Chapter 198: The Aura Farmer’s Welcome

Chapter 198: Chapter 198: The Aura Farmer’s Welcome

Chapter 198: The Aura Farmer’s Welcome

The ambient mana in the Lord Commander’s office was perfectly still.

Helion Goldmane sat behind his pristine mahogany desk. The supreme leader of Bastion Seven wore his immaculate, high-collared white uniform.

His golden hair fell perfectly over his shoulders. He was reviewing a stack of logistical reports with a calm, unbothered expression.

Hovering directly over the center of the desk was a glowing blue holographic projection.

Lord Commander Gunther Stillbane filled the projection. The giant Earth Mage was sitting in his own ruined office in Bastion Six. He was leaning back in his chair, wiping a smear of concrete dust from his dark cheek.

"The southern walls are sixty percent complete," Gunther reported loudly.

"Your earth mages are putting in some serious work. We got the defense grid back online this morning."

"That is acceptable progress," Helion replied smoothly. He did not look up from his paperwork.

"I will authorize a second shipment of refined iron to reinforce the outer gates tomorrow."

Gunther laughed. It was a loud, booming sound that vibrated the holographic projector.

"Man, forget the iron," Gunther grinned, leaning closer to the magical projection.

"You need to tell me where you found those kids. They literally dropped out of the sky, crushed a Level 200 Elder like a tin can, and then patched up my heart. They are straight up monsters."

Helion signed the bottom of a requisition form.

"They are exceptionally talented," Helion stated simply.

Gunther rolled his glowing golden eyes.

"You are always so stiff, Helion," Gunther complained, shaking his head.

"You need a vacation, man. Seriously. When was the last time you took a day off? Not since Eliana passed."

The scratching of Helion’s pen abruptly stopped.

"She used to have to drag your stubborn behind out of that office just to get you to see the sun," Gunther reminisced fondly, completely missing the sudden shift in the atmosphere.

"She would be telling you to chill out right now."

The temperature in Helion’s office plummeted.

The glass of water resting on the corner of the mahogany desk instantly cracked. The sheer, terrifying weight of Helion’s Level 200 aura flooded the room. The golden light radiating from his body turned harsh and blinding.

"Watch your words, Gunther," Helion warned. His voice was no longer polite. It was a chilling wave of lethal pressure.

"Do not speak her name so casually."

Gunther froze. The hood swagger vanished from his face. He quickly raised his massive metal gauntlets in a gesture of surrender.

"My bad, my bad," Gunther apologized quickly, his voice dropping into a respectful timber.

"I crossed a line. I am just saying she would want you to take a breath, brother."

Helion stared at the holographic projection. The blinding golden light slowly faded. The crushing pressure retracted completely back into his core.

"I know," Helion sighed softly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I know she would."

Before Gunther could offer another word of comfort, Helion stopped moving entirely.

His sharp eyes darted toward the reinforced glass window overlooking the city. His highly refined senses picked up an anomaly rapidly approaching the outer borders of the Dead Zone.

There were seven distinct mana signatures inside a Vanguard transport vehicle. Helion recognized the frequencies immediately.

It was Strike Team Zero. But the density of their auras was completely wrong.

The mana was heavily saturated, violently vibrating right on the absolute edge of the Level 100 threshold.

If they drove through the public streets with that level of unfiltered, suppressed energy, they would trigger every single hazard alarm in the city and cause a mass panic.

"I have to go," Helion said abruptly.

He tapped the runic dial on his desk.

BEEP.

The holographic call with Gunther terminated instantly.

Helion stood up from his desk. He reached out with his mind, connecting directly to the Bastion’s central array.

[Spatial Displacement Grid]

Miles away, at the very edge of the Dead Zone, the heavy Vanguard transport carrying the squad was suddenly enveloped in a blinding flash of golden light.

FWOOSH!

The massive vehicle vanished from the wasteland.

It materialized instantly inside Helion’s secure, reinforced underground training facility deep beneath the Vanguard headquarters.

The heavy tires screeched against the polished concrete floor as the transport slammed to a halt.

Helion stepped out of a secondary spatial tear, arriving in the bunker just as the heavy iron doors of the transport vehicle kicked open.

The squad stepped out.

