[You have obtained 200 Units of Wood.]

  [You have obtained 200 Units of Iron.]

  [...]

  [You have obtained 10 Prisoners.]

  [You have obtained 895 Gold s.]

  [You have received 500 Are Shards.]

  [You received 9,568 Exp]

  Notification after notification fshed before Ats, but he quickly skipped through the details.

  From one side of the isnd, a portal opened, and moments ter, several captives stumbled through, unarmored and uheir hands bound. They fell to the ground before Ats’s troops, who watched them warily.

  Karian stood nearby, his greatsword at the ready, an unspoken threat to disce aance.

  Ats desded from his floating throne, approag the se, though his gaze flickered tanna. She still stood at a distance, scythe in hand, her anger not yet quelled.

  “Ats…” Edrik said quietly, catg his attention.

  Ats sidered his move carefully. He could allow Soren and his isnd to retreat fully, sparing them from further harm. Or he could use his Attack Token to unch a ter strike, preventing any escape.

  “We’re going to face plenty of threats, taunts, and provocations iure,” Edrik said, giving a small bow.

  “No, Soren didn’t mao provoke me… irely,” Ats replied calmly. “We won this battle with ease.”

  But his thoughts lingered on something else entirely. The thrill of victory was still fresh, yet his mind fixated ohing.

  He steadied himself, then began walking toward Manna, with Edrik following closely behind. The rest of the troops watched, waiting for his decision.

  Would they press on, or call it a day?

  “Edrik, now tell me. Give me every reason why we should stop ahem go. That’s your only task right now.”

  Edrik bowed and began listing his reasons as he walked just behind Ats.

  “We’ve won the first battle, and that gives us a ake improvements. A good window to refine many things before taking bigger risks.”

  “This is only the first battle, so there’s no harm in taking it slow,” he tinued. “We’ve already secured rank points, resources, and morale.”

  “Defense and offense eae with unique challenges and risks. While I believe we could win if we attacked now, there’s always a e of us could be injured or worse.”

  “Some Lords are ing enough to bait others into a false sense of victory. Our oppos may have surreo lure us into attag, only to reveal they’re well-prepared defensively.”

  He paused, his voice steady. “The rush of victory brings fidence, but stroions like these aren’t always helpful in deaking.”

  “As for Manna,” he added, gng in her dire, “she might not be easily calmed without intervention of the system, but we o remio restrain herself in ditions like this.”

  Ats nodded. “Alright.”

  Ats stepped up beside Manna, who stidly, her gaze distant and unyielding, the dark energy still bzing across the left side of her body.

  "Having fun?" he asked.

  "Yes," she replied.

  Impressive!

  Even while seething over Soren’s insult, she could respond to him with posure.

  Ats knew how deeply a slight like that would cut for someone like her—someone powerful, proud. He wouldn’t allow ao speak to her that way anyway. Manna, like the rest, was under his prote now.

  “What do you want?” he asked quietly. “Tell me.”

  “Kill that i.”

  Ats nodded slowly, sidering his move. Was he about to let emotion cloud his judgment? Or was fiden his own strength—and irength of his people—justified?

  Without turning, he spoke to Edrik. "Edrik, now I have another question for you. Tell me, what would you suggest in a situation like this?"

  Edrik bowed, a faint smile toug his lips. "If we press forward and win, we cim their isnd and resources. It would be a big step toward strengthening our own isnd."

  Ats nodded, a grin breaking through. He flipped the Attack Token into the air, sealing his decision.

  [You have decred a teratta Soren of Ashroot Grove.]

  Ats’s decision was met with a collective sigh of relief and a surge of energy from his troops. Smiles broke out as they readied their ons, spirits high with renewed determination.

  The isnds began to shift positions: Gacha Haven rose, while Soren’s isnd lowered, the two preparing to meet oerms. Manna’s lips curled into a subtle smile, her gaze sharpening with anticipation.

  Ats raised his hand high. “The battle isn’t over! ht isn’t finished! End this and make them regret ever uimating us!”

  A cheer erupted from his troops, voices ringing with unity and resolve.

  And as the isnds settled into their new positions, they prepared t this fight to its true clusion.

  "Edrik, go!" Ats anded.

  Edrik bowed and swiftly moved to the rear, setting up their formation for an assault from multiple dires, mirr the tactics Soren had used earlier.

  A shimmering portal began to form before Ats. Manna, with a sharp, deadly smile, readied her scythe, her eyes fixed on the portal as it opened wider.

  Behind Ats, Lyrassa, Kurogasa, and the entire Bze Team stood in formation, their ons drawn, awaiting the signal.

  "My Lord, I love your decision!" Kaida shouted with a fierce grin. "Let’s trample our enemies. We’re not finished yet—ha!"

  The portal opened fully, revealing the path to Soren’s isnd.

  [The battle begins now!]

  Manna surged forward, eyes bzing with fiertent, ready to cut down any who dared stand in her way. Dozens of enemies braced themselves ahead, f a wall to block her advance.

  But suddenly, beside her appeared anure—a spear in hand, charging forward with equal resolve. It was Ats. She g him briefly, aowledging his presence before diving bato the fray.

  A Lord was supposed to lead from behind, guiding the battle and direg troops. But Ats hadn’t traiirelessly just to sit on a throne while others fought. He was ready!

  With a sharp spin of his spear, he propelled himself forward, side by side with Manna.

  Manna sliced through the enemies with brutal efficy, her scythe an unstoppable force that cleaved through armor and flesh alike. Ats moved alongside her, striking with precision and force, his spear whirling as he cut down foes in his path.

  He blocked the attack with his spear, leapt back to gain momentum, then thrust the on forward, driving it straight into his oppo's neck. Dead in an instant.

  This was the first human he had ever killed.

  "Attack!" Kaida’s voice rang out as she hurled magic balls from a distance, while others smmed into the enemy ranks with shields and bdes.

  The csh of steel filled the air as the battle raged on, each side locked in a fierce struggle for dominance.

  From each of Ats’s allies, vines began to emerge, blooming into vibrant flowers that released a sweet, invigorating st. The fragrance spread quickly, and instantly, everyo a surge in stamina, their aches and pains fading to a manageable throb.

  Lyrassa was truly a force to be reed with—a monster of support skills in a battle like this!

  Ats gazed into the distance, where the enemy fortress loomed—the stronghold where Soren was likely holed up. They’d have to break through the ranks of soldiers if they wao reach him and deliver the justice he deserved.

  Otlefield, Milo had colpsed to the ground, his cards scattered around him. He clutched his head, trembling.

  “Please… not too hard… this is terrifying. Please, don’t make me—”

  Standing over him, Karian gave a slight, amused smile. “Now, let’s show them what we’re made of.”

  With a firm grip, Karian grabbed Milo’s leg, drawing a panicked shout from the man. “Let go of me! Let me go!”

  Milo screamed, his voice eg with an energy that seemed to pulse outward, rippling through the air in dark waves.

  Suddenly, bergy erupted from Milo’s form, swirling around him as his body began to shift.

  Before he could plete the transformation on his own, Karian flung him forward, sending him hurtling through the air.

  Milo’s figure expanded, muscles surging with raw power as he was flung through the air, his body transf pletely into his other self—Raze!

  He collided with the fortress wall in his new form, the impact eg as he nded, fully transformed and ready for destru.

  "ROARRR!" The fierce, guttural roar shook the battlefield as Raze stood he fortress, surrounded by dozens of enemy soldiers, his eyes gleaming with urained fury.

  "e at me, sons of whores!!" Raze bellowed.

  ***

  (Author’s Note:)

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