Novel Full Chapter 1689 Stab
Chapter 1689 Stab
The span had covered basically everything Atticus needed to decide their next course of action.
With their goal for the first crown being to influence, their path was clear.
Regardless, there was still a problem. They were entirely new to this world. Without his godly powers and even a basic map, it was safe to say that Atticus had no idea where to go. It was basically impossible to imagine the eternal span agreeing to be used as a map, especially after Whisker’s stunt.
However, a solution came once he returned to the ruined castle and his gaze settled on the battered form of Gladious.
As a native, the man should be the best guide Atticus could ask for. The moment Atticus stepped closer, Gladious fell to his knees, his head bowing so low it nearly touched the ground.
“M-my supreme l-lord! T-this lowly one is— is g-glad you defeated the vile reverents! Y-you’re truly amazing!”
Atticus said nothing, simply watching him. This same man had been moments away from enslaving them earlier. While he had also helped by informing him about the alpha, such an offense was not one Atticus would forget.
“I need a guide. Can you do that?”
Gladious’ eyes ignited up instantly, and he pressed his forehead against the ground.
“O-of course! Of course! Anywhere you want, I’ll take you! Even if it’s the crown’s ass—I mean—anywhere, supreme lord!”
The relief in Gladious’ voice was unmistakable. He wasn’t going to be killed. Now he just had to get into Atticus’ good graces and then—
“Brand.”
“AAAAARRRGHH!!”
A piercing pain tore through Gladious’ entire being, ripping a scream from his throat. It was as though molten lava had been poured directly onto his will.
Atticus’ expression didn’t change despite the man’s screams. He could feel the fearful glances from the others, but he paid them no mind. There was no way he was trusting this man blindly. If Gladious was to serve, then his loyalty would be absolute.
However, a moment later, Atticus frowned. He had been trying to engrave his will onto Gladious, but it felt as though he was scraping paper against steel. It simply wouldn’t pierce through.
‘Is it because of his will?’
From the span’s explanation, the man bore crown’s will, a higher form of will. Even at low potency, it felt incredibly resilient.
Atticus exhaled slowly, his focus deepening. A moment later, his will flared, its power surging to extreme heights. He drew it inward, compressing it into a single, sharp point before driving it straight toward Gladious’ will.
The man’s screams ascended in pitch as it finally broke through. With steady effort, Atticus began branding him, pressing his will deeper, carving it in place. It took a full minute before he finally finished.
By then, Gladious had gone completely pale, as though the strength had been drained from him entirely.
Atticus released a slow breath.
‘It worked.’
Though it had taken effort, he had managed to pierce through the will. Still, Atticus couldn’t help but pause. What if this had been a trueblood, someone with far greater potency? In that case, his will would either break through at full force… or meet its equal.
The fact that his will could contend with crown’s will, even at low potency, spoke volumes about its strength. Yet there was no satisfaction on Atticus’ face. It wasn’t enough. In this world, anything short of the absolute peak was unacceptable.
‘It’ll be different during battle.’
He had only exerted so much effort because he relied solely on his will. With Solvath’s power, the combined might of numerous wills should be enough to turn the tide of any battle.
With that settled, Atticus turned. Behind him, Freya stood, silently watching him. He had been aware of her presence all along, but hadn’t made any move to stop her.
Since Freya had said she wanted to become a monster, then it was only right for her to witness one in action. Even so, Atticus couldn’t help the faint pang that stirred in his chest. The thought of that fragile thing he once held in his grasp a decade ago becoming a monster somehow felt… wrong.
“…you okay?”
“…I’m fine, brother.”
“Do you know why I did that?”
Freya’s gaze drifted to Gladious’ pale form, a complicated light flickering through her eyes.
“…so he can’t betray you.”
“Exactly.” Atticus nodded. “If you want to survive in this world, Freya, never give anyone even the slightest chance to stab you in the back. Understood?”
Freya’s hands tightened into fists before she nodded firmly.
“Yes, brother.”
After that, Atticus gathered the others and explained the plan to use Gladious as their guide. Once he assured them of the man’s loyalty, the group nodded in agreement.
When Gladious came to, the man begged them to take his people along on their journey. Atticus, of course, refused immediately, having no intention of carrying dead weight. Unfortunately, he spoke before the others. Seeing the elderly, women, and children among them, Anastasia fired him a look.
Atticus sighed. Avoiding any drawn-out back and forth, he told Gladious that their protection was solely his responsibility, not his, before eventually agreeing.
After a few hours, they finally set off, moving deeper into the world.
…
The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed through the room. A man with dirty golden hair, faintly lustrous, grinned as his hips drove forward in a steady rhythm against the woman before him. The woman herself was plump, her body yielding with each forceful thrust, and with every movement, cries of pleasure tore from her lips.
Even though her husband knelt at the edge of the room, teeth gritted and fists clenched tight, her face was twisted in pure ecstasy as she urged the man on.
“Haaa— High Lord Osana… to think you’ve been keeping this all to yourself… that’s just wicked… seriously wicked…”
The man laughed loudly, his pace quickening.
High Lord Osana ground his teeth so hard they nearly cracked. This bastard… that was his wife. His pure, innocent wife…
“Ah~ harder! Harder!”
Osana’s gaze trembled. He couldn’t even recognize her anymore. She had never made such expressions or sounds with him before…
His eyes snapped to the golden-haired man, a murderous glare burning within them.
‘I’ll kill you!’
Osana let out a strained breath, the thought collapsing almost as soon as it formed. Even he knew it was a lie.
Elomont True Mosan.
Not only was the man a trueblood, far stronger than him, a mere lesser blood, he was also a scion of the Mosan family, one of the three great families of the First Crown.
Each of them controlled a major stronghold at the center of the crown, where the massive statue of the absolute crown stood and the crown will was at its densest. Compared to that, their stronghold in the outer regions was insignificant.
They were basically referred to as the three first crowns, as they ruled the entirety of the first crown, with all strongholds bowing to them.
As a descendant of such a power, he was not someone Osana would ever dare to offend. A tear slipped down the high lord’s face.
‘I’m sorry, honey…’