CHAPTER 313: CHAPTER 313 - ATLAS’ FIRST SHADOW

Atlas sat at the edge of his bed as the morning sunlight streamed through the glass window, filling the room with a gentle warmth. He drew in a deep breath, feeling a strange mix of emotions as the heavy weight on his shoulders seemed to ease, at least for a moment.

The current Lord Battle Season was coming to an end, and knowing he had managed to survive this far gave Atlas a quiet sense of relief and a touch of pride. It was proof that all his hard work, and the team he had built, had not been in vain.

There was supposed to be a special Lord Battle Event later. Judging by his achievements this season, Atlas was certain he had earned the right to secure a place in it. In the previous season, that event had been the Dominion Skirmish. So what kind of special event would the system offer this time?

He stood up, taking a moment to enjoy a refreshing morning shower, letting the cool water wash away the exhaustion and tension from the many battles he had fought.

Not long after, Atlas left his room and headed downstairs. Today would mark an important moment for Gacha Haven. Stepping out of the lift, he exhaled slowly, recalling everything he had witnessed during his journey into Edrik’s past.

An assassin... So Edrik had truly been one in his earlier life. Yet, ironically, he had met his downfall not because of his enemies, but because he chose to save his target rather than kill her. Naive, perhaps. But Atlas couldn’t blame him. For someone who had lived his life as a killer, Edrik’s final act had shown something profoundly human.

What happened to the girl after Edrik ascended as a lord, and how he lived his new life as one, those would be stories yet to unfold.

As Atlas reached the lower level of the fortress estate, he noticed someone waiting for him. A man in a sharp black executive suit, his hair perfectly polished and neatly styled. The man bowed slightly, placing a hand over his chest as Atlas approached.

"Good morning, my lord," he said with composed elegance. "Congratulations on all your hard work and perseverance to reach this point, and my thanks as well for the upgrade I’ve received."

Atlas smiled in response to the man’s words, though Edrik’s expression remained completely flat as always.

"Nice. Thanks to you too, Edrik. So, what kind of upgrade did you get?"

Edrik bowed slightly again before replying, "If you don’t mind, my lord, you may try attacking me."

"Attacking you? With my spear?"

"If that is not too troublesome. Though your fists will do just fine, my lord."

Atlas nodded and took a few steps back as Edrik remained standing firmly in place.

Atlas clenched his hand, a faint smile forming on his lips as coils of elemental energy gathered around his fist.

"Total effort, Edrik?"

"Yes, my lord. Deliver five strikes."

"Five?" Atlas hesitated for a moment. If all five punches landed cleanly on Edrik, it could easily turn into a lethal attack. Still, he was curious.

He dropped into a steady fighting stance. Instead of checking Edrik’s new talent through the system, he preferred to test it directly, it was far more exciting that way.

Atlas tightened his grip, a surge of energy pulsing out in waves around him. In an instant, he dashed forward with incredible speed, driving his fist straight toward Edrik’s chest. At that velocity, the hit should have been devastating, and fatal.

But then, Atlas’s fist sank into Edrik’s chest without hitting anything solid. His hand passed right through the man’s body.

Atlas froze in surprise, his eyes widening for a split second before he jumped back once more to create some distance. He tightened his stance, focus sharpening as a faint spark of excitement flashed in his eyes.

He was going to try again. This time, faster.

Lightning Step!

He moved faster this time, his body flickering like light itself. Then came the flurry of punches. One, two, three, four, all striking Edrik’s torso in rapid succession. Yet again, every blow phased right through him without landing.

Atlas leapt back and straightened his posture, a grin spreading across his face. "Nice defense mechanism. How does that work?"

Edrik bowed respectfully before explaining, "That is the Shadow fused with the ancient element of Space, my lord. I shift parts of my body into another plane, creating a gap so your attacks pass through without hitting my real form."

"Oh, wow. Ancient element, huh? Damn. You regained your ancient element with just one upgrade? That’s impressive, Edrik. Looks like you’ll be able to join the front line more often now."

Edrik offered a faint, emotionless smile and bowed deeply once again. "My lord," he said with quiet humility, "I will serve you with everything I possess, with my body and my soul. My only purpose is to fulfill the role you have entrusted to me. It will be my greatest honor to give my all for you, and I will continue to push myself to do even better."

Atlas couldn’t help but smile and let out a short laugh. The way Edrik spoke always sounded almost overly formal, like he was flattering his superior a bit too much. Yet despite that, Edrik had never once disappointed him. He was always there, steadfast beside Atlas in every situation, offering advice that was both wise and precise, exactly what Atlas needed whenever uncertainty struck.

Edrik never overstepped his boundaries, even though he clearly had the capability to do so. He continued to show unwavering respect toward Atlas’s authority, allowing his lord to make his own decisions. Even when some of those choices might have seemed foolish to those who had walked this path far longer than him.

Still, Edrik remained loyal, supportive, and unshakably composed. He carried out his duties flawlessly, taking on countless roles across the island: serving as Atlas’s personal adviser, managing operations, and overseeing nearly every aspect of Gacha Haven’s growth.

He knew the personality and strengths of nearly every member within the Gacha Haven forces, organizing their training, progress, and development with meticulous care.

Sometimes, Atlas felt that he should be working harder to shoulder more of that responsibility himself. After all, he was the lord. True, a lord didn’t need to handle every minor detail, but how could he truly lead his forces to greater heights if he didn’t understand them deeply?

Atlas walked forward and placed a hand on Edrik’s shoulder. The man straightened, then followed silently behind him.

"From the bottom of my heart," Atlas said as they walked, "thank you for your service, Edrik. I hope I can keep building on what we’ve achieved together. To reach farther, rise higher, and bring true fulfillment and victory to everyone in Gacha Haven."

"I know you can reach it, my lord," came the calm voice from behind him.

Sometimes, Atlas wondered if Edrik truly meant those words. Even now, Atlas often felt like he hadn’t done enough. That most of their success came from the overwhelming strength and loyalty of his elite subordinates rather than his own merit.

But there was no time for self-doubt or needless humility. As long as he kept pushing forward with everything he had. His effort, his focus, his will, Atlas knew he would continue to advance.

He straightened his back, a determined glint in his eyes.

"Let’s welcome yet another great victory for us," he said with quiet conviction.

**

Author’s Note:

Whew, Volume 4 complete! Atlas is leveling up, Edrik’s turning into a literal shadow glitch, and I’m over here wondering who gave these subordinates permission to be this cool.

Now I gotta ask:

Who’s your favorite Elite Subordinate so far?

Need a refresher on the crew? Here ya go:

Rank-S: Morganna, Lyrassa, Milo/Raze, Serenith, Dullorak, Krythalis

Rank-A: Edrik, Karian, Mira, Kurogasa, Baldric, Orren, Everburn