Chapter 231: Chapter 231 - The Weight of Inheritance
Luna then moved on to another lord—one who, to Atlas’s surprise, reminded him of someone within his own team.
"She is Katriel, or simply Kate. That should be easy for you to remember."
Atlas turned his gaze toward the girl as she rose from her seat. Even standing, she barely reached the height of those who remained seated.
She was a beastkin, a cat girl, with black hair, soft feline ears, and wide eyes that carried an innocent glint. Unlike Mira’s childlike charm, this girl seemed more youthful still, no older than her mid-teens.
"She has a beast transformation," Luna explained.
Atlas’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her.
"Indeed, she is a beastkin, a cat girl by race. But her system allows her to transform into other full beast forms. You will be able to witness it later, though I doubt this place would be suitable for her to demonstrate such an ability now."
So, this hall was not large enough to contain her transformation? Atlas felt his curiosity sharpen. Beastkin never failed to surprise him. First Mira, with her innocent appearance masking such formidable power... and now Katriel, this seemingly fragile girl who could change into something entirely different.
Into what, exactly? He could only imagine.
Still, there was no rush. They had all day, and he would see her ability in due time.
Luna continued, her tone proud. "Kate has also kept an impressive record. She has never once lost a lord battle. Just like you, Atlas. I would say her potential on the battlefield is considerable. In fact, she even participated in the last Dominion Skirmish. Of course, that was while she was still Rank-1. She only advanced to Rank-2 after winning her Dominion Skirmish."
Atlas leaned back, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "That only makes me all the more curious about the lords gathered here."
Luna’s smile widened, her expression glowing with pride. For her, this was a victory of its own. Proof that the effort she had poured into supporting these lords was bearing fruit. And Atlas knew well that her help had never come from self-interest. She had proven it before, sending aid to him without asking for anything in return. This was who Luna was: someone who helped simply because she wished others to survive.
Luna continued with her introductions, and with each new lord presented, Atlas found himself increasingly impressed. He could not help but imagine the sheer potential if all these abilities were united under a single banner.
Of course, that was the very reason these lords had formed an alliance in the first place. Together, they could complement one another, strengthen each other’s weaknesses, and build something greater than what they could achieve alone. But that also meant they were bound to clash with rival alliances, ones that might see their growing strength as a direct threat.
An alliance was never just about gathering numbers, it was about balance. Every lord involved had to benefit, sharing resources and supporting each other’s growth, because the advancement of one strengthened the whole.
Finally, Luna introduced the last lord on her list, and her ability was no less astonishing than the rest.
Luna herself possessed what Atlas quietly admitted was an ability bordering on broken. Her power allowed her to transform her army with magical-girl-like enhancements, multiplying their combat potential many times over. But this final lord... She could command levitation. Not only for herself, but also for her entire troop.
"An army of fliers would be troublesome to fight," Atlas remarked.
"Yes," Luna agreed. "They would still be vulnerable to anti-air attacks, of course. But any opposing force that relies heavily on melee combat would be rendered nearly useless against them."
As he listened to the wide array of system abilities, Atlas realized he had not yet seen the worst the lord world could throw at him. Many of these powers were devastating in their own right. And compared to them, his own ability felt... different. Less about direct empowerment, more about summoning.
Yet at the same time, he knew his gift was extraordinary in its own way. After all, who else could summon fallen lords from other worlds? Veterans like Morganna, who carried the weight of thousands of years of experience?
Once all the introductions were finished, Atlas remained quiet, weighing the thoughts pressing on his mind. It was not that he doubted the strength gathered here, but rather the responsibility that came with it. By stepping into an alliance this large, he was also stepping into Luna’s old role—bearing the weight of leadership.
As the alliance leader, he could not avoid this position. If he had built an alliance from the ground up, this burden would have come naturally. The difference now was that he was inheriting a structure already established, then taking the helm.
Was that the wrong choice?
Yet when it came to leading, Atlas had already been doing something similar all along. His Elite Subordinates were fallen lords themselves, beings who carried far more experience than the fresh lords gathered in this chamber. The difference was that his subordinates were bound to him by the system, which granted him greater control over their loyalty and actions.
With these lords, however, he would need to rely on diplomacy, bargaining, and negotiation whenever he wished to press a decision. It would not be control, it would be leadership in its truest form.
"Lord Atlas."
The voice broke his thoughts. One hand had been raised. It was Gwyndelle, or Gwen, as Luna had called her.
"Yes?"
The elf girl rose gracefully and gave him a polite bow.
"Forgive me for speaking out so soon, but I wish to share something that has been on my mind. Please do not take this as disrespect toward you or toward the other lords present. I only hope it may ease your concerns. I do not want my presence, nor the presence of the other lords, to become a burden for you. We are all here because of the support given by Luna and the others who came before us. That support gave us the confidence to stand together. And so, we are here to continue supporting one another.
"Please do not feel you must carry all of this responsibility alone. We will do our best to show that we can support each other in return. Whatever difficulties one of us faces, we hope they can be shared openly so that we may seek solutions together. That is all I wished to say, because I truly want to keep contributing to this alliance, especially now that it is under your leadership."
Atlas nodded slowly to the elf, a faint smile tugging at the edge of his lips.
"I understand, Gwen. Thank you for your concern. You have managed to put into words the very worry I was carrying."
Atlas steadied his breath, drawing in air slowly before releasing it with control. Then he rose from his seat, letting his gaze sweep across the chamber, taking in each face one by one. His expression was composed, his tone carrying respect for everyone present.
Here he stood, the lowest ranked among them. By all measures, it was a daring move to take the floor in such a gathering. Yet he had earned his place, and now he needed to trust in that, to stand with confidence behind his decision.
"Let me share what is on my mind," he began.