together, they approached the towering double doors, and as they passed through, the chaotic energy outside seemed to fade away, reced by a hushed, almost iming silence

    within.

 Chapter 246: Shadows And Smiles

    Chapter 246: Shadows And Smiles

    ?

    The White Comet''s initial arrival had drawn startled stares as many who hadn''t stepped outside wondered what themotion was about. In due time, some Union officers exined what had happened, calming the influential family members, major business owners, and media representatives who were present.

    The grand hall was an impressive sight, its high ceilings lit by beautiful chandeliers casting a soft, warm glow over the space.

    The walls were lined withplex patterns of deep blue and gold, giving the room an air of elegance and authority.

    Large banners disying the Union''s insignia draped from the pirs, reminding all present of the organization''s influence.

    Clusters of people from every corner of Megacity high society mingled about, their attire ranging from sleek formalwear to more extravagant, custom-made designs, each representing their guilds or family''s wealth and status.

    Laughter and small conversations filled the air as influential figures shook hands, exchanged nces, and leaned in close to discuss partnerships, strategies, or perhaps rumors circting in the city.

    Lady Aiko turned to Alister, a calm yet firm expression on her face. "We''ll be leaving you on your own for a while. This early part of the grand meeting is usually set aside for members to mingle, make introductions, and forge alliances."

    She adjusted her sses, her eyes narrowed, her gaze slightly intense as she spoke. "Remember, you''re only here to converse. No signing any agreements or making vocal promises to anything that sounds remotely suspicious."

    Yuuto chuckled beside her, shaking his head. "Rx, Aiko. You''re acting like Alister''s a kid. He''s not stupid."

    Lady Aiko gave Alister onest, assessing look before nodding. "Remember, keep it light and diplomatic, Alister. This is all aboutworking and introductions; nothing binding yet."

    A faint smile yed at Alister''s lips as he nced between them. "Don''t worry. I''ll be careful."

    With that, she turned and strode off with Master Yuuto, who gave Alister a rxed nod, clearly less concerned than Aiko. As they walked away, Hiroshi joined Alister''s side briefly, grinning.

    "Don''t do anything too crazy while you''re on your own," Hiroshi said, his grin widening. Alister raised an eyebrow, a look of amusement shing in his eyes. "Define ''crazy.""

    Hiroshi shrugged, feigning innocence. "No clue. I don''t do crazy things."

    Alister chuckled, nodding as Hiroshi gave him a yful salute before heading after Aiko and Yuuto. "Noted," Alister called after him, a faint smile on his face.

    Now left alone in the grand hall, Alister stood with Cinder by his side. Her eyes scanned the buzzing room, her expression a mix of curiosity and impatience.

    "Do you know how long we''re supposed to stand here?" she asked, her gaze flicking up to him.

    Alister shook his head. "It''s my first time here, so your guess is as good as mine." As a Union server passed by, he motioned to them. "Could I get a ss of juice?"

    The server nodded with a quick, polite smile, handing Alister a ss before moving along. Alister looked down into the drink, catching his reflection in the amber liquid. The anticipation, curiosity, and faint nervous energy in the room seemed to buzz all around him. "One thing I am certain of," he said quietly, almost to himself as he observed his own reflection, "is that tonight might not be as straightforward as it may have been in the past." "I can tell because I can practically feel it," he said as he narrowed his gaze, his expression bing a bit cold and detached.

    With a calm sigh, he took a sip, savoring the cool, crisp taste as he prepared himself for the evening ahead.

    As Alister took another sip of his juice, he noticed a small group of young women approaching.

    They were elegantly dressed, each in attire that practically radiated the status and influence of their respective families.

    They walked toward him confidently-clearly ustomed to gatherings like these, where power and charm often mingled in subtle ways.

    One of the girls, with auburn hair swept back in a beautiful braid, took the lead. "Good evening, Alister, isn''t it?" she spoke with a bright smile. "I''m Ka Ashford, of the Ashford Group. My family manages several prominent resorts and hospitality chains across the Megacity."

    A second girl, with striking tinum hair that caught the light, joined in. "I''m Livia Green. My family runs GreenTech Innovations. We''re focused on bioengineering advancements-mostly in agriculture. It''s a pleasure to finally meet you in person; we''ve heard so much."

    The third, a brte with a hint of boldness in her gaze, leaned in, eyes twinkling. "And I''m Selene Torrence. My family deals in high-end fashion, luxury goods-basically all the things that make this ce sparkle."

    Alister gave a courteous nod to each of them, with a warm smile on his face. "The pleasure''s mine,dies."

    They exchanged pleased nces with one another, eager to continue. Ka looked at him admiringly. "We''ve been hearing how impressive you are. It''s incredible how quickly you''ve made a name for yourself. Quite the reputation for... handling challenges."

    "Indeed," Livia added, her tone hinting at admiration. "It''s rare to see someone soposed and capable. You must have trained for years to have that level of skill."

    Selene smiled mischievously, her gaze running over him briefly beforending back on his face. "And you''re... very easy on the eyes. I take it you''re still single?"

    "Or is it really true you have chosen your dragon?"

    Alister chuckled softly, sensing the small shift in their questioning. He gazed at her confidently but tactfully redirected the conversation.

    "I appreciate thepliment. However, I imagine someone as involved in high fashion as yourself must see people with unique styles every day. Speaking of which, I''d love to hear more about what''s trending in your industry right now. Your family''s brand always has that

    edge."

    Selene''s eyes lit up, clearly pleased he''d shown interest in her work. "Oh, absolutely! This season has been all about merging ssic elegance with tech-infused designs. Ourtest collection includes interactive fabrics that adjust to body temperature, if you can believe it." As sheunched into more details, Ka and Livia joined in, talking excitedly about their respective industries.

    Alister nodded along, fully engaged in their conversations, inwardly relieved at having smoothly steered the attention back onto them.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

 Chapter 247: The Gathering Storm

    Chapter 247: The Gathering Storm

    ?

    As Alister continued chatting with Ka, Livia, and Selene, a Union server carrying a tray of drinks paused nearby, her gaze lingering on him a bit longer than usual.

    She softly clicked a button on the earpiece in her right ear, her voice low as she reported, "Confirmed visual on the target."

    Meanwhile, outside the grand hall, on a skyscraper rooftop just a few hundred meters away, a figure stood ready. The woman had striking silver hair that gleamed in the moonlight and intense blue eyes, a jagged scar running down her right eye.

    Dressed in a sleek ck tech suit and a mask covering the lower half of her face, she held a massive sniper rifle with a calm, deadly aura. She was none other than The Annihtor, the pricey assassin Liang had hired to put to rest their little Summoner issue.

    With her left hand, she tapped the earpiece embedded in her ear.

    "Roger that. Keep eyes on him and notify me the moment he steps up to give his speech."

    The Union server''s voice crackled over the earpiece, questioning her n. "Why wait? Wouldn''t it be easier to take the shot now?"

    The sniper woman''s eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on the illuminated windows of the Union''s grand hall.

    "I don''t have a clean shot."

    "Besides, that was what our employer requested, so stick to the n. Let him make his entrance. The more attention on him, the easier your escape will be."

    Her grip on the rifle tightened slightly as she observed the room from afar, her steely patience evident in every careful movement. "When the time is right, we''ll have the perfect shot."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Understood."

    As the female server ended themunication, she narrowed her gaze on Alister, observing him closely before continuing to serve other guests.

    She expertly made her way through the crowd, but what she didn''t notice was Alister''s sudden pause in his conversation.

    His sharp yellow eyes were fixed on her retreating figure, the gears in his mind turning.

    The girls surrounding him noticed his sudden change in demeanor. Selene tilted her head, a look of concern crossing her face. "Sir Alister? What''s the matter?"

    Snapping back to the present, Alister quickly hid his curiosity with a polite smile. "Apologies. I just got lost in thought for a moment."

    He shifted his gaze back to them as he then said, "Why don''t we continue from where we left off?"

    ...

    As Cinder stood by Alister''s side, watching him engage in conversation, her gaze wandered around the grand hall, taking in the bustling atmosphere filled withughter and chatter.

    The elegance of the decor, the finely dressed guests, and the shimmering chandeliers all created a sense of wonder, but amidst it all, something caught her attention-a familiar scent wafting through the air.

    "Chocte?" she mumbled, her eyes widening in recognition. A smile spread across her face as she scanned the crowd, her senses honing in on the source of the delightful aroma. It wasn''t long before her gazended on a male server carrying a tray adorned with an array of decadent chocte pastries, including what seemed to be a chocte parfait.

    "There it is," she said to herself, feeling a spark of excitement.

    She momentarily nced at Alister, remembering how he had confidently demanded the juice earlier. Cinder thought back, trying to recall his tone and demeanor, hoping to emte that same assertiveness. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and called out, "Hey, you! The one with the dark blue hair!"

    The male server turned around, slightly startled to hear a voice ringing out across the hall. He blinked in surprise upon realizing it was a woman with silver hair, red eyes, wearing a ck and white dress that clung perfectly around her frame. He recognized her intently due to all the pictures that had been circting online.

    It was Cinder who was calling him, his expression a touch of confusion and awe.

    "H-how can I help you, ma''am?" he stuttered, clearly caught off guard by her directness. Cinder smiled, her eyes glinting with a touch of mischief as she pointed emphatically at the tray.

    "I want that chocte!"

    The server''s eyes darted to the chocte parfait on the serving dish, and he blinked rapidly. "R-right away, ma''am!" he replied, almost stumbling over his words as he hurried to fulfill her order.

    Cinder watched him scurry off, a small yful grin appearing on her lips. She couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride at having made her request so boldly, just like her lord Alister had done earlier.

    As the server approached, the excitement in her eyes could clearly be seen. "Here you go, ma''am. One chocte parfait," he said, presenting it to her with a slight bow.

    Cinder took the dish, her face lighting up with joy. For a moment, she noticed she wasn''t acting like herself, so she cleared her throat as she replied, "You may go."

    As he left, she eagerly began digging in with a spoon. The rich chocte melted in her mouth, and she closed her eyes in delight, savoring the moment.

    Meanwhile, Alister, noticing the sudden stream of excitement due to their bond, nced at her for a moment.

    He couldn''t help but chuckle at her reaction, noticing how her tail swayed slightly. He wanted to tease her a bit, to see how she would react, but he felt that he probably wouldn''t get an immediate response, seeing as she was clearly too absorbed in her chocte bliss to think about anything else.

    With a small smile, Alister turned back and continued his conversations.

    ...

    Meanwhile, at a couple of hundred tables away, at a mahogany table, Lord Han Li, Jian Li, and Liang sat. The table, masterfully carved withplex patterns and designed with silverware that gleamed under the light, served as both a gathering point and a battleground for their conversation.

    Around them, guests mingled andughed, oblivious to the storm brewing within the Li family, or perhaps the storm the Li family was brewing.

 Chapter 248: Beyond Expectations

    Chapter 248: Beyond Expectations

    ?

    Lord Han leaned forward, his expression dark and furious as he spoke to his son seated beside him. "Tell me, Liang... Why is that Summoner still alive?"

    Liang, seated at the opposite end, merely smiled. He lifted a ss of red wine, swirling the liquid within, the dark crimson hue reflecting the flickering lights above. "Patience, Father..." "Good things alwayse to those who wait," Liang said, taking a leisurely sip of his wine, his gaze drifting across the hall, studying the crowd.

    ...

    A couple of tables away from the Li family''s gathering, the Zhang family sat gracefully.

    The table was elegantly set with sparkling blue crystals, reflecting the soft glow of the chandeliers above.

    Lady Lian Zhang stood beside her grandfather, Xian Zhang, both dressed impably for the asion.

    Xian wore a silver robe embroidered with dark petal patterns that clearly conveyed both power and elegance.

    Lian, draped in a luxurious ck and silver dress that clung nicely around her amazing figure, gave off a calm yet sophisticated aura.

    As they looked around the room, their gaze settled on Alister, who was locked in conversation with the other guests.

    Xian leaned closer to Lian, his voice low but firm. "This is your chance, Lian. Those young women around him pose no threat to you. Your beauty and presence far surpass theirs."

    He pointed toward the group surrounding Alister. "You should go and converse with him." Lian hesitated for a moment, uncertainty appearing in her eyes.

    "Remember to be friendly and polite," Xian instructed. "For now, there''s no need to take things too far. You simply need to engage him enough to obtain his contact information."

    With a sigh, Lian nodded reluctantly, steadying herself as she prepared to approach the enigmatic young man.

    "Off you go, then," Xian urged. "Do not disappoint me."

    Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Lian smoothed the fabric of her dress and stepped away from the table as she made her way toward Alister.

    As she did, she found it hard to believe she was really going through with this.

    ''I can''t believe I''m throwing myself at someone younger than me like this,'' she thought, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

    She had always maintained her dignity, careful to keep aposed and reserved demeanor.

    But tonight, with her grandfather''s instructions lingering in her mind, she was stepping out of herfort zone.

    Her summon, Fenrir, padded quietly by her side, his majestic silver fur gleaming under the warm lights.

    The great wolf brushed his head against her hand, sensing her unease. Lian let out a small, relieved smile and gently stroked his head.

    "Thank you, Fenrir," she murmured softly. In response, the loyal wolf gave a quiet bark, as if to assure her she wasn''t alone in this unfamiliar situation.

    As she neared Alister, Lian noticed that the young women who had been talking to him were now leaving, theirughter gradually fading into the background.

    She took a calm breath, feeling a touch of relief and nerves as she realized she would have his attention undivided.

    Now was her chance. With Fenrir at her side, she approached Alister, ready to carry out her grandfather''s wishes but determined to do so in her own way.

    Lian approached Alister with a graceful smile, her eyes calm but curious. "So, you''re the new star that has everyone excited?" she asked, causing Alister to redirect his gaze toward her.

    Alister narrowed his gaze slightly, his expression unreadable. "And you are?" he asked, genuinely curious.

    "Lian Zhang," she replied smoothly with a touch of pride.

    "From the Zhang family. I, too, am a Summoner."

    She pointed to Fenrir, the majestic silver wolf at her side, who eyed Alister with a piercing, watchful gaze, almost as if he noticed something familiar yet strange about the young man.

    "Is that so?" Alister replied, ncing briefly at Fenrir. The wolf was undeniably impressive, a creature that was both powerful and loyal.

    With a nod, Alister turned back to her. "I''m Alister Hazenworth," he said simply, introducing himself before gesturing toward his summon.

    "And this is Cinder."

    Cinder, who had just finished her dessert, was absentmindedly licking the spoon with a faintly pleased expression, oblivious to the conversation.

    She looked to the side as her name was mentioned, her red eyes bright as she realized she was being introduced.

    She quicklyposed herself, setting down the spoon, though her enthusiasm for the dessert still lingered in her expression.

    Lian''s gaze shifted to Cinder, her curiosity piqued by Alister''spanion. "It''s a pleasure to meet you both," she said, nodding politely at Cinder, though her attention soon returned ton/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister.

    "I must say," she spoke, looking back at him, "you''ve managed to captivate quite a crowd tonight. Not everyone here is used to seeing a Summoner of your... reputation."

    Alister''s expression remained neutral, but there was a small glint of amusement in his eyes.

    "I didn''t realize I was so fascinating," he replied dryly, though his slight smile showed he didn''t mind the attention.

    Lian chuckled softly, Fenrir''s ears twitching as if listening to their conversation. "You seem unbothered by all of it. I think most in your position might be ttered, or at least a little overwhelmed by all the curiosity."

    "Overwhelmed? Maybe, if I were someone else," Alister replied, a touch of humor in his tone. "I learned a long time ago not to worry too much about what people think."

    "An admirable mindset," she nodded, her gaze briefly moving to Cinder, who had shifted to listen more closely. "It''s no easy feat to stay unaffected by people''s opinions, especially in our circles."

    Alister tilted his head slightly, observing her. "It sounds like you know what that''s like..." "People must have certain expectations of you, too."

    Lian hesitated, but only for a second. "You could say that. Expectations are practically ingrained in families like mine. It can be... limiting, at times."

    Alister nodded. "I can imagine. It''s not always easy to live up to other people''s standards, especially when you have your own."

 Chapter 249: Connections And Confusions

    Chapter 249: Connections And Confusions

    ?

    Her eyes lit up slightly at his words. "Exactly. I''ve always wanted to be seen for my own achievements, not just as the daughter of a prominent family."

    She gave a small, heartwarming smile. "But I suppose it''s all part of the experience, isn''t it? Learning to bnce both worlds."

    Alister''s gaze softened just a bit, and he seemed genuinely interested. "Well, in that case, what do you want to be known for, Lady Lian? Not as part of the Zhang family-but as you."

    Lian felt herself pause, the question catching her off guard. "I suppose... I''d like to be seen as someone who understands people, not just someone whomands respect because of her name."

    She nced down, almost embarrassed by her own vulnerability. "Sometimes, I wonder if there''s a ce for that kind of thinking in the world we live in."

    Alister momentarily locked eyes with her, his expression thoughtful. "It''s rare for someone to think that way," he said after a moment. "But I''d say that makes it all the more valuable."

    A quiet smile formed on Lian''s lips. She hadn''t expected Alister to have such depth to him, and it only made her more intrigued. After a moment of silence, she finally decided to take the next step.

    "Alister," she began, her voice steady but softer now. "Perhaps we could exchange contact information. It would be interesting to stay in touch... maybe even exchange some insights, Summoner to Summoner."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister''s gaze lingered on her for a moment, then he nodded. "I think that would be... beneficial."

    ...

    As Lian strolled back to her table, her fingers moved over her phone''s screen to save Alister''s number.

    The small chat had filled her with a warmth she hadn''t felt in a while, not that she would ever admit that. She tapped on the contacts app, ready to enter the name, but her eyes widened in shock when she noticed a familiar number already saved under the name

    ''Master Spade.''

    "Wait, what?" Lian muttered, her thoughts racing. ''How could this be? Did he make a mistake with the number?''

    She nced over her shoulder as she then thought, ''Should I go back to tell him he had a mistake... Or...''

    A part of her wanted to keep things this way; it wanted to confirm. Perhaps she was being dumb-how could Alister be Master Spade? But what if he was? She suddenly had the urge to find out.

    Whatever it turned out to be, the fact is he was going to be involved in her future, one way or another.

    Lian nced back at him onest time, her fingers clutching her phone as she thought, ''Alister... Who are you really?''

    ...

    Meanwhile...

    Halzor stuffed another piece of roast meat into his mouth, grease glistening on his chin. "I swear, this is the best thing ever! I could eat like this every day!" He grinned, oblivious to the looks of mild disgust from the others at the table.

    Thorin, with a te piled high, nodded in agreement. "You''re right, Halzor! Who knew they''d have such a spread? And it''s free!" He took a massive bite, clearly relishing every moment.

    Across the table, Ivy rolled her eyes as she picked at her sd. "You two are acting like animals! Can''t you at least pretend to have some manners?" She leaned back in her chair, trying to distance herself from their messy eating habits.

    Nyra sighed, her arms crossed as she watched Halzor and Thorin. "Seriously, you guys. We''re at a grand event, not a feeding frenzy at the arena. Show a little ss!" she said with a touch of annoyance.

    Thorin nced up, mouth full but still managing to form words. "But Nyra, this is practically the only time of the year we get invited to an all-you-can-eat buffet like this! And we don''t have to worry about paying for it!" He pointed wildly with his fork, identally flinging a piece of food across the table.

    Halzor chimed in, his mouth still half-full. "Precisely! You''re missing out on the feast of a lifetime! Look at this spread!" He pointed dramatically to the table overflowing with dishes, from crispy meats to colorful desserts.

    Ivy sighed, shaking her head. "I get it, but there''s more to these events than just stuffing our faces, you know. We''re supposed to make connections andwork."

    Nyra nodded. "I mean, yes, we want to enjoy ourselves, but let''s not forget why we''re here. The food won''t run away, and we still have time to mingle."

    "Fine, fine," Thorin said, waving his fork in mock surrender. "But can''t we enjoy the food and theworking? It''s called multitasking!"

    Halzor chuckled, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied grin. "I''m all for that! Let''s eat, chat, and conquer this buffet together!"

    As the conversation around the table continued, Nyra took a sip of her drink and nced around the grand hall, noticing a certain someone was absent from their table. "Hey, where''s the Guild Master?" she asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

    Halzor paused mid-bite, his mouth full of meat. He swallowed hard and shrugged. "I think she said she had something she wanted to handle," he replied, wiping his chin with the back

    of his hand.

    Thorin nodded, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, she mentioned something about a meeting earlier. Something about something she needed to confirm and take care of."

    "Seems like she''s always busy," Ivymented, shaking her head. "Oh well, the grand meeting should be starting any minute now."

    ...

    The sound of approaching footsteps belonging to a certain figure could be heard as they made their way across the grand hall. The crowd''s chatter seemed to fade slightly as they walked past, their beauty and aura attracting the gazes of people as they walked past.

    Alister was deep in conversation with a man who had dark green and silver hair, piercing yellow eyes, and wore a pair of sses perched on his nose.

    Alister''s expression suddenly became intense as he gazed at the man. "I''m sorry, I didn''t quite hear you... Do you mind repeating what you just said?"

 Chapter 250: A Dangerous Inquiry

    Chapter 250: A Dangerous Inquiry

    ?

    The air between them seemed to be thick, so tense one could practically say it was suffocating.

    "I''m not asking for much, right?" the man mumbled, his voice low and almost dismissive, a smirk spreading on his lips.

    Before Alister could give a response, a hand suddenly sped down on his shoulder, causing him to turn sharply.

    A calm yet bold voice echoed from behind him, cutting through the intensity of the moment. "There you are! I''ve practically been looking all over for you!"

    Alister turned around and noticed it was Guild Master Anya. She locked eyes with Alister for a moment, and although she seemed calm, Alister could practically notice a storm raging inside her eyes.

    Before he could ask her what she was doing here, Anya stepped forward, her voice steady andmanding. "Excuse us for a moment," she said to the man, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I need to have a very important conversation with Alister."

    The man smiled, unfazed by her assertiveness. "Of course," he replied smoothly, his smirk returning. "You two are allowed to do whatever you want. Please, pay me no mind."

    He waved his hand dismissively, his eyes glinting with a touch of amusement as he leaned back slightly, as if intrigued by what he saw unfolding.

    Anya motioned for Alister to follow her. "Come on, let''s find a quieter ce to talk," she said, her voice smooth and confident.

    She paused briefly to nce at Cinder, Alister''s summon, who was about to follow them.

    "You should leave your friend behind for now," she said, her tone slightly intense, not leaving room for argument.

    Alister paused for a moment, his brow furrowing at the dismissal, but he knew better than to question her.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    With a nod, he turned back to Cinder, offering a quick smile before following Anya. They moved through the grand hall, the sound ofughter and conversation fading as they made their way past some corridors and to a small set of double doors that Anya confidently pushed open, stepping past to reveal a balcony.

    Alister stepped out, surprised to see such an elegant space overlooking the city. The night sky stretched out above them, dotted with stars that twinkle in the distance. The wind blew past for a moment, waving their hair from side to side.

    "I didn''t know this ce even had a balcony," he said, taking in the view. The air was crisp and cool, a refreshing change from the heat of the crowded hall.

    Anya leaned against the railing, her gaze sweeping over the cityscape. "It''s a good spot to clear your mind," she said, her tone slightly softer but still authoritative. "I found it like a year back; I figured it would be a nice ce to think. Leading a guild is certainly amazing, but at times it''s nice to just rx... taking in views like this."

    She turned to face him, her expression slightly serious. "So, Alister, how have you been faring at your guild?"

    Alister took a moment to gather his thoughts, sensing the weight behind her question.

    "It''s been... fine, I guess. Just the usual struggles? Trying to make a name for myself among strong members," he replied.

    "But why would the Guild Master of the strongest guild care about the small greenhorn of another?"

    Anya chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, don''t sell yourself short. Every member has their worth, and I''m always curious about the ambitions of others. But I must admit, this isn''t a purely guild-rted chat. It''s more personal."

    Alister raised an eyebrow, a sense of caution creeping into his thoughts. "What do you mean by that?"

    Anya stepped closer, her demeanor shifting slightly as she regarded him with a prating gaze. "I''ve noticed you''ve changed quite a bit since our first encounter. You''ve be more straightforward, more assertive. I must say it suits you."

    Alister shifted on his feet, unsure of where the conversation was headed, but a part of him had a sneaking suspicion. "Thanks, I guess? But what''s the point of this really?"

    Anya straightened, the yful air around her dissipating.

    "The point, Alister, is that I''ve been watching you, and I''vee to a conclusion." Her red mana red around her, creating a faint aura that illuminated the space around them in the dim light. It was an unmistakable disy of her power, but Alister gazed at her calmly, as if a part of him had expected things to go this way.

    "Although I''m not sure how you do it, you are constantly getting stronger. The me that you have inside you is so muchrger now...."

    "Far too simr to the one I saw that day..." she continued, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. "And so I decided, rinsed of using my brains, I might as well be direct and get answers."

    "Tell me, kid."

    "Are you Spade?"

    The question hung in the air like a heavy fog; the atmosphere around them suddenly felt charged with tension.

    Alister remained silent for a moment, and then, out of nowhere, he chuckled slightly.

    "You''re asking me if I''m Spade?" he managed to say, his voice steadier than she expected. "Yes," she confirmed, her eyes locked onto his intensely. "I''m tired of beating around the bush."

    "So I would like for you to give me a straight answer."

    Alister remained calm, reading the expression on her face. Anya wasn''t just curious; she looked like she was out to kill; she was practically radiating murderous intent.

    "What if I am?" he asked, daring to challenge her. "What does that mean for you?"

    Anya''s smile was calm and calcted. "That would mean that my search is over."

    She brought her arms together as she cracked her knuckles as she said, "We can finally have a

    rematch."

    "And I''ll be sure to bash your head in."

    The tension between them thickened; Alister could feel the weight of her gaze, the pressure

    of her questions, and he knew that under these circumstances, he would need to tread

    carefully.

 Chapter 251: Terms Of Confrontation

    Chapter 251: Terms Of Confrontation

    ?

    In his thoughts, Alister called out, ''Terra, what do you think? How should I approach this?''

    Terra''s voice rang in his thoughts as she replied, ''My lord, the fact she still demands an answer from you means she is still notpletely sure of all she knows.''

    ''Meaning unless you openly admit it, she can''t hold anything against you.''

    Alister smiled slightly. ''You have a point there,'' he responded.

    ''But besides that, my lord, if you wish for her to not be problematic, you have only two choices.''

    ''And those are?''

    ''Either youpletely get rid of her, or you convince her to take a more civil approach towards things.''

    ''Given the fact she is a rather influential figure and could also be said to be one of the pirs of this city''s economy, I would say getting rid of her is off the table.''

    ''So you are going to have to convince her to take a calmer approach towards things. Here is my suggestion.''

    Terra then told Alister all he needed to know on how to approach things. Once she was done, Alister was impressed. ''I must say I am satisfied with your idea. Well done, Terra.''

    ''I''m d I could be of service, my lord.''

    ''But my lord, I feel it necessary to point out, from what I can see I do not belive how she is acting is genuine.''

    ''Genuine? What do you mean?''

    ''I belive she is putting up an act.''

    ''Why would she?''

    ''That I am uncertain, regardless, you may proceed as I told you to.''

    Alister took a deep breath. "So, you want Spade dead?" he asked, tilting his head slightly, gauging her reaction.

    Anya straightened. "Because he harmed me and my teammates. Their performance in the Wastnd Disy event was greatly affected because of him. We lost valuable opportunities that we can''t get back."

    Alister raised an eyebrow, a hint of sarcasm creeping into his voice. "So basically, he owes you money?"

    Anya''s brow furrowed, confusion shing in her eyes. "What!?"

    Alister shrugged nonchntly. "I mean, the winners of the Wastnd Disy event get bragging rights and a bunch of union credits, right? So, if he messed up your team''s performance, does that mean he owes you? I just figured-"

    "Are you trying to downy what you did?" Anya interrupted, her voice low but sharp, the weight of her anger filling the space between them.

    "Downy?" Alister chuckled lightly, his demeanor unflinching. "Ma''am, please calm down. When did I ever say I was the one who did it?"

    Anya''s eyes narrowed as she took a step forward, her mana ring around her in a brilliant disy of power, illuminating the balcony with a vibrant hue. "Look, don''t think you can y games with me, Alister. This isn''t a joke."

    Alister raised his hands in mock surrender, his expression still calm. "I''m just trying to understand the stakes here. You''re talking about wanting him dead over apetition? Surely there''s more to it than that."

    "More?" Anya echoed, her tone firm. "There''s always more at stake than you realize. Everypetition is an opportunity to prove our strength and worth. When Spade harmed my team, he not only affected our standing but our reputation as well. In this world, reputation can dictate the rise or fall of a guild."

    Alister studied her for a moment, the boldness in her voice contrasting with the storm brewing behind her calm facade. "So you''re saying this is about more than just the event? It''s personal?"

    "It''s about the principle of the matter," Anya replied, crossing her arms. "When someone undermines our efforts, it''s not just a p in the face; it''s a challenge to our authority. You wouldn''t understand unless you''ve been in a position to lead. Everything we do reflects on us as a guild."

    "Sounds like you''re saying revenge is justified, then," Alister remarked, a hint of defiance creeping into his tone.

    Alister leaned forward slightly, a calcting look in his eyes. "So wouldn''t it be better to gain all you can from this revenge?"

    Anya calmed down slightly, her frown deepening as she asked, "What are you getting at?"

    Alister raised a hand, emphasizing, "Now, don''t misinterpret this. I''m not Spade; I''m simply offering what I believe will be the best way to approach the matter."

    Anya''s interest piqued, her posture rxing just a bit. "Go on."

    "Since it was under your leadership that Spade dealt such a heavy blow to your guild''s reputation..."

    "...then certainly it also falls on your shoulders to regain your guild''s reputation, that much is clear."

    "So, it would be best for you to personally seek out Spade and stream a live broadcast of your match. By doing so, when you win, you can not only im honor for your teammates but also restore your reputation. You''ll show everyone what happens to those who dare to go against the Berserkers."

    Anya crossed her arms, contemting his words. "You think a public match will be enough to turn this around?"

    Alister nodded, his voice steady. "Absolutely. A well-executed victory not only elevates your standing but also sends a message. It demonstrates that you and your guild are not to be trifled with. Think of the exposure; you''ll gain supporters and maybe even new recruits. Everyone loves aeback story."

    Anya looked thoughtful, her expression softening as she considered the implications. "So, you''re suggesting I turn this situation into an opportunity?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Exactly," Alister encouraged.

    Anya leaned back, crossing her arms with a sly smile. "So, when will you be free so we can

    have that sparring match?"

    Alister blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

    Anya rolled her eyes. "Oh,e on. Did you really think just because you had a clever idea, I''d drop the fact that you''re Spade?"

    He raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Ma''am, are you seriously suggesting that you, a seasoned guild leader, were bested by a summoner in a fistfight? And someone who''s barely been a guild member for half a year at that? How believable does that sound?"

 Chapter 252: A Test Of Truths

    Chapter 252: A Test Of Truths

    ?

    Anya smirked, unfazed. "You can say whatever you want, but these eyes don''t deceive me, Alister. Your body is very sturdy, and you possess a powerful aura; you could easily be a match for me in a fist fight."

    She leaned in, her voice lowering slightly. "Look, I''m willing to do this your way. But I want you to admit it."

    Alister watched her, the calm look on his face hiding his thoughts. "You''re really that certain, aren''t you?"

    "More than you know," Anya replied, her eyes unwavering. "So, let''s make this clear. You tell me the truth here and now, and in return, I''ll follow through with our agreement. Deal?"

    Alister tilted his head, considering her offer. "And if I don''t?"

    "Then I''ll assume you''re hiding more than just your identity, and I''ll have no choice but to take... alternative steps to find the answers myself," she replied smoothly.

    Alister''s lips curled into a slight smirk as he replied, "I''ll stick by what I said earlier, Guildmaster. I am not Spade." Without waiting for her response, he turned on his heel, leaving the balcony.

    But as he took his first step away, a sudden surge of intense, fiery-red mana flooded the space. The air around them vibrated with power, and a warm, red glow shone on him.

    Anya''s voice rang out, "You''ve forced my hand, then."

    The sheer force of her mana was enough to halt Alister in his tracks, a small chill creeping down his spine. He turned back just in time to see her figure closing in, her fist already drawn back, ready to strike.

    Time seemed to slow as the punch neared him, an inch away, her expression intense, demanding the truth.

    Alister''s eyes widened ever so slightly, caught off guard not just by her sudden aggression but by the sheer intensity of her power.

    VOOSHHHHH

    In the next instant, droplets of blood sttered onto the floor, but they weren''t from Alister. No-Anya''s punch hadn''t evennded.

    But what could possibly have stopped her so suddenly? And if the blood wasn''t Alister''s, whose was it?

    Alister''s voice cut through the tense silence. "Draven, Mar''Garet, stand down."

    There they were-Alister''s two dragon generals, each already standing at Anya''s side, their weapons hovering menacingly near her. Draven''s de rested with the razor edge just grazing her neck. On her other side, Mar''Garet''s crimson-edged spear pressed directly beneath Anya''s jaw.

    The two dragon generals didn''t flinch, their eyes locked on Anya with dead intensity.

    Both Draven and Mar'' Garet lowered their weapons at Alister''smand, stepping back as they both said, "Understood."

    Anya let out a dry chuckle, ncing at them with an amused look. "Your summons are rather feisty, aren''t they? No matter, in the end, the strongest are the ones who get to have thestugh. Isn''t that right, Mr. Spade?" she said calmly.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister stayed silent, but inwardly, his mind raced. Her punch hadn''tnded-not because she''d held back, but because he had caught it instinctively.

    His hand had moved on its own, blocking a strike from Anya, the Guildmaster of the Berserkers. A feat like that was far beyond a Summoner''s usual capabilities, especially against someone of Anya''s strength.

    There were very few people who could block one of her punches, and they could be counted on one hand. None of them were in this city-except, of course, for Yuuto and... Spade. And Alister knew that she knew that fact.

    Anya''s eyes suddenly lit up with satisfaction as she gazed at him. His expression remained calm, but the look in his eyes was intense.

    She suddenly burst into a loud, heartyugh. "Oh, you should see your face right now! You look like you want to kill someone. It''s hrious!"

    Herughter echoed in the space between them, brimming with confidence and amusement, as if she''d sessfully cornered him with that simple action.

    Alister paused, his gaze fixed on Anya as she continued tough. After a moment, he let out a sigh and shook his head. "Mind exining what''s so funny?"

    Anya''sughter softened as she looked him in the eye, still clearly entertained. "Because I finally unmasked the man who kept me guessing this whole time-the one able to go toe-to- toe with me. I won''t lie, I had my suspicions. But you? You had me second-guessing myself more than I care to admit."

    Alister tilted his head, taking her words in. "Understood." His tone was calm, yet the glint in his eyes turned sharper as he met her gaze head-on.

    "So, when do you want your rematch?"

    As he said it, a calm yet powerful aura began to radiate from him. His mana red outward- not aggressively, but with a powerful presence, like a controlled storm, wrapping around him, calm yet intense. Though not as wild or fiery as hers had been earlier, it held a far greater magnitude.

    "If you really want me dead, Guildmaster," he said evenly, "then I''ll have to make sure to end this before you get the chance."

    Anya fell silent, watching him carefully. Then, unexpectedly, her expression softened into a warm smile-genuine, without a trace of her earlier intensity.

    She took a slow step toward him, closing the distance without any clear intent to strike. When she reached him, she tapped his shoulder with a gentle pat.

    "Calm down, Alister. That was all just a joke. I''m not going to kill you."

    Alister''s gaze shifted, ncing at her from the corner of his eye as she stood beside him. Her calm expression, along with the absence of any hostility, caught him slightly off guard.

    "Then what was all that about?"

    Anya chuckled, folding her arms. "I needed there to be some... pressure if I wanted you to reveal anything. If I''d asked nicely, would you have said anything at all?"

    Alister remained silent for a moment before exhaling, his mana dissipating. "So now you know. How do you wish to proceed?"

    Anya tilted her head thoughtfully, meeting his gaze with a confident yet unhurried expression. "Honestly, that depends on you. Either way, your secret is safe with me."

    Alister looked at her, genuinely confused by her easygoing attitude. "Do you care to enlighten

    me?"

 Chapter 253: Embracing The Challenge

    Chapter 253: Embracing The Challenge

    ?

    "What exactly do you n to gain from this? Aren''t you angry that I defeated you and your team? You said it was because of me that your guild lost the Wastnd Disy Event. So don''t you feel any resentment?"

    Anya paused, a look of emotion crossing her face before she spoke. "I''d be lying if I said I didn''t feel anything about it. At first, yeah, I was mad. But this whole thing reminded me of something a certain someone used to tell me."

    She looked off to the side, her expression softening as if she were recalling a distant memory. "''Chin up, kid. Every setback is a setup for aeback, so be happy that you lost, because now it''s certain-you''ll only get stronger!""

    Her words hung in the air for a moment before she continued, a touch of humor could be felt in her tone.

    "Besides," Anya said, crossing her arms defiantly and leaning back slightly, "the Berserkers wouldn''t have won first ce even if we went all out. The White Comet Guild''s points were nearly triple the highest we''ve ever managed in the past."

    She shrugged, a wry smile could be seen on her face. "So, even with my team at their peak, we wouldn''t have stood a chance."

    Alister''s expression remained calm, but he tilted his head slightly, curiosity coid be seen in his gaze as he then asked, "So... what about your guild''s reputation? Won''t that defeat have

    Before he could finish, Anya suddenly burst outughing, her head thrown back. She waved a dismissive hand, brushing off his concerns. "You think one defeat will be enough to slow down the Berserkers?"

    As she spoke, she leaned forward, her posture brimming with confidence, emphasizing her point with each word.

    She smirked, shaking her head. "A p on our reputation? Please. We''re the strongest guild in the city, number one. Sure, we im victory in most of our battles, but failing one doesn''t mean it''s the end of the world. And if you''re about to ask about my team''s pride, forget it- they let this go ages ago. I was the only one being stubborn about it."

    She chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. "They all said, ''There''s always a bigger fish in the ocean.'' And they were right. If anything, they''ve been excited to train harder since the loss. They don''t resent you-they''re actually grateful for the wake-up call."

    Alister raised a brow, intrigued by her perspective. She wasn''t anything like the prideful, vengeful opponent he''d expected. Instead, she exuded a surprising resilience, one that saw challenges as fuel for growth.

    Alister''s gaze lingered on Anya with a touch of curiosity and skepticism. "So, how do you n to move forward from here? If you truly wanted to move on, you wouldn''t have felt the need to confirm if I was Spade or not. So, what do you really want?"

    A smirk appeared on Anya''s face as she leaned in, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Sparring matches."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Alister raised an eyebrow, a touch of surprise breaking through his usual calm expression. "Sparring matches?"

    Anya''s smirk deepened, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "You heard me. Sparring matches. There aren''t many who can go toe-to-toe with me. Fighting dummies and the usual guild members gets boring fast."

    Alister crossed his arms, studying her intently. "And you think forcing me to spar with you will somehow benefit you?"

    She gave a casual shrug, her expression as confident as ever. "Absolutely. We''ll spar until I can win nearly 100% of the time, and then I''ll consider letting you go, Mr. Spade."

    Alister let out a small chuckle. "So, I''m to be your personal training dummy?"

    Anya grinned, unphased. "If that''s how you want to see it. But trust me-it''ll be just as much of a challenge for you as it will for me. Or are you too afraid to get beaten once in a while?"

    Alister''s gaze sharpened, hispetitive spirit sparking. "Afraid? Hardly. But don''t expect me to hold back just because you''re a Guildmaster."

    Anya''s smirk widened, clearly satisfied. "Good. I''d expect nothing less."

    Alister took a step back, his demeanor changing, bing more formal. "I believe we are done here."

    Anya nodded, a touch of disappointment appearing in her eyes. "We are."

    "Then I''ll be excusing myself," Alister replied. "Draven, Mar''Garet, return."

    "Yes, my lord," the two dragon generals responded before vanishing into ck rifts.

    With a calm stride, Alister turned and made his way back into the building, the door closing behind him with a soft click.

    As the sound echoed in the silence, Anya suddenly found herself copsing onto her bum, her cheeks flushed with a touch of embarrassment and something more.

    She stared nkly at the ground, her mind racing. ''What am I even doing?''

    The weight of her challenge lingered, making her question everything that had just happened.

    As Alister made his way back through the winding halls of the Union grand hall, he

    encountered Ren, theposed assault team leader of the White Comets.

    Ren stood there, his calm demeanor masking the urgency in his voice.

    "Alister," Ren said, adjusting his sses with a quick flick of his fingers. "I''ve been looking for you."

    Alister raised an eyebrow. "Why the search?"

    Ren''s expression remained calm as he turned, as if trying to lead Alister to the grand hall.

    "The grand meeting is about to start, and since you were the MVP of our team, you''ll be giving a speech once the strategy talks are over."

    Alister blinked in surprise, a touch of amusement creeping into his tone as he crossed his arms. "I didn''t realize that."

    Ren nodded. "It''s customary for the MVP to address everyone gathered. I always wanted that opportunity, but I never thought I wouldn''t be the first from our guild to do it."

    He pushed himself off the wall and straightened, giving off a calm, confident air around him. "You should go make us proud, Alister."

    A small smile crossed Alister''s face, and he straightened his posture, feeling the weight of the moment settle over him.

    "I will," he replied, a touch of excitement sparking in his eyes. He felt ready to embrace the challenge, prepared to represent the White Comets with honor.

 Chapter 254: The Grand Strategy Meeting

    Chapter 254: The Grand Strategy Meeting

    ?

    Back in the grand hall, Alister stood before Lady Aiko, close to a table where the remaining members of the White Comet gathered for the event, all waiting for the Union branch director to start the strategy meeting.

    She adjusted her sses as she gazed at Alister skeptically, proceeding to ask, "Where have you been, and what were you doing?"

    Alister paused for a moment, locking his eyes with Lady Aiko''s. He let out a sigh before saying, "I was having a chat with the Berserkers'' Guild Master."

    His words caused Lady Aiko to narrow her gaze slightly, her eyes bing somewhat intense as she asked, "What were you talking about?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister waited for a moment before he spoke in a slightly serious tone, "That I would prefer to keep to myself, if you don''t mind."

    Lady Aiko felt slightly insulted by his tone and wanted to say something when Yuuto called out to her.

    "Enough with that, Aiko. The branch director is already climbing the stage."

    Redirecting her gaze toward the center of the massive grand hall, she saw an elevated tform, perhaps three to four feet above the ground level.

    As the branch director climbed, all the other lights in the grand hall dimmed, and only a couple of white lights were pointed at the branch director as he ascended the stage.

    As Aethel approached the podium, his presence drew everyone''s attention. Dressed in a tailored suit that blended seamlessly with his mescr frame.

    He adjusted his tie and cleared his throat, the room falling intoplete silence. Aethel activated the holo-screen, and a map of Megacity I appeared, highlighting the outer and inner rings with vibrant colors.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for convening today. Our purpose is clear: to address the pressing issues affecting our city and to chart a course for the uing year."

    He pointed toward the map, and specific areas in the outer rings lit up in red, indicating recent spikes in crime and monster sightings.

    "As you can see, the outer ring is facing an rming increase in criminal activities and sightings of low rank monsters. This is uneptable and a direct threat to the citizens we have sworn to protect." He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in.

    "Let us review the performance of the guilds during the past year."

    He continued by shifting to another projection that disyed a series of graphs. "The White Comet Guild, renowned for its advanced technological innovations, has failed to maintain the security protocols in Sector I. The recent incident where several drones were hijacked has not only led to the loss of valuable resources but also raised concerns among the popce. We cannot allow technological vulnerabilities topromise our safety."

    "In Sector IV, the Red Phoenix Guild, known for its cultural heritage, has neglected its responsibilities inmunity safety."

    "The recent festival was marred by riots stemming from an unregted ck market for rare artifacts. The chaos resulted in injuries to civilians and a tarnished reputation for our cultural institutions. This is a failure on their part to uphold the values they profess."

    He paused briefly then continued. "Next, we must address the Blue Seals Guild in Sector II. Their failure to control maritime smuggling has directly impacted our tradeworks, leading to inted prices for essential goods. The recent rise in import costs to different city sectors has hindered our economic growth and affected the livelihoods of families across the city."

    "The guild''s negligence in monitoring maritime activities has repercussions far beyond their sector."

    Aethel''s tone became more serious as he continued. "And finally, the Reapers Guild in Sector Vhas encountered its share of issues."

    "Their involvement in intelligence operations has not provided the necessary oversight to prevent the rming rise in missing persons-especially cases where victims are found drained of blood and mana."

    "These incidents, urring predominantly in the outer ring, have created an atmosphere of fear. While I recognize theplexity of these investigations, theck of progress is troubling."

    The room was silent as Aethel''s words seemed to hang in the air.

    "We cannot afford to continue down this path. The reputation of our guilds is on the line, and more importantly, the safety and well-being of our citizens depend on our collective actions."

    He pointed to a series of holo-graphs detailing the specific cases of drained victims. "These individuals were found without a single wound yetpletely devoid of blood and mana." "It raises questions about the nature of the threats we are facing. We must demand ountability and urge our guilds to expedite their investigations. Lives are at stake." The members shifted uneasily, some taking notes while others whispered among themselves. Aethel then projected a series of graphs illustrating the rise in prices for food and essential items, showing a steep upward trend. "The economic impact of these failures is profound." "Our citizens are suffering from inted prices, leading to dissatisfaction and unrest. If we do not address the underlying issues, we risk further destabilizing our city."

    "We need a coordinated response from all sectors. We the Union will enforce stricter regtions and oversight, particrly in areas where the guilds have demonstrated shorings."

    He looked around the room, gauging the reactions of the attendees. "I urge each guild to reevaluate their strategies and improve their response times. I expect to see detailed reports on the measures you n to implement to counteract these challenges. We need to strengthen our defenses against external threats and foster a safer environment for our citizens."

    With a calm yet resolute tone, Aethel then added, "We cannot continue to shift me or evade responsibility. The time for action is now. Each guild muste together to share

    intelligence."

    "It is imperative that we coborate, leveraging our unique strengths tobat the rising tide of crime and chaos that threatens our city."

    He concluded, "I trust that we can all agree on the importance of this mission. Let us not only protect our interests but also honor our duty to the people we serve."

    "I am counting on each of you to take these concerns to heart and return with actionable ns. We will reconvene in one month to assess our progress. Together, we can create a better future for Megacity I."

 Chapter 255: The Grand Strategy Meeting Part Two

    Chapter 255: The Grand Strategy Meeting Part Two

    ?

    Director Aethel rxed slightly by letting out a sigh, he then redirected his gaze towards a group of reporters stationed near the back of the hall.

    They took the opportunity to raise their hands, eager to question the Union Branch Director. Aethel adjusted his tie, giving a nod to signal that he was ready to address the press.

    A young journalist from the City Chronicle was the first to be acknowledged. She stood up, her holo-recorder hovering by her shoulder, capturing every word.

    "Director Aethel, considering the increase in crime and monster sightings in the outer rings, many citizens are concerned about their safety. You''ve highlighted where some guilds have failed, but can you borate on what new measures the Union Office intends to implement to address these issues directly?"

    Aethel gave a small nod. "An important question, and a timely one. The Union Office has already begun discussions about strengthening our central response units."

    "While we respect the autonomy of each guild within their sectors, we cannot ignore the interconnected nature of this city. Our goal is to establish a unified alert system, essible to all guilds, that will enable faster coordination when emergencies arise in high-risk zones."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Additionally, we''re working with city infrastructure experts to reinforce surveince in outer-ring areas, which, we believe, will act as both a deterrent and an early warning system."

    A murmur of approval rose among some reporters. Aethel nodded to another reporter, a tall man with a serious expression who represented The Mega Daily.

    The reporter''s tone was sharp. "Director, you spoke about the price hikes in essential goods, which have disproportionately affected the lower-ie residents of the outer ring. While it''s clear that the Blue Seals Guild''s oversight has impacted trade, does the Union Office have any specific ns to alleviate these rising costs in the immediate term?"

    Aethel paused, his gaze thoughtful. "We''re acutely aware of the financial strain on the city''s lower-ie residents."

    "In the short term, we''re negotiating with key suppliers and guild leaders to adjust tax policies on essential goods, allowing for a reduction in market prices."

    "We are also working with logistics leaders, such as the Zhang Family, to streamline supply chains and reduce distribution costs. This will not only stabilize prices but improve essibility to vital resources."

    Aethel nced around the room, noting the reporters'' reactions before gesturing toward a representative from Metro World News, an influential media outlet that often questioned the Union Office''s transparency.

    The representative leaned forward, her voice steady. "Director Aethel, several incidents have recently urred involving victims drained of both blood and mana, as you mentioned in your address."

    "Citizens are understandably anxious about these unusual cases, especially given theck of concrete leads. Does the Union Office have any theories or hypotheses about who or what might be behind these attacks? And, with no clear answers, how can you assure the public that these cases are being thoroughly investigated?"

    Aethel''s face grew more serious, and the room fell quiet, awaiting his response. "I won''t deny that these cases are troubling. The nature of the attacks is unlike anything we''ve encountered before, and we''re dealing with an opponent whose methods are as sophisticated as they are brutal."

    "While I cannot disclose all operational details, I can assure you that our best minds are at work. Teams from the Reapers Guild and White Comet Guild are coborating on an intelligence task force to track any unusual activity, while advanced diagnostic methods are being employed to analyze the victims'' physiology for clues."

    "To further relive public stress, we will be deploying one of our board members with irvoyant rted powers to further make sure we get the the button of this."

    H''s gaze became intense as he locked with the reporter''s. "Our promise to the public is this: every case is being pursued with full resources, and we aremitted to unearthing the source of these attacks. We may not have answers today, but we are making steady progress." Another hand shot up, this time from a younger reporter representing New Horizons, a publication known for addressing emerging trends and technology. She asked.

    "

    "Director Aethel, you mentioned earlier that the Union Office ns to implement a unified alert system across all guilds to improve response times. Could you expand on the technology that would support this initiative? Is it something citizens would interact with directly?"

    Aethel nodded, pleased with the focus on forward-looking strategies. "Indeed, we''re coborating with the White Comet Guild''s tech division''s Aiko Tsukumo to design a centralized alertwork that utilizes real-time holographic projections."

    "Thiswork will allow the city''s inhabitants to receive immediate notifications during anyrge-scale threat or emergency in their vicinity. Citizens can interact with it via personal devices ormunity holo-screens ced throughout public areas."

    He pointed to a new projection on the holographic screen behind him, revealing a city map oveid with small glowing indicators representing ess points.

    "The technology is designed to integrate into existing devices, giving residents the option to customize alerts. The system will prioritize proximity-based notifications, so citizens can receive critical information on evacuations, emergency services, or shelter locations relevant to their area. It''s an ambitious project, but with the right resources, it will redefine public safety."

    The press murmured in approval as the director finished, impressed by the proactive approach.

    One final question came from a veteran journalist at her voice sounding slightlymanding. "Director Aethel, with these intensified security measures and increased expectations on the guilds, do you believe the Union Office has adequately considered the strain this may ce on smaller guilds and independent operatives? Some have voiced concerns that they''re being overlooked in favor of the major guilds."

    Aethel''s expression softened slightly, acknowledging the validity of her concern. "That''s an excellent point. We must indeed strike a bnce. The Union Office is in the process of establishing an independent task force to support smaller guilds and frencers, particrly in high-risk zones where they mayck resources. This task force will have ess to certain Union resources, ensuring they''re not overwhelmed by the new demands."

    He nced around the room, his gaze settling on the guild leaders and representatives in attendance. "Ultimately, our goal is a city where everyone''s contributions are valued and

    leveraged."

    "Therger guilds certainly bear much of the responsibility, but the smaller guilds and independents y crucial roles in maintaining the social and economic fabric of our city. We intend to support them, not overlook them."

    With that, Aethel gave a final nod, signaling the end of the question period. The reporters exchanged murmurs, ncing down at their notes, ready to ry his words to the citizens. "With all of the logistical concerns out of the way," Aethel continued, his tone lighter now, "... it''s time to recognize the exemry performance and achievements of our top guilds in the recent Wastnd Disy event."

    Director Aethel nodded in the direction of the White Comet Guild''s representatives, his eyes glinting with pride, his gazended on master Yuuto in particr, who practically wore a smug look on his face while he folded his arms.

    "First, I must congratte the White Comet Guild, who showed remarkable proficiency in tactical maneuvering and emerged at first ce in the event."

    "Before the prize distribution will be announced, will the MVP of the said guild, Alister Hazenworth, please step forward."

 Chapter 256: To Put Power On Display

    Chapter 256: To Put Power On Disy

    ?

    As Alister Hazenworth rose from his seat, a spotlight from above suddenly illuminated him, casting a bright, focused light over him. He took a moment to adjust to the attention, the corners of his mouth lifting in a small, confident smile.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    With a nod to Director Aethel and the audience, he spoke, "A pleasure."

    From across the table, a soft chuckle could be heard. Hiroshi leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed with a yful smirk.

    "Don''t stutter out there, Alister. We wouldn''t want the city to think the White Comet Guild''s MVP is nervous," he teased, giving Alister a wink.

    Alister chuckled in return, taking the friendly jab. Before he could respond, Kaida leaned forward, her red hair catching the light as she grinned at him with her usual yful demeanor. "Break a leg out there!" she called, giving him a salute.

    Ren, always the calm and collected one, adjusted his sses, his gaze meeting Alister''s with a look of approval and confidence.

    "Go make us proud," he said, the glint of his lenses catching the spotlight.

    Alister''s smile widened. "Of course I will," he replied.

    He gave a slight bow of acknowledgment before turning his attention behind him, where Cinder stood with aposed, attentive expression.

    "Come along, Cinder," he said, waving his hand for her to join him. She nodded, her gaze meeting his with a look of pride.

    "Yes, my lord."

    Together, they walked toward the stage, Alister leading the way as the spotlight followed, the soft murmur of the crowd filling the hall as he approached the podium to ept his honor on behalf of the White Comet Guild.

    While he calmly approached, Alister suddenly heard Terra''s voice in his head as she spoke, ''It seems everything is working out, my lord. As long as you proceed like this, then the opportunity to put us on disy shall soon arise!'' Her voice was filled with such enthusiasm, Alister could practically feel it.

    ''Calm down, Terra, I didn''t know showing off was something that got you excited,'' Alister replied calmly.

    ''Normally, no. But knowing that the humans here shall soone to understand the magnitude of your greatness is something that would get any who have pledged their loyalty to an Overlord excited.''

    Alister chuckled inwardly, then responded, ''I see your point. Let''s keep moving forward.''

    As Alister approached the podium, a murmur rippled through the crowd, and reporters began to whisper among themselves, their eyes drawn to the woman following closely behind him. "Is that... Cinder?"

    "His Drake summon?"

    "It''s definitely her, pictures of her have been trending online!"

    "Are they... together?"

    "That would be a story for the ages!"

    "We need photos. Quickly."

    In an instant, camera shes began popping throughout the hall, capturing Alister and Cinder as they approached the podium, the light flickering like a wave across the crowd. Cinder maintained her calm demeanor, ignoring the attention as she focused solely on Alister.

    From the side of the stage, Liang watched with a sly smile.

    "Soon enough," he murmured to himself, "they''ll all get to watch some fireworks."

    As Alister reached the podium, the audience fell silent. A union officer stepped forward, holding a small, sleek microphone device.

    "Here," she said, extending it to him with a polite smile. "Clip this on your cor. It''ll make sure everyone can hear you clearly."

    Alister nodded, fastening the device as directed, his expression calm as he slowly approached the center of the podium.

    Meanwhile, in the shadows at the edge of the hall, the server from earlier pressed a finger to her ear, activating hermunication device.

    "The target has climbed the stage," she whispered.

    From the other end, a voice responded, "Noted. Stand by and await further instructions."

    Meanwhile, as Alister stood on the podium, Anya returned to the Berserkers'' table, her presence instantly drawing attention as the rest of the Berserkers looked up from their seats. us, the bald-headed Branch Guildmaster, was the first to speak, his tone hushed.

    "Guildmaster..." he spoke, sounding concerned. "Where did you disappear off to? I was starting to wonder if I''d have to go search for you."

    His dark brown eyes studied her for a moment, as though trying to decipher the reason behind her sudden exit.

    Anya, slightly flushed as she recalled what had happened earlier but maintaining her usualposure, gave him a small, unbothered smile.

    "I had something to handle," she replied calmly, making sure her voice remained steady, though there was a slight yful look in her eyes.

    "Nothing to worry about, us. It was important."

    us''s eyebrows furrowed, though he kept his tone respectful.

    "Something important? Guildmaster, you know how many eyes are on us right now. You just missed the Union director''s speech, meaning you didn''t hear the reforms he ns to make. This could have a small impact on our guild-"

    "Cameras exist, us. I can always ask any of the press members for footage. Besides that, official documents are always sent to the guild, so stop making a fuss about it."

    "This won''t be the first time someone has missed the Director''s speech. It''s not the end of the world."

    He could practically feel his strength leaving him with these words. He lost the will to continue arguing and simply let out a sigh as he said, "You have a point, ma''am."

    Anya then calmly replied, "Good, I''m d you agree." She then redirected her gaze to the podium where Alister stood, her gaze lingering on him, which for some reason made her

    smile slightly.

    As Alister stood at the podium, he looked around the audience with aposed and confident smile, his gaze sweeping across the sea of faces, many of whom were eagerly awaiting his

    words.

    With a slight pause, Alister spoke up clearly, his voice echoing effortlessly to every corner of

    the hall.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his tone smooth and authoritative, "I am Alister Hazenworth, rising star and MVP of the White Comet Guild. It''s a pleasure to stand before you

    today."

    A wave of camera shes erupted from the crowd, the photographers eager to capture every moment. Alister''s smile widened slightly as he acknowledged the attention, fully aware of the magnitude of the moment.

    He gestured to the side where his team members were seated. "I would like to take a moment to acknowledge my amazing teammates. While I may have performed better in certain aspects, each and every one of myrades has done an amazing job, and their efforts are no less valuable than my own."

    "I will continue to perform to the best of my abilities..."

    "...and strive to bring even greater sess to the White Comet Guild. Our journey is far from over, and the future holds countless opportunities for growth, for both myself and my team. Together, we will face every challenge head-on and rise to the asion."

    A brief pause followed as he surveyed the audience, his smile remaining calm and assured.

    "Thank you all for your support. It is an honor to stand here today, and I promise that I will not let you down."

    With that, the audience erupted into apuse, the sound echoing through the hall, a mixture of admiration and respect for his words and his presence. The camera shes intensified as photographers captured the moment.

