Re-Awakened :I Ascend as an SSS-Ranked Dragon Summoner - Chapter 512

Chapter 512: Dragon Core
Morning chi training had become routine by now—the kind of comfortable rhythm that came from repetition and gradual improvement. Valencia sat cross-legged near the front of the hall, white chi flowing around her hands with more stability than she’d managed even two days ago. Marcus had finally figured out how to pull dark chi without giving himself a splitting headache. Chen still struggled, but his frustration had given way to patient determination.

Noah walked between the rows, offering corrections where needed, letting people work through problems themselves when possible. Lila demonstrated a particularly tricky dark chi flow technique to a cluster of recruits who’d been stuck on the same concept for days. Seraleth moved through stretches that incorporated chi into physical conditioning, her movements flowing like water.

Everything was normal. Peaceful, even.

Then the murmurs started.

Low at first, just a few recruits near the windows breaking their meditation to look outside. Then more. Then people standing up, abandoning their practice entirely to press against the glass.

“Is that—”

“Look at the sky—”

“Holy shit, are those—”

Noah moved to the nearest window and understood immediately why concentration had shattered.

Ships. Five of them, descending through morning clouds with the kind of controlled grace that spoke to serious engineering and serious pilots. They weren’t the largest vessels Noah had ever seen—nothing compared to the EDF capital ships that occasionally passed overhead—but they were substantial. Military grade. Each one maybe a hundred meters long, sleek hulls painted in colors that caught the light strangely.

Blue and white. Not solid colors but flowing patterns, like lightning frozen mid-strike across metal surfaces.

“Grey family warships,” Sophie said from beside him, having materialized with that uncanny ability she had to appear exactly when needed. “They’re early.”

“Early is good,” Noah replied, watching the ships settle into positions around the Eclipse complex. They landed in a loose perimeter formation, not threatening but definitely establishing presence. “Means we have more time to coordinate.”

The first ship’s boarding ramp extended before its engines had fully powered down. Soldiers emerged in formation—two hundred of them, moving with the kind of synchronized efficiency that only came from extensive training and actual combat experience.

Their armor matched the ships. Blue and white, but not ceremonial or decorative. This was functional military equipment designed for war, just painted in colors that announced exactly which family these soldiers served. Each one carried weapons that hummed with barely contained energy, the telltale signature of lightning-based systems.

At the head of the formation walked a woman who commanded attention without trying. Tall, maybe six feet, with dark hair pulled back in a style that was practical rather than aesthetic. She wore commander’s insignia on her armor and moved like someone who’d spent more time in combat zones than comfortable offices.

“That’s Commander Alexa Hight,” Sophie said. “Lucy’s top military officer. If she’s here personally instead of sending a subordinate, just like us, Lucy considers this mission critical.”

The Eclipse leadership met them in the main courtyard. Noah, Sophie, Diana, Kelvin and Seraleth formed a reception line that probably looked more informal than military protocol demanded, but they weren’t military anymore. Faction rules applied here.

Commander Hight stopped five feet away and offered a crisp salute that the Eclipse team returned with varying degrees of accuracy. Then she smiled, and something about her demeanor shifted from formal to professional-friendly.

“Noah Eclipse,” she said. “Lucy sends her regards and apologies for not coming herself. Political complications on Raiju Prime require her physical presence, but she wanted you to know the Grey family commitment to this operation is absolute.”

“We appreciate the support,” Noah replied. “This is—”

“I know who everyone is,” Hight interrupted, not unkindly. “Lucy provided detailed briefings. Sophie Reign, tactical coordinator. Diana Frost, combat specialist. Kelvin Pithon, technical operations. Seraleth of Lilivil, military liaison. Lila Rowe, independent operator.” Her gaze moved across each of them in turn. “Your reputations precede you.”

“Hopefully the good parts of our reputations,” Kelvin said.

“Mostly.” Hight’s smile suggested she knew exactly what kind of chaos Eclipse Faction had been causing. “I understand Captain Seraleth has developed an operational framework that inverts standard assault doctrine. I’m looking forward to hearing the details.”

“We’ve set up a briefing room,” Sophie said. “If you want to review the plan before committing your forces—”

“Already committed,” Hight interrupted again. “Lucy’s orders were clear. We’re here to support Eclipse’s operation however you need us. But yes, let’s review the plan and see where Grey forces fit best.”

