Chapter 738: The battlefield I
A loud ringing echoed in Kyle's ears as his figure materialized in the center of a camp filled with countless armored warriors from different races shouting and bustling about, alongside Zhask and the rest of the group.
Kyle's gaze swept across the frenetic surroundings to take in everything.
The space was chaotic, filled with tents, supplies, and medical stations treating the gravely wounded individuals brought back by those with high agility. When Zhask and his group arrived, no one seemed surprised; instead, they ignored them and continued with their urgent tasks.
Suddenly, a few more deafening noises echoed from a distance, followed by a chorus of distant, agonized cries that attracted the group's attention.
Kyle lifted his gaze and beheld a thick blanket of blood and darkness shrouding the sky in the distance, with smoke clouds billowing up to form dark, eerie patterns. He even noticed a few tiny figures in the sky.
Before he could disappear from his position, a middle-aged female dwarf clad in dark robes and exuding an imposing presence hurried over to the newcomers standing above the teleportation array.
A familiar blue ring sparkled on one of her fingers, and a large gray sword design was emblazoned on the front of her robes.
She seemed to recognize Zhask and the other elder with him, as a smile brightened her weary face upon seeing them.
"Oh, Bill and Zask! You two are early this time. But did Galdor not come along?"
She enthusiastically slapped Zhask on the back, causing the old demi-human to scowl and swat her hand away.
A chuckle escaped her lips at his reaction as she glanced at the youngsters-though not truly young, as many of them were already over fifty or even a hundred years old-standing beside the two elders.
Her gaze lingered on the man in the ivory-colored hoodie for a moment longer, surprised that, unlike the others who had already begun donning the armor provided to them, he wore such vibrant clothing, which was rarely seen on the battlefield.
With a sigh, she pushed the thought aside; after all, he would soon realize that on the battlefield, such clothing was impractical, as it would easily be ruined. Her eyes refocused on Zhask and Bill.
"Since it's you two, I trust your people already know the rules of the battlefield, and even if they don't, the guards would have told them of everything important."
Despite saying that, she turned to look at the youngsters standing around the duo.
"I am Nora, the one in charge of this camp and your direct superior from now on. There are many other camps nearby, but they are not under my command. Regardless, you must remember that this is the battlefield."
A solemn expression clouded her face.
"You are here to fight, and nothing else. None of you will receive anything for free here-not even a tent to rest in. You must earn everything through your efforts."
Kyle noticed how everyone around him tensed at her words. They had already been briefed earlier by the guards that they would enter the battlefield immediately. After all, they were here to assist others in fighting the enemies, not to waste time. However, some of them, who were only here to gain experience and return with the elders later, seemed more anxious than the others.
Nora's gaze once again settled on Kyle, more specifically on the crimson bird secretly peeking out from his hoodie. Her eyes narrowed as she sensed a powerful aura emanating from the little bird, and she suddenly spoke unexpectedly, directing her words specifically at the bird. "The battlefield is divided into two distinct sections. On the far right, strong beasts are clashing, while on the left, the various races are confronting the dark side."
Kyle raised his brow and pushed Bia back into the hoodie before meeting Nora's eyes, but she looked away and pointed at the blue rings on everyone's fingers.
"This ring is an artifact. It will record your achievements on the battlefield. Once you have accomplished enough, you will be granted a tent in this area for rest. And if you perform exceptionally and defeat many enemies, you will earn the opportunity to study under the seven elders, the strongest individuals on our side after James."
With that, she clapped her hands.
"That's it! The dark side's forces are clashing with our allies just a short distance away. Join the battle as soon as you've assessed your surroundings. Also, aside from the area where the beasts are fighting, avoid flying on the battlefield, as one of the seven elders, Jane, is engaged in combat with two supreme-rank enemies in the sky. I certainly don't want any of you to meet your end on your first day."
Her words had barely ended when she noticed the man in the hoodie move. He shot her a quick glance before sprinting toward the battlefield with an agility that rivaled that of an ordinary divine rank.
'Huh... I couldn't sense his rank, so I assumed he was stronger than me. Did I make a mistake?'
Nora furrowed her brows, suddenly feeling a strange sense of déjà vu. Why did it feel like she knew this man, even though it was the first time she had seen him? Her eyes widened as she staggered back a step.
"A small crimson bird and a pair of striking green eyes...!!"
She gasped. How the hell could she have missed that detail when the entire universe was talking about this man??
"No, no, that can't be possible. The silver hair is missing!"
She murmured in disbelief and turned her head sharply toward Zhask, who wore a sly grin that made her break into a cold sweat.
"Haha..."
Before she could confront the old man and wipe that infuriating grin off his face, one of the youngsters around Zhask suddenly shouted, confirming her suspicions.
"Let's follow the nature's favorite!"
It was Mason. He glanced at his twin, and with solemn nods, the two brothers began to run after Kyle's figure without a second thought. The others also exchanged looks of silent agreement, quickly grabbed their weapons, and rushed after the two.
Ultimately, only Zhask, Bill, and Nora were left in the area. Bill gave one final nod to Zhask
and rushed behind the group.
However, the man in the hoodie running at the front seemed to notice that the others had
begun to follow him.
Kyle glanced back; he had chosen to run instead of vanishing outright to encourage the twins
to muster their courage and join the battlefield without fear.
Now that his task was complete, there was no longer any reason for him to linger.
"Bia!"
After his words fell, the small bird flew out of his hoodie, her bright eyes sparkling with anticipation as golden flames erupted from her body, startling everyone nearby.
-"Haha, finally! No more hiding!"
Kyle clicked his tongue as Bia transformed into her phoenix form in front of everyone and let out a powerful cry to announce her presence to all the beasts in the vicinity.
"What a show-off."
He chuckled, knowing he didn't need to tell her what to do, since she was more than ready to head toward the area where she could sense the presence of countless bonded beasts and
monsters.
"My turn I guess."
Kyle accelerated, his eyes glowing white, and the space in front of him and Bia tore apart,
before engulfing both of them.
The duo vanished within the rift, which then sealed itself, leaving the group of individuals trailing behind and everyone who witnessed the scene in a daze.
Above the camp, in the sky, elder Hal, who had witnessed everything, sighed.
"These two are bound to create chaos. However, I'm curious to see how much they have improved. So, I will let them fight to their heart's content."