Chapter 101 - It’s Good to Be Back

The air was heavy with an oppressive tension, thick enough to feel like an unseen force pressing down on them. The great eye had vanished, yet its presence lingered, leaving behind an unmistakable sense of exposure, as if something had pried into their very existence without permission. The realization that one of their upcoming rivals had stolen their personal information sent an unsettling chill through the group. Their bodies remained rigid, breaths shallow, as cold sweat clung to their skin—a visceral reaction to the violation they had just endured.

Li, however, was the one who reacted the most violently. His face was pale, a stark contrast to his usual relaxed demeanor. His hands were clenched into fists so tight that his knuckles had turned white, his entire body trembling with an emotion that could only be described as sheer panic. His voice, raw with frustration, rang through the room as he cursed furiously, his shouts bouncing off the lobby’s walls.

"Damn it! Damn it!"

He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair, his breathing uneven as if he were struggling to stay in control.

"Those bastards! Of all things—why this?!"

The others remained silent for a moment, still processing what had just happened, but it was Adam who pulled himself together first. Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, he took a deep breath and spoke, his tone measured but firm.

"This isn't good. Not at all."

His words carried a weight that made the others snap their attention toward him.

"Think about it. They didn't do that just out of curiosity. There's only one reason why they’d use something like 'Fluoroscopy' before a scenario even starts."

Kazue, her usual optimism dimmed by the circumstances, hesitated before trying to offer an alternative explanation. She shifted on her feet, her fingers twitching slightly as she glanced at the others.

"M-Maybe… maybe they just wanted to make sure we’re not dangerous? Like, what if 'Dragon Utopia' did that to check the other teams before deciding if they should cooperate or not? You know, to prepare for potential conflicts but not necessarily attack anyone?"

Adam shook his head instantly, shutting that idea down before she could even finish voicing her hope. His expression was grim, his analytical mind already dissecting the implications.

"No. If it had been the other team—'We Need a Team Name' or whatever—I could maybe consider that possibility. But it was 'Dragon Utopia' who did this."

His voice grew sharper, emphasizing his point.

"And according to what Katya told us, they're the strongest team in this entire collaboration. They're the last ones to arrive, meaning the system itself ranks them as the most powerful. There's absolutely no reason for them to be worried about us. If they were scouting us, it wasn't for peace. It was to assess their prey."

Silence fell over the group once more, the weight of his words settling deep in their chests. It made too much sense. There was no reason for the most powerful team to waste a high-tier Plot Device just to ‘ensure safety’. This was predatory behavior, pure and simple. They weren’t being examined as potential allies—they were being sized up as future corpses.

The weight of Adam’s words settled over the group like an unshakable fog. No one attempted to argue against his reasoning—deep down, they all understood the grim reality.

The only one who remained outwardly composed was Katya, who stood beside Kazue, idly running her fingers through the girl's hair in a slow, deliberate motion, as if soothing a frightened pet. Kazue, though clearly uneasy, allowed it without complaint, her shoulders slightly relaxing under the blonde’s touch. There was a stark contrast between her usual cold demeanor and the way she handled Kazue, as if she were something fragile, something precious.

Adam exhaled, his gaze shifted toward Katya, who still had her attention solely on Kazue.

“Katya.”

Adam called, his voice firm but measured.

“Can you tell us about the collab scenarios in which you participated?”

Katya didn’t even glance in his direction. She continued to toy with Kazue’s hair, her fingers curling strands absentmindedly.

“Not much that’ll help.”

She replied flatly.

“The only collabs I’ve been in were one-on-one fights. My old team was the strongest both times, so they weren’t exactly difficult.”

Adam frowned.

“Still, it’s experience. What were they like?”

Katya sighed, finally looking at him from the corner of her eye.

“They were quick. The teams we faced weren’t worth mentioning. It was more of an execution than a real fight.”

Her tone was completely detached, as if she were recalling something as trivial as the weather.

“As for Abyss, well… Leila didn’t let us kill weaklings, so I only had to fight seriously once.”

That last comment made Adam pause. He could tell there was more to unpack there, but Katya clearly wasn’t interested in giving unnecessary details.

The information was ultimately useless to their current predicament. The boy turned his attention to Li, who had remained disturbingly quiet. The veteran’s complexion was still pale, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles had gone white. The way his eyes darted slightly made it clear he was lost in thought—no, not thought. Fear.

