Chapter 187: Chapter 187 - The Lords of the Fortress
Four male lords, rulers of the Central Fortress, had gathered that night, their expressions far more grim than usual. The once relaxed atmosphere was gone. Now, the air was thick with tension.
Some wore visibly annoyed expressions, while others remained silent and tense, their jaws tight with unease.
And then, there was the angry lord. His every word was laced with frustration and barely restrained fury.
Slamming his hand on the table, he spoke sharply, "They have truly pissed me off! My troops got killed! We cannot let this keep happening."
The leader lord, the one being confronted, simply smiled thinly. He tapped his fingers against the table, unbothered, making no immediate effort to respond.
The strategic lord, adjusting his glasses, was the first to reply.
"Clearly, they’re only doing this to throw us off. They know they can’t win this Dominion Skirmish just by pulling off small-scale disruptions like this."
The angry lord snapped back instantly.
"They’ve already gone too far! Do you even know how many of my troops have been killed by them? Do you think I’ll just stand by and do nothing?"
He turned back to the leader lord, his eyes burning with impatience.
"We go after them. We fight them! Obliterate them and end this Dominion Skirmish, right now!"
The strategic lord interjected again, this time more firmly.
"That’s exactly what they did to Kareem’s alliance. They lured them into a cave and then blew them up inside."
The angry lord scoffed.
"So what? You think they’re trying to pull the same trick on us? You think they’ll lure us into a cave too? All we have to do is hunt them down. Sweep the entire island if we have to! It’s simple. Whatever it takes, we’ll make them regret every single thing they’ve done."
The debate in the room grew even more intense. Tension thickened in the air as the lords clashed over whether to hold their ground at the Central Fortress or launch a full-scale offensive to hunt down their enemies and end the war outright.
"If casualties are inevitable, then why don’t we just go all in? Wipe them out completely, and we win. It’s that simple." The angry lord pressed on.
The leader lord, who had been silent all this time, finally responded. The tapping of his fingers against the table grew louder, more deliberate.
"This is... frustrating, I know. But let’s not forget, we already sent small scouting units after them. And they were wiped out. The enemies have people who are exceptionally good at this kind of warfare, especially at night."
The angry lord retorted immediately.
"Then let’s fight in broad daylight! If they have the advantage at night, we’ll make daytime our battlefield and crush them at full strength."
The leader lord paused for a moment, then sighed.
"I see your point."
But before the discussion could continue, a knock echoed from the door.
"My lord, the enemy is attacking the gate!" a voice called from outside.
The angry lord immediately shot to his feet.
"They’re here! I won’t let them get away without casualties on their side tonight!"
***
Atlas sat atop his floating throne, gliding forward slowly as he entered the open clearing. Directly before him stood the massive gate leading to the Central Fortress, where the leading alliance had fortified their position.
It was the dead of night, the half-moon barely casting any light upon the battlefield. The only illumination came from the artificial lamps mounted along the enemy’s fortress walls, their glow barely cutting through the cold darkness.
Behind Atlas, his army emerged. Over a hundred warriors, stepping out from behind the frozen treeline in perfect formation. Clad in full battle armor, they stood unwavering against the bitter cold, showing no signs of shivering or hesitation.
A voice from atop the fortress wall barked out a challenge.
"State your purpose!"
Atlas rose from his throne, his stance commanding, and his voice rang out firm and resolute.
"I am Atlas of Gacha Haven. I have come to declare a formal challenge of war."
From beyond the wall, a figure stepped forward. A tall, broad-shouldered man, his body clad in golden heavy armor. His short, dark hair was barely visible beneath his helmet. One of their lords.
The man studied Atlas in silence, his gaze sharp and unreadable.
Then, Atlas continued.
"I am extending an invitation. In an all-out battle, on an open battlefield. Tonight."
The man tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharp as he looked down at Atlas before finally responding.
"And why exactly should we accept your baseless invitation to war, huh? Do you really think we’d just abandon our fortress, when we can sit comfortably here, watching you freeze, starve, and crumble under the weight of your own foolishness?"
Atlas smirked. So predictable.
According to Kurogasa, many of the enemy soldiers they had taken down in previous skirmishes were likely subordinates of this very lord. That meant this guy stepping forward to meet Atlas was exactly what he had hoped for.
Atlas let out a short chuckle before raising his voice, making sure everyone, his soldiers and theirs, could hear him loud and clear.
"Oh? So that’s how you want to play this?" He crossed his arms, his smirk widening. "Hiding behind your walls like a coward while your men die one by one out here? No wonder they drop so easily. Clearly, they have a leader who lacks the spine to fight beside them."
He paused deliberately, letting his words sink in before taking another step forward.
"Or maybe..." Atlas’s voice turned sharper. "You’re just afraid? Afraid that if you step out of that fortress, you’ll end up like the countless men I’ve already buried?"
Atlas lifted his chin slightly, his tone turning ice-cold.
"You talk about watching us suffer. But tell me, how does it feel knowing that no matter how many times you send your soldiers after me... they never come back?!"
His eyes locked onto the enemy lord’s. "Face me. Prove you’re not just another coward hiding behind stone walls."
The enemy lord’s expression darkened, his fingers twitching slightly against the hilt of his weapon. The insult had clearly struck a nerve.
A tense silence followed.
Then, he let out a low chuckle, though there was no amusement in it. His golden armor gleamed under the fortress lights as he took a step closer to the edge of the wall, his gaze burning into Atlas with quiet fury.
"You think words alone can shake me, boy?" His voice was deep, steady. But there was an edge of restrained anger beneath it. "You call me a coward? From where I’m standing, I see an overconfident fool begging for a fight he cannot win."
His grip tightened. "Your little ambush tactics might have worked on the weaklings under my command. But that changes nothing. You’re standing before me now. And I am not so easily broken."
He let the words hang for a moment before scoffing.
"But fine. If you want a war, I’ll give you one." His eyes narrowed. "Don’t beg for mercy when you realize the mistake you’ve made."
He turned his head slightly and shouted toward his men.
"Prepare the troops! We march to battle. Tonight!"
Atlas responded with a thin smile as he settled back onto his throne.
"The weakness of the strong is always the same. They underestimate their enemies. Have they truly never learned from this?"
With that, he turned his floating throne, the air around him shifting as he moved. Preparing to bring this war to its end tonight.