Chapter 95: Chapter 95: The Weight of Hope
Chapter 95: The Weight of Hope
The High Council Chamber of Bastion Seven was a room designed to remind men and women of the heavy burden of survival.
The vaulted ceiling was lined with massive obsidian pillars, and the long, semi-circular mahogany table was occupied by the absolute apex of human authority.
Lord Commander Helion Goldmane sat at the center, radiating the suffocating heat of a dying star.
Flanking him were the heads of the Four High Noble Houses: Patriarch Hennessey, Lord Tokks, Lady Seraphina, and Lady Logcheville.
They were the pillars of the Bastion, individuals who held the lives of millions in their hands.
Standing in the center of the chamber, fully debriefed and washed clean of the Wildlands mud, were the eleven first-year students of the Special Class.
Standing to the side was Draven, who was glancing at the line-up in front of him.
’This reminds me of the time when I was being interrogated by my superiors after completing the hardest mission of my life. This is quite nerve-wracking! Hope Aegon will follow through the plan!’
TAP. TAP. TAP.
Patriarch Hennessey drummed his fingers on the table. His voice was grating, filled with the heavy, undeniable concern of a father.
"So, you went in the Sector 44-J, which is an uncharted territory. We did tell you to map the uncharted lands but we did not expect you to have the caliber to face the monsters in the Sector 44-J. You fought with an A-rank Hive Mother and actually defeated it," Patriarch Hennessey stated, his tone thick with worry and disbelief. He leaned forward, his eyes locking onto Neville.
"Talk to me freely, Neville. We are all proud of your accomplishments and survival. The map you provided will prove useful to the Future expansion plans of Humanity. But this feels like a mission you were forced to join. Were you coerced by the Captain to explore these regions?"
Neville stepped forward. The blond boy smiled.
"Of course not, Father," Neville answered smoothly, his voice carrying his signature warmth.
"Captain Logcheville led us brilliantly. The decision to move to this region was entirely based on the Votes. Before moving we analyzed and gathered information about this region. We also found out that the smugglers use this route as well. To find these legacies left behind by our ancestors and the Hive Mother were all a crazy coincidence. Nothing any of us could have expected."
The Patriarch sighed, the tight lines around his eyes softening slightly. He nodded, profoundly relieved that his son was safe.
"Of course! Nobody knows the exact route of the Monsters. I momentarily forgot that this mission was assigned to you so that you all will learn from this experience but you have proven yourselves to be better than most veteran Hunters. But do not let this get to your heads." he said.
Draven watched from the back of the formation, his expression perfectly blank. The Neville persona was an impenetrable, flawless shield.
Lady Logcheville shifted in her high-backed chair. She was a striking woman with piercing golden eyes, the exact same eyes as Aegon. She looked down at her son, her expression a complex mixture of immense pride and severe caution.
"Aegon," Lady Logcheville’s voice cut through the room, sharp but undeniably relieved.
"I read the report you submitted. It says you found a Research lab which was in operation before the Fall of Humanity. A Pre-Fall Lab, you can say. In this lab, you have claimed to have obtained a blueprint for ’Miasma Cleansing Tower’. You need to understand that this is not an ordinary discovery. This is something that can change the position of Humanity in this Unstable war against the Monsters."
"Let us see it," Lord Commander Helion interrupted softly, his voice echoing off the obsidian pillars. He held out his massive, scarred hand.
Aegon stepped forward respectfully. He didn’t boast.
"Of Course, Lord Commander," Aegon said, placing the Old World USB into Helion’s palm.
Helion plugged the drive directly into the central holographic terminal of the Council table.
BZZZT-HUMMM.
The terminal booted up. A massive, highly detailed blueprint projected into the air above the table. It was a rotating, three-dimensional schematic of a towering mechanical spire.
Lines of pre-fall data scrolled rapidly across the projection, highlighting the core integration systems and the mana-purification grid.
Then, the holographic simulation shifted. It showed a map of the red fog, and as the digital Tower activated, a pristine, fifty-mile radius of pure, green, breathable air expanded outward, entirely erasing the Miasma.
Absolute silence fell over the High Council Chamber.
The High Lords stopped breathing.
Lady Seraphina covered her mouth, her elegant features frozen in profound shock as she looked at her daughter, Reina, standing proudly among the squad.
’If we present this to the frontlines of the War, then the reclamation of the Human lands will not just be a dream.’
Lord Tokks gripped the armrests of his chair, staring at the fifty-mile green radius like a man witnessing a miracle.
"By the Gods..." Helion whispered.
