Chapter 99: Chapter 99: The Legacy of the Giants
Chapter 99: The Legacy of the Giants
The morning sun cast a bright glow across the main hall of the Rank One Apex Villa.
Strike Team Zero was gathered around the massive central holotable. The relaxing warmth of the bakery visit from the previous night still lingered in the air. But today the atmosphere was shifting back to business. The one-year apocalypse clock was ticking.
Aegon stood at the head of the table. He tapped the console and brought up a glowing projection of a small iron shield.
"We need to talk about the Crest System," Aegon announced to the squad. His golden eyes were serious and focused.
"Lord Commander Goldmane officially placed us into the Vanguard Military Merit System. We are no longer judged by Academy test scores. We are judged by our contributions to the Bastion."
Natalie leaned forward and studied the glowing iron shield. Astraxion was curled up fast asleep in her lap. The baby dragon let out tiny rhythmic snores.
"We are currently Rank One. Iron Crests," Aegon explained.
"It gives us the authority to leave the walls and take external quests. But it is the lowest military rank. If we want our words to actually matter to the High Council we need to climb higher."
Lucien crossed his arms.
"How high do we need to go?"
"Bronze Fang requires one thousand Merit Points," Aegon stated. He swiped the console to show the next rank insignia.
"Silver Aegis requires ten thousand. Golden Sovereign requires fifty thousand. We earn points by turning in monster cores and completing official Vanguard Quests."
Draven sat quietly in his armchair. He listened to Aegon explain the mechanics. The Vanguard system was essentially a giant leveling grind. But Draven knew a shortcut.
"Other military squads and veteran Hunters wander blindly," Draven spoke up. His calm voice instantly drew everyone’s attention.
"They roam the Wildlands and hope to stumble across a high-tier monster to earn points. It is a slow and inefficient process. We do not have time to be inefficient."
Draven stood up and walked over to the table. He looked at each of his teammates.
"We have information about the entire world," Draven reminded them.
"We have the backing of the Embracing Hands. We can target specific high-value zones and grow stronger faster than anyone else in history. The Miasma Blueprint was just the beginning."
Cole Rust slammed his fist into his palm. His eyes were burning with excitement. "So what is the next target? Are we hunting another Hive Mother?"
"Most of us are," Draven replied. He looked directly at the young blacksmith and the quiet runesmith beside him.
"But Cole and Lyra. You two are staying behind."
Cole blinked in surprise.
"Wait. Why?"
"Because you have a different battlefield," Aegon answered for Draven. The Captain smiled proudly at the two engineers.
"Lord Commander Goldmane gave you full access to the inner forges. You are going to work with the elite Vanguard engineers. You need to decode the Old World USB and build the first Miasma Clearing Tower prototype. That is far more important than swinging a sword right now."
Lyra nodded firmly. She understood the massive responsibility placed on her shoulders.
"We will not let you down. We will have the basic schematics ready by the time you get back."
"Good," Draven said. He stepped back from the table. The human warmth vanished from his eyes. The terrifying calculated presence of ’Zero’ returned.
"Now," Draven commanded.
"Prepare yourselves."
He raised his right hand.
SNAP.
Draven snapped his fingers. The physical world instantly dissolved.
There was no sense of falling. There was only a violent sudden shift in reality. The squad gasped as their consciousness was violently pulled from their bodies in the Villa.
They opened their eyes. They were standing on the flawless black marble floor of the Astral Sanctuary. An endless terrifying expanse of deep space swirled above them. Millions of galaxies cast shifting starlight across the room.
Aegon instantly dropped to one knee. Lucien, Reina, Bram, Nyx, and Natalie followed his lead. They bowed their heads in profound absolute reverence.
In the center of the room sat the massive obsidian table. And upon the throne sat the Void God.
The entity was gargantuan. It was a swirling vortex of cosmic nebula and dying stars shaped vaguely like a man. The sheer ancient pressure radiating from the throne made the air thick and heavy.
