CHAPTER 336: CHAPTER 336 - ASSIGNING THE VANGUARD

Judging from the statistics, among the thirteen Lords within the alliance, only nine could truly be relied upon if Atlas wanted to secure the best possible score while minimizing losses. These nine possessed System Abilities ranked S or higher, making them the true pillars of the Vanguard Dominion.

The others, those with A-Rank abilities, still had solid potential. While not as overwhelmingly powerful as the top-ranked Lords, they could still be incredibly effective when placed in the right category or used as substitutes to support key battles.

However, there was one Lord with only a B-Rank ability, and Atlas knew the risk of sending her forces into battle was high. That Lord would likely be held in reserve, only deployed if the situation became truly desperate.

Thirteen Lords might have sounded like a decent number, but in practice, it was tight. Given the event’s format, Atlas would have no choice but to assign his top-ranked Lords to participate in two categories each, pushing their limits while hoping to secure decisive victories.

The risk was heavy. Back-to-back battles could wear them down, leaving them vulnerable for the next confrontation.

And then there was the uncertainty of their opponents. They had no clear picture yet of the rival alliances. Their compositions, elemental distributions, or the scale of their combined strength. Facing an enemy with multiple high-tier Lords could turn even the best-laid plans into chaos.

For several hours, Atlas continued to discuss and analyze every detail with his council. Maps and data projections filled the air as they evaluated positioning, synergy, and potential counter-strategies.

Throughout it all, the other Lords listened closely, offering their thoughts only when needed. This was Atlas’s meeting, and they trusted his leadership to guide the course.

In truth, Atlas realized he didn’t actually know every Lord in his alliance as well as he should. Out of the thirteen under his banner, he had only truly seen the abilities of a few with his own eyes. Namely the original three: Luna, Celestia, and Brigid.

Those three had fought beside him during the Dominion Skirmish, where he had personally witnessed their power and instincts in battle. Yet even that group had changed. Brigid was no longer an official Lord, having stepped down from her position since the last campaign.

As for the others, he only had fragments of understanding, data, written reports, and scattered testimonies from other Lords.

He knew of Tessa, whose ability Absolute Rule allowed her to command territory with unbreakable authority; Kate, who possessed a terrifying transformation ability that amplified her combat form beyond normal limits; and Gwen, who specialized in boosting plant growth and bio-mana constructs to fortify defenses and generate living weapons.

But beyond those names and descriptions, the rest were largely unknown to him. Data could never compare to seeing someone’s ability firsthand, especially when the Dominion Convergence demanded total unity and understanding among its Lords.

Atlas leaned back in his chair as the last of the meeting’s data projections faded. He knew he couldn’t afford to command blind.

He would have to spend time, real time, getting to know each of his Lords personally. Understanding their strengths, their weaknesses, and even how they thought during battle. Only then could he truly command them as one.

The Vanguard Dominion would need more than numbers and ranks to win. It would need trust.

"This arrangement will be temporary for now. We’ll re-evaluate everything after a week," Atlas said after reviewing the data and placement plan for each Lord, along with the reasoning behind every decision.

"This responsibility isn’t yours alone, Atlas," Luna reminded him gently. "We’ll discuss everything together and weigh every option as a team."

"I got it," he replied with a small nod. "Let’s start with the Defense category."

"We have Arveline with her King’s Rebirth (SS), the ultimate fortress core," Atlas said. "Her resurrection resets defeat itself; entire defenses can be reborn through her revival point. No fortress can truly fall as long as she stands. Beyond that, she also possesses remarkable potential not only in defense but in offense as well. With her leading our defensive line, we can at least expect to secure victory in this category."

"Next, Luna with her Celestial Vanguard Transformation (S). It grants an army-wide shield and adaptive resistance, turning any defensive line into radiant bulwarks. Her power adds the flexibility to shift from pure defense into decisive counterattacks."

"Next, Thryssia with her Law of Dominion (SS), a reality-based defense ability."

"For the fourth slot, Nysera with her Eclipse Dominion (SS). She manipulates darkness to suppress enemy energy flow and conceal allied movements. Perfect for attrition tactics."

"And lastly, Variel with her Soul Ward (A). Fallen allies return as ethereal guardians, maintaining morale and buying precious time during prolonged sieges."

Atlas scanned the list once more before adding, "For substitutes, we’ll assign Gwyndelle with her Mystic Crop Growth (A). She can rapidly generate living barriers and regenerative vines for reinforcement. And as a second substitute, Rhaen with her Aetherlift Dominion (A), providing aerial defense coverage. She can grant levitation to units, intercept airborne threats, or fortify floating platforms above the battlefield."

He looked around the room, satisfied. "That should give us a balanced defensive formation."

"Any thoughts on this?" Atlas asked, his gaze moving across the table. "Or do you think there’s someone else more suitable for the defense category. Not just based on system ability, but also on the strength and completeness of their current structures?"

Tessa was the first to respond. "I think since we already have a clear lineup for defense, we should focus on reinforcing them with additional resources. Allocating more materials and energy to strengthen their defensive structures could make all the difference. That way, we can ensure their endurance and overall survivability during prolonged battles."

"Agreed," Atlas said with a nod. "The Lords assigned to Attack and All-Out Confrontation won’t be using their defensive structures during this phase, so we can redirect those resources to fortify our main defensive front. Resource realocation will be crucial."

Luna added, "And we should remember. The same logic applies to our enemies. The ones focusing on attack will likely pour everything they have into amplifying their offensive power. That means we need to stay adaptable and ready for sudden shifts in their tactics."

Atlas smiled faintly at that. "Right. If they sharpen their blades, we’ll thicken our shields. But we’ll also make sure those shields can strike back when the time comes."

In truth, Atlas was confident in his own defensive capabilities. But he chose not to take a position in the defense lineup. He knew he would be far more effective if he focused on securing victories in the two other crucial categories, Attack and All-Out Confrontation.

His goal was to create a balanced formation. By placing three Lords with SS-ranked abilities in the defense lineup, Atlas aimed to secure at least three solid victories and lock in a guaranteed score advantage for that category.

Not that the remaining two could be underestimated either. Both Variel and Luna brought unique versatility that turned a conventional defense into a living, adaptive system.

With that setup, Atlas could move his attention toward the next phase, the Attack category.