Atticus's conversation with Torren had been brief, leaving the people who had been hoping for sothing more unsatisfied.
A lower and superior race had t, and there had been no show of dominance. That was as rare as pigs flying. Impossible.
Still, it had happened. As Torren left and seeing that Atticus had no intention of moving from his position, the leaders with Atticus all soon dispersed after giving him a nod, each one approaching the leaders of the other teams to start their probing conversations.
This left Atticus and, unsurprisingly, Aurora, who had nothing else to do.
Atticus, despite his calm gaze, currently had his mind spinning. He could see and feel every single person inside the hall. Because of this, he had instantly noticed the absentees.
'The Dinsari and Dragon Apex?' Atticus noted.
It was odd. And Atticus didn't like odd. A weird feeling washed over him.
'Sothing isn't right.'
He didn't know what, but he just knew that there was sothing he was missing. Sothing he should know but his mind just hadn't pieced together yet.
'What do you think?' He turned to Ozeorth.
'A warrior's instincts should never be ignored. If you feel this, then tread carefully.'
Atticus's guard instantly rose.
'Dinsari… Dragon…'
He searched his mind, trying to find a connection between the two of them. Was there sothing he was missing?
But first off, why were they absent?
'Are they plotting sothing?'
Atticus stopped that thought imdiately. He caught himself before jumping to conclusions, especially without proof. Still, both of them being absent was a cause for concern.
'Should I leave?'
He didn't like the fact that he didn't know what was going on. The urge to leave the banquet and get answers was creeping in.
However, another figure soon approached him.
It was another Apex, one Atticus hadn't interacted with before.
The Evolari Apex approached him with steadfast and graceful steps.
"Apex Atticus Ravenstein."
Her voice was neutral, but her eyes weren't smiling.
"My na is Kynara Flux, and I am the Apex of the Evolari race."
She didn't extend a hand.
Atticus gave her a once-over.
Kynara was… tall.
Her golden hair was neatly tied back in a ponytail. She didn't wear a gown like many of the other female figures in the hall. Instead, she wore what Atticus would consider a combat suit, practical, durable.
She gave off the aura of an honorable warrior, soone who would do anything to protect the weak.
But Atticus had t plenty of warriors. Honor rarely ant what people thought it did.
Kynara didn't wait for his response.
"I will refrain from wasting your ti. I'm only here to speak my mind."
Atticus remained silent, waiting.
"I don't like you."
His eyebrow lifted slightly, but she continued.
"You're selfish."
"Power should be used to protect the weak. Yet, you use it to oppress."
Atticus remained expressionless.
"The entrance challenge we all went through… there was no need for you to destroy the mountain."
She crossed her arms.
"It wasn't just a mountain you destroyed. You erased the hard work of millions of youths. It was wrong. And in a just world, it should not be encouraged."
A silence stretched between them.
Atticus didn't say anything. He simply stared at her.
Kynara raised an eyebrow.
"You have nothing to say?"
"I don't."
Her frown deepened.
"Looks like I was right about you," she said. "My grandmother is curious about you, but I think you're nothing more than a self-absorbed, selfish—"
Aurora, standing beside Atticus, was already fuming. Who the hell did this bitch think she was?!
But Atticus remained calm.
Words spoken by randoms had never ant much to him.
He spoke, his voice steady.
"You're starting to beco a pest."
Kynara's expression darkened.
"Your perception of doesn't matter to . It's yours to deal with. Why are you here?"
Kynara clenched her jaw at the insult.
Behind Atticus, Aurora stuck out her tongue at her, and that only made it worse.
Kynara's aura surged. Her body shifted slightly, as if preparing for sothing.
But she didn't move.
Atticus stood before her, unmoving, like an unshakable mountain. And no matter how much she thought, she couldn't see herself moving this mountain.
She clicked her tongue in irritation and turned away, walking off without another word.
Atticus took a sip from his wine.
Aurora, still fuming, crossed her arms.
"You need to stop listening and start slapping!" she huffed. "What's the use of all this power if you're still going to listen to bullshit?"
Atticus chuckled, shaking his head.
"You're so violent to be a lady," he mused. "Plus, you just heard her say that power should be used responsibly."
Aurora scoffed.
"Bah, who cares what they think? You worked for your power, not them. Why should they have a say in how you decide to use it?"
Atticus smiled.
"To think you could be this smart."
Aurora's expression instantly shifted.
"Excuse ?" she snapped, clearly offended.
But before she could say another word, another figure approached.
"We et again."
Atticus turned and saw Ae'ark approaching him with a smile.
'He's cautious.'
Atticus could instantly feel it. Ae'ark showed no hostility, but it was very obvious that he was very much cautious of him.
'Understandable.' Atticus wasn't surprised.
Among the Apexes, he was currently the strongest, which ant that he was the biggest threat. And with his power, he could decide to kill them at any mont. Whenever he had the chance.
The talk with Ae'ark was brief and formal.
The two, although previously acquainted, still hadn't been able to break that barrier.
Afterward, Ae'ark walked away.
Atticus didn't get a mont of respite before another figure approached.
No, two figures.
The first was both shocking and unsurprising at the sa ti.
Shocking, because her entire race had declared his race a sworn enemy because of him.
And yet, not surprising, because they had t and gotten along at a previous banquet.
Lirae, the Apex of the Vampyros race.
However, it was the second figure that caused the most confusion, for both Atticus and even Lirae herself.
Maera of the Obliteri race.
Lirae tried to mask her bafflent, extending a hand toward Atticus with a wide smile.
"It's a pleasure to et you again."
Atticus took her hand and planted a kiss on it.
"The pleasure is mine."
The mont was brief, but it sent a ripple through the hall.
The gazes of onlookers who had previously turned away snapped back to them, watching in disbelief.
The Vampyros and humans were sworn enemies. Why were their Apexes so friendly?
Atticus stood, and imdiately, he felt it. A stare boring into him.
He didn't need to turn to know who it was.
Zoey.
Her eyes were locked onto them, intense and unblinking.
Clearing his throat, Atticus let go of Lirae's hand, turning his focus back to her.
His gaze sharpened.
Atticus had already confird that each Apex possessed a core.
But Lirae…
'She has two.'
He didn't even need the ring to sense it, not after he had bonded with a core himself.
Yet, he didn't let his curiosity show in his expression.
Instead, he shifted his attention to Maera.
Shockingly, she had also extended her hand. Atticus focused on it.
Initially, she had been wearing gloves on both hands.
But now, she had removed one. The very hand she now stretched toward him.
At first glance, it looked… ordinary. Flawless, even.
But Atticus could feel the energy radiating from it. As though anything it touched could be reduced to nothingness.
'What the hell…'
Was he supposed to kiss that?
His eyes t hers.
White. Cold.
Her expression remained unreadable, aloof, detached.
But her intent…
There was only one word to describe it.
Hope.
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