Red Dragon Spaceship Awakening: I Gain Alien Abilities on Mars-Chapter 217: The Knight’s Welcome

Just as Tatehan stepped out of his Skyblade in full armor, the visor’s red glow cutting through the morning light, a massive voice boomed across the landing platform.

"Everyone, welcome The Knight!"

Tatehan turned his head toward the source of the voice and saw Bjorn Odinson striding toward him, his hulking frame cutting through the crowd of assembled fighters like a ship through water. The Viking was fully armored, his plated gear gleaming under the pale Martian sun, the fur mantle across his shoulders swaying with each powerful step. His braided beard was adorned with metal rings, and his pale eyes were onto Tatehan with an intensity that was both welcoming and assessing.

If Tatehan had been Gavin back on Earth in this situation, he would have been terrified seeing the man coming towards him in that manner.

Bjorn reached him in seconds, and without warning, he extended his hand.

Tatehan took it.

The handshake was immediate, powerful, and absolutely crushing. Bjorn’s grip was like a vice, his fingers clamping down with enough force to bend metal. Tatehan felt the impact ripple through his armor, the kinetic energy of the grip absorbed by his suit’s systems even as the pressure threatened to overwhelm the structural integrity of the gauntlet.

A notification flashed across his retina.

[70% Absorbed]

[30% Impacted]

Tatehan did not flinch. He did not wince. He did not react at all.

He just stood there, his armored hand locked in Bjorn’s grip, his visor staring back at the Viking with unwavering calm.

Bjorn’s eyes widened slightly, and then he grinned, a wide, fierce expression that showed teeth. He released Tatehan’s hand and took a step back, raising his arm high and addressing the crowd of fighters who had turned to watch.

"You see?" Bjorn shouted, his voice carrying across the entire platform. "Bro passed the test! He’s a strong man!"

The crowd erupted.

"THE KNIGHT! THE KNIGHT! THE KNIGHT!"

The chant echoed across the base, hundreds of voices shouting in unison, fists raised in the air. The fighters of New Helios were warriors through and through, and they respected strength above all else. Tatehan had just survived a handshake from their leader without so much as a flinch, and that was enough to earn their approval.

Tatehan stood there, slightly stunned by the sudden outpouring of energy directed at him. He was not used to this kind of reception. Back in Waython Hollow, people respected him, sure, but they did not chant his name like he was some kind of legendary hero.

Or maybe it was because this guys looked mediaval so shouting his name sounded like he had just won a kingdom or something. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Not knowing how to act in this situation, Tatehan just raised one armored hand and waved to the people chanting his name.

That only made them cheer louder.

Bjorn clapped him on the shoulder, another blow that would have sent an unarmored person staggering, and then turned to face him directly.

Tatehan’s amplified voice cut through the noise. "Hey. Where are the others?"

Bjorn shrugged, his accent becoming more noticeable as he spoke. "They should be here in less than two minutes, aye. Loenitt City fighters are already here, by the way."

As if on cue, a large flying vehicle descended from the sky, its engines roaring as it approached the landing platform. It was a bulky transport, clearly designed to carry a full squad of fighters, and it bore the markings of Iron Haven on its hull.

The craft touched down with a heavy thud, and the rear hatch hissed open, revealing the fifteen fighters from Iron Haven stepping out in formation. They were armored in functional gear, nothing as ornate as the Viking armor, but solid and reliable.

Bjorn turned to one of his men, a younger Viking standing nearby with a warhammer slung across his back. "Hey," Bjorn said, jerking his head toward the Iron Haven fighters. "Go meet them. Do the pleasantry stuff."

The guy nodded and jogged off to greet the new arrivals.

Tatehan watched the exchange, and then his attention was drawn to a figure standing beside Bjorn. A woman. A Viking woman, and she was... striking.

She was tall, nearly as tall as Bjorn himself, with broad shoulders and a muscular build that showed years of intense training. Her armor was similar to Bjorn’s but less ornate with segmented plates that allowed for maximum mobility.

Her hair was blonde, tied back in a series of intricate braids that were woven with small metal beads. Her face was sharp and angular, with high cheekbones and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through him.

She held a large rectangular device in her hands, something that looked like a cross between a tablet and a tactical display screen.

Tatehan felt a flicker of discomfort. Not fear, exactly, but something close to it. She had the kind of presence that made you very aware of the fact that she could probably break you in half if she wanted to.

Bjorn turned to him, his grin widening. "Yunno, when I saw you in person back at the summit, I never thought you’d be this cool, lad. With this armor, you’re like someone else entirely!"

Tatehan’s voice came through the helmet’s speakers. "Yeah, the armor helps."

Bjorn laughed, a deep, booming sound, and then he turned to the woman beside him. "Show him the plan."

The woman nodded and stepped forward, moving closer to Tatehan. She was close enough now that he could see the faint scars on her hands, the calluses on her fingers, the way her eyes tracked his movements with the precision of someone who had spent a lifetime evaluating threats.

Tatehan was stunned. And a bit uncomfortable. Her presence was overwhelming in a way that had nothing to do with physical danger and everything to do with sheer intensity.

She flicked the screen of the device in her hands, and a holographic projection materialized in the air between them.

Tatehan leaned in, his visor’s sensors adjusting to analyze the display.

And then he saw the plan.