Atticus’s Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground - Chapter 1111

Chapter 1111: The Gardener
In the vast expanse where the human domain once stood, a massive, throbbing, glowing tree had taken its place, its height piercing the skies.

There was no doubt about it, nowhere in Eldoralth did a tree come close to its size.

The sight from above looked and felt utterly enchanting, as though nature itself had graced their world.

However, up close, it was anything but.

Tension. Killing intent.

These were the only things that engulfed the entire scene.

Two sides hovered in the sky, both unleashing auras that clashed in an unending battle.

While numerous warships hovered on both ends, their occupants had already emerged, millions of figures, suspended just outside them.

Weapons drawn. Armor glinting under the afternoon sun. Killing intent raised sky-high.

And yet, despite all of this, the overwhelming pressure didn’t come from the armies.

It came from the very few standing at the forefront.

On one side, closest to the tree, stood the paragons of the Dimensari, Vampyros, and Dragons.

On the other, the paragons of the Evolari, Nullites, and Humans.

In any war between the races of Eldoralth, the deciding factor had always been the paragons. If they were equally matched, then attention might shift to the grandmasters. But paragons had always been the spearhead. The final say.

However… today, that notion had changed.

Because to everyone present, it was clear this war would be decided not by many…

…but by two.

The first was a 19-year-old boy who hovered calmly in the sky, his katana sheathed by his side, as though not even the world could shake him.

Atticus Ravenstein.

And the second… had just arrived.

He hovered high above the colossal tree, arms behind his back, a calm smile on his face as his eyes locked onto Atticus.

“You can address me as the Gardener.”

At the Gardener’s words, the paragons of the Evolari, Nullites, and Humans stiffened.

This was their first time seeing him, and in that single moment, only one thought echoed in their minds.

‘He’s powerful!’

He stood above the tree, so far away, and yet, his aura encompassed all.

The entire space the human domain once occupied, thousands of kilometers, was now drowned in his presence.

And with that, everyone understood. Their fate… would be determined by these two.

Silence fell.

Even Jenera and Youn, who had looked ready to tear the Gardener apart at first sight, said nothing now.

They had both lived long enough to know what was beyond them.

As the Gardener’s voice faded, all eyes turned to Atticus, waiting for his response.

But seconds passed.

And Atticus didn’t say a word.

Those who knew him weren’t surprised.

If there was one thing Atticus Ravenstein didn’t do… it was talk before a death match.

His hand had already reached for his katana, fingers wrapped tightly around the hilt, drawing it out slightly.

He was ready to fight.

Seeing this, the Gardener smiled. Calmly, slowly, his gaze swept across the battlefield, taking in the broken ground, the wounded, the dead, the trembling tension in the air, before finally settling back on Atticus.

“I must admit… I’m a bit surprised.” He chuckled, shaking his head slightly. “No. I’ll be honest, I’m a lot surprised. When I came up with this little plan, I thought it was foolproof. A checkmate.”

He gestured at the tree beneath him. “Your humans are supposed to be dead. Used as fuel for the beauty blooming underneath me.”

He turned to the massive tree, eyes gleaming as though beholding a masterpiece.

He felt pride. Unfiltered and raw.

Then he looked at Atticus once more.

“And you… you were supposed to be part of this tree by now. The main ingredient. But you foiled my plan. Once more.”

The Gardener broke into laughter. It was the type that was cold and unhinged.

It didn’t sound like laughter at all. There was no joy. No amusement.

Only madness.

Those who heard it felt their bones rattle, hearts pounding fast. The tension in the air rose even more.

“You’re one incredible boy, has anyone ever told you that?” he asked, his grin widening. “But I suppose I should thank you. If not for you…”

He raised a hand.

“…I would have never found him.”

Two radiant cores appeared on his arm, swirling with vibrant energy. The air around them bent and shimmered.

Atticus’s gaze sharpened. ‘The Regenerari and Evolari cores.’

Jenera’s eyes widened, her fists clenching hard as killing intent spilled from her like a tide. She recognized one of them, the familiar energy spilling from it.

There was no mistaking it: her granddaughter’s core.

She hadn’t wanted to believe it. She had returned to the Evolari capital to find Kynara missing and many dead. However, she had still been hopeful, that maybe, just maybe, she might still be alive.

But this… this had just confirmed it.

She wanted to charge. Rip him apart. But just as she was about to…

Atticus threw her a look.

That one glance was enough.

She gritted her teeth and pulled her rage back. But her eyes, as she stared at the Gardener, were filled with nothing but hate.

The Gardener, who was unconcerned, turned and threw the two cores into the golden stem at the top of the tree.

The stem pulsed. Then glowed.

The energy flared violently as the cores fused with it. The glow only intensified as the seconds passed.

But the Gardener kept speaking.

“Do you know what it means to be a gardener?”

He didn’t wait for an answer.

“It is to nurture. To grow. To study what lies beneath and coax it into greatness. A gardener doesn’t just plant seeds… no. He watches them, feeds them, understands them. He trims what needs to be trimmed. Uproots what needs to be uprooted.”

He spread his arms out wide.

“A gardener creates life. Shapes it. Guides it. And most importantly, he makes sure his plants become the very best version of themselves. From tiny saplings… to glorious, towering giants.”

Then his voice dropped lower.

“But, between you and me…”

He leaned forward, whispering like he was sharing a secret.

“Nurturing plants alone is quite… boring. Sentient creatures are far more fun.”

A second.

“Which is why, as I said earlier—”

His grin deepened.

“—I must thank you, Atticus Ravenstein.”

Suddenly, the golden stem shimmered. A silhouette began forming within it, the shape of a man.

Atticus’s gaze sharpened instantly.

‘He’s creating something… should I attack?’

He hesitated.

The Gardener was filled with a lot of unknowns. Too unpredictable.

In every battle before this, Atticus had always attacked first.

Strike now. Learn as you go. That was his rhythm. His instinct. His edge.

But this time… things were different.