Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground

Chapter 891  Life & Death

"Oh, oh!" Whisker added, and they could all hear the sound of popcorn crunching in the background.

"Almost forgot! I set this audio to play just before you enter the space. Little heads-up: when you step inside, prepare your mind. Once you're in, it's all or nothing. You either succeed… or you die. No in-between! So think about that before you decide to go in. Anyway, good luck, and you're welcome!~"

The recording ended abruptly, leaving the hall in deafening silence.

Atticus blinked rapidly, far too shocked to speak. Even Ozeroth was silent, both of them trying to process what had just happened.

Was he serious right now?

Finally, Ozeroth broke the silence. 'Damn. What a crazy person.'

Atticus had no intention of refuting. Crazy was the only word to describe Whisker.

The man, however, seemed amused. He hummed thoughtfully, his voice resonating across the space.

"Hmm. So it was that beast who sent you here. Interesting."

Atticus's eyes sharpened. 'He knows Whisker?'

The man nodded faintly as though he could read his mind. "I must admit, I was surprised by his unique power. But it seems his strength isn't the only thing of note."

'He's been here before,' Atticus realized.

As the thought settled, his mind churned. If Whisker had already been here, why hadn't he just told him about the history? Why force him to go through all of this?

Atticus's grip on his katana tightened, his expression darkening.

'When I get out of this, I'm tearing that beast apart.'

He wanted nothing more than to follow through on that thought.

Suddenly, the air grew heavier, chilling Atticus to the core. The oppressive weight pressed down on his body.

His gaze locked onto the man as the aura surrounding him transformed, becoming denser, more suffocating, and filled with an intensity that made the space tremble.

Atticus's heart pounded, and his breath quickened as he watched the figure's body change. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Scales as dark as obsidian covered his skin, radiating power. Crimson eyes, glowing with the lethality of the Vampyros, stared through him.

Traces of every race appeared on the man's form: the sharp, angular features of the Evolari, the burning embers of a dragon's fire, the spectral glow of a Requiem.

Traces of every race appeared on the man's form: the sharp, angular features of the Evolari, the burning embers of a dragon's fire, the spectral glow of a Requiem.

He wasn't one race anymore. He was all of them.

Atticus adjusted his stance, his katana steady in his grip. His cold, calculating gaze stayed locked on the figure.

He felt it in his bones. This was life and death.

'Bond.'

Atticus's eyes narrowed. Now wasn't the time for dramatics. He gestured inwardly for Ozeroth to speak quickly.

The spirit's voice was quiet, filled with shame.

"You have no options left. And I'm sorry, but I can't help you."

Atticus froze, wondering what the spirit was trying to say.

"Our power in this lower world is limited," Ozeroth continued, his tone grim. "In the spirit world, things would be different. But here? This isn't my domain. What happened last time, unfortunately cannot happen again."

Atticus's mind raced. His thoughts darted back to the battle with Blackgate in the past, where Ozeroth's overwhelming energy had surged through him, temporarily elevating his power to paragon levels.

But that had only been possible during their bonding process. The excess energy had been used to achieve that feat. It was a one-time event that couldn't be replicated.

Ozeroth's voice was grave. "You're on your own here. And there's only one path forward."

Atticus's heart pounded in his chest. He knew what Ozeroth was referring to.

The fourth art. Entering the katana realm to unlock it was the only way forward. The only way he could gain the power he needed.

But the risks were immense.

'It's dangerous. I could die. The odds are—'

Ozeroth interrupted his thoughts with harsh truth. 'You'll die here for certain if you don't try. Take your chances, Bond.'

Atticus exhaled slowly, forcing his mind to steady. Ozeroth's words were harsh and blunt, but they were simply the truth. It was either certain death or a chance for survival.

The choice was clear.

The figure took a step forward, his presence shaking the space around them.

"I believe it's about time we stop playing." His voice rumbled, deep and thunderous, reverberating through the air like the drumbeat of doom. "I suggest you give this your all. I'll be getting serious now."

The floor cracked beneath him as he moved closer, each step sending shockwaves rippling outward. The stars above flickered, dimming under the weight of his aura.

Atticus's grip on his katana tightened. But instead of attacking, he closed his eyes.

The figure paused, raising an eyebrow. "Hmm. What are you up to?"

In the blink of an eye, the figure disappeared, reappearing in front of Atticus. His fist, cloaked in burning energy, blitzed toward Atticus's head with unrelenting speed.

Just as it was about to connect, Atticus's voice murmured, calm,

"Space domain."

BOOM!

A dark light erupted from Atticus, piercing into the endless void above. The shockwave was so intense that the man's fist halted mid-air for a brief moment, the force rippling through the hall and shaking the very foundation of the space.

The man's gaze flickered with surprise before his expression returned to indifference. "Useless," he muttered, pressing forward.

The fist moved again, the air splitting around it as it descended toward Atticus.

Then—

The world stilled.

The space froze, and time itself seemed to pause. The figure's fist hung in the air, mere inches from Atticus's head, as everything around them faded into silence.

Atticus's consciousness was pulled away, drifting into the void.

Ozeroth's voice sounded in his head, steady and yet filled with a strange warmth.

"Listen, Bond. There's a high chance I won't be with you on this journey. That is why I need to say this…."

Atticus remained silent, his mind calm as he listened to the spirit's words. As Ozeroth finished speaking, his voice turned softer as he continued.

"You are stronger than you know. This is why I chose you. Remember that, no matter what. Show them why you are my Bond."

The voice grew faint, Ozeroth's presence slipping further away.

"Good luck, Bond. You'll need it."

Then, everything turned dark.