Chapter 550: New Orders
Two days later, the mood in Delta Outpost had shifted entirely. What had been a tense post-reclamation phase turned into the frantic hum of war preparations. Orders came directly from the Authority—reinforcements would arrive within the week, and all stationed forces were to prepare for the next strike deeper into corrupted territory.
The central plaza became the heart of controlled chaos. Blacksmiths and enchanters worked in shifts, repairing gear and reinforcing armor with hastily prepared mana inscriptions. Messengers darted between command tents with sealed orders. The air smelled of oil, iron, and the faint sharpness of mana crystals being primed for deployment.
Hiro, now a captain under the War Council’s provisional command, had been given authority to select his strike team. Military regulations dictated groups of between six and ten members, chosen at the captain’s discretion. It was a decision Hiro didn’t take lightly—this was more than just picking the strongest fighters. The wrong team dynamic could get people killed.
Misha was an obvious inclusion. Despite her exhaustion after the duel, her mana control and versatility made her a linchpin asset in close-quarters skirmishes. Lisa, Misha, Sylvia, and Zion were obvious as they had been together for a long time
The final slot, however, was the one that drew the most whispers.
Vance.
When the orders came down placing him under Hiro’s command, the initial reaction from the group was... skeptical, to put it mildly. The events of the duel were still fresh in everyone’s minds, and Misha’s glance at Hiro had carried a silent question: Are you sure about this?
Hiro’s answer had been simple. "He’s not here to be liked. He’s here to be useful."
And surprisingly, Vance was useful.
Whether it was out of wounded pride or genuine ambition, Vance threw himself into preparations with a single-minded determination that caught more than a few people off guard. He organized weapon resupply routes for the strike unit, negotiated with quartermasters to ensure their group received top-grade mana potions, and even took the time to drill with the defensive specialist to tighten their formation breaks.