Talent Awakening: Draconic Overlord Of The Apocalypse - Chapter 180

Chapter 180: A Warm Welcome
The screen flickered to life as Marcus and Elena, the charismatic hosts of Megacity I’s Wasteland Display event, appeared before a massive digital backdrop displaying footage of the recently concluded Wasteland Display event.

Both wore sleek, professional Union suits, but their expressions were filled with the excitement that followed such a monumental event.

“Good afternoon, everyone! I’m Marcus, and with me is the ever-insightful Elena,” Marcus began, his voice steady as the camera zoomed in for a close-up.

“That’s right, Marcus!” Elena chimed in with enthusiasm.

“And what a show it’s been! After days of intense competition and high-stakes battles, the Wasteland Display event has officially come to a close!” Marcus exclaimed.

The backdrop transitioned to a wide shot of the event’s final moments, showing aircrafts from each guild returning from the dangerous wastelands.

Marcus nodded. “The winners? None other than the White Comets, securing the top spot with their strategic brilliance and Alister’s powerful performances. A truly dominant force throughout the event.”

Elena leaned in, smiling. “No surprises there! The White Comets showed incredible coordination, not to mention some impressive leadership from Ren on the field, with their MVP none other than Alister and his trio of mythic summons. But let’s not forget about the Reapers coming in second. They were fierce competitors this year, although…”

Her voice trailed off, leaving Marcus to pick up where she left off. “Yes, although word just came in that the Reapers have gone MIA after the final battle. No official word yet on what happened, but it’s definitely strange. Some speculate they were caught up in the site of a sand worm emergence.”

Elena’s smile faltered slightly as she added, “Unfortunately so. Given the random nature of sand worms, predicting an emergence is still not possible. The White Comets got caught up in it as well, but luckily for them, their Dragon Summoner saved the day. Kudos to Alister for having his team’s back.”

“Moving on—The Berserkers took third place, much to everyone’s surprise given their raw combat prowess and streak for winning years in a row. They could have easily suppressed the Reapers, but apparently the appearance of Spade broke more than just their bones.”

“And even if they did, surpassing the White Comets would have been a significant hurdle, considering they had the support of three mythical monsters,” Marcus added.

He nodded as the screen transitioned to show the rankings. “And let’s not forget the Red Phoenix Guild in fourth place. They put up a strong showing, though they were just edged out of the top three. Finally, the Blue Seals finished last, but their efforts can’t be denied.”

Elena gave a soft chuckle. “The Blue Seals had a rough time out there, but they held their own. It’s all about learning and growing in events like this.”

Marcus turned to the camera. “With the Wasteland Display event officially closed and the winners decided, all eyes are now focused on welcoming home our champions—especially the White Comets’ Alister Hazenworth.”

“That’s right, Marcus,” Elena agreed. “We’ll be keeping you updated as new developments unfold. But for now, congratulations to the White Comets and all the guilds who competed!”

The screen faded as the broadcast transitioned back to highlight reels from the event, leaving viewers buzzing with excitement.

—

As the aircraft of the White Comet Guild descended toward the landing platform, everyone inside stood, bracing for the final touchdown. The atmosphere was heavy with an odd silence. Ren and the others had regained consciousness, but there was no chatter, no celebratory words—just silence.

Alister stood among them, his mind still replaying the recent battles. He barely registered the sounds of the engines slowing as they neared the runway. Just then, Yuuto glanced over at him.

“Alister, are you ready?” Yuuto asked, his voice mischievous, with a touch of curiosity.

Alister blinked, slightly confused. “Ready for what?” he asked, his brows furrowing.

Yuuto smiled faintly, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Oh? You don’t know?” He stepped closer, the small smile on his lips widening. “Well, I suppose it’s my responsibility as Guildmaster to enlighten you, then.”

Alister tilted his head, trying to understand what the guildmaster was getting at. Before he could say anything, Yuuto continued, his voice now lower and teasing. “You’re famous now, Alister. How do you plan to handle that?”

“Famous?” Alister echoed, the word feeling foreign on his tongue. It seemed almost absurd to him, as if it didn’t belong in the same sentence as his name.

Yuuto chuckled, clearly enjoying Alister’s confusion. “You’ll see.”

The aircraft’s landing gear touched down with a soft thud, and the engines began to quiet as the craft settled on the runway. The hatch slowly opened with a hiss, revealing the outside world.

To Alister’s shock, a huge crowd had gathered just beyond the landing pad. They stretched out as far as the eye could see, people craning their necks, holding up signs, and shouting excitedly. The noise hit him like a wave, loud and overwhelming.

Yuuto, ever composed, stepped forward first, making his way through the throng with ease. But the moment the members of the guild’s clearing team stepped off the ramp, the crowd erupted.

“They’ve arrived!”

“It’s the White Comets, baby!”

“Ren! Team leader Ren! Over here!” a woman screamed, practically jumping up and down in excitement.

“Ren! Are you single? Are you looking for a girlfriend?”

Flashes from cameras lit up the scene as the guild members descended the ramp. Reporters surged forward, microphones at the ready, calling out to anyone from the guild they could spot.

“White Comets! How does it feel to take first place in the wasteland event?”

“Team leader Ren! What was the hardest challenge in the wasteland?”

“Hiroshi! Kaida! You two were amazing out there!” someone called from the side, waving a sign with their names written in bold letters.

“Kaida, how does it feel knowing your guild surpassed the Berserkers this year?” another reporter called, barely managing to get close enough to the team.

But the real shift in the atmosphere happened when Alister stepped out. The moment he appeared, the crowd seemed to collectively pause, as if stunned by his presence. Then, the frenzy escalated.

“Alister! It’s him!” someone screamed, pointing as the crowd’s attention zeroed in on him.

“Dragon Lord!” a voice from the back called out, and soon, the chant spread like wildfire.

“Dragon Lord! Dragon Lord!”

The crowd began chanting his title, their voices growing louder with every passing second.

“Alister, over here! What’s it like to command dragons?”

“Dragon Lord, what’s your next big move?”

“Dragon Lord, can you summon one of your dragons right now?”

“Is it true that all your dragons can take on humanoid form?”

“If so, isn’t Cinder female? How far does her loyalty go? Will she do absolutely anything you ask her to?”

Alister took a step forward, completely taken by surprise by the wave of voices calling his name. The sheer energy from the crowd was overwhelming, and he could hardly process what was happening. It was all too surreal.

Yuuto, standing nearby, smirked and locked eyes with Alister from the distance. Although his voice couldn’t be heard over the noise, Alister could tell what he was saying just by watching his lips move. “See? I told you. You’re famous now.”

‘Famous…’ Alister thought, the word feeling so alien to him as he looked around, hearing his name being shouted by hundreds of people. It almost didn’t feel real.

Yuuto chuckled at Alister’s expression, then suddenly, Lady Aiko clapped her hands to ease the crowd as she spoke up. “That will be enough now, please! Our team members are all very exhausted, as you all may know, so I suggest you save these questions for after they recover and are ready to discuss at a later date.”

Slowly, the crowd began to clear up. “Thank you,” she said, proceeding to lead the remaining guild members closely behind Yuuto.

But as they moved, the focus remained fixed on Alister. The chants of “Dragon Lord!” filled the air, louder and more fervent by the second. Alister was now the center of their world, the hero of the White Comet Guild and, in their eyes, the legendary Dragon Lord.