    Once the pping began to subside, Alister raised his hand in a gesture of calm, signaling for the room to quiet down. He gave a small, respectful bow before looking out across the crowd

    with hisposed expression.

    "Are there any questions?"

    ...

    Outside the grand hall, The Annihtor adjusted her position on the rooftop, moving the

    crosshairs of her sniper rifle steadily.

    Through the scope, she located Alister standing at the podium, perfectly framed in her sights

    as he addressed the audience inside.

    Her gaze narrowed with as she clicked hermunicator, her voice barely a whisper.

    "Confirmed visual..."

    "Aiming... charging."

    As she spoke blue bars of energy began to slowly charge up by the sides of the sniper as it

    began to build up power for a very powerful shot.

    The sniper rifle was the cutting-edge Model XLR-7V. This weapon, provided by Liang specifically for this assignment, was no ordinary firearm.

    Not only was the shots from this weapon far more powerful than other snipers, coupled with the Animantium bullets it was loaded with along with her explosive talent. All of this would ensure that no matter what, Alister wouldn''t be surviving this shot.

    Liang wasn''t talking any chances. After Alister''s inexplicable victory against their raid team,

    Liang had decided not to underestimate him again.

    This time, they would make sure to finish the job, using the deadliest tools avable to

    eliminate any possibility of failure.

    ...

    Liang rose from his seat, a small smile on his lips as he turned to his father, Jian Li, and his

    grandfather, Han Li. His voice was calm as he spoke.

    "Father, grandfather..."

    "I believe It would be best if we leave now. We wouldn''t want to get caught in the st," he

    said, his tone light yet serious.

    Jian and Han exchanged knowing nces, the weight of Liang''s words sinking in. There was no need for further exnation-the intent was clear.

    Han nodded, his eyes hardening. "Very well," he replied, pushing his chair back and rising

    slowly.

    Jian, cing a hand on Liang''s shoulder in a brief but firm acknowledgment, added,

    "Then we should be on our way."

    The three of them moved, their expressions calm yet intense, knowing they had only a brief

    moment before everything would be thrown into chaos.

    ...

 Chapter 257: No Limits?

    Chapter 257: No Limits?

    ?

    Anya''s gaze followed Liang, his father, and grandfather as they quietly slipped out of the grand hall, their expressions calm but holding a certain intensity.

    us, noticing her distraction, leaned in and whispered, "Guildmaster, something wrong?"

    Without shifting her gaze, she replied, "I just have a feeling this party is going to end a little differently this year."

    Her eyes moved back to Alister, who stood confidently at the podium.

    Just then, a female reporter, sensing the building tension, seized the opportunity to ask the question on everyone''s mind. "Mr. Hazenworth, everyone here is dying to know-what exactly is your rtionship with Cinder?"

    A few murmurs rippled through the crowd as they waited for his response. Alister looked unfazed, meeting her gaze with an easy smile. "Cinder is my summon," he said simply. "Nothing more."

    The room buzzed with murmurs as the press digested his answer, some clearly dissatisfied with how simple it was.

    Another reporter jumped in quickly. "So then, are all of your summons dragons?"

    Alister nodded. "Yes."

    "Have you ever failed a summoning attempt?"

    Alister''s response was short, yet undeniably confident. "No."

    His words left the reporters and those who watched the event live in shock; nearly no one could believe what they were hearing.

    "Impossible-no failed summons at all?"

    "How can someone achieve that kind of record?"

    "Is he just naturally gifted? Or is it due to his talent rank?"

    "I thought all summoners struggled to get it right at least once..."

    "He''s either incredibly skilled or... something else entirely."

    But just as the questions seemed to be winding down, a peculiar woman in the back of the hall suddenly stood, her gaze sharp and intense.

    She carried herself with such confidence that it silenced the other reporters as she stepped forward.

    Her voice cut through the crowd, each word seeming like a challenge. "Mr. Hazenworth, while your disy at the event was impressive, none of us here know the true extent of your summoning capabilities."

    "Tell us, a Summoner usually has a limit to the number of summons they can possess."

    "Do you believe your limit will be at least ten times that of the highest recorded limit of ten?"

    "Or perhaps, do you believe you may be able to summon more?"

    The crowd''s attention snapped back to Alister, waiting to see how he would respond to her question.

    Alister let the question hang in the air for a moment. Then, with a small smile, he replied, "I don''t think I have a limit."

    "Ha!"

    "Hahaha haha!" Anya suddenly let out a loud bellyugh, causing all of her guild members to look her way.

    "What is so funny, Guildmaster?" one of them asked.

    us, who was closest to her, let out a sigh as he asked, "Perhaps you too find what he is saying hrious?"

    But Anya''s response shocked him. "No, I believe him."

    "Yeah, I thought so too, the kid-wait, what!?" us thought Anya agreed with him. "Why do you believe him?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Anya leaned into her seat with a smug smile as she said, "Call it instinct."

    "Instinct!? Really?"

    Her words caused a wave of shock to ripple through the room. Reporters and guests alike began murmuring in disbelief, struggling toprehend the weight of his statement.

    "Unbelievable... could that even be possible?"

    "No limit? Is he really that powerful?"

    "How can he say that with such certainty?"

    The peculiar woman, unfazed by the murmurs, pressed on, her eyes locked onto him. "And what makes you believe that, Mr. Hazenworth?"

    Alister paused, letting the anticipation build before he responded. "Because of the number of summons I currently possess."

    The murmuring in the crowd grew louder as everyone tried to grasp what he was implying. A few leaned forward in anticipation, eager to learn just how far Alister''s power extended.

    As the exchange continued, the Union director standing at the side of the stage narrowed his gaze, studying Alister with a touch of curiosity and skepticism.

    The atmosphere in the room was tense, thick with anticipation, as if everyone knew this line of questioning was about to unveil something remarkableˇŞor perhaps something entirely unbelievable.

    The peculiar reporter didn''t back down. Her eyes shed as she pressed further. "Are you implying..."

    "...that beyond the three summons you showcased during the Wastnd Disy Event, you have even more at your disposal?"

    Alister didn''t flinch. Instead, he leaned slightly forward, his gaze unyielding, and replied with a tone that carried a quiet authority. "At least over a hundred."

    A stunned silence fell over the hall. The initial shock was soplete, so deafening, that for a moment it seemed as if no one dared to even breathe. Then, like a dam breaking, a bunch of

    voices erupted.

    "This is absurd! How could any Summoner handle that many?"

    "Is he just trying to unt himself? No Summoner has ever held over ten, let alone a

    hundred!"

    "He''s either lying, or... or he''s on another level entirely."

    The murmurs quickly escted, a wave of disbelief and outrage sweeping across the room. Some used him of arrogance, of trying to bask in the spotlight with outrageous ims, while others wore expressions of fearful awe.

    The Union director''s expression tightened, his brows furrowing deeply. The piercing gaze he fixed on Alister hinted at more than skepticismˇŞit was as though he were seeing something dangerous, something that should have been kept hidden.

    The peculiar reporter, however, only smiled, her eyes glittering with intrigue. "Tell me, Mr. Hazenworth," she said, her voice cutting through the uproar, "what makes you think you can control such a number? Are we truly to believe that you can summon andmand over a hundred creatures without fail?"

    "How would you even have managed to obtain that many summoning conduits to perform that many summonings?"

    "The amount of mana it would have required, the resources to feed them all..."

    "Mr. Hazenworth, quite frankly, your imsck usibility, and don''t make any sense."

    Alister paused, then replied with a cold, distant look on his face, "I''m an SSS-ranked

    awakened, ma''am."

    "My abilities are not supposed to make sense."

    The reporter was about to speak again, but Alister interrupted her as he spoke, "Come forth,

    Terra, Draven, Alzuring, and Mar''Garet."

    "Your lord calls upon you."

    ...

    The room fell silent as five figures emerged from a ck rift behind Alister, their very presence drawing everyone''s attention. Each figure possessed a distinct aura, radiating power as they knelt before him, their voices echoing as they spoke together, "We greet our lord."

    The reporters were left speechless, jaws dropping as they tried toprehend what they were

    seeing.

    The team leaders of the White Comets shared simr reactions. But Yuuto simply smiled with pride, his eyes glimmering as if to say, "I expected nothing less from you, Alister."

    "Rise," Alistermanded.

    His generals stood as one, each now turned around and stood beside him, watching the crowd with piercing gazes that held both respect for their lord and a warning to any who might dare

    to doubt him.

    A reporter with a shaky voice managed to speak up.

    "But, Mr. Hazenworth, earlier you imed to have over one hundred summons, yet we only

    see five here. What about the rest?"

    Alister was unfazed by the question. "If I were to summon them all here, the hall wouldn''t be

    able to contain them."

    "Wouldn''t you agree?"

    A ripple of shocked murmurs spread through the crowd.

    "Is he really serious?"

    "And their auras are so strong..."

    "I can barely breathe with just these five here... imagine a hundred of them."

    "How could anyone control that many? It''s beyond any summoner''s power!"

    "Are they even safe? What if he loses control?"

    "If what he''s saying is really true then... a summoner like him could change entire battles on

    his own."

    "Or... maybe even an entire war. This is dangerous, no one should have that kind of power."

    "He says they''re loyal, but can we be sure? If one turns, it could be catastrophic."

    "He''s either a genius orpletely mad... maybe both."

    "But look at the dragons-they''re so devoted. They''d probably follow him into the depths of

    hell."

    "Still... a hundred? I just can''t wrap my head around it."

    The woman who had previously questioned Alister stepped forward again, her eyes a bit shaky but still filled with skepticism. "But how can you be sure of their loyalty, Mr. Hazenworth? They may appear respectful now, but how can you be certain that, in a moment of real danger, they would risk their lives for you?"

    Mar''Garet visibly bristled at the question, her eyes shing with a touch of irritation and

    disdain. "Why you-"

    But before she could finish, Alister raised his hand, extending it sideways to silence her. His gesture was simple, yetmanding, instantly halting Mar''Garet''s words. Turning back to the reporter, his gaze was calm yet intense as he answered, "I am absolutely certain that my

    dragons would dlyy down their lives to protect me. No matter the danger, no matter the threat-"

    BOOM!

    In that instant, a massive explosion urred.

 Chapter 258: Target An Overlord, Insult His Generals

    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.

    "CoughˇŞwhat... 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.

 Chapter 259: Unseen Chains

    Chapter 259: Unseen Chains

    ?

    The hall fellpletely silent as Terra began to move forward; the sounds of her footsteps seemed to dominate the entire space, her eyes locked on the immobilized woman in the crowd.

    Soon, whispers quickly erupted among the onlookers as they watched the dragon general advancing, a touch of curiosity, fear, and confusion spreading through the crowd.

    "Why is... she going after her like that?"

    "Isn''t that woman a Union official... isn''t she one of the good guys?"

    "Wait, is Alister''s dragon going against the Union now?"

    A reporter in the crowd murmured to his colleague, "Are they really turning on the Union?"

    An older reporter shook his head in disbelief. "This isn''t right... If they''re truly going rogue, the Union won''t let this slide."

    Others tried to reassure themselves. "No, she can''t be disobeying the Union. Alister wouldn''t let it go that far... right?"

    As Terra finally reached the restrained woman, she gritted her teeth, her expression showing a mix of anger and fear. Terra paused for a brief moment, her blue eyes glowing behind her sses, her gaze piercing into the woman''s eyes as if she could see right through her. Then, without a word, she slowly reached out, taking a firm hold of the woman''s hair.

    The woman gasped, barely holding back a cry of pain as Terra began dragging her across the floor and over all the debris, her expression hardening as she resisted, though unable to break free.

    Seeing this, the crowd''s murmurs grew louder.

    "Look at her! She''s treating her like a criminal already..."

    "Just what did that woman do for Alister''s dragon to react like this?"

    "Do they think they''re above the Union''s authority?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Maybe she really is a threat... why else would a dragon take it this far?"

    The tension in the room grew as Terra neared Alister, dragging the woman along, ignoring her pointless human protests. With a final, firm tug, she brought the woman to a stop before her lord, her gaze never wavering as she awaited his nextmand.

    Aethel''s voice echoed sharply through the hall as Terra finished dragging the woman before Alister.

    "What is the meaning of this, Mr. Hazenworth?" he demanded, stepping forward.

    "This behavior is uneptable, and if you don''t stop now, things could-"

    "Things could what?" Mar''Garet''s voice interrupted as she stepped forward, her eyes glinting dangerously. She twirled her spear, an amused smile on her face.

    "Yes, what do you intend to do?" Cinder asked, her words calm yet sounding like a threat as she fixed her gaze on Aethel.

    "Punish him?"

    "Or put him down?" Mar''Garet asked as well, her tone sharper now, her aura starting to radiate slowly.

    "Or chase him from this city?" Cinder asked, her voice bing as intense as Mar''Garet''s. Her aura red, a dark heat simmering in the air around her.

    Aethel appeared unfazed, but deep down he was uneasy, feeling suppressed under the twin pressure of theirbined presence.

    He gave a calm response, his aura no less intense than theirs. "Things could getplicated." "Oh?" Mar''Garet and Cinder said together, mockingly. As they took a step closer, their auras pulsed, sending waves of dark and warm mana across the room.

    The intensity of their power made Aethel, along with several of the Union board members, shift slightly. They remained calm on the surface, but unease crept into their minds.

    "Enough."

    Alister suddenly spoke, causing both their auras to instantly die down. His tone was cold and firm, leaving no room for argument.

    "Both of you will remain silent. Until I permit you, neither of you is to speak again tonight. Have I made myself clear?"

    Mar''Garet and Cinder exchanged a brief nce before lowering their heads. "Yes, my lord."

    They replied together, the oppressive atmosphere they had created vanished, leaving an uneasy silence in its wake.

    ''There it is again, they listen to him without question,'' Aethel thought, narrowing his gaze. ''If he canmand such obedience from these powerful creatures, then it is very likely the monster that wiped out the Reapers may be a summon of his.''

    ''After all, he said he has over a hundred. That one could easily be among the ones he didn''t summon.''

    In the background, among the murmurs of the crowd, Chen sauntered over to Adrian and Eryx with his usual confident, almost mocking demeanor. He leaned in slightly, his grin sharp as he watched the scene unfolding before them.

    "Damn, the Summoner kid practically has the Union director by the balls," he said, chuckling lowly. "No one''s ever managed that before."

    Adrian and Eryx both turned their heads in his direction, their expressions hardening the moment they saw him.

    Adrian''s eyes narrowed, his jaw tensing as he shot a nce at Eryx, silently sharing his frustration. "Great," Adrian muttered under his breath, "just what we needed."

    Eryx crossed his arms and shot Chen a look of pure disdain. "Do us a favor, Chen, and stay out of this," he snapped, his voice dripping with annoyance.

    Chen raised both hands in mock surrender, his grin widening. "Hey, hey, no need to be so harsh." He tilted his head in feigned confusion. "I''m justmenting on the show. You guys act like I''m up to no good or something."

    Adrian scoffed, not even trying to hide his distaste. "Is there ever a time when you''re not up to no good?"

    Chen feigned a thoughtful look, tapping his chin dramatically. "Hmm, I suppose not. But hey, that''s just me, isn''t it?" He winked, clearly enjoying the irritation he was causing.

    "Anyway, don''t let me interrupt your little grumpy party. Just thought you''d want to chat a bit about what''s going on here."

    Adrian and Eryx both exchanged a brief, pointed look, then turned back to the scene unfolding before them, choosing to ignore Chen. It wasn''t worth engaging with him any further,

    especially when he was clearly enjoying pushing their buttons.

    Chen''s grin didn''t fade as he continued watching the drama unfold, his voice lowering

    slightly as he spoke with a mocking tone. "Though..."

    "...the kid''s summons are no joke. I mean, even one of them could give the director a real run

    for his money."

 Chapter 260: Old Wounds, New Battles

    Chapter 260: Old Wounds, New Battles

    ?

    Adrian, his eyes still fixed on the scene before him didn''t need to look at Chen to know he was speaking the truth.

    He folded his arms, his expression darkening as he assessed the power of the dragons and the mana he could feel from them.

    "I''ll have to agree..."

    "By their mana purity alone, I can tell they''re at least SS rank, if not SSS."

    Eryx nodded, "They''re not just any summons. These creatures are strong."

    Chen chuckled lightly, tapping his fingers on his chin. "Oh, I can see that. It''s like a showdown of power-though I doubt Aethel''s even realized just how far out of his depth he is yet."

    Adrian shot Chen a quick, irritated nce. "You''re enjoying this far too much."

    Chen just smirked, clearly unfazed by the exchange. "Hey, you know me. I appreciate a good show when I see one."

    Chen''s expression suddenly changed, now having a more intense look on his face. "But..."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "This is going a bit too far..."

    "What''s old Yuuto thinking, letting his kid run wild like this? Someone needs to rein him in."

    Adrian raised an eyebrow at the mention of the old man. "Now that you mention it..."

    "...I haven''t seen the old man around for a while. Think he actually supports this?"

    Eryx shrugged casually as he spoke. "Beats me. I''ve heard rumors that the immortal geezer and the Union president are old pals," he said with a sly grin.

    "So I doubt they''ll be handing out any heavy punishment to the kid. If anything, they might just give him a little p on the wrist."

    Chen narrowed his eyes, his mind working through the implications. "That kind of rtionship could exin a lot," he muttered, his tone tinged with skepticism. "But still... it''s a dangerous game they''re ying. I don''t like it."

    Adrian leaned back, his arms crossed. "We''ve seen this before, haven''t we? The kid might be in over his head, but with connections like that, it''s hard to imagine him facing any real consequences."

    Eryx chuckled darkly. "Yeah, but when has that ever stopped things from getting messy?" He nced over at the unfolding scene. "This might just be the calm before the storm."

    "And by storm I''m sure little miss Aiko will have a thing or two to say after all this is over."

    ...

    Meanwhile, far away from the Union''s grand hall, Yuuto walked down a quiet sidewalk, his footsteps echoing softly in the stillness of the night as hover cars flew by.

    He wasn''t in a rush, despite the task he had set for himself. He was trailing the Li family''s transport, which had departed long ago.

    His intention was clear: he nned to offer a little enlightenment on what happens to those who target an overlord. However, Yuuto wasn''t interested in confronting them immediately. No, he had a more satisfying n in mind.

    He wanted them to get home, to settle in, to bask in their perceived victory. Only once they were in the midst of celebrating, believing themselves victorious, would he arrive.

    That was when defeat hit hardest-when one believed they had already won, only to discover that wasn''t the case, but in this sense calling want he nned to do a defeat would be taking it lightly. It would be more urate to say... A purge then reset, to discard the pieces on the table and rece them with new ones.

    As he walked through the alley, the world around him seemed oblivious to his presence. Normally, one would expect that a guild master of his standing-especially one with a reputation as old and fearsome as his-would draw at least a few curious nces.

    People would look up, recognize him, maybe even whisper his name in awe or fear. But as he moved through the quiet streets, no one took notice. It was almost as if he were invisible, blending seamlessly into the background.

    It was due to a strange aura he had enveloped his body in, one that made his dissappear from sight to those without the sharpest of mana perceptions.

    As Yuuto continued down the sidewalk, he suddenly felt a small vibration against his chest. He paused mid-stride.

    Reaching into his chest pocket, he pulled out a small, with a swift tap, the cube expanded and into his phone.

    Yuuto''s eyesnded on the screen, and the moment he saw the name shing on it, his body went tense, the temperature around him seeming to drop just a fraction.

    His already intense expression became something darker, the upper half of his face became almostpletely obscured by his hair, casting a shadow over his eyes.

    A feeling of irritation-and something much more dangerous-began to swell within Yuuto, his hand tightening around the phone.

    He had known this moment woulde eventually, but he had hoped, for just a little longer, that he could remain detached from it.

    Yet, here it was. The one person who, despite everything, still had the audacity to disturb him.

    The call was from him.

    The world''s strongest human, the one who held all the power across all the mega cities. The only known EX ranked Awakened.

    Galisk.

    Otherwise known by the moniker "Monarch Of Light."

    With a slow motion, Yuuto answered the call.

    "What is it?"

    He asked, his words dry yet intense, as if he were speaking to an insect that had dared to interrupt his peace.

    Galisk''s voice came through with a low, almost forced chuckle. "How have you been, old

    friend?"

    Yuuto''s eyes narrowed, and he leaned back against the cold metal of a streetlight, the irritation in his voice could clearly be felt, though those who passed by couldnt hear him due

    to the aura aroud him.

    "Fantastic, actually. Ever since I left Mega City X, it''s been bliss. No more seeing your irritating face, if you can believe it."

    His lips curved into a smirk, though there was a touch of bitterness beneath it. "I''ve even relearned how to hope, how to smile... although..." his gaze darkened, "I still haven''t shaken the trauma that the Wastnds left me with. Just looking at those sands... and all I see are

    visions of that day."

    "My kids wanted me to join them in the Wastnd Disy Event again... but I still turned

    them down..."

    "Because I knew the moment I stepped out there I''d nearly be paralysed with fear."

    "I wouldn''t be able to properly lead them..." He gritted his teeth.

    "I wouldn''t be able to meet their expectations!"

 Chapter 261: Echoes Of The Past, Shadows Of The Future

    Chapter 261: Echoes Of The Past, Shadows Of The Future

    ?

    He looked at his other hand, now shaky, and said, "I, Yu''Keto Von Chrono-Void, the Timeless One, terrified of sand. I''m sure mydy wouldugh if she saw me." He managed a dark chuckle.

    He then sighed slightly and said, "But you know what?"

    "Something came up that endangered their lives... I didn''t want to lose more people precious to me to those sands..."

    "So I finally managed to step out... Though I felt like I could fall over at any moment."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "But I hid it. I kept it inside."

    There was a pause on the line, and for a moment, it almost sounded as if Galisk was hesitating. "Yeah, well... me too-"

    "Bullshit." Yuuto''s voice sliced through Galisk''s words, sharp and intense.

    "You''re thest person I want to hear that from. Do you think you''re allowed the luxury of fear, Mr. Number One? The world''s strongest human?"

    Galisk let out a resigned sigh. "I know you won''t believe me, Yuuto, and maybe that''s justified. But this isn''t the first time, and it won''t be thest, that I say it. I''m sorry. I really am. But..."

    "...the past... that''s not why I''m calling you now."

    Yuuto''s hand tightened around the phone, his knuckles turning white.

    "The past?" he echoed, his tone deadly quiet. "You dare refer to her death as ''the past,'' Galisk?"

    The silence between them grew colder, heavier, until it felt like the air itself could shatter. "It''s only because of herst order to me that you''re still breathing, old friend. If it weren''t for her, you wouldn''t be here to call her death ''the past.'' So tread carefully."

    For a brief moment, all that filled the silence was the low hum of passing hover cars.

    Galisk''s voice softened. "I''m... sorry, Yuuto."

    "It''s my fault, I understand."

    "But you know I didn''t call to rehash old wounds, and certainly not to discuss her death." Yuuto''s grip on the phone tightened, his jaw clenched as he fought back memories he''d buried long ago. He inhaled slowly, containing his irritation. "Then spit it out, Galisk. I''m no mind reader."

    He said that, though he knew clearly why he was calling.

    There was a slight pause on the other end, then Galisk''s voice came through, calm but almost vulnerable.

    "You know..."

    "I finally cracked the riddle she left me..." He took a deep breath, then breathed out.

    "And the fact it took me so many years to find out makes me feel so stupid." He let out a dark chuckle.

    "Can''t believe I spent all that time with her yet I didn''t really know her."

    "A treasure she would dly go against the world for."

    "I thought it was some artifact or a way of saving her world that was destroyed..."

    "...so I searched this world for treasure, or some sort of anomaly."

    "Sadly, I didn''t find anything, making me feel hopeless and frustrated."

    "I had almost lost all hope."

    "But as the Union president, it''s my job to review the details of major events that happen in each Megacity."

    "So I eventually came to hear of a young Summoner that summoned dragons..."

    "Dragons, of all things."

    "So I checked out all his details, was surprised to see he had her face, my sharp eyes... Even more surprised to find out he had a sister with her silver hair."

    Yuuto gritted his teeth, then asked, "Where are you going with this?"

    There was a short pause, but then the next words came out firm, as if there was no doubt in his mind.

    "I want to see them, Yuuto."

    Galisk said, "My children. My son, Alister, and my daughter, Miyu."

    "Why didn''t you tell me they were alive?"

    The silence that followed was thick.

    Yuuto resumed walking, his footsteps echoing as he processed Galisk''s request. His voice, cold and razor-sharp, as he spoke.

    "Because everything that gets involved with you... ends up in ruins, Galisk."

    He paused, ncing up at the dimly lit buildings that lined the street. "This world, mydy, my former team leaders-all of them were doomed the moment they crossed paths with you. And don''t even get me started on what you did to me."

    There was silence on the line, but Yuuto continued, not caring if his words hit like daggers.

    "Some might call you a savior, a shining light..."

    "But you''re the worst thing that''s happened in the lives of everyone who''s ever known you." He could almost picture Galisk''s face on the other end of the call, probably set in that calm, irritatingly unfazed expression he always wore. It only fueled Yuuto''s resentment further. "Do you really think seeing Alister and Miyu will make things better? That it''ll change anything?"

    His voice dropped, dripping with venom. "You ruin everything you touch. And I won''t stand by while you do the same to them."

    Galisk gritted his teeth, the silence between them filled with a tension that could snap at any moment. When he finally spoke, his voice held an emotion Yuuto hadn''t heard from him in years-raw, unfiltered bitterness.

    "I know, Yuuto..."

    "I know I haven''t exactly lived a life worth praising. Hell, I acknowledge that my existence has probably been more of a curse than a blessing to everyone I''ve ever involved myself

    with."

    He paused, and Yuuto could almost picture him struggling to keep hisposure. "But does that mean I deserve to be kept in the dark about my own children?"

    Galisk''s voice grew sharper, almost pleading yet filled with barely controlled anger.

    "My daughter, Yuuto. My own daughter-who I haven''t even met has only a few days to live, and you didn''t think it was necessary to tell me? I know you hate me, and maybe I

    deserve that. But isn''t this going a bit too far, even for you?"

    Yuuto felt a flicker of something deep within him-a hesitation, a momentary doubt-but he

    pushed it down, refusing to let Galisk sense any weakness.

    "For the revival of the dragon race, Miyu is going to have to die."

    "What!?"

    There was a tense silence, and then Galisk''s voice surged with both shock and anger.

    "Yuuto, have you gone mad? What would Aleo'' Reia think if she heard you, talking about her daughter''s death as if it were some tactical move?"

    Yuuto''s face tightened as he exhaled slowly. "Do you think this decision doesn''t pain me? But it''s a reality, Galisk. A fact of the dragons'' resurgence that I cannot turn my back on."

    "What ''fact''? You''re saying this as if there''s no other way."

    Yuuto sighed, "As I''m sure you''ve noticed, every dragon Alister summons... they''re not just creatures of immense power. They''re beings that had long since met their end, dragons who perished centuries, millennia-even eons ago. And yet...

    "Alister is bringing them back. In the annals of dragon history, there''s only one being who could revive a dragon once their spirit faded-the Dragon God himself." Galisk''s tone shifted, his anger cooling. "I... I understand the magnitude of what Alister is

    doing, Yuuto."

    "No, I don''t think you do," Yuuto said, his voice dropping. "If Alister indeed inherited the Dragon God''s power, then Darkness wille for this world once more. The dragon race may be on the brink of revival, but so is the very force that practically led to their extinction." Galisk went silent, absorbing the weight of those words before pressing on, desperation

    creeping into his voice.

    "Fine, I get it. But how does any of this justify why Miyu has to die?"

    Yuuto''s gaze turned distant as he answered, the weariness in his voice more present than ever.

    "Because... for any dragon heir to truly rise as the Overlord, they must be acknowledged by the

    heirloom. And for that to happen..."

    "...they have to be the only living heir."

 Chapter 262: Echoes Of The Past, Shadows Of The Future Part Two

    Chapter 262: Echoes Of The Past, Shadows Of The Future Part Two

    ?

    Yuuto''s voice grew heavy as he spoke, his tone bearing the weight of a dark, undeniable truth. "It''s inevitable that Darkness will descend again, Galisk. And when it does, Alister will need to be at his absolute strongest to stand a chance. If he falls, the entire dragon race-no, this world-will be wiped out, erased from existence. There''s no other path forward."

    Galisk''s voice held a note of frustration. "You say that like you''re not even here, Yuuto. Aren''t you supposed to be the most powerful being on the? A true dragon?"

    "If anyone is going to stand against this Darkness, shouldn''t it be you? I know you may not care much for humanity, but surely, you''d protect dragonkind."

    "Or are you trying to say that won''t be the case?"

    Yuuto let out a weary sigh, almost as if he were speaking to himself as much as to Galisk. "For him to truly grow, Galisk, he needs to struggle. He has to learn to stand on his own, to fight battles he believes he might not survive. How will he be able to do that if we''re by his side, protecting him from every threat? That''s part of the reason I haven''t told him who I am... or that you''re his father."

    Galisk''s fists clenched on the other end of the line. "So... you''re letting him struggle. Letting him suffer. And you''re letting his sister die, just to ensure he''ll be ready to face some battle we could shield him from?"

    Yuuto gritted his teeth. "There you go again, getting overconfident. You''re forgetting it was this same Darkness that killed mydy-the one you were powerless to protect her from."

    Yuuto''s reference to the past was answer enough, but Galisk pressed on, his voice growing more intense.

    "What do you think he''ll think of you when he learns the truth? That his sister, the one he''s desperately trying to save, is the very person you''re willing to sacrifice for some ''power- boosting'' crystal? What will he think when he realizes you''d let her die to make him stronger?"

    "Or the fact you didn''t tell him he has a father?"

    Yuuto''s gaze turned cold, almost distant, as he walked a few paces from the main gates of the Li family estate.

    "It doesn''t matter what he thinks of me. What matters is that he''s prepared for what''sing. If he isn''t, then he''s no different from any other dragon Overlord who fell to Darkness ages ago. This is the only way."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    A silence followed, thick with the weight of a thousand unsaid words. Finally, Galisk spoke, his tone filled with a depth of sadness Yuuto had rarely heard from him.

    "You''re wrong, Yuuto. Strength gained at the cost of everything he loves... that isn''t true strength. You think you''re preparing him for what''s toe, but all you''re doing is teaching him to hate."

    "What will you do if that loss drives him mad?"

    Yuuto held the phone close, his voice low. "You may be right, Galisk, or you may be wrong. In the end, it''s Alister who will decide what the right answer is. Right now, he''s determined to save her-so determined he''s blind to the fact that doing so might mean he can''t save himself, let alone the world. But... maybe if hees to understand, to truly understand, that he can save both... well, things might y out differently."

    There was a pause on the line, and Galisk''s voice finally broke the silence. "Then why don''t you just tell him?"

    "No." Yuuto''s response was curt, unwavering. "As an Overlord, Alister mustmit to what he believes in. If he''s to wield power, he has to know the weight of his choices, and face the consequences. Guiding his hand would be a betrayal."

    Galisk''s tone shifted, carrying a note of frustration. "So, you''re just going to take a hands-off approach? Stand back and watch as things fall into ce, hoping for the best?"

    Yuuto''s gaze drifted into the distance, but his voice remainedposed. "It''s the best thing I can do. Some paths have to be walked alone, without interference."

    Galisk let out a sharp exhale, his impatience seeping through the line. "No, I won''t leave this up to chance, Yuuto. I won''t just sit back and hope things y out like you hope they will. I''ll being for the both of them, if that''s what it takes."

    Yuuto''s hand tightened on the phone, his voice dropping to an almost predatory calm. "You can try, Galisk. But if you do, you''ll only seed over my dead body."

    Galisk yelled in shock, "What?!"

    Yuuto''s tone softened, as he then spoke in a cold, intense tone. "Galisk, the moment I find out you''re trying to interfere, I''ll make quick work of you. You won''t even see the city walls."

    Galisk then asked defiantly. "Is that supposed to be a threat?"

    Yuuto''s lips curled into a dark, knowing smile, though his eyes held no warmth. "No, my friend. It''s a promise."

    "So you now intend to go against herst orders?"

    Yuuto responded, saying, "She said not to take out the pain of the past or her death on you." "So this is not about her death, or the past. It''s about you trying to endanger the survival of the dragon race, and I will not stand back and watch it happen."

    Yuuto''s fingers twitched as Galisk''s calm words rang through the line.

    "You think that will stop me? Since when have impossible odds kept me from reaching out to those I care about?"

    Yuuto''s voice dropped, the mana around him intensifying as his silver eyes turned reptilian. "Never, Galisk. But I am not some impossible odd. I am absolute. I''ve given you my word-if I sense your presence, or any of your Light soldiers, anywhere close to this city... it''ll be lights out for you."

    Galisk chuckled, not the least bit threatened. "Yuuto, you and I both know you can''t erase me from the past. If you do, Alister won''t exist. And you can''t kill or risk to wound me either, or the world will lose the pir keeping it from being raided by cosmic forces and the Celestials. So, let''s be honest-your words are empty. A bluff."

    Yuuto fell silent, the weight of Galisk''s words settling like iron. He knew Galisk was right; removing him would unravel a bnce that even Yuuto, with all his power, could not restore. Galisk''s tone softened as he said, "But I respect you, Yuuto. I understand howplex all of this is. So, I''ll give the boy more time. If my daughter has only five days left... I wille." Yuuto''s jaw tightened, his teeth gritting as he forced himself to ask, "So, if Alister saves her, you''ll stay away?"

    "Yes... for now," Galisk replied, a trace of emotion slipping through. "But he is my son, Yuuto. It''s inevitable-I''ll meet him one day."

    "And it will be sooner rather thanter."

    The line clicked silent, and Yuuto remained still, thinking about the thin thread of time left

    for Alister.

    Yuuto slipped the cube back into his pocket, muttering to himself, "That annoying human bastard... always needing things his way. Seems he hasn''t changed after all these years."

    He looked up at the moon hanging in the night sky, its cold silver light casting a soft glow over the street. In the silence, Yuuto''s gaze softened, and his voice dropped to a murmur, as though he were speaking directly to the moon itself.

    "Alister... the fate of the dragon race and all who inhabit this realm lies in your hands. Perhaps, with the power of the Dragon God, you''ll carve out a different path. Somehow, you might even find a way to im the heirloom''s power without sacrificing your sister." Yuuto

    paused, lost in thought.

    "Or... perhaps you''ll rise, be so powerful that you won''t need it at all."

    A low chuckle escaped his lips, filled with warmth and pride.

    "Who knows?"

    He said, shaking his head. In that moment, a glimmer of hope appeared in his silver eyes.

 Chapter 263 Lightning In Pursuit

    263 Lightning In Pursuit

    ''750 meters.... 700 meters... 650 meters...''

    Draven''s eyes narrowed as he counted down the distance to his target, his mind zeroed in on every meter that closed the gap.

    VOOM!

    He sped through the streets, leaving a massive gust of wind and a streak of purple lightning in his wake. People on the sidewalks gasped, their heads whipping around to catch a glimpse of the blur that had just rocketed past them as snack papers were kicked up by the wind.

    "What was that?!"

    "Did you see that? Looked like lightning, but... purple?"

    "Was it a jet? No way it''s moving that fast down here!"

    Cars on the road were no exception. Draven made his way around them effortlessly, overtaking vehicles with ease. Many drivers nced out their windows in confusion, seeing only a blur pass them by.

    One driver spike nervously, "What the heck? I didn''t even see him in my mirror..."

    He reached to adjust his side mirror, trying to check if it wasn''t ced well hence hisck of not being able to see what zoomed by. As he did, he caught a faint glint in the sky, his eyes widening as he got a better look.

    "Is... is that a man with wings?" he shouted.

    Other drivers and pedestrians started ncing upward, their eyes following the shimmering blue sparks shimmering through the sky as Alzuring flew past.

    "Look! Up there!"

    "Are those... wings?!"

    "Quickly! Take a photo!"

    Some pulled out their phones, eagerly recording the strange sight as Alzuring shot through the air, streaking across the sky.

    A child tugged on their parent''s arm, pointing excitedly, "Mom, look! It''s like a real-life superhero!"

    Draven continued to make his way through the city with ease.

    Ahead of him, a long truck lumbered into view, blocking the narrowne he was in. Draven''s eyes narrowed as he sized it up, and in an instant, time seemed to slow down.

    The sound of his pulse became a low, steady drumbeat as he closed in on the truck.

    In one smooth motion, he slipped his sword into a ck rift that tore open beside him, its edge vanishing into the dark void.

    With his hands free, he dropped into a low slide, his body angling down toward the narrow gap beneath the truck''s undercarriage.

    The instant his scales brushed the ground, they sparked against the road.

    He adjusted his position with a slight twist, narrowly avoiding a steel beam by inches, his eyes focused forward. The world outside the gap was a blur of motion, pedestrians and drivers gasping as they saw a streak of purple lightning sh beneath the truck.

    In a single, fluid movement, Draven emerged from the other side, momentum carrying him back upright with ease.

    Without missing a beat, he raised his hand and summoned his sword back from the rift with a quick flick. The de materialized in his grip, glinting in the moonlight as he resumed his sprint, his speed building again as he moved deeper into the city, his sights set dead ahead. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ''250 meters... 200 meters... 150 meters...'' He continued to count down in his thoughts.

    Meanwhile...

    The assassin moved swiftly, slipping items into her small bag, strapping on her gear. She straddled her sleek, dark bike, fingers brushing the ignition when her watch suddenly vibrated.

    She nced down, and a holographic message blinked to life in the dim light.

    ˇŞˇŞˇŞˇŞˇŞˇŞˇŞˇŞ¦ę

    Mission failed. Run!

    ¦ë¨CˇŞˇŞˇŞˇŞˇŞˇŞˇŞ

    Her eyes narrowed. "What?" she was shocked. She noticed the sender: her sister, Lyria. The one who had been her eyes on the inside as a union official.

    They had promised to only ever used audio formunication. So this text and was she sent caused a chill to go down her spine.

    She whispered, "Lyria... how didˇŞdamn it." Her gaze darted around the shadowed alleyway as she spoke to herself, trying to piece it together. "How could this fail? Everything was perfect."

    Memory stirredˇŞshe embers som of the info she got on her target and thag he possessed a summon capable of very high speed movement as shown in the Wastnd Disy event.

    A bitterugh escaped her. If that thing wasing, she''d be done for.

    Gritting her teeth, she revved the engine. "No choice but to run."

    The assassin mmed her helmet down, the engine roaring to life. With a twist of the throttle, the bike shot forward, tearing through the streets.

    Draven continued his sprint, and soon he could see the building where the shot was taken from in the distance.

    Ne narrowed his gaze as he increased his speed, he sprinted up the side of the structure, his powerful legs propelling him up the walls. In a sudden burst of motion, he leaped into the air,nding on the edge of the building with such force that cracks rippled across the concrete beneath him.

    He looked around, his eyes narrowing as he searched for any sign of her.

    Alzuring soonnded beside him with a soft thud, his wings folding back against his body. He nced around, his eyes immediately searching the horizon.

    "Where''s the human?" he asked.

    Draven''s sharp eyes caught a glimpse of something moving in the distance. "There," he said, pointing toward the horizon where the bike was speeding away.

    He tensed, ready to give chase, but before he could make a move, Alzuring''s hand gripped his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.

    "Calm your rage, Draven," Alzuring said. "Our lord gave us one order: bring them back alive."

    Draven''s eyes shed with a hint of frustration. "Indeed our lord said to bring them back alive."

    He paused for a moment, narrowing his gaze as he added, "But he never said unharmed."

    Alzuring smiled, "You have a point."

    Alzuring narrowed his gaze, his expression was serious as he approached the edge of the building.

    The wind whistled around him as he pulled out his long, bone-like bow, the weapon gleaming in the moon light.

    He gracefully notched two arrows made of wind, the air whipping around intensely. The string of the bow appeared, made of his blue mana as he drew it back, the wind arrows swriling around causing his hair to whip around violently.

    With a smooth motion, Alzuring released the string. The arrow shot through the air with a sudden burst, a streak of wind cutting through the sky as it locked onto the speeding assassin below.

    ---

    As the assassin made her way through the city, her mind raced.

    ''If I head to Korr''s ce, I should be able toy low for a while.''

    She gripped the handlebars tighter, the wind against her helmet, her gaze narrowdy. She wasn''t going to be caught that easily.

    But thenˇŞ

    A massive shockwave of force mmed into the ground in front of her, causing the asphalt to crack and sending a cloud of dust billowing into the air. The force was so powerful that her bike skidded sideways, throwing her off bnce.

    The sudden explosion of impact sent shockwaves through the air, leaving a sudden silence as people on the streets scrambled to cover.

    "What was that?!"

    One bystander shouted, squinting through the dust cloud.

    "Something hit the ground with a huge bang! What the hell?!"

    "Is this an attack? Should we run?"

    "Where''s the sting from?!"

    The dust swirled around the area, obscuring the view of anyone who could''ve been caught in the explosion.

    Through the growing dust cloud, the assassin slowly pulled herself out with her hands, crawling, gasping for breath.

    She caught a wheeze of blood in her throat, feeling it drip down onto the ss of her helmet. Weakly, she ripped it off, her fingers trembling as she tried to clear her vision.

    Her breaths came in ragged gasps as she wiped the blood from her lips, staring into the distance with narrowed eyes. That shot hade from above, and the feeling in her gut told her she wasn''t out of danger yet. She needed to move... now.

    The assassin''s vision blurred with pain as she attempted to push herself to her feet, but as she tried to straighten her posture, an intense pain shot through her abdomen, so violent that her legs buckled beneath her.

    She gasped, her hand instinctively clutching her side, but the moment her fingers brushed the area, she was shocked.

    Her right side was torn open. The skin was shredded, the wound deep enough that she could see the raw, exposed insides were spilling out, blood pooling around her.

    ''The impact. Whatever that wasˇŞit wasn''t just an explosion.''

    She gritted her teeth, fighting back the wave of nausea threatening to overwhelm her.

    "Dammit!" she shouted.

    The assassin''s trembling hand fumbled for her earpiece, her fingers coverd in blood as she tried to connect to her contact.

    "Hay... I need helˇŞ"

    "So this is the human who attempted to harm our lord?" a voice suddenly spoke.

    "Indeed," a second voice replied, colder than the first.

    Startled by the voices, her head jerked upward, her vision swimming from the blood loss and pain, but she caught sight of two figures standing before her.

    Her eyes shook with fear as she gazed at them.

    One had eyes glowing an icy blue, the other purple, crackling with electricity. The air around them seemed to vibrate, thick with their aura radiating off their bodies.

    Draven stood tall, his massive greatsword resting casually on his shoulder, his intense gaze fixed on the injured assassin, narrowing as he assessed her wounded body.

    "It believe it be best if we enlightened her on the weight of her actions." Draven said.

    Alzuring, standing beside him replied calmly.

    "I agree. But let''s not be too harsh on her, Draven. Humans tend to be fragile after all."

    He said, yet he gazed at her with a cold detached intensity, as though he were gazing at an insect.

    His words unexpectedly gentle as though he genuinely thought it necessary to spare some mercy.

    ...

 Chapter 264 The Eye Of The Storm

    264 The Eye Of The Storm

    Back in the grand hall, the air was tense as Terra stood before Alister, the woman she had pulled in kneeling by her side.

    Alister called out softly, narrowing his gaze. "Terra, care to exin why you have brought this woman before me?"

    Terra bowed her head slightly, then turned to face the woman. "I noticed that, among all who were present here, she was the only one wearing a rather peculiar set of equipment beneath her clothing."

    Terra proceeded to grab the Union uniform the woman was wearing by the shoulder and ripped it off, revealing a ck metallic tech suit beneath. This caused the tense gaze of the Union director to ease slightly.

    Alister then turned to Aethel, who had now calmed down, and said, "So, as I''m sure you see, this woman is a spy. Hence my summon''s hostile action toward her. I hope this clears up all earlier misunderstandings."

    Aethel slowly let out a sigh and said, "It does. I apologize for my earlier jump to conclusions."

    A murmur swept through the few remaining members of the press, who had been watching the exchange with a touch of awe and nervousness.

    "Didˇ­ did she infiltrate the Union?"

    "This is getting serious. Who would send a spy against the Union?"

    "They have no idea who they''re dealing with."

    Terra raised the woman up by her hair again, causing her to grit her teeth in pain. Terra then adjusted her sses, causing them to glint, her blue dragon eyes narrowing as she asked, "My lord, may I proceed with the questioning?"

    Off to the side, Hiroshi nudged Ren with his elbow, leaning in close to whisper, "Alister''s dragons are no joke. Terra''s even scarier than Lady Aiko."

    Alister slowly narrowed his gaze toward the woman. "Go ahead."

    Looking at the Union director from the corner of his eyes, he then asked, "Or do you also have a problem with that, sir?"

    Aethel locked eyes with Alister for a moment before he sighed and said, "You may do as you wish. I''m sure not only you but your guild members as well as the other guilds and the public still watching, and those who are recording, are all eager to find out who would want to ruin such a momentous day."

    "I am as well."

    Hiroshi leaned closer to Ren, curiosity in his voice. "What exactly did the Union director mean?"

    "Is monumentalˇŞalmost sacredˇŞfor all the megacities. It''s not only the guilds that hold it in high regard but also the people."

    "If the Union dys uncovering who''s behind this attempt on Alister, public dissatisfaction will skyrocket. Everyone is eager to know who dared to disrupt such a day." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    He nced briefly at Alister and his dragons before continuing. "That''s also why none of the guild masters have interfered with Alister''s actions. If they did, it might look as though they were somehow involved in the assassination attempt themselves."

    "Or they would be downying the significance of what had happened."

    Kaida, listening closely, chimed in, "But what about Lady Aiko?"

    Ren and Hiroshi''s gaze drifted to Lady Aiko, standing in the distance atop a pile of rubble from a broken building that had fallen earlier. The explosion from the bullet, where a misdirected stage light asionally flickered across her figure, cast a glint across her sses each time.

    Ren adjusted his sses again, his voice lowered. "I''m not entirely sure, but I have a feeling she can''t intervene. If she did, it would make the White Comets look weakˇŞhaving their rising star and MVP targeted, only for her to halt the investigation. It would paint her in a bad light and might turn Alister''s growing fanbase against her."

    Kaida nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense now," she said, ncing between Ren and Hiroshi.

    "Agreed," Hiroshi added. "With that kind of reputation at stake, Lady Aiko can''t afford to interfere."

    Razorgrin, listening to the exchange, shifted slightly. "Butˇ­ don''t you think Alister''s taking things a bit too far?"

    Ren gave a slight, knowing smirk as he adjusted his sses. "He has to," he replied.

    "A Summoner needs to be a little ruthless tomand ruthless creatures. In Alister''s case, hemands powerful, prideful dragons. Think about itˇŞif you encountered dragons of this caliber in a dungeon, do you think they''d allow even the slightest disrespect to go unchecked?"

    The group fell silent as Ren''s words sank in, and they began to understand Alister''s situation.

    Alister then spoke calmly, "Alright, proceed, Terra."

    Terra''s dragon pupils simmered intensely, focused on him. The weight of hismand settled in her mind. "Understood," she replied.

    Redirecting her gaze to the woman she held up by her hair, causing her to shake with fear.

    Just thenˇŞ

    VOOM!

    The sound of wind whistling violently filled the hall as Draven burst through the door, dragging the battered and bruised assassin behind him. She was bloodied, her body filled with bruises and cuts, but somehow, she remained conscious.

    As Draven threw her down onto the ground with a loud thud, the room fell silent for a heartbeat.

    All eyes shifted toward him, the shock of the scene striking everyone like a physical blow.

    Before us could ask her what she was doing, Halzor, who had been observing from the sidelines, leaned in slightly and asked, "What''s up with her? She''s... extra cheerful today?"

    15:34

    The reporters, still gathered in the room, whispered to one another in disbelief.

    "Did itˇ­ do that to her?"

    "She''s barely aliveˇŞwhat happened to her? She looks like she was tortured."

    "Is she even conscious?"

    "This is brutality... but then, they are dragons. Perhaps we shouldn''t be surprised."

    "But still, for an interrogation? I don''t know if she''llst long enough to say anything."

    "Who knew the White Comet Guild could be this ruthless?"

    A hushed murmur spread, with some even stepping closer to capture the scene on their devices, unable to tear their eyes away from the grim spectacle.

    Suddenly, the ground trembled as Alzuring descended from the shattered window, his massive wings folding against his body. The shards of ss sparkled in the air as hended with the precision of a predator.

    Draven looked around the hall, his eyes finally locking onto Ivy, who had been standing nearby, watching the entire scene unfold. His gaze narrowed, and his voice was cold.

    "You," he yelled, pointing directly at her, "Human healer. Get over here."

    He paused for a beat, his finger still aimed at her.

    "And heal her," hemanded.

    us opened his mouth to protest, his brow furrowing as he crossed his arms. "Look, I get it, you''re a dragon, but you can''t justmand members ofˇŞ"

    But before he could finish, Ivy shed Draven a smile that was so bright it almost seemed out of ce in the tense atmosphere.

    She didn''t even hesitate; she hurried over to the wounded assassin, her feet quick as she moved toward her. With a respectful nod, she said, "Yes, sir."

    us blinked, his words cut short. He stood there for a moment, processing what had just happened.

    It wasn''t like Ivy to follow orders so quickly, especially with such enthusiasm considering her usuallyid-back attitude.

    Before us could ask her what she was doing, Halzor, who had been observing from the sidelines, leaned in slightly and asked, "What''s up with her? She''s... extra cheerful today?"

 Chapter 265 Retribution Awaits

    265 Retribution Awaits

    us gave a skeptical nce toward Ivy, still kneeling by the assassin, her hands glowing with healing light as she focused on the woman''s wounds. The way she worked with such urgency and a genuine, almost eager expression on her face was unlike her usual self.

    "Yeah, something''s off," us grumbled, his eyes narrowing. "I don''t know what it is, but she''s definitely acting strange."

    Halzor just shrugged, his gaze still locked on Ivy''s work. "Maybe she''s just into fixing people up a bit too much today."

    ---

    Terra, observing the whispers, merely raised an eyebrow before directing her gaze at Draven. "You went too hard on her. What if she dies before telling us anything?"

    Draven shrugged, his expression unapologetic. "She attempted to evade capture and needed to be offered enlightenment on what happens to those who do."

    "Besides, I fulfilled my orders. I brought her back alive."

    "If she dies, she dies. It''s no great loss if she wasn''t going to talk."

    Hearing all this, Anya stood at the back, watching the scene unfold with an amused smile. Speaking softly to herself, she murmured, "I like these creatures... Not only are they strong, but they get things done. Efficient and ruthless."

    us, hearing her murmur, said, "Guild master, aren''t you going to say anything about the fact he ordered a member of our guild?"

    Anya chuckled. "The strong always get what they want, us. What were you expecting? For her to say no and inquire about its wrath?"

    us wanted to say something but then simply let out a sigh and said, "You have a point, ma''am."

    Draven and Alzuring walked up to Alister before the podium, their heavy footsteps echoing through the grand hall. Together, they knelt before him.

    "We have fulfilled your orders, my lord," Draven said.

    Alzuring, towering beside him, lowered his head in a simr show of loyalty. "Asmanded."

    Alister''s gaze lingered on them for a moment before he spoke. "Rise..."

    "You have done well."

    Draven and Alzuring rose to their feet, their posture still disciplined and dignified.

    Aethel, standing off to the side and observing the scene, couldn''t help but think to himself, ''They really treat him like a king.''

    There was something about the way Alistermanded such loyalty from his dragons that made him seem untouchable, reveredˇŞalmost as if he were more than just a Summoner.

    Ivy finished her healing work and stood up, giving the wounded assassin onest nce before walking away. Her steps were calm, almost as if the earlier urgency had never existed.

    Alister, watching her leave, turned his attention back to Terra. "Terra, continue from where you left off," he said calmly.

    Terra nodded, her expression focused. "Understood," she replied. She then redirected her gaze to the human females, her dragon eyes glowing brightly.

    The silence in the room grew heavier as the tension built.

    "I will now begin a crystallizing process," Terra said coldly, her voiceced with a calm but lethal promise. "This is a very, very painful process. Every inch of your body will turn to stone, piece by piece. It will not be quick. It will not be kind."

    She paused, letting the weight of her words settle in.

    "However..."

    "If you tell me who sent you to assassinate my lord, Alister, I will spare you the torment. I will grant you a quick, painless death."

    The two women exchanged hesitant nces, their faces pale with fear. They were trapped in their silence, unwilling to rat out the Li family, not due to loyalty but rather the fear of what they would do to their younger brother.

    Terra''s eyes narrowed, and her voice dropped lower, colder. "You''ve had your chance."

    Without another word, she stepped forward, her mana crackling in the air. The faintest shimmer of energy surrounded her hands as she prepared to begin the process.

    ...

    Yuuto stood before the imposing gates of the Li family estate, his fingertips brushing against the cold metal.

    As his hand made contact, a faint shimmer of light crackled like cracks across the surface, growing brighter until the gates suddenlyˇŞ

    BOOM

    Exploded into particles of pure white energy, dissipating into the night air.

    He took a slow step forward, his voice cool and calcted as he ced a call to the head of the Li family, Lord Han Li. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The phone rang for a moment before a low, respectful voice answered, "Sir Yuuto! To what do I owe theˇŞ"

    "Shut up, Han, I didn''t call to hear your pointless fake greetings."

    Yuuto''s gaze went cold, losing its light as he spoke, a smile appearing on his face. "It seems you fools made the grave mistake of opposing the overlord."

    A pause followed, filled with confusion. "The overlord?" Lord Han''s voice was sharp with disbelief. "Who is this overlord you speak of?"

    "And why the sudden harsh tone, Sir Yuuto?"

    Yuuto''s smile only deepened as he then said, "Alister," as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

    "You hired an assassin to take him out, didn''t you? I''m sure you must have thought no one would notice, but it seems you underestimate me, or perhaps you take me for a fool."

    "I''m sure you all rushed home expecting to hear the amazing news of his death tomorrow morning."

    "Too bad he survived." He let the words hang in the air like a weight.

    Lord Han''s voice was now filled with growing suspicion. "What are you implying?"

    Yuuto chuckled, a low sound that seemed to echo ominously. "Implying?"

    He let the question hang in the air for a moment before answering it. "Well, what I''m implying is that now, you are the ones who are going to be assassinated, or would it be proper to say..."

    "Erased."

    "This will be yourst time standing in the way of the overlord. You''ve chosen your path, and tonight, I will fulfill my duties diligently."

    There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line as Lord Han absorbed Yuuto''s chilling words. "You think you can destroy the Li family so easily?" Lord Han''s voice had a touch of anger now, but it was clear he was uneasy. "Our guardsˇŞour forcesˇŞ"

    "Send all your family guards, all your buttlers. It won''t matter." Yuuto cut him off, his voice calm yet intense. "Tonight, the Li family and the Li estate will vanish from this Magacity. It''s already decided."

    With those final words, Yuuto hung up, his expression one of quiet satisfaction as he surveyed the statue of the Li family ancestor, then mumbled.

    "It seems your kids really took it too far, old friend. I hope you can forgive me for saying this."

    "But I am mydy''s sharpest fang first before anything else."

    "As such, if her son is being targeted by a bunch of humans," he narrowed his lightless eyes as he added, "I won''t hesitate to erase them, even if they are your descendants."

    He then walked past the statue and headed directly for the Li family estate as he finally said, "Perhaps when they meet you on the other side, you''ll enlighten them of the weight of their actions."

    With that he slowly walked forward, his silver mana ring around his body, the earth cracking around him, as he was dead set on erasing the Li family from the Mega City.

 Chapter 266 Legacy Erased

    266 Legacy Erased

    As Yuuto advanced towards the Li family''s main manor, a squad of guards emerged from the shadows, their footsteps echoing as they charged trough night.

    They moved in a tight formation, a few of them calling out to him withmands that had no real conviction behind them.

    "Yuuto!" one of them shouted, stepping forward, though his voice shook slightly. "Halt right there! You''re trespassing on Li family grounds!" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Another guard, his hands trembling, added, "We won''t ask again. You need to leave now."

    Despite their threatening words, there was a clear look of of fear in their eyes. These were seasoned soldiers, yet they couldn''t hide the panic that gripped them when facing Yuuto.

    It was well knw Yuuto was one of the strungest people on this, but none knew just how strong, but if they were to assume, they would think he was second to the Union president, afyer all they were old friends.

    But they couldn''t be further from the truth.

    Yuuto came to a stop, his gaze slow and deliberate as he looked at each of them, as if he was sizing them up, a small smirk appeared on his face, causing the guards to visibly shiver as they imagined the fate that awaited them.

    The silence stretched for a moment, the tension in the air was building, bing so so thick it was almost tangible.

    He finally broke the quiet with a low chuckle. "Youngsters these days," Yuuto muttered, his voice filled disdain.

    "Seems you all have no manners at all."

    His eyes red brightly with a dangerous intensity. A click-like symbol appeared in the depths of his eyes, like every other dragon, that was his crest a sign of his rising mana in response to his bloodline ability.

    The air around him grew heavier as his silver mana crackled vintly, it''s size kept on increasing, illuminating his figure like a living specter.

    With a movement so fast, Yuuto suddenly dissappear from view, his body blurring in an instant.

    Before the soldier could react, Yuuto''s hand appeared and shot forward, grabbing him by the skull.

    The guard''s eyes widened in terror as Yuuto''s fingers tightened around his head with amazing strength. The pressure was unimaginable, but it wasn''t just the physical forceˇŞit was the crushing weight of Yuuto''s mana, suffocating the very life out of him.

    And then a sudden....

    BOOM!

    With a sudden burst of light, the guard''s body disintegrated, breaking into particles of pure white energy that floated away into the night air, vanishing like stardust.

    The other guards froze, their hearts pounding in their chests as they looked at the spot where theirrade had been. Some took a step back, fear and shock spreading through them like wildfire.

    Yuuto wiped his hand slowly, as if brushing away the remnants of the man''s existence, and turned to face the remaining guards. His silver eyes, still burning with cold silver glow, fixed on them.

    "Master Yuuto," he said, his voice now deadly calm, "is what you''ll call me."

    The guards exchanged uncertain nces, but none of them dared to move, their jaws dropped.

    ...

    The Li family estate had descended into chaos. Lord Han Li, his son Jian, Jian''s wife, and his grandson scrambled frantically through the halls, gathering their most precious belongings, preparing for the only option left to them: escape.

    Jian''s hands shook as he shoved papers and family heirlooms into a leather satchel. His face was pale, a look of frustration and fear painted on his face. He turned to Liang, his voice rising in anger.

    "How did we get here, Liang?!" Jian snapped, his eyes burning with fury.