—

The briefing room felt crowded with this many people. The core Eclipse team, Commander Hight, and her top officers filled the space around holographic displays showing the northern facility from every angle Lucy’s surveillance had captured.

Seraleth stood near the displays, looking more comfortable in this military planning environment than she ever had during casual faction activities. “The facility occupies a valley system that favors defensive positioning,” she began, highlighting key terrain features. “Standard assault doctrine would suggest we use superior numbers to overwhelm defenses through sustained pressure.”

“But standard doctrine assumes roughly equivalent combat capabilities,” Hight finished. “Which isn’t accurate here. Eclipse has high-impact assets that change tactical calculations entirely.”

“Exactly,” Seraleth confirmed. She pulled up modified approach vectors. “We invert the assault structure. Eclipse engages primary defenses frontally with maximum force. Dragons, high-tier combat abilities, overwhelming visible threat. This draws Purge response completely toward surface engagement.”

“While Grey forces infiltrate through secondary access points here, here, and here.” Hight was already seeing it, her tactical mind processing implications faster than Seraleth could explain them. “Underground approach through maintenance systems and emergency exits that aren’t designed to repel external breach.”

“Correct,” Seraleth said. “Eclipse becomes the anvil. Grey becomes the hammer. We create a situation where Purge must commit their strength to stopping our surface assault, which creates the opening your forces need to secure underground objectives.”

Sophie moved to the displays, adding layers of detail. “The challenge is timing. Eclipse needs to genuinely threaten facility integrity—not demonstrate capability, actually breach their defenses—or Purge won’t commit enough forces to create Grey’s opening. But if we push too hard too fast, we risk triggering contingency responses before Grey completes their objectives.”

“Which means Eclipse needs to control the pace of surface engagement,” Hight said. “Escalate pressure gradually, force Purge to commit more resources incrementally, maintain that balance until Grey signals objective completion.”

“That’s extremely difficult to execute,” one of Hight’s officers observed. “Requires real-time coordination and the ability to dial combat intensity up or down on demand.”

“Eclipse has that capability,” Diana said. “Noah’s dragons alone give us escalation options from ‘scary presence’ to ‘apocalyptic destruction.’ We can modulate threat level based on what the situation requires.”

Hight studied the displays for another moment, then nodded. “The framework is sound. Lucy chose well sending Captain Seraleth to coordinate. This plays to both force’s strengths instead of trying to make conventional tactics work in an unconventional situation.”

“There’s still the question of squad assignments,” Sophie said, pulling up personnel rosters. “Eclipse has forty members plus Noah’s core team. Grey has two hundred soldiers. We need to organize both forces in ways that maximize capability while maintaining tactical flexibility.”

“Chess formation,” Hight said immediately.

Everyone looked at her.

“Think of the battlefield like a chess board,” Hight continued, warming to the concept. “Different pieces with different movement patterns and capabilities. We organize squads based on function rather than arbitrary numerical distribution.”

Sophie’s expression shifted to understanding. “Specialized units with specific tactical roles instead of generic assault teams.”

“Exactly.” Hight gestured at the Eclipse leadership. “You have natural force multipliers here. Each of your core members represents a different type of tactical asset. We build squads around those assets, give them recruits whose abilities complement their leader’s strengths.”

Seraleth was nodding, seeing the logic. “Noah Eclipse commands the king’s guard—high impact assault, maximum destructive capability, designed to breakthrough fortified positions.”

“Diana Frost leads the rooks,” Hight added. “Momentum control, crowd suppression, holding key positions against superior numbers through ability rather than firepower.”

“Sophie Reign commands the bishops,” Seraleth continued. “Tactical coordination, support operations, maintaining communication and ensuring all pieces move in concert.”

“Kelvin Pithon runs the knights,” Hight said. “Technical warfare, unconventional approaches, disruption operations that don’t follow standard patterns.”

“Lila Rowe operates the queen,” Sophie finished. “Maximum mobility, rapid response, engaging threats wherever they emerge with abilities that can counter multiple threat types.”

“And Seraleth coordinates as the player,” Hight concluded. “Overseeing the board, adjusting strategy in real-time, ensuring all pieces support each other properly.”

