CHAPTER 132 – DECLARATION OF THE END
HIRAYA MISTELTEIN
After the retaking of Kraghelm, the dwarves filled the capital building with jubilant energy. Golden chandeliers cast a warm glow over the festivities, illuminating the night sky as the sounds of the dwarven orchestra reverberated across the island.
Despite the revelry, I couldn't shake the lingering tension of the impending return to the Empire's Sanctuary. I warned my squad against indulging in drinks, wary of potential ambushes in the night. Yet, the allure of the dance floor and the aroma of sumptuous food drew them in, their laughter and movements filling the space with vitality.
Amidst the swirling dancers, I found myself alone, a solitary figure amidst the merriment. Kate twirled gracefully with Mariko, Gaeun matched steps with Earvin, and Charlotte swayed in rhythm with Darlix. They looked radiant together, leaving me feeling like an odd appendage, disconnected and adrift.
With a glass of wine in hand, I wandered to the veranda, leaning against the railing as I gazed up at the starry expanse above. In moments like these, Lysander would usually be at my side, exchanging banter and sharing in the joy of the moment. His absence now left me acutely aware of the void his presence once filled.
The success of the battle to reclaim Kraghelm was overshadowed by a nagging sense of unease. Gazelle Lockwood, the catalyst for the island's invasion, was conspicuously absent. Despite my meticulous planning to thwart him and Eva using the Dragon Lords at my disposal, their absence only deepened my suspicions.
As I contemplated the situation, a chilling realization dawned on me—I was dancing to the tune of the Overmind. With Lysander held captive as their leverage, my hands were tied. Every moment of helplessness intensified the haunting image of him suffering at Gazelle's hands.
Eva's proposition echoed in my mind, dangling the promise of Lysander's release in exchange for allegiance to the Purge of Humanity. Yet, the thought of betraying everything we stood for, of betraying Lysander himself, filled me with a profound sense of dread.
A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I weighed my options. The notion of feigning allegiance to Eva and Gazelle crossed my mind, a desperate ploy to secure Lysander's freedom. But I knew Eva wouldn't be deceived so easily; she saw through facades with unnerving clarity.
In the midst of celebration, a battle of wits and loyalties waged within me, each decision fraught with perilous consequences. As the night wore on, the weight of uncertainty bore down on me, casting a shadow over the fleeting moments of triumph.
The sudden halt of the orchestra's music sent a ripple of unease through the celebratory atmosphere.
Gaeun's panicked expression mirrored the urgency of the situation as he struggled to catch his breath. "Captain! Bad news!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with anxiety.
My heart quickened at his words. "What is it?" I demanded, bracing myself for the impending revelation.
"It's Gazelle Lockwood!" Gaeun exclaimed, his voice trembling with urgency.
Together, we hurried back into the hall, joining the throng of onlookers fixated on the imposing screen. Gazelle Lockwood's visage loomed large, flanked by his formidable dragonoid generals and the imposing figure of Johnny Wolvesbane alongside his orange-haired dragonoid, Meike.
As Gazelle's voice thundered through the hall, his words echoed with chilling clarity, each syllable carrying the weight of impending upheaval. His accusations against humanity, delivered with fervent conviction, stirred a collective sense of foreboding among the listeners.
"To all dragonoids, to all those who were oppressed by humans," Gazelle's voice boomed, commanding attention. "I've been waiting. Waiting for humanity to change, to repent for their sins. But my hopes were betrayed."
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His proclamation resonated with defiance, punctuated by a sweeping gesture that sent his black cape billowing behind him. "The Purge of Humanity is at its end phase," he declared, his voice ringing with determination. "We will create a world of dragons, free from the shackles of human tyranny. A world where strength will not be subjugated by weakness."
The gravity of his words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over the once jubilant festivities. With Gazelle's declaration, the precarious balance of power had shifted, and the path forward was fraught with uncertainty. As the implications of his ultimatum sank in, a palpable tension gripped the room, heralding the dawn of a new and perilous chapter in our struggle for survival.
