Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground

Chapter 1326: Ugly?

Atticus catching the attention of a Count was already too much in Masner’s books, but a Marquis?

Marquises were rare in the Verge. A handful at most. This was simply because reaching such a level was hard.

While a Count had a grand world under their belt, a Marquis had multiple. Their powers could not be stressed enough.

"What the hell did he do to offend the Marquis? Didn’t he just arrive?" Masner couldn’t hide his shock.

If the Count was involved in this matter, he could guess the Marquis he was talking about.

’Dravek...’ He found his heart thundering. This child had offended such a titan? He just couldn’t see a way he would ever escape this.

"What he did is of no concern to me. I’ve been ordered to exact consequences. This is why I have called you here."

Masner regained his composure after a moment. "Me?" he asked, shocked. Water willers weren’t as battle crazed as Redflame willers. The Count must be mistaken.

"The order came with a warning." The Count’s voice became colder. "He’s more than he seems. Be careful."

Masner went through another wave of shock. His eyes shot wide open. The order had come from Marquis Dravek himself, and he had informed a Count to be careful... of a newly ascended god?

In his mind, he replayed every moment he spent with Atticus, every conversation they had. He never would have thought that the child he considered a chick could be so dangerous.

"So, what now?" Masner asked after a moment. His expression had turned serious as he realized the implications. The school was about to be turned upside down.

"I’ve issued a Burning. I’d like to see how that plays out."

"A Burning? Isn’t that too much?" Masner exclaimed.

A Burning was a declaration unique to the Redflame faction. An absolute proclamation of hostility.

It marked the chosen individual as a sworn enemy of the Redflame.

The moment a Burning was declared, every member of the faction lower than the rank of the issuer was informed. The name and information of the target was passed through the will bound flame that linked their path.

The target became public enemy number one.

It was such a thing that the Count had just issued, all for a newly ascended god, no less.

"We’ll see. You’re dismissed."

The temperature spiked, becoming so unbearable that Masner had to turn on his heels and leave.

He, of all people, knew just how fucked Atticus was.

This wasn’t even about joining a faction anymore. No faction would risk taking him in now with a Burning issued.

Masner could only see one end for him, and it wasn’t a good one.

...

Leaving the library, Atticus made his way to class. It was his first class since arriving at the Willhall. From his tour with Masner, he had found out that there were no grades in the Willhall.

The educators were simply there to teach the same thing over and over again and answer any questions the gods might have. It was up to each god to decide whether to attend or not.

As he neared the class, Atticus couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow the moment he noticed a change. The intensity of the gazes had increased. From select groups, he began to feel blatant hostility.

’What’s going on?’ he wondered.

It became apparent when the whispers grew. Different group factions pointed at him as he walked. It was hard to tell where all the hate was coming from.

But all of this changed when one of the groups finally approached.

’Redflame.’

Atticus already had a bad feeling about this. The group approached with clear hostility. Some of their gazes held disdain, others pure killing intent.

They were of different sizes and genders, some humanoid, others not.

"Hey! Ugly fool. How dare you pass your seniors and not pay your respects? Get on your knees," one of them barked with clear disdain.

The people of Eldoralth would have exploded in shock had they heard his words.

Atticus, ugly?

Blasphemy. Those were two words that should never appear in the same sentence. It was against the very machinations of the universe.

Atticus was the embodiment of perfection. Tall, handsome, with an impeccable and commanding aura.

But this group didn’t seem to think so. They fanned out and covered the hallway. Atticus would have to bump into one of them just to pass.

The eyes of many gods in the area soon converged on the unfolding scene.

Would a battle finally break out?

A crowd gathered almost immediately at the thought.

The Redflames had just issued a Burning notice for this newcomer. Many were curious. Just who the hell was he to warrant such a drastic action?

Their attention was pulled back to the scene the next moment.

The group of Redflames had blocked Atticus’ path, yet he hadn’t stopped walking.

Even as the whispers grew louder, Atticus hadn’t paused.

He didn’t seem to see the group in front of him.

He could tell something was wrong about this incident, but he had never been one to care about their reasons.

The subtle crack of coals being crushed underfoot intensified as Atticus moved forward. The air around him began to shimmer, turning scorching. The temperature spiked.

The gazes of the Redflame group narrowed as they felt the rising heat.

"This idiot dares challenge us with heat?" the man who had spoken earlier scoffed, smirking. Even the other Redflame members beside him chuckled.

To think anyone was stupid enough to challenge Redflames... with heat.

The man stepped forward. He was shorter than Atticus, but none denied his imposing presence.

The air around him distorted in the next moment as heat rolled off him in waves. Many had to shift back just to avoid being caught in the searing pressure.

But a frown appeared on the man’s face almost immediately.

He’d just ramped up the temperature to insane levels, yet not even a hint of discomfort showed on Atticus’ face.

Instead, the temperature kept on rising.

The man’s eyes met Atticus’, and froze. He felt his heart thump.

To everyone else, Atticus was simply approaching.

But to him... it felt like something else entirely.

Like the core of a volcano, blazing forward, unrelenting, uncontainable. A force that swallowed his own heat like it was nothing.

He felt the sweat begin to soak his back, his palms. His own flame... was losing.

The realization struck him as Atticus reached him.

If he didn’t move, he would burn.

His reaction was instinctive. The man didn’t even realize when he stepped aside.

And all the gathered gods watched, eyes wide and narrowed in shock, as Atticus walked past the group... without uttering a single word.