Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground - Chapter 1623 Eager

Chapter 1623  Eager

‘He can summon multiple.’

His figure blurred, evading each incoming strike. He used the killing intent as his guide, identifying each replica before swiftly severing their heads with precise slashes of his katana.

‘They’re coming back.’

He had already destroyed several, yet their numbers showed no sign of diminishing. Since only his bare blade could affect them, Atticus was unable to use his usual large scale will based attacks.

‘I can’t sustain this.’

He was expending will with every passing moment, while the replicas appeared endless. The only way to end this was to eliminate the source.

But…

‘It’s dangerous.’

Earlier, the man had deflected his surprise attack without any warning. Atticus hadn’t perceived anything until his blade struck the replica, especially since there had been no killing intent to identify its presence.

He could just as effortlessly be rushing into a blade.

‘Then…’

Atticus came to an abrupt halt, abruptly lowering his weapon.

“Hm? Have you given up already?”

The butler smiled calmly, the golden glow in his eyes intensifying.

“…Good. At least you understand your place.”

As his arm lowered, killing intent surged from every direction as the replicas lunged toward him.

“All motion, cease.”

“…!?”

The butler’s eyes constricted. Atticus should have been skewered from every angle, yet he was there, standing calmly.

“What… is this?”

‘As expected.’

Atticus narrowed his eyes as the butler struggled against the invisible restraint. His body trembled as his will churned around him.

Though Atticus could use the element to stop all motion, the power of the butler’s will did not fall beneath his own. His will was actively resisting the command.

He could feel a sharp, persistent pain forming within his head, like a constant pressure grinding against his mind with every moment he maintained the command.

But he had gained what he needed.

Time.

“Godspeed Grace.”

His figure vanished, reappearing directly before the butler in a trail of crimson. The man’s eyes widened in shock as Atticus’ blade descended toward his neck.

“Don’t overestimate yourself. Manifest!”

“!!”

The butler erupted in a blinding burst of golden light, and Atticus’ katana cut through empty space.

‘Where did he go?’

Atticus immediately scanned his surroundings, activating Omnicognition to its fullest extent, yet found nothing.

‘The replicas…’

It wasn’t just the butler, he couldn’t sense the replicas either. It was as though they had ceased to exist entirely.

He frowned. What kind of manifestation was this?

“You know… I did find it strange that you were able to evade my Echoes.”

Sensing a sudden spike of killing intent, Atticus darted away and reappeared several meters away. A massive gash tore through the earth where he had stood moments before.

‘He’s become invisible.’

“But now, I understand.”

“All motion, cease.”

“Hm? You stopped this as well… impressive.”

The butler’s voice sounded dangerously close. Directly in front of him.

Though Atticus still could not see him, he knew with certainty that a trembling blade hovered mere inches from his throat.

Without hesitation, Atticus closed the distance, swinging his katana in a precise arc meant to sever him, but the presence vanished.

“So… it’s the killing intent, isn’t it?”

The butler’s amused voice echoed from elsewhere the next instant.

“…”

“…You don’t need to answer. Your silence tells me everything.”

His voice echoed from multiple directions, overlapping and shifting, making it impossible for Atticus to identify his true position.

“To evade them… even destroy them… using nothing but killing intent. Truly absurd.”

Though the butler’s tone carried genuine astonishment, Atticus’ cold expression remained unchanged.

‘He’s concealing his killing intent.’

Atticus had only survived the earlier strike through instinct alone. The moment the butler’s killing intent vanished, he had immediately halted all motion, stopping the blade before it could pierce his throat.

Still, without that killing intent, Atticus would be unable to sense any attack. He was blind.

‘So this is a powerful aspect.’

This was his first true confrontation against someone wielding an aspect of this level, and he was beginning to understand its terrifying value.

A powerful aspect could overturn an entire battle instantly.

‘You disappoint me… calling something like this powerful. This is nothing but trash.’

The arbiter’s voice was filled with irritation.

‘What do you mean?’

‘This pitiful ability does not deserve to exist in the same reality as our divine elements.’

‘His will is resisting mine. I can’t overpower him.’

That was precisely why Atticus had refrained from issuing absolute commands such as ‘kill him’ outright. With the butler actively resisting, forcing it would only drain his will.

‘And you still dare call yourself my student… I have never been so disgraced.’

‘If you’re done insulting me, get to the point.’

‘You…!’ The arbiter exhaled sharply several times, forcing herself to calm down.

‘As an Elemental Arbiter, your authority is absolute. The world itself is beneath your command. You may command it to do anything. Even strip the world of that which allows all things to act.’

‘!!’

“You are impressive, Atticus Ravenstein. I will admit that much.”

The butler spoke. “But what will you do once that advantage is gone? Will you despair? Submit? Or struggle… until your final breath?”

The butler spoke with genuine curiosity, as though eager to witness Atticus’ next move.

“Have you ever wondered why I am able to counter you so completely?”

“…?”

At Atticus’ narrowed gaze, the butler let out a quiet laugh.

“…There was not a single soul in the Span who did not witness you during the ascension games. We became aware long ago that you were traveling with the princess. All that remained was to find you… and retrieve her.”

He spoke with confidence, as though the outcome of the battle had already been decided. “Your arrival at the core so quickly was unexpected. But once it was confirmed, and after reviewing your abilities… I was dispatched personally by the Queen.

“…”

‘Hmph. He’s already given up.’

The butler thought, shaking his head. He had once deemed Atticus worthy of recognition after witnessing him stand alone against the Marquis during the ascension games, but now all he saw was a man who had accepted his death without resistance.

‘You do not deserve this honor, but…’

“…I am Third Grand Knight Joan. Captain of the Third Sword of the Queen. You will die knowing the name of the one who executed you. This is farewell.”

Joan appeared before the motionless Atticus and casually brought down his blade, but frowned as Atticus spoke.

“Will, disperse.”

Joan’s eyes flew wide as his will suddenly dispersed. His golden form flickered, before turning visible.

“…What is this?”

He hastily scanned his surroundings, attempting to comprehend what had occurred, when he felt a cold gaze settle upon him.

“…You can see me?”

Atticus stood there, staring at him in silence. Like a predator that had finally cornered its prey.

“…How?”

Joan’s eyes widened in alarm as Atticus suddenly vanished.