"Arise, seeds of the new era," the Void God spoke. The voice echoed directly inside their minds. It vibrated with the harmonic frequency of the cosmos.
Draven stood beside the squad with his head bowed. He played the role of the loyal servant flawlessly. Internally his S-Rank System was working in overdrive. He was perfectly separating his consciousness to control both his physical avatar on the floor and the terrifying illusion on the throne.
It was an exhausting mental tightrope. It was all built on a fragile lie. But it was the only way to ensure their absolute loyalty.
"My servant Zero has spoken of your progress," the cosmic entity continued. Its shifting starry eyes looked down at the kneeling squad.
"You have secured the Vanguard’s resources. Now you must secure your own strength. The apocalypse draws near. You are too weak to face it."
The Void God slowly shifted its massive gaze. It looked directly at the giant boy kneeling in the back.
"Bram Stonehelm," the God commanded.
Bram flinched slightly. His heart hammered in his massive chest. He looked up at the terrifying deity.
"Y-Yes, my Lord?"
"You possess the heart of a protector," the Void God proclaimed.
"But a shield made of mortal steel will shatter against the #*%#*$#. I shall bestow upon you the power to become an unbreakable wall. You shall claim the Legacy of the Giants."
He could not hear a certain word, but he did not dare ask why.
Bram’s eyes widened in sheer shock. The squad turned to look at him. Natalie offered him a small proud smile.
"Zero," the Void God called out.
"I am here, my Lord," Draven answered respectfully.
"I am transferring the sacred knowledge to your mind. Guide them to the ruins. Claim the Warlord’s power."
In the real world, Draven mentally accessed his System. He opened the Mythic World Map. He located the exact coordinates of the ancient Warlord Tomb hidden beneath the Wildlands.
The System immediately generated a highly detailed three-dimensional Dungeon Map. It highlighted the hidden traps, the monster spawn points, and the exact location of the boss room.
Draven downloaded the map directly into his memory. He now possessed the flawless knowledge of a raid leader.
"It is done," Draven said. He bowed deeply to the throne.
"Then return to your waking world," the Void God declared. The massive entity raised a hand made of stardust. "Conquer the dark."
VWOOM.
The starlight vanished. The squad gasped violently and opened their eyes. They were back in the sunny living room of the Rank One Villa.
Bram was panting heavily. Sweat beaded on his forehead. The sheer gravity of being personally addressed by a deity was overwhelming. He looked at his large trembling hands. He was going to inherit the power of Giants.
Draven walked back to the holotable. He immediately began tapping on the Vanguard console.
"We need a cover story," Draven stated calmly. He was back in his tactical mindset.
"If we just walk out into the Wildlands and head straight for an uncharted ruin the Vanguard will get suspicious."
"We will disguise it as a quest," Aegon agreed. He walked over to help Draven.
"We match the Warlord Tomb’s coordinates with a mission posted by the Student Council. That way we have legal clearance and we earn Merit Points for the Crest System."
Draven synced his newly acquired Dungeon Map with the Vanguard mission board. The coordinates placed the hidden Warlord Tomb deep within Sector 18.
"Here," Draven pointed at a glowing blue quest marker on the screen.
"Rank B Subjugation Quest. A pack of mutated Armored Bears has been attacking Vanguard supply lines in Sector 18. The quest location is directly above the hidden entrance to the Warlord Tomb."
"Perfect," Lucien smirked. The silver-haired noble tapped the hilt of his rapier.
"We kill the bears for the Bastion. We take the Legacy for ourselves."
"Gather your tactical gear," Captain Aegon ordered. His golden eyes burned with excitement and absolute focus.
"Stock up on potions and rations. We depart at first light tomorrow."
The squad immediately scattered. They rushed to their rooms to prepare their weapons and armor.
Draven stood alone by the holotable. He looked at the detailed Dungeon Map glowing in his mind.
It was filled with deadly red markers indicating lethal traps and high-tier monsters. It was not going to be an easy walk. But with his guidance, they would conquer it.
The true hunt for power had finally begun.