Adam didn’t hesitate. His voice was firm as he addressed Li directly, demanding he share his experience with collab scenarios. Li’s gaze snapped toward him, sharp and defensive, before he answered in a clipped, irritated tone.

“It doesn’t matter. Most of us are probably going to die anyway.”

Adam’s expression darkened.

“That’s not an answer.”

Li’s scowl deepened.

“It’s the truth.”

The tension between them flared instantly. Adam, unwilling to back down, pressed forward, his voice rising as he insisted Li explain what he knew. Li responded with hostility, snapping at him in an attempt to shut the conversation down, his voice carrying a dangerous edge that had silenced the others before. But this time, Adam didn’t back down.

Instead, he took a step closer, his own voice rising in turn, unwavering in its demand.

“You don’t get to shut me up this time. If you know something, we need to hear it.”

Li’s eyes widened slightly—just for an instant—as if taken aback by Adam’s defiance. He had expected the usual hesitation, the passive retreat, but there was none. The boy was standing his ground, and the way he looked at Li, unshaken, made it clear he wouldn’t let this go.

For a moment, their argument continued to escalate. Li refused to answer, his anger boiling over, but Adam was relentless, challenging him, refusing to be cowed by the man’s usual intimidation tactics. The standoff between them reached a peak, voices raised, tempers flaring.

Then, without warning, a brilliant flash of light erupted in the center of the lobby. The sudden radiance forced everyone to shield their eyes, the sheer intensity of it momentarily blinding them. The argument was forgotten in an instant as they all turned toward the source of the interruption.

As the light faded, a system message materialized in the air before them:

[The effect of "I Choose to Stay" has ended. The user Drake Shaw has returned.]

And just like that, there he was.

Drake stood in the middle of the room, his presence unmistakable, yet something about him was subtly different. At first glance, he appeared exactly the same as before—his stance, his expression, and even his posture carried the same familiar energy. But as the light dimmed further, the details became clearer. He wasn’t in his usual attire.

Instead, he was dressed in a sleek black suit, perfectly tailored, with polished dress shoes and fitted slacks. A crisp dark blue dress shirt peeked out from beneath the suit jacket, complemented by a striking black tie and a red cape.

For a moment, nobody said a word.

The silence stretched for a moment before Drake let out a breath, rolling his shoulders as if adjusting to his new outfit. Then, with an easy grin, he glanced around at their stunned faces.

“Well.”

He said, voice light despite the weight of the situation.

“Miss me?”

Drake let his gaze sweep over the group, as if expecting some kind of reaction—perhaps excitement, relief, or even mild amusement. Yet, as the seconds passed, he quickly realized that the atmosphere was far from what he had imagined.

He had spent an entire year in Murim, training under Park Zhen, growing stronger, refining his skills. To him, it had been a long, arduous journey, but for the others, only five minutes had passed. From their perspective, it was as if he had never left at all.

Despite this, something was clearly off. The weight in the air was palpable, the expressions of his teammates tense, weary. It didn't take him long to pick up on the discomfort. His smirk faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression as he rolled his shoulders and exhaled.

“What’s going on?”

He asked, his tone shifting from casual to focused. Adam was the first to respond, stepping forward with a nod.

“Glad you’re back, we’ve got a problem.”

He said, his voice steady but laced with the exhaustion of everything that had just transpired.

Without wasting time, Adam quickly ran Drake through everything that had happened in the short span he was gone—the collab scenario, the scanning eye, the fact that their team’s entire information had been stolen and was now in the hands of an enemy team. Drake listened in silence, his gaze sharpening with each word. However, as Adam finished explaining, a realization suddenly struck him—the blond hadn’t been present when the scan occurred!

Adam’s eyes widened slightly as the implications set in. The enemy team had gathered detailed information on every single one of them, but Drake remained a complete unknown to them. They had no idea who he was, what he was capable of, or how strong he had become after spending an entire year training under Park Zhen.

That was an advantage. A huge one.

Adam’s mind raced with the possibilities, but he knew they still needed more information. Li’s knowledge about collab scenarios was crucial, and Adam was determined to get it out of him one way or another. However, before pushing that issue further, they needed to assess their own situation properly—and that included figuring out exactly how much of an asset Drake had become.

Without hesitation, Adam turned back to him.

“Question, how strong did you get?”

He asked bluntly. Drake’s lips curled into a grin again, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes.

“I could talk for hours about all the crazy stuff I went through over there.”

He said, slipping his hands into the pockets of his sleek black jacket.

“But given the circumstances, I guess we should get straight to the point.”

