Return of the Mythic Bloodline

Chapter 512: International Conference

"Thank you for coming on such short notice," Reyaan said, extending his hand forward. The wind from the helicopter blades whipped at his greying hair. "We are genuinely pleased to have you on Operation Last Stand."

"There is no need for such formalities, Uncle Reyaan," I said, shaking his hand with a firm grip, my palm meeting his. "It is only natural that I answer when the nation calls."

We were standing on the helipad on the roof of a wide building, its surface marked with landing guides. Behind me was the helicopter from which I had just walked out, its rotors still spinning. I met Reyaan there, our hair and clothes snapping violently from the wind of the blades as the helicopter took off again, ascending into the grey sky as soon as Nymeria and Ume stepped out from behind me.

The building was constructed at the centre of an island, surrounded by a dense forest on all sides. The trees swayed in the ocean breeze, a wall of green that isolated the facility from the rest of the world.

"They are Ume and Nymeria," I introduced the girls properly this time. When we had arrived at the airport, Reyaan had been more focused on the funeral, his mind heavy with grief. "They are both SSS Awakeners."

A flicker of shock surged through Reyaan, his eyes widening as he looked back and forth between Ume and Nymeria, taking in their ethereal presence.

"I had my doubts, but it is really true," he murmured, his voice stuttering slightly. "Which country are they from, if I may ask?"

"I am afraid I have to disappoint you, Uncle Reyaan. I cannot reveal that," I said, my voice firm and unwavering. "Nevertheless, they are trustworthy."

Reyaan did not try to inquire about their identity further, though his gaze lingered on them with obvious curiosity. "Thank you for participating in the conference," he said, turning to them with a respectful nod.

Under normal circumstances, he would never have allowed someone with such secretive origins to participate in such an important conference. His agreement without any reluctance showed the severity of the situation. He did not want to offend an Awakener who had defeated the Death Knight alone, a foe that had destroyed a team of an SSS Ranker and multiple S Rankers. Not to mention, the mysterious rankers with me were someone who had turned a literal nuclear missile into harmless fireworks.

"No need. We are only here because of him," Nymeria answered, her tone cold as her creamy eyes glanced at me.

Guided by an agent from the Association, we went inside the building while Reyaan stayed at the helipad as another helicopter landed after ours, welcoming the Awakeners coming from it.

I could not help but notice the thick concrete walls the building was built with, massive columns supporting the roof at equal intervals of every few steps. The structure felt like a fortress, designed to withstand forces beyond ordinary comprehension.

"Taranis, did you notice the energy radiating from the structure?" Ume asked in a low tone, walking on my side, her pink eyes scanning the walls with keen interest.

"Hmm, the entire building is built by fusing Soul Stones with the concrete," I said, my auburn eyes staring at the pillars, tracing the faint luminescence within the material. "Except for S-Rankers, I do not think anyone can actually make a dent in it. The building is made to house the High Rankers."

After a walk of a few seconds through the wide hallway of the building, our footsteps echoing through its polished marble surface, we reached before the heavy metallic double doors.

"Please enter inside," the assistant said, standing aside with a respectful bow.

"You sure you aren’t sending us to a prison?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, a playful smirk on my lips.

The assistant flinched from my question, his eyes widening in horror, his face draining of colour.

"I would dare not, Mr. Singh," he blurted, bending his back deeply. "It is a conference hall, not a prison. No one in the world is capable enough to imprison you. Please forgive me for causing the misunderstanding. I deeply apologise from the bottom of my hea—"

"Stop it, stop it," I said, releasing a long sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I was just kidding, man. No need to be so on edge."

He reminded me of my younger days in the Hundred Sky Mountains, before I met Nymeria. Whenever I tried to lighten the mood or share a joke with the citizens, they would grow so frightened and tense that they could barely respond, terrified that even the slightest misstep might offend me. The memory was a bittersweet one.

I grabbed the cool metallic handle of the door and pushed it inside. It was a bit heavier than I expected, groaning under the stress, but nevertheless it opened smoothly, revealing the space beyond.

The inside revealed a massive, dimly lit hall. The front wall was covered with a large screen of white curtain, waiting for presentations. Before it, the surface rose toward the ceiling with luxurious recliner chairs lined at each level, forming a tiered auditorium.

Most of the seats were already taken, filled by the Awakeners from different nations. The tension in the hall was heavy, palpable, every face turned back toward the entrance through which I, Ume, and Nymeria had entered. Their eyes bore into us with curiosity, suspicion, and assessment.

They were all famous faces. The JDragonBlade from Japan, Kralzer from Austria, Mu Jin from South Korea, Theodore from the States, Yang Kai from China, Robert Schaefer from Germany. The list kept going. Each of them was an SSS Ranker, the strongest Earth could offer. They were the reason the world was not overflown by the monsters when the gates suddenly appeared five years ago. Their presence here, together, spoke of the gravity of the situation.

"Hey, look here," a hand waved from the last second row, belonging to a familiar person.

"Who invited this idiot here?" I chuckled, shaking my head as I looked at Aryan, who carried a stupid grin on his face. Beside him sat Theodore, the only two people sitting at the last second row.