Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground

Chapter 1511  Physical

By the time it was late afternoon, Atticus hovered high in the sky, overlooking the territory. Everything was looking good.

'It's better this way,' he thought.

Other bounty hunters were sure to come for him, which meant more challenges. The longer he kept them away, the longer he had to grow his territory.

Atticus summoned the rules and glanced at his territory rank. Imperial. 'I can feel the increase…'

He could feel the change. The will density of the territory had increased. While the worlds under him still remained at about thirty thousand, his will had gotten stronger. It was one of the perk of having an upgraded territory.

But Atticus soon had a thought.

'What will happen after the Games?'

Will this increase remain, or vanish?

He cleared his thoughts and focused on the present. He couldn't allow himself to get distracted.

'We'll have to fight tomorrow morning.'

The day was almost over. By morning, he hoped to push them all to an acceptable level before the challenge.

He left the skies and joined the others, continuing his training with the army. The night went by smoothly.

By morning, the army had gathered at the edge of the territory, fully clad in gleaming armor, weapons brandished.

Atticus hovered in the sky with the others, who were seeing the opposing army for the first time. Somehow, none of their eyes strayed from the god at its center.

"Atticus Ravenstein! You're nothing but a coward!" the giant bellowed. He jumped from his palanquin the moment he saw Atticus, crushing the soldiers carrying it as their bodies folded beneath him. He stormed forward, each step making the ground quake.

"How dare you ignore my challenge!"

Atticus felt Ozeroth smoldering beside him. Being addressed like that by some random man obviously grated on him, but Atticus had warned him repeatedly not to do anything stupid.

Ignoring the giant again, Atticus looked over his people and army. They were ready, strong, disciplined, and well rested. He had made sure they were at their best.

'We're ready.'

"I accept the challenge."

A panel of light appeared in front of Atticus' face, and the world abruptly blurred around him. When his vision cleared, everyone had vanished, and he now stood in an endless space. He felt a glare on him and looked forward. The giant man was staring at him like he wanted nothing more than to tear him apart.

"Finally grew some bone, eh?" the giant laughed. "I'll make you pay for ignoring me."

A voice suddenly echoed through the empty space:

"The challenge has been accepted.

Challenged: Atticus Ravenstein.

Challenger: Gorvath Bolgar.

Gorvath territory is noted at Mythic, and Atticus at Imperial. Factoring all variables now.

Atticus held his breath.

This was it. If a disadvantageous theme was chosen, he could lose everything.

The man made an even bigger fuss at being ignored again, but Atticus paid him no attention. Soon enough, the voice returned.

"Theme selected. The theme for this battle will be Duel type. Both selected participants will battle using only physical strength, without any form of energy."

Atticus almost jumped in glee. The rules couldn't be any better. This way, he had control over the game.

But he wasn't the only one pleased. The giant man erupted into loud, boisterous laughter.

"I'll crush you like the little pulp you are!"

The blur of the world receded, and Atticus appeared back in the sky among the others.

"Well? Don't keep us hanging," Whisker said. Atticus could feel everyone's eyes locked on him, waiting.

"It's a duel type. No wills or any energy. Just physical strength."

A deep sigh of relief rippled through the group, like a heavy weight finally lifting.

"So… who will you choose to fight?" Anorah asked.

"What are you talking about?" Ozeroth cracked his neck. "Of course it's my greatness!"

Ozerra was about to speak when Atticus cut them off.

"I will fight."

Ozeroth snapped toward him, but Atticus shook his head.

"He'll probably be the one fighting for their side. It's too risky to face a god."

Ozeroth grumbled something incomprehensible but backed off. Ozerra flashed him a grin, and the two immediately slipped into another silent staring contest.

"I'll be back."

Moments later, Atticus stood within a circular expanse of light on the ground that had been created for their duel.

He could feel the space restricting every form of energy he had, leaving only his passive strength. His breathing was steady, his demeanor calm. He held his katana tight as he focused ahead.

Before him stood the giant god, gripping a massive club as though it were a simple bat. Thunderous roars and cheers exploded from his army as he flexed his rippling muscles.

'He looks like a physical type.'

Atticus could understand the giant's boundless confidence. He looked like a living tank, built to fight with nothing but his bare fists, while Atticus looked like a long twig in comparison.

The conclusion of this fight would be obvious to any onlooker. Still, Atticus' eyes stayed detached as the voice rang out:

"Begin."

The giant grinned and struck his club into the ground, the tremor rolling through the arena.

He roared, but before the sound even settled, he dipped forward and thundered ahead, rocketing toward Atticus.

Atticus watched calmly as the mountain of a man brought his club down at him. Time seemed to slow as he slipped into Logoth.

Energies weren't permitted, but the path to Logoth was a state of mind. In that instant, he read every inch of the giant's movements.

Silver light streaked through the air as Atticus' blade left its sheath.

Brown blood burst like geysers, followed by a heavy thud.

The giant's eyes trembled.

"W-what…?"

He stared at his severed arm lying on the ground, blood pooling rapidly beneath it. He turned toward Atticus, but Atticus was nowhere in sight.

Flowing in from the momentum of the first strike, Atticus' blade swept cleanly through the man's neck, sending his head flying, painting the ground as it crashed down.