~ Three weeks later ~
The Dragon Fang Gang Base stretched across several acres on the outskirts of the city like a private fortress. Calling it a base was almost an understatent... it resembled a sprawling estate more than anything else.
Tall walls surrounded the entire compound, reinforced with hidden surveillance equipnt and defensive chanisms that only awakened engineers could design. Inside the walls were multiple large buildings, each serving different purposes for the gang.
One structure housed training facilities where awakened mbers practiced their branches daily. Another building was used for administration and mission coordination. There were dormitories, storage warehouses filled with weapons and awakened artifacts, and even a dical wing designed specifically for treating branch-related injuries.
At the center of the estate stood the main mansion, a wonderfully sculpted black structure with crimson highlights that reflected the gang’s emblem... a dragon’s head surrounded by curling flas.
mbers of the gang moved through the compound in groups and all of them wore the official Dragon Fang uniform.
The outfit was a striking long black coat made of reinforced fiber hung to about mid-thigh, fitted closely around the shoulders but flexible enough for combat movent. Along the edges of the sleeves and collar ran deep crimson stitching, forming subtle patterns resembling dragon scales.
On the back of every coat was the gang emblem... a crimson dragon skull with fangs extended, surrounded by curling flas.
Under the coat, mbers typically wore tactical clothing suited for awakened combat; dark shirts, reinforced pants, and combat boots.
However, the coat itself was actually a light armor ant to reduce physical damage by a particular percentage.
Even standing casually, the awakeners here radiated confidence.
Today, however, a group of them seed unusually restless.
Nine awakened individuals stood near the entrance of the estate’s vehicle courtyard.
Eight of them were clearly new recruits.
They chatted among themselves with so leaning against parked vehicles while others stood impatiently with arms crossed.
One girl in particular was clearly annoyed. Her na was Lina Hart and she had shoulder-length auburn hair and sharp green eyes that seed permanently narrowed in irritation.
She folded her arms tightly and huffed.
"Why are we waiting this long?"
"We’re standing around like idiots waiting for soone who’s basically just like us."
A nearby boy shrugged.
"That’s what I heard too."
His na was Kyle Roberts. He was around six feet tall with broad-shoulders and short blond hair.
"They say he awakened like... three months ago."
Lina scoffed loudly.
"Exactly my point."
Another girl leaned against one of the vehicles nearby.
Her na was i Lin.
Unlike Lina’s aggressive attitude, i had a calr deanor and long black hair tied into a loose braid.
"I heard he’s close with so of the higher-ups," i said thoughtfully.
Lina rolled her eyes.
"Yeah right."
Another guy with ssy brown hair and an overly confident grin, spoke up.
"If he’s really that connected, maybe we should be careful," Derek Milton stated.
Lina snorted.
"Please."
"He’s a newly awakened like us."
"What’s he going to do? Summon a puppy?"
The group laughed but only one person among them remained quiet...
Standing slightly apart was the team leader... his na was Marcus Hale.
Marcus was older than the rest and likely in his late twenties. He had short dark hair and sharp features gave him the look of soone who had seen plenty of real combat.
Unlike the others, Marcus had already reached Peak Tier 1 and was closer to Tier 2.
His eyes glanced between the recruits, clearly aware that they were about to make a mistake.
He opened his mouth to say sothing but stopped because soone had just walked into the surroundings.
The conversations slowly died down as everyone turned.
A tall young man approached casually through the entrance and unlike the others, he wasn’t wearing the Dragon Fang uniform.
Instead, he wore a fitted black jacket over a dark shirt, slim jeans, and polished boots.
He had a calm posture and expression with black earrings glinting on both his ears.
He was around 6’1" in height, with a presence that commanded attention... not a single person was able to look away as he approached.
It was as though his being carried an attractive suction force that siphoned all their attention towards him.
"Sorry for being late."
The mont Lina got a clear look at him, her entire deanor changed as her eyes widened dramatically.
