I Ascend Alone-Chapter 123: The Birth of National Level Part II

The air crackled with tension as the S-Rank Hunters gathered, their attention briefly diverted toward Mirae, who stood behind me with her arms crossed, still processing everything unfolding around us.

Orion Graves was the first to speak. His deep voice cut through the silence like a blade. "Mirae, back from Korea, huh? Good to see you've made it out here in one piece."

Mirae looked up, blinking in surprise. "You're Orion Graves," she said, her tone a mix of awe and disbelief. "I—wow, I didn't expect you to—"

Orion gave a short, amused chuckle. "Wouldn't miss this for the world." He gave her a quick nod, his silver eyes narrowing as he turned his attention back to the dragon. "Figured you'd be in the thick of it sooner or later."

Celestine Ardent's gentle smile followed Orion's greeting. She looked at Mirae with a curious gleam in her violet eyes. "It's been a while, hasn't it? The last time we met was at that summit in Seoul, wasn't it?"

Mirae's eyes widened. "Celestine Ardent? I didn't know you'd be here too." She nodded, her tone warm, but there was a definite edge of surprise. "I didn't think the Association would send the top three for something like this."

"I'd say it's more than a regular threat," Celestine answered, her voice cool and confident, her gaze now resting on the massive form of Pyraethrax. "But I'll leave that to President Vaughn's discretion."

Cain Voss, who had been silently observing, gave Mirae a lazy wave, his grin sharp and playful. "Good to see you again. I'll try not to make too much of a mess." His voice held a faintly teasing edge, as though this was just another day in the field. "You've got a knack for finding the dangerous jobs."

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Mirae shook her head, still trying to wrap her mind around the situation. "This is... too much," she muttered. "And here I thought I was done with the crazy stuff after my last mission in Korea."

I could feel Mirae's confusion, but I didn't have much time to entertain it. I was still focused on Pyraethrax, watching it intently. The dragon's molten eyes were locked on us, its massive frame coiling, wings folding with slow deliberation. It was silent for the moment, but it seemed like it was calculating, waiting.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I turned to Celestine. "Why isn't it attacking?"

Celestine's expression remained calm, but her gaze sharpened as she studied the dragon. "Dragons are highly intelligent creatures," she explained. "They don't fight unless they know they can win—or at least, that's how the older ones think." Her violet eyes flicked to Pyraethrax, her lips curving into a knowing smile. "This one's not acting on pure instinct. It's wary, calculating its odds."

She lifted her staff slightly, a soft pulse of magic humming through the air. "It knows we're here. It's aware of our presence, but it's assessing us, trying to determine if it's worth engaging." She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "I'd say it's not convinced it can take all of us on. Not yet."

My mind raced. Pyraethrax's behavior made sense now. It wasn't just a rampaging beast—it was intelligent, strategic, and it had likely faced countless hunters before, maybe even other S-Ranks. It knew when to back down.

"Is that why it hasn't made a move yet?" I asked, the pieces falling into place.

Celestine nodded. "Exactly. It's a predator, but one that plays the long game. It's waiting to see if the threat is enough to force its hand." She took a step forward, her staff glowing softly. "Right now, it's sizing us up. We'll need to make the first move if we want it to engage." Her voice softened. "But we also need to be careful. If it thinks we're stronger than we appear... it may retreat, or worse, become more dangerous if cornered."

The ground rumbled again, a low growl vibrating through the air as Pyraethrax's molten eyes glowed brighter, as if reacting to Celestine's words. The dragon's wings shifted, but it didn't attack. It merely watched, waiting.

I could feel the Abyss swirling within me, the pull growing stronger, and I knew that if I let it, I could take the first step—but that was dangerous. We needed a plan.

Leon stepped forward, his tone low and deliberate. "We're not charging in recklessly," he said, his eyes scanning the dragon. "We wait for the reinforcements and coordinate with the others. No one makes a move until we know we have the advantage."

Mirae glanced at me. "You're really holding back?"

I met her eyes, my voice steady. "For now."

As the moments stretched on, the air around us became thicker, the anticipation almost tangible. The wind stirred, swirling ash and debris around the dragon's looming form. Pyraethrax was still perched, warily observing us, its molten eyes never leaving the group. A faint hiss echoed from the dragon's throat, as though it was testing the air, assessing us.

Then, just as the tension seemed to reach its peak, a figure appeared beside President Darius Vaughn—Agent Hale. His face was calm but purposeful, his sharp eyes scanning the scene, picking apart every detail. He wasn't here by accident; his presence was deliberate.

The President nodded toward me, gesturing with a subtle but firm motion. "Ryzen. Come here."

I didn't hesitate, moving toward the two figures with purpose. I could feel the eyes of the S-Ranks on me, their gazes heavy with curiosity. Mirae shifted beside me, looking between the newly arrived S-Ranks and me, still processing everything happening so quickly.

Orion Graves was the first to speak, his voice tinged with a touch of disbelief. "What's this? I thought the only people the President would call over like that would be..."

Celestine Ardent, who had been watching me with the same focused, calculating expression as she had with Pyraethrax, raised an eyebrow. "Who exactly are you?"

Cain Voss, ever the enigma, leaned against a nearby pillar, his arms crossed casually, but his eyes were anything but casual. They tracked me like a hawk. "Don't tell me the Association is finally letting new blood handle their problems."

Leon stepped up, sensing the tension building in the air, and with a quick, practiced movement, addressed them, his voice calm but firm. "It doesn't matter who Ryzen is, not right now. What matters is that he's a valuable asset to this operation. He's been in the field with us before, and he can be of help here."

The S-Ranks exchanged looks—confusion, curiosity, and perhaps a hint of skepticism flashing in their eyes.