Rising god
Chapter 95: General meeting

Chapter 95: General meeting

Baines watched the brutal dance in the underground arena, the clash of fists and blades echoing the just like the chaos he’d witnessed during the Tyrell family’s massacre and countless other skirmishes.

They stole techniques, killed for them, sold them or even hoarded them, yet they rarely mastered them, making a majority of them seem weak. That was among the reasons they were so easily hunted down and killed.

Another reason was, most of them were just talentless. Most were capped at the 5th star not able to ever cross. There we rare exceptions, like Dawnless’s executives, they easily stood out, but they were too few to elevate the organization alone.

And like it or not, the underground had yielded Baines more than the Darkan clan or the Last Front combined. And despite their potential, their talent was the bottleneck.

His vast knowledge could even birth martial techniques tailored for Dawnless, yet techniques alone wouldn’t bridge the gap of talent.

However what of tethering another’s talent to them, What if he could tether draconic talent to his followers?

Every dragon was talented, their overwhelming mana spoke for itself. Now, just like the barbarians’. If he could tether the blood of a lightning dragon into the members, that limitation of talent would shatter.

It just so happens he had all the tools he needed. The Blood Book from the second treasure, the tethering process recorded by Eye, and the corpses of the dragon. All that remained was execution. After that, he could even still teach them the techniques.

"Haa..." A smile flickered across his face, a rare crack in his stoic mask.

The executives, catching the expression, exchanged wide-eyed glances. Their leader, ever so detached, had just smiled. They nodded subtly to the staff, hearts swelling with relief.

Their hearts danced in joy. Why not? They had just cleared their exams.

...

Outside the VIP booth, a situation was unfolding. The femal vil stood before the door, her twenty subordinates arrayed behind her.

And two golden-armored knights, the 34th and 49th of the sword unit, barred her path, their 7th-star auras pulsing with violet menace. Their swords pointed downward, heads slightly bowed, yet their presence was unyielding.

Her brow furrowed. ’Since when are 7th stars bodyguards?’ The notion stung a bit as she herself was a 7th star, yet here they stood as mere sentinels.

She stepped forward, only to be halted by a crushing pressure that drove her to her knees. Her subordinates collapsed, coughing violently, their faces pale.

"Who are you?" Wick’s voice rasped, a grating echo from the abyss. His 8th-star aura loomed, a void of power that dwarfed them.

’This power, 8th star... here?’ Her eyes widened, shock warring with disbelief. Before she could respond, the door swung open.

"Huh? Wick?" Ralph called, surprise lacing his voice. He had sensed a flicker of killing intent. "What’s going on?"

"Sir," Wick said, retracting his pressure. He explained the situation with mechanical precision.

Ralph’s gaze fell on the woman, who regained her composure but remained wary. "So, why are you here?" he asked, offering a hand to help her up. She accepted, using the moment to assess him. ’A 5th star commanding 7th and 8th stars?’ The contradiction baffled her.

"I came to see the leader of Dawnless," She said, her voice steady despite her unease.

"Huh? My brother?" Ralph’s eyes widened, a grin tugging at his lips. Since when does Banss know such a beauty?

"Brother?" Mirta echoed, realization dawning.

’That explains it.’ There was no way and reason for 7th and 8th stars to be bound to a 5th star.

"I’d like to speak with him," she added.

"Ah yes, you can speak to him inside," Ralph gestured toward the booth, then leaned in to whisper, "For your own good, don’t joke with him. He might kill you." His tone was light, but the warning was steel.

Inside, the booth’s opulence struck Mirta. The gilded furnishings, silent staff, and the executives standing like statues behind a figure on a throne. The executives, whom she knew as ruthless operators, were subdued, their deference almost servile.

’Who is he?’ Curiosity burned as she studied Baines. Just who could use powerhouses as glorified guards.

The third executive stepped forward. "Sir, allow me to introduce Mirta, leader of the Mistar."

They were among the top ranking underground organizations in Darkan.

Baines looked up, his gaze piercing. "Why are you here?"

The air thickened. The question was like a blade. Ralph resisted the urge to slap his brother at his bluntness. Wasn’t he supposed to treat her before questioning her purpose?

’He’s definitely stronger that the average, but that is all,’ Mirta, undeterred, met his gaze. "I was curious about the new leader of Dawnless," she said boldly. "And to speak with you."

Baines’s expression didn’t shift. "And?"

"Your expansion has drawn attention," she continued. "Your actions has come to a lot of attention and an underground general meeting has been called."

Silence followed.

Baines’s disinterest was palpable as his gaze drifted back to the arena. ’He doesn’t care?’ Mirta thought, her eyes narrowing.

"Miss Mirta, we’ll attend the meeting. Thank you," the first executive interjected smoothly.

Mirta’s frustration flickered, but Ralph cut in with a grin. "Don’t mind him. I’ll go."

Baines glanced at his brother, a rare spark of reaction. "You want to?"

"You clearly don’t care, and someone has to," Ralph said, shrugging. He winked at Mirta, easing the tension.

"Wick," Baines called.

"Yes, master." Wick appeared, his presence chilling the room.

"Where are they?" Baines asked, slicing open his pocket space with a finger. Wick poured seven mature dragon corpses with their hearts intact into the void.

Baines nodded and rose. He had rested and seen enough.

"Wick, follow Ralph with the 49th sword. Kill anyone who threatens their lives." With that, he left, the first and second executives trailing him, leaving the third to handle Mirta.

’What was that?’ Mirta thought, her mind reeling as she turned to the third executive for details.

Baines’s casual command of such power, his indifference to a general meeting, and the dragon corpses.

Baines returned to Dawnless, his mind already set on what to do.

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