Serenith’s attacks, which were primarily fire-based, turned out to be especially effective against the monsters inhabiting this island. Since most of them clustered together in large groups, her explosions chained into one another, creating devastating results. Combined with the monsters’ natural weakness during the day and the sheer boost in her damage output, the effect was overwhelming.
It was sheer luck she had not run out of stamina midair and crashed with no one able to save her. Perhaps next ti, Atlas thought, it would be wiser to monitor her more closely with the Nimbus Carriage, ready to catch her if things went wrong.
For now, he carried her carefully and let her rest inside the tent they had already set up.
If they remained on this island for a while longer, not only would Atlas be able to push his level up quickly, but Serenith herself would continue to soar as well. In the next battle, she could rain destruction from above, delivering overwhelming damage from the skies, an advantage that would tilt any war heavily in their favor.
Surely, there was a reason she was classified as a Rank-S character. Reckless as she might be, her achievents in her previous life had to have been remarkable to push her into the higher tiers of lordhood. Perhaps she had once stood at Rank-8, as an Overlord... or even reached Rank-9, as an Immortal, like Morganna.
Atlas let the group rest through the afternoon, conserving their strength while waiting for nightfall and the next hunt. They took turns keeping watch, allowing each other to sleep and recover stamina. Atlas in particular needed the reprieve—his mind still felt shredded from the relentless ntal assaults earlier, like he had been violated in ways no physical wound could match.
By late afternoon, before resuming the hunt, they gathered again for a shared al. An unexpectedly effective way for Atlas to learn more about his new allies. It was also one of the few chances he had for a proper conversation with Luna since eting her. Tessa and Kate too revealed more of their quirks, making the gathering feel almost familial.
In that mont of ease, Atlas decided to share sothing he had kept to himself during yesterday’s alliance eting, details about his system ability.
"Whoa... a gacha system?!" Kate’s eyes widened, her mouth falling open in delight. She practically sparkled as she leaned forward. "Let throw the ticket next ti, can I?"
Atlas tilted his head. "Can you? I’ve never tried that before... but maybe?"
Right then, a confirmation flickered in his vision.
[Yes, host. You may allow another person to throw a ticket on your behalf. Their fortune may differ from yours, potentially granting higher-quality rewards.]
Hadn’t he already been lucky with his pulls so far? Or had that only been average by the system’s standards?
Why had he never thought of this before? Perhaps he should let Mira draw next ti, her uncanny luck might rub off on him. Or even Morganna, with her thousand years of experience as a lord; who knew if that background might influence the outco.
"Yes," Atlas finally said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Next ti, each of you will get a chance to pull ten gacha tickets for ."
"Yeay!!!" Kate cheered.
Afterward, Atlas asked Kate to demonstrate another one of her transformations. She hesitated, ears twitching nervously, but with Luna nudging her insistently, the cat girl finally gave in.
She stepped a few paces away from the group. Her small fra began to ripple and shift. Her fur receded in patches as jagged black armor spread across her body like living steel. In monts, her form swelled, towering as tall as Milo when he assud his Raze form.
What stood before them now was no longer a timid cat girl, but a hulking female orc clad in brutal, spiked armor.
"An orc?" Atlas muttered, eyebrows rising.
"NYAAA!!!" Kate’s voice echoed unnaturally from the massive body. "I DON’T LIKE THIS FORM! IT’S NOT CUTE!"
She imdiately reverted back, shrinking down into her usual petite self. Shivering, she scrambled back to her spot and sat down, wrapping her tail around herself defensively.
"You could fight in the frontlines with that form, Kate," Atlas said, half-grinning. "You really are versatile. I’m curious though. What happens to your level, stats, and skills when you transform like that?"
Kate still trembled a little as she answered.
"The level stays the sa as my current level. The total stats are also the sa... just redistributed depending on the form. And I can only use the abilities and skills of the transford creature."
"Ah, I see," Atlas mused. "So if you transford into a fish, you’d be able to swim in the ocean?"
"Fish..." Kate murmured dreamily, her eyes glazing over. "I want to eat fish..."
"Transform into a fish and eat yourself," Tessa said flatly without missing a beat.
Kate’s head snapped toward her, eyes wide in horror. "Tess! You’re so an!"
Serenith burst into laughter, clutching her stomach, while Edrik remained quiet in his corner, occasionally bowing his head politely whenever Atlas glanced his way.
Edrik really is enjoying this mont of peace, Atlas thought wryly.
After Kate’s turn, it was Tessa who spoke next, sharing more details about her system ability.
"I also have the power to limit who can participate in battle, based on their level," she explained.
"Limit soone by level? Like how?" Atlas asked, his brow furrowing.
Tessa replied evenly. "I can restrict anyone above my own level from joining the fight. Though, of course, the ability cos with a long cooldown... and a penalty."
"Penalty?"
"Yes." Her expression remained as flat as ever. "I have to pay with my own experience points."
"That does not sound pleasant at all," Atlas said, shaking his head. "But with that kind of ability, you could still protect your island against lords stronger than you, couldn’t you?"
For the first ti, a faint, almost ironic smile touched Tessa’s lips.
"I would not be so confident about that, Atlas. You know as well as I do, even soone like Serenith can unleash extraordinary damage despite being far below my level. And you... I would never dare imagine what it would an if you ca to challenge my island. Perhaps I could forbid the use of fire elents, but your other subordinates are just as terrifying as Serenith in their own ways. It would still demand a strategy far beyond simple restriction."
"I got it," Atlas replied with a slow nod.
Every system ability revealed its own unique edge, yet all of them carried the sa truth: each lord had to fight with everything they had to secure victory and preserve peace for their islands. This was a war without end, a struggle drawn long and bitter.
**
Their rest ca to an end as night fell once more, and preparations for another hunt began.
Kate wasted no ti. She shifted back into her Shadowfang Panther form, her sleek silhouette lting into the treeline before vanishing into the darkness.
Atlas stood ready, armor gleaming faintly in the moonlight, Wavebreaker Spear gripped firmly in his hands. Another long night of battle awaited.
"Let’s see", he said. "How many levels can I climb tonight?"
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