CHAPTER 305: GRAVEYARD MEETING

Krovath slowly stepped toward the screen. "So... the Association destroyed the Flame God Cult’s last base."

Nyxa tilted her head. "There were recent reports. Whispers of cult resurgence."

She continued, "If the Association acted quickly, it could stop that growth. And also... to send a message."

Krovath stared at the data. "A message?"

"Yes," she said. "To show the world they still stand at the top."

She moved closer. "That the Hero Association is not weak. That we, the Beastkin Brood, are still beneath them."

Krovath stayed quiet for a moment. Then he looked at her carefully. "So you believe this was their power play?"

Nyxa nodded once. "That is the conclusion I had based on what I saw."

Krovath turned away and walked to the centre of the room.

He folded his hands behind his back again. "I’m not fully convinced."

Nyxa blinked. "Why not?"

Krovath looked upward, his gold eyes reflecting the dim green light. "Because I know the Apex Guardian."

He took a few slow steps forward. "Averak Kyros is powerful. That’s not in question."

Then he turned to face her, his expression colder than before.

"But this isn’t his style. He doesn’t strike with flames. He doesn’t destroy without warning."

Krovath walked to his chair and sat down calmly.

"He moves like the sky. He was quiet, steady, impossible to predict. He doesn’t need fire or chaos to show his power."

He looked at the screen again.

"Explosions are for people who need to be seen. He doesn’t."

Nyxa was quiet. Then she said, "So you believe this was not the Hero Association?"

"I believe," Krovath said, "that the action doesn’t match the known players."

He turned to her again. "The destruction was clean. But the framing was messy."

Nyxa narrowed her eyes. "A third party?"

Krovath nodded. "Yes. Someone who wants us to fight."

"Someone who wants the Beastkin Brood and the Hero Association to go to war."

Nyxa thought for a moment. Her threads moved softly.

"If that’s true... then this was a trap."

"A clever one," Krovath said. "And we almost walked right into it."

Nyxa crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "So what do we do now?"

Krovath stopped walking and turned toward her.

"We wait."

Nyxa raised an eyebrow. "Wait? That’s all?"

Krovath nodded. "Yes. We wait for a response from Averak."

He looked toward the glowing wall where data still flickered.

"He’s not the kind of leader to stay quiet for long."

"If he knows what happened, he’ll act. If he doesn’t, he’ll investigate."

"Either way... he’s not stupid."

Nyxa tapped her fingers lightly, her thin energy threads pulsing between them.

"I don’t like waiting."

"I know," Krovath said. "But sometimes watching is more dangerous than moving."

They stood in silence for a moment.

Then a soft beep echoed from Nyxa’s spine-linked receiver.

Her eyes lit up slightly as data ran across her vision.

"I just received something," she said.

Krovath looked at her calmly. "From who?"

Nyxa paused, then answered, "A message. From the hero association."

Krovath’s eyes narrowed. "What does it say?"

Nyxa blinked once. "It says that the Apex Guardian wants to meet."

There was a short silence.

Then Krovath gave a slow, sharp smile.

"So he moves after all."

He turned toward the console and pressed a small switch.

A screen lit up with tactical routes and map overlays.

"Good. I’ve wanted to see how far the Hero Association is willing to stretch."

Nyxa tilted her head. "You’re going to accept the meeting?"

"Of course," Krovath said.

He stepped closer to the map. "If this truly was a trick to push us into war, then meeting face to face will reveal it."

"And if it wasn’t?" Nyxa asked.

"Then we talk," Krovath said. "And test each other."

He looked over his shoulder.

"Contact the others. I want them ready."

"Who should I bring?" Nyxa asked.

"All of them," Krovath said. "Malka, Brangur, Quavira,... even Skeroth."

Nyxa blinked. "That many?"

"This is not just a meeting anymore," Krovath said. "This is a message of our own."

He sat down once more and folded his hands together.

"We show the Hero Association that if they want to talk, they’re not just talking to me."

"They’re talking to the Beastkin Brood."

Nyxa nodded slowly. "Understood."

Krovath looked at the flames flickering gently in one corner of the room.

"Tell them to prepare. We don’t know what Averak is planning."

Nyxa turned, her energy threads already forming communication lines.

"And what about me?"

"You’re coming too," Krovath said. "If things go wrong... I’ll need your web to shut everything down."

Nyxa’s lips curled slightly. "I’ve already spun half the threads."

Krovath smirked again.

"Good."

He looked at the screen where Averak’s name glowed faintly.

"Let’s see what the Apex Guardian really wants."

---

Inside the quiet strategy chamber of the Aether Pillar, Averak stood in front of a large floating screen.

His platinum eyes glowed faintly as he watched lines of data scroll by.

A voice came through his comm.

"Lord Averak," Hextor said. "We received a reply."

Averak didn’t turn. "What about the message?"

"They agreed," Hextor answered. "The Beastkin Brood has accepted the meeting."

Averak gave a small nod. "I see. So they accepted."

Hextor continued. "The location has been set."

"Where?" Averak asked, his voice calm.

"At the ruins of the Flame God Cult’s old base," Hextor said. "The one that was destroyed."

Averak finally turned toward the screen.

"They chose a graveyard."

"Yes," Hextor said.

"The meeting will take place in a few days. We’re expected to arrive with a small team."

Averak was quiet for a moment, then nodded once. "Good. Let them think it’s neutral ground."

Hextor looked slightly surprised. "You’re going, then?"

"Of course," Averak said.

"This is no longer a small matter. If war is coming... I will be there to see it start or stop."

Hextor nodded firmly. "Understood. I’ll finalise the team."

Averak turned back to the screen, his voice steady.

"Prepare everything. We move soon."