Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground-Chapter 1174: Choice

Ozeroth's thoughts were spiraling.

He had just uncovered information that could only mean trouble. And it had all started with figuring out how exactly the Spirit King had arrived on Eldoralth.

At the very least, Ozeroth had believed this to be just a fragment of the king, not his full self. If the entirety of him had descended, he couldn't even begin to imagine the devastation that would've struck Eldoralth in the very first second.

'It's just like what happened back then.'

Back when he bonded with Atticus. Ozeroth believed the Spirit King had used a similar method, but taken it many steps further.

First, just like with Atticus and himself, a part of the Spirit King had forcibly bonded with Zoey. And as expected of all bonds, the king's strength would be tethered to Zoey's.

But there was no way Zoey alone was capable of all these feats. Which brought him to the second part.

During his bond with Atticus, the boy's power had been pushed far beyond its limits. The massive gap between their strengths had caused excess energy to overflow, amplifying Atticus to unimaginable heights.

If Zoey's strength had surged, then the Spirit King's had as well. That was how he'd reached such heights despite the bond.

But even that wasn't the end of it.

No, the Spirit King had taken things to an entirely different level.

He had sacrificed the entire Starhaven lineage, every single one of them, spirits included. Turned them into fuel with his devourer aspect.

As they died, their essence had poured into Zoey, boosting her to unprecedented levels, and in turn, feeding the Spirit King even more power.

But it still wasn't over.

Ozeroth's spiritual eyes saw it all. And his fists clenched so tightly, his knuckles cracked.

The Spirit King was still gaining power. Meaning, there was still a source. A constant stream of fuel.

Just above Zoey, Ozeroth could see it, purple energy pouring down like a waterfall, slamming into her and flowing through her body.

He could hear the screams. Feel the pain.

More fuel was coming. More spirits were dying.

Gritting his teeth, Ozeroth glared at the Spirit King.

"You call yourself a hero, and yet you're sacrificing your people right now?!"

He had felt it, spirits were coming from the Spirit World, only to take their own lives and be used as fuel. All for this king.

The king's expression remained calm.

"Unlike you, they value their world, and would gladly give their lives to save it."

"Stop trying to justify your evil!" Ozeroth spat. "If you're so certain of their loyalty, then why not give them a choice?"

He had known it from the beginning. The Spirit World had never been at peace. Then suddenly, after the Spirit King's rise, everyone buried the hatchet?

He didn't buy it.

He'd always suspected brainwashing. And he'd wondered, why hadn't it affected him?

Was it because of his Aspect? Or…

The Spirit King's words dragged him from that train of thought. But he refused to entertain the possibility. He wouldn't even consider it.

Instead, he focused on the matter at hand. Spirits, his people, were being forced to kill themselves by this… this tyrant.

"The deaths of thousands to save billions," the Spirit King said flatly. "I would take that bargain."

No remorse. No hesitation.

The air around Ozeroth trembled. His body burned with fury as he stared directly into the king's eyes.

"No sacrifice of your people is ever okay."

"Then you still have a lot to learn," the Spirit King replied.

But Ozeroth was done listening.

He raised his arm, and the sky erupted in a cascade of purple light. Dozens, then hundreds, then thousands of weapons materialized in the air around the Spirit King. Each had a glowing violet nozzle, brimming with power.

He dropped his arm, and they fired.

An uncountable swarm of beams tore through the air, each one a lance of pure destruction aimed straight at the Spirit King.

The king didn't move. Not an inch.

The attacks reached the edge of his devouring field, and vanished.

The energy was instantly consumed.

Silence followed.

"You may be my blood," the Spirit King said at last, "but if you continue standing in the way of Aerithis… I will devour you."

Ozeroth's eyes narrowed. "What is this nonsense you keep spewing? Blood? What do you mean?"

"Exactly as it sounds." The Spirit King's voice was calm. "You are my son."

Ozeroth's fists tightened. "You're lying."

He had always been alone. No parents. No siblings. No kin.

Now this monster, this tyrant, was claiming to be his father?

'He's just trying to mess with me.'

He didn't even answer. Just summoned his twin hammers, fury swelling in his chest.

The Spirit King frowned. "What a waste of my seed."

His aura surged.

Ozeroth felt it instantly, an enormous weight crashing down on him as the king moved. His guard shot up to its peak.

And then, his expression changed.

The devouring field was moving with him!

Ozeroth bolted back, just before it touched him, but the Spirit King didn't stop.

The devouring field surged forward in perfect sync with its master, relentless, consuming… and closing in fast. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

But Ozeroth just kept moving, slipping out of reach again and again. He couldn't afford to get caught in it. His mind raced, working to find a way out of this predicament.

'I can't copy it yet.'

Even at full power, the Spirit King's aspect had always been one Ozeroth could never replicate. It was too complex. Too unique.

He believed it was only a matter of time before he could, as he continued to grow stronger. But that time hadn't come yet, and if he couldn't do it then, then he sure as hell couldn't do it now.

'I have to find another way.'

The Spirit King was trying to trap him within the field, and if that happened, it was over.

Every attack Ozeroth launched was instantly swallowed. What had once been a cataclysmic clash of titans had now devolved into a deadly chase, with both beings tearing across the skies of Eldoralth.

'That's the only choice.'

His eyes glinted as he concluded, even as his body kept weaving and dashing, evading the ever creeping edge of the field.