Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground-Chapter 1656: …Retire

Atticus’ gaze constricted.

’I’m too slow.’

The man had already raised a purple barrier, intercepting the blade before it could cut through.

The man’s body suddenly flared with purple light.

Atticus’ eyes narrowed.

’An attack... where...’

He searched for the flow, only for his eyes to widen.

’Everywhere.’

Atticus crossed his arms before him just as the man detonated in a violent explosion that sent him hurtling away.

He slammed into another floating island a moment later, skipping across its surface before coming to a rough stop.

He could feel the exo suit trembling around him. His arms up to the elbows were now exposed, the damaged sections slowly trying to mend themselves.

Atticus forced himself upright, fixing his gaze ahead.

The man hovered above him, radiating a blinding purple light that illuminated everything, drowning the golden world in an intense violet glow.

Orbs of different light revolved around him, each one pulsing with overwhelming power.

Atticus released a tired breath, the fatigue settling deep into his body.

His gaze flickered to his trembling arms. It had been a long time... a very long time since he had been pushed this far.

A moment later, he exhaled slowly. Every trace of fatigue disappeared from his expression, replaced by a cold, unwavering focus.

’Do we have enough?’

The Arbiter’s voice came instantly.

’...For one last strike... yes.’

’That’s enough.’

’You understand what happens if you fail, don’t you, student?’

She didn’t need to. If he failed, the exo suit would shut down from exhaustion, leaving him completely exposed. And if that happened... it would be his end.

’...I know.’

’Then don’t miss. You won’t get another chance.’

Atticus tightened his grip on his blade. One chance... it was all he had.

’Tch. One is more than enough. This is my bond we’re talking about. The great Ozeroth chose him, there’s no way he’s losing to some bald freak.’

’Kuu! Dada!’

At Ozeroth and Noctis’ words, a faint smile touched Atticus’ face. In that instant, his heavy body felt lighter.

He dipped into a stance, gripping his katana with both hands. His exo suit erupted with blinding light, surging through him with overwhelming power.

His eyes blazed.

’One chance.’

He tore forward with blurring speed, streaking toward the man.

The light around the man intensified as he raised his arm.

"Die."

The orbs around him trembled, then beams of pure power surged toward Atticus.

Atticus’ eyes flickered.

’Up. Right. Right. Left. Down.’

He moved, weaving through the lethal beams at blinding speeds. As he appeared above, the man suddenly snapped toward him and pointed.

Purple energy condensed, forming a massive orb of pure power. The man’s eyes glowed, and it shot toward Atticus with overwhelming force.

Atticus’ eyes sharpened.

"Vorpal Nova."

His form split into an incalculable number of afterimages. He drew upon every shred of Solvath’s power he could muster, and a crescent slash whose sheer size seemed to swallow the skies blazed into existence.

Atticus brought it down, clashing head-on with the beam.

An intense force tore through his body instantly, but Atticus gritted his teeth, dragging out every last shred of strength he had. His blade began to cut through the beam.

’Almost... there.’

He split the beam apart the next moment, but his eyes widened as he realized the man had vanished.

"Where?"

An overwhelming force tore through Atticus’ chest in the next instant, bursting out through the other side.

Atticus’ gaze trembled. Before him stood the bald man, staring at him with a wide smile, his arm buried through Atticus’ chest.

"Die. Food."

The light around the man surged, and before Atticus could react, he was completely engulfed. The next moment, he vanished from existence.

"Alternate Reality."

The man’s head snapped to the side, where a gleaming katana hovered inches away from piercing his skull.

His eyes gleamed as they met Atticus’ frosty gaze.

"Slow."

The man smiled, and purple light began condensing around his head.

Atticus’ eyes flashed.

"Form a hole."

An overwhelming force tore through his mind in the next instant, and his vision swam black.

...

Atticus’ eyes snapped open as he hastily sat up.

’Where am I?’

He scanned the surroundings instantly, but only endless darkness met his gaze.

"Student..."

Atticus turned sharply toward the voice, his eyes landing on the arbiter hovering above him.

He frowned. Her presence alone told him he was in his mind. Had the final attack failed?

"It didn’t."

As though she could read his thoughts, she shook her head.

’I brought you here. I wanted to speak with you before I retire.’

Atticus squinted. Retire? His gaze lingered on her, and only then did he notice her faint, ghostly form.

"...what are you talking about?"

’Your last command pushed you too far. Your mind was on the verge of collapse. I had to... intervene.’

Atticus clenched his fists. He had thought forming a small hole through Solvath’s power was something he could manage. But to think he had been that close to death...

"...You intervened? How?"

The arbiter gave him a faint smile.

"I gave up my life force."

"...Life force?"

"It is what sustains my sentience. Without it, I will fall into a deep slumber."

Atticus’ eyes widened.

She had given him her life force? She had essentially sacrificed herself for him.

The arbiter let out a soft sigh and shook her head.

"Listen carefully. After this, I will enter that slumber. You won’t be able to use the exo suit. Remember everything I’ve taught you. Never lower your guard. Always think ahead. A warrior who isn’t at least five steps ahead of his enemy is already dead."

Atticus clenched his fists, then gave a firm nod.

"Will you come back?"

"Perhaps." The arbiter gave a faint smile. "But don’t dwell on that. Focus on what comes next."

The arbiter raised her hand before Atticus could speak again.

"We’re out of time. Farewell, student. And don’t forget my lessons."

Before Atticus could react, the darkness began to recede, and light flooded his vision.

In the next instant, his eyes opened. A purple glow still converged around the man’s head. But through the blinding radiance... he saw it.

A small opening leading straight to his head.

Atticus’ eyes gleamed as he thrust forward.