Atticus and the others were led outside the mansion.

They crossed the paved road and entered a vast field. It was then Atticus noticed they were approaching the massive tower topped with the purple gem he’d seen in the distance. The closer he got to it, the stronger Solvath’s influence on reality became.

Faintly glowing purple orbs began drifting around them. Atticus didn’t need to summon any power to feel it. Here, Solvath’s energy was the strongest he’d ever sensed in his life.

The closer they got, the fewer people they saw. Atticus could no longer see the usual deep-purple-clothed individuals.

Instead, men and women dressed in light purple robes walked about with devout expressions etched onto their faces. They carried themselves with an air of supremacy, as though they were the purest beings in existence.

As they passed, they bowed respectfully toward Zenon while piercing the group with probing glances.

Atticus, of course, ignored every single one. But deep frowns rested on many of the others’ faces. Only the pride queen and Ozerra seemed unbothered, carrying themselves with effortless grace.

Eventually, as they reached the grand doors of the tower, Zenon turned toward them.

"I have to apologize," he said. "But unfortunately... only the chosen are allowed into the sacred temple. It’s law."

Atticus felt everyone’s gaze shift toward him. He frowned. By now, it was obvious he had stumbled into some sort of cult.

Since that was the case, such a rule was understandable. Still, the thought of getting separated wasn’t one he liked. But he hated the idea of his family remaining so close to a being like Solvath even more, especially when he was this powerful.

’It’s better this way.’

"We’ll be back soon."

After exchanging a subtle look with the pride queen, silently asking her to keep watch over the others, he gestured toward the fragment bearers of the group.

Anorah. Thora. Tia. Besides him, they were the only ones.

"N-no... I don’t want to go without Thomas."

"Tia..." Thomas smiled gently as he crouched before her. "It’ll be alright, okay? Uncle Atticus will be there too. Nobody’s gonna let anything happen to you."

Tia slowly turned toward Atticus. Oppressive deathly aura. Intense eyes.

The moment their gazes met, she darted behind Thomas and clung to his back like a frightened kitten.

"...h-he looks like he eats children."

The corners of Atticus’ mouth twitched. From the corner of his eye, he could practically feel Anastasia staring at him with an I told you so expression.

Releasing a quiet sigh, he tried his best to offer Tia a gentle smile. Somehow, that only made things worse as she flinched and buried herself further behind Thomas.

"I got this."

Thora crouched down to Tia’s level and greeted her with a soft smile.

"I still have some of that chocolate you like, Tia. Want some?"

Tia slowly peeked out from behind Thomas before giving a hesitant nod.

"Then you just gotta do one thing for me."

"...what?"

"Follow aunt Thora in there." She pointed toward the tower. "I’ll stay with you the whole time, so you don’t gotta be scared. Do that, and my entire chocolate stash is yours." She finished with a playful wink. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Tia stared at the tower for a moment, then back at Thora, clearly hesitating... before eventually nodding again.

"That’s my girl. Who’s the cutest little thing here?"

"M-me."

"Exactly!"

"Ha!"

Thora lifted Tia onto her shoulders as laughter escaped her uncontrollably.

Warm smiles spread across several faces as they watched the scene unfold, even Atticus’. Amid endless bloodshed and death, moments like this were rare.

"Ahem."

The group snapped out of it and turned toward Zenon. He inclined his head slightly before speaking.

"I’ll lead the way."

Moments later, they stepped into the tower. Atticus felt as though he had crossed through a thin invisible barrier.

Multiple sensations assaulted him at once. The dense, heavy air. The pressure weighing against his entire frame.

Every movement felt sluggish, as though he were moving deep underwater. Beyond that was the singular suffocating presence looming over the entire room.

The blanket of purple gradually cleared from Atticus’ vision. Before him stretched a vast hall of pristine white marble. Countless pillars engraved with intricate purple markings rose throughout the chamber, each pulsing faintly with an unnatural glow.

At the very end of the hall stood a raised platform, and directly behind it loomed a massive gem radiating a blinding pillar of light that pierced upward endlessly.

"Welcome..." Zenon said, spreading his arms wide, "to the Temple of Origins."

Multiple figures clad in light purple robes stood near the pillar. Despite Zenon’s words, Atticus’ attention remained fixed on them. Then suddenly, a force slammed violently against his mind.

Atticus staggered, then calmed a moment later. He frowned. That... had come from Solvath. Yet the power behind it far exceeded anything he should have been capable of using.

’It’s this place...’

He realized. Their close proximity to so many fragments must have triggered some sort of chain reaction. Under normal circumstances, Atticus would have wanted to be as far away from this place as possible. But that was before speaking with the Arbiter.

He was tied to the fragments now. Whether he wanted it or not, he was already deeply entangled in all of this.

Even if he chose to avoid it, all he would be doing was giving someone else the opportunity to gather more power before eventually hunting him for the fragments he possessed.

It was better to confront it directly. After all, he still needed more strength for his battle against the major factions.

’I might need to handle them.’

While killing Anorah’s father was out of the question, the millions of others here were fair game, especially if they stood in his path. Atticus’ thoughts grew colder as his resolve settled.

’Wait...’

He suddenly froze. If Solvath had just attacked him, then what about the others?

Atticus immediately turned.

Anorah’s eyes radiated an intense, chilling coldness.

’Logoth.’

Her expression remained utterly emotionless, yet she clearly still retained control of herself. Beside her, a faint crimson glow radiated from the tattoos spread across Thora’s arm. She too seemed to be resisting whatever influence had assaulted them.

However, Tia was different.

Bright purple light glowed within her eyes as she slowly turned toward Atticus, her lips stretching into a wide, deeply unsettling grin.