“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 a complex issue, but it largely comes down to the nature of summoning itself. Unlike other classes, which rely on skill, strength, or intellect, summoning has always been seen as a gamble—a profession steeped in uncertainty. To be a successful 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 uncontrollable. 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 overcome. 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 the combination 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 his command 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, glanced 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 short laugh then followed her lead, launching 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 to land.
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 glasses 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 place, 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 flames.
Just before they hit the ground, Ren flipped mid-air, his body adjusting to the impact. He landed smoothly on the rocky terrain, his feet touching down with a light thud.
Kaida followed suit, landing in a crouch, her hands brushing against the ground as she steadied herself. Hiroshi was the next to land, 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, Goro landed with a similar 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 glance 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 the coms. “Understood. We’ll meet in the middle.”
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, Alister commanded,
“Both of you, touch down. We start here.”
