Chapter 15
Over a thousand beacon towers lit up instantly, illuminating the night sky. The entire junkyard was lit up as well.
All of Alan's subordinates swapped looks. Their complexions were pallid, and their expressions were dumbfounded. They could clearly see smoke rising from the beacon towers.
Farion lay on the ground while clutching his mangled arm. "Alan, w-what's going on?"
The locals of Newtropolis hadn't seen the beacon tower getting lit for many years. Of course, Alan was one of them.
Alan was shocked, to say the least. How could one beacon tower light up the whole sky?
He picked up his phone and called Tanner right away.
As soon as the call went through, he exclaimed, "Tanner, what's with the beacon tower?"
There was no need to light the beacon tower just to deal with Abyssal Gates, right?
Tanner had already received his latest orders by then. All the forces in charge of defending Newtropolis already had the junkyard surrounded. Even if the world were to end right now, they had to hold their positions. The junkyard was completely besieged by the forces.
Tanner replied coldly, "Just give up already, Alan. You'll still have a chance to live if you let us handle everything right now."
An arrogant grin appeared on Alan's face instead.
He guffawed before saying, "Tanner, you really think you can scare me by lighting the beacon tower? My balls are made of steel! I'll deal with my son's murderer myself!"
Tanner chided, "Alan Dawson, you've gone crazy! Do you know that things in Newtropolis are going to change permanently?"
Tanner had been a member of Grandview Hall for many years. This was his first time witnessing such a scene. It was majestic, to say the least.
To think that Atlas was crazy enough to light all the beacon towers just because his daughter was hurt…
Alan just grinned, clearly not intimidated at all. "Tanner, it's true that things in Newtropolis will go through a permanent change tonight. But I'll have you know that Abyssal Gates is the reason behind the change."
After that, he ended the call.
Alan's patience was already running out. He pointed at Atlas while saying, "Atlas, I did promise I'd give you a few extra hours. But now, I've changed my mind."
He then bellowed at his subordinates and the members of Abyssal Gates, "Brothers, tonight marks our crusade! We shall avenge my son, Xander Dawson! At the same time, we shall reform Abyssal Gates and spill our enemies' blood on this land!"
All of Alan's men and the members of Abyssal Gates raised their hands immediately. Their cheers and chants rang out loudly. They completely ignored the lit beacons.
The fact that the beacon towers were lit signified that a war was about to erupt. Why would the higher-ups light up over a thousand beacon towers just for the sake of a small military fry who just returned from Northern Bronshire?
That was impossible!
As the men roared, they swarmed toward Atlas.
Atlas just stood at the peak of the junkyard, looking every bit like an intimidating warrior. Instead of backing away from the horde, he chose to approach the crane tower slowly.
At that moment, the sacred coat was still being hung on the crane tower.
Alan thought Atlas was going to wear something more formal, seeing as his death was near.
He laughed mockingly. "It has been two hours, Atlas Blackwell! Till now, you still can't summon any of your backups! Are you planning on dying while wearing that tattered old coat?"
Tattered old coat?
Ian sank down to his knees immediately with Stacy in his arms. The moment he laid his eyes on the sacred coat, he felt as though he was staring at the actual ruler of the world.
The sacred coat's reputation was slowly built from the ground up by the enemies' blood. Everyone—including the Supreme Warlords stationed in Northern Bronshire, the people stationed in the command center, and the prestigious VIPs in Chernea—needed to pay the sacred coat their respects.
Atlas wore the sacred coat. This time, the black outer was revealed.
The apocalypse was near. No one under Alan's command would be able to survive it.
…
At that moment, Tanner already had the junkyard placed under lockdown. He was about to enter the place when King Cedric finally reached the scene.
King Cedric was completely drenched in sweat and rain. He didn't even bother using an umbrella.
The moment Tanner saw King Cedric, he approached him hastily. "Your Majesty, you mustn't enter the junkyard. It's very dangerous—"
King Cedric's territory lay within Chlo. He wasn't afraid of danger at all.
But he knew that Atlas wasn't the one in danger. Those damned subordinates under Alan's command were the ones in danger.
The reason he came there was to prevent anyone from interfering with Atlas' business.
King Cedric patted Tanner on the shoulder. "Tanner, make sure that the perimeter is under lockdown."
