Rangers Endgame

Chapter 134: Preparing for the Worst

DAI:

The metallic hinges groaned as he pushed open the large double doors. Stepping foot inside the spacious room, lit by flickering torches along the supporting pillars, he approached the crescent table set in the center. The councilman eyed him critically as he bent a knee before them.

He remained there until Councilman Rei Yamato’s withering baritone voice broke the silence.

“Rise,” he commanded.

The Sentinel stood and naturally slipped his hands behind his back.

“To what do we owe the pleasure, Sentinel Dai?” he asked, gesturing for him to answer promptly.

“I have come bearing new information pertaining to the Savior’s claims,” Dai explained, remaining ramrod straight.

“Ah, yes. The power-hungry lunatic who spouted religious nonsense,” a councilman at the left end of the table said in his thin voice. “Sentinel Kakkona has already provided a detailed report on the matter.”

“Then you must know that the Savior was a foreseer,” Dai countered.

“The title of ‘foreseer’ loses validity the moment the claim is uttered from the mouth of a madman. This case has already been closed with the Savior’s defeat,” another announced to his right, the councilman looking down his arched nose.

Dai glanced over and carefully kept his tone leveled. “I would advise leaving it open, councilman. There is still much to investigate, as artificer Aki’s discovery unfortunately aligns with the Savior’s words.”

There was a lull in the air as the councilmen glanced at each other with shared frustrated confusion. Dai took that moment to elaborate further.

“Though I do not subscribe to the notion of a deity without hard evidence, she has identified an anomaly in the Outer Rim.”

“What anomaly?” Councilman Yamato inquired as he slightly leaned in.

Dai recalled his conversation with the artificer. “Her latest invention has detected a disturbance in the atmospheric radiance originating from the Outer Rim. The fact that it is coming from the Outer Rim and is affecting radiance in the Inner Rim suggests it is powerful.”

The angled-nosed councilman stroked his braided burgundy beard in thought. “We have received accounts from the guild that multiple parties have experienced a growing number of high-tier monsters in the Inner and Mid Rim since the Misranked Mission Incident. Could this be related?”

“Perhaps. Sentinel Kakkona didn’t mention anything of the sort, but I know monsters have a tendency to vacate when sensing more powerful forces,” Dai explained. “Admittedly, though, I’ve never seen it on this scale.”

“Preposterous!” A councilman whipped a dismissive hand through the air in complete rejection of Dai's statement. “There is no force potent enough to cast Outer Rim beasts into the Inner and Mid Rim. Surely there is a more plausible cause.”

“Whether it is related or not, the anomaly still stands.” Councilman Rei Yamato reminded him before turning his attention back to Dai. “No beast has the capability to influence radiance. Has artificer Aki proposed any theories?”

“Most of the Outer Rim remains unexplored, Councilman. Fortunately, the anomaly is originating just beyond a well-known region,” Dai assured.

Councilman Yamato cocked a curious brow. “And where would that be?”

“Rangers’ Graveyard,” Dai said matter-of-factly.

Their faces paled as they quickly spiraled into hesitant conversations. But such a reaction was to be expected.

Most who ventured into Rangers' Graveyard never return, and the few who have were far too gone to properly report what they’d seen and would often choose retirement after their experience. With barely any information and a high mortality rate, the guild deemed it too dangerous to explore and prohibited rangers from setting foot there.

“What lies within that zone remains unknown to us. If there is something that can disturb radiance to such an extent, it must be dealt with,” Dai reasoned.

“As Councilman Yamato has mentioned, there is no such thing as a beast capable of influencing radiance. Perhaps this is merely something more akin to a storm.” The arched-nosed councilman proposed, his gold rings glinting in the flickering light as he steepled his fingers.

“A storm that only occurs in the Outer Rim? Don’t be ridiculous.” Councilman Yamato didn’t buy into that theory. “Even if that were the case, it is still an indication that there is a cause.”

“What impedes us from simply observing it?” A councilman in a fur coat suggested.

The councilman in the fitted black suit beside him sneered. “You wish to cower behind the safety of these walls and wait?”

The fur coat councilman returned his gaze with an irritated one. “You imply that you yourself are prepared to venture into the depths of the unknown. Do not speak as if you will take up a sword and march into uncharted lands.”

The discussion quickly plunged into mindless bickering, but Dai was in no position to intervene. He’d gotten used to letting them vent their differences until the argument dissolved into silence, so he let them hurl outrageous implications and insults until they were out of ammunition. Unless, of course, someone nipped it in the bud.

“Silence!” Councilman Rei Yamato roared right on cue. “If you wish to act like children, perhaps you are not fit to be on this council.”

Their bickering reduced to grumbling, and they quieted themselves. Unfazed, Dai waited patiently until Councilman Yamato acknowledged him again.

He looked back at the Sentinel with a more serious expression. “Regardless, this anomaly is the only lead we have for the influx of high-tier monsters in the Inner and Mid Rim.”

