The apexes had already confird that they still felt the primal urge to kill him. And while even at full power they wouldn't be able to break his skin, Atticus hadn't co this far by underestimating others. It was better to have Noctis here, just in case.
He sat in front of Maera, who looked straight at him with a hopeful gaze.
He cleared his throat. "Close your eyes."
She hesitated, as if wanting to keep staring at him a bit longer, but eventually she obeyed and closed her eyes.
"Now, try to stay calm. Keep your will as steady as you can."
She nodded slightly, and Atticus studied her for a mont.
He hadn't told the three of them everything. Elderish had warned him, this process was dangerous not just for them, but for him as well.
When piercing through, he'd need to constantly adjust the potency and flow of his will to match hers. If Maera's will spiked too suddenly, it could overwhelm his own, and his will had a fragnt of his consciousness infused within it. It could crush it.
Still, Atticus wasn't worried. If it had been before, sure, it might've been a problem. But not now.
Now, his mastery over will was exceptional. He could adapt in real ti. Even so, he preferred not to be forced to.
He closed his eyes and focused. A red glow spread from his body, surrounding both him and Maera.
The hilltop fell silent.
Lirae and Ae'ark couldn't help but gulp.
Why was this cute little creature staring at them like that!?
Noctis still sat atop Atticus' head, and he seed to be taking his role very seriously.
Gone was the harmless little fluffball. Now, an ancient beast glared down at them, his disdain filling the air.
His gaze seed to say, I dare you to move.
Lirae and Ae'ark both found themselves rattled. Neither of them could even take a step.
While that happened outside, Atticus was in another world entirely.
He felt a part of himself separate, and his vision shifted to a different plane. It descended lower and lower, until it reached Maera's core, from which a massive force radiated.
Atticus focused. His consciousness wrapped in his will began to take the shape of a miniature drill, pointed directly at the center of her core.
Once it fully ford, he willed it forward. It spun and surged ahead at a controlled, moderate pace.
It collided with her core and began to pierce through, spinning with intense speed.
Outside, Lirae and Ae'ark narrowed their eyes as Maera began to tremble. Her face twisted in pain. But with Noctis watching them like a hawk, neither could step forward, even if they wanted to.
'Her will is increasing,' Atticus noted calmly. He'd expected this. The pain had triggered her body's instinct to defend itself. Her will surged to shield her core.
But Atticus adapted smoothly, adjusting his own will's intensity and flow on the fly. The drill continued, steady and controlled.
Maera's trembling grew worse, and the two watching apexes looked increasingly reluctant to go through with this after seeing the usually aloof Maera react this way.
Ti passed.
Eventually, Atticus saw a dark glow ahead. He increased the pace slightly and broke into an oval shaped space. At its center was a massive, dark core.
The Obliteri Core.
Without wasting ti, he began unraveling the threads surrounding it.
'I have to be fast.'
He didn't want to risk having to make another hole on his way out.
He focused all his attention. After a few monts, he successfully unraveled the outer defenses and laid eyes on the core's true signature.
A single glance was all he needed.
In the next instant, his will spun back, racing through the sa hole he had drilled. It shot out of Maera's core and returned to him.
The red glow around both of them began to shrink, now only surrounding Atticus.
Maera's eyes snapped open, her heart racing. Pain still throbbed through every fiber of her body, but it was fading gradually.
She turned to Atticus, whose eyes remained closed. She tried to reach out, but Noctis' aura slamd down on her. A warning.
She froze. Then turned, and saw the small furry creature still staring at her. The ssage in his gaze was clear: don't move.
The hilltop fell into complete silence as they waited.
Then, Atticus raised his palm. Mana gathered at its center, condensing into an orb of black and white.
Without hesitation, the orb dove into his core and rged with it.
Atticus felt the familiar surge of power, followed by the sharp pain.
But he was used to it now.
And when the energy erupted in a burst of light that sent the apexes flying backward, his eyes opened once more. A new glow shimred within the array of colors in his irises.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
His gaze landed on Maera, who wore a pained expression. She had been blown back like the others, but unlike them, she was still recovering from the process. That made the impact hit her even harder.
"Fine. I'm recovering," she replied through slightly gritted teeth.
Atticus studied her carefully, his eyes scanning her condition. After a mont, he nodded, confirming there was nothing critically wrong.
"Good job," he said simply.
Maera's eyes lit up like twin suns at the praise. She ignored the pain and gave him a smile.
Atticus coughed lightly and turned to the remaining two. "After one week, I'll do Ae'ark," he said.
Ae'ark nodded firmly, already resolved.
"And then you," he added, turning to Lirae.
She exhaled, shoulders tense, but nodded all the sa. Atticus understood why she was more uneasy than the others, but he chose not to say anything.
In the next mont, they suddenly found themselves back in the living room.
"You said you loved , Alejandro! And you were fucking my mother?!"
The familiar sound of the drama echoed around them. The female lead had just discovered the secret that had been teased all season long.
Normally, it was the kind of mont they'd gasp at, laughing or throwing playful jabs at the characters.
But not today. Not now.
At least, not Ae'ark or Lirae.
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