Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground novel Chapter 855

Chapter 855 Meeting

"Are there any objections?" Oberon's voice cut through the room. Every paragon wore a serious expression, and the silence in the room was heavy.

The weight of his suggestion hung in the air, and the paragons couldn't help but exchange glances, each lost in thought.

It seemed like the most obvious choice to take. The future of the human domain was at stake, and only by banding together could they hope to survive this crisis. In Eldoralth, humans were often called cockroaches. They were one of the weakest races, and yet they had managed to survive countless tribulations for generations.

But even now, they doubted if survival was possible this time. Nurturing Atticus seemed like the best option.

Still, pooling their resources into a single person? A Ravenstein?

They hesitated.

He could be their hope, the one to save them from this crisis. But the paragons, who had lived for more than a century, knew humanity too well.

Humans could never fully be trusted.

What if he became an oppressor? What if he forced them all to sign a slave contract? The situation was dire, but the future was uncertain. If they agreed, would they be digging their own graves?

As the silence stretched, Thorne's sharp voice broke through.

"I second it," he said firmly, his gaze sweeping the room, locking onto the hesitant faces of the other paragons. "I've thought this through. Let me be blunt, stop overthinking it. You all have functioning brains, so I don't need to spell it out."

The room remained quiet, but his words cut deep.

"You all felt the Spirit King's power. Every single one of us. We couldn't even move under his gaze. Think about that for a moment. We don't stand a chance. None."

"Focusing on someone who might stand a chance, someone who has already shown the potential, makes far more sense than sitting here debating our pride."

The room fell silent again, his words sinking in.

Then, a deep, rumbling voice echoed. "The Frostbane are already supporting our apex," Aerelius Frostbane said, his massive frame seeming to grow even larger as he spoke.

Every gaze turned toward him.

Aerelius continued, "We gave him a soulkin."

The eyes of the paragons widened in shock. His words carried profound weight.

"A soulkin?" Zephyrion Nebulon muttered, disbelief evident on his face.

Soulkins were incredibly rare. Only one in every generation of the Frostbane family was permitted to bond with one. Every paragon in the room had tried to acquire one at some point, but their efforts had always failed. The Frostbanes guarded them fiercely.

"Yes," Aerelius said simply. "We Frostbanes value strength and honor above all else. And our apex has proven himself in both, time and time again. I agree with Oberon's suggestion, and I suggest the rest of you do the same."

Aerelius rarely spoke in meetings, but when he did, his words were final. There was no room for debate, no chance of swaying him.

The paragons exchanged uneasy glances, each lost in thought. The Frostbanes' decision was a clear statement: Atticus was humanity's best chance. And now, with a soulkin, a beast that grew stronger alongside its bond, many couldn't help but shudder at the thought of two Atticuses.

Seconds passed, and the inevitable happened. One by one, murmurs of agreement began to spread through the room. Reluctantly but surely, each paragon voiced their support.

Oberon nodded faintly, a small smile on his lips. He had anticipated this outcome. Not because of his intellect, but because there was simply no other choice.

As silence settled once more, Oberon opened his mouth to speak, but another voice cut him off.

"I think we're all forgetting something important."

All eyes turned to Octavius, whose cold gaze was fixed on Seraphina.

"What about the Starhaven?"

The room instantly tensed.

"I'm sure you've all noticed it," Octavius continued. "Most of them worship the Spirit King. Can we count on your family to side with humanity when it matters?"

A heavy silence followed.

Seraphina's icy gaze narrowed as she met Octavius's eyes. "You're right to ask. I won't lie, I can't guarantee that my people will choose humanity when the time comes."

The tension grew thicker.

"But I also know what you're all thinking," Seraphina continued, her voice turning colder as the temperature in the room plummeted. "Eradicating my lineage is not the smart choice."

A dangerous glint flickered in the eyes of the other paragons. She wasn't surprised, they had all considered it.

"We must move with caution," Oberon said. "The Spirit King is already more than we can handle. Angering him now is not a smart move. And eradicating the Starhaven lineage will do just that." _{freēwēbnovel.com}