With that, he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket, his fingers wrapping around something small and metallic. A moment later, he pulled out a wristwatch—plain at first glance, nothing particularly remarkable about its design, at least until an information window popped in front of Adam.

[Dimensional Pocket Watch - Rank D ] ⌠Additional Information⌡ ⌠This exquisite wristwatch, forged by master artisans of Murim, is far more than a mere timekeeper. It harnesses the power of spatial distortion to create a small, self-contained pocket dimension within its dial. This dimension can absorb and store an impressive quantity of small items, each no larger than a beach ball.⌡

He calmly strapped it onto his left wrist as he continued speaking.

“The world of Murim has tons of spatial distortion artifacts.”

Drake mused, adjusting the watch’s fit.

“Kind of insane that we didn’t run into any during the main mission.”

As he said this, he twisted the watch’s hands with a precise movement. The moment he did, a faint pulse of energy rippled through the air, and in an instant, a scroll materialized as if it had been summoned straight from the watch itself. It hovered briefly before Drake snatched it out of the air without breaking his stride.

Without hesitation, he turned to Kazue, holding the scroll toward her. Kazue blinked, eyes flickering with curiosity as she tilted her head slightly. Katya, standing beside her, narrowed her eyes in suspicion, her expression darkening as she watched Drake’s every move. Yet, despite her obvious wariness, she didn’t interfere—at least not yet.

Drake’s warm smile radiated a quiet sincerity as he extended his arm, offering the scroll to his companion. For a moment, Kazue simply blinked in confusion, not quite understanding what he was trying to do. Her eyes shifted between the scroll and the boy’s expression, searching for some sort of explanation. Then, realization dawned on her, and she hesitantly stretched out both hands, taking the strange object from him.

"What is this?"

She asked, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. Drake’s smile widened slightly.

"A little gift from a friend I made during my training."

He said, tilting his head. Kazue furrowed her brows and carefully unrolled the parchment. Her eyes scanned the contents, only to be met with incomprehensible scribbles—nothing that resembled any language she knew. That in itself was strange; her translation option should have allowed her to read any writing system in the realm. But these symbols were more like erratic strokes and chaotic markings than actual words. She frowned, glancing up at Drake.

"I… can’t read this."

She admitted, puzzled. Drake chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"You’re not supposed to, the words don’t actually mean anything. What matters is the sentiment behind them."

He reassured her. Kazue tilted her head.

"Sentiment? Who even wrote this?"

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She said, looking at the doodles once more. Drake’s expression softened as he gave a simple yet impactful answer.

"Someone who wanted to see you again."

The moment those words left his lips, the scroll in Kazue’s hands began to glow. A radiant energy surged through the parchment, causing it to disintegrate into shimmering fragments that whirled into the air like embers caught in the wind. Then, as if responding to an unseen call, a system notification appeared before the entire group.

[A summoning pact has been established between user Kazue Rima and a creature from another world.] [The summoned entity has answered the call!]

The sheer weight of those words sent a ripple of shock through everyone present. The glowing remnants of the parchment spiraled into the air, gathering into a condensed sphere of swirling energy. The tension in the room thickened as the energy began expanding, forming the shape of a massive beast. As the light dissipated, a towering feline form emerged—muscular, imposing, and radiating an aura of pure, unrestrained power in its white fur.

Kazue’s eyes widened in recognition, her entire face lighting up in an instant.

"Kurayami!"

She shouted, tears welling up in her eyes as she rushed forward, flinging herself onto the Voidshadow Abyssal Tiger’s thick, fur-covered body. The colossal beast let out a deep, resonant growl of acknowledgment, its massive frame shifting slightly to lower itself, allowing Kazue to bury herself in its familiar warmth.

Kurayami let out a low, affectionate rumble, nudging Kazue’s side with his massive head, his electric fur sparking softly in response to her touch. Despite his intimidating presence, the joy in his glowing eyes was not mistaken. He had missed her just as much as she had missed him.

"Thank you!"

Kazue murmured, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Thank you so much, Drake…"

The boy merely grinned, watching the heartfelt reunion with genuine amusement. But before he could say anything, another system notification appeared in front of them.

[Skill [Synchrony] is updating the compatibility between user 'Kazue Rima' and user 'Drake Shaw'] [Updating...] [Compatibility: 100%] [You are soulmates, congratulations!] [Skill: Locked Specialization [Heavenly Daoist Lv10] has been added to the skillset of the user ‘Kazue Rima’.] [Due to the specialization restrictions, the skill: [Heavenly Daoist Lv10] will be sealed until the user achieves a compatible class.]

