Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground novel Chapter 1683

Chapter 1683: Horde

"W-what... what is this..."

Gladious had never felt such an overwhelming presence in his entire life. It pressed down on him with suffocating weight, turning even the air heavy.

And as he met the purple glow in the head hunter’s gaze, his entire body locked in place. An absolute voice rumbled through his mind.

"AN INSECT TRYING TO TAKE OVER ONE OF MY VESSELS. HOW QUINT. YOU WILL BE SHOWN YOUR PLACE."

The dome surrounding the hunters exploded outward in a burst of blinding light. A violent surge of energy slammed into Gladious and the elders, tearing through their bodies.

"Hurk!"

Gladious was thrown backward, crashing hard against the ground. A mouthful of golden blood spilled from his lips as he struggled up, his body trembling.

"Wh-what have I done...?"

There was no doubt about it, he had just offended something he never should have. What was that entity? It carried a crushing weight, one that clearly did not belong to this world.

’I have to beg...’

Gladious’ expression stiffened, turning solemn.

"Ple—"

Before he could finish, the cold edge of a blade pressed against his neck, stopping him cold.

"What...?"

Slowly, he lifted his gaze.

In that infinitesimal moment, the head hunter had already crossed the distance and now stood before him.

Though the purple glow in his eyes had faded back to ocean blue, the coldness within them was just as fierce.

"You will answer my question, or I kill you. Understand?"

The chill in his voice seeped straight into Gladious’ bones. He stiffened, then nodded rapidly. He dropped into a kowtow without hesitation, his forehead pressing against the ground again and again like a puppet.

"Y-yes! Yes, my supreme lord! I—I didn’t recognize you, I swear! If I had known, I would have welcomed you properly—! Compared to you, I am nothing, just dirt! This lowly one must truly be blind—!"

The surviving elders and the people could only stare at their leader in disbelief.

The blade pressed deeper against his neck, cutting him off instantly.

"Ah—wait! I’m talking too much! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’ll be quiet!"

"Who are you? And where are we?"

"M-my name is Gladious, my supreme lord! I—I am nothing more than an ant... in the outer parts of the First Crown!"

"You rule these people?"

Gladious stiffened, an alarm ringing in his mind. If he admitted that, he would be taking full responsibility for everything that had just happened.

"R-rule...? N-no, my supreme lord, nothing like that! I—I merely serve them...!"

A faint frown formed on the head hunter’s face.

Gladious’ heart skipped. He immediately dropped his head again, slamming it hard against the ground.

"My supreme lord! Please—please spare us! We are nothing, just helpless souls facing a disaster! We are beneath you—we would gladly serve you! Please, spare us!"

He motioned sharply toward the others, glaring at them.

They reacted instantly, dropping to their knees and bowing in unison.

"P-please spare us!"

"Please spare us!"

"..."

The head hunter’s frown deepened. To Atticus, the entire situation felt odd. Unfamiliar.

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