Chapter 142 - 142 - A Conversation or a Confrontation?
Luna and her troops were clearly closing in on Atlas's position. They had already spotted him, and a direct encounter was now inevitable.
Trying to run from a sniper like Ember wasn't exactly a smart move. Worse, if they decided to pursue, they could end up chasing Atlas's team into the cave, creating an even bigger problem.
Luna's team had suffered injuries, but their numbers were still solid. And unlike the lord Atlas had previously defeated, this lord and her troops weren't weakened by the freezing temperatures. They could still fight at full strength.
If a battle broke out here and now, casualties would be inevitable on both sides. And for what? Engaging them wouldn't gain Atlas anything, other than the risk of provoking not one, but two alliances into turning against him.
Negotiation was still an option. A ceasefire could be arranged—maybe even a temporary alliance.
But no, it wasn't that simple. Atlas wanted this island for himself. An alliance could mean sharing control, or worse, losing the chance to claim it entirely. That was not an entertaining option.
For now, he couldn't see Luna or her troops—they were hidden behind the frozen cliffs and ice formations where he and his team had taken cover. But that didn't matter. They had already been spotted.
"What's your move, Atlas?" Edrik asked quietly.
"You're supposed to be my adviser," Atlas muttered.
"Then let's try talking to them," Edrik suggested.
Atlas exhaled, then made his decision. "Let's try. And call Morganna and Baldric here—just in case."
Atlas stepped forward, emerging from behind his cover.
The moment he did, Luna and her team halted, their movements sharp and disciplined. Without hesitation, they readied their weapons, eyes locked onto him.
The distance between them was close enough now that Atlas could see Luna clearly—the Lord standing before him.
She was still in her teens, likely around Zara's age, and so was Ember. Most of their troops also looked young, mostly in their teens, though some appeared to be in their early twenties. Compared to Atlas's forces, they were noticeably younger on average.
"Identify yourselves," Luna's voice rang out, firm and commanding. Though she spoke with confidence, the youthful tone of her voice was unmistakable to Atlas's ears.
A moment later, Edrik, Kurogasa, Morganna, and Baldric stepped forward, taking position beside Atlas. Edrik and Kurogasa on his left, Morganna and Baldric on his right.
However, just as Atlas had instructed beforehand, none of them made any aggressive gestures.
They carried no weapons in hand, nor did they take any threatening stances. They simply stood tall, facing Luna and her team head-on.
There was no hostility in their posture—only quiet confidence.
Even so, a Rank 2 Lord like Luna should have been able to gauge the strength of the people standing beside Atlas. At the very least, Atlas wanted to make it clear that he had bargaining power here—even if his status as a Rank 1 Lord placed a significant gap between them.
From levels alone, Luna's troops were likely near or above level 100—a massive difference. While skill and experience could bridge that gap, an all-out fight would never guarantee victory without casualties.
Atlas placed his hand over his chest and bowed slightly.
"Atlas of Gacha Haven," he introduced himself.
Luna paused for a moment, her expression unreadable as she assessed something.
Then, Ember, standing beside Luna, raised her right hand.
At her signal, Luna's troops lowered their weapons.
Atlas let out a silent breath of relief. At least this introduction hadn't started with unnecessary tension. Luna and her team had shown a non-hostile gesture.
Still, whatever happened next was uncertain.
Atlas waited, watching as Luna seemed like conversed with her team through their chat feature. Her expression shifted a few times—clear signs of an internal discussion taking place.
Then, Luna stepped forward, closing the distance slightly.
"Gacha Haven?" she repeated, her tone carrying a hint of curiosity.
"Yes, I'm Atlas, the Lord of Gacha Haven," Atlas confirmed, meeting her gaze.
"Wait..." Luna said, her brows furrowing slightly. "Do you know Mira?"
Atlas took a moment to carefully choose his words.
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He needed to make it clear that whatever had happened between them wasn't due to deception or manipulation on his part. It was simply a misunderstanding.
