Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground-Chapter 1197: Time

Lirae laughed. "You know, for someone with so much power, you're very cute."

"Cute, huh." Atticus echoed, but his mind flashed with a scene, one painted in blood and ash.

The Zorvan world, burning beneath his hands.

How would Lirae react if she knew what he did? How would Zoey? His family?

He hadn't told anyone the full details. They all knew the Zorvans were gone, but not how. No one had asked, and he hadn't said anything.

"You are," Lirae nodded. "In any case, I'm glad you're the one leading this world. These past three months have been the most peaceful time we've had. None of the races dare to stir anything, and even the paragons are behaving. If only we could keep it this way…"

"Things are about to change. This peace won't last," Atticus said simply.

Lirae's expression turned serious. "I know that."

"Do you?" Atticus turned to her, speaking before she could respond.

"I don't think you do. I'm sure you've been filled in on the concept of gods and planes. Soon, we'll be fighting other worlds that want to ascend to the midplanes."

"We know nothing about them. Nothing about their power, their abilities. We might be walking to our deaths."

Lirae paused. "Yeah, but… it goes both ways, doesn't it? They know nothing about us either. They don't know what we're holding. They don't know our brave, breathtaking leader."

Atticus glanced at her. Lirae winked.

"Also, I doubt any of them will be lucky enough to have another Atticus." She turned toward him.

"The problem here is you. While it's good that you don't underestimate your enemies, you also need to stop underestimating yourself. You really don't understand how much of a monster you are."

"I'm not underestimating anyone," Atticus said. "I'm just being careful."

"You're an eight foot tall muscular mass of beauty and perfection. They should be worried about you."

Their eyes met. A second passed, and Atticus couldn't hold it anymore. He laughed.

"You know I'm right," Lirae smiled.

Atticus shook his head. "I guess so. Enough about me. What about you? What do you plan on doing?"

Lirae looked to the moon. "Right now? I just want to protect this peace." Then she looked back at him.

"This god thingy… are you allowed to choose your own special soldiers?"

"I'm not sure."

"I hope you can. I'd love to kick some alien ass… If they have asses."

Atticus chuckled softly.

Talking to Lirae was… fun. She had a sharp tongue and an absurd sense of flattery, but it was refreshing.

He had only wanted a moment to breathe, and with her, he got just that, and more.

Eventually, their conversation shifted to her turn coming up in two weeks. Atticus had told her not to worry.

Then, he went back to training. She returned to the house.

The night passed quickly. So did the week.

A week later, Atticus and the three apexes stood once more at the top of the large hill. Ae'ark stood in front of him, gaze firm.

"Relax and sit cross-legged."

Ae'ark obeyed. As soon as Noctis appeared, Atticus began the process.

It was faster this time, more efficient since it was his second time doing it.

Soon enough, it was over.

Atticus copied the Aeonian's core and felt a surge of power. A renewed mastery over mana.

Ae'ark, however, felt what Maera had felt the week before, and it wasn't good. It felt like his entire being was tearing apart.

He shook his head at Lirae, who stared at him with worried eyes. This pain wasn't ordinary. It was worse than anything they had ever known.

After confirming that Ae'ark was fine, Atticus checked on Maera and was relieved to see she was healing steadily.

A few more weeks and she'd be back to normal. Atticus took them back to the house and resumed his training.

Another week passed in the blink of an eye. Finally, the day came for Lirae's process.

They stood once more at the top of the hill. Atticus glanced at her. She was clearly disturbed.

"It's going to be fine. Just like the others."

Lirae nodded.

But it was obvious, if she had a choice, she wouldn't be here.

Atticus knew why. Unlike the others, Lirae had two cores. The vampyros and Angel. To her, it felt like a recipe for disaster.

"Alright. Relax and sit."

She slowly lowered herself and sat cross-legged. Atticus's Will enveloped them both, and the hill fell into silence.

He repeated the process once more, his consciousness piercing through Lirae's Will and diving into her core.

As expected, she trembled in pain the moment her Will was pierced, but she held it in.

When Atticus reached the oval space, his gaze landed on two cores hovering close to each other.

One pure white. The other, blood red.

The Angel and Vampyros cores.

He chose the red one first and began unraveling the threads surrounding it.

It took a moment, but eventually, Atticus succeeded in breaking it down and learning the signature.

Then, he turned to the white core and began the same process. Just like before, he got through, copying the signature.

'I have to leave.'

He turned, preparing to exit, only to pause.

'It's closing up.'

The hole he had entered through had sealed shut.

'It's healing… from the inside out.'

He hadn't spent that much time inside. The Will shouldn't have healed this fast. Which meant, most of the tunnel was still intact.

'Only the exit sealed.'

Atticus recalled the exact location of his entry point and shot toward it, piercing through.

There was a moment of resistance… then he broke free.

Outside, Lirae shook violently, and both Maera and Ae'ark couldn't help but exchange glances. This hadn't happened during their own turns.

Moments later, Atticus emerged and raised his palm. A blood red core formed instantly and shot toward his core, fusing into it.

A burst of light. A wave of force. And then Atticus opened his eyes.

Across from him, Lirae groaned as she struggled to her feet.

"How do you feel?"

"Like shit," she muttered, then after a pause, added, "But I'll live."

Atticus smiled. "Good job."

"How about you praise me with a kiss?"

Before he could respond, a firm voice cut in.

"Atticus is mine."

They turned to see Maera, eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on Lirae with a warning.

But Lirae only smirked.

In the next instant, they found themselves back inside the house, and Atticus slipped away the first chance he got.

'After one week, I'll form the last core.'

While he had memorized both core signatures, he could only fuse with one at a time.

He continued training, refining, sharpening, until the week passed. Finally, the time came.

A radiant white core formed atop his palm and without hesitation, it shot forward and fused into his core.