The room was silent for a moment as everyone absorbed the framework. It made sense. Each Eclipse leader had distinct capabilities that suggested specific tactical applications. Building squads around those capabilities instead of trying to create balanced teams meant each unit could specialize, could excel at one thing rather than being mediocre at everything.

“Grey forces form the foundation,” Hight continued. “My soldiers provide the conventional military capability that lets your specialized units function without worrying about basic tactical necessities. We handle perimeter security, maintain supply lines, provide covering fire, extract casualties. The boring essential work that wins battles.”

“How do we assign Eclipse recruits?” Diana asked.

Sophie pulled up personnel files, cross-referencing abilities and training progress. “We match recruits to leaders based on complementary capability. Noah’s squad gets recruits with high durability and aggressive combat abilities—people who can function in high-threat environments alongside dragons.”

“Diana’s squad receives recruits with defensive or control-based abilities,” Seraleth added. “People who can work within her momentum zones and help her establish battlefield control.”

“Kelvin gets the technical specialists,” Hight said. “Anyone with scanning abilities, equipment expertise, or unconventional power applications that support disruption operations.”

“Lila’s squad needs speed and adaptability,” Sophie continued. “Recruits who can keep pace with time manipulation, think on their feet, handle rapidly changing situations.”

“And my squad,” Seraleth said, “receives recruits with straightforward combat abilities. People who excel in direct engagement and can maintain formation during spearhead operations.”

They spent the next hour working through specific assignments. Valencia went to Diana’s squad—her white chi control made her perfect for supporting defensive operations. Marcus joined Noah’s squad—his dark chi aggression complemented high-intensity combat. Chen ended up with Kelvin—his sensory abilities provided the kind of environmental awareness technical operations required.

Each assignment was deliberate, thought through, building squads that functioned as cohesive units rather than random collections of warm bodies.

“This is good work,” Hight said finally, reviewing the completed assignments. “I’ve seen career military officers struggle to organize forces this efficiently. The three of us—” she gestured at Sophie, Seraleth, and herself, “—should consider joint operations after this is over. This kind of tactical synergy is rare.”

“Let’s survive this operation first,” Sophie replied with a slight smile.

“Fair point.”

—

The rest of the day passed in organized chaos. Equipment distribution, communication system integration, squad briefings. Grey soldiers and Eclipse recruits began training together, learning how to coordinate between different force structures and combat styles.

Noah found himself pulled in a dozen directions simultaneously—answering questions, approving decisions, making sure everyone understood their role. It was exhausting in a completely different way from physical combat.

As evening settled, he called a general assembly. Everyone who was deploying tomorrow—Eclipse members, Grey soldiers, all of them—gathered in the largest open area the faction complex had to offer.

Two hundred forty-seven people. That’s how many were going into battle tomorrow.

Noah stood on an elevated platform where everyone could see him, feeling the weight of all those eyes focused on him. Command was still new enough to feel uncomfortable, but he was getting better at it.

“Tomorrow we assault the northern facility,” he began. “You all know what we’re facing. Purge operatives, Infinite Soldiers, possible Arthur presence or clone, confirmed Harbinger activity including a four-horn designated the Widow.”

He let that sit for a moment. Nobody needed sugar-coating.

“The plan is solid. Eclipse draws fire, Grey secures objectives, we extract through established portals or combined breakthrough. But plans fail. Equipment malfunctions. Intelligence is wrong. People get separated or pinned down or injured.”

His void energy began manifesting, purple light flickering around his hands.

“Which is why I’m offering something that might help if things go wrong. It’s called a Domain Link. Basically, I can establish a connection between my personal void space and anyone who accepts it. If you’re in serious danger—about to die, completely cut off, no other options—I can pull you directly into my domain and then extract you to safety.”

Murmurs spread through the assembly. This wasn’t standard military capability. This was something else entirely.

“It requires consent,” Noah continued. “I can’t force the link. You have to accept it consciously. And once it’s established, I’ll know your general location and status. Not invasive, just… aware. Enough to reach you if extraction becomes necessary.”

He looked across the assembled forces. “This is voluntary. If you don’t want the link, that’s completely fine. No judgment, no consequences. But if you do want it—if you want the safety net—I’m offering it now.”

Silence stretched for several seconds.

Then Valencia stepped forward. “I accept.”

