Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground novel Chapter 649

Chapter 649 Vorpal Nova

Darkness.

That was all Atticus saw before it receded, leaving him standing at the edge of a familiar serene dojo.

'I have to be quick,' he thought. This was his only option given his current situation: entering the katana realm. He needed every thing he had for the fight that was to come.

Atticus's eyes landed on the figure seated in the middle of the dojo— a man with white hair, now aged considerably more than Atticus remembered.

"Ancestor Cedric?" Atticus's gaze narrowed as he began approaching the center of the dojo.

"The young monster," Cedric replied, flashing Atticus a warm smile, causing the latter's eyes to widen in surprise.

"What happened?" Atticus immediately asked. While Cedric had been old the last time they met, he hadn't been this frail and worn out.

Back then, his body had been filled with vigor and life, and Atticus could feel the power radiating off him.

However, Cedric's current state was the opposite. His back was hunched, and he leaned on a walking stick. His entire body appeared lifeless, as if he might die and turn to dust at any second. It was a stark difference.

"Haha, is it that bad?" Cedric smiled gently, but Atticus didn't respond, his expression only becoming more serious.

Cedric sighed. "It was the only way you could survive that situation. An advanced rank fighting three expert ranks, even with the power of the life weapon, was impossible,"

Atticus's eyes widened. He had already suspected there would be repercussions for receiving that much pure power, but he hadn't expected that Cedric would be the one to bear the cost.

"What's going to happen to you?" Atticus asked, his voice tense with concern.

Cedric smiled warmly, noticing the worry in Atticus's expression.

"My actions led to the life force holding my spirit together waning significantly. It's unfortunate, but this will be my last rodeo,"

Atticus froze, an overwhelming sense of guilt settling in. He hadn't been particularly close with Cedric, but the man had saved his life—at the cost of his own.

"Don't give me that look, child. I chose to do this on my own; it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself,"

Seeing that Atticus was still troubled, Cedric decided to change the subject.

"On a more important note, I've been watching all your exploits and achievements. You've done well—too well, in fact," Cedric praised, muttering the last bit to himself. He had wanted to commend Atticus, but suddenly remembered everything the "little monster" had done. It was overwhelming.

"Listen, boy. None of us have ever accomplished everything you have, and none of us have ever come so close to surviving. If you continue on this path, you'll have a chance against those other monsters!"

Cedric's words snapped Atticus out of his thoughts. He still felt guilty, but he had more pressing matters to address.

There was a question that had been on his mind since the last time he was in the katana realm.

"Forming a domain is what makes a grandmaster a grandmaster, right? Is that where you all end up dying?"

Atticus hadn't forgotten Cedric's words from their previous encounter. He knew he would soon begin forming his domain, and he needed to know if there was something he should be wary of.

Cedric smiled wryly.

"Sometimes I wonder how you think. There's a grandmaster about to kill you, and you're worried about this?"

Atticus's expression remained unchanged, causing Cedric to sigh.

"I suppose it's time you knew everything. I'm sure you're already aware that you're not the only reincarnated person on this planet," Cedric began, watching as Atticus nodded before continuing.

"The Nexus competition you're about to participate in is just one of many that have taken place over the centuries. Almost every time, the reincarnated who become the apex of their respective races turn it into a death game where only the victor survives," Cedric explained.

"However, due to the overwhelming difference in strength between the races, many of the human reincarnators have chosen not to become an apex and participate in the Nexus. Unfortunately, every single one of them, without exception, has ended up dying as they reached the grandmaster rank." _{freewebnøvel.com}

Cedric's tone grew more serious, making Atticus tense.

"No, this isn't about forming your domain. Until now, it hasn't been possible to form a domain without reaching the master+ rank. But you've always been different, boy. Don't let that go to your head.

"The formation of your domain would give you an overwhelming boost in strength, which is essential for entering the grandmaster- rank. Forming your domain now would still give you this boost, but it might not be enough to carry you into the grandmaster ranks. If you find yourself hitting the bottleneck between master+ and grandmaster, simply form your domain to break through. However, be cautious."

Cedric paused, his voice taking on a grave tone.