Hearing Magnus's words, Atticus went silent. He was about to battle and find out what he would be up against during the nexus?
There were many interpretations to those words, but only one was definite in Atticus's head.
Regardless, he chose to leave it till later. He would see what Magnus was talking about soon enough.
Atticus focused his gaze on the new scene. In simple words, it was barren land. There was not a single green in sight, not a single tree. Only sand.
The whole control room was still showing the view from every corner outside the ship, so Atticus could see everything. His gaze couldn't help but narrow as he saw multiple cities from above.
"Where are we?" Atticus suddenly asked.
"We're in what many call a buffer zone, young master. It's the boundary between the human domain and another," Dario instantly responded from behind.
"And what are those cities? Are there people living here?"
"Ah yes, those are people who chose to live without any shackles. They refuse to live under the control of the tiered families and instead chose to form their own societies here."
Atticus didn't know much about the plight of the poor masses, but considering the condition of this barren land, he couldn't help but feel an intense amount of pity for them.
Atticus's gaze turned towards Magnus, who had just turned his gaze backward as though looking at something. Then, as though nothing had happened, he turned it back to his front.
Atticus didn't bother asking and just went silent, trying to prepare himself for what was to come. The airship flew uninterrupted, and after crossing a very tall sand-made hill, Atticus and the crew members were met with a circular black stage, spanning more than 500 meters, surrounded by incredibly tall sandy hillsides from every angle.
And at the other end of the platform, just in front of a large airship, were the figures of three individuals.
Despite the distance, from a glance, Atticus and each of the people on the ship could instantly tell they weren't humans.
"Only Atticus will follow me. The rest are to remain on the ship. Do not come out under any circumstances unless I command it," Magnus ordered.
The crew members, Dario and Yotad included, immediately bowed, "As you wish."
Atticus nodded to Dario and Yotad, indicating that they should do as Magnus commanded. He had already specified in his contract that his words were their law.
A few seconds passed, and Atticus and Magnus left the airship, which was parked at the other end of the hillside, and started floating towards the figures.
Tendrils of lightning wrapped around Atticus tightly, each ready to react in case of anything.
The figures at the other end also started moving towards the middle, and after a few moments, they each came into full view of each other.
To Atticus, who saw them, it was truly fascinating.
There were three in number, and despite their weird features, Atticus could see a boy who appeared to be his age standing beside an old man whose power felt unfathomable to Atticus, and the figure of a young girl sitting on his shoulders.
They appeared humanoid, but only in their bodily shape. They each had transparent, ghost-like bodies with a faint blue glow akin to the mana in the atmosphere.
Their eyes were pitch black, dotted with white spots resembling stars in the night sky.
Their hair flowed above their heads like waves of water, mimicking the blue color of their skin.
This was the second time he would be meeting another race of Eldoralth, and Atticus was truly intrigued.
'Huh?' Atticus's right hand reached for his katana, stroking it carefully. It had suddenly started vibrating without any warning.
His gaze unknowingly fixed itself on the figure of the boy in front of him, who had a small smile on his face as he stared at Atticus. The boy's hands moved rhythmically, also trying to soothe the spear hanging behind his back.
Their gazes met, and it was as though sparks ignited between them. The world slowed, and neither of them saw anything else apart from each other.
A weird feeling suddenly engulfed Atticus, making him clench his hand hard.
It was hard to describe, but as Atticus's gaze landed on him, he wanted nothing more than to immediately attack.
The smile on the boy's lips widened, but he didn't say anything.
The sound of the old man speaking brought the duo out of their trance.
"Magnus. It's been long, too long."
The old man's voice was just as he looked, serene and smooth. But the power each word evoked could not be contained.
If not for Magnus's aura currently protecting him, Atticus had no idea what would have happened.
Magnus nodded his head. "It's good to see you too, Ae'zard."
But his guard was still raised at full force. A mana contract appeared in his hand and floated towards the old man.
Ae'zard smiled. "I see you're still as serious as ever, huh."
Another contract appeared in his hand, moving towards Magnus.
They both skimmed through the contents and immediately signed it.
As soon as the contracts turned into motes of light, each entering their bodies, the lightning surrounding Atticus disappeared, and he descended gently onto the black platform.
The boy did the same and landed 100 meters away, facing Atticus.
Then, Magnus and Ae'zard moved upwards and created distance from the duo.
"Are you sure you want to use up your favor like this?" Ae'zard suddenly asked.
"You think he'll lose?"
"Not even you could win back then. What makes you think he would?"
For Ae'zard, one of the powerhouses of another race, to speak so highly of Magnus only goes to show how much of a monster he had been during his time and even now.
Magnus went silent, fixing his gaze on Atticus, who currently had a serious expression on his face as he stared at his opponent.
A few seconds passed before a small smile appeared on Magnus's face, one that shocked Ae'zard.
"He's not me."