Chapter 227: Chapter 227 - Find Me in Pangaea Nova
"My Lord. We need to leave this place. Now," Kurogasa said urgently, just as the rest of the subordinates arrived from all directions.
"There’s a Rank-3 Lord approaching. And they’re heading directly toward this location."
Rank-3?
Atlas’s brows furrowed.
This hunting island was already unusual. Unlike most, which restricted access to a two-rank range, this one allowed Lords from Rank 1 to Rank 3. A rare overlap, and now, that quirk had turned into a serious threat.
Without hesitation, Atlas activated the teleportation portal. Everyone gathered close.
But then the message appeared in his interface.
[Teleportation access has been temporarily disabled. Cooldown: 9 minutes, 39 seconds.]
"They’ve blocked teleportation for the next ten minutes," Atlas said sharply.
And then, they saw him.
Someone was approaching from the sky, wings spread wide. White wings. Moving fast.
At the same time, figures began emerging from the forest behind. Presumably their subordinates.
Atlas stepped slightly forward from the group, his eyes fixed on the descending figure as he glided lower... until his feet touched the ground with a graceful, almost theatrical motion.
The wings folded back and shifted, transforming into a long white cape.
He wore elegant white and gold robes, regal, polished, and pristine. Above his head hovered something faintly glowing: a halo.
And perhaps most unusual of all... was his hair. Long, deep blue, flowing down past his back.
Atlas had a strong suspicion about who was standing before him now.
And if he was right. This was going to get complicated.
If this Lord truly was a Rank-3 Pathfinder, then it was safe to assume that the ten subordinates he brought along were all well above level 150.
This... wasn’t going to be easy.
Moments later, the two sides stood face to face.
The man before them was tall, nearly Edrik’s height, and carried himself with the kind of poise that only came from status and confidence.
"Pathfinder Krovos," the man introduced himself. "Of the White Sand Alliance."
The White Sand Alliance. They were no strangers to Atlas.
It was the same alliance that once extended an invitation for him to join, by someone named Lord Kaelzar. The same man Atlas had defeated during the Dominion Skirmish.
And at the top of that alliance stood Sentinel Kareem. A powerful figure whom Atlas had seen with his own eyes clearing a Dungeon Break in Veylamar just a few months prior. A man who had left a lasting impression.
"Seeker Atlas," Atlas said.
He paused. Right, he hadn’t actually named his alliance yet.
Krovos smiled faintly, and in that smile was the unmistakable gleam of arrogance.
"I must say, you deserve some credit. For a Rank-1 Lord to capture a Rank-2 island during a Dominion Skirmish... if not extraordinary, then at the very least, it proves you’ve learned to use your brain."
So... he was saying Atlas had brains, which implied the rest of their alliance, the ones Atlas defeated—didn’t?
Noted.
"Well, I feel truly honored," Atlas replied smoothly, "to receive such a personal visit. From someone of your rank, no less. Though, if I’m being honest. I wasn’t exactly hoping for visitors today. And about that teleportation block... care to explain?"
Krovos gave a slow, mocking smirk, his eyes drifting downward in that irritatingly casual way that made Atlas want to punch something.
"So... I see you’ve been working hard to catch up on your level," he said smoothly.
"I hope you manage to hit Rank-2 soon. That way, we can finally continue this little rivalry. Because honestly, fighting a Lord like you? That actually sounds interesting. Especially if it’s done on an open battlefield, with equal ground. Not the kind of cowardly, cunning tricks you’ve been pulling up until now."
Atlas didn’t flinch. His voice stayed calm, measured. "I’ll reach Rank-2. Rank-3. Wherever this path takes me. I don’t need a lecture to push forward."
That answer made Krovos’s gaze sharpen.
Atlas continued, voice steady.
"So, is that all you came to say? Or is there something else?"
"Because frankly," he added, "I’m getting tired of these threats dressed up as diplomacy. Especially from an alliance your size. Sending someone with a massively higher level to make a show of strength? That’s not power. That’s just insecurity."
Krovos stepped closer.
And Atlas didn’t move an inch.
"If your alliance truly holds a grudge against me," Atlas said coolly, "then finish it here. Now. I’m sure eleven people over level 150 could easily crush me, and my subordinates, none of whom have even reached level 100 yet. Shouldn’t be hard, right?"
But both of them knew better.
Because Atlas had been piecing together the deeper layers of this long before today.
From Luna, he’d learned the truth: Sentinel Kareem, the leader of the White Sand Alliance, was the father of Soren—the very first Lord Atlas had ever been defeated in a Lord Battle.
It went even deeper.
After that, Atlas had taken down multiple Rank-2 Lords from the same alliance during the Dominion Skirmish. And now, they had escalated the situation to the point of sending a Rank-3 Lord to confront him directly.
But if it did come to a real fight, Atlas had plans. Tricks up his sleeve. Maybe even the kind that could flip the table completely.
Krovos, who had arrived with a carefully controlled, cool demeanor, now showed the faintest crack in his composure. The tension in his jaw betrayed it. Just enough for Atlas to notice.
People this high up in the ranks... they were often the easiest to provoke.
"So?" Atlas said, his tone casual. "You want to do it now? You’ve got seven minutes. I’m sure it won’t take you nearly that long to kill me."
He smiled faintly.
"But just know this. If another battle comes, and someone of my rank from your alliance challenges me... I wonder how many will be left standing. Maybe only Kareem, mourning the death of his son."
The words dropped like a hammer.
Silence.
Stillness spread through the clearing like frost. And in that stillness, a tension sharp enough to cut.
A few of Krovos’s subordinates stepped forward, weapons half-drawn, their expressions tight with rage.
But Krovos merely raised a single finger. Just enough to stop them.
"Atlas," he said calmly. "You’ve got nerves. I admire that. I enjoy seeing this kind of confidence... because destroying it, completely, is one of the greatest pleasures in war. And I’ll be the one to do it. With my own hands."
"Good," Atlas replied, his smile never fading. "You and your alliance can find me in Pangaea Nova. I’ll be waiting to welcome you properly."
So arrogant. So deliberate.
But Atlas didn’t care.
If they came with threats, he would return them just the same. And as long as he had a solid escape strategy, and he always did. He had every reason to stand his ground.
Besides, the whole Lord Battle system wasn’t designed to let higher-ranked Lords attack lower ones so freely. Even this encounter had clearly required them to burn through expensive resources, like the item they’d just used to block teleportation.
They couldn’t afford to pull this trick often.
Krovos narrowed his eyes but didn’t respond immediately.
"Let’s see how bold you really are in a real battle. I hope I won’t have to wait too long for that," he said at last. "Remember my name, Krovos."
And with that, he turned.
His white cape shimmered, morphing once again into brilliant wings. With a powerful flap, he launched into the air, rising fast and vanishing into the sky.
Atlas remained still, watching the sky with a calm expression.
Well then... let’s see how long it takes before this becomes a war.