’Logoth.’
The world turned silent. Emotions vanished, and logic replaced all reasoning. In this state, Atticus’ mind ran at a speed that bordered on insanity.
’Bounty hunters. Usurpers. Redflames.’
Three different enemies, but connected by a single thing.
’Bounty.’
A bounty that could somehow track and reveal his location. This was how other gods had been able to find him. How Raziel had discovered him. How the Redflames found his location so fast.
With the presence of that bounty, he would always remain at the mercy of his enemies.
’Inconclusive.’
Despite its threat, there was nothing he could do about it. Atticus had tried multiple times to figure out a way to stop the tracking.
With the scroll, he’d activated and deactivated basically all his powers, yet the tracking light never even so much as flickered.
’An ability.’
This was the conclusion he’d reached. The most logical. The Will Guard, being as powerful and enigmatic as they were, couldn’t influence the Verge Games from outside.
It was written in the rules, only people in the game can affect the game.
The bounty was clearly actively tracking him, which meant its creator was constantly influencing it.
’They’re in the game.’
But this level of power far surpassed what a baron could achieve. Not everyone had Omnicognition like him and could create an art as complex as this.
’Not a baron or viscount. Above.’
Someone high above was keeping the bounty active.
’A Will Guard. I have to get to them.’
A new addition to the list of enemies. Asides the usurpers and Redflames, now he had to worry about the Will Guard too.
If not in the baron or viscount layer, then above. He had to ascend.
In Logoth state, he filtered out every unnecessary thought and focused on what was possible.
’Power.’
This was the solution to his current problems. Overwhelming power would make the threat of the bounty obsolete. Right now, he had power. But...
’It’s not enough.’
To be safe, considering the threat, he needed a will peak of the viscount layer. But his will wasn’t there yet.
’Almost.’
From the Will Hall library, he’d learned the requirements of ascending the ranks.
A baron needed five minor worlds.
A viscount needed fifty minor worlds.
While a count... five thousand minor worlds.
The sheer difference was insane. Still, Atticus, according to his count, was just barely above four thousand and two hundred minor worlds.
’Eight hundred more...’
It was an astronomical gap. His will had gotten significantly stronger, but...
’I need more.’
This was where the major problem came. Atticus should have easily reached the peak after killing the viscounts earlier. But when he tried to absorb their wills, they suddenly vanished.
’It’s just like back then...’
When he killed viscount Merek’s first son, he’d been unable to absorb his world due to the precautions of the Redflames.
’They took the same precautions now.’
Still, it was different from back then, as the same rule applied to this situation. That someone was affecting this game meant that the person was in the game.
"A god’s attack will phase through you, but still affect her. I can protect her this way."
"Bu—"
"Allow him, Kiara. He means no harm."
At Magnus’ calming words, Kiara bit her lip and nodded.
"We’re wasting too much time."
Lifting up the princess, Atticus enveloped them all in his will and they took off, turning into streaks of crimson.
’They’re following us.’
Atticus had been right about the advantages of being a territory lord. After ascending, even though the territory didn’t appear, its reach remained. And so did its after effects.
He’d been able to see thousands of kilometers around where they’d spawned. Due to this, after waking up, he’d discovered the hundreds of Redflame viscounts surrounding the area, and had taken the most appropriate escape route.
But now they’d come after him.
’Should I fight them?’
Even as he left the territory, his reach shrunk by only a fraction. He could still feel a large radius around himself, and could see the army chasing them.
’It could backfire...’
Fighting them would bring no reward. He couldn’t absorb their will, and wouldn’t be able to protect Magnus and Kiara from the other champions.
The only thing fighting them would do was slow him down.
’But I can’t run forever.’
He wasn’t confident enough to face someone as strong as Merek until he was at the peak of the viscount rank. Until then, with people to protect, he had to move cautiously.
His eyes grew cold as the golden light of the sun was replaced by blinding scarlet.
He felt the temperature rise as he glanced up. An incalculable number of fiery attacks reflected in his bright crimson eyes, each one surging toward them.

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