Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground

Chapter 878  Target

After receiving the news from the warrior, Atticus immediately left the observation tower and headed toward the meeting room. He told Lyric to remain behind, as the boy wasn't allowed to join the scouting team outside the fortress in the first place.

Lyric had wanted to beg Atticus to convince his father to let him join, believing the apex's support could sway Candence's decision. But Atticus shot the idea down without hesitation. He had no intention of bringing along someone who would be a liability. Moreover, not even he could guarantee anyone's safety in an environment like this.

The Vampyros were a race notorious for their precision in killing and brutal tactics. Atticus couldn't afford to split his focus during battle. He had never fought while worrying about others, and when he fought, he went all out.

Determined to get to the root of the Vampyros' strange activities, Atticus walked straight to the meeting room, ignoring everything else around him.

As he entered the room, his sharp gaze immediately locked onto Candence, Vyn, and three individuals standing behind them.

'Master+ ranks,' Atticus thought, recognizing their mana levels at a glance.

Their ages also added to his assessment. During his training, he'd learned that reaching Master rank in one's late thirties or forties was considered exceptional, indicative of individuals with potential to reach the Grandmaster+ rank.

They were valuable assets.

As Atticus's presence filled the hall, all eyes turned to him. His aura blanketed the room like a tidal wave, commanding their full attention.

Candence stepped forward quickly, offering a formal nod. "Apex Atticus, thank you for joining us. I hope your stay at the fortress has been pleasant?"

Atticus gave a curt nod, his tone even. "It's been fine."

His gaze shifted briefly to Vyn. The man smiled politely and bowed, as though everything was normal.

'Playing it cool, huh?' Atticus thought, but he said nothing. Instead, his sharp eyes moved to the three individuals standing behind Candence.

The trio flinched under his piercing stare, their composure cracking. They had only seen him from afar the day before, but standing this close now, they could feel the weight of his overwhelming aura.

Noticing their unease, Candence stepped in to break the tension. "Apex Atticus, these three are some of our finest scouts. They will assist you with your mission, guide you, or accompany you, whatever you prefer."

He turned to the group. "Introduce yourselves."

The first to step forward was a woman with sharp green eyes and the vibrant hair typical of the Resonara family. She wore a headset that wrapped around her large ears. Bowing deeply, she spoke respectfully. "Apex Atticus, my name is Jena. It's an honor to meet you."

The second, a tall man with a lean build and calm demeanor, followed. His voice was steady, polite. "I am Crescendo. I look forward to working with you."

The last was a muscular woman with scars running along her arms. Her hardened face showed experience, but her tone was blunt. Her bow was barely a nod. "Mira," she said simply.

For a moment, the room fell silent. Candence's frown deepened at Mira's lack of respect, and Jena shot her a sharp glare. Before anyone could comment, Atticus spoke.

"My name is Atticus," he said, his tone neutral. "Pleased to meet you all."

Turning back to Candence, he added, "I'm ready to leave now."

Candence hesitated, grateful that Atticus had ignored Mira's behavior. He gave a firm nod. "Understood. Be careful out there, Apex Atticus."

He bowed deeply, then gestured for the scouts to follow. The group moved in unison, trailing behind Atticus as he walked out of the hall.

Once the doors closed behind them, Candence let out a long exhale. "I hope he'll be okay," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Beside him, Vyn's expression flickered coldly for a split second before returning to its usual composed demeanor.

He said nothing, but his sharp eyes lingered on the now-closed doors.

As the group left the meeting room, they walked down a dimly lit corridor deep within the fortress. At the end of the hall, they came to a large, reinforced door. Crescendo stepped forward and unlocked it, revealing a large room.

The room was filled with neatly arranged weapons and armor of all kinds. Swords engraved with glowing runes hung beside shields, and Atticus even noticed bows and other specialized weapons.

In the center of the room was a table covered with artifacts of various shapes and sizes.

'An armory,M Atticus thought, his eyes scanning the space.

Jena noticed his curiosity and spoke up. "The area beyond the border is extremely dangerous. We always make sure we're fully equipped to handle anything."

As she spoke, Crescendo and Mira began gearing up. They strapped on armor adorned with glowing runes and selected weapons from the walls. Jena followed suit, carefully donning her own gear.

