Talent Awakening: Draconic Overlord Of The Apocalypse

The echo of their footsteps filled the endless black passage, each step swallowed by the shifting darkness around them.

Kai's wings folded tightly behind him. His tusks clenched, his jaw stiff, and his fingers curled into fists at his sides.

The frustration burned within him, his blood boiling beneath the surface, kept barely in check.

Beside him, Ivon moved with a grin on his face, his skull-like mask giving nothing away, but his presence was unnervingly calm.

He could sense Kai's rage, he had been ignoring it but at this point it was starting to get on his nerves.

Then, without turning his head, Ivon spoke.

"You're brimming with anger, Kai." His tail flicked behind him. "Care to share why?"

Kai's eyes flashed red and green, his wings twitching as he exhaled sharply through his nose. "This wasn't the deal."

Ivon hummed lightly, urging him to continue.

"I was promised vengeance," Kai snapped, his fangs bared.

"Helxon told me I'd have my chance to make Alister pay once I was reborn. But instead, all I've done since then is run errands like some lowly dog." His hand clenched into a tight fist. "Tell me, Ivon, does that sound like what was agreed upon, or are the promises of our lord nearly illusions made to trap us in a life of eternal servitude without any rewards?"

For a moment, silence.

Then, Ivon let out a dry, amused chuckle. It started small, then grew into full, unrestrained laughter, echoing through the dark corridor like a mocking whisper from the abyss.

Kai's body stiffened, his sharp gaze snapping toward the masked man. His wings flared slightly, a warning. "Are you making fun of me?" he asked coldly.

Ivon waved a hand lazily, his laughter dying down into a smirk beneath the mask.

"Hardly," he said with amusement. "I simply admire your spirit… and perhaps, your arrogance."

Kai's glare sharpened, but before he could retort, Ivon suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to face him fully. His head tilted slightly, those dark, endless voids where his eyes should have been boring into Kai like a predator inspecting its prey.

"Tell me, Kai," Ivon said, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "Who do you think you are in the grand scheme of things?"

Kai stiffened.

"You were brought in because Helxon saw potential in you," Ivon continued, his tone eerily calm. "Not because you were entitled to anything. The condition of whether or not you get what you were promised will be determined by one thing—your usefulness."

He took a slow step forward causing Kai to step back, his presence pressing down like an unseen weight.

"You are no longer the young master you once were," Ivon said, his voice had an edge now... sharper than before. "No wealth, no servants, no privileged birthright. You were given a second chance, yes—but not as an equal. You are a piece on the board, like the rest of us."

Kai's fists trembled, but he remained silent.

"In fact," Ivon mused, tapping a gloved finger against his mask, "Helxon is out there right now, finding other humans with… potential. He's welcoming them into our ranks. Recruiting. Expanding." His grin widened.

"You should be grateful, Kai. You are already on the winning side—the side that will rule the new world when the Emergence is complete."

Ivon's tail flicked once more as he stepped even closer, leaning in slightly.

"But if it's petty vengeance that clouds your judgment," he said, his voice a near whisper, "if it makes you disregard orders… then you will be discarded. No second thoughts. No amount of pleading will change that."

Kai inhaled sharply, his wings twitching involuntarily.

"So tread carefully, young Kai," Ivon said, his tone returning to its usual unsettling playfulness. "Control yourself."

Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and continued walking.

Kai stood there for a moment, his nails digging into his palms. His breath was slow, controlled, but his mind burned with rage and resentment.

Yet, deep down, he knew Ivon wasn't wrong.

His time would come.

But until then… he had to endure.

....

....

The streets of Sector I were bathed in the harsh midday sun, casting sharp shadows against the worn buildings.

The outer rings, usually bustling, felt oddly subdued, with only the occasional distant chatter or the hum of generators breaking the silence.

The crackle of static from the Union officers' radios filled the air as the patrol moved forward.

Alister and his team moved in formation alongside the Union officers.