[DOMAIN LINK REQUEST SENT]

Noah felt the system respond immediately, his void energy reaching out to establish connection.

[VALENCIA ARCOS – ACCEPTED]

[LINK ESTABLISHED]

Marcus was next. “I accept.”

[MARCUS Clove- ACCEPTED]

[LINK ESTABLISHED]

Then it was like a dam breaking. Person after person stepped forward, accepting the link. Grey soldiers, Eclipse recruits, everyone who was deploying tomorrow choosing to take the safety net Noah offered.

The system notifications scrolled past faster than he could read them individually:

[KIRA SANTOS – ACCEPTED]

[TORRES RODRIGUEZ – ACCEPTED]

[CHEN YAMATO – ACCEPTED]

[REYNA CROSS – ACCEPTED]

[JIN PARK – ACCEPTED]

…

The list kept growing. Noah felt each connection establish, subtle awareness of presence without invasive detail. Like knowing someone was in the next room without seeing them directly.

[LINK ESTABLISHED: 247 INDIVIDUALS]

Two hundred forty-seven people. Every single person going into battle tomorrow had accepted the Domain Link. Every single one choosing to trust Noah with their last line of defense.

The weight of that trust settled over him like physical pressure. These people were betting their lives that if everything went wrong, he could save them. That his void abilities and his domain were sufficient safety net for whatever hell they were walking into.

“Thank you,” Noah said, his voice carrying across the silent assembly. “For trusting me with this. I’ll do everything I can to make sure none of you need it. But if you do… I’ll be there.”

The assembly dispersed gradually, people heading to their quarters or continuing preparations. Noah stayed on the platform, processing the enormity of what had just happened.

Tomorrow they went to war. And now he was responsible not just for his own survival, but for two hundred forty-seven last-resort extractions if everything went catastrophically wrong.

The pressure should have been crushing. Instead, it felt almost… right. Like this was exactly what his abilities were meant for.

He was still standing there, lost in thought, when footsteps pounded across the platform.

Kelvin appeared like a man possessed, his expression somewhere between manic excitement and hysteria. Before Noah could react, Kelvin grabbed his face with both hands and kissed his forehead with enough force to make Noah’s teeth rattle.

“YOU BEAUTIFUL GENIUS BASTARD!” Kelvin shouted. “HOW DID I NOT SEE IT?!”

“See what?” Noah asked, trying to process what was happening. “Kelvin, what—”

“Come with me RIGHT NOW!” Kelvin grabbed Noah’s arm and started dragging him toward the workshop. “I need to show you something. This is insane. This is perfect. This is exactly what I needed and you’ve had it the WHOLE TIME!”

They practically ran through the faction building, Kelvin babbling the entire way about power sources and energy generation and sustained fusion reactions. Noah caught maybe one word in three but the excitement was contagious.

Kelvin’s workshop looked like a tornado had hit it. KROME components were scattered across every surface, holographic displays showed complex calculations Noah couldn’t begin to parse, and in the center of it all sat something new.

A containment framework. Small, maybe the size of a basketball, built from materials Noah recognized as the same components Kelvin used for his most advanced equipment. Energy readings flickered across its surface in patterns that made his void sense tingle.

“Okay,” Kelvin said, finally releasing Noah’s arm so he could gesture wildly at his work. “Remember how I said KROME’s biggest problem was sustained power generation? That beast cores burn out too fast under sustained high output operations? That I needed something like continuous fusion reaction to make it work properly?”

“Yeah,” Noah confirmed. “You said you needed an exploding sun or something.”

“Right! But stars are hard to miniaturize!” Kelvin laughed, the sound slightly unhinged. “Except I was thinking about it wrong. I don’t need stellar fusion. I need something that generates continuous high-energy output without depleting. Something sustainable. Something that already exists.”

He pulled up biological scans on his displays. Dragon anatomy, rendered in exquisite detail.

“Nyx and Storm aren’t just powerful,” Kelvin continued, his words tumbling over each other. “They’re Category Five equivalents or higher. Which means they generate and sustain energy outputs that would kill conventional beasts instantly. They breathe fire and lightning and ice for HOURS without depleting. They fly at supersonic speeds. They regenerate from injuries. All of that requires continuous energy generation at levels that shouldn’t be biologically possible.”

Noah was starting to see where this was going. “Their cores.”