Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground - Chapter 1638 Interesting

Chapter 1638  Interesting

He had to admit, the sight before him was enchanting. Golden rays bathed the vast stretch of floating islands in an endless cascade.

If this had been the old Atticus, it might have stirred something within him. However, there was only coldness in Atticus’ gaze.

“Keep it moving!”

The furious shout of the earlier Willguard echoed out, and the procession of prisoners hastily began to move.

They were yanked back the next moment by an immovable force. Curses exploded from the prisoners, and many glanced back to see Atticus standing rooted in place.

“Prisoner! What the hell are you doing?”

The earlier Willguard’s eyes narrowed as he strode toward Atticus in furious steps. A cold smile was on his face, like he had been waiting his whole life for this moment.

“You think you’re special, huh? Filthy sinner.”

He barked as he reached Atticus, radiating an oppressive pressure that made the prisoners around him stiffen.

However, Atticus’ gaze remained calm.

“You…!”

The Willguard’s face flushed red. He instantly lashed out with a punch.

“Disintegrate. Slowly.”

An unseen force halted the arm, and a piercing scream tore from the Willguard as his arm began to disintegrate from the fist upward.

“W-what is this?! My arm! My arm!”

The Willguard trembled violently, trying to yank his arm free, but it didn’t budge even a single inch.

“W-what are you all standing there for?! H-help!”

The other Willguards, who had been staring with wide eyes, finally snapped out of their daze.

“He’s using his powers!”

“Restrain him!”

The sound of blades sliding from their sheaths echoed out. The other Willguard soldiers unleashed their wills the next moment.

“Kill them.”

An unseen bubble enveloped each of the Willguards. They vanished into nothingness the next instant.

“I suppose this little farce is over, hm?”

Azeron suddenly spoke beside him. He ignited in a bright light, returning to the bearded, bulky elder. The chains binding their arms and legs disintegrated the next moment. Soon, many of the other prisoners also started reverting to their original forms as members of the Evoli.

“W-what is this!?”

The last Willguard stared at the scene in shock, but nothing could prepare him for what happened next.

As Atticus released his disguise, he returned to his original tall, handsome, white-haired form. The Willguard stared as though he had seen a ghost.

“A-Atticus Ravenste—”

“Kill him.”

The man vanished into nothingness a moment later, leaving the clearing in utter silence.

Atticus glanced around, making sure no threats remained.

‘No guards.’

The portal was surprisingly unguarded, and he could sense no other presence besides theirs in the surrounding area.

‘They were weak.’ The soldiers that had been leading them were Wardens, the second lowest level of the Willguard. They stood beneath the Sentinels in the hierarchy.

“Hm?”

He turned as he felt a short, bald woman poking him.

“What is it?”

The woman waved both arms frantically. She pointed to herself, then to Azeron and the others who had reverted to their normal forms.

‘I shouldn’t, right?’

Atticus hesitated, especially when he remembered how much of a blabbermouth the woman was.

“Promise me something. Speak as little as possible.”

The woman’s eyes widened before she frowned, clearly offended. Seeing Atticus’ unmoved gaze, she sighed and gave a reluctant nod.

“Alright.”

As Atticus released his hold on the elements, the woman burst into a flash of light. The glow dimmed, revealing a beautiful one-armed woman with cascading black hair.

“Ah! Finally! I thought I was actually going to die!”

Thora exhaled heavily with a weary look on her face before throwing Atticus an incredulous stare.

“You know… I get that we were supposed to look like criminals and all, but did you really have to make me mute?”

“….”

“Ah, it feels so good to talk again.”

She released a relieved sigh, completely ignoring the promise she had made moments ago.

Atticus had to restrain himself from muting the woman again. Deciding to ignore her, he turned just as the Evoli elder approached him.

“Your aspect is quite interesting.”

The elder gave him a curious look.

“It is.” Atticus nodded, offering nothing more.

The elder was clearly curious about his aspect, but Atticus would have to be a fool to reveal anything about it.

As the Evoli elder smiled knowingly, Atticus glanced around them. The other Evoli members had already reverted to their normal appearances, imposing men and women with powerful auras, all staring at him.

‘It’s different.’

After defeating their genius, he had noticed their usual scornful stares had vanished, replaced with faint respect in some of their eyes. Still, the only thing Atticus cared about was their capabilities.

‘Ten of them.’

From their auras, he could tell they ranked on the higher end of the Grand Sovereign realm. It was clear the Evoli had sent their best for this mission.

Giving each of them a nod, he turned toward the edge of the clearing where the other prisoners stood staring at them in shock.

