Chapter 444: Deadly peace offerings.

Zyra had her eyes on Holly, and she noticed when the woman pulled out her phone and typed furiously. Zyra guessed that Holly was sending a message to her bosses.

"Have I told you how proud I am of you?" The grand elder patted Zyra’s head, ruffling her hair.

His actions and warm, protective words completely broke Zyra’s iron composure. A lump formed in her throat, and before she could stop herself, she launched forward and wrapped her arms tightly around the Grand Elder’s waist, burying her face in his shoulder.

It felt so extraordinarily good to see his head firmly attached to his shoulders again.

The Grand Elder blinked in shock at her sudden emotional outburst, but he chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around her and patting her back like a fond grandfather. "My, my... are you really this happy just because you awakened your bloodline?"

Zyra nodded frantically against his clothes, refusing to let go for another three full seconds. She was sobbing like a child, which surprised everyone and her as well.

Finally, the Grand Elder pulled her back gently, looking into her teary eyes. He leaned down and gave her forehead a tender, warm kiss right over her newly glowing red mark. "Alright, sweet granddaughter of mine. You can tell me all about your miraculous awakening adventure later, okay?"

Zyra forced a watery, convincing smile and nodded. "Okay."

Holly walked to Zyra and leaned in close, her eyes glittering with curiosity as she nudged Zyra’s elbow. "Sooo... are you, like, super insanely strong now. What can you do?"

Zyra slowly turned her head and shot Holly a look so lethal, icy, and full of hidden promises that Holly actually flinched. It was a clear, unspoken warning: Touch me or cross me, and I will erase you.

Tori winced loudly and glared at her sister, she was prying too much and she did not like it. "Holly can you stop. Can’t you see that she is nervous about today?"

Holly pouted her lips, holding her hands up defensively as she backed away a few paces. "Geez, tough crowd. I was just asking!"

She walked away, reaching for her phone again. Zyra watched in silence, counting down the minutes until she smacked Holly in the nose.

The dreaded hour finally arrived. In the distance, the heavy rumble of engine exhausts echoed through the trees. Beast trucks were driving down the clean road toward the clearing. The Somnivores had finally arrived.

[Host!] Beauty’s voice rang sharp and clear inside her head. [Whatever you do in the hours that follow, please remember: you do NOT have any more blank checks! Kitty may still have more lives but he can only give to you and not the others. So no more rewind buttons.]

Zyra cracked her knuckles, her dark eyes locking onto the lead car as her lips curved into a dangerous, confident smirk.

"You don’t need to remind me, Beauty," Zyra replied mentally, her eyes fixed on the Somnivores that were stepping out of the cars. "Because this time, they aren’t going to get a single second to strike."

Zyra stayed near the back of the welcoming committee, letting the other leaders take center stage. The moment Erik stepped out of the truck, her lips twitched with a dark, satisfied smile.

"System, run a deep scan on everyone and everything," Zyra ordered quietly in her mind. "They managed to sneak a mountain of weapons into the last meeting. I want to know exactly how they pulled it off."

[On it, Host!] Beauty chimed. A second later, a glowing 3D wire frame popped up in the corner of Zyra’s vision. [Pocket space alien ring detected!]

The image of a thick metal ring spun slowly on the screen, highlighting the index finger of none other than Erik.

Zyra blinked in realization. In the doomed timeline, Erik had spent half the meeting idly spinning that exact ring on his finger like a bored teenager.

So that’s where you stashed the arsenal, Zyra thought, letting out a soft, silent chuckle. Very clever. Good to know.

Then her gaze flicked to the heavy, ornate boxes being unloaded from the trunks. Last time, the humans had been so focused on diplomatic etiquette that nobody had bothered to check the "peace offerings," for fear of being rude.

Almeida turned to Ivar, waving a hand toward the wrapped boxes. "Bring the diplomatic gifts inside the tent, please!"

"That is not necessary," Zyra said smoothly, stepping out from behind the Grand Elder.

Almeida blinked, looking slightly confused. Before he could speak, Hunter stepped up right beside Zyra with an easy, professional smile. "Our protocol requires all incoming packages to be swept and transferred to a secure storage facility first. For safety. After the meeting, your gifts and ours will be presented at the same time."

Almeida gave a polite nod. "Ah, of course. Totally understandable! We are on your turf, so we will follow your rules."

"Hold on a second!" Tonio let out a loud, fake cough, stepping forward with his hands raised. "There’s really no need to rush them away!"

"Indeed." Anukin chipped in from the back, nodding frantically. "We put a lot of thought into those. It would be really nice if you humans opened them right here in front of us. That way we can see if you actually like them."

Zyra almost laughed out loud. The timed poison-gas canisters were hidden right inside those gift boxes. If Hunter took the boxes away, there would be no gas to kill the half life beasts or sever the links of humans to their half-life beasts.

The Somnivores were trying so hard to sound like thoughtful gift-givers, but the sheer panic in their voices made them look ridiculously suspicious.

The Grand Elder chuckled warmly, completely oblivious to the hidden gas, but playing along smoothly. "We appreciate the thought, truly. We will treasure whatever you have brought us. But, the gifts are not the reason why we are all gathered here today, so they can wait."

With a wave of Hunter’s hand, the human guards hoisted the boxes and marched them far away from the clearing. Behind Erik, several of his co-conspirators looked like they were on the verge of crying. Their grand surprise attack was falling apart before they had even sat down.

The delegation filed into the giant diplomatic tent. Hunter walked in last, lingering at the flap just long enough to glance back at Zyra and give her a firm nod.

Zyra turned her attention to the perimeter. Ten heavily knights stood guard outside, looking stoic. Standing nearby was Holly, who was nervously tapping her foot and staring at Zyra with deep discomfort.

Holly forced a sweet, innocent smile and walked over. "Hey, Zyra. Why aren’t you going inside?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Zyra answered sharply.

Holly swallowed hard, her apple suddenly forgotten in her hand. "Uh... I’m just watching the perimeter!"

Zyra chuckled softly, her eyes dropping all warmth. "I know you’re the traitor, Holly."

Holly’s face drained of every last drop of color. She opened her mouth to stutter out a denial, but she never got the chance.

Thin, whip-like roots erupted from the soil with lightning speed! A single delicate tendril wrapped around Holly’s neck, sending a harmless electric shock straight through her nerve center. Her eyes rolled back, and she went limp instantly, collapsing into the soft dirt without a single bruise or mark on her skin.