    "You promised me that assassin would take care of everything! And look at this! Not only has she failed, but now Yuuto''s after us! He''s going to wipe us out. You''ve doomed us all!"

    Liang, who was quickly tossing items into a duffel bag, scoffed and turned toward his father, his expression full of frustration.

    "How is this my fault? I was given the go-ahead by you and grandfather to hire her! You wanted her to handle things, not me. Don''t me me for this mess."

    "Calm down, both of you!" Jian''s wife, Mei, interjected, her voice trembling. She stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed, trying to assert some control over the mounting panic.

    Her eyes, though full of fear, carried the same strength that had always held the family together. "We need to focus! We have the secret passage ready, and we can still get out of here. Let''s not waste time fighting amongst ourselves."

    But just as she said those words...

    BOOM!

    The entire mansion shook with the force of a massive explosion. The windows rattled.

    Another thunderous BOOM echoed from outside again, followed by the deafening sound of debris falling, ss shattering.

    Mei''s eyes widened in fear. She instinctively reached out to Jian and pulled him into a hug, her voice barely above a whisper as she clung to him.

    "Jian, we need to go. Now."

    Jian''s hands tightened around her, his face was pale, yet calm, as the reality of their situation hit him harder than the explosion.

    The family had long lived with the illusion of invulnerabilityˇŞwealth, power, and influence had always shielded them. But now, those very pirs were crumbling, and they were helpless against it.

    Liang stood by the door, his gaze distant, as if contemting the explosion itself. "I always thought that super regeneration was Guild Master Yuuto''s talent."

    He murmured proceeding to let out a dark chuckle, "Seems that''s not the case... he''s much more than that."

    Another explosion rattled the air. This one was closer, the vibrations shaking the foundations of the estate.

    It was no longer a question of if they could escape, but whether they could escape in time. The entire mansion seemed to be falling apart around them, and with each new st, the danger grew exponentially.

    "Let''s go!" Jian shouted, snapping out of his trance. He grabbed his wife''s arm and pulled her toward the corridor that led to the secret passage beneath the estate, following behind lord Han. His mind was spinning, the weight of his decisionsˇŞtheir failuresˇŞcrushing down on him.

    As they hurried down the narrow passage, a final, deafening explosion rang out, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. They could hear the distant sound of crashing, destruction closing in.

    "Move!" Lord Han urged, his voice strained with panic, as he pushed his family forward. The passage, which seemed like a hidden escape route, now felt like their only hope of survival.

    But with each step they took thay slowly realized: the Li family''s once proud legacy was slipping through their fingers, and there was no one left to me but themselves.

    Outside, the sound of destruction continued to echo through the night, and the Li family could only hope that they''d escape before their estateˇŞand their legacyˇŞwaspletely erased.

    The small, dimly lit passageway led them further into the bowels of the estate, the air musty and damp as Lord Han guided his family down the narrow corridor.

    At the end of the passageway, a rusted metal door stood slightly ajar, revealing a small, cramped vehicleˇŞan old, but functional, hovercar. Lord Han stepped inside, his hands steady despite the situation.

    Jian, still tense and shaken by the events unfolding around them, nced over at his father, as he asked. "Where does this path lead, Father?"

    Lord Han settled into the driver''s seat, his gaze focused forward. "It leads outside of Magacity," he replied gruffly, starting the vehicle. The hovercar roared to life, and he adjusted the controls.

    "Once we''re out of the city limits, you''ll find the next part of the n. Check around the car; there should be some masks stashed in thepartments. We''ll need them to avoid filter the air of the Wastnds."

    Jian nodded, though his mind was still racing. He nced around the car, his fingers finding a hiddenpartment along the side. Inside, he found several ck masks.

    As the hovercar began to slowly roll out, Jian let out a breath he hadn''t realized he was holding, momentarily allowing himself to believe that they were safe.

    But just as they began to gain speed, Liang, who had been silent, broke the tension with a bitter remark.

    "Well, this practically means I can kiss my position as vice branch master of the Reapers goodbye," Liang muttered, his voice dripping with frustration. "The moment we leave the city, all our connections, all our powerˇŞit''s gone. This is it. We''re nothing now."

    "All because of some shitty pride and to get ourselves involved with some kid all because little Kai wanted some payback."

    Jian shot his son a sharp re, trying to ignore the growing dread in his chest. But before he could respond, his thoughts were interrupted by another, more pressing concern. He turned back to his father.

    "Father, once we get out of hereˇŞhow are we supposed to survive? If Yuuto is after us, and the family has no influence left, we could get overwhelmed by monsters or worse. We don''t even have a strong enough force to defend ourselves."

    Lord Han kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "I''ve already contacted my brother," he replied.

    "He''s in Magecity III. I''ve instructed him to pick us up at a predetermined location. Once we meet him, we''ll be able to regroup, and we''ll have a safe ce toy low."

    Jian didn''t seem entirely reassured, but his father''s confidence, even in this moment of crisis, was enough to hold his doubts at bay.

    Suddenly they heard a voice, "If only it was that easy."

    The vehicle''s headlights cut through the darkness, revealing a figure standing ahead. Lord Han froze, his face want pale as his eyesnded on the figure.

    He mmed the brakes, the vehicle screeching to a halt.

    "Impossible," he muttered, wide-eyed.

    Jian turned to his father, panic rising in his chest. "What is it, Father? What''s happening?"

    Lord Han didn''t answer immediately. His eyes remained locked on the figure ahead, a chill running down his spine. He had never been one to show fear, but now, in this moment, his certainty began to falter.

    The figure ahead was unmistakable.

    Yuuto.

    Yuuto walked calmly toward the vehicle, his silver eyes glowing. He ced a hand on the side.

    "You really thought you could outrun a dragon, Young Han?" His voice was cold, almost amused.

    Lord Han''s throat tightened. He couldn''t speak.

    Yuuto smirked. "You''ve underestimated me."

    BOOM

    Creation is hard, cheer me up! VOTE for me!

    Zurbluris

    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 267 The One Responsible

    267 The One Responsible

    Yuuto stood at the edge of the Li family estate, his silver eyes glowing with a intensity as he gazed out over the sprawling grounds.

    The manor, with its towering walls and elegant gardens, was no more. What had once been a symbol of power and wealth had been reduced to nothing but drifting particles of light, floating upwards like stardust caught in the night wind.

    Each shard of the estateˇŞevery brick, every ornament, every trace of the Li family''s legacyˇŞcrumbled away into the ether, vanishing before his eyes. It was as though the very essence of the manor had been unmade, dissolving into a gentle radiant specks that drifted, aimless and free, into the vast expanse of the night sky.

    He remained perfectly still, not a single muscle in his body moving, as the winds whispered through the remains of the estate.

    With a sudden smile curling at the corner of his lips, he spoke to no one in particr.

    "Well, now that that''s out of the way..." His voice was casual, almost amused, as if the destruction of an entire family''s legacy was nothing more than a small task checked off a list.

    "I better rush back to meet the others."

    Turning on his heel, he began walking away from the now empty piece ofnd, whrr the massive estate one stood, his footsteps echoing softly in the street.

    The night air was crisp against his skin, as the faint sound of his humming filling the silence as he strolled down the sidewalk.

    ...

    Back in the Union grand hall...

    Alister stood a few paces away, his gaze locked onto Terra with a calm look on his face.

    "Terra," Alister said softly. "Things won''t work if you approach them like that."

    Terra blinked as she turned to face him. "What do you mean my lord?"

    Alister sighed and stepped forward, he dropped off the podium. He wasn''t about to let this drag on any longer.

    "It''s simple. You can''t expect to get any answers from them when you don''t give them a choice. Hope is the key here, Terra. If you want to get the truth, you''ll need to offer them some hope."

    The moment the words left his mouth, Alister approached the group of assassins. His sharp eyes glinted dangerously, the weight of his presence suffocating.

    With a single motion, he stepped closer, cing himself in front of them. His voice was low as he spoke, "We''ll do this my way."

    Turning to the assassins, he narrowed his gaze. "Tell me who employed you to take me out. If you don''t, your endes right here."

    The assassins, narrowed her gaze at Alister''s words, clearly she didn''t trust him. "You want to offer us some hope? Then what fo we get if we do answer honestly?"

    Alister''s eyes shed with dangerous intensity as he spoke, his voice colder now. "If you tell me, I''ll spare you. After all, you have no personal resentment against me."

    The assassin shifted a bit, feeling uneasy under his gaze, she then asked, "And what if we don''t? What will you do then?"

    Alister''s golden mama began to rise slightly around his body, causing many to gaze more curiously at him as he said,

    "Well... if you don''t, I will assume you have a personal rtionship with whoever put you both up to this."

    "So I''ll leave your fate in the hands of my dragons." His words were as much a promise as they were a warning.

    Alister then leaned fiwaed slightly as he then added, "So, do we have a deal?"

    The woman with ck hair hesitated before speaking, her voice trembling slightly. "Our client... belongs to a very powerful family. If we reveal their name, our loved ones could be at risk."

    Alister''s lips twisted into a cold smile. "At risk? Don''t tell me you underestimate the Union." His gaze then shifted to Aethel, the Branch Director, who stood nearby, watching the interaction closely.

    "Director Aethel," Alister began, his tone unyielding, "is it really possible that whoever is responsible for this could walk free and cause harm again?"

    Director Aethel replied immidayly, his voice filled with certainty. "Certainly not. The Union is not that weak. Whoever is behind thisˇŞno matter how powerful their family might beˇŞwill be brought to justice. Not only did they break Unionws within the city by attempting to take a life, but they also defied the Union Grand Hall itself. The disrespect shown to the main body of the Union is unforgivable, especially during such an important event."

    Aethel''s gaze shifted to the women, his voice firm. "But the both of you will also be taken into custody for epting such a mission. There will be no escape."

    Alister turned back to the assassins, his demeanor cold and unwavering. "You heard him right. No matter what happens, both of you will be safe in your cells. The Union is not weak enough to allow criminals to roam free."

    He narrowed his eyes once again, his voice increasing in intensity. "Or perhaps... you still wish to keep your lips sealed?"

    The two women, both kneeling before Alister and the Union''s grand presence, exchanged uneasy nces.

    Their eyes were filled with a mix of fear and resignation. It was clear to them nowˇŞthere was no escape from this situation. Their fates were sealed, and it was only a matter of what would happen next.

    15:36

    The woman with ck hair, who had spoken earlier, shifted ufortably before finally speaking.

    Her voice was cautious, with a nervous tremor, but she managed to hold it together long enough to ask, "If we give you the information... can you ensure the safety of our families?"

    The Union Director, responded, "Yes," he said. "If necessary, the Union will make sure that no harmes to your families. But only if you are truthful and cooperate fully."

    The two women exchanged another brief nce, the weight of the decision began to feel heavy.

    The silence stretched for a moment, as they came to a reluctant agreement. With no other choice left, the woman with the ck hair slowly spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper.

    "We were hired... by the Li family''s Liang Li," she confessed, her wordsing out in a rush as if the very act of speaking them was a relief.

    The other woman, who had been silent until now, nodded reluctantly. "Indeed, we were hired by Liang Li," she echoed, confirming the identity of their employer.

    As the revtion of the Li family''s involvement echoed in the air, the room, which had been silent for a moment, erupted into murmurs. The reporters, their curiosity piqued and their minds racing, exchanged whispers that spread like wildfire.

    "Did she just say... the Li family? As in Liang Li?"

    "But they''re one of the most influential families in the cityˇŞhow could they be behind something like this?"

    "Unbelievable," another reporter whispered, shaking her head. "This changes everything. The Li family has been untouchable for so long. Who would''ve thought they''d be mixed up in something this dirty?"

    A third voice cut in from a corner. "Do you think Chen, the Guild Master of the Reapers, knew about this? If Liang Li, the vice branch master is involved, I wouldn''t be surprised if the entire guild''s had a hand in it."

    "The Reapers do carry out a lot of sketchy stuff."

    "Yeah, Chen''s not a fool. If Liang''s behind this... I doubt he was in the dark. The whole thing smells like something they all nned."

    "And if Chen knew..."

    "...this could shake the foundation of the entire city. The Reapers'' credibility would be destroyed overnight."

    The murmurs continued to swirl, each voice adding to the growing tension in the room.

    There was a long pause before Aethel responded. "The Li family..." he muttered softly, as if thinking about the implications of their words.

    Aethel''s sharp gaze never wavered from the kneeling assassins as their confession seemed to make the air tense. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Mobilize the Union forces," Aethel finallymanded. "Capture these two and ensure they''re properly detained. We can''t afford any more dys."

    Several Union officers, standing by, immediately sprang into action, closing the distance between themselves and the assassins.

    They swiftly restrained the women, making sure not to cause any unnecessary harm as they moved them.

    ncing at an unfazed Chen Aethel said, "The Reapers will be investigatedter in the following week..."

    "And as for the Li family... I''ll be paying them a visit myself," he said, his voice low and filled with determination. "This goes beyond a simple assassination attempt. It is a p on the Union''s face."

    The officers nodded in, some exchanging uncertain nces. The Li family was not only one of the most influential families in the city but also deeply entrenched in the politics and power structures of the megacity.

    "We''ll take care of the rest, Director," one of the senior officers said respectfully, stepping forward.

    And with that, the night came to a close...

    Creation is hard, cheer me up! VOTE for me!

    Zurbluris

    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 268: Meet At The Guild Hall

    Chapter 268: Meet At The Guild Hall

    ?

    That night with the Union obtaining the information that the one behind the assassination was a amber of the Li family, the Union branch director himself and a couple board members headed to the Li family estate to arrest him

    But...

    They were shocked to find the entirety of the Li family estate had vanished from theirnd, as if it had never been there, this not only raised the question of how did it happen but also who or what was responsible, they had no idea who or what it could be.

    But from what they coud deduce from searching the entire mega city it appeared as though...

    The Li family were erased along with their estate... Them and their legacy, vanished, as if though they were never here.

    Alister and his generals were intending to secretly rid them from this world after they found out they were responsible... But it seemed someone, or something, had beaten them to it.

    ...

    Alister sat at the White Comet caf¨¦, a pile of empty tes stacked up beside him. His fork moved from dish to dish, almost like an artist''s brush across a canvas.

    The others were seated around him-Axel, Blitz, L, and Beatrice-each of them watching a little bit shocked as Alister continued to devour te after te.

    On one side, Mar''Garet clung tightly to his arm, her grip gentle but persistent, while he used his free hand to eat. Her soft giggles echoed softly, drawing curious nces from the group.

    Axel leaned back in his chair, rubbing his head in confusion. "Man, you really should learn to take it easy," he mumbled. "How do you eat so much each morning and still stay in shape? It''s like you''re built different."

    Blitz snickered, leaning forward on her elbows. "Honestly, Axel, I''m just as curious. It''s like he''s got a stomach the size of a dragon''s, but he doesn''t even get a gut. What''s the secret, Alister?"

    Alister, not pausing in his eating, shrugged casually. "I don''t know. Guess I''m just lucky." He wiped his mouth with a napkin and nced at the others. "Besides, I work it off. No point in worrying about food when you burn it all off with... other activities."

    Beatrice, always the one to speak her mind, tilted her head slightly. "Lucky? You make it sound so simple, but most people would be rolling in their seats after what you just ate."

    L, ever the shy one, looked at her te and then at Alister. "I... I think maybe it''s his metabolism?" She said quietly, almost to herself. "Or maybe... maybe it''s his way of staying... strong?"

    Axel raised an eyebrow. "Metabolism? Yeah, sure, but this isn''t normal. It''s like he''s eating for a whole army."

    Blitzughed and threw an arm over Alister''s shoulder. "Maybe he''s got some secret training regimen we don''t know about. Either way, I''m jealous. I can''t even finish my second te without feeling like I''m about to explode."

    Alister chuckled, setting his fork down atst, thest of the food gone. "It''s all about bnce. Not just food, but everything in life. And besides, training can only take you so far if you don''t fuel yourself right." He leaned back in his chair, finally satisfied.

    "Bnce?" Axel snorted. "You call that bnce? You''re just eating like a beast."

    Blitz grinned. "And looking like one, too."

    Alister smirked. "Well, summoning powerful monsters requires a lot of energy, hence why I eat a lot of food."

    Lughed nervously, her fingers twisting the edge of her napkin. "I... I guess, but I couldn''t eat that much even if I tried."

    Blitz leaned back in her chair, eyes moving to Cinder, who was eating with stacked tes besides her.

    A smirk curled on Blitz''s lips as she pointed her thumb in Cinder''s direction. "Please, you guys should give the champ a chance, besides Cinder''s stacking tes just as high as he is. Aren''t you gonna say something about her Axel?"

    Cinder nced up from her food, her piercing gaze meeting Blitz''s for a moment before she turned her attention back to her treat. She said nothing in response, silently continuing her indulgence as if the conversation didn''t even exist.

    Axel, leaning casually against the wall, crossed his arms with a small smile, his gaze briefly shifting to the distant horizon outside the window. "Well, I don''t n on invoking the wrath of any dragons this morning, so I''m good for now."

    "But... I have something else to ask."

    Axel, leaning back in his chair, letting out a sigh, then ncing at a certain someone he decided to ask. "Okay, I get the insane appetite-kinda. But what''s the deal with her?"

    He pointed at Mar'' Garet, who was nestled close to Alister like a shadow. "Clinging to you like a lost kid. What''s up with that?"

    Mar''Garet shed Axel a sweet yet unsettling smile, her crimzon eyes glinting with mischief. "My Lord requires extra protection after the recent attempt on his life," she said, resting her head lightly against Alister''s shoulder.

    "It''s my duty to remain close. Who knows what dangers lurk, even here?"

    Blitz rolled her eyes, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Right, because a caf¨¦ full of guild members is so dangerous," she said with sarcasm.

    Mar''Garet giggled again but didn''t respond, her grip on Alister tightening slightly as if she were staking her im. Across the table, L shifted ufortably, her gaze darting between Mar''Garet and Alister. Something about the woman unnerved her-perhaps it was the eerie calmness in her voice or the way she seemed too... attached.

    "Alister," L ventured softly, her voiceced with unease, "do you, um, really need both of them so close all the time? It just seems-"

    "Excessive," Beatrice finished bluntly, earning a sidelong nce from Mar''Garet.

    Alister sighed, his fork pausing mid-air. "Mar''Garet..."

    "...maybe you could give me a bit of space, besides it was Draven that stopped thest attack and he''s not even here."

    Mar''Garet straightened slightly, her expression turning slightly serious. "But, my Lord," she said softly, but with conviction.

    "The only reason things yed out that way was bacaise he was closer to the window than I

    was."

    "I''m far stronger than he is and can do far better." she sapd, cing her hand above her chest, purposefully.

    "I need to remain close to properly protect you. If I''m not by your side, how can I ensure your

    safety?"

    Her gaze softened as she added, almost in a whisper, "I would never forgive myself if something happened to you."

    Alister then said, "But your very presence here is draining me of my mana."

    Mar''Garet then smiled, "But it would take at least centuries befir I alone would use it all up,

    no?"

    Axel snorted, but then his expression turned more serious as he straightened.

    "Right, well, while you two sort out the bodyguard drama, I''ve got news. Alister, Guildmaster

    Yuuto said to meet in the guild hall after this."

    Alister looked up, his brow furrowing slightly in curiosity. "Is it for some sort of

    announcement?"

    Axel and Blitz exchanged nces before standing up from their seats. "Can''t be sure," Axel

    replied, stretching his arms before taking a step toward the door.

    "But it''d be better if you just came and found out for yourself, no?"

    Blitz smirked, already heading toward the door, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You know, Alister, it''s always more fun when you don''t know what to expect."

    L and Beatrice also stood up from their seats at the table.

    L then said, "We... we also have to get going as well," she said, ncing at Beatrice, who

    nodded in agreement with a warm, encouraging smile.

    "Right," Beatrice added, she then winked at Alister, "We''ll see you all at the guild hallter."

    Alister, still processing why they all decided to leave looked up at them, blinking for a

    moment before awkwardly muttering, "OK... see you there."

    With that, L and Beatrice made their way toward the door, their soft footsteps echoing in the stillness of the room. They exchanged a few quiet words, and soon enough, they were gone, leaving Alister standing alone in the dining room.

    Alister let out a mm sigh, his mind shifting gears as he ced thest te down with a

    clink. Shifting his focus, he called out in his thoughts.

    ''System, disy my status window.''

    [yer: Alister Hazenworth

    Level: 40N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ss: tOverlordt Summoner (Awakened Talent) (SSS)

    Stats:

    HP: 2750/2750 - [100/100%

    MP: 11,678/11,678

    -Strength: 8,700

    -Agility: 8,900

    -Intelligence: 10,200

    -Endurance: 7,900

    -Dexterity: 7,100

    -Mana: 10,678

    -Luck: 80

    Totalbat power: 53,478 (A - rank)

    - ?Summoning Powert: 100%

    Mana Regeneration: 45 MP/minute Avable Stat Points: 0

    Title(s): The One Who Forced His Will On Others.

    Skills:

    Draconic Rage Lvl3 (S-rank)

    Blood Maniption Lvl3 (B+ -rank)

    Blood Healing Lvl2 (B+ -rank)

    Camouge Lvl1 (B-rank) Draconic Hunger Lvl3 (S-rank)

    Berserk Lvl2 (S-rank)

    Mana Distortion Aura Lvl2 (S-rank)

    List of summons:

    Firestorm Dragon, Cinder Von Abkis-Void (SS-rank)

    Sand Storm Dragoon, Terra Von Archi-Void (B-rank)

    Lighting Dragon Knight, Darven Von Valor-Void (A+ Rank)

    Sky Dragon, Alzuring Von Azure-Void (S-rank) Abyss Dragon, Mar''Garet Von Abyss-Void (SS rank)

    Current quest(s):

    The Word of an Overlord.

    Overlord''s sharpest fang. Last Stand/Where Are They Now (2)

    Seeing this Alister let out a sigh.

    Alister pushed his chair back, the wooden legs scraping softly against the caf¨¦ floor. Rising from the table, he dusted off his white and blue guild uniform and stretched.

    His sharp gaze swept over the empty tes as if to ensure he''d left nothing unfinished.

    "Alright," he said. "Let''s not keep the Guildmaster waiting. Time to head to the guild hall." Mar''Garet immediately stepped closer, adjusting her stance to match his, her crimson eyes gleaming. "Of course, my Lord," she said with a faint smile.

    Cinder, who had been quietly finishing her meal, rose as well, brushing crumbs from her

    hands. Without a word, she fell in step beside Alister.

    Axel leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed. "About time. Thought you''d keep us here all day with your bottomless pit of a stomach."

 Chapter 269 Empty Hallway

    Chapter 269 Empty Hallway

    As Alister and the others made their way to the Guild Hall, Mar''Garet clung to his arm, humming softly to herself.

    The sound eched gently, yet it had a touch of smugness that made Cinder''s eyebrow twitch. She had been suppressing her irritation, but her patience finally snapped.

    "Mar''Garet," Cinder called sharply. "Stop it. You''re clinging to our Lord too much."

    Mar''Garet stopped humming, ncing at Cinder with a faint smirk. "I''m merely performing my duties."

    "So am I," Cinder shot back. Her crimson eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms. "And as our lord''s sharpest fang I''m ordering you to behave yourself."

    Mar''Garet''s gaze hardened. She didn''t respond at first, the air between them growing tense.

    Cinder walked slightly closer, as she added in a clm yet firm tone. "Do you not recognize that I am second inmand after our Lord? Are you going to disregard my orders?"

    After locking eyes for a few moments, Mar''Garet lowered her gaze slightly and replied, "No."

    Cinder gave a satisfied nod and want back to Alister''s left right side. Alister, however, didn''t pay their exchange any mind. His focus was fixed ahead as his boots echoed softly in the hallway. Something about the atmosphere felt off.

    He frowned and spoke, "It''s quiet. I didn''t see many people back at the caf¨¦ either... only the staff and a few members. Do any of you know what''s going on?"

    "Where is everyone?"

    Axel shrugged awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Nah man... I don''t have a clue."

    Alister turned to L, who blushed slightly under his gaze. "I... I don''t know anything either," she stammered, shaking her head.

    Blitz and Axel out of nowhere suddenly hastened their steps to move ahead. Blitz threw an arm over Axel''s shoulders and whispered, "What are we going to do now? He''s right behind us. We won''t be able to join the others unnoticed."

    "How was I supposed to know he''d finish his meal so soon?" Axel muttered, his voice low. "I was sure he''d take another thirty minutes at least!"

    Blitz sighed, clearly frustrated. "What do we do now? Won''t the impact be less if we''re by his side?"

    "I don''t know," Axel replied with a helpless shrug. "We could always act like we didn''t know anything either."

    Alister, overhearing their hushed conversation, raised an eyebrow. "What are you two whispering about?"

    Blitz, ncing back over her shoulder, she waved her hand dismissively and said, "Oh, nothing much. We were just talking about some prank we nned in the Guild''s training grounds again."

    "Oh?" Alister replied, his tone calm butced with curiosity.

    Axel quickly stepped in, forcing a smile. "Y-yeah... You know what? We should go check on that trap weid now, aye, sis?"

    Blitz caught on immediately, nodding enthusiastically. "Ya, bro! Let''s go!"

    Before Alister ask press further, Beatrice awkwardly chimed in, "Oh, would you look at that! It''s past time forˇ­ uhˇ­ my clothes! Yeah, I left them at the dry cleaner, and, um, it''s time I go pick them up!"

    L stammered, quickly following Beatrice''s lead. "Y-yeah, same here! I-I just remembered!" Without another word, the two practically bolted down the hallway.

    Cinder crossed her arms, her crimson eyes narrowing as she watched them retreat. "What''s up with these humans? They''re obviously nning something."

    Alister shook his head slightly, a faint smile on his face. "I''m sure they mean no harm."

    Cinder snorted, clearly unconvinced. "Still, fact remains they are up to something."

    Mar''Garet, who had remained silent through the little chat, tilted her head and smirked. "It''s amusing how quickly they scatter when questioned. Humans are such curious creatures."

    As they finally arrived at the massive metal doors of the Guild Hall, their footsteps echoed faintly in the grand hallway. Alister stopped just before the entrance, he turned to Mar''Garet and Cinder.

    "Both of you," he said firmly, "behave yourselves in there." N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Mar''Garet let out a low, sultry purr, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "Oh, I wouldn''t dare displease you, my Lord."

    Cinder crossed her arms and gave a curt nod. "Understood," she replied, though her narrowed eyes flicked toward Mar''Garet in silent warning.

    Satisfied with their responses, Alister stepped forward and the doors opened automatically, revealing the expansive Guild Hall beyond.

    He stepped inside, only to pause, his brows furrowing in confusion. The entire hall was pitch ck; not a single light was on.

    "What''s going on?" Alister muttered.

    Behind him, Mar''Garet and Cinder exchanged brief nces, both of them coud see trough the dark, just as they were about to speak to their lord.

    As Alister took another cautious step into the darkened Guild Hall, the silence was ended by a loud click.

    Suddenly, the lights flickered on, flooding the room with brilliance, and confetti exploded into the air in a kaleidoscope of colors. The booming sound of countless voices erupted as everyone yelled, "Surprise!"

    For a moment, Alister froze, his usuallyposed demeanor breaking as a look of pure shock crossed his face. Streams of confetti rained down, catching the light as they fell, while balloons floatedzily toward the ceiling.

    "W-what?" he stammered, ncing around in confusion. "What are you guys doing?"

    He turned his gaze to the crowd, which seemedrger than usual. As the realization dawned on him, his eyes widened further. So that''s where everyone''s beenˇ­ Every guild member who had been mysteriously absent earlier was here, filling the hall to capacity.

    At the far end of the room, just before the Guild Leader''s seat, stood Master Yuuto, with a radiant smile lighting up his face.

    Alister made his way toward him, weaving through the sea of guild members congratting and pping him on the back. Finally, as he reached Yuuto, he asked, "What''s the asion, guildmaster?"

    Yuuto''s smile grew even brighter, his arms outstretched to tall Alister on the shoulder. "We all decided to throw a little party," he said warmly. "After all, you, Alister, are going to be White Comet''s newest team leader!"

    "Waitˇ­ me? A team leader? W-what?"

    Before he could process further, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the guild hall. Alister turned to see Axel, Blitz, Beatrice, and L returning.

    "Did you guys know about this?" Alister asked as they approached, a look of mild surprise still on his face.

    Blitz was the first to speak, throwing her hands up dramatically. "Hack yeah, we knew! Bute on, Alister, you know us, we''d spill the beans but. Orders, you know."

    Axel pped Alister on the shoulder with a wide grin. "Exactly, man! You know how it goesˇŞguild secrets and all that. Can''t ruin the surprise for the big guy!"

    Alister raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Really? And you didn''t think to give me any kind of warning?"

    Blitz winked at him, leaning on Axel''s shoulder. "Where''s the fun in that? You''re always soposed. We had to see that look on your face!"

    Axel nodded enthusiastically, crossing his arms. "Yeah, totally worth it. You looked like you''d just been told dragons don''t exist."

    Beatrice stepped forward with an amused smile. "They''re not wrong. Altho we only caught a glimpse, you were pretty shocked."

    L, blushing slightly, fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve. "Weˇ­ we just wanted to see your reaction too. It''s not every day something catches you off guard."

    Alister sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Unbelievable. Alright, fine. But what about the other team leaders? Did they know about this, too?"

    Before anyone could respond, a smooth voice cut through the room. "Of course we did," Ren said, adjusting his sses as he stepped forward from the crowd. His sharp suit and calm demeanor made him stand out among the guild members. "I approve, and so do all the others."

    Hiroshi, standing beside Ren, grinned broadly and jabbed Alister lightly in the side with his elbow. "Yeah, kid. It''s unanimous. You''ve got the makings of a great team leader. Now all you''ve gotta do is assemble your own squad and whip them into shape."

    Alister nced between them, his expression was still a small touch of surprise and confusion. "But why me? What makes you all think I''m fit to lead a team?"

    Before Ren could respond, Kaida''s voice rang out from behind him. The red-haired healer strode into view, her confident stride and yful smirk drawing his attention.

    "Isn''t it obvious?" she said, tilting her head slightly. "You''re strong, Alister. Really strong. I doubt anyone here could keep up with you, let alone lead you."

    She crossed her arms and leaned casually against the nearest table. "Besides, I don''t think your dragons wouldn''t approve of anyone else giving you orders?"

    Mar''Garet, who had been silently watching the exchange, let out a low chuckle. "Oh, absolutely. No onemands my lord but himself. And, of course, those he deems worthy," she added, shooting a sly look at Cinder.

    Cinder huffed, her crimson eyes narrowing. "For once, I agree with that red haired human. You''re more than capable, my lord. You just need to step into the role."

    Yuuto stepped forward again, cing a reassuring hand on Alister''s shoulder. "This isn''t a burden, Alister. It''s an opportunity. You''ve proven yourself, not just with your strength, but with your resolve and leadership. The guild believes in you, and so do I."

    Alister looked around the room, taking in the faces of his friends and guildmates. Their expressions ranged from excitement to pride, but none held a trace of doubt. Slowly, he let out a breath and nodded. "Alright. I''ll do it."

    The room erupted into cheers and apuse, the atmosphere buzzing with energy as Alister''s words sank in. Blitz threw an arm around Axel, grinning from ear to ear. "Told you he''d step up!"

    Axelughed confidently, his voice ringing out. "No doubt about it! Now let''s see him boss us around and try to keep up!"

 Chapter 270: First Team Raid

    Chapter 270: First Team Raid

    ?

    Alister stood in Yuuto''s office, his mind still processing the whirlwind of events. As his eyes scanned the room, he tried toe to terms with his new role as team leader.

    His thoughts were interrupted when Yuuto, sitting behind his sleek desk, leaned forward with a smile.

    "There are a few people I would like for you to take into your team, Alister," Yuuto spoke, his tone serious but warm.

    "I believe they have the potential to learn a lot from you and your dragons. Obviously, your friends are going to be your core team members, but there''s one more person I''d like to introduce you to."

    Alister raised an eyebrow, a look of curiosity crossing his face. He repeated Yuuto''sst two words, "one more?"

    Yuuto smiled slightly, a look of mischief in his eyes. "Yes, one more. You''ll find out soon enough."

    With that, Yuuto stood up and sat at the edge of the table.

    "You cane in now."

    The office door slid open with a smooth hiss. A young man stepped into the room, his ck hair tousled slightly, and his intense red eyes immediately fixed on Alister.

    The man was taller than most, broad-shouldered, and carrying a massive greatsword across his back. The air of strength he had around him was hard not to notice.

    Yuuto then spoke up. "This is Anzo."

    "If it weren''t for you joining our guild... let''s say he would have been White Comet''s rising star. He possesses an S-ranked talent, and I must admit, he''s fairly skilled."

    Anzo''s eyes narrowed as he scanned Alister, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "So you''re the one everyone can''t stop talking about," Anzo said, his voice low but tinged with challenge. He took a step closer to Alister, sizing him up with a look of approval mixed with intrigue.

    Alister extended his hand, offering a firm handshake. "Alister," he said, his voice calm but carrying authority. "I''m d to have you on the team."

    Anzo grasped his hand firmly, trying to tighten his grip. To his surprise, Alister didn''t flinch, his hand just as strong, holding steady in the handshake. Anzo''s eyes widened slightly before The let out a low chuckle.

    "Oh? What do we have here?" Anzo mused, his smirk widening. "I got a bit confident in my personal strength since you are supposed to be a Summoner."

    "But with a grip like this, I guess you''re good enough to be a rival."

    Alister met his gaze evenly. "I''ll take that as apliment."

    Yuuto watched the exchange with a touch of amusement, but his expression remained serious. "Anzo tends to be a bit arrogant, but he''s a hard worker. You''ll find he''s driven by a desire to prove himself, and that makes him a valuable team member."

    Anzo rolled his shoulders, making a show of cracking his neck. "I''m not here to be anyone''s second best, that''s for sure. But if you think you can handle me, I''ll do whatever it takes."

    Alister nodded, "That''s exactly the kind of attitude we need. We''ll see how well you work with the others."

    Anzo gave a half-smile, clearly amused by the challenge. "I wouldn''t have it any other way." Yuuto watched the two, sensing the subtle tension that had begun to form between them. He chuckled lightly, crossing his arms. "Good. I''m d to see you''re both on the same page. Alister, Anzo has his own unique strengths, and I think you''ll be able to learn a lot from each other."

    Anzo looked at Alister, his red eyes burning with his red mana. "We''ll see if you''re as good as they say you are. I don''t like losing."

    Alister met his gaze, barring his. "Neither do I."

    Suddenly Alister heard Draven''s voice echo in his head. ''My lord, that sword this human has on his back... It''s giving off a faint dragon aura.''

    Alister then directed his gaze to the sword''s handle, which he could see over Anzo''s shoulder. Alister then pointed at it as he asked, "Where did you get that sword?"

    Anzo raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk spreading on his face. "Curious now, are we?" he said.

    Without waiting to be asked, he unslung the massive sword from his back and let it fall with a heavy thud to the floor before him.

    Alister''s eyes widened as he observed the weapon more closely. The aura was unmistakable- a faint, yet powerful, dragon essence clung to it.

    Before Alister could speak again, Mar''Garet, who had been standing silently beside him, leaned forward. Her eyes were sharp, narrowing as she studied the sword.

    "Doesn''t this sword look like Draven''s?" she asked. "The only difference is the way the runes are arranged."

    Cinder, still silent but watching intently, narrowed her gaze. Her voice was colder, sharper. "Indeed. Did this human steal it?"

    Anzo let out a shortugh, his eyes twinkling with amusement at the usation. "Steal it? Why the hell would I do that?" he said, shaking his head. "I bought it at an auction."

    The words hung in the air for a moment, leaving everyone in the room silent as they processed what he had said. An auction. The notion was so casually dropped, yet it only deepened the mystery of the sword.

    "It cost me a fortune. Apparently, the berserkers had obtained it in one of their dungeon

    raids."

    "The sword looked neat, so I figured it was a good investment."

    Alister''s brow furrowed. Buying a dragon-imbued weapon at an auction? That didn''t sit right

    with him.

    ''Now that I take a closer look at it... This looks like Alexei''s sword... What is it doing here?''

    ''How could it have been obtained in a dungeon?''

    ''Dungeons are technically special rifts, so that may be possible...''

    ''Even if they did get to that sword through a dungeon... How would they have obtained it?''

    ''Was it stolen? I doubt humans

    I be able to pull that off.''

    ''There are also additional runes here on the upper side... Did a cksmith make some

    modifications?''

    "An auction, huh?" Alister finally repeated, his voice filled with skepticism. "And the runes... they were part of the original design?"

    Anzo shrugged, casually adjusting the greatsword''s weight in his hands before swinging it back onto his back. "Could be. Could be not. Who knows? I didn''t bother with the details. It''s a

    fine weapon, no matter the history behind it."

    Yuuto stood up from the table and walked up to Alister.

    "Since you two are acquainted now, don''t you think it''s time for your first team raid? A little

    spin to see how well you work together?"

    "You can''t avoid participating in a dungeon this time, I hope you know that."

    Alister raised an eyebrow, hesitant. "Won''t we need a team strategy for something like that?"

    Yuuto chuckled, tapping Alister''s shoulder lightly. "Don''t worry about that. I''m sure you''ll be

    fine. Nothing could possibly go wrong, right?"

    "Besides even if it did I''m sure you''d handle it no problem."

    Alister gave a nod, "I suppose I understand."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Yuuto nced toward Mar''Garet, who had been standing silently by Alister''s side, her

    piercing crimzon eyes locked on him. There was no mistaking the intensity of her re, a small touch of curiosity and something elseˇŞperhaps murderous intent.

    Yuuto smiled at her, unbothered by the silentmunication. He understood and respected her protectiveness over Alister. "I see you''re watching closely, Mar''Garet, do I have

    something on my face?" he asked.

    Mar''Garet didn''t respond, but her eyes never left him. Her posture remained tense, as if

    silently daring Yuuto toment further.

    Yuuto''s smile only widened. "Well then, you gouy go get ready for this raid. I''m sure you can

    easily handle all to your preparations. Just remember, keep it light and see how you do. This is

    just a little test run, after all."

    Alister simply nodded as he said, "Understood, well be one our way now."

    ....

    Alister stood in front of the massive A-ranked dungeon gate, his gaze fixed on it as he

    observed the swirling energy of the rift.

    ''It''s been a while since Ist raided a dungeon...'' He thought.

    The air around them felt charged, tense. nking him were his five dragon generals, their

    presence almost overwhelming.

    To his left was Alzuring, and Draven, to his right, Mar''Garet, Cinder and Terra, each stood with a calm yet determined expression.

    In front of him stood his team: Axel, Blitz, L, Beatrice, and Anzo, all awaiting the raid to

    begin. The atmosphere was thick with nervous energy, each of them wondering whaty

    beyond the gate.

    Blitz turned to Axel, nudging him with her elbow. "So, who''s the new guy? I don''t recognize him," she whispered, eyeing Anzo, who was standing off to the side, his arms crossed, studying them all with an aloof expression.

    Anzo, overhearing her, smirked and leaned in. "I''m the guy who''s gonna outperform all of you. I heard their talent is some kind of flight-or-fight reaction. Works only when both of you are in danger-pretty much useless, right?"

    Blitz''s face reddened with anger as she gritted her teeth, her fists clenched at her sides. Before she could yell, Alzuring, stepped forward with a menacing presence. "Watch your words," Alzuring warned. "Do not speak ill of my lord''s team members." His eyes locked with Anzo''s, a small but unmistakable threat in his gaze. "If you dare act out of line, I will personally punish you. Remember your ce."

    The air grew still as Anzo, momentarily taken by suprise, met Alzuring''s stare. His smirk faltered for a second before he reluctantly nodded, an unspoken understanding passing

    between them.

    Alister, calm as ever, nced at his team, his eyes settling on Anzo.

    "Alzuring, go easy on him." "Let''s focus on the raid."

 Chapter 271: Into The Field of Tides

    Chapter 271: Into The Field of Tides

    ?

    Alzuring gave a slight bow. "Understood, my lord," he said calmly before stepping back into position.

    His piercing eyes lingered on Anzo for a moment longer... a small reminder of his warning... before shifting his focus back to the dungeon gate.

    The team stood ready, all suited in sleek ck-and-white suits of basic tech armor that hummed faintly with energy.

    The armor was minimalist yet functional, enhancing their agility and offering basic protection against physical and magical attacks.

    Axel twirled a pair of lightweight daggers in his hands, their edges gleaming faintly in the sunlight. Beside him, Blitz adjusted the straps on her daggers'' holsters swiftly and with ease.

    L, standing slightly behind them, held a slim sword that shimmered faintly with a blue hue, suggesting it was enchanted.

    Beatrice rested a massive hammer against her shoulder, its head inscribed with faintly glowing runes.

    Blitz nced over at Alister, her sharp eyes narrowing as she noticed something amiss. She took a step closer, tilting her head in curiosity.

    "Hey, Alister," she called out with a touch of humor and shock. "Are you seriously going in like that?"

    Alister turned his head slightly, raising an eyebrow. "Like what?"

    Blitz pointed vaguely toward his empty hands andck of visible weaponry. "I mean, you''re not carrying anything. Not even a basic weapon. I know you''ve got powerful summons, so you might not need any, but what are you nning to do if one manages to sneak up on you? Punch ''em to death?"

    Her question drew a nce from Axel, who couldn''t resist chiming in. "Yeah, I get you''re the boss and all, but shouldn''t you at least look like you''re ready to fight?"

    Alister smirked faintly, his confidence evident. "Don''t worry about me," he replied calmly. "I have everything I need."

    Blitz crossed her arms, unconvinced. "Oh really? Care to share the big secret, or are we just supposed to hope you pull something out of thin air?"

    Before Alister could respond, Mar''Garet, who had been standing silently nearby, interjected, her tone sharp. "Do not underestimate my lord''s capabilities," she said, her crimson eyes ring at Blitz.

    "You''ll see soon enough why he doesn''t need to carry a conventional weapon."

    Blitz raised her hands in mock surrender, smirking. "Alright, alright, I get it. Just don''t eat me."

    Alister chuckled softly but said nothing more, his gaze returning to the swirling energy of the dungeon gate. "Let''s get moving," he said firmly. "The dungeon won''t wait for us."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Axel nced at the team, then at the portal, before raising a hand hesitantly. "Uh, not to nitpick or anything," he began, scratching the back of his neck, "but, uh, who''s supposed to carry back all the loot we harvest? I mean, we don''t exactly have any porters here."

    Blitz rolled her eyes, and Beatrice sighed, hefting her massive hammer as if the weight alone were enough to answer the question. Alister, however, remained calm.

    "We don''t need any," Alister replied calmly. "My dragons can handle the carrying."

    Axel blinked, his awkward grin faltering. "Oh... okay. I guess that''s one way to handle it..." he muttered, his voice trailing off as he exchanged uncertain looks with Blitz.

    Alister ignored the reaction, his gaze fixed on the shimmering dungeon portal before them. As they watched, a talent system window materialized, casting a faint blue glow over the group.

    Dungeon Name: Field of Tides!!

    Type: Field Dungeon - Nagal

    Rank: Al

    Alister redirected his gaze ahead as the window faded. "We''re going in."

    With that, he stepped forward, the energy of the portal rippling around him like liquid light. One by one, the rest of the team followed. Blitz and Axel exchanged onest nce... the excitement in Axel''s eyes matched by Blitz''s smirk... before they both stepped through.

    As they entered, the world around them shifted, the warm daylight of the surface giving way to the eerie twilight of the dungeon.

    The moment they stepped through, massive humidity engulfed them. The air was thick and damp, with a faint briny scent that clung to their senses.

    They stood on the edge of a sprawlinggoon, its waters shimmering with an unnatural, bioluminescent green glow.

    Jagged coral formations jutted out from the shallows, while strange sounds of hissing and slithering echoed in the distance.

    Alister looked around the area, his sharp gaze assessing every detail. The field dungeon lived up to its name... the watery terrain stretched far into the horizon, dotted with scattered ruins and mangroves shrouded in a faint mist.

    Blitz tapped her daggers together lightly, her sharp grin growing. "Creepy, slimy, and full of ambush potential. Just how I like it."

    Axel, on the other hand, looked less thrilled. "Yeah, great. Except, you know, the whole drowning hazard thing. Not really my style."

    Beatrice hoisted her hammer over her shoulder with ease, her pink hair catching the faint glow of thegoon. "Stay out of the water, then. Problem solved."

    Alister took a few steps forward, his boots sshing lightly against the soggy ground.

    "Stick close and stay alert," hemanded. "Field dungeons aren''t as straightforward as standard ones. The terrain works against you as much as the enemies do."

    L nodded, clutching the hilt of her sword nervously. "What kind of Nagas are we expecting?" she asked softly, her green eyes looking at the misty ruins ahead.

    "Scout units at first," Alister replied. "Smaller, quicker ones. But the deeper we go, the more organized and dangerous they''ll be."

    As if on cue, a faint ripple disturbed the water nearby. Everyone froze... except Alister and his generals. Blitz crouched low, her daggers gleaming in the dim light. "We''ve gotpany,"

    she whispered.

    The water near the ripple erupted suddenly, and two serpent-like figures burst forth. Their humanoid torsos were covered with scaled armor, while their lower halves writhed with long, powerful tails. The Nagas held curved tridents that glinted menacingly.

    Axel groaned, raising his daggers. "Of course. Why does it always have to be tridents?"

    Watching the approaching monsters, Beatrice adjusted her grip on her hammer and nced at Alister. "So, what''s the n of appro... "

    "My wyverns,e forth!" Before she could finish, Alister interrupted, his yellow eyes gleaming with intensity as he raised his hand.

    The air behind them shimmered, rifts tearing open in reality. From these rifts, massive

    figures emerged.

    First came the wyverns with skin like gleaming steel, their massive frames glinting under the

    soft light of thegoon.

    Following them were creatures with scales of sickly purple and green, exuding a toxic aura as tendrils of poison mist spiraled from their gaping maws.

    Finally, pale-white wyverns with desated bone-like scales stepped forth, their green eyes

    glowing.

    Axel and Blitz froze, their jaws slightly ajar. Even Beatrice, who rarely expressed awe, couldn''t help but let out a soft whistle. L''s eyes widened as she murmured, "Incredible..."

    Blitz grinned, nudging Axel with her elbow. "And here I thought we were impressive."

    Axel mumbled, "But that amount... there''s practically a hundred of them..."

    "SSS ss is no joke. Jokes on people who thought it was."

    Alister stood tall, his presencemanding even in the midst of the fearsome wyverns.

    He addressed all of them. "Spread out and attack the monsters. If you wish to eat some of

    them, I demand you leave parts of their bodies and their cores intact.

    "Have I made myself clear?"

    Graaaaaa!

    The wyverns roared together, causing the air around them to vibrate.

 Chapter 272: The Raid Begins

    Chapter 272: The Raid Begins

    ?

    Turning his gaze to Draven, Alistermanded, "The humans here are under my protection... ensure no harmes to them, Draven."

    Draven''s purple eyes widened slightly in shock. "Me? My lord, why must I... why not another?"

    "Because you''re the best at protecting others," Alister replied bluntly, his eyes narrowing with a warm smile.

    Draven looked disappointed, mumbling in a low tone, "I wish to fight by your side, my lord... Not babysit some humans."

    Alister''s gaze softened for a moment. "You''ll fight when the timees. For now, trust in my judgment."

    As Draven bowed his head in eptance, Alister turned back to the group. "I''m going ahead. I''ll deal with the boss monster myself. You all can clean up the rest."

    Before anyone could respond, Anzo''s figure began to glow faintly, his mana surging outward. Without a word, he lifted off the ground, propelled by his telekinesis talent. Hovering in the air with a smug grin, he said, "I don''t need protection, Alister. And as for the boss monster..." He pointed at himself confidently. "That''s mine."

    Axel groaned, his palm meeting his face. "Here we go..."

    Blitz smirked, flipping a dagger in her hand. "Guess we''re watching a contest now."

    Cinder''s fiery voice rang out. "Are you trying to steal our lord''s prey, human?" she yelled, her tone sharp. Her crimson eyes red with intensity as she took a step forward, ring daggers at him.

    Mar''Garet, who already seemed on the brink of exploding, clenched her fists tightly, her aura ring dangerously. Her ck armor gleamed ominously as a rift tore open beside her.

    Reaching in, she pulled out her spear, its edge shimmering with her crimson mana. She pointed it directly at Anzo, her voice low and intense. "Disregard my lord''s orders again, and I''ll reduce you to nothing."

    Anzo froze, his smugness vanishing as he stammered. "W-wait, I didn''t mean-"

    "Enough," Alister interrupted. His gaze shifted from Cinder to Mar''Garet. "Calm yourselves. There''s no need for this."

    Mar''Garet reluctantly lowered her spear, though her re lingered on Anzo, while Cinder crossed her arms, huffing but stepping back.

    Alister then turned his piercing gaze to Anzo. "So," he said with a faint smirk, "you want to defeat the boss monster, do you?"

    Anzo, still shaken, straightened himself and nodded hesitantly. "Y-yeah," he stammered, his voicecking its usual confidence as he nced nervously at Mar''Garet and Cinder.

    Alister''s smirk widened slightly. "You can," he said evenly, "but only if you''re the first one to get there."

    Anzo blinked, confused. "What? What do you mean?"

    Before he could ask further, Alister''s scales began to ripple across his arm, forming a ck gauntlet. He raised it slightly, the air around him distorting with his mana. His yellow eyes locked on Anzo''s.

    Anzo couldn''t resist asking, "What''s up with the ws and scales? You turning into or something?"

    Alister smiled, "I can use the abilities of my summons, perks of being SSS."

    "That aside, I''ll see you there."

    monster

    Anzo stood there, stunned, before apetitive grin appeared on his face. "Oh, it''s on!"

    Blitz snickered, nudging Axel. "Guess the race is on."

    Axel groaned, shaking his head. "I swear, every time we go on a mission, someone has to make it apetition."

    "Even back with team leader Ren."

    Anzo looked down at Alister as he hovered above, grinning as he was about to make a remark. "I''d love to see how you would-"

    Before he could finish, the ground rumbled, and a massive steel-skinned wyvern gleaming metallic scales stepped forward, lowering its head respectfully before Alister.

    Alister leapt onto its head, steadying himself as the beast let out a powerful roar.

    With a mighty beat of its wings, the wyvern surged into the sky, a burst of speed and force propelling it high above the battlefield, instantly leaving Anzo far behind.

    Anzo whirled around and stared in shock, his mouth hanging open. "The hell? How is that even possible? Hey! That''s cheating!"

    He shouted, pointing at Alister as he pushed himself forward with his telekinesis, struggling to keep up.

    High above, Alister stood on the wyvern''s head, his hair whipping wildly in the wind as he nced back at Anzo with an amused smile.

    "Since when is a Summoner not expected to rely on their summon?"

    The wyvern''s powerful wings beat the wind with amazing force, each stroke pushing them farther and faster through the skies. The sheer force of the gusts generated by its wings made it impossible for Anzo to close the gap, no matter how hard he tried.

    "Ugh! You may be ahead, but don''t think for a moment that it''s over!" Anzo yelled to Alister, gritting his teeth as he strained to push harder.

    Despite his best efforts, the distance only grew wider, the wyvern''s speed was unmatched.

    Far in the distance, Alister''s dragon eyes looked far ahead toward the boss monster''s location, what appeared to be a massive ruined Colosseum. His smirk widened slightly. "You''ll have to do better than that if you want to win, Anzo," he said to him over his shoulder as he and the wyvern soared effortlessly toward their goal.

    Anzo felt a vein throb on the side of his forehead as he yelled, "Dammmmmn it!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister and Anzo soared high above the battlefield, the wind whipping through the air as they glided effortlessly.

    Meanwhile, back on the ground...

    "I feel like burning that human alive," Cinder mumbled, her crimson eyes narrowing with irritation as she watched the retreating form of Anzo.

    Mar''Garet shared Cinder''s dissatisfaction. "I don''t like how insolent he is. Makes me feel like

    slicing him up."

    Cinder shot a nce at her. "He will pay for his insolence... but not today."

    Terra, standing tall and calm despite the bubbling chaos around them, called out to Cinder, "Since our lord has gone on his hunt, you are in charge. Perform your duties."

    Cinder''s eyes flicked to Terra, a brief moment of acknowledgment passing between them. She then looked to the others, her gaze hardening as she surveyed the wyverns already in the air, tearing through Naga after Naga, their savage attacks leaving trails of blood and smoke in

    their wake.

    She redirected her gaze to the group. "I''m sure I don''t need to exin what we need to do,

    no?"

    Terra smiled, then said, "You''re right. Let''s proceed."

    Cinder''s intense gaze shifted to Axel and the other humans, her eyes narrowing slightly as she addressed them, her tone cold.

    "Humans..."

    "...do not disappoint my lord." Her words made the air feel heavy, making it feel more like a

    threat than a suggestion.

    Axel and Blitz exchanged smirks, unfazed by Cinder''s intensity. Together, they responded,

    "Yes, ma''am."

    Cinder nodded once, her expression softening, though only slightly. "Alright then." She raised her hand, and tiny balls of me began to hover around her, swirling.

    With a flex of her fingers, the mes grew in size, a deep red me crest appeared on her forehead, glowing brightly, and her eyes shone with the intensity of the fire she controlled. Sand began to swirl around Terra, forming patterns as her crest red on the back of her

    hands.

    Draven reached out with his right hand, the lighting crest on the back of his palm shing to life. His fingers curled, and a sword emerged from a rift in space, he pulled it with a burst of speed, causing a gust of wind, crackling with violent electricity as he tightened his grip. Alzuring stood with his bow in hand, his eyes gleaming with battle lust as he spoke, "I believe we should make quick work of all the monsters, so we can rush over to watch the young lord''s

    match."

 Chapter 273: Blades, Hammers, And Venom

    Chapter 273: des, Hammers, And Venom

    ?

    Mar''Garet giggled, her fingers twirling her spear as her cracked crown crest appeared above her bust, the symbol glowing faintly. Her mana red with a reddish-ck hue, crackling.

    "That sounds like a brilliant idea. I''m certain our lord could provides us with some much needed enlightenmant, one way or another," she purred, her smile dangerous and eager as she let the energy surge around her.

    L, standing in the back with the others, tensed as the air thickened with the magical aura from the dragon generals. Axel and Blitz drew their daggers, ready for the fight.

    Cinder looked to the group, the flickering mes around her growing fiercer. She clenched her fists, the heat rising, her aura suffusing the air.

    "Then let us proceed..."

    "And bring our lord victory!"

    "Draven, remember, protect the humans. That doesn''t mean you can''t engage inbat, but be watchful. Mar''Garet, hold the rear. Terra, you''re with me," she instructed.

    Draven nodded as lightning crackled along the edge of his de. "Understood," he said.

    VOOM!

    The next instant, he vanished in a blur of motion. Mar''Garet tilted her head slightly, her spear resting against her shoulder.

    "Rear guard? Perfect," she said, a twisted smile curling her lips as she slowly licked them. "I''ll make sure nothing dares to even think about approaching."

    Terra nodded, the sand coiling protectively around her. "I''ll be by your side, Cinder," she replied firmly.

    Cinder then turned to Axel, Blitz, and L, her intense gaze locking on the humans. "As for you lot... Try to keep up. Do not engage opponents you know you stand no chance against. Stay alive. My lord wouldn''t be pleased if you perished here."

    Blitz grinned, flipping her dagger. "Got it. Just keep the big ones off our backs, and we''ll handle the rest."

    Axel shrugged. "Yeah, yeah, loud and clear. No dying today."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    L hesitated before nodding, clutching her sword tightly. "I''ll support however I can." Beatrice then said, "We are not that weak, and I would prefer you don''t look down on us." Cinder locked eyes with her for a moment but chose to say nothing. She redirected her gaze to the monsters she could see approaching in the mist and charged in.

    Meanwhile, as the next wave of Nagas surged from the water, their tails propelled them forward with speed. They hissed and brandished their tridents, their scales glistening under the green light. Alister''s wyverns dived down with thunderous roars, the ground quaking as they spread out, their massive ws tearing through the shallow waters.

    The steel-skinned wyverns smashed into the Nagas, their metallic bodies gleaming as they collided with the serpent-like creatures.

    One wyvern mped its powerful jaws onto a Naga''s torso, lifting it out of the water and crushing it with a sickening crunch. Another swung its massive tail, sending several Nagas flying into jagged coral formations that shattered on impact.

    The purple-and-green poison wyverns unleashed clouds of venomous mist from their maws, shrouding sections of the dungeon.

    The mist hissed as it touched the water, creating an acidic foam that corroded everything it touched.

    Several Nagas screamed as the poison seared their scales, writhing helplessly before being dispatched by the wyverns'' ws, then munched on.

    The pale, bony-scaled wyverns moved in with massive roars that echoed through the ruins, disorienting the Nagas.

    One of these wyverns impaled a Naga with its skeletal tail, lifting it high before flinging it into thegoon.

    Blitz darted between jagged coral spires effortlessly. Her daggers gleamed as they caught the faint light of the bioluminescentgoon. She spotted a Naga attempting to nk her from the shadows. With a sly smirk, she lunged forward.

    "Nice try, scaly," she whispered, driving her des deep into its throat as shended behind it. Twisting the hilts with a flick of her wrists, she yanked the daggers free in one fluid motion, a sickening gurgle marking the Naga''s end.

    "Hey, Axel, keep up!" Blitz teased, her voice echie through the battlefield.

    Axel was a blur just a few paces behind her, his movements seeming wild yet refined. He intercepted a Naga''s trident strike with his crossed daggers, the force of the blow sending a sharp ng echoing through thegoon.

    "Keep up? Please." Axel grinned as he twisted his daggers, locking the trident in ce. With a sudden surge of strength, he shoved the Naga backward and unleashed a rapid flurry of shes at its abdomen. Green blood sprayed across his armor as the creature crumpled lifelessly into the shallow water.

    "Now that''s how you make a mess," Axel called back, a wicked grin on his face.

    "Mess? I call it art," Blitz quipped as she leapt toward another target.

    Meanwhile, Beatrice stood firm, crouched low, holding the handle of her hammer with both hands. The soft pink glow of her weapon''s runes reflected against her pink hair, giving her an almost serene appearance.

    Two Nagas surged toward her, their tridents raised. She tightened her grip on the hammer''s hilt, ready for a strike.

    "You should''ve stayed in the water," Beatrice yelled, hefting her hammer in one powerful motion.

    With a wide, arcing swing, she caught the first Naga mid-charge, the runes ring as the creature was sent hurtling into a ruined pir. The crack of breaking bones echoed as it slumped lifelessly to the muddy floor.

    The second Naga hesitated, but it was toote. Beatrice brought the hammer down in a devastating downward strike, crushing the creature''s skull beneath the weapon''s massive weight. She shook her head, looking over her shoulder.

