Atticus’s Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground

Chapter 1360: Neutral

Atticus moved through the large halls of the Gilded Debt.

He had gotten used to the size of the interior never matching the exterior. It would seem that it was the way of the willess world.

As he walked, Atticus’ mind was muddled with questions. Who was he going to clash with? Could he handle them?

It was rare that he wouldn’t know a thing about his opponent before a clash. At the very least, he had expected to know the identity, or even as little as the gender. But this time, he knew nothing.

To be honest, Atticus had almost wanted Whisker to handle the situation. But he hadn’t, for the same reason he didn’t allow Ozeroth to fight.

Only gods could clash with gods. No matter how many centuries a person had lived, it was seldom that they bested a god, regardless of how small their world was.

Their walk was quiet, and Atticus didn’t bother asking the woman leading him any questions. Somehow, he knew it was pointless.

’Hopefully my opponent is just as confused as I am,’ Atticus allowed himself to think.

Soon enough, after numerous turns, Atticus was led down a flight of stairs and through a basement door.

If he didn’t know any better, he would have thought they were trying to kidnap or kill him.

As the thought settled, so did his caution.

’They could be.’

He wasn’t a fool to think that the Aureline line couldn’t try to capture and deliver him to the Redflame faction to gain more favor.

However, the thought only made his mind run cold, his demeanor shifting. They could try.

As he entered the basement door, Atticus was met with a hall, endless in proportions. No matter how far he looked, he couldn’t see the end in any direction.

There were no pillars, no obstacles in sight. Even the ceiling seemed unreachable, like a world’s sky. Only endless space.

’Perfect for a clash.’

Considering the sheer magnitude of the people about to clash, it was understandable.

Atticus saw the woman bow.

“Your opponent will be here shortly, esteemed guest. I shall take my leave now.”

As she left, Atticus wandered deeper into the space, his mind filled with assumptions about his opponent. They couldn’t afford to lose the vein root.

’It’s scarcer than I thought.’

Atticus had no idea where an untainted vein root could be harvested, only that it was in the willess world. Whisker had an inkling, but confirmed it would be impossible to retrieve it following that route.

He had just witnessed how high the demand for it was. Who knew if he’d get a better chance than this?

’I just have to win.’

Atticus used the brief time he had to go over his options. Unfortunately, he only had low grade will stones, recharged with his will.

But it wasn’t all bad news. He had discovered something important during his brief time experimenting: a will stone being of low grade didn’t diminish the quality of the will, only the quantity.

His will was still of the same quality, but a high grade stone would last longer.

Time passed, and soon enough Atticus caught sight of movement ahead. His eyes sharpened as a figure came into view.

’I can’t see.’

The figure was shrouded in the same darkness that had covered the booths at the auction, but Atticus could make out the outline.

Perhaps it was the way she walked, or pure instinct, but he realized his first piece of information about his opponent.

’It’s a woman.’

She stopped meters away from him. Almost instantly, Atticus felt a piercing stare unlike any other assault him.

’She’s strong.’

Another instinctive fact. Only the strong could have such a stare.

’She also can’t see me,’ Atticus realized.

What he felt most from her piercing gaze was curiosity. The same curiosity he felt for her. One only wondered so much when their opponent was unknown.

Atticus narrowed his eyes, stance shifting. He was ready.

’Let’s get this over with.’

…

“What do you think?”

The voice echoed inside a booth more luxurious than any other in the auction. It came from a man with dirty golden hair and eyes, clad in attire fitted with heavy jewelry.

“Is it really him though, Niacin?”

Niacin focused on the screen displaying Atticus standing across from a woman of world ending beauty.

“It is. I’m sure of it,” Niacin said with certainty. After meeting Atticus and the others earlier, he had quickly done his research and uncovered who this mysterious rising star was.

The other man whistled, shaking his head with a smile. He had the same hair and eye color as Niacin, clearly of the Aureline line.

“Alright, so he’s some talent. What now?” the man asked, taking a large gulp of his drink.

Niacin turned toward his ignorant cousin.

“Some talent?” he asked incredulously. “He’s barely a month old in the middle planes and he’s already defeated two of the viscount’s sons! Some talent!?”

The man rolled his eyes.

“Okay, a great talent. You still haven’t answered my question.”

Niacin clicked his tongue and turned back to the screen. Janem had a way of making the most significant things sound insignificant.

“What do you mean by what now? We try to befriend him, of course.”

“And risk angering the Redflames?”

Niacin’s expression darkened. From the information he’d gathered, the Redflames had issued a Burning on Atticus, but somehow, after Nerrot’s death, recalled it. Still, it was clear they were enemies.

’Janem has a point.’ Befriending Atticus could put them in an awkward position with the Redflames.

’They could challenge our entry into the center parts.’

The Gilded Debt had been trying to open shop in the center of the willess world for centuries. They were on the cusp of achieving it, but earning the ire of the Redflames could destroy everything they’d built.

“Your father won’t be happy about this,” Janem said, chuckling. “He could even go as far as cutting you into pieces to sell.”