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, come forth,” Alister called out.
Four black 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,” he commanded.
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, steam coming 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 them last 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 vigilant, 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 accompanying 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 one coming 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, landing 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 dragon combat-formed Alister emerged, his scales shimmering under the sunlight.
The three dragons bowed their heads, paying their respects and greeting him.
“Welcome back, my lord. It appears as though you had an intense battle,” Terra said, her voice filled with respect.
“We await your command, 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 placed 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 the largest 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 emblazoned on its side. A slight smile freeωebnovēl.c૦m
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 aircraft landed. 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.