Alex leaned forward, and Chine charged toward the frost giants.
One of the frost giants reached down and pulled up a piece of earth. The dirt instantly froze over, and the giant threw it at Chine.
Chine shot a jet of ether fire that burned through the ice. At least the fire works for that crap, Alex thought as Brath and Furi flew past her.
Brath fired two plasma shots. One of them hit a frost giant in the chest, vaporizing it.
Gill and Jollies were in position behind the frost giants. They both started to fire their plasma cannons.
The frost giants turned around, stunned that they were being attacked from the rear. As the confused giants tried to make sense of what was happening, Alex zeroed in on the largest and fired a volley of plasma at him.
The plasma connected with the giant and burned through his torso, instantly eviscerating him.
Jollies and Gill were firing their dragons’ plasma cannons as fast as they could.
Gill leaned back, pulled up his visor, and scanned his options. He found one that worked for him and Timber and grinned as he let off a volley of missiles.
The missiles hit the center of the circle of frost giants, sending a couple of them tumbling.
As the frost giants caught up in the explosion soared through the air, Jollies swooped by using Amber’s extreme speed. Lightning crackled off both of them and they shot plasma bolts, taking care of whatever giants survived Gill’s initial blast.
Brath and Alex charged toward the remaining giants. “This is over!” Alex shouted as Chine reared up on his hind legs and shot a jet of celebratory fire.
Chine chomped down on one of the frost giants, ripping it in two. “This is a battle!” He chuckled.
Gill and Jollies cut through the back end of the frost giants, their missiles and plasma cannons shearing through the icy hides of the giants. Alex and Brath took care of the remaining giants in the front of the horde. Once the smoke had settled, only the dragonriders remained.
The world broke apart for a second and the bodies of the frost giants shimmered out of existence.
Suddenly, Alex and the rest of them were back in the Wasp’s Nest.
Fier walked up to the four cadets, smiling and shaking her head. “I don’t know why I didn’t assume you four would be the first to get through this,” she said. “Wasn’t expecting it to be in record time, though.”
Alex smiled as she looked at Brath, Jollies, and Gill. “Yeah, well, that’s how you take care of a threat.” She laughed. “At least in VR. Makes it a little easier when I know I’m not going to get killed.”
“And I see, no pun intended, that you didn’t need to bring along your seeing-eye Beholder.”
Alex hadn’t even realized she hadn’t brought Manny along for the ride. The thought hadn’t crossed her mind. She had been looking through her own eyes the entire time. “Yeah, I guess I didn’t have to,” Alex muttered.
“Oh, don’t go on being modest. We don’t have time for that crap. We need heroes. Looks like you four might be right for the job.”
Chapter Ten
Alex woke up around the same time as Jollies and they both changed into their new red uniforms. Today was the day. It had come faster than Alex had assumed it would, but it was here. She was going to graduate from being a cadet to being a dragonrider.
When Jollies and Alex stepped out of their room, Gill and Brath were waiting in the hall for them. The four of them walked to the Great Hall, turned a corner to the left, and headed toward Myrddin’s office.
Myrddin was waiting for them, sipping a cup of tea as he leaned back in his chair. Fier and Roy were with him. Roy stood in the corner as if he hoped to be hidden by the shadows. Fier, on the other hand, sat on top of Myrddin’s desk.
There were no seats, so Alex and the rest stood at attention. She didn’t know if it was appropriate since she had never been instructed to stand in such a way, but she’d read enough books to feel like it was the best decision.
Myrddin stood up, his face grave, as usual. “You all probably read the message I sent you by now,” Myrddin said. “I don’t see the point in repeating it. That being said, I am immensely proud of you four. Immensely. But we do not have time for congratulations.”
The room started to contort, the crystal walls moving out and making room for more. Myrddin’s office opened into a larger room, one as vast as the Great Hall.
Scientists zoomed by on hoverboards, checking on different computer terminals and monitors.
The monitors showed different realms. There were dozens of them, teams of scientists poring over what they were watching.
In addition to the monitors displaying the realms, there were also scrying stations. At least ten dedicated wizards stood over large bowls of water. Alex assumed they were trying to figure out what was in store for Middang3ard.
Myrddin started walking through the room, and Alex and the rest of the newly appointed dragonriders followed. “You all know we are at war,” Myrddin stated. “And you four are moving to the forefront of it.”
“You are the Dragonriders Boundless, second only to our first and foremost squad, which you will be backing up. Roy is in charge of that squad, the mech dragons—his idea, not mine. You will be accompanying him and his squad on their next mission.”
Alex was still trying to take in everything that was happening around her. She almost didn’t hear Myrddin’s words. She and Gill and Brath and Jollies were part of a squad now? She had just arrived at the Wasp’s Nest a few days ago.
Myrddin continued walking, and the Boundless followed him.
A staircase appeared in front of Myrddin, and he ascended it and stepped onto a platform. Manny was there, floating in front of a dozen
