One more structure had also been completed overnight. Thanks to the new ability to build three structures consecutively, the Noble Estate now stood proudly before Atlas.
He paused at its front, taking in the sight, and for a mont even he was struck silent.
"I saw its shape in the system preview before construction," Atlas said with a faint smile. "But seeing it here, with my own eyes... it looks far more extraordinary."
The Noble Estate glead in polished architecture, sleek and refined. Streamlined towers rose alongside elegant residences, their tallic fras supporting walls that shimred like glass. The layout ford around open courtyards and carefully arranged gardens.
It was clear the structure could house more residents than expected, easily accommodating the island’s most important figures.
"I think our elite subordinates, especially the n, can reside here," Atlas said thoughtfully.
Edrik bowed his head slightly. "Baldric and those who operate more often in Shattered Ember can stay in their own Estate there as well, my lord."
"Yes," Atlas nodded. "Since there will be five Noble Estates in total once construction is finished, we can dedicate one as a guest residence for important visitors to our island."
Atlas took a mont to step inside the estate. Its interior was just as modern and well-crafted as the Crystalline Bastion, filled with smooth halls, polished flooring, and wide, open spaces. But he knew imdiately that a residence of this size would demand constant upkeep.
Fortunately, he had more than enough workers now, over ninety in total. Most were stationed at Shattered Ember, maintaining the gardens, farmland, and general cleanliness, cooking, running logistics, and working in the mines.
His workforce had grown considerably thanks to his victory against the previous rival Lord, where he had secured more than forty additional laborers. With their help, managing places like the Noble Estates would not be a problem.
Satisfied, Atlas moved on to inspect another newly completed structure at the center of the main island: the Noble eting Hall.
The building rose before him in monuntal form. Sweeping glass walls caught the sunlight, tallic arches curved with regal precision, and crystalline light channels ran through the structure.
The design was circular, crowned by a vast dod roof.
Atlas could already picture it filled with voices, banners of different islands draped across the do, as alliances were forged and treaties signed.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "The next alliance conference will be held here," he whispered to himself.
But the thought also hardened his resolve. To make that future real, he would first need to conquer the two raid bosses still guarding Shattered Ember. Only then could he rge the islands, unlocking the full potential of these new structures.
Atlas spent the rest of that day walking the island, inspecting progress and planning out the future layout of the structures. He mapped paths, adjusted placents, and considered how every building would connect into a proper city instead of a scattered settlent.
By midday, another project had finished construction, the new Residential Huts, this ti on the main island.
From the outside, the huts were surprisingly minimalist. Box-shaped, their clean lines matched the style of the Crystalline Bastion and the Noble Estates. Inside, however, the hut contained ten private rooms, a central common hall, and several utility spaces for daily needs.
It was simple, but comfortable. Atlas nodded in approval, though he knew it would take ti to eventually upgrade every hut from rank-1 to rank-2. With dozens already standing, the work would be long and steady.
Later that afternoon, another structure ca to completion. This one Atlas had chosen to place on the volcanic peak of Shattered Ember. The Hall of Heroes.
The structure rose like a temple, its fra forged from gleaming stone-tal composites, accented by golden trims and glowing mana lines. The front was flanked by towering statues of heroic figures.
Inside stretched a vast corridor of honor. At its heart stood a solemn space reserved for nas, the fallen warriors who had given their lives in service.
With the major constructions inspected, Atlas also oversaw the renewal of the Ceremonial Plaza. Compared to the fortress, estates, and halls, this was a far simpler structure.
A raised circular stage stood at the heart of an open garden, without pillars or roof, frad only by greenery and the open sky. This was the place where people gathered, where voices rose in song, where perforrs took the stage under the stars.
It wasn’t grand, nor built for defense or diplomacy, but it was tradition. And for Atlas, that made it just as important as the towering walls of the Bastion or the noble grandeur of the estates.
**
By late afternoon, Atlas had another task on his agenda: testing the Cannon Blast ability of the Crystalline Bastion. Together with Edrik, he stood inside the control room at the top of the fortress.
The fortress was seamlessly linked to the system. At Atlas’s command, a floating virtual display opened before them, showing the surrounding terrain of the island within the Bastion’s firing range.
Atlas’s eyes narrowed as the image shifted to a lone basic hut, standing apart from the others. Mira could be seen nearby. She waved her hand toward the screen, her voice carrying through the comm link.
[Mira: "My lord, the area is clear. I’ll step back now. You can fire the weapon."]
Atlas’s expression remained calm. "We need to know exactly how much energy it consus per use, and the scale of its destructive output," he said.
Edrik gave a slow nod of agreent.
[Cube Resonance Beam is preparing to activate.]
The targeting marker locked into place on the hut. Atlas took a breath, then triggered the beam.
A deep, thrumming hum filled the control room. The entire fortress seed to vibrate as mana surged into the weapon.
Then, on the display, the cannon beam fired. A piercing column of radiant energy lanced downward, striking the hut with overwhelming force. In an instant, the structure was obliterated. The blast cracked the ground itself, shattering the earth at the edge of the island.
Atlas’s gaze darted to the resource ter. The mana percentage dropped sharply, draining in real ti. He tried to guide the beam, but it resisted his command. Its movent sluggish, unable to shift quickly once fired.
Two seconds passed. The ter had already lost 20%.
[Cube Resonance Beam has been disengaged.]
Atlas fell silent, staring at the fractured terrain. His chest rose slowly, struck by the sheer scale of the weapon’s power.
"The damage is incredible, my lord," Edrik said in a low voice. "But I see the drawback. It’s slow, difficult to maneuver, and it drains the cube heavily."
"Yes..." Atlas exhaled, his eyes still on the screen. "The resource consumption is ten percent per second."
Edrik nodded. "So only ten seconds maximum on a full charge. And with a full recharge taking two to three weeks... I would say it’s well balanced."
Atlas turned toward Edrik at the word balanced. "I was hoping this would be an overpowered weapon."
"You are already too overpowered, my lord," Edrik said in his usual flat tone. "Still, this is a reserve weapon. Fired at the right mont, when a Lord is careless, it can end them. Victory would be ours."
Atlas raised an eyebrow. "You say ’end them’ so plainly."
Edrik fell into step with him as they moved toward the central chamber.
"Now, Edrik," Atlas said, "can we decide our response to the two challengers in the pool? Both are female Lords, and they arrived almost at the sa ti."
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