They had been left 'alive' by both the Awakener Association and the Titans, as these creatures acted as a natural barrier, preventing anyone from entering the Savage Expanse without resistance.
Neo dealt with the monsters swiftly.
His sword cut through the zombies with ease, the corrupted flesh falling apart with each strike.
While both were undead types and contained large amounts of Death, zombies were weaker than skeleton monsters.
Zombies had flesh bodies, which signified the presence of Life elementals.
Even Neo, despite his lack of Life affinity, had Life elementals within him because he was 'alive.'
Skeleton monsters, on the other hand, had no flesh, organs, or anything that connected them to the living.
They were wholly composed of Death elementals, making them more powerful.
Broome, Australia, Shadow World
The blazing sun hung high over the arid desert landscape of Broome.
A relentless heat shimmered off the vast, red earth, and the air was filled with the occasional gusts of dry wind that carried grains of sand, leaving a faint rustle among the sparse vegetation.
"We were teleported over a large distance, too far from our headquarters," Emma muttered, sitting on the chair across Athena. "It's good news, isn't it? The prototype Space-Time Cube worked as we intended."
Athena didn't respond to her sarcastic joke.
Her eyes remained glued to the shattered pieces of the Space-Time Cube cradled in her hands.
The faint blue glow of the fragments dimmed as though mourning their own destruction. It had broken the moment she arrived in Australia.
"Why did you help him?" Emma pressed again, her voice tinged with frustration.
Athena remained silent.
She hadn't answered all day despite Emma's relentless interrogation. The desert's oppressive silence only made the tension more palpable.
"Athena, do you want me to open your head and ask your soul? Tell me why you helped him!?" Emma snapped, her patience finally fraying.
Before Athena could react, a firm voice cut through the atmosphere.
"You can stop now, Nyx."
The tent's flap rustled open, and Ares stepped in.
His broad silhouette momentarily blocked the harsh sunlight streaming through the opening.
The air inside was cooler but suffocating with unspoken emotions.
He sat down in front of Athena. His normally composed expression was weighed down by fatigue and concern.
"More than seventy percent of the Awakeners in the Association are asking for you to be punished. They are demanding your execution," Ares said with a weary sigh, pulling off his glasses to rub his temples. "The world might end at any moment now, and it's your fault, Athena."
The weight of his words lingered.
They were too far from Turkey.
There was no way for them to chase after Neo and Jack.
Despite his frustration, Ares wasn't angry at Athena.
His sharp gaze fell on the fractured Cube in Athena's lap.
Given its condition, it was easy to deduce that she had used it repeatedly—likely in an effort to stop Neo.
When she realized the futility of her actions, she must have used the Cube's last reserves to teleport them away before Neo could kill them.
It was the only reason Emma hadn't killed Athena yet.
Suddenly, the flap of the tent opened again, and Hanna, Ares' secretary, hurried inside.
Her uniform was dusty, and a faint sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead.
"Sir, we've found a device capable of intercontinental communication," she reported.
"Give it to me," Ares said.
A faint glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes.
The device was handed to him—a bulky, battered relic.
Ares inspected it briefly, his lips curling into a rare smile.
In this fragmented world, where most modern technology was useless, such a device was a treasure beyond measure.
He quickly dialed a number. The line buzzed for six long rings before it was picked up.
"What is it?" Kronos questioned from the other side of the call.
"Neo Hargraves and Jack Hanma… defeated the organization. We're incapable of stopping them at the moment."
Ares didn't beat around the bush and explained the most pressing issue.
Even though asking for help hurt his pride, he knew not let his pride become the reason for their doom.
The arid wind outside howled, shaking the tent's loose fabric.
"You want us to stop Neo Hargraves from rescuing the Child of Mana?" Kronos's voice crackled through the device.
"Yes," Ares confirmed.
"I know you have another Space-Time Cube. There's no way you would've given us one if you only had one. Use it to teleport in between Neo's path and stop him."
There was a long pause.
He didn't understand the reason behind Kronos' unexpected hesitation.
Kronos abruptly cut the call.
"…?" Ares's frown deepened. "What was that all about?"
He massaged the bridge of his nose, leaning back against a makeshift chair crafted from salvaged metal.
"Forget it. I should focus on what's in front of me," he muttered.
Taking a steadying breath, he called Gaia next.
He explained the details of their battle against Neo.
Gaia asked Ares to put the call on speaker.
The dimly lit room around them was silent except for the breathing of Hanna, Emma, and Athena.
"Athena, can you hear me?" Gaia asked, her voice calm but commanding.
"You are next after I deal with Neo Hargraves."
Ares asked Gaia to go towards the Savage Expanse instead of the Association headquarters and stop Neo.
The tent flaps swayed gently, letting in the scent of dry earth and the faint cries of distant birds.
After warning Gaia, Ares called Zeus.
"Who?" Zeus asked in a low but stern voice.
Ares explained everything about the Child of Mana's location, Neo's intention of rescuing her, and their battle.
The quiet hum of static from the call filled the tense pauses.
"Why wasn't I informed Neo had arrived at the Association?" Zeus asked.
"Because we were afraid you would attack Neo."
"And I would've done you a favor by doing so."