"Cosmic Punch!"

Kazan stomped forward, the ground erupting into a storm of dust as his fist blasted out. His will collapsed around his arm, morphing into a colossal fist that tore toward Whisker.

"Let's see," Whisker murmured as he slowly raised his arm.

The punch detonated in a violent explosion, and a thick haze swallowed the domain. As it cleared, Kazan's eyes narrowed.

A bluish shield had formed before Whisker and not a single strand of hair was out of place.

Still, Atticus caught the light flaring in Kazan's eyes.

"You don't have true will…"

The eyes of the watching Marquis sharpened instantly.

At Whisker's silence, Kazan's lips slowly stretched into a wide grin.

"Good, good! For a moment there, I thought you were like the other monsters, but you're a false willer, just like me! It's not hopeless, haha!"

He smashed his gauntlets together as he laughed.

"I figured it out, didn't I?" He shook his head. "All that confidence… just to make me lower my guard and finish me. Now that the secret's out, it's no wonder you're staying quiet."

Kazan's will flared violently as he grinned at Whisker, who stood there in silence, a faint frown on his face.

"Still… doesn't matter whether you talk or not. Now that I know you're no real threat, I can end this."

He roared, will surging.

"Universe Punch!"

His will burst around him, morphing into a colossal titan as he charged at Whisker.

But an amused chuckle escaped Whisker.

"Fall."

A crushing weight slammed Kazan into the ground, driving him down and carving out a massive crater. The watching Marquis narrowed their eyes to slits.

"W-what is this…!?"

Kazan's will flared as he tried to rise, but he couldn't move an inch no matter how much he tried.

"True will, huh…" Whisker said as he walked slowly toward him.

"You're right. I don't have something like that."

As he reached him, he placed his foot on Kazan's head.

"But… so what?"

He applied pressure, and cracks spread through the armor beneath his foot.

"You really think I need it to deal with trash like you?"

"Wai—"

His foot pressed down with such force that Kazan's head burst, blood and gore splattering across the earth.

A heavy silence gripped the board instantly, all eyes fixed on Whisker, trembling.

"That hair… those eyes…"

"I didn't want to believe it, but isn't that—"

"N-nature's spawn…"

At the whispers, Atticus frowned slightly.

'They recognize him.'

Whisker had warned him this might happen, but he hadn't expected it to be so immediate. Across the Middle Planes, there were many feared bloodlines, but only a few were truly feared. One that topped the list was the direct kin to the powerhouses of the Crown.

Redflame spawns. Iron spawns. Nature spawns.

They were the direct descendants of the leaders of the major factions, and were each marked by distinct traits. Many had noticed Whisker's blue hair and red eyes before, but none had made the connection. Only now, after witnessing his will, did they understand.

He was nature's spawn.

The god who had challenged Whisker was immediately drenched in sweat.

"W-what is he doing here… with him?"

"Nature's spawn!" Dravek's shout drew their attention. Atticus turned and saw him glaring at whisker.

"Is the Nature King behind all of this!?"

The Marquis across the board stiffened. The weight of those words was immense. A being of that standing serving as Atticus' champion was enough to draw dangerous conclusions.

Even worse, it meant they had just targeted a possible ally of the Nature King.

Atticus felt the horrified gazes settle on him, still his expression didn't change.

'This works.'

The fear in their eyes now ran deeper than before. Whether it was true or not didn't matter. Even if Dravek offered them the world now, none of them would move for him.

At Dravek's question, Whisker casually picked his ear with his pinky, blew on it, then squinted.

"Ah… must've been the wind. For a second there, I thought I heard a dog barking."

Dravek's will flared violently.

"You dare!?"

"Hm?" Whisker frowned slightly, glancing around. "There it is again. Damn. Rough winds today."

Atticus' gaze left Dravek, who looked moments away from tearing Whisker apart, and shifted to Ordan, whose golden eyes had never once left him.

'Only him.'

Everyone else on the board now stared at Atticus and his champions with open fear. Even Dravek now hesitated to attack him.

Still, Atticus wasn't blind to the real threat.

The Willguard.

Their ability to cancel will was an advantage too dangerous to ignore. With the Marquis restrained by fear and Dravek effectively checked, the number of immediate enemies had dropped sharply.

Now, with no other pressure bearing down on him, Atticus could focus on his one true enemy.

'I'm coming for you.'

The thought had barely settled when the board spoke.

"Welcome, new player, to the Marquis Layer. It is advised that you consult the rules before proceeding. As a new entrant, you have been granted two turns. You may play when you're ready."

Across the board, a blinding light engulfed a domain at the edge.

The tense atmosphere broke as whispers began to spread among the other Marquis. Atticus narrowed his eyes as the light dimmed.

In its place was a man standing at seven feet tall, broad shouldered, a long staff resting across the back of his neck, both arms draped over it casually.

Atticus' eyes narrowed to slits.

'It's him… Raziel.'

His katana trembled in its sheath, but he gripped the hilt and forced it to still.

After so long, after so many layers, they had finally crossed paths again.

Despite the countless eyes on him and the voice urging him to consult the rules, Raziel remained unhurried. He scanned the board lazily, then paused the instant his gaze landed on Atticus.

Raziel slowly stepped forward until he reached the edge of his domain, staring straight at Atticus with a wide, unhinged grin.

"Found you."

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