Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground-Chapter 1194: Leave It To Me

Crunch. Crunch.

Atticus watched on as a figure once considered the best talent an entire race had to offer focused intently on the cliché love drama playing on the screen before him.

Atticus didn't say anything. He simply released a bit of his presence, and it was as though a tide had slammed into the three apexes.

They turned sharply, already on their feet.

"Atticus?" Lirae asked, confused. None of them had felt his presence until now. When did he enter?

Atticus sighed as Maera moved toward him, arms spread. At this point, it had become normal.

He rarely showed up in front of them, but when he did, especially when it involved spending time with Anastasia, Maera always greeted him with a hug.

Her petite and innocently oblivious expression always made it hard for him to refuse. And to make it worse, he never failed to catch the teasing look Anastasia gave him every time.

"My handsome boy has so many suitors," she would say. Then came the usual warning:

"But don't forget to always act the gentleman. Never treat any of them badly. Never lead them on. Look at the one who makes you happy and make your intentions known to the others too, so they know to back off. Remember, At, being in love isn't a sin."

Atticus would smile and give his mother a reassuring hug. He never had any intention of leading anyone on.

As he pulled away from Maera's hug, he got straight to the point.

"It's time."

Ae'ark, who had been about to make an excuse for earlier, froze. His expression, and Lirae's as well, darkened.

Maera simply tilted her head slightly, still smiling, clearly unbothered.

They each understood what he meant, which was why the atmosphere in the room instantly grew tense.

"Atticus…" Lirae began, but before she could continue, he turned to his mother and waved.

"We'll be back soon, Mom."

"Don't be too long, honey," Anastasia said, waving back.

In the next second, they vanished from the living room, reappearing on a high hill far from the new settlement.

The tension only deepened.

"I think it's about time you told us what this process entails," Lirae said. Her tone was uncertain, far from the confident woman he'd met at the apex banquet.

Atticus glanced at Ae'ark, whose expression was cautious, then at Maera, who still looked happy, clearly not taking the situation as seriously as the others.

He nodded. "Alright. I'll explain everything, and also highlight the risks."

They listened closely as he began.

"The world core is a part of you. It's what gives you your talent, your abilities. And I believe it was a gift given to us by the one who reincarnated us."

At the mention of that being, their expressions darkened. Even Maera grew serious.

"I can't just… take it from you. If I do it wrong, you won't just lose your powers, you'll likely die."

"So how…?" Lirae asked. Her voice was tight. She meant what she'd said before, she wanted to live this new life to the fullest, and she wasn't about to let it end prematurely.

"I'm getting to that," Atticus said.

"I'm going to enter your core and copy the signature of the world's core hidden deep within it."

They looked confused, so he elaborated.

"The world core sits inside your core and is protected by your will. I'll have to peer my will into yours, unravel the walls around it, and copy the signature. The trick is, the world will only recognize one version. Once I copy it, you'll still have your power, but the world's recognition will shift to me."

The apexes exchanged thoughtful glances as they processed his words.

"So what are the risks?" Ae'ark asked. Lirae turned to look at him. This was their biggest concern. If things went right, they'd keep their powers. If things went wrong, they'd die.

"The risk is in the entry phase," Atticus said. "I'll be using my will to peer into your core. That means our wills will clash. I have to pierce through yours with mine, like a drill, to make a tiny hole that can heal over time. So I need to control the amount and intensity of will I use."

"But if it's just a hole, isn't it better to use more power to break through faster?" Lirae asked. Ae'ark nodded in agreement.

"No," Atticus shook his head. "If I go too fast, or use too much strength, the pain will be too much. I need to move slow and steady."

"Pain?" Their eyes widened.

Atticus nodded. "Yes. Your will is tied to your entire being. Damaging it, even slightly, affects you directly. If I don't give your body time to adjust as I move through it, the pain will be unbearable."

The Gardener had managed to hold on when Atticus cracked his will, but he had lived long before their ancestors were even born. His pain threshold couldn't be compared to theirs, even as reincarnators. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

"This will still hurt?" Ae'ark asked.

"Very," Atticus confirmed.

They exchanged looks, then slowly nodded.

"So… who goes first?"

"…"

"…"

"…"

No one moved.

Atticus sighed. "This has to happen. It's better to step forward willingly than drag it out. Otherwise, I'll just pick one of you."

Ae'ark clenched his fist and exhaled heavily, preparing to step forward…

"Me."

Maera beat him to it, standing in front of Atticus with her usual bright gaze.

"Are you sure?" Atticus asked.

"Yes," she nodded. "Atticus won't hurt me."

He raised a brow. Where was this confidence coming from? She barely knew him, yet she was so sure?

He pushed the thought aside. Now wasn't the time.

"Alright. Sit cross legged," he instructed.

Maera did so without hesitation.

Atticus stepped closer to her.

'Noctis.' he suddenly called out, and almost instantly, the furry figure of Noctis appeared above Atticus' head.

He looked down at him with a brooding gaze, clearly displeased about having his story time interrupted.

'I need you to stand guard while I do this.'

Noctis paused, glanced over at Lirae and Ae'ark, then nodded, his expression turning serious.

'Kuu!'

Atticus assumed that was his way of saying, 'Leave it to me!'

'Cute,' he chuckled.