Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground

Aurora and Ember's expressions sharpened. Both turned to Anastasia, waiting for answers.

The Atticus they'd left behind was still recovering… yet now a massive purple dome covered the entire domain, and tremors had rocked the ground beneath their feet on the way here.

Anastasia's face turned somber, and Lyanna, Sirius, and Nathan all went still, their expressions darkening.

"H-he—"

"He joined the battle." Sirius was the one who answered. His voice was low, and his fists clenched.

None of them liked it. The battles above were in a realm of power they couldn't even approach. Even if they wanted to help, they'd only get in the way.

Above them, the roars of combat between Alliance paragons and Zorvan colonels shook the sky.

The only reason they weren't all dead was because of the massive purple dome shielding them. Without it, even grandmasters would've been shredded by the shockwaves alone.

And as those titanic battles raged in the heavens, lesser Zorvans were already launching attacks on the domain from all sides, forcing the remaining paragons to hold the lines below.

Aurora, Ember, Zoey, and Kael clenched their fists.

"Of course he's fighting…" Aurora muttered. She felt angry at not being able to do anything to help.

There was a strange silence… until Zoey finally spoke.

"I need to get back to my family."

The humans had been gathered in the same section of the dome, but their families had been placed apart.

She said her quick goodbyes, and her platform flared to life, speeding away just in time for a new presence to descend.

Avalon.

His overwhelming aura blanketed the area like a tide.

"Are you all okay?"

"Avalon…" Anastasia immediately jumped into his arms as he landed, and he caught her in a warm embrace. The others quickly swarmed around him, voices overlapping with questions.

As Avalon began to recount what had happened, their eyes widened with every word.

'How do you feel?' Lumindra asked from within Zoey's mind.

"Terrible," Zoey whispered. She was high above the domain now, soaring toward the area where the Starhaven family had gathered.

'Because you're jealous… or because you can't help him?'

Zoey didn't reply immediately. Her thoughts swirled.

She felt… something. A knot in her chest. A strange pressure in her stomach.

But it wasn't jealousy. Not anymore.

She didn't resent Atticus for fighting to protect Eldoralth. Not when she'd realized this path, this dream, had never truly been hers.

Letting go of jealousy after that had been easy. What hurt now… was that she couldn't do anything.

She was powerless.

"I just want to get stronger," Zoey finally muttered. "I want to be able to do something."

Lumindra paused.

'Everything is just about timing, Zoey. You're growing faster than any of your peers… monster child not included. You'll reach the level you desire, eventually.'

Zoey didn't answer.

'I understand how you feel,' Lumindra continued. 'But don't let that mindset ruin you. Don't rush toward power. What will come, will come. Just survive. Keep training… and you'll get there.'

Zoey was quiet for a long moment. Then she whispered, "Yeah."

Atticus' image flickered in her mind. His comforting presence.

'Just be safe,' she thought.

He had done so much for her. Even after seeing every one of her flaws, he hadn't abandoned her.

Her mother wanted her for her talent. Men, for her beauty. Everyone else… for something.

But Atticus had needed nothing.

He wanted her, not her potential. Not her looks. Just her.

And only now did she see how blind she had been all these years. There was no better place to be than by his side. And this was where the would be.

Her eyes snapped forward. A sea of purple-haired individuals was just ahead.

"Zoey!"

Her eyes turned to Celestial.

'Mom.'

It felt… strange. The Celestial she remembered always wore a cold mask. Always calculated. Always distant.

But now, she looked worried. Genuinely worried.

Zoey hadn't seen her since the military incident. Even after returning, she'd stayed with the Ravensteins. Celestial hadn't had a chance to see her.

"Are you okay!?"

Zoey descended, and Celestial rushed into her arms, embracing her tightly.

Zoey stiffened. When had this woman ever hugged her?

It took a few seconds, but she hugged her back.

Celestial eventually pulled away and inspected her.

"Where have you been?"

"With the Ravensteins…" Zoey said.

Celestial's eyes darkened for a second. She hid it quickly, but Zoey saw it.

'What was that…?'

"Well… you're with your family now," Celestial said gently, motioning for her to come.

'Zoey. Wait.'

She stopped at Lumindra's voice.

'What is it?'

'Something's wrong. Look at the others… and then look at your family.'

Zoey turned.

The other humans nearby were staring up at the sky, faces pale, hands clenched as they trembled in fear.

Then she turned back to the Starhaven… and froze.

'What…'

None of them were looking at the sky. None of them seemed concerned.

Instead, they were all looking at her, smiling. As though she was the only thing that mattered in the world.

'How didn't I notice this before…'

She'd been so focused on Celestial's odd behavior… she hadn't realized it.

"What's wrong?" Celestial asked.

Zoey turned toward her mother, whose soft smile suddenly chilled her spine.

She took a step back.

The Starhaven stepped forward.

"What's going on?" Zoey asked, her heart pounding.

She stepped back again. They advanced.

"You don't look well, Zoey. Come… Mommy will make everything okay."

'Have they been brainwashed?' She asked. But there was no answer.

Her thoughts were silent.

'Lumi?'

'…'

"Lumi!"

Panic quickly settled in. Then finally, a response came.

'Zoey… sorry… the… spirit king… trouble…'

Lumindra's voice was broken. Choppy. Cutting in and out like a signal lost in a storm. But Zoey heard one word clearly, trouble.

Her instincts flared. Her guard rose.

'I need to escape—'

'No… don't!'

Lumindra's voice shrieked through her thoughts as a violet cloak burst to life around Zoey's body.

Her eyes widened.

She immediately tried to cancel it, but the spiritual energy had already responded.

'Come.'

A voice echoed in her mind and her blood ran cold.

She tried to move, but couldn't.

'Come.'

She heard it clearly now. How if made her feel could be summed up in three words: Ancient. Powerful. Absolute.

'Lumi? Lumi!'

She screamed for her spirit, but silence was all she got.

She strained her body, but no matter what, she couldn't move. Couldn't even speak.

The humans around her were too focused on the battle above to notice anything wrong.

"Don't worry, baby. Everything will be alright…"

Zoey couldn't resist as the smiling Starhaven surrounded her.

And just as a blinding purple light began to glow beneath her feet, she heard Lumindra's final whisper.

'I… I'm sorry, Zoey.'