Chapter 1318: Teacher

Atticus’s eyes sharpened.

"Well, as you’re aware, unlike you two monsters, my will path isn’t exactly true," Whisker began.

"I’m using another’s path. The Nature King’s path, to be exact. There was no problem using it in the lower plane, but now that we’re in the middle planes..."

"There’s a problem," Atticus finished his words.

"Yep," Whisker agreed. "You see, the problem is—"

"He can spy on you and see everything happening here when you use it." Atticus finished his words once more.

"Man, maybe you gods are actually all knowing." Whisker joked, but Atticus was not laughing.

He was chiding himself internally for not thinking of this. He’d done the same for spiritual will because of the spirit king, not a shred of it was used on Eldoralth.

What if Whisker hadn’t mentioned it? He had been content thinking he’d covered every scenario but had missed the biggest of all.

"Oh calm down, my star actor. I won’t be that useless."

Atticus was brought out of his thoughts. He hadn’t been thinking about that, but now that Whisker had mentioned it, he realized how right he was.

Whisker was one of his powerhouses, the strongest excluding him, Ozeroth and Noctis. But if he couldn’t use his will, he’d become almost as useful as the Eldorians. It was insane.

"I can still participate in the games. Even he couldn’t bypass the defenses of a Star," he assured.

Atticus decided not to waste time brooding and began thinking of a way forward.

"He can’t see us now?"

Whisker saw as Atticus’s gaze fixed on his beast flying away. He chuckled.

"Oh don’t worry, we’re safe. That’s far too insignificant to catch his radar. What we have to worry about is me unleashing my will. That will grab his attention."

Atticus nodded. If he was being honest, he had hoped to spar with Whisker. There was no better way to determine his strength than by fighting someone strong. But he had to forget about that, it seemed.

Atticus eventually nodded and gave Whisker a long stare. When the man started feeling uncomfortable and was about to talk, Atticus finally spoke.

"What’s your plan? Long term, I mean. Your goal is to kill your father. How do you plan to do that when you’re following his will path?"

"Weren’t you listening to me, my star actor? It’ll be you who kills my father, not me." Whisker corrected.

"But I get what you mean. I’ll search for a solution."

"The only solution as I see it is to abolish that path and find yours."

Atticus didn’t miss the sharpening of Whisker’s gaze. It was as though he’d just said something he wasn’t supposed to.

"You might be right," Whisker said after a moment.

"Not might. I am right. In fact, can you tell me why you haven’t done this since? You spent so many years in the lower plane, why didn’t you just do that?"

Whisker was silent for several seconds. He sighed and finally spoke. "Who said I didn’t?"

"You failed?"

"Yep. Unfortunately, not everyone is a monster like you or privileged like Ozeroth. I got tired, and got tired of trying. Unless I wanted to remain weak for the rest of my life, I had to make a choice."

Whisker’s cheekiness had vanished and Atticus could feel the sadness radiating from him. His revenge was of the utmost importance to Whisker.

His goal. A true will would help him achieve that, but he had failed in acquiring one. Atticus could understand his grievance.

"I simply accepted the hand that was dealt to me. It was the smart thing to do."

"Find a way."

Atticus’s sharp voice made Whisker furrow his brows.

"Are you not listening to what I—"

"I heard you clearly," Atticus cut in before he could finish. "But it shouldn’t matter, right? Or is that all your revenge means to you?"

Atticus didn’t miss Whisker’s eyes flashing cold, but he didn’t seem to care. He continued.

"You’ve only failed when you stop. How can you fail when you never stop trying? How can you succeed if you stop?"

Whisker’s eyes slowly widened as Atticus’s words sank in. He smiled. Killing the bastard that murdered his mother was all that mattered to him in this world. It was why he was clinging to a child after all.

When he couldn’t awaken his true will despite time passing, he’d resolved to focus his hopes on Atticus. It was the last thing he thought the kid would say to him.

’Keep trying, huh.’ Whisker found a grin stretching across his cheeks, but he didn’t bother to hide it.

"If I abolish my willpath, I’ll have to start all over again." Whisker said, his smile not changing.

"I asked you to find a way, not become a liability."

Whisker’s mouth twitched. A liability...

He’d thought he and Atticus were having a moment. To think the kid would be so blunt.

’As expected,’ he laughed.

"We’re in the middle planes, and I’ve just seen people boost their wills, a thing that was supposed to be an extension of oneself, with glowing stones and armor. I’m sure you’ll be able to find a way to speed up your path."

"Are you saying you’ll help me?"

"I can’t have one of my powerhouses becoming a liability."

Whisker cleared his throat, but still didn’t lose his smile. He nodded. "Thank you."

Atticus returned the smile. "Just hurry up. We have a lot of work to do."

As Whisker nodded, Atticus finally brought up a topic that had been on his mind. "The Eldorians. It’s time to help them awaken their wills. Can you do it?"

Whisker grinned and thumped his chest. "Oh, haven’t you heard? I’m the best teacher on this planet."

Atticus frowned. "Says who?"

"The man himself, Ozeroth!"

Atticus held in his laughter. "That’s probably because you forced him to say it."

"But he said it, nonetheless, right? That’s what mattered."

"Alright, alright." Atticus said, waving his arm. "You’re the best teacher. I’ll leave it to you then."

"Good choice." Whisker winked. "Now, I just need your doctrine to form your cult."

Atticus narrowed his eyes. Somehow, he had a bad feeling about this.