Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground - Chapter 1644 Voidmarks

Chapter 1644  Voidmarks

“F-first… you have to promise me something!”

Thomas clenched his fist, his expression resolute.

“I need—”

“Do I look like I’m here to negotiate?”

Atticus’ eyes glowed crimson, flooding the space with a suffocating pressure. Thomas’s mouth snapped shut before he could finish, the words dying in his throat.

“Tell me everything about the tattoos.”

Under Atticus’ overwhelming gaze, Thomas swallowed before giving a shaky nod.

“T-these tattoos… they’re called Voidmarks. They combine life force and will, letting the user unleash power far beyond what they should normally be capable of.”

The Evoli elder furrowed his brows.

“How are they made?”

Thomas hesitated briefly before answering.

“They’re created using the extracted essence of Solvalth… along with another unknown essence.”

Atticus’ eyes widened.

“…What?”

Thomas nodded.

“Solvalth is the primordial star of harmony and balance. His essence is what makes the linkage possible.”

“And the other essence?” Azeron asked, a deep frown forming on his face.

Thomas shook his head.

“I don’t know where it comes from… or what it is. They just deliver it to me. No explanation. But whatever it is… the figure coming from it is overwhelming. Its source must be something extremely powerful.”

A long moment of silence passed as Atticus processed everything. What he had just learned sounded completely insane. Yet he could sense no trace of falsehood in Thomas’ words.

‘Why?’

It was the only question that came to Atticus’ mind. Solvalth’s fragments were the Willguard’s sworn enemies. Using them to hunt other fragment bearers was one thing, but it made no sense that they would abandon their hatred and use them as fuel.

‘I might be wrong.’

For all he knew, they might have chosen to harness the power of the very enemy they despised most. Yet Atticus slowly shook his head. There was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind that something more was at play here. He refused to believe their motives were that shallow.

“So… in that lab, you were draining other fragment bearers?”

Thora’s eyes were wide open, her fists clenched. “…Yes.”

“That’s sick!” She stepped forward and grabed Thomas by the collar. “Do you think anyone chooses to become a fragment bearer? None of us asked for this fate! They’re people with dreams, with lives… and you turned them into fuel!”

Thomas’ gaze darkened as he clenched his teeth, his head lowering slowly.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? Save that apology for the people you’re draining!”

She shoved him back harshly against the wall before turning to Atticus.

“We have to rescue them.”

Atticus came out from his thoughts and met her firm gaze. He remained silent for several seconds, countless thoughts running through his mind.

“This is not a rescue mission.”

“But—!”

“But nothing.” Atticus narrowed his gaze. “They’re not our responsibility.”

Thora ground her teeth, glaring fiercely at Atticus. A moment later she clicked her tongue and shook her head before turning away to stand at the opposite corner of the cavern.

Ignoring her, Atticus turned to Azeron, who was staring at him.

The Evoli elder gave him a look.

“What will you do with them?”

Atticus did not answer, but he didn’t miss the cold glint in the elder’s eyes.

‘He wants me to kill them.’

The elder clearly didn’t care about the fragment bearers, nor did he have any intention of rescuing them. However, there was no mistaking the implications of Thomas’ words. The base contained weak, defenseless fragment bearers. With the convergence approaching, it was the perfect opportunity to harvest fragments and increase his power.

Atticus frowned.

Killing and absorbing the fragments of enemies trying to kill him was entirely different from murdering weak and defenseless people simply for power.

‘Is it necessary?’

He had committed genocide more than once. Both times had been for the sake of protecting his family. Something he considered necessary. However, Atticus wasn’t sure if gaining power alone could truly be justified as necessary.

Wouldn’t that make him a… monster?

He shook his head.

‘Later.’

Ignoring the Evoli elder’s gaze, Atticus fixed his eyes on Thomas.

“What is their goal?”

Thomas’ expression turned confused.

“…Goal?”

“Yes. What are they trying to accomplish with all this? Why create those tattoos? To make super soldiers? Increase their strength?”

Although the tattoos significantly increased one’s power, Atticus found it difficult to believe that simply strengthening their overall power was their true objective.

Thomas’ eyes widened in understanding, but they darkened almost immediately.

“…I believe it’s for control.”

“Control?”

Thomas nodded, his expression turning serious.

“Yes. Someone of higher rank can take control of them at any moment… even energy them to unleash the Voidmark’s full power.”

“So they’re trying to control fragment bearers.” Azeron muttered under his breath.

“…Yes.”

Thomas suddenly hesitated, as though he wanted to say something more.

