Starting With an SSS-Rank Goddess Summon!

Chapter 440: A Break From Sparring [Bonus Chapter]

The female Umbral wolf walked directly up to Silas. She lowered her massive head, gently nuzzling her snout against Silas’s chest with a deep vibrating purr of affection.

Silas smiled warmly, reaching out with both hands to scratch the thick fur along her neck and jaw. "Good girl, Valkyrie. Ready for a run?"

Valkyrie let out a soft joyful chuff, leaning her massive weight against him.

Just then, the synchronized stomping of dozens of armored boots echoed across the staging grounds as the sixty newly recruited maidens arrived in formation.

Silas stepped back, his posture shifting into that of a commanding sovereign as he surveyed his troops.

The sixty women were lined up in four crisp disciplined ranks of fifteen.

Every single recruit was outfitted in standard Blessed Land scout-infantry armor, their breastplates bearing the cracked obsidian shield and golden sword insignia.

Half the maidens held polished steel arming swords and bucklers, while the other half gripped eight-foot ash-wood spears tipped with refined void-iron.

Stepping forward to stand before the ranks were the three appointed Squad Captains.

First was Brida, looking as imposing and terrifying as ever.

The towering Commander carried her tower shield and axe as her fierce gaze swept over the recruits like an eagle assessing fledglings.

Beside her stood Tasmin.

Silas’s blue eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Tasmin.

’Is she doing something...?’

He noticed the dark circles beneath her amber eyes and the subtle stiffness in her shoulders... she looked noticeably exhausted.

’Alright then...’

Silas made a quiet mental note to order her to get a good resting period, what kind of example was she showing to the other girls?

And standing on the far right was Eluned, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet with her living wooden armor humming with cheerful life-mana.

Silas stepped forward, his deep clear voice cutting through the morning breeze with absolute authority.

"Recruits of Blessed Land!" Silas addressed the sixty women, his gaze meeting each of their focused eyes. "Today marks your very first official combat deployment into the Umbral Basin! As you well know, the Sovereign Realm is not a gentle training ground... Beyond those stone gates lies an unforgiving wilderness filled with predatory mana-beasts, rogue elemental anomalies, and treacherous terrain."

The sixty maidens stood at rigid attention, their knuckles whitening around their weapons as they listened with rapt intensity.

"I do not expect perfection today," Silas continued, his tone steady and encouraging. "But I expect focus, flawless coordination, and courage. Give your squad captains your complete obedience... Those among you who display exceptional awareness, valor, and teamwork will be formally noted in the territorial registry and granted priority access to advanced skill scrolls and elixirs."

A ripple of determined hungry ambition flashed through the eyes of the recruits.

"We are dividing into four squads of fifteen!" Silas commanded, raising his hand. "Squad Captains, claim your units!"

The staging ground moved with efficiency.

Brida stepped up to Group Two, her booming voice organizing the heavy spear-infantry with military precision.

Tasmin took command of Group Three, aligning the light scouts and archers into a loose agile skirmish formation.

Eluned happily claimed Group Four, her emerald mana weaving a light protective blessing over the weapons of her fifteen maidens.

Silas walked over to Group One, flanked by Aurelia and the Princess.

"Group One will be under my direct command," Silas announced to the fifteen maidens standing before him.

The recruits of Group One instantly beamed with overwhelming pride, their chests swelling at the immense honor of being led personally by their Lord.

Silas turned toward the Blessed Wolves.

The remaining adult wolves... Titan, Ember, and Nova trotted over to the other three squad captains, acting as the vanguard cavalry mounts for Brida, Tasmin, and Eluned.

Silas walked up to the side of Valkyrie.

With an effortless athletic vault, Silas swung his leg over the massive dire wolf’s back, settling securely onto the enchanted leather saddle.

He leaned down, extending his strong right hand toward the blue-haired royal maiden standing on the grass.

"Come on, Princess," Silas said. "Up you go."

The Princess blinked, her face flushing with sudden, flustered panic. "E-Eh?! I am to ride with you?!"

"You’re an unawakened mortal in a high-gravity basin," Silas pointed out with a dry smirk. "If I make you run on foot, your lungs will collapse before we cross the first ridge. Get up here."

The Princess swallowed hard, reaching out her delicate hand. Silas grabbed her wrist, effortlessly hoisting her up into the saddle before him.

She settled into the space between his arms, her back pressing lightly against his chest as Silas’s hands reached around her waist to grip the leather reins.

The proximity sent a wild burning blush straight to the tips of her royal-blue ears.

