Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground

Chapter 1569  Urgency

There was more, however, something far more unsettling. Raziel, Ordan, and the other Marquis weren't truly dead. They were nothing more than fragments of will residing within his mind, being exploited by the fragments. As long as they remained within this world, unabsorbed by him, they would continue to exist.

He had also pressed her on her identity once more, only to be met with the same firm, unyielding response…

"Clarification shall not be given freely."

Atticus let out a slow breath, leaning his back against the wall as he considered his next move. The woman had done enough to prove she wasn't an enemy, but it continued to bother him that he still didn't know what, or who, she truly was.

'Is she some Ravenstein ancestor, come to teach me about my bloodline or something?'

The thought wasn't without merit, especially when he considered her flawless white hair, but even so, it felt far fetched. There were too many other possibilities to ignore. After a moment's thought, he asked the next question that had been weighing on him.

"How do I reclaim the fragments and destroy this world?"

The woman remained silent. Seconds passed, long enough for Atticus to think she wouldn't answer at all, before her voice finally reached him.

"…you already answered your question."

'She'll never give me a straight answer, will she?'

Hoping, faintly, that this mindscape would be the last place they ever had to meet, Atticus turned her words over in his mind.

'Reclaim the fragment… destroy the world.'

Reclaiming the fragment would destroy the world. Regardless, he had to find it first.

Atticus studied the woman in silence. Asking her directly would lead nowhere, so instead, he closed his eyes and focused inward, reaching out with his senses.

Solvath's fragment had merged with his entire being. Hostile or not, its presence ensured that the others couldn't hide from him, least of all within his own mind.

His perception spread outward, skimming across the surface before pushing beyond the forest, until it brushed against a distant point that pulled sharply at his senses. Atticus opened his eyes.

'Found them.'

All that remained was to reach that location, reclaim the fragment, and bring this world to an end.

'It's not as easy as it sounds…' he sighed. With Ordan and Raziel still alive, and immortal, along with the rest of the Marquis, the path ahead was anything but simple.

Atticus continued his training in silence after that, letting another stretch of time slip past him without notice.

 His range expanded by another two meters, and the pain faded until it was little more than a dull presence at the back of his mind.

When he finally paused, he found the strange woman standing directly before him, watching in silence.

"…what?"

The woman frowned.

"…Arbiter…"

"You've successfully completed the first correction." She nodded twice, smiling faintly. "Though you've only achieved what any toddler could easily manage, good work."

"…thanks. So what's next?"

"Nothing. That's all."

Atticus frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said."

'Calm down. Calm down.'

He exhaled slowly, steadying himself before responding.

"I mean… how can that be all? I can barely control the molecules within a fifteen meter radius. And the only things I've learned to do are remove light, darkness, heat… the only one with any obvious use is stopping movement. How are any of these supposed to matter in battle?"

The woman's frown deepened.

"This is the result of years of having everything handed to you. You've forgotten how to think. Do I truly need to explain how those commands can be applied in combat?"

Atticus fell silent. In truth, he had already considered their applications in depth. He understood their significance and the ways they could be exploited. Still, he had hoped for more from this training, something broader, something that would keep him assured for whatever lay ahead.

"Isn't there something I can do to at least increase my range?"

"No." She shook her head. "You've already reached the limit of what your damaged mind can withstand. Until you reclaim the fragment and mend your will, this is as far as you can go."

Atticus hadn't expected such a direct answer, not without having to press for it. Still, her words made him rethink his thoughts. 'This is as far as I can go, for now.'

He had no idea what awaited him at the center, but he fully expected an army to stand between him and the fragments. More than anything, he needed to be certain he was ready.

"Then… can you spar with me… Arbiter?"

To his surprise, she shook her head.

"You've already run out of time. Soon, the fragment will gather enough power to attempt another attack on your mind. You must reclaim it before then."

"Another attack… how do you know this?"

"As I said, we are bound. I know everything about you."

Atticus clenched his fist. So his sense of urgency had been right after all. He silently stared at her coldly, had he known sooner, he might have managed his time differently. He smothered his anger just as quickly.

'It's not her fault.'

As far as Atticus could tell, she hadn't caused his current situation. And though her methods were undeniably aggravating, the woman had done nothing but help him since they met. There was only one thing he ought to be saying now.

Atticus dipped his head in a shallow bow.

"Thank you."

The woman blinked. Then blinked again, visibly caught off guard.

"W-what is this?" she stammered.

"I'm expressing gratitude," he replied simply. "Thank you for helping me."

She blinked rapidly, and Atticus caught the faintest hint of red rise to her cheek before she turned away in a hurry.

"Hmph. T-there's no need for such trivialities. I'm only doing what anyone would do."

"…are you blushing?"

She flinched. "Y-you don't know what you're saying," she snapped, quickening her pace.

"I think I do."

Atticus appeared in front of her in a sudden gust of wind, only for her to shriek and reflexively wave her hand.

"You—"

"Vanish, glow and darkness!"

The world disappeared from his sight, plunging him into nothingness.

What the hell? Did she really make both light and darkness vanish just so he wouldn't see her blush?

"Light, return."

"Darkness, return."

Though he had to restore them one at a time, he was glad to see his vision returned a moment later. By then, the woman's composure had fully reformed, her expression cold once more as she stared at him with open disdain.

"What are you staring at? Get off your ass and move. We need to reach the fragment as soon as possible. I trust I don't need to spell out where it's located, do I?"