Eventually, it took many minutes before they finally moved.

Zenon had highlighted his points clearly. Aside from the other powers who could sense, the Willguard specifically hunted fragment bearers. It was something Atticus had already known for a long time. Still, it placed them in a bind.

With the Third Crown essentially divided amongst three powers, and the Willguard now after them as well, they were left with nowhere to go.

Atticus wanted nothing more than to storm the major faction alliance and begin severing heads, but such an alliance was colossal in scale.

His current enemies alone might already be too much to handle at the same time, talk less of the countless other true major faction gods within the alliance. Especially now, given Whisker’s condition.

So after many minutes, and especially after seeing the look in Anorah’s eyes, Atticus decided. After forming a Will Contract forbidding any harm from coming to them, they followed Zenon.

Their journey was swift. With Zenon leading, they crossed vast stretches of land, soon leaving behind the dense endless forest that made up the major factions’ territory.

They traversed vast oceans before eventually arriving at a mountainous region filled with towering formations that stretched endlessly into the distance.

Hovering above, Zenon suddenly descended from the sky. Just as the group thought he was about to crash directly into the mountain, his figure suddenly phased through it.

Atticus frowned. Beside him, the others wore similar expressions.

’Omnicognition.’

His eyes flickered gold. Through it, Atticus saw a blanket of purple light spread across the entire mountain range in place of the mountains themselves.

Yet no matter how much he tried to peer deeper, he couldn’t pry through it. There was no mistaking whose power this was.

’Solvath.’

Atticus’ eyes narrowed faintly. A moment later, he noticed everyone looking at him. Lifting his head, he realized they were all waiting silently for his decision. Even the Pride Queen.

Whether or not they followed... it was up to him.

After a brief moment, Atticus exhaled slowly. They needed a place to lay low and figure out Whisker’s condition. Right now, that took priority above all else.

"Let’s go."

As he moved forward, Atticus never loosened his grip on his katana. A moment later, he phased through the barrier as well.

Before him, another world unfolded.

Vast stretches of grassland spread endlessly into the distance. At the center stood a massive sprawling metropolis, its towering structures gleaming beneath the bright sky that illuminated the entire city beautifully.

"Beautiful," Zenon said with a smile. "Isn’t it?"

Atticus found himself momentarily speechless. Beside him, the others reacted similarly, silently staring at the breathtaking sight before them.

Eventually, Zenon’s sudden cough pulled them from their reverie. He smiled brightly at their expressions.

"There’s still more to see."

After that, they were led through the city itself. Numerous airships drifted overhead. Towering buildings rose in every direction. Hover cars glided through the skies while countless shops lined the streets below. And amidst it all wandered innumerable purple-haired people.

To any ordinary observer, they would appear normal. Simply the general populace going about their daily lives. But Atticus saw something entirely different.

Every single one of them carried a faint air of superiority around them. Whether it was the energy they controlled or the sheer purity of their power, it was unlike anything he had seen before.

It reminded him somewhat of the people of Evoli he had encountered in the past. Only... these people were far more talented. Far more powerful.

’Fragment bearers.’

Atticus inwardly shook his head almost immediately. No. The feeling was different. He didn’t sense the same connection he usually felt from fragment bearers.

Not fragment bearers.

Their descendants.

It was only then Atticus truly realized the civilization he had just stepped into.

A city populated by fragment bearers... and generations of their descendants.

Taking in the sheer number of people surrounding them, Atticus found himself briefly at a loss for words. The amount of centuries it must have taken to gather this many people into one place was difficult to even imagine.

As they continued moving, Atticus gradually became aware of another strange sensation coming from a certain group among the populace.

It was the same feeling he sensed from Zenon himself. A perfect unification with the world around them. The others possessed it as well, no doubt true fragment bearers themselves.

’Something’s different.’

Yet strangely enough, he didn’t feel the same pull he normally experienced around fragment bearers. He still remembered exactly how he had felt the first time he met Anorah.

Eventually, Atticus was pulled from his thoughts as they reached the center of the city.

There, a vast imposing tower stretched high into the heavens. Above it hovered a massive purple gem-like statue radiating brilliant light across the entire city below.

Even from this distance, Atticus could feel the profound aura emanating from it. Something within him suddenly hammered violently against his mind, as though struggling to break free. A cold glint flickered through his eyes.

’Solvath.’ 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Zenon suddenly spread his arms wide, a benevolent smile resting on his face.

"Welcome... to the City of Origins."

...

The group was first escorted to their quarters, to which Atticus firmly insisted they remain close to one another.

Several minutes later, Atticus gently lowered Whisker onto the bed. Ozeroth stood nearby, staring at him with tightly clenched fists. The fury burning in his eyes was clear.

Whisker’s face remained deathly pale, yet somehow, the convulsions had stopped.

After a moment of silence, Atticus turned toward Ozeroth.

"What do you think is happening to him?"

Ozeroth’s jaw tightened slightly before he slowly exhaled.

"...I don’t know..." Ozeroth exhaled heavily. "...but that lazy bastard better fight through it. I refuse to let him die before paying me back for all the food he keeps stealing."

Beyond the fury, Atticus didn’t miss the trace of concern hidden within Ozeroth’s eyes. The two constantly bickered, yet the prideful man had clearly grown attached to Whisker.

’Who wouldn’t?’

The man was basically all fun and no drama. Atticus released a quiet sigh. There had to be some way to help him.

"I’m going to try something."

He stepped forward and stretched out his arm, only to pause as the door suddenly opened.

Anorah stepped into the room. A complicated expression lingered on her face, as though she had been lost in deep thought. Yet the instant her eyes landed on Whisker, it vanished completely, replaced by visible concern.

"...How’s he?" she asked softly.

"The convulsions stopped," Atticus replied. " But he still won’t wake up. I can’t tell what’s wrong."

"...He’s still fighting," Ozeroth muttered grimly. "Stubborn idiot’s probably arguing with death itself right now."

"...Yeah..."