Chapter 225: Chapter 225 - Secret Families
[Thundercurrent Mastery (B) - Aqua-Volt Vitality (B) - Aquatic Sovereignty (B)]
After merging with Zefyros, Atlas now had access to three of the spirit beast’s signature talents—though, naturally, at a lower rank. While Zefyros himself wielded these abilities at SS and S-tier levels, Atlas’s version of them was currently only ranked B.
Still, that was more than enough.
Especially since it now allowed him to control both water and lightning with significantly greater ease. He hadn’t even tested whether this form would let him swim freely through deep water—but that was definitely something he’d have to try soon.
Yeah... definitely worth it.
Just ahead, the horde of monsters broke through the treeline—snarling, clawing, and roaring as they charged forward in a wild frenzy, crashing into each other as they surged through the forest.
Up above, Lyrassa soared higher into the air. The aura around her pulsed violently, raw energy bursting outward with shocking intensity.
Then, massive vines erupted from the earth, snaking out and wrapping tightly around the legs of the incoming monsters. The sheer strength of the bind was far greater than anything Lyrassa had summoned before.
Atlas didn’t waste a second.
He shot forward—water bursting from beneath his feet and enveloping his entire body. A second later, his legs lifted from the ground and he launched, riding the surge like a living tidal force.
Damn it. This is ridiculously cool.
[Epic - Bloodlink Command (Active) Lv. 4 activated.]
[Epic - Bloodrush (Active) Lv. 7 activated.]
[Epic - Spiral Tide (Active Skill) Lv. 3 activated.]
Water and lightning spiraled out from him in a violent, high-speed vortex. The Spiral Tide crashing forward across the battlefield. The roaring torrent surged directly into the cluster of monsters, pulling several of them into its spinning center as arcs of thunder cracked through the current.
Combined with Lyrassa’s enhanced crowd control, the monsters were completely locked down, dragged and compressed into a single choke point.
Perfectly set up for massive area damage.
And a clean, explosive finish.
[Ocean’s Wrath (Active) activated.]
He swung his spear forward, and a massive wave exploded from the ground in front of him. It surged outward like a living wall of sea, crashing into the advancing monsters, sweeping them back with brutal force.
Dozens of water spears materialized in midair, glinting with violent blue light. They plunged down like divine javelins, pelting the monster horde.
The force of the storm fractured the monsters’ momentum. Sending some tumbling, others screaming in rage.
Atlas surged forward, weaving through the chaos and using his skills precisely to keep the monsters clustered in the perfect kill zone. With Lyrassa’s crowd control reinforcing their position, everything was finally in place.
It’s time.
He launched himself backward just as the detonations began.
The first explosion erupted at the outer edge. Then another. And another.
The shockwaves rippled violently through the field. So strong that Atlas was blasted off his feet, thrown back by the force.
But it wasn’t over yet.
[Ocean’s Wrath (Active) activated.]
[Sea of Storms (Active) activated.]
[Epic - Spiral Tide (Active Skill) Lv. 3 activated.]
Atlas triggered his skills again, pushing for maximum area damage. Waves of water and lightning surged outward once more, sweeping across the battlefield to ensure even more monsters were caught in the blast radius.
At that moment, Lyrassa flew in beside him, extending her arm as a shimmering energy shield wrapped around them both. Just in time to block the next wave of explosions.
[You have killed The Blooming Maw Lv. 125]
[You received 83,168 Exp]
[Exp: 162,503/377,966]
Damn it.
One monster down. But the penalty of his strategy hit him immediately. With Lyrassa directly supporting the assault and Zefyros merged into his form, the EXP gain was now being split three ways, even with the booster activated.
Worse still, the closer his level got to the monsters’, the lower the EXP return. The gap that once brought huge gains was now narrowing fast.
Efficient? Absolutely.
But Atlas could already feel the uphill grind ahead.
[You have killed The Blooming Maw Lv. 127]
[You received 91,130 Exp]
[Exp: 253,633/377,966]
Atlas couldn’t use his skills as often now. His stamina was draining fast, and without leveling up immediately, recovery was sluggish. Still, he forced himself to keep going, pushing through the strain and spamming every skill he could.
