Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground

Chapter 1655  Clang

'Why the fuck would you go into something like that without me!? Is this what our bond has come to!? Tch… fine, whatever! I'm hosting a grand banquet next week. You're not invited!'

'….'

Atticus wasn't sure whether it was because of the battle, or simply the sheer absurdity of Ozeroth's words… but he had no response.

A huff resounded in his mind.

'What? You're silent?! You think I won't do it? Ozeroth does not make empty threats!'

'…No, I don't doubt you.'

'Then what's with that tone? You really think I won't go through with it, huh? Fine. I'll show you.'

A blow slipped past his defences and slammed into his chest. Atticus felt his ribs cave as the air was driven from his lungs. He tore back in a streak of light, crashing through multiple islands in rapid succession.

As he spat out a mouthful of blood, Noctis' panicked voice rang out.

'Ozzy! Kuu!'

'No, Noctis! How's he supposed to learn if we don't teach him a lesson now!?'

'Kuu. Kuu!'

At Noctis' panicked tone, Ozeroth released a sigh.

'…Tch. Fine! But only because of the situation!'

'…Finished?'

Atticus let out a breath as he channeled his will to heal the broken ribs. Any more force and the fist would've torn straight through him.

'You still have the nerve to mouth off, huh? Don't worry, I'll deal with you later.'

'I'll be waiting.'

Atticus felt a spike of rage from Ozeroth, but ignored it, his eyes sharpening once more.

'Can we fuse?'

Ozeroth fell silent for a moment.

'…No. We can't. The connection's still there, but we're in separate domains. Without permission, we can't cross over.'

Atticus released a heavy breath. He had expected as much.

'Besides… is this thing really worth all this trouble? If I were there, I'd have crushed him already.'

'Take a look yourself.'

Ozeroth fell silent instantly after, and Atticus felt him reach into his memories.

But his eyes sharpened as the man suddenly flashed before him in a streak of light.

He blurred, colliding into an endless barrage of attacks. Atticus was immediately pushed back under the relentless assault, struggling to keep up.

Atticus' mind raced.

'I've tried everything, but I still can't get through him. He has too many fragments, and Solvath's influence is too strong.'

'Tried everything my ass!'

Ozeroth, who had just gone through the battle in Atticus' mind, let out a derisive snort.

'You awakened your fancy little aspect and now you think you're above my Omnicognition?'

'…Little?'

The arbiter's voice cut in sharply.

'Who is this fool, student, and why is he so ignorant of the greatness of the elements?'

'Huh? A chick? You bonded with a chick and didn't tell me? Seriously? Another secret?'

Atticus inwardly sighed. That was right… he hadn't told Ozeroth about the arbiter.

'C-chick? Who are you calling a chick?'

'Who else sounds like a whining brat here? Obviously you.'

'You…! Watch your tongue! You stand before an elemental arbiter! Address me with the respect I am due!'

'Elemental arbo—what? The hell are you even saying?'

'Elemental. Arbiter.'

'Yeah, yeah, whatever. I am the great Ozeroth! The middle planes tremble at my name! If anything, you should be the one bowing!'

'Student, your associate is insufferable. As my student, you should know better than to keep such company.'

'What the hell are you talking about? Bond! Say something! Put her in her place already!'

'Yo—'

'KUU!'

An intense shout tore through Atticus' thoughts, abruptly cutting the two off.

'Kuu! Kuu! Dada!'

Noctis' tone was like he was scolding a pair of unruly children.

Atticus barely managed to raise his sword as another attack slammed into him. He was sent crashing into another floating island, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

'…If both of you are done, can we focus on the fight now?'

An awkward silence followed in his thoughts.

Ozeroth coughed.

'Anyway… before that interruption, I was saying this. You've awakened your elements… and now you've stopped using my Omnicognition.'

Atticus frowned.

'I've been using it since I entered this world.'

Omnicognition was practically the reason he was still holding on in this fight. Without it, he wouldn't be able to see the nature of the attacks or know which ones to take and which to avoid.

Ozeroth let out a derisive snort.

'Using it? Don't give me that bullshit. That's not using it. Omnicognition is far more than you think. You're barely scratching the surface.'

Atticus frowned, but he wasn't given a moment to think it through as the man descended on him once more. He vanished, reappearing high above as Atticus struggled to keep up with the relentless assault.

He gritted his teeth, feeling the violent vibrations coursing through his body.

'I'm reaching my limits.'

He could feel the fatigue settling deep into his body and mind. His will was nearly depleted. His movements were slowing. He wouldn't last much longer.

'Stop wasting time and tell me what you mean.'

Ozeroth scoffed.

'My Omnicognition isn't just for reading will arts or attacks. Its real purpose is to see the flow of everything. Everything. So why the hell are you not using it on him?'

Atticus' eyes sharpened.

'…On him?'

'Yes!'

It had never occurred to him before. Omnicognition had always been something Atticus used to see through the lies of the world. Arts, inscriptions, and traps had always been his default.

'On him…'

Atticus exhaled. It was worth a shot.

As he jerked his head to the side, the wind slammed against him as the man's fist blitzed past, narrowly missing him. At that instant, Atticus' eyes glowed a deep gold.

Rather than the attacks, he fixed his gaze on the man. For a brief moment, he saw the bald, glowing figure as he was… then, in the next instant, an entirely new world unfolded before him.

Atticus' eyes widened. Through the overwhelming purple radiance, he could see it… the singular flow of energy coursing through the man's body.

'This…'

It was the first time Atticus had ever seen something like this. The flow shifted toward the man's legs, and he vanished. It surged into his arms, and his fists thundered forward in explosive torrents.

'I can read him.'

The man abruptly disappeared.

'Above.'

Atticus shot backward. A moment later, the man's leg tore down through the space he had just occupied. The light around him flared, and he vanished once more.

'Right.'

Atticus threw himself back. A fist tore through the space where his head had been an instant earlier.

'Down.'

His gaze sharpened as he slipped to the side, narrowly evading a downward strike. He closed the distance in the same motion, his will briefly reinforcing his body as he brought his blade down toward the man's neck with all his strength.

Clang!