Talon Emberhart stood up.
The ten Greater Sovereigns, dispatched by the Ostrad High Command, swiftly appeared in the desert behind the training field.
There stood a towering sand dune with a steep 60-degree incline, rising five hundred meters high and stretching two kilometers in length. At its peak, a row of red dragon-embroidered flags waved fiercely in the wind.
The ten Greater Sovereigns stood in two rows, five in each row. The rows were spaced a thousand meters apart, and within each row, the distance between individuals was four hundred meters, stretching from the base of the dune to its summit.
They stood like immovable colossi, exuding an overwhelming aura.
Ten Adept Greater Sovereigns! Their presence surged to the heavens, as if they were one with the skies and the earth.
Lyra and Thorne Callister exchanged a glance.
They didn’t speak, but their eyes conveyed everything-Havoc Strikeforce had risen to prominence this year, their members possessing unparalleled strength across the entire military.
If Maxwell Grey’s flag was to remain intact, they had no choice but to work together.
Black Phoenix and Flame Dragon would have to unite against Havoc Strikeforce.
But both of them understood one crucial fact: Talon Emberhart had the numbers on his side. With Falcon Strike, Iron Wolf, Shadow Eagle, Dragon’s Claw, and Titan Brigade all under his command, he had five elite squads.
Even if Lyra and Thorne joined forces, Talon’s side wouldn’t sit idly by. They would throw their full support behind Havoc Strikeforce to ensure their victory.
Six squads versus two-it was a lopsided battle.
No, to be precise, there was a third squad on Lyra and Thorne’s side: The Edge.
But could The Edge even be counted?
In less than a minute after the competition began, they would likely be wiped out.
It would be like a small stream trying to withstand a sandstorm-utterly overwhelmed in an instant.
This year’s situation didn’t look promising.
After receiving Lyra’s instructions, Clara Whitfield, the captain of Black Phoenix, walked over to Ethan Langley and whispered, “When the match starts, stay out of the way.”
“Clear some space and let Black Phoenix and Flame Dragon handle Havoc Strikeforce.”
She had observed the earlier clash between Havoc Strikeforce and The Edge. If The Edge tried to resist, Havoc Strikeforce wouldn’t hold back.
This was a military exercise, and participants had signed a death waiver.
If The Edge’s members were all gravely injured, Mr. Davies would lose face completely.
Ethan Langley smiled faintly. “We appreciate Black Phoenix’s kind offer, but your concern is unnecessary.”
“Unnecessary? You’re hopeless! Severe injuries will force you into retirement, and by then, it’ll be too late for regrets!” Clara shook her head, unwilling to waste more words, and walked away.
Logan Hayes, the captain of Flame Dragon, cast a cold glance at Ethan before turning to leave. But his gaze suddenly caught sight of Clayton Robinson, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
Clayton was staring intently at the Havoc Strikeforce members, his eyes gleaming like a wolf spotting its prey, practically drooling.
Did he seriously think he could restore Mr. Davies’ reputation?
Did he think this was some back-alley brawl?
An arrogant fool who overestimated himself!
If Thorne Callister hadn’t instructed him otherwise, Logan would have happily let Havoc Strikeforce handle The Edge first.
Let them crush those lunatics and cool their heads for good!
Talon Emberhart scanned the more than one thousand elite soldiers below the platform, his piercing gaze exuding unmatched authority.
He lowered the microphone slightly, but his voice thundered across the desert, reverberating as far as ten kilometers away. It was like a bolt of lightning splitting the sky:
“You are the pride of the military! The foundation of Ostrad’s future! The weapons of the nation! The guardians of the people’s peace!”
“So I expect you, today and in every battle to come, to show all the courage and strength you possess!”
“Prove your honor! The honor of the High Command! The honor of Ostrad!”
“Remember, you did not join the military to embrace failure! There is no failure in your blood!”
“You are not cattle to be whipped, nor sheep to be herded. You are lions! Lions who do not mingle with the flock!”
“Regardless of the outcome, I do not want to hear the cries of the defeated or the complaints of the disgruntled. Such behavior is a plague of the sheep and has no place in the military!”
“Persist until you succeed, even if it costs your last drop of blood!”
The speech ignited the spirits of the soldiers. Their eyes burned with determination as they looked toward the podium, standing tall under the scrutiny of their commanders.
“The Military District Tournament begins now!”
A deafening roar erupted as Talon’s words faded.
The ten Greater Sovereigns raised their hands in unison, and a terrifying pressure exploded outward, blanketing the area for dozens of kilometers.
It was as if mountains were collapsing, the overwhelming aura sweeping away everything in its path.
The once calm desert now felt monstrous and menacing, revealing its true, untamed nature. Sandstorms howled, blotting out the sun, casting the battlefield into an oppressive darkness.
The roaring winds resembled a dragon’s gaping maw, devouring all in its reach.
This was the terror of the Military District Tournament-a battlefield where the ten Greater Sovereigns used their immense power to create extreme conditions.
For those participating in the tournament for the first time, their eyes filled with dread.
Such strength!
The Greater Sovereigns were too formidable! They could shake the heavens with their might!
The ten unleashed their energy like a natural disaster, their power so vast it seemed to break rivers and shatter mountains with a mere gesture.
And yet, Clayton Robinson and his squad were unfazed. Instead, their battle intent only grew stronger.
They knew that together, the ten Adept Greater Sovereigns were equivalent to a single Earthly Sovereign.
But to accommodate the participants, each of them had only unleashed a third of their strength.
If they went all out, nothing within dozens of kilometers would survive.
The members of The Edge burned with determination, showing no fear.
They understood that to follow in the footsteps of Lord Valerian Nox, they had to overcome any obstacle.
This was the mindset of invincibility.
But as they stood in the storm’s fury, a curious thought crossed their minds:
If the ten Greater Sovereigns unleashed their full power, could Mr. Clark suppress them?
“Hah, after today, Mr. Davies won’t need to switch places with Mike-he’ll just retire outright,” Raven Stormbringer, the leader of Havoc Strikeforce, remarked smugly.
The strength of every military district had increased severalfold this year, yet The Edge remained stagnant. The outcome was inevitable.
Adam Davies would pay the price for his defiance. Following Talon Emberhart had always been the right choice.
Other leaders looked at Adam Davies, isolated and alone, with pity in their eyes.
If The Edge ranked last again this year, it would go down as the greatest disgrace in Ostrad’s military history.
Even if Maxwell Grey wanted to protect Adam Davies, the rest of Dragonguard wouldn’t allow it.
Removing Adam from his position would only strengthen Talon Emberhart’s influence within Dragonguard.
He would dominate completely.
“It’s finally starting! Hahaha!”
“Brothers, this is our moment to wash away the shame. Let’s claim the summit together!”
“The boss is watching us live. Mr. Clark is watching, so stay sharp!”
The sandstorm raged on, but The Edge showed no fear. Their fighting spirit surged, their blood boiling with anticipation.
“Who are they talking about? Mr. Clark?” Lyra frowned.
The mention of that name struck a nerve.
“Kill them!”
With unrelenting fervor, The Edge charged straight at Havoc Strikeforce.
They had trained endlessly for this day.
Today, they would seize victory and uphold the name of Lord Valerian Nox!