My Shard Bearer System - Elias's Legacy
Chapter 66: Resort Landing

Chapter 66: Resort Landing

Chapter 16: Resort Vacation

As Jiece finished cutting down the last of the dozen grotesque flesh-melded creatures, his exosuit whirred softly, adjusting to his movements. He scanned the area, his eyes lingering on the trio scattered across the battlefield, unconscious. A grim expression etched itself on his face as he muttered into his comms, "Backup needed. Clean-up required, and medical attention for the shard users. Send a retrieval team."

While Jiece stood amidst the wreckage of his skirmish, miles away—fifteen miles southeast, to be precise—the tranquil resort island of Tuiyaki remained undisturbed by the chaos that was unfolding.

Roughly One Hour Earlier – Tuyaki Resort

Elias’s face pressed awkwardly against the cold glass of the dropship’s window, his cheek flattening as the vehicle zipped through the sky at incredible speed.

The world below was a blur of blues and greens, smudged together like watercolor strokes.

For a fleeting second, he thought he saw a flash of blond hair down below—Kikaru, perhaps?—but the thought vanished as quickly as it had appeared, lost in the blur of scenery.

The sudden deceleration of the craft pushed Elias back into his seat, allowing him to relax from his awkward position.

Outside, the scenery sharpened as they approached the Tuiyaki Resort Island, its landscape becoming clearer with every passing second.

The island was a striking combination of natural beauty and modern luxury.

The coastline stretched like a shimmering ribbon of white sand, dotted with sprawling lounge chairs and shaded by clusters of tall, swaying palm trees.

The turquoise waters of the surrounding ocean sparkled under the sun, waves lapping gently against the shore. Cliffs jutted out sporadically along the coast, their rocky faces forming secluded coves and private inlets that hinted at hidden mysteries beneath their shadows.

From the air, the resort’s architecture came into view.

High-end villas and bungalows were nestled seamlessly into the greenery, their designs blending natural wood, polished stone, and floor-to-ceiling windows that reflected the island’s beauty.

The main hotel rose prominently in the center, its sleek, multi-tiered structure wrapped in a façade of glass and greenery, almost camouflaged against the island’s vibrant flora.

Sprawling pathways, paved and meticulously maintained, wove through the trees and led to various points of interest: expansive swimming pools with infinity edges that merged into the ocean view, open-air restaurants with shaded terraces, and courts for tennis and volleyball.

Further inland, the terrain rose slightly, transitioning from sandy dunes and lush palms to a small, dense forest of tropical plants that concealed portions of the resort from plain sight.

"Whoa," Elias muttered, his eyes widening as the craft descended further. "This is... ridiculous."

The craft slowed as it approached an open landing strip nestled between the resort’s central area and a cluster of secluded, private villas.

The strip was hidden from public view by a carefully constructed barrier of greenery and large boulders, giving the military’s operations a sense of discretion amidst the island’s façade of luxury.

AS the group filed off the craft; Elias stated "So what do we do from here?"

Elara adjusted the device on her wrist, her gaze scanning the resort’s coastline as she spoke. "This is going to be a standard locate-and-extract mission. But this resort cycles through tens of thousands of civilians daily, so we need to act quickly before our targets leave. From what we know, it’s likely they’re either a traveling family or business associates. Since they both appeared on the detection system at the same time, I’d bet they’re moving together."

Elias, leaning against the side of the dropship’s interior, nodded thoughtfully before asking, "Wait, so how are we just not able to detect everyone on the planet with a shard right away?"

Elara stopped mid-step, exhaling as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Alright, math time." She raised a finger to punctuate her words. "The circumference of Prime Planet is 55,034 kilometers, with a diameter of 16,343 kilometers. Our scanners at HQ have a detection radius of 25 miles per day per unit, and we’re working with just four units."

Elias frowned, clearly confused. "How do you even know that number?"

Elara raised an eyebrow, giving him a look that screamed disbelief. "What, did you sleep through school or something? It’s basic planetary data. Anyway, if we break it down, this planet’s surface area is roughly 324 million square miles.

Each scanner can cover about 1,964 square miles per day, so with four devices working simultaneously, we’re covering 7,854 square miles daily."

Elias nodded, scratching the back of his head. "I see... that’s pretty impressive. It shouldn’t take long before we’re able to find them all, then."

Yui let out a sharp sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as he turned away from the conversation. "You really don’t listen, do you?" he muttered under his breath.

Kimi, catching the exchange, burst into laughter. "Elias, you’re so optimistic, it’s almost cute. Anyway, I call the flower-patterned bathing suit if we’re supposed to blend in. Tropical vibes and all, right?"

Elara shook her head, her tone laced with mild exasperation. "Elias, I just told you—it’ll take over a century at our current pace. Come on, I know you’re smarter than this."

Elias’s eyes widened, his enthusiasm instantly deflating. "Wait... over a century? DAMN!" He looked at her with a mix of disbelief and mild embarrassment. "Also, for the record, I’m more street-smart and on-the-spot smart. Numbers like that? Not really my thing. But... how are we even supposed to handle this then?"

She shrugged as they began walking, her boots echoing faintly on the metal catwalk that stretched away from the ship. "They’ll probably ramp up production on more scanners eventually. But honestly, that’s not my wheelhouse, and it’s definitely not your job. For now, just focus on helping us locate those two shard users. That’s what you’re here for."

Elias nodded slowly, adjusting his stride to keep up with her. "Fair enough. I was meaning to ask, though; how am I supposed to help exactly? I was just eager to get some fresh air at first."

Their conversation cut off as they approached a massive metal door at the end of the catwalk. Two guards flanked the entrance, standing at sharp attention. As Elara’s team drew closer, the guards snapped into a salute, their movements crisp and practiced.