"Born on… 17 years old…" Sergeant Viktor muttered incoherent words as he read Atticus's file on his tab-like device.
After seeing everything the boy had just done, Viktor thought it was necessary. If he didn't do this, he had no doubt that he would lose his mind. After a few seconds, there was only bafflement left in his eyes.
'He truly is 17.'
A recruit breaking this simulation should be impossible. In fact, it was impossible! While paragons might be able to break it, that was because of their centuries of experience that had hardened their mindsets. A child so young had no business having a mind so firm.
'I was wrong…' he admitted.
Viktor had been wrong from the very beginning. He had seen Atticus as someone who was talented beyond measure, and even though he had defeated and killed a paragon, because of his young age, he had assumed that where Atticus lacked had to be in his mind.
That had been what he had believed when he first met Atticus. In their training, they would focus on his will.
However, he hadn't just been slightly wrong, he had been overwhelmingly so.
Atticus's will was beyond anything he had ever seen before. It was insane.
"Y-yes. We're done," Viktor finally answered after a few seconds, but Atticus had already begun walking away before he even finished speaking.
There was a massive frown on his face.
He was in a bad mood.
Despite seeing this, Ozeroth remained silent, choosing not to speak.
"I want to be left alone now."
At Atticus's words, Viktor nodded before instantly leaving the area.
The Colonel had already given Atticus permission to excuse himself after passing his basic training, and it was obvious the boy had no reservations about doing just that.
As Viktor's presence disappeared from the island, Atticus took in a deep, shuddering breath, calming his nerves.
'In time. In time.'
He repeated those words in his head continuously, like a mantra. This had been what he resolved to use anytime this particular matter came up.
There was literally nothing he could do to change it.
He had no power over the matter.
'I'll gain that power.'
Ozeroth watched Atticus reassure himself without inputting anything.
It wasn't every time that he would step up when Atticus was feeling down. It was good for him to learn how to handle things by himself.
Atticus soon regained his composure after some time and then decided to meditate to calm his mind even further.
Sitting down cross-legged, he tuned out the world and entered a state of utter peace.
Hours passed, a time that Atticus barely noticed.
Atticus's eyes opened, letting out an exhale that seemed to release all his frustration.
"I feel refreshed."
'Crybaby.'
Atticus rolled his eyes at Ozeroth's remark. 'Says the one currently feeling proud of me.'
'I'm not proud of anyone!'
'A centuries-old spirit drowning in denial. You're an oddity.'
'Of course.' Ozeroth ignored everything else he said except the last part. 'There can only be one of my greatness in the universe. Plus, the greatest people in this universe are odd.'
'I'm beginning to fear how delusional you are. There should be a limit to shamelessness, even for you,'
Atticus shook his head with a baffled expression.
Ozeroth always had a way of twisting things around to make himself feel great.
Atticus let out a short laugh before stretching his arm, and the tab-like device that Viktor had been using to control the island shot toward his hand.
"Let's see."
Atticus started going through it, intending to see all the features of the island.
Aside from being able to replicate basically any environment he wanted, Atticus could also set up a barrier around the island, generate a robot to spar with indefinitely, and even saw a feature that allowed the island to heal from any damage done to it.
'At least I don't have to worry about destroying the island. But there are no options to build.'
Unlike at the academy, Atticus couldn't command the island to build buildings for him. He had to do it himself.
'I'll do that first.'
His space storage was still with him, and Atticus had basically everything needed to live, and more, inside it.
First, he brought mana back to the island with a click before focusing on the earth element, creating a normal building.
Atticus rubbed his chin, surveying the simple structure he had just created. It was practical, four walls, a roof, and enough space to live comfortably.
But for a particular spirit, it wasn't enough.
"Wait… why stop there?" Ozeroth's voice slithered into his mind, taking immediate interest in the situation.
"Where's the pool? The jacuzzi?" he quickly spoke.
"Also, the grand hall? The coliseum? A golden throne, perhaps? Surely, you're not planning to live in something so… mundane. The great deserves only the great."
"I'm here to train, not throw a royal banquet."
"Tch. Boring. At least add a lava fountain. Something with flair."
"A lava fountain?"
"Why not? A pool of fire right next to a pool of water. Ah, and make the walls obsidian. No, black diamond. Reflective, menacing. Strike fear into anyone who dares to step foot here."
"I don't think anyone will step foot here."
"Then make statues of me. Huge ones. Towering over the island like a god…" Then, he reluctantly added, "You can make just one for yourself."
Atticus ignored him, focusing instead on refining the house's structure. He reinforced it with earth and metal, smoothing the design.
"Fine, fine, if you insist on being humble. But at least add a chamber filled with weapons, a meditation garden, and a personal battlefield that changes terrain at will. You do plan to train seriously, don't you?" Ozeroth said, seeing that Atticus had no intention of listening to him.
Atticus smirked slightly. "Now that I can consider."
"A swimming pool too," Ozeroth added in a low tone.
…
Exactly two days passed, and Atticus had remained on his island throughout that period.
After he finished creating and reinforcing the building, he had eventually partly given in to Ozeroth's demands, adding a pool and even building some statues around the island.