With all the preparations complete and the team ready to begin their hunt, Atlas stood tall at the front, flanked by his elite subordinates. Before him, the combatants and workers stood in neat rows.
"Today," he began, "I will appoint a new leader to take charge of the fifth team."
Atlas had already discussed this decision with his elite subordinates and felt confident in his choice. The individual he had in mind wasn’t rely capable. He was extraordinary, soone who stood out from the rest. And, as fate would have it, this remarkable recruit had arrived through the Gateway Altar.
"Veylor, please step forward," Atlas called out.
All heads turned to a figure standing near the middle of the formation. And, it wasn’t... a human.
It was a wolf, a beastkin.
A massive, upright wolf, towering above most of the others. His thick black fur glead under the sunlight, and his muscular fra was clad in reinforced armor that fit snugly over his powerful body.
"My Lord," Veylor replied, stepping forward with a steady gaze. "Your command is my honor. I await your instructions."
Veylor was a close-range fighter who combined speed with impressive durability. His combat style was both agile and resilient, making him a formidable presence on the battlefield. He possessed the unique ability to hold his own in a fight, even when outnumbered, without needing imdiate support.
With his sharp instincts and fierce independence, Veylor was perfectly suited for leading from the front, where the chaos of battle was at its fiercest. His ability to withstand heavy assaults while delivering swift, decisive strikes made him a crucial asset to any offensive push.
"You will lead the fifth team, Eclipse," Atlas declared.
Veylor’s eyes widened for a brief mont. He stepped forward, placing a fist over his heart. "I won’t fail you, My Lord. I’ll shape Eclipse into a force the enemy won’t see coming."
A wave of applause rippled through the ranks as Veylor strode confidently to the front. One by one, the other team leaders stepped forward to join him, forming a solid line of leadership.
Atlas turned to face them all once more, his gaze sweeping across the gathered warriors.
"Zara for Aether. Kaida for Blaze. Garen for Cinder. Ronan for Dusk. And Veylor for Eclipse. Each team will consist of sixteen mbers. Your roles have been carefully assigned to ensure balance, coordination, and strategic strength. Lead them well."
The five leaders stepped forward in perfect unison and bowed deeply to Atlas.
"And one more important thing..." Atlas continued.
"Each team will operate under its own leadership, but to enhance coordination and tactical flexibility, I’ll be reassigning supervisors to work directly with each team leader. Aether will remain under Milo’s guidance. Blaze will continue with Lyrassa. Cinder will be overseen by Baldric. Dusk will operate with Karian. And Eclipse..." He paused slightly, "will be under Mira’s supervision."
"Huh?"
A soft wave of murmurs rolled through the gathered soldiers. Several exchanged quick glances, eyebrows raised in surprise at the unexpected announcent. Even Mira herself blinked in astonishnt, her mouth forming a small ’o’ as if she hadn’t quite heard correctly.
Then, as realization settled in, she let out a giggle and gave a little twirl on the spot. "Hehe~ I’ll do my very best!" she chirped, bouncing toward Veylor with her usual bright energy, slipping into place beside the other supervisors with cheerful grace.
Atlas didn’t acknowledge the crowd’s reaction, his voice remaining calm and steady as he went on.
"Edrik will take on broader responsibilities, serving as my liaison to all five teams. He’ll make sure the right decisions flow quickly to each front. anwhile, Master Kurogasa will focus entirely on reconnaissance and intel. His scouting will keep us one step ahead of any incoming threats."
He paused, casting a glance over the assembly. No one dared to ask about Morganna’s role.
She wasn’t standing with the rest of them. Instead, she was lounging near the camp’s cooking station, a satisfied look on her face as she calmly nibbled on a freshly roasted fish, completely unfazed by the weight of the mont.
Even when matters turned serious, Morganna always found a way to stay on her own unpredictable path.
But more than that, it had been the right choice. Atlas felt a deep sense of satisfaction watching his team grow stronger and more coordinated with each passing day. Their progress was tangible, and now all that remained was to recruit more troops to complete his ranks.
Once all the preparations were finalized, the teams dispersed, each group setting out to complete their assigned hunting missions.
With everyone busy, Atlas made his way toward Morganna, who was still leisurely munching on her fish.
She glanced up at him lazily as he approached.
"I’m heading out to complete my quest. You’ll stay here with the workers?"
Morganna gave a small shrug, biting into her food.
Before he could say more, a loud clang rang out from the cooking area. One of the female cooks had dropped a pot onto the ground.
Atlas turned his head toward the sound. "Are you alright?"
The female cook quickly bowed, flustered as she scrambled to pick up the fallen pot.
"I-I’m fine, My Lord. Forgive , I didn’t an to drop it."
Atlas chuckled softly. "It’s alright. Just be careful."
The girl nodded quickly, her face flushed with embarrassnt.
Atlas turned back to Morganna. "Bye."
"I’ll catch up..." she said.
Atlas glanced back at her. "Sure," he replied before turning away.
Seriously, even though Morganna appeared relaxed, she was in truth one of the most alert among them. She didn’t tolerate disturbances lightly, especially when they intruded upon her monts of quiet.
Placing her here had been a deliberate choice, and a wise one at that. She wouldn’t allow anyone to cause a scene, least of all any of the rival Lords who might wander too close. If trouble ca near, Morganna would be the first to sense it, and the last thing any intruder would want is to be the one who interrupted her peace.
**
Atlas and Kurogasa sprinted through the hills, weaving effortlessly between the dense trees that flanked the narrow path.
Kurogasa occasionally slowed his pace, giving Atlas a mont to catch up. But it was evident that Atlas had grown faster and more nimble. Even as they ascended the steep path, his stride remained steady, and his steps barely disturbed the ground beneath him.
His training was paying off.
Not that they couldn’t have taken the Floating Throne to reach the summit. But every opportunity to train had to be seized. For Atlas, improving his physical capabilities was just as important as any battle strategy.
As they climbed higher, the wind grew fiercer. The trees swayed violently, and the sound of the howling wind echoed through the forest.
Soon, the dense trees thinned out, giving way to a stretch of low, dry grass. Atlas pressed his feet firmly into the ground as they reached this open area.
The wind hit him with full force.
"Oh, with wind this strong, I feel like it could toss straight down to the bottom of this steep hill."
Kurogasa bowed slightly. "Shall we proceed with a lower-difficulty approach, My Lord?"
Atlas gave a faint smile. "Just make sure you catch if I go flying off the edge, would you?" he said, the corner of his mouth lifting in a restrained grin.
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