Tanner watched as King Cedric entered the junkyard all by himself. He stammered out, "Y-Your Majesty, are you saying that… we shouldn't fight the Dawson family's subordinates?
"You did mention that things in Newtropolis would go through a permanent change. Are we supposed to stand around and watch the Dawsons do whatever they want? This is Newtropolis, not the Dawsons' kingdom!"
King Cedric was about to explain the truth to Tanner when he caught a glimpse of the sacred coat, which was flapping amidst the breeze at the top of the junkyard.
There was no need for him to explain anything at this rate. In fact, he didn't have to enter the junkyard anymore.
King Cedric pointed at the crane tower. "The change I mentioned is never about the Dawson family."
Confused, Tanner's gaze trailed to where King Cedric was pointing. Just one look was enough to make his soul shudder.
The legendary sacred coat had made a name for itself in Northern Bronshire. Naturally, the other districts heard rumors about the coat as well.
Today was Tanner's first time seeing a person donning the sacred coat. Said person was standing on top of the crane tower.
It was only natural that things would change in Newtropolis.
Alan had summoned thousands of his subordinates as well as thousands of the Abyssal Gates members. Besides, more allies who were affiliated with Abyssal Gates were even rushing into the nearby cities in Chlo.
The traffic on Chlo's roads was completely congested at this point.
Alan might be powerful, but Thaddeus was even more powerful. An ant couldn't possibly fight back against the elephant, after all. Besides, this was Thaddeus' first time revealing the black outer.
This was the true power of the strongest warrior in Aerial Blade.
Those who were saved by Thaddeus in the past would be arriving in Newtropolis soon. They'd kill his enemies for him.
Before King Cedric could enter the junkyard, he received a phone call from Blake.
Blake sounded very anxious. He was the type who never lost his cool during battles, and yet, he was currently sweating buckets out of anxiety.
King Cedric reported hastily, "Mr. Garett, I've just reached the junkyard. What's going on?"
Blake usually wasn't the type to panic over things. To think that someone as composed as him was actually feeling terrified.
"Everything's gone out of control! Out of control, I say!"
Blake stared at the world map on the monitor before him. There were countless red dots scattered across the map.
Every red dot represented a dangerous individual whose threat meter had reached Grade SSS in Chernea.
But at that moment, all those dots were making their move simultaneously.
Currently, it was insanely difficult to obtain flight tickets to Newtropolis. Numerous private jets were instantly reserved by the red dots.
At first, the red dots were separated from each other. But now, they were starting to form a line on the map. All of the dots' final destination pointed to the same place—the junkyard of Newtropolis.
Tonight, Newtropolis would welcome a deadly battle. Everyone would seek justice for Stacy as well as Tabitha, who had been suffering from aggrievements over the past five years.
…
Meanwhile, Alan saw Atlas putting on the sacred coat from his position at the bottom of the crane tower. His arrogant and bloodthirsty side instantly took over him.
Alan barked out, "Shoot him down from the crane tower! Everyone else, bring me his daughter!"
He then turned his attention to Atlas. "Hey, you coward! Hide on the crane tower all you want! I'll beat the fuck out of your daughter until she breathes her last right in front of you! This will show you the consequences of offending me!"
Once Alan gave out his order, hundreds of Abyssal Gates members instantly unlatched the safety trigger of their guns. Then, they aimed their guns at Atlas.
Alan continued icily, "Atlas Blackwell, your daughter mentioned that you'd return to this place as a hero in five years. She also called you a hero and said that if she could get her phone fixed, you'd return for her.
"I also heard from Sierra that the shameless woman, Tabitha, wants her to convince me to spare her and her daughter's lives! Heh! I will never give them a chance to survive!
"It's been one whole night, yet you can't find any backups! You really are a loser, Atlas Blackwell! You don't even stand a chance of becoming my opponent!"
As soon as Alan's words fell, lightning suddenly struck the ground.
Alan almost lost his balance. He quickly grabbed the person next to him for support while hollering, "W-What's going on? Did an earthquake just happen? Why does it feel like the sky is shaking?"
At the same time, a faint light began emerging everywhere. The light started becoming stronger with every passing moment.
Numerous people showed up in the junkyard at the same time.
Atlas' backups were here!
That was when Atlas slowly walked down the crane tower. His gait was slow yet menacing. Once he stopped before Alan, his rage took over his senses.
"My men are now here! Alan Dawson, are you ready to face my wrath?"