[Skill: Skill [Burn the Witch! Lv2] has been added to the skillset of the user ‘Drake Shaw’.] [Error! Due to the restrictions of the skill [Cultivator - Rank A+], it is impossible to add the new skill to the user’s skillset. The skill exchange for user ‘Drake Shaw’ will remain on hold until his soulmate learns a compatible skill.]

A stunned silence fell over the group as they processed the message. Even Drake and Kazue themselves were momentarily speechless. 100%? That was… kind of overwhelming.

The girl turned toward Drake, blinking rapidly, trying to comprehend what this could possibly mean, after all, the only ones she had gotten 100% compatibility with were Kurayami and, ironically, Mo Yanhui. But before either of them could voice their confusion, something else happened—something that shattered the brief moment of peace.

A flash of red… Before anyone could react, Katya moved.

Without hesitation, she materialized her living scythe into her hands, its grotesque, pulsing form extending in an arc as she swung it with full intent to strike.

Her eyes burned with a rage so intense it was almost blinding. Her entire body trembled with jealousy, her mind clouded by an overwhelming, possessive fury. Kazue had smiled at Drake. Kazue had thanked him. Kazue had felt something for him in that moment. And Katya couldn’t stand it.

The scythe’s blade tore through the air with monstrous speed, its edge glinting under the artificial light of the lobby. The living weapon pulsed with unnatural energy, eager to sink into flesh and bone. Katya’s grip was unwavering, her intent absolute—driven by emotions she didn’t bother to name, she swung with full force, prepared to cut Drake down where he stood.

And then, it stopped.

A deafening sound rang through the air, sharp and jarring, the impact reverberating like a war drum announcing an impossible event.

Drake had moved in an instant. There was no wasted motion, no hesitation—just a single, decisive step forward as his hand shot out and caught the scythe mid-swing. His fingers wrapped around the weapon’s upper handle, stopping its deadly arc with unnatural ease. The momentum behind Katya’s attack, powerful enough to tear through steel, was utterly nullified.

The force of the strike should have sent shockwaves through his body, should have forced him back, should have at least made him stumble. Yet he stood firm, completely still, as if the attack had never even happened.

Katya’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Her instincts screamed at her that this wasn’t possible. It was supposed to be an extension of her will, a death sentence the moment she decided to swing. And yet now, as her fingers tightened around the handle, her weapon refused to move.

She pulled, gritting her teeth as she tried to yank it free from Drake’s grip. Nothing.

She twisted her entire body, using all of her enhanced strength to break his hold. Nothing…

The scythe—her own weapon, the monstrous, living extension of her power—would not obey. It was as if it had been locked in place by an invisible force, an absolute authority that refused to let her act. No matter how much strength she poured into her muscles, no matter how much her instincts screamed at her to fight back, the weapon would not budge an inch.

Then she looked at him.

Drake wasn’t smiling. The usual amusement that danced behind his eyes was gone, replaced by something unreadable. His face was devoid of emotion, his sharp blue gaze colder than she had ever seen it. The casual, easygoing air that always surrounded him had vanished completely. In its place was something far more terrifying—absolute control.

There was no anger in his expression, no rage burning behind his eyes. He wasn’t resisting her attack, wasn’t defending himself in desperation. He was denying her outright, and that terrified her.

Katya gritted her teeth, still trying to wrestle her scythe free, her pride refusing to accept what was happening.

"If you think you can—"

"Think I can what?"

Drake’s voice cut through hers, louder, sharper, and far more commanding than anything she had ever heard from him before.

"You have no reason to threaten me. And even less to attack me."

His voice was unwavering, his grip tightening just enough to make a point.

"You’re part of this team now. A valuable member of this group. So start acting like it!"

With a single, controlled motion, he yanked the scythe’s handle toward him.

Katya gasped as the force dragged her forward, forcing her face to mere centimeters from Drake’s own. She found herself staring directly into his piercing gaze, her breath hitching in surprise.

"If you don’t cut this crap out, I’ll be the one to make you."

He warned, his voice dangerously low.

Silence.

The entire room was frozen in place, everyone watching with wide eyes, barely able to process what had just unfolded.

And then—despite everything, despite the fury still simmering inside her, despite the threat, despite her pride—Katya felt something entirely unexpected.

