Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)-Chapter 145 - 143: CONGRATULATIONS.
Chapter 145: Chapter 143: CONGRATULATIONS.
Seraphine ran out of nowhere, and sprinted toward the door like a wild animal. Her steps slapped against the glass floor, her face twisted in desperation, pure panic.
Before Athena could even prepare herself to even press the code, Seraphine slammed into her with full force.
Athena hit the floor hard, the impact rattling her bones, her head spinning as the group gasped behind her.
Leo shouted. "ATHENA!"
Felicia panicked rushing to her, and helping her up. "What the actual...?"
Seraphine didn’t even look at Athena. She lunged at the code panel, her fingers flying at full speed. Just like the kitsune group, the Phoenix group had already solved the puzzle and memorised the code.
She was one symbol away. Just one more, but unfortunately for her, a hand shot out, and grab a fistful of Seraphine’s hair, yanked her violently backward.
Seraphine screamed as Rhydric dragged her away from the panel with cold, merciless precision. Her feet skidded across the glass.
Seraphine screamed in pain. "LET GO OF ME!! YOU ANIMAL!!"
Rhydric’s eyes were pure ice, colder than the entire chamber. He wasn’t shouting, didn’t even look angry. He looked... dangerously controlled.
He pulled her far from the door and dropped her harshly.
The whole room froze.
Then the mechanical robotic voice hummed to life overhead, echoing through the corridor.
"Seraphine. You have violated the physical-contact rule. You attacked another contestant. You are hereby disqualified."
The words slammed into the hallway like a hammer.
Seraphine stared at the air in disbelief. "NO! NO! You can’t...You CAN’T disqualify me! I was this close! I pressed the code! I... Remove yourself from the chamber before guards escort you."
Seraphine’s face went white then bright red.
"You can’t do this to me... what about my group?
A guard grabbed her arm.
"DON’T TOUCH ME!" She clawed, screamed, tried to kick. "I’M NOT LEAVING! YOU HEAR ME? I’M NOT..."
Another guard grabbed the other arm. They lifted her off the floor as she thrashed like a demon.
"PUT ME DOWN! PUT ME DOWN, YOU UGLY FREAKS! LET ME GO! YOU... YOU... ATHENA YOU LITTLE—"
Her sentence was cut off as her voice trailed down the corridor while the guards hauled her away.
After the whole chaos. Athena’s fingertip hovered for half a second over the keypad.
Then almost reluctantly she pressed the first code.
A.
A soft beep echoed through the silent corridor, sharp enough to make half the Kitsune group flinch.
Athena swallowed, her heart drumming violently against her ribs. She lifted her hand again.
L.
Another beep.
Felicia covered her face with both palms. "I can’t watch..."
Leo grabbed her wrist and yanked her hand down. "No, no, you will watch. If we die, you’re dying with your eyes open."
Felicia elbowed him sharply. "Shut up, Leo!"
Levi was already praying dramatically under his breath. "Sweet Goddess of Intelligence, bless Athena’s brain..."
Azrael shot him a murderous look. "If you don’t shut up, I’ll bless your mouth with silence."
Theo snorted.
Eryx, who still hadn’t moved far from Athena after she abandoned his lap earlier, leaned against the wall with crossed arms but didn’t take his eyes off her even once. His jaw ticked every time someone breathed too loudly near her.
Athena forced herself to focus.
Her fingers pressed the third letter.
P.
Her pulse spiked so sharply she almost felt dizzy.
She didn’t turn around, she didn’t want to see their faces yet.
Fourth letter.
H.
Athena paused. Her heart beating wildly.
Her hand trembled as she pressed the final letter.
A.
The last beep echoed, echoing off the high ceiling like a shot fired into the air.
Then a painful, suffocating silence followed.
Athena’s heart dropped into her stomach.
Had she... was she wrong?
Had she doomed them all?
Rhydric stepped closer, not touching her, but his voice was a low whisper only she could hear. "Trust me."
Athena exhaled shakily. And then...
THRUMMMMM.
The glass door flickered.
A line of shimmering gold light ran around the edges like the heartbeat of a sleeping beast awakening.
The entire hallway snapped to attention.
Felicia screamed, not out of fear, but pure adrenaline. "OH SWEET HEAVEN IT’S GLOWING..."
Leo threw himself dramatically onto the ground. "WE LIVE. WE LIVE ANOTHER DAY!"
Levi grabbed Leo’s shoulder, shaking him violently. "GET UP, YOU CLOWN!"
Azrael finally relaxed, just barely. His lips twitched in a shadow of approval.
Theo grinned wide. "Brain mistress."
Eryx pushed off the wall, annoyed, "Finally."
The door split open down the middle.
Light poured out, brilliant and blinding, like the inside of a star.
Everyone shielded their eyes except Rhydric, who stared straight at it with unreadable calm.
