Shifting his focus, Atticus turned his attention to his surroundings. Hard stares were fixed on him from every direction, and he could feel the weight of them clearly. Awe, anger, intrigue, fear. It was understandable. What had just happened was more than enough to shake most people.
The truth was, Atticus had genuinely underestimated the impact of his actions. Orvain, like many of the successors gathered here, was considered a genius, one of the cream of the crop and among the most likely to win the entire competition.
Yet Atticus had casually slapped such a figure aside without giving him any chance to react.
It was insane, sothing no one would have believed possible, and it had completely altered the way everyone now looked at him.
'So that's Atticus Ravenstein.'
From one corner of the area, a woman with wisps of frost curling from her body smiled coldly in his direction.
'Atticus Ravenstein...'
From another, a man with a massive fra and a body ford of hardened stone stared at him with a confident, almost eager grin.
The sa scene repeated itself across the field. Successors who had witnessed the exchange between Atticus and Orvain were now publicly watching him, as they silently marked their target.
It wasn't long until the gods and champions standing nearby instinctively distanced themselves, leaving Atticus and the others standing within a wide, empty circle.
Yet despite the pressure and attention, the ones at the center of it all didn't seem to care in the slightest.
In fact, after finishing his exchange with Whisker, Atticus had already transford his focus toward locating the fat prince and his butler. Recalling the danger he felt from the butler, he had asked Ozerra about the man earlier. According to her, while she didn't know him personally, the butler's uniform marked him as a mber of her mother's Queen's Guard, a select group of elites trained in lethal skills, whose sole purpose was to serve and protect the queen.
In any case, one thing was certain.
The man was strong. And dangerous.
Atticus spread out his awareness, even reaching through the elents themselves, but found nothing. After a brief mont, he stopped and shifted his focus to another matter entirely.
'The Span is here.'
Atticus could feel a constant, probing gaze on him, as though so vast being was watching from far above. He had sensed it the mont he entered this space, and it was the real reason he hadn't outright killed the Redfla who had approached him earlier.
'He was about to restrict .'
Atticus had been about to kill him, but a strange sensation had suddenly crept over him, like an unseen rope tightening around his body. With so many gods nearby wielding countless powers, there was only one type of existence capable of exerting that kind of pressure.
A Star.
Atticus gradually lifted his gaze toward the sky.
'The Span.'
"I welco you all."
The words rang out, and the whispers that filled the space died instantly. Heads moved upward as the sky itself was replaced by endless blackness.
"Thank you for choosing to participate in this Resource War. My purpose is to ensure fairness on the path of ascension for all beings within the Span. That is why these events are held."
The Span's voice was composed and blunt, free of the theatrics the Verge was known for. Atticus could feel a faint but unmistakable reverence from the gathered gods and champions. The Span was clearly an existence held in high regard.
"Now, we will proceed. As always, the Resource War exists to secure resources for the growth and strengthening of your territories."
"Be advised, you may lose your life during this competition. If you believe your life is truly in danger and you wish to withdraw, crush your badge and you will be removed. All resources gathered up to that point will be forfeited."
"Of course, this will be aningless if you are killed before doing so."
A sudden weight pressed down on Atticus, and he frowned slightly.
'He's looking at .'
He wasn't sure what to make of the sudden attention. It was safe to say that this was the first interaction he had ever had with the span. Still, the pressure vanished just as quickly, and the Span continued as though nothing had happened.
"We have reached the final stage before the war begins. As with every Resource War, a restriction will be placed upon all participants. I will now announce this event's restriction."
At those words, the gathered gods and champions finally reacted. Many had heard this speech countless tis before, as it preceded every Resource War, but the restriction itself was different as it always differed. Depending on its nature, it could greatly favor so while severely hindering others.
Still, while tension appeared across many faces, the successors wore confident smiles. It was unsure if their confidence ca from their strength, or sothing else…
"The restriction for this Resource War is the absence of World Will."
"…!!"
Atticus's eyes narrowed sharply, as did those of many others. The absence of World Will… didn't that an—
"The competition starts now."
A blinding blanket of light swallowed every participant. In the next instant, silence fell as all of them vanished from the area.
Monts later, laughter echoed through the empty space.
"Haha, still as brutal as ever, brother. You could've at least let them get a word in."
"Verge… why are you here?"
"Hm? What do you an? I'm just exercising my privilege."
"…"
"Hahaha!"
The Span felt a trace of regret over his actions, and not without reason. He had lost two bets during the Ascension Ga, losses that had granted the Verge the right to claim two favors. The first had been unrestricted access to observe Atticus at all tis, but the second had co as an unwelco surprise.
"What exactly do you hope to achieve by giving that to him? Do you truly believe it will make any difference? You understand the limits of that Will Guard better than I do."
"Honestly? No. It won't make a difference. He was always going to win."
"…."
A mont of silence settled between them, then the Span released a quiet sigh.
"Then why are you here, Verge?"
"To place a bet."
"…You don't actually believe he has a chance in this ga, do you?"
"What do you think?"
"It's futile." The span replied without hesitation. "I placed this restriction specifically because of him, and I inford the other Archdukes in advance. He wields a weapon that can cut down stronger Will, but without the power to keep pace with the others, that advantage is aningless."
"You think his strength cos from his world."
"I don't think it. I know it. He awakened a True Will, yes, but his power is tied to the world that Person prepared for him, the one he first absorbed.
"He was boosted from the very beginning. It's only logical that sothing was left behind to strengthen his Will. And nineteen worlds are not joined together without purpose."
"Hah…"
The Verge let out a weary sigh.
"You see, Span, this is why you're terrible at gambling. You take assumptions, dress them up as certainty, and act surprised when you lose. It's why this younger brother of yours keeps beating you."
"Even if I were wrong, do you truly believe a child who hasn't lived a full century could possess a stronger Will than beings who have endured for millennia? Even a Solvath fragnt cannot erase such a gap. So tell , who is the delusional one here?"
"Then," Verge said calmly, "care to bet?"
"…."
The Span paused for a mont before he spoke. "He falls."
"He wins."
"The stakes?"
"Let's keep it simple. A favor."
Silence followed once more, heavier this ti, until the sky itself rumbled in response.
""Agreed.""
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