"...Oh."
The irritation vanished instantly.
If hearts could appear in soone’s eyes, they would have appeared in hers.
i noticed imdiately and elbowed her slightly.
"Wow," i whispered. "That was quick."
But not everyone was impressed.
Another girl nad Tara Blake stepped forward. She had short silver hair and cold gray eyes that carried a permanent look of superiority.
She looked West up and down before letting out a low "hmph."
"So we had to wait all this ti..."
"...for a common summoner?"
The others went quiet while Tara crossed her arms.
"You should just stay in the rear, pretty boy."
Her voice dripped with disdain.
"Summoners are weak anyway."
"Just summon sothing when we need it."
Marcus imdiately stepped forward.
"Enough."
He was about to caution the recruits but West raised a hand.
"It’s fine."
Marcus blinked while West shrugged casually.
"I won’t get in the way."
Marcus looked embarrassed.
"Still... I should apologize."
West waved it off.
"No need."
Marcus sighed.
"Actually, I should also apologize for calling you here in the first place."
The recruits looked confused as Marcus continued.
"We were short on summoners."
"Another squad of new recruits already took the available one."
"So we needed at least one before entering the ruins."
The group consisted of eight recruits besides West and Marcus.
Five guys and three ladies.
All of them possessed either Bloodline or Transformation branches. West was the only Summoner here.
West nodded.
"No problem."
"This was part of my agreent with Zu Li anyway."
The recruits exchanged confused glances.
None of them realized what that actually ant.
They knew of Zu Li, of course...
Every mber of the gang did but she was practically untouchable.
Even Marcus who was three ranks below Captain, had never t her personally.
The idea that West had an agreent with her seed ridiculous so they believed West was talking about another Zu Li. It definitely couldn’t be the gang leader.
Marcus clapped his hands once.
"Alright."
"Let’s move."
Outside the courtyard gates, a convoy of black vehicles waited.
Everyone picked their rides and West ended up sitting in the front vehicle with Marcus driving.
Marcus handed him a small tablet.
"We secured a permit for this ruin."
"It’s outside the city."
"All the information we gathered is in there."
West began reading.
The file described the ruin’s structure, estimated threat levels, and previous scouting reports.
Marcus glanced at him while driving.
"You’ve cleared ruins with layers before."
"This one doesn’t even have a layered structure."
West nodded.
"Should be simple."
Marcus smiled slightly.
"Exactly."
"That’s why the gang leader approved it."
"Perfect training ground for the new recruits."
anwhile in the back seat, Derek had started talking enthusiastically.
"...Man."
"Miss Zu Li is incredible."
The boy sitting beside him, Eric Dalton, nodded excitedly.
"She’s amazing."
Derek sighed dramatically.
"Oh, to worship the ground she walks on."
"I swear I’d let her use as a doormat."
"She’s that beautiful."
West’s nose wrinkled slightly.
"Honestly?"
"I think she’s pretty stuck up."
The vehicle went silent.
Derek exploded.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
He leaned forward aggressively.
"Don’t talk about my goddess like that!"
"She wouldn’t even spare the likes of you a second glance!"
West chuckled softly.
"You’re right."
"Probably not."
Marcus, sitting in the driver’s seat, tried very hard not to laugh... bcause the poor guy had no idea how often Zu Li and West actually interacted.
The convoy continued driving leaving the city behind.
Soon, the buildings slowly disappeared and civilization faded into wilderness.
Hours passed and eventually, the environnt changed.
The roads beca narrow dirt paths... the trees grew taller and stranger.
The forest here had an almost mythical quality to it.
Ancient trees stretched toward the sky with twisted branches like reaching fingers as their massive roots coiled across the forest floor like serpents.
Soft glowing insects floated through the air like tiny stars and a faint pink mist rolled between the trunks of the trees, giving the entire area a dreamlike atmosphere.
Marcus slowed the vehicle.
"We’re close."
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