Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground-Chapter 1406: Thus.

(A.N. Please don’t unlock the next Chapter. It was a mistake, and would be updated tomorrow.) 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

When the Verge assigned it here, it had wondered why, but the question answered itself when the child monster arrived.

’But it’s against the rules.’

For a moment, the creature doubted its master. Had the Verge actually made a mistake?

Atticus fighting would violate the decree, which meant it would have to remove him, much to its chagrin.

It shook its head, then turned toward Atticus.

"As much as it pains me to say it, the abomination is right. This battle is strictly Resistance versus Will Guard. You’re neither, so you have to leave."

’How unfortunate.’

A few seconds passed, but Atticus still hadn’t moved.

The furry creature frowned. Its master might be interested in the boy, but that didn’t mean he’d tolerate disrespect.

"Hey—"

It was about to speak when Atticus raised his arm.

It was the second time today, and its implications were just as profound as the first. Asterra had no mana. But an ocean of it might as well have been contained within Atticus.

The air around him distorted as mana rippled outward, climbing into the sky until a vast screen formed overhead.

On it, a scene blinked into existence.

"Be a part of the Resistance," Anorah had said to Atticus deep in the night.

But before they could continue, a man landed just meters away from them, sinking down to one knee in front of the saint and interrupting them.

"One..." the saint, Anorah, had muttered.

"There’s trouble," the man, One, had said.

"I’m afraid we’ll have to call it a night. Duty calls," the saint had said to him, walking toward One.

"So, what did you decide?" she asked as she got to him.

Atticus had pondered for a moment, then answered, "No commitments. No forced orders."

The saint had nodded.

"I accept."

A smile appeared on her face, and she turned.

"I’m Anorah," she had said. "But my people call me the Violet Saint."

The screen dissolved into motes of light that dispersed in the air. At this point, the Sentinels’ eyes leaked an ugly heat.

"Spectacular!" the furry creature clapped as it bellowed, its excitement clear.

"How can we trust the authenticity of this?" the second Sentinel said. "Are we just supposed to—"

"I call upon the Verge to judge this matter."

The Sentinels’ eyes snapped toward Atticus. Throughout the short exchange, his and Anorah’s gazes had never left them.

"Hm?" The furry creature narrowed its eyes at Atticus.

’Did he just...?’

Had it heard the boy correctly? Not only had he spoken directly to the Verge, he hadn’t even shown the proper respect.

"How dare you—!"

It was about to speak when a laugh rumbled through the world.

The air trembled. The land fell still. Even the Arbiter dropped to its knees.

A voice echoed, vast and powerful:

"This child! Where in the hells have you been for the past millennia? You have a way of thrilling me!"

"G–Great V–Verge!" The Arbiter’s voice shook. "To think you would grace this lowly one with your presence!"

"Hm. The child called," the Verge said. "Of course I shall answer."

"The c–child?" the Arbiter stammered, stunned. The Great Verge had answered the call of a lowly god?

Though no physical form appeared, everyone could feel the Verge’s emotions; excitement toward Atticus, and scorn toward the Sentinels.

"Hm," the Verge murmured again. "I concur with everything. What he showed you is valid. The child has allied himself with the Resistance. Thus, he is Resistance. Let him fight."

The Verge’s presence vanished as swiftly as it came.

The Arbiter shot upright, rising into the air once more.

"You heard my master!" it shouted, voice ringing across the battlefield. "He can fight!"

A thunderous clap followed, rippling through the field. The tension spiked.

The Sentinels’ eyes darkened.

"But—"

The second had barely spoken when Atticus and Anorah moved.

They erased the distance, purple trails left in their wake. A katana flashed toward one; a sword descended on the other.

The Sentinels’ eyes constricted. Their weapons whipped up to meet the strikes.

The collision shattered the silence. A wave of pressure blasted outward, slamming into both armies and sending the Sentinels hurtling away.

’We were pushed back?’

The second Sentinel spun midair, regaining his balance. His instincts screamed.

’He’s coming.’

His gauntlet morphed into a long blade that struck the ground as he thrust forward. But his eyes sharpened the next moment.

’He read me?’

Atticus’ stance had caused his blade to shift away from the Sentinel at the last moment.

But he attacked first. The only way that was possible was if Atticus had read him from the beginning!

The katana slid past the Sentinel’s attack and drove forward. The Sentinel barely had the chance to move aside before the blade tore through his shoulder.

’How did he read me?’

He drew back, black blood spilling across the ruined ground.

"Morph," he hissed.

His arm twisted into a grotesque form that lashed out like a whip, but it only caught a trail of crimson light.

Atticus had already flowed into his next move.

He reappeared below, body flickering with a dark crimson glow. Each step left afterimages, his movement too clean, too fluid to be human.

’He combined multiple elements...?’

Atticus closed the distance, katana slicing through the grotesque arm in one brutal motion. Black blood sprayed in thick arcs, spattering across the shattered ground.

’He’s dangerous.’

The Sentinel’s eyes gleamed. The kin was more dangerous than anticipated. Without his Will, it would appear he was at a disadvantage.

It was time to up the battle.

’I’ll target his emotions.’

Dark light flashed in his eyes. A pulse spread from him as he reached for Atticus’ emotions, and met a wall.

’How...?’

Every being had emotion: fear, rage, something. Yet from Atticus, there was nothing. How could that be?

But as their eyes met, the Sentinel froze. He found his answer.

That cold, detached gaze... it didn’t belong to a man.

It was at that moment he realized...

He was fighting a machine.