The Level 200 apex predator stood up. His golden eyes shimmered with raw, unfiltered emotion.
The crushing weight of defending humanity, a burden he had carried for decades, seemed to lift off his shoulders for just a fraction of a second.
"A fifty-mile safe zone will definitely help us to make bases in the acquired territories. A true, permanent expansion will be possible. This technology is absolutely mind-blowing. This changes everything!" Helion breathed.
He turned his gaze to the eleven students.
’Seriously! Even I, who has the Power plough through an entire Beast Wave could not achieve something like this at my age. None of us could! These students deserve genuine praise. Not just praise, but Rewards!’ the proud commander thought to himself.
He was surprised at himself, not just because of the achievement but becasue he was genuinely in awe. Yes! He was surprised that he was in awe.
Some might think it is not abnormal to be surprised. We are all just humans. We have emotions. But it was different when you have lived the life of the Lord Commander Helion Golmane.
In all his life there were a few things that had surprised him. Imagine standing at the pinnacle of Humanity, what are the things that will even interest you? But today, it was different. Because, he had experienced Hope. The Hope for Humanity.
His expression was no longer that of a strict military commander, it was filled with overwhelming conviction and profound gratitude.
"This is not just a normal tech you have brought here, cadets," Helion said, his voice trembling slightly with sheer power. "You have brought back our future. The future for humanity!"
"We wish to see this future built, sir," Aegon spoke up, taking the opening Draven had prepared for him.
"We want the best engineers we have to understand these blueprints and help mass produce these towers in a short amount of time. This will definitely help the Commanders present at the frontlines. But I have a request regarding this project. I ask you let my fellow cadets Lyra and Cole study these Blueprints alongside the Elite Engineers. It will provide them with work-experience required for forging the ultimate weapons in the future, which will benefit Humanity in the best ways possible."
"Granted," Helion nodded without a single second of hesitation.
"They will have full access to the inner forges and the senior engineers."
"Furthermore," Aegon continued, his golden eyes burning with determination.
"We believe that this experience has been proven very useful for all of us. Our fighting experience, our chemistry together, we just mesh well with each other and we believe that further such outings will prove extremely beneficial for all of us. Our levels have increased and we have gotten stronger than ever before. Letting us explore the Wildlands as a Special Strike Force will surely help us and the humanity in more ways than you can imagine, Sir!"
Helion Goldmane looked at the Special Class. He saw the iron resolve in their posture.
’They have the eyes of the hunter!’
He saw the spark of a new era. He glanced at the High Lords, who all nodded in silent, unanimous agreement.
"You definitely have grown stronger than before Aegon! Of course, some of us do have our doubts regarding these decisions as well. It affects your life after all. But the moment you entered the Academy, your life was not yours anymore, it belonged to Humanity! Your purpose is for Humanity! Every breath you breath is for Humanity! I commend your resolve and grant you the wish you asked for!" Helion declared, his voice echoing with absolute command.
He tapped the holographic console, bringing up their Vanguard Academy files.
"The Vanguard is built on merit," the Lord Commander stated.
"Because of your unprecedented contribution today, the Special Class is officially recognized as Strike Team Zero. From this moment forth, you are not just students anymore. You are the soldiers of the Humanity!"
Helion swiped his massive hand across the console. Eleven digital notifications simultaneously pinged on the students’ Vanguard communicators.
"I am officially initiating you into the Vanguard Military Merit System," Helion announced, his voice ringing with pride.
"The ranks of the special class will be determined by the contributions. Every contributions will be determined by the Monsters you slay, the quest you complete and the fugitives you kill. Your enemies are not just the Monsters unfortunately. You are starting today as Iron Crests. Grow your strength. Climb the ranks to Bronze Fang, Silver Aegis, and beyond. Bring me the materials to build this Tower."
Aegon slammed his fist over his heart in a perfect Vanguard salute. The rest of the squad instantly followed suit.
"For Humanity, Lord Commander!" they echoed in unison.
Helion smiled.
"Dismissed, Strike Team Zero."
As the squad filed out of the massive Council Chamber, their hearts were pounding with adrenaline.
They had done it. They had the official backing of the Bastion, the resources of the military, and a legal cover to roam the Wildlands.
Draven walked quietly at the back of the group.
He looked down at his Vanguard communicator, staring at the small, digital emblem of an iron shield next to his name. Iron Crest.
A cold, calculating smirk tugged at the corner of Draven’s lips. The Vanguard had just given him the perfect, gamified system to power-level his shadow syndicate right in front of their eyes.
