Chapter 291: Chapter 291 - Crimson Reaper’s Descent
When it came to sheer skill count... even though Atlas now possessed far more abilities than before he became a Lord, it still couldn’t compare to what true magic users like Lyrassa or even Dullorak had.
After summoning Dullorak, Atlas had confirmed that the undead only had thirty-eight heads left. That was already a terrifying number, but apparently, it was a fraction of his original form. Where he once possessed nearly five hundred heads.
Phew... five hundred. The thought alone was overwhelming. Each head could wield a different set of skills. Some up to thirty in total, while the weakest one, his so-called "normal head," had none. That was the head of the young man with neat black hair.
With such a structure, Dullorak could perfectly adapt to almost any situation, swapping heads based on what the battlefield demanded.
But despite that flexibility and brilliance, he carried one massive flaw: each head had its own distinct personality.
They all shared the same core memory and intent, Dullorak’s will. But every head expressed it differently, following the nature of its original owner.
He had the head of a dragonkin, prideful and short-tempered. The head of Queen Selvia, graceful and composed like a jeweled monarch. And dozens of others, each unique and unpredictable.
It made understanding and coordinating with him a real challenge, even for Atlas.
And despite his massive library of skills, Dullorak couldn’t use them all at once. He was still limited by two crucial resources, Mana and Animus.
Animus served as his form of stamina, the lifeblood of the undead. He didn’t need food or rest to restore it. Only stillness... or slaughter. The more he killed, the faster it recovered.
Practically speaking, Dullorak was a walking disaster on the battlefield. Left to his own devices, he became a relentless war machine. Merciless, unstoppable, and terrifyingly efficient. The more enemies he felled, the more unstoppable he became.
So why was Dullorak classified only as Standard Rank-S, when Atlas was certain he deserved an Exclusive Rank-S?
Well, the System clearly had its own mysterious logic for assigning ranks.
Anyway... Atlas exhaled and focused again.
Back to the real matter. The new skills he had just unlocked from the Tempest Reaver class.
In truth, Atlas would receive three quests as part of his class advancement. That meant more skills would come later. But the first one he unlocked was something that instantly caught his attention.
[Unique - Crimson Reaper’s Descent (Active Skill)]
[A reaper-shaped silhouette of lightning manifests behind the user, mirroring their motion. When the spear is thrust, the apparition dives forward, impaling the target with a lightning-blood chain that detonates from within.
Effect:
Deals 850 % lightning-blood damage, ignoring 40 % defense.
The spectral reaper repeats the strike after 1 second, dealing an additional 300 % true damage.
If the target dies, the reaper explodes, releasing a shockwave that restores 10 % of maximum HP and Stamina.]
He frowned slightly. A reaper?
Well, it wasn’t too surprising for a class that utilized the Blood Element. Blood and death were naturally linked, after all. And since the ability’s origin stemmed from the Dark Element, it made sense that its nature leaned toward death and execution.
Still, the combination of a reaper and lightning felt... unusually distinct. Judging from the name and structure, it was clearly designed as a single-target skill, and a devastating one at that.
The description was deceptively simple: the summoned Spectral Reaper would mirror Atlas’s attack, striking in the same direction and form. Despite being a single-target ability, it had a special effect. The reaper would deliver two consecutive blows, each one laced with lethal precision.
What if I try it now?
He knew a Unique-grade skill like this would demand a massive amount of both Mana and Stamina, and it would take time to master its timing and flow. But if he could channel it effectively, targeting a key enemy that needed to be taken down swiftly. Then this ability could turn into a game-changing execution tool on the battlefield.
A weapon made not for show, but for absolute elimination.
He straightened his posture, a faint grin curving on his lips.
[Unique – Crimson Reaper’s Descent (Active Skill) activated.]
A deafening crack of thunder tore through the room, followed by a surge of lightning that rippled like a living storm. The air trembled as something began to take form behind him.
Atlas turned around, and his breath caught for a moment.
Towering over him was a colossal figure, nearly twice his height.
It was forged from golden lightning laced with dark energy, its hooded form faceless, the faint glow of skeletal lines visible beneath the shroud. The most striking feature, however, was its weapon. A chain of crimson lightning that flickered and snapped like a living serpent around its hands.
Seriously... wow.
It hovered just above the floor, moving in silence as Atlas took a cautious step backward. The Reaper mimicked his movement.
Then, the spectral figure stood motionless, waiting. Until Atlas realized he hadn’t launched an attack to guide it.
A few seconds later, the reaper suddenly ignited. Its body burst apart into a surge of blinding light, sending a shockwave of crackling lightning that tore across the room before vanishing entirely.
The air smelled faintly of ozone. The floor was scorched.
"Yeah... that’s definitely one hell of a summon."
Atlas turned toward Edrik and Kurogasa, who had been silently observing the summoning. Edrik stepped forward and gave a respectful bow.
"That was seriously impressive, my lord. A skill with massive potential. Perhaps you should test it on Karian. Just to see how well it performs in live combat."
Atlas let out a soft laugh. "You’re not secretly plotting Karian’s death, are you, Edrik?"
Edrik smirked. "Oh, not at all, my lord. But you might be surprised just how durable he is. It could be... educational."
Atlas shook his head, smiling faintly. "Let’s see if he dares to try snatching the Reaper’s lightning weapon first."
He knew Edrik wasn’t serious, but the image itself was amusing enough to make him chuckle.
With the class rewards finally settled, Atlas shifted his focus back to practical matters. Specifically, the rebuilding and reorganization of his island. Edrik had already taken care of most of the logistics, but Atlas preferred to oversee things personally. He believed that a leader needed to keep his own hands on the details. Both for control and to stay connected to his responsibilities.
For now, they still had time. Less than two days without the Reinforcement Phase. A short window that could either pass in peace... or turn into something far more dangerous.
Atlas began descending the fortress stairs, Edrik and Kurogasa following closely behind as they discussed new strategic plans.
"I think I need to hold another Lord Gathering soon," Atlas said. "We have to optimize resource sharing and trade among the lords in my alliance. I’m sure we can boost each other’s growth much more effectively. There are still many lords whose potential I haven’t fully explored. I’ll need to take a deeper look into each of them."
"Agreed, my lord," Edrik replied. "Especially the Mystic Crop Growth ability from Lady Gwyndelle."
"Ah, Gwen, the elf." Atlas nodded. "I wonder if next time I could pull an extraordinary seed from the gacha. If I gift it to her, she could make far better use of it than I could."
He had barely finished the thought when another system message appeared before his eyes.
[Bai Yun of Fengyun Terrace, Scout Division 1, has issued a Challenge.]
[Lei Shen of Lingxiao Isle, Scout Division 1, has issued a Challenge.]