Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground - Chapter 1112 - 1112: Shock
Atticus wasn’t sure, because this time, things were completely different. He didn’t know much about the Gardener’s powers, only what he had been told by Whisker.
Just as his name suggested, it had to deal with nurturing and growth. But that was far too vague to form an accurate assessment.
The Gardener had just turned the entire human domain, Atticus’ home, into his own personal domain.
Everywhere he looked now pulsed with trees and greenery. And if Atticus had the option, he would never fight anyone named the Gardener in a place literally filled with plants.
However, he had no intention of letting him escape.
He was hell-bent on getting rid of all his enemies. Once and for all.
The Gardener would fall here. No matter what.
Still, Atticus chose to observe. For now.
“That look suits you,” the Gardener said.
He had seen through Atticus’ hesitation and only smiled as the light from the tree’s stem grew blinding, before bursting into a brilliant flash that illuminated the tense landscape.
Many humans instinctively shielded their eyes.
But the paragons didn’t flinch. Their eyes remained wide open, unwilling to miss even a second.
“Atticus.”
Atticus turned slightly, sending one eye back, but his focus remained locked on the form taking shape in front of him.
It was Avalon who had spoken.
Sensing he had Atticus’ attention, even if just a little, Avalon quickly followed up.
“Son… what do you think? Can you handle him?”
Every ear perked up instantly.
Their lives, every single one of them, rested in Atticus’ hands now.
If he said no… they were as good as dead.
“I’m not sure,” Atticus replied.
He wasn’t lying.
The Gardener’s aura was suffocating. Oppressive.
Atticus had no doubt that he was stronger than him.
But when had that ever stopped him before?
Battles of life and death weren’t always won by the one with the most aura or the loudest power.
It was about efficiency.
And until Atticus fully understood the Gardener’s power, he couldn’t make any solid conclusions.
The expressions around him darkened. But there was also relief.
At least he hadn’t said a blatant no.
Avalon exhaled, then muttered,
“Okay. I don’t know what’s going through that mind of yours, but none of that sacrificing your life crap, alright? If he’s too much, we run.
It’s not the end of the world… well, it is, but you get what I mean.”
Atticus sent another glance toward Magnus.
He was looking at him firmly, silently agreeing with Avalon’s words.
If it weren’t for the situation, Atticus might’ve chuckled.
To think Avalon and Magnus of all people would be the ones suggesting they retreat.
He wanted to laugh. But instead, he just said,
“Okay,”
…while smiling slightly.
‘It’s not that easy, Dad. Grandpa.’
The Gardener’s ultimate goal was the cores. And Atticus had fused with five of them.
No matter where he ran to on the lower planes, the Gardener would never stop hunting him.
He didn’t want to live like that.
If his family’s lives were truly in danger, then yes, he would retreat.
But otherwise…
Atticus would do everything in his power to kill him.
As he returned his full focus to the front, the scene was finally reaching its end.
The blinding light from the stem began to dim as the massive flower at its tip slowly started to bloom. From its depths, the figure of a humanoid began to rise.
And the moment Atticus saw his face, his eyes widened.
For the first time since the Gardener had appeared… he was genuinely caught off guard.
The Gardener smiled.
“I believe you’ve met him before.”
‘Elderish.’
Atticus’ gaze turned cold in an instant. He remembered him clearly.
The Eldorian he had encountered at the border between the human and Vampyros domains.
He looked different now, bald, completely naked, but Atticus would never forget that face.
It was Elderish.
The very next second, Atticus focused on his spatial storage.
In a flash, he pulled out the ring Elderish had given him on that day.
With a thought, he manipulated the air and hurled the ring away at insane speeds.
‘No chances.’
Elderish had given him that ring to track down the cores.
And while Atticus had never worn it, now that Elderish was standing on the enemy’s side, he wasn’t going to risk anything.
As Elderish rose fully from the blooming stem, his eyes snapped open.
His irises were a swirling storm of different colors.
Then, a powerful pulse rippled from his body.
He scanned the entire domain, taking in everyone in a single sweep.
His gaze landed on Atticus. There was surprise, then a slow smile.
“You’re still alive, huh? Good.”
Atticus’ eyes narrowed. There was no hostility in Elderish’s voice.
If anything, it sounded… genuine.
But before he could think further, the Gardener’s voice echoed from above.
“Hmph. Looks like etiquette is something many of my creations lack.”
Elderish’s head snapped upward.
His gaze locked onto the Gardener, and instantly, his expression twisted into pure hatred.
His aura exploded.
Gravity surged violently, pressing down with immense force.
Even paragons floating in the air were dragged down.
“You fiend!! How dare you!!” Elderish’s voice thundered.
But the Gardener didn’t even flinch. Didn’t even look at him.
“Yeah, etiquette. I should work on that,” he mused lazily.
Then…
“Kneel.”
Before Elderish could resist, his body crashed down.
His knees slammed against the very stem he had emerged from, a loud bam echoing through the air. Despite the impact, the stem didn’t even crack.
Elderish was forced to kneel. Both knees planted on the floor, his head bowed toward the Gardener.
His eyes trembled.
He couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t even move.
“You fiend… what did you do to me!?” he spat out, his voice shaking.
But the Gardener only chuckled and didn’t even bother replying.
Instead, he turned his eyes toward Atticus.
“It’s all thanks to you that I found him, you know. Elderish here is my little creation. The one who caused the fall of the Eldorians.”
“You caused it!? You bastard! Fiend!” Elderish roared, but before he could finish—
“Shut up.”
Elderish’s entire body contorted violently.
He tried to speak, but no matter how hard he struggled…
Nothing came out.