    "L, eyes open! They''ll target you next!"

    "Yes, Beatrice!" L responded. She stayed close to Beatrice, her glowing blue sword gripped tightly in both hands. A Naga darted toward her exposed side, its trident raised for a strike. "Not today!" L shouted, stepping forward. Her de met the trident with a loud...

    CLANG!

    Deflecting the attack as sparks flew. L countered with a quick sh, severing the Naga''s arm. The creature hissed in pain, its movements erratic, but L hesitated.

    "Finish it!" Beatrice yelled, snapping her back to reality.

    With a sharp inhale, L steadied herself. She thrust her de forward, the enchanted edge piercing the Naga''s heart. The creature crumpled, its blood mixing with thegoon''s glowing

    waters.

    "Well done," Beatrice said with a nod.

    L gave a small smile, her grip on the sword tightening as she looked for the next threat. "Thank you... I won''t slow us down!"

    "Damn right you won''t," Axel called from a distance, kicking a lifeless Naga off his dagger.

    "Not with Alister''s dragons killing most of the monsters for us."

    "I swear this feels so safe I doubt our talent will even activate, sis."

    "You have a point. I still haven''t felt that chill of a close call or sense of danger," Blitz replied, dispatching another Naga with a stab to its eye, then chest.

    "Also, these are supposed to be A-ranked monsters, but they all feel weak for some reason."

    "I-I guess you have a point... Even I am able to fight a bit well despite being the weakest here." L mumbled.

    Beatrice frowned thoughtfully, resting her hammer on her shoulder. "Maybe it''s because of

    Alister''s summons. Those wyverns aren''t just any ordinary creatures; they look really strong...

    Maybe their presence could be suppressing the monsters."

    Axel smirked, shaking his head. "Suppressing them? Never heard of something like that

    before."

    But that was indeed the case.

 Chapter 274: Wings Above, Shadows Below

    Chapter 274: Wings Above, Shadows Below

    ?

    A Naga noticed them standing still, chatting, and saw an opportunity. It raised its trident high and hurled it straight at them.

    The trident whistled as it flew through the air. None of them noticed the iing attack until a sudden blur shot across their field of vision.

    VOOM!

    CLANG!

    A metallic ng rang out as the trident was deflected, sshing water in all directions as it fell.

    Draven materialized in front of the group, the purple runes on his obsidian de glowing faintly. In the next instant...

    VOOM!

    He darted toward the Naga responsible for the attack.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    WHOOSH!

    The creature barely had time to react before Draven''s sword shed across its neck, decapitating it cleanly. Green blood sprayed briefly before the lifeless body copsed into the murky water. Draven turned back to the team, his purple eyes narrowed.

    "Stay focused," he said, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. "Your chatter could cost you your lives. Be grateful my lord has given you all this opportunity to broaden your horizons. You''d do well to make proper use of it."

    Without waiting for a reply, Draven vanished in a blur, speeding off toward the next group of monsters.

    The group stood momentarily stunned before Axel broke the silence with a sheepishugh. "Okay... noted. Less talking, more fighting."

    "You heard the dragon, folks. Let''s get back to the raid," Axel said as he twirled his daggers, crouching slightly in a battle stance with both des ahead of him, a grin spreading across his face.

    "Right!" the rest of them yelled, charging forward as their feet sshed through the shallow water, determination lighting their faces.

    Meanwhile...

    Above in the skies, Alzuring soared effortlessly, his massive blue wings beating through the humid air of the dungeon.

    From this height, the battlefield was a grim view of bodies, blood, and broken ruins. Thegoon glowed faintly beneath him, its glowing bioluminescence standing out sharply against the crimson swirls of spilled Naga blood.

    With a flick of his hand, an arrow materialized on his bow, formed entirely ofpressed wind. The string hummed as he pulled it back, narrowing his eyes at the Nagas below.

    "Filthy creatures... Rejoice, for I am about to free you of your vile existence."

    He released the arrow.

    WHOOSH!

    It flew faster than the eye could follow, cutting through the air with a sharp whistle. When it hit the group of Nagas, it exploded with a deafening BOOM!

    The force was massive; several Nagas were blown apart instantly, their scaly bodies ripped to pieces in a spray of blood and guts. Water erupted into the air like a geyser, and the coral towers nearby shattered into rubble.

    Before the dust and water spray had even settled, Alzuring fired again.

    SWOOSH! BOOM!

    This time, his arrow struck a ruined temple where a group of Nagas was trying to hide. The st tore through the stone like paper, sending chunks of rock flying everywhere. The temple copsed in on itself with a loud CRASH, burying the Nagas underneath a mountain of debris. Down below, the Nagas hissed in fear. Their ranks fell apart as they panicked, some slithering away toward the deeper waters, their tails thrashing wildly.

    "You think you can run?" Alzuring narrowed his gaze.

    "How foolish."

    He pped his wings hard, rising higher into the sky. The wind around him spun faster and faster as he formed another arrow, this onerger and glowing brighter than all the others.

    "This is the end for you," he said, pulling back the bowstring.

    He fired.

    WHOOSH! KABOOM!

    The massive arrow mmed into the water with an earth-shaking explosion. A giant column of water shot into the sky, dragging debris and Nagas with it. The shockwave ripped through thegoon, smashing more coral towers and tossing the fleeing Nagas like ragdolls. The few still alive were helplessly crushed under falling chunks of rock, their bodies broken and bloody.

    Alzuring summoned a handful of smaller arrows, firing them in rapid session.

    WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

    The arrows shot into the water like spears, each one striking its target with pinpoint uracy. The Nagas who thought they could hide underwater were dragged up by the force of the explosions, their limp bodies sshing back into the blood-filledgoon.

    He descended,nding atop a crumbled coral tower. He held out his hand, summoning a swirling ball of wind. With a flick of his hand, he hurled it into a cluster of remaining Nagas.

    WHIRRR! WHOOSH! BOOM!

    The ball spun wildly, creating a mini tornado that sucked the creatures in. Their screams were drowned out by the roaring wind, and when it finally stopped, nothing was left but scattered pieces of their bodies.

    Hovering back into the air, Alzuring looked over thegoon, now a wastnd of rubble and blood.

    "I believe I should be done here," he said calmly, his glowing eyes scanning the ruins.

    High in the skies, Alzuring''s sharp eyes caught sight of a swirling inferno in the distance. A massive tornado of fire rose into the air. The fiery vortex spun faster and faster, its heat so intense that even from afar, Alzuring could feel it radiating through the humid air.

    Suddenly, the mes began to solidify. The roaring fire hardened into jagged, golden crystalline shards, catching the faint glow of thegoon below. The tornado froze, taking the form of a crystalline sand pir. It stood in ce for a breathless moment, then-

    CRACK!

    The crystal formation shattered explosively, raining down countless shards that gleamed like falling stars. As they hit the ground, an ear-piercing hiss filled the air, steam rising violently from the impact points.

    The shards melted on contact, spreading an acidic mist that made the Nagas scream in agony. Their hisses echoed through the battlefield, their bodies twisting as the corrosive vapor

    consumed them.

    Before the chaos could settle, another explosion rocked the air.

    BOOM!

    The shockwave rippled through thegoon, sending waves crashing against the coral ruins. Bits of debris and charred bodies were flung into the air, adding to the devastation. Alzuring narrowed his glowing eyes, watching as the remnants of the infernal attack painted the horizon with mes and ash.

    "Cinder and Terra," he muttered to himself, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

    "Such a dazzling disy of skill, truly impressive."

    "At that rate, they should be finishing soon." He smiled. "But I finished first, so I should hurry over to meet the young lord. Perhaps he shall praise me for my amazing performance."

    He smiled, then nodded slightly.

    "Though I doubt just this would be enough to ensure I''m not outdone by the others."

    With a powerful beat of his wings, he adjusted his position, deciding it was best to eliminate

    more Nagas.

    "I suppose I should clean up a bit more... Maybe I''ll get all the glory," he murmured, readying another arrow of wind as he flew forward with a massive beat of his wings.

    Meanwhile...

    On the blood-soaked battlefield, Mar''Garet moved like a shadow.

    Her armor gleamed faintly, catching the dim green glow of thegoon as she stepped into a shallow pool. The water rippled outward, mingling with the green blood of fallen Nagas.

    A hiss sounded behind her, and she spun around. One of the creatures lunged, its fangs bared, trident pointed to skewer her. Mar''Garet''s crimson eyes narrowed.

    FWISH!

    Her spearshed out in a blur, piercing through the Naga''s throat. It gurgled, wing at the weapon impaling it. With a flick of her wrist, she twisted the spear, tearing through flesh and scales with a sickening CRACK as its spine shattered. The creature slumped to the ground, its lifeless body sshing into thegoon.

    "Pathetic," she spat, yanking the spear free, green blood dripping from its de.

 Chapter 317: Grit, Grins, and Rematches

    Chapter 317: Grit, Grins, and Rematches

    ?

    The sun hung high over the White Comet Guild''s expansive training grounds, casting long shadows across the various training stations.

    The area was divided into different zones: arge open field for sparring, a series of obstacle courses for agility and endurance drills, and wooden targets set up for archery and rangedbat practice.

    Alongside the training grounds stood arge pavilion, where guild members could rx, observe, or prepare for their next exercises.

    Alister stood in the center of the field with Miyu and Cinder by his side. The wind ruffled Alister''s hair m as he gave a quick nce to his team, who stood across from them, ready for whatever challenge he had in store.

    Opposite Alister were his trusted teammates: Anzo, with his calm andposed expression, was twirling his great sword in the air with his telekinesis.

    This is the end of Part One. Upgrade Premium to read full content:

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 Chapter 276: Against The Boss Monster

    Chapter 276: Against The Boss Monster

    ?

    Anzo took a confident step forward, his massive greatsword hovering behind him, seemingly weightless as it began to rotate rapidly in midair, the force of its motion stirring the toxic air around them. His red mana surged, wrapping the de in a crimson aura and causing it to hum loudly.

    ''Wait... he isn''t going to wield it with his hand? Then what''s up with all that muscle?'' Alister thought, slightly perplexed by the bizarre way Anzo decided to use that dragon arm.

    [A/N: Some dragons are born with weapons or obtain weapons from parts of their bodies as they age. These weapons are called Dragon Arms. For the dragon god, it was Restria.] "Time to make you regret waking up," Anzo yelled, his smirk widening.

    With a swift motion of his hand, he hurled the spinning greatsword toward the Hydra. The massive weapon tore through the air, its speed creating a crimson streak.

    SHINK!

    The de cleaved through one of the Hydra''s heads in a single, devastating strike, the severed head crashing into the swamp with a ssh.

    "Booya! That''s my money''s worth!" Anzo shouted, punching the air triumphantly.

    But his celebration was cut short when the severed head began to regenerate before his eyes. In mere moments, a new head had formed, its yellow eyes ring at them.

    "What the hell?" Anzo yelled, his excitement turning into frustration.

    The Hydra let out another deafening roar, shaking the very ground beneath them.

    Alister remained calm, observing the scene with a faint smirk. "It has powerful regenerative capabilities," he exined. "Attacks like that won''t work in the long run."

    Anzo spun to face him, irritation clear on his face. "Then why the hell are you here? Where are your dragons, huh? Wouldn''t now be a good time to bring them in?"

    Alister''s smirk widened into a confident smile as he turned to gaze at Anzo. "I told you before, this boss is mine, remember?"

    Anzo wore a confused expression on his face. "Wait... you don''t mean you''re going to go head-to-head with that thing, right?"

    Alister smiled as he said, "Yes."

    Anzo couldn''t believe him. "What kind of joke is that? I know you''re strong, SSS Rank and all that, but you''re a Summoner, no?"

    Alister chuckled, turning his attention back to the Hydra, its eight heads hissing. "Just try to keep up, Anzo. I''ll show you how it''s done."

    The faint shimmer of Alister''s golden aura intensified as he flexed his ws, stepping forward toward the massive creature.

    Suddenly, Alister''s figure blurred, then vanished entirely from Anzo''s view.

    "What the-?!" Anzo muttered, his eyes darting frantically across the battlefield. "That''s speed like a physical enhancement user!"

    Hovering slightly above the ground using his telekinesis, Anzo scoffed, gripping his spinning greatsword with a telekic pull.

    "Don''t think I''m gonna let you show me up!" he yelled. "I''ll just have to dice that thing into so many pieces it won''t have a chance to regenerate!"

    Before Anzo could act, Alister reappeared, this time directly below the Hydra''s towering heads.

    With a sudden burst of power, Alister crouched, the ground beneath him cracking, and then, with a massive...

    BOOM!

    He leaped. He shot into the air like a missile, his golden aura zing brightly around him.

    CRACK!

    His foot collided with one of the Hydra''s skulls in a thunderous kick, the impact echoing like a cannon st.

    The Hydra''s massive body was thrown backward, its entire form stumbling several steps before it regained its bnce.

    Anzo froze mid-flight, his jaw dropping. "No way..."

    Landing gracefully atop a crumbling section of the ruined colosseum, Alister stood tall, the golden light of his aura glowing faintly. He cleaned specks of mud from his face nonchntly. "Also," Alister spoke, "the Hydra has another trick... it can turn living objects into stone if you stay in one ce for too long. Keep moving, or you''ll be a statue."

    Anzo narrowed his eyes. "I know, genius! I saw the talent window when I got here!" Alister smirked but said nothing, his gaze locked onto the Hydra as its heads hissed in fury, the creature now focusing all eight of its heads on the two of them.

    Alister shot forward, the ground cratering beneath him as his leap sent him soaring through the air with explosive speed. His golden aura trailed behind him like aet, and he twisted mid-flight, aiming a devastating kick at the Hydra''s central head.

    BOOM!

    The impact rang out like a thunderp, the force rippling through the Hydra''s colossal body. The head jerked violently to the side, green ichor spraying into the air. Alisternded atop another shattered column, the structure cracking under his forcefulnding before copsing into rubble.

    Meanwhile, Anzo''s greatsword buzzed around him like a whirlwind, tearing through the air with a WHIRRRR.

    "Time to turn you into snake sushi!" Anzo yelled, his red mana surging as he directed the spinning de toward the Hydra''s writhing heads.

    SHINK! SHINK! SHINK!

    Three heads were severed in rapid session, the de leaving arcs of crimson light in its wake.

    But the satisfaction was short-lived. Before the heads even hit the ground, they were already regrowing, flesh knitting together with wet, sickening squelches.

    "Damn it! These things don''t stay down!" Anzo cursed, hovering higher to avoid the Hydra''s snapping jaws or its petrifying gaze.

    The Hydra roared in fury, a deafening sound that shook the ruins and sent loose debris tumbling. It reared back, its heads unleashing streams of putrid green poison breath that hissed and bubbled as it hit the crumbling stone.

    SSSSSSHHHHHHH!

    The toxic mist corroded everything it touched, reducing ancient statues and columns to molten g. Alister darted between the attacks, his movements blurring as he leaped from one broken pir to the next.

    "Keep moving, Anzo!" Alister yelled, leaping over a jet of poison that melted through a

    nearby wall.

    "I don''t need you telling me the obvious!" Anzo yelled, spinning his greatsword in a wide arc. The de cleaved through another head, then another, before curving back to hover protectively behind him.

    The Hydra retaliated with a ferocious swing of its massive tail, the limb crashing through a line of ruined arches with a series of resounding CRASHES. Stone and dust erupted into the air, the shockwave throwing Alister off his perch.

    Alister twisted mid-fall, nting his feet into a nearby wall and kicking off with explosive force. He closed the gap to the Hydra in an instant, shing his ws, using Void Rend in a

    golden blur.

    SCHREEE!

    His ws sliced touch one of the heads, golden mana carving deep gashes into the scaled flesh. Ichor sprayed across the battlefield, sizzling as it hit the poisoned ground. The Hydra screeched in pain, thrashing violently. Its tailshed out again, striking the remains of an ancient fountain and obliterating it in a shower of rubble and water as the head

    regrew.

    "Watch it, snake!" Anzo yelled, maneuvering mid-air with his telekinesis to avoid the debris. He directed his greatsword into another sweeping attack, the de cutting through multiple

    heads at once in a single arc.

    THWACK! THWACK!

    The Hydra stumbled, ichor pouring from its wounds, but its regeneration was relentless. The severed heads began to grow back, now faster than before, their yellow eyes glowing even

    brighter.

    "Alister, this isn''t working!" Anzo shouted. "We''re just making it mad!"

    "It''s all part of the n," Alister replied,nding atop a new section of the Colosseum. The stone cracked under his feet, but he didn''t seem bothered. "Keep wearing it down. It''s only a

    matter of time."

    "You have a n?!" Anzo scoffed, dodging another sweep of the Hydra''s tail that tore through a nearby statue. "Won''t you call over one of your dragons to burn the thing to the

    ground or something?"

    "We''re going to run out of ruins to hid with before that thing runs out of heads!"

    Alister smirked,unching himself toward the Hydra again with a leap, Alister struck another devastating blow, his kicknding with a resounding BOOM that sent shockwaves through the battlefield, forcing the Hydra to stagger back once more.

    Anzo steadied himself mid-air, his spinning greatsword orbiting around him like a satellite.

    He nced at Alister, whonded on the crumbled Colosseum wall, still looking calm and confident despite the Hydra''s monstrous roar.

    "So," Anzo called out, "do you actually have a n? Or do you n to just kick that thing to

    death?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister chuckled softly, brushing a strand of silver hair from his face. "Kicking it to death doesn''t sound too bad," he teased, "but no. I have a n."

    Anzo raised an eyebrow, his sword slowing its rotation as he waited for more. "Care to share

    with the rest of the ss, or is it one of those ''mysterious team leader secret'' things where

    you act all cool and keep me in the dark?"

    Alister''s smirk deepened, seemingly unfazed by the Hydra''s never ending regeneration. The massive creature hissed and roared, thrashing wildly, its tails whipping through the air and tearing apart what little remained of the ancient Colosseum.

    "I''ve got it handled, all you have to do is follow orders, let this be a team building exercise," Alister said confidently, leaping to another crumbling column with ease. His ws glowed brighter, golden mana swirling around them. "Just keep it busy, don''t stop your attacks, and

    don''t let it pin you down."

    Anzo groaned, his greatsword spinning back into position over his shoulder. "Keep it busy, he says," he muttered sarcastically.

    Anzo raised his hand, his red mana ring as he sent his de rocketing forward.

    WHIRR! THUNK!

    The greatsword embedded itself into one of the Hydra''s necks, pinning the head to a stone

    pir with a sickening crack. Blood sprayed out, sizzling as it sttered onto the ground.

    The Hydra screeched, its remaining headsshing out in fury. One shot a torrent of green poison at Anzo, while another snapped its jaws toward Alister. SSSSHHHHHHHH!

 Chapter 277: Chipping Away At Immortality

    Chapter 277: Chipping Away At Immortality

    ?

    The poison stream narrowly missed Anzo, who darted to the side using his telekinesis. He spun mid-air, directing the greatsword to slice through the attacking head with a sharp arc.

    CLANG!

    "Gotcha!" Anzo cheered as the head fell, only for his expression to sour when two more began sprouting from the stump. "This is getting old real fast!"

    Alister stood atop a crumbled section of the Colosseum, his ck hair whipping in the chaotic winds stirred by the Hydra''s movements.

    He watched as Anzo groaned in frustration, dodging another swing of the creature''s massive tail. The Hydra''s heads that had been chopped down in the muddy floor was nearly reaching a hundred, but still the both of them kept slicing heads.

    It wasn''t clear what Alister''s n was.

    "Anzo, keep at it!" Alister called out.

    "What do you think I''m doing?!" Anzo shot back, his greatsword slicing through another head with a deafening SCHINK! "I''m chopping these things like firewood, but they just keeping back!"

    "Exactly," Alister said, leaping to a higher perch as a jet of poison breath dissolved the stone beneath his feet. "Don''t let up. Keep attacking. The more pressure, the better."

    Anzo red at him, panting. "You better know what you''re doing, oh high and mighty team leader."

    WHIRRR!

    The red mana surrounding Anzo''s de red as it spun violently, carving through another Hydra head in a sweeping motion. The severed appendage thudded to the ground with a wet SPLAT, blood pooling around the stump.

    But just as before, two new heads sprouted in its ce with speed, their glowing yellow eyes locking onto Anzo causing him to move his body around swiftly to avoid getting petrified.

    "I still don''t get this, what exactly is your genius n." Anzo yelled, dodging another strike. "This thing''s regenerating faster than I can cut it down!"

    Alister, however, wasn''t fazed. He observed the Hydra carefully, his golden aura pulsing faintly as his sharp eyes scanned its movements.

    It was small at firstˇŞa slight dy in the regrowth of one of the heads Anzo had severed earlier. It took a fraction of a second longer to regenerate, the flesh knitting together slower than usual.

    A smirk curled on Alister''s lips. "Its working," he muttered.

    Anzo caught the expression as he floated higher to avoid another swing of the Hydra''s tail. "What''s with the creepy smile? Did you figure something out, or are you just enjoying the show?"

    Alister leaped from his perch,nding gracefully on a cracked column. "Just keep attacking, Anzo," he instructed, his voice calm butced with confidence.

    "Yeah, yeah," Anzo grumbled, hurling his greatsword forward once more. CLANG! The de cleaved through two more heads, ichor spraying in all directions.

    Meanwhile, Alister''s gaze never left the Hydra. He studied the faint dy again, noticing another head hesitating just a moment before regrowing.

    His smirk widened. "It''s tiring," he muttered to himself. "The regeneration isn''t infinite, and it must be using mana, and so as long as we make it regenerate enough... it will eventually be

    depleted entirely."

    "Just as I suspected."

    He stood there, noticing as the next heads that grew were even slower now, Alister then narrowed his eyes as he thought to himself, ''This should be enough.''

    Alister then called out to Anzo.

    "That''s enough!" he yelled.

    Anzo nced back, still panting and drenched in sweat. "Enough of what? I''ve been doing all the work here!"

    Alister ignored theint and leaped down from the column,nding in the mud with a loud SPLAT on the muddy ground.

    He pointed toward the Hydra, whose heads were noticeably slower in regenerating.

    "Look closely," Alister said. "It''s weakening. The regeneration is failing."

    Anzo paused just long enough to notice the sluggish regrowth of the Hydra''s severed stumps. The flesh wavered, struggling to form even a single new head.

    "About time," Anzo muttered, cracking his neck. "So what''s the n now, oh fearless leader?"

    Alister''s golden aura red as he clenched his fists. "We need to topple it. Bring it down and make it roll over. we''ll go for the core."

    "It''s in it''s underbelly."

    Anzo arched a brow, his greatsword spinningzily at his side. "And by ''we,'' you mean me, right?"

    "You''re the one that will topple it," Alister replied calmly. "I''ll handle the rest. Just get ready to move when I give the signal."

    Anzo sighed, raising his hand to summon his greatsword back to him. "I see you justpletely ignored me."

    "No problem champ, I can live with that."

    The Hydra roared, its remaining headsshing out as it sensed their intent. Alister raised his

    wed hand, golden mana crackling around him like a storm.

    "Anzo, aim for its body! We''ll disrupt its bnce and make it topple!"

    Anzo''s red mana red as he charged forward, his greatsword glowing with fiery intensity.

    "On it!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    With a mighty swing, Anzo drove his de into the Hydra''s coiled midsection, the impact causing the massive serpent-like body to jerk violently to one side.

    "Again!" Alistermanded, his golden aura surging as he prepared his next move.

    Anzo let out a fierce roar, spinning his de once more. The Hydra''s body quivered, the sheer force of the blow causing its weight to shift unnaturally.

    "Keep pushing!" Alister urged.

    Anzo thrust his hand forward, his telekinesis amplifying his efforts as he used his greatsword

    to press into the Hydra''s coiled body.

    With a ROAR, the creature''s immense body finally tipped, the writhing heads iling

    uselessly as its bulk rolled onto its back with a deafening BOOM.

    Dust and debris clouded the air as Alister leaped onto the overturned Hydra, his gaze fixed on

    its vulnerable underbelly.

    "Perfect," he muttered, a wicked grin crossing his face. "Time to end this."

    Just then one of the Naga heads faced Alister and optaned It''s mouths, poison fumes rising.

    Anzo noticed it and yelled, "Hay, look out!"

    Alister noticed the head, But before he could move the poison torrent shot directly at him.

    ...

 Chapter 278: The Hydras Last Breath

    Chapter 278: The Hydra''s Last Breath

    ?

    Meanwhile...

    The battle raged on as the remaining Nagas lunged forward, their hissing cries echoing in the misty air. L swung her glowing blue sword, parrying the strikes of a particrly fierce Naga. Her heart raced as she dodged its blows, but her body quivered under the mounting pressure.

    The Naga snarled andshed out with its tail, striking L square in the side. She cried out as the force sent her flying backward,nding hard in the mud. Her sword fell from her grasp, sttering into the muck beside her.

    The Naga advanced, its jagged trident raised high for the finishing blow. L''s breath hitched as she flinched, her hands rising instinctively to shield herself.

    SCHLUNK!

    The sound of steel piercing flesh echoed loudly. L opened her eyes to see the Naga''s body go rigid, a sword protruding from its abdomen. The creature gurgled, its trident slipping from its ws before the sword was suddenly pulled out, green blood sttering her face as the Naga copsed lifelessly into the mud.

    Standing behind it was Draven, his de crackling faintly with residual lightning. He looked down at her, his expression unreadable.

    "We''re done here," Draven said tly. A rift appeared, and he plunged his sword into it. "Follow the others. Let''s go meet up with my lord."

    L blinked, still catching her breath. "You mean... Alister?" she asked softly.

    Draven gave her a curt nod before vanishing in a blur of motion, leaving only the faint crackle of electricity in his wake.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    L sat up slowly, her gaze falling to the Naga''s corpse before her. Her hands trembled as she retrieved her sword, staring at its bloodied de. Four. That was the number of monsters she had managed to kill in the entire raid... far fewer than anyone else.

    The weight of inadequacy pressed on her as she stood. "Is this all I can manage?" she whispered to herself, her grip tightening on her weapon as her thoughts trailed off.

    "L!" Beatrice''s voice broke through her thoughts. She stood a few paces ahead, her hammer resting on her shoulder as she looked back. "Come on, we''re regrouping!"

    L snapped out of her thoughts, nodding quickly. "I''ming!" she called back, jogging to catch up with the others.

    As they moved forward, L stole onest nce at the fallen Naga. A small feeling of resolve welled up inside her. ''Next time, I won''t need someone to save me.''

    The battlefield was filled with scorched earth and churned mud, littered with the remains of the fallen Nagas. The heat was intense as Cinder unleashed another torrent of me from her palm, her mes engulfing thest writhing serpent in a searing inferno.

    The creature''s agonized hisses were drowned out by the roar of the fire as it burned to ash, leaving only charred fragments behind.

    Standing a few paces away, Terra moved gracefully, her fingers curling as she summoned massive pirs of hardened sand spikes from the ground. The earth shook under her control, and jagged spikes shot upward, impaling the final remnants of the enemy forces that dared to crawl forward. The ground settled with a heavy THUD as thest Naga fell silent.

    "We''re done here," Terra said, brushing a streak of mud from her cheek as she looked around the battlefield.

    Cinder stepped forward, closing her hand as she extinguished the mes dancing around her palm. "About time," she said, casting a nce toward Terra.

    "Now we can finally catch up with our lord."

    Terra nodded, "Agreed. The others might already be there by now."

    With that, the two of them began to make their way to the Colosseum as well.

    Mar''Garet strolled leisurely through the dense mist, a haunting melody humming from her lips as her boots crushed the damp, uneven ground beneath her.

    Her blood-red spear rested casually across her shoulder, swaying slightly with each step. The crumbled remnants of the Colosseum stood ahead.

    She paused briefly, her crimson eyes narrowing as she took in the sight. The Colosseum looked worse than she''d imagined... its stone pirsy fractured, debris littering the ground like discarded bones.

    "Hmm," she mused, tilting her head. "This is certainly quite the mess. As expected of my lord."

    As she stepped closer, the distant sound of battle reached her ears... shes of steel, roars, and the asional boom of an explosive strike.

    Her smirk widened.

    "My lord must still be ying with his prey. He had a habit of always doing that back then," she smiled, her voice filled with amusement.

    Just as she reached the outer ring of the Colosseum, a sudden yell reached her ears.

    "Hey, look out!"

    It was Anzo''s voice, sounding strained as it echoed loudly.

    Mar''Garet''s dragon pupils instantly focused, her thoughts racing in those split seconds. ''Is my lord in danger?''

    She didn''t hesitate. In the next instant, she leaped over the rubble blocking her view andnded in the poisoned muddy earth where the Hydra''s previous poison breaths hadnded, but she wasn''t the least bit affected.

    Her eyes instantlynded on the scene before her: the poison breath of the Hydra was headed directly for her lord, who stood atop the creature''s underbelly as it was flipped on its back.

    Her thoughts raced further. ''He isn''t in hisbat form, so his scales are not covering his entire body... His skin could melt under such a corrosive attack!''

    She gritted her teeth. ''How dare you,'' she thought, referring to the Hydra. She was about to leap in and save her lord from what she believed to be a fatal fate, but then her eyes caught something that brought back sweet memories.

    Alister stood there, watching as the poison torrent approached him, but he seemed calm... too calm. And then he smiled, an action that jolted Mar'' Garet''s memories.

    Suddenly she smiled as well, her cheeks flushed, revealing her sharp teeth as her breath became a bit steamy. ''He''s making that face like he used to... Whever he was having fun.'' she tilted her head to the left, then ced her hand on her face.

    ''He''s so charming, it gets me excited!''

 Chapter 279: A Display Of Dominance

    Chapter 279: A Disy Of Dominance

    ?

    In the split seconds before the Hydra''s corrosive breath reached him, Alister, with a calm, almost yful smile, raised his left wed hand. He extended one golden-scaled finger and shed it vertically, slowly through the air before him.

    "Void Rend," he said, his voice cold yetposed.

    From his w, a golden mana beam erupted, zing forward with immense speed. The sheer intensity of the attack split the poison torrent cleanly in half, dispersing the deadly cloud into harmless mist. The beam continued its path, striking the Hydra''s head and slicing it down the middle from crown to neck.

    The remaining heads reared back, momentarily stunned by the sudden and brutal destruction of one of their heads. Their glowing eyes flickered with what almost seemed like fear, and then they focused, as in an attempt to petrify him.

    But it didn''t work.

    Alister turned his gaze toward them, his golden eyes narrowing. "Let''s avoid any more surprises, shall we?"

    He raised his arm again, his ws crackling with golden mana as he swung in a wide arc. "Void Rend."

    This time, a muchrger sh of mana tore through the air, its radiant energy roaring as it surged forward.

    The beam cleaved cleanly through all the Hydra''s remaining heads, severing them in one sweeping motion. The colossal creature''s necks fell limp, crashing onto the poisoned earth with loud thuds.

    Anzo, who had been watching from the sidelines, stood frozen. His eyes widened in shock as The struggled to process what he had just witnessed.

    The sheer precision and devastating power of Alister''s attack left him utterly speechless. Meanwhile, Alister remained unfazed by Anzo''s reaction. With an indifferent expression, He lowered himself slightly crouching on the Hydra''s massive underbelly, his ws feet digging into its flesh. His ws shimmering as he plunged them deep into the creature''s abdomen. Blood and guts sprayed outward as Alister tore throughyers of muscle and bone with ease, his ws carving a path through the Hydra''s enormous body. Within moments, he reached the prize he sought... a glowing green core pulsing with mana.

    Behind him, Anzo finally found his voice, though it was barely more than a whisper.

    "What... what kind of power is that?"

    "I don''t understand... Do you have more then one talent?"

    Alister didn''t bother to turn or acknowledge the question. His focus remained solely on the Hydra''s core.

    He gripped the glowing green core tightly, and with a grunt, he pulled the core free from the Hydra''s mangled body.

    As he stood to his full height, a yellow system window materialized before him, as the system''s voice echoed in this mind.

    [Congrattions! You have sessfully defeated the Hydra!]

    [Dungeon cleared! Raidplete!]

    [Daily quest: Out on a hunt. Complete!]

    System Rewards:

    -Skill Obtained: Petrifying gaze (S Rank - (Unique).)

    - Prestige Points Obtained: 9,876

    Current Prestige Points Total: 156,000

    [Looting will now begin!]

    Alister looked the details with a slight smirk, a look of satisfaction on his face, He turned the

    core over in his ws, inspecting its patterns of mana swirling within.

    Besides that what interested him most was the size of his prestige points, ''Alredy over a hundred thousand, and with only ten days left, I''m far ahead of my previous estimate, at this rate after the nest couple daily missions I can be sure to have the total.''

    ''And then I can finally cure her.'' he smiled, this time it was a little more gentle.

    His gaze returned to the system window.

    "So, this is my reward for dealing with this. Monster." He nced at the dead body of the Hydra.

    ''Petrifying gaze, huh? It must have a long activation time or focus needed, bacuse trough out the battle neither I or Anzo were affected at all.''

    ''What''s with this'' Unique''bel on it?''

    ''System open the skill description.''

    Skill Description: Petrifying Gaze (S Rank)

    Category: Active

    Mana Cost: 500 Mana/second

    Cooldown: 20 seconds

    Description:

    Unleash the overwhelming power of your gaze, channeling it to petrify your foes or to turn living beings into lifelike stone statues at will. This dual-function skill grants both destructive and creative possibilities, embodying the might of domination and control.

    Modes:

    1. Combat Mode:

    - Targets caught in your direct line of sight experience an intense surge of fear and paralysis. Those with weaker wills or significantly lower resistance are instantly turned to stone.

    - Primary Effect: Instantly petrifies weaker targets within a 30-meter radius.

    - Secondary Effect: Stronger targets experience:

    - Paralysis (Duration: 5 seconds)

    - Fear debuff (-30% movement speed, -20% uracy, -15% attack speed for 10 seconds).

    - Resistance Pration: Ignores 40% of targets'' status resistance.

    - Stone Shatter Bonus: Petrified targets can be shattered, dealing AoE damage equal to 50% of their max HP to nearby enemies (Radius: 10 meters).

    2. Creative Mode:

    - Allows the user to selectively petrify living beings into fully intact stone statues. The process is painless and preserves the target''s state at the moment of petrification.

    - Primary Effect: Turns a single target (one at a time) into a stone statue.

    - Duration: Permanent unless dispelled or reversed by the caster or a powerful magic user.

    - Special Property: Statues maintain their structural integrity and can resist most physical and

    magical damage.

    - Target Limitation: Cannot affect beings significantly stronger than the caster.

    Limitations:

    - Requires direct eye contact to activate in either mode.

    - Living beings with immunity to status effects are unaffected.

    - Combat Mode''s petrification cannot be undone by the caster.

    - Creative Mode''s effect can be reversed only by the user.

    Special function || saying the following statment will ensure targets gaze at the yer''s eyes

    against their will:

    "To gaze into my eyes is to choose eternity... whether in stone or submission."

    ''It has multiple purposes?''

    ''That''s new. Some sort is special function as well, interesting.''

    ''I''m curious to try it out.''

    Anzo, still recovering from the shock of the battle, finallynded, hestumbled forward

    slightly, his eyes wide with a touch of awe and fear. "What was all that... like that... and the heads flew off and... Alister, your strength-it''s beyond anything I''ve seen. How are you even

    -?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 280: Tangled Bonds

    Chapter 280: Tangled Bonds

    ?

    Alister cut him off with a slight wave of his wed hand, a look of exasperation in his golden eyes.

    "I already told you..."

    "I can use the abilities of my dragons... So stop making a big deal about it."

    Anzo blinked, his brow furrowing in confusion. "You... did? When?"

    Alister sighed deeply, the kind of sigh that came with the realization that exnations would never be simple. He turned to face Anzo fully. "Yes, I mentioned it earlier. Guess you were too busy doubting everything I said to actually listen."

    Anzo opened his mouth to argue but stopped short. The memory of Alister''s earlier words about his connection to his dragons surfaced faintly in his mind, though at the time, it had seemed too oundish to believe. "I mean... I thought you were exaggerating or speaking metaphorically!"

    "Well," Alister said, his voice tinged with a faint smirk, "you''re going to have to get used to this. I''ll be doing a lot more... impossible things in the future."

    Anzo''s shoulders slumped slightly, still reeling from the reality unfolding before him. "A lot more, huh?" he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

    "At this rate, I''m not sure what''s going to be more terrifying... the monsters we''ll go up against in the future, or the fact that you might keep outdoing them."

    Anzo suddenly let out a short, humorlessugh. "Terrifying or not, I''m not gonna get left behind, you''ll see."

    "For now," he said, bringing his right hand forward for a handshake. "Put one here, rival. You were really amazing. I look forward to surpassing youpletely and letting you eat my dust."

    Alister smirked faintly, extending his wed hand toward Anzo. "I''ll love to see you try," he said, his tone both challenging and amused.

    But just as their hands were about to meet, a blur of motion crashed into Alister, sending him stumbling slightly.

    "You''re so dazzling, my lord!" Mar''Garet eximed, wrapping herself tightly around him, her arms snugly embracing his waist. Her silver hair shimmered in the fading light as she gazed up at him with unrestrained excitement.

    Alister froze for a moment, ncing down at her with a touch of annoyance and shock. Rising to his full height, he gently pried her arms away but found her grip surprisingly strong.

    "Mar''Garet," he spoke, his golden eyes narrowing slightly, "what are you doing?"

    Mar''Garet rested her cheek against his side, her voice dreamy as she responded, "I wanted to feel your warmth... to bask in your greatness." She squeezed tighter, her actions drawing an exasperated sigh from Alister.

    "Also, my lord, I killed lots and lots of monsters."

    "Are you proud? Won''t you praise me?"

    Before he could reply, the sky above darkened briefly, and Alzuring descended, his massive wings creating gusts of wind as hended nearby. The Sky Dragon''s piercing eyes immediately locked onto the scene, and he wore a look of disapproval on his face.

    "Mar''Garet!" Alzuring yelled, his deep voice echoing through the clearing. "Conduct yourself properly! Give our lord the space and respect he deserves!"

    Mar''Garet shot him an intense gaze, and she could see the intensity in his eyes. They locked gazes for a few moments before she suddenly pouted and reluctantly released Alister, listening to the older dragon''s words. She stepped back while still keeping an excited gaze fixed on him.

    Her attitude suddenly took a total 180 as sheposed herself, a neutral expression appearing on her face as she folded her arms, turning to face Alzuring.

    "I was simply showing my devotion," she said in a slightly annoyed tone.

    Alzuring''s tailshed once against a stone pir close by, creating a sharp crack before it

    shattered as he walked over to her. Gazing down at her face, he spoke firmly.

    "Devotion does not mean clinging like a hatchling! Behave with dignity!"

    "Respect our lord''s personal space."

    Alister exhaled slowly, his golden eyes moving between the two dragons.

    "Calm yourselves," he said firmly.

    Mar''Garet and Alzuring immediately fell to their knees, their heads bowing in submission.

    "We beg for your forgiveness, my lord," they both said.

    Alister looked down at them, his gaze softening slightly. "You''re forgiven," he replied.

    Both dragons raised their heads, eyes filled with gratitude. "We understand."

    A brief silence hung in the air before Alzuring cleared his throat, his deep voice carrying a touch of pride. "I also carried out my task to the best of my ability, my lord," he said, ncing toward Alister as if expecting something.

    Mar''Garet, however, couldn''t hide the skepticism in her eyes. She shot Alzuring a sharp, almost disappointed look, as if to say he was being a hypocrite for seeking their lord''s praise when that was the exact same thing she was doing earlier.

    Alzuring noticed the nce but said nothing. He knew respect had boundaries, and he knew how Mar''Garet acted was in no way how to treat their overlord, so he wasn''t the least bit affected by her gaze. His pride was not easily shaken.

    Alister reached out and lightly tapped Alzuring on the shoulder. "You did well," he said, offering a small smile.

    "I''m grateful for your efforts."

    Alzuring''s expression softened, and he ced his right hand over his chest in a show of respect. "It is my pleasure to serve, my lord," he said with pride, the faintest of smiles curling at the corners of his mouth.

    Alister then said to both of them, "You may rise. Do not sully your bodies with the poisons of the grounds below."

    "Understood," they both said, rising to their feet. Alister then sighed, ncing to his side. His eyesnded on Anzo, who was trying and failing to suppress a grin.

    "Something funny?" Alister asked.

    Anzo shrugged, holding back augh. "Nothing, just... you''re really popr with your

    dragons, huh?"

    "And what''s up with your manner of speech? You role-ying or something?"

    Alister gave him a nk look, deciding to say nothing.

    As Alister observed, Cinder, Terra, and Draven approached In the distance.

    Behind them, Alister noticed the rest of his team members, their figures emerging from then/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    mist of battle.

    Before they could get too close, Alister raised a hand as he called out. "Don''t get too close. The ground here is covered with corrosive poison."

 Chapter 281: First Team Raid Complete

    Chapter 281: First Team Raid Complete

    ?

    Axel, always quick with a response, shrugged and took a few steps back, putting some distance between himself and the others. "Oh, is that so? Well, we''ll stay over here. But color me impressed," he said, leaning forward slightly as he narrowed his gaze.

    "Which one of you took down the boss monster? Better yet, how did you pull it off? This thing looks ginormous."

    Blitz, who had been walking just behind Axel, rolled her eyes slightly but grinned at the size of the fallen monster. "And icky," she said with a yfulugh.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Anzo suddenly shouted, his voice full of pride and a bit of exhaustion. "We did it together! Although Alisternded the finishing blow, I did most of the damage! It was a team effort!" He grinned at them.

    Beatrice, still eyeing the massive monster, raised an eyebrow and asked, "What''s with all the heads though?"

    Anzo, still hyped up from the battle, yelled back, "Regeneration! That Hydra was a real pain! The thing kept cheating death! Every time I had to cut off another head, it was so damn annoying! But I guess the experience was worth it." He turned to Alister with a smirk. "Ain''t that right, team leader?"

    Alister, barely acknowledging Anzo''s enthusiasm, simply said, "We''re done here. We should begin our return."

    Just as the words left his lips, the air around them shifted as a loud screech echoed from above. Arge number of wyvernsnded, their wings creating gusts of wind. Alister''s eyes narrowed as he recognized the creatures... the poison wyverns.

    One of the wyverns approached Alister and looked up at him, waiting as if seeking permission to feast on the remains of the Hydra.

    Alister considered for a moment before responding. "You can eat some of the heads, but not all of them."

    He then looked at the rest of the wyverns, their eyes gleaming hungrily. "The rest of you should pull the remnants into the mindspace," he ordered.

    The wyvernsplied, some of them tearing into the monster''s remains, while others moved to gather the carcass pieces, preparing to take them to the mindspace as instructed.

    And with that, their first team raid waspleted.

    ...

    "And that concludes my report," Alister said as he stood before a seated Guildmaster Yuuto in his office, with only Cinder beside him. It was now nighttime; the raid had taken them quite a while and drained a lot from them, so the rest of the team was in their respective rooms.

    Not Alister, though. As the team leader, it was now his responsibility to report back to Yuuto, especially considering that this was his first team raid.

    "You did well. Considering this was your first team raid, not only were there no casualties, but you finished in record time. Especially fast, considering you were handling an A-ranked dungeon."

    Yuuto rose from his seat, making his way past his table. He walked up to Alister and ced his hand on his shoulder as he said, "I''m impressed. Keep up the good work." He smiled. "Yes, sir," Alister replied calmly with a nod.

    Yuuto then slowly returned to his seat as he asked, "Also, what are your thoughts on Anzo? Did he perform well, or was he a nuisance that needs to be taken off the team?"

    Alister ced his hand under his jaw as he thought carefully. "He didn''t listen to some of my orders and constantly tried to outperform me."

    Yuuto then narrowed his gaze as he asked, "So does he need to be removed?" His tone became slightly serious.

    Alister suddenly smiled. "No."

    "He possesses exceptional skill, gave his best, and despite his arrogance, he is actually a somewhat good team yer. He has a nice sense of humor and is a bit fun to have around."

    "So I guess he should stay on the team." Alister said, finally dropping his hand from his jaw as he locked eyes with Guildmaster Yuuto.

    Yuuto eventually smiled, then said, "Alright, that''s good to hear." He then waved his hand dismissively at Alister and said, "You may leave. That will be all."

    "Understood," Alister said, proceeding to turn around and make his way out of the office, Cinder trailing behind him as he did.

    "Oh, one more thing."

    Yuuto called out, causing Alister to suddenly freeze in his tracks, turning back to gaze at him. "Anything else sir?"

    "Yes." Yuuto said, pausing fur a while befir he finally spoke, "Alister, save her as quickly as you can."

    Alister narrowed his gaze as he said, "I already nned to, you don''t need to-"

    "No." Yuuto suddenly spoke up, interrupting Alister, "Whever time you think you have left is far shorter now, I rmend you do whatever it takes to save her soon, else you may never see her again."

    Alister''s eyes suddenly widened, he gritted his teeth, he was about to start demanding answers befir Yuuti suddenly said," Calm yourself, although I can''t tell you the spefics..." "You shod try looking fur intelligentv monsters in the Wastnds that are simr to your dragons... That kinds of intelligent monsters that have... Let''s us say a small civilization."

    As he spoke Cinder narrowed her eyes at him, "If you know something and want to help just tell him, I don''t understand what you stand to gain from acting like you know and you don''t know at the same time, what are you hoping to achieve by doing that?"

    Yuuto narrowed his gaze at her but chose to say nothing, redirecting his gaze at Alister he rxed a boy as he then said," I''m sure one of them will have what you are looking for." "Simr to my dragons? Little time? I don''t understand what do you-"

    BAMM!

    Yuuto suddenly pped both of his hands together creating a massive sound that snced Alister, his gaze turned serious as he then said, "That will be all now, you may leave." Alister balled his hands into fists as if he wanted to fight but he held himself back, he then siddenky sighed then said, "Understood sir." He nodded his head slightly, "I''ll be on my way now."

 Chapter 282: An Overlordâ€™s Burden

    Chapter 282: An OverlordˇŻs Burden

    ?

    Alister proceeded to finally make his way out, the metal door hissing as it closed behind him. Yuuto''s gaze lingered on the door as he said, "Forgive me, Alister, but this is all I can do for now... But I swear by mydy''s name... When the timees, I''ll dly serve the best I can."

    "But as of now..." He turned his gaze to the massive view of the city from the enormous window behind his seat and continued, "I have to y silent guardian a little longer."

    ...

    As Alister made his way down the hall, his thoughts raced, ''Lesser time? But the quest countdown duration hasn''t suddenly halved or anything. What was he trying to say?'' Alister''s eyes were fixed on the system window disying the quest details.

    [Quest: The Word of an Overlord]

    The word of an overlord is worth its weight in gold, for more often than not, their promises shape or destroy destinies!

    As the overlord of all dragons, you have made a promise!

    You will find a cure!

    Quest Completion Requirement: Craft the Omnipotent Elixir and give it to your sister (0/1).

    Reward: A piece of the Overlord''s broken Crown (?? - Rank).

    Time left until quest failure: (10 days).

    ''Or could the system be wrong? Has it ever been? Technically not, but it has malfunctioned before, like that time with Ken where sometimes I took over his body... Or the error message when Ken prevented me from leaving.''

    ''But aside from that, I don''t think there''s anything else... There was also that other time during my second awakening...''

    ''But the timer has never been wed... But... What if this is one of those cases? Could the timer be an error? And I won''t know until the system confirms it.''

    ''Then Miyu could already be dead?''n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The thought sent a chill down his spine. He gritted his teeth, his anger and frustration rising. ''Just when I thought things were going well, he throws this at me? How is he even so sure? Damn it.''

    ''What am I supposed to do now? How am I supposed to make this faster? Scour the wastnds for an entire day? I could just ask for leave. No, better... I don''t have to. I do have permission to disobey orders... That shoid include not raiding dungeons daily.''

    He gritted his teeth, his thoughts racing even further, suddenly he realizes something. ''Wait a moment... The guildmaster said I should check the wastnds... How does he even know I go out to the wastnds?''

    ''Damn it, that doesn''t matter now. If he knows or not doesn''t matter. He said to look for dragon-like creatures. I''m sure he was referring to dragon kin.''

    ''I''m not gonna bother wondering how he knows they exist, I''d just be wasting my time.''

    He paused for a moment, then thought further. ''I can''t risk wasting any more time. I have to go on a search right now. Where did we leave off againˇŞ''

    Suddenly, Alister felt someone hug him from behind, their delicate arms curling around him in a warm embrace.

    He instantly knew who it was, but before he could call out her name, she spoke softly, trying her best to calm him.

    "Calm down, my lord... Alister. I know you are under a lot of pressure, but worrying yourself too much about it isn''t going to bring you a solution."

    It was Cinder. She could feel her lord''s frustration simmering through their bond, his anger rising, tinged with self-doubt. The emotions made her uneasy; she wasn''t used to sensing such turmoil from someone soposed.

    "My father used to hold me like this... It always helped me feel better." She added.

    They lingered there for a moment, Alister feeling the warmth of her body pressing against him. For some reason, it eased his tension slightly, causing him to let out a sigh.

    "F-forgive me if I''m overstepping my boundaries, my lord," Cinder stuttered. It was a rare urrence; it was clear she wasn''t ustomed to such gestures, but she did it anyway tofort him.

    "No... It''s fine," Alister said softly, redirecting his gaze upwards. He paused for a moment longer, then added, "Thank you, Cinder... I needed that."

    Cinder slowly pulled away, speaking softly, "I''m d I could help, my lord." Her cheeks were slightly tinted red with a blush.

    Alister noticed, causing him to blush slightly as well. He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

    The atmosphere between them suddenly felt tense. Just as Alister nned a way to return things to normal, he felt a vibration in his chest pocket.

    Someone was contacting him.

    Alister pulled a small ck cube from his chest pocket, tapping it slightly to reveal his phone. The screen disyed a number he didn''t recognize, as it wasn''t saved.

    ''There''s only one person it could be,'' Alister thought, and with that realization, his heart eased slightly.

    He answered the call, cing the phone to his ear. Saying nothing, he waited for the other

    person to speak.

    "Master Spade. I have what you requested."

    Alister instantly recognized the voice. It was Lian Zhang.

    Deepening his voice, Alister responded, "So, where are we going to meet?" His gaze

    narrowed.

    Lian gave the address. "Sector III''s fourth ring, fourteenth street, the twentieth building on the left. I''m waiting in the alleyway."

    The call came at the right moment, and the news suddenly eased Alister''s worries.

    He smiled, responding with a mild touch of excitement, "I''ll be there soon."

    Alister turned back to Cinder, a smirk on his face. "It seems all my troubles are finallying

    to an end."

    Quickening his steps, he added, "Come now, Cinder."

    "But my lord..." Cinder called out suddenly, reaching for his wrist and stopping him in his

    tracks.

    "Am I to step out with you looking like this? You adjusted the tone of your voice while talking to that person just now. I got the feeling you don''t want them to know who you really are..."

    She paused, her eyes narrowing as she added, "If I were to follow you out looking like this, wouldn''t they find out who you are?"

    Alister''s eyes widened slightly. Then he smiled. "You have a point... Seems we''ll have to do a

    little equipment shopping."

    "You''ll need a mask as well."

 Chapter 283: To Gain An Overlords Favour

    Chapter 283: To Gain An Overlord''s Favour

    ?

    Meanwhile...

    The alleyway was dimly lit, the soft glow of a flickering streemp casting long shadows along the streets. The moon hung high in the sky, shining its silver glow over the world below. In the distance, the faint hum of traffic echoed, but here, in this narrow passage, it was quiet.

    A sleek ck car idled near the entrance of the alley. Inside, Lady Lian sat elegantly, her posture rxed, as if she were inplete control of her surroundings.

    She held her phone in her delicate hand, her crimson-painted nails tapping softly against its casing. The screen disyed the recently ended call.

    She gazed at the name on the screen:

    Alister/Master Spade.

    With a faint smile on her face, she lowered the phone to herp. Her sharp eyes reflected the moonlight as she looked out the window and whispered to herself:

    "It seems it was just as I suspected."

    "Alister... Is Master Spade."

    She paused for a moment, as though letting what she had just discovered sink in.

    "To possess such an air around him... and at such a young age..."

    "He''s truly amazing... so much so it pains me to think that I will not be able to get the help of Master Spade..."

    She nced at a briefcase on the seat beside her, close to her summon. She ced her hand briefly on the metallic casing, then redirected her gaze out the window as she mumbled further:

    "But even if I''m unable to get Master Spade''s help..." She smiled, then folded her arms. "I could always build a connection with Alister."

    She paused for a moment, observing as hover cars drove along the streets, then finally said, "I look forward to it."

    ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Meanwhile... Mega City III, Sector V

    The lights in the auction hall dimmed, leaving the room in a soft darkness that made the floating holograms stand out.

    The building, a tall structure of metal and ss, was one of the most famous ces in the city: the Official Union auction itself.

    Inside, the air was filled with excitement, and the crowd of well-dressed people whispered to each other, their suits shining under the neon light from the holograms.

    Quinton sat among the row of seats that were near the auction stage, his hands folded, eyeszily scanning the room.

    His keen, calcting eyes easily scanned the crowd. Next to him sat a woman whose fierce temper was only matched by her beauty.

    She had long, deep purple hair that went down her back like waves, her sharp violet eyes locked on the stage as her fingers twitched with impatience.

    Her name was Vira... Quinton''s associate and, though she''d never admit it aloud, one of his most trusted allies.

    Vira always looked irritated, yet there was this sense of respect in the way she carried herself around Quinton.

    She wasn''t afraid of him... no, that would be too simple. But she was well aware of what he was capable of, and that kept her in check, even when her fiery temper made her want to snap.

    "Why do we need a rock?" Vira asked, crossing her arms tightly over her chest as she red at the stage.

    "What could possibly be so important about a lump of stone?"

    Quinton turned his head slightly toward her, a small smile forming on his lips. "It''s not just any rock, Vira." His tone was rxed and yful, but he chose his words carefully.

    "This ''rock'' will allow us to close an alliance with someone... very powerful. Someone who will ensure we survive what''sing. Someone who can provide us with the protection we''ll need in the future."

    "And also someone who will make sure we win."

    He nced at her sideways, amusement appearing in his eyes.

    "The Dragon Overlord himself."

    Vira''s violet eyes shed with curiosity, but her skepticism was still clear. "The Dragon Overlord?" she repeated, her voice dripping with doubt. "This is what... the sixth time you are mentioning that guy? Who is he? You always seem to make a big deal about him as if he''s some sort of god."

    "And how is a rich person going to help us close an alliance with a guy like that?"

    Quinton''s lips curled into a grin, though his gaze remained fixed ahead, watching the auctioneer approach the stage. He still chose not to exin who this mighty Dragon Overlord The tended to talk critically about truly was.

    "Because, my dear Vira, there''s more to this stone than meets the eye. It holds the key to a unique resource. One that could help the Dragon Overlord save someone precious to him. And if we get our hands on it, we''ll have leverage. And we''ll be able to secure his aid."

    Vira remained quiet, her eyes narrowing, rather satisfied neither was she fully convinced, but intrigued nheless.

    She didn''t argue and instead chose to sigh as she decided to believe in Quinton.

    The auctioneer, a tall man with a perfectly tailored suit and a holographic headset, stepped up to the stage. His voice rang out, amplified by the room''s sound system.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," the auctioneer called out softly, "thank you for joining us tonight for this rare event."

    The auctioneer paused for a moment, looking around the room, before raising his hand. With a small nod to one of the Union officials standing off to the side, he signaled for the first item to be brought forward.

    The official, dressed in a sharp ck suit, stepped forward with a small hover cart that glided smoothly across the polished floor. On top of it was arge, intricately designed box, its surface shimmering with what seemed to be a shifting energy pattern.

    The box itself was made of a dark, reflective material that absorbed the lights above, creating an almost ethereal glow around it.

    As the cart halted in front of the stage, the official unlocked the box with a series of soft beeps from a wrist-mounted device.

    With a smooth motion, the lid of the box opened, revealing a small, palm-sized crystal suspended within a force field.

 Chapter 285: When The Gears Turn

    Chapter 285: When The Gears Turn

    ?

    The room fell dead silent, every eye turning toward him in shock. Even the auctioneer was momentarily stunned, his hand frozen mid-air.

    Vira''s mouth parted slightly in surprise, but she quickly recovered, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Well, that certainly turned some heads."

    A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd-a mixture of shock, awe, and perhaps envy.

    "Did he say a billion?" one man whispered.

    "Who is he?"

    The auctioneer quickly regained hisposure, clearing his throat. "We have an opening bid of 1 billion Union Credits from the gentleman in the center."

    No one else dared to raise their paddles. The sheer audacity of the bid,bined with the overwhelming amount, left the crowd in stunned silence.

    The auctioneer lifted his hammer. "Going once... going twice..." He paused for effect, scanning the crowd to confirm there were no challengers.

    Of course, there weren''t!

    "Sold! To the gentleman in the center for 1 billion Union Credits!"

    The sound of the hammer striking the podium echoed in the hall, marking the end of the auction.

    Quinton sat back down, a faint but satisfied smile on his face as he nced at Vira. "That..."

    "...was worth the wait," Quinton said confidently.

    Vira shook her head, a touch of amusement and exasperation in her expression. "You always know how to make a scene, don''t you?"

    Quinton chuckled softly. "Sometimes, Vira, making a scene is the best way to send a message."

    "I like to handle things like this... Mypetition doesn''t get any ideas."

    "When you crush the will... You crush the way."

    Vira smirked, leaning back in her seat with her arms crossed as she watched themotion in the hall begin to settle.

    "So," she spoke softly, "when do you n to hand this over to the great Dragon Overlord? I''d like to meet him myself... find out who exactly this guy is and why you''re so sure he''s going to be our savior."

    Quinton''s blue eyes flickered faintly, a soft glow rising within them. The ck gear inside his pupils began to turn slowly-a motion that hinted at the vast, hidden power he wielded and the fact the gears of his mind were already forming another n. His voice was calm yet edged with seriousness as he replied, "Tomorrow night."

    Vira raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his tone.

    "Until then," Quinton continued, "we prepare. On the off chance he doesn''t like our guts, he could take the Moonstone by force."

    Quinton rose from his seat, adjusting the cuffs of his sleek ck suit as he began to slowly make his way out of the rows of seats. He signaled a union official, who handed him a briefcase with the Moonstone inside it. Vira followed, her eyes studying him closely.

    "Is he really stronger than you?" she asked, her tone half teasing. "I mean,e on. With those eyes of yours, can''t you practically do anything?"

    Quinton turned his head slightly to look at her, a faint smile appearing on his lips. His expression, however, was a mix of fear and respect.

