Ats and his team had returned from the Lower Lands after visiting the families of soldiers who had fallen i battle. However, for two of them, there were no surviviives, leaving their stories to fade with no oo remember them.
With the tributes plete, Ats shifted his focus to the impending end of the Season Battle. As the midday sun bathed Gacha Haven in a warm glow, a familiar notification appeared before him, signaling the culmination of his efforts.
[The current Season of the Lord Battle has cluded.]
[Calg the score...]
[You successfully defended your isnd five times.]
[You executed a successful ter Attace.]
[You achieved victory in the All-Out frontation Battle once.]
[Your overall score is: S.]
[gratutions!]
The notifications tio unfold.
[All residents of Gacha Haven have earned 50,000 bonus experience points.]
[All residents of Gacha Haven have gained 20 bonus stat points.]
[You have gained an additional 20 bonus stat points.]
[You have received the Dominion Skirmish Token Battle.]
[You have reached Level 50.]
[EXP: 44,835 / 228,266]
[gratutions! You have reached Level 50. You are now eligible to uake the Css Adva Quest.]
[Dispying avaible csses for adva...]
Ats paused for a moment, reviewing everything he had gained from the current season battle.
His score was S! That should be incredible, right?
But, was this truly the highest score possible?
He dug deeper into the system and discovered there were still higher tiers: SS and SSS. The realization that he hadn’t even e close to those scores left him w—did someoo defeat every single Lord they entered to achieve such heights?
This Lord Battle was really desigo push everyoo kill each other.
As for the rewards, there were experience points—50K of them. At first g seemed like a massive amount, but it wasn’t even enough for a full level-up. Still, there was o despair, as every partit on the isnd received 20 stat points, equivalent to leveling up twibsp;
On top of that, Ats had earned an additional 20 stat points, meaning it was as though he’d leveled up four times in total!
Then there was the real prize: a Dominion Skirmish battle token. This was one of the most valuable items in any seasonal battle because it grahe ce to fight for trol of a new, unoccupied isnd.
The Dominion Skirmish itself was another massive battle—arguably even rger in scale—since multiple Lords could pete for the same unoccupied isnd. It promised to be a brutal showdown.
More detailed information about the battle was expected soon, but ohing was certain: it would take pce before the season battle began.
Finally, Ats reached level 50! This milestone unlocked a css adva quest for him. However, he decided to hold off for now.
He wao thhly review the avaible css options, but he wouldn’t do it alone.
He po discuss it with some of his elite subordinates. Not all of them, though—just Edrik and Kurogasa, the most level-headed among them, and maybe Karian and Baldric too.
Ats summoned his status s and couldn’t help but smile at the dispy in front of him.
[s Bckthorn]
[Level: 50]
[Strength: 219 | Agility: 125 | Intelligence: 72 | stitution: 126 | Stamina: 132]
[Avaible Stat Points: 80]
[Job: The Lord]
[Css: Warrior (Css Adva Avaible)]
[Ironcd Will (S) - Tactical Awareness (A) - Instinctual and (A) - Elemental Spear Mastery (S) - Elemental Dominion (S) - anding Presence (S) - Bloodbound Vigor (S)]
80 avaible stat points!
Ats took a moment to carefully sider how he would allocate them. His fighting style so far had heavily relied on the spear—a on that demanded high Strength to maximize its physical attack power.
Naturally, this meant Strength would be a top priority.
He already had det survivability, thanks to his defensive skills and even a regeion ability, but boosting his stitution further would improve his health and physical defenses, making him more durable in drawn-out battles.
Stamina was another essential area to enha directly influenced his enduran bat, ensuring he could sustain long fights without faltering. This was especially crucial in rge-scale battles where prolonged effort could determihe victor.
Then there was Intelligence. Retly, he had acquired a spear with magic-based area skills, which could bee a game-ger in rge-scale fights. Leveraging those abilities effectively would require developing his magical aptitude, making Intelligence a sedary focus.
