The second battle ended with… an almost ridiculous ease. Raze had torn through the enemy troops, flinging them off the island one by one, their bodies vanishing into the void below. It wasn't even a slaughter—it was more like a cleanup.
The sight was both amusing and a bit frustrating for Atlas. While it was satisfying to watch Raze obliterate the opposition, the practical side of him couldn't help but lament the loss of potential loot.
If those troops had been "defeated" on solid ground instead of tossed into the bottom, their shiny armor—especially the impressive obsidian set worn by the blazing drama king, Neron—could have been salvaged for his own troops.
Still, the results were undeniable:
[You have advanced to Seeker Division 2.]
[The current list of challengers has been cleared due to division mismatch.]
[You now have 3 challenger slots available.]
[Gacha Haven has entered the Reinforcement Phase. The fallback cooldown will last for 7 days.]
The battle brought significant changes, including the destruction of Neron's island. The bonus rank points from the Lord's death pushed Atlas further up the rankings, and his own island received an automatic size upgrade as a reward.
Even more surprising was the number of survivors who joined Atlas from the destroyed island—35 people in total.
Atlas opened his status screen, taking a moment to analyze his stats after leveling up from the recent battle. With 20 available status points to allocate, he carefully weighed his options.
[Strength: 189 | Agility: 91 | Intelligence: 63 | Constitution: 108 | Stamina: 109]
His recent training had improved his Stamina, making his overall stats more balanced and refined than before. Agility and Intelligence were still his lowest stats, but they each served their own purpose.
Strength stayed his primary focus, as it formed the foundation of his fighting style. Agility, as his secondary stat, would enhance his speed and reflexes, crucial for facing faster foes. Intelligence wasn't a major concern since he relied little on mana-based skills, though it could still contribute to his development later on.
After some thought, he made his decision:
[+10 points to Strength]
[+10 points to Agility]
[Name: Atlas Blackthorn]
[Level: 46]
[Strength: 199 | Agility: 101 | Intelligence: 63 | Constitution: 108 | Stamina: 109]
[Available Stat Points: 0]
[Job: The Lord]
[Class: Warrior]
[Unyielding Resolve (A) - Tactical Awareness (A) - Instinctual Command (A) - Perfected Rhythm (A) - Immutable Discipline (S) - Commanding Presence (S) - Bloodbound Vigor (S)]
Oh, and his talents were now even more dazzling, achieving ranks A and S. He truly felt like a completely transformed person, all in less than a month.
After finishing his review, he focused on the 35 individuals he had received as a reward for defeating Neron. Edrik's report indicated the group included 25 combatants and 10 workers. However, only 10 of them had levels above 40.
This made it clear that their opponents were well-matched for someone just stepping into the role of a Lord—armed with a small but capable army, even if the numbers initially seemed overwhelming.
But what about the other 25? Keeping all of them on his island wasn't an option. The island simply wasn't big enough to support so many people, especially those with unimpressive talents or lower levels.
"I need troops and workers ready to stay and pledge loyalty to me," Atlas declared, addressing the 35 people before him.
"But there are standards for anyone who wants to join my team." He paused, his gaze sweeping over them.
"Yes, I know you're prisoners of war. But I also know you have lives beyond this. You risked everything for the Lord you followed, and that's not a choice anyone makes lightly."
The group shifted uneasily, many bowing their heads in resignation as Atlas gauged their reactions.
"So, I've made a list of those I'd like to stay here with me. As for the rest of you, you're free to descend to the lower lands. But you should know—down there lies a desert, and it may take some time to reach the nearest town."
The murmurs began immediately, a low tide of whispers passing through the group.
One man finally stepped forward, falling to his knees. "My Lord," he said. "I have a family in the lower lands. I'm just a mercenary. Please, grant us the chance to return to our families."
Others joined him, voicing their own pleas, some with tears in their eyes.
As for the 10 individuals Atlas had selected to remain, he addressed them directly.
"I'm giving you the chance to serve me. If you decide not to stay, you're free to leave. With three gold coins to help you start a new life elsewhere."
"What?" someone in the crowd blurted. "Three gold coins?"
"They're letting us go with three gold coins?"
Though three gold coins weren't a fortune, they were enough to cover about two weeks' wages for serving a Lord, and the offer clearly sparked surprise among the prisoners.
Karian, who was standing close to Edrik, leaned in and muttered to him.
"Isn't Atlas being a bit too soft here?"
Edrik smirked and gave a soft snort. "That's one of his strengths. He's trying to build his team with respect, and without realizing it, that approach is earning him even more respect in return."
"But finding troops is no easy task. Wouldn't it be better to just force these prisoners to work for the island?"
"I don't think that's the kind of island Atlas wants to build," Edrik replied calmly.
"I can see that."
"Besides, his decision to release those 25 makes sense. Their talents are… well, lacking. It's better to let them go than have them become a burden."
"I can understand that," Karian agreed, then frowned. "But why give gold to the others?"
"Those 10 have good levels and useful talents," Edrik explained. "Even if they leave, they'll probably end up needing to work for another Lord anyway. By offering them gold and treating them fairly, Atlas is securing their loyalty in a way they might not otherwise feel."
"Just like that?"
"No, it's not that simple," Edrik clarified. "The outcome would be different if someone else tried it. But Atlas has a nothing-to-lose attitude, and at the same time, he manages his resources with precision. It's a perfect balance. He's aggressively gathering what's useful and willingly letting go of what's not. Honestly, I'd say he has a sharp sense for this sort of thing."
Karian said, "I suppose he understands this strategy better than I do, even after hundreds of years of experience!"
In the end, four individuals chose to stay, and Atlas felt quite satisfied with the outcome. Those four had talents and levels on par with the current team leaders, and he even believed that two of them could eventually take on the role of new team leaders. Well, a great result overall!
He activated the teleportation pad, allowing the remaining prisoners to leave. Their expressions were a mix of disbelief and cautious relief, as though they couldn't fathom what was happening.
Is this real? Aren't we supposed to be prisoners? Slaves even?
Yet, no. They were truly being set free.
Atlas let out a relieved smile. Turning his gaze back to his island, he saw that its latest expansion had been completed.
Perfect timing. He had a seven-day Reinforcement Phase to focus on upgrades and enhancements.
Next on the list: inspecting the Gateway Altar to summon more workers—or perhaps even golems—to keep up with the island's increasing demands.