Helion maintained his stoic expression, but internally, he was reeling.

They looked battered and covered in soot. But the raw power radiating from them was staggering. Aegon’s dark armor pulsed with a blistering heat.

Reina’s breath plumed into freezing mist. Nyx’s shadow seemed to actively drink the light from the room.

Then, Helion noticed the creature.

Sitting comfortably on Estella’s shoulder was a dragon. It was sleek, highly predatory, and covered in dark, starlight-infused scales. Its neon-purple eyes locked onto Helion with keen intelligence.

Helion recognized the mana signature. It was the tiny, chubby stardust hatchling he had seen weeks ago. But it had grown immensely.

’The origin has mutated,’ Helion thought, carefully evaluating the mythical beast.

’The density of that creature is terrifying. It is a calamity waiting to grow.’

Astraxion let out a soft, rumbling purr, nuzzling affectionately against Estella’s cheek.

Helion relaxed his posture.

’As long as it does not become an enemy, it is fine,’ Helion concluded silently.

The Captain stepped out of the transport last. He wore his black coat and pristine white mask. His posture was completely relaxed. He looked at the Lord Commander and gave a faint, respectful nod.

"Welcome home, Strike Team Zero," Helion greeted them. His voice echoed cleanly off the concrete walls.

"You exceeded all parameters of your mission. But your auras are highly unstable. You are bleeding power."

"We are sitting on the threshold," the Captain explained calmly.

"We sealed the Awakenings to survive the journey back. We need the reinforced vaults to complete the evolutions safely."

"The vaults are prepared," Helion assured him.

Helion stepped aside. He pointed toward a set of heavy elevator doors at the far end of the bunker.

"But before you isolate yourselves," Helion added, a very faint, warm smile touching his lips.

"I believe there are a few people who wish to verify you are still in one piece."

DING.

The heavy elevator doors slid open.

"Reina!" a frantic, tearful voice echoed across the bunker.

Seraphina Vance sprinted out of the elevator. She completely ignored the terrifying auras and the soot. She grabbed her daughter, pulling the Cryo-Berserker into a desperate, crushing hug.

"Mom!" Reina complained loudly, her face flushing bright red.

"I am covered in monster ash! You are ruining your dress!"

"I do not care about the dress," Seraphina sobbed, refusing to let go. She kissed the top of Reina’s head. "You are safe. My brave girl is safe."

Reina huffed, pretending to be annoyed, but she slowly wrapped her arms around her mother, burying her face into her shoulder.

Right behind Seraphina walked a tall, incredibly elegant noblewoman wearing a pristine blue gown. She had sharp, aristocratic features and warm, kind eyes.

"Aegon," Lady Elara Logcheville called out. Her voice trembled with overwhelming emotion.

Aegon immediately stood at perfect attention. He brought his gauntlet to his chest in a rigid, formal Vanguard salute.

"Mother," Aegon reported dutifully.

"I have returned with honor. The frontlines hold strong."

Lady Logcheville completely ignored the salute. She rushed forward, threw her arms around her massive, heavily armored son, and squeezed him tightly. She reached up and aggressively pinched both of his cheeks.

"My beautiful, brave boy!" Lady Logcheville cried happily, squishing his face.

"Look how thin you look! Have you been eating your vegetables in the wasteland?"

Aegon stood completely frozen, his cheeks squished together.

"Mother, please," Aegon mumbled awkwardly. "My posture is failing. My squad is watching."

"Let them watch," she scolded lightly, kissing his forehead.

"You are my son before you are a Vanguard."

Lucien covered his mouth, politely stifling a laugh at Aegon’s misery. Cole grinned widely, leaning on his heavy hammer.

Draven stood quietly near the transport. He watched the emotional reunions. He saw the genuine love and the profound relief washing over the room.

He had torn the King Level Beast apart to ensure these exact moments could happen.

Helion walked over and stood quietly beside the Captain. The two commanders watched the families together.

"You did well, Captain," Helion said softly.

Draven kept his hands in his pockets.

"The shadow operation is over," Draven replied, his gray eyes looking toward the heavy steel doors of the evolution vaults.

"Let them rest today. Tomorrow, we unseal the power. Tomorrow, the real war begins."