"We're comrades. We fought together and bled together. Saving you wasn't something I wanted to do; it was something I had to do."
Alex meant every word he said. Though he hadn't known them for long, the battles they had faced together had forged a deep bond between them. In times of life and death, people grow closer. *Those you bleed with in battle become your brothers.* Alex had read this many times, but now he truly understood it.
Alex's words resonated deeply with everyone. They felt a strange and newfound closeness, an intense connection to their comrades who had willingly risked their lives alongside them. After the battle, they were bonded like never before.
"Well said," Henry chimed in, a grin on his face. "My father always used to say that, in the depths of despair, the true nature of people is revealed. If you find comrades you can entrust with your life, you've found a treasure beyond price."
Henry laughed heartily, and soon everyone was smiling. Their victory, achieved without any fatal losses or serious injuries, was a tremendous triumph.
"You were amazing out there," Mike praised Alex. "You moved like a mirage, and your summoning abilities—it was incredible to watch you fight."
Mike was still in awe of Alex's strength. He had wanted to help multiple times but had stayed close to Joanna and the others, afraid Morian might target them if left unprotected.
"Will he be alright?" Alex asked, his eyes shifting to Terry, who lay unconscious with his head resting on Joanna's lap.
"His injuries aren't life-threatening," Joanna replied, her voice filled with worry as she looked down at Terry. "But he's lost a lot of blood and fainted from the exhaustion."
Terry's right arm was completely shattered, and the strain of using his power had been immense, even for his mana-enhanced body.
Alex knelt beside Terry, placing a hand on his chest. Activating his blood-manipulation ability, he worked to restore vitality to Terry's weakened body. Slowly, color returned to his face, and after a minute, Terry began to cough, his eyes fluttering open.
"Hey," he murmured, the first sight he saw being Joanna's concerned gaze hovering above him. Realizing his position, he felt a surge of embarrassment and struggled to sit up.
"Rest for now," Alex advised. "Your injuries are serious. I've reactivated your blood flow and started regeneration to replace what you lost. Try to relax a bit to heal. My ability can't fix your arm directly, but I took some initial measures to help."
Exhausted, Alex sat down beside them, finally able to rest. He was drained to the point that he could barely move, having used all his energy and focus.
This battle left Alex with much to ponder. The threats facing humanity weren't only external; they were internal as well. Power had a way of consuming people and amplifying the darkness within them.
His abilities had proven versatile and powerful, but he knew it wouldn't always be enough. Their victory had been due in part to catching Morian before his powers fully stabilized. Over the course of the fight, Alex realized something in Morian's mind was fractured, whether from his abilities or something darker.
"He mentioned something like a demon's pact… Was he hallucinating, or…?" Alex mused, recalling fragments of their encounter. He had suspicions but no solid evidence from Morian's remains.
Henry approached Alex, sitting across from him with a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Brother, what are your plans now?"
Henry had witnessed Alex's strength and deeply desired him as part of his team. A man of Alex's power could make a huge difference in the battles ahead.
"I'll go meet John and see what's happening. Why—do you have something in mind?" Alex replied, studying Henry. He already had a sense of what Henry wanted, but he wanted to hear it from him. Seeing Alex's smile, Henry felt encouraged and slightly relaxed.
"Well, I'd like you to join us. The world is crawling with monsters, and the threats are everywhere. No matter how strong a single person is, they can't change the overall situation alone. I want to build a group that includes every student and staff member willing to fight—to expand and protect our planet."
Henry's voice was filled with a seriousness Alex hadn't seen before. Alex was stunned by Henry's ambition but couldn't deny that he agreed. The threats they faced weren't just powerful monsters and insane individuals but potentially entire armies from beyond.
"Creating an army isn't easy. I doubt you know how to manage one," Alex noted, getting to the core of the issue. What Henry proposed was essentially building an army, which required complex organization. Even the most skilled generals would find it a challenge to assemble and maintain an army single-handedly.
"Well, there's someone on campus who can help with that—his name is Conrad," Henry explained.
Alex's attention sharpened. A person capable of helping meant someone with military knowledge, likely a former soldier or perhaps a professor specializing in military history.
"A few years ago, the university faced certain threats, so the dean brought in an entire team of former soldiers to guard the campus."
Alex had expected a soldier, but an entire team was quite the surprise.
"Alright, where is this person now? Is he alive, and why do you think he'd help us or even has the knowledge needed?"
Seeing Alex so engaged, Henry couldn't hide his smile. He knew Alex had already accepted his idea and was willing to join him.
"He's still alive and leads a large group defending the main administration building. According to what I've heard from those around him, he was a colonel, discharged due to political reasons. Everyone with him respects his knowledge and courage. Since the fusion began, he's saved many people and has great strength."
Alex's curiosity was piqued. A former military colonel, now a powerful survivor, was definitely someone worth meeting.
"Alright, now that that's settled. What do you want from me, and what role would I play in this?" Alex asked, his expression serious. While he admired Henry's vision, he wouldn't join without knowing his place in it.
"You'll be our leader."
Every one from know on tge novel will be in
Fast track.