Twenty

"You should all head back."

The scouts froze, their gazes meeting Atticus's cold one. After everything he had just shown and done, the bloodlust that radiated from him was still thick. They each instinctively took a step back.

It took a second for the statement to register, and when it finally did: "A-Apex Atticus… you mean without you?"

It went without saying that after everything that had just occurred, the scouts were beyond scared. What if they ran into another Vampyros grandmaster on the way? What the hell were they supposed to do? Atticus's presence was currently beyond terrifying, but it was still better than facing a Vampyros.

Atticus sensed their intent and addressed them calmly.

"I still have to continue moving forward, and I can't guarantee that more won't attack. I'll be blunt: you all slow me down. Head back to the fortress. I can assure you that there are no Vampyros on the way back."