Yash, carrying the unconscious Pratik alongside the others, boarded their spacecraft and departed toward the Gretoling Empire's mothership.
The situation had escalated far beyond anyone's expectations.
On the farthest planet in the dimension, Yash's uncle slowly activated his inherited transformation—
TEJ.
The instant he transformed, the entire dimension changed.
The colors of space shifted.
Even distant stars turned blue.
Their motion gradually slowed, as though time itself had begun to lose momentum.
A colossal figure descended from one of the Gretoling Empire's ships, crashing onto the planet where Bhaskar stood.
"It's been a long time... big brother Ravi."
Ravi nodded.
He stood nearly two meters tall, his massive body giving him an imposing presence despite the calm expression on his closed eyes.
[Ravi]: Indeed... it's been a long time, Bhaskar.
[Bhaskar]: Seems you haven't forgotten me.
Ravi smiled faintly.
[Ravi]: Yash and his friends have already been taken aboard the mothership. They'll be safe there. Now... Let's finish this battle.
[Bhaskar]: Seems I'll have to cooperate... for the time being.
Ravi raised a finger toward his mouth while patting his stomach with the other hand.
[Ravi]: Then lend me some of your power.
Bhaskar sighed.
[Bhaskar]: Whatever...
Gathering a portion of his energy, Bhaskar condensed it into a glowing sphere before launching it toward Ravi.
Ravi swallowed it whole.
His eyes slowly opened.
[Ravi]: I already feel stronger.
Millions of soldiers armed with advanced weapons poured out from the enemy fleet.
Three figures followed behind them.
Ravi observed them quietly.
[Ravi]: Those three must be their commanders.
[Bhaskar]: I've been itching to test my strength anyway.
Before either of them could move...
Reality itself tore apart.
A massive rift split open across space.
From within emerged...
Hundreds of dragons.
Each one was so enormous that several planets could have fit beneath their wings.
For the first time in Greto Empire's history...
They witnessed dragons being deployed in war.
Far away...
Hagino calmly observed the battlefield from within his command chamber.
A faint smile crossed his face.
Standing atop the dragons were...
Jillor.
Winger.
Duran.
Ravi narrowed his eyes.
[Ravi]: What are our chances?
Bhaskar answered after a long silence.
[Bhaskar]: Slim. I can sense another presence hidden inside their fleet. Its power rivals mine... Perhaps it's even greater. Even if we defeat those three... The real battle may only begin afterward. This war could go either way.
Ravi casually opened a packet of chips and started eating.
Bhaskar stared at him in disbelief.
[Bhaskar]: Hey!! I'm being serious here!! Could you stop eating for one minute?!
Ravi continued chewing.
[Ravi]: So... They hold the advantage.
Bhaskar sighed.
[Bhaskar]: Why didn't you bring Father?
[Ravi]: ...
Silence.
Bhaskar understood immediately.
A hint of sadness appeared on his face.
[Ravi]: Our mission isn't to win. It's to bring Yash home safely. Everything else is secondary.
Bhaskar looked toward the opposing fleet.
[Bhaskar]: I just hope this battle never begins.
The Gretoling fleet activated its planetary cannons.
Moments later...
Hagino's fleet did the same.
Thousands of weapons charged simultaneously.
Both sides stood ready for total war.
Just as the first shot seemed inevitable—
Something crashed down from above.
It landed directly on one of the gigantic dragons.
...
A lizard?
No...
An enormous summoned lizard.
An anthropomorphic reptile wearing black sunglasses, a leather jacket covered in metal spikes, a rugged brown belt...
And two cigarettes hanging from its mouth.
Ravi and Bhaskar's jaws nearly dropped.
Even the enemy formation fell into confusion.
The summon proudly announced—
"Huhuhu... everyone shall bow before the mighty Lord Kakora!"
...
Kakora.
The name alone told everyone exactly who had arrived.
The strongest sorcerer of the Immortalus Society.
The Living History.
The Legendary General.
Gomo Taka.
Standing atop Kakora was an elderly man dressed in a General's uniform.
White hair.
White beard.
Despite his age, he appeared no older than his forties.
A straw hat rested upon his head.
Dark sunglasses concealed his eyes.
His arms remained folded behind his back.
He overlooked the battlefield.
"The world certainly looks smaller from up here."
The dragon beneath Kakora disappeared instantly.
Jillor, Duran, and Winger immediately teleported back toward their flagship.
Duran's expression stiffened.
[Duran]: He...
[Jillor]: The Legendary General of the Immortalus Society... Gomo Taka.
Then another figure stepped forward behind him.
Blue hair.
Everyone recognized him immediately.
The Blue Flash of Immortalus.
The Shadow Leader of the Immortalus Society.
Arun.
"Seems we've finally made it."
The battlefield shifted completely.
There was no longer any realistic chance for Hagino's Paradise Community to fight both the Greto Empire...
And the strongest sorcerer alive.
Before anyone could react—
Gomo raised his voice.
[Gomo]: If anyone still wishes to fight...
Fight me first!
His words echoed throughout space.
Narration: Although sound cannot naturally travel through space, Gomo transmitted his voice as an electromagnetic wave before it converted into sound upon reaching its listeners.
Without warning—
Someone leaped out from the enemy flagship.
Arun silently teleported away.
Gomo entered his Swarna State.
His body glowed with brilliant golden light.
Everything nearby began revolving around him.
Kakora vanished.
Hagino charged straight at him.
He missed.
Before Hagino could react—
Gomo was already floating behind him.
"Your movements are rather predictable, son."
Hagino clicked his tongue.
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
[Hagino]: ...Whatever.
Without another word, he retreated to his flagship.
He ordered the entire fleet to withdraw.
Moments later...
Gomo deactivated his transformation.
Arun quietly walked through the Gretoling mothership.
[Arun]: Why was I sent here again?
He paused.
Then smiled.
[Arun]: Ah... Since I'm already here... I might as well gather some useful information.
The battle...
Never happened.
Hagino's Paradise Community withdrew without resistance after realizing that fighting the Legendary General would accomplish nothing.
But another question remained.
What awaited Yash and the others?
What punishment would they receive for entering the forbidden Gamble Planet?
And what consequences would Yash face for undertaking such a dangerous mission without informing anyone?
Those answers...
Still awaited them.
To be continued...