That night, Ozeroth and Whisker made Atticus realize sothing truly important.
'True strength is what matters.'
He rembered the conversation he had with his mother during his childhood. Back then, he'd wanted to train, but Anastasia being Anastasia wouldn't accept that, instead promising to protect him.
Atticus had won that argunt with one fact, the best protection she could possibly give him was his strength.
'I should have thought of this sooner.'
Atticus held back the feeling of regret taking root. Ozeroth and Whisker had left him to his thoughts, and he stared at the night sky with a clenched fist.
An unseen force had declared war on him. According to Whisker, considering the situation, he was currently at its rcy.
'Their strength is the best protection.'
Whisker had asked him a single question earlier:
"If this attack had been channeled at you, or let's even say , Ozeroth, or the furry little guy, what would've happened?"
"…It'll fail."
"Why?"
"Because you're powerful."
"Then you understand."
Atticus could only silently nod.
His loved ones were incomparable to him or them. What Whisker had ant was simple, his loved ones would always be at stake if they were weak.
In his world of powerful enemies who would search and exploit any way to destroy him, they would be in constant danger.
Unless he planned on being with them round-the-clock, their strength would be their best protection.
'I have to power them up.'
Atticus looked past the sky to the vast universe. He could feel the plane will silently watching.
'It'll react if I try to interfere in my people's growth…'
He'd hit a problem before he even started. The plane will was already reacting; any more interference would result in severe consequences.
Atticus shut his eyes and sighed.
'I have no choice.'
…
The next day arrived quickly, and by morning, every single Eldorian gathered in the grand hall of the refurbished dominion pillar.
Though Lyanna's battle had destroyed it completely, for beings of their power, rebuilding it only took seconds.
"Why do you think he called us?"
"With him? Who knows. I just hope it isn't bad."
The whispers were endless. Atticus had called for a sudden eting and given no explanation whatsoever. The tension in the hall was heavy, and many tried to search for who knew anything about what was occurring.
"It could be related to what occurred yesterday… maybe he wants to retaliate."
"Retaliate?" The Eldorian turned to his friend, "Then what do we call the fate of the Surnix Hold continent?"
The other swallowed.
"Arg, this wait is killing . Do you think Oberon knows sothing? He seems very tense…"
They turned their eyes to Oberon seated at the front row.
There was a small sheen of sweat on his forehead, and they could see his clothes drenched. He stared at the front with a rigid posture as his wife tried to comfort him.
It wasn't just the duo, but most of the Eldorians' eyes were fixed on Oberon. If there was anyone who knew sothing, it was him.
"If he knows sothing and he looks like that…" soone whispered, "we might die today."
But all Oberon's tense deanor did was increase the tension in the room.
The clamor continued until Atticus abruptly appeared on the platform.
The Eldorians stood at once, bowing deeply.
"Thank you all for coming."
At Atticus' words, many couldn't help but narrow their eyes. What was going on?
Since when has this child ever thanked them for anything? Many shifted uncomfortably.
"N-no i-it's our pleasure, supre ruler," Oberon said. "Anything to be of service."
Atticus only nodded and glanced around the room. The Eldorians bowed deeply as his eyes landed on them.
'They're a lot.'
During the war with Whisker's siblings and the Spirit King, there had been more than 150 paragons from all races combined.
Of them all, he'd turned a total of 50 into Eldorians. They were a small army on their own.
'A sha.'
"I'm sure you're all aware of what occurred yesterday." As Atticus began, the hall turned utterly silent.
"Those directly responsible have been captured and are facing judgnt. However, the one who orchestrated everything has not yet been found. This incident made realize sothing. I will not share what it is, but I will share the conclusion."
The hall went dead still.
"Today, I will strip a few Eldorians of their power."
Eyes widened to their limit. Had they heard wrong?
"The only reason I offer is that it is necessary. This will not be permanent, but I cannot give a tifra for when your power will be restored. Questions?"
Though shocked, multiple hands still rose.
"Luminous." Atticus nodded at the Stellaris and he cleared his throat.
"How many Eldorians? And how would they be chosen?"
"Eight. It'll be purely at my discretion."
Many hands lowered after that. Luminous had asked what was in everyone's mind. Their pale expressions revealed just how horrified they were.
To be in this sort of world without power… was hell.
"These are the eight…"
Atticus called out the eight he decided on. He'd skipped the human Eldorians and even the other familiar faces, choosing people whose nas he hadn't even known until the day he turned them into Eldorians.
Though they appeared gloomy and sad, under Atticus' heavy gaze, none could reject his orders. He had given them this power, and he was now taking it.
The process of stripping them of their power took even less ti than giving it. Throughout the night, Atticus had practiced the process of separating mana signatures from each other without destroying the subject in the process.
Being the first ti, it had taken so getting used to, but the advancent in his power had greatly helped.
As the eight reverted back to paragon rank, Atticus excused himself and gathered his family at the hill.
"From now on, I will be involved in your growth personally. There is an unseen enemy targeting , and that ans they will target you too. I need to know you can protect yourselves."
Anastasia and the others gazed at Atticus with varying expressions. Still, seeing his serious face, they nodded.
Atticus took his people away from the hill after that and made space at the bottom of the Veinroot tree, Anastasia, Arya, Aurora, Caldor, Ember, Nate, Kael, and Zoey.
He created individual chambers for each of them, tailored to their specific needs, elental and mana wise. With this, their rise to paragon would be speedy, then Eldorians.
Afterwards, Atticus appeared in his chamber, sitting cross legged in the middle of a pool of lava.
'It's been a day.'
Never in his wildest dreams would he have expected soone to dare go after his people.
'Who are you?'
The three. What was their identity? Their goal? Was it simply to cause him pain? Or was it more?
'I'll find you. No matter what.'
It was too late already. They had co for him, now he would retaliate in full force.
'Let's see how I progressed. Stats.'
He transford his attention to his stats,
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