Chapter 211: VANGUARD
In a field much larger fifty football fields stacked together, the most notable thing was a gigantic warship that levitated a few meters off the ground with it’s arch extending to the ground.
The warship was painted in black and gold and looked extremely majestic.
This was one of the four ’grand class’ warships possessed by the human race. It was said that at it’s peak defensive form, it was capable of withstanding a full powered strike from an Alpha rank.
Not only that, it was said that it could go around the entire Nahaar in less than ten seconds. It was the epitome of humanity’s centuries of research in sorcery-tech. Its name was VANGUARD; Vanguard Assault Nexus Guardian of Unified Allied Realm Defense.
"Wow, this thing is huge." Dion muttered starstruck, craning his neck to look up at the gigantic warship.
"No shit it is." Aric muttered. "Now quit acting like a village boy and behave like a proper youth representing the human race." He chided, using his hand to forcefully turn Dion’s head back to the ground from behind.
"It really is gigantic though, isn’t that right?" Dion turned to a purple eyes youth.
Levi frowned. "Do I know you?"
"..." Dion opened his mouth, mortified, but no words escaped his mouth.
Currently, the one hundred youths who have been selected to represent the human race in the Convergence of races, and compete from the resources of the divine tree were all present in an orderly form next to the gigantic airship.
Amongst this hundred, a lot of them were famous faces amongst the younger generation, after all, most of them were royals, nobles, or had their strength speak for itself.
So of course, Alistair and the others were all part of the hundred.
Apart from the one hundred youths, there were also other notable figures of the human domain going with them. Figures like Edmond Black, Lizzy Summers, David Lee, and others of high background including some nobles and some royals.
Out of the six Alpha rankers of the human race, only four were going for the convergence, after all, it wouldn’t do to leave the human domain bare without any of it’s deterrents.
Though, only the human race could afford such luxury. For other races who had only two Alpha rankers each, they could only leave their race in the hands of lower rankers.
Somewhere amongst the one hundred, Delilah asked a question.
"Which Alpha rankers are we going with?" She raised a brow.
"I heard there’s the chancellor, the chairwoman of the Aetherial association, the Necron emperor, and my father." Rose replied next to her.
"What, both your fathers are going?!" Delilah exclaimed turning her head from left to right, between both Rose and Anastasia. "I thought it was a bad idea for both of them to be in the same place at the same time." She said but seeing both their stares, she quickly added. "No offense."
"None taken." Anastasia shrugged. "Father can be quite provoking." She knew Sevas well enough to know that he was the provoking type. Sometimes she felt it was as if somewhere on him was itching if he didn’t provoke or taunt someone else.
"And while father acts indifferent, it’s like he’s always looking for a reason to go wild." Rose said flatly. It was something she had come to learn about her father. This was the reason why putting Sevas Necron and Amon Darkfell in the same room is nigh impossible, not unless it was at a Grand Templar meeting, or something like the Ivos Gala.
Hearing that, Delilah quickly shifted the topic.
"Uh, I have been meaning to ask for a while now... why are we even using such a powerful war weapon just to travel... it feels kind of strange..."
"It has something to do with the face and reputation of the human race as the strongest race in Nahaar. Even if this is a time of peace, we have to be intimidating, and show dominance as a reminder to the others that they couldn’t mess with us." Anastasia explained. "At least that was what my father said." She added.
No matter the world, all nations and forces try to establish dominance over others to ensure their own safety.
It’s a natural phenomenon and there’s nothing wrong with using your own strength to scare off the prying eyes of the ’hyenas’ that might be hiding in the dark.
"By using this ’grand class’ war weapon as a transport vehicle, we would be showcasing a slight bit of our race’s combat power to other races, this way, we will be able to give a strong impression in front of others..." Rose added.
"We certainly don’t have any animosity with the demons... at least at the moment, but we can’t let them underestimate us either..." Anastasia said.
"I get it now." Delilah nodded. In reality, she already knew all these, but she only brought it up to make them forget the topic about their fathers.
Soon, everyone boarded the ship and it slowly rose into the sky.
"The VANGUARD will be reaching the demon continent in an hour. You are free to tour the airship in the mean time." A commanding voice sounded from everywhere just as the main casts met.
"It seemed everyone is here." Alistair smiled brightly, Elsa, Fabian, Calum, and Levi at his side, as they met with Rose, Delilah and Anastasia. Then Aric, Dion and Sasha who also walked over.
"Why don’t we tour the ship together?" Alistair said and the rest more or less agreed.
As they walked around the ship, sometime along their tour, they chanced upon instructor Summers. After exchanging greetings, the instructor enthusiastically asked; "How do you see the warship."
"It’s incredible, Miss Lizzy." Alistair said. "I’m sure it must have cost a lot of resources to bring such creation to reality."
"You have no idea, it’s a project that has been going on for centuries." Lizzy replied.
"Instructor, this warship is huge! Training grounds, bars, theaters, etc. There is literally every facility here!" Dion said excitedly. "How big is it exactly?" he asked.
"It’s big enough to house over ten thousand people at once for over two years without needing to refill either fuel, food, or water." Lizzy replied, stunning the youths.
"Woah! It’s way bigger than I thought." Dion gasped, and most of the rest mirrored his reaction, but soon regained composure.
"It’s said that the warships strongest attack can injure even Beta rankers. As for Alpha rankers, well I don’t think there a sorcery-tech outside there that could even scrape them." Lizzy said, causing the student’s amusement to shoot off the roof.
Feeling great of herself as having brightened their horizons, Lizzy turned to Alistair.
"Alright Alistair, come with me, I have something to ask you." She said to golden boy, in a tone that left no room for argument.
Alistair frown slightly, detecting the seriousness in her voice, before nodding to the others. "You guys continue with the tour, I’ll join you later." He said.
Soon, both Lizzy and Alistair walked away from the others.
"What is it, Miss Lizzy?" Alistair asked after confirming there was no where else around.
Lizzy sighed.
"How many times have I told you to just call me Lizzy." She said in an exasperated tone.
"Okay, Lizzy." Alistair called with a smile. If that was what she wanted, then he would comply, plus, it would help bridge the gap of master and student between them.
"That’s more like it." Lizzy smiled before her expression turned serious. "Don’t let anyone pressure you or load the expectations of the entire human race on your shoulders in hopes of you winning the resources of the divine tree for humanity."
Alistair frowned.
"But why, isn’t the purpose of the convergence to win the resources for your race?"
"It is, but expectations crush people. Though history, many great people have fell because they failed to meet the expectations loaded onto their shoulders. So if you’re participating in the competition, do it because you want to win, not because the human race is expecting you to win." Lizzy said at last.
Alistair grinned.
"Don’t worry now, I think I understand."
"Good." Lizzy also nodded with a smile and the two continued to stare at each other for the next few seconds, before breaking away in awkwardness.
After that little episode, Alistair went back and joined the others in their touring. But long after, the demon continent looked in the surrounding.
"What the... so that is the divine tree."
"So beautiful."
The youths began to admire the sight of the divine tree, which was the most indicative landmark that one was close to the demon continent.
And so the entire warship became lively as everyone began chatting about the divine tree, and the anticipation that they would be next to it come some minutes.
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A/N: HERE’S A LITTLE MASS RELEASE OF FIVE ChapterS FOR MY FAVOURITE READERS. THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER MASS RELEASE NEXT SATURDAY, AND ANOTHER ON NEXT FRIDAY. A CUP OF COFFEE SHOULD NURSE MY BRAIN CELLS BACK RO FULL POWER IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. ALL POWER STONES, GOLDEN TICKETS, AND GIFTS ARE WELCOMED.