CHAPTER 338: CHAPTER 338 - PAN-AFRICAN WINDS

While the first quest clearly required Atlas to defeat opponents much stronger than himself, referring mainly to level. The second one demanded that he destroy enemies in overwhelming numbers.

This class truly tested him to advance in both one-on-one combat and large-scale battles.

The problem was... could this quest be completed by killing monsters alone?

If he planned to target monsters in large quantities. Say twenty, maybe too few, fifty sounded decent, or even a hundred. The challenge grew harder. Even with all his AoE attacks, Atlas doubted he could wipe out that many in a single chain of combo skills.

At that moment, he had already gathered with Edrik, Kurogasa, and Dullorak to discuss the strategy.

Dullorak, with his wise Head, spoke first. "We could aim for a large horde of monsters, my lord. Fifty or even a hundred, if we can locate an island with a dense concentration. Even if they’re scattered, we can use the others to herd them into one area, close enough for you to strike from the air all at once."

He paused briefly when Kurogasa gave a respectful bow before replying. "I can handle that, my lord. And with help from Orren, Edrik, and the other fast-moving fighters, it will be easier."

Atlas nodded slowly, prompting Dullorak to continue.

"To make your damage more effective, we should target monsters with elemental weaknesses to your Water and Lightning, your most devastating AoE attacks. In this case, we could go after fire-type or earth-type monsters."

"Would it be possible to finish them all in a single combo if I rely only on my skills?" Atlas asked.

Edrik was the next to respond. "I think it’s possible, my lord, as long as you use stamina and mana recovery items. That way, you could cycle your skills up to three full rotations to make sure every monster is wiped out within a single combo."

Atlas nodded slowly. "What makes me hesitate is whether others are allowed to help me deal damage. Well, I suppose we’ll only know once we try it firsthand."

This was the first time Atlas had received a quest with such unclear objectives. Several questions could only be answered through direct experience. Could the targets be monsters, and would any outside interference affect the results?

Because, really... imagining Atlas taking on a massive horde of higher-level enemies alone was almost absurd.

It was clear that the quest’s difficulty had scaled drastically with his current progress and achievements. Still, that also meant the potential reward could be even more extraordinary if he succeeded.

But then again, his class name was Tempest Reaver. It seemed designed for a mass killer, didn’t it? What an irony.

Without wasting any time, Atlas spent the next few hours searching and scanning for unoccupied islands nearby that fit his criteria. Islands populated by monsters with Fire or Earth elements, with Fire being the priority.

The challenge, however, was finding a place not already occupied by other lords and their forces. And even if some were present, he needed to make sure they weren’t the kind who would cause trouble if he happened to descend on the same location.

Edrik later sent Kurogasa to scout the surrounding regions directly using the Nimbus Carriage, accompanied by several assassins, to locate a suitable island.

However, even after two full days, they still hadn’t found an ideal spot. Atlas was running out of time, the Dominion Convergence was already fast approaching.

On the fourth day, Edrik finally reported some progress. They had discovered an island quite far from Gacha Haven’s current position, slightly south of the Pangea Nova Continent, within the Pan-African League Union’s territory. The area was mostly desert, much like Saharasia, and several nearby islands looked promising for their target.

"How long will it take to get there, Edrik?" Atlas asked.

"With the Nimbus Carriage, we can reach it in about six to seven hours," Edrik replied.

Atlas nodded slowly. "Alright, let’s head out immediately."

Joining this expedition were Edrik and Kurogasa, as always, along with Dullorak, chosen for his versatility and wide range of abilities.

Krythalis came for aerial support, his power in the skies unmatched and highly adaptable. Atlas also brought Elyndra, the highest-leveled among them, a complete package of support, buffs, and damage dealing. Lastly, he included Everburn, another highly flexible fighter.

The Nimbus Carriage shot off from Gacha Haven, beginning what would be the longest journey Atlas had ever taken away from his stronghold.

As for the island’s affairs, things were already well managed. Construction and development were now in the hands of Brigid and Mira. Brigid’s discipline balanced out Mira’s wild creativity. Which was necessary, since among all the Elite Subordinates, Mira was the most enthusiastic when it came to building and upgrading the island. That was exactly why Atlas assigned Brigid to keep her in check.

Meanwhile, the production of the Soulbinding Armor continued under Baldric’s supervision. A temporary solution had also been found for the spider beast issue, though a more permanent fix was still needed.

With help from Luna and the other allied lords, nearby floating islands were being secured to allow their forces to level up together through mutual support.

And yes, with everything running smoothly, Atlas could finally afford to leave Gacha Haven safely. At least for a full day.

The Nimbus Carriage shot swiftly through the sky at full speed. The roar of the powerful wind slammed against the glass windows, filling the cabin with a constant rush of noise.

At first, Atlas wondered if the carriage could truly endure such a fast and long journey. He still didn’t have any way to repair it if something went wrong. The value of this fast-moving carriage was simply too great. He couldn’t help but wish he could decode its blueprint and assign his forces to mass-produce it someday.

Still, he reassured himself that the carriage had indeed been designed for long-distance, high-speed travel. As long as they weren’t ambushed midair, they should be fine.

Fortunately, their route took them mostly over solid land on the bottom. So even if something went wrong, they could make an emergency landing safely on the ground.

Throughout the journey, Atlas passed several floating islands, steering the carriage carefully to avoid getting too close to them. Most were unoccupied, though he occasionally spotted islands clearly owned by other lords.

Once, he even passed by an island so large it looked like an entire city. "Damn," he muttered under his breath. It was even bigger than Shattered Ember. Probably belonging to a rank-4 lord.

One thing that caught his attention was the terrain far below. He could see massive cracks in the earth, forming deep, wide ravines. Some areas teemed with groups of monsters, though unfortunately, their levels didn’t meet the requirements for his quest.

It was clear that the Pan-African League region was among the most resilient of all. The cities below were scattered far apart, each one surviving mostly on its own with minimal connection to the others in the lower lands.

Even so, it was quite surprising that the people down there could survive this long without advanced technology like the ones found in the Saharan Empire or the Middle Kingdom. Perhaps the influence of the lords in this region extended strongly to those living beneath them. Who knows.

What a boring trip. Atlas had to sit still the entire time, unable to do anything productive. He felt restless, itching for something to do as the hours dragged on. Finally, he decided to break the silence by asking about something that had long made him curious.

"Elyn," he said to the fae girl.

"Yes, my lord," she replied softly.

"I’ve been curious about the world you once told me about. A world with awakeners and various races living together. Yet no lords. How is that even possible? I thought every world had its own form of lord battles."

The fae girl smiled faintly, her expression thoughtful. "Where should I even begin..." she murmured, looking slightly unsure.

"Ah yes, maybe you can tell me about the differences between your world and this one. And I’m also curious about who brought you from that world to this one, and why," Atlas said. "That is, if you don’t mind sharing so much."

"No, my lord, I don’t mind telling you anything," the fae girl replied gently.

Then, after a brief pause, she began her story.