Vol 2: Chapter 52

The dust from the Colossus's death continued to drift across the basin floor in thin, grey ribbons. Alex, Anya, and Rhian stood near the massive, slumped carcass, the silence of the canyon feeling heavy and unnatural without the Titan's seismic tremors.

"We need to get back to Ironwood,"

Sela Vantram said, her voice cutting through the stillness as she stepped toward them from the direction of the transport.

She looked entirely unaffected by the carnage, her expression neutral as she held a digital ledger against her hip. She didn't offer a greeting or a smile; she simply began inspecting the charred remains of the Colossus's outer plating, checking the density of the scorch marks.

"I assume the kill is confirmed then,"

Sela asked, not looking up from her readout.

"The signature was massive, but I need to verify the destruction of the core for the Guild records."

"It is confirmed,"

Alex said.

"The core is gone, but the structural integrity of the surrounding terrain is a mess."

He looked toward the ridge, thinking of the Ashwing still lurking in the high peaks.

"We'll head to the Warden's Hall to submit the formal proof of kill,"

Alex said.

"We still have the Ashwing to deal with, and we can't afford any delays."

Sela nodded once, a sharp, businesslike motion.

"That is fine. I will have the paperwork ready for the Council."

"Don't forget the fuel requisitions for the next leg,"

Rhian added, her voice sounding smaller than usual in the vastness of the canyon.

"We're going to need it if we're going up into the peaks."

"I have already factored in the extra consumption for the modular upgrades,"

Sela said, finally closing her ledger.

"The logistics will be handled."

The group moved through the bustling streets of the Canopy Quarter, leaving the industrial grit of the lower tiers behind. They climbed the winding staircases and crossed the swaying vine-bridges that connected the upper platforms, heading toward the towering, polished wood of the Warden Hall.

Inside the Warden Hall, the air felt cooler and carried the faint, clean scent of mountain cedar. Commander Thane sat behind a heavy desk carved from a single ironwood trunk. She didn't rise when Alex entered, but she did set down her stylus and looked him directly in the eye.

"The reports from the basin are already coming in,"

Thane said.

"A Crag-Stalker pack is a heavy burden for a single pilot, especially one using unstandardized equipment."

"We had support,"

Alex said.

"Team Celestia was on site, so it was a coordinated effort rather than a solo hunt."

Thane leaned back, her gaze narrowing slightly as she studied him.

"Celestia is a name that carries weight in the halls of the Confederacy lately,"

she noted.

"They are a rising group, and their reputation for precision is well-earned. Seeing them side by side with a Rank Seven independent builder is... unexpected."

"The results matter more than the method,"

Alex said.

"We neutralized the threat and secured the area."

Thane tapped a finger against the desk, the rhythm steady and slow.

"You certainly did. The Council is pleased that the foothills are stable for the moment, but your trial is not over. The Ashwing remains the final condition of your contract."

She paused, her expression shifting into something more guarded, more serious.

"The Guild has been tracking the Ashwing's recent flight patterns near the upper ridges,"

Thane continued.

"She has been aggressively contesting the airspace around the Sky-Watcher's Roost, and there are reports of several high-altitude scouting drones being torn from the sky without warning. She isn't just patrolling her territory anymore; she is actively hunting the messengers of the Confederacy."

"There's a standing research post up there as well," Thane added. "Sky-Watcher's Roost. Wardens and a handful of Argent Veil-trained scholars track every major Titan movement in the range from that station, and their data will be more current than anything sitting in my ledger. I'd have you stop there on the way up. Whoever's running the post can get you the latest patterns before you commit to anything."

The news hit Alex with a sudden, heavy weight. The scale of the threat shifted in his mind, the transition from a ground-based pack to an apex predator of the upper atmosphere feeling like a massive jump in difficulty. He thought of the Liger Zero, currently sitting in the workshop with its mismatched, heavy missile module, and the fragile, salvaged targeting processor that had barely managed to lock onto a Petras.

"Thank you for the intel on the Ashwing, Commander,"

Alex said.

"The intelligence on the patrol patterns will be vital for our planning."

He cleared his throat, shifting his weight slightly.

"While we are discussing the next mission, I have something else to report. I am planning to establish a Zoid production facility here in Ironwood. I intend to scale up my current work to ensure a consistent supply of specialized units for the local Wardens."

Thane raised an eyebrow, her expression shifting from professional detachment to genuine surprise.

"A full production facility?"

she asked.

"That is an ambitious leap from a private workshop, Alex. You are talking about industrial-scale fabrication and specialized logistics."

"The demand is there, and the technology is proven,"

Alex replied.

"I am not just looking to repair machines, but to build them at scale."

Thane leaned back, her eyes narrowing as she weighed the implications. The idea of a dedicated Zoid factory within the Junction was a massive shift for the local economy, but the strategic advantage was undeniable.

"It is a bold move,"

she said.

"The Confederacy could certainly use more reliable production lines, especially if your designs continue to show this level of effectiveness."

She paused, maintaining her composure even as her interest deepened. She couldn't afford to look too eager, or Sela might realize just how much the Council needed his specific brand of innovation.

"I might be able to provide official sponsorship for the project,"

Thane continued.

"A sanctioned manufacturing site would simplify your procurement of high-grade materials and give you legal standing with the Guilds."

"I would appreciate that support,"

Alex said.

"Having the official backing would make the transition much smoother."

Thane gave a single, decisive nod.

"I will see what I can arrange with the Resource Council. I have high expectations for this venture, Alex. If you can deliver on the promises you've made to Veridia, you might just become the most important person in the Stonefang region."

"I'll make sure you don't regret the investment,"

Alex promised.

"We'll get to work immediately."

Advance chapters on my p@tR$0n/Najicablitz.