When he got home, Atlas began to read the book Rin gave him. It was like a textbook with smaller point notes and even diagramed illustrations to help the reader. It was borderline amusing to think that Gods would utilize materials such as those.
"Step By Step Guide To Harness Divine Energy"
The instructions written in the book were relatively simple. One could only use the technique in the morning at dawn or in the evening at dusk. Any other time wasn't recommended so Atlas couldn't practice the technique until later on.
He wasn't in any rush to do so, though. He wouldn't practice the strange technique until Apollo told him that he was safe. He would still be sceptical even if Apollo told him it was safe.
Better be safe than sorry. Seeing as he couldn't do anything about the matter, he directed his attention to other matters but there was nothing else.
"So what to do in my spare time?"
Seeing there was nothing he could do at home, Atlas decided to take a pleasant afternoon stroll around his former neighbourhood. There were still at least two hours before evening so he wanted to use his time wisely.
'I won't work cause this is the first day off I've had in years. Not to mention that it seems my day off will stop once Apollo's training begins,'
This gave him even more of a headache than overworking. While he was on his stroll, he noticed a few men surrounding an old lady. They looked dangerous. Well... dangerous enough.
Atlas decided to watch from the corner. While Zeus came in and eliminated most crime, his neighbourhood wasn't exactly the safest one, especially nearing evening. If you couldn't protect your cash, then it was your fault for going out.
He didn't agree with what the men did, but he didn't support the old lady either. He watched the series of events happening with a slight frown on his face. Then a loud voice called out from the side.
"Stop right there, you hoodlums!"
It was the voice of a male teenager, probably not older than Atlas himself. The boy was blonde-haired and moderately handsome.
The hoodlums turned their attention to him and spewed all sorts of insults.
"Are you trying to be a hero, kid?"
"Just so you know, heroes don't live long around these parts!"
"Yeah, just go back home and maybe we'll put the matter behind us,"
They spewed insult after insult, and Atlas noticed the boy's fists tightening.
"You can't rob old people!"
He charged forward, probably with little fighting experience, blindly waving his fists until a foot smashed into his face.
"Stop trying to play the hero. You're not a fucking web novel protagonist!"
Each hoodlum looked shocked at Atlas, the new entrant. They were petrified and a bit worried at first, but seeing as he took the boy down, they were happy.
"Good one, little brother!"
"Yeah, wannabe heroes don't survive long around these parts!"
Atlas only stared at them angrily.
"You stupid idiots aren't any better. If you had just focused in class and maybe obeyed your parents, things wouldn't have turned out so bad!"
The sudden jabs at them were a shock. They didn't know what they did to Atlas but it didn't stop them from getting angry.
"The fuck did you just say?" the leader walked up to Atlas, eyes red from more than just anger. The metal bat he carried trailed him, causing a ruckus.
He swung the metal bat down on Atlas but before it could even hit the ground, Atlas was already behind him, clutching his arms. It was now Atlas' turn to swing, but instead of a bat, like the other, he swung the leader of the hoodlums this time around.
Atlas flung the other man into a nearby brick wall with unimaginable force, cracking it slightly.
Atlas turned to look for the rest of the gangsters but it looked like they had long disappeared. Seeing as they were no longer there, he turned to the old woman, holding her purse.
"And as for you, lady, I would recommend that you stopped making yourself an easy target. Maybe carry a big bat or a gun in your purse next time,"
She stared at the young man, jaw ajar and then at her purse nervously.
"You can have your purse back, but not for free."
Atlas looked into her purse and found nothing but a few loose change. He briefly changed his mind.
"Never mind."
After throwing the purse back to her, he left the alleyway as though nothing happened.
From there on, he saw nothing else of the sort but inwardly he felt glad at his decision. He'd done some research on the name Atlas and learned what the world thought of his father.
He felt greatly disappointed at what he saw.
'I'm not responsible for carrying anybody's world or sky. I will carry and protect my world, while others can do so for theirs.'
If anybody could hear his thoughts, then they would definitely call him a selfish person, but Atlas knew that he was more pragmatic than selfish.
Eventually, the sun began to set and Atlas noted that it was one of the prime times to perform the strange technique.
"Time to head home,"
With his fast speed, he got home in an instant and ran past his mother who was relaxing in the living room. He entered his room and then sat on the floor, facing the glass windows that let minuscule amounts of moonlight into the room.
"Clear my mind, and begin the technique."
He cleared his mind and let the warm feeling move from his feet and eventually to his head. Atlas could feel it, meaning the technique was real, and it was working.
After the sunset, he stopped performing the technique, but he felt a newfound strength coursing through his blood. If before, he could have carried a large car with enough effort, then with this energy, Atlas felt that he could easily carry three times that amount.
Atlas tested his strength by punching out several times. The wind posed little resistance and a low whipping sound burst out with every fist movement.
"I think I'll go and meet Apollo now,"
He left his room and told his mom he was going out, then rushed out to the school. When he got there, Apollo was already waiting.
"You're brimming with Divine Energy!"
****
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