Chapter 277: Chapter 277 - The Seventh Banner
Perhaps Atlas would revisit this choice later. Or perhaps he would stand by it. But one thing pushed him toward allowing them to keep their children on Gacha Haven was...
Since Vienne arrived in Atlas’s world, something about him changed in a way he had never felt before. Vienne was not a burden. Instead, the girl had reshaped him. She gave Atlas firmer resolve, clearer judgment, and a deeper reason to keep fighting.
Children were not weights for their parents to be carried. They were reasons to rise, reasons to protect, reasons to push farther than before. Atlas knew this in his bones, because he stood in the same place.
After a moment, Selvara offered her answer. She lifted her face and spoke with a voice that trembled but held steady. "Lord Atlas, if you will allow it, and if you do not object, I ask permission to keep my son on the island. I will not complain even if you change this rule later. Let me keep him here."
She paused, then went on with fiercer words. "I will fight, I will strive, and I will give more than I have ever given to repay this mercy. I will make up for my island’s defeat. I will serve your cause, and prove my worth in every battle to come. Please let me remain, and I will turn my loss into strength for you."
Right after Selvara spoke, the soldiers standing behind her straightened their formation as if by instinct. One by one, they raised their voices in unison.
"We will fight for Lord Atlas! We will raise our weapons under your banner and defend your cause until our last breath!"
Their words echoed across the quiet battlefield, a vow that carried both loyalty and pride.
So, not a single one of them chose to descend to the Lower Lands. Every soldier from Selvara’s island decided to stay.
It would be best, Atlas thought, to form a new team for Selvara and her people. This would become the seventh unit under Gacha Haven’s command.
By system order, the seventh team was meant to carry a name starting with the letter G. Yet after thinking for a while, Atlas couldn’t come up with anything that suited Selvara, nothing that reflected her nature or affinity with water.
So, after a moment of silence, he decided to make an exception.
"From this day forward," Atlas declared, his voice carrying over the gathered warriors, "you will fight with us. We live by one purpose, to fight together, to rise together, and to protect each other. Victory belongs not to those who stand alone, but to those who endure side by side. You have my respect, and my trust."
He paused, then looked at Selvara. "Selvara, you will lead this new unit. From now on, you are the commander of the seventh team."
As he turned, one of his subordinates, headless yet instantly recognizable, stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Dullorak will serve as your supervisor," Atlas continued. "And you, Selvara, will stand as the new leader of Team Hydros."
A wave of voices rose from both armies, those of Gacha Haven and the newly joined soldiers alike.
"Team Hydros!"
Unfortunately, Selvara no longer retained her system ability after being stripped of her lord title. Without it, she could no longer wield the same overwhelming and majestic power over water that she had displayed during her battle against Atlas.
Even so, the woman still possessed an exceptional class and could still manipulate water with remarkable grace and mastery. In truth, her abilities complemented Atlas perfectly, especially since he could synchronize her water-based skills seamlessly when merged with Zefyros.
**
For the next four days, Atlas devoted himself entirely to strengthening his island’s defenses. Upgrading the Flame Beacon, the guardian golem statues, and several other key fortifications. He needed them ready for any battle that might come later.
The remaining time of the current Lord Battle Season was nearing its end; barely a week was left before it concluded. Because of that, most lords had likely already used their attack tokens. Since ascending to Rank-2, Atlas had received only two challenges. One from Selvara, and another still pending a response.
Normally, Atlas would also need to use his own final attack token, either to launch another all-out war or to challenge a rival lord directly. But at this point, the decision remained unsettled. There was still time, not much, but enough.
Given the situation, it was clear that Atlas wouldn’t achieve the same extraordinary score as in his previous Lord Battle Season. That also meant his chances of being selected for the next Special Lord Event, such as the Dominion Skirmish, were as good as gone.
On the day they were about to decide on another battle, Atlas took a moment to examine a special item he had obtained upon ascending to Rank-2 Lord. A Unique Equipment Voucher.
It was a highly tempting item, especially since the word Unique-grade shimmered boldly across its description. No one knew what kind of equipment would appear from it, but such rarity alone was enough to stir excitement.
During the daily review session with his Elite Subordinates, Atlas decided to activate the item.
[Item Activated: Unique Equipment Voucher x1]
[Randomizing the result...]
[Obtained Item: Unique-grade Sword - "Gale Rend"]
[A sword forged from crystallized wind essence. The blade hums with the rhythm of the storm, growing sharper and faster the more it cuts through air. Each swing carries the breath of a tempest, capable of tearing through enemies as swiftly as a gale.]
"A sword? A Unique-grade sword?" Atlas murmured, glancing at the subordinates gathered around the table.
Edrik bowed lightly. "A pity, my lord. I was truly hoping it would be a bow so that you could wield it yourself."
Atlas exhaled softly, tapping his fingers on the table. "Is there anyone among you who naturally uses a sword?"
"Naturally, Master Kurogasa is the one best suited for it," Edrik replied.
Kurogasa nodded. "My lord, I already have my signature weapon, which is also Unique-grade. However, if you wish, I can train you with the sword for your use. Still, I doubt it would be efficient since your current combat style is built entirely around the spear."
Then... Something entirely unexpected happened. Morganna stood up from her seat and walked to Atlas’s side, her eyes steady on him.
"Morganna?" Atlas asked, slightly puzzled.
"Vienne has a high affinity with the Air element," she said calmly.
"Really? Since when?"
"Let me keep the sword," Morganna replied. "I’ll give it to her later."
Atlas blinked in surprise. Already? Was Vienne truly ready to learn swordsmanship this soon? Morganna always moved faster than he expected.
"In a few months," Morganna continued, "she’ll be able to choose her weapon of choice."
Atlas rose to his feet and nodded slowly. "If you believe that’s the right decision, then I agree."
She didn’t react, no smile, no softening of her gaze, as he handed the sword to her.
When would they ever speak to each other like a normal family? he wondered silently. A quiet sigh escaped him as Morganna took the blade and turned away.
Well... if Vienne truly could wield a Unique-grade sword while still a baby... maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all? Atlas frowned slightly, unsure whether to be impressed or worried.
He could even grant her a Soulbinding Armor later, and perhaps ask Kurogasa to train her. Though certainly not with the same brutal regimen he himself endured. But then again...
If Morganna had already asked him to fight monsters while carrying Vienne when the baby was barely a week old, it was clear this child’s life would be anything but ordinary.
Vienne... my beautiful, cute, and precious little one... why did you have to be born a Dhampir...
Atlas sighed quietly. Still, it was better to prepare everything in advance, to ensure Vienne’s growth and protection were handled carefully, and to build a plan that would help her reach her full potential.
He would need to shift his mindset completely and accept just how different Vienne truly was... Far from a fragile human baby, and destined for something far greater.
After finishing the matter of the Unique-grade sword, Atlas shifted his focus back to what came next.
"We need to decide," he said, his tone firm as he looked around the table. "Do we focus on defense, or go for an all-out confrontation with the next challenge we’ve received?"
He wanted to make sure everyone understood the weight of the decision. Because deep down, Atlas already knew, this new lord they were about to face would not be an easy opponent. Not this time.