Atticus’s Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground

Chapter 1371: Rough Night?

The group reached the end of the hallway and wandered onto a balcony. The bright glow of the sun shining down told Atticus it was morning.

‘I slept through the night.’ He realized.

As his eyes settled under the bright lights, he was met with a grand sight. A bustling city stretched endlessly before him, blotting up the horizon. People wandered through paved roads, others through flying cars.

Through the balcony Atticus was able to see the magnitude of the building he currently was in. It was as though he stood at the top of a mountain, such was its height.

In the middle of the city, was a tall and imposing statue of a woman Atticus knew all too well.

‘The Saint.’

It was a beautiful sight, but Atticus took it all in without any change in expression.

“This is the resistance,” Lazio suddenly said, but coughed when he got no reaction from Atticus.

“My companion asked before, but I’m going to ask again. What exactly are you resisting? You’re free to do whatever you want in your respective worlds. You’re also a god, aren’t you?”

Atticus had felt it the first day he met Lazio. He wasn’t just any god, he was a god with a true will.

“The major factions are an oppressive force. You think everything is equal, but it is far from it. Until you face the injustice, you won’t understand.”

Atticus wanted to laugh. He’d been facing the injustice since he arrived in the middle planes, but here he was, dealing with his shit, rather than create a whole resistance just to fight it.

“Not everyone is as privileged as you.” Lazio sent a glance at the mark on the back of his arm.

‘He knows.’ Atticus realized. Had that woman spilled the beans to everyone? Atticus suddenly took on a more cautious demeanor. Kancilot noticed the shift instantly, and acted accordingly.

‘Privileged huh.’ He finally understood what Lazio meant. Though he had the power and potential to do something, not everyone had such luxury.

“The major factions control everything,” Lazio began. “From resources, to the ascension games. They leave nothing to new gods trying to ascend. If we don’t join their forces, we get nothing. The injustice is real.”

“And this is why you banded together? To fight that…”

“Yes. We have each other’s backs here and fight together against the enemy.” Lazio nodded. “This is why I wanted to recruit you. As a true willer, the Saint has given me the authority to form my team.”

“Your team… you realize I also have a true will.”

“I do. But don’t worry, I don’t require you to abolish your path. I just need strong people to have my back, especially during the ascension games.”

“I see.”

“The Red Flames have painted a target on your back. They’re going to come after you during the ascension games. You need all the help you can get.”

Lazio’s eyes blazed as he stared at Atticus.

“So what do you say, Baron Atticus. Will you join the path of the righteous?”

There was a moment of utter silence, where Atticus simply took in the beautiful view. His answer soon came.

“No.”

…

Atticus made his way back to his room. After he refused Lazio’s offer, the man had politely excused himself, after claiming that he wouldn’t give up recruiting him.

“Can I ask a question, your eminence.”

Atticus sent a glance over at Kancilot trailing behind him. “You can call me Atticus when we’re alone.”

To be honest, he would rather have him called Atticus even in public. But he was trying to avoid receiving the hours-long lesson about why establishing strict boundaries was important from Oberon.

“O-of course.” The aged king nodded, but still didn’t dare utter the name.

“What’s your question?”

Kancilot straightened. “Why did you refuse?”

Atticus thought for a moment.

“Because it’s too much work, and trouble.”

Kancilot was confused, and Atticus could feel it.

“You don’t understand?”

“Not fully.” Kancilot said. “I’ve been a leader for centuries now, I can’t help but see the good in banding together against a stronger foe.”

“That’s funny, because I only see the bad.”

“The bad?”

“I’m currently enemies with one major faction, the Red Flames. But what if I join the resistance. What then? Will the Red Flames still be my only enemy?”

Kancilot narrowed his eyes. “You’ll be enemies with every major faction.”

“Exactly.” Atticus nodded. “We’d be tied together, and inherit each other’s enemies and foes. I’m not interested in fighting against people who have done me no wrong. I have enough on my plate as I am.”

Their walk brought them to Atticus’s room where he saw Ozeroth and Whisker waiting by the door.

“Heyya.” Whisker waved, smiling.

“Took you long enough, bond.”

Atticus sighed as he approached. Looks like it’s time to fill them in on what’s going on.

He hadn’t been trying to postpone it. Rather, Atticus had been trying to gather his thoughts. To be honest, he still hadn’t. However, he was tired of keeping it to himself.

“Come in. It’s time I fill you in on what’s going on.”

…

The cold night air slipped into the room through the open balcony door.

Atticus woke up to a drenched bed. The same nightmares had plagued him, the same horror.

He swung his legs to the side and stood, clutching his head.

‘It’s been a few hours.’ He realized. Atticus had spent the better part of the day conversing with his companions. He had finally told them everything, from awakening the Solvath fragment, to the history of the primordial stars. The betrayal.

Speaking to someone about it hadn’t helped. Not even the least bit. Atticus had still gone through the same nightmares, he had still felt the same anguish.

Regardless, it had helped gather his thoughts.

Kancilot’s face had paled when he heard of the threats after them. Ozeroth had been excited, and his words and antics put a smile on his face.

Whisker had been… silent. So unusual, Atticus had noted.

It was only after a few moments that he started talking. Apparently, on Nature World, he’d heard a conversation about the primordial stars before. His father had been conversing with someone else.

He wasn’t sure what it meant, but it was useful information to have. Regardless, afterwards, Atticus felt as though he had released a burden weighing him down.

He moved towards the balcony, intending on taking solace in the night air, when a familiar scent hit him, followed by a soft voice.

“Rough night?”

Atticus turned, and just by the ledge of the balcony, was the Saint. The other marked.