"We’ve been how you train," the man in heavy armor said as they sat on the camp chairs in an open area he ke’s edge.

  "And I must say, you have araordinary fighting spirit!" the man, who introduced himself as Kaelzar, tinued with a firm voice. "I’m certain that someone like you would earn a special p our alliance—if you keep showing this level of determination."

  Ats responded with a faint smile and a respectful bow of his head. "I truly appreciate the pliment. I’m honored."

  The discussion carried on, taking a more serious turn as Kaelzar started to outline his offer ier detail.

  "I don’t know if you’ve decided on your target isnds yet. But there’s one isnd that will be highly tested in the Dominion Skirmish. It’s a unique isnd—its enviro shift dramatically, and it’s filled with rare resources and mohat drop valuable materials."

  Ats remained silent, his expression carefully ral.

  Kaelzar tinued. "If you agree to join us, even seg an isnd like that would bee a much easier task for you."

  Ats kept his gaze steady, showing ion, though his mind raced through the implications.

  This offer wasn’t as simple as it seemed. Kaelzar and his people had clearly studied Ats—perhaps more thhly than he had anticipated.

  It was likely they had also predicted that he would target this particur isnd in his pns. After all, given his ret string of victories, it would be easy to assume that a rookie lord, riding on fidence, would aim for a high-risk isnd to prove his worth.

  If Ats accepted their offer, it would appear as though they were graciously handing over the Dynamiviro isnd. But if he refused? The message beh their words ainfully clear: they would cross paths otlefield.

  Even though Ats had never seriously sidered joining them from the beginning, the man’s parting words carried an unmistakable weight. It wasn’t just a iation. It was both a challenge and a threat, delivered directly to him.

  Ats remained calm, his posure unshaken. His gaze locked on the man before him.

  Would they meet otlefield?

  Would this threat make him back down and abandon his pns to fight for a rank-2 isnd?

  If a threat like this was enough to make him hesitate, how could he ever hope to push himself to grow stronger iure?

  After a brief pause, Ats bowed his head slightly before responding. "That is araordinary offer. I’m truly honored by it all, but with the utmost respect, I must say that I’m not ready to it to any allia this time. Therefore, I’ll have to pass on this remarkable opportunity—for now."

  Kaelzar’s lips curved into a faint smile before he rose from his seat. Ats followed suit, standing to meet him.

  The maended his hand for a handshake, and Ats accepted it without hesitation.

  "Good luck," Kaelzar said before turning away, his two panions following as they walked away.

  Ats stood still, watg them go.

  Moments ter, he turned and walked back toward the camp.

  Without wasting time, everyone began dismantling the camp, gathering their gear and supplies after ten grueling days of training on the isnd.

  Once everything acked, the teleportation pad was activated, and a rge magic circle formed in the clearing. One by ohey stepped into the glowing runes and vanished from Celesthollow.

  From a distance, Kaelzar and his panions watched silently as Ats and his team disappeared.

  "Why didn’t we just crush him right here?" one of the men growled. "That asshole rejected su incredible offer. Do you think he’s already found a better deal?"

  "No," Kaelzar responded calmly. "I think he’s just drunk on his ret victories. He probably believes he hahis battle alone."

  "Typical rookie mistake!" the man scoffed. "They ruly uand what these wars are about. They think luck will always be on their side!"

  Kaelzar’s lips curled into a faint smile. "Let’s see if we meet him in the Dominion Skirmish. We’ll see how much he regrets turning down the offer we gave him."

  Silence fell between them as the sun dipped lower, and night began to settle over Celesthollow.

  Kaelzar tilted his head, his gaze following a flock of flying monsters passing overhead. His eyes narrowed at one in particur—a rge, bird-like creature.

  "That bird," he said quietly. "Kill it."

  **

  The remaining days leading up to the Dominion Skirmish battle phase were fully dedicated by Ats and everyone in Gacha Haven to rec their strength and ensuring their bodies were ba peak dition.

  They double-checked every piece of gear aiculously prepared for what y ahead. Every strategy, formation, and teical aspect of the uping battlefield was drilled into eabatant. Everyone kheir role, their position, and the stakes.

  During this final preparation period, Ats also secured an additional 20 batants from the Summoning Altar. With that, his forow stood at 100 batants, split into five squads, along with 20 workers to support their operations.

  On the very day the Dominion Skirmish was set to begin, Ats, his elite subordinates, and every batant and wathered, fully dressed in their designated battle outfits.

  Their uniforms were designed specifically for this moment—a striking bination of dark tones ated with gold patterns, each outfit proudly dispying the Gacha Haven emblem.

  They stood in perfectly anized ranks, ons ready at their sides.

  Everyone was at their absolute best. Every wound had healed, every mind was sharp, and every soul was determio give their all.

  The rigorous training over the past few weeks had paid off spectacurly. Many of them had already reached level 50 and achieved their css advas, marking a major milestone in their growth.

  Now, they weren’t just a colle of warriors.

  They were a force—ready to make their mark otlefield.

  Edrik gave a respectful bow toward Ats before stepping forward to face the gathered troops.

  “This battle is crucial,” he began. “The oute will shape the rapid growth of our isnd in the days ahead. We ’t afford to treat this lightly.”

  He straightened his posture and tinued.

  “We have three target isnds in this Dominion Skirmish,” Edrik tinued, his toeady but firm. “The first, a low to moderate risk isnd, is Emerald Gde—a nd covered in dense forests rich with resources and hidden dangers. Lyrassa and Mira will take the lead, supported by Team Bze and Team Dusk.”

  He paused briefly, letting the troops absorb the information.

  “The isnd,” Edrik went on, “is Azure Dunes, a moderate to high-risk target. It’s a harsh desert ndscape, with shifting sands and a massive ke at its ter. This mission will be led by Milo and Karian, anding Team Aether and Team Eclipse.”

  The troops nodded in unison, uanding the gravity of the missions assigo each team.

  “And finally, the third and most high-risk isnd—Shattered Ember Isle. A rank-2 isnd with votile terrain and deadly enemies.” He took a step forward. “The assault on this isnd will be led by ae team: myself, Manna, Master Kurogasa, Baldrid, of course, Lord Ats. We’ll be supported by Team der.”

  Edrik tinued, his voice calm but firm.

  “For the first week, our priority will be to secure key areas and resources on each isnd,” Edrik stated. “We will py it safe to assess the terrain, scout threats, and hunt for critical resources and materials we need.”

  “After that, we will reassess and adjust our strategy based ouation,” he tinued. “But make no mistake…”

  He paused for a moment.

  “Once we’ve gathered what we need, we will shift our focus to fortifying and dominating the isnd that we choose to cim. And that’s when the real battle begins.”

  He gnced back at Ats briefly, then turned his attention to the troops once more.

  “This isn’t just about survival. It’s about domination. We’re not here to test the waters. We’re here to cim what’s rightfully ours.”

  Everyone’s gaze greer after Edrik’s briefing.

  Then, Ats stepped forward.

  He summoned his Legendary-grade Wavebreaker Spear. The moment it materialized, his entire body became cloaked in a radiant aura of deep blue energy mixed with crag gold lightning.

  A swirling current of water formed in the air, spiraling upward before bursting outward. In the midst of it, Zefyros appeared, his form maing with his signature roar.

  CRAAAKKK!

  Ats gripped the spear tightly.

  “We leave together, aurn together,” Ats decred. “Never abandon your rades. Never leave behind your brothers, your sisters, your team. We only win by standing united—by bining the strength and will of everyone here.”

  “FIRE!”