My Shard Bearer System - Elias's Legacy
Chapter 74: Iron Resolve

Chapter 74: Iron Resolve

Elara moved through the resort with Kimi walking alongside her, a grumbling expression on her face. Draped over Kimi’s back was an older man—tattered clothing, reeking of booze, and possibly even something stronger. His unkempt hair stuck out wildly, and his arms dangled lazily at his sides.

"What could this old man have possibly been up to?" Kimi muttered, scrunching her nose. "Seriously, he smells like he spent the last decade marinating in a brewery."

Elara’s attention, however, was drawn to the small creature resting on the unconscious man’s back. At first glance, it looked like a block of gold, but as her eyes adjusted, she noticed the soft fur that adorned its body, giving it an almost plush-like appearance. Something about it was oddly captivating—precious, yet oddly out of place.

Before she could comment, the Ikona let out a long, tired sigh. "This old geezer? He hasn’t stopped talking about women and free beer since the moment I met him."

Elara raised an eyebrow as the Ikona continued its complaint. "He could turn metal into gold, but only a limited amount. Eventually, after meeting some strange conditions, he figured out how to turn that gold into actual currency. And what did he do with it? Spent it all on booze and leisure. He’s been hyping this resort up as the ultimate paradise for a so-called ’man of culture,’ going on about beautiful people and endless drinks. I’ve had to put up with this nonsense for weeks now."

Elara groaned. "Fantastic. So we didn’t just find a shard user, we found a washed-up party addict. well, I apologize for the nightmare you’ve had to endure," she said to the Ikona, "but for what it’s worth, your suffering is almost over."

The group approached the large security gates they had entered through earlier. This time, four guards stood at attention instead of the original two. Their presence was noticeably more rigid, eyes scanning the surroundings with a sharper focus. The same guard from before stepped forward, his hand resting near his holster as he greeted Elara.

"Commander, welcome back. Were you able to locate all of your targets?"

Elara exhaled, shaking her head. "Not yet. One more remains, but we’re closing in. However, there’s a likely risk of hostile forces in or around the resort. Nothing fully confirmed, but the situation is tense."

The guard’s face hardened. "Understood. We’ll increase patrols."

"Good. Once I finish securing this one, we’ll deploy proper reinforcements to ensure the resort remains protected. Until then, have your men and women ready in case things take a turn."

The guard gave a sharp nod, signaling to the others. "We’ll be ready."

As Elara and Kimi stepped into the ship, Elara let out an exaggerated groan as she hauled the unconscious man onto one of the seats. "I swear, I better not be carrying another drunkard again anytime soon."

Yusuke, sitting at the command center, barely glanced up from the holographic screen in front of him. He adjusted the muffled headset resting over his ears and continued skimming through files, the screen flickering as it loaded new data.

Elara crossed her arms. "You ready to take off with our blubber of a guest?"

Yusuke finally leaned back, rubbing his eyes before shutting the file tab. "Yeah, just get him secured. But I’m telling you now, you two better suit up. I’d also strongly suggest issuing an evac order for the civilians at the resort—quietly, if possible."

Kimi raised an eyebrow. "That bad?"

Yusuke tapped a few commands on the screen, pulling up a data feed filled with red-marked names. "I’ve got at least twenty-four people showing up with zero background info or, worse, flagged as fugitive-level threats. And that’s just what the system could pick up. Meaning? They’re already in the resort."

Elara’s gaze hardened as she nodded. "If they’re already inside, a mass evacuation could make things worse. But a controlled, quiet removal might keep things from spiraling into a full-blown attack."

"That’s the idea." Yusuke spun his chair back toward the controls, readying the ship for departure.

Elara turned to Kimi. "Get him secured. I’ll suit up."

Kimi grinned. "Finally. Let’s do this."

Inside the ship’s armory, Elara unfastened her outerwear, her fingers moving with precision as she reached for the sleek, black bioelectric suit hanging on the wall.

The material was smooth yet reinforced, laced with thousands of microfilaments designed to regulate energy flow and enhance her movements.

She stepped into it, the fibers tightening instantly to her frame as the suit adjusted to her body’s parameters. A faint hum vibrated through her skin as the neural interface activated, syncing with her vitals

She rolled her shoulders, testing the suit’s flexibility. The response was instant, a near-perfect extension of her own movements, as if it had always been a part of her. No resistance, no discomfort—just pure adaptability.

As Kimi finished securing the last few clasps of her suit, she gave a slight stretch, rolling her shoulders to adjust to the fit. Unlike Elara’s sleek, cutting-edge model, hers followed a slightly different color scheme—deep black with subtle hints of her signature pink worked into the lining. The armor plating around the chest and shoulders provided a formidable layer of protection, blending functionality with aesthetic.

She clenched her fists, the suit responding fluidly to her movements, the reinforced fiber weave allowing maximum flexibility without sacrificing durability.

"Alright," Kimi muttered, testing a quick sidestep. "Not bad. Feels a hell of a lot better than the old patchwork stuff I used to wear."

Elara gave her a once-over, nodding approvingly. "It suits you. Now let’s move."

As they made their way back toward Yusuke, the atmosphere in the ship felt eerily still. The hum of the onboard systems droned faintly in the background, but there was an underlying tension in the air.

Yusuke was still seated at the command center, his eyes darting between the various screens displaying resort surveillance feeds. As they approached, he clicked a few buttons before turning toward them. "All set? Because once we—"

The words never finished.

The moment the door to the ship’s exterior dropped open, a sudden flash of light streaked through the entrance—a pulse round, traveling at a blistering speed.

Yusuke’s eyes widened.

Without thinking, he lunged forward, slamming into Elara, pushing her aside.

The blast connected with his chest with brutal force, sending him hurtling backward, crashing into the metal wall behind him.

A sickening thud.

Kimi’s instincts kicked in instantly. "Yusuke!" she shouted, already reaching for her weapon.

Elara, recovering from the shove, snapped her head toward the source of the shot, adrenaline surging through her veins. A silhouette loomed in the open doorway—armed, stance wide, smoke still trailing from the muzzle of the rifle.