Atticus’s Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground

Chapter 1621  Middle

‘Right… they don’t know.’

The siblings had been silently listening to the entire conversation. Atticus could easily imagine their confusion, since they had no context for any of it.

He felt Ozeroth’s gaze settle on him, and he gave a subtle nod in reassurance.

‘They’re my slaves. We can trust them.’

Over the next few moments, as Atticus calmly explained everything, Zair suddenly shot to his feet in outrage.

“This is an outrage! How dare they!”

He was visibly furious at the mere thought of Ozeroth’s sister being placed in such a position.

‘I suppose that’s only natural.’

Atticus thought. He had already sensed the dutiful elder brother nature from Zair, the same image Ozeroth himself constantly tried to embody.

As Zair continued venting his fury, Atticus abruptly felt a strange wave brush past him.

‘Hm?’

He frowned and glanced back, only for his eyes to widen.

“We need to move.”

As Atticus shot to his feet, the others immediately became alert, their gazes following his toward the massive dome steadily closing in on their position.

“Now.”

He broke into a sprint at once, the others following closely behind him.

‘It’s fast.’

Atticus frowned as he watched the dome’s advance. It was moving faster and swallowing far more distance than before.

‘It’s forcing us inward.’

Since the dome was steadily shrinking across the entire world, every remaining participant would inevitably be driven toward the center.

‘We’ll run into them.’

If all participants were pushed into a single location, there was no doubt they would eventually cross paths with the fat prince and that butler.

‘We need to be ready.’

Atticus had already confirmed that their strength within this layer was restricted to the middle stages of the Archduke rank. Although he was certain he had already surpassed that level, he was unable to exert power beyond that threshold here. He was equally certain that the geniuses of the major factions were bound by the same restriction, meaning that victory or defeat would ultimately be decided by the quality of one’s will and the essence of their aspect.

As a true willer, Atticus had easily overwhelmed the false wills of the major faction geniuses, and their aspects had also posed no meaningful threat.

But the queen’s guard butler was different, as he was also a true willer and supposedly possessed an exceptionally dangerous aspect.

‘Focus.’

Casting aside all stray thoughts, Atticus released a slow breath, his focus sharpening once more.

“Gather whatever resources you can while moving.”

At his command, the others nodded and immediately scattered in different directions toward nearby resources.

Atticus did the same, collecting everything within reach as he advanced.

“Heyya!”

Some moments later, a cheerful voice echoed from the forest depths beside him, and Whisker came into view, lounging casually atop a throne carried by numerous humanoid creatures.

“Whisker?”

“In the flesh.”

Whisker flashed a smug grin, flicking his hair back with flair.

“…what exactly are those?”

“These beauties?”

Whisker cast a proud glance toward the creatures supporting his throne.

“Just a few friends I picked up along the way. Figured I’d put them to good use.”

“…”

‘He hasn’t changed.’

Unsure how to respond, Atticus simply shook his head and chose to ignore it. He was glad the team was finally complete. The others soon regrouped around him after gathering as many resources as they could find.

“Tch. This useless one is back.”

Ozeroth muttered under his breath. Ozerra was also glaring coldly at Whisker.

“Try saying that again, golden boy. I know you missed me.”

At Ozeroth’s hostile glare, Whisker’s grin only widened in amusement.

“…We’re almost there. Stay sharp.”

The group dropped silent at Atticus’ words. While the others steeled themselves for the imminent confrontation, Whisker kept observing the silver haired siblings with curiosity.

It wasn’t long before they burst into a vast clearing, halting at its edge. Behind them, the dome had also come to a stop just short of the clearing.

‘There’s still a lot left.’

Atticus calmly swept his gaze across the area. Numerous gods and champions stood gathered around the perimeter.

‘Around fifty.’

Although the number of actual gods was only a fraction of that, it was still a considerable force. Each god and champion watched one another with vigilance, none willing to initiate the first move.

‘…?’

Atticus suddenly sensed a sharp surge of killing intent and immediately turned toward Ozeroth, who was clenching his fists tightly.

‘What did he see?’

He followed Ozeroth’s line of sight and narrowed his eyes.

‘They made it.’

Across the clearing stood a group of radiant golden figures. At their center was a fat, bloated man, flanked closely by five individuals clad in butler uniforms.

They were none other than the people pursuing Ozerra. Just as Atticus had anticipated, they had also reached the center.

Atticus quickly recognized the butler he had encountered before, but something else immediately drew his attention.

‘There are more of them…’

Four additional members of the queen’s guard stood beside him, each radiating an unmistakably dangerous presence.

‘Hmm.’

Even so, despite the danger coming from the others, the first butler remained the most dangerous among them.

“…Hm.”

Atticus frowned as their eyes suddenly met. A cold, knowing smile appeared on the butler’s lips, as though he had been waiting for this exact moment.

‘He found us.’

“Finally… there you are.”

The fat prince said with a furious expression. “Did you really think you could keep my bride from me?”

His loud voice quickly drew the attention of everyone present. Many turned toward the commotion, only for their expressions to freeze.

11:43

“It’s Atticus Ravenstein!”

Many, especially the surviving members of the major factions, immediately reached for their weapons, their eyes narrowing.

‘They’re all enemies.’

Despite the hostility, Atticus’s expression didn’t change. It was now clear that the queen’s guards were not the only ones they would have to face. After everything he had done to the major factions, he had unquestionably become public enemy number one.

“Hand her over. Now.”

The fat prince’s red, swollen cheeks quivered violently as spittle flew from his mouth.

“Bond.”

Ozeroth’s killing intent slowly bled from him as he stared at the fat prince. His voice remained steady, but there was no missing the fury beneath it. “…What?” “He’s mine.”

Atticus paused briefly, then gave a small nod.

“…Alright.”

They stepped forward together in perfect unison, their posture upright and their movements steady.

Atticus slowly tightened his grip around his katana. Ozeroth’s twin hammers gradually materialized within his grasp.

The tension within the clearing rose to an unbearable level.

“Atticus Ravenstein… I advise you not to—”

Ahead, the butler’s eyes narrowed sharply as Atticus and Ozeroth suddenly vanished.