Journey to Major Base City 2

The morning sun bathed Base City 17 in golden light as Rehan stood outside the Warrior Alliance Hall, waiting for the transport to Major Base City 2. Warriors from all around the city had gathered—some chatting excitedly, others standing in silence, exuding an aura of confidence.

John approached him with his usual smirk. "Nervous?"

Rehan shook his head. "No, just eager."

John chuckled. "Good. That's the attitude you need."

A loud roar suddenly echoed through the air as a massive airship descended from the sky. It was sleek, dark-gray, and armored with plasma shielding—a state-of-the-art military transport designed to cross beast-infested lands.

A tall man in a dark-blue military uniform, his aura oppressive like a mountain, walked forward. His presence alone silenced the crowd.

This was Captain Logan, a Level 6 warrior from the Military Faction and the one in charge of escorting them.

His sharp eyes scanned the warriors before he spoke. "All of you, listen up. We're heading to Major Base City 2. Behave yourselves. If anyone causes trouble, I'll personally throw you off the ship. Understood?"

The crowd stiffened and nodded.

"Good. Get in."

Rehan followed the other warriors inside. The interior of the ship was spacious, lined with metallic benches, with a holographic map of the region floating in the center.

As soon as everyone was seated, the ship took off at high speed.

Rehan looked around at the other participants. Some were observing their weapons, some were chatting, while others sat with their eyes closed, meditating.

A group of warriors stood near the front, their conversation loud and filled with arrogance.

"Hmph, the competition is just a formality," one of them scoffed. "We all know that the true battle will be among the top 10. The rest are just stepping stones."

Rehan ignored them. The truly strong never needed to boast.

Suddenly, someone approached him.

"Hey, you're Rehan, right?"

Rehan turned to see a tall, muscular warrior with a confident grin. He had short brown hair and wore a customized battle suit.

"I'm Leon," the warrior introduced himself. "I saw your ranking in the Alliance hunting records. You've been climbing fast."

Rehan nodded. "You've been checking the rankings?"

Leon shrugged. "It's good to know your competition. I'm aiming for the top spots in the selection tournament, and I'm guessing you are too."

Rehan smirked. "We will see about it."

Leon grinned. "Good. I look forward to fighting you."

With that, he returned to his seat.

Captain Logan, who had been watching the interaction, spoke up.

"Kid, don't get cocky," Logan said, his voice like steel. "There will be warriors far stronger than you. This isn't just about talent, it's about experience and survival. If you want to make it far, keep your head down and fight smart."

John, who had been watching the interaction, chuckled. "Looks like you're already attracting attention."

Rehan remained silent. He wasn't underestimating anyone, but he also wasn't afraid.

An hour into the journey, the ship suddenly shook violently.

The airship shook violently as alarms blared.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

"Warning! Multiple Level 5 & Level 6 Sky Raptors approaching at high speed!"

A holographic screen flickered on, displaying a swarm of winged beasts closing in—sharp talons, crimson eyes, and wings that cut through the air like blades.

Captain Logan's expression darkened. "Damn it, we're in their hunting zone!"

He turned to the young warriors. "Stay inside! This is beyond your level!"

Without hesitation, Logan leaped out of the ship, his body blurring as he shot toward the approaching raptors.

BOOM!

The air trembled as his punch shattered the skull of the first raptor, sending its lifeless body spiraling toward the ground.

Another beast dived at him from above, its razor-sharp beak aiming straight for his head.

SWOOSH!

Logan spun mid-air, dodging the strike, and slammed his foot into its chest. The impact ripped through the beast's ribcage, sending shockwaves through the sky.

Inside the airship, Rehan watched intently. Captain Logan was powerful—far beyond what he had expected.

But the swarm wasn't slowing down. More raptors came from all directions, their numbers overwhelming. The ship's turrets fired continuously, but a few beasts slipped through the defense, heading straight for the airship.

Rehan's eyes narrowed. He couldn't just sit and watch.

Without standing up, he discreetly activated his spirit energy, extending his invisible force toward the ship's turret system.

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

The cannons, which had been struggling to aim fast enough, suddenly became more precise, shooting down the incoming raptors with deadly accuracy.

Logan, still battling outside, noticed this. His eyes flickered toward the ship, but he had no time to think about it.

A Level 6 Sky Raptor, larger and more ferocious than the rest, swooped toward him at incredible speed.

Logan's body tensed.

The beast spread its wings, creating a windstorm that distorted the air, then shot forward with terrifying force.

Logan crossed his arms, taking the full impact. His body was sent hurtling backward, blood leaking from his lips.

Inside the ship, Rehan gritted his teeth.

'At this rate… Captain Logan might take too much damage.'

He couldn't reveal his full power, but... he could tip the scales.

Using his spirit energy, he subtly manipulated one of his A-grade flying knives and launched it at the raptor's wing joint.

SHING!

The blade sliced deep, severing a tendon. The raptor screeched in pain, its movements faltering for a split second.

That was all Logan needed.

BOOM!

His fist, wrapped in raw energy, smashed through the beast's skull, turning it into pulp.

The remaining raptors hesitated, sensing the death of their leader. Within moments, the surviving beasts retreated, their screeches fading into the distance.

Logan hovered in the air for a moment, then returned to the ship, landing with a heavy thud. His gaze swept across the warriors inside.

"…Something was off," he muttered. His eyes briefly locked onto Rehan, but he didn't say anything.

Instead, he took a deep breath and said, "We're moving out. No more delays."

Rehan leaned back, pretending to be unaffected. But deep inside, he smirked.

'That was close. But now, I know one thing—Level 6 warriors are strong, but… I can fight them.

A few hours later, the airship descended toward a colossal city.

Major Base City 2 was nothing like Base City 17. It was massive, its skyline filled with towering skyscrapers and floating battle arenas. The streets were lined with advanced technology, and warriors with auras far stronger than those in his home city walked casually among the crowds.

John patted Rehan's shoulder. "Welcome to the real battlefield."

As they disembarked, a group of officials awaited them.

"New warriors, welcome to Major Base City 2! You will be staying in designated quarters for the duration of the competition. The selection tournament will begin in two days. Use this time to prepare."

Rehan was excited for the upcoming fight. He knew there were many geniuses among the warriors and he could fight them in 2 days.