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Chapter 726 Brother No More (1)

Still, the atmosphere was charged with urgency as the looming threat of war hung over Earth. Ashton and Astaroth should have returned a while ago, and since there wasn\'t any information given to them by the Xyrans, Anna had started to worry for their safety.

Unfortunately, she couldn\'t dwell in worry for long. In Ashton\'s absence, the task of preparing for a war fell on her shoulders. Although there were many capable people to support her, Anna intentionally took a significant share of the work because she didn\'t worry about Ashton all that much while overworking herself.

"Make sure the swords are sorted by size and the ammunition is properly stored within magazines. Don\'t keep the explosives there! Use the vault!"

Anna directed a group of workers, her voice cutting through the clamour of activity. The workers nodded in acknowledgement, scurrying to carry out her orders.

"I swear the moment Ashton returns, he will get an earful from me..."

In the moment of respite, Ashton\'s absence weighed heavily on Anna\'s heart, and she couldn\'t shake the worry that gnawed at her. The news of the Kro\'Han survival had sent shockwaves through the resistance, and even though nobody said anything about Ashton\'s disappearance to her face, Anna knew everyone was worried and some even scared.

"Please get back to me, to us soon," Anna sighed and returned to work.

As she oversaw the workers, a sudden shift in the air caught her attention. An almost imperceptible ripple heralded the opening of a portal behind her.

Without warning, Ashton emerged, leaning on a long staff for support. The sight of him, battered and frail, struck Anna like a bolt of lightning.

"Ashton!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Without a second thought, she rushed to his side, her heart pounding with relief and worry. The workers around her paused in their tasks, glancing at the unexpected arrival.

Ashton\'s usually vibrant eyes were dulled, and his every movement seemed to carry the weight of a profound exhaustion. Anna reached out, steadying him as he leaned heavily on the long stick.

"Ashton, what happened? Where have you been?"

"Anna…" Ashton managed a weak smile, his voice a mere whisper. "looks like I... I made it back after all."

A sudden weakness gripped him before he could say more, and his strength faltered. Anna\'s eyes widened in alarm as Ashton\'s body, battered and worn, succumbed to the toll it had endured. He collapsed, unconscious, into Anna\'s arms.

"Someone get a doctor!" Anna\'s voice cut through the air with urgency as she cradled Ashton, panic etching lines on her face.

The workers around her scrambled to fetch medical assistance, the gravity of the situation sinking in. They didn\'t know what had happened to their lord, but things were not looking good for him.

Once again vulnerable and frail, Ashton\'s limp form stirred a tumult of emotions within Anna. The man who had faced countless battles defied death and returned from the brink now lay helpless in her arms.

She couldn\'t fathom the trials he had endured, and worry etched deep lines on her face as she held Ashton tightly in his arm, afraid he might disappear into thin air if she let go of him.

The doctor arrived swiftly, followed by Ava and Mazton, a sense of urgency in their movements.

"What happened here!?" Ava questioned Anna, who shook her head with tear-filled eyes, gesturing she had no idea how or why Ashton was in such a condition.

They began assessing Ashton\'s condition, checking for injuries and examining the toll his journey had exacted on his body. Anna watched with bated breath, her fingers intertwined with Ashton\'s, wishing him to awaken soon.

Anna had already seen Ashton in such a condition once, after his confrontation with Kro\'Han. She had managed to push those thoughts out of her head with a lot of time and effort, but there she was... having to experience it all over again.

"He\'s weak, severely weakened," the doctor announced, her brow furrowed with concern. "I have never seen anything like it. It\'s like he was dead for hours. I don\'t know how to explain it, but it looks like his body reforming itself."

She continued, "But he is out of danger now. He should return to normal in a couple of weeks with some rest."

"Oh, thank god..." Anna nodded, her gaze never leaving Ashton\'s unconscious form.

She was torn between the relief of having him back and the anguish of seeing him so debilitated. The workers, sensing the sombre atmosphere, resumed their tasks with hushed whispers, respecting the gravity of the moment.

Ashton stirred, eyelids fluttering open to reveal the weariness etched in his gaze. Ava offered him a reassuring smile.

"You\'re back, my little boy," she mumbled while caressing his face. "I have a lot of questions to ask, but for now, you need to rest."

Ashton managed a weak nod, his eyes seeking Anna\'s. "Anna…"

"I\'m right here," She leaned in, her concern evident in her eyes. "What happened to you!?"

Ashton hesitated, the weight of unspoken truths pressing upon him. "It\'s a long story, Anna. But I\'ll tell you all about it later..."

Anna\'s brow furrowed with worry, her hand reaching out to caress Ashton\'s cheek. "We\'ll do whatever you want, but let\'s get you in bed for now."

Ashton managed a tired smile, grateful for the unwavering support that emanated from Anna\'s presence.

"Can\'t wait for me to get better, huh?" he chuckled weakly.

"You\'re still as annoying as ever..." She smiled, wiping away the stray drop of tear. "Come on, let\'s go."

"Yeah... but first call the Xyran representative," Ashton coldly instructed everyone. "And make sure to seize any weapons they have."