CHAPTER 51 – TRAPPING THE ORACLE
JOHNNY WOLVESBANE
I lay in bed, my gaze fixed on the oppressive darkness above. The sheets enveloped me in warmth, shielding me from the chill of the night. Maggie, the love of my life, lay beside me, peacefully lost in dreams. My fingers found solace in fixing her disheveled bangs, a tender moment before my thoughts returned to the looming ceiling.
Even in my post-nut clarity mental state, a disquiet lingered within me, a sense that our actions were awry. Despite understanding Gazelle's fervent dedication to Neo Arcadia and his ruthless deeds aimed at saving the world, an unsettling dissonance echoed in my heart.
Abruptly, my phone disturbed the stillness with a subtle vibration and a soft glow. Retrieving it from the bedside desk, I read Gazelle's message, delivered in stark illumination against the dim room. "The Oracle wants to meet with us. I have set up a meeting tomorrow. You need to come." The words hung in the air, a portentous summons that added weight to the uneasy atmosphere in the room.
Suddenly, movement stirred on the opposite side of the bed. Maggie, with her half-asleep crimson eyes, fixed a passionate gaze on me. She snuggled closer, her inquiry laced with concern.
"Is it your parents again?" Maggie asked.
"No, it was the Supreme Leader. He needs us tomorrow," I replied.
Maggie's expression shifted, a mix of curiosity and a hint of disappointment. "Is it about your training as a Dragon Lord again?" she pouted. "You're already invincible."
"No. It's about the next Dragon Lord," I explained.
Maggie fixed me with a serious gaze. "...Hiraya Misteltein."
"Apparently, she wants to meet us. We will be going tomorrow," I disclosed.
Maggie's expression turned skeptical. "Why does the Supreme Leader want that elven woman? With two Dragon Lords in Neo Arcadia, we are bound to destroy the empire already. Nothing can stop you, not even Hiraya," she asserted.
Maggie's allegiance to Neo Arcadia stemmed not from a desire to save the world but from a familial vendetta. Her parents were members of the Old Arcadia, a rebel group that once supported Sir Amphere Harrison and Sir Estoff Wraith. For eight generations, her family had suffered as slaves under the old human empire, and Maggie sought retribution for her ancestors.
Maggie's skepticism about trusting Hiraya resonated with me. The elven strategist was known for her cunning wits, having dismantled numerous Neo Arcadian freedom fighters. Now, she wanted to engage in a conversation with us, and something felt inherently suspicious.
We remained oblivious to the aftermath of the confrontation between Hiraya, Alris, and Lysander after our departure. Gazelle, wielding his Dragon Lord Commandment, had coerced Alris into killing Lysander. However, the details of what unfolded next remained a mystery to us. Lysander might be dead due to the injuries sustained, but the fate of Alris and his allegiance remained uncertain. The intricacies of the situation hinted at a web of intrigue that threatened to entangle us further.
Nevertheless, the urgency of uniting all Six Dragon Lords for the world's salvation was undeniable. Despite our reservations about Hiraya, it seemed inevitable that a conversation with the elusive strategist was on the horizon.
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"I don't trust that woman either. I'm sure Gazelle knows what he's doing; he must be planning something," I reassured Maggie. "Besides, we might need the Oracle's guidance once we execute the Purge of Humanity."
"If you say so, then okay," Maggie conceded, her cheeks brushing against mine as she leaned in. A tender warmth ignited within me. "It's not like they can defeat us anyway. We are now immortal. Thanks to you, oh my Dragon Lord."
"Haha," I chuckled, setting my phone aside to embrace the love of my life. The soft moment enveloped us, a fleeting respite in the midst of impending uncertainties.
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The following day, I made my way to the massive Neo Arcadia headquarters, a sprawling warehouse humming with activity. Armed freedom fighters swarmed the vicinity, a mix of dragonoid riflemen and mages, ready for whatever lay ahead. Gazelle greeted me with a wide smile as I arrived.
"Good morning, Centurion. Did you two have a great night?" Gazelle teased, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.
"Well, yeah!" I responded energetically. "I thank you for giving us a warm and cozy room with a comfortable bed to make love every night."
"Johnny!" Maggie protested, her expression a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
I offered a sorry smile, acknowledging the playful banter with Gazelle. The atmosphere, charged with both tension and camaraderie, hinted at the challenges that awaited us beyond the warehouse doors.
"Hahaha," Gazelle chuckled with genuine care. "Good, good. Now, let's get down to our business for today."
As Gazelle led the way, we ventured deeper into the warehouse. He began to outline the unfolding events.
"Our Oracle is going to be here any time soon. She'll be accompanied by her dragonoid partner, Alris Vortigern. Personally, I still think it's too soon for the Oracle and Alris to be joining our ranks. There are only two Dragon Lords at this present moment, and there were no signs that Hiraya has already obtained the Mark of Vesryn all by herself." Gazelle explained, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty about the implications of their involvement.
"I'm thinking the same. This might be a trap," I voiced my concerns.
"No, this is our trap," Gazelle responded with a menacing smile. "The entire compound is surrounded by my dragonoid soldiers. They are now under your command. Just ensure you use your Dragon Lord Commandment and Vesryn Pulse to amplify their power."
"Are you leaving?" I inquired.
"Yes," Gazelle nodded. "Unfortunately, I foresee the Purge of Humanity plan will be a success. I'll entrust these matters to you." With that, he conveyed a weighty responsibility before departing, leaving me at the helm of a situation fraught with uncertainty.
"What if Hiraya and Alris fought back?" I inquired.
"Use your Dragon Lord Commandment to submit Alris to your will. Use him to capture the Oracle, and we will train her under captivity," Gazelle instructed.
I gazed at the Mark of Vesryn on my hand, contemplating the weight of the command. After a moment, I nodded to Gazelle. "Got it."
"Great," Gazelle acknowledged, leaving me with a profound sense of responsibility as the impending meeting loomed. The power of the Dragon Lord Commandment now rested in my hands, a tool that could shape the course of events in the unpredictable hours that lay ahead.
Gazelle's determination radiated from his crimson eyes as he smiled. With swift steps, he ran away, and a golden light enveloped him as he emerged from the warehouse, soaring into the skies. Activating his Partial Dragon Form, alien technology manifested wings, propelling him at speeds surpassing that of light.
In the blink of an eye, Gazelle Lockwood vanished, leaving only the echoes of his departure. Just as the Supreme Leader made his exit, the loud roar of an engine resembling a motorcycle filled the air. Even my werewolf instinct caught the scent of gasoline smoke. Maggie and I exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between us, and then we both nodded. The next chapter of the unfolding events awaited our presence and decision.
Returning to the warehouse entrance, I caught sight of the couple we were scheduled to meet. They arrived on a sizable motorcycle, and as the driver removed her helmet, long golden blonde hair cascaded down to her knees. Her pointed ears twitched twice as they were released from confinement, and piercing golden eyes locked onto mine.
Seated behind her was a figure still donned in a cyberpunk mask adorned with neon blue lights. Clad in a black long jacket and armored pants, a buster sword was sheathed on his back. This had to be Alris Vortigern.
"It seems that the Dragon Lord is not here," Hiraya remarked, her gaze intense.
"Unfortunately, you'll be meeting me and Maggie today," I responded with a threatening smile. "The Supreme Leader sends his regards." The air crackled with tension as the encounter with the enigmatic Oracle and her formidable companion began to unfold.