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 plan.
“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 glanced around, ensuring that everyone was paying attention. “Alright, I’m sure everyone now understands the plan.”
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 glasses. “The risk has been well calculated. The possibility of failure is less than forty percent.”
“Forty percent?” Kaida exclaimed, eyes widening in shock.
“Less,” Ren corrected, his fingers tapping lightly on his glasses 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 plan and give it our best shot. Our current situation demands decisive action, and every moment we delay 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 plan flawlessly. We’ve got this.”
Hiroshi chuckled, nudging Kaida playfully. “Hey Kaida, are you scared you’ll get overwhelmed by monsters because you’re the healer?”
Kaida shot Hiroshi an intense glare, her eyes narrowing dangerously. Hiroshi visibly flinched, his laughter 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 explain, 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 glow coming from the valley below.
Ren glanced 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 clapped 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, the commentators, still in their studio, couldn’t help but speculate on the upcoming raid.
…
“I wonder how things will play 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 plays.”
…
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, comparing it to the time he had used Kaelan’s stronger body. The memory of Kaelan’s overwhelming strength was very different whan compared 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.
From within the rift, Cinder, the black 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.
The commentators gasped, their excitement palpable.
“Incredible!” Marcus exclaimed. “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 even larger rift tore open behind him, the very fabric of reality seeming to ripple from the sheer force of it.
BOOM freēwēbnovel.com
Emerging from the rift was a massive dragon, its dark purple scales glinting softly in the
moonlight. Darven, far larger 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?”