But the relentless explosions that followed gave them no time to linger.
He glanced toward Lyrassa. Her expression strained, body trembling slightly. She was clearly enduring the shockwaves from the blasts.
Without a second thought, Atlas reached out and pulled her close, sweeping her to his side before launching them both away. Just as another series of explosions detonated behind them.
[You have killed The Blooming Maw Lv. 127]
[You have killed The Blooming Maw Lv. 125]
[You have killed The Blooming Maw Lv. 122]
[You have leveled up]
System messages flooded his vision in rapid succession. He didn’t need to read them all. He knew the results. Most of the monsters had been wiped out.
Then came the final blast.
The shockwave hit like a hammer.
Atlas lost control mid-air, crashing hard into the ground, still shielding Lyrassa with his body. They tumbled through dirt and debris until the momentum faded.
Finally, he landed flat on his back. Lyrassa still in his arms, pressed tightly against his chest.
He stared up at the sky, his chest heaving.
Well... at least I killed twenty of them.
Not bad, huh?
[You have leveled up]
[Level 78]
[Exp: 192,826/409,125]
He let the moment linger. Just for a little while.
Then, footsteps.
Rushing toward them.
Someone slid down beside him on his right and dropped to a knee.
"My Lord... why are you two being so cozy like that? I want to be held like that too," Serenith giggled, crouched with a teasing smile.
Atlas sighed and sat up, Lyrassa still in his arms. She quickly pulled herself up as well, brushing herself off while catching her breath.
"My Lord, I’m sorry. I lost control for a moment. The blast... it overwhelmed me," Lyrassa said, her voice low with guilt.
"No, it’s fine," he replied gently. "What matters is, we took down the monsters."
Just then, Zefyros, now unmerged, bounced around them like an energetic pup.
The rest of the elite squad had begun to approach, slowly regrouping around them.
Atlas turned to Serenith, who was still crouched beside him, watching him with eyes full of spark.
"My Lord..." she said, almost in a singsong voice. "You’re so gentle with Lyrassa. And with Morganna, too. Oh, and I heard something from Edrik~"
Atlas narrowed his eyes. "What exactly did you hear from Edrik?"
"Ehem!" Edrik cleared his throat sharply, trying to cut in. "My Lord, I believe it would be wise to rest now. After a hunt this intense."
"No no. What did you hear from Edrik?" Atlas pressed, eyes narrowing further.
Serenith clapped her hands and answered with a bright, smug grin. "Edrik said... that my Lord is a loving Lord who protects his people, earns their respect, and is a man of great power and even greater charisma!"
"Oh... okay," Atlas said, smirking. He turned to Edrik, who gave a small, polite bow, avoiding eye contact.
Atlas stood, followed by Lyrassa and Serenith.
"But, my Lord..." Serenith continued, swaying slightly with a playful tilt of her head.
"Yes?" Atlas asked, brow raised.
"Is it true that Morganna is pregnant with your child? Wait, no, I’m sure she is! So that means you two are married, right? And... have you also gotten Lyrassa pregnant? Is this a whole secret family thing?!"
The entire area fell dead silent.
Tension crackled in the air.
A slow, chilling wave of energy began to emanate from a specific direction.
Atlas turned his head, and there was Morganna, eyes locked on Serenith, her expression utterly unreadable.
"...Do you need a sparring partner?" Morganna asked.
Serenith only giggled and stepped right up to her, undeterred. "You know, pregnant women need plenty of gentle movement, sunlight, and love every day. Especially from their husbands."
In response, Morganna slowly summoned her scythe into her hand.
Serenith let out a delighted squeal, spun on her heel, and bolted.
"Forgive me, Morganna! But if you’re too scary all the time, your baby might grow up all—"
She didn’t finish the sentence. She just laughed and darted across the field, with Morganna calmly, and terrifyingly, walking after her.
Atlas simply stood there, watching the chaos unfold with no real sense of danger.
Yeah.
Time to rest.