The forest was thick with tension. Shadows of player Lords moved in the distance, each one inching closer to the lone supply crate in a clearing, glowing faintly, drawing the attention of every Lord in the area.
Atlas crouched low, her eyes locked on the supply crate. Her five skeleton guards standing eerily still around her, their hollow eyes watching for threats.
[Five seconds for the first stage… seven for the second.]
"Five seconds for the first stage," Atlas repeated to herself. "Seven for the second." Her hand tightening around the grip of her staff.
Through the trees, she could spot flashes of movement—other Lords creeping closer. The supply crate was too valuable to ignore.
The leaves rustled behind her as another Lord burst into the clearing, leading a pack of snarling direwolves. From the opposite side, two more Lords appeared: one massive brute armoured head-to-toe with a hammer, and the other, a woman flanked by shadow warriors.
Atlas jaw dropped. And here she was, thinking she was the shot caller.
The crate was their goal, but none would claim it without a fight.
Without warning, the battle exploded. The Lord with the hammer charged forward, his weapon swinging in massive arcs, smashing through the underbrush and sending splinters flying. His followers—a group of hulking golems—pounded the earth as they moved.
Atlas held her breath, watching as the brute barreled toward the crate. He was fast, but reckless.
"Go," she whispered, sending her skeletons rushing out from the cover of the trees. They clashed with the golems, while Atlas remained hidden, her eyes scanning the battlefield for her moment.
[Good choice. Let's keep it nice and slow.]
From above, the shadow warrior Lord had already struck. Her dark whip crackled as she sliced through the direwolves, her shadowy minions mirroring her moves with their dark blades. The wolves yelped, falling one by one, but their master—the Lord with the wolves—wasn't out yet. He threw his head back, howling as his wolves surged with new energy.
Atlas took her chance.
She stepped into the open, casting Elemental Bolt with precision. A crackling bolt of fire surged through the air, slamming into the wolf Lord's chest and sending him crashing into the dirt. But as she made her move, the crate began to glow—another Lord had reached it.
Through the chaos, a Lord clad in dark robes, surrounded by summoned ravens, had slipped through unnoticed. His hands were on the crate, the first stage ticking down.
"No!"
Atlas sprinted forward, casting Rune of Binding just as the Lord was about to claim the first stage loot. His movements froze, and his ravens screeched, disoriented by the sudden stop. The crate shimmered, the countdown resetting.
But she wasn't alone. The hammer-wielding brute was already upon her. His massive weapon swung down, aiming to crush her in a single blow. Atlas barely had time to raise her staff, casting Elemental Bolt mid-roll. The blast sending him staggering, but not enough to stop his advance.
"Repair," she casted, her magic surging into her skeleton guards. This was a pleasant discovery she had made during their previous hunt.
They lunged at the brute, clawing and slashing, their bony fingers and swords scratching at his armor. It gave her just enough time.
Atlas rushed toward the crate, her hands locking onto its sides. The second stage started—seven seconds. All she needed to do was hold out.
But the forest was alive with chaos. The shadow warrior Lord leapt from the treetops, her whips flashing. She aimed for Atlas, her eyes locked on the crate. Atlas could feel the danger, her heart pounding as she channeled everything into holding the crate.
Three seconds left.
A shadow warrior appeared beside her, its blade slicing down. Atlas swung her staff upward, deflecting the strike but feeling the sting.
Five seconds.
The wolf Lord recovered, charging through the fray with renewed vigor. His wolves had broken free from the shadow warriors and were now tearing through the skeletons, their teeth sinking into bone.
Six seconds.
The brute was back on his feet, hammer raised high. Atlas's mind raced, her muscles burning with fatigue. She had to survive this one last second.
Seven seconds.
The crate burst open with a flash of light, and Atlas grabbed the loots without hesitation. Potions, rare materials, and a glowing amulet disappeared into her inventory in an instant. But there was no time to celebrate.
The hammer-wielding brute was too close. She had only one choice.
With a flick of her wrist, Atlas cast Rune of Binding once more, freezing the brute mid-swing. She darted backward, her staff glowing as she sent a final Elemental Bolt crashing into the ground at his feet, creating an explosion of dust and debris.
She didn't wait to see the result. With her loot secured, Atlas bolted into the thick trees, her surviving skeletons trailing behind her as she disappeared into the dark forest.
Behind her, the Lords continued their battle, but the crate was empty. The prize was hers.
[Brilliant!]
"You took your shots, right?" she asked as she maneuvered through the densely packed trees.
[You destroyed my eyes, remember?]
"Don't play games with me. I know you have more."
[Okay. You got me. We should be making more from this one, as it's a global event.]
"Great—" she was saying.
"Stop right there!" A deep voice bellowed, and Atlas suddenly found herself surrounded by… bandits?
"You must be the GoblinQueen, princess," a leading figure stepped forward. His bald head reflected the fading light of the day, the most prominent feature being the scar above his eyebrows. "I'm a big fan," he said menacingly.
"Uhh… C'mon, I don't have time for chitchat," she groaned lazily. "Come over here, let's get this over with."
"What?" The leading figure stepped backwards suspiciously, crossing his arms across his chest.
"Don't you want a signature?" she asked with a raised brow.
"Oh, no. I just want everything you got from the supply crate, then maybe we can call it a day," he said mischievously.
"Aight, time's up. I'll be sure to tell the others we met… CrabKing." She revealed this with a mischievous grin of her own.
"Wh—What? How'd you know—" CrabKing hadn't noticed the skeleton that quickly rushed at him and planted its spear into his spine from behind.
A horde of skeletons, already surrounding the area, charged all at once, hacking and slashing at every being that wasn't their master—Atlas.
She had called the 20 skeletons who were out hunting in the fields to come escort her as soon as she left the battle scene.
She slowly walked up to the crawling figure of CrabKing and crouched before him. Staining her fingers with his blood and using it as ink, she drew a symbol on his forehead—her signature.
Morphing her fingers into the shape of a gun, she pointed it at the side of his head just as he managed to look up at her with rage-filled eyes. "Sleep tight, princess," she whispered.
Elemental Bolt. Lightning!