Her face remained locked in its expression of shock and defiance, her teeth gritted in irritation… But a deep, involuntary blush spread across her cheeks.

Drake finally released his grip on the scythe’s handle, stepping back just as Katya clicked her tongue in frustration. The moment her weapon was freed, she dismissed it in an instant, the living blade dissolving into nothing. And without sparing him another glance, she turned away, walking toward Kazue and Kurayami as if the whole exchange had never even happened.

Kazue, who had been watching the entire confrontation with wide, unblinking eyes, turned toward the massive tiger at her side. Kurayami, in turn, met her gaze, both of them silently searching each other for an answer to what had just transpired. A short moment passed before the enormous feline gave a slow, exaggerated shrug, his fur bristling slightly as if to say, No clue.

Drake cleared his throat, drawing attention back to himself.

“Well, now that that’s settled.”

He said, shaking his head as if brushing off the last few moments.

“I still have something else to hand out.”

Adjusting the dials on his wristwatch once more, he activated the hidden mechanism. This time, a small cloth pouch materialized in his palm, the weight of it light yet solid. Without hesitation, he turned toward Emir, who had remained quiet throughout the exchange. The boy stood alongside Sebastian and Gregor, Falk perched comfortably on his head like a decorative, overly intelligent ornament.

With the same easy smile he had given Kazue, Drake extended the pouch toward Emir. The child blinked, hesitating for a moment before accepting it and peering inside. His eyes widened in surprise as he pulled the pouch open further, revealing four pristine [Interdimensional Containment Cubes] nestled within.

Emir looked up at Drake, clearly at a loss for words. Before he could ask, Drake took the initiative to explain.

“Those are a gift from my teacher, Park Zhen.”

He said.

“He figured you’d make good use of them.”

He paused for a moment, then added.

“Oh, and there’s also a message from Jianfeng—he says not to forget everything he taught you and to keep practicing.”

Emir’s small hands clutched the pouch tighter, his expression unreadable. It was clear that those words meant something to him, even if he didn’t immediately voice it.

Then, Drake’s gaze sharpened slightly. He wasn’t angry, but there was a distinct seriousness in his tone as he spoke again.

“One more thing. Both Park Zhen and Jianfeng wanted me to warn you about something very important.”

His eyes locked onto Emir’s.

“Under no circumstances should you ever use or release the cube containing Lord Varek’s divine power.”

The weight of those words sent a ripple of unease through the group. Even Adam, who had remained composed despite everything, couldn’t suppress his immediate reaction.

“What do you mean? As far as I knew, Park Zhen took that cube with him before we left.”

He declared quickly. Drake exhaled through his nose, nodding.

“That’s what he thought too, but while I was training, he realized that the cube had vanished. It wasn’t hard to figure out what had happened.”

Emir flinched slightly, his shoulders tensing. A few seconds of silence passed before he finally spoke, his voice small and hesitant.

“It… it came with me.”

He admitted.

“When we left that world, it appeared in my pocket. I—I don’t know how, but… I can make it appear and disappear whenever I want.”

To prove his point, he raised his hands, and within an instant, the cube materialized between his palms. The moment it appeared, an overwhelming wave of energy pulsed outward from it, heavy and suffocating. Even sealed, the raw power inside was enough for everyone to feel its presence.

Falk, who had been resting idly on Emir’s head, suddenly jolted upright, his mechanical frame twitching in excitement. His voice, filled with eager curiosity, rang through the air.

“Kid, that energy source is insane! Even while contained, it’s radiating power like it’s generating it infinitely… I think we can do something with this!”

Drake shot Falk a sharp look.

“That’s dangerous, we shouldn’t mess with it. We have no idea what could happen if—”

He said firmly, however, Falk turned his head toward Drake, his golden gears whirring as he let out a mechanical sigh

“Oh, come on! Did you forget who I was before all this?”

His voice took on a confident edge.

“I was Isaac Volta, the most brilliant scientist in my world. Trust me—I’ll be careful. Whatever I come up with, I guarantee it’ll benefit all of us. And believe me, we’re going to need every advantage we can get.”

His glowing eyes flickered with a knowing light. Drake exhaled through his nose, shaking his head with a small smile. He had to admit, Falk—Isaac Volta—had a point.

If there was anyone here who could safely experiment with something as dangerous as Lord Varek’s sealed energy, it was him. There was no use arguing when the mechanical bird had already set his mind on it.

But before anyone could continue the discussion, Kazue suddenly clapped her hands together, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Alright, alright!”

She said, her voice brimming with energy.

