Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground novel Chapter 1165

Seraphina's smile returned, sounding gentle. "Don't say that, sweetie. I'm the one who failed you. I must've done something wrong… for your mother to turn out this way."

She looked straight into Zoey's tear-soaked eyes.

"You can't give up now. You have so much to live for. So much to achieve. You're strong, sweetie. You've always been strong. I may not be here for long… but you still have a chance."

Every syllable stabbed into Zoey's chest. Why was it looking like Seraphina was speaking her last words?

Then Seraphina continued, "I don't care how powerful the Spirit King is. What matters is, it's your body, Zoey. Never stop fighting."

Suddenly, the kneeling crowd began to glow, pulses of purple light rising from their bodies with each second.

The pressure in the air thickened. Zoey felt the Spirit King's presence intensify, pressing down harder on her soul.

'Yield.'

'Yield.'

'Yield.'

The word repeated in her ears, sending tremors through her bones.

She turned, and saw Seraphina glowing as well.

"I would've loved to see you grow up into the best version of yourself… to see you happy," Seraphina said gently. "But it seems… I'll be leaving first."

"No… no…" Zoey whispered. The tears poured freely now. Her heart throbbed as she watched Seraphina begin to rise, floating into the air alongside the glowing Starhaven faithful.

Seraphina smiled warmly, eyes shining. "Never give up, Zoey. Kick that bastard's ass. And no matter what… I'll always love you."

'No!' Zoey thought, and cried out. "Grandma!!!"

A violent violet light surged, blinding the entire area. Zoey shielded her eyes, and when she opened them again, a towering pillar of light had erupted from where Seraphina had floated, shooting into the sky.

Other pillars followed, tearing upward from the points where Celestial and the others had bowed, fusing into a massive column of light that split the heavens.

Zoey could hardly breathe. Her mind raced to catch up.

And then, the pillar reversed.

It tore down, crashing into Zoey with a blinding flash of light.

A presence slammed into her soul, and her consciousness began to slip.

As she struggled to hold on, a voice rang out from deep within. A voice that had been quiet all this while.

"Zoey!"

"L-Lumi…?"

"You must hold on! Don't give up!"

Zoey tried to fight. Tried to resist. But even Lumindra was powerless against the presence that now flooded her.

Then, they both heard it. A single word that made their bones quake…

"Submit."

A blinding wave of purple light consumed the domain.

…

'Hmm. This again.'

Ozeroth turned, his eyes drifting toward the horizon. For a while now, he had been feeling something… off. A strange pressure that was difficult to place.

'But it's stronger this time.'

The clash of those monsters in the distance had dulled his senses. Their wills had blanketed most of Eldoralth, making it hard for even someone like him to fully understand what was going on.

Still, Ozeroth had come too far to ignore his instincts.