Chapter 1212: Concept
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.
âWhy am I not surprised,â Whisker chuckled, feeling the aura of dominance pressing down on him.
âItâs almost as large as my star actorâs.â
He thought with a serious gaze. Whisker could feel it, Ozerothâs Will was sturdy, almost as sturdy as Atticusâs.
âItâs their bond.â
He had expected as much. In a sense, Ozerothâs Will was supposed to surpass Atticusâs. But because of their bond, it had been suppressed to an equal level. However⊠he had noticed something else.
âitâs not as potent.â
Whisker could feel Ozerothâs concept. The manâs 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.
âIt takes away othersâ pride⊠and uses it to fuel himself.â
In simple terms, the more people basked in his glory, the more power he would gain.
This was Ozerothâs Imposition on the world.
A frown appeared on Atticusâ face
. âEnough with your daydreaming,â he said, appearing close to Ozeroth. âWhat about your Omnicognition?â Atticus asked.
Now that he had changed his path and awakened his True Will, did that mean his Aspect would change?
Ozeroth snorted. âYouâre just a hater, bond. Donât think the lazy one didnât relay your words to me.â
âWhat words?â
âThat I canât do it without his help.â
âStop,â Atticus said, and the world crashed around Whisker, freezing him just as he was trying to escape.
Atticus turned toward Ozeroth with a sigh. âWeâre literally bonded. You would trust his words over mine? You couldâve at least checked with a simple scan.â
Ozeroth frowned. He focused inwardly, combing through Atticusâ memories, and his frown deepened. His gaze shot toward Whisker.
âYou! You lied!â
âLie is such a strong word,â Whisker coughed dryly, looking like heâd been caught stealing cookies. âI just⊠twisted the truth a little. Yes, thatâs what I did. Haha.â
But Ozeroth wasnât having it. âYou lazy idiot! Do you take the great Ozeroth for a fool!?â
The golden brilliance blanketing the island snapped back, engulfing Ozeroth in a blinding light.
âOzeroth, waitââ Atticus tried to call out, but Ozeroth wasnât listening.
âThere is no more barrier protecting you from me! I will teach you a lesson!â
Ozeroth brandished his twin hammers, his body blurring.
Whiskerâs 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.
âLet him test his power.â
That was the real reason behind the fight. Ozeroth simply needed someone to gauge his newfound strength with, and sparring with a god didnât seem fair on any level.
Still, Atticus was intrigued.
âOzerothâs enjoying it.â
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, Atticusâ Will had reached the peak of what the segment could handle, and so had Ozerothâs. 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 Whiskerâs grin was even wider than Ozerothâs. 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.
âHow do you both feel now? Good?â
âHaha!â Ozeroth laughed. âI feel great! I always welcome a good fight!â
Whisker grinned. âWell, youâre 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?â
âOzeroth gives praise when due,â he said, then paused, before adding with a smirk,
âAfter all, what is praise if it doesnât come from someone as magnificent as me?â
Atticus and Whisker both sighed in sync.
âHe hasnât changed.â
Atticus decided to repeat his question once more.
âYour Omnicognition⊠you still have it?â
âHuh?â Ozeroth turned toward him. âAh, yes. I still do. My Aspect is a part of me, it doesnât matter what Will path I follow.â
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 Whiskerâs voice echoing behind them:
âThis isnât over!â
Back on the hilltop, Ozeroth wasted no time.
âSo⊠the purple one finally woke up, huh?â