Chapter 195: Chapter 195 - The Parting of Lords
That very night, Luna, Brigid, and Celestia requested a strategic meeting with Atlas at the heart of Central Fortress, the stronghold they had taken from their enemies.
Only the lords were present. And despite this being a moment of great victory, the tension in the air was unmistakable.
Their expressions were grim. Except for Celestia, of course. She still wore her usual mischievous smile amidst the heavy atmosphere.
Luna was the first to break the silence.
"Atlas..." She said his name, then paused, inhaling deeply before continuing.
"We’ve confirmed it. There are only four lords left on this island. That means our alliance has solidified its victory here."
Atlas gave a slow nod, letting Luna finish her thoughts.
"I know this victory wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s cooperation." Her voice remained steady, but her gaze turned sharp.
She shook her head slightly. "And I won’t deny that you played a crucial role in securing it."
Still, Atlas remained silent. He wanted to respond, but he knew Luna wasn’t done yet.
"All of us. Brigid, Celestia, you, and I, we’ve lost troops. We’ve seen our soldiers fall, suffered heavy injuries. We all need time to recover."
Atlas gave another nod. He agreed completely.
Luna exhaled, her tense expression softening into a faint smile.
"So..."
She stood up from her chair and took a step back.
Brigid and Celestia followed suit, pushing their seats aside and standing alongside her.
Atlas tilted his head slightly.
What are they doing?
Slowly, he rose from his chair as well.
Luna’s gaze met his as she continued. "A strong alliance is built on trust."
Her voice was firm. "And I respect you as the new leader of this alliance. But trust isn’t something that can be built overnight."
Atlas narrowed his eyes slightly.
Where was this going?
Luna took another deep breath. "That’s why..." She met his gaze. "The three of us will retreat from this island."
Atlas’s brows furrowed.
Luna nodded. "We all need time to recover, physically, and mentally. And that will be easier if we’re somewhere we feel truly safe."
So Atlas wasn’t the only one who felt this tension. He wasn’t the only one concerned about what might happen next.
If all four of them remained here together, suspicion could easily take root. Doubt could spread. And doubt led to conflict.
This was their way of preventing division before it could begin.
Atlas exhaled slowly, then nodded. "I respect that decision, Luna."
Celestia’s smile widened, and Brigid gave a small bow of acknowledgment.
Celestia spoke first, "Atlas, choosing you as the leader of this alliance... was the most interesting decision I’ve ever made as a Lord."
Brigid smirked slightly. "I want a rematch someday. Make sure you catch up to our levels soon."
And finally, Luna closed the conversation. "We’ll meet again after the Dominion Skirmish concludes in a few weeks."
Atlas smiled faintly, nodding. "Until we meet again."
And then, before he could react, Celestia stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
Tightly.
Atlas stiffened slightly in surprise.
"Thank you, Atlas," Celestia murmured with a soft chuckle. "You’re so cute... I hope you get even stronger, okay?"
She laughed as she finally let go.
Luna, watching the scene unfold, couldn’t help but smile.
Had Atlas been too hard on himself? Or perhaps, too harsh in judging the three lords who had set aside their egos, choosing to follow him as the new leader. Despite the fact that he had boldly entered their alliance and directly challenged Luna’s position?
Had the struggles of being a Lord hardened him too much?
Had this war blinded him to the sincerity of these three?
In the end, at this very moment, Luna herself had taught him a crucial lesson. This alliance was not built on mere convenience.
They had not fought together for long, and trust between them was still fragile. But every single one of them had shown their willingness to build it.
And that was why they had made this decision.
Atlas let out a slow breath before speaking, his voice steady yet firm.
"Until we meet again. Let’s make sure that when we stand together next time, we stand not just as allies. But as those who truly trust one another."
The tension between them finally melted away.
"Next time, come visit my island," Celestia said with a playful smile.
"Until we meet again."
"Take care. Get some proper rest."
"We’ll be back!"
**
After two intense months, the Dominion Skirmish finally reached its conclusion as the countdown hit zero. At that very moment, Atlas and his entire army stood in the open field before the central fortress, ready to welcome their hard-earned victory.
A cascade of notifications flashed before Atlas’ eyes, confirming their absolute triumph in the Skirmish. The entire army erupted in cheers, celebrating their success.
[Atlas of Gacha Haven has achieved an extraordinary victory, claiming dominion over The Shattered Ember!]
[His strategic brilliance and unwavering determination have secured a new stronghold, marking a defining moment in the battle for supremacy.]
[You have gained full ownership rights over the island.]
[Two Island Monster Bosses have been detected on the island.]
[The island cannot merge with your main island until the monsters are defeated.]
[Congratulations! Every resident of the island has received 1,000,000 Experience Points.]
[The Lord has received an additional 500,000 Experience Points.]
[50,000,000 Experience Points have been evenly distributed among individuals with outstanding contributions in battle.]
[As a Seeker-rank Lord, you have achieved an incredible feat by securing ownership rights over a rank-2 island.]
[Your main island has expanded by 120%.]
[You have obtained 20,000 gold.]
[You have received 20,000 Arcane Shards.]
[You have obtained 20 Standard Tickets.]
[You have gained 100 Rank Points and have now been promoted to Division 5 of Rank-1 Lord.]
[You have received...]
[You have received...]
Atlas exhaled slowly, his eyes fixed on the stream of notifications. This victory was more than just claiming territory. It was the beginning of something far greater.
However, one rather interesting fact was that the island he had won couldn’t be merged directly with his main island. That was... quite unique. Not that he was complaining. Having a larger main island would certainly be advantageous.
Still, since this island was now entirely his, he had complete control over who could enter and who couldn’t.
On top of that, he also had direct access to travel back and forth between his main island and this one whenever he wanted.
In addition, Atlas had gained a significant amount of experience, pushing him all the way up to level 64 by the end of the battle.
A massive level boost! Considering the amount of effort it would have taken to grind that much experience manually, this was an incredible leap.
Although level 64 was still far from level 100, it was undeniable progress. One that would help him push even further in his pursuit of the next milestone.
At the very least, he aimed to reach level 100 within a year.
A bold goal, given the sheer amount of experience points required to get there.
**
(Author’s Note:)
That’s a wrap on Volume 3!
Tell me, how would you like to see Atlas evolve in the future?
Should he expand his island into a grander, more powerful domain?
Gather even more elite subordinates to strengthen his forces?
Should he continue conquering and rising ever stronger?
Let me know your thoughts, and I’ll see you in Volume 4!