But still—he followed.
Because somehow, deep in his bones, he knew.
'This thing knows the way.'
Behind him, dozens of figures moved cautiously through the fog—Crown Prince Aelric, Harry, Jack, Amelia, Alice, and the rest of the geniuses and squad leaders. No one spoke. No one dared to break the fragile thread of momentum holding them together.
And then—
the dragon stopped.
It hovered still, its translucent form pulsing faintly around Max not disappearing.
Not yet.
Max slowed to a halt.
And so did everyone else.
"Wait," someone murmured.
Max blinked once, and the dragon vanished—like mist in sunlight. But what lay ahead made him freeze.
Then his eyes widened.
"...No way," Crown Prince Aelric breathed beside him, his voice cracking.
Ahead of them—just through a thin veil of fog—stood dozens of figures in battle robes, their powerful auras pulsing like a forest of blazing stars.
Eyes sharp. Stances composed. Power radiating from every pore.
