Chapter 274: Chapter 274 - Tideveil Rises
For a Scout Rank Lord in Division 1 with an average level above 120, Selvara actually commanded a surprisingly small army.
With five divisions in total and a level of 150 required to advance to Rank-3, a lord of her caliber should have already been stationed in Division 2, or even higher. The most likely explanation was that she had suffered a major defeat, one so devastating that her rank points plummeted, forcing her all the way back down to Division 1.
She spoke about the importance of minimizing casualties on both sides, yet she still chose to use her attack token to challenge none other than a newly ascended Rank-2 lord.
Such a... waste of effort, proposing something like that. She claimed she wanted to avoid unnecessary losses, yet her actions showed she intentionally targeted an opponent she could easily overpower. Not that it was wrong, of course. Every lord did the same, seeking out battles that promised the greatest reward while risking as little as possible.
Still, no matter how carefully a battle was planned, there would always be casualties. That was something no one could ever avoid.
"If you’re so desperate to prevent any casualties," Atlas said flatly, "then just surrender to me. Work under my command. Your army and island will merge with mine, and today’s battle won’t need to happen. Everyone stays safe, everyone’s happy, and both of us will grow stronger together."
The woman replied without hesitation, her face just as calm. "I believe surrender only happens to those who are inferior. And in this case, I’m quite certain it would suit you better to demonstrate that yourself, and join me instead."
Atlas gave a faint smile at her words, said nothing.
"I’m certain that’s not going to happen," Selvara continued. "Because I know neither of us would ever agree to that kind of deal. There’s only one way to settle this, a one-on-one duel to decide who’s truly worthy to lead the merged army."
"You do realize not every lord trains to become a single fighter, right?"
"So you’re not one of them?"
"It’s not that I’m refusing to answer your question," Atlas said after a short pause. "It’s just... I don’t play by my opponent’s rules."
"What if..." Selvara spoke without pause. "What if I use this proposal just to lure you into an all-out battle, and you lose because my power in mass destruction outmatches yours?"
"Then this proposal shouldn’t exist in the first place," Atlas replied calmly. "Because either way, we’d end up in an all-out battle from the very start."
"We do not have much time," the woman said. "Decide now. There is no need for anyone from either army to die."
"You already have my answer," Atlas replied, then turned away. There would be no more discussion between them.
She called after him once more. "Atlas."
He forced himself not to look back.
"Why? Why do you refuse a one on one battle?" she pressed.
"I did not build my army to sit behind and take a victory without effort. That will not help them grow. We fight, we sacrifice, and we put hope in every person. I am not the one to teach you that."
He walked toward his island again while the countdown kept running. When Atlas climbed back onto his island he stood there, Edrik at his left.
"Do we focus on the lord or go for total destruction?" Edrik murmured as Atlas took his place at the front.
"Total destruction," Atlas answered. "I want to know if she truly cares for her army, or if she only believes the empty illusion inside her head."
Both lords and their armies remained on their islands, waiting as the countdown ticked lower and the battle drew near.
To be honest, a war like this was the kind that could never avoid casualties on both sides. Imagine it, every soldier charging toward the center, while some possessed the ability to unleash massive area attacks from afar.
Of course, such attacks could be countered by defensive roles that reduced long-range damage, or by wide-area healers capable of lessening the impact.
Still, when the clash finally happened and the two armies collided head-on, those on the front line would always be the first to take the heaviest blows.
That was why Atlas had focused the distribution of the soulbinding armors on the frontline fighters first. They were the ones most likely to suffer damage, or even die before anyone else. Not that Atlas himself wasn’t a frontline fighter. In fact, most of his elite subordinates were also warriors who fought in the front lines beside him.
The countdown kept ticking down, the battle drawing closer with every second. Everyone stood ready, armed with their weapons and whatever they planned to bring into the fight.
Then, as the final second faded away, the countdown ended, and the war officially began. The protective barrier in the center of the field dissolved, and from that moment, both sides were free to attack.
Atlas stayed in position, as did his army, waiting to see what move the enemy would make first. Selvara was likely the type of lord who specialized in long-range attacks, quite similar to Atlas himself.
And just as expected, the female lord standing at the very front lifted her trident high. In an instant, the entire war zone seemed to flood with water. A powerful surge rose from every direction, and before long, a massive, truly massive, wave began to climb into the sky, towering higher and higher.
From where Atlas stood, it was clear that if he stayed in place, the massive wave would strike him head-on, dealing heavy initial damage. The surge was even greater than the Ocean’s Wrath skill from his own Legendary Wavebreaker Spear. There was no way to counter it with another wave of equal force.
As the towering water advanced like a roaring tsunami, one figure beside Atlas had already taken to the air, Serenith.
One of her remarkable talents was Overload Flare, which allowed her to channel her stamina to boost either her explosive power or her speed. At that moment, she raised her bazooka, the weapon flaring with intense light. And when the colossal wave came crashing in.
KA-KABOOM!
Everyone instinctively shielded their eyes as the explosion collided with the massive surge. A tremendous blast followed, shaking the air.
The wave split apart, scattering into a violent burst of water that rained down over the entire battlefield, soaking everything. The air turned thick and damp, the scent of salt and steam heavy around them.
It wasn’t enough to completely destroy the enormous wave, but it was enough to stop Selvara’s opening strike.
And across the battlefield, the female lord was still standing firm, clearly far from finished with her assault.
Using a massive area skill like that would, of course, cost a great deal of mana, stamina, and other vital resources. Yet it seemed that wasn’t Selvara’s first and only attack.
Because right after that, even larger and more numerous waves began to rise again, as if the entire battlefield was about to turn into a floating ocean in the sky if this continued unchecked.
[Elite – Spirit Infusion (Conditional Active Skill) activated.]
Zefyros appeared at once, merging with Atlas, their forms blending together as his armor reshaped itself. In a flash, Atlas summoned his Legendary Spear.
"Now, attack!" he commanded, and shot into the air, his body wrapped in crackling golden lightning that split the sky as he charged forward!