The room was silent except for the sound of buckles being fastened and weapons being adjusted. Mira shot Atticus a few hostile glances, but he ignored her completely.

If this had been the past, Atticus would've confronted such behavior immediately. He had always believed in addressing issues head-on.

However, his training in spiritual energy and the Vampyros techniques had sharpened his ability to sense intent. He could now distinguish between genuine threats and emotions that were meaningless and could be ignored.

Mira's hostility wasn't active; it was a quiet hatred directed not at him personally but at what he represented. It felt helpless and stagnant, something she wouldn't act on.

'She probably just hates people with power,' Atticus concluded. It was the most logical explanation, and because of that, he dismissed it entirely.

'Not worth addressing.'

After some time, the group finished equipping themselves. Fully armored, they looked like professional soldiers prepared for battle.

Atticus, however, stood as he had been, unarmed and without armor.

Jena glanced at him, her confusion clear. "Apex Atticus, why haven't you chosen anything? Are the weapons not to your liking?"

Atticus looked at their heavily equipped appearances and shook his head inwardly. "I prefer to move this way," he said calmly.

Jena and the others exchanged surprised glances. Mira, however, clicked her tongue and spoke bluntly.

"These aren't just for protection. They're designed to counter the Vampyros' blood manipulation and energy-draining abilities. Not using them could be dangerous."

"Mira!" Jena snapped, glaring at her.

Atticus's gaze shifted to Mira, his sharp eyes freezing her in place. "Mind your business," he said flatly.

Mira stiffened, unable to meet his gaze. She quickly looked away, breaking eye contact.

Atticus let the moment linger for a second before turning toward the door. "Let's go," he said.

Without another word, the group left the armory. As they moved through the fortress, warriors stopped to watch them pass. Some cast envious glances, their jealousy obvious as they eyed the team accompanying the apex of humanity.

After navigating the fortress, they reached the top of the wall overlooking the border. The fortress, perched high on a mountain, provided a commanding view of the vast forest below. Beyond the wall stretched an endless expanse of trees, their dark green canopy blending into the distant horizon.

"This is it," Jena said, gesturing toward the forest below.

Without hesitation, the group leaped from the wall.

The wind howled as they descended, but Atticus remained unshaken. The air bent around him, stabilizing his descent effortlessly. Below, the others acted. Their headsets glowed with a soft blue light, creating invisible sound barriers around their bodies that slowed their fall.

They landed without a sound, their armored boots barely disturbing the forest floor.

Jena turned to Atticus. "Apex Atticus, please stay within our sound barrier. We can't risk getting detected."

Atticus's gaze flicked to the barrier as it expanded to encompass the group. His purple eyes glowed faintly as he examined its structure.

'So this is sound,' he thought, analyzing every aspect of the barrier. Vibrations hummed within the invisible shield, perfectly contained to create an eerie silence. The intricacy of the Resonara ability intrigued him. Learning this technique was still a priority.

He gave Jena a slight nod, signaling his understanding. She returned the gesture and motioned for the group to move.

The team moved swiftly through the forest, their steps heavy yet utterly silent within the sound barrier. The stillness was unsettling, as if even the forest recognized their presence and held its breath.

Atticus kept pace effortlessly, his sharp mind dissecting every aspect of their movement. The Resonara warriors moved with fluidity, their movementseamless and synchronized. It was obvious that they had been doing this for years

'No sound escapes the barrier,' he noted, studying the flow of their sound manipulation. He mentally deconstructed the unique mana signature, observing how the barrier absorbed vibrations. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

…

Deep within the forest, three figures crouched in the dense canopy of trees, motionless and still.

Each was clad in tight, black suits that fit like a second skin. Their faces were hidden behind masks, but their glowing crimson eyes pierced through the them, cold and unsettling.

A faint metallic tang of blood hung in the air around them, exuding a lethal aura.

Every movement they made was calculated and silent, their predatory stillness radiating an oppressive energy. Each of them was grandmaster+ rank, their power heavy in the atmosphere.

The silence stretched until one of them spoke, his voice low and emotionless.

"The target is in the forest, accompanied by three others. Four bodies in total. We move quickly, silent and clean."