Anorah wiped the tears gathering in her eyes as she stared at the lone figure lying motionless before her.

His white hair had grown paler, and a thick sheen of sweat matted his ashen face. Never, in her wildest dreams, had she imagined seeing him, of all people, in such a state.

She released a quiet sigh, picked up a towel, and gently wiped the sweat from his face.

"It's been a month, Atticus. When will you wake up?"

It wasn't unusual for her question to go unanswered, yet it never dulled the painful sting in her chest.

She curled her fist, then leaned forward and gently rested her forehead against his.

'Please… wake up.'

A soft knock at the door drew her gaze.

"It's almost time, my lady."

Anorah clenched her teeth before straightening.

She turned toward the corner of the room, where the only other presence sat quietly, staring at Atticus with wide, sunken eyes.

'He still hasn't moved.'

Magnus still wore the same tattered clothes he had worn during the ascension game back on the Verge. Since the moment Atticus had fallen unconscious, he hadn't shifted an inch from that spot.

Anorah's fingers tightened slightly. As much as she wanted to do the same, the situation wouldn't allow it.

"Grandpa Magnus."

He slowly turned to her.

"It's happening soon. Please… protect him."

"I will."

The firmness in his voice left no room for doubt. Anorah bowed deeply, then left the room.

A short hallway later, she stepped into a large living room filled with people.

Many of the Ravensteins, those she had come to know as Atticus' family, were gathered there. It hurt that this was how they had met, under such circumstances.

"Any luck?"

She met Caldor's gaze and shook her head silently. He exhaled and slumped back into his seat.

Anorah looked around the room. Anastasia slept in a corner. Ember sat nearby, staring blankly at the floor. Aurora paced back and forth, wisps of hot steam rolling off her body, while Zoey stood quietly, watching her.

'She keeps staring at me.'

Atticus had told her about his history with Zoey, and Anorah herself had felt that lingering gaze ever since arriving on Eldoralth. Still, it irritated her. Times like this should have left no space for such trivial things.

"It's starting soon," Anorah said. "You all need to be ready, just in case."

The room went still. One by one, they turned to her, fists tightening, teeth clenching, before each of them nodded firmly.

Anorah returned the nod and made her way outside, where she was met by the blurry blue sky. Oberon stood quietly just beyond the doorway, nodding the moment his eyes met hers.

"How long do we have left?"

"Five minutes."

Anorah clenched her fists. To think it had come this close.

"Is everything ready?"

"Yes. Our armies have gathered at the northern edge. We'll be ready when the protection ends."

Anorah nodded. "Let's go."

They took to the skies immediately, heading for the nearest teleportation center. Moments later, they emerged in the northern reaches of the territory.

Anorah took in the sheer sight below her. Hundreds of billions of armored warriors stretched across the land, spanning thousands of kilometers in every direction.

Yet despite their sheer numbers, a brooding silence hung heavily over the vast field.

She could feel it in the air, the weight, the tension. All of Eldoralth had watched their god unleash carnage upon the Marquis… and had watched him fall unconscious not long after.

In the month long period since then, Atticus had not appeared even once. Rumors had spread quickly and speculation followed close behind.

Still, the Span offered no room for doubt or delay. The grace period granted to every new entrant had ended. The veil was about to fall, and enemies would come.

Anorah unsheathed her blade and slowly raised it as her body began to emit a bright, blinding light. Whispers rippled through the army below as soldiers turned their eyes toward her radiance.

"People of Eldoralth!" she called out. "I am Anorah Muradal, a subordinate of our god, Atticus Ravenstein! In moments, the veil that shields us from the other territories of the Span will fall, and enemies will attack us."

"I understand your fear. I understand your hesitation. But you cannot let it consume you and make you forget what truly matters."

"This is our world! Our home! We owe it to our families, to those who came before us, to protect it! So grit your teeth, grip your blades, and stand with me to defend what is ours!"

A golden light flared at the forefront of the army, catching her eye. She turned toward it.

Ozeroth stood tall, radiating a steady, confident glow that washed over the soldiers. In response, blades were raised, and a deafening roar tore through the sky.

Seeing their morale surge, Anorah exhaled and lowered her blade. Now more than ever, morale was what they needed most.

She turned and noticed a lone figure standing atop a nearby building, frowning slightly. In the next instant, she appeared beside him, taking in the sight of the roaring army below.

"My star actor was right. You're good at speeches. Nicely said."

Anorah frowned slightly. Whisker was someone Atticus had always described as free spirited, never seeming to take anything seriously, the type who could joke and laugh even in the face of death.

But there was no smile on Whisker's face now. More than that, he was clad in radiant green armor whose quality and power surpassed anything she had ever seen.

She blinked at his words.

"You don't think we'll win."

Whisker glanced at her, then burst into laughter.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. You make it sound like I'm the crazy one. Do you really think we'll win this?"

Anorah's fingers curled into her palms as Whisker shook his head.

"My star actor slaughtered thousands of barons, laid waste to the Redflames on the Viscount layer, killed an Abyss Count, Willguard, and many other counts, then climbed all the way to the Marquis layer and killed dozens of Marquis from different major factions."

"They came for him first."

"Oh, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed every bit of the show. I'd want him to do the same thing again if it ever happened." He paused, then exhaled. "But this situation we've found ourselves in is as grim as it gets."

His gaze shifted to the veil.

"If he doesn't wake up soon, this world will fall."

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