Chapter 40: Leonidas Lunev
Orion was sprawled across his bed, the battle for the top spot was relentless, and he strained himself jumping from a battle to another. He hadn't even noticed how exhausted he was until he got into his room. His communicator bracelet buzzed softly on the nightstand.
[Incoming call: Isolde.]
He groaned, he should have put it into sleep mode but he was awake already so he still answered, dragging himself upright and running a hand through his disheveled hair.
The moment the call connected, Isolde's face appeared. But she wasn't alone. Juno, Felix, Darius, and a few others crowded around, their faces eager, their eyes filled with determination.
Orion's eyes flickered between them, trying to focus. "What's up?" His voice was thick with sleep.
Isolde didn't bother with small talk. She met Orion's gaze, unwavering. "We're in. And before you start asking questions, just hear us out."
Orion blinked, still shaking off the remnants of sleep. He rubbed his temple and squinted at the screen. "In? In what exactly?" His voice was thick but curiosity crept in beneath it.
Juno leaned forward, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Look, after this phase ends, you're going to need a faction. And let's be honest, we'd rather fight with you than throw our lot in with some second-rate squad."
Darius smirked, crossing his arms as he leaned slightly into the screen. "Come on, Orion. We both know you're not the type to sit back and let someone else call the shots. We'd rather be ahead of the curve than scrambling to catch up."
Orion's tired mind struggled to keep up with their words. Form a faction? He hadn't even thought about it, too focused on holding onto his position, surviving the next stage. But as he saw the sincerity in their eyes, something clicked. These weren't just people looking to follow him because of his family name nor skills. They wanted to work with him. They wanted to be part of something bigger.
"Alright," Orion murmured, dragging a hand through his hair before exhaling sharply. "Let's do it. But if this backfires, I'm blaming all of you."