Chapter 177: Return

Adrian stood before his army, the early morning sun casting long shadows across the training grounds.

His gaze swept over the ranks of Draconians, humans, and his women, all gathered before him.

There was a sense of accomplishment in the air, a shared pride after their time in the Virtual Training Chamber.

Although only a day had passed in real life, they had spent a full year honing their skills inside, and the results were clear.

With a commanding presence, Adrian raised his hand, signaling for silence. The murmurs among the soldiers died down, and all eyes turned to him, awaiting his words.

"You have done well," Adrian began, his voice powerful yet filled with admiration.

"Your efforts in the battle against Mortimer's forces were nothing short of exceptional. You showed courage, strength, and loyalty, qualities that have brought us victory."

He paused, letting his words sink in as he surveyed the crowd.

"But your work did not stop there. After the battle, you trained harder than ever. You endured a full year of grueling combat and relentless drills within the Virtual Training Chamber—what was just a day in this world—but it made you stronger, more disciplined. Each one of you has grown."

Adrian activated his system's appraisal, scanning his forces. His heart swelled with pride as he assessed the progress of his soldiers.

Every foot soldier had successfully awakened to at least Class 1, their abilities far beyond what they had been before.

The elite soldiers had reached over Level 25, and the captains, who had been among the strongest already, were now all fully awakened as Second Class.

"You have surpassed my expectations," he continued, his voice ringing with pride.

"Every one of you. Our soldiers have become First Class awakened warriors. Our elites are now among the strongest in the land, and our captains... you have ascended, reaching Class 2 and proving that you have potential no less than elites in higher ranking noble's army."

The soldiers stood a little taller at his words, their chests swelling with pride. Adrian gave them a nod of approval, knowing they had earned it.

"I set a mission for you," he said, his tone serious but filled with warmth, "and you have completed it with excellence. I am proud to call you my army, my people."

A round of applause and cheers rippled through the crowd, but Adrian raised his hand again, silencing them.

"However," he continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "we must stay low for now. The outside world must not suspect our involvement in the events at Mortimer's castle. Our true strength must remain hidden for just a little longer."

He glanced over the faces of his women and soldiers, seeing the understanding and determination in their eyes. They knew what was at stake.

"Soon, we will hear from Mortimer,"

Adrian said, "and once our plans come to fruition, we will host a grand victory banquet to celebrate your achievements. But for now, we must remain vigilant, continue our routines as if we are simply preparing for war and we have been delayed due to mismanagement of logistics, to put on a show for Blackthorn family. There will be a time to celebrate—a time for glory—but it is not today."

The soldiers nodded, their expressions resolute. Adrian's words had stirred something deep within them, a sense of purpose and anticipation.

"Until then," Adrian concluded, his voice carrying authority and warmth, "I commend you on a job well done. Continue your training, continue your preparations. The world will soon see the power of the Everhart family, but we will reveal it on our terms."

As the soldiers dispersed, Adrian took a deep breath, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment.

The training had been a success, and his army was now stronger than ever. But his attention quickly shifted as he felt a familiar presence moving towards him.

Sophia leaped into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck, her face beaming with happiness.

"Adrian!" she exclaimed, her voice full of affection as she snuggled into him, pressing her body against his. "I missed you!"

Adrian chuckled, hugging her back tightly. "Welcome back, Sophia," he said warmly, his hand gently stroking her hair. "You did incredibly well, as expected of you."

Sophia smiled at his praise, her eyes sparkling with joy. She looked up at him with admiration before planting a quick kiss on his cheek, her excitement palpable.

However, before the moment could continue, Isabella approached, her expression a mixture of warmth and sternness.

She grabbed Sophia's arm, pulling her away from Adrian. "Mind your manners, Sophia," Isabella chided gently. "You're a noble lady. Behave accordingly."

Sophia pouted, making a face at Isabella. "Mom, you're just jealous that I got to hug Adrian first," she teased, sticking out her tongue playfully.

Adrian watched the exchange with a wry smile, amused by Sophia's cheekiness. He loved the dynamic between his women, each of them so different but so dear to him.

Isabella huffed, her expression softening into a knowing smile. "Perhaps," she said with a sigh, but her tone was filled with affection. She then turned to Adrian, her eyes holding a quiet warmth.

Adrian nodded, reaching out to gently squeeze Isabella's hand, he said sincerely. "You've all done well."

Turning to Christine, who stood nearby, Adrian's expression became more serious.

"Christine," he said, his tone gentle but firm, "I need you to take a few of the Draconian soldiers and fetch your sister and mother. We can't leave them behind any longer."

Christine's face lit up at the request. "Okay, big brother!" she said enthusiastically, her excitement showing in her smile. "I've missed my sister and mother so much. I'll bring them back safely."

With that, Christine gave him a quick nod before turning and rushing off, her steps filled with purpose as she went to gather the soldiers.

Adrian watched her go, feeling a sense of relief that soon, Chris and her mother would be reunited with them.

After the brief exchange, Adrian turned his attention back to the rest of his women.

Standing before them, he activated his system's Appraisal ability, curious to see how they had grown during their time in the Virtual Training Chamber.