Chapter 49: DESERT STONES IN UV - The Escape

Major Kent aboard the USS John Ford, a major air carrier ship cruising in the Oman Gulf, urgently reported, "Yes, Mr. President, this is serious. Our soldiers are still alive, along with the wyrm and two tamers. No, the rumors are false. It seems like a coup with poor preparation. Our intel indicates the Prince is third in the succession line and is orchestrating military exploits and religious excitement. Yes, he's using mercenaries to instill fear in the population and eliminate the king."

President T. responded sternly, "Inform His Majesty; he's using mercenaries for a power grab. What's the status of the wyrm?"

Kent replied, "It's not your concern, Mr. President, but I advise you to forget it. It's just a scaly, big bat that's extinct."

In the Oval Office, President T. acknowledged, "Good, I know I can count on you. You understand what's at stake here. Your future is still bright, but if you make errors, you'll be demoted or even judged a traitor."

As the soldiers and I huddled outside the cave, one of the soldiers received a phone call, and he was determined to keep his promise to protect his pokeball and secure a partner.

He answered the call, "Yes, who is calling?... Yes, the code is correct. We are all healthy, and the civilian is okay. We are hidden, and they are not yet chasing us. They don't know where we are. No, the population is not involved. There are no casualties. We raided some markets for supplies, but there was no violence. Yes, super, we have a point of extraction."

I watched as the soldier's expression shifted, indicating the call's contents were crucial.

"And the intifada? A scam and a coup? Okay, I understand. The Beast is with us. She's sleeping with the two tame creatures. She's tamed and kind and will surrender instead of fight. If you treat the wyrm kindly, you'll get everything from her. She doesn't eat human flesh; she eats meat and human food. Okay, I'll inform the group. Yes, we have GPS coordinates. Yes, sir, to your orders."

I gave the soldier a knowing look, and with my speaker, I conveyed, "Well done."

Our escape plan involved a helicopter picking us up in a hidden mountain valley, invisible to radar. The wyrm would follow the helicopter, ridden by a tamer and a soldier to ensure nothing went awry. However, the distance couldn't be covered on foot; the population would attack us if they discovered our whereabouts. We had to steal horses or a jeep, but the mountains and troop presence in the valleys between our location and the extraction point posed significant challenges.

I addressed the group, "My friends, we'll have to hurry and reach our point of extraction, as you've all received on your smartphones. I will accompany you and surrender. I promise no violence. None of your comrades will be harmed. I promise. Please remember I saved your lives, and forget all you've seen here. You have the opportunity to have real friends and partners for life. So, if anyone questions, I am only a trained flying animal, a reptile, a flying lizard. Yes, they exist—flying lizards. I am a variant, larger and the last of my kind. The less you say, the better. Knowing too much could cost you your life. They'll discover I'm sentient and can speak due to the zoo employees. As for your 'pokeball,' place it on the ground, leaving enough space for a horse, and press the button. Only you can activate it by sending mana or will into it. If people ask you to open it by force, only a plastic toy will appear. Tell them it's a souvenir from the zoo for your kids or invent a silly excuse. The more ridiculous, the better it works. If they open it or scan it, the same. Do you think they can take a picture of magic? Impossible, so it's resistant, but it can still be smashed."

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

I continued, "Now, we'll release only your wolves. The others need to rest and adapt."

Each person retrieved their ball, and eight fire jackal mounts materialized. They all sniffed and licked the humans, then laid down to help the humans climb onto their backs. These newfound creatures were happy to be strong and showed their appreciation.

Their appearance resembled that of horses, with long fangs extending from their upper jaws downwards. Their eyes had returned to normal, and some black smoke escaped their nostrils. Their claws were longer than those of a bear and sharp enough to cut steel. Scales covered parts of their bodies, and they had long reptilian tongues. A pair of horns started to grow on both sides of their heads, and their vertebral columns were protected by hard scales, leading to tails finished with spikes. Flaps of skin hung from their bellies, connecting all four paws, similar to some squirrels.

Next, we arranged the fortune bags like saddles, and belts were fashioned from goat skin to make riding possible.

Then we were ready. I instructed, "We'll stay high in the mountains to maintain maximum altitude."

I reminded them, "The sniper rifles they're using employ .50 caliber ammo that can kill you with a single shot, armored fur or not. With this caliber and piercing bullets, you have no chance."

As we reached the edge of a ravine, I warned them, "The snipers are waiting for us on the other side. If we continue across the plateau without contact with the welcoming party, they'll know we're here."

I added, "If I attack and they spot my powers this time, they'll abandon me and you as well."

The humans were now visibly afraid of the fire jackals and reluctant to ride these monstrous creatures. Heater demonstrated the process of taming one, displaying confidence. She knelt before a jackal, looking down in submission with her palm out. If the jackal accepted, it would lick her hand; otherwise, it would growl. Mc Gyvor and the six soldiers followed suit, and none of the jackals showed aggression. They seemed ecstatic about their new lives.

Heater, still kneeling in front of the alpha jackal, introduced herself by showing her heart and saying, "Heater, friend." To her surprise, the alpha responded with a growling sound that resembled, "GRRHeaterrr, GrHEater."

Heater exclaimed, "No, it's impossible," as she embraced her new friend.

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy, almost uttering the word "MINE." However, my radar indicated movement, and I scanned all the nearby caves, suspecting that satellite imagery might have revealed unusual movements in shadows.

"Okay, now let's ride. They are here! We might be too late," I announced through my speaker.

I cast a Fear Removal spell, and the humans began to mount their jackals.

The plan involved gliding to the other side of the valley to avoid the mercenaries waiting for us on the plateau. I advised, "Jump and extend your paws, and you humans, hug your jackals closely to become one."

We jumped and silently glided across the valley, with no immediate response from the mercenaries behind us. The core of the jackals had some features copied from my flying experience, ensuring their safe passage.

As we landed and started running to evade the mercenaries, I said, "Gunship, Group 1, and Group 2, we have no contact. We've reached the end of the plateau. They must be near you. Snipers, get ready. They're likely descending the ravine to reach the valley and cross it."

"Group 1, we still have no contact."

The gunship pilot received orders, "Gunship pilot, if they cross the plateau without contact with the welcoming party, they must fly! Yes, this is it! They're flying!"

Fear coursed through me as anti-aircraft fire erupted, but armor-piercing rounds posed a much graver threat. The monstrous F35 aircraft, capable of incredible aerial maneuvers, was also a formidable adversary. They were equipped with rockets and hellfire missiles, as well as a new laser turret designed for detecting stealth targets. My weakness was laser attacks, and even though they might not be as powerful as the one that destroyed the Devourer's brain, they could still cause severe burns.

I needed a countermeasure, and I needed it quickly. I attempted to cast a Darkness spell, but it failed.

"Octahedron? Darkness?"

"Must research darkness different from darkness elements. Possible paradox. Use impossible now."

I was desperate as the enemy closed in. I tried casting Darkness again, and this time, it worked.

"CAST DARKNESS!"

With the cover of darkness, we continued our escape.