CHAPTER 334: CHAPTER 334 - BROOD MATTERS

Atlas leaned back against the couch after hearing Kurogasa’s conclusion. It was clear he needed to push his basic element affinities to the High level first.

Once Lyrassa gave birth to their child, her essence would likely influence him again, granting him a natural boost in elemental balance. Most of his basic affinities would probably rise to High soon, and that meant the first part of his goal was nearly complete.

But there was still one major problem left: how he would acquire affinity with the Light Element. The answer, though uncertain, was already close to him. It wasn’t guaranteed to succeed, but it was the best path available.

He might have to speak further with Elyndra about it, if the Fae girl was willing. Because for her, such a bond wasn’t something that could be taken lightly. She could only perform it once in her long lifetime.

Still, Atlas was closer than ever to achieving evolution, and he couldn’t hide his growing anticipation. He had to keep getting stronger. For the sake of the island and everyone living on it.

This kind of proposal... Atlas went silent for a moment. It almost felt like a marriage proposal.

He rubbed his temple, sighing at the thought. He really was turning into a lord with multiple wives at this rate. Two already, and now possibly another?

At that moment, Edrik spoke in his calm, respectful tone. "As long as it benefits both sides, and perhaps even more beyond that, it isn’t something wrong, my lord. For a lord of your stature, having more than one partner is... quite normal."

Atlas let out another long sigh. "You’re always the most eager one to push me on matters like this, Edrik," he said tiredly.

Atlas then spent some time with Edrik and the others, including Mira, to plan the next phase of development for his island. He had recently secured a new structure designed for aerial defense.

There was something unique about this structure. The spear projectiles used for its attacks had to be produced separately, which demanded a great deal of manpower and resources. Feeding the system to maintain full operation would take time and effort, especially if Atlas aimed to build them by the hundreds.

He would likely need more blacksmiths to handle the workload. For now, though, he decided to focus on completing the first hundred structures before gathering the additional resources required to expand further.

Carefully, he reorganized the construction queue. Rearranging structures, repositioning defenses, and revising the overall layout of the island’s protective network. It would take at least two months to complete everything needed for the next stage of defense.

Even so, Atlas already had a strong standing army: powerful ground forces and a reliable aerial division to guard the island. But he knew that wasn’t enough. He needed stronger automated defenses. Mechanisms that could act even when his armies were elsewhere.

At the same time, production of the Soulbinding Armor continued steadily. To support this, Atlas had recently brought four beast tamers to Gacha Haven.

That day, he planned to meet with them. To learn what they needed and discuss how best to help them fulfill their new responsibilities.

**

Atlas, accompanied by Edrik and Baldric, ventured deep into the tunnel system of the cave that day, joined by the four newly recruited beast tamers.

Li Feng, the calm and sharp-minded leader of this small tamer team, led the group with confident steps. Walking beside him at the front was a young woman, no older than nineteen, named Xia Yun.

Over the past three days, they had spent their time studying the complex network of these caves, observing the behavior of the spider beasts, and even locating the heart of their colony. The nest itself.

As they walked through the dimly lit tunnels, Li Feng began explaining in his steady voice, "My lord, we’ve discovered the exact location of what we call the Mother Loom. Every spider colony originates from this single entity. A massive, cocoon-like spectral being that functions as both hive and source. It sustains the web network, produces new broodlings, and maintains psychic control over all spiders within its reach."

Their path soon widened into a larger tunnel chamber, where the faint glimmer of silk-like threads shimmered along the walls. A few spider beasts clung there, their bodies still as stone, watching the intruders silently. Yet none of them attacked.

Thanks to Xia Yun’s unique ability. A soft, aura-like influence that masked their presence as harmless. The beasts allowed them to pass freely.

"The nest is just ahead, my lord," Li Feng said quietly, lowering his voice.

They moved slowly through the winding passage until Li Feng raised his hand, signaling everyone to stay quiet. Their steps grew lighter, breath shallow, as they entered the massive chamber that opened before them.

The moment Atlas stepped inside, his eyes widened in astonishment. The cavern was enormous. So vast that its ceiling vanished into shadow.

Dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of faintly glowing eyes blinked across the walls, belonging to spider beasts clinging motionless in the darkness. The eerie aura they emitted filled the chamber with a faint, ghostly light, illuminating the silken webwork that stretched in every direction.

At the very center stood something colossal. An enormous structure shaped like a tangled cocoon fused with a living heart. Translucent veins pulsed faintly across its surface. It seemed both organic and spectral, suspended in the air by thick threads that anchored it to the walls.

Li Feng gestured toward it with a quiet motion of his hand. "The Mother Loom," he whispered.

Atlas gave a slow nod, and they switched to the mental communication link to speak without sound.

"Have you found a way to accelerate its reproduction process, Li Feng?" Atlas asked through the link.

Li Feng nodded slightly before replying.

"The brood does not consume food as normal creatures do. It feeds on spiritual residue and elemental mana. Their nourishment comes from what remains after life fades, from decaying souls. Simply put... they eat living beings."

"Living beings?" Atlas frowned. "Monsters, perhaps?"

"Yes, my lord. Monsters can sustain them," Li Feng confirmed softly. "But their growth. The strength of their Soulthread increases dramatically when they are fed intelligent life."

"Wait..."

Li Feng sighed quietly, his expression heavy. "Yes, my lord," he confirmed again.

Atlas clenched his jaw, his mind reeling. "You’re saying they need humans... intelligent creatures, to feed on?"

Yes, intelligent creatures did not necessarily mean only humans. But realistically, Atlas knew what that implied. Nearly every Lord he had fought so far had been human. Their armies, their cities, their domains, most of them are human.

Damn it! Atlas cursed under his breath.

They need to eat humans? Seriously?

Atlas’s expression hardened. He needed to find a way to sustain these spider beasts. But for them to survive, reproduce, and produce higher-quality Soulthread... they required intelligent life.

Humans.

A storm of thoughts rushed through his mind. How could he possibly achieve this? Was there any other way? The more he thought about it, the more cruel it sounded, even to him. The idea of luring humans just to feed these creatures clawed at the edge of his conscience.

He shook his head, forcing the thought aside. This was something he would have to think about later, when his mind was clearer.

And then, before he could even speak. The familiar shimmer of a system message materialized.

[WORLD EVENT TRIGGERED]

[THE DOMINION CONVERGENCE]

[Multiple Lord Authorities have entered resonance. Territory boundaries are collapsing, and the skies themselves are shifting.]

[When Laws collide, only one Dominion endures.]

[Lead your alliance to victory, or be erased from the new order.]