Chapter 179 Meeting with the Elders

Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Meeting with the Elders

Then, from beyond the command area, a wave of cheers rose from the frontline.

The sound grew louder as more elemental users joined in.

"We’ve done it!"

"The beasts are falling back!"

"Push forward! Don’t let them regroup!"

The elders looked toward the battlefield.

The beast tide that had once seemed endless was finally being pushed back. The remaining monsters were being eliminated, and the defenders had regained control of the frontline.

They had survived.

Some elemental users cheered while others collapsed onto the ground, too exhausted to celebrate properly. The injured were carried away, and the remaining fighters began securing the area.

Kane stood among them, breathing heavily as he looked toward Damon.

He was still trying to process what had happened.

Damon had returned alive, and the strength he displayed was far beyond anything Kane had expected.

The young man who had once been treated as a failure was now one of the strongest fighters on the battlefield.

And he had arrived just when they needed him most.

Kane’s expression grew complicated.

He couldn’t deny that Damon had saved them. Without his arrival and the support of his Spirit Elementals, the frontline might have collapsed.

But there was also the question of how Damon had acquired such strength, and why he had never shown any of it before.

Kane clenched his fists.

He had always believed himself to be the family’s greatest talent among the younger generation.

Now, he wasn’t so certain.

Across the battlefield, Damon stood beside Caelia and his spirits, looking over the remaining beasts.

"That should take care of most of them," Caelia said.

Damon nodded.

"Good work, everyone."

Freya wagged her tails proudly, while Sylphie circled above them. Shiro stood calmly beside Damon, and Snow leaned close to Caelia.

Damon glanced toward the frontline, where the defenders were beginning to regroup.

"Let’s check on them. We still have a Zone Heart to deal with."

Caelia nodded.

But before they could move, they noticed the many eyes fixed on them.

The defenders were watching Damon with a mixture of relief, awe and uncertainty. Some looked grateful, while others seemed unable to accept that the young man before them was the same person they had once dismissed.

The elders were no different.

Damon noticed the attention but didn’t seem particularly bothered.

Although, it seemed the elders wanted to speak with him.

Whether they planned to thank him, question him or settle old matters, he would find out soon enough.

He walked toward the group of elders waiting at the frontline, with Caelia and his spirits following close behind.

As he passed Kane, the younger man seemed to want to say something. His lips parted, but no words came out. He simply stood there, staring at Damon with a complicated expression.

Damon glanced at him briefly.

Kane had certainly changed. He was taller and more muscular than before, and the responsibility of being one of the Calloway family’s leading geniuses had clearly shaped him. He also carried himself with more confidence, something Damon could recognize without much effort.

Still, it wasn’t enough to impress him.

All that strength, yet he probably wouldn’t last long against Freya with just six tails.

Damon smiled and gave him a casual wink.

"Hey, brother."

He didn’t wait for a reply before continuing on his way.

Kane remained rooted to the spot, watching Damon leave with Caelia and the three powerful spirits surrounding him.

He had imagined many possible outcomes if Damon ever returned, but none had prepared him for this.

Meanwhile, the elders approached with polite expressions.

"Young Master Damon, it’s good to see you again."

Damon raised an eyebrow slightly.

He hadn’t expected such a warm reception, especially from people who had once treated him with disdain. They had now confirmed that he was the same person involved in the Floating Ruin incident, and he had no doubt they remembered the trouble surrounding it.

Yet, with the strength he had displayed on the battlefield, it seemed they were willing to put those unpleasant memories aside.

Or at least pretend to.

"There’s no need for formalities," Damon replied calmly.

One of the elders gave a strained smile.

"We would like to invite you to meet with the senior representatives. The heads and elders of Haven’s Edge and several neighboring cities are gathered nearby. They have been waiting to speak with you."

Damon nodded.

"Lead the way."

He had business with them as well, so there was no reason to waste time.

As he followed the elders, he could feel the eyes of the surrounding elemental users on his back. Some were curious, others were still in disbelief, and a few of the younger geniuses from the Calloway family seemed particularly uncomfortable.

Kane was among them.

Damon paid them no further attention.

He had no interest in explaining himself or answering questions about how he had gained his strength. If they were curious, they could keep wondering.

His current priority was Tempest Hollow.

And the people waiting ahead could help him achieve what he wanted.

The meeting was being held in a large command building near the frontline.

Several powerful figures had gathered inside. Family heads, senior elders and representatives from different cities occupied the seats around a wide table. Their Aether auras were restrained, but the pressure they gave off was still considerable.

When Damon entered, the atmosphere shifted.

A number of the elders looked directly at him, their expressions growing stern. Some had already heard about his achievements, while others were still struggling to accept that the young man who had once been dismissed by the Calloway family was now strong enough to turn the tide of a massive beast invasion.

They had expected him to show some respect.

Perhaps a formal greeting, or at least an acknowledgment of the powerful people gathered before him.

Instead, Damon walked in without a word.

He didn’t bow, greet anyone or even pause to examine the people seated around the table. He simply followed the elder who had guided him inside and stopped at an open space near the center.