Ats and Edrik stood atop the watchtower, where the Rank-A item, the unity Bell, had bee up. It would serve not only to coordihe battle but also to boost the troops’ morale.

  Ats raised a telescope, sing the horizon. In the distance, he could see the enemy isnd sloroag, closing in for the battle. Acc to the tdown, the csh was set to begin in about 40 minutes.

  “Their isnd’s position is higher than ours,” Ats murmured.

  “That’s an advantage for attackers,” Edrik replied. “It makes it harder for defeo get a direct view of the ining isnd. But it’s just a disadvantage, not a plete obstacle.”

  Ats houghtfully, notig that the enemy isnd was slightly rger than his own.

  After a pause, Edrik asked, “Have you ever… killed anyone before, Ats?”

  Ats lowered the telescope at the ued question. “No, not yet.” He shook his head slowly. “Monsters, yes. But never a human.”

  “Well,” Edrik said gently, “I think it’s a heavy thing for ahe first time.”

  Ats nodded slowly. “I’m sure I’m not the only one fag this for the first time. Some of our troops are even youhan I am.”

  “Well,” Edrik replied, “youth doesn’t always mean ck of experience.”

  Ats gave a slight smile. “I uand what you mean. But everyone has pced their trust in me, so I ’t afford a single moment of hesitation.”

  Edrik’s expression softened into a faint smile. “I almost hope these attackers e with a bit ance or taunts. Might make it easier for our people to feel some fire and maybe make the act of taking lives… feel a little less heavy.”

  “If it’s not us doing the killing, it’s us being killed,” Ats added.

  “Absolutely.”

  As the enemy isnd loomed closer, ing into clearer view from below, Ats summoned his floating throne and took a seat, while Manna stood behind him, fag outward.

  He could see his troops below, positio their posts along the perimeter of the isnd. Each team was stationed on a different side, prepared to repel attacks from any dire.

  The workers had already been moved to safety ihe fortress, the most secure p the isnd. Because, If the attackers made it into the fortress, it would mean they’d essentially lost the isnd.

  And then there was Mira. Despite her title as the “Bunny Gardener,” no oruly believed anymore that she was simply an i caretaker of pnts. With her Bloombde Hoe in hand, she was ready and waiting in the lushest se of the gardens, surrounded by dense flowers and greenery.

  Mira had insisted she’d stationed herself there only “to protect the pnts from being trampled.” But Ats knew better, those who uimated her would quickly realize she was far from just a simple gardener.

  Ats could feel the tension radiating from everyone around him. His own gaze had sharpened, his posture mid as he braced himself for the battle. Though there were still ten minutes before the csh officially began, the two isnds had already drifted close enough that he could see across to the other side.

  he edge of the opposing isnd, a figure emerged, standing with an imposing prese was a tall, heavily armored person, their armor yered with bear fur that covered their shoulders and eveop of their helmet. This had to be the Lord of that isnd. What was his name again? Right—Soren.

  With ten miill remaining until the official battle began, direct frontation rohibited—but that didn’t stop the enemy from attempting a little mental warfare and provocation.

  "Look at his little isnd!" Soren shouted across the gap, his voice carrying over. "It's seriously adorable—so cute, hahaha!"

  Just as Edrik had predicted, their oppos arrived brimming with fidend arrogance, ung into taunts. Whether their arrogance was genuine or a deliberate tactic, Ats didn’t care; he found himself leaning toward the idea that this particur enemy was simply arrogantly stupid.

  “With my overwhelming troops, four times what you’ve got, I’ll crush this isnd in no time!” Soren boasted.

  Ats regarded him with a rexed gaze, curious to see how far Soren would take the insults.

  "Please," Ats muttered, just loud enough, "I know you do better than that."

  "Ats of Gacha Haven?" Soren tinued. "What are you doing here, kid? Still treating this like a game? With your little gacha fantasies? So, what is it? Does your system let you summon heroes from other worlds? Hahaha."

  Ats smiled; he had to give Soren some credit, he was smart enough to guess the cept pretty quickly.

  "Tell me, kid… are you trembling in fear yet? Just look at your troops. You've got a little girl," he sneered, gesturing toward Zara.

  Zara narrowed her eyes at him, clearly unfazed by the jab.

  "And over there? A nervous middle-aged man and what? A magi?" Soren added, pointing toward Milo, who was nervously shuffling his deck of cards.

  Startled, Milo fumbled and dropped his cards, then crouched to gather them up in a hurry, only to have them slip through his fingers again.

  "I’ll tell you, kid… you’ve got the dumbest troop position I’ve ever seen in my whole career as a Lord."

  Whole career? Had this guy been stu the Seeker rank for years?

  "Now, kid, I’ve got a generous offer for you," Sore on.

  Ats kept his expression rexed, simply watg as Soren tinued.

  "Look, I’m not a heartless man. I don’t kill kids, or women for that matter. But you’ve got a bit too many girls on your side, don’t you?" He grinned. "So here’s the deal: I’ll let you off this time if those lovely dies e with me."

  Ats raised an eyebrow, sensing an opening. Standing up from his throne, he asked casually, "So you’re saying that if I hand over a few of my girls, you’ll let me go?"

  Soren ughed, pleased with himself. "Exactly, kid. Give me that blonde girl, the bunny girl…," he added, his gaze shifting past Ats to where Manna stood. "And that dark-haired woman behind you. Those three will do nicely."

  Ats’s smile greer. “But sir, what if they refuse to go with you and choose to fight by my side instead? And what if it’s you who surrenders, allowio terattad wipe you out pletely?”

  Soren burst out ughing, clearly amused by the taunt. “Kid, you’re absolutely hirious. I’ve given you the best offer I make, and I’m dead serious. My troops far outnumber yours, and I’m not the type to appreciate reje.”

  As the tdown ticked closer, Soren’s expression hardened.

  "Listen up, kid. I’m going to crush you in an instant. I’ll spare those girls, especially that dark-haired bitch behind you. I’ll drag her to my bed, make her mine, and force you to watch—just so your foolish troops ualy what your so-called pride is worth."

  Ats opened his mouth to respond, but froze as a sudden, chilling wave of dread washed over him.

  What the hell is this?!

  His body shook, every hair standing on end, as though an immense, deadly pressure had seized him, flooding his senses with a chilling iy.

  Slowly, he gnced back over his shoulder, only to see dark energy seeping from Manna’s form, swirling around her.

  ***

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