NOVGO.NET Chapter 1405 Awe
Chapter 1405 Awe
Awe.
It was a feeling Thora seldom felt. The major reason was the lack of any events that ever moved her.
The last time her heart had pounded this fast was during her childhood, when she watched her mother die right in front of her.
Her mother had hidden her inside a compartment in her room, with one order; do not to come out, no matter what you witness.
That night, Thora had obeyed and, as a result, found her heart pounding for the first time in her life.
After then, even on the run, her life had been devoid of any thrill.
Except tonight.
‘Who the hell is this boy…’ Thora clutched her chest tightly, feeling the rapid beat of her heart slamming against her rib cage.
The world had ceased to know sound.
The Will Guard had paused their slaughter of the Resistance army. And in the midst of the carnage, Thora and the rest of the army watched as the absolute darkness of the night broke, and the sun descended upon the world.
The Resistance army felt their power returning. Their wounds healed, and weapons trembled with light. Yet, at that moment, no one even so much as twitched.
Golden rays cascaded upon a lone figure who now stood at the heart of the battlefield. All eyes turned to him.
For most, it was disbelief. But for Thora, it was something deeper. The rapid thumping of her heart quickened. Her blood boiled. ‘He brought back the light…’
Thora wasn’t sure what shocked her the most, her clearly insane thoughts, or the fact that she’d just witnessed it.
During the past few weeks of working with the enigmatic Sentinels, she had seen and accepted the absoluteness of their strange but powerful technology.
After all, it had held control over an entire world, even from its god.
Yet, a boy, not even the world’s god, had overridden its effects. Had brought back the light from darkness.
‘Who should I choose…’ Thora felt her mind churn. She could feel it; there was never a better time than now to make her choice.
The enigmatic Sentinels whose existence was buried in secrets… or the boy who somehow moved her heart?
In the midst of her thoughts, the boy finally spoke…
“It’s not your fault.”
Anorah’s eyes were wide open as she clutched One’s lifeless body tightly.
She stared at the back before her, broad and more unyielding than anything she’d seen.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, yet she listened as he spoke.
“You didn’t do this,” Atticus said. His voice was filled with coldness that chilled the battlefield, yet all she felt was warmth.
“You’re not responsible for his death. Or for the hundreds that died here.”
Though he didn’t turn to face her, his eyes fixed on the Sentinels ahead. Somehow, Anorah felt seen, as if those calm, ocean blue eyes were already looking straight into her.
And when he finally glanced back, she felt her heart slow. His gaze said everything: I’m here now. It’s all over.
“None of this is your fault,” Atticus said quietly. “So stop blaming yourself.”
Anorah’s grip on One tightened.
“The people responsible are right there…” he continued, “…watching you. So tell me, how will you honor the dead? By sitting on the ground, wallowing in your tears, or by making them pay for what they’ve done?”
Anorah wiped her tears with blood stained hands and pressed her forehead against One’s chest.
The warmth was fading.
Scenes of One flashed through her mind, his patience, his ability to always ground her.
He was the only one she truly considered family since she lost her father. But now, he was gone.
‘Is this it?’ she thought. ‘Will I just sit here and wait to die? Is this how I repay his sacrifice, the sacrifice of everyone who fell today?’
Her teeth clenched so hard that the taste of iron filled her mouth.
‘He’s right.’
She’d known it deep down, but only now did it settle like stone in her heart. Atticus had been right all along. The world was cruel. The time for politics and mercy was long gone.
Now, there was only action. Only dominance.
But first, there would be retribution.
With the light of the world restored, Anorah teleported One to a safe location with a thought.
The remaining tears evaporated from her eyes as she rose to her feet, moving to stand beside Atticus.
“Thank you.”
Atticus didn’t respond in words. But the firm nod he gave spoke everything he didn’t.
They stood together.
As they faced the two Sentinels whose eyes were filled with shock and malice, the tension spiked.
As though taking it as a cue, both armies fell back to their lines, standing behind their respective leaders.
Many in the Resistance weren’t sure who this newcomer was, but what he had achieved in the few seconds since his arrival had already cemented his place in their hearts.
The battlefield folded into a tense silence as both sides stared at one another, waiting.
“The second thing,” the tall Sentinel suddenly said, “this makes matters more efficient. We can kill them both.”
The second Sentinel narrowed his cold eyes at Atticus.
“No. It makes things more complicated. He brought back the light, how did he bypass the Life Artifact?”
“Irrelevant,” the first said. “We fulfil our objective and slay the spawns.”
He gripped his sword, settling into a stance.
The second, unconvinced, kept watching Atticus.
“The fact he restored the light proves he’s not what he seems,” he muttered, then glanced at Anorah before turning toward the Arbiter, who watched the scene with interest.
“Creature,” he said, “the rules of this battle are being violated. The rule states: Will Guard versus Resistance. He is not Resistance.”
The furry creature visibly sighed.
“Damn, I was hoping you wouldn’t bring that up,” it muttered bitterly under its breath, but everyone heard it.
The Arbiter had presided over two of Atticus’ battles, both of which had been beyond entertaining. It was the Verge’s favorite, often sent to arbitrate fights that piqued its master’s interest.