Chapter 1228: Sloppy
“So…” Atticus said after so seconds.
“I’m guessing the reason why the other stars decided to join hands with the people from the Middle Planes is mainly because of security. They wanted the protection each faction would offer their gods in order to increase their chances of survival.”
Quiet Fla nodded, impressed by Atticus’ ingenuity. But Atticus wasn’t done.
“For them to take such risks ans the chances of new ascending gods surviving on their own is really slim…”
Atticus took Quiet Fla’s sudden silence as a yes.
‘That’s bad.’
That wasn’t good news, it was a very bad one. If ascending worlds from the lower planes weren’t surviving long enough to be useful to their stars, then it could only an the danger waiting for him when he ascended was just that great.
Quiet Fla could see Atticus’ troubled look and decided to say sothing.
“Not all gods are cut the sa. Many might have fallen, but it doesn’t an the sa thing will happen to y—”
“Save the speech.”
Atticus cut in before Quiet Fla could finish, and he swore he saw a flush of red from the embarrassnt. But he didn’t stop.
“Tell , what exactly is the power you stars gain?”
“Why are you asking? It’s not useful to you in any way.”
“Humor .”
Quiet Fla stared at Atticus for a few long seconds, contemplating whether or not to say it.
“We gain the power to create more worlds… and lifeforms.”
Atticus’ eyes sharpened. “You an…?”
Quiet Fla nodded. “We can create a major world from scratch. Create multiple lifeforms from nature and allow them to grow into civilizations.”
“Like an actual god,” Atticus muttered.
“Yes. A god. A regulator,” Quiet Fla concurred. “That’s why I believe Dreaming Sea agreed to this in the first place.”
Atticus quickly recalled the image of the Star of Vaelthrys.
“Though she looks peaceful, she’s a crazy one. A nutcase. She wants new soldiers, more playthings, she’d call them and she needs new worlds for that. Power.”
Atticus absorbed everything Quiet Fla was saying about the other stars. He had no idea, but they could co in handy at any ti.
“What about the others?” he asked.
“Crimson Hollow is probably doing it to show he’s not afraid of anything. That he’s an apex predator. Or he could simply like the thrill. It’s hard to say what’s going on in his head. He has the thinking capacity of a lon.”
“And Iron Crown?”
Atticus felt the air tense at the ntion of that na.
‘There’s sothing there.’
Iron Crown had led today’s orientation. It was odd Quiet Fla left him for last.
“…Iron Crown is… complicated.”
“Uncomplicate it.”
Quiet Fla sent Atticus a glare. The boy didn’t seem to care how he felt. He sighed.
“He’s a star whose ego is very far up his ass, and that’s saying a lot considering your friend there.”
Atticus silenced Ozeroth, who wanted to burst out and challenge a freaking star at the jab. He continued to listen.
“He lived in my shadow for millennia, and had been searching for ways to overpower to no avail. However, my… tragic accident paved the way for him.”
Atticus saw Quiet Fla reach for the hole in his chest. He didn’t say anything.
“He’s probably doing all of this to spite . While they’ve been colluding for decades now, there’s a reason he allowed them to watch this Virelenna. Because we’re participating.”
Quiet Fla shook his head. “It’s just a petty way to show that he’s in charge now.”
Now it was Atticus’s turn to fall silent. He tapped the armrest of his throne as he thought about the implications of everything, especially how it would all affect him.
‘There’s a lot at play here.’ Atticus sighed inwardly. It was getting far too complicated for his liking. Too many unknowns.
Too many people he had to watch out for. Too many forces that were beyond what he was currently capable of withstanding.
He had to tread carefully.
‘Let’s take it one step at a ti.’
“Can any star attack directly?”
“No.”
“What ways can they use to attack indirectly?”
Quiet Fla thought for a mont. “Aside from sending their gods against you, there’s not much else. It’s against the rules.”
“And I’d like to assu these rules prevent them from ssing with the Virelenna in any way?”
Atticus wanted to be sure. He couldn’t afford to have the rules changed after the ga had already started.
He’d like to trust Quiet Fla to protect him when it ca down to it, but his current state wasn’t exactly reassuring.
“No. They can’t interfere once the competition has begun.”
Quiet Fla’s response made Atticus believe that survival was at least possible.
“What about the people from the Middle Planes? Can they attack us?”
“In a sense, yes. They’re not bound by the sa rules we stars are. But you don’t have to worry about that,” Quiet Fla explained. “The only ti you should et them is after the competition. And Iron Crown has guaranteed the protection of the gods until they’re back in their segnts, at least the ones who survive the Virelenna.”
Atticus nodded. “Is there anything I should know about?” he asked.
Quiet Fla paused. “You know about your opponents?”
“To an extent, yes,” Atticus said. “So of them have awakened their Concepts.”
He had noticed it in them during the brief mont they all stood in that blue hall.
It was expected that the other gods had defined Wills, considering they had inherited the collective Will of their worlds, but awakening a Concept was different.
It wasn’t sothing a lower planer should have. Not yet, at least.
Atticus had done it thanks to Whisker’s guidance and his own abnormal talent. But what about the others? Were they all just as talented? He truly hoped not.
“Exactly,” Quiet Fla nodded. “I apologize for not telling you sooner. The last thing I wanted was to scare you off.”
Atticus didn’t say anything. Quiet Fla cleared his throat and continued.
“But truly, I don’t think there’s anything for you to be too worried about. Your awakened Will is profoundly different from theirs. I’m sure you felt it.”
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