Atticus’s Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground - Chapter 1519

Chapter 1519: New Challenger
Atticus delivered the final strike.

“So I understand your pain. But we cannot let them win. We must show them we are unshaken, and that we will only return stronger. Go back home. I promise you… there will be retribution.”

“Nicely said.” Anorah appeared beside him, smiling as the crowd began to disperse.

Atticus cleared his throat. “I still have a long way to go compared to you.”

“Then it’s lucky we have a lot of… lessons together.”

Atticus swallowed as her seductive eyes met his, a jolt shooting through his body. This woman…

The families of the missing children remained behind to gather the remains, and soon enough the square emptied.

“He’s here.” Magnus appeared at Atticus’ side.

‘Finally.’ Atticus nodded.

“Let’s go.”

With the threat of the people gone, they left the square and appeared at the edge of the city. There, a man clad in armor rode toward them.

“M-my lord!”

He fell to his knees the moment he saw Atticus.

“Tell us what you found.”

This had been part of their plan, sending out scouts the moment they confirmed the Abyss faction’s involvement.

“I found them, my lord. Five hours’ ride to the west. They…”

His voice trembled.

“Speak,” Atticus said, eyes narrowing.

“They’ve gathered their armies, lord. And they’re marching toward… our direction.”

Atticus’ gaze sharpened.

‘They’re coming for us.’

“How many?”

The warrior lowered his eyes.

“H-hundreds of millions, lord.”

Had they abandoned their shadow tactics and chosen to come at them openly?

Atticus glanced at Whisker, who was deep in thought as well.

‘We need to prepare.’

He was about to speak when a panel suddenly appeared before him.

Notice: A challenge has been issued to Fartonia.

Accepting challenges is mandatory.

You have 1 day to accept.

Atticus narrowed his eyes. That was right, they had defeated their most recent opponent earlier.

‘Who?’

“We have a challenge,” Atticus said, making the others frown.

“Incredibly perfect timing,” Whisker laughed, shaking his head. “Of all the times to issue a challenge… it had to be in the middle of this crisis.”

“Well, let’s see who the fool is.” Ozeroth said.

As they appeared at the edge of the territory, Atticus’ eyes couldn’t help but widen at the sight before him.

Armies clad in gleaming armor stretched across the horizon. Each soldier stood perfectly still, eyes forward, bodies unmoving. They looked more like machines than humans.

Still, Atticus wasn’t focused on their numbers. At the forefront stood six individuals.

Draped in regal golden armor and robes, they radiated an effortless dominance. Even from afar, Atticus felt the pressure rolling off them.

‘Willguard.’

From the corner of his vision, Atticus saw Anorah reach for her sword. The others tensed as well. Even Whisker’s usual playfulness had vanished.

“Hm. You’re Atticus Ravenstein?”

Atticus fixed his gaze on the man in the center of the six. Slender figure, average height, two swords at his waist, mask covering his face.

But the pressure he emitted dwarfed the others entirely.

A sentinel.

“What are the odds he’s the one you’re looking for?” Whisker asked.

“I’ll confirm.”

Atticus’ vision flashed gold as Pride Eyes activated, scrutinizing every thread of the man’s being. A moment later, he shook his head.

“I can’t feel any connection.”

‘He’s not the one.’

Whoever created his bounty on him would leave some sort of trace that omnicognition would be able to pick up. This one had none.

Atticus felt the man’s heavy gaze dragging over him.

“So you were the one who defeated Dramazel?” the sentinel asked. Atticus caught the faint mix of disdain, and disappointment in his tone.

“Dramazel is one of Master’s finest students. You’re the farthest from impressive I’ve ever seen. Tell me… how did you manage it?”

“My star actor,” Whisker whispered, “I think he just called you pathetic.”

Atticus ignored him and focused on the sentinel. The Count layer had taught him something valuable, enemies who talked too much were usually fountains of information. He wasn’t letting this one slip.

“Master?” Atticus said. “So this Master is the one responsible for the bounty on me.”

“The Master is not someone you can simply refer to!” the sentinel snapped. Pressure spiked around him. “Watch your filthy mouth.”

“You should be grateful he has taken time out of his valuable schedule to focus on you.”

He shook his head.

“His attention is better spent on the other Marquis. You’re not even worth it. I’m disappointed Dramazel lost to someone so unremarkable. You don’t even have the privilege of knowing my name.”

‘So he’s in the Marquis layer.’

“Damn, this is insane,” Whisker muttered. “I thought Ozeroth was prideful, but this guy… this guy is pride with legs.”

“What?” the sentinel said coldly.

Whisker leaned forward and grinned.

“Oh relax. I said your ego is so big, I’m shocked your tiny brain hasn’t suffocated under it.”

The ground cracked beneath the sentinel as pressure exploded outward.

“I dare you,” the sentinel hissed, “to repeat that.”

Whisker’s smile stretched into something unhinged.

“I said it clearly. Should I draw it out for you?”

The coldness in the sentinel’s eyes could have frozen an ocean.

“Accept the challenge.”

“You don’t tell me what to do,” Whisker shot back. “Go polish your Master’s toenails or something.”

“I’ll let my blade do the talking,” the sentinel growled. “I won’t waste words on the likes of you.”

“Ha—”

“Whisker.”

Atticus’ voice cut through before he could speak, making him shrug.

“What? What’s with that look, my star actor? He started it.”

Atticus sighed.

“He was a potential information source.”

“Nah,” Whisker waved him off. “He’s nothing but a prideful fucker. No one in their right mind would trust this airhead with actual important information. You already squeezed the best out of him.”

‘I guess he has a point.’

The sentinel had a big mouth, but Atticus hadn’t expected anything substantial.

And he’d already learned the only thing that mattered.

‘He’s not the one responsible.’

The one called Master, was behind this, and he was in the Marquis layer.

Now there was only one thing left.

Deal with this challenge.

Deal with the Abyss faction.

Then head to the Marquis layer.

And end all of this once and for all.