Revenant's Slaughter: The Reaper System

Breakthrough

Atticus awoke to a throbbing headache, the world around him a hazy blur. He blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision. The cold, hard surface beneath him and the damp, musty air told him he was no longer in the arena. He attempted to sit up, but a wave of nausea forced him back down.

"Easy now," a familiar voice said. Lilith. Her tone was oddly soothing, devoid of the mockery he had come to expect.

Atticus’s mind raced. Where was he? What had happened after the raid? His memories were fragmented, but he recalled the success of the mission, the rebels escaping with the blood stones, and then Lilith's touch, draining his strength.

He turned his head slowly, his eyes finally focusing on his surroundings. He was in a dimly lit room, the walls lined with shelves filled with strange, glowing artifacts. Lilith sat on a stool beside him, her golden eyes watching him intently.

"Where am I?" he croaked, his throat dry and sore.

"Somewhere safe," Lilith replied, a slight smile playing on her l