CHAPTER 285: CHAPTER 285- DAGGER

The steady rumble of the engine filled the cabin, a constant companion to their journey. After the tension with the survivors had faded, a quieter, more focused energy took hold.

Aya, who had been quietly working in her designated corner of the mobile base, finally looked up, a rare, proud smile gracing her lips. She held up two sheathed daggers, their hilts sleek and minimalistic, perfectly matching Celestia’s specifications.

"Celestia," Aya said, her voice soft but clear. "They’re finished."

All conversation ceased. Celestia, who had been reviewing a map, set it aside with precise movements. She stood and approached Aya, accepting the proffered blades. Her usual icy composure didn’t crack, but a keen, intense light ignited in her eyes.

She drew one of the daggers. The blade was a masterpiece of smithing, It was impossibly thin and light, yet the edge seemed to hum with latent sharpness. Celestia held it up, observing the balance.

Then, in a movement too fast for most eyes to follow, she executed a series of practice strikes and flourishes. The dagger became a silver blur, its movement silent and deadly.

She then focused, and one of her Silverthreads shot from her fingertip, seamlessly connecting to a nearly invisible anchor point on the dagger’s hilt. With a flick of her wrist, the dagger flew in a controlled arc around her before snapping back to her hand as if magnetized.

A genuine, albeit small, smile touched Celestia’s lips. "Perfect," she stated, her voice carrying a note of deep satisfaction. "The weight distribution is flawless. The connection point is ideal, offering no drag. The resonance is... exceptional. You have outdone yourself, Aya. My combat efficiency has increased by a significant margin."

Aya’s cheeks flushed with pleasure at the high praise from the ever-critical Celestia. "I-I’m glad they meet your requirements."

"Hey! What about my gear?" Emma piped up, bouncing in her seat with impatient energy. "My fire-resistant handgloves! When are they going to be—oof!"

Veronica reached over and flicked Emma on the forehead. "Will you shut up? Can’t you see she’s exhausted?" she scolded, though her tone lacked its usual venom. She gestured to Aya, who indeed had faint dark circles under her eyes. "She just finished a complex project for Celestia while we’ve been bouncing around in this metal box. Let the girl breathe before you start making more demands."

Emma pouted, rubbing her forehead. "But—"

"But nothing," Veronica cut her off, though she shot a glance at Aya that was almost... protective. "Your turn will come. Be patient."

From her reclined seat, Fey let out a lazy chuckle. "The fiery one gets put in timeout. A rare and beautiful sight."

"The daggers are a success," Julian stated, his voice cutting through the chatter. "Good work, Aya." His praise was simple and direct, but it held weight. "We will stop early tonight. Everyone can use the rest."

The clearing they had chosen for the night was peaceful, the last rays of the sun painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The routine of setting up camp was well underway: Clarissa and Dori were unpacking rations, Emma was cheerfully arguing with Veronica about tent placement, and Aya was inspecting the mobile base’s exterior for any new rattles.

It was Zoe who froze first. Her head snapped towards the treeline, a low, guttural growl rumbling in her chest. Her posture shifted from relaxed to predatory in a heartbeat.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, following her gaze.

From the dense foliage, a massive shape emerged. It was a reptile, its scales a mottled grey and green, standing as tall as the mobile base on four powerful legs. A crest of sharp spines ran down its back, and its head, large and wedge-shaped, swung towards them, a long, forked tongue tasting the air. It was a throwback to a prehistoric era, a dinosaur-like lizard that radiated primal menace.

"Great. Just what we needed," Veronica muttered, her hands already beginning to glow with enchantment energy.

Emma cracked her knuckles, flames dancing around her fists. "I can toast it!"

But before Julian could issue a command, Celestia took a calm, deliberate step forward. Her new daggers were already in her hands, looking impossibly small and delicate against the behemoth.

"Stand down," she said, her voice cool and composed. "I will handle this. I require field data on the new weapons."

She didn’t wait for permission. Her form blurred as she activated Phantom Step, closing the distance to the monster in an instant.

The lizard roared, a sound that shook the very ground, and swiped at her with a clawed foot the size of a small car. Celestia wasn’t there. She reappeared on its flank, one of her Silverthreads already lashed around its foreleg. With a flick of her wrist, she didn’t try to restrain it; she used the thread as a pivot point, launching herself into the air directly towards the creature’s heavily scaled neck.

This was the moment. As she spun through the air, one of her daggers flashed. Instead of a wild stab, she executed a precise, lancing thrust, aiming for a minute gap between two of the thick scales. The blade sinking deep into the monster’s hide.

The lizard bellowed in pain and surprise, thrashing its neck wildly. Celestia held on, not with her strength, but by the thread attached to her dagger. She was like a deadly pendulum, using the creature’s own violent movements to swing herself around for another strike with her second dagger.

It was a breathtaking display of grace and lethality. The rest of the team could only watch, their own combat readiness momentarily forgotten.

"Wow," Emma whispered, her flames dying down.

"The synergy is exceptional," Julian observed quietly, his analytical eyes missing no detail.

Celestia landed silently a dozen meters away as the massive creature, confused and bleeding from multiple precise, deep wounds, staggered. It was clear the fight was already over; she had severed vital tendons and found its arteries with surgical accuracy.

With a final, weak rumble, the kadal collapsed, the ground trembling with the impact.

Celestia stood over her kill, not even breathing heavily. She wiped the blood from her daggers with a cloth, her expression one of profound satisfaction. She looked at Aya and gave a single, approving nod.

"The balance held perfectly under extreme duress. The penetration was adequate. The thread anchors did not falter. Your work is impeccable."

Aya beamed, her tiredness forgotten in a wave of pride.