Ganesha familia tamers, familiar with almost everything there is to know about monsters, gulped… They knew just how big the thing that made that sound had to be. Without the need to wait for orders, the dragon riders of their familia rose to the sky.
Four dragons rose, three people crammed onto each of their tiny back's, one person to fly the dragon, another to control the light signal, and a mage to double as long range magical attacks, and a mobile barrier in the event it was required. The first team rose, the signaler spoke with the light:
"Us-to-prepare-Freya-familia"
"God speed"
"Us-to-prepare-Loki-familia"
"God speed"
"Us-to-run-interference"
"G- God speed"
"Us-to-run-interference"
"G- God speed"
All four teams departed, the dragon rider signaled with pride, and those remaining, knowing this was beyond dangerous, made a mistake in their signals, choking as they saw their relatives taking to the skies.
In a large familia like Ganesha's it was more uncommon for someone to not have a relative living in the familia. So situations like this held a far more somber meaning than one might usually see. Yet, as if to spite this feeling, their pride wouldn't allow them to wallow for long, they had work to do, people to defend, and trust in their familia.
Shakti stood in a position practically presiding over enough adventurers to make most people's heads spin. With her vice-captain and… Lesbian lover clasping her hand… She decided to purge the frog in her throat.
"We are here to protect the people of this city we all call home! And that is exactly what we will be doing!" … A short pause to get the next frog out of her throat, no one blaming her for this, instead they waited intently. "I've put you through hellish training over the past years. As of this moment, all squads move out and protect the citizens, move them out of the battlefields, and kill Evilus members. Keep yourselves from blowing up in the process as well. Today will not be a day we go down as incompetent, and so, while the level 5s and above deal with those roars from before… ALL SQUAD LEADERS TAKE COMMAND AND PROTECT THE CITIZENS!"
Ilta spoke up next. "If you come across any opponents you can not deal with, the old guard of our familia's level 5s will come to your aid, remember to use the signal flare properly."
The two held their hands together, up high.
"I- I am SHAKTI, the ANKUSHA!"
"I am ILTA, the PALUZA!"
The start of a trend that lit a fire full of pride in Ganesha's chest as his entire familia announced themselves in fashion after him. They understand they might not come back alive, let the world never forget this moment. The story of these children will resound for time immemorial.
"I am GANESHA! And we are?"
""GANESHA FAMILIA!""
"North East Squad 7! Moveout!"
"South Squad 9! Moveout!"
"Weast- West Squad 13! Moveout!"
Several more squad ladders called out their positions, and team names, each time only adding to the sheer absurdity of the scale the Ganesha familia truly was.
"Monster rider attack squad 57! Mount up!"
"Monster rider rescue squad 21! Check gear, and mounts, remain on active standby!"
The sheer number of members actively moving despite the fear they'd just felt crawling the length of their spines, a testament to the trust in their captain. Elephant masks, and armor befitting the combat squads was dawned, with the aid of many other members not yet ready for a fight like this. Yet they still did what they could to help out.
"It's an impressive sight… My children are just so damn reliable!" Ganesha's eyes released the wellspring of emotions he had in his heart.
"I know, we're proud to be members of your familia, Lord Ganesha." One of the level 3s, an older man, chuckled. "Even young Ardee here is a proud member of your familia."
"That's right, despite the fact she's leaving us for her man's familia, she'll always be a proud member of our familia." An older woman, a level 2, smiled with a warm glow in her eyes, gently patting Ardee's head as if she was still but a little child. "And here that young child is about to bring a child of her own into this world. I just know you'll make a wonderful mother."
"Stop it, you're embarrassing me… But, thank you." Ardee blushed, with a smile. "Even if I'm not enough on my own, I have a man, you'll be a wonderful father. I'm so excited to see our baby's cute little face." She giggled, practically glowing.
"We should be on guard with everything going on now."
"Don't you worry, with the aid of that freaky spell this group here can deal with a level 5, without Ardee having to lift another finger."
"And if any of us aren't going to make it out of this, it should be us old fogies." A third elderly man chuckled, stroking his beard. "I'd bet my idiot distant cousin in Loki familia is saying something similar to his familia right now too." He added.
"Everyone… Thank you, and I'll do my best to keep you all alive too."
…
Freya familia's Folkvangr, all Einherjar, Andhrimnir, and their upper echelons, were gathered to listen to their captain's words. A rather rare moment where they actually managed to come together as a group.
"That sound just now, it came from something strong…. Hmm. Make room."
A gap in the formations grew, and a dragon slowly descended, landing on the ground, no one attacked, but everyone prepared to do so just in case they'd have to. The signaler hopped off the back, and approached Ottar.
"Freya familia's level 6, Ottar, I have a message for you from Ganesha familia captain, Shakti."
Allen nearly frothed at the mouth to claim the head of the person standing there. Ottar stopped him.
"Let's hear it then?"
"Good. "I am sending you a new team unit to aid you in the aerial battle to follow soon. The bone chilling roar came from at least several level 7 dragon-type monsters. Take care of one of them, and of course split your forces however you wish." That is the message."
"Aerial combat is not that bad-"
"Maybe in the dungeon's cramped setting. But up here the sky's the limit."
"Indeed. Hedin?"
"I'll admit, we don't have a way to handle an airborne level 7, that might as well be a level 8 threat."
"Then we will make use of your unit. Hedin, think up something that we can do, and quickly. Whatever it is, that monster is on its way here now."
…