For today’s hunt, Atlas assembled a team almost identical to the one before. Except for a slight change.
Mira had decided to stay behind at Shattered Ember, citing that "the carrots need early care, My Lord!" and therefore, wouldn’t be joining them this ti.
In her place, Atlas brought soone new to the field lineup, Kaer’Zan, the leader of Team Fla and currently the highest-leveled among his people. A quiet powerhouse, and one Atlas trusted fully when it ca to frontline intensity.
Luna and Ember were also absent this ti, so the team consisted of Morganna, Edrik, Kurogasa, Lyrassa, and Serenith.
Oh, and one more.
Milo.
The newest addition for today’s run. Atlas had specifically invited him along, partly to give him a breather. Milo had been doing a lot lately. Managing Zara and the rest of Team Aether, which seed to be slowly draining his social energy. It felt right to give the introverted guy so space to be useful without the whirlwind that was Zara hovering nearby.
Atlas had already made up his mind, he would give the Soulbinding Armor Set he pulled from the gacha last night to Kaer’Zan, or Kazan, as he preferred to be called.
The towering Oni Warlord dropped to one knee as Atlas handed the item to him, bowing respectfully with quiet strength.
"I wonder how the armor will respond when worn by soone with a body as... massive as yours," Atlas said, grinning.
"My Lord," Kazan replied in a deep, grounded tone, "I’ve only just joined the team. I have yet to earn the right to wear such a gift." His words carried the weight of a seasoned warrior.
"With this armor set, you’ll have an even greater chance to prove yourself," Atlas said. "And don’t worry, we’re getting closer to mass-producing this item. For now, treat this as both a tool and an experint for all of us."
Not everyone around Atlas was using the Soulbinding Armor yet. Lyrassa, Edrik, Kurogasa, and even Milo hadn’t received theirs. But they were already capable of holding their ground in battle. This field test with Kazan would be invaluable.
The Oni Warlord activated the item.
Imdiately, his tall, broad fra was engulfed in a radiant aura. The light condensed, hardening into armor. Thick, battle-worn plates of rusted gold that wrapped around his body like a second skin. It looked formidable, perfectly suited for a frontline warrior.
Kazan flexed his shoulders, inspecting the new armor, then bowed once again to Atlas.
"My Lord, I received the Epic-grade version. Its defense increases the lower my health gets. And the more damage I take, the stronger its shield becos."
"Perfect for a berserker like you," Atlas said with a satisfied nod. "Epic-grade is a solid tier. That’s a result worth celebrating."
With all the preparations complete, Atlas gathered with Edrik and Kurogasa to discuss the operation plan for the day.
The forest region they were working in was vast. Dense with towering trees and uneven terrain. Navigating it ant dealing with limited visibility and the constant threat of being surrounded.
That’s why they had chosen a zone closer to the island’s edge.
By staying near the periter, they could minimize the risk of ambushes and limit the number of directions monsters could attack from.
There was also a wide open field nearby. Just spacious enough to set up the explosive devices and bait a large group of monsters into a tight kill zone.
With his level now significantly higher, and his stat points already allocated, Atlas felt ready for the next phase.
[Na: Atlas Blackthorn]
[Level: 74]
[Strength: 250 | Agility: 190 | Intelligence: 190 | Constitution: 170 | Stamina: 190]
[Available Stat Points: 5]
[Job: The Lord]
[Class: Tempest Warden]
Atlas had intentionally pushed his Stamina stat higher this ti. He’d really started to feel the strain when casting skills in rapid succession during previous battles. The lack of breathing room had beco a clear weakness.
anwhile, Intelligence and Strength remained his two core stats. Both crucial to maximizing his overall damage. His build relied heavily on mana, and the synergy between raw power and magic amplification ant that boosting these two stats directly increased his combat effectiveness.
As for Agility, he had raised it just enough to maintain a balanced level of speed and mobility. While his movent was already supported by mobility-based skills and several speed-enhancing items, agility was still vital. Especially for attack speed, evasiveness, and positioning in combat.
Constitution stat, on the other hand, remained his lowest stat. For now, he relied on Lyrassa to cover his recovery needs, so he couldn’t justify allocating too much into it. But he also didn’t leave it dangerously low.
And then there were the five unused stat points he’d deliberately left unassigned. Because using them would ruin the beautifully symtrical numbers in his current stat formation.
Hah! Priorities.
Atlas and his elite subordinates quickly moved to set up the explosive devices at two key locations. As he worked, he weighed their next move. Should they lure in the sa number of monsters as last ti, or push for a larger wave and bring Lyrassa in to help manage the crowd?
After considering both options, Atlas chose the latter.
Bringing in more monsters ant more risk, but with Lyrassa’s crowd control abilities, they could reposition the horde for a more precise detonation, maximizing the explosive damage. And besides, the higher Lyrassa’s level climbed, the more effective her support beca for the entire team.
Two more waves of monsters.
If all went well, Atlas could hit level 90 by the end of it. Just a little more to go before level 100!
If he could reach level 100 right before the next Lord Battle season... then he’d have what he needed to officially ascend to Rank-2 the mont the season ended.
**
Monts later, Atlas and Lyrassa stood ready at a designated point, waiting in position while Kurogasa and Serenith carried out their roles, drawing the incoming monster horde directly toward them. This ti, Kurogasa was leading a group of over twenty monsters. Not drastically more than the previous wave, but still enough to be a challenge.
It was manageable, though. At least with proper timing.
There was one more thing Atlas wanted to test today.
He had already applied the new skill scroll he’d pulled the night before, Spirit Infusion.
"Zefyros," he whispered.
From the tip of his spear, a swirling vortex of water erupted, spiraling in front of him until a form erged from within. The Arclu Drakeling, Zefyros, appeared with his signature cry, eyes wide as he landed on the ground, ripples of elental energy spreading around him.
Atlas could already hear the rumble of monster footsteps in the distance, growing louder by the second.
He activated every item in his arsenal that boosted experience points gain. This was going to be big.
He was already suited up in the Nightfall Sentinel Armor Set, its obsidian-black plating marked with streaks of neon blue light. His grip tightened around his spear as he prepared to trigger the skill.
He had tested Spirit Infusion once earlier, just before they left for this hunt. But this would be his first ti using it in real combat. Against monsters, in the middle of a real battle.
[Elite - Spirit Infusion (Conditional Active Skill)]
Zefyros let out another cry before leaping into the air, launching himself toward Atlas. In the blink of an eye, his elental energy collided with Atlas’s body, rging with him.
The transformation was imdiate.
A surge of power wrapped around Atlas as Zefyros’s essence fused with the Nightfall Sentinel Armor, reshaping it entirely. The once-dark plating now shimred with a deep oceanic blue, glowing softly like light reflecting off the sea.
Golden fins erged along his arms and shoulders, and streams of water energy trailed from his back like a flowing, elental tail.
Atlas couldn’t help himself. He had to admit how incredible this new form looked.
This is... seriously cool.
Grinning to himself, he reached for the final piece. The mont he equipped the helm, the transformation felt complete.
And just like that, he looked fully suited. Like a freaking masked rider straight out of a TV series.
Who said Luna was the only one allowed to wear flashy, over-the-top outfits?
Lyrassa, who stood not far from Atlas, slowly lifted off the ground. A soft green energy began to radiate from her body, swirling outward in gentle waves. The aura washed over the clearing, even brushing against Atlas.
Atlas gave the Wavebreaker Spear a quick spin, electricity crackling along its length as water swirled at his feet.
"Alright... I’m ready," he said.
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