Chapter 273: Chapter 273 - The Tideveil Proposal
The further Atlas advanced, now even stepping into Rank-2, the more he carried on his shoulders. More resources, more soldiers, more allies, people he now considered family, and even his own family. With every gain came greater caution in his decisions.
He remembered how reckless he had been before, joining the Dominion Skirmish for a Rank-2 island. Facing opponents already established as Rank-2 Lords had been a wild gamble, the risks far greater than what he should have taken. Yet, through a mix of circumstance, tight strategy, and a little luck, he had clawed out a victory.
Now, Atlas stood in Rank-2 Division 1. His army was stronger than ever, most already beyond level 100, and his elite subordinates had grown alongside him.
But even with such strength, Atlas did not allow himself to become careless. He thought through everything with precision, especially with this upcoming first battle of the Rank-2 Lord season.
This time, there were two challengers. He could either choose to defend, or counter with an all-out confrontation.
Defense seemed natural, but he knew his fortifications were not yet fully upgraded. Even though the number of troops involved would remain the same, a defensive stance carried its own risk: if the enemy broke through, they could strike not just the main island, but Shattered Ember as well, since the two were now connected.
An all-out confrontation carried different dangers. It meant taking the fight directly to the enemy, no walls or fortresses between them. But it also meant a chance to end the battle swiftly, without leaving his islands exposed.
Atlas weighed the options carefully. If the fight dragged on, things could turn messy. But hesitation was not his style.
So this time, Atlas chose an all-out confrontation.
**
The next morning, just as dawn broke, the enemy’s floating island came into view, its massive silhouette drifting closer across the horizon. As the distance between them closed, its full size became clear. The island was enormous, nearly twice the size of Gacha Haven, though still smaller than the vast expanse of Shattered Ember.
Their opponent was Selvara of Tideveil Sanctuary.
Atlas and Edrik had already spent the night studying what little data the system had revealed. Tideveil Sanctuary was unlike most islands. They noted its heavy concentration of water zones, interconnected by gleaming channels and reservoirs. The structures, though plain from the outside, rose tall like towers or lighthouses, each likely housing complex systems beneath the surface.
Moments later, as the two islands drew close enough, the system activated automatically.
The air rippled, and the clouds below churned as shimmering fragments of land began to rise. The space between the two islands connected. Chunks of earth and stone materializing from below, locking together like pieces of a massive puzzle. Within seconds, the formation was complete.
[War Zone Established.]
[Battlefield: Neutral Ground between Gacha Haven and Tideveil Sanctuary.]
Atlas stood tall at the edge of the island, the wind whipping against the dark plates of his Nightfall Sentinel Armor. He took a steady step forward, then descended toward the newly formed war zone.
Across the field, the opposing Lord had also stepped down, the two of them now facing each other across the vast stretch of neutral ground. This was the customary moment before every all-out confrontation. The brief silence before the storm, where each Lord would offer their words of challenge.
The distance between the two sides was still wide, but Atlas wasted no time. He crouched slightly, then leapt forward. The air cracked as mana gathered beneath his feet, propelling him across the battlefield in a single surge.
The opposing Lord responded in kind. Her body glided smoothly above the ground, as though she were skating over a mirror of ice. In moments, they closed the distance until both figures stood clearly in view of one another.
Selvara, Lord of Tideveil Sanctuary. Her presence carried the calm of an ocean at dusk. Her face was serene, framed by flowing silver-blue hair, and her eyes glowed with the depth of aquamarine crystal.
She wore pearlsteel armor trimmed with coral gold, and a circlet of crystal shell rested lightly upon her head. In her hand, she held a sleek Trident, its prongs shimmering faintly with living water.
They both wielded weapons of the same kind. And perhaps another resemblance as well: both carried a strong affinity for water. Yet, he could tell that Selvara controlled more advanced elements from water.
"Atlas of Gacha Haven," the woman spoke first, her aquamarine eyes reflecting an unsettling calm, yet distant, almost hollow.
"Selvara," Atlas replied evenly as he met her gaze.
"You must be quite confident," she continued. "To accept this challenge as an all-out confrontation, even though you’ve only just entered this ground as a Scout-rank Lord."
A faint smile curved Atlas’s lips. "Confidence or not, I believe we both understand how cruel the world of Lords truly is. Whether you choose to defend or to meet a challenge head-on, each path carries its own risk. If only there were an option to simply live in peace... but the system was never built for that."
Selvara’s expression softened for a moment. Then her voice steadied once more. "I have no desire for long speeches. I came with a proposal."
Atlas tilted his head slightly. "I’m listening."
Silence hung between them. Brief, yet heavy with the tension of what was to come.
"I challenge you to a one-on-one duel," Selvara said at last.
Atlas’s brows furrowed. "This is war, not a single duel. You understand the concept, don’t you? Surely, as a Lord, you’ve fought enough battles to know what that means."
Selvara answered in the same even tone. "I have two hundred soldiers. I am sure you have more." Her eyes did not shift. "But their average level is one-twenty. I imagine that is higher than yours, now that you have only just reached Scout rank."
"That is high for Division 1," Atlas admitted. "I appreciate the honesty. But you know this puts your entire force at risk if you bring something like this to your opponents."
"I do not want many to die," she said. "That is why I offer a one-on-one. If you win, your prize is my island and my army. If you lose, then at least only one of us falls."
Atlas let the words hang. "This Lord Battle system does not normally accommodate one-on-one duels," he said.
"Then make it work," Selvara replied simply. "Our armies remain on our islands while the duel happens. We finish it here, and no one interferes."
"How do you know my forces will not snipe you from afar?" Atlas asked.
Her face did not change.
He added. "And how do I know you will not snipe me?"
The trouble with being someone as cunning as Atlas was that when an opponent offered a proposal like this. He could never take his enemy’s words at face value, just as his enemy could never fully trust his own.
The woman continued, "You’ll only have my army as vessels, without their loyalty."
Atlas replied coldly, "Do you still believe loyalty exists in this lord world?"
"I just want your answer, yes or no."
What should Atlas choose? Yes or no? Yes, but he would still snipe her from afar with Serenith’s help, or should he accept this fight head-on, knowing the woman standing before him was at least level 120?