’Wha... what is this...’

Silas turned his head toward Aurelia, who stood calmly beside Valkyrie’s flank with her rapier at her side.

"Aurelia, you’re on foot with the squad," Silas instructed. "Can your legs keep pace?"

Aurelia’s golden-amber eyes flashed with quiet confident pride.

Her vitality was fully restored, her Argent Core was burning bright, and her physical stats were those of an SSS-Rank mythic entity.

"I will not fall behind, my Lord," Aurelia answered with a sharp respectful nod.

Silas smiled, drawing in a deep breath of the crisp basin air then he raised his hand high into the morning sky.

"Group One... CHARGE!"

HOWL!

Valkyrie threw her head back, releasing a thunderous howl before leaping forward in a colossal ground-shaking bound.

Behind them, the fifteen maidens of Group One surged forward in tight formation, their boots pounding rhythmically against the stone road as Aurelia glided effortlessly alongside them like a silver shadow.

The massive iron gates of Blessed Land swung wide, and the hunting expedition plunged into the untamed, rugged expanse of the Umbral Basin.

...

KRA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Deep beneath the fortress bedrock, inside the boundless, isolated white expanse of the training vault, an apocalyptic explosion detonated for the umpteenth time.

Aeliana sat upon her floating starlight chair near the perimeter of the sub-space, her delicate porcelain hands trembling as she channeled continuous massive streams of celestial mana into her spell to keep maintaining the integrity of the [Dome].

Her sharp, elegant brows were furrowed in pure exasperation, and her teeth were gritted so tightly her jaw ached.

GRRRRRR!

A loud hollow rumble erupted from the elven Archon’s stomach, echoing pitifully in the quiet zone around her chair.

’By the celestial stars above...’ Aeliana groaned internally, her violet-gold eyes twitching with profound fatigue. ’How long have these two battle-maniacs been going at it?! It has been nearly three continuous hours! My mana reserves are stable, but I haven’t had my morning tea, my Lord is already out on the hunt, and my stomach is actively devouring itself!’

In the center of the void, the blinding tempest of abyssal water and divine golden lightning reached its deafening climax.

CLASH!

The dark curved steel of Tidebringer locked violently against the ancient head of Mjölnir.

Morwenna and Thor stood deadlocked in the center of a cratered, swirling vortex of pressurized mist.

Both women were breathing in synchronized pants as their muscles began straining against the mutual immovable force of their weapons.

Morwenna’s stormy gray eyes were bloodshot, and burning with satisfaction, while Thor’s storm-blue eyes crackled with battle-ecstasy.

Neither woman pushed forward and for three long breathless seconds, the Dread Queen and the God of Thunder stared dead into each other’s eyes.

Then, slowly, Thor’s lips split into a wide exhausted grin.

"GWAHAHAHA!" Thor chuckled, her booming voice hoarse from hours of roaring. "I have to admit, sailor... you swing that curved tooth of yours with magnificent terrifying weight!"

Morwenna’s lips twitched into a sharp tired smirk, her canines showing as she let out a low chuckle. "You don’t hit too soft yourself, thunder-bitch. My forearms are numb down to the bone."

"A mutual recess?" Thor proposed, loosening her grip on Mjölnir by a fraction of an inch. "I think we’ve pulverized enough dimensional fabric for one morning."

"Agreed," Morwenna nodded, sliding Tidebringer back in a smooth fluid motion.

FWHUUUUUSH.

The moment both weapons parted, Aeliana didn’t wait a single microsecond.

"Release!" the elven Archon practically shouted in relief.

POP!

The infinite white sub-space dissolved instantly.

The boundless void vanished, and reality snapped back into place, returning them to the solid,dark-granite training vault beneath the Keep.

Aeliana slumped back against her floating staff, letting out a massive soul-cleansing sigh of pure relief as her feet touched the real floorboards.

Beside her, resting peacefully on a plush woolen bench,

Talira was still sound asleep, her small humanoid chest rising and falling in deep restorative slumber following her intense bloodline awakening.

Morwenna sheathed Tidebringer with a crisp clack, rolling her stiff shoulders as she began walking toward the heavy iron vault doors.

She glanced back over her shoulder, tossing a casual knowing grin toward the God of Thunder.

"Hey, Thor," Morwenna called out in her raspy drawl. "Since we’re calling a truce for the morning... I know a place in the Territory where a fiery cook named Kaelia whips up the most incredible soul-melting roasted feasts you’ll ever taste in your entire immortal life."

