Chapter 1370: Offer

Atticus breathed deeply, trying to settle his thoughts. Some time had passed since Atticus had awakened his mark and he was still trying to get his thoughts in order.

The memories of Solvath plagued him, and so did the emotions. Atticus had had surges of emotions before, anger when any of his close ones were in danger. Anguish when he had lost Freya.

But he couldn’t compare any of them to what he felt now. When he closed his eyes, all he saw were the five primordials betraying him, Solvath.

He could feel everything the star felt on that day. The anger, the pain, none of it had waned, despite the fact that millennia had passed. It was as though Solvath had always been watching, waiting.

’I can’t keep going like this.’

He had to get everything under control, and fast. He had enemies to handle, people after his life. How was he supposed to battle when he was at a risk of having an existential crisis?

Atticus’s mind suddenly flashed with the image of the beautiful Saint. She was also a marked, and from what he had seen, had her emotions under control. He would be able to learn what he needed from her but...

’Why would she teach me.’

Atticus now understood an important fact he’d missed beforehand. Why would the marked go as far as gather the other fragments?

’Because we have to.’

Asides wanting to gain overwhelming power, the feeling of anguish and betrayal seemed to follow them for life. And it seemed, no, it felt, like gathering the remaining core was the only way to be freed from its shackles.

Atticus opened his eyes and glanced at the mark on his arm. It was star-shaped, and purple, but its light had dimmed compared to when he used Solvath’s power.

’Let’s give it a try.’

Atticus exhaled and focused. Though he had only just awakened the power, he’d always been a fast learner. He knew just how to awaken it.

Atticus stopped fighting against the emotions raging within him. He became one with them, and then his eyes lit up a blinding purple, and the world changed.

His vision shifted from a world of colors to deep violet. He saw the world at a different angle, level and height. Time moved slowly, and he felt as though he could peer through anything.

For a moment, Atticus just stared, trying to understand everything he was feeling. He felt connected to... the world. Like he could influence it.

The God’s will, the Saint’s, that had enveloped the room before, had begun to flicker and wane.

Solvath’s energy disrupts other wills.

This was something that had occurred far too many times that he wouldn’t notice. But the power to disrupt other wills was an insane power, no matter how much he thought about it.

Atticus was about to ponder the implications when the waves of emotions hit him. He gasped, his breathing turning labored and ragged the next moment.

He clutched the sheets tight as his vision flushed black. Once more, Atticus witnessed the Big Bang of the universe and the fall of Solvath.

He slumped down on the bed when it was over, breathing raggedly.

"Shit."

Atticus cursed. He couldn’t continue like this. Emotions in disarray, mind exhausted, Atticus had no idea when his heavy breathing turned into deep and slow.

His eyelids became heavier, and then for the first time in years... Atticus slept.

...

Atticus woke up with a start, snapping up from bed. He felt the wetness on his body and wasn’t surprised to discover it was sweat. The scenes had played even in his dreams.

Taking deep breaths, he clutched his forehead.

’I slept?’

This was somehow more shocking to him than awakening Solvath’s fragment. When last did he sleep? And to think he would dare do that in an unknown world...

’I can’t even sleep properly anymore.’

Atticus could feel a heaviness settling down on his mind. A fog. He felt like he hadn’t slept for decades.

A knock on the door snapped him out of his thoughts. He groggily moved to open.

"You look like shit. Are you okay?"

Lazio stared at Atticus with narrowed eyes. Since he met the young god in the will hall, this was the first time his appearance wasn’t... perfect.

While Atticus stood tall, his eyes were half-open, filled with weariness, and his hair was sticky and rough.

"Did someone attack you?" Lazio’s expression darkened. If someone had dared attack the Saint’s guest—

"What do you want?"

Lazio frowned.

"So you weren’t attacked. Must be a personal thing then. Wanna talk?"

Atticus raised an eyebrow. Lazio coughed.

"A few hours have passed. I came here to see if you need a tour around."

’Could be good.’

Right now, Atticus needed more than anything to get his mind off things. He nodded to Lazio and the man smiled widely.

"Then shall we leave now?"

Atticus didn’t bother with his appearance and followed Lazio, but not before informing the others telepathically.

"I’ll come with! Your eminence."

Kancilot had immediately said. Atticus wanted to shut it down, needing the moment of clarity, but Kancilot refused to back down. When he remembered the king was a silent man, he eventually agreed.

In the next moment, three footsteps wandered across the hallway. Atticus and Lazio side by side, with Kancilot behind.

"A lot on your mind?"

Atticus would usually shy away from small talk, but today, he needed any distraction.

"Something like that."

"Hmm, such is the way of the middle planes. There’s always something going on."

"Were you trying to recruit me into the resistance?"

Lazio paused, a bit stunned.

"Yes I was."

There was a moment of silence.

"What made you think I would join?"

"Because you’re new. Because you’ve witnessed the unfairness of the major factions. Because you need us."

"I need you?"

"Yes." Lazio nodded, like it was a matter of fact. "As much as I would hate to admit it, no one god could go against the major factions. Their power is vast, and reach stretched far and wide. There is a need to band together. This is how the resistance came to be."