As the fervent applause of the dragonoids echoed in the background, a grim silence descended upon us, contrasting sharply with the jubilation of Gazelle's supporters. I felt a knot tighten in my chest as Gazelle's words echoed in my mind, each syllable a chilling reminder of the impending threat.
With a clenched fist pressed against my chest, I struggled to process the gravity of Gazelle's ultimatum. The weight of his demands hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the perilous crossroads we now faced.
"Hear me, Empire of Humanity," Gazelle's voice reverberated through the hall, commanding attention. "I am Gazelle Lockwood, the Overmind of the Republic of Dragons. Surrender Empress Serenity Elkyria to me by midnight, or face the consequences."
His words sent a shiver down my spine, the threat of impending conflict looming ominously over us. The notion of betraying our own kind to save ourselves filled me with a profound sense of disquiet.
As the screen faded to black, leaving only static in its wake, a palpable sense of confusion and fear gripped the audience. I gritted my teeth, grappling with the weight of the decision that lay before me.
Eva's ploy had forced my hand, leaving me with no choice but to confront the Republic of Dragons head-on. Though the prospect of facing them in battle was daunting, I knew it was the only way forward. It was what Lysander would have wanted, what he would have fought for.
Amidst my turmoil, a voice broke through the haze of my thoughts. Charlotte's words pulled me back to the present, her keen observation sparking a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.
"Darlix, can you play it again?" Charlotte's request cut through the tension, her determination unwavering.
Confusion flickered across Darlix's features as he complied, replaying Gazelle's proclamation once more. With each rewind, Charlotte's focus intensified, her gaze fixed on Johnny Wolvesbane's tapping fingers in the background.
"What is it, Charlotte?" I inquired, intrigued by her sudden revelation.
"I think there's a message hidden in here," Charlotte replied, her finger tracing the pattern of Johnny's tapping. "The way he taps his finger—it's deliberate, a code of some sort."
As realization dawned, a flicker of hope ignited within me. Perhaps amidst the chaos and uncertainty, there lay a beacon of truth waiting to be uncovered—a clue that could tip the scales in our favor and unveil the Republic of Dragons' true intentions. With newfound resolve, I leaned in closer, ready to decipher the secrets concealed within Gazelle's cryptic message.
"Isn't it Morse code?" Kate's observation prompted a collective effort to decipher the message, each member of the squad lending their expertise to unravel the mystery.
As the squad huddled around the screen, their collective focus sharpened on decoding the cryptic message hidden within Johnny Wolvesbane's tapping fingers. Kate's suggestion of Morse code sparked a flurry of activity, with Gaeun meticulously transcribing the sequence onto paper.
"Pee... is... stored... in... the... balls..." Gaeun's slow and deliberate decoding elicited a mixture of amusement and disappointment from the group.
“Well, that was a useless morse code.” Mariko said with a frown of frustration.
Amidst the lighthearted banter, I scanned the screen for further clues, my attention drawn to Meike, the orange-haired dragonoid standing alongside Johnny. A subtle blinking pattern caught my eye, prompting a sudden realization.
"Gaeun, focus on that orange-haired dragonoid's blinks," I instructed, my voice tinged with urgency.
Nodding in understanding, Gaeun redirected her attention, meticulously jotting down the blinking pattern onto her paper. As the sequence unfolded, a sense of anticipation gripped the group, each heartbeat echoing the silent plea for answers.
"Lysander... is... safe... with... us..." Gaeun's revelation hung in the air, a beacon of hope amidst the uncertainty that had engulfed us.
A wave of relief washed over the squad, their smiles mirroring the joy that blossomed within my own heart. In that moment, the weight of uncertainty lifted, replaced by a renewed sense of purpose and determination.
As tears of gratitude welled in my eyes, I offered a silent prayer of thanks for the revelation that Lysander was safe. Though challenges still lay ahead, knowing that he was out of harm's way infused me with a newfound resolve to confront whatever trials awaited us. With my squad by my side, united in purpose and resolve, I knew that together, we would weather any storm and emerge victorious.