Returning to camp, Hades gathered everyone and explained what he had seen.
Starting from the lower number of dragons to the formation they had taken to create the nest.
"The dragons have taken over most of the minefield," he said, "except for the western region—and that's exactly where we'll launch our ambush."
He used a stick to draw a rough outline of the area on the ground, marking the danger zones clearly.
"There are several eggs in the center of the nest," he added. "We have to destroy them. They're likely close to hatching."
Dragon eggs take years to hatch, which is why dragons rarely move their nests. They need to keep them safe and warm. The spot near the volcano was perfect for raising their young.
That's why, it was quite surprising for the dragons to move their nests when the eggs were about to hatch.
"We're killing the babies too?" Jasmine asked, her voice full of sorrow.
"One of those hatchlings needs to eat seven humans a day just to survive," Taylor replied plainly. "Their instincts alone make them too dangerous to keep alive."
The young might not hunt right away, but by the age of five, they're strong enough to move and find their own prey. Allowing a future threat to grow would be nothing short of foolish.
Jasmine closed her mouth and didn't speak again.
Hades went on, "Dragons usually don't care much about the eggs unless they're harmed. So, we'll use that to our advantage—target the eggs first. When they panic, we strike. Take them down one by one."
His plan was quickly met with protest.
"You want to provoke them?" Cedric snapped. "Are you out of your mind? That'll make this mission far more dangerous!"
But Hades stood firm. "If we don't create panic, we might not be able to kill them all. Don't forget—solitary dragons will run if they sense their enemy is too strong. It's in their nature."
Hades stood firm. He wanted to wipe out every last one of those beasts—creatures that had caused destruction in the past and would only bring more chaos if left alive.
That's why he came up with this plan. Risky, yes—but it was the only way to make sure every last dragon was crushed tomorrow.
"If you've already made up your mind, why even ask us?" Cedric muttered, then stood and walked off toward his tent.
The air turned heavy. Jasmine glanced at Taylor, who gave her a silent look that told her to head back. She quietly got up and followed.
Taylor stood next. "I'll see you in the morning," he said, stretching his arms before heading into his tent.
Now alone with his friend, Hades leaned back against a tree log and asked, "Do you think I force my decisions on others?"
This was the second time today that Cedric and Hades had reached a disagreement. But this cannot continue for long. Disagreement could cause conflicts if not resolved and during the operation, it could turn dangerous.
"Yeah," came the casual reply from the raven-haired man.
Hades raised a brow and looked at him. His friend continued, "But since it's working, I don't think it's a bad thing. Holding your ground and making the hard calls—that's one of the most important qualities a leader should have."
Hades felt a little better.
Graham placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Don't worry about him. You know Cedric's always been like that—especially since Rinne showed up."
That caught Hades' attention. "Yeah, what's the deal with Rinne anyway? I've noticed Cedric's been acting strange ever since she joined our team."
Rinne was a transfer student, already well-known before she arrived. She quickly rose through the ranks and earned her place as the best healer in the school.
Not to talk about, she has a great influence over the church because she was a Monarch-ranked healer.
Her joining the team had been welcomed by everyone. She was kind, confident, and reliable.
But while Cedric was always gentle when talking to her, his attitude toward the rest of the group—especially Hades—had grown noticeably colder.
"You really don't see it, do you?" Graham asked with a grin, eyes gleaming with amusement.
Hades blinked and shook his head. He genuinely didn't get it.
Graham laughed. "Good thing Kayla confessed to you. Otherwise, you'd still be single—clueless as ever."
Hades frowned, but Graham stood up, clearly not planning to explain anything further.
"Oh yeah," Graham said, pausing just before entering his tent. He turned around and added, "Mother wants us both to come home during the vacation. She's throwing a celebration for my sister's recovery."
Hades smiled. No matter how many times he heard it, the news of Thalia always filled him with relief.
A year ago, Thalia had been diagnosed with a rare, incurable illness. It was viral in nature, and there was no known treatment at the time. Hades remembered how often Graham visited the church, praying to the Gods with quiet desperation.
But a few months ago, everything changed. A cure was discovered—an unexpected miracle. And the little girl was given a second chance at life.
Graham's and Cedric's families were close, often visiting one another. Naturally, Hades had built a strong bond with Graham's mother and sister over the years as well.
"Alright, let's go together," he agreed with a nod.
They chatted for some more time, mostly about Graham's family since Hades' side was quite complicated. His family relations was not something Graham likes to discuss about. And Hades was quite thankful for that.
"Let's go rest now." Hades suggested not so long after.
Soon, they all settled into their tents for the night.
Hades was staying out for surveillance and soon would delegate the duty with Graham.
Looking at the dark sky, he muttered, 'Just one more step,'
Tomorrow, the hunt would begin.
°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Add the book to your collection. Thanks for reading. Drop a comment.