Atticus furrowed his brows.

“What?”

Thomas sighed. “I… wasn’t sure if I should mention it. It concerns their ultimate project. I tried to sabotage it before I left, but I was discovered too quickly. I doubt it worked.”

“What project?”

He could also feel Azeron tensing slightly at his side.

After thinking for a moment, Thomas nodded.

“The tattoos exist for control. But the more fragments a person carries, the stronger Solvalth’s power becomes. That makes it harder to place the tattoo… and even harder to control them.”

“So there’s a limit.”

“Yes. At most, they could only control around a dozen fragments at once. But this new project… was designed to overcome that.”

“Then—!”

Azeron’s eyes widened as he grasped the implication. Though he remained silent, Atticus had already reached the same conclusion.

Thomas nodded again.

“They focused all their resources on controlling a single fragment bearer. They call it Project Vessel. And it can hold several times more fragments than any other fragment bearer.”

…

Eldros sat on a balcony on the second floor of a building. Below him, the streets of Lexis City bustled with activity as people moved through the crowded roads. Yet Eldros’ eyes remained fixed on the sky above, where airships periodically whizzed by.

‘They’re searching for someone.’

The explosion he had witnessed at the Willguard headquarters was enough to tell him that something significant had happened. Most parts of the domain were now swarming with Willguard airships flying overhead. Eldros couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of thing would make the Willguard mobilize with such force. Whatever it was, he had to find out.

‘Looks like I’ll be staying for a bit.’

“…Your tea, sir.”

A beautiful lady placed the cup on the table and hurried away before Eldros could turn to face her.

Eldros’ eyes glowed faintly as he watched her swaying back.

“Hmm… I’ll enjoy her later.”

He took a sip of the tea and released a satisfied breath. Setting the cup back down, Eldros returned his gaze to the sky. He was about to resume pondering the Willguard’s objective when a small furry creature abruptly climbed up to stand on the edge of the balcony.

“Huh?”

It was shaped like a tiny squirrel with chubby cheeks. Yet it wasn’t its size that made Eldros raise a brow. The creature was staring directly at him.

A moment passed, yet the creature continued locking eyes with him.

Eldros frowned.

“Wha—”

The creature abruptly scurried onto the table and approached his tea. Eldros barely had time to react before it hunched its bottom over the cup and released a slimy, thick plop into it.

“W-what…?”

Eldros’ eyes trembled in disbelief. The creature turned toward him and flashed a wide grin, and his gaze widened instantly.

“…You.”

The creature smiled and nodded. It calmly settled into the seat opposite him before suddenly expanding into a handsome man with azure hair and crimson eyes.

Eldros’ eyes turned cold.

“Whisker.”

“Hello, brother. It’s been a while.”

“What are you doing here?”

Whisker ignored the hostility in his voice and glanced around the bustling city with a carefree smile.

“Ah~ what a beautiful day. I’m glad I decided to take this little vacation.”

Eldros slammed his arm against the table, his eyes blazing.

“I asked you a question.”

Whisker tilted his head slightly.

“Hm? Why that look? You’d think you weren’t happy to see me. Is there some reason you don’t want to see your brother… brother?”

Eldros’ icy glare could have frozen an ocean.

“Ah… I can think of a few.”

Whisker’s crimson gaze flared as his expression slowly turned feral.

“I suppose I also wouldn’t be thrilled either… if I were facing the brother who ruined my life.”

A moment of silence passed between them before Eldros’ hardened expression slowly softened into a smile. A chuckle escaped him.

“I’m not sure what you’re hoping to accomplish here, but let me remind you, you’re in Willguard territory. You’re a fugitive.”

“So?”

Eldros squinted at Whisker’s completely unfazed expression.

“One call. That’s all it takes. The Willguard will swarm this place and drag you away.”

He smiled lightly.

“But since you’re my brother, I’ll be generous. Leave now… and I won’t make that call.”

“No.”

A chill passed through Eldros’ eyes.

“What?”

“Are you deaf? I said no.”

Eldros stared at Whisker in silence for a moment. Whisker was unquestionably a fugitive. Calling the Willguard would be the end of him, yet he didn’t seem to care in the slightest. Was he overlooking something?

‘There’s nothing to overlook.’

The Willguard were absolute, especially within their own domain. There was no escaping them.

A moment later, Eldros leaned back in his chair with a confident expression.

“You’re bluffing.”

A sigh escaped Whisker’s lips before his mouth stretched into a wide, unsettling grin.

“Am I?”

He raised his arm as his crimson gaze flared.

“Manifest.”