CHAPTER 145: THE GATHERING OF LEADERS

Raj stepped through the glowing portal, his coat fluttering behind him. The moment his boots touched the ground of Base 1’s portal deck, dozens of soldiers turned and saluted.

Rick followed behind him with Meera and her parents. The base’s medical team rushed forward with stretchers and gentle hands, quickly tending to the wounded. Raj handed the little girl to a kind-faced nurse, who smiled and took her gently.

"Treat them well," Raj said softly, then turned to Rick. "You did good, Rick. I’ll make sure your work’s recognized."

Before Rick could even reply, a soldier approached Raj.

"General Raj, sir! Urgent news. The high command just sent word—

The Leaders are arriving. A council meeting has been called."

Raj raised a brow. "So they’re doing the meeting here... Interesting."

Raj walked through the inner corridors of Base 1, each step echoing faintly against the polished stone. The hallway opened into the Great Assembly Hall, a vast chamber buried deep beneath the earth—shielded with mana-sealed walls and reinforced by ancient enchantments.

The ceiling arched high above, decorated with shifting murals of glowing runes and constellations. Large crystal lanterns floated mid-air, casting a soft blue light over the circular stone floor. In the center stood a broad round table—etched with the sigils of all twelve nations, though only six still remained in the resistance. Twelve obsidian chairs circled it, but only six were ever occupied these days.

Flags of fallen nations still hung in quiet honor, and a single golden banner of the Revolutionary Alliance waved above the table—a phoenix rising from flame, its wings spread in defiance.

As Raj entered, soldiers saluted him from both sides. He nodded back silently, his mind already preparing for what was to come.

Not long after, glowing portals began opening throughout the main hall. One by one, familiar faces returned.

The first portal shimmered and out walked a tall man clad in black robes with a katana strapped to his back. He had the same air of calm calculation as always.

Raj smiled. "Sinki. How’s it going?"

Sinki gave a tired sigh. "It’s been tough. More civilians just arrived at Base 8, but we’ve managed to stabilize them."

"And how are Shirou and Kiyoto doing?"

"Still crazy, but alive. That’s what matters."

Another portal flickered. This time, two people stepped out—Kunal, dressed in a layered black outfit, his hair messy but tied into a short ponytail, and beside him, Ji-Won, dressed in a soft, flowing blue dress, glowing slightly from her healing aura.

Raj rushed over, grinning. "Kunal! It’s been four months. You’re alive."

Kunal chuckled. "Easy, easy—you’ll scare Ji-Won."

Raj smirked. "Please. She’s stronger than both of us combined."

He turned to Ji-Won. "Hey, Ji-Won. How are you?"

She smiled warmly. "Better now that we’re back with everyone."

Raj narrowed his eyes. "Wait a second..."

Kunal scratched his neck. "Here we go."

Raj pointed. "She’s pregnant, isn’t she?"

Kunal sighed, "You never miss, huh?"

Raj beamed. "Finally! I’m going to be an uncle!"

Ji-Won chuckled. "Why uncle? Maybe it’s a girl."

Raj winked. "Then she’ll be as sweet as you and hopefully not inherit Kunal’s temper."

"Hey now!" Kunal objected. "Boy or girl—it’s my child. That means trouble."

Just then, a hand landed on Kunal’s shoulder.

"So it’s true, huh?"

Turning, they saw Meera, wearing a black combat jacket over a white blouse, black trousers, and dual daggers strapped to her hips. Her long black hair was tied in a ponytail, and confidence sparkled in her eyes.

"Oh, Meera." Kunal smiled.

She gave him a side glance. "You didn’t answer my question."

Kunal grinned. "Yeah. It’s true."

She smiled gently and hugged Ji-Won. "Congratulations, both of you."

Then she turned to Raj. "And what about our marriage?"

Raj stiffened. "Hey, don’t put me on the spot."

Kunal snickered. "He’s sweating."

Raj lightly elbowed him. "It’s next month, okay? Stop poking."

Suddenly, a massive, differently-colored portal shimmered to life.

Everyone paused.

They knew this aura—it was time for the leaders to arrive.

First to emerge was a woman who stunned the entire hall.

She wore an emerald green robe lined with silver runes, her long black hair cascading behind her like a waterfall. Her eyes glowed with ethereal magic—bright green with a core of radiant light.

Her posture was dignified, her steps silent but commanding. A sapphire-studded staff floated beside her, pulsing with elemental power.

The men straightened. The women smiled with pride.

Raj whispered, "She’s changed so much..."

Kunal smiled. "That’s our Riya."

The Magus of the Six Elements. The youngest elemental archmage in recorded history. A leader of the rebellion—and now, a symbol of hope for the world.

Following her came a tall young man clad in pristine white robes with black outlines, his silver-white hair tied into a high ponytail. A katana rested at his waist, the sheath wrapped in crimson cloth with dragon-scale patterning.

His steps were precise, and his gaze calm yet piercing.

"Seenu," Raj said, nodding with respect. "Still looks like a battle monk."