Unlike the others, these were actual prisoners.

“What do we do with them?” Atticus asked.

He could see many of them staring, especially at him.

‘They recognize me.’

“We kill them.”

The Evoli elder said coldly as he slowly approached them.

‘Hmm…’

The prisoners had seen what they did to the Willguard Wardens. There was a high risk of them being discovered if allowed to roam freely. Their figure here would be exposed.

‘It’s the right choice.’

“S-stop!”

“D-don’t come any closer!”

“P-please… spare us!”

The prisoners all dropped to their knees, begging to be spared. But the Evoli’s eyes were cold as a blade formed in his arm.

“Hm?”

Atticus suddenly met the gaze of one of the prisoners.

It belonged to a filthy, plus sized man wearing tattered clothes.

‘He’s calm.’

Aside from the oppressive pressure emanating from the Evoli elder, Atticus was well aware of the weight his own gaze carried. It was not something anyone could simply meet.

A grin suddenly stretched across the fat man’s face, followed by a wink.

‘Don’t tell me.’

Atticus’ eyes widened slightly.

“Leave that one.”

As he said it, the Evoli elder glanced at him with a frown, but nodded.

He blurred, and the next moment thin lines traced across the necks of the prisoners, their severed heads falling to the ground.

“T-thank you for sparing me…”

The plus sized man hesitantly approached Atticus, bowing his head.

Atticus’ gaze remained unmoved.

“Drop the act.”

“W-what do you mean?”

The fat man trembled under Atticus’ cold gaze.

“Stop wasting time, Whisker.”

The fat man’s eyes narrowed sharply, then a smile spread across his face the next moment.

The fat man’s body suddenly morphed and shifted until it became the figure of an azure-haired man with crimson eyes.

“…How did you know?” Whisker asked. ‘Is that his aspect?’

Though they had spent years together, Atticus still wasn’t sure what Whisker’s aspect was.

‘I couldn’t see through it.’

At first Atticus had believed Whisker’s aspect was simply too powerful for him to perceive. However, not even the elements had warned him. It was as though Whisker had truly become that fat man. The only reason Atticus had recognized him was because of the smile.

“What are you doing here?”

Atticus narrowed his eyes.

While he was surprised by Whisker’s ability, it didn’t change the fact that the man had followed him without his knowledge.

“Ah, my star actor… why the cold look? Aren’t you happy to see me?”

“I’m not. Why are you here?”

Whisker clutched his chest like he had been stabbed, but a smile appeared when he saw Atticus’ deadpan stare.

“Ah… I told you before, didn’t I? You’re my star actor. I’ll watch you, even if it kills me.”

Seeing the wide grin on Whisker’s face, Atticus frowned.

‘How annoying.’

He had wanted to avoid involving any of his people in this mission to protect them. The last thing he had expected was one of them following him.

“How did you know?” Atticus asked after a moment.

“I’m omnipotent. I live in your head, your mind, your soul. I know every move you’re about to make.”

“….”

“Ahem… I saw you sneak into the portal room and figured you were up to something. I have to say though, this is far more interesting than I expected.”

Whisker glanced around, his grin widening.

“I should send you back.”

“But you won’t, will you?”

Atticus remained silent. Using the portal might alert the Willguard, and he couldn’t afford that.

‘There’s no choice.’

“A friend of yours?”

Azeron, who had been watching them quietly, finally approached them.

“He is. He’ll be coming with us.”

“Whisker Von Pounce. A pleasure.”

Whisker stretched his arm toward the elder for a handshake.

“…Azeron.”

The elder’s eyes widened slightly as he felt the firmness of Whisker’s grip. There was a hint of approval in his gaze.

With everything settled, Atticus finally turned toward Thora, who seemed far more focused on examining the surrounding flora than paying any attention to them.

“What now?”

He asked. Since Thora had once been a Willguard, she was the best person to lead them.

“Hm?”

Thora lifted her head from the plants, and her eyes widened the moment she saw everyone staring at her.

“W-what?”

“Lead the way.”

“Um… I don’t actually know the way…”

Atticus blinked, thinking he had heard wrong.

“…What?”

Thora swallowed.

“Th-this place is unfamiliar! I usually arrive inside a building. Never somewhere like this.”

“She’s telling the truth.”

Just as Atticus had begun questioning his life choices, the Evoli elder stepped forward.

“This island is used for Willguard prisoners. The surrounding islands all serve different purposes. According to our sources, your lab should be up there.”

Atticus followed the Evoli’s gaze to a massive island high above them.

Its sheer size alone dwarfed all the others combined.