Just as expected, the entire crew was shocked by Atticus's overwhelming improvements. If before they felt they could engage in a serious battle with Atticus and the outcome would be uncertain, now it was completely different.
Standing in front of Atticus, they felt like prey. They knew they wouldn't stand a chance.
Seeing Atticus in person solidified what they had heard from Avalon earlier: Atticus had cut off the arm of a grandmaster+.
The Aegis crew had taken Avalon back to the estate, and during the ride, Avalon had made sure to boast about Atticus's feats as though they were his own.
Naturally, they had been shocked and even suspected it might be an exaggeration. Fathers often exaggerate their children's accomplishments.
However, after seeing Atticus, they were starting to believe it was true.
Afterward, since they would all be staying on the same airship, Atticus introduced Niall to the crew. They were instantly frightened when they found out that Niall was actually a beast.
They immediately bombarded him with a truckload of questions, which he completely ignored, fixing them with an intense stare that made them scatter like ants.
Master+ ranks or not, Niall was a grandmaster+, despite being a slave.
Excusing himself, Atticus headed back to his quarters to freshen up.
He took one of the most relaxing hot showers of his life, and after a few minutes, Atticus collapsed onto the bed and drifted into a deep sleep.
…
A woman walked elegantly across a grand hallway.
She glided through the corridor, each step precise and quiet.
She had silver hair that stood out against her crimson gown, shimmering like cold steel.
Her skin was pale and flawless, glowing with vitality. She appeared ageless, possessing the figure and looks of an adult but with a youthful vibrancy. Her golden eyes focused on the door at the end of the hall as she approached.
Pushing the door open, she was met with chaos.
A man, a mountain of muscle and power, was busy wrestling with an enormous beast. The creature, massive and rhino-like, roared, its horn pointed forward as it tried to push the man away.
But the man held it firmly, his dark skin shining with sweat, muscles straining as he fought to dominate the beast with his sheer power.
"Gideon," Elysia's voice sliced through the air. Though she sounded like a 9-year-old girl, childish and innocent, Gideon knew better.
Gideon froze. He turned, and as soon as he saw Elysia, his giant muscles suddenly tensed. With a surge of strength, he lifted the beast and flung it to the other side of the arena.
Shaking his arms, he turned and locked eyes with Elysia, annoyance flickering across his face. "You sure know how to ruin a good fight."
A small smile appeared on her lips. "I'm sure you can continue your pointless battle later. I have news."
Gideon's brow furrowed. "More important than breaking this beast?"
"Ronad is dead," she stated.
The words hit him like a hammer. "What?"
Gideon approached Elysia, his expression icy. He was the leader of the Obsidian Order branch in Sector 5, while Elysia led the branch in Sector 6. The mere fact that she was present indicated that something significant had already occurred.
"And Alvis is captured," she added, her tone still carrying that childish lilt.
Gideon's fists clenched, the ground rumbling beneath him. He had completely forgotten about the beast.
Despite the circumstances, he and Ronad were close. Some might even call them friends.
They had bonded over their shared interest in chaos. Gideon lived for battle; his every desire was centered on domination and power. The two had grown close the instant they met, as though it had been predestined.
"Who?" he demanded, his voice cold.
"The Ravensteins."
"The Ravensteins… those bastards!" Gideon stomped his foot on the ground, cracks snaking across the floor as the force made the building tremble.
"Calm down, musclehead. This is a secret hideout, remember?"
Gideon took a deep breath.
"Those white-haired monkeys are becoming a real problem," he growled.
"Yes, they are, which is why I believe this is our chance to kill two birds with one stone. The Ravensteins are one of, if not the strongest fighting forces in the human domain. Their bloodline enables them to have almost no weaknesses. The Stellaris are limited by the sun, the Frostbane by the beasts they transform into.
The only others worth mentioning are the Starhaven family, and without their spirits, they're nothing.
"However, the Ravensteins do not have such obvious weaknesses. In our conquest to take over the human domain, they will be the most difficult obstacle in our path," Elysia explained.
"An obstacle I will crush with my fists!" Gideon clenched both his fists, his muscles bulging even more.
Elysia shook her head. 'Idiot,' she thought.
"I'm sure you'll get your chance to do just that. Anyway, because of these facts, I've made a proposal to the other branches in different sectors, and we're all in agreement. That leaves only you and Sector 2," she said.
"You mean...?" Gideon suddenly had a look of realization.
Elysia nodded. "We're joining the war."
Gideon's aura exploded. "Count me in."
...
A few hours later, Atticus had a very peaceful sleep. Soon enough, his stubborn nature got him out of bed, and he indulged in a long stretch.
'That felt refreshing,' he thought.
Atticus didn't feel particularly hungry. After acquiring Niall, he hadn't missed a meal. Anything he asked for was always brought to him instantly.
Getting out of bed, Atticus changed into something more fitting before calling Dario and Yotad into the room. He had already arranged for Niall to have his own room.
As soon as the duo entered, Dario started bombarding Atticus with numerous questions about what had occurred in the chasm that led to his tremendous growth, while Yotad just silently listened.
Atticus had no reason to hide anything from his 'slaves,' so he told them what had happened, but he instinctively left out the part about the katana and the beast paragon. Although they were both bound to him, it was already in his nature not to reveal everything about himself to others.
Atticus's tone suddenly became serious.
"Tell me everything that happened after Dad came out of the chasm," he instructed.