In their guild uniforms of white and blue, except for Alister, whose black, red made him stand out a bit.

Viktor and Celia, both senior Union officers, led the patrol.

Viktor eyes scanned the alleys like a machine... He wasn't a robot but that was the best description for what he was doing.

Celia, on the other hand, was more relaxed, twirling a small combat knife between her fingers as they walked.

A few steps behind, Axel let out a long groan, dragging his feet slightly.

"Do we really have to walk like this all day?" he grumbled, rolling his shoulders.

Blitz sighed dramatically beside him, stretching her arms above her head.

"Yeah, can't we just get some hover patrols or something? My feet are killing me."

Viktor's gaze was like daggers thrown at them. "You have a duty to carry out," he snapped, his voice carrying that strict, no-nonsense tone he was known for.

"I can't believe members of a guild team would be acting so lazy."

Axel raised his hands in surrender. "Sheesh, alright, alright, no need to bite our heads off."

Blitz smirked. "Maybe if you loosened up a bit, Viktor, you wouldn't look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders."

Before Viktor could retort, Celia chuckled, spinning her knife once before sheathing it. "Take it easy, Viktor. Not everyone is a workaholic like you." She glanced at Axel and Blitz. "But don't push your luck either, you two."

Alister walked a short distance ahead, only half listening to the conversation.

His attention was elsewhere—specifically on Miyu, who was trailing behind the group, her head slightly bowed, her hands gripping the edges of her sleeves. Her expression was distant, her gaze unfocused.

Alister sighed, barely audible over the soft crunch of their boots against the pavement.

She had been like this ever since that night.

After his date with Cinder, when he returned, he found Miyu in this state—quiet, withdrawn, like she had lost something deeply important. At first, he tried to ask her what was wrong, but she wouldn't speak to him.

Later, he learned the truth from Mar'Garet.

She had told Miyu everything.

The fact that he had lived several lives before this one.

At first, it had made him angry at Margaret. He had confronted her. But she had apologized, saying she never thought he was hiding anything from his sister, nor did she expect it to affect her this way.

But it had.

And now, Miyu walked behind them like a shadow, her usual warmth dulled by something he couldn't quite reach.

Alister ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly.

This wasn't the time or place to deal with it, but he couldn't ignore it either.

They had a mission to focus on, yet he found himself glancing back at her once more.

The tension in his chest tightened.

What was he supposed to do now?

This was the first time in a while that he felt so confused.

Alister sighed, barely audible over the soft crunch of their boots against the pavement.

Cinder walked up beside Alister. She reached for his hand, her fingers warm against his skin, offering comfort in the quiet moment.

"It's okay," she said softly. "She'll come around eventually. Just give her time."

Alister glanced at her, a look gratitude in his eyes. "Thanks, Cinder," he murmured, the words heavy with more meaning than just a simple thank-you.

She smiled, the faintest hint of warmth in her expression. "Always," she replied.

Beside them, Mar'Garet huffed, crossing her arms as she watched the interaction with narrowed eyes. "Look at that," she muttered. "A single night, and now you're the one hogging our lord all to yourself... Aren't you now being hypocritical?"

Cinder smirked, her eyes glinting as she turned to Mar'Garet. "Is that any way to speak to your queen... Mar'Garet?"

The words were sharp, but the tone was light, almost teasing. Mar'Garet hissed under her breath, clearly annoyed, and turned her face away with an exaggerated scoff.

Cinder chuckled, clearly entertained by the reaction, her grip on Alister's hand tightening slightly as if to anchor herself in the moment.

Suddenly, a voice echoed from above, interrupting the banter. "What do we have here?"

"I've alway heard that kids grow up fast, but I never really got the quote."

Everyone instinctively looked up, startled by the sudden interruption.

A man floated above them, surrounded by a radiant golden aura that illuminated his figure, casting an almost divine glow over the surrounding area.