Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground - Chapter 1444 Target
Chapter 1444 Target
Now that she didn’t have to hide, Aurora rushed forward, reaching the end of the hallway. As she turned towards the balcony, her eyes narrowed at the unfolding scene.
“Relax. I can see your pain, feel it. No one deserves to go through such hurt. Let me help you, I’ll make everything disappear.”
Zoey stood on the balcony, and hovering in front of her was the same bastard she’d seen yesterday. The Velmirath.
Aurora watched as Zoey clutched her arms firmly in front of her while slowly walking towards the man.
‘Don’t tell me…’
Of all the stupid shit she’d witnessed in her entire life, this topped the list.
“That’s right. It’s going to be alright. I won’t hurt you. Submit yourself to me, and you’ll be at peace.”
A purple smoke rose from his body, slowly engulfing the balcony. Zoey’s eyes shone purple.
“That’s it. Come.”
The boy smiled maddeningly as she stretched out her hand toward him.
“Almost there. Everything will be oka—”
Aurora flickered into existence before him, wrapped in flame.
“I’ll make you pay for this.”
His eyes constricted.
“What—”
Her blazing leg struck into his skull. Flames detonated on impact, smashing his head apart in a burst of fire.
As the lifeless body plummeted from the sky, Aurora landed on the balcony, staring coldly at Zoey.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Zoey’s eyes had regained their normal glow. She blinked, trying to regain her composure, but it only made Aurora flare up even more.
“That stupid guy…” Aurora jabbed a finger downward, where the body had fallen. “That stupid guy was targeting you to get to Atticus. Look, I understand completely. He broke your heart or whatever, but you’ve got to get a fucking grip on yourself.
“He almost killed you! If I hadn’t been here, you’d be dead. Do you understand? Dead. Then all your revenge would be over. You’d have failed your entire family. All because of what? A pointless, useless relationship!? Honestly, I never thought both of you were right for each other in the first place.”
“…I’m sorry.” Zoey wiped at the tears streaming down her cheeks, but more kept pouring. “I just wanted to… forget everything. I thought maybe if I did, I could move on.”
“Bang your head on a wall. Punch yourself. Do anything other than listen to a fucking enemy!”
Zoey wiped another stream of tears, and Aurora frowned.
“Listen. Whether you like it or not, Atticus isn’t going to abandon you. Even if you don’t end up together, he won’t. You’ll always be someone he cares about, which means they can use you to get to him. “And Zoey, no matter how much I sympathize with your situation, I’d rather you commit suicide in some corner of this planet than become a liability to him. So get your shit together, or that bastard won’t be what you have to worry about.”
As Zoey kept sobbing, Aurora sighed.
“If you can’t do it for him, then do it for yourself. Now let’s go. We need to regroup with the others.”
Zoey slowly nodded, and as they turned to leave, flashes of light erupted from the hall.
‘Shit!’
A cloak of flames blazed around Aurora. She wrapped Zoey within it before detonating backward and into the air.
They glanced down just in time to see the balcony swallowed by a massive explosion.
‘Who attacked us?’
Aurora’s eyes fixed on multiple figures emerging from the smoke.
‘Of course.’
“I knew you’d evade.”
The voice came from a beast-like man of imposing build and bloodthirsty aura. He stared at Aurora with interest.
‘Draen.’
The Khelzar leader she’d interacted with at the banquet.
‘We’re surrounded.’
In a strange twist, the only Khelzar present was Draen. The others were the remaining members of the Velmirath team. They each glared at her with hateful eyes. “You’re wondering why I’m the only Khelzar here?” Draen asked.
“…”
“Because I wanted to fight you, Aurora Ravenstein,” his grin turned feral.
“Khelzarians are blessed with the ability to sense others of similar… qualities. And I see it in your eyes, Aurora, the same madness as me. The hunger to crush, to dominate! That’s why I’ve co—”
“You talk too much.”
“What—”
“Domain.”
Draen’s eyes blew wide open as the world was swallowed in flames.
…
“What the hell happened here!?”
Lyanna frowned and turned her icy gaze toward Sirius.
“What do you think? Take a look around.”
“Save me your sassy retort. Now isn’t the time!”
“Spies. There are spies amongst us.”
Sirius frowned. “How’s that—”
“Believe me,” Lyanna said. “That’s what I’d like to know too. The mana contract no longer works for some reason.”
Hovering in the skies, Sirius looked around. The once grand and mighty Dominion Pillar had been reduced to rubble, along with a large section of the district. Directly below them was the frozen body of a woman.
‘A Vampyros.’
Lyanna had just battled against a Vampyros Paragon, Cira, and won.
“So what are we up against? What’s this dome?”
“It cuts off all communication with the outside. We can’t contact the others.”
Sirius’s eyes darkened. “What are they after?”
“I’m not sure…” she trailed off, but Sirius’s eyes soon widened.
“The kids!” he said. “If the mana contract isn’t working, then there’s a chance the leaders of each world are the threat. They’re at the coliseum with the others!”
“Sirius, wait—”
Sirius vanished before she could stop him. Lyanna sighed. Though still injured from her battle, she vanished as well, appearing beside him in the skies.
“See, I was right! They’re currently fighting with the other teams!”
“Wait, you fool!” Lyanna’s shout made him pause.
“Look closer at their battle. They’re fighting the other teams, yes, but where are the leaders? If they were the targets, wouldn’t it be easier to kill them themselves?”
“Then…”
“Their target is something else. I’m sure of it.” Lyanna shut her eyes, then opened them again. “Before I fought that Vampyros, she mentioned taking revenge on Atticus, that he would feel the same ache she did.”
“So we know they’re after his loved ones.”
“Yes.” Lyanna nodded. “But if the kids are not the targets, then who is?”
They exchanged glances, and in unison, their eyes widened.
“Anastasia!”