    "Maybe," he admitted, his voice quiet but firm. "But if he decides to take the aggressive approach, trying to fight back would be like asking for death. The best thing to do would be to just surrender. His mana reserves are vast... far beyond anything I can measure. If he wanted to, he could end me before I even realized what was happening."

    Vira frowned, her yful demeanor fading into seriousness. "That''sforting." Quinton chuckled softly, though there was little humor in it. "He wasn''t nicknamed the Celestial Eater for nothing. And while this is way back in the past... before his name was etched into legend... it doesn''t mean he isn''t already an absolute monster."

    They walked toward the exit, their footsteps echoing faintly in the now subdued auction hall. "So," Vira spoke, breaking the silence, "what''s your n if this savior of yours doesn''t want to save anyone?"

    Quinton paused at the door, ncing back at her with a calm but cryptic expression.

    "No, he will. If the Moonstone isn''t enough, I''ll happily give him answers to problems he doesn''t even know he''s going to face yet," he said simply, before pushing the door open and stepping out into the night.

    "It''s all or nothing... and I''ll dly go all in."

    ...

    Back in Mega city I.

    The alleyway was dimly lit, with the faint glow of a streemp barely illuminating the cracked walls and litter-strewn ground.

    Lian stood in the center, her stance was confident yet alert, nked by her two bodyguards d in their sleek, ck suits.

    A figure emerged from the shadows at the far end of the alley, his presence wasmanding and unmistakable. Master Spade strode forward, his broad shoulders d in a dark coat with crimson patterns that seemed to shimmer in the scarce light.

    At his side walked a woman, matching his imposing aura. She was dressed in a simr ck suit with red patterns woven seamlessly into the fabric, her face hidden behind by a smooth

    ck mask.

    The only discernible feature was the intensity of her crimson eyes, which glinted like embers through the dark.

    Lian''s gaze shifted to the woman as they approached, curiosity go the better of her.

    ''Could it be her? Cinder?''

    ''I Rember she was alos beside him in the Union grand meeting.''

    The possibility lingered in her mind, but she kept her thoughts to herself, unwilling to let her

    guard drop even slightly.

    Master Spade stopped a few paces from Lian, his tall frame radiating a faint aura. His deep

    voice echoed through the silence as he spoke.

    "I see that you''re well, Lian."

    "I trust you''ve brought the items I requested?"

    Lian met his gaze, a touch of unease in her eyes, her lips curving into a faint, forced smile.

    "I tried my best, Master Spade. But before we proceed..." Her eyes flicked toward the masked woman at his side.

    "You''ve brought someone new. Should I be concerned?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The woman beside Spade tilted her head slightly, but she remained calm, choosing to not say

    anything.

    "No need for concern," Spade replied smoothly. "She''s a pupil of mine... Nothing more. Now," he pointed toward Lian with a slight nod.

    "let''s not waste time. Show me."

    Lian hesitated for only a heartbeat before giving a slight nod to one of her bodyguards. The man stepped forward, producing a sleek metallic case from within his coat. He ced it on a nearby crate and stepped back.

    Lian reached out, unlocking the case with a quick motion. As the lid lifted, the faint glow of its contents bathed the alleyway in a surreal light.

    Withiny a ss cilinder jar the held a red feather that glowed brightly.

    "The feather of a phoenix you asked for," Lian said smoothly, stepping back to allow Spade a

    clear view.

    Spade''s eyes narrowed slightly as he examined the item from where he stood. Beside him, the masked woman remained motionless, though her gaze briefly flickered toward the case. After a moment, Spade stepped closer, his footsteps echoing faintly. He reached down, picking up the jar and holding it up to the dim light. The feather inside seemed to pulse

    faintly, as though alive.

    An item window materialized:

    Name: Phoenix Feather

    Type: Legendary Material

    Grade: SSS

    Description: A single feather plucked from a living Phoenix, imbued with regenerative

    properties.

    Seeing this, he smiled beneath his mask.

    "Perfect," he murmured, with a touch of satisfaction. He returned the jar to the case,

    snapping it shut.

    "You''ve done well," Spade said, as his gaze shifted back to Lian.

    "I aim to please sir." She replied softly.

    Master Spade''s piercing gaze shifted back to Lian, the air around him seemed to darken

    slightly. He ced the briefcase containing the phoenix feather at his side, stretching out his

    hand as if to demand something.

    "What about the other item?" he asked coldly.

    Lian stiffened, her forcedposure cracking for just a moment. She let out a reluctant sigh, her shoulders dropping slightly. "Master Spade... IˇŞ"

    "You did acquire it, did you not?" Spade cut her off, stepping closer. His presence was overwhelming, and even her bodyguards seemed uneasy as they took a small step forward to peotact her, but one could tell with the expressions that had in their faces they weren''t so sure

    they''d be able to do that.

    Lian bowed her head, her long hair falling to obscure her face. "Unfortunately, no."

    "I tried... I truly did. But I couldn''t locate it in time."

    Spade''s jaw clenched, his teeth grinding audibly. He took a step back, his hands balling into

    fists.

    "What?"

    "Then why... Why did you call me here?"

    Lian flinched but quickly forced herself to maintain herposure. She raised her head

    slightly, her eyes pleading.

    "I called you because our family project begins next week. I hoped to secure your help before

    then. Even without the second item, I thought perhapsˇŞ"

    "You thought wrong," Spade interrupted. His voice was cold.

    "I''m sorry," Lian said hurriedly, bowing again. "I tried my best, but it wasn''t enough. Please understand, I had no intention of wasting your time. I hoped-"

    Spade held up a hand, silencing her. He stood there, utterly still, as though weighing her

    words. The silence stretched ufortably, broken only by the faint hum of distant city noise and hover cars passing by.

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Spade spoke. "No."

    Lian blinked, startled. "No?"

    "I am a man of my word," Spade said, his tone final. "As I told you before, I will only assist

    you if you bring both items to me. That was our agreement. Until you find the next item..." He paused, his yellow eyes glinting dangerously beneath the visors of his mask.

    "...do not bother contacting me again."

 Chapter 285: When The Gears Turn

    Chapter 285: When The Gears Turn

    ?

    The room fell dead silent, every eye turning toward him in shock. Even the auctioneer was momentarily stunned, his hand frozen mid-air.

    Vira''s mouth parted slightly in surprise, but she quickly recovered, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Well, that certainly turned some heads."

    A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd-a mixture of shock, awe, and perhaps envy.

    "Did he say a billion?" one man whispered.

    "Who is he?"

    The auctioneer quickly regained hisposure, clearing his throat. "We have an opening bid of 1 billion Union Credits from the gentleman in the center."

    No one else dared to raise their paddles. The sheer audacity of the bid,bined with the overwhelming amount, left the crowd in stunned silence.

    The auctioneer lifted his hammer. "Going once... going twice..." He paused for effect, scanning the crowd to confirm there were no challengers.

    Of course, there weren''t!

    "Sold! To the gentleman in the center for 1 billion Union Credits!"

    The sound of the hammer striking the podium echoed in the hall, marking the end of the auction.

    Quinton sat back down, a faint but satisfied smile on his face as he nced at Vira. "That..."

    "...was worth the wait," Quinton said confidently.

    Vira shook her head, a touch of amusement and exasperation in her expression. "You always know how to make a scene, don''t you?"

    Quinton chuckled softly. "Sometimes, Vira, making a scene is the best way to send a message."

    "I like to handle things like this... Mypetition doesn''t get any ideas."

    "When you crush the will... You crush the way."

    Vira smirked, leaning back in her seat with her arms crossed as she watched themotion in the hall begin to settle.

    "So," she spoke softly, "when do you n to hand this over to the great Dragon Overlord? I''d like to meet him myself... find out who exactly this guy is and why you''re so sure he''s going to be our savior."

    Quinton''s blue eyes flickered faintly, a soft glow rising within them. The ck gear inside his pupils began to turn slowly-a motion that hinted at the vast, hidden power he wielded and the fact the gears of his mind were already forming another n. His voice was calm yet edged with seriousness as he replied, "Tomorrow night."

    Vira raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his tone.

    "Until then," Quinton continued, "we prepare. On the off chance he doesn''t like our guts, he could take the Moonstone by force."

    Quinton rose from his seat, adjusting the cuffs of his sleek ck suit as he began to slowly make his way out of the rows of seats. He signaled a union official, who handed him a briefcase with the Moonstone inside it. Vira followed, her eyes studying him closely.

    "Is he really stronger than you?" she asked, her tone half teasing. "I mean,e on. With those eyes of yours, can''t you practically do anything?"

    Quinton turned his head slightly to look at her, a faint smile appearing on his lips. His expression, however, was a mix of fear and respect.

    "Maybe," he admitted, his voice quiet but firm. "But if he decides to take the aggressive approach, trying to fight back would be like asking for death. The best thing to do would be to just surrender. His mana reserves are vast... far beyond anything I can measure. If he wanted to, he could end me before I even realized what was happening."

    Vira frowned, her yful demeanor fading into seriousness. "That''sforting." Quinton chuckled softly, though there was little humor in it. "He wasn''t nicknamed the Celestial Eater for nothing. And while this is way back in the past... before his name was etched into legend... it doesn''t mean he isn''t already an absolute monster."

    They walked toward the exit, their footsteps echoing faintly in the now subdued auction hall. "So," Vira spoke, breaking the silence, "what''s your n if this savior of yours doesn''t want to save anyone?"

    Quinton paused at the door, ncing back at her with a calm but cryptic expression.

    "No, he will. If the Moonstone isn''t enough, I''ll happily give him answers to problems he doesn''t even know he''s going to face yet," he said simply, before pushing the door open and stepping out into the night.

    "It''s all or nothing... and I''ll dly go all in."

    ...

    Back in Mega city I.

    The alleyway was dimly lit, with the faint glow of a streemp barely illuminating the cracked walls and litter-strewn ground.

    Lian stood in the center, her stance was confident yet alert, nked by her two bodyguards d in their sleek, ck suits.

    A figure emerged from the shadows at the far end of the alley, his presence wasmanding and unmistakable. Master Spade strode forward, his broad shoulders d in a dark coat with crimson patterns that seemed to shimmer in the scarce light.

    At his side walked a woman, matching his imposing aura. She was dressed in a simr ck suit with red patterns woven seamlessly into the fabric, her face hidden behind by a smooth

    ck mask.

    The only discernible feature was the intensity of her crimson eyes, which glinted like embers through the dark.

    Lian''s gaze shifted to the woman as they approached, curiosity go the better of her.

    ''Could it be her? Cinder?''

    ''I Rember she was alos beside him in the Union grand meeting.''

    The possibility lingered in her mind, but she kept her thoughts to herself, unwilling to let her

    guard drop even slightly.

    Master Spade stopped a few paces from Lian, his tall frame radiating a faint aura. His deep

    voice echoed through the silence as he spoke.

    "I see that you''re well, Lian."

    "I trust you''ve brought the items I requested?"

    Lian met his gaze, a touch of unease in her eyes, her lips curving into a faint, forced smile.

    "I tried my best, Master Spade. But before we proceed..." Her eyes flicked toward the masked woman at his side.

    "You''ve brought someone new. Should I be concerned?"

    The woman beside Spade tilted her head slightly, but she remained calm, choosing to not say

    anything.

    "No need for concern," Spade replied smoothly. "She''s a pupil of mine... Nothing more. Now," he pointed toward Lian with a slight nod.

    "let''s not waste time. Show me."

    Lian hesitated for only a heartbeat before giving a slight nod to one of her bodyguards. The man stepped forward, producing a sleek metallic case from within his coat. He ced it on a nearby crate and stepped back.

    Lian reached out, unlocking the case with a quick motion. As the lid lifted, the faint glow of its contents bathed the alleyway in a surreal light.

    Withiny a ss cilinder jar the held a red feather that glowed brightly.

    "The feather of a phoenix you asked for," Lian said smoothly, stepping back to allow Spade a

    clear view.

    Spade''s eyes narrowed slightly as he examined the item from where he stood. Beside him, the masked woman remained motionless, though her gaze briefly flickered toward the case. After a moment, Spade stepped closer, his footsteps echoing faintly. He reached down, picking up the jar and holding it up to the dim light. The feather inside seemed to pulse

    faintly, as though alive.

    An item window materialized:

    Name: Phoenix Feather

    Type: Legendary Material

    Grade: SSS

    Description: A single feather plucked from a living Phoenix, imbued with regenerative

    properties.

    Seeing this, he smiled beneath his mask.

    "Perfect," he murmured, with a touch of satisfaction. He returned the jar to the case,

    snapping it shut.

    "You''ve done well," Spade said, as his gaze shifted back to Lian.

    "I aim to please sir." She replied softly.

    Master Spade''s piercing gaze shifted back to Lian, the air around him seemed to darken

    slightly. He ced the briefcase containing the phoenix feather at his side, stretching out his

    hand as if to demand something.

    "What about the other item?" he asked coldly.

    Lian stiffened, her forcedposure cracking for just a moment. She let out a reluctant sigh, her shoulders dropping slightly. "Master Spade... IˇŞ"

    "You did acquire it, did you not?" Spade cut her off, stepping closer. His presence was overwhelming, and even her bodyguards seemed uneasy as they took a small step forward to peotact her, but one could tell with the expressions that had in their faces they weren''t so sure

    they''d be able to do that.

    Lian bowed her head, her long hair falling to obscure her face. "Unfortunately, no."

    "I tried... I truly did. But I couldn''t locate it in time."

    Spade''s jaw clenched, his teeth grinding audibly. He took a step back, his hands balling into

    fists.

    "What?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Then why... Why did you call me here?"

    Lian flinched but quickly forced herself to maintain herposure. She raised her head

    slightly, her eyes pleading.

    "I called you because our family project begins next week. I hoped to secure your help before

    then. Even without the second item, I thought perhapsˇŞ"

    "You thought wrong," Spade interrupted. His voice was cold.

    "I''m sorry," Lian said hurriedly, bowing again. "I tried my best, but it wasn''t enough. Please understand, I had no intention of wasting your time. I hoped-"

    Spade held up a hand, silencing her. He stood there, utterly still, as though weighing her

    words. The silence stretched ufortably, broken only by the faint hum of distant city noise and hover cars passing by.

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Spade spoke. "No."

    Lian blinked, startled. "No?"

    "I am a man of my word," Spade said, his tone final. "As I told you before, I will only assist

    you if you bring both items to me. That was our agreement. Until you find the next item..." He paused, his yellow eyes glinting dangerously beneath the visors of his mask.

    "...do not bother contacting me again."

 Chapter 287: Training With The Team

    Chapter 287: Training With The Team

    ?

    The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the training grounds. Alister stood before his team, arms crossed, as his sharp gaze swept over each of them.

    The faint rustling of leaves and distant nging of metal from the other training grounds could be heard. Beside him stood Cinder, her expression calm as she observed the humans in her lord''s team: Anzo, Axel, Blitz, L, and Beatrice.

    Alister cleared his throat, drawing their full attention. "ording to the Guildmaster, there won''t be any raids today. Instead, we''ll be focusing on something just as important... training."

    He took a step forward as he spoke, his voice ringing out loudly. "It''s my responsibility as your team leader to ensure your skills remain sharp. Before we return to any dungeons, I need to identify your strengths, refine your techniques, and push you to your limits. Consider today a test-a chance to show me what you''re made of."

    Axel suddenly spoke up. "I get this is supposed to be training and all," he said, his voice filled with confusion, "but what''s with the crowd?"

    Alister followed his hand as he pointed around, his expression remaining calm. A sizable group of guild members had gathered, standing at a distance but watching intently.

    A few guild members standing further away began to call out to them in a friendly but loud manner. One of them shouted, "Don''t worry, we''re just curious about how Alister trains his team!"

    "Yeah, we won''t interfere, just watching from here! Just act like we''re not even here!"

    "No pressure! Do your thing, we''re just here to learn by watching!"

    Blitz, overhearing the chatter, smirked. "Forget about being watched by just them; even Team Leader Ren is here."

    "I guess we''ve gotten so amazing he''se to take notes."

    Alister turned his gaze to the crowd, and sure enough, Ren was there, adjusting his sses and standing with his arms crossed, observing the scene with a calm expression.

    Ren casually spoke up, "Just like the others, I am simply curious about the process of your training, Alister. Please, don''t mind me."

    Alister nced toward the crowd, his eyes narrowing slightly, causing most of them to feel a bit uneasy. Redirecting his gaze to Axel, he said, "Leave them be. Don''t let it distract you from your training."

    Axel smirked, then straightened up. "Fine, no problem."

    Blitz shrugged, clearly enjoying the attention, then turned to Alister. "So, what''s next, boss? Ready to show us what you''ve got?"

    "I''ll be going up first," Anzo suddenly said.

    His lips curled into a sly grin as he leaned forward slightly, cracking his knuckles. "You said you''d be training us. That includes sparring with us personally, right?"

    Alister''s eyes narrowed. He looked ready for a challenge. A slow smile formed on his face, brimming with confidence. "Yes," he replied.

    "That includes personal sparring."

    Anzo''s grin widened, eagerness practically oozing from his every movement. "Is that so?" he said, rolling his shoulders and taking a step forward.

    "How about we go a round, then, oh fearless team leader? I''ve been dying to find out how I''d fare against you. One-on-one."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The rest of the team exchanged nces. Axel elbowed Blitz, whispering, "This is gonna be good," while L and Beatrice looked on with curiosity, unsure whether to cheer or prepare to patch someone up afterward.

    Alister let out a soft chuckle, his expression unchanging as he took off his coat and handed it to Cinder.

    "If you insist, Anzo. But I won''t go easy on you."

    Cinder''s crimson eyes filled with amusement as she took the coat. "Be sure to put him in his ce, my lord... He has been far too insolent."

    Anzo pped his hands together, the sound echoing across the training grounds. "Let''s see what you''ve got, team leader!"

    Alister stepped into the sparring circle, taking on a battle stance, his demeanor calm. The rest of the team stepped off the sparring ring, standing close by.

    Alister''s eyes narrowed as he studied Anzo''s muscr frame, a look of curiosity crossing his face.

    "Also... I''ve been curious but never got to ask. What''s with all the muscle?" Alister asked. "The first time we met, I thought you were a physical enhancement user, but you''re a Null- type, right? So, why are you so fit?"

    Anzo smirked, clearly pleased by the question. He leaned back a little, cracking his neck before replying.

    "Curious, are we?" he said, the cocky grin never leaving his face. "Well, my telekinesis only lets me lift thirty times what my body is capable of, so if I want to get stronger, I''ve got to train my body. But that doesn''t mean I don''t use my body in battle. I may not fight physically often, but I don''t rely solely on my powers."

    As he spoke, Alister''s thoughts raced. So his talent can get stronger? I''ve never heard of that before.

    Anzo flexed slightly, making his muscles visibly tense under his clothes. "As the saying goes, a sound body is the perfect home for a sound mind."

    Alister raised an eyebrow, impressed by Anzo''s approach to his strength. "Is that so?" he thought aloud, his gaze lingering on Anzo for a moment before shifting his focus back to their

    spar.

    "I suppose that''s a good philosophy to live by."

    Anzo shrugged nonchntly, clearly enjoying the attention. "Well, enough about that. I''ve got a question for you, Team Leader," he continued, leaning forward slightly.

    "Are we going to use training equipment so no one gets hurt, or are we going full throttle with our normal equipment?"

    Alister''s smile widened, the challenge evident in his eyes. "You''re wee to use whatever you think is best," he said, his voice calm and authoritative. "But I''ll remind you, I won''t go easy on you... Or maybe I will a little... I don''t want to kill you, after all."

    Anzo grinned again, his excitement rising. "Oh? You want to hold back because you''re afraid you could kill me? Haha."

    He chuckled. "You can go all out. You don''t have to worry about me. I''ll be sure to make things interesting. In fact, let''s see if you can even keep up, Team Leader."

    "Wait, hold up," Axel said, ncing around. "So, both of you are seriously going to use your regr gear in a sparring session?"

    Blitz raised an eyebrow, her arms crossed. "Are you sure about that, Team Leader? I thought we were supposed to be testing our skills, not trying to kill each other."

    One of the guild members in the crowd leaned toward another and whispered.

    "I mean, this could get real interesting... A full-blown fight using actual weapons? Is Alister really going to go all out too?"

    Anzo, who was already cracking his knuckles and adjusting his stance, added with a smirk, "You all can''t be serious. You really think we''re just going to y around today?"

    He nced down at the greatsword strapped to his back, clearly confident. "I already brought this bad boy along with me. No point in holding back now."

    Beatrice, watching from the side, exchanged a look with L. "But... Alister doesn''t have anything. He''s just standing there like he doesn''t even need a weapon."

 Chapter 287: Training With The Team

    Chapter 287: Training With The Team

    ?

    The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the training grounds. Alister stood before his team, arms crossed, as his sharp gaze swept over each of them.

    The faint rustling of leaves and distant nging of metal from the other training grounds could be heard. Beside him stood Cinder, her expression calm as she observed the humans in her lord''s team: Anzo, Axel, Blitz, L, and Beatrice.

    Alister cleared his throat, drawing their full attention. "ording to the Guildmaster, there won''t be any raids today. Instead, we''ll be focusing on something just as important... training."

    He took a step forward as he spoke, his voice ringing out loudly. "It''s my responsibility as your team leader to ensure your skills remain sharp. Before we return to any dungeons, I need to identify your strengths, refine your techniques, and push you to your limits. Consider today a test-a chance to show me what you''re made of."

    Axel suddenly spoke up. "I get this is supposed to be training and all," he said, his voice filled with confusion, "but what''s with the crowd?"

    Alister followed his hand as he pointed around, his expression remaining calm. A sizable group of guild members had gathered, standing at a distance but watching intently.

    A few guild members standing further away began to call out to them in a friendly but loud manner. One of them shouted, "Don''t worry, we''re just curious about how Alister trains his team!"

    "Yeah, we won''t interfere, just watching from here! Just act like we''re not even here!"

    "No pressure! Do your thing, we''re just here to learn by watching!"

    Blitz, overhearing the chatter, smirked. "Forget about being watched by just them; even Team Leader Ren is here."

    "I guess we''ve gotten so amazing he''se to take notes."

    Alister turned his gaze to the crowd, and sure enough, Ren was there, adjusting his sses and standing with his arms crossed, observing the scene with a calm expression.

    Ren casually spoke up, "Just like the others, I am simply curious about the process of your training, Alister. Please, don''t mind me."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister nced toward the crowd, his eyes narrowing slightly, causing most of them to feel a bit uneasy. Redirecting his gaze to Axel, he said, "Leave them be. Don''t let it distract you from your training."

    Axel smirked, then straightened up. "Fine, no problem."

    Blitz shrugged, clearly enjoying the attention, then turned to Alister. "So, what''s next, boss? Ready to show us what you''ve got?"

    "I''ll be going up first," Anzo suddenly said.

    His lips curled into a sly grin as he leaned forward slightly, cracking his knuckles. "You said you''d be training us. That includes sparring with us personally, right?"

    Alister''s eyes narrowed. He looked ready for a challenge. A slow smile formed on his face, brimming with confidence. "Yes," he replied.

    "That includes personal sparring."

    Anzo''s grin widened, eagerness practically oozing from his every movement. "Is that so?" he said, rolling his shoulders and taking a step forward.

    "How about we go a round, then, oh fearless team leader? I''ve been dying to find out how I''d fare against you. One-on-one."

    The rest of the team exchanged nces. Axel elbowed Blitz, whispering, "This is gonna be good," while L and Beatrice looked on with curiosity, unsure whether to cheer or prepare to patch someone up afterward.

    Alister let out a soft chuckle, his expression unchanging as he took off his coat and handed it to Cinder.

    "If you insist, Anzo. But I won''t go easy on you."

    Cinder''s crimson eyes filled with amusement as she took the coat. "Be sure to put him in his ce, my lord... He has been far too insolent."

    Anzo pped his hands together, the sound echoing across the training grounds. "Let''s see what you''ve got, team leader!"

    Alister stepped into the sparring circle, taking on a battle stance, his demeanor calm. The rest of the team stepped off the sparring ring, standing close by.

    Alister''s eyes narrowed as he studied Anzo''s muscr frame, a look of curiosity crossing his face.

    "Also... I''ve been curious but never got to ask. What''s with all the muscle?" Alister asked. "The first time we met, I thought you were a physical enhancement user, but you''re a Null- type, right? So, why are you so fit?"

    Anzo smirked, clearly pleased by the question. He leaned back a little, cracking his neck before replying.

    "Curious, are we?" he said, the cocky grin never leaving his face. "Well, my telekinesis only lets me lift thirty times what my body is capable of, so if I want to get stronger, I''ve got to train my body. But that doesn''t mean I don''t use my body in battle. I may not fight physically often, but I don''t rely solely on my powers."

    As he spoke, Alister''s thoughts raced. So his talent can get stronger? I''ve never heard of that before.

    Anzo flexed slightly, making his muscles visibly tense under his clothes. "As the saying goes, a sound body is the perfect home for a sound mind."

    Alister raised an eyebrow, impressed by Anzo''s approach to his strength. "Is that so?" he thought aloud, his gaze lingering on Anzo for a moment before shifting his focus back to their

    spar.

    "I suppose that''s a good philosophy to live by."

    Anzo shrugged nonchntly, clearly enjoying the attention. "Well, enough about that. I''ve got a question for you, Team Leader," he continued, leaning forward slightly.

    "Are we going to use training equipment so no one gets hurt, or are we going full throttle with our normal equipment?"

    Alister''s smile widened, the challenge evident in his eyes. "You''re wee to use whatever you think is best," he said, his voice calm and authoritative. "But I''ll remind you, I won''t go easy on you... Or maybe I will a little... I don''t want to kill you, after all."

    Anzo grinned again, his excitement rising. "Oh? You want to hold back because you''re afraid you could kill me? Haha."

    He chuckled. "You can go all out. You don''t have to worry about me. I''ll be sure to make things interesting. In fact, let''s see if you can even keep up, Team Leader."

    "Wait, hold up," Axel said, ncing around. "So, both of you are seriously going to use your regr gear in a sparring session?"

    Blitz raised an eyebrow, her arms crossed. "Are you sure about that, Team Leader? I thought we were supposed to be testing our skills, not trying to kill each other."

    One of the guild members in the crowd leaned toward another and whispered.

    "I mean, this could get real interesting... A full-blown fight using actual weapons? Is Alister really going to go all out too?"

    Anzo, who was already cracking his knuckles and adjusting his stance, added with a smirk, "You all can''t be serious. You really think we''re just going to y around today?"

    He nced down at the greatsword strapped to his back, clearly confident. "I already brought this bad boy along with me. No point in holding back now."

    Beatrice, watching from the side, exchanged a look with L. "But... Alister doesn''t have anything. He''s just standing there like he doesn''t even need a weapon."

 Chapter 288: [Bonus Chapter] Training With The Team Part Two

    Chapter 288: [Bonus Chapter] Training With The Team Part Two

    ?

    L frowned. "That''s true... I''ve never seen him use anything other than his summoning abilities. But... he can''t really just fight without something, can he?"

    Axel snickered, crossing his arms. "Yeah, what''s the deal with that? Alister''s a Summoner. Does he really expect to take Anzo on without a weapon? That sword of Anzo''s looks like it could cleave a mountain in half. What''s Alister gonna do?"

    Ren, who was quietly watching from the crowd, adjusted his sses and murmured to a nearby guild member, "You do realize Alister is much more than just a Summoner, right?"

    Blitz leaned over and whispered to Axel, "I mean, I''m starting to wonder if we''ll see something totally insane today. It''s Alister... He''s definitely going to surprise us with something."

    Anzo chuckled loudly, flexing his fingers as he gripped his great sword''s hilt. "Don''t worry, I''m sure Alister''s got some fancy tricks up his sleeve, he has those ws he used whan we faced the hydra. I just hope he doesn''t think he can catch me off guard the same way he did that overgrown worm."

    Blitz smirked, recalling the moment vividly. "Oh, I remember the ws. They were impressive." She nced at Alister, who was flexing his hand.

    "Something about his dragons, I think? He can summon those ws using their power, right?"

    Axel, arms crossed, chimed in, still skeptical. "Yeah, but can he really fight with that thing? It''s cool and all, but we''re talking about Anzo here. That great sword is something else."

    Ren, who had been quietly observing the conversation, adjusted his sses, a look of curiosity in his eyes. "What are you all talking about?" he asked.

    Axel turned his attention to Ren. "Remember when we went for the raid? Alister''s hands-" Axel made a vague gesture toward Alister''s hands, "-changed into these dragon ws. It looked impressive, but we''re not sure how that''s supposed to help him win this fight. It''s not like he''s using a sword or anything."

    Ren narrowed his gaze as he ponderd the information. "Hmm... You don''t say," he murmured, adjusting his sses as if weighing something in his mind.

    Anzo, never one to shy away from a challenge, grinned as he casually made his sword hover beside him, spinning itzily in the air. "Forget just the ws," he said.

    "Our team leader has other sick moves up his sleeve. You guys haven''t seen everything."

    As if to prove Anzo''s words, Alister flexed his hand once more, and in an instant, his scales began to materialize, wrapping around his arm like an armored gauntlet.

    His ws extended, glinting menacingly in the sunlight as he spoke calmly, "I don''t know. Why don''t you get over here and find out?"

    With a small gesture, he beckoned Anzo closer with a flick of his finger, a challenge clear in his eyes.

    The crowd watched in awe. Whispers began to ripple through them, some specting about the strange gauntlet-like formation that had appeared on his arm.

    "Is that some sort of dragon ability?"

    "Really? He can grow scales? Won''t it be more urate to say it might be due to a magic item?"

    "No think about it."

    "Dragons are mythical creatures. It wouldn''t be surprising if he could harness their power somehow."

    "Although dragon relics are super rear thay are always very powerful... Now here is Alistermanding living dragons, of course he''ll get his hands on a magic item or two."

    Ren stood still, adjusting his sses once more, his mind turning.

    "So, that''s the power of a dragon," he thought aloud, his gaze focused intently on Alister. "Can it really only cover his arms, though?" he said, as if trying to understand the mystery of Alister''s true strength.

    Anzo''s grin spread wide as he shifted his stance, the mana around him crackling. "Here Ie!"

    He waved his arm, sending his sword spinning through the air toward Alister. The massive de whistled as it cut through the air, heading straight for Alister.

    The crowd gasped as Anzo''s sword hurtled towards him. All were on the edge of their seats, eager to see how Alister would respond.

    Alister''s expression remained calm, unfazed by the sword''s trajectory. He flexed his hand again, the gauntlet of scales tightening around his arm.

    Alister''s pause while seeming unfazed as the sword spun hurling towards him unsettled the crowd.

    "Is he just going to stand there?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Why isn''t he doing anything?"

    "Won''t he get cut in half at this rate?"

    The sword continued its deadly arc, speeding toward Alister''s unprotected body. Some in the crowd even flinching at the sight of the massive weapon flying straight at him.

    "He''s crazy!"

    "He''s just going to stand there and take it?"

    "There''s no way he''s going to survive that."

    But just as the sword was about to collide with Alister, something incredible happened.

    With a swift, almost casual motion, Alister raised his scaled arm and backhanded the sword away. The sword''s massive de collided with his gauntleted hand, sending a shockwave of energy through the air wait a massive.

    CLANG

    The crowd fell silent as the sword, now deflected with ease, flew sideways, crashing into the floor of the sparring ring with a deep THUD, embedding itself deep into the earth beneath.

    "The... Hell..."

    "Did he just... deflect that?!"

    "How did he... What the hell just happened?!"

    "Impossible... he didn''t even seem to try!"

    Ren adjusted his sses thoughtfully, his sharp gaze studying Alister.

    "The scales... they are rather sturdy, but besides that how was he able to react on time." he said, almost to himself, as if the sight had only solidified his earlier thoughts.

    His thoughts raced, ''In these split seconds, a single mistake could have cost him not only his arm but his face, but I doubt Anzo would have gone that far, but still he was able to deflect the attack with pin point uracy.''

    Axel, who was almost certain Alister would be getting chopped into pieces, exhaled with relief. "What the hell... Nearly had a heart attack thinking that wouldnd."

    Blitz, equally stunned, leaned forward with wide eyes. "That was... insane. How the hell did

    he do that?"

    Anzo''s eyes glinted with respect and a touch of excitement, his grin fading slightly as he observed Alister''s calm demeanor.

    "So that wasn''t even a challenge for you huh?"

    Alister smiled a bit as he said, "Did you actually think it would be?"

    The crowd continued to murmur in shock.

    "Is this really the same guy who summons dragons?"

    "Did you see that? The way his arm just blocked the sword without even flinching!"

    "How is that even possible isn''t he supposed to be a Summoner."

    Blitz then said, "I guess we now have a logical exnation for when Anzo said Alisternded

    the finishing blow on the boss monster... I mean look at him go."

    Ren suddenly smiled. "No doubt... this fight just got a whole lot more interesting."

    Anzo suddenly smiled as he said, "Not really... Was simply testing the waters is all."

    "Let''s see how well you handle this!"

    Anzo roared as he pulled back his sword and charged in, swinging the sword on rapid arcs, each strikeing faster than thest.

    Each aimed at Alister''s head or torso. The speed and intensity were overwhelming, meant to force his opponent into a defensive position.

    But Alister was no amateur. He countered each strike, his gauntlet-d hands meeting the sword with powerful swipes, deflecting the blows with the grace. His movements were fast,

    almost too fast to follow.

    Anzo grin widened. "Not bad, but you can''t block forever!"

    Alister spoke while in the middle of their little spar, "You do know the way you are fighting

    you are leaving yourself with multiple openings, no?"

    "what?"

 Chapter 289: A Small Display Of Power

    Chapter 289: A Small Disy Of Power

    ?

    Anzo swung his sword in a massive overhead arc, aiming to end the spar with a single decisive blow. But Alister moved with speed, sidestepping and slipping past the de''s reach with ease. In one smooth motion, he clenched his scaled fist and struck Anzo''s sword.

    The sh sent the great sword flying from Anzo''s grasp, the de spinning through the air before crashing into the ground with a resounding

    THUD. The impact created a small crater, and a shocked silence rippled through the crowd.

    Before Anzo could react, Alister closed the gap between them, delivering a devastating punch to his abdomen. The force sent Anzo stumbling backward, skidding to a halt as he dropped to one knee, breathless.

    The crowd erupted into chaos.

    "Did that really just happen?!"

    "He knocked Anzo''s sword away like it was nothing!"

    "That punch... did you see the impact? I swear I felt it from here!"

    "This is the guy we thought couldn''t fight without his dragons?"

    "How did it end so quickly? Anzo didn''t even get a chance to use his full strength!"

    "Alister''s on apletely different level... He doesn''t even look tired!"

    Axel let out a low whistle. "Okay... I take back every skeptical thought I had. That was insane."

    Blitz nodded, her eyes wide with awe. "I mean, I knew Alister was strong, but I didn''t think he could handle Anzo like that. Did you see how smooth that disarm was? It''s like he''s been doing this for decades."

    Axel smirked. "Not just the disarm... the punch! That wasn''t just skill, Blitz, that was pure, raw power. Alister''s strength is on a whole other level."

    Blitz crossed her arms, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I guess his story of raiding that A Ranked dungeon is starting to make sense. Makes me wonder what else he''s hiding."

    Anzo pushed himself back to his feet, rubbing his stomach where Alister''s punch hadnded. He let out a breathless chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief.

    "Well... didn''t expect that. You got me good, Alister. That was over before I even knew what hit me."

    He dusted himself off, meeting Alister''s gaze with a respectful nod. "I''ve sparred with plenty of strong fighters, but I don''t think anyone''s ever disarmed me like that. That was something else."

    Ren adjusted his sses, his sharp gaze never leaving Alister. "Strange..." he murmured, loud enough for Axel and Blitz to hear.

    Blitz turned toward him. "What''s strange?"

    Ren''s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "The way Alister moved... That wasn''t just skill or technique. He disyed the raw physicality of someone with a physical enhancement talent. But as far as we know, he''s an SSS Rank Summoner. Could it be that summoners of his rank are physically strong as well?"

    Axel blinked, then grinned. "So, you''re saying Alister''s a walking powerhouse on top of being a summoning genius? Figures."

    Ren adjusted his sses as he spoke, "That could be that could be the case... or perhaps... it could always be something else." he narrowed his gaze suspiciously.

    Alister extended a hand to Anzo, helping him to his feet. "You fought well, Anzo," he said with a calm smile.

    "You''ve got solid instincts, and your mana control is impressive. We''ll go over the mistakes you made and how to address themter."

    Anzo stood tall, brushing off the dust from his clothes, his eyes still had that look of excitement. Despite the devastating punch and the fact that he''d been disarmed so quickly, he raised his hand to signal Alister.

    "I''m not done yet," Anzo said. "I want to go another round."

    The crowd, still stunned by the speed of the previous exchange, began to murmur amongst themselves.

    "Another round? He''s serious?"

    "Doesn''t look like he''s even breathing hard. Maybe he didn''t actually break a sweat."

    "Anzo''s still standing after that punch? He''s tougher than he looks."

    "He''s pushing himself again... How much stamina does this guy have?"

    "Is he even exhausted? I''ve never seen someone recover so fast!"

    "He looked like he wanted to puke a moment ago."

    Alister raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "No, Anzo. I need to spar with the rest of the team. You were given your chance, don''t hold up the rest of the team." He gestured toward the other team members waiting in the wings.

    "We can review your performance after I handle them."

    Anzo looked like he was about to argue, but Alister held up a hand, silencing him with a firm gaze. "You''ll have your chance to improve. But not right now."

    Alister then redirected his gaze to the rest of his team mates, "So, which one of you wants to go uo next?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Axel and Blitz, standing by the side, exchanged a sly grin. They stepped forward, their eyes locked on the stage as they made their way toward Alister.

    Blitz smirked, elbowing Axel lightly. "Guess we''re up next."

    Axel raised an eyebrow, his voice low but yful. "You think Alister can handle us?"

    They both stepped onto the stage, standing side by side, facing Alister with a smug look. Alister raised an eyebrow, ncing at them with mild curiosity. "Huh... You two together? Aren''t you going to fight individually?"

    Axel shrugged with a grin, his voice cocky. "Why would we? We always do things together." Blitzughed lightly, rolling her shoulders. "We make a pretty good team. Why change what works?"

    Alister gave them a calm leveled look, then his eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmm... What''s your talent again? I''ve never seen either of you use it in battle."

    Axel and Blitz exchanged a look before speaking together, their voices almost synchronized.

    "It''s called Rush," they said.

    Blitz continued sounding confident. "We move at insane speeds and can overwhelm opponents with a series of rapid strikes. It''s all about quick, high-intensity offense before the

    enemy can react."

    Axel added, "Basically, we hit hard and fast. By the time you notice, we''ve already moved on to the next strike." He grinned.

    Alister raised an eyebrow, intrigued but not overly impressed. "Interesting. I''m curious to see what tye both of you will be capable of then."

    Hearing Alister''s words, Axel and Blitz exchanged an awkward shrug, scratching the back of

    their heads.

    "Uh, well," Axel started, grinning sheepishly. "We kind of, uh, don''t really control it, you

    know?"

    Blitz nodded, looking a little sheepish herself. "Yeah... It activates when we feel like we''re in danger. It''s like, a reflex thing, but we can''t really turn it on at will."

    Alister blinked, genuinely confused by their exnation. "You mean you can''t activate it onmand?" He crossed his arms, looking between them. "How does that even work?"

    Axel grinned, a bit self-deprecating. "It''s like a fight-or-flight thing. We can''t control when it kicks in. When we''re in danger, it just happens."

    Blitz spoke, her tone a bit defensive, "It''s not like we want to fight like this, it just... happens when we''re cornered or when we sense a threat."

    The two of them quickly pulled out twin daggers, the edges blunt, but they moved with an air

    of readiness.

    "We''ll still put on a good fight, though," Axel said with a wink, giving Alister an almost teasing look as he twirled his dagger. "You won''t be disappointed."

    Alister stood still for a moment, processing what they''d said, then raised an eyebrow, his expression thoughtful. "So, you''re telling me that you can''t control when it activates?" Blitz and Axel both nodded, their stances rxing a little as they prepared for the spar.

    "I see," Alister said, his voice now calm but with a hint of amusement in it. "Then I guess it''s my responsibility as your leader to help you gain better control of your abilities."

    "I guess I''ll have to be a little more cold to tye both of you then."

    Axel and Blitz both blinked at him, looking confused by his response. Alister''s smile

    deepened, and there was a glint of excitement in his eyes.

    "If you''re going to fight alongside me, you''ll need more than just raw instinct," he said, his

    tone suddenly serious.

    "You need control. So let''s see how well you can manage your Rush when you''re put in a

    dangerous situation, no?"

    VOOSH!

    Alister''s golden mana red out in a brilliant wave, casting an intense glow across the sparring arena. The air felt heavier, crackling with raw energy, as his gaze sharpened, locking

    onto Axel and Blitz like a predator about to pounce.

    "Defend yourselves."

    Axel and Blitz casual grins vanished from their faces, Blitz spoke. "Hey, don''t go too hard on

    us, boss. We''re just-"

    Before they could finish, Alisterunched himself forward in a blur of motion. His sheer speed was like a sh of golden light cutting across the stage.

    The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly from the force of hisunch.

    Ren''s eyes widened in shock as he instinctively leaned forward. "That speed...! Is that really

    Alister?!"

    "He''s moving like someone with a physical enhancement talent!"

    Axel barely managed to process what was happening, his grin faltering as he yelled, "Blitz,

    MOVE!"

 Chapter 290: Push To The Edge

    Chapter 290: Push To The Edge

    ?

    Blitz, equally caught off guard, threw herself to the side just in time to avoid Alister''s sweeping kick. The force of his attack sent a gust of wind rippling across the arena, and she stumbled slightly before regaining her bnce.

    Axel, meanwhile, brought up his twin daggers in a desperate cross-block, only for Alister''s golden aura to m against him like a tidal wave. Though the blunt edge of Alister''s weapon didn''t touch him directly, the sheer impact of the mana knocked him back a few steps.

    Blitz, panting slightly, shot Axel a look. "He''s not kidding around, is he?!"

    "Yeah, no kidding," Axel muttered, his yful demeanor reced with wide-eyed focus. His grip tightened on his daggers as he adjusted his stance, sweat starting to bead on his forehead.

    Alister''s expression didn''t waver as he closed in again, his movements deliberate but fluid, testing their reactions. "If you can''t handle this, then Rush will never activate," he said coldly.

    "Going off what you two said earlier, I may have to be a little harder on the both of you."

    Murmurs filled the crowd, growing louder with each passing second as Alister''s golden mana radiated.

    "Man, that mana output is insane!"

    "Yeah, but that''s expected from an Arcane-type talent. They always have more mana than others."

    "True, but Alister''s feels different. That''s not something you see every day."

    A younger guild member leaned forward, eyes sparkling with admiration. "He''s really something else. A Summoner who can fight like this? That''s next level."

    "Exactly."

    "He''s not just a prodigy; he''s a legend in the making. That''s why everyone calls him the Guild''s rising star. Bro''s going ces."

    Ren, standing at the edge of the arena, adjusted his sses. He was impressed.

    "It''s truly fascinating," he thought aloud. "Although I already suspected he''d be proficient inbat. From the information I''ve obtained, he was one of the top students of his academy,bat-wise."

    "And also, ording to some things Iter heard from Lady Aiko, he did return unharmed from an A-ranked dungeon raid back when he didn''t have any summons."

    Anzo''s head whipped around. "For real?"

    Ren nodded. "Indeed. Considering his talent rank, it makes some sense. There have only been a handful of such powerful talents in history. His physical capabilities may seem surprising, but I''d argue they''re to be expected."

    L, standing nearby, tilted her head curiously. "What about the Guildmaster? He fights really well and has nice reflexes. What''s his talent rank?"

    Ren paused, adjusting his sses once more as if buying time. He repeated her question almost absentmindedly.

    "Guildmaster Yuuto''s talent rank... Hmm." Suddenly, his gaze shifted away, a rare flicker of unease crossing his face. "Now that I think about it... I never asked."

    "But his physical prowess is normal, considering he owns a physical enhancement talent."

    Alister''s golden aura pulsed around him, the dragon scales covering his hands glinting with a bright sheen. His sharp, predatory gaze moved between Axel and Blitz, assessing their

    movements.

    Without warning, he lunged forward with explosive speed, the ground beneath him cracking as heunched himself.

    WHAM!

    His wed fist crashed down toward Blitz, who barely managed to roll aside. The impact left a crater where she had stood moments before, dust and debris erupting into the air.

    The disy of strength left the crowd dumbfounded. Some managed to mumble:

    "W-what was that force..."

    "Ummm... Isn''t that a... little too much?"

    "Is he really going to hurt them?"

    "Should... we stop him?"

    "No need," Ren said swiftly, adjusting his sses, dismissing their worries. "There is little bloodlust behind his attacks. So he has no intention of actually hurting them. He only wants to intimidate them a little, that''s all."

    Anzo smiled as he said, "He''s even more intense than when we both fought. Seems he really wants to push them to the edge."

    "Move!" Axel shouted, darting in to capitalize on Alister''s recovery. He aimed his dagger for Alister''s side, but Alister twisted with a burst of agility, his scaled handshing out with a backhand strike.

    THWACK!

    The blow connected with Axel''s forearm, sending him sprawling backward. His dagger skidded across the arena floor, the high-pitched:n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    CLINK-CLINK-CLINK

    Echoing in the silence.

    "You''re both too slow!" Alister yelled, his voice sharp over the gasps of the crowd.

    Without pause, he turned back to Blitz, who was already on her feet, charging toward him with twin daggers shing in the light. She feinted left, then darted to his right, aiming a flurry of strikes at his ribs.

    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

    Alister''s ws moved like a blur, deflecting each dagger strike. Sparks erupted with each impact, and Blitz''s arms trembled under the sheer force of his counters.

    "Is that all you''ve got?"

    Alister taunted, ducking low and sweeping his leg out in a vicious arc. Blitz leaped into the air to avoid it, twisting mid-flight tounch a downward sh at him.

    But Alister was already moving. His scaled hand shot up, catching her wrist mid-swing.

    The force of his grip made her wince, and she struggled t free herself, but Alister used her momentum to hurl her toward Axel.

    "Catch her if you can," he said.

    Axel barely had time to react, skidding forward to intercept Blitz as she tumbled through the air. The collision sent them both sprawling to the ground in a heap.

    "Get up," Alistermanded, his golden aura ring even brighter. The sheer pressure of his mana was suffocating, pinning the siblings down like an invisible weight.

    "If you can''t take this, you won''t survive the day we go on even higher-ranked raids."

    Blitz groaned, forcing herself to her feet despite the strain. "This... guy..." she muttered,

    wiping sweat from her brow. "How is he so strong?"

    Axel, panting, staggered upright beside her. "Doesn''t matter. We''re not giving up."

    Alister''s lips curved into a faint smirk. "Good. Show me what you''ve got."

    The siblings exchanged a nce and charged together, their movements sharper and more coordinated this time. Axel went high,unching rapid shes at Alister''s upper body, while Blitz swept low, her daggers aiming for his legs.

    Alister''s ws intercepted Axel''s strikes, the sound of:

    CLANG! CLANG!

    Echoing across the arena as their des shed. At the same time, he shifted his weight, narrowly avoiding Blitz''s sweeping attack, thenshed out with a downward punch aimed at

    her head.

    BOOM!

    Blitz rolled aside at thest second, and Alister''s fist smashed into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Dust filled the air, and the crowd shielded their eyes from the

    debris.

    "You''re getting a little better," Alister said, rising from the crater. His ck-scaled hands flexed, the golden aura around him flickering like fire.

    "But you''re still holding back. Stop hesitating!"

    Blitz darted in again, aiming a lightning-fast series of jabs at his chest. Alister deflected them

    with a flurry of parries with his ws, each:

    CLINK

    Echoing like a drumbeat. He sidestepped her final strike and retaliated with an open-palm

    strike to her shoulder.

    THUD!

    The blow sent her stumbling, her daggers slipping from her grasp.

    "Blitz!" Axel shouted, leaping in to cover her. He flipped mid-air, bringing his dagger down

    in a powerful overhead sh. Alister caught the de with his scaled palm, sparks flying as

    his fingers crushed the steel with a loud:

    CRUNCH!

    The crowd fell into silence as they witnessed Alister effortlessly crush Axel''s dagger. Shocked

    gasps echoed.

    "Did he just... crush it with his bare hand?"

    "That''s impossible! That de was forged from reinforced steel!"

    "How strong is he?!"

    "No one''s ever done something like that before!"

    "I knew he was strong, but this is insane!"

    "Unbelievable!" The murmurs grew louder, the arena brimming with excitement, as the spectators continued

    to process the immense strength Alister had just disyed.

    "You''ll need to do better than that," Alister said, twisting Axel''s wrist and flinging him aside.

    Axel hit the ground with a grunt, rolling to a stop beside his sister.

    Alister then decided to also push them with his words.

    Alister slowly approached them, "Or don''t tell me... Is that actually your limit?"

    "Can you actually not push past this?"

    "I guess it all makes sense, you''re both weak in the end."

    Axel groaned as he pushed himself off the ground, his body aching from the pain.

    Beside him, Blitz staggered up, wiping dust and sweat from her face. They both exchanged a

    nce, their expressions nk.

    "Take that back," Axel muttered.

    "Take what back?" Alister asked with a cold tone.

    "The way you''re looking down on us," Axel said through clenched teeth. His eyes flickered

    toward Alister, who stood calmly in the center of the arena, golden aura swirling around him

    like a storm.

    "Like we''re just a couple of amateurs."

    Blitz frowned, her fists tightening around her daggers. "Look Alister, you are a cool guy and I

    guess you must be doing this for us... but... The words you just said..." she gritted her teeth. The murmurs in the crowd began to quiet as attention shifted back to the siblings. Something was different. The air around Axel and Blitz started to change, thickening with mana.

    Alister''s sharp gaze flickered, noticing the small shift. "Hmm?" he murmured, more to

    himself than anyone else.

    Ren, watching from the sidelines, adjusted his sses. "Interesting..."

 Chapter 291: Lessons In The Heat of Battle

    Chapter 291: Lessons In The Heat of Battle

    ?

    Axel and Blitz''s auras began to intensify, radiating energy that rippled through the arena. The previously murmuring crowd grew louder as they took notice.

    "What''s happening to them?"

    "Their mana... it''s going wild!"

    L''s wide eyes darted toward Beatrice. "What''s going on with them?"

    Beatrice crossed her arms, a slight smile on their face. "That''s their talent kicking in. Rush."

    L redirected her gaze to Axel and Blitz, her green eyes wide with curiosity. "So... this is Rush," she whispered, watching the siblings as their auras swirled more fiercely.

    Anzo stood at the edge of the arena, his arms crossed, grinning. "Hah! Doesn''t look all that shy to me," he said, though his tone gave away his curiosity.

    Axel wiped a trickle of sweat from his brow, his lips curving into a smirk. His aura glowed with a faint emerald hue, pulses of energy visible with every breath he took. Blitz, beside him, exhaled slowly, her aura shimmering like pink threads woven into the air.

    They locked eyes with Alister, their expressions intense. Axel took a step forward, pointing a broken dagger at him.

    "We don''t know how you''re this strong, especially for a Summoner. But let me tell you something-"

    Blitz interjected, her tone sharp. "Power alone won''t win fights. You''ve got strength, sure, but your movements? Theyck refinement. No skill. No real footwork."

    Axel''s smirk widened as he twirled the hilt of his broken dagger in his hand. "Now, we''ll show you how a true Physical Enhancement Awakened fights."

    BOOM!

    The crowd gasped as the siblingsunched themselves at Alister with explosive speed. Their movements were sharper, faster, and more precise than before.

    Blitz closed in from Alister''s right, aiming a rapid series of strikes with her dagger, while Axel circled to his left, aiming a heavy blow with his elbow.

    Alister''s eyes glinted as he raised his wed hands to intercept their attacks.

    "So..."

    "...it seems my effort paid off."

    The arena echoed with the sh of strikes as Axel and Blitz''s attacks grew fiercer, their teamwork was seamless. Axel feinted to Alister''s left, his aura ring, forcing Alister to shift his guard.

    In that same moment, Blitz darted in low from the right, her dagger shing like a silver streak aimed for Alister''s ribs.

    Alister twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the attack. His ws crackled with mana as he parried Blitz''s dagger, the sheer force of the sh sending a shockwave through the arena.

    The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps, spectators leaning closer to watch the intense disy.

    "Did you see that?!"

    "They''re pushing him back!"

    "Not bad," Alister admitted, a small smile appearing on his face as he deflected Axel''s follow-up strike.

    "Your coordination is far better now... so this is the power of your talent?"

    Axel''s smirk widened as he disengaged and flipped backward,nding nimbly on his feet. "You''ve seen nothing yet."

    Blitzughed, her voice loud with adrenaline. "Hope you can keep up, boss.""

    Both siblings charged again, their auras colliding mid-air like two zingets aimed at Alister.

    Axel went high, his dagger shing downward, while Blitz swept low, her strikes aimed at Alister''s legs.

    Their movements were faster now, each strike aimes to corner their opponent.

    Alister remained calm, his every motion was smooth and seamless. He dodged Axel''s overhead sh by a hair''s breadth, countering with a sharp knee kick that Axel narrowly avoided. Blitz''s sweeping strikes were counted with swift parries from his ws, sparks flying with every collision.

    "Your footwork is better now," Alister said, stepping back to dodge a particrly fiercebination.

    His eyes gleamed with pride, though his tone turned sharper. "But you''re relying too much on speed. What happens when someone outpaces you?"

    "Let''s see you outpace this!" Axel roared, his aura ring even brighter as he lunged with blinding speed.

    Blitz followed instantly, her movements a perfect replica to Axel''s, their synchronized attack creating an almost inescapable pincer.

    The crowd erupted in cheers as it seemed the siblings mightnd a decisive blow.

    Then, in an instant, the tide turned.

    Alister''s mana red... a deep golden light bursting forth as he moved with terrifying precision. His ws caught Axel''s wrist mid-strike, twisting the dagger from his hand in one fluid motion. Before Axel could react, Alister spun, his leg sweeping Blitz''s des away with a sharp kick.

    Blitz gasped as she felt the force of her daggers wrenched from her grip, the weapons spiraling through the air and embedding themselves in the ground several feet away.

    Both siblings staggered backward, their hands empty and chests heaving. Alister stood tall, his aura crackling, the siblings'' disarmed weapons lying on the ground around him. "You''ve done well," Alister said, his tone firm yet approving. He lowered his guard, letting the tension in the air dissipate.

    "Your coordination, your adaptability... It''s impressive. But there''s always room for

    improvement."

    "First both of you will need to gain control of the activation of your talents."

    The training grounds fell silent for a heartbeat before the crowd erupted into thunderous

    apuse, they were amazed.

    "Did you see that?!"

    "He disarmed both of them in one move!"

    "What a monster!"

    "How did he even manage that?"

    "Some of us here wouldn''t be able to pull that off even if we tried!"

    Axel wiped the sweat from his brow, a crooked grin forming on his face. "Damn... guess there''s a reason the guild master picked you to be a team leader."

    "He must have known you were this skilled."

    Blitz huffed, brushing dirt off her pants as she picked up her dagger. "Don''t think this means

    you''ve won, Alister. Next time..."

    Alister smiled faintly. "Next time, huh? I look forward to it."

    L watched in stunned silence, her green eyes wide. "So that''s... the power of a summoner

    like him?"

    Beatrice chuckled softly. "No. That''s Alister."

    Anzo grinned, folding his arms as he leaned against a pir. "Ha! I expected nothing less from

    my rival!"

    Beatrice and L rushed forward, their faces practically glowing with excitement.

    "That was amazing!" L eximed, her green eyes sparkling as she approached Alister.

    "Are we next? Will it be our turn to face you?"

    Beatrice, a yful grin on her face, nudged L gently. "Don''t forget, you''re still learning, L. But I wouldn''t mind taking him on either." She turned to Alister, raising a challenging eyebrow. "Think you can handle my precision?"

    Before Alister could respond, Anzo strode forward, an eager grin on his face. "Forget that! I want another round!" he said, pping a hand against his broad chest. "We''ll make it more

    intense this time. No holding back!"

    Alister raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? Didn''t get enough the first time, Anzo?"

    "Not even close," Anzo replied with a boomingugh. "Next time, I''m taking you down!"

    Alister chuckled softly, shaking his head. "We''ll see."

    Meanwhile,

    Watching that little banter with a smile, Ren stood at the edge of the crowd, arms crossed as

    he observed. His sharp mind recalled every detail... Alister''s fluid movements, his ability to anticipate and counter with precision, and the effortless way hemanded the attention of everyone present. A small, rare smile appeared on Ren''s lips.

    "Impressive," he muttered softly, turning away before anyone noticed him.

    He slipped silently through the dispersing crowd, his expression unreadable.

    Inwardly, though, he acknowledged the truth:

    ''You always tend to surpass expectations... Alister. I now know why the Guildmaster favours

    you so much.''

    He momentarily nced back as he spoke softly. "I''m sure you''ll continue to make all of us

    proud."

    With that he turned away and left fully.

    Back with Alister and his team mates, before the conversation could continue, a soft voice

    echoed.

    "You were absolutely stunning, my lord," Cinder said.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    She walked gracefully onto the stage, her expressionposed as she handed Alister his

    coat.

    Alister turned to her, surprised by thepliment. His gaze softened as he noticed the small smile on her lips. He felt a faint warmth creep up his neck, a rare blush appearing on his

    cheeks.

    "Thanks, Cinder," he said, a small, appreciative smile forming on his face. He slipped his coat

    on, his confident look returning. "I''m d you think so."

    Cinder tilted her head left slightly, her crimson eyes glinting with amusement. "I don''t just

    think so, my lord. I know so."

    The brief exchange didn''t go unnoticed.

    "Whoa, boss is blushing!" Axel teased from the sidelines, causing Blitz to smirk.

    "Guess even boss has a weakness," Blitz quipped, mischievously.

    Alister sighed, running a hand through his hair as the faint blush lingered. He gave Cinder a

    grateful nod before turning back to the others.

    "Alright," he said, his tone authoritative but light. "If you''re all so eager, let''s save that

    energy for tomorrow''s training. You''ll need it."

    The group groaned collectively but couldn''t hide their grins. The crowd began to disperse, still buzzing with chatter about Alister''s performance.

    Yet, in the back of everyone''s minds, one thought was clear: Alister''s strength wasn''t just physical... it was the powerful presence of someone who inspired respect, and awe.

    As the lively atmosphere began to settle, Alister felt a faint vibration in his chest pocket. His

    brow furrowed slightly, and he reached in, pulling out a sleek ck cube. With a quick tap, the cube unfolded and shifted, revealing a high-tech phone. The screen lit up, disying an iing call from an unknown number.

