A towering fortress stood tall under the heavy and serious gazes of its gathered occupants.
In the center of the open courtyard, surrounded by the fortress's walls, less than ten individuals stood in silence, their eyes fixed on the sky above.
Encircling the courtyard, from windows, ledges, and rooftops of the surrounding buildings, countless warriors watched silently, the air filled with anticipation. Some leaned casually against windowsills, arms folded, while others perched on ledges, whispering in hushed tones. Many craned their necks, their faces filled with eagerness.
Every gaze was turned upward, waiting.
Among the spectators, most bore the distinct features of the Resonara family: vibrant green hair and bulky headsets covering their oversized ears.
At the forefront of the group standing in the middle of the courtyard was a man whose presence radiated authority and power. His aura filled the courtyard like an approaching storm.
Candence Resonara.
He was the commander of Fort Echohelm, the Resonara family's stronghold in Sector 10. His sharp features and green hair marked his Resonara bloodline, though he was not a direct descendant.
Candence's frown deepened as his gaze swept across the warriors surrounding him. Excitement buzzed through the crowd, but their focus wasn't on him. It was on what, or rather, who, they were waiting for.
'How annoying,' Candence thought, clicking his tongue in irritation.
This day was among the worst of his life. Possibly the worst.
From a young age, Candence had been hailed as a genius. Despite not being a direct descendant of the Resonara family, he had far exceeded expectations. At 66 years old, he achieved the grandmaster+ rank, a feat celebrated across the human domain.
When he was named commander of Fort Echohelm, the people practically worshiped him. Wherever he went, all eyes were on him. He was the center of attention.
But a few days ago, everything had changed.
The news came abruptly: Atticus Ravenstein, the apex of humanity, was coming to the fortress.
No explanation was given. It was as if they didn't consider Candence important enough to deserve one, or worse, as if Atticus himself hadn't cared to provide one.
The fortress erupted with excitement. The attention Candence had always commanded shifted in an instant to someone who hadn't even arrived yet.
'He's not even here!'
The bitter thought gnawed at him as he turned his head slightly, catching sight of a young boy.
Lyric, his son, stood just behind him, staring at the sky with wide eyes and a grin so bright it made Candence's frown deepen further.
Usually, Lyric was composed, trying to copy his father's calm and commanding demeanor. He admired Candence deeply, looking up to him in every way. But ever since hearing about Atticus's arrival, Lyric couldn't stop talking about the 17-year-old apex.
Candence's jaw tightened as he recalled their recent conversation.
"Atticus Ravenstein my role model!" Lyric had exclaimed, nearly bouncing on his feet.
Candence had stared at him, his face twitching. "I'm supposed to be your role model," he muttered under his breath.
But Lyric, oblivious, had continued. "He's just so cool, Dad! He's fought paragons, won the Nexus… What can't he do?"
Candence groaned inwardly. 'What can't he do? How about stealing my son's admiration?'
As he stewed in his thoughts, a calm, knowing voice snapped him out of his brooding.
"Master Candence, you seem troubled," came the tone of an aged man standing to his right.
Candence turned, meeting the sharp gaze of Vyn, a Resonara man with a scholarly air. His long green beard swayed slightly as he stroked it, his piercing eyes unyielding.
"It's nothing, Vyn," Candence said quickly, brushing off the inquiry. "Just a lot on my mind."
Vyn raised an eyebrow, his expression thoughtful but probing. "You're worried about him, aren't you?"
Candence paused for a brief moment, but his hesitation quickly turned to deflection. "Not worried. Just cautious."
Vyn chuckled softly, stroking his beard as his gaze turned upward. "There's nothing to worry about. From all reports, Atticus Ravenstein is straightforward. Respectful, even. Not the arrogant type people fear he might be."
Candence gave a slight nod, but his jaw tightened. He wasn't concerned about Atticus's personality or character. What ate at him was the shift in attention. The excitement. The hero worship.
'Jealousy,' he admitted to himself bitterly, though he'd never say it aloud. Even thinking it felt humiliating.
Clearing his throat, Candence turned back to the sky and chose silence. But the quiet didn't last.
Minutes passed.
A massive airship appeared on the horizon.
The fortress stirred as excitement rippled through the gathered warriors like an electric current. Murmurs filled the air, growing louder as the Aegis airship drew closer.
Candence's frown deepened, frustration bubbling to the surface. He could already feel his command over the atmosphere slipping away.
"Silence!" he barked.
His voice boomed through the courtyard like a crack of thunder. The murmurs stopped instantly, every warrior falling into silence as though his voice had struck them directly.
The airship descended slowly, its sleek, imposing frame catching the sunlight. Its size casted a long shadow over the fortress and the gathered crowd.
As the Aegis airship landed with a low, controlled hum, the fortress fell into a deafening silence. Hearts pounded like drums in the chests of the warriors.
Atticus Ravenstein, a name immortalized in the human domain, was about to step out.
To them, he was no longer just a boy. He was a legend. A force of nature. The apex of humanity.
The hull lowered with slowness, touching the ground with a faint thud. Even that sound was almost drowned by the sheer anticipation weighing in the air.
A single footstep echoed.
Then another.
It felt as though time slowed to a crawl. Every head turned, every eye fixed on the figure descending the ramp.
Atticus.
His steps were measured, his expression calm and unreadable. But his aura, it was anything but calm.
It swept over the fortress like an unstoppable tide, pressing down on every soul present. Warriors who had spent years training under grueling conditions felt their knees weaken. Some couldn't even lift their heads, unable to defy the invisible weight radiating from the 17-year-old.
Candence's eyes widened in disbelief, his heart pounding.
'What the hell is this?'
He had prepared himself for Atticus's arrival. He had read the reports, watched the Nexus event, and expected someone strong. But this?
This wasn't strength, it was something far beyond that. It was overwhelming. Monstrous.
"Impossible," he muttered under his breath.
Atticus's glowing purple gaze swept across the area. It didn't linger on anyone, yet each person felt as though he was staring directly into their very soul. His presence wasn't just physical, it was everywhere.
Seconds dragged on like hours, the oppressive silence heavier than ever.