Chapter 117: The Warlord’s Summons
Chapter 117: Chapter 117: The Warlord’s Summons
Chapter 117: The Warlord’s Summons
The hallway of the central spire was dead silent.
Draven walked slowly over the thick crimson carpet. He reached the heavy, reinforced steel doors at the end of the corridor. He was here to meet Commander Helion Goldmane and he ahd a feeling he will need to reveal his cards here.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Enter," a deep, rumbling voice echoed from inside.
Draven pushed the heavy doors open and stepped into the massive office.
The room was dimly lit, smelling of old leather and sharp ozone. For the first time since he had reincarnated into this world, Draven felt a genuine, prickling sense of nervousness.
The man sitting behind the massive oak desk was not a simulation program or a corrupt noble. He was humanity’s absolute apex.
Lord Commander Helion Goldmane.
"Sit," Helion commanded, gesturing to a heavy leather chair opposite him.
Draven sat down.
Helion reached for a steaming cast-iron teapot on his desk. He poured a dark, golden liquid into two small ceramic cups and pushed one across the polished wood.
"Drink," Helion offered.
Draven picked up the cup. He took a slow sip.
A sudden, intense wave of heat rushed down his throat. It did not burn. Instead, it forcefully expanded the mana pathways in his chest. His core pulsed with sudden, massive vitality.
’Sunflare Elixir leaves,’ Draven analyzed in his mind.
’An incredibly rare ingredient that purifies mana flow. He is treating me like an honored guest. I guess winning first place has it’s perks as well. Though it terrifies me to my core; he can kill me with a thought. That’s how strong he is! That is how strong the Power of Valor is!’
Helion set his cup down. The heavy, suffocating aura of the Lord Commander completely vanished from the room. He dropped his tough, military exterior entirely, letting his shoulders relax.
He looked at Draven with tired, calculating eyes.
"Why did you hide your identity, Draven?" Helion asked bluntly.
"Why play the weak guy for months when you clearly have the power to crush the Capital’s best? It doesn’t make sense unless you had any ulterior motives, but watching you for months you are definitely on our side. Tell me."
"Because I was not strong enough to reveal myself," Draven replied smoothly.
"A sharp blade drawn too early only attracts rust."
Helion leaned forward, resting his scarred chin on his hands.
"And what makes you think I will not hurt you right now to extract your secrets? Did you reveal yourself to me thinking that you can escape from my clutches?"
Draven swallowed hard as he said, "Escape from you? Why not defeat you?"
"You are too ballsy for that! And you know you cannot!" Helion replied as he took a sip from the tea.
Draven did not flinch. He looked directly into the warlord’s golden eyes.
"Because you would never do it," Draven stated with absolute certainty.
"You are the most honorable man on the planet. You despise underhanded tactics. You protect humanity, even the ones who hate you."
Helion stared at him for three agonizing seconds.
Then, the Lord Commander threw his head back.
"HAHAHAHA!"
His booming laugh shook the glass windows of the office.
"I like you, kid," Helion grinned, shaking his head in pure amusement.
"You know me better than I know myself. Yes, torturing a student would leave a terrible taste in my mouth. I would never do it. But, I want answers as well. So, tell me everything."
Draven set his ceramic cup down on the desk.
"Why do you not start first?" Draven asked calmly.
Helion raised an eyebrow. The grin on his face turned sharp and dangerous.
"Ballsy, aren’t you?" Helion chuckled darkly.
"Fine. I will amuse you."
Helion stood up. He walked over to the massive window overlooking the recovering Bastion.
"It started with Tyrone Vaelmont," Helion began, his voice growing heavy with regret.
"He was my most trusted lieutenant. He worked directly under me in the Capital. We were preparing to launch a massive campaign to reclaim the lost territories from the monsters."
Draven listened silently.
"But Tyrone found something," Helion continued, his fists clenching at his sides.
"He found concrete proof that the High Council Elders were embezzling military funds and hoarding high-tier artifacts meant for the front lines. He had dirt on them. Disgusting, treasonous dirt."
Helion turned around. His golden eyes burned with old fury.
"Before Tyrone could bring the evidence to light, the Elders moved first," Helion growled.
"They framed him for treason. They executed him. I was a rising star back then, but I was politically weak. If I had drawn my sword to save him, it would have sparked a civil war inside the Capital walls. Millions of innocents would have died."
Helion walked back to his desk and sat down heavily.
"It was a terrible, but a necessary choice," Helion whispered.
"All I could do was protect the family he left behind. I secured safe passage for Cersi and Lucien. I brought them here to the outer rings where the Capital could not touch them."
Draven nodded slowly. The missing pieces of the lore were finally falling into place.
"I was politically weak back then," Helion stated, his voice turning cold and resolute.
"But I am not weak anymore. The Capital is rotting. The High Council will cut our funding over your stunt today, and the war will officially begin."
Helion looked Draven dead in the eyes.
"You are leaving tomorrow for the World Tour," Helion commanded.
"I need you to gather allies. Find the Bastions that are tired of the Capital’s tyranny. Build me an army, Draven. An army that will help unite the Humanity again."
"It will be done," Draven agreed effortlessly.
Helion leaned back in his chair.
"Now that I have laid my soul bare. Now, it is your turn. Where did you get this terrifying power? Who exactly are you? How did you get so strong in such a short time? What is your motive? Tell me everything."
Draven smiled. It was a cold, absolute smile.
He raised his right hand.
"I am Zero," Draven declared.
SNAP!