The moonlight stretched thin across the waves when Team Laps’ skiff finally scraped onto the rocky shore.
And the moment their boots hit sand, Luke jerked his chin toward the smallest member of the squad.
"Alright, Naf. You’re up."
The boy nodded once with a little hn before closing his eyes.
And the world as though... shifted.
His consciousness expanded outward like a silent shockwave, lighting up every spark of life on the entire island.
Insects, birds in their nests, sleeping fish hovering near the reef, all lit up in his mind like stars on a black canvas.
Along with the two suns.
"Found them," Naf said, voice trembling in awe. "But... B-41’s life force is enormous. Way too enormous."
Luke’s eyebrow twitched.
"It is a dragon, kid."
"No... it’s more than that." The boy frowned deeply. "And the human... he’s Tier 1 Mid-Stage, but something’s wrong with that reading."
Irhaal stepped closer as she asked with a soft but serious voice, "Wrong how, Naf?"
The boy paused, thinking of the best way to put it, "He feels... stronger. Like he’s not supposed to be Tier 1 at all. And he and B-41 seem to have bonded; it’s now his Familiar.
Naya, the priestess, pulled her ocean-blue hair behind her ears as she placed a warm hand on Naf’s back.
"It’s alright, dear. You’re doing great," she smiled gently, "Can you establish a telepathic link?"
Naf took a breath before answering, only for Gorran’s deep rumble to cut in from behind.
"Don’t force it, boy. A dragon’s psyche is different." His tone wasn’t unkind, more like a boulder offering advice.
Naf nodded again and let his link stretch outward carefully this time, like he was reaching through a pond without disturbing the water.
As he brushed against the two sources, he felt both of them jolt, felt their fear, their instinctive recoil, and then... acceptance.
Like they realized instantly: This isn’t an attack.
"Done," Naf said, sweat beading lightly on his brow.
Luke clapped once. "Good kid."
As the link stabilized, the entire everyone’s minds sat in one shared invisible circle.
Luke cleared his throat, slipping immediately into his "charming bastard" tone.
"Hey there! I’m Luke, Captain in the Pantheon’s SF Division. And let me start by assuring you... we come in peace."
A beat of silence followed before Nico’s voice fired back, dry as sandpaper:
"Oh yeah? And which one of you is Peace?"
Luke and the squad all collectively flat-lined for half a second at Nico’s comeback, like their brains blue-screened in perfect sync.
Naya’s cheeks flushed pink.
Irhaal choked on nothing.
Gorran couldn’t help that speck of cackle...
Luke, however, went through all five stages of grief in two seconds before settling on defeat and then annoyed acceptance.
"For the first time in my life," he muttered, "I have lost the opening."
Then, louder, he responded through the telepathic link:
"Lestin, listen. The dragon you’ve bonded with belongs to the Pantheon. And I’m also curious about the technique you’re using to hide your Tier....
Here’s my offer... You surrender the Dragon. And I will buy that technique you’re using to spoof your Tier, at a very generous price.... And we both walk away peacefully... Me with a dragon and you with more money than you know what to do with."
And Nico’s reply hit like a dropped anvil.
"How about you hand over X-97... let us leave... and you don’t lose two warships and your bones?"
A collective WHAT?! rippled through the squad.
Luke stiffened before his eyes sharpened.
"You know about X-97...?" He said.
Then his voice dropped, stripped of its playfulness.
"If you have that intel, then you know Pantheon’s reach. You know what we’re capable of... Even if you escape the island, you’ll be escaping a man marked for death. Are you- "
But Nico cut him off with the casual disrespect of a man on an online forum.
"Bro, it’s either this or that.. Either let us leave with X-97... Or we beat the shit out of you, and then leave with them."
Luke inhaled sharply...and grinned a feral, delighted grin.
"Them... huh? He whispered as black mana erupted around him like tar boiling over, "Try... it."
The rest of Team Laps instantly shifted into formation.
Naya stepped forward, pressing her hands together as she closed her eyes and began her prayer to her Goddess, Amaterasu.
"Radiant Mother, oh Sun Eternal,
whose light burns shadow and falsehood alike,
Lay your blessing upon us who stand in thy name.
Guide our blades, shield our hearts,
and let no darkness rise unchallenged."
And a beat later, a soft golden haze descended on the squad like sunlight turned into mist.
Gorran stomped forward, shield raised, lance ready as he anchored before them like a walking fortress.
Irhaal lifted her staff, and pale blue spectral fire curled around her wrists as she began her quiet, rapid incantation.
"Alright then..." Luke breathed as he rolled his neck once before his grin sharpened into a predator’s.
"...I’ll handle B-41... You guys deal with the man." He said as he reached behind him and drew a large double-edged knife engraved with curling runic lines.
The next moment, the night itself reached forward before swallowing him whole.
And then -
BOOOOOOM!!!
The jungle exploded.