Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground novel Chapter 1541

Chapter 1541: Cinders

Atticus silently watched the round unfold exactly as he’d anticipated.

Ozeroth’s battle with Jarek had done its job. The fear he’d wanted had settled in. The other Marquis and their champions hesitated now... hesitated to challenge him, or any of his people.

Even Anorah and Ozerra felt it. In every roll that followed the battle, not a single challenge was issued to any of them.

’Good. Now I can focus on what matters.’

The other gods were no longer an immediate concern. The rules of the game guaranteed conflict would come eventually, but for now, it was enough to know his people weren’t being targeted.

His gaze swept the board. His earlier move had pushed him closer to the center, into the high middle layers.

The Marquis here were different from those below. Quieter. More restrained. Stronger.

Still, they weren’t his focus.

Since entering this layer, his enemies hadn’t changed.

The two remaining Redflame Marquis kept their smoldering eyes fixed on him. The Willguard, meanwhile, had gone strangely silent, watching him with an intensity that hadn’t faded since the last battle.

’Not yet.’

The hierarchy of the board was already obvious. The deeper one went, the stronger the Marquis waiting there. There were things he still needed to resolve before moving forward.

’That comes next.’

The turns continued until Scaela’s came up. Her burning gaze never left Atticus as she rolled. The die settled on two.

"Two steps left."

"Scaela."

She didn’t look away, not even at Dravek’s call. Light swallowed her form, carrying her to the chosen domain.

Dravek’s eyes darkened.

"Stand down."

His jaw tightened when she ignored him completely.

"Domain penalty," the board announced. "Expose two champions to battle for the duration of this turn. Do you choose to claim, or deny?"

"Claim."

Atticus’ eyes narrowed slightly.

’I’m her target.’

He watched the turn play out without reacting. Two domains to the right brought Scaela closer to him, and her unbroken glare said more than any declaration could.

’This makes it easier.’

The turn continued. Scaela’s champions were exposed, open to challenge from any Marquis on the board, yet none stepped forward. Few were willing to cross a major faction head on.

The next round shifted the board.

Anorah and Ozerra moved at last, each issuing a challenge to a different Marquis.

The battles that followed were watched in silence. When they ended, both were victorious. Overwhelmingly so.

Another ripple of shock passed through the Marquis. Two more true willers...

Eyes turned back to Atticus, questions burning behind hardened expressions. How was it that figures of such weight had gathered around one boy?

Finally, it was his turn.

Atticus felt it before he saw it, a glare sharp enough to burn. He turned and met Dravek’s smoldering eyes.

"Atticus Ravenstein... or whatever name you go by," Dravek said. "This farce has gone on long enough. The Redflames are beyond you. Don’t delude yourself into thinking your actions carry no cost."

"Go any further, and you will make things worse. I swear it, none of your family will be spared if you take that step. Or..." His eyes narrowed. "You can end this here. With your death."

The watching Marquis grew still. The threat itself was clear, but it was the intent beneath it that drew their focus.

’You know what he’s doing, right?’ Whisker’s voice echoed in Atticus’ mind.

Atticus gave a faint nod.

’I know.’

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