    Alister narrowed his gaze, his instincts on high alert.

    Before he could answer, he felt a gentle tug at his sleeve. He looked down to see L, her

    green eyes wide with anticipation and a hint of nervousness.

    "You can''t be tired already, Alister," she said softly, though her voice carried a yful edge.

    "I haven''t even had my turn yet! I was hoping you could help me learn a trick or two." Alister blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her earnestness. He managed a forced smile, trying not to let the ringing phone distract him.

    "Not now, L," he said.

    He held up the phone, showing her the screen. "I have to take this."

    L''s expression calmed down for a moment before she quickly masked it with an awkward

    smile. "Oh... okay. I understand." She stepped back, fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. "Maybeter, then?"

    Alister nodded, his gaze softening slightly. "Yeah,ter."

    As L stepped away, he turned his attention back to the phone. Pressing the screen, he

    answered the call.

    "This is Alister," he said.

    The line crackled for a moment before a familiar voice responded.

    "I want to have an after spar, to let loose a little, let''s meet up." The call was from none other than Guildmaster Anya of the Berserkers.

 Chapter 295: Continued Clash

    Chapter 295: Continued sh

    ?

    WHOOSH! CLANG! CRASH!

    Alister weaved through the barrage with ease, his movements almost taunting. Each projectile missed him by inches, smashing into the surroundings and adding to the growing destruction. Sparks flew as he pped a chunk of debris aside, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement.

    "Is this your limit... Guildmaster?" he teased, brushing some dust off his shoulder.

    Anya gritted her teeth. Her mana surged again, her purple hair glowing faintly as she extended both hands toward thergest object in sight: the crumbling remains of a two-story building. The structure rumbled as her mana enveloped it, crimson mana crackling along its jagged edges.

    "You talk too much, Alister," she said, straining as she lifted the massive structure. The ground beneath her cracked under the pressure as the building rose into the air. Dust and broken ss rained down, the air vibrating with the sheer force of her effort.

    RRRRUMBLE!

    With a fierce shout, Anya hurled the building at Alister. The massive chunk of rubble cast a shadow over him as it hurtled forward, tearing through the air with a deafening roar.

    THOOM!

    Alister didn''t flinch. His eyes narrowed, and he calmly raised one hand. A faint ripple of golden mana formed around him whirling in the air like heat waves.

    "Void Rend," he said.

    He waved his hand casually, and the building split cleanly in two mid-flight. The halves crashed to the ground on either side of him, the impact shaking the earth and kicking up an enormous cloud of dust and debris.

    BOOOOOOOM!

    The shockwave from the collision sent loose gravel and bits of metal flying, but Alister remained unfazed, standing tall in all the destruction. His golden eyes could still be seen glowing through the haze, locking onto Anya.

    "You''re strong," he admitted, his voice echoing. "But strength alone won''t win you this

    spar."

    Anya''s breathing wasbored, sweat dripping down her face as she red at him through the settling dust. She wasn''t done yet. Her eyes darted to an old water tower teetering on a rusted tform nearby. Without pausing, she sent a surge of mana toward it, snapping its supports. CRAAACK!

    The tower toppled, the massive tank plummeting toward Alister, water spilling from its sides.

    Alister narrowed his gaze as he looked at the falling water tower, like he did with the building hurled at him earlier... He simply pointed out a finger towards it as did a little sh in the air. "Void Rend."

    WHOOSH!

    A de like beam of golden mana shit fiwaed splitting the structure in half, water sprayed out grim it in a big...

    SPLAAAASH!

    Alister redirected his gaze towards Anya. "Creative," he said, "but still not enough."

    Anya growled, clearly frustrated as she wiped her face. She extended her arms toward a line of abandoned,pletely rusted-out vehicles nearby. With a roar, she flung them at him in rapid session, each one crashing toward him like a meteor.

    BOOM! CLANG! CRUNCH!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Alister dodged the first two, then caught the third mid-flight. The old car creaked loudly as he swung it away, hurling it back at Anya with incredible force.

    WHOOSH!

    Anya dove to the side, the vehicle smashing into the ground where she''d been standing. The impact left a deep crater, sending shards of ss and metal flying.

    "Is this all you''ve got, Guildmaster?" Alister called out, his smirk widening. He stepped forward, his aura ring brighter. Golden sparks flickered in the air around him, and the ground beneath his feet cracked with each step.

    Anya pushed herself up, determination zing in her eyes. "Don''t count me out yet."

    Night had now fully fallen over the ruined city, and the moon hung high in the sky, casting its pale silver light over the battlefield.

    The air was thick with dust and the lingering echoes of mana vibrating the atmosphere.

    Anya stood, her chest rising and falling heavily, her energy drained but unwilling to back down.

    The moonlight caught her purple hair, now damp with sweat, as she fixed her gaze on Alister.

    "I''ll win," she said.

    "No matter what."

    Alister, standing amidst the rubble, tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes gleaming. He raised a hand to interrupt her.

    "Are you done?"

    "Or should we still continue?"

    Anya froze at the sudden question, her words caught in her throat. She stared at him for a moment, then a sly grin spread across her face.

    "Of course we continue, but it seems I''ll have to return to relying in you old approach."

    "And that is using these fists of mine." she said.

    Taking a deep breath, Anya shifted into a unique stance, her feet firmly nted as she began channeling her mana. Her aura red, and her right hand started to glow with an intense crimson light. The mana condensed and crackled around her fist, forming a vortex of raw

    energy that whipped up a gust of wind around her.

    "This... this was a technique my father taught me. It''s meant to take down powerful

    monsters."

    Her eyes locked onto Alister''s. "And since you seem to be a monster in your own right, I''ve decided to go all out."

    Alister''s lips curled into a faint smirk. "Is that so?"

    Anya''s aura surged as she gathered every ounce of her remaining mana into her fist, the crimson energy solidifying into a massive, tangible form. It towered above her like a giant

    mana fist, pulsating with power.

    With a massive roar, she pulled her arm back and then swung it forward with all her might.

    "I''ll make sure to blow you away!" she screamed.

    The crimson fist shot forward with explosive speed, tearing through the air as it headed toward Alister. The ground beneath it cracked and crumbled from the sheer force, and the surrounding debris was sted away by the shockwave.

    WHOOSH!

    Alister''s eyes widened briefly, the first touch of genuine surprise appearing across his face. The glowing fist roared toward him, a destructive force capable of leveling anything in its

    path. But then, his expression changed. He looked calm... confident even.

    He raised his hand, waving it in a wide arc, and said softly, "Void Rend."

    His golden mana surged like liquid light.

    The golden energy shifted, forming a de-like arc that cleaved through the iing crimson fist. The giant construct shattered instantly, the two halves splitting apart and disintegrating into harmless sparks that scattered across the battlefield.

    BOOOOOM!

    The residual force kicked up another wave of dust and rubble, but Alister strode forward, his golden eyes gleaming through the settling haze. He was calm andposed, despite all the destruction surrounding him.

    Each step he took was measured and majestic, his presence exuding a calm yet overwhelming

    aura.

    Anya, now exhausted and struggling to stay on her feet, watched in silence. She was stunned. Her breath hitched as she saw him emerge unscathed from the remnants of her strongest attack. The way he moved... so effortlessly, so elegantly... caused her heart to flutter for a

    moment.

    She shook her head quickly, trying to regain herposure. "You''re... really a monster," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "How can you justˇŞ"

    Before she could finish her sentence, Alister vanished from his spot, moving with blinding speed. In the next instant, he reappeared in front of her.

    BOOM!

    His leg shot forward with devastating force, mming into her abdomen with a massive...

 Chapter 293: Fangs Of An Overlord, Fists Of A Guildmaster

    Chapter 293: Fangs Of An Overlord, Fists Of A Guildmaster

    ?

    Her eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms. "What do you mean by that?"

    Alister''s gaze gleamed, the golden hue of his eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. "A wager. If I win, you owe me a favor. No questions asked, noints."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Anya''s grin returned, "And if I win?"

    He tilted his head slightly. "Name your prize."

    Her eyes glinted with mischief as she thought for a moment before responding, "If I win, you''ll owe me... not just a favor, but you''ll fight for my guild as an auxiliary member for a month. No backing out."

    Alister chuckled softly, the sound low and amused. "Bold of you to assume you''ll win, guildmaster."

    "Bold of you to challenge me," she fired back. "So, do we have a deal?"

    Alister suddenly seemed to vanish from where he was standing, the next in stand he was standing before Anya, but he had no blood lust show she was sure he didn''t want to attack her so she didn''t tense up.

    Alister extended a hand, a smerk appearing on his face. "Deal."

    Anya sped his hand firmly, her grip as strong as her confidence. "Prepare to lose, Alister." Suddenly Alister and Anya leaped away from each other, creating a massive space between them, alsiter stood befir apletely rusted car of the old world as he rxed his posture but his mana began radiating an intensity.

    "We''ll see about that," he said calmly.

    "Let''s begin."

    Suddenly Alister''s mana red even brighter.

    The system''s voice echoed in his thoughts.

    [Draconic Rage skill activated!]

    [All ststs have increased by 100%]

    Feeling his stats double alsiter thought to himself, ''Normally this alone wouldn''t be enough to suppress her... But as long as I use the powers of my crest to also enhance my physical capabilities I will not need to rely on Beserk.''

    Anya felt the surge of Alister''s power ripple through the air, sending a faint shiver down her spine. She clenched her fists, a grin spreading across her face as she thought, ''How does he keep all this power under wraps? He''s the first person I''ve ever seen capable of such a drastic increase in aura.''

    Before she could dwell further...

    VOOSH!

    Alister vanished from his spot. Her sharp eyes barely caught the blur of his movement before he reappeared directly in front of her, his speed nearly impossible to track. The space between them vanished in an instant.

    "Idle chatter won''t help you... Guildmaster." he said, his golden eyes locking onto hers with the focus of a predator locking in on their prey.

    "If you have time for that, you won''t even notice when you lose this little spar."

    Anya''s instincts red as she raised her arms to block. The force of Alister''s sudden punch strike hit like a shockwave, sending her skidding backward.

    BOOM!

    Her boots scraped against the cracked asphalt as she dug her heels in, stopping herself just short of mming into a rustedmppost.

    ''Fast and strong.''

    ''Just like back then... He''s got my blood pumping... Just the way I like it.''

    She suddenly grinned wildly as she thought, shaking out her hands from the sting of the impact.

    "Not bad," she said, her grin widening as the thrill of battle surged through her.

    "But let''s see if you can handle this!"

    With a burst of mana, Anya lunged forward, her movements a blur as she aimed a flurry of punches toward him. Alister dodged effortlessly, weaving through her attacks with ease.

    His eyes darted ast intense speeds as he saw each punch iing and moved his body sway from them.

    "Is it just me? Or are you you holding back?"

    "What is this? Do you suddenly care so much afraid of hurting me?"

    He said, sidestepping a particrly powerful punch. As he spoke she suddenly tensed up, her cheeks flushed slightly, but then she she shake her head to clear her thoughts.

    "Holding back? And now why would I do that?" she said with a slightly annoyed tone.

    "Don''t insult my intelligence Guildmaster. Your punches are defiantly lighter then when we first ssed."

    Alister suddenly narrowed his eyes, his reptilian pupils narrowed slightly as he said, "I have no idea what your n is..."

    "And I honestly don''t care."

    He slowly began walking towards her as he continued talking, "Because in the end... I''ll be the winner of our little game."

    Anya gritted her teeth, a vain throbbung on her forehead, she tightened her fists as she said, "Seems you''ve gotten really cocky."

    Her mana rose up and been to ragged to violently it seemed like her purple hair was glowing, as her intense mana began pushing objects outward away from her.

    The ground beneath her cracked as she released her mana. Dust and debris swirled around them as the intensity of theirbined auras shed, causing the air around them to literally

    vibrate.

    "Now we''re talking," Alister said, his grin matching hers.

    Their eyes met, and in a split second, bothbatantsunched themselves at each other, their sh sending shockwaves rippling across the ruined cityscape.

    BOOM!

    Anya''s fist collided with Alister''s open palm as he blocked, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through the air.

    The already fractured asphalt beneath them shattered further, cracks spreading like

    spiderwebs.

    Alister retaliated instantly, twisting around to deliver a swift roundhouse kick aimed at Anya''s ribs. She ducked, her purple hair whipping around her face as the wind from his kick

    roared past her.

    Sheunched an uppercut, aiming for his jaw, but Alister leaned back just enough to evade her

    strike.

    WHAM!

    He countered with a palm strike to her shoulder, sending her skidding backward into a crumbling wall. Dust and loose bricks rained down around her as she pushed off, her boots crunching against the debris.

    "You call that a hit?" she taunted, a feral grin spreading across her face as she lunged at him.

    BOOM!

    Her punchnded squarely on Alister''s forearm as he raised it to block, the force sending small tremors through his arm that nearly affacted him. He shifted his weight, nting his foot firmly before turning his upper body slightly, this time delivering a straight punch aimed at her abdomen.

 Chapter 297: A Bizarre Request

    Chapter 297: A Bizarre Request

    ?

    It was nighttime. The moon cast a silver glow over the cityscape below. In the alleyway where Alister and Guildmaster Anya had met earlier, a yellow portal opened.

    WHOOSH!

    "Damn... I''m sore all over."

    A voice echoed from the depths of the rift. Soon, a figure emerged from its radiant glow, their deep purple hair illuminated by the portal''s light.

    It was none other than Guildmaster Anya. She rolled her shoulder, trying to ease the pain from the intense sparring session she had with Alister.

    She suddenly stopped in the middle of the alley, turning around to gaze at the portal as it slowly closed behind her. Then she let out a small chuckle.

    "Although that was easily the most fun I''ve had in years. I may have lost, but it was amazing nheless."

    Her smile lingered on her face for a few moments, a touch of admiration in her expression.

    She continued gazing as the portal finally closedpletely, watching as thest remnants of mana flickered and vanished into the air.

    "Alister... Now you have me curious," she said to herself, her gaze narrowing slightly as her thoughts wandered.

    "How did you get so strong so fast...?"

    The words lingered in her mind, like a puzzle she couldn''t quite piece together. There was something about him... his presence, his power, the way he carried himself... that was both captivating and mysterious.

    She couldn''t shake the thought that there was more to him than met the eye.

    Anya turned away from the fading portal, brushing a hand through her hair, her thoughts shifting as she continued on her path.

    But as she walked, her curiosity only grew, drawing her deeper into the mystery that was Alister.

    "And I wonder..."

    "What exactly are you looking for?"

    Her mind drifted to Alister''s odd favor.

    "Inform me if any of your teams is about to raid a dragon-rted dungeon."

    "I want you to then make them forfeit it and let me raid it," Alister said with a calm, confident expression.

    For a moment, there was silence. Then...

    "What!?" Guildmaster Anya yelled in utter shock and confusion, and for good reason. Alister''s request was bizarre.

    The Berserkers Guild was the most formidable across the Mega Cities, and dragon-rted dungeons were among the most lucrative, dangerous, and fiercely contested. Allowing a member of another guild to take over such a raid wasn''t just unorthodox-it was unheard of.

    It would mean forfeiting not only the loot but also their pride. Imagine a guild handing over their raid to a single member of another guild.

    Not only was it unheard of, but it was also unbing a stain on their reputation far worse than what he had done to them as Spade. Because instead of losing when they fought, this time they would be willingly surrendering.

    Moreover, it risked causing unrest within her guild, raising questions about her leadership.

    ''Does he not understand what he''s asking?''

    Anya thought, her lips pressing into a thin line.

    "You''re asking too much."

    "I can''t agree to that."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Alister''s golden eyes narrowed, his calm demeanor giving way to an intense tone.

    "You lost the bet, Anya. Or do you n to go back on your word?"

    His words struck a nerve, and she shifted ufortably under his piercing gaze. She knew he was right. She had agreed to his terms if he won, and she had lost. Still, this request was outrageous.

    "I know I lost," she replied hesitantly, her voice quieter but filled with frustration. "But you''re asking too much. You''re asking me to risk my guild''s reputation, its resources-"

    Alister cut her off, his tone cold and unyielding. "Not my problem. You lost the bet. You agreed to grant me a favor, and this is what I want."

    Anya crossed her arms, clearly irritated as she stared at Alister. "You''re beingpletely unreasonable," she said sharply.

    "I know I lost the bet, but this? You''re asking me topromise my entire guild''s standing. Do you even hear yourself?"

    Alister''s gaze remained steady, unyielding, though a touch of curiosity passed through his golden eyes as Anya suddenly raised a finger, struck by a new idea.

    "Why can''t you just join the raid?"

    "If you''re so intent on getting into one of these dragon dungeons, why not go as part of our team? You wouldn''t be sidelining anyone, and it keeps my guild''s reputation intact. It''s a win-win."

    Alister paused, her suggestion hanging in the air. He considered her words carefully, cing his right hand under his jaw, weighing the pros and cons. Finally, with a slight tilt of his head,

    The gave a small nod.

    "You have a point..."

    "Joining the raid works. I''ll agree to that."

    Relieved that she had steered the conversation in a less contentious direction, Anya let out a breath she hadn''t realized she''d been holding. But her curiosity still burned within her.

    "What are you even hoping to find in a dragon dungeon?"

    Alister turned his gaze toward the night sky, the moonlight casting a faint glow over him. For

    a moment, he seemed lost in thought, his expression softening ever so slightly. "Clues, I guess," he said finally, his voice carrying an unusual touch of wistfulness and determination.

    Anya frowned slightly, her curiosity only deepening. "Clues to what?"

    But Alister didn''t answer. Instead, he continued to stare at the sky, his mysterious silence leaving Anya more curious than ever.

    Whatever he was searching for, it was clear it was something deeply personal... something that drove him forward with purpose.

    Back in the alleyway, Anya took onest nce at the now-empty space where the portal had vanished.

    With a sigh, she finally stepped out onto the bustling streets of the city. The moonlight mixed with the glow of neon signs, creating a soft yet surreal atmosphere.

    As she walked, her gaze dropped to her roughed-up outfit. Her sleeves were torn, and herbat boots were scuffed from her intense spar with Alister. She sighed, brushing a hand

    over the fabric.

    "Great... I look like yesterday''s trash."

    "Looks like I''ll need to stop by a shop for recements."

    Just as she was about to turn the corner, a faint vibration buzzed from her breast pocket.

    Frowning slightly, she reached in and pulled out a small, sleek ck cube. With a quick tap, the cube expanded into a holographic cell phone, its glowing interface floating just above her

    palm.

    The caller ID disyed one name: us.

    Anya raised an eyebrow before swiping to answer. She held the holographic phone to her ear

    as she spoke nonchntly.

    "What''s the matter, us?"

    On the other end of the line, us''s voice erupted in panic.

    "What''s the matter?! Where have you been? I''ve been looking for you everywhere!"

    His voice was both worried and exasperated. "Do you have any idea how stressed you''ve made

    me? You left me to deal with all the paperwork, all the nning, and-"

    "us," Anya interrupted. "I''m sorry, okay? I did tell you I was going out for a spar."

    There was a brief silence, then us''s voice returned, nowced with shock.

    "You... you really found someone to spar with? Seriously?!"

    "Please tell me you didn''t kill anyone. Who on earth would even be able to keep up with you?"

 Chapter 295: Continued Clash

    Chapter 295: Continued sh

    ?

    WHOOSH! CLANG! CRASH!

    Alister weaved through the barrage with ease, his movements almost taunting. Each projectile missed him by inches, smashing into the surroundings and adding to the growing destruction. Sparks flew as he pped a chunk of debris aside, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement.

    "Is this your limit... Guildmaster?" he teased, brushing some dust off his shoulder.

    Anya gritted her teeth. Her mana surged again, her purple hair glowing faintly as she extended both hands toward thergest object in sight: the crumbling remains of a two-story building. The structure rumbled as her mana enveloped it, crimson mana crackling along its jagged edges.

    "You talk too much, Alister," she said, straining as she lifted the massive structure. The ground beneath her cracked under the pressure as the building rose into the air. Dust and broken ss rained down, the air vibrating with the sheer force of her effort.

    RRRRUMBLE!

    With a fierce shout, Anya hurled the building at Alister. The massive chunk of rubble cast a shadow over him as it hurtled forward, tearing through the air with a deafening roar.

    THOOM!

    Alister didn''t flinch. His eyes narrowed, and he calmly raised one hand. A faint ripple of golden mana formed around him whirling in the air like heat waves.

    "Void Rend," he said.

    He waved his hand casually, and the building split cleanly in two mid-flight. The halves crashed to the ground on either side of him, the impact shaking the earth and kicking up an enormous cloud of dust and debris.

    BOOOOOOOM!

    The shockwave from the collision sent loose gravel and bits of metal flying, but Alister remained unfazed, standing tall in all the destruction. His golden eyes could still be seen glowing through the haze, locking onto Anya.

    "You''re strong," he admitted, his voice echoing. "But strength alone won''t win you this

    spar."

    Anya''s breathing wasbored, sweat dripping down her face as she red at him through the settling dust. She wasn''t done yet. Her eyes darted to an old water tower teetering on a rusted tform nearby. Without pausing, she sent a surge of mana toward it, snapping its supports. CRAAACK!

    The tower toppled, the massive tank plummeting toward Alister, water spilling from its sides.

    Alister narrowed his gaze as he looked at the falling water tower, like he did with the building hurled at him earlier... He simply pointed out a finger towards it as did a little sh in the air. "Void Rend."

    WHOOSH!

    A de like beam of golden mana shit fiwaed splitting the structure in half, water sprayed out grim it in a big...

    SPLAAAASH!

    Alister redirected his gaze towards Anya. "Creative," he said, "but still not enough."

    Anya growled, clearly frustrated as she wiped her face. She extended her arms toward a line of abandoned,pletely rusted-out vehicles nearby. With a roar, she flung them at him in rapid session, each one crashing toward him like a meteor.

    BOOM! CLANG! CRUNCH!

    Alister dodged the first two, then caught the third mid-flight. The old car creaked loudly as he swung it away, hurling it back at Anya with incredible force.

    WHOOSH!

    Anya dove to the side, the vehicle smashing into the ground where she''d been standing. The impact left a deep crater, sending shards of ss and metal flying.

    "Is this all you''ve got, Guildmaster?" Alister called out, his smirk widening. He stepped forward, his aura ring brighter. Golden sparks flickered in the air around him, and the ground beneath his feet cracked with each step.

    Anya pushed herself up, determination zing in her eyes. "Don''t count me out yet."

    Night had now fully fallen over the ruined city, and the moon hung high in the sky, casting its pale silver light over the battlefield.

    The air was thick with dust and the lingering echoes of mana vibrating the atmosphere.

    Anya stood, her chest rising and falling heavily, her energy drained but unwilling to back down.

    The moonlight caught her purple hair, now damp with sweat, as she fixed her gaze on Alister.

    "I''ll win," she said.

    "No matter what."

    Alister, standing amidst the rubble, tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes gleaming. He raised a hand to interrupt her.

    "Are you done?"

    "Or should we still continue?"

    Anya froze at the sudden question, her words caught in her throat. She stared at him for a moment, then a sly grin spread across her face.

    "Of course we continue, but it seems I''ll have to return to relying in you old approach."

    "And that is using these fists of mine." she said.

    Taking a deep breath, Anya shifted into a unique stance, her feet firmly nted as she began channeling her mana. Her aura red, and her right hand started to glow with an intense crimson light. The mana condensed and crackled around her fist, forming a vortex of raw

    energy that whipped up a gust of wind around her.

    "This... this was a technique my father taught me. It''s meant to take down powerful

    monsters."

    Her eyes locked onto Alister''s. "And since you seem to be a monster in your own right, I''ve decided to go all out."

    Alister''s lips curled into a faint smirk. "Is that so?"

    Anya''s aura surged as she gathered every ounce of her remaining mana into her fist, the crimson energy solidifying into a massive, tangible form. It towered above her like a giant

    mana fist, pulsating with power.

    With a massive roar, she pulled her arm back and then swung it forward with all her might.

    "I''ll make sure to blow you away!" she screamed.

    The crimson fist shot forward with explosive speed, tearing through the air as it headed toward Alister. The ground beneath it cracked and crumbled from the sheer force, and the surrounding debris was sted away by the shockwave.

    WHOOSH!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister''s eyes widened briefly, the first touch of genuine surprise appearing across his face. The glowing fist roared toward him, a destructive force capable of leveling anything in its

    path. But then, his expression changed. He looked calm... confident even.

    He raised his hand, waving it in a wide arc, and said softly, "Void Rend."

    His golden mana surged like liquid light.

    The golden energy shifted, forming a de-like arc that cleaved through the iing crimson fist. The giant construct shattered instantly, the two halves splitting apart and disintegrating into harmless sparks that scattered across the battlefield.

    BOOOOOM!

    The residual force kicked up another wave of dust and rubble, but Alister strode forward, his golden eyes gleaming through the settling haze. He was calm andposed, despite all the destruction surrounding him.

    Each step he took was measured and majestic, his presence exuding a calm yet overwhelming

    aura.

    Anya, now exhausted and struggling to stay on her feet, watched in silence. She was stunned. Her breath hitched as she saw him emerge unscathed from the remnants of her strongest attack. The way he moved... so effortlessly, so elegantly... caused her heart to flutter for a

    moment.

    She shook her head quickly, trying to regain herposure. "You''re... really a monster," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "How can you justˇŞ"

    Before she could finish her sentence, Alister vanished from his spot, moving with blinding speed. In the next instant, he reappeared in front of her.

    BOOM!

    His leg shot forward with devastating force, mming into her abdomen with a massive...

 Chapter 300: Contact

    Chapter 300: Contact

    ?

    The wind roared around them as Alister soared through the night sky, perched on Mar''Garet''s massive dragon head. Her scales shimmered under the moonlight.

    He turned his gaze to Terra, who flew on his right.

    "Terra," Alister called, "can you spot anything peculiar?"

    Terra narrowed her blue eyes, her pupils contracting to sharp slits as she scanned the terrain far below.

    Her sharp vision pierced through the gloom like a de. After a moment, she spoke.

    "I see what looks like ruins... no, from most of thepact structures, it was most likely inhabited before. From what I can make out... it looks like an abandoned dragon city, a few hundred meters ahead. It''s partially copsed, but it stands out against the rest of thendscape."

    ''Finally, the first thing we''ve found that could point to the existence of Dragon Kin in the Wastnds.''

    ''Seems Terra''s suggestion was the best after all.''

    ''Perhaps these ruins could be an old settlement. If they were living here before, we might be able to find out some things that could tell us where they currently are.''

    Alister was referring to his search for the Dragon Kin; ever since that quest, Alister and his dragons would immediately begin a search right after they hadpleted their hunt, but the problem was that their method was ineffective.

    Alister didn''t have the least bit of an idea on where to find the Dragon Kin. Although the system said they were out in the Wastnds, it never said where or how he would find them.

    As such, Alister and his dragons engaged in a random search for a while before Terra offered a suggestion.

    Using the dragon stratus tree, Terra suggested trying to make contact with the strings that were not connected to Alister''s main string.

    She theorized that, as with the others, Alister could sense the presence of all his dragons due to the strings connected to his. Why not try sensing the presence of the Dragon Kin bying into contact with their strings despite being disconnected?

    With that method, Alister could vaguely sense traces of Dragon Kin around the Wastnds, and so he was now able to point his dragons to head to the ones closest to them.

    With this, he had hope. With this, he was certain they would find the Dragon Kin one way or another, and perhaps they would have a Moon Stone in their possession.

    But never in his wildest dreams did he actually expect he would be getting the stone tonight. No, he perhaps thought he coulde very close, but not get it just yet.

    Alister nodded, a faint smirk on his lips. "Good. That could be a clue for us."

    "We will head down and investigate it," hemanded, shifting slightly in his seat. "Pick up the pace."

    "As you wish, my lord," Mar''Garet replied with a delighted giggle, her voice echoing with excitement.

    With that, her wings beat harder, propelling them forward with a sudden surge of speed. The gust from her powerful ascent caused ripples through the air, and the other dragons instinctively followed suit, their wings slicing through the sky with precision.

    Draven let out a low growl, his purple eyes glowing as he pushed his speed to match Mar''Garet''s.

    The air seemed to vibrate with their mana as they closed in on the structure. Alister''s focus sharpened.

    Meanwhile....

    In the ruins.

    The air was filled with the scent of dust and decay as the Drifters Guild carefully made their way the corridors of the ruins.

    The light from their enchantednterns cast long shadows across the jagged stone walls. Their faces were hidden behind ck masks, each with a unique design to distinguish them. The guildmaster, Caldris, led the group. His mask, etched with golden runes, were practically waht distinguished him as the leader. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a cloak that swayed with his every step. His voice, low and firm, echoed softly in the corridor.

    "Stay alert. Remeber we are in a ruin. We don''t know what''s waiting for us."

    "And we could be ambushed by monsters at any time."

    Behind him walked Raina, the guild''s scout, her slender frame nearly blending into the shadows. Her mask had the image of a crescent moon, reflecting her role as the group''s night eyes.

    Her twin daggers gleamed faintly at her hips. She whispered, "No signs of traps so far, but the energy here feels... off."

    "''Off'' is an understatement," grumbled Bram, the group''s tank. His mask resembled a snarling wolf, and his massive shield hung on his back.

    "This ce gives me the creeps. Feels like something''s watching us."

    "Don''t tell me the big, bad Bram is scared," teased Elric, the guild''s fire elemantalist, his mask designed to resemble a fox. A faint glow emanated from the spellbook hovering beside

    him.

    "Maybe you should hold my hand."

    Bram red at him. "Say that again and I''ll use your book as firewood."

    "Enough," Caldris cut them off, "Focus. We''re here for a reason."

    Lyra, the group''s healer, stepped forward, her mask a serene visage with floral patterns.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Let''s not bicker. These ruins seem really ancient, and the markings on the walls suggest they''re sacred. We should respect this ce."

    "Sacred or not," muttered Kain, the rogue, his mask a featureless ck te, "if it''s got treasure, it''s ours for the taking."

    He moved silently, his daggers drawn, always a few steps ahead of the group.

    After what felt like hours of careful exploration, Raina suddenly raised her hand, signaling the group to stop. She crouched down, examining the floor ahead. "There''s a marking here."

    Lyra knelt beside her, running her fingers over the strange symbols etched into the stone, seeing what appears to be people with horns bowing befure what seemed to be a massive creature with wings and horns as well.

    Around them were runes.

    "These are glyphs, but I don''t recognize them. They seem... protective."

    "Protective?" Bram scoffed. "Against what?"

    Before Lyra could answer, Kain''s voice echoed from a nearby passage. "Hey, over here! I

    found something!"

    The group exchanged wary nces before following the rogue. They entered a room bathed in

    a strange blue glow. More strange markings covered the walls, pulsating faintly as if alive. At the center of the room was a pedestal, upon which rested arge, ornate key.

    "This looks important," Kain said, reaching for the key.

    "Don''t touch it!" Caldris yelled. "Not until we know what it does."

    "Always so cautious," Kain muttered, withdrawing his hand.

    As the group inspected the markings, a loud shout echoed from another corridor.

    "Guildmaster! You need to see this!"

    It was Torin, the guild''s brawler. His mask, designed with jagged lines resembling cracks,

    peeked around the corner as he waved them over.

    The group hurried to join him, he led them to shwt seemed like a set of stairs leading

    downwards.

    "Really? We have to go deeper? What''s up with monsters and underground spaces." muttered

    Kain.

    "Forget that and just get down here." insisted Torin.

    They all followed him, entering a massive chamber that took their breath away.

    Their jaws dropped at the sight.

    Gold coins, gemstones, and artifacts were piled high, reflecting the soft glow of enchantednterns hanging from the ceiling. A massive, intricately carved chest sat at the center of the

    room.

    "By the gods," Elric whispered. "We''ve hit the motherlode."

    Caldris stepped forward, his gaze scanning the treasure. "Stay sharp. This is too easy."

    "No traps here," Torin said confidently, mming his fist into his palm. "If there were, I''d

    have triggered them already."

    "Don''t jinx it," Lyra muttered.

    As the group spread out, inspecting the treasure, Caldris approached the chest. Its surface was coverd with glowing runes, simr to those in the other room.

    "This isn''t just treasure," he said, his voice heavy with realization. "This is something more."

    The others gathered around, their excitement tempered by his tone.

    "What do you think it is?" Bram asked.

    Caldris ced a hand on the chest, feeling the faint vibration of magic beneath his fingertips, he then grinned. "We''ve hit the jackpot, what else is there to think?"

    "With funds like this we could easily requite a bunch of new members and expand the guild."

    Grahhhhhhh

    Out of nowhere ground beneath them trembled as a deafening roar echoed through the ruins, shaking the very walls they stood in.

    It was deep and primal, echoing through the stone like a thunderp. Dust rained down from

    the ceiling, and the faint light from theirnterns flickered, as if struggling to stay alive in the

    sound.

    presence of such a mighty Instantly, every member of the guild fell into battle stances. Their hands hovered over weapons, feet positioned for movement, and their eyes scanning every corner of the room for

    danger. The sudden shift in atmosphere could be felt by all of the, a collective unease settling over them like a heavy fog.

    "What the hell was that?" Raina hissed, her voice sharp beneath her mask. She nced around, her hand already gripping the hilt of one of her daggers.

    Bram''s knuckles whitened around the shaft of his shield, his eyes scanning the shadows for any movement. "That''s not normal. Definitely not a dungeon creature." Elric, frowned beneath his mask. "Could be an illusion. Or some kind of trap..."

    Before Caldris could respond, a sudden shout echoed through the hall. One of the guild members, Xander, a bulky man with dark eyes and a red-trimmed mask, burst into the room, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls. He skidded to a stop in front of the group, panting

    heavily. "Guildmaster! We''ve got a problem," Xander called out.

    Caldris stepped forward, his expression unreadable behind his mask. "What is it, Xander?"

    Xander''s gaze darted nervously around the room before settling on the guild leader.

    "Dragons, Sir..."

    "Dragons!"

 Chapter 297: A Bizarre Request

    Chapter 297: A Bizarre Request

    ?

    It was nighttime. The moon cast a silver glow over the cityscape below. In the alleyway where Alister and Guildmaster Anya had met earlier, a yellow portal opened.

    WHOOSH!

    "Damn... I''m sore all over."

    A voice echoed from the depths of the rift. Soon, a figure emerged from its radiant glow, their deep purple hair illuminated by the portal''s light.

    It was none other than Guildmaster Anya. She rolled her shoulder, trying to ease the pain from the intense sparring session she had with Alister.

    She suddenly stopped in the middle of the alley, turning around to gaze at the portal as it slowly closed behind her. Then she let out a small chuckle.

    "Although that was easily the most fun I''ve had in years. I may have lost, but it was amazing nheless."

    Her smile lingered on her face for a few moments, a touch of admiration in her expression.

    She continued gazing as the portal finally closedpletely, watching as thest remnants of mana flickered and vanished into the air.

    "Alister... Now you have me curious," she said to herself, her gaze narrowing slightly as her thoughts wandered.

    "How did you get so strong so fast...?"

    The words lingered in her mind, like a puzzle she couldn''t quite piece together. There was something about him... his presence, his power, the way he carried himself... that was both captivating and mysterious.

    She couldn''t shake the thought that there was more to him than met the eye.

    Anya turned away from the fading portal, brushing a hand through her hair, her thoughts shifting as she continued on her path.

    But as she walked, her curiosity only grew, drawing her deeper into the mystery that was Alister.

    "And I wonder..."

    "What exactly are you looking for?"

    Her mind drifted to Alister''s odd favor.

    "Inform me if any of your teams is about to raid a dragon-rted dungeon."

    "I want you to then make them forfeit it and let me raid it," Alister said with a calm, confident expression.

    For a moment, there was silence. Then...

    "What!?" Guildmaster Anya yelled in utter shock and confusion, and for good reason. Alister''s request was bizarre.

    The Berserkers Guild was the most formidable across the Mega Cities, and dragon-rted dungeons were among the most lucrative, dangerous, and fiercely contested. Allowing a member of another guild to take over such a raid wasn''t just unorthodox-it was unheard of.

    It would mean forfeiting not only the loot but also their pride. Imagine a guild handing over their raid to a single member of another guild.

    Not only was it unheard of, but it was also unbing a stain on their reputation far worse than what he had done to them as Spade. Because instead of losing when they fought, this time they would be willingly surrendering.

    Moreover, it risked causing unrest within her guild, raising questions about her leadership.

    ''Does he not understand what he''s asking?''

    Anya thought, her lips pressing into a thin line.

    "You''re asking too much."

    "I can''t agree to that."

    Alister''s golden eyes narrowed, his calm demeanor giving way to an intense tone.

    "You lost the bet, Anya. Or do you n to go back on your word?"

    His words struck a nerve, and she shifted ufortably under his piercing gaze. She knew he was right. She had agreed to his terms if he won, and she had lost. Still, this request was outrageous.

    "I know I lost," she replied hesitantly, her voice quieter but filled with frustration. "But you''re asking too much. You''re asking me to risk my guild''s reputation, its resources-"

    Alister cut her off, his tone cold and unyielding. "Not my problem. You lost the bet. You agreed to grant me a favor, and this is what I want."

    Anya crossed her arms, clearly irritated as she stared at Alister. "You''re beingpletely unreasonable," she said sharply.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "I know I lost the bet, but this? You''re asking me topromise my entire guild''s standing. Do you even hear yourself?"

    Alister''s gaze remained steady, unyielding, though a touch of curiosity passed through his golden eyes as Anya suddenly raised a finger, struck by a new idea.

    "Why can''t you just join the raid?"

    "If you''re so intent on getting into one of these dragon dungeons, why not go as part of our team? You wouldn''t be sidelining anyone, and it keeps my guild''s reputation intact. It''s a win-win."

    Alister paused, her suggestion hanging in the air. He considered her words carefully, cing his right hand under his jaw, weighing the pros and cons. Finally, with a slight tilt of his head,

    The gave a small nod.

    "You have a point..."

    "Joining the raid works. I''ll agree to that."

    Relieved that she had steered the conversation in a less contentious direction, Anya let out a breath she hadn''t realized she''d been holding. But her curiosity still burned within her.

    "What are you even hoping to find in a dragon dungeon?"

    Alister turned his gaze toward the night sky, the moonlight casting a faint glow over him. For

    a moment, he seemed lost in thought, his expression softening ever so slightly. "Clues, I guess," he said finally, his voice carrying an unusual touch of wistfulness and determination.

    Anya frowned slightly, her curiosity only deepening. "Clues to what?"

    But Alister didn''t answer. Instead, he continued to stare at the sky, his mysterious silence leaving Anya more curious than ever.

    Whatever he was searching for, it was clear it was something deeply personal... something that drove him forward with purpose.

    Back in the alleyway, Anya took onest nce at the now-empty space where the portal had vanished.

    With a sigh, she finally stepped out onto the bustling streets of the city. The moonlight mixed with the glow of neon signs, creating a soft yet surreal atmosphere.

    As she walked, her gaze dropped to her roughed-up outfit. Her sleeves were torn, and herbat boots were scuffed from her intense spar with Alister. She sighed, brushing a hand

    over the fabric.

    "Great... I look like yesterday''s trash."

    "Looks like I''ll need to stop by a shop for recements."

    Just as she was about to turn the corner, a faint vibration buzzed from her breast pocket.

    Frowning slightly, she reached in and pulled out a small, sleek ck cube. With a quick tap, the cube expanded into a holographic cell phone, its glowing interface floating just above her

    palm.

    The caller ID disyed one name: us.

    Anya raised an eyebrow before swiping to answer. She held the holographic phone to her ear

    as she spoke nonchntly.

    "What''s the matter, us?"

    On the other end of the line, us''s voice erupted in panic.

    "What''s the matter?! Where have you been? I''ve been looking for you everywhere!"

    His voice was both worried and exasperated. "Do you have any idea how stressed you''ve made

    me? You left me to deal with all the paperwork, all the nning, and-"

    "us," Anya interrupted. "I''m sorry, okay? I did tell you I was going out for a spar."

    There was a brief silence, then us''s voice returned, nowced with shock.

    "You... you really found someone to spar with? Seriously?!"

    "Please tell me you didn''t kill anyone. Who on earth would even be able to keep up with you?"

 Chapter 298: The Search

    Chapter 298: The Search

    Anya chuckled softly, a yful grin appearing on her lips as she responded, "Oh, I wasn''t matched."

    us let out a relieved sigh on the other end, thinking she hadn''t potentially killed anyone. But before he could say anything further, Anya spoke with a wryugh.

    "I was freaking destroyed."

    The line went silent for a moment before us stuttered.

    "W-wait, what?! You were destroyed? You? By who? How is that even possible?!"

    Anya couldn''t help but smile at his incredulous reaction, but she didn''t answer immediately. Instead, she gazed up at the moonlit sky, Alister''s face shing in her mind, making her smile.

    "Let''s just say..."

    "...there''s always someone stronger out there, us."

    us groaned dramatically. "This is exactly why you stress me out. Who is this person? Another as strong as Spade? In the same city? Where are all these genius powerhouses when you need them? Why are they not affiliated with any guild? Do I need to send backup next time?!"

    Anya onlyughed, cutting him off. "Rx, us. I''m fine. Besides, it was just a spar."

    "Oh."

    "By the way, us, do we have any dragon-themed dungeons scheduled for a raid in our sector?"

    us paused on the other end, likely pulling up their guild''s schedule. After a few moments, his voice returned.

    "Yeah, actually. There''s one. The Dragon Desert Library. Why do you ask?"

    As us spoke, Anya''s steps slowed. She found herself outside a clothing shop, its disy window shimmering with bluish holographic projections of its products.

    The digital mannequins posed gracefully, showcasing an array ofbat-ready gear alongside elegant formal wear.

    Anya smiled, her gaze moving from the holograms to her reflection in the ss before she finally spoke.

    "Nothing much."

    "I just might have a little someone joining that raid, that''s allˇ­"

    ---

    Back out in the wastnds, Alister strode through the lingering haze of dust and debris.

    Behind him, the ruins of the deste city continued to crumble. Weak structures trembled and gave way, copsing into heaps of rubble that sent smaller shockwaves echoing through the broken streets.

    CRASH!

    A tall building gave in entirely, its walls folding inward as it fell onto an adjacent structure. The sound echoed through the wastnd like distant thunder.

    Alister didn''t spare a nce. He strode calmly, as if the chaos behind him was insignificant. As he emerged from the veil of dust, he approached an open clearing where Cinder waited for him.

    The silver-haired dragoness, in her humanoid form, bowed her head with a smile as he neared.

    "You were radiant as ever, my Lord."

    "I especially liked how you put that human in her ce. Guildmaster or not, she needed the reminder of who stands above."

    Alister smirked faintly, brushing the dust from his sleeve. "Enough of that."

    "What matters now is the task at hand."

    Cinder straightened, then narrowed her eyes with curiosity. "The search, then?"

    "Indeed."

    Alister turned his gaze to the expanse of the wastnds. The air grew heavy as his golden mana began to emanate from his body. He lifted his hand.

    "Come forth, my dragons!"

    He spoke calmly, yet the air around him seemed to vibrate. The power behind his words shook the very ground beneath him.

    WHOOSH! CRACKLE!

    Suddenly, the air shimmered as cosmic rifts tore open the sky behind him.

    From the rifts emerged his dragon generals and wyverns, their mighty forms cutting through the air with effortless grace.

    With a powerful thud, Terra, Draven, Alzuring, and Mar''Garet emerged.

    They walked up to Alister, each dragon dropping to one knee, their heads bowed.

    "We pay our respects to our Lord," they said.

    The wyverns, whose massive bodies hovered slightly above the ground, lowered their heads in respect, their eyes filled with loyalty as they waited for their orders.

    Alister''s gaze lingered on them. He then said, "You may rise."

    "Understood." They rose to their full height, standing.

    Mar''Garet suddenly let out a small giggle as she rushed toward him.

    "My Lord! I''ve missed you!" she said, her voice full of warmth and a touch of excitement as she almost collided with him.

    Alister nced at her and spoke softly.

    "Calm yourself, Mar''Garetˇ­"

    "We have much to do tonight, so I don''t have time for another one of your games."

    She pouted for a brief moment but quickly straightened. "Of course, my Lord," she said, smiling right after.

    Alister gave a slight nod to his generals and wyverns.

    "We have no time to waste."

    "Tonight, we continue the search for a moon stone."

    Alister then narrows his gaze, his yellow eyes hlowing brightly, as he spoke.

    "But tonight... We won''t return until we''ve found it."

    The air around Alister vibrated as a golden glow radiated from his skin. His breathing slowed, his posture shifting as his draconic transformation began.

    His ck, white, and gold scales emerged from his skin, spreading rapidly until they encased his entire body.

    Once fully covered, a powerful eruption burst from his spine, and with a crackling sound, his tail emerged. Momentster, his wings unfurled from his back, expanding with a majestic force that sent a gust of wind rippling through the surrounding wastnd.

    Once his transformation wasplete, Mar''Garet suddenly stepped forward again.

    She stopped just a pace away, her voice soft as she called, "My Lord."

    Dropping into a deep bow, her head lowered.

    "Might I be humored tonight, honored with the privilege of serving as your mount?"

    Alister tilted his head, his sharp gaze catching the small flick of her tail behind her.

    Its eager movement betrayed her calm demeanor, waving back and forth with anticipation.

    He did not miss the small nce from Cinder, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly as she observed Mar''Garet''s bold request.

    Yet Cinder remained silent, watching with curiosity.

    After a long pause, Alister nodded, his deep voice echoing.

    "Very well. I will allow it."

    For a fleeting moment, Mar''Garet froze, her expression nk as her mind processed his words.

    Then, as the words dawned on her, her face lit up in a bright blush, her crimson eyes sparkling with delight.

    A broad, almost seductive grin spread across her face, her voice trembling with joy as she said, "I-I am humored, my Lord! Tonight, I shall serve you to the best of my abilities."

    Suddenly, Mar''Garet stepped back, her body beginning to radiate heat as a dark red aura emanated from her form. Her size grew rapidly, her humanoid figure giving way to the powerful, scaled body of her dragon form.

    Her massive wings emerged, their span rivaling Alister''s own. When she was fully transformed, her zing eyes scanned her surroundings, and she unleashed a thunderous roar that echoed across the wastnd, shaking the ground beneath them.

    Lowering her massive head reverently, Mar''Garet crouched low, her wings folding slightly as she offered herself to Alister.

    "My Lord," she called, her voice deeper in her dragon form.

    "...your mount awaits."

    Calmly, Alister stepped forward, his tail swishing behind him as he approached. Once he was near, he leapt gracefully,nding atop her massive head. His talons dug into the scales for bnce as his wings folded slightly against his back.

    "Let us begin," Alistermanded.

    Mar''Garet let out another roar before her powerful wings beat against the ground. With a surge, sheunched into the sky, carrying her Lord. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The other dragon generals transformed as well, joining the wyverns in flight. The night air was filled with their presence, their shadows casting awe and fear as they passed over the earth below.

    "Let us begin," Alistermanded.

 Chapter 303: To Those Who Dare

    Chapter 303: To Those Who Dare

    ?

    For a moment, Alister''s dragons froze. They, who had always given off an aura of dominance and strength, seemed to hesitate, their eyes darting toward their lord. It was clear to all that this was something unexpected.

    In all their time serving Alister, never had they heard him speak in such a tone-so devoid of patience, so cold, so utterlymanding. His words carried a weight that even they, beings of incredible power, felt resonate deep within their cores.

    But their pause was only momentary.

    The next instant...

    ROOOAAARR!

    A deafening roar erupted, not from one, but from all of Alister''s dragons. Thebined force of their voices echoed through the battlefield, the shockwaves so powerful they tore through the air like a tempest.

    The humans, overwhelmed by the raw energy of the dragons'' unified roar, were driven to their knees. The sheer force of it was overwhelming; all clutching at their ears as the ground trembled beneath them.

    It was clear why.

    The dragons, for all their power and might, were creatures of pride, and hearing their lord give such an order filled them with a fierce, unyielding sense of purpose.

    This was their purpose, their calling... to enforce his will.

    In the distance, back with Quinton and Vira, the ground trembled beneath their feet, followed by the deafening roar that shook the very air. It was a sound of pure destruction, primal and unstoppable.

    Quinton''s gaze hardened.

    "That''s it," he murmured. His eyes narrowed as he nced at Vira, who was already looking at him, her face etched with concern.

    "It''s about to go down..."

    "...If we don''t hurry, there won''t be anyone left to save."

    Before Vira could even say anything, Quinton raised his hand, his fingers curling into a fist.

    The mana around him began to pulse as he activated his abilities.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Gear Shift."

    "Gear Enhancement."

    In an instant, the hover bike beneath them was glowing with a brilliant gradient of blue. The hum of its engines deepened as they surged with power, and in the blink of an eye, the bike''s speed increased exponentially.

    It shot forward, faster than the eye could follow, its motion leaving a trail of shimmering light in the air behind them.

    "Hold on," Quinton said. Vira nodded without a word, her breath caught in her throat as the wind whipped through her hair.

    They raced toward the chaos, the roars of dragons echoing in the distance.

    ....

    Back with the dragons

    The battle... No, the massacre that would ur that night would be nothing short of terrifying, an experience that would haunt the memories of those few unfortunate enough to survive.

    If they were any survivors that is...

    As the wyverns and dragons descended upon the guild members, chaos erupted.

    BAM!

    The ground quaked as Cindernded, her colossal body striking the earth like a meteor. mes burst from her maw in an explosion of raw heat, igniting everything around her. The moment her ws touched the ground, the very soil beneath her began to smolder, sending tendrils of fire in all directions.

    "Burn, humans, BURN!" Cinder hissed as her messhed out, reducing anything in their path to smoldering ruins. The humans closest to her screamed.

    "AHHHH! RUN!" a panicked voice cried out as the mes crept forward, consuming everything in their path.

    ROOOAAARR!

    Cinder roared in fury, her mes surged forward, scorching everything they touched. Humans shrieked in agony as their skin sizzled, their armor evaporating in a sea of fire. One man''s desperate cry echoed in the chaos...

    "WE''RE DOOMED! RUN-AAAHHHH!" His voice was cut off as the mes engulfed him, reducing him to a ckened husk in an instant. The inferno seemed endless, a wall of fire that swept through the battlefield, leaving nothing but ash in its wake.

    Meanwhile, the poison wyverns wasted no time, opening their mouths wide and unleashing streams of toxic, corrosive breath.

    The air turned thick with the scent of burning metal and flesh as their breath melted everything it touched. The ground itself bubbled and hissed, turning into a mass of steaming sludge under the wyverns'' attacks.

    "AHHHH! NOˇŞ!" one of the guild members screamed, his voice suddenly cut off as his body crumpled, flesh burning and melting as he attempted to flee, only for the very ground beneath him to turn to liquid.

    The stench of decay filled the air as more humans were overwhelmed by the poisonous vapor, their screams of agony mixing with the harsh crackling sound of burning bone and steel. The ground beneath them practically liquefied, unable to withstand the corrosion of the poison breath.

    Beside them, the steel wyverns fired steel spikes from their bodies like crossbows.

    A sickening SPLUT as one of the guild members was impaled through the chest, his body pinned to the ground in a spray of blood. The others tried to dodge, but the wyverns were too much, and the sharp, gleaming spikes that rained down on them were far too many to counter, dropping humans with each volley.

    "GET DOWN!" Caldris shouted, his voice cracking as he waved his arms in futile desperation. The steel spikes continued to rain down, tearing through the air and skewering the unlucky few who were too slow.

    Meanwhile, the bone wyverns arrived, their bodies trailing a thin mist. They exhaled all together, their breaths spitting out the unholy fire... soul fire.

    The mes remained down across the battlefield, scorching everything they touched. Flesh ckened and shriveled as the bone wyverns'' breath scoured thend, reducing survivors to

    ash in mere moments.

    "Soul fire..." one of the guild members whispered in shock, his eyes wide with fear as the mes approached. "No... not this... not like this!"

    The fire touched him, and with a final scream of desperation, his body turned to ash, his cries lost in the wind as if they never existed.

    Draven, his body crackling with purple lightning, shot forward like a streak of light. His tail swung in a deadly arc, a massive, lightning-charged sword at the tip.

    With a single swipe, it cleaved through the humans with ease. The sharp crack of thunder

    followed the sweep of his tail, sending other guild members flying through the air, their bodies lifeless before they even hit the ground.

    "Is that all?" Draven snarled, his voice sounding deeper, distorted by the crackling static of

    the lightning around him.

    "Pathetic."

    Terra, already on the ground, walked forward slowly, her body covered in a swirling sandstorm, obscuring her bodypletely. The only thing that could be seen in the storm

    were her glowing blue eyes.

    Suddenly...

    Massive walls of jagged stone rose from the ground, trapping groups of guild members in a sand cage. With a stomp of her feet, she sent towering spikes of sand shooting from the earth, impaling anyone unlucky enough to be near them. The sharp, grating sound of stone scraping against the earth filled the air as she reshaped the battlefield, her sand flowing like a river that crushed anything in its path.

    "Crush them!" Terramanded, her voice filled with primal wrath. "Feel the weight of the

    earth!"

    The humans tried to run, but the walls of stone closed in on them. There was no escape.

    Alister, observing the destruction from above, stood motionless, his gaze cold as the carnage unfolded before him.

    His eyes shed briefly as he felt his generals and wyverns acting out his order. He could hear the cries of pain, the frantic screams, but he felt no remorse.

    This was how it had to be.

    For he was the Overlord of Dragons... And such scenes like this certainly awaited him in the

    future.

 Chapter 304: The Last Crawl

    Chapter 304: The Last Crawl

    ?

    "We''re losing!" someone shouted, looking at his fallenrades. His eyes were wide with panic. "We need a n! We-"

    "RROOOAAAR!" A deafening roar interrupted him as Alzuring''s wings beat the air with hurricane force.

    The wind shed across the battlefield in violent gusts, creating blinding torrents of wind des that shredded the very fabric of the world around them.

    SHHHHHRRIIIIIP!

    The wind sliced through armor, tearing men and women apart in a single instant.

    The survivors who tried to counter were sent flying into the air, their bodies torn apart by the furious winds. "AHHHH!" Their screams were cut short as Alzuring dove into the chaos, his talons striking, dismembering anything in his path.

    ...

    Caldris'' chest heaved with each shallow breath, his body trembling as he dragged himself through the blood-soaked battlefield.

    His hand, covered with blood, scraped against the ground in a futile attempt to move faster, but the pain from the spikes impaled in his back was excruciating.

    They had been driven deep, the metal shafts twisting and tearing through his flesh with every agonizing movement. His mind was clouded with the pain, but still, he kept crawling.

    The numbers had overwhelmed them, he realized. He never expected it to be like this... never imagined this could go to hell this fast.

    Their initial enemy were to be those five dragons... Although they were a signifant obstacle, he was sure if they did their best they would emerge on top some how....

    Now he realised he was simply blinded by greed.

    "Crrrack!" The sound of his body scraping over a jagged stone made him flinch, the sharp edges digging into his already battered skin, drawing blood from a small cut.

    His wounds burned, each movement was a reminder of how close death was. His thoughts spun, racing with the fleeting hope that he might make it out alive.

    As he crawled, the weight of his actions began to sink in....

    "was this his fault?" The voices from behind a nearby structure reached his ears.

    "It''s his fault..." one of his guildmates spat.

    "If he hadn''t been so stupid..." The words were harsh, filled with anger, but he coud bearly make them out through all tye chaos around them.

    Another voice spoke, trembling with rage. "We''re all dead because of him!"

    The insults came faster now, as a group of survivors huddled behind the crumbling remnants of a building.

    They were shaking, their faces pale and terrified, and their eyes shook with fear as they nced over their shoulders. One of them, an older man, raised a trembling fist toward Caldris.

    "You-" He never finished his sentence. A crackling noise filled the air, like static before a storm, and then-

    CRACK! BOOOOM!

    The sound of lightning striking was deafening, followed by the sickeningly crisp sound of flesh burning.

    The man who had shouted was incinerated in an instant. His body shoom as a bolt of lightning tore through him, the force of the strike leaving nothing but a smoking crater where he had been.

    The other survivors didn''t even have time to scream before the storm continued. A second bolt of lightning came down, this time hitting another guild member, her body vibrating violently before she copsed to the ground, charred and unrecognizable.

    "No...!" One of the survivors, a woman with blonde hair, yelled in desperation, crawling toward the others who had fallen.

    But as she reached for the lifeless body of the older man, a third strike hit.

    CRACK! BOOOOM! The sound of thunder tearing the air apart was followed by her screams. The bolt sliced through her chest, her body twitching violently as she was electrocuted, blood boiling from her open mouth, her eyes wide in terror. She fell, her body twitching once before going still.

    Caldris could only watch in horror as their lives were snuffed out in seconds. Their blood... smeared across the cracked stones... was a clear reminder of how helpless they all were.

    His stomach turned, the bile rising in his throat, but he couldn''t stop. "Keep moving... keep moving..." The words were barely a whisper, as if speaking them aloud might summon some kind of miracle. But deep inside, he knew better.

    His teeth clenched, the pain from his wounds intensifying, but he didn''t stop crawling. His hands were covered with blood now, leaving a trail behind him. He reached for another stone, his fingers digging into the cracked surface.

    His back screamed as the spikes twisted, and he gritted his teeth, forcing himself to move despite the overwhelming agony, in all the pain he could feel himself giving up.

    Finally he muttered...

    "Please... someone... Anyone... help us..."

    "Gear Halt!"

    The deep voice echoed across the battlefield like a hammer striking steel, echoing in the air. Instantly, the chaos ceased.

    The swirling winds of destruction, the raging sandstorms, and the lethal soul mes, the poison breath, the mes-all of it froze mid-motion.

    All the dragon''s were stunned and confused, looking around wondering where that voice came from.

    "What''s happening?" Terra''s voice, an unusual disy of uncertainty from the Sand Dragon

    General.

    Her blue eyes darted across the frozen battlefield. The sand spikes she had summoned hovered mid-flight, sharp and deadly, yet unmoving.

    Cinder, growled low. "This... isn''t normal. Who dares interfere?"

    Draven looked around as he asked, "What sort of sorcery is this?"

    Then came the faint hum of machinery-growing louder.

    VRRRRRMMMM!

    From the smoky horizon, a sleek hover bike burst into view, its metallic frame gleaming

    against the dim sky.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    On it, Quinton sat, calm yet radiating confidence. Behind him clung Vira, her arms tightly wrapped around his waist.

    "Quinton, what are you doing?" Vira''s voice was shaky, herplexion pale as she took a look

    at the battlefield.

    "This... This is no joke! Look at this ce! What even happened here?!"

    Her voice caught as she covered her mouth and nose, gagging at the sight of charred bodies and the overwhelming stench of death.