The robotic voice echoed immediately. "Group Kitsune... access granted. Proceed inside."
The room before them was nothing like the first chamber.
It was brighter, bluer...like stepping into a frozen dream. But the thing that stole everyone’s breath...
Were the four walking robots standing at the center of the room.
They were tall, at least six feet, humanoid in shape but completely iron-bodied. Their plating was a glossy mixture of pure white and deep black, jointed perfectly like living beings. Their faceless heads turned toward the group with eerie, mechanical grace. And one by one, they approached the Kitsune group, extending their metallic hands for a handshake as if greeting VIP guests at a gala.
Leo screamed in excitement.
"OH MY GOD, THIS IS A CONTENT MOMENT...WAIT... WAIT... NOBODY MOVE!"
Before anyone breathed, Leo had pulled out his phone, flipped the camera, and began recording like a madman.
"HELLO my fellow viewers," he announced dramatically, angling the camera toward one of the giant robots, "I’m inside a restricted, totally-dangerous, probably-illegal robot chamber, and I am NOT sorry to be here."
Felicia slapped her hand over her face. "Why must he always embarrass us?"
Levi leaned closer to the camera, squeezing himself next to Leo. "If I die, post the video. Let the world know I lived bravely."
"You lived stupidly," Felicia muttered.
"No...bravely," Levi corrected, chest puffed.
Athena couldn’t even react to them, she was too stunned, too mesmerized. She drifted away from the chaos, walking slowly around the room with wide eyes. When she brushed her fingertips along the glowing walls, streaks of blue light followed under her fingers like ripples on water.
Behind her, the phantom fours watched every step she took.
Athena, oblivious to the way four deadly boys were looking at her like she was gravity itself, kept moving until... A soft whirr sounded behind her.
One of the robots stepped towards her. It had something metallic in its palm.
A tiny robot.
Only the size of Athena’s hand, shaped like a miniature humanoid, white and silver with bright blue LED eyes. It blinked once, tilting its little head like a curious puppy.
The taller robot held it out to her. "For you," it said in a smooth mechanical voice. "Your present."
Athena froze.
Then smiled softly. She took the little robot gently.
The small robot blinked up at her... then said in a flat monotone. "Wow. You finally touched me. Took you long enough."
Athena choked on air.
Leo dropped his phone. Felicia screamed laughing.
Levi also laughed.
Eryx stared. "...did that thing just sass her?"
Theodore grinned. "I like him already."
Azrael shook his head. "Even the machines want to bully her."
Rhydric...Yeah! The cold Rhydric... Actually smiled.
A small unmistakably amused smile that made Athena’s stomach flip in confusion.
The little robot continued, hands on its hips. "Yes hello, I’m now part of your trauma collection. You’re welcome."
The entire room exploded in laughter.
Then,.Athena turned toward Rhydric, cheeks warm, and extended the mini robot toward him.
"Take it," she said earnestly. "You deserve it more than I do. You solved everything. I can’t accept this."
Rhydric slid both hands into his pockets, calmly. "No," he said. "You take it."
"But.."
"Athena," he said firmly, eyes locked on hers. "It’s yours."
She swallowed. "But I really don’t deserve..."
"Just take the damn gift," Azrael muttered.
"Or I will," Eryx said.
Athena instantly clutched the robot tighter like they were about to steal it.
Then she exhaled, turned, And placed the little robot in Elora’s hands instead.
Elora froze, eyes enormous. "M-Me?"
Athena nodded. "Yes. You helped. You deserve something too."
Elora stared at the gift like she’d been handed a glowing baby dragon.
Her face flushed scarlet as she held the robot to her chest. "Thank you... thank you so much..."
Felicia and Leo WEEEEEPPPPPED immediately.
Fake. Loud. Violent tears.
Felicia clutched Leo’s shoulders dramatically. "She gave it to Eloraaaaa!"
Leo clung back. "Why not us."
Levi, standing to the side with his arms crossed, suddenly sniffed. "I am a grown man... but I refuse to let my siblings suffer alone."
He marched forward with tragic dignity...
...and hugged both of them.
The three collapsed dramatically to the floor in a pile of fake sobbing.
Felicia suddenly said. "WHY ARE YOU CRYING LIKE THAT?!"
"I’m showing sympathy!"
Leo rolled his eyes. "WE NEED REAL TEARS... TRY HARDER, MAN!"
Athena bent in half laughing. "Oh my god... you three...crazy."
Theodore clapped his hands once and announced, "This group is insane. I love it."
Suddenly, the lights softened.
The room’s speakers flared to life, and the mechanical robotic voice spoke again, this time with a warmer, almost congratulatory tone.
"GROUP KITSUNE," it said.
"CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY WON THE GAME."
.
!
Chapter 145 - 143: CONGRATULATIONS.
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