Chapter 1376
Vaelion International Airport.
Since the early hours of the morning, crowds had been steadily gathering outside the terminal.
There was no official organization to it.
Yet, the sheer number of people had practically surrounded the perimeter, forming thick rings of anticipation.
Students waved national flags.
Ordinary citizens clutched bouquets of flowers.
Others held up massive banners.
[Welcome Home, Elyndor p>
[Thank You for Your Hard Work, Team Elyndor p>
[The Strength of Our Youth is the Strength of Our Nation p>
A sea of similar slogans painted the crowd.
Even though the competition hadn’t reached its official conclusion.
Even though the event had been suspended.
To these people, the Elyndorian team were already the undisputed champions!
The plane touched down.
The cabin doors opened.
As the Elyndorian competitors began to file out,
someone in the crowd shouted, “Here they come p>
The scene instantly erupted.
The deafening, passionate cheers left the Elyndorian team momentarily stunned.
Every single cheer carried raw, genuine emotion.
Voices overlapped, praising their brilliance and their absolute dominance.
People shouted their gratitude for the team’s relentless effort.
They called them the pride of Elyndor, the brilliant hope for the nation’s future.
After their initial shock faded,
taking in the vibrant flowers and the thunderous applause,
seeing the flags flying high, the sweeping banners, and the countless flushed, excited faces,
the teammates found themselves choked up with emotion.
They had been through hell in Severia.
But looking at these flowers, these flags, and these radiant smiles,
it finally hit them p>
They were back.
They were truly home.
Back on their own soil.
Staring out at the massive, spontaneous welcome committee,
tears blurred their vision. Their hearts pounded against their ribs, a heavy lump forming in their throats.
They had never imagined they would stand in a place like this, enveloped by such profound adoration and respect.
“Captain p>
One by one, they instinctively turned to look for their anchor.
The young woman stood near the back of the group, wearing a simple black jacket her arm stikneatly wrapped in bandages.
Her complexion was slightly pale, but her eyes were as sharp and luminous as ever.
It was as if no amount of tragedy or chaos could ever break her unyielding posture.
Seeing her entire team looking back at her,
Serena’s cool gaze swept over each of them before shifting to the passionate crowd beyond the glass.
A faint smile touched her lips.
“Go on p>
The teammates hesitated.
Serena chuckled. “They’re here for you p>
“You represented Elyndor and put on an incredible performance p>
“Those flowers and that applause belong to you. They belong to the Elyndorian representatives p>
Her words only made the lump in their throats heavier.
Someone couldn’t help but ask, “Code Goddess, what about you p>
Serena gave a lazy smirk. “I’ll slip out through the other exit in a bit p>
The team grew anxious. “How can you do that? Captain, you’re the one who deserves the spotlight the most p>
“I’m already conspicuous enough p>
Serena her smile turning
radiant. Besides, I have somet
to be p>
The competitors exchanged complicated glances.
They all knew the truth.
here
Without Serena Lancaster, there would be no glory for Elyndor today.
Without her, they would have been ground into the dirt by Severia’s relentless sabotage.
In reality, the vast majority of the people out there had come specifically for her.
Yet now, she was handing them all the flowers and the applause.
Serena gave them one last smile and a casual wave.
She turned on her heel and headed straight for the private VIP corridor.