Kunal grinned. "Now they call him the Melting Swordsman."

Riya and Seenu walked forward, taking their places as two of the six leaders of the global resistance.

Behind them came a regal woman in her late 30s, wrapped in a flowing violet kimono adorned with golden chrysanthemums. Her hair was done in a traditional Kyokai bun, her makeup flawless. A sword-shaped fan rested at her waist.

She was Empress Tsukiko of Kyokai—a royal beauty, once a passive ruler, now a fierce tactician and elemental swordswoman.

Then stepped in a tall, broad-shouldered man with a crown embedded with arcane circuitry. A half-cloak billowed behind his metallic shoulder armor, and his eyes glowed with a faint blue hue.

King Luis of Valtania, the Arc-Tech Sovereign, master of blending ancient magic and modern technology.

Following him was a youthful but intense man in round glasses and a long silver coat—King Hyun Min-Jae of Carnelia

, tech genius, strategist, and controller of sentient drones.

And last, walking in silence but exuding a fierce presence, came a tall woman in a golden cloak of desert silk. Her eyes burned like wildfire beneath her hood.

Rizwana Gouri, head of Vasundhara—the legendary city of women. A fierce warrior and protector of all oppressed.

The six revolution leaders now stood together once more.

And the war council had begun.

Five Months Ago... Inside the Eternal Dungeon

Deep within the ever-shifting wilderness of the Eternal Dungeon, trees towered like ancient titans and mist curled between their roots. The forest floor trembled—not from any beast—but from a young man sprinting at blinding speed.

Aamir Singh, now in his early twenties, moved like a blur.

His black cloak flared behind him, the gold-lined edges fluttering wildly with the wind. His crimson eyes glinted with deadly focus, and his arms—toned with muscle from five years of merciless training—moved in perfect rhythm with his breath.

Ahead of him, a beast bolted like lightning—its legs a blur of hooves, its body a blend of goat and horse, horns curled backward like a ram but sharper than blades. Its name echoed in his system: Segitar, the Horned Charger.

Flanking Aamir were his companions.

To his right soared Spark, a towering, hybrid beast with scales of obsidian-black that shimmered like metal. With the frame of a wyvern, the build of a lizard, and the fur and snout of a dire wolf, Spark let out a guttural roar and launched himself into the air with a massive flap of his dragonic wings.

To his left, sprinting through the undergrowth, was Tony—a furry, monkey-like beast with agile limbs, short silver fur, and sharp eyes. He leapt tree to tree with effortless grace, using his prehensile tail for balance.

Aamir narrowed his eyes. "Spark—take the air! Keep its movement limited!"

Spark blasted into the sky with a sonic boom.

"Tony—use the treeline, loop ahead and cut him off!"

With a sharp screech, Tony vanished into the canopy.

The chase continued until the beast entered a natural clearing—a circle of crushed stone and moss surrounded by trees.

Aamir’s eyes flashed. "Perfect. Right where we need you."

"Hornhead! GO!"

With a thunderous roar, another beast crashed into the scene from the trees ahead. Towering like a truck, Hornhead was a mix of rhino and bull—its hide armored with plated bone, and its nose curved into a double-bladed horn like a battering ram.

BOOM!

Hornhead collided with Segitar, sending the horned charger skidding backward.

Aamir moved in. His sword unsheathed, its curved crimson blade humming with Pran energy. In one clean motion, he sliced through Segitar’s neck.

The beast’s body fell, blood steaming into the cold dungeon air.

A familiar chime echoed in his head as his crimson system screen flashed:

[You have slain: Segitar – Horned Charger (Stage 7)]

Experience Gained: 9,870

🔻 System Status:

Host: Aamir Singh

Race: Beastkin

Level: 76

EXP: 56,790 / 77,000

Rank: Beastlord

Bloodline Purity: 26%

Sanity: 100%

Aamir exhaled. "That was fun."

His companions gathered around—Spark landing beside him with a tremor, Tony swinging onto his shoulder, and Hornhead snorting proudly.

"You guys were great," Aamir said, petting Tony’s head. "Faster, sharper, more coordinated. We’re really getting somewhere."

Just then—BOOM!

A man dropped from the sky like a meteor, sending rocks and dirt flying. His feet dug into the ground, steam rising from the crater.

"Ow..." he muttered, stretching his arms. "Sometimes these jumps really mess up my knees."

The shirtless man stood tall, built like a fighter with sun-kissed skin and glowing blue tattoos.

On his chest—a carved image of a blazing bird with spread wings.

And on his back—an eye with wings opened, pulsing faintly with light.

Vyuk.

Aamir’s master. His teacher. The Guardian of the Eternal Dungeon.

He dusted himself off. "You’ve grown, Aamir. A lot."

Aamir grinned. "Well, I had a pretty strict trainer."

Vyuk smirked. "So... when are you finally going to stop dodging the challenge and smash that boulder behind the third valley?"

Aamir rolled his shoulders, his smile turning into a determined smirk.

"Today."

[To Be Continued...]