“I concur,” the black-suited councilman agreed.

Dai dipped his head. “Then I request that I be the one to go investigate. My extensive experience in the Outer Rim during my days as a ranger is guaranteed to be proven the most useful out of any Sentinel.”

The royals didn’t argue with his reasoning as they all nodded.

“Additionally, Sentinel Dai is perhaps our strongest.” One councilman whispered to another.

“If anyone can get results, it would be him.”

Pride swelled in Dai’s chest, but he was careful not to let it reach his features.

“Very well,” Councilman Rei Yamato accepted. Even before he continued, Dai knew from his months of experience standing by the council’s side that there was one condition as the councilman raised a finger. “However, you will be expected to take a party along with you for additional support.”

Dai’s fist clenched white behind his back, but he kept his face passive. “Respectfully, I am perfectly suited to venture alone. I can assure you that my strength alone will not fail you.”

“Sentinel Dai,” the fur coat councilman started firmly. “Independence can be both a strength and a weakness. Do not let complacency tip the scales toward the latter.”

Dai’s jaw worked at his blind assumption, but he kept his tongue on a tight leash. Letting out an indiscernible sigh through his nose, he carefully shaved off the prickly choice of words from his response and spoke slowly. “This is not about complacency, councilman. Surely one that holds the title of ‘Sentinel’ would be enough to complete an expedition.”

“Though many have praised your feats, especially after the Sotiri Raid, we cannot afford to lose you to an unexpected probability,” Councilman Rei Yamato countered, crossing his arms. “In your own words, ‘most of the Outer Rim remains unexplored’.”

Dai opened his mouth to refute, but no argument came to support him. Even before the raid, they were familiar with his background, yet his tendencies had never found trouble, and he intended to keep it that way. Unfortunately, he was now directly under the jurisdiction of these royals who had personally never seen him deal with tasks on his lonesome.

With more effort than it should've taken, he reluctantly dipped his head a second time. “I…accept this condition.”

“Good,” Councilman Rei Yamato replied, pleased. “To make your transition into a party more seamless, we shall contact your former clan to enlist their best.”

Dai buried his objections and waited for the others to cast their votes. When the majority won over, Councilman Yamato returned his attention to the Sentinel.

“It is decided. Prepare for departure,” he ordered, dismissing him with a wave of his aged hand.

Dai bowed respectfully. “As you wish.”

The Sentinel stepped into the ornate hall, leaving the chamber behind. He pushed open the door at the end of the hall, and a light breeze swirled through, accompanied by the first light of dawn squeezing through the reaching buildings in the distance. The armed men standing guard snapped a practiced salute, and he acknowledged them with an absent nod as he walked past.

Crossing the courtyard of trimmed foliage resembling figures standing at attention, he approached another door that led to the research wing of the palace. Pressing his artifact against the panel, the door clicked open, and he walked through.

His muscle memory carried him through labyrinthine halls until he reached Aki’s lab. Her nose was already buried in one of her half-finished projects when he entered. Though his thick combat boots echoed loudly, she remained too fixated on her task to even spare a glance at who'd entered her sanctuary.

“I'll be setting out for the Outer Rim soon. Prepare the essentials.”

“Already on that table.” She pointed a greasy finger at nearby artifacts.

He picked them up to examine them: a health elixir pod housing ten fresh vials, a rectangular artifact with several engravings that glowed a faint gold, a long-range communication artifact, and a spherical artifact, which he tested. Pressing a button protruding from its surface, a holographic map materialized from it. Curious about the rectangular artifact, he twisted both ends in opposite directions, and it slid open to reveal a brilliant interior. A stream of warm gold immediately flowed into him, caressing his channels and gradually filling his reserves. He then sealed the artifact to cut off the flow before his channels swelled too much.

“That there is a portable rejuvenator,” she curtly explained, her attention still buried in her project.

“We will need more,” he requested, setting it back on the table.

Aki’s tinkering suddenly stopped, and she peeked one baggy eye out from the experimental gadget to look at him. “We?”

Dai leaned against the table and sighed. “The council wishes to provide me with a party.”

Her hand shot to her mouth to cover a poorly suppressed snicker. “Aw, it would seem in your poor fortune, you’ll have the aid of experienced high-ranking rangers who know exactly what they're doing. I’m so sorry to hear that.”

His face hardened into a dangerous sneer. “Spare me your sarcasm and get to work.”

She rolled her eyes and resumed her tinkering. “The most lethal weapon at the council’s disposal happens to be the most sensitive.” Her working fingers slowed again. “Come to think of it, I never took you for someone who’d join a clan.”

Dai headed for the door. “The reason isn’t as interesting as you may think.”

“That’s a shame,” she shrugged. “Anyway, I have plenty of materials, so I’ll get you as many artifacts as you need.”

“Much appreciated.”