Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground novel Chapter 1493

Chapter 1493: Two Streaks

"Where’s Merek?"

Atticus fixed his eyes on the Redflame god before him. He was a slender man with shifty eyes. His hair was spiky, his attire brazen.

His battered face showed signs of age, but Atticus got the feel of an old man desperately trying to look younger, and failing splendidly.

To his question, the man scoffed, then smirked, revealing his toothless mouth. Anorah’s earlier blow had shattered his chin and teeth.

"Save your breath... I am a Redflame. Our fire does not bow! Never! I am a Redflame! I am a Redflame!"

’Of course.’

Atticus wasn’t surprised. The Redflames were too pompous. Too proud. Making one bow or surrender was to attempt the impossible. A Viscount Redflame, even more so.

Atticus glanced at Anorah, who simply shrugged.

"It doesn’t look like he plans to talk. We should kill him."

He didn’t miss the killing intent laced in her voice. Atticus gave her a long stare. The more time he spent with this woman, the more he learned about her.

He had no idea there was this vengeful side to her. But he was one to talk. Atticus knew exactly how far he could go when it came to revenge. He turned back to the Redflame, who was still chanting their doctrine.

’We need information.’

"Oh, I don’t know..." Atticus murmured, tilting his head slightly.

"I’ve been thinking about something lately. When a body burns, the first thing to go is the skin. But that’s too easy, don’t you think?"

Anorah furrowed her brows, clearly confused. But he gave her a knowing look.

’Trust me.’

Anorah nodded.

"Yes. You’re right, it’s too easy."

"Right? I thought so too." Atticus nodded, then fixed his eyes on the red flame who was still chanting.

"But if I start small, really small, I can make the fire worthwhile."

He raised a finger.

"I can heat a single cell. Just one. Warm it until it pops. You wouldn’t even feel it. Well, not at first at least. But then I’d do the next one. And the next. And the next. Eventually, the nerves will catch on, and you’ll feel a slight tingle. A slow crawl. Like insects moving under your skin."

Atticus made a casual gesture, as if describing weather.

"After about a thousand cells, the tingling becomes itching. After five thousand, the itching becomes burning. But the real pain starts around ten thousand. That’s when your body begins to panic. You’ll feel your own flesh trying to tear itself off just to escape the sensation."

The Redflame’s chanting wavered as the temperature began to climb.

"Then I move inward. Your tongue first. I’ve always wondered how much pain it takes before someone bites it off voluntarily. Then the soft tissue behind your eyes. Your nose... your ears... the lining of your throat..."

His voice lowered.

"And after that, your bones."

The Redflame stiffened.

"See, marrow wouldn’t burn like flesh. It’ll boil. Slowly. The pressure builds inside your skeleton, and you’ll feel your own bones vibrate as if something inside is trying to claw its way out. But the funny thing is, it never does. It just cooks."

Atticus’ expression didn’t change. But that clearly made it worse. The Redflame had fallen into a tense silence, but he didn’t stop.

"And while that’s happening... I can stop the heat from reaching your heart. I wouldn’t want you dying early. You’ll stay very alive. Very aware. Feeling everything. Even when your joints soften. Even when your ribs start bending like melted wax."

He stared straight at the Redflame god.

"By the time I’m done, you won’t remember your useless doctrine. You won’t remember your name. Just pain. Endless, suffocating pain." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The Redflame stared silently at Atticus, instinctively wiping the beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"I-I am a r-redflame..."

The next chant came with much hesitation, and Atticus nodded.

"That you are," he said softly, turning towards Anorah. "What do you think?"

"If he still doesn’t talk, we can move to the other parts of him you haven’t mentioned yet."

"You’re right. Organs, nerves, veins..."

The Redflame gulped, gritting his gums. Sweat trailed down his temple as the temperature inside Atticus’ cocoon began to climb.

"I-I am a r-redflame..."

This one came even more fragmented than before. Atticus could see the tremble in the man’s eyes. Anyone could have a strong will, but even the mightiest wavered before a painful end.

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