Finally, there was Agility. To bance his bat style, which relied on heavy physical attacks, he would he speed and reflexes that only Agility could provide. It was crucial to ensure his movements remained fluid and his attacks fast, making him a versatile warrior.
After weighing each factor carefully, Ats finalized his stat allocation, fident that this banced distribution would make him an even more formidable Lord itles to e.
[Spend 20 Stat Points intth]
[Spend 10 Stat Points into Agility]
[Spend 20 Stat Points into Intelligence]
[Spend 10 Stat Points into stitution]
[Spend 20 Stat Points into Stamina]
[Strength: 239 | Agility: 135 | Intelligence: 92 | stitution: 136 | Stamina: 152]
"Nice? Yes, this is good!"
Ats smiled in satisfa as he looked over his updated status. The banced distribution of his stat points left him eager to keep upgrading his talents, leveling up, and acquiring powerful new skills.
And there was o worry—soon, he’d unlo advanced css that would bring even more abilities to his arsenal.
Stepping out of his room, he ihe crisp, fresh air, feeling it fill his lungs.
The Gacha Haven had truly bee a serene and inviting pce to live. Wide expanses of grass stretched out, dotted with vibrant flowers, t trees, aly cultivated gardens filled with fruits—and an abundance of carrots.
Today was a day off for everyone, and the isnd residents were scattered about, enjoying the break. Some sat outside, sharing food and versation, while others helped Mira in the gardens.
Ats couldn’t help but smile as he took iranquil se. The ess of the isnd belied the blood, sweat, and tless battles fought to secure this peace. He exhaled deeply, letting his thoughts wander.
He soon made his way to a unique part of the isnd—a small area encircled by a flowing river. At its heart was a tiny isnd, home to a single, extraordinary tree. This tree had grown from an A-rank item he had obtaihe Spirit Grove Seed. After pnting it, the seed had blossomed into something truly magical.
The tree, now known as Luminaria Grove, stood tall and majestic. Its translut leaves shimmered, shiftiween hues of green and faint gold. Its roots exuded a soft, misty aura, and delicate orbs of light floated zily around its opy.
This was no ordinary tree. Anyone near it would receive a series of powerful buffs that sted for a signifit duration:
[Health Regeion: Accelerates healing over time.]
[Mana Regeion: Quickly replenishes magical energy.]
[Increased Defense: Boosts physical and magical resistance.]
[Attack Boost: Enhances either physiagical attack power.]
[Movement Speed: Slightly improves mobility within the area of effect.]
The duration of these buffs ranged from 2 to 10 minutes, depending on individual ditions. Iingly, some people received longer buffs while others experienced shorter effects.
Acc to Lyrassa, this variation was lio each person's elemental affinity. Ats, for example, enjoyed a near-maximum buff duration of just over 8 minutes—a signifit advantage.
Oneone moved away from the tree, the buffs would persist for their remaining duration, but beihe tree accelerated the regeion of these effects almost 2-fold. This made the tree not just magical, but a strategic asset for the isnd.
Beyond its practical bes, the Luminaria Grove also had a calming presence. Simply sittihe base of the tree could fill someoh a profound sense of peace.
However, access to the tree was strictly reguted by Mira, who fiercely protected its sanctity. She didn’t allow just ao set foot on the small isnd where the tree stood, let alone climb it!
Her reasoning?
"Its beauty would diminish if people trampled around it," she had decred.
Of course, this rule didn’t apply to Ats. As the isnd’s leader, he was free to visit the tree whenever he pleased. Smirking at the memory of Mira’s strifort, he stepped closer, appreciating the tranquil energy radiating from the tree.
Ats sat down at the base of the tree, closing his eyes for a moment. The soft rustle of the glowing leaves above, the gentle hum of the tree's magid the cool breeze flowing through the area all bio create a sense of perfect calm.
Just as he was sinking deeper into the peaceful atmosphere, a soft, melodic voice broke through his thoughts.
"My Lord... you seem to be enjoying this moment a lot."
The words reached his ears, pulling him back to the present. He opened his eyes, a faint smile pying on his lips as he turo see who had spoken.
