Atticus watched it all happen silently. He had hit it with his fusion energy earlier, the sa energy capable of erasing paragons in an instant.
Yet, it hadn't even left a scratch on the tree.
'It's the life force. You were able to sever the hold… but it's still stronger,' Ozeroth explained in his mind.
Atticus nodded. It ant that he couldn't cut down the tree right now. He still had more tricks up his sleeve, but he'd rather not waste his reserves.
So, he focused on the only thing he could. Healing.
Restoring his ravaged body and returning to peak.
Above him, the tree kept growing, bigger and taller until it pierced the clouds. Its trunk cracked with light, its roots pulsing.
And then, at the very top, a golden flower started to take shape.
It remained closed, glowing faintly.
Every human watched the scene with bated breath, waiting.
But then…
RIPPPP!
The sound of air tearing apart hit their ears. Heads snapped toward the sky to see a staggering number of warships bursting out from warp speed.
'The Dinsari, Vampyros, and Dragon races…'
Atticus had seen it first. The insignias of all three races were etched clearly across their hulls. There was no doubt. No mistaking it.
The human paragons saw it next. And as they did, their expressions darkened. The atmosphere of the entire domain shifted.
The warships weren't drifting. They were aid straight at them. Their intent was very clear.
They were here for war.
But before the dread could fully take root—
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
More sounds tore through the air, and as they turned, they saw another armada surge in from the side, more warships erging from the void in organized patterns.
One look at their hulls and every human froze.
The insignias of the Evolari… and the Nullite.
More gasps erupted and faces paled. Dread crashed into the people once more, until Atticus's voice cut through it all, still as calm and steady as ever.
"It's fine," he said. "They're with us."
The human paragons whipped their heads toward him, stunned.
Allies?
With the Evolari… maybe. But the Nullite? That should have been near impossible.
But what surprised them the most was… how? When?
The question was all they could think about, but before answers ca, streaks of light shot out from the lead ships of the Evolari and Nullite.
They converged around Atticus.
Seeing this, the paragons of humanity stepped forward, joining him.
"Apex Atticus," ca a sharp, clear voice.
Jenera. Queen of the Evolari. She landed beside him, flanked by Colonel Zenon and several Evolari elders.
Each gave small respectful bows, but none were smiling. Not even Zenon, whose lips usually curled when Atticus was present.
"We received your word," Jenera said, eyes sharp. She was unlike her usual self. She was clad in full armor, ready for war.
She turned to the towering tree. "Is this that Gardener's doing?"
Atticus nodded. "Yes. Most likely."
At once, Jenera's aura exploded. Her killing intent flared.
"Where is he?" she hissed, teeth clenched.
She wasn't alone.
Behind her, Zenon and the Evolari elders tightened their fists.
And on the other side, Yoan, the leader of the Nullite, unleashed his own killing intent.
He didn't speak. Just waited.
Waited for Atticus's answer.
Atticus t their eyes calmly.
During the night, after his talk with Whisker… he had made a decision.
He would take no chances and wanted to be more careful.
So, Atticus had decided to involve the other races and had reached out to the Evolari and the Nullite.
He had predicted that only these two would respond, and for one simple reason: because they had every reason to, after hearing what he had to say.
Atticus had chosen to weaponize information.
He sent Whisker to deliver it, a detailed account of the true history of Eldoralth, the cores, and most importantly… the Gardener.
The very being behind everything.
The one responsible for the death of Kynara, Jenera's granddaughter.
The sa one the Dinsari were secretly working for. And most likely, the one Carius, the boy who killed Karn, Youn's grandson, served as well.
It went without saying that the mont they confird the authenticity of the information, they had imdiately decided to join the war.
"He's coming."
The gazes of the paragons sharpened at Atticus's response.
They turned to the tree, then forward, locking eyes on the armada of warships hovering silently just ahead of it.
By now, the other paragons had already gathered at the front.
Weapons drawn.
Aura blazing.
On one side stood the Dinsari, the Vampyros, and the Dragons.
On the other, the Evolari, the Nullites, and the Humans.
The tension skyrocketed, a thread away from snapping.
However…
"He's here."
At Atticus's words, the paragons' eyes snapped toward him, then followed his gaze.
Their sights climbed up the tree… to the top…
The flower stem was glowing. Brighter. Brighter still.
But their gazes didn't stop there.
They rose higher, to the point just above it, and saw it.
There, a man hovered calmly.
Both hands clasped behind his back.
None of them had felt him appear. In fact, if Atticus hadn't said anything… they wouldn't have even known he was there.
But now that they did… it was all they could feel.
The collective pressure of all the paragons that shook the air was snuffed out in an instant.
He had azure hair, flowing like silk.
Crimson eyes, looking down on all like they ant nothing.
And a small smile, as if watching ants dance in his palm.
"Atticus Ravenstein," he said, voice calm, "We finally et."
He ignored everyone else and focused solely on Atticus.
His crimson eyes glinted.
"You may address … as the Gardener."
Inside the massive hall, where the three Apexes watched the live feed, Lirae's eyes narrowed.
"Hey, Pounce…" she said, frowning. "That guy… he awfully looks like you. Is that a coincidence?"
But there was no response.
Her brow furrowed. She turned…
"…Huh? Where did he go?"
Maera and Ae'ark turned as well to see that Whisker's throne… was empty.
They looked around the hall, but he was nowhere to be found.
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