50 minutes later
Vector pointed at a spot on the horizon.
('Brother Long. There they are about 50 kilometers out.')
Long touched the button of the radio that was on his neck. "Base the beast wave is 50 kilometers west southwest from my position. Be ready."
Klaxons could be heard from behind the wall as everyone prepared for the incoming beast wave.
After 15 minutes the klaxons quieted down and silence pervaded the surroundings.
Vector was gazing out to sea with Long floating next to him 3km above the west wall and about 50km south of Port City. They were at the outer edge of the spread formation of S ranks stationed along the coast in case the Beast wave shifted.
Vector's eyes suddenly widened. 'Is that a??? THAT'S AN IMPERIAL DRAGON! Since that's a thing, then… Wait no… It's an S rank. Dragons are supposed to be super powerful. That one's probably not full grown then. So it's probably got a stronger relative or babysitter nearby.
Vector scanned the space around the planet. 'Nope. Nothing… Just this one. Oh, I gotta go have a chat with this…guy.
He turned his head towards Long. "Hey, Long. I have a question. Do you read cultivation legends?"
"Do you mean cultivation novels or like ancient legends?"
"Hmmm… Whichever one that would be pertinent if you ran into a 300 meter long sky blue dragon with reddish gold hair and orange eyes. Just hypothetically speaking."
The monk's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "That's an oddly specific example. Umm… They are said to be the emperor of divine beasts. They tend to be prideful. They typically think of themselves as the strongest thing around in novels. Really strong bodies. Can control various elements.
So little brother, may I ask why you suddenly wanted to talk about dragons in Eastern mythology? "
Vector's eyes sparkled like a kid who had found out dragons were real…
Which is exactly what happened.
At this point Vector grinned ear to ear. Justice, Matt, and Long suddenly had an image flash through their minds. It was of a majestic sky blue imperial dragon with red eyes hovering over a beautiful island with the sun peaking over the horizon accompanied by Vector's voice.
('DRAGONS ARE REAL!!! No one got out near Hawaii…Also... Just ignore…Well you'll see.')
He looked at Long. 'Hey… So you saw that. I'm gonna go have a chat with our visitor. I feel I should warn you. There's gonna be a tiny rukus. Umm… You might feel a little pressure when it happens. My real point is. Can you cover for me for a while?"
Long's eyebrow rose. "You mean like when the masters reveal their real power?"
"Something like that…"
Vector's eyes turned solid silver as pale silver electrical arcs began flowing along his body.
At that moment Long felt an immense pressure from Vector. It was as if he was being stared down by a hungry beast that could see down to his very soul. "Sure little brother… Not a problem. "
Long gulped audibly.
Vector looked south. 'Better give John a heads up.'
"Long thanks again, I really appreciate this. I'm gonna go talk to a dragon now… I can't believe I get to say that! Thanks again."
Then he bowed to Long and disappeared.
—------------------------
Saint City, USA, Earth
Justice was looking out to sea in anticipation. This would be his first beast wave. He had been on pins and needles since Vector and he had parted ways. People might die here today. If the S ranks couldn't hold off the stronger Beasts, the weaker ones would charge the coast in their panic to escape.
Suddenly the image of a dragon flashed in his mind along with Vector's excited voice. "Did he just say a dragon? Wait, where the hell is he? He has to be close."
('Kai!!! What do you mean?')
He tried using telepathy to reach Kai. Though he could transmit as far as he could sense. There was no response.
Then he got another message.
('John. Listen, I'm gonna go talk to that guy. Remember that thing I can do with my eyes that I said would cause a ruckus? Well just do the thing I showed you that I said would help protect your soul.')
Justice froze for a moment. Then he began visualizing a metal golden glowing wall protecting his soul.
—------------------------
Hawaii, Deep clan territory, Earth
The dragon in question was currently floating above the island of Hawaii conversing telepathically with a 50 m long dark blue komodo dragon with black eyes and a blue squid-like creature with 100m long tentacles covered in 10 cm long thin spines. They were all floating about a kilometer above the island.
