Salute To The General



Nathan and Zach played chess until it was late at night.

That night, Nathan didn't go home but stayed the night at Southern Fleet's headquarters.

When dawn was fast approaching, he abruptly jolted awake.

He swiftly shot up after having awakened, only to realize that it was still dark right then.

It had been a long time since he had last jolted awake without any notice.

Unbidden, his brows creased deeply. At the same time, an inexplicable sense of worry and unease flooded him.

He himself couldn't explain the mystifying anxiousness within him.

Draping a coat over himself, he strode over to the window. He then cast his gaze out at the sky in the direction of Daragon Island and muttered to himself, "Could it be that Colin has run into trouble?"

At that precise moment, a flurry of frenzied footsteps suddenly sounded outside.

Then, Quinten from the Elite Eight called out from outside, "Chief Cross?"

"What's the matter? Come in and report to me," Nathan replied immediately.

In no time, Quinten opened the door and entered the room. After hastily saluting the man, he quickly reported, "It's bad, Chief Cross. Daragon Island is asking for emergency assistance."

Taken aback, Nathan hurriedly asked, "What happened? Hasn't Colin gone to guard over Daragon Island personally?"

To that, Quinten answered, "We just received the latest news. Jetroina isn't giving up and has sent forces to Daragon Island to make trouble again. We initially thought they'd only dispatch one of the Four Gods of Warrior of the Jetroinian Navy, Kiyoshi. Unexpectedly, the other three Gods of Warrior also set out furtively and appeared in the waters of Daragon Island alongside him. Colin has led our troops to battle the Four Gods of Warrior of the Jetroinian Navy successively. While they've cut down a lot of the enemy, they also suffered heavy losses because they're outnumbered. It's said that General Dunne is severely injured, but he's still fighting to the death. Jetroina's Four Gods of Warrior attacked several times, but he thwarted all their advances. Even so, the situation at Daragon Island is still critical. General Dunne and the others probably won't be able to hold out for long."

“When will Three Tigers and Seven Champions from the North Army arrive?" Nathan queried tersely.

"They're still on the way!" Quinten admitted.

"Don't wait for them anymore. By the time they arrived, Colin would be dead. Go and inform Zach at once and have him take command while I go to the front line in person," Nathan ordered.

No sooner had his words fallen than Zach came with a large number of troops.

He promptly objected, "You can't do that, Chief Cross. How could you risk yourself, considering your identity? If you want to send someone to save Colin, it should be the soldiers of the South Army or even myself. You

don't need to go pommand

should stay here and take command instead."

However, Nathan shook his head. "No, naval warfare is your specialty, and you're far better at it than me.

As such, you're most suitable to stay here and hold the fort. As for risking myself, that's not even a valid

reason. Back when I was in the n

North, I never hid behind the troops in all major and minor battles. Colin is my soldier and general, not to mention my friend, so I can't possibly sit back and watch him in danger without doing anything."

After saying that, he instructed, "Inform Golin at Daragon Island right away to hold out for a while longer. I'll be there soon. Also, prepare a speedboat, mask, and military coat. I'll be setting out shortly."

He was so resolute that Zach couldn't dissuade him at all.

A little over ten minutes later, Nathan put on a military coat and a beast mask to conceal his true countenance.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

All the members of the Elite Eight dressed in black and boarded a speedboat with him.

Going at full throttle, the speedboat sped toward Daragon Island.

Nathan stood at the bow, the hem of his military coat rustling from the ocean breeze.

Behind the beast mask, his eyes narrowed a fraction as he gazed out into the distance.

"Colin, Colin, you're the Ultimate King of Warrior, so don't let me down. You've got to hold out until I arrive," he murmured.