The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 257: Ch 256: Welcome to the New World - Part 2

Selene slowly pushed herself off the ground, wincing at the dull ache spreading through her limbs.

Her hands dug into the oddly soft grass, and as she stood upright, she took her first real look around.

"Where am I? Is this a dungeon? It just looks like a forest...well, not a regular forest for sure. But still..."

It looked like a forest—trees tall and dense, filtered sunlight streaming in patches through the thick canopy.

But it was wrong.

The trees were purple, their bark smooth and gleaming like polished stone. The leaves shimmered faintly, catching the light in unnatural ways.

Even the grass beneath her boots felt almost like damp velvet.

"This isn’t Earth."

She murmured to herself.

Selene was stating the obvious, but she did it to ground herself. She needed to keep speaking and listening to her own voice in order to not lose her own senses.

Her head pounded faintly. Still no voice.

She reached inward, trying to mentally summon the presence that had been controlling and guiding her not too long ago.

"Hello?"

She whispered.

Silence.

"Come on... say something."

Nothing. Not even a whisper. Not a flicker of presence.

She was alone.

Her chest tightened. She wrapped her arms around herself instinctively.

This wasn’t like the dungeons she’d experienced before.

This place was too alive, too constructed, like it had been made for a purpose—and she wasn’t sure it was a good one.

Selene shook her head and started moving.

There was no point in standing around. Her best option was to find shelter or signs of civilization, assuming anything civilized lived here.

She kept walking, each step cautious, hands never far from her knife.

Branches rustled overhead with no wind.

The forest was strangely quiet. No birds. No bugs. Just an eerie stillness that prickled the back of her neck.

Eventually, after what felt like hours, she reached the forest’s edge.

The trees thinned, revealing a vast plain ahead. In the distance, she thought she saw rooftops—maybe a village.

’If I find civilization, then I am sure I will have some idea about where I am. Even monsters would do it at this point. It will at least ensure that I have a chance at this place.’

Thankfully, Seleme had emergency rations in her system inventory. She had kept it stocked for as long as she had it and it was finally coming in handy....for now.

But before she could even take another step, something cold pressed against her neck.

Metal.

"Don’t move."

Avoice ordered sharply behind her.

Selene froze. Her heart jumped into her throat.

’Damn it. I let my guard down—’

Her body reacted before her brain did.

She ducked and twisted to the side just in time.

The weapon swiped through the air where her neck had been, missing by inches. A sting followed—her fingers reached up and came away with a smear of blood.

Not deep. But too close.

Panting, Selene stumbled back and looked up.

A young boy stood in front of her, holding a long dagger with perfect form.

His features were sharp, his eyes cold and unreadable. He looked no older than ten or eleven, but something about him felt far older.

His energy hummed with something powerful—refined.

’Like royalty.’

And standing beside him was a striking woman with crimson hair braided tightly behind her.

Her skin was a deep bronze, and her sleeveless tunic exposed well-defined arms.. Her eyes were like twin embers, watching Selene with open hostility.

The boy spoke again.

"You are under arrest for trespassing on royal land."

Selene didn’t answer.

Because the red-haired woman was already moving.

"Julie—! Don’t kill her! We need answers."

The boy called out.

But Julie clearly wasn’t in the mood for diplomacy.

Selene barely had time to draw her knife.

Her body moved on instinct—her blade rose just in time to deflect Julie’s descending strike. Sparks flew as metal met metal.

Julie’s expression shifted—first surprise, then interest.

Selene gritted her teeth. She could feel it—this woman was stronger.

Faster. Skilled in ways Selene couldn’t match in a drawn-out fight.

Every block sent shudders through her arm. Every miss came closer and closer to opening her up.

This wasn’t sustainable.

Then—

[Change targets. The boy.]

The voice was back.

Selene hesitated. Just for a second.

Her body responded on its own, twisting, shifting, reacting before she could stop it.

She slammed her shoulder into Julie’s side, forcing the red-haired woman off balance for a moment, and then darted toward the boy.

His eyes widened—but only slightly. As if he had expected this.

Julie shouted.

"Prince Atticus! Dodge!"

Selene didn’t want to hurt him. Not really. But if she didn’t gain control of this situation—

She swung her blade in a tight arc, low and fast, just enough to graze—

Her wrist stopped mid-swing.

She looked down, stunned.

The boy—Atticus—had grabbed her wrist with an unshaking hand. He stared at her, eyes narrowed, his hold strong despite his small frame.

But more than anything, it was his aura that got her.

There was something... familiar.

She’d never seen him before. She was sure of that.

So why did he feel like someone she should know?

"Who are you?"

She whispered.

She didn’t get an answer.

Julie’s shout was the only warning she got.

A warm light burst beneath Selene’s feet and wrapped around her ankles. She tried to move, but her body locked in place.

Binding spell.

Julie’s eyes were blazing now.

"You’re skilled, but you made a mistake."

She said, stepping forward.

Selene’s legs gave out as the spell pulled her to her knees.

Atticus hadn’t let go of her wrist.

There was something familiar about the way her arm was being held in that hand, but her brain kept forgetting to tell her what it was so familiar that she was missing.

"Prince, you should head back now. I will take care of the intruder and make sure due punishment is handed to the trespasser."

Julie came back and she sounded pissed off.