Chapter 49 - Seeker Division 1

Atlas reviewed the island's condition and the team's preparations one last time. Four Flame Beacons had been constructed, positioned strategically on each side of the island. 

Each tower featured a massive crystal core encased within a reinforced structure, towering twice as tall as an adult. From the top radiated an intense, fiery aura, lighting up the area around it.

The Flame Beacons would defend by firing volleys of fireballs in all directions, capable of hitting both ground and air units—an incredibly effective defensive measure. 

Atlas made a mental note to build more once they gathered enough materials.

Thanks to the Lord Battle mechanics, the Beacons' damage would only affect enemies. Even if allies stood nearby, they'd be shielded from the attacks' impact. Truly a magical advantage.

He positioned the main fortress at the island's center, surrounded by Residential Huts, the Training Ground, harvesting structures, and the blacksmith. Mira's gardens sprawled across much of the outer island, creating a natural boundary with vibrant greenery.

If they decided on a defensive strategy, their enemies would need to prepare themselves for the rage of the "Bunny Gardener."

Atlas frequently met with the team leaders, making time every day to build bonds across the team. Connecting with 30 people individually was no small task, so he started by focusing on their team leaders, one by one.

Zara began by explaining her strategy, carefully assigning each role to maximize each member's potential. Her deep understanding of her team's strengths was impressive; she was naturally gifted and incredibly strategic.

Kaida, on the other hand, laughed and declared that her team was "ready to go all out," keeping the details light. Fortunately, Lyrassa, with her cool head, balanced Kaida's enthusiasm by adding a defensive layer to their plan.

Garen, towering with his massive build, grinned. "My Lord, I'll be on the front lines, leading my team to crush the enemy!"

Ronan, always a man of few words, nodded. "My Lord, I've prepared a detailed analysis of my team as well. I'm confident in their readiness."

The day of the battle had arrived. Atlas stood in the main fortress building with his Elite Subordinates, finalizing their strategy. 

Finally, the system notification appeared:

[A New Battle Season Has Begun!]

[Fight fiercely, using the best strategy you've got. Claim victory, grow your island, and become unstoppable.]

[You have received two Attack Tokens.]

Two gold coins, each engraved with the image of a sword, materialized in front of Atlas. He took them in hand.

"You can pick another island to attack with those two tokens," Edrik explained.

[If you effectively utilize the tokens, you'll receive a bonus. But if you fail to use them by the end of the battle season, a penalty will apply.]

"This battle season sure comes with a lot of penalties," Atlas muttered.

Edrik nodded. "Yes, it's been harsh for everyone. That's why the casualties from this war have been so staggering."

[The battle season will last for 3 months.]

[Ranking Lords will be organized into several clusters, with rewards distributed based on each rank within the cluster.]

[Survive the battles, claim as many victories as possible, and earn exceptional rewards to fortify and grow your island.]

[Atlas - Seeker Div 1 has been registered in Cluster Saharian.]

[The new battle season begins now.]

Atlas opened the map interface, revealing his island at the center, surrounded by numerous islands marked as Seeker Division 1. There were dozens—maybe even hundreds.

He thought for a moment, then continued. "So, our choice now is either to select an island to challenge… or wait for someone to challenge us."

"Yes, Atlas. And remember, each island can only accept up to five challenge invitations at a time. You'll need to choose which of those five challengers to accept."

"What about the rest?"

"You can take on the others once you've finished with the current challenge. Or, if necessary, you can retreat—with a slightly lower penalty."

Atlas groaned. "Another penalty…"

Atlas weighed his options, also considering his defensive strength with the Flame Beacons.

"I think challenging anyone too early isn't the best move. We have three months, so waiting for challengers to come might be wiser," he said thoughtfully.

"Yes, letting others challenge you first can be a good strategy. Especially if you're confident in your defensive setup," Edrik replied.

Atlas scanned the islands marked on the map, viewing each one from above. He could see their layouts, the structures they'd built, and even a single aerial image of each Lord who lived there. Some islands looked weak, likely easy targets for an early attack.

"Remember, Atlas," Edrik cautioned, "if you target weaker islands, the rewards will probably be minimal."

Atlas nodded. "So attacking stronger islands means better rewards but higher risks in battle, right?"

"Exactly."

"But if someone wants easy wins," Edrik added, "they'll likely go after weaker Lords. They'll secure points with less resistance, though their progress will be slower."

Atlas nodded. "So, being greedy with high risk and high gain, or going for stable growth with less risk."

Edrik continued, "By the way, you can also adjust the map filter to show Lords of higher ranks—either the same rank but higher divisions or even Lords from higher ranks entirely. Anyone can challenge up in rank, but never down."

"The rewards would be greater?"

"Yes," Edrik replied, "though I'm not suggesting you need to. Just something to keep in mind."

"Got it."

After a brief wait, the system notifications began to pop up.

[Neron from Ember Stone Isle, Seeker Div 1, has issued a challenge.]

[Kara from Stormridge, Seeker Div 1, has issued a challenge.]

[Varus from Thornspire, Seeker Div 1, has issued a challenge.]

"Oh... three challenges all at once?" Edrik remarked, raising an eyebrow.

And then two more notifications followed quickly:

[Soren from Ashroot Grove, Seeker Div 1, has issued a challenge.]

[Lira from Ironwave Isle, Seeker Div 1, has issued a challenge.]

"Make that five," Atlas said, surprised.

Edrik chuckled, "Well, good luck, Atlas. You've filled up your challenge invitation slots in no time!"

Atlas quickly pulled up profiles on each challenger, analyzing their islands through aerial previews.

"Poor defenses, poor defenses… this one's island is pretty large, likely backed by a sponsor," Edrik observed, pointing out the structural variations. "And these last two? Fairly well-fortified with a good spread of structures."

"Yes," Atlas agreed. "In the Saharian Cluster, where the area is vast and filled with powerful Lords, I'm not surprised that many newly awakened Lords have already been claimed by stronger alliances."

Edrik turned to him. "So, what's your decision?"

"Neron, Kara, Varus, Soren, and Lira," Atlas murmured, mentally weighing his options.

Accepting a challenge from a Lord with weaker defenses might mean the challenger relied on sheer numbers, confident that a large force would overwhelm his defenses. 

On the other hand, choosing opponents with more complete structures was a gamble—it was hard to tell if they were weaker offensively or if they hid greater strength, possibly backed by sponsorship from stronger Lords.

Atlas studied each island carefully. Most challengers displayed several dozen troops, though a few showed smaller numbers. Still, he knew there could easily be additional forces hidden in reserve, ready to deploy when needed.

"Alright, I'll go with this one," he decided.

[Atlas from Gacha Haven, Seeker Div 1, has accepted the defensive challenge from Soren of Ashroot Grove, Seeker Div 1.]

[The battle will begin in: 10:00:00]

On the map, the islands of Gacha Haven and Ashroot Grove began drifting closer, setting up for the impending clash.

"So, choosing opponents based on proximity can be a strategic trick too," Atlas noted.

"Correct," Edrik confirmed.

"Alright, we have ten hours! Prepare, everyone!" Atlas commanded.