The komodo bowed its head towards the dragon. ('Prince Long, the Island clan would be honored to accompany you when you leave.')
The squid-like creature pivoted its body. ('The Deep clan as well will be honored to accompany you.')
The 300m long dragon nodded its head. ('Good. Your clans will make good additions for our empire.')
At this point everybody on the coast felt an enormous pressure descend upon them without warning. For the ones in Japan and the eastern Russian coast along with the western North American coast it was as if gravity had suddenly increased by 3 times.
For those living beings in the vicinity of Hawaii; it was as if a mountain had come crashing down on them as their souls and bodies were suddenly pressed down by immense pressure.
For the dragon and the creatures that were conversing with him. A small human in dark gray form fitting clothes, silver hair and solid silver eyes appeared directly in the middle of them. Then it waved, looked at the dragon and its eyes changed into silver dragon eyes. They immediately felt as if their souls and bodies were being crushed as they slammed into the island beneath them at half the speed of sound.
Prince Long tried to fight the pressure. Managing to open his eyes he saw the tiny human with solid silver eyes standing in front of him with a look of curiosity on his face. It quickly shifted to one of confusion.
('Are you from here?')
The dragon tried in vain to get up. Then it shifted its eyes to look at the human. ('Senior please be merciful… I… I didn't know senior was here. Please, I am the 22nd prince of the Long clan from the Tor sector of the Cosmic Sea. I know the 10th cycle is only half way over and we aren't supposed to be here yet. I simply came to save innocent lives before the planetary trial begins…)
Vector frowned under his mask. '22nd prince? Wow. That implies a lot of stuff. Cosmic sea, that's gotta mean space. What's this trial he's talking about? What did he mean by cycle? '
Vector put his hands behind his back and stood there like a lord. ('You have a lot of nerve, Prince Long… How many of this world's rotations are left? How do you know about the trial?')
He returned his eyes to silver holding back his energy and soul pressure. The other two creatures dove into the sea in a panic. Vector turned his head and released his pressure once again as his eyes morphed back into those of a dragon.
('STOP!!!')
Every beast in the Pacific was suddenly pressed downward for a moment before the terrifying voice of an apex predator roared into their very souls. Now, not one dared to move anymore than absolutely necessary to survive.
Vector looked back at Prince Long as he pulled back the pressure and his eyes returned to solid silver. ('Well?')
The dragon morphed into a 2 m tall teenager with long reddish blonde hair and an athletic build. He was currently down on his hands and knees with his forehead on the beautiful sandy beach. His blue and white silk robes bringing to mind the royalty of ancient China.
Prince Long was silent for a moment. ('Senior I believe there are still a little over 90 rotations left. I swear the Beast clans have no intention of participating in the trial.
We happened upon the information that this planetary awakening had happened. I simply wanted to get the innocent spirit beasts out of the way of the trial takers before the descent happens.')
Vector's eyes went wide and the pressure he emitted before returned 10 fold. Every creature below B rank that was within 150 km of Hawaii island suddenly burst into a cloud of blood. Every stronger creature with the exception of Kai, spit out blood as their organs were squeezed by the sudden increase in pressure.
'90 rotations… 90 days till the trial… He's going to save them by getting them out of the way of the trial takers…'
Prince Long ignored the fact he had just spit out blood and began to slowly raise his head using all his effort. He then dropped it heavily to the ground and began repeating this motion.
THUD!!! THUD!!! THUD!!!
('Please… Let me save the innocent creatures on this tiny planet. I don't wish to see them needlessly slaughtered.')
Vector calmed himself down. The pressure that was emitting from him faded once again. Then his eyes narrowed slightly. ('How are you leaving.')
The prince's body stiffened slightly. ('We have a ship outside the system in the large asteroid belt. They were supposed to come to my pod beacon when I activated it.')
Vector stepped up to the Prince grabbing him by his neck then floating a few meters off the ground. ('So, out past Neptune?')
Prince Long glanced at Vector. ('What's Neptune?')
The Prince suddenly started convulsing and screaming as lightning energy was poured into his body.
—------------------------