My Talent's Name Is Generator Chapter 707: The First Step

[Billion’s PoV]

My eyes shifted from Saleos, coming to rest on the limp, floating form of Phegor.

"I’ll take care of him," Saleos declared, his tone remaining steady yet freezing. "I’ll extract every detail from him. Names, contacts, strategies. He won’t be able to resist for long."

I gave a firm nod. "Good. Do whatever is necessary. If you require assistance with the... more unpleasant aspects, just inform me."

For a fleeting moment, his eyes met mine, flickering with an unreadable emotion before he offered a curt nod. Gratitude was absent from his face, replaced by a mutual understanding. My focus returned to the three runes suspended in the air between us.

They emitted a faint pulse, their black contours etched with an authority that felt alien to our universe. Even with Phegor restrained and unconscious, their presence felt wrong. It wasn't exactly hostility, but something invasive—like hooks embedded in a wound after the initial strike had passed.

I observed them in silence for a few moments longer than strictly required. Saleos noticed my lingering gaze but chose not to interrupt.

Finally, I reached a conclusion.

Extending my hand, I closed my fingers tightly around the runes.

Saleos’s brow furrowed slightly. Though he didn't move, I felt his focus sharpen on me. Initially, the runes resisted, vibrating as if in reaction to my physical touch, but I maintained a firm grip and drew them inward.

They merged into my palm without making a sound.

I prevented them from circulating through my body. Instead, I channeled them directly into the Dawn Core, ensuring their total isolation. That internal space was severed from the rest of the world. Even if the Eternal attempted to manipulate them, there would be no connection to exploit.

The oppressive pressure evaporated.

Saleos arched an eyebrow. "You absorbed them."

"Yes."

"You know what they are."

"I know enough."

He waited for a further explanation, but I offered none. After a beat, he nodded once, accepting my silence without prying. That gesture, more than anything, confirmed he had decided to place his bets on me.

I turned slightly. "We should depart. Dravon will be getting restless by now."

A faint huff of breath escaped him. "That’s an understatement. I can’t remain away from the front lines for much longer either. My absence will start to be noticed."

"I know," I answered. "This won’t take long."

Stepping forward, I reached out and locked onto the spatial anchor I had established earlier.

The hall dissolved instantly.

In the blink of an eye, we were standing inside the bunker Dravon had prepared. It was a storage-like space filled with shattered weapons, ruined armor, and crates of equipment meant to be hidden away rather than recorded.

Dravon was already present.

However, he wasn't in the state I had anticipated.

He, Mazikeen, Korvath, and the watcher demon were bound back-to-back by thick chains of lightning. Arcs of electricity crawled over their skin in slow, rhythmic loops, holding them captive without causing pain, yet making any movement impossible. Thin bands of lightning even sealed their mouths, preventing any speech.

Aurora hovered nearby, sitting cross-legged in mid-air with her eyes shut. Her posture was as serene as if she were meditating in a private room rather than keeping four Transcendents prisoner. The lightning flickered in response to her, perfectly stable and controlled.

The moment Saleos and I arrived, her eyes snapped open.

"Oh. You’re here," she remarked casually, drifting down toward the floor as if the situation were perfectly normal.

I cleared my throat and snapped my fingers.

The lightning chains unraveled at once, turning into harmless sparks that faded into the air. The seals over their mouths vanished simultaneously.

Dravon stumbled a step forward before regaining his balance. His gaze shifted from me to Saleos, then back again.

"So," he said in a flat voice, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension. "That’s how you handle negotiations now."

"We concluded our discussion," I replied calmly. "Thanks for the help, Dravon."

He glared at me for a moment longer before throwing his hands up in sheer frustration. "Whatever," he grumbled. "As long as the rift gets closed."

I redirected my attention to Saleos and gestured with my hand.

Phegor’s limp body drifted through the air toward him. Saleos caught his former right commander easily, his expression turning cold as he stared down at the man.

"I have a proposal for our first move," I stated.

Saleos looked up. "Go on."

"Phegor won’t be at your side anymore," I went on. "That vacancy will be noticed. The Eternal and his followers will react to it eventually. So instead of leaving an empty slot, why not fill it immediately?"

His eyes narrowed. "With whom?"

"One of mine," I said. "You will take him as your new right commander. That provides us with a direct line of communication and minimizes the risk of leaks on your end."

Saleos pondered the idea in silence. "That will attract attention," he noted. "They’ll investigate him. They’ll try to uncover everything."

"I am aware," I replied. "And I’m confident you can manage the suspicion. As for the rest, he is more than capable of handling himself."

Saleos searched my face. "How skilled is this man you’re suggesting?"

"Skilled enough that you won’t miss the one you lost," I said truthfully. "He has a passion for combat and a significant ego. But those won't be issues on the battlefield."

Dravon let out a small huff at that description.

"Let me meet him," Saleos finally agreed.

I nodded and turned slightly. "Knight."

Knight stepped forward, pressing his palms together.

Shadows erupted from him, folding over one another to create a thick dome that enveloped him and the space at his side. The air within the dome distorted as spatial fluctuations surged, looking as though a portal was being wrenched open.

Every eye in the room was fixed on the dome, Saleos’s most of all.

Inside the darkness, a red circle blazed to life.

A second later, Ragnar stepped out.

He appeared with a broad, self-assured smirk, a massive club resting easily against his shoulder. He was dressed in the dark robes of our organization, with the emblem clearly displayed. His presence was heavy, solid, and completely unapologetic.

Knight dispersed the shadow dome and stepped back.

Ragnar scanned the room once before planting the base of his club firmly on the floor.

"So," he said with a cheerful grin, his eyes landing on Saleos. "You must be the commander everyone’s been losing sleep over."

Silence fell over the room.