As the sleek, silvery vehicle came to a smooth halt, the doors swung open slowly. Ren stepped out first, adjusting his glasses, which glinted brilliantly in the flash 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 Wasteland Display
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 for last?” This unexpected arrival only heightened the anticipation for Alister’s grand entrance.
Aiko stepped out, elegantly dressed in a striking white and black 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 flashing 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, “Relax, Aiko. He hasn’t broken any rules. Remember, his contract includes the right to disobey orders.”
Aiko adjusted her glasses 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 displayed. 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 not come to the grand meeting?”
Nearby, other reporters shared in her shock, whispering questions and exchanging confused glances.
“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 delayed?”
“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.
“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 alarm 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 overlapping 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!”