Thor’s storm-blue eyes widened to the size of saucers. Her ears practically perked up like a hound catching the scent of fresh meat.

"GWAHAHAHA! NOW THAT IS THE KIND OF PROPOSAL I LIKE TO HEAR!" Thor roared with booming delight, stomping her boots toward the exit. "LEAD THE WAY, SAILOR! IF THE MEAT IS AS GOOD AS YOUR SWORDPLAY, I’LL DRINK A BARREL OF MEAD IN YOUR HONOR!"

The two towering warriors reached for the heavy iron door handle—

"STOP RIGHT THERE!"

A scandalized screech echoed across the subterranean vault.

Morwenna and Thor paused, blinking in confusion as they turned around.

Standing twenty paces back, Aeliana’s face was burning a violent shade of incandescent crimson.

The elven Archon of the Stars was pointing her staff at the two warriors with wide horrified eyes.

"GO PUT ON SOME CLOTHES FIRST!" Aeliana shrieked, covering her eyes with her free hand. "BOTH OF YOU ARE COMPLETELY NAKED!"

Morwenna looked down at herself.

Her black leather coat, her tunic, and her trousers had been incinerated hours ago by Thor’s point-blank lightning discharges, leaving her standing in the cold stone vault in nothing but a few tattered smoking leather scraps that barely covered her navel.

Beside her, Thor looked down at her own broad muscled frame.

Her heavy silver breastplate had been sheared in half by Morwenna’s Universal Water slash, and her dark trousers had been reduced to a pair of shredded singed ribbons, exposing her corded sun-kissed warrior physique to the open air.

Thor looked at Morwenna and Morwenna looked at Thor.

"GWAHAHAHA!" Thor threw her head back, bursting into an unbothered laughter that shook the vault walls. "A minor wardrobe malfunction! The kitchen staff won’t mind a little extra muscle on display!"

"Tch," Morwenna smirked, crossing her scarred arms over her bare chest without an ounce of shame. "Don’t be a prude, elf. It’s just skin..."

"CLOTHES! NOW!" Aeliana screamed, her face glowing brighter than a dying star.

...

The suffocating ceiling of the Black Forest stretched endlessly in every direction, its dense canopy of gnarled obsidian-barked branches locking out the pale morning sky of the Umbral Basin.

Down below, the forest floor was swallowed by shadows and thick layers of damp moss and snow that swallowed the rhythmic crunch of marching boots.

Squad One advanced in a disciplined attacking formation.

The fifteen newly outfitted recruit maidens held their positions tightly, their hands gripping the polished ash-wood shafts of their void-iron-tipped spears and the leather-wrapped hilts of their arming swords.

Riding tall at the center of the column, Silas held the reins of Valkyrie with a relaxed grace.

The Umbral Wolf stepped silently across the treacherous terrain, her thick blond fur rippling with raw power.

Wedged snugly between Silas’s arms on the saddle, the blue-haired Princess shifted uncomfortably for the third time in as many minutes.

Her lightweight sky-iron cuirass clinked softly against her weave harness, and her fingers drummed a rhythm against the pommel.

"Lord Silas," the Princess spoke up, her musical voice tinged with a disappointed pout as she turned her head back to look at him. "Are we entirely certain that this dreary expanse of dead timber is an active combat sector?... We have been traversing these woods for nearly half an hour, and yet I have not laid eyes on a single terrifying beast. At this rate, my newly tailored scout armor will gather nothing more than dust and damp air rather than glorious combat honors."

Walking effortlessly alongside the dire wolf’s left flank, Aurelia did not break her stride.

The former Saintess had her slender rapier sheathed securely at her hip.

Her white-enameled cuirass gleamed with pure luster, and her golden-amber eyes scanned the dark thickets with a vigilance born of a warrior.

To the right flank, creeping low through the brambles with feral athleticism, Lupina sniffed the damp air, her silver pointed wolf ears twitching toward the upper canopy.

A few paces behind her, Morrighan walked on the moss with her dark tail shifting like living shadows in the gloom.

Silas chuckled softly, glancing down at the blue-haired royal maiden before projecting his voice so every recruit in the ranks could hear him clearly.

"Do not let the quiet fool you, Princess," Silas instructed. "The Umbral Basin may appear silent on the surface, but creatures of all shapes, sizes, and appetites lurk just beneath the shadows. Some of them are prime game... rich in clean mana and thick with tender marbled meat that Kaelia can slow-roast over the fire with sweet honey glaze but others..."

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

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