    "Are you trying to get us killed?!"

    Quinton smirked, his gaze sharp as he scanned the battlefield. "Rx, Vira. I''ve got this."

    "You better have this!" she snapped, her voice wavering between anger and terror. "Because from where I''m sitting, this looks like a suicide mission!"

    With a small motion, Quinton tapped the console on his hover bike, activating a faint glow around their bodies-a protective field. "Calm down. Just hold on tight and let me do my

    thing."

    Vira muttered something under her breath, but her grip tightened around his waist.

    As the bike skidded to a stop, Quinton dismounted. He adjusted the gloves on his hands, his body radiating his aura as he activated his enhancements.

    His muscles surged with mana, veins glowing faintly as his abilities came to life.

    The dragons watched in silence, their eyes tracking his every move. "Overlord!" Quinton''s voice echoed through the battlefield. He spread his arms wide, his

    gaze fixed upwardst aliatwr who stood atop Margaret''s head in the sky.

    "Let''s make a deal!" he said, grinning at the end.

    He said, but inwardly his thoughts raced, ''Shit... This is taking a lot of mana... Dragon attacks are no joke, if I don''t get this over with fast this could get problematic.''

 Chapter 306: A Deal With An Overlord

    Chapter 306: A Deal With An Overlord

    ?

    As the air crackled with Alister''s mana, all the halted attacks... the spikes of ice, cracklingN?v(el)B\\jnn

    lightning, roaring mes, and poisonous clouds... vanished in an instant. The oppressive aura dissipated, leaving the battlefield uneasily silent.

    Vira, still seated on the hover bike at a safe distance, stared wide-eyed at the scene. She couldn''t hide her shock.

    "How... how did he do that?" she muttered to herself, gripping the handlebars tightly.

    Quinton, despite his broken leg chuckled faintly. "Guess you aren''t the Overlord for nothing," he said, a sly grin spreading across his face.

    Alister''s gaze was sharp, his tone filled with a dmall but deadly warning. "You''d better start talking. My patience is thin."

    Quinton raised his hands in mock surrender, his smirk softening. "Alright, alright, no need to get so grim. Ie in peace."

    He said, shifting slightly on his good leg. "And I intend to make this worth your while."

    "Then get to it," Alister said, the weight of his voice unmistakable.

    Quinton inhaled sharply, steadying himself. He narrowed his eyes, his expression growing serious as he spoke.

    "Overlord, I believe you''re looking for something. Something... critical. An ingredient of utmost importance, one you hope to use to craft something."

    Alister''s golden eyes narrowed, his mana ring. Golden light coiled around his body, radiating an intense pressure that made the air vibrate.

    "And if that''s true," Alister said, his voice low and dangerous, "what of it?"

    Quinton met Alister''s gaze unflinchingly, a look of confidence shing in his own eyes. "What if I told you," he began, a slow smile curling his lips, "that I not only know what that ingredient is... but that I have it with me right now?"

    The battlefield suddenly fellpletely silent, the weight of Quinton''s words sinking in.

    Alister''s mana red brighter for a moment before steadying, his sharp eyes scanning Quinton for any signs of deceit.

    Mar''Garet tightened her grip on her spear, her expression darkening. "A bold im, human," she hissed, stepping forward slightly. "If you''re lyingˇŞ"

    Quinton cut her off, his grin widening. "I''m not lying. And I think your Overlord here knows that too," he said, tilting his head toward Alister.

    Alister held up a hand, silencing Mar''Garet without a word. His gaze never left Quinton as he spoke.

    "Prove it."

    Quinton''s confident grin faded slightly as his gaze narrowed. His voice took on a serious edge. "I will, Overlord," he said, his tone measured. "But first, I need your word. Once you take hold of the item, you''ll respect the terms of our agreement. If not..." His eyes glinted sharply. "Then we have no deal."

    Mar''Garet bristled at his audacity, her crimson mana ring violently around her. Her spear glowed as she stepped forward.

    "Insolent wretch! How dare you make demands of my Lord!" she snapped, her voice echoing. She raised her weapon, ready to strike.

    Before she could move another step, Alister raised a hand. Hismanding gesture halted her in her tracks.

    "Enough, Mar''Garet," he said, his voice calm but firm. His eyes never left Quinton.

    Mar''Garet hesitated, her grip tightening on her spear, but she bowed her head and stepped back.

    "Understood my lord." she said.

    The crimson aura around her dimmed slightly, though her sharp gaze remained locked on the human.

    Alister leaned forward slightly, his piercing eyes locking onto Quinton''s.

    "You have my word," he said. "Now deliver."

    A smile slowly crept back onto Quinton''s face. He straightened, looking as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

    "That''s all I needed to hear," he said. He turned his attention to Vira, his tone shifting to a lighter, almost teasing one. "Alright, Vira. Toss it over."

    Vira hesitated for a moment, still seated on the hover bike. Then, with a sigh, she stood and dismounted, her expression was neutral. She reached behind the bike seat, lifting it to reveal a hiddenpartment. From within, she pulled out a sleek silver briefcase, its polished surface reflecting the moon light.

    She nced briefly at Quinton before tossing the briefcase toward him with a sharp flick of her wrist. The case spun in the air before Quinton caught it effortlessly, gripping the handle

    firmly.

    "Finally," Quinton said, his voice filled with satisfaction as he cradled the briefcase. He tapped the top of the case lightly, a sly grin appearing on his face.

    Alister''s golden eyes narrowed, his mana rippling faintly around him in anticipation.

    "Open it," hemanded.

    Quinton utched the briefcase and slowly opened it, the faint click of the lock echoing. As the lid lifted, a faint glow emanated from inside, bathing the area in a soft, ethereal light.

    Nestled within the case was a stone unlike any other... As the light from the moon abovended on its surface, it''m seemed to glow.

    Alister''s eyes widened, his usual stoic demeanor momentarily disappeared. The glow of his golden mana dimmed slightly, as a look of awe could be seen on his scaly face.

    A system window materialized before him, disying the name in crisp, glowing white text:

    [Ethereal Moonstone.

    Item rank: Legendary.]

    He stared at the name, his breath caught in his throat. Slowly, his hand reached forward, almost trembling.

    ''That''s it...'' he thought, his mind racing. ''It really is... With this, I''ll finally be able to save

    Miyu...''

    Before his fingertips could graze the stone, Quinton swiftly closed the briefcase with a snap, breaking the moment.

    "Ah, ah, ah," Quinton said with a sly smile, holding the case close. "Our deales first, Overlord."

    Alister''s hand froze mid-air before he lowered it, his expression returning to its calm yet

    intense state.

    "Go on," he said.

    Quinton smirked, satisfied with the control he now held. "First," he began, holding up a finger, "in the case of a future disaster... when the world is plunged into chaos... I want your assurance that I and some select others will be under your protection."

    Alister''s eyes narrowed slightly but he didn''t speak, his silence signaling Quinton to continue.

    "Second," Quinton said, raising another finger, "I would like for you to spare the humans still alive here. No more mass purges, no fiery wrath. Let them be."

    Before Alister could respond, Cinder, standing to the side, erupted in fury. Her fiery crimson mana surged, her crimson eyes zing as she stepped forward.

    "How dare you make such demands of our lord!" she hissed. "I should reduce you to ash

    where you stand!"

    Before her power could escte, Alister raised his hand, silencing her instantly, His gaze

    returned to Quinton.

    "Is there anything else?"

    Quinton nodded, his expression growing serious.

    "Yes," he said. "Thest, and perhaps the most important part of our deal..." He leaned slightly forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

    "In the future, a certain celestial will require your aid. It is thanks to them that I''m here

    today, presenting you with this item. I ask that when the timees, you help them-no

    questions, no hesitation."

    Alister''s golden eyes studied Quinton, weighing the request. The space around them seemed

    to hold its breath as he considered the terms.

    "Is that all?" Alister finally asked.

    Quinton nodded once, his confidence unshaken. "That''s all."

 Chapter 302: To Insult An Overlord

    Chapter 302: To Insult An Overlord

    ?

    Alister''s eyes narrowed slightly, his expression devoid of emotion.

    But...

    He could feel his anger bubbling within him. He felt stung...

    Normally, such words wouldn''t get to him, at least not when he was in his human form. In his dragon body, hearing this human utter such words flipped a switch.

    But it wasn''t only his anger he was sensing. Through his bond with his generals, he felt their shared fury... He didn''t need anyone to tell him why.

    This mere human had just insulted them.

    From beside him, Cinder let out a fiery roar, her mana zing brightly.

    "How dare you!"

    "Mere humans, trespassing upon the sacrednds of our people? Not only that but to converse with our lord in such a manner! Proceeding to underestimate our strength..."

    "You should be reduced to ash where you stand!"

    Draven growled in agreement, purple lightning crackling around his body. "For once, I agree with Cinder. How dare you trespass on thends belonging to our people, intending to steal their possessions?"

    "And with all those sins, you still proceed to look down upon our lord?"

    "Such insolence!"

    Turning his head to face Alister, Draven added, "Simply give the word, my lord, and their heads will be yours to do away with."

    Mar''Garet sneered, her voice sharp as she roared at them. Although she was in her dragon form, the intense look of anger and disgust could clearly be seen in her eyes. "Insects! That''s all you are. Scuttling pests."

    "You dare to look down upon my lord?"

    The guild members, however, showed no sign of being intimidated. Bram cracked his knuckles, his smirk widening. "Dragons sure do love the sound of their own voices, don''t they?"

    Raina rolled her eyes. "Big talk for a bunch of overgrown lizards."

    "Enough!" Alister''s voice thundered, cutting through the noise like a de. The force of his words sent a rippling shockwave through the air, but the guild members braced themselves, standing their ground.

    Alister''s eyes glinted with an intense glow as his voice dropped to a low.

    "Never in my life... have I felt such an irritable urge to crush something before."

    He exhaled slowly, though it carried no warmth... only menace. "But I am in a good mood tonight. You see, I have something I was looking forward to. So, I will grant you mercy. You have two choices: disappear from my sight..." He paused, the air around him thickening with his intense aura, "...or I will have my dragons erase you from it."

    The guild members bristled at the thinly veiled threat, their weapons drawn and postures tense. Despite the overwhelming presence Alister exuded, their confidence didn''t falter.

    Caldris stepped forward, his eyes locked on Alister. He chuckled coldly, drawing his sword. The de shimmered faintly in the moonlight as he leveled it at Alister. "If this is your way of trying to scare us, I hate to tell you-it didn''t work."

    "We''ve given too much to suddenly back down now. Imagine returning empty-handed after we struck gold."

    "Not happening."

    Caldris raised his hand, signaling his guild members. "Power up!"

    The guild members grinned together. "Yes, Guildmaster!" they shouted, pulling out vials of crimson liquid from their pockets. Without pausing, they uncorked the vials and downed the contents in a single gulp.

    Almost instantly, their auras red with fiery intensity, their eyes glowing an ominous red. Alister narrowed his gaze, observing the sudden spike in their power. His thoughts raced as he analyzed the situation.

    ''A power-boosting drug?''

    The air grew heavy with their amplified aura, and the faint shimmer of mana radiating from them seemed to distort the space around them.

    Caldris smirked, pointing his de toward Alister. "You monsters should get down here

    already so we can get this over with. I''ve got gold to count once this is done."

    For a moment, there was silence. An uneasy, bone-chilling stillness in the air.

    And then, Alister threw his head back and burst intoughter.

    "HAHAHAHAHA!" Hisughter echoed across the battlefield, loud and mocking, sending an unsettling chill through both the humans and his dragons.

    The system disyed a silent notification.

    [-?- has increased to 10% ]

    The dragons exchanged nces, uncertain, while the humans looked increasingly uneasy.

    Suddenly, Alister stoppedughing, his expression hardening in an instant.

    The shift was shocking, and the uneasy tension thickened. His voice, now filled with a menacing edge, cut through the still air.

    "Is this supposed to be where your confidencees from? A potion that increases your stats by a mere 20%? Now I truly feel insulted."

    Alister''s gaze locked onto Caldris. "Human," he called out.

    "What is your name?"

    Caldris smirked. "What''s the point of giving my name when this could all be over soon?"

    Alister tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing in thought. "I see," he thought aloud, his voice deceptively calm.

    "It seems you have a point..." he said, his aura suddenly ring further, pressing down on the guild members like a suffocating weight.

    "But on the matter of who has the greater numbers..." His eyes glowed with an otherworldly light as a dark smile curled his lips. "...I believe you stand to be corrected."

    Caldris sneered, his de still pointed toward Alister. "Ha! What are you-"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Before he could finish, his words faltered as he nced upward. The clouds above began to shift, clearing unnaturally fast. The faint sound of wings cutting through the air grew louder with each passing moment. His gaze snapped to the horizon, where a dark, undting mass approached with rming speed.

    His eyes widened as the mass drew closer, revealing itself to be a colossal horde of wyverns. But these were not ordinary wyverns. They were different, and their sheer size dwarfed the typical specimens Caldris knew of. Their cries echoed across the battlefield as they

    approached.

    The guild members grew restless, murmuring amongst themselves in unease. "No... this can''t

    be what I think it is..." one whispered.

    "It''s impossible," another stammered, gripping their weapon tightly.

    When the wyverns finally arrived, their numbers practically prevented the moonlight from touching the earth. Hundreds of them filled the skies, circling ominously around therger dragons already present. Thebined sight of the massive wyvern army and themanding dragons brought overwhelming pressure that came down on everyone present. Caldris stared, his expression a touch of shock and disbelief. "Wait... don''t tell me..." His voice faltered, the weight of realization sinking in. "How is that even possible?"

    Above him, the wyverns hovered in perfect formation, their piercing eyes fixed on the humans

    below.

    Alister, his aura radiating intensely, thundered across the battlefield as he spoke. "My

    dragons, pay heed to my orders!"

    The guild members'' murmurs grew frantic as fear took hold. "I thought there were only five dragons!" one eximed, their voice shaking. "Where did all thesee from?"

    Another gritted their teeth, their earlier confidence shattered. "This... this isn''t a fight we can

    win."

    Alister''s gaze swept over the trembling humans, his eyes alight with a fiery glow. He exhaled sharply, his tone dripping with disdain. "Erase these humans from my sight," he

    commanded, his voice cold.

    "The mere sight of them is putting me in a foul mood."

 Chapter 303: To Those Who Dare

    Chapter 303: To Those Who Dare

    ?

    For a moment, Alister''s dragons froze. They, who had always given off an aura of dominance and strength, seemed to hesitate, their eyes darting toward their lord. It was clear to all that this was something unexpected.

    In all their time serving Alister, never had they heard him speak in such a tone-so devoid of patience, so cold, so utterlymanding. His words carried a weight that even they, beings of incredible power, felt resonate deep within their cores.

    But their pause was only momentary.

    The next instant...

    ROOOAAARR!

    A deafening roar erupted, not from one, but from all of Alister''s dragons. Thebined force of their voices echoed through the battlefield, the shockwaves so powerful they tore through the air like a tempest.

    The humans, overwhelmed by the raw energy of the dragons'' unified roar, were driven to their knees. The sheer force of it was overwhelming; all clutching at their ears as the ground trembled beneath them.

    It was clear why.

    The dragons, for all their power and might, were creatures of pride, and hearing their lord give such an order filled them with a fierce, unyielding sense of purpose.

    This was their purpose, their calling... to enforce his will.

    In the distance, back with Quinton and Vira, the ground trembled beneath their feet, followed by the deafening roar that shook the very air. It was a sound of pure destruction, primal and unstoppable.

    Quinton''s gaze hardened.

    "That''s it," he murmured. His eyes narrowed as he nced at Vira, who was already looking at him, her face etched with concern.

    "It''s about to go down..."

    "...If we don''t hurry, there won''t be anyone left to save."

    Before Vira could even say anything, Quinton raised his hand, his fingers curling into a fist.

    The mana around him began to pulse as he activated his abilities.

    "Gear Shift."

    "Gear Enhancement."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    In an instant, the hover bike beneath them was glowing with a brilliant gradient of blue. The hum of its engines deepened as they surged with power, and in the blink of an eye, the bike''s speed increased exponentially.

    It shot forward, faster than the eye could follow, its motion leaving a trail of shimmering light in the air behind them.

    "Hold on," Quinton said. Vira nodded without a word, her breath caught in her throat as the wind whipped through her hair.

    They raced toward the chaos, the roars of dragons echoing in the distance.

    ....

    Back with the dragons

    The battle... No, the massacre that would ur that night would be nothing short of terrifying, an experience that would haunt the memories of those few unfortunate enough to survive.

    If they were any survivors that is...

    As the wyverns and dragons descended upon the guild members, chaos erupted.

    BAM!

    The ground quaked as Cindernded, her colossal body striking the earth like a meteor. mes burst from her maw in an explosion of raw heat, igniting everything around her. The moment her ws touched the ground, the very soil beneath her began to smolder, sending tendrils of fire in all directions.

    "Burn, humans, BURN!" Cinder hissed as her messhed out, reducing anything in their path to smoldering ruins. The humans closest to her screamed.

    "AHHHH! RUN!" a panicked voice cried out as the mes crept forward, consuming everything in their path.

    ROOOAAARR!

    Cinder roared in fury, her mes surged forward, scorching everything they touched. Humans shrieked in agony as their skin sizzled, their armor evaporating in a sea of fire. One man''s desperate cry echoed in the chaos...

    "WE''RE DOOMED! RUN-AAAHHHH!" His voice was cut off as the mes engulfed him, reducing him to a ckened husk in an instant. The inferno seemed endless, a wall of fire that swept through the battlefield, leaving nothing but ash in its wake.

    Meanwhile, the poison wyverns wasted no time, opening their mouths wide and unleashing streams of toxic, corrosive breath.

    The air turned thick with the scent of burning metal and flesh as their breath melted everything it touched. The ground itself bubbled and hissed, turning into a mass of steaming sludge under the wyverns'' attacks.

    "AHHHH! NOˇŞ!" one of the guild members screamed, his voice suddenly cut off as his body crumpled, flesh burning and melting as he attempted to flee, only for the very ground beneath him to turn to liquid.

    The stench of decay filled the air as more humans were overwhelmed by the poisonous vapor, their screams of agony mixing with the harsh crackling sound of burning bone and steel. The ground beneath them practically liquefied, unable to withstand the corrosion of the poison breath.

    Beside them, the steel wyverns fired steel spikes from their bodies like crossbows.

    A sickening SPLUT as one of the guild members was impaled through the chest, his body pinned to the ground in a spray of blood. The others tried to dodge, but the wyverns were too much, and the sharp, gleaming spikes that rained down on them were far too many to counter, dropping humans with each volley.

    "GET DOWN!" Caldris shouted, his voice cracking as he waved his arms in futile desperation. The steel spikes continued to rain down, tearing through the air and skewering the unlucky few who were too slow.

    Meanwhile, the bone wyverns arrived, their bodies trailing a thin mist. They exhaled all together, their breaths spitting out the unholy fire... soul fire.

    The mes remained down across the battlefield, scorching everything they touched. Flesh ckened and shriveled as the bone wyverns'' breath scoured thend, reducing survivors to

    ash in mere moments.

    "Soul fire..." one of the guild members whispered in shock, his eyes wide with fear as the mes approached. "No... not this... not like this!"

    The fire touched him, and with a final scream of desperation, his body turned to ash, his cries lost in the wind as if they never existed.

    Draven, his body crackling with purple lightning, shot forward like a streak of light. His tail swung in a deadly arc, a massive, lightning-charged sword at the tip.

    With a single swipe, it cleaved through the humans with ease. The sharp crack of thunder

    followed the sweep of his tail, sending other guild members flying through the air, their bodies lifeless before they even hit the ground.

    "Is that all?" Draven snarled, his voice sounding deeper, distorted by the crackling static of

    the lightning around him.

    "Pathetic."

    Terra, already on the ground, walked forward slowly, her body covered in a swirling sandstorm, obscuring her bodypletely. The only thing that could be seen in the storm

    were her glowing blue eyes.

    Suddenly...

    Massive walls of jagged stone rose from the ground, trapping groups of guild members in a sand cage. With a stomp of her feet, she sent towering spikes of sand shooting from the earth, impaling anyone unlucky enough to be near them. The sharp, grating sound of stone scraping against the earth filled the air as she reshaped the battlefield, her sand flowing like a river that crushed anything in its path.

    "Crush them!" Terramanded, her voice filled with primal wrath. "Feel the weight of the

    earth!"

    The humans tried to run, but the walls of stone closed in on them. There was no escape.

    Alister, observing the destruction from above, stood motionless, his gaze cold as the carnage unfolded before him.

    His eyes shed briefly as he felt his generals and wyverns acting out his order. He could hear the cries of pain, the frantic screams, but he felt no remorse.

    This was how it had to be.

    For he was the Overlord of Dragons... And such scenes like this certainly awaited him in the

    future.

 Chapter 309: Crafting the Omnipotent Elixir

    Chapter 309: Crafting the Omnipotent Elixir

    ?

    In the depths of the mind space, Alister and Terra stood side by side, both in theirbat forms, as they prepared to craft the omnipotent elixir.

    Terra adjusted her sses, their frames glinting faintly in the cosmic glow of the space around them, as she smirked slightly.

    "I am ready to begin the creation of the elixir," she said confidently.

    Alister tilted his head slightly to the left, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. His fingers drummed lightly against his crossed arms as he stepped closer to Terra.

    "Are you certain you don''t need a furnace for this?" he asked. "You''re telling me I simply need to rely on you, and it will be done?"

    Terra huffed softly and adjusted her sses again. Her smirk deepened as she looked up at Alister.

    "My lord..." she began, "my knowledge is vast, and my mastery of alchemy is unparalleled. A furnace would only slow me down."

    She extended her right hand, and in an instant, golden glyphs began to materialize in the air around her, theirplex patterns weaving together. The glyphs spun faster, their light pulsing as Terra moved her left hand to join the right, her fingers guiding the glowing symbols.

    "All I require are the necessary ingredients and your absolute trust in my capabilities. The rest is merely a matter of time and focus."

    Alister watched the glyphs take shape, his eyes fixed on them. He unfolded his arms and sighed softly, a faint smile appearing on his face.

    "Very well... I''ll leave it to you. But you know what''s at stake. Failure is not an option."

    Terra adjusted her sses again, her smirk growing wider. "Failure?" she repeated. "I don''t know the meaning of the word. Let us begin."

    With that, the glyphs red brighter, casting their light across the mind space.

    Alister stepped back slightly and murmured, "Inventory."

    A soft chime echoed in the air, and a glowing yellow system window materialized in front of him.

    Alister began to withdraw the required items, each appearing in his hand one by one. First came the bottle containing a luminous green liquid.

    "World Tree Sap," he said, setting it to hover around him. Next, he retrieved the Phoenix Feather. "The Phoenix Feather."

    Then came the Moonstone, its silvery glow casting a serene aura over the surroundings. "The Moonstone," he said as he ced it carefully in line to hover with the other items.

    Finally, he reached into the inventory onest time and brought forth a yellow, pulsing core, with a metal lizard curling around it. It emitted a low hum of mana, distorting the space around it slightly.

    Terra''s eyes widened in shock as she recognized the core. She adjusted her sses, stepping closer with a look of confusion on her face.

    "My lord," she called out sharply, "that... that is the Overlord''s heirloom. Why... why would you bring it out?"

    Alister calmly responded, "Because it is the final ingredient required toplete the elixir. Without it, this endeavor would be meaningless."

    Terra adjusted her sses sharply. "My lord... that is the heirloom, not some mere ingredient! It symbolizes your dominion over our race, the very essence of your authority. Beyond that

    11

    She stepped closer, pointing toward the pulsing core, the faint distortion of the air around it making her movements appear slightly warped.

    "It houses the fragments of every Overlord who came before you. Their wisdom, their memories... they exist within this core, preserved to guide the lesser generations of dragons."

    Terra''s blue eyes narrowed, her voice lowering. "To use such an artifact as a crafting ingredient would be an act of unparalleled recklessness. Your name would go down in history, yes... but not as a hero. You''d be remembered as the Overlord who contributed to the fall of the dragon race itself."

    She adjusted her sses again, the lenses catching the faint glow of the core as she gazed at Alister, waiting for his response.

    Alister held her gaze steadily, his tone firm yet calm. "And what is a legacy if I cannot protect those who rely on me? I will not hesitate, Terra. Not when I''m so close," he said, curling his wed hand into a fist.

    Terra adjusted her sses, her expression softening. "My lord," she said softly, "I would never defy your orders. But as your advisor, I would fail you if I didn''t speak the truth. Using the heirloom as an ingredient... is a decision you would most certainly regret in the future."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    She stepped back slightly, crossing her arms. "It would be wiser to find an alternative. There''s always another way, no matter how dire things may seem."

    Alister sighed deeply, the scales around his skull dematerializing. He ran his right hand through his hair, his expression tinged with frustration and confusion as he lost himself in deep thought, his gaze fixed on the glowing heirloom hovering nearby.

    "And where... where would I find the core of a true dragon in this world? Such a thing is beyond Legendary rank... it would most certainly be mythical."

    As he spoke, his movements caused the faint light in the mind space to glint on the ring on his right hand. The pink gem embedded in it shimmered softly, nearly hidden beneath the scales

    of his fingers.

    Terra''s sharp eyes noticed it immediately, and her lips curled into a small, knowing smile. She adjusted her sses again, then spoke. "As fate would have it, my lord... we don''t need to search for one."

    She gestured toward the ring on his hand, her voice calm yet purposeful. "The answer lies much closer than you think."

    Alister paused, his gaze following hers to the pink gem on his finger. His brows furrowed slightly as understanding began to dawn. His eyes widened as he stared at the gem.

    "Wait... are you trying to say that this is-"

    "A true dragon''s core, yes, my lord," Terra finished the sentence with a firm nod. Her gaze remained fixed on the ring.

    "And it is more than that. It is also an artifact that has been suppressing your memories for

    quite some time now."

    "So I believe it would be best if you took it off."

 Chapter 310: Voices From The Void

    Chapter 310: Voices From The Void

    ?

    As Alister narrowed his gaze on the ring, his hand instinctively curled into a fist. The moment he focused, a glowing yellow system window materialized before him.

    Item Info Window

    Name: Ring of Focus

    Rarity: Epic

    Description: A ring forged from the core of the 7th Dragon Overlord, Aloria. Known for her immense focus and unmatched ability to remove unnecessary thoughts from her mind, Aloria wielded this skill to dominate in both battle and strategy.

    Effect: The yer can designate a specific thought or memory to temporarily forget. The chosen thought will remain inessible until the ring is unequipped.

    Alister''s eyes read the description, his expression hardening.

    "The core of the 7th Dragon Overlord..." he murmured.

    His wed fingers hovered near the ring as if testing the decision he was about to make. Terra took a cautious step closer, her gaze fixed on him. "As I said, my lord..."

    "That ring may be the very key to crafting the elixir without sacrificing the heirloom or our people''s future."

    Alister didn''t respond immediately, his thoughts racing. The ring''s faint glow pulsed as if it were alive, almost as if it could sense his hesitation.

    "And what if those memories were suppressed for a reason?"

    "Obviously, I was the one who put on this ring, although I''m unsure of the reason at this point."

    "For me to want to forget something... must mean it is something I am not prepared to face." "Or perhaps something hunting my thoughts."

    Terra adjusted her sses again. "Then face them, you must, my lord. You are the Overlord. Whatever truths await, you have the strength to bear them. Besides..."

    "...do you truly wish to remain in ignorance, knowing the cost could be the future of our race?"

    Alister sighed deeply, his wed hand hovering over the ring. "Ignorance has never suited me, Terra. But if what you''re saying is true..." He trailed off, his yellow eyes darkening as he steeled his resolve.

    He wrapped his fingers around the ring, then poked it again.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Then it''s time I remember what I decided to forget."

    His scales slowly began to dematerialize around his hand, revealing the ring.

    Then, with a sharp tug, he began to pull the ring off. The moment it left his finger, a surge of energy rippled through the mind space, causing the cosmic glow around them to intensify.

    The glyphs Terra had conjured flickered and dimmed momentarily as a wave of raw, unrestrained mana erupted from Alister.

    The ring hovered in space, along with the other items present, pulsing faintly, as Alister staggered back slightly.

    His eyes widened as fragmented images and sensations flooded his mind... a kaleidoscope of memories, emotions, and truths that had been buried within him.

    A silent system notification chimed.

    [-?- has increased to 30%]

    Terra stepped forward cautiously, her voice steady yet gentle. "My lord, what do you see?"

    Alister gritted his teeth as he felt the memories from his second awakening... ones he never saw due to the ring suppressing them.

    Alister stood in a wastnd, the Overlord''s heirloom embedded in his chest, changing hues. Around him, his dragon generals stood, and behind them, his massive dragon army. "Stay my dragons, we stand together!" Alister''s voice roared. "We are thest line!"

    Befir them was the encroaching darkness writhed, a monstrous, amorphous force with eyes hands and vosces of this it had consumed screaming from it''s depths, a creature that devoured light itself.

    A searing cold overtook the battlefield.

    Alister''s body shimmered, the heirloom took on an icy blue glow.

    Slowly, his appearance began to change. His silver hair grew longer, his eyes took on a blue hue, his horns as well, and the air around him became cold.

    He transformed, his body encased in cial armor, his breath freezing the air.

    "Ancestor Fryst... lend me your strength!"

    Alister whispered to the Overlord of frost whose essence he had borrowed.

    With a wave of his hand ice storms raged, freezing the tendrils of darkness in ce, but they shattered free.

    He and his dragons surged forward.

    "Lord ####! It''s breaking through!" roared K###ith, the Thunder Storm Dragon, lightning crackling from her ws.

    FIZZLE

    The memory splintered.

    A scream echoed.

    "K###ith!"

    Alister turned just in time to see her impaled by spikes of darkness.

    "No... NO!" His shout fractured the scene, a surge of water enveloping him.

    Alister''s form changed again.

    "Ancestor Gu''Razen. Let me borrow your seas!"

    His hair became a short, deep blue, his eyes bright blue, his scales now shimmering like liquid sapphire. He raised his hands, summoning hyper-hydro spells.

    Massive waves roared to life out of nowhere, in the form of multiple dragon heads, crashing into the darkness with relentless force, proceeding to freeze again as his form changed back

    to Fryst.

    "Hold the line!" bellowed Drkuen, his fiery breath carving temporary sanctuaries in the abyss, he and the other dragons of the Abkis void n breathed mes from the sky above.

    FIZZLE

    The memory splintered.

    "My lord, it''s not enough!" shouted Aeryn, the Sky Dragon, his voice strained as he sent gusts

    of razor winds toward the darkness.

    The darkness retaliated, tendrilsshing out.

    "Drkuen, behi## you!"

    He turned, toote. He was engulfed, the tendrils shooting out, pulling more of his n members into their depths, a look of dread could be seen on Alister''s face, his eyes widened in

    shock.

    FIZZLE

    The memory splintered.

    Another scream tore through the battlefield.

    "Not again... not AGAIN!" Alister growled, his voice shaking with fury and desperation, this time he was in his true dragon form, his towering bodyunching all sorts of attacks but none

    were effective.

    "What... a## you?" Alister''s voice trembled as the darkness formed a faint shape, humanoid

    but grotesque. Itsughter echoed in his mind.

    "A shadow ## your fail #res, Overlord," it hissed.

    FIZZLE

    The memory splintered.

    The battlefield copsed into chaos. One by one, the remaining generals fell. Aeryn''s wings

    were torn away, his screams silenced as the abyss swallowed him. Kaelith''s electrified roar

    was snuffed out.

    "Fight! D#n''t stop f##hting!" Alister roared, his voice ragged.

 Chapter 306: A Deal With An Overlord

    Chapter 306: A Deal With An Overlord

    ?

    As the air crackled with Alister''s mana, all the halted attacks... the spikes of ice, crackling

    lightning, roaring mes, and poisonous clouds... vanished in an instant. The oppressive aura dissipated, leaving the battlefield uneasily silent.

    Vira, still seated on the hover bike at a safe distance, stared wide-eyed at the scene. She couldn''t hide her shock.

    "How... how did he do that?" she muttered to herself, gripping the handlebars tightly.

    Quinton, despite his broken leg chuckled faintly. "Guess you aren''t the Overlord for nothing," he said, a sly grin spreading across his face.

    Alister''s gaze was sharp, his tone filled with a dmall but deadly warning. "You''d better start talking. My patience is thin."

    Quinton raised his hands in mock surrender, his smirk softening. "Alright, alright, no need to get so grim. Ie in peace."

    He said, shifting slightly on his good leg. "And I intend to make this worth your while."

    "Then get to it," Alister said, the weight of his voice unmistakable.

    Quinton inhaled sharply, steadying himself. He narrowed his eyes, his expression growing serious as he spoke.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Overlord, I believe you''re looking for something. Something... critical. An ingredient of utmost importance, one you hope to use to craft something."

    Alister''s golden eyes narrowed, his mana ring. Golden light coiled around his body, radiating an intense pressure that made the air vibrate.

    "And if that''s true," Alister said, his voice low and dangerous, "what of it?"

    Quinton met Alister''s gaze unflinchingly, a look of confidence shing in his own eyes. "What if I told you," he began, a slow smile curling his lips, "that I not only know what that ingredient is... but that I have it with me right now?"

    The battlefield suddenly fellpletely silent, the weight of Quinton''s words sinking in.

    Alister''s mana red brighter for a moment before steadying, his sharp eyes scanning Quinton for any signs of deceit.

    Mar''Garet tightened her grip on her spear, her expression darkening. "A bold im, human," she hissed, stepping forward slightly. "If you''re lyingˇŞ"

    Quinton cut her off, his grin widening. "I''m not lying. And I think your Overlord here knows that too," he said, tilting his head toward Alister.

    Alister held up a hand, silencing Mar''Garet without a word. His gaze never left Quinton as he spoke.

    "Prove it."

    Quinton''s confident grin faded slightly as his gaze narrowed. His voice took on a serious edge. "I will, Overlord," he said, his tone measured. "But first, I need your word. Once you take hold of the item, you''ll respect the terms of our agreement. If not..." His eyes glinted sharply. "Then we have no deal."

    Mar''Garet bristled at his audacity, her crimson mana ring violently around her. Her spear glowed as she stepped forward.

    "Insolent wretch! How dare you make demands of my Lord!" she snapped, her voice echoing. She raised her weapon, ready to strike.

    Before she could move another step, Alister raised a hand. Hismanding gesture halted her in her tracks.

    "Enough, Mar''Garet," he said, his voice calm but firm. His eyes never left Quinton.

    Mar''Garet hesitated, her grip tightening on her spear, but she bowed her head and stepped back.

    "Understood my lord." she said.

    The crimson aura around her dimmed slightly, though her sharp gaze remained locked on the human.

    Alister leaned forward slightly, his piercing eyes locking onto Quinton''s.

    "You have my word," he said. "Now deliver."

    A smile slowly crept back onto Quinton''s face. He straightened, looking as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

    "That''s all I needed to hear," he said. He turned his attention to Vira, his tone shifting to a lighter, almost teasing one. "Alright, Vira. Toss it over."

    Vira hesitated for a moment, still seated on the hover bike. Then, with a sigh, she stood and dismounted, her expression was neutral. She reached behind the bike seat, lifting it to reveal a hiddenpartment. From within, she pulled out a sleek silver briefcase, its polished surface reflecting the moon light.

    She nced briefly at Quinton before tossing the briefcase toward him with a sharp flick of her wrist. The case spun in the air before Quinton caught it effortlessly, gripping the handle

    firmly.

    "Finally," Quinton said, his voice filled with satisfaction as he cradled the briefcase. He tapped the top of the case lightly, a sly grin appearing on his face.

    Alister''s golden eyes narrowed, his mana rippling faintly around him in anticipation.

    "Open it," hemanded.

    Quinton utched the briefcase and slowly opened it, the faint click of the lock echoing. As the lid lifted, a faint glow emanated from inside, bathing the area in a soft, ethereal light.

    Nestled within the case was a stone unlike any other... As the light from the moon abovended on its surface, it''m seemed to glow.

    Alister''s eyes widened, his usual stoic demeanor momentarily disappeared. The glow of his golden mana dimmed slightly, as a look of awe could be seen on his scaly face.

    A system window materialized before him, disying the name in crisp, glowing white text:

    [Ethereal Moonstone.

    Item rank: Legendary.]

    He stared at the name, his breath caught in his throat. Slowly, his hand reached forward, almost trembling.

    ''That''s it...'' he thought, his mind racing. ''It really is... With this, I''ll finally be able to save

    Miyu...''

    Before his fingertips could graze the stone, Quinton swiftly closed the briefcase with a snap, breaking the moment.

    "Ah, ah, ah," Quinton said with a sly smile, holding the case close. "Our deales first, Overlord."

    Alister''s hand froze mid-air before he lowered it, his expression returning to its calm yet

    intense state.

    "Go on," he said.

    Quinton smirked, satisfied with the control he now held. "First," he began, holding up a finger, "in the case of a future disaster... when the world is plunged into chaos... I want your assurance that I and some select others will be under your protection."

    Alister''s eyes narrowed slightly but he didn''t speak, his silence signaling Quinton to continue.

    "Second," Quinton said, raising another finger, "I would like for you to spare the humans still alive here. No more mass purges, no fiery wrath. Let them be."

    Before Alister could respond, Cinder, standing to the side, erupted in fury. Her fiery crimson mana surged, her crimson eyes zing as she stepped forward.

    "How dare you make such demands of our lord!" she hissed. "I should reduce you to ash

    where you stand!"

    Before her power could escte, Alister raised his hand, silencing her instantly, His gaze

    returned to Quinton.

    "Is there anything else?"

    Quinton nodded, his expression growing serious.

    "Yes," he said. "Thest, and perhaps the most important part of our deal..." He leaned slightly forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

    "In the future, a certain celestial will require your aid. It is thanks to them that I''m here

    today, presenting you with this item. I ask that when the timees, you help them-no

    questions, no hesitation."

    Alister''s golden eyes studied Quinton, weighing the request. The space around them seemed

    to hold its breath as he considered the terms.

    "Is that all?" Alister finally asked.

    Quinton nodded once, his confidence unshaken. "That''s all."

 Chapter 307: Weighing Options

    Chapter 307: Weighing Options

    ?

    For a moment, there was silence between them. Finally, Alister spoke, his voice vibrating the air around him.

    "I see," he said, narrowing his gaze.

    Quinton smirked as he replied with a slightly smug tone, "Indeed."

    For a moment, more silence descended between them. Vira and the remaining humans who were alive watched the exchange with unease, all hoping things would turn out in their favor. Alister finally spoke up, with a touch of skepticism in his tone. "So, from what I understand, you want my protection, for you and some chosen others, for these humans here to be spared, and my cooperation with a celestial in the future."

    Quinton nodded slightly to confirm Alister''s words.

    Observing this, Alister paused for a moment. He then proceeded to speak. "A tempting offer... A truly tempting offer indeed."

    As he spoke, Quinton felt a bit uneasy but hid it behind a calm andposed poker face.

    Alister then tilted his head to the left as he said, "Unfortunately, with the way things stand, we cannote to an agreement."

    Hearing his words, Mar''Garet smiled but said nothing. Vira and the remaining humans present went pale with fear.

    Still keeping his calm expression, Quinton spoke up with a mildly intense tone as he asked, "And why is that? Isn''t this item something you desperately need?"

    "Are you really going to turn me down because of pride? Because I am a mere human?" He gritted his teeth as he spoke. It was clear his anger wasn''t only due to Alister''s refusal.

    His tone made Mar''Garet re up, but she decided not to step in because Alister hadmended her silence earlier.

    "No, that is only a part of it," Alister said calmly.

    "Why then?" Quinton asked, with a mild touch of desperation in his tone.

    Alister continued in his calm tone but clearly sensed the anger in Quinton''s, causing him to offer a little warning.

    "Let me make this clear to you: I do not owe you anything, boy. So calm yourself. Do not make me resort to using force to obtain that item from you."

    Hearing his words, Quinton''s eyes widened for a moment. Realizing he was letting his emotions cloud his mind, he took a deep breath and then asked, "Is there a reason you don''t want to agree to my terms?"

    "Yes, one part has to be adjusted, the other removed."

    "And they are?"

    Alister raised a wed finger upward as he said, "One, you requested for the humans here to be spared. Unfortunately, I cannot ept that."

    "They decided to steal the treasure of my people, then proceeded to disrespect me in an attempt to secure a future that was clearly beyond their reach."

    "Both are sins deserving of death, and I fully intend on granting it to them."

    Alister paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. Caldris, who was barely holding on to life with the massive metal spikes impaled in his back, shook with fear.

    He proceeded to scream...

    "AHHHH... No, no... I don''t want to die... I don''t want to die."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    He then hurried on with his crawling, only for the next instant...

    BOOM!

    Draven''s massive tailnded on him, crushing himpletely. The force was so great that some of his blood sttered all the way tond on the left side of Quinton''s face.

    The sight caused the legs of those still alive to weaken in an instant, all hopes of survival crushed along with their foolish leader who had led them to their doom.

    Quinton sighed, then proceeded to wipe the blood off his face as he said, "I guess that''s a bust then." He spoke nonchntly, as if the disy of cruelty a moment ago didn''t faze him. Then again, it spoke of the kind of life he led and perhaps spoke volumes about the sort of future he expected ahead of him.

    "So, what needs to be adjusted then?" he asked as he narrowed his eyes.

    Alister raised a second wed finger as he said, "Unconditional cooperation with a celestial." "As far as my memory serves, they are self-serving beings, always looking to gain from any situation they find themselves in."

    "They see existence as a grand stage to y their games, viewing the lives of mortals as nothing more than tools for their own entertainment."

    "While it may be true that some exist who may not be like this..."

    "I, for one, would not choose the option of finding out. I will not take your word for how they act either. Mortal eyes cannot even tell the difference between a fleeting shadow and true darkness, let aloneprehend the nature of beings beyond their understanding."

    "So, I cannot agree to unconditionally helping a celestial I know nothing of."

    "If it is a favor, I might be willing."

    "The fact they even ask for unconditional cooperation means their intentions are not pure, and they knew I would disagree under normal circumstances."

    Quinton''s expression darkened as Alister''s words echoed in the air. He straightened his posture, his voice sharp as he spoke, "Then we don''t have a deal. If you can''t agree to those terms, there''s no point in continuing this discussion."

    For a moment, Alister smirked, his eyes narrowing slightly. "That''s fine with me," he replied, his tone utterly unshaken.

    "I was already on a sure path to acquiring that same item tonight. A couple more hours in my search is a trivial inconveniencepared to agreeing to your bizarre terms."

    Quinton''s eyes twitched slightly, though he quickly hid his frustration. "You''re confident you''ll find it without my help?"

    Alister chuckled softly. "Confident? No. Certain. The path ahead of me was already a sure one, so I need not worry."

    Quinton tightened his jaw, his mind racing to weigh his options. Alister''s assurance unnerved him, but he refused to show it.

    Alister''s gaze remained fixed with Quinton''s as he added. "But what about those people you wished for me to protect... hmm?"

    Quinton stiffened slightly, hisposure wavering for the briefest moment as Alister leaned forward, his tone filled with cold curiosity.

    "Are they not your friends, perhaps? Or do you mean to tell me that the schemes of some celestial carry more weight to you than your treasuredpanions?"

 Chapter 308: We Have A Deal

    Chapter 308: We Have A Deal

    ?

    The air grew heavier as Alister''s words hung between them, each syble cutting deeper than thest.

    "What sort of man bargains while cing the lives of hispanions at risk? Or perhaps... they mean little to you at all?"

    Quinton clenched his fists, his calm fa?ade threatening to crumble. "You don''t understand-" he began, but Alister interrupted him, his voice rising with an almost mocking tone.

    "Oh, I understand perfectly. I understand that you think yourself clever enough to navigate these murky waters unscathed, sacrificing pawns to secure your position on the board. Tell me, Quinton, is that truly the mark of someone who values his friends?"

    The silence that followed was suffocating. Vira and the others watched, their fear growing as they awaited Quinton''s response.

    Alister''s eyes narrowed, his voice lowering to a cold, almost dismissive tone. "If you have nothing more to say, then perhaps it is time for you to leave."

    He pointed toward the humans nearby, trembling with fear. "My dragons and I have others to attend to... humans who need to answer for their sins."

    With that Alister turned around and began walking away.

    Quinton stood frozen for a moment, the harshness of Alister''s tone sinking in. His grip on hisposure faltered, but he quickly masked it, his expression hardening.

    "W-wait..." Quinton managed to call out causing Alister to stop in his tracks.

    "So it''s only a favour you can offer... Right?"

    Alister paused at Quinton''s call, his expression remaining unreadable as he turned back to face him.

    "Yes,"

    Quinton''s eyes narrowed slightly, a look of of hope sparking in them. "How far could your favor go?"

    A slow, smile crept across Alister''s scaled face. "As far as it needs to." His voice deepened, with a tone that left no room for doubt.

    "If this celestial being want another celestial dead, I will dly make it happen. If it''s a war they want won, I will bring them victory. If it''s a search they need done, I will scour the cosmos to find what they seek. You see, Quinton, for the help you have offered me in my time of need, I would pay back that favor tenfold."

    He stepped forward, his eyes locking onto Quinton''s with an intensity that was impossible to ignore.

    "As long as it does not endanger those close to me, I will do anything."

    Quinton''s face lit up slightly. The offer was more than he had hoped for, yet something about the way Alister said it felt like a reminder of the power that he wielded.

    But then, Alister''s expression darkened, and his tone shifted to something colder, more intense. "But..."

    "...it will only be a one-time favor." He straightened, his eyes hardening.

    "I will not perform more than one task for you. I may be willing to pay back the favor, but I will not do so at the risk of my pride. For I am the Overlord of Dragons..."

    "...and I answer to no one."

    The the weight in his voice was unmistakable. The offer was generous, but it came with the reminder that Alister''s pride, his sovereignty, could never bepromised... not even for a favor.

    It was clear his dragon blood was slightly affecting his thought patterns.

    After a brief moment of consideration, he nodded. "Alright, that will be the terms of our deal. You will grant your protection to me and mypanions, as well as granting the celestial I spoke of one favor, in exchange for the moonstone."

    After a long pause, Alister gave a single nod. "Indeed."

    The simplicity of the exchange made it clear... there would be no further negotiation, no room for doubt. The deal was set, the lines drawn.

    Quinton carefully handed Alister the briefcase, Alister took it without a word, his eyes flickering over it for a brief moment before he opened it.

    Inside, nestled securely, was the moonstone. Without wasting a moment, Alister tossed the case aside, the sound of it hitting the ground barely audible in the heavy air.

    A smile spread across his face as he held the moonstone in his hand. "I believe we are done here," he said.

    Quinton nodded, though a touch of curiosity remained in his eyes. "How do I contact you when the timees?"

    Before Alister could answer, one of his dragons stepped closer. Terra, in her massive dragon form, emerged from the shadows of thendscape, her imposing size causing the very ground to tremble with each step.

    "Telepathy," she spoke, her voice deep, sending a vibrations through the air.

    Quinton''s eyes widened as he noticed the dragon slow her movements, bringing one of her massive ws forward. Terra lowered it, as she spoke. "ce your head here," she instructed. Listing to her instructions, Quinton stepped forward and gently ced his head on her w. In an instant, a strange marking appeared on his forehead... a dragon skill crest, glowing bright blue befir fading.

    "Good," Terra said, as she nodded her massive head slowly. "Now, when you wish to speak to my lord, you must first go through me. Then, I will deliver your message."

    Quinton''s gaze lingered on her for a moment. After a brief pause, he nodded. "Understood."

    Alister, who had watched the exchange, nodded once in approval. "So that should be it then,"

    he said.

    "You''d do well to retire back with your female friend there."

    Quinton turned around, walking away, As he took a few steps, however, something unexpected happened. He suddenly felt a sharp grip on his leg. Looking down, he saw one of

    the guild members, their eyes wide with desperation.

    "Please, save us," they begged, their voice trembling with fear. "We can''t survive without your help."

    Quinton''s face twisted into a grimace as the weight of their hand pressed against his leg. He winced.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "That''s my broken leg, man," he muttered, annoyed by the interruption. Without hesitation, he stomped on their hand, forcing them to release their grip in pain. "Gees, man."

    The guild member yelped in agony, pulling their hand away as Quinton continued slumping, not sparing them another nce. The desperate pleas faded into the distance as Quinton moved forward, clearly unfazed.

    As he reached Vira, who was waiting on the hover bike, Quinton quickly hopped on, and without a word, they sped off into the horizon, the wind rushing past them as they left.

    Behind them, Alister''s voice rang out, cold andmanding. "Now, my dragons... finish what we started."

 Chapter 314: A Brothers Tear, A Sisters Smile

    Chapter 314: A Brother''s Tear, A Sister''s Smile

    ?

    As the radiant golden glow gradually dimmed, Miyu''s feet touched the ground gently, her body now steady.

    Her previously pale and frail appearance was now a healthy, vibrantplexion. Her skin looked wless, and her frame appeared fuller, as though she had regained some of the vitality she had lost.

    Miyu slowly opened her eyes, their soft glow fading as they focused on the figure before her. When her gaze locked onto Alister, his face reddened, and his expression softened.

    Tears welled up in his eyes as he whispered, his voice trembling with relief, "I-It worked... You''re okay."

    Miyu''s eyes filled with tears as well, her lips quivering into a smile. "Yeah... I''m okay," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

    "You did it."

    They began to move toward each other, their steps hesitant at first, but their pace quickened until they closed the distance between them.

    In an instant, they embraced tightly, their arms wrapping around each other as though they never wanted to let go.

    Miyu buried her face in Alister''s shoulder, her voice muffled but heavy with emotion. "I-I was so scared... But... I didn''t want to show it. I didn''t want to burden you."

    Alister chuckled softly, his hand gently stroking her hair. "You don''t need to worry about that anymore," he said warmly.

    "You''re all better now."

    Miyu tightened her grip on his ck jacket, her small hands clutching the fabric as she whispered, "Thank you for saving me... big brother."

    Alister smiled, his tears finally spilling over as he replied, "The pleasure is all mine... sis." Erika stood frozen, her mouth slightly agape as she processed what she had just witnessed. Tugging at Elise''s sleeve, she stammered, "Team leader, it... it actually worked. Did you see that? She was glowing like... like some goddess."

    Elise, still watching Alister and Miyu''s heartfelt embrace, suddenly let out a loud, amusedugh.

    "Haha!"

    "Seems it did," she said, "Seems we''ll be asking him what where the secret ingredience of he super potion once he''s done cuddling."

    Their moment of astonishment was interrupted by the sound of hushed voices from nearby alchemists who had witnessed the scene.

    "So, let me get this straight," one voice muttered. "Alister somehow saved his sister with some kind of super potion... and she was glowing like a freaking firefly?"

    "I saw it too."

    "The way she lit up. I''ve never seen anything like it."

    "What kind of potion was that?"

    "Where did he even get it from."

    The murmurs grew louder, curiosity and spection spreading among the onlookers like wildfire.

    Elise''s sharp ears picked up every word. Her eyes narrowed, and her usualposed demeanor hardened into something far more intimidating.

    She turned around suddenly, her piercing gaze silencing the chatter instantly.

    "What do you all think you are doing here?"

    "GET BACK TO WORK!"

    She yelled, her voice echoing through theb. The intensity in her tone left no room for argument.

    The alchemists scrambled, stumbling over their apologies as they scurried back to their stations.

    "S-sorry, team leader!" they mumbled, nearly tripping over in their haste.

    "Won''t happen again!" another called out, hastily resuming their duties.

    Elise watched them scatter, her stern expression never left her face until theb returned to usual.

    Satisfied, she crossed her arms and turned back toward Erika, a faint smirk spreading to the corner of her lips. "Some people just can''t help themselves, can they?"

    Erika crossed her arms, her gaze drifting toward the alchemist as they walked away after their team leader had yelled at them.

    "You can''t really me them team leader," she said thoughtfully. "Curiosity is a trait of every great alchemist. Isn''t that how we end up discovering the impossible?"

    Elise turned to Erika, a small smile forming on her lips. "You have a point there. Without curiosity, none of us would be here." Her tone softened, and for a moment, the sharp edge of her earlier reprimand seemed to fade. "But there''s a time and ce for it, and gossiping mid-b isn''t one of them."

    Erika nodded in agreement but couldn''t help the slight grin tugging at her lips.

    Back with Alister and Miyu...

    Miyu finally loosened her grip and pulled back, though the warmth in her eyes remained. Her gaze lingered on her brother''s face for a moment before smiling. "Oh! What''s today''s date?"

    Alister blinked, caught off guard by the rather random question. He reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved a ck metallic cube. With a quick tap of his thumb, the object transformed into his phone, the screen then lit up and disyed the date in glowing digits.

    "Seems it''s July 24th," he replied.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Miyu''s eyes lit up. "Oh, what a coincidence!" she eximed.

    Alister tilted his head curiously. "How so?"

    Miyu''s grin turned yful as she sped her hands behind her back. "Today''s our birthday, duh. Don''t tell me you''ve been so hopeless without me that you lost track of time!"

    Alister''s eyes widened as he realised. "You''re right. Today is my birthday."

    Miyu''s mischievous grin widened as she ced a hand mockingly over her mouth.

    "Happy 20th birthday, big bro. You''re swiftly growing old! Before you know it, you''ll have a full-on beard."

    Alister rolled his eyes, letting out a sigh. "You do realize you''re also twenty today, don''t you? We''re twins, after all."

    Miyu''s expression shifted to exaggerated disappointment as she ced her hands on her hips. "Way to ruin the joke, big bro. You could''ve at least yed along!"

    Alister chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair gently. "You haven''t changed a bit, Miyu."

    Miyu swatted his hand away but couldn''t hide the smile tugging at her lips. "And I hope I never do. Someone has to keep you on your toes."

    Miyu''s gaze wandered theb beforending on Cinder. Her eyes lingered for a moment, processing the sight of the woman standing protectively by Alister''s side.

    A mischievous grin crept onto Miyu''s face as she leaned slightly closer to Alister. "So... you already have a girlfriend? You work fast, bro."

 Chapter 315: Sisterly Mischief

    Chapter 315: Sisterly Mischief

    ?

    Cinder''s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. She stiffened, her posture bing rigid as she quickly replied, "I and Lord Alister are nothing of the sort!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Miyu''s grin added, her expression freezing at Cinder''s choice of words. Her lips parted as she mumbled, almost to herself, "Lord?"

    Her gaze shifted back to Alister, her brow furrowing in shock. "Is that the sort of stuff you''re into now, bro?" she asked, her voice dripping with amusement. "You got your girl calling you ''Lord''?"

    Alister groaned, running a hand through his hair as his cheeks reddened slightly. "Miyu, it''s not like that," he said, exasperation creeping into his tone.

    "Cinder''s just... formal. That''s how she talks."

    Cinder, still flustered, straightened her posture further. "It''s a title of respect," she said quickly, her tone defensive but still filled with embarrassment.

    Miyu narrowed her eyes yfully, clearly unconvinced. "Respect, huh? That''s one way to put it. But you''ve got to admit, big bro, it sounds kinda sketchy."

    Alister sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Miyu, can we not do this right now? You just woke up, won''t you eat, go outside, try out some food."

    Miyu ced her hand thoughtfully under her jaw, a yful glint in her eyes as she thought aloud.

    "I don''t know, big bro. Are you sure I shouldn''t start preparing to be an aunt instead?"

    "Since you''re part of a big guild now, it probably means you and your girl will always be busy. So, I''ll have to handle the baby, cook, clean, and all that stuff. Damn, I just woke up, and already so much responsibility''s being piled on me."

    Her tone was light, but her grin was mischievous, clearly relishing her ability to tease Alister.

    Alister''s expression darkened, his gaze turning intense as he gazed at her. "Miyu, stop it. Now."

    Miyu raised her hands in surrender,ughing nervously. "OK, OK! Chill out, big bro. I was only testing you. You''re really going to get mad at your only sibling who just woke up... on their birthday, no less?"

    Alister sighed deeply, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Miyu," he spoke, shaking his head. "You''re impossible, you know that?"

    She simply smirked, leaning forward slightly. "And yet you still missed me.''

    He rolled his eyes but couldn''t help the small smile that appeared on his face. "Yeah, I did. And now I''m already regretting it."

    Miyuughed, then said. "Admit it... you''re stuck with me for life, big bro."

    Cinder, who had been quietly watching the exchange, let out a soft chuckle herself.

    Alister sighed, running a hand through his hair as he nced at Miyu. "Alright, let''s go. We need to get some clothes for you," he said, his tone lighter now.

    Miyu''s face lit up with excitement, "Shopping? That sounds exciting!" she eximed, pping her hands together.

    She quickly stepped closer to Alister, her smile widening. "Lead the way, big bro!"

    Alister chuckled softly, shaking his head at her sudden shift in mood. "You''re way too excited for someone who just woke up."

    He teased, motioning his hand for her to follow as he began walking toward the exit.

    Miyu stuck her tongue out yfully. "Hey, it''s not every day I get to go out with my big brother. Don''t ruin the moment."

    Cinder followed closely, observant as she walked a step behind them. Her gaze asionally moved toward Miyu, noting the brightness in her demeanor.

    She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Shoud I stay behind my lord? Considering your sister just woke up I''m sure you''d want to spend some time with her?"

    Alister turned his head slightly, giving her a reassuring nod. "You don''t need to worry, Cinder. It''s better to have you around."

    "You won''t be getting in the way of anything."

    Miyu''s grin turned mischievous as she nced at Cinder. "Of course! After all, every shopping trip needs the girlfriend''s approval, right?"

    Cinder''s cheeks flushed instantly, and she straightened her posture, quickly responding, "I-I am nearly performing my duties, Miss Miyu. Nothing more!"

    Miyu let out a softugh, nudging Alister with her elbow. "She''s cute when she''s flustered, huh? You picked a good one, big bro."

    Alister groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Miyu, please..."

    Miyu crossed her arms, a satisfied smirk spreading across her face. "Fine, fine. I''ll drop it... for now. But don''t think I''m letting this go. I''ve got questions."

    She paused for a moment, following beside him.

    Miyu then added onest jab. "Just saying, bro, if this whole ''Lord'' thing is your way of

    making her flirt with you, you might want to work on your game."

    Alister groaned again, his head falling into his hands. "Why do I even bother..."

    ...

    As they left Erika exchanged a nce with her team leader as she mumbled, "Dose he not realise it''s literally past midnight?"

    Elise smiled as she mumbled, "Just leave em be, I''m sure one they step out they''ll find out and return to their rooms... No need to stress about it."

    ...

    As they stepped out of theb and into the hallway, Alister couldn''t help but steal a nce at Miyu, who was walking beside him with an excited, carefree smile.

    His thoughts reced.

