The world ceased to have sound.
The charging gods roaring at the top of their lungs, the hum of multiple wills surging towards him... everything had fallen away.
In this endless silence, Atticus’ perception shifted. The hundreds of gods rushing towards him were reduced to frames and vectors.
Emotions vanished. Decisions became instantaneous. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
Fifty percent descended from above. Thirty percent from the sides and front. Twenty from the ground.
The majority came with brute force, the rest with caution.
But regardless of their plans, Atticus saw through it all.
"Enhance."
He moved.
Distance collapsed. In a single breath, he appeared before the group charging at his front, hair and robes snapping like whips.
Their eyes narrowed. The last thing they expected was him rushing toward them. When hundreds of gods attack at once, you run, any sane person runs.
They gripped their weapons.
The leading god, a towering giant with a greatsword, raised it high and roared:
"World Cutter!"
His will flared, splitting the air as it descended towards Atticus.
"Ominicognition."
A golden flash passed through Atticus’ eyes. He raised his katana, molten will erupting as he swung.
The collision cratered the ground and blasted winds in every direction. The large god’s eyes shook as an overwhelming pain tore through his being.
’M-my will!’
Atticus’ molten will burned through both blade and body, splitting him in two. Smoke rose from the sizzling halves.
Then the others reached him.
The hundreds of gods struck at once, unleashing a nuclear like explosion that ravaged the square. Buildings collapsed. Dust swallowed the city.
"Did we get him?"
"I—I didn’t feel an impact!"
"There’s no body!"
Their eyes shone through the haze, darting around, searching. But the only thing they saw was a blur, followed by heads flying.
"He’s alive!"
"Clear the dust!"
"Hrk—! How is he moving so fast!?"
Explosions burst as gods forcefully cleared the haze. As their sights returned, their faces drained of color.
Dozens lay dead. Heads severed. Bodies bisected. Blood pooling across crushed stone.
They gripped their weapons tight, eyes darting around wildly.
"There he is!"
A blur cut into another cluster.
"Piercing blade!"
"Ash Burst!"
"Flare Shot!"
Wills raged as techniques thundered toward him, but his movements were divine. Attacks copied, wills dissected, trajectories predicted, technique after technique annihilated.
Heads dropped behind him like withering fruit.
In a crowd of hundreds, he was the only god who existed.
"He’s just one person! Attack together!"
"Ark! He’s too fast!"
"No, no, no! Ark!"
"I changed my mind! Losing everything isn’t worth it!"
As many gods began to flee the scene, Lasnot’s expression darkened.
’What is this?’
He fixed his eyes on Atticus. Even now, the child still moved through the onslaught of gods like it was his birthright. Not a single attack even so much as grazed him.
The Iron faction god narrowed his eyes.
"It’s cowardly."
’Stupid honorable idiot,’ Lasnot cursed.
The Iron faction were purely militaristic and liked to do things openly and directly. Banding together against one foe was going against their doctrine.
"So your choice is death? Look at him." Lasnot jabbed a finger at Atticus.
Even now, his killing hadn’t slowed down. The gods who tried to flee were cut down.
"Do you think you have a chance at defeating him alone?"
The Iron faction god’s eyes darkened.
"I know about your doctrines, but use your fucking head. Your death will be final." He turned towards the Nature god. "What do you say?"
The Nature god’s eyes flashed cold. "I agree."
"And you?" he asked the Iron god, who clenched his fist before nodding.
"I accept."
’Perfect.’
"Right choice."
"What’s the plan?" the Nature faction god asked.
"We wait."
As they both showed confused expressions, Lasnot gestured to the remaining gods.
"Let him exhaust his will by fighting the other gods. Then we strike."
Their eyes widened as they understood. Then they nodded and waited, preparing themselves.
Lasnot watched Atticus with a cold glint in his eyes.
’You’re mine.’
Moments passed, and soon, the streets were drenched in a mix of blood. The gods came in different shapes and sizes, some humanoid, others beast or alien like.
Still, their enmity had been true, and thus, Atticus’ blade spared none.

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