Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground

Chapter 1613  Emerged

"Please… I'll do anything."

The man didn't hesitate and slammed his head down again.

"Please."

Again.

"…Please."

And again.

He repeated the same word while repeatedly crashing his head on the ground.

'He's persistent.'

Atticus frowned, watching in silence as the man's skull split and silver blood spread across the ground, but he still didn't stop.

It was a humiliating sight. It was clear that the man had abandoned every shred of pride he had for the sake of his sister.

'How should I handle this?'

Atticus understood the willingness to discard everything to protect someone you cared for. And in truth, he had already intended to go after the Redflames either way.

Even so, he couldn't help but hesitate.

'They're watching.'

He hadn't yet grasped the full extent of his enemies, and revealing any shred of a weakness now would be reckless. Even if his actions had nothing to do with the girl, he couldn't allow anyone to believe otherwise.

'Hmm.'

A sudden thought sprouted in his mind. "You said you would do anything."

The man froze as he was about to slam his head. He lifted his head, blood running down his face as he looked up with unwavering resolve.

"Yes."

"What's your name?"

"…Zair."

"Then, Zair, become my slave. Your sister as well. Do you accept?"

"If I do… you'll save her?"

"Yes."

Zair's fists tightened at his sides as he closed his eyes, as though weighing the choice. When he opened them again, the hesitation was gone.

"…I do."

"Good."

Atticus extended his arm. His will spread out and engulfed Zair completely, and Zair offered no resistance as the mark was etched into his mind.

"Heal him."

The molecules answered and restored the shattered bone and torn flesh of Zair's skull. As the wounds closed, Atticus looked at him with a calm gaze.

"Lead the way."

…

The atmosphere among the gathered Archdukes had shifted in an instant.

'Finally.'

Archduke Rhexan clenched his fists beneath the table, feeling a surge of exhilaration coursing through him. The confrontation he'd been waiting for was finally happening.

He, along with the other Archdukes present, had witnessed the exchange between Atticus and Zair. There was no doubt where Atticus was headed now.

Though many were stunned by Atticus' audacity to charge straight toward the Redflames instead of retreating, they couldn't suppress their anticipation.

"Rhexan is a lucky one…"

"To run into the target first…"

"With the Twin Pyres there, it's already decided."

Many threw envious glances at Rhexan. If Atticus fell here, they would all lose the bounty.

"…"

"…"

Still, among them, only Edras and the Iron Archduke remained impassive, calmly watching the scene.

'This'll teach that bastard.'

Rhexan felt a surge of glee ripple through him. In truth, while the Redflames as a whole shared a deep seated hatred for Atticus over their number he'd killed, Rhexan himself felt nothing of the sort. To him, the boy simply wasn't worth caring about.

Still, killing Atticus would prove his competence to the world, and, more importantly, wipe away the humiliation he'd suffered when the Supreme Sovereign had gone over his head and placed the bounty.

'The reward is mine.' With the bounty in hand, his ascent would eclipse that of the others. It wouldn't be long before he reached the rank of Supreme Sovereign himself.

'Then… you won't be able to look down on me again.'

Rhexan's eyes burned crimson as his gaze fixed intently on Atticus.

…

"Shit. This fucking forest…"

Orvain Virex kicked a stone he'd tripped over, sending it hurtling away as he glared at the forest around them.

"Ha…"

He let out a breath, clicked his tongue, and lifted his head, only to find the other Redflames watching him in silence.

"Tch. What the hell are you looking at?"

"N-nothing… young master."

"…"

"…"

The others quickly looked away, but the two bald men kept on staring at him intently.

"Wh-what?"

Orvain swallowed. There was something about their gaze that made his skin crawl.

"…"

"…"

Despite his growing discomfort, they continued to watch him until the silence became unbearable.

"Ahem. What's taking that idiot so long? Don't tell me he hasn't died yet…"

He roughly set the silver-haired girl down and turned away, facing the direction they'd come from, eager to put as much distance between himself and the twins.

'What the hell is their deal?'

Though his father had ordered them to assist him, they were far beyond his ability to command. Orvain had heard stories of their legendary exploits even as a child.

Even so, their presence in the resource wars reassured him. With the Twin Pyres here, he couldn't imagine losing to anyone in this competition.

'Where is he?'

Orvain squinted into the distance. He'd used that excuse earlier simply to escape the awkwardness, but now he meant it.

That silver haired man should have been dead by now, why hadn't his man returned?

"You."

He pointed at one of his subordinates, who instantly straightened and bowed.

"Go check what's holding that idiot up. Come back fast, we still have things to do."

"Yes, young master."

As the man hurried off, Orvain turned back to the silver haired girl and licked his lips.

'In the meantime.'

Though their goal was to hunt Atticus, he couldn't help himself. He hadn't been able to indulge yesterday because of his father, so he planned on enjoying himself now.

"You—!"

A sudden shout rang out. Orvain spun toward the direction his subordinate had gone and frowned.

"He stopped…?"

The man stood frozen in the distance, as though time itself had seized him.

"Pyrren!"

"Pyrrik!"

The Twin Pyres suddenly called out in unison, accompanied by a violent eruption of scorching heat.

"What the hell is going on?!"

Orvain's eyes widened as he searched frantically for the source of the danger, only for his eyes to freeze as countless fine lines traced themselves across the frozen subordinate's body.

In the next instant, he split into innumerable pieces, blood and gore spraying across the ground.

"W-what!?"

Orvain stumbled back in panic. His body began to tremble as faint footsteps echoed through the forest.

"…Who?"

From between the trees, a figure with snow white hair and eyes as blue as the ocean slowly emerged.