Oberon exhaled heavily, nodding with a grave expression.
"Tell everything that's happened," Atticus said.
Oberon nodded once, firmly. Seeing this, Anastasia quietly stepped back and excused herself, giving them space.
Atticus didn't interrupt much. He remained silent through most of the conversation, only asking a few questions to clarify details as Oberon walked him through everything.
Still, with each passing word, Atticus's expression grew darker.
Then, finally, his voice broke the silence.
"Did anyone die?"
It was a vague question. This was war, death was expected. But Oberon understood what Atticus really ant.
Did any of his loved ones die?
Oberon shook his head. "None."
That answer eased part of the pressure pressing against Atticus's chest. Anastasia had ntioned the sa thing earlier, but she'd been focused solely on his recovery.
If soone had truly died, there was no way he would've been allowed to rest. She could lie to him until he recovered. But Oberon… Oberon wouldn't lie to him. He couldn't anyways.
Still, at the very least, with everyone still alive, he could move forward.
"What about Whisker?"
Oberon's face shifted slightly as he shook his head. "He disappeared after you fainted. We don't know where he went."
Atticus frowned. "And you haven't been able to find him since?"
Oberon nodded once in confirmation.
Imdiately, Ozeroth's voice rang out in his mind. "See!? I told you! I told you to never let that thing out of your sight!"
Atticus exhaled heavily, choosing to ignore him. He gave a small nod.
"Alright. Thank you."
"It's nothing," Oberon said. "I suggest you focus on recovery, Apex Atticus. We need you now more than ever."
Atticus nodded once more, and with that, Oberon turned and left the scene, leaving Atticus alone, deep in thought.
'Did you know all this?' Atticus asked.
"Just so parts of it. I overheard the others talking when they ca to check up on you." Ozeroth replied.
"And they didn't ask you to fight?" Atticus asked, frowning.
It was odd. Everyone knew Ozeroth was just as powerful as him. In a situation this dire, it should've been a no-brainer to ask for his help.
"They tried," Ozeroth said. "But I didn't answer them."
"You didn't answer them?"
"Yes. I'm in your body, and they tried calling for . I just ignored them. So they assud I was unconscious too."
Atticus humd in response, his eyes flickering toward the soulkin perched lazily on his head.
"What about him?"
Ozeroth suddenly burst into laughter.
"Don't let his cute looks fool you! He's as prideful and stubborn as you! They tried to carry him to the battlefield, expecting him to be strong since he's your soulkin, and he proved them right! The mont they got close, he just released his killing intent… and not one of them could take a single step! It was hilarious!"
The little guy's eyes fluttered open as Ozeroth began ranting. He tilted his head and muttered softly, "Ozzy?"
Ozeroth froze. "I told you not to call that again!"
"Ozzy!" the soulkin repeated, louder this ti.
As the two began bickering in his mind, Atticus tuned them out completely, shifting his focus back to his thoughts.
'What's the next course of action?'
His mind churned. From everything Oberon had just told him, far too much had happened over the past one and a half months.
After Atticus had fainted and Whisker disappeared, the paragons had wracked their heads, trying to figure out how they would move forward, especially with the Hollow Sun approaching.
Because of this, they filtered through countless scenarios before finally settling on a course of action. They would try to rally the different races together.
To do that, they needed to get past the deep-rooted fear of stepping outside the safety of the Aegis Shields.
With no better option, the paragons decided to move together. One after another, they traveled from domain to domain, attempting to convince the race leaders to co out and band together to fight.
But it turned out to be a complete waste of ti. Aside from the Evolari and Nullite, whose leaders were already part of the paragons, none of the others agreed to lower their Aegis Shields.
Still, it hadn't been a total waste. Because the paragons had stepped out of their protected domains, they discovered a piece of news so devastating it nearly made their hearts burst.
The Zorvans had gotten through the Aegis Shield.
The events that followed changed Eldoralth for good.
First, the paragons spread the news to the remaining domains. But even then, most refused to believe it. They clung to the illusion of safety, hurling excuse after excuse.
When it beca clear words wouldn't work, the paragons shifted to a last-ditch effort. They traveled to the Nullite and Aeonian domains, retrieved their Aegis Crystals, and evacuated the people, bringing them to the Evolari domain, which stood closest to the center of the alliance.
Then, the Zorvans reached the first domain.
The Dragon Domain.
The dragons had laughed off the warnings. They believed in their shield. In their power.
Their Aegis Shield fell in seconds.
The carnage that followed was near indescribable. The entire domain was caught off guard. Within days, the Dragon Race was wiped from the face of the planet.
That mont, that fall, woke the rest of the world up.
The Zorvans had a weapon that could neutralize the Aegis Shield. Their greatest defense… was useless.
Those words spread like wildfire across the planet. Yet still, many races clung to their power. They believed in their strength. Their domains.
The Zorvans left nothing behind.
They took no prisoners. They ca from every direction, overwhelming and brutal. The Elves and Lucendi fell next.
Only then were the others jolted out of their stupidity.
They began evacuating their domains, each taking their Aegis Crystals before retreating to the Evolari domain.
But the Zorvans didn't stop.
They marched across the planet, leaving ruin in their wake.
And now, they had converged.
From all sides of Eldoralth, their forces sward, blotting out the horizon, laying siege to the last stronghold of the alliance.
The Evolari Domain.
Just then, a fiery beam struck the Aegis Shield with trendous force, sending tremors through the entire domain.
People held tightly to their loved ones. People wept.
Their trembling gazes lifted upward, toward the sky, where a fiery light burned against the shield, drowning the do in a crimson glow.
And all of this chaos, Atticus eyes narrowed.
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