A few minutes earlier…
Back with Alister, Cinder was blazing 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 accompanied 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.]
[Congratulations! The player’s level has surpassed 30!]
[Current level 32!]
[It is now time for the player’s next awakening.]
[Would the player 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 place for distractions, even those that could make him stronger.
Suddenly Darven’s voice echoed in his thoughts, ‘My lord, I have slain 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, player.]
‘Then why haven’t they leveled up till now?’
[Notice! The player’s generals far surpass the player in level, and experience gained from a kill
is split amongst the player 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.
‘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 player’s black 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 player 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 Kaelan 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. [Looting complete. 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.
[Integration complete.]
The system’s final notification caught his attention:
[There is only 19:25:14 left for your daily quest completion.]
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 the coms 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. The landscape 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 the comms.
“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!” Alister commanded.
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 flames because Ren and the others could get caught in the blaze.’
‘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!”