Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground novel Chapter 896

Chapter 896 Voidveil Mist

Atticus felt weak.

It was as though his energy was being siphoned from his body, drained with every breath as he moved.

'Just as I expected,' he thought, gritting his teeth.

The mist was thick, wrapping around him like a suffocating blanket, cold and oppressive. It clung to his skin, seeped into his lungs, and leeched at his energy with every movement.

Atticus had already suspected this would happen. The moment the mist surrounded the hill, he knew he had no choice. It wasn't a matter of avoiding it, it was inevitable.

As he leapt from the peak of the hill, he burst into the mist, parting it like water. His landing was precise and soundless. A roll carried his momentum forward, his body moving with fluid efficiency.

His legs churned like pistons, silent and impossibly fast. Each step barely touched the sand, leaving no sound, no trace. His breathing slowed to a whisper, his heart pounding in a controlled rhythm.

Atticus moved like a shadow, quiet and unseen.

But he wasn't alone.

He could hear them.

The sound of countless footsteps echoed behind him, an army of invisible beasts. The soft crunch of sand, the vibration of their claws hitting the ground, the distant howl of their hunger.

They were coming.

'Can you hear me?' Atticus tried to see if he could communicate with his spirit through thoughts.

This was a trial designed by the katana. It seemed unlikely it wouldn't have accounted for something like this, unless, of course, the katana was hell-bent on making this as hellish as possible.

Luckily, that wasn't the case.

'Yes, I can.'

Hearing the thick voice of his guide in his head brought immense relief. Atticus wasted no time.

'Tell me everything about this mist,' he demanded, his mind racing even as his body pushed forward.

Now that he was in the mist and directly affected by it, the spirit could give him answers.

The spirit didn't hesitate. 'This is the Voidveil Mist. It appears only at night and drains energy from any living thing caught within it. The more you exert yourself, the faster it drains you.'

Atticus's eyes narrowed. 'How do I stop it from draining my energy?'

"Simple," the spirit replied. "The less you exert yourself, the less it absorbs. Exert nothing, and it takes nothing."

The information hit Atticus like a thunderbolt. His brain worked rapidly, piecing together possibilities.

'How do I escape it?'

'You don't,' the spirit said bluntly. 'You were never meant to escape. Even at your top speed, it will engulf you. It's not something you can outrun.'

'What about the beasts? They're not affected?'

The spirit shook his head. 'They're a product of the mist. It doesn't affect them. It's their domain.'

Atticus's jaw tightened. 'A trap.'

He glanced back. The invisible beasts were gaining, their footsteps multiplying. Despite the many he had already killed, there were still countless more.

Going quiet was useless now. The beasts had marked him with their scent. Running would only drain him further. Fighting would draw more blood and sound, attracting even more of them.

To an observer, it seemed like checkmate.

But the spirit's gaze flicked to Atticus, narrowing in curiosity. One mistake would mean certain death, and yet, despite everything, the boy's expression remained calm.

Atticus's cold eyes flickered as his thoughts raced, considering every possibility, weighing every outcome.

The spirit couldn't help but marvel. "Even in this situation?" it muttered.

Among the wielders of the katana, Atticus was by far the youngest to have ever attempted the fourth trial. The spirit could remember its own trial vividly, the fear that had gripped it when faced with a similar situation. And yet, here stood this young boy, utterly calm.

Just as the spirit marveled at his composure, Atticus's gaze hardened. His streaking figure came to an abrupt stop. He turned sharply to face the oncoming horde, his aura shifting.

He had decided.

Running was impossible. Staying quiet was impossible.

So, he would fight.