Atticus’s Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground

Atticus and Whisker fixed their gazes on the figure radiating a blinding light standing high on the cliff.

The entire island had been enveloped in his golden brilliance, and he looked down at the world as though everything was beneath him.

"Why am I not surprised," Whisker chuckled, feeling the aura of dominance pressing down on him.

'It's almost as large as my star actor's.'

He thought with a serious gaze. Whisker could feel it, Ozeroth's Will was sturdy, almost as sturdy as Atticus's.

'It's their bond.'

He had expected as much. In a sense, Ozeroth's Will was supposed to surpass Atticus's. But because of their bond, it had been suppressed to an equal level. However… he had noticed something else.

'it's not as potent.'

Whisker could feel Ozeroth's concept. The man's eyes said it all.

Pride.

That egoistic feeling, one that meant he was lesser than none.

Although it was not overwhelming, Whisker could feel the effects of his Will. His gaze narrowed.

'It takes away others' pride… and uses it to fuel himself.'

In simple terms, the more people basked in his glory, the more power he would gain.

This was Ozeroth's Imposition on the world.

A frown appeared on Atticus' face

. "Enough with your daydreaming," he said, appearing close to Ozeroth. "What about your Omnicognition?" Atticus asked.

Now that he had changed his path and awakened his True Will, did that mean his Aspect would change?

Ozeroth snorted. "You're just a hater, bond. Don't think the lazy one didn't relay your words to me."

"What words?"

"That I can't do it without his help."

"Stop," Atticus said, and the world crashed around Whisker, freezing him just as he was trying to escape.

Atticus turned toward Ozeroth with a sigh. "We're literally bonded. You would trust his words over mine? You could've at least checked with a simple scan."

Ozeroth frowned. He focused inwardly, combing through Atticus' memories, and his frown deepened. His gaze shot toward Whisker.

"You! You lied!"

"Lie is such a strong word," Whisker coughed dryly, looking like he'd been caught stealing cookies. "I just… twisted the truth a little. Yes, that's what I did. Haha."

But Ozeroth wasn't having it. "You lazy idiot! Do you take the great Ozeroth for a fool!?"

The golden brilliance blanketing the island snapped back, engulfing Ozeroth in a blinding light.

"Ozeroth, wait—" Atticus tried to call out, but Ozeroth wasn't listening.

"There is no more barrier protecting you from me! I will teach you a lesson!"

Ozeroth brandished his twin hammers, his body blurring.

Whisker's eyes shot wide. He felt danger. His gaze narrowed.

A surge of blue erupted from him in a blast, and he punched out.

Gold and blue collided, the explosion ripping toward the heavens and down the island.

The clouds parted for kilometers. The island was obliterated by the force of the clash.

For a moment, a swirl of blue and gold filled the sky, until a deep, rumbling boom shattered the calm.

Streaks of blue and gold tore through the air, colliding in bursts of force that shook the atmosphere.

Atticus shook his head and sighed as Ozeroth and Whisker continued clashing. As a god, he had the ability to stop this in an instant, but he decided not to. At least not now.

'Let him test his power.'

That was the real reason behind the fight. Ozeroth simply needed someone to gauge his newfound strength with, and sparring with a god didn't seem fair on any level.

Still, Atticus was intrigued.

'Ozeroth's enjoying it.'

He could feel the exhilaration pouring from him. The man had a grin on his face as he repeatedly clashed with Whisker.

As a god, Atticus' Will had reached the peak of what the segment could handle, and so had Ozeroth's. Which was why he could go head to head with Whisker without losing out.

Whisker, on the other hand, looked like, well, Whisker. Crazy.

Ozeroth had suddenly attacked him, yet it was as if Whisker's grin was even wider than Ozeroth's. As if he was loving every bit of it.

They clashed, wielding only their Wills, pure Pride versus the Untamed Wild.

The effects of their opposing Wills tunneled into each other and began to take root.

Inferiority crept into Whisker. Ozeroth began to look taller, grander, greater in his eyes.

But for Ozeroth… it was madness. He felt the urge to let go of all restraint. To break free. To be free.

Their grins widened.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

They clashed and clashed. The massive sea the island had once rested on parted for hundreds of kilometers, their figures colliding deep within its trenches.

But soon enough, Atticus had had enough.

He raised his hand and clenched his fist, and the world crashed down on them.

They froze, then shot upwards toward the sky where Atticus hovered, watching as the sea filled the void their battle had carved.

"How do you both feel now? Good?"

"Haha!" Ozeroth laughed. "I feel great! I always welcome a good fight!"

Whisker grinned. "Well, you're not so bad yourself. Plus… was that a compliment? I assumed awakening your True Will would make you even more up your ass. Looks like I was wrong?"

"Ozeroth gives praise when due," he said, then paused, before adding with a smirk,

"After all, what is praise if it doesn't come from someone as magnificent as me?"

Atticus and Whisker both sighed in sync.

"He hasn't changed."

Atticus decided to repeat his question once more.

"Your Omnicognition… you still have it?"

"Huh?" Ozeroth turned toward him. "Ah, yes. I still do. My Aspect is a part of me, it doesn't matter what Will path I follow."

Atticus nodded. That had been what he was curious about.

Since everything was concluded, Atticus shamelessly told Whisker to continue his vacation, despite the obliterated island, before disappearing along with Ozeroth, leaving Whisker's voice echoing behind them:

"This isn't over!"

Back on the hilltop, Ozeroth wasted no time.

"So… the purple one finally woke up, huh?"