But after this, Luna would know the truth. And he could only hope that this revelation wouldn't embarrass her to the point of provoking an aggressive response.
Finally, he spoke.
"I'm glad we finally have the chance to meet. I know who you are, Luna—the one who knows Mira, someone very important to my team. Also... thank you for the help you've given us."
Luna's expression shifted. "Wait... are you saying Mira is not the Lord? How? Did you take the position from her?!" Her voice was sharper now, more direct.
"No..." Atlas responded firmly. "Mira is my subordinate. And I have been the Lord of Gacha Haven from the very beginning."
Silence.
Luna froze, her face unreadable.
The tension between them peaked, thick enough to cut through.
Atlas felt as if he were standing trial, awaiting a sudden verdict in this unexpectedly delicate moment.
"And aren't you a Rank-1 Lord? How are you even here?"
Another question. And this time, Atlas needed to answer carefully.
Because from what he understood, Luna had helped him out of pity for Mira. She probably saw Mira as someone fragile, someone who wouldn't survive the brutal world of Lord Battles.
If Luna found out that Atlas had brought Mira to a battlefield like this, she might not take it well.
Well... Mira wasn't here right now.
She was off on another island, leading a campaign with Lyrassa to conquer it. If Atlas revealed that, it might only make Luna worry more.
But seriously... Mira was his subordinate. Shouldn't he be the one worrying about her?
Wait... did the fact that he sent Mira and Lyrassa alone to lead a small force and conquer an island mean he was careless with them?
No, no. More than that, it was because he trusted them.
And honestly, if Luna knew the truth about Mira and Lyrassa, she'd probably be more shocked than anything else.
Like—Lyrassa? She had lived for centuries.
And Mira? Sure, she looked innocent. Clueless. Lighthearted.
But in reality?
She was a maniacal killer who could slaughter people effortlessly while smiling as if she were planting carrots in a garden.
Seriously, if Luna ever found out about Mira's real personality, she might just drop dead from shock.
Mira wasn't as cute and innocent as she looked. Not at all.
"Yes..." Atlas answered calmly. "As you surely know, I'm here for the Dominion Skirmish. And if you're asking about Mira, she's not here right now. But she's safe on the island."
He deliberately avoided mentioning which island.
"You're seriously reckless for being here, huh?" Luna remarked.
Hearing those words from a younger Lord made Atlas feel... a little sorry for himself.
Or more like—this younger Lord was the one worrying about him.
Still, there was no hostility in Luna's voice. Unlike some of the ruthless and cold-blooded Lords Atlas had encountered before, she didn't seem heartless.
After all, not every Lord was thrown into this Lord Battle system under the same circumstances.
Some, like Lyrassa, had chosen to take a less brutal approach. She had once told him that her entire Lord career had been purely defensive—a reminder that not every Lord was obsessed with endless warfare.
Taking a breath, Atlas spoke again.
"We're clearly on opposite sides in this Dominion Skirmish. But I wonder... would you be willing to talk with me privately? Without the presence of our troops."
It was a bold move.
But a necessary one.
They needed to talk. And fast.
Whatever their positions in this battle were, they needed to define them—to find a solution before things escalated beyond control.
Atlas didn't want to leave this situation unresolved.
Walking away without settling anything would only increase the chances of clashing in the future. After all, they were both fighting for the same objective.
War was inevitable. That much was clear.
But whether he wanted an alliance with them or not? That was still undecided. At the very least, talking could provide clarity. A chance to understand where they stood in this battle.
Because no matter what—a conversation was always better than a meaningless war that would only cost more lives.
"Yeah, sure." Luna answered.
Atlas was a bit surprised. He hadn't expected her to agree so easily.
Luna turned toward Ember, and the fiery sniper gave her a simple nod.
Then, Luna glanced back at Atlas before shifting her gaze toward a large, frozen tree standing not far from them.
"We talk there?" she asked calmly.
"Yes." Atlas nodded.
And with that, the two of them began walking toward the tree, keeping a respectful distance between them.