Bloody Odyssey-Chapter 42: Ceron.

Chapter 41

Moments later, Dax drifted downward through the warm air and settled once more onto Cain’s broad, armored back. The wyvern gave a low, rumbling acknowledgment, wings half-furled as though relieved to feel his master’s weight again.

Nadia guided her own mount closer, curiosity alight in her steady gaze.

"Master... what did you and Lord Merlin discuss?"

Dax paused mid-motion. No echo of their conversation reached him. The space around the two figures above had been sealed tight.

Ohh... I see. Sound-cancelling magic. Old-school, elegant, he thought, a flicker of quiet respect passing through him. Merlin hadn’t left anything to chance.

He gave Nadia no answer. Instead, he leaned forward slightly. Cain responded at once, banking smoothly and beginning a steady descent toward the squad below.

Nadia watched him for another heartbeat, lips parting as if to press the question—then she closed them letting him go. Some silences carried more weight than words.

As Cain’s talons touched down, the squad snapped to attention. They bowed in unison, deep and respectful—palms to chests, heads lowered.

"Welcome back, Captain," they said together, voices carrying the lingering tremor of what they had just witnessed.

"Good."

Dax swept his gaze across them once, calm and unhurried.

"Forget the little inconvenience from earlier."

He let the dismissal hang for a second before continuing.

"Who can guess my reasons for bringing us out here today?"

A ripple of uncertainty moved through the group.

He’s treating the whole thing so lightly? Zain thought, studying Dax’s impassive face. This man... he really does come from the old times.

Anastas couldn’t hold back. He stepped forward, voice urgent.

"Captain, you don’t understand—that man is a myth. Living legend. You can’t just—"

Inside Dax’s mind, Inerous’s voice chimed in softly. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Master, he is correct. Merlin appears in fragments across the oldest magical texts—scattered references, half-erased, but unmistakable.

Dax’s expression remained unchanged.

"...I believe that was not the question I asked."

His tone was perfectly even, yet the air seemed to grow heavier around the words.

Anastas flushed crimson, mouth opening and closing uselessly.

Hanna shook her head almost imperceptibly. Stupid Anastas.

She stepped forward smoothly, voice gentle and composed, covering his embarrassment with practiced ease.

"Captain, I believe you brought us here to assess us."

Dax tilted his head slightly, regarding her.

"Good." A faint, approving nod. "You’ve earned yourself one favor point."

He paused, then added, "That includes your beast companions as well."

His gaze moved across the squad and their mounts—wyverns still shifting restlessly, tails flicking.

"Starting tomorrow, I will test you all against suitable opponents. I have no use for liabilities."

Without another word, Dax raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

The air before him tore open with a soft, resonant crack. A perfect black oval manifested—edges rippling like liquid obsidian—revealing a glimpse of sterile white corridors and faint metallic glints beyond.

The squad stared, eyes wide.

"Space magic...?" Hanna whispered. Her pupils dilated, glowing faintly as she tried to analyze the portal. She leaned forward, breath catching.

Then she froze.

It’s not magic, she realized, mind reeling. Not any kind I know.

"I need fifteen aid bots here," Dax said calmly into the open gate.

Less than a fraction of a second passed.

A tiny silver orb floated out first—smooth, seamless, no larger than a child’s fist. It hovered with a soft, soothing hum, like distant wind chimes.

Then another followed. And another. Fifteen in total drifted into formation, arranging themselves in a neat, silent grid above the grass.

The squad watched in stunned silence.

Then came the larger one.

A silver sphere twice the size of the others emerged with a cheerful whoosh, spinning once in mid-air as though stretching after a long nap.

"Wow!" it exclaimed in a bright, childlike voice.

It immediately darted forward, zipping around the vast plain with unrestrained excitement—circling towering grass stalks, dipping low over cracked earth, then swooping back toward the squad and their mounts.

It paused in front of each person and beast in turn, lens-like aperture dilating and contracting as though taking enthusiastic snapshots.

"Master!" it chirped, finally hovering directly before Dax. "Why are there more lizards like the ones you brought earlier?"

Dax’s face remained utterly emotionless.

"Ceron. I didn’t summon you."

"Cheer up, Master!" The orb spun happily. "Don’t you like it that your best assistant is here?"

The squad exchanged wide-eyed glances. A floating silver sphere... talking to their captain like an overeager child. Calling him Master.

Anastas leaned toward Zain, whispering fiercely.

"Just one outing and he’s become this strong." His mouth twisted in awe and envy. "Just maybe... he’ll let us sip from the same river of godhood he drank from."

Mimi promptly stepped hard on Anastas’s foot.

He yelped, hopping once before clamping his mouth shut.

Mimi stepped forward instead, voice cautious but curious.

"Sir... what are these things?"

Before Dax could answer, Ceron zipped over to her at eye level. Its lens dilated dramatically—almost comically.

"I know it’s not me you just called a ’thing,’ right?" The short temper flared instantly, voice pitching higher.

"Please. I am an advanced life form."

It spun once in mid-air, tilting upward toward the sky as though expecting the heavens themselves to bow in reverence.

Mimi blinked rapidly. Advanced life... I’ve never even heard of such a thing.

Before she could respond, Dax cut in, tone flat.

"Since you’re here, Ceron—oversee the construction of our base on this site."

"Ahh! Yes, Master!" The orb spun in a delighted circle. "Your greatest assistant will build the strongest, most magnificent base here—perfectly suited to your taste!"

Dax gave a single nod.

In the next instant he was already back atop Cain, movements so fluid they seemed to skip time.

He turned to face the squad one last time.

"I’ll be back. Be ready."

With that, he urged Cain forward. The great wyvern launched skyward with powerful wingbeats as Little Purple followed close.

The squad stood in silence, staring after him.

The fifteen small aid bots began to hum in unison, already drifting toward the ground to begin whatever inscrutable work awaited.

And high above them all, Ceron spun gleefully, already sketching invisible blueprints in the air.