Talent Awakening: Draconic Overlord Of The Apocalypse - Chapter 440

Chapter 440: • Echoes in the Sky
Anzo exhaled, rubbing his temple as he pushed the empty glass away. The alcohol had dulled the sharpest edges of his thoughts, but it hadn’t erased them completely. It never did.

After a moment, he leaned back against the bar, letting out a slow breath. “Speaking of humans,” he muttered, “since our fearless leader has given us a little break, I figure I might as well use it to check in on my old man. See how he’s holding up.”

Axel raised an eyebrow. “Huh. Didn’t think you were also the sentimental type.”

Anzo smirked, but it was faint. “I’m not. But the guy’s getting up there in a couple of years, and I haven’t been by in a while. Figured I should at least make sure he’s still kicking.”

Blitz stretched her arms behind her head, giving him a knowing look. “Yeah, yeah, just admit you actually care.”

Anzo rolled his eyes. “I care about making sure I don’t get a letter one day telling me the old bastard kicked the bucket without me knowing.”

There was a weight behind his words, one that wasn’t immediately obvious but lingered like the aftertaste of strong liquor.

Beatrice, who had been quiet, smiled softly. “I think it’s nice. Family’s important.”

Anzo glanced at her, then let out a quiet chuckle. “Yeah. Maybe.” His gaze drifted back toward his empty glass. “Either way, I should at least check in. Been too long since the last time.”

He pushed away from the table as he got to his feet.

Axel glanced at Anzo, taking a slow sip of his carbonated drink. He wasn’t much for prying, but he knew the difference between casual conversation and something that had deeper roots. “So, what’s he like? The old man?”

Anzo smirked, shaking his head. “Stubborn as hell. Tougher than half the guys I’ve fought beside. Annoying and an absolute pain to deal with.”

Blitz whistled. “Sounds like a real hardass.”

Anzo chuckled. “Oh, he is. But he’s earned it.” His expression grew distant.

Axel set his drink down and stretched his arms behind his head. “Guess that makes sense. If there’s anything this mess has taught me, it’s that you never know what’ll happen next.”

He exhaled. “So yeah, might as well check in while you can.”

Blitz, who had been watching Anzo suddenly grinned. “Damn, listen to us. We sound like a bunch of war veterans at the ripe old age of… what, mid-twenties? Next thing you know, we’ll be complaining about our backs and reminiscing about the good old days.”

Anzo smirked again, but this time, it had a bit more life to it. “Give it a few more decades, Blitz. You’ll be the first one groaning about old injuries.”

She scoffed, flipping a strand of hair over her shoulder. “Please. I plan to stay forever young. I’ve got too much mischief left to cause.”

Axel clinked his glass against the counter. “Well, tell him your drinking buddies said hi.”

Anzo snorted. “Yeah, sure. I’m sure that’ll go over real well.”

Anzo shook his head with a smirk, adjusting his jacket. He could already imagine his old man’s reaction—probably some gruff remark about how he should’ve visited sooner, followed by a silent, approving nod that said more than words ever could.

“Anyway, don’t get too wasted while I’m gone,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at the others. “I’d hate to come back and find you all passed out on the floor.”

Axel waved him off. “Relax. I’m the responsible one here,” he said, lifting up his non-alcoholic carbonated drink.

Blitz snorted. “That’s the biggest lie I’ve heard all night.”

Axel placed a hand over his heart, feigning deep offense. “You wound me.”

Beatrice let out a small giggle, the tension from earlier finally easing a little. “Be careful out there, Anzo.”

He gave her a two-fingered salute before heading toward the exit, the neon lights of the bar casting long shadows as he walked.

….

….

Alister, Lila, and Mar’Garet soared through the sky, high above the sprawling cityscape.

The wind whipped against their faces as the massive steel wyvern—its wings shimmering like a mirror under the moonlight—glided effortlessly through the air, its wings cutting through the clouds.

Alister stood at the front, atop its head, guiding the creature as it followed his will. Lila sat just behind him, her eyes wide with a look of awe and anxiety.

She wasn’t really used to traveling this way—flying so high above the ground. She had only done it once before, and it was also earlier tonight, the city below looking like little more than a collection of tiny boxes and lines.

She couldn’t help but glance down at the horizon, where the Union hospital lay in the distance. Her parents, still recovering from the attack, were waiting there.

She could almost feel the weight of the memories that came with this place—the hospital had been a symbol of hope. Now, it felt like a lifeline.

Mar’Garet, her arms folded across her chest, leaned back and let the wind tousle her hair. She wasn’t one to show concern, but there was something about Alister’s quiet tension that made her more attentive than usual. She knew him well enough to know something was on his mind.

Alister glanced back at Lila. “We’ll be there soon. Hang in there.”

Lila gave a small nod. “Thanks… I just… I just need to make sure they’re okay.”

As they continued their journey, Alister’s attention shifted. His hand reached out, pulling a map into view—one only he could see, conjured from the runes Terra had taught him.

His fingers traced the lines and symbols etched into the air as the map glowed faintly under his touch.

It displayed a map of the mega city, and in a particularly large estate, a red dot could be seen.

His gaze narrowed as he focused on the area of the map.

A fragment of the Dragon God Sword was located at the Zhang family estate.