NOVGO.NET Chapter 1587 Prize
Chapter 1587 Prize
Atticus gazed at the stairs for a long moment, thinking. Past experience had taught him that delaying trials rarely changed the outcome when he eventually faced them.
The nature of the next trial was completely unknown. He could choose to strengthen himself further before attempting it, but what if the katana stripped him of all his powers the moment it began?
In the end, he could only rely on himself and his mind. Nothing else.
And for what was coming, he needed as much strength as he could possibly gather.
Atticus exhaled slowly, feeling an absolute calm settle over him.
‘Let’s get this over with.’
He stepped toward the base of the stairs, curling his fist as he placed a foot down.
Nothing happened.
A small sense of relief went through him. It seemed he wouldn’t be forced into a trial just by climbing. He lifted his other leg, stepping fully onto the first stair, and was about to take his second step when a sudden, crushing weight slammed down on him.
Atticus crashed to one knee instantly, grinding his teeth as he unleashed his will to resist the pressure. He cursed under his breath, why did he have to open his mouth and jinx it?
‘What… what is this weight…’
It felt far more profound than a simple increase in gravity. Even as he commanded the space molecules around him and pushed back with his will, his body refused to rise.
‘It’s… my will.’
He couldn’t fully comprehend it, but the crushing energy wasn’t coming from the world around him, it was coming from his own will. It felt as though an anchor had been fastened to it, dragging it downward.
Realizing this, Atticus immediately released his will, but the pressure didn’t lessen in the slightest.
‘It’s affecting the will in my mind…’
The understanding brought another realization with it. The will in his mind was who he was, his very being. There was no way to shut that down.
Atticus leaned back, letting himself fall off the stair. He breathed heavily as the pressure vanished, then slowly pushed himself back to his feet.
Fixing his gaze on the towering staircase, Atticus let out a quiet sigh.
‘What now…?’
Atticus wasn’t sure what to make of it. Did this mean he could only ascend once his will grew strong enough, or was there something else he was failing to grasp? After a moment, he stopped overthinking it and turned to the avatar instead, asking directly, only to be met with the same blank, unresponsive stare.
After the fifth unanswered question, Atticus finally gave up.
He looked back at the flight of stairs for a brief moment.
‘I’ll come back when I have a stronger will.’
With that decision made, he willed himself out of the katana world, reappearing in his real body.
His eyes immediately settled on Anorah, still sleeping peacefully beside him. Days may have passed within the life weapon’s realm, but in the real world, time hadn’t moved at all.
‘She looks so peaceful.’
He moved toward her, intending to settle down beside her, when something at the edge of his vision caught his attention. He turned, and froze.
A small chest sat quietly in the corner of the room.
‘It wasn’t there before.’
Atticus’ hand closed around the hilt of his katana without a sound. He trusted many things, but his memory above all, and it had never failed him. Ever.
That chest had not been in this room when he entered with Anorah.
He approached slowly, his thoughts moving through the endless possibilities. Time had stopped the moment he entered the life weapon’s realm, and he refused to believe that any being could interfere with that. The chest’s presence meant only one thing… it had appeared the instant he returned from the blade realm.
What kind of being, in all of Eldoralth, could evade his senses so completely?
Reaching the chest, he noticed a small envelope resting atop it.
‘I shouldn’t make contact.’
Instead of touching it directly, Atticus commanded the surrounding molecules, carefully opening the envelope and revealing a letter inside. His frown deepened as his eyes moved across the words.
My superstar!
I can’t quite put into words how pleased I am to see you finally awake. A great deal happened while you were slumbering, but I can say this with absolute confidence that the Middle Planes simply weren’t the same without you. The boredom, in particular, nearly did me in. Truly tragic. Fortunately, you woke up just in time, so I suppose I should thank you for saving this old man from complete mental decay.
By the time he reached the end of the first paragraph, Atticus’ frown had deepened further. There was no introduction, no name, but it didn’t take a genius to know exactly who had written it.
‘Why is he writing me letters?’
He continued reading.
Now then, let’s get to the point. You’re probably wondering why I’m writing you letters at all. We’re not exactly friends, after all. Haha. Don’t worry, I am spectacular by every measurable standard, but I can’t read your mind… yet… so you’re safe from that particular inconvenience. For now.
Right! The important part.
You didn’t honestly think you’d take part in the greatest game the Middle Planes has ever seen and walk away empty handed, did you? If you did, then, jokes on you, haha, because there is a prize. And it’s a good one. I’ll leave you to discover it yourself. Do keep doing what you do best, won’t you? The world is far more interesting when you’re stirring things up.
With great expectations,
Your favorite Star,
The Great Verge.
Atticus gazed at the letter for several long moments before finally blinking.
‘It’s like déjà vu. He really sounds like Whisker.’
Lowering the letter, his gaze settled on the chest.
‘A prize, huh.’
He hadn’t expected one, not truly, but he couldn’t deny the excitement stirring within him. A gift from a star could only be something extraordinary.
“Don’t disappoint me.”
With slight caution, Atticus reached out and opened the chest.