    ''Although she looks perfectly fine... It never hurts to dobble check.''

    ''Open her statue window.''

    Suddenly a yellow system window appeared.

    yer: Miyu Hazenworth

    Level: 25

    ss: Overlord (Awakened) | Talent: Rewind (S ss)

    Stats:

    HP: 9,500/9,500 - [100% |

    MP: 8,000/8,000 [100%

    Strength: 9,800

    Agility: 9,500

    Intelligence: 9,300

    Endurance: 9,400

    Dexterity: 9,200

    Mana: 7,500

    Luck: 5

    Total Combat Power: 47,200 (C-rank)

    Mana Regeneration: 25 MP/minute

    Title(s): Overlord''s Queen, Time''s Heir (Acquired through the Rewind Talent)

    Skills:

    Overlord Queen Song Lvl 5 (A Rank)

    Grants enhanced leadership and aura tomand allies and instill fear in enemies. Passive boost to all

    stats in a 10-meter radius.

    Rewind (S ss, Awakened)

    The power to rewind time in small increments (up to 10 seconds). Can be used up to three times per

    day.

    Overlord''s Command Lvl 3 (B Rank)

    Allows the Overlord tomand any loyal subject or servant within a 50-meter radius to follow simplemands instantly, esessically controlling them like puppets, allowing them to push forward and achieve goals regardless of their own limits. Can also be used on self but the user has to have absolute faith thay would achieve what they set out to.

    Reading trough all of this Alister was shocked, ''She Awakened her talent? Even new skills and

    her stats drastically increased.''

    Alister smiled, ''Seems I don''t have anything to worry about.''

 Chapter 311: A Strange Memory And The Omnipotent Elixer

    Chapter 311: A Strange Memory And The Omnipotent Elixer

    ?

    The Overlord''s heirloom pulsed with overwhelming mana, granting Alister one final transformation.

    His form burned with celestial light, his body kept on changing, merging the powers of all past Overlords.

    "AGHHHHHH!"

    He roared as he let out a breath of radiant multicolored light at the darkness.

    But even that wasn''t enough.

    The darkness loomed closer, whispering wounds that made Alister feel uneasy.

    "Even the greatest Overlords fall."

    "#####."

    FIZZLE

    The memory splintered.

    In the next instant, he was already impaled, drowning in the sea of darkness as he felt his body being slowly consumed.

    In those moments, as he stared out into the night sky, he managed a chuckle. "I''m sorry, Mar''Garet... I guess... I won''t be making it back home."

    His vision slowly faded, but before it did, he heard a statement, a voice simr to his yet different, but this one was clear, almost as if it were whispered into his very soul.

    "Are you going to try again?"

    "Only to fail?"

    "At this point, you will go down as the Overlord of failure."

    "Remember, you are only one half of our whole."

    "Until you let us be one again, victory will forever be beyond your grasp."

    "Let me out... brother..."

    "To rid yourself of darkness, you need greater darkness."

    FIZZLE

    The memory ended.

    [-?- has increased to 32%]

    Alister gritted his teeth, his hands clutching his temples as the storm of memories began to calm into rity. Slowly, he straightened his posture.

    Terra took a cautious step closer, her voice filled with concern. "My lord, are you all right?" Alister managed a soft sigh, with a strained, contemtive expression on his face. "I''m fine," he calmly replied, though his mind remained clouded by the memories.

    Terra raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Are you sure about that? You seem... distant." Alister nodded, forcing a small smile. "Really, I''m fine. You don''t need to worry."

    His gaze shifted to the items floating in the space around him, his eyes lingering on the ring. His mind reyed the words that had echoed in his vision, each one gnawing at him.

    ''I have a brother? Part of a whole? What is that even supposed to mean?''

    ''The more I learn about my past, the less sense it seems to make...''N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ''And that memory... It waspletely different from the one where the darkness asked to make a deal...''

    ''Different lives? Have I died to the darkness twice? Perhaps even more?''

    Terra, sensing the shift in his thoughts, spoke again. "My lord, something is weighing on your mind. What did you see?"

    Alister''s gaze hardened slightly, his eyes narrowing as he nced back at the ring. "We can talk about itter."

    "For now, let''s focus on the creation of the Omnipotent Elixir."

    With that, Alister turned his attention back to the swirling glyphs and the task at hand, pushing the unsettling thoughts to the back of his mind... for now.

    Alister''s hand reached out and retrieved the Overlord''s heirloom from where it had hovered, carefully cing it back into his inventory. He turned to Terra. "We have everything we need now. You may proceed."

    Terra gave a firm nod, her sses glinting as she adjusted them. "Understood, my lord." With a determined expression, Terra focused her attention on the four itemsid out before her.

    The Ethereal Moonstone, glowing with a soft, silver light; the Phoenix feather; the vial of sap from the World Tree; and the heart crystal of a true dragon.

    She began by drawing a series of glyphs in the air, the symbols shimmering as they floated around her, each one representing a different aspect of the elixir''s creation.

    As thest glyph settled into ce, the air around her became thick with her mana, crackling.

    Terra took a deep breath, her hands now hovering over the items. She closed her eyes, drawing on the deeper aspect of the ingredients. She could feel the aura of the items resonating with her own, amplifying them.

    Slowly, she began channeling her mana, feeding it into the items.

    The Ethereal Moonstone began to glow brighter, its light growing in intensity as Terra''s mana flowed into it.

    She whispered a quiet incantation, and the moonstone responded, shifting its form, bing fluid in her hands.

    With graceful control, she guided it into the Phoenix feather, the two items merging seamlessly, their powers intertwining.

    Next, she moved to the vial of sap from the World Tree. Her dragon eyes focused on it as she weaved some glyphs into it, and it began glowing with a faint, aurora-like light, allowing her to see the essence of the sap in its purest form.

    With a wave of her hand, the liquid came out of the vial.

    She released a steady stream of mana, coaxing the sap to flow, its power beginning to meld

    with the moonstone and feather.

    The sap, rich with nature''s power, began to shimmer with vibrant green hues, bringing a new

    layer to the mixture.

    Finally, Terra reached for the heart crystal from the true dragon.

    Carefully, she ced the crystal into the mixture, its energy surging as it connected with the other elements. The bond was instantaneous and almost explosive, as some parts of the liquid were forced to separate, but Terra brought them back together.

    The crystal''s power flooded the concoction with a dragon''s immense strength.

    The glyphs around her swirled faster, their symbols glowing brighter as theponents

    began to merge.

    Terra''s eyes narrowed with intense concentration, her mana flowing faster, more forcefully, as she shaped the elixir''s final form.

    The air around her crackled with electricity, and for a brief moment, it seemed as if the entire space around her vibrated, resonating with the elixir''s creation.

    Slowly, the swirling mixture of light, heat, vitality, nature, and dragon''s strength coalesced into a single, radiant cosmic-like liquid.

    Taking in a deep blue hue with white star-like sparkles inside of it, perhaps representing the cosmos, and its nature of omnipotence indeed... an embodiment of all the powers that had gone into it.

 Chapter 317: Grit, Grins, and Rematches

    Chapter 317: Grit, Grins, and Rematches

    ?

    The sun hung high over the White Comet Guild''s expansive training grounds, casting long shadows across the various training stations.

    The area was divided into different zones: arge open field for sparring, a series of obstacle courses for agility and endurance drills, and wooden targets set up for archery and rangedbat practice.

    Alongside the training grounds stood arge pavilion, where guild members could rx, observe, or prepare for their next exercises.

    Alister stood in the center of the field with Miyu and Cinder by his side. The wind ruffled Alister''s hair m as he gave a quick nce to his team, who stood across from them, ready for whatever challenge he had in store.

    Opposite Alister were his trusted teammates: Anzo, with his calm andposed expression, was twirling his great sword in the air with his telekinesis.

    Axel was bouncing on his heels, looking more than a little excited.

    Blitz had a mischievous glint in her eyes, already sizing up the situation.

    Beatrice stood with her arms crossed, her usual encouraging smile barely visible today, instead there was a look of curiosity in her eyes and L, who was clutching her sword nervously, as if unsure of what was about to unfold.

    Alister cleared his throat, drawing everyone''s attention. "Alright, everyone. I''d like to introduce someone to the team today." He waved his hand to the side, where Miyu stood, in a white and blue guild uniform practically radiating confidence.

    "This is my sister, Miyu," Alister said, a touch of pride in his voice.

    "She''ll be joining us from now on."

    There was a brief silence as the team took in the news. Anzo raised an eyebrow, a look of curiosity in his eyes. Axel''s grin widened, as if a new challenge had been presented to him.

    Blitz bounced lightly on her feet, eager for any opportunity to make things interesting. Beatrice gave a polite nod, though there was a glimmer of surprise in her eyes. L, however, was the first to speak.

    "Wait... you have a sister?" L''s voice was filled with astonishment, and she looked from Alister to Miyu.

    "I never expected that. Is she as monstrous as you?"

    Alister chuckled softly at the question, a knowing smile crossing his face. "Well, you''ll find out soon enough." His gaze shifted to Miyu, who stood with her arms folded, her expression calm but with a touch of mischief.

    Miyu lifted her chin slightly, as she spoke. "Although Idon''t know how strong my brother is...".n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "...but I''m certain I''m a monster in my own right."

    A collective murmur passed through the team. Axel chuckled, crossing his arms. "A bold im. Let''s see if she can back it up."

    Blitz let out a shortugh, clearly amused.

    Alister raised his hand, silencing the chatter. "Alright, enough talk," he said with a smile, turning to face the team.

    "We''re going to keep it simple for today. We''ll be doing some basic drills to gauge everyone''s current level. Miyu, if you''re up for it, I''ll have you take on a few drills with the team."

    Anzo nodded a studded grin appearing in his face, stepping forward, his sword hovering behind him. "I look forward to seeing you in action... Miyu."

    Since my rival is so strong a part of me is curious to find out if it runs in the family." Miyu gave a small, confident nod, stepping onto the training field and assuming a rxed stance. She seemed unfazed by the attention, already adapting to the atmosphere.

    "Alright, let''s get started," Alister said, his voice sharp andmanding as he began to give instructions. "Blitz, Axel, you two will work together against Miyu."

    "Anzo, you''ll go up against Beatrice and L. Let''s see how everyone performs. No holding back, but keep it fair."

    Anzo suddenly stepped forward, his great sword hovering just behind him as he raised an eyebrow, looking directly at Alister.

    "Hold on..."

    "...that''s not fair."

    Alister paused, turning his head toward Anzo, his brow furrowing slightly at the unexpected interruption.

    Anzo''s expression remained unchanged, though there was a yful smirk on his lips.

    "I just said I wanted to test the ropes with the new member, and youpletely ignored me. You''re putting me upst, huh?"

    He shook his head, his sword hovering beside him. "Not very team leader-like if you ask me."

    The rest of the team stood quietly, exchanging nces. Axel tilted his head with a grin, as though enjoying the banter. Blitz, however, was the first to speak, her mischievous glint returning.

    "Wow, Anzo, looks like you''ve been hurt, huh? I bet you didn''t expect that."

    Alister, however, wasn''t fazed by thement. A slight smirk crossed his face as he nced back at Anzo.

    "I''m the team leader here," Alister replied. "I make the calls. You''ll get your turn, don''t worry."

    Anzo didn''t back down, though. He crossed his arms, letting out a dramatic sigh, clearly unimpressed with Alister''s leadership style for the moment.

    "I''m not asking for any special treatment, but a little acknowledgment would be nice. You can''t just throw me to the back like that."

    Alister took a moment to assess Anzo''s challenge, then nodded.

    "I get it," Alister said with a slight smirk, "That''s why after you''re done with the healers, you an I will have our rematch."

    Anzo''s eyes lit up at the mention of a rematch, a grin spreading across his face. His earlier annoyance seemed to fadepletely, reced with a sense of eager anticipation.

    "Now you''re speaking mynguage," Anzo said with a gleam in his eyes. "And this time, I''ll be sure to crush you, Alister."

    Alister chuckled softly, stepping back slightly. "We''ll see about that," Alister replied calmly.

    "But first, we''ll focus on the drills with the healers. I want to see how you all handle the basics before we get to any serious rematches."

    Anzo''s smirk only widened, and he gave a quick nod, clearly ready for whatever came next. "Alright, alright," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "But don''t think you''ve got a free pass after this. I''ll be waiting for you."

 Chapter 313: Finally Saved Her

    Chapter 313: Finally Saved Her

    ?

    Elise clicked a button on the control panel. A faint hum filled the air as the ss tube began to drain, the glowing liquid within receding slowly. Miyu''s fragile body descended gently along with the fluid, her hair floating briefly before settling against her shoulders.

    The ss rose with a quiet hiss, the containment seal breaking with a faint whoosh. Miyu''s limp body was now fully visible, her face pale but peaceful.

    The oxygen mask clung to her face, and the faint rhythm of her shallow breathing could nearly be heard.

    Elise crossed her arms, her gaze lingering on the girl.

    "I don''t know what you think you''re up to. But... considering how much you clearly care for her... I suppose you mean well."

    Her fingers brushed against a nearby console, turning off the monitoring parameters for Miyu''s condition.

    The soft beeps of the machines echoed faintly in theb until they stopped.

    Alister approached Miyu''s frail body, his footsteps echoing softly against the metallic floor.

    He knelt beside her, cradling her upper body in his right arm. Her head leaned slightly against him, her face pale but carrying a faint warmth.

    Her eyelids fluttered, and with a small gasp, they opened. Her soft voice barely carried above a whisper. "Alister... you came to visit me again?"

    A weak smile formed on her lips, but it was followed by a cough that wracked her delicate body. She ced a hand against her chest, her expression grim. "Seems... the restricted blood flow is weakening my lungs."

    "T-take it easy, Miyu," Alister said gently, his voice trembling with emotion. His free hand brushed a stray lock of her hair away from her face.

    "I''ve finallye to save you."

    Miyu didn''t reply immediately, but her gaze searched his face. In his eyes, she saw a fierce look that was almost intense, like a me that refused to be extinguished.

    A faint, serene smile returned to her lips. "Go ahead then," she whispered, trusting himpletely.

    Alister took a deep breath, his jaw tightening as he softly called out, "Inventory."

    A shimmering system window materialized beside him, and Alister plunged his hand into the window. To anyone without the ability to see the system interface, it appeared as though part of his hand had dissolved into a blur.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Golden lightning crackled faintly around his hand as he withdrew an item from its depths. In his grasp was a potion vial. The liquid inside shimmered like the cosmos. The faint hum of energy emanating from it seemed to vibrate with the very air around them.

    Miyu''s tired eyes widened slightly at the sight of the potion. "That... looks expensive..."

    "I hope you aren''t doing anything illegal," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

    Alister chuckled softly. "You dummy, making jokes at a time like this."

    "This is it, Miyu. The potion that will save you."

    Erika, standing a few steps back, narrowed her eyes as she caught sight of the strange potion in Alister''s hand. Her lips parted, and she mumbled under her breath, "What... is that?"

    Before she could step forward, Elise ced a firm hand on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.

    "I''m curious too," Elise admitted, her gaze never leaving the glowing vial. "But let''s hold off for now. If that potion does what he intends, then we can ask our questions."

    Erika frowned but nodded after a moment of hesitation. "You''ve got a point, team leader. No use questioning it if it actually works," she said, folding her arms but keeping her eyes trained on Alister and Miyu.

    Alister, unaware of the brief exchange behind him, tilted the vial gently and brought its opening to Miyu''s lips.

    His voice was soft as he spoke, "Drink this, Miyu."

    Miyu''s gaze flickered between the potion and Alister''s face. Trusting himpletely, she parted her lips slightly, ready to drink the mysterious liquid.

    Miyu obediently sipped the potion, her throat moving as she slowly gulped it down. When she finished, Alister tossed the empty vial aside with a tter and gently wiped the remnants of the liquid from her lips with his thumb.

    "How do you feel?" he asked.

    Miyu blinked at him sleepily, her eyelids heavy. "I... I can''t really tell," she murmured. "All I know is... I''m feeling a bit... sleepy."

    Alister frowned slightly, leaning closer. "Sleepy? Really? Do you not feel anything at-"

    Before he could finish, Miyu''s eyes snapped open, glowing with an intense golden light. Her entire body began to radiate a brilliant aura, the sheer brightness forcing Alister to shield his face instinctively.

    A powerful shockwave erupted from her.

    BOOM!

    It sent Alister flying backward. Hended with a grunt, sliding a few feet across the smooth floor.

    "My lord!" Cinder called out, rushing to his side. She knelt, helping him to his feet.

    "I''m fine," Alister assured her, shaking off the impact as he steadied himself. His eyes were locked on Miyu, who now floated slightly above the ground, her body pulsating with a radiant

    glow.

    "What did you just give her?" Elise demanded. She and Erika had to shield their eyes with their arms to avoid being blinded by the intense glow.

    "Some kind of power-up drug? Why is she glowing like that?"

    Elise''s words hung in the air, unanswered, as the light around Miyu intensified further, filling

    the entire room with its blinding brilliance.

    In the distant corners of the sprawlingb, where other alchemists were immersed in their experiments, the sudden golden glow caught their attention.

    "What in the world is that?"

    "Is that...ing from the central chamber?"

    "Could it be some kind of unstable experiment?"

    "I didn''t hear about anything from the team leader about that being scheduled today."

    "That doesn''t look like any regr chemical reaction. The glow-it''s almost... alive."

    "It has to do with him, doesn''t it?"

    "You think this is Alister''s doing?"

    "That would be a logical conclusion, no?"

    "Hey... why don''t we go check it out?"

    "Good idea!"

    Meanwhile, back with Alister, he had gotten a questpletion notification from the system.

    [Congrattions to the yer!]

    [The quest: The Word of an Overlord!]

    [The yer has obtained the reward: Piece of Overlord''s broken Crown (?? - Rank).]

    [The yer now possesses 2/7 pieces.]

 Chapter 314: A Brothers Tear, A Sisters Smile

    Chapter 314: A Brother''s Tear, A Sister''s Smile

    ?

    As the radiant golden glow gradually dimmed, Miyu''s feet touched the ground gently, her body now steady.

    Her previously pale and frail appearance was now a healthy, vibrantplexion. Her skin looked wless, and her frame appeared fuller, as though she had regained some of the vitality she had lost.

    Miyu slowly opened her eyes, their soft glow fading as they focused on the figure before her. When her gaze locked onto Alister, his face reddened, and his expression softened.

    Tears welled up in his eyes as he whispered, his voice trembling with relief, "I-It worked... You''re okay."

    Miyu''s eyes filled with tears as well, her lips quivering into a smile. "Yeah... I''m okay," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

    "You did it."

    They began to move toward each other, their steps hesitant at first, but their pace quickened until they closed the distance between them.

    In an instant, they embraced tightly, their arms wrapping around each other as though they never wanted to let go.

    Miyu buried her face in Alister''s shoulder, her voice muffled but heavy with emotion. "I-I was so scared... But... I didn''t want to show it. I didn''t want to burden you."

    Alister chuckled softly, his hand gently stroking her hair. "You don''t need to worry about that anymore," he said warmly.

    "You''re all better now."

    Miyu tightened her grip on his ck jacket, her small hands clutching the fabric as she whispered, "Thank you for saving me... big brother."

    Alister smiled, his tears finally spilling over as he replied, "The pleasure is all mine... sis." Erika stood frozen, her mouth slightly agape as she processed what she had just witnessed. Tugging at Elise''s sleeve, she stammered, "Team leader, it... it actually worked. Did you see that? She was glowing like... like some goddess."

    Elise, still watching Alister and Miyu''s heartfelt embrace, suddenly let out a loud, amusedugh.

    "Haha!"

    "Seems it did," she said, "Seems we''ll be asking him what where the secret ingredience of he super potion once he''s done cuddling."

    Their moment of astonishment was interrupted by the sound of hushed voices from nearby alchemists who had witnessed the scene.

    "So, let me get this straight," one voice muttered. "Alister somehow saved his sister with some kind of super potion... and she was glowing like a freaking firefly?"

    "I saw it too."

    "The way she lit up. I''ve never seen anything like it."

    "What kind of potion was that?"

    "Where did he even get it from."

    The murmurs grew louder, curiosity and spection spreading among the onlookers like wildfire.

    Elise''s sharp ears picked up every word. Her eyes narrowed, and her usualposed demeanor hardened into something far more intimidating.

    She turned around suddenly, her piercing gaze silencing the chatter instantly.

    "What do you all think you are doing here?"

    "GET BACK TO WORK!"

    She yelled, her voice echoing through theb. The intensity in her tone left no room for argument.

    The alchemists scrambled, stumbling over their apologies as they scurried back to their stations.

    "S-sorry, team leader!" they mumbled, nearly tripping over in their haste.

    "Won''t happen again!" another called out, hastily resuming their duties.

    Elise watched them scatter, her stern expression never left her face until theb returned to usual.

    Satisfied, she crossed her arms and turned back toward Erika, a faint smirk spreading to the corner of her lips. "Some people just can''t help themselves, can they?"

    Erika crossed her arms, her gaze drifting toward the alchemist as they walked away after their team leader had yelled at them.

    "You can''t really me them team leader," she said thoughtfully. "Curiosity is a trait of every great alchemist. Isn''t that how we end up discovering the impossible?"

    Elise turned to Erika, a small smile forming on her lips. "You have a point there. Without curiosity, none of us would be here." Her tone softened, and for a moment, the sharp edge of her earlier reprimand seemed to fade. "But there''s a time and ce for it, and gossiping mid-b isn''t one of them."

    Erika nodded in agreement but couldn''t help the slight grin tugging at her lips.

    Back with Alister and Miyu...

    Miyu finally loosened her grip and pulled back, though the warmth in her eyes remained. Her gaze lingered on her brother''s face for a moment before smiling. "Oh! What''s today''s date?"

    Alister blinked, caught off guard by the rather random question. He reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved a ck metallic cube. With a quick tap of his thumb, the object transformed into his phone, the screen then lit up and disyed the date in glowing digits.

    "Seems it''s July 24th," he replied.

    Miyu''s eyes lit up. "Oh, what a coincidence!" she eximed.

    Alister tilted his head curiously. "How so?"

    Miyu''s grin turned yful as she sped her hands behind her back. "Today''s our birthday, duh. Don''t tell me you''ve been so hopeless without me that you lost track of time!"

    Alister''s eyes widened as he realised. "You''re right. Today is my birthday."

    Miyu''s mischievous grin widened as she ced a hand mockingly over her mouth.

    "Happy 20th birthday, big bro. You''re swiftly growing old! Before you know it, you''ll have a full-on beard."

    Alister rolled his eyes, letting out a sigh. "You do realize you''re also twenty today, don''t you? We''re twins, after all."

    Miyu''s expression shifted to exaggerated disappointment as she ced her hands on her hips. "Way to ruin the joke, big bro. You could''ve at least yed along!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Alister chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair gently. "You haven''t changed a bit, Miyu."

    Miyu swatted his hand away but couldn''t hide the smile tugging at her lips. "And I hope I never do. Someone has to keep you on your toes."

    Miyu''s gaze wandered theb beforending on Cinder. Her eyes lingered for a moment, processing the sight of the woman standing protectively by Alister''s side.

    A mischievous grin crept onto Miyu''s face as she leaned slightly closer to Alister. "So... you already have a girlfriend? You work fast, bro."

 Chapter 315: Sisterly Mischief

    Chapter 315: Sisterly Mischief

    ?

    Cinder''s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. She stiffened, her posture bing rigid as she quickly replied, "I and Lord Alister are nothing of the sort!"

    Miyu''s grin added, her expression freezing at Cinder''s choice of words. Her lips parted as she mumbled, almost to herself, "Lord?"

    Her gaze shifted back to Alister, her brow furrowing in shock. "Is that the sort of stuff you''re into now, bro?" she asked, her voice dripping with amusement. "You got your girl calling you ''Lord''?"

    Alister groaned, running a hand through his hair as his cheeks reddened slightly. "Miyu, it''s not like that," he said, exasperation creeping into his tone.

    "Cinder''s just... formal. That''s how she talks."

    Cinder, still flustered, straightened her posture further. "It''s a title of respect," she said quickly, her tone defensive but still filled with embarrassment.

    Miyu narrowed her eyes yfully, clearly unconvinced. "Respect, huh? That''s one way to put it. But you''ve got to admit, big bro, it sounds kinda sketchy."

    Alister sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Miyu, can we not do this right now? You just woke up, won''t you eat, go outside, try out some food."

    Miyu ced her hand thoughtfully under her jaw, a yful glint in her eyes as she thought aloud.

    "I don''t know, big bro. Are you sure I shouldn''t start preparing to be an aunt instead?"

    "Since you''re part of a big guild now, it probably means you and your girl will always be busy. So, I''ll have to handle the baby, cook, clean, and all that stuff. Damn, I just woke up, and already so much responsibility''s being piled on me."

    Her tone was light, but her grin was mischievous, clearly relishing her ability to tease Alister.

    Alister''s expression darkened, his gaze turning intense as he gazed at her. "Miyu, stop it. Now."

    Miyu raised her hands in surrender,ughing nervously. "OK, OK! Chill out, big bro. I was only testing you. You''re really going to get mad at your only sibling who just woke up... on their birthday, no less?"

    Alister sighed deeply, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Miyu," he spoke, shaking his head. "You''re impossible, you know that?"

    She simply smirked, leaning forward slightly. "And yet you still missed me.''

    He rolled his eyes but couldn''t help the small smile that appeared on his face. "Yeah, I did. And now I''m already regretting it."

    Miyuughed, then said. "Admit it... you''re stuck with me for life, big bro."

    Cinder, who had been quietly watching the exchange, let out a soft chuckle herself.

    Alister sighed, running a hand through his hair as he nced at Miyu. "Alright, let''s go. We need to get some clothes for you," he said, his tone lighter now.

    Miyu''s face lit up with excitement, "Shopping? That sounds exciting!" she eximed, pping her hands together.

    She quickly stepped closer to Alister, her smile widening. "Lead the way, big bro!"

    Alister chuckled softly, shaking his head at her sudden shift in mood. "You''re way too excited for someone who just woke up."

    He teased, motioning his hand for her to follow as he began walking toward the exit.

    Miyu stuck her tongue out yfully. "Hey, it''s not every day I get to go out with my big brother. Don''t ruin the moment."

    Cinder followed closely, observant as she walked a step behind them. Her gaze asionally moved toward Miyu, noting the brightness in her demeanor.

    She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Shoud I stay behind my lord? Considering your sister just woke up I''m sure you''d want to spend some time with her?"

    Alister turned his head slightly, giving her a reassuring nod. "You don''t need to worry, Cinder. It''s better to have you around."

    "You won''t be getting in the way of anything."

    Miyu''s grin turned mischievous as she nced at Cinder. "Of course! After all, every shopping trip needs the girlfriend''s approval, right?"

    Cinder''s cheeks flushed instantly, and she straightened her posture, quickly responding, "I-I am nearly performing my duties, Miss Miyu. Nothing more!"

    Miyu let out a softugh, nudging Alister with her elbow. "She''s cute when she''s flustered, huh? You picked a good one, big bro."

    Alister groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Miyu, please..."

    Miyu crossed her arms, a satisfied smirk spreading across her face. "Fine, fine. I''ll drop it... for now. But don''t think I''m letting this go. I''ve got questions."

    She paused for a moment, following beside him.

    Miyu then added onest jab. "Just saying, bro, if this whole ''Lord'' thing is your way of

    making her flirt with you, you might want to work on your game."

    Alister groaned again, his head falling into his hands. "Why do I even bother..."

    ...

    As they left Erika exchanged a nce with her team leader as she mumbled, "Dose he not realise it''s literally past midnight?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Elise smiled as she mumbled, "Just leave em be, I''m sure one they step out they''ll find out and return to their rooms... No need to stress about it."

    ...

    As they stepped out of theb and into the hallway, Alister couldn''t help but steal a nce at Miyu, who was walking beside him with an excited, carefree smile.

    His thoughts reced.

    ''Although she looks perfectly fine... It never hurts to dobble check.''

    ''Open her statue window.''

    Suddenly a yellow system window appeared.

    yer: Miyu Hazenworth

    Level: 25

    ss: Overlord (Awakened) | Talent: Rewind (S ss)

    Stats:

    HP: 9,500/9,500 - [100% |

    MP: 8,000/8,000 [100%

    Strength: 9,800

    Agility: 9,500

    Intelligence: 9,300

    Endurance: 9,400

    Dexterity: 9,200

    Mana: 7,500

    Luck: 5

    Total Combat Power: 47,200 (C-rank)

    Mana Regeneration: 25 MP/minute

    Title(s): Overlord''s Queen, Time''s Heir (Acquired through the Rewind Talent)

    Skills:

    Overlord Queen Song Lvl 5 (A Rank)

    Grants enhanced leadership and aura tomand allies and instill fear in enemies. Passive boost to all

    stats in a 10-meter radius.

    Rewind (S ss, Awakened)

    The power to rewind time in small increments (up to 10 seconds). Can be used up to three times per

    day.

    Overlord''s Command Lvl 3 (B Rank)

    Allows the Overlord tomand any loyal subject or servant within a 50-meter radius to follow simplemands instantly, esessically controlling them like puppets, allowing them to push forward and achieve goals regardless of their own limits. Can also be used on self but the user has to have absolute faith thay would achieve what they set out to.

    Reading trough all of this Alister was shocked, ''She Awakened her talent? Even new skills and

    her stats drastically increased.''

    Alister smiled, ''Seems I don''t have anything to worry about.''

 Chapter 322: Traces

    Chapter 322: Traces

    ?

    The air around the crime scene grew heavier as Mrs. Kira stepped closer to Marcus Rayner''s lifeless body.

    Her delicate fingers reached up to her face, and in a single motion, she removed her blindfold. Gasps rippled through the small crowd of onlookers as her full face came into view... her white eyshes framing bright, luminous yellow eyes with a haunting ck sclera.

    The golden shimmer appeared on her hands intensified as a strange sun eye-like pattern that appeared on her palm.

    She gently crouched down and ced her hand on the man''s forehead. Beside her, us moved, his single visible eye was focused. With a sigh, he reached up and removed his eye patch, revealing a striking difference from his other eye, his uncovered eye was ck with a white sclera, hisshes as pale as Kira''s.

    Kneeling beside her, us ced his hand on the man''s chest. A faint ck moon eye sigil, appeared on the back of his hand,plementing the glowing pattern on Kira''s palm.

    "Are you ready?" Kira asked softly.

    us nodded. "Yes."

    The moment the words left his lips, their eyes began to glow... Kira''s radiating with an intense golden light, us''s burning like an inky abyss. A massive, radiant magic circle materialized beneath them, its design a mesmerizing blend of ck and yellow, a vivid intery of the sun and moon.

    The runes and sigils within the circle pulsed with mana, casting the entire in a strange glow. A Union official standing nearby took an involuntary step back, awe written across his face. "What...what is this?" he murmured, his voice trembling.

    Seth, leaning casually against themppost, whistled low. "How shy," he said, scribbling something in his notebook.

    "Don''t get to see this kind of light show every day." He smirked but couldn''t hide the slight edge of unease in his tone.

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 Chapter 317: Grit, Grins, and Rematches

    Chapter 317: Grit, Grins, and Rematches

    ?

    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The sun hung high over the White Comet Guild''s expansive training grounds, casting long shadows across the various training stations.

    The area was divided into different zones: arge open field for sparring, a series of obstacle courses for agility and endurance drills, and wooden targets set up for archery and rangedbat practice.

    Alongside the training grounds stood arge pavilion, where guild members could rx, observe, or prepare for their next exercises.

    Alister stood in the center of the field with Miyu and Cinder by his side. The wind ruffled Alister''s hair m as he gave a quick nce to his team, who stood across from them, ready for whatever challenge he had in store.

    Opposite Alister were his trusted teammates: Anzo, with his calm andposed expression, was twirling his great sword in the air with his telekinesis.

    Axel was bouncing on his heels, looking more than a little excited.

    Blitz had a mischievous glint in her eyes, already sizing up the situation.

    Beatrice stood with her arms crossed, her usual encouraging smile barely visible today, instead there was a look of curiosity in her eyes and L, who was clutching her sword nervously, as if unsure of what was about to unfold.

    Alister cleared his throat, drawing everyone''s attention. "Alright, everyone. I''d like to introduce someone to the team today." He waved his hand to the side, where Miyu stood, in a white and blue guild uniform practically radiating confidence.

    "This is my sister, Miyu," Alister said, a touch of pride in his voice.

    "She''ll be joining us from now on."

    There was a brief silence as the team took in the news. Anzo raised an eyebrow, a look of curiosity in his eyes. Axel''s grin widened, as if a new challenge had been presented to him.

    Blitz bounced lightly on her feet, eager for any opportunity to make things interesting. Beatrice gave a polite nod, though there was a glimmer of surprise in her eyes. L, however, was the first to speak.

    "Wait... you have a sister?" L''s voice was filled with astonishment, and she looked from Alister to Miyu.

    "I never expected that. Is she as monstrous as you?"

    Alister chuckled softly at the question, a knowing smile crossing his face. "Well, you''ll find out soon enough." His gaze shifted to Miyu, who stood with her arms folded, her expression calm but with a touch of mischief.

    Miyu lifted her chin slightly, as she spoke. "Although Idon''t know how strong my brother is...".

    "...but I''m certain I''m a monster in my own right."

    A collective murmur passed through the team. Axel chuckled, crossing his arms. "A bold im. Let''s see if she can back it up."

    Blitz let out a shortugh, clearly amused.

    Alister raised his hand, silencing the chatter. "Alright, enough talk," he said with a smile, turning to face the team.

    "We''re going to keep it simple for today. We''ll be doing some basic drills to gauge everyone''s current level. Miyu, if you''re up for it, I''ll have you take on a few drills with the team."

    Anzo nodded a studded grin appearing in his face, stepping forward, his sword hovering behind him. "I look forward to seeing you in action... Miyu."

    Since my rival is so strong a part of me is curious to find out if it runs in the family." Miyu gave a small, confident nod, stepping onto the training field and assuming a rxed stance. She seemed unfazed by the attention, already adapting to the atmosphere.

    "Alright, let''s get started," Alister said, his voice sharp andmanding as he began to give instructions. "Blitz, Axel, you two will work together against Miyu."

    "Anzo, you''ll go up against Beatrice and L. Let''s see how everyone performs. No holding back, but keep it fair."

    Anzo suddenly stepped forward, his great sword hovering just behind him as he raised an eyebrow, looking directly at Alister.

    "Hold on..."

    "...that''s not fair."

    Alister paused, turning his head toward Anzo, his brow furrowing slightly at the unexpected interruption.

    Anzo''s expression remained unchanged, though there was a yful smirk on his lips.

    "I just said I wanted to test the ropes with the new member, and youpletely ignored me. You''re putting me upst, huh?"

    He shook his head, his sword hovering beside him. "Not very team leader-like if you ask me."

    The rest of the team stood quietly, exchanging nces. Axel tilted his head with a grin, as though enjoying the banter. Blitz, however, was the first to speak, her mischievous glint returning.

    "Wow, Anzo, looks like you''ve been hurt, huh? I bet you didn''t expect that."

    Alister, however, wasn''t fazed by thement. A slight smirk crossed his face as he nced back at Anzo.

    "I''m the team leader here," Alister replied. "I make the calls. You''ll get your turn, don''t worry."

    Anzo didn''t back down, though. He crossed his arms, letting out a dramatic sigh, clearly unimpressed with Alister''s leadership style for the moment.

    "I''m not asking for any special treatment, but a little acknowledgment would be nice. You can''t just throw me to the back like that."

    Alister took a moment to assess Anzo''s challenge, then nodded.

    "I get it," Alister said with a slight smirk, "That''s why after you''re done with the healers, you an I will have our rematch."

    Anzo''s eyes lit up at the mention of a rematch, a grin spreading across his face. His earlier annoyance seemed to fadepletely, reced with a sense of eager anticipation.

    "Now you''re speaking mynguage," Anzo said with a gleam in his eyes. "And this time, I''ll be sure to crush you, Alister."

    Alister chuckled softly, stepping back slightly. "We''ll see about that," Alister replied calmly.

    "But first, we''ll focus on the drills with the healers. I want to see how you all handle the basics before we get to any serious rematches."

    Anzo''s smirk only widened, and he gave a quick nod, clearly ready for whatever came next. "Alright, alright," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "But don''t think you''ve got a free pass after this. I''ll be waiting for you."

 Chapter 318: Testing The Ropes With The Team

    Chapter 318: Testing The Ropes With The Team

    ?

    Axel and Blitz stood on the sparring arena, wooden daggers in hand, their eyes locked on Miyu, who remained unarmed in front of them.

    Axel bounced lightly on his heels, warming himself up. Blitz, on the other hand, adopted a more rxed stance, though her eyes were filled with mischief, a look that promised she was ready for whatever Miyu would bring.

    Blitz raised an eyebrow, ncing at Miyu, who stood with her arms casually folded, seemingly unfazed by the situation.

    "So," Blitz said, a teasing smirk curling on her lips, "what''s the deal, Miyu? You don''t even have a weapon. You sure you''re up for this?"

    Miyu''s lips curled into a small smile. She shifted her weight, standing in a rxed but confident stance.

    "Don''t think too much about it," she replied. "All I''ve got are some training sessions with my brother. I don''t really know how to use any weapons yet. So for now, I prefer to use my fists."

    Axel''s grin widened, clearly amused by theck of a weapon. He twirled his dagger in his hand with ease. "Fists, huh? Well, this should be interesting."

    Blitz chuckled, stepping forward and adjusting her stance, gripping her dagger tightly. "I like a good challenge. But don''t think just because you''re unarmed, we''ll go easy on you."

    Miyu simply nodded, with this self assured air around her. She raised her fists in front of her, ready to begin.

    Alister, watching from the sidelines with a knowing smile, spoke up. "Keep it fair, both of you. Miyu may not have a weapon, but don''t underestimate her."

    Axel and Blitz exchanged nces, their smirks only deepening. "Oh, we wouldn''t dream of it boss," Axel said, his voice filled with excitement.

    "If she is your sister. Than she definitely has some moves... So we won''t get cocky," Said Blitz.

    "Alright then," Blitz added. "Let''s see what you''ve got, Miyu."

    Axel and Blitz''s mana red around their bodies in an instant, a vibrant energy wrapping around them like a shield as their Rush talent was activated. Axel''s green mana swirled like fire as he raised his dagger, his grin widening.

    Blitz''s pink mana, lighter but no less intense, wrapped around her, her eyes glinting.

    "Brace yourself!" Axel called, his voice full of excitement. His energy surged, and he lunged forward, dagger shing as he aimed a strike at Miyu''s side.

    Miyu''s golden mana red to life with a sudden intensity, her body radiating a brilliant golden aura. Her eyes narrowed, and she dropped into a low stance, her fists raised in perfect form.

    "I will," Miyu said firmly, a confident smile. "And I am certain I''ll im victory."

    Her golden aura exploded around her like a storm, a rush of energy that crackled with power. Her movements were smooth and precise as she swiftly sidestepped Axel''s first strike, using his momentum to push him off bnce with a well-timed jab to his midsection. The blow was enough to knock him back a step, but not enough to stop him.

    Blitz darted forward from the side, a quick blur of motion, and her dagger aimed for Miyu''s ribs. With a snap, Miyu twisted, her arming up in a swift parry, blocking Blitz''s dagger with the back of her fist. The force of the impact caused a shockwave that pushed them both back for a split second.

    Axel recovered quickly, a grin still stered on his face. "Impressive!" he called out, flipping his dagger expertly in his hand.

    He moved to engage again, his body low to the ground as he slid forward like a snake. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a sharp, fast thrust at Miyu''s thigh.

    Blitz, meanwhile, had already repositioned herself, circling around to Miyu''s other side. They moved together in perfect harmony, Axel acting as the bait while Blitz aimed for a knock out.

    Miyu''s eyes tracked both of them in an intent. She saw Axel''s strikeing but knew she couldn''t focus solely on him.

    In a fluid motion, she dropped into a crouch, dodging Axel''s dagger by inches. At the same time, she spun, using her momentum to strike Blitz''s approaching hand, sending her dagger flying into the air.

    Without missing a beat, Miyu''s golden mana surged around her body, turning her into a blur as she followed up with a flurry of punches, targeting Axel''s exposed side.

    Axel, managed to block one of her strikes, but not the next. The punch connected with his ribcage, sending a sharp jolt of pain through him, but his grin didn''t fade.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "You''ve got guts," Axel said,ughing through the pain as he staggered back.

    Blitz, regaining her bnce, rushed in again, faster this time. She feinted left, then darted to the right, attempting to cut off Miyu''s escape. Axel followed her lead, charging in from the opposite direction.

    Miyu didn''t falter. As Blitz closed the gap, Miyu ducked under a sh aimed at her head and kicked off the ground,unching herself upward with a powerful jump.

    She twisted in the air, avoiding both Axel''s and Blitz''s attacks in a graceful arc. Her feetnded softly on the ground, and with no hesitation, she spun into a rapidbination of punches, her fists a blur of motion as she attacked both of them.

    Axel narrowly blocked one of her strikes, but another caught him across the jaw, sending his head snapping back. Blitz sidestepped, narrowly avoiding Miyu''s powerful kick, but the wind from it still ruffled her hair.

    "She''s faster than I thought," Blitz muttered, narrowing her eyes as she leaped back and shifted into a more defensive stance.

    Axel, a wild grin on his face, wiped the blood from his lip. "True... But we can''t let her show us up, we gotta establish dominance sis."

    "You have a point." Blitz said with a grin.

    Both of them charged in.

    Axel distracted Miyu with a series of fast, unpredictable strikes, while Blitz moved like a shadow, closing the gaps and seeking an opening. Their movements were seamless, as if they''d practiced together for years.

    Miyu, however, was no slouch. She used her speed and agility to weave between their attacks, slipping past Axel''s thrusts and dodging Blitz''s shes with incredible skill.

    Her fistsnded with devastating force whenever they did connect. Each blow shended sent shockwaves through their defenses, but neither Axel nor Blitz slowed down.

 Chapter 319: Guildmasters Entrance

    Chapter 319: Guildmaster''s Entrance

    ?

    Blitz rushed in low, feinting a wide sh to the left before spinning into a precise upward thrust aimed for Miyu''s shoulder. Axel, seizing the moment,unched a flurry of rapid jabs, forcing Miyu to split her focus between the two.

    Miyu''s golden aura red brighter, her movements quick as lightning. She sidestepped Axel''s strikes, her feet light on the ground, while her hand shot out to grab Blitz''s wrist mid-thrust.

    With a sharp twist and a calcted kick to Blitz''s side, she sent her stumbling backward, her dagger ttering to the ground.

    "Blitz!" Axel called, but he had no time to worry. Miyu was already on him.

    Axel switched tactics, lowering his stance and moving in with a spinning sh aimed for Miyu''s torso. She countered with a swift backstep, narrowly avoiding the wooden de, her golden aura crackling like thunder around her.

    Before Axel could recover, Miyu darted in close. Her fist mmed into his wrist, the force making him lose his grip. The wooden dagger slipped from his hand and hit the ground with a dull thud.

    "Not bad," Axel muttered through a wince, shaking his stinging wrist.

    Blitz regained her footing and charged again, barehanded now but still quick and precise. She leapt into the air, her leg swinging in a powerful kick aimed for Miyu''s side.

    Miyu raised her arm, blocking the kick with her forearm, though the impact made her slide back a few inches. Using the momentum, Blitz twisted mid-air and aimed a punch at Miyu''s shoulder, but Miyu ducked under it with ease.

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 Chapter 320: Unseen Strings

    Chapter 320: Unseen Strings

    ?

    Yuuto''s usually confident demeanor wavered for a moment as he locked eyes with Miyu. There was a flicker of surprise, almost a dazed expression, as if seeing her had caught him entirely off guard. He opened his mouth as if to say something but seemed to lose his train of thought.

    "Guildmaster?" Alister''s sharp tone snapped Yuuto back to reality.

    Yuuto blinked rapidly, his sly smile returning in an instant, though it was with a touch of unease. "Ah, yes, my apologies," he said, brushing a hand through his silver hair as if to regain hisposure. "You were saying?"

    "I was saying," Alister said, his arms crossed, "that it''s good to see you here, Guildmaster. Though I''m surprised at your sudden visit."

    Yuuto chuckled, waving off Alister''s subtle challenge. "Oh, I couldn''t possibly stay away. Not when the talk of your sister''s recovery has reached even my ears. Which brings me to my next question..." His silver eyes narrowed slightly, though his tone remained light. "Why, exactly, did you fail to inform me about this, Alister?"

    Alister sighed. He scratched the back of his head, looking slightly sheepish. "I''m sorry, Guildmaster. I was... so relieved and happy that Miyu was up and about again, I must have overlooked it."

    "Happy enough to forget, hmm?" Yuuto replied with a teasing lilt, though there was no real anger in his voice. "Well, I suppose I''ll forgive you this once. After all, it''s not every day one has cause for such joy."

    Miyu stepped forward, her golden eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Hold on a second," she said, tilting her head slightly. "You''re the Guildmaster? You don''t seem all that... old. Shouldn''t you be, I don''t know, ancient or something?"

    Yuuto''s lips curled into a yful grin as he leaned slightly closer to her. "Ancient? Ouch, that''s harsh," he said, cing a hand dramatically over his chest as if wounded.

    "But if you must know, I am ancient. In fact..." He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I''m immortal."

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 Chapter 322: Traces

    Chapter 322: Traces

    ?

    The air around the crime scene grew heavier as Mrs. Kira stepped closer to Marcus Rayner''s lifeless body.

    Her delicate fingers reached up to her face, and in a single motion, she removed her blindfold. Gasps rippled through the small crowd of onlookers as her full face came into view... her white eyshes framing bright, luminous yellow eyes with a haunting ck sclera.

    The golden shimmer appeared on her hands intensified as a strange sun eye-like pattern that appeared on her palm.

    She gently crouched down and ced her hand on the man''s forehead. Beside her, us moved, his single visible eye was focused. With a sigh, he reached up and removed his eye patch, revealing a striking difference from his other eye, his uncovered eye was ck with a white sclera, hisshes as pale as Kira''s.

    Kneeling beside her, us ced his hand on the man''s chest. A faint ck moon eye sigil, appeared on the back of his hand,plementing the glowing pattern on Kira''s palm.

    "Are you ready?" Kira asked softly.

    us nodded. "Yes."

    The moment the words left his lips, their eyes began to glow... Kira''s radiating with an intense golden light, us''s burning like an inky abyss. A massive, radiant magic circle materialized beneath them, its design a mesmerizing blend of ck and yellow, a vivid intery of the sun and moon.

    The runes and sigils within the circle pulsed with mana, casting the entire in a strange glow. A Union official standing nearby took an involuntary step back, awe written across his face. "What...what is this?" he murmured, his voice trembling.

    Seth, leaning casually against themppost, whistled low. "How shy," he said, scribbling something in his notebook.

    "Don''t get to see this kind of light show every day." He smirked but couldn''t hide the slight edge of unease in his tone.

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 Chapter 323: A Threat

    Chapter 323: A Threat

    ?

    Kira folded her arms as the group fell silent. "We''ve done all we can here. Clean up, bury the body, and call it a night."

    us nodded. "The area needs to be cleared before people show up. We can''t risk rumors spreading until we know more."

    Without waiting for input, Kira turned around and slowly headed back to her hover car, us followed closely beside.

    "Make sure to report any further disturbances to the guilds," us said over his shoulder.

    As their figures faded into the darkness, Seth stepped closer to Zane and Brielle, his smirk as sharp as ever.

    "Tell me," he drawled, "are you two thinking what I''m thinking?"

    Brielle''s lips twitched into a grin. "For once, Seth, I think I actually am."

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 Chapter 324: S-Rank Raid: The Dragon Desert Library

    Chapter 324: S-Rank Raid: The Dragon Desert Library

    ?

    Before anyone could ask further, the low hum of a hover car engine slowly approached, drawing their attention. As they turned their heads toward the car responsible for the sound, their gazesnded on a white hover car with the insignia of the White Comets on the side.

    "Wait... Is it who I think it is?" one of the girls, Mia, mumbled with a look of anticipation on her face, her left hand lifted over her mouth, a clear sign of her awe.

    The murmurs among the group grew louder, each of them held a touch of curiosity as they gave their spection.

    "Who could it be?" Karl muttered, his arms crossed, eyes focused on the sleek hover car like it might answer his question.

    "I bet it''s someone important," Lisa said, with a touch of excitement and nervousness.

    "Or someone who''ll just slow us down," Derek as he grumbled, earning a look from Karl. Before anyone else could speak, the car door opened with a smooth hiss, and a man stepped

    out.

    His ck hair caught the faint moonlight, giving him an almost ethereal presence, while his piercing yellow eyes swept over the group like a predator sizing up its surroundings.

    It was Alister.

    He wore a simple sit of all ck gearans a massive ck scarf that coud easily be a hood, after all from the Info he''d gotten from Anya, the dungeon was supposed to be a desert.

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 Chapter 325: A Warning Of The Hunt

    Chapter 325: A Warning Of The Hunt

    ?

    As Alister''s voice rang out, Xavier quickly backed him up. "You heard him! Move!" he yelled, his words snapping the team into action.

    The group leaped away from their positions, scattering across the shifting sands. The low rumbling grew deafening, and just as thest of them managed to clear the spot, the ground exploded in a rain of sand and debris.

    From the heart of the disturbance emerged a monstrous sandworm, its body towering high above them.

    The creature was massive, at least three stories tall when fully reared. Its segmented, sandy- yellow hide was lined with jagged ridges, glistening faintly in the harsh sunlight.

    Its circr maw opened wide, revealing row after row of razor-sharp, obsidian-ck teeth that seemed capable of shredding steel.

    The unearthly screech it let out echoed across the desert, sending shivers down the spines of everyone present... except Alister and Cinder.

    Mia stumbled back, her eyes wide with fear. "What is that thing?!" she gasped as she tried to steady herself.

    "An apex predator," Alister said coldly, his yellow eyes narrowing as he analyzed the creature.

    Monster: Desert Crawler Sandworm

    Rank: S

    ss: Giant

    Total Combat Power: 67,802 (S rank)

    System remark: A monster that has a tendency to move in groups, often hunting down their prey until they rip them to pieces.

    Alister''s eyes lingered on the massive sandworm, its gargantuan body poised to attack.

    Though the creature''s size and power were undeniable, Alister couldn''t help butpare it to the one Ren and the others had encountered during the Wastnd Disy Event. That beast had been a true nightmare, an apex predator with capabilities nearly god-like.

    This one, while still immensely powerful, didn''t seem nearly as dangerous inparison.

    ''My dragons should be able to handle this one easily,'' Alister thought, his gaze flicking to Cinder, who stood nearby, awaiting hismand.

    Before he could act, the sandworm let out another spine-chilling roar, shaking the ground beneath them. Its massive body lunged forward, intent on crushing them all beneath its sheer size and force.

    The roar reverberated through the sand, and Xavier''s voice cut through the chaos.

    "All of you... prepare to engage!" Xavier ordered, his eyes sharp. He gripped his sword tighter, sensing the impending danger, but he kept a calm face as he took on a battle stance.

    Chase, Derek, Karl, and Mia tensed, their bodies instinctively moving intobat-ready stances. Mia''s wind maniption red around her, while Chase adjusted his stance, readying icicles to strike. Karl lifted his warhammer, eyes never leaving the approaching beast, and Derek clenched his fists, ready to summon the earth beneath him to rise in defense.

    But before they could make a move, the creature surged forward with terrifying speed, its massive mouth opening wide to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth.

    The ground trembled beneath its charge, and for a moment, it seemed like nothing could stop it.

    Then, out of nowhere, a massive burst of mes buried into it from the side, raining down onto the sandworm with intensity. The creature screeched in agony, its body writhing as the fire seared its flesh.

    The mes burned hotter than anything the creature had likely ever encountered, and within moments, the sandworm stopped writhing. Its body twitched and spasmed violently before it finally copsed, its life snuffed out by the sheer might of the mes.

    The team members stood in silence, stunned, their eyes wide with awe as they watched the beast''s massive form crumble into the sand.

    The desert around them was filled with the acrid scent of burnt flesh and smoldering remains. As the dust settled, they heard Alister''s voice as he suddenly spoke.

    "Be careful..."

    "These creatures don''t travel alone. They tend to hunt in groups." He approached as he raised his scarf to his nose to shield himself from the dust and the rather harsh smell of the roasted

    sandworm, eyeing the scorched remains of the creature.

    The group stared in silence, stunned at the smoldering remains of the sandworm, reduced to nothing but dust by the sheer intensity of the attack. Chase was the first to break the silence.

    "Did... did that thing just turn to ash?" he barely managed to say, his ice spears slowly melting as he lowered his hands, unable to tear his eyes away from the remains.

    "Yeah," Mia said, her voice equally breathless. "I don''t think I''ve ever seen anything die that fast..."

    Karl let out a low whistle, gripping his warhammer tightly. "That''s a dragon for you. But seeing it in action... it''s a hell of a lot more intimidating up close like this than it ever was in the videos."

    Chase nodded, his usual caution momentarily overridden by his amazement. "I always thought they were exaggerating in those clips," he admitted. "Guess not."

    The team''s collective gaze shifted toward Alister. Behind him stood a massive ck dragon, its scales shimmering faintly under the harsh sunlight.

    The creature was impossiblyrge, its powerful wings partially unfurled, and its glowing red eyes locked onto the horizon as though already seeking its next target.

    Cinder was a living embodiment of raw power, and standing in her shadow was enough to make even the most hardened warriors feel small.

    Xavier snapped out of his awe and addressed Alister. "Understood, Mr. Alister," he said with a curt nod. Turning back to his team, he yelled,

    "Stay sharp! That was one, but more could being any second now!"

    As if on cue, the ground beneath them began to tremble once more, a small vibration that

    rapidly grew into a violent rumble. Sand shifted unnaturally, small dunes copsing as

    another disturbance moved below the surface.

    In the tension, Alister suddenly heard a voice in his mind, soft and familiar, with a faint touch

    of sorrow.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ''My lord... This ce... it used to belong to my people.''

    Terra''s voice echoed in his thoughts. ''One of many sanctuaries where we kept our records and histories safe.''

    Alister''s yellow eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the shifting sands. He replied inwardly,

    ''I''d gathered as much. The name of this ce made it pretty obvious.''

    ''What is it?''

    ''You sound uneasy... is there something-''

    Before he could finish, he suddenly heard the system''s voice in his head.

    [New Quest!]

    [Quest: Piece of an Overlord''s Sword]

    Description:

    As an Overlord, it is your sacred duty to safeguard and reim the divine gift bestowed upon

    your kind by the Creator, the Dragon God Sword, Restria. This sacred de was a symbol of the unyielding strength and unity of the dragon race, an embodiment of their bond with their

    creator.

    However, during a catastrophic battle long ago, a past Overlord faced an unimaginable foe... a Finger of ####. Though victorious, the battle came at a devastating cost: Restria was shattered into countless fragments, its divine essence scattered across the realms.

    One of these fragments lies dormant within the ruins beneath your feet, its power faint but

    unmistakable. It has awaited the day when a worthy Overlord would arrive to im it and begin restoring the Dragon God''s legacy.

    Objective:

    Enter the ruins and locate the fragment of Restria.

    Defeat any challenges or guardians that protect the sacred piece.

    im the fragment and awaken its dormant power.

    Rewards:

    Fragment of Restria (1/??)

    Unlocks new skill: Dragon God Body (EX) - (level requirement of 60)

    EXP: 50,000

    Unlock your unique trait: Fateless

    System Remark:

    "Prove your worth as an Overlord. Restore what was lost and reignite the forgotten glory of

    your race. But beware: the weight of divine legacy draws both protectors and predators alike."

    ''A quest.... That''s thergest amount of XP I''ve ever seen a quest give before.'' Alister''s thoughts raced as he looked at the quest window.

    ''Fatless... What is that supposed to mean... I''ve never seen anything about a unique trait in any of my dragons before... Is it simr to a bloodline ability?''

    Suddenly the ground shook violently once more, several more sandworms erupted from

    beneath the shifting sands, their massive forms towering over the group. Their roars pierced the air, each monstrous predator fixating its countless rows of razor-sharp teeth on the team.

    Xavier''s sharp voice echoed, brimming with energy and confidence. "Charge forward!" hemanded, his green eyes zing with his mana. "And try not to die while you''re at it!" Without hesitation, Xavier leaped forward, his orange hair catching the sunlight as he surged

    toward the nearest sandworm. With a powerful swing of his sword, he sliced through the beast''s hardened hide, carving a deep, jagged wound.

    Turning around with precision, he rolled beneath the lunging maw of another worm, driving

    his de upward into its vulnerable underbelly.

    One by one, Xavier felled the sandworms, his enhanced strength making each strike

    devastatingly effective.

    Chase, Karl, Derek, and Mia nced at each other briefly, their unspokenmunication

    solidifying their resolve. Together, they charged toward one of the other sandworms, each member seamlessly falling into position.

    Chase''s ice spears shot through the air, striking the beast''s sides and slowing its movements.

    Mia dashed forward, her wind maniption propelling her toward its vulnerable spots, slicing through its flesh with rapid sword strikes.

    Derek mmed his gauntlets into the ground, causing jagged spikes of earth to erupt and pierce the creature''s undercarriage, causing a loud screech from the sandworm.

    Karl brought up the rear, his warhammer glowing faintly as he swung with all his might, shattering the beast''s skull-like crown in a single blow.

    The sandworm copsed into the sand with a thunderous crash, its writhing body finally

    going limp. The group stood panting, ncing at each other with a sense of aplishment before quickly returning their focus to the remaining monsters.

    In the midst of the chaos, Karl, standing in the swirling sands and heat, couldn''t help but

    nce toward Alister. He frowned, noticing the summoner standing strangely still, as if lost in thought.

    "Why does Mr. Summoner suddenly seem out of it?" Karl muttered, his grip tightening on his

    warhammer.

 Chapter 326: Fateless

    Chapter 326: Fateless

    ?

    Alister''s thoughts raced as he stood amidst the chaos, his gaze fixed on the system window hovering before him. The term "Fateless" gnawed at his mind. It wasn''t a bloodline ability he recognized, nor was it something mentioned in any of his memories of his past life.

    ''What does it mean?'' he thought, his fingers instinctively moving to click on the term within the quest log for a description.

    The system''s text appeared slowly, as though reluctant to reveal its secrets:

    Fateless: As a part of a soul unbound by the constraints of destiny, you are neither tethered to the threads of fate nor confined by its dictates. It is a blessing and a curse, for freedom from fate invites forces both divine and profane to correct the bnce.

    Beware the whispers of those who seek to im what is not bound.

    After all, you are only one half of a whole.

    This is the end of Part One. Upgrade Premium to read full content:

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