“Before we all get too serious about our next steps, there’s something just as important that we need to deal with first.”

The group turned to her, exchanging confused looks. Adam furrowed his brows, his mind still focused on the dangers of what had just been discussed.

“What are you talking about?”

He asked. Kazue grinned.

“Our team name, of course!”

A heavy silence followed… Adam sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“That’s trivial.”

He muttered.

“We can figure that out later. Honestly, we could just keep ‘No Name’ and be done with it.”

Before he could say anything else, Katya suddenly stepped forward, her arms crossed as she glanced at Kazue before turning her cold gaze toward Adam.

“Absolutely not.”

She said, voice laced with disdain.

“If we’re going to fight in a Collab, we need a name that commands respect.”

She closed her eyes for a moment, then smirked.

“I propose we call ourselves Dominion’s Fang.”

Adam groaned.

“That sounds way too dramatic.”

Kazue, undeterred, waved her hands as if shooing Katya’s suggestion away.

“Nah, nah! That’s too ominous. We need something cool, something that gets people hyped up!”

She clenched her fist dramatically.

“How about… Ultimate Super Galactic Adventure Squad!”

Li actually turned to look at her with disbelief, his expression unreadable.

“No.”

He said flatly.

“Absolutely not.”

Adam added, rubbing his temples.

Chloe, giggling, leaned forward with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Okay, okay, but what about something cute?”

She clapped her hands together, rocking on her heels.

“Let’s go with Team Love & Thunder!”

Adam shot her a look of pure exasperation.

“No.”

Gregor, standing with his arms crossed, let out a low hum before shrugging.

“A name should be simple and strong.”

He said in his usual calm tone.

“Something that reflects our ability to survive, like Iron Resolve.”

“That’s just as dramatic as Katya’s.”

Adam muttered. Kazue threw her hands in the air.

“Come on! At least try to have fun with this!”

Sebastian chuckled softly, the old clockmaker folding his arms thoughtfully.

“If I may, perhaps something that acknowledges our journey… Timeless Striders?”

Drake smirked.

“Sounds poetic.”

Kurayami, still lying nearby, let out a deep rumble and flicked his tail. His ears twitched before he gave an approving nod.

Falk, from atop Emir’s head, let out a sharp, thoughtful whistle.

“I’m just gonna throw it out there—Volta's Vanguard sounds appropriate.”

Emir, who had remained quiet, suddenly perked up.

“Um…”

His voice was hesitant, but when the others turned to him, he swallowed nervously and continued.

“Maybe… Lone Lights?”

Adam, who had been silently listening, finally groaned and ran a hand down his face. He had not expected this conversation to spiral like this.

By this point, everyone—except for Li, who looked as though he wanted no part of the discussion—had thrown in a suggestion, leaving them with a list of wildly different names.

Adam exhaled and shook his head.

“I can’t believe this is what we’re spending time on.”

Kazue grinned.

“We have to pick something! No more ‘No Name’!”

Adam rubbed his temples again. He had a feeling this was going to take longer than expected.

Finally, Drake, who had been quietly observing the chaos unfold, finally rolled his shoulders and exhaled. He glanced at Adam with an amused look before smirking.

“Alright, alright. If we’re all throwing out ideas, then I might as well add mine to the pile.”

He said, lifting a hand to get everyone’s attention. The group turned to him, waiting.

Drake crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly, as if considering his own idea for a moment longer. Then, with a confident grin, he said.

“How about Black Phoenix?"

His voice carried a playful edge, but there was an undeniable confidence in his tone. Kazue's eyes sparkled.

"Ooooh! That actually sounds cool! Like, rising from the ashes and all that!"

Katya frowned slightly, crossing her arms.

"Too edgy. We’re not a rock band."

Chloe grinned.

"I dunno, I think it has a nice ring to it!"

Gregor, who had been quietly listening up until now, gave a small nod.

"It’s a strong name."

Adam, however, pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling in exasperation.

"We’re not naming ourselves after a bird that sets itself on fire."

"It doesn’t set itself on fire, it revives from fire!"

Kazue corrected, puffing out her cheeks in defiance. Drake, still standing with his arms crossed, let out a small chuckle.

"Technically, it does both, I’ve seen it."

Adam groaned.

"That’s not the point! We’re wasting time!"

Kazue pouted.

"Come on, it’s fun!"

The debate continued, names being thrown back and forth, the team gradually warming up to the conversation despite the tension that still loomed over them.