Atlas and his elite subordinates studied the situation before them with focus, revisiting each crucial decision with care.
The opportunity they faced, a Floating Island boasting a dynamic environment was a discovery of exceptional rarity. Its very existence would soon draw intense interest from every faction aware of it.
The island had been designated a Tier-2 territory, which meant their adversaries would range between levels 50 and 100. That placed Atlas and his team at a distinct disadvantage in raw strength. Still, could they truly walk away from a prize so valuable?
Breaking the heavy silence, Baldric the blacksmith spoke up. "My Lord, even if claiming the island is beyond our reach, there’s still a way to compete. I say we enter the battle phase and use the time to gather the rare materials we need for the Soul Binding Armor. This could be the chance we’ve been waiting for."
Atlas gave a slow nod, considering Baldric’s suggestion with care.
Edrik chimed in. "We could adopt a specialized strategy. Deploy scouts and spies to locate our targets, then send more people to hunt or harvest the resources we need."
"So, are you saying we shouldn’t engage in direct combat with the Rank-2 lords?"
Atlas wasn’t underestimating the strength of their potential opponents, but he wanted to assess whether the risk was truly so great that it completely ruled out their chances of competing for control of the island.
Edrik bowed his head slightly in deference. "I can offer strategies if you decide to force a confrontation at this rank."
"What are our chances if we go for it?"
Edrik bowed again and replied, "We have ways to increase our odds, with careful planning and tactical execution. Ultimately, though, it’s your call, My Lord. In my experience, fighting opponents one rank above is manageable if the troops are well-prepared, especially with an advantage to set us apart from others in our own rank."
Atlas nodded firmly, his expression resolute as he began to speak.
"Alright, based on the reasons you’ve all presented, including this island in our options seems like a promising decision. The worst-case scenario is that we retreat immediately if the opponents are beyond our reach," he said, glancing at each member of the group.
He continued, "We still have the other two islands as backup targets to fight for. However, if there’s even a decent chance for us to contend for the Rank-2 island, I believe it’s worth exploring further."
None of the elite subordinates in the room showed even the slightest sign of doubt toward the decision. That was hardly surprising, given what they had already endured together. They had faced far graver situations in the past.
Atlas stepped forward, ready to lay out the three islands they would consider.
"The first option," he began, "is the Rank-2 Floating Island known as the Shattered Ember Isles. This is a high-risk, high-reward choice. Not only does it offer us the chance to gather rare materials for the Soul Binding Armor, but if we manage to seize control of the island, its long-term value would be extraordinary."
He paused briefly, then moved on to the next.
"The second option is the Emerald Glade. It presents a moderate level of risk with proportional rewards. However, we have a strategic edge here. Mira and Lyrassa’s familiarity with forested terrain. Their skills could turn the tide in our favor."
"For our final selection, we should consider a moderate-to-high-risk target with substantial reward potential. There are two candidates: the Crimson Pyre and the Azure Dunes. Both offer considerable advantages, but each comes with unique challenges. We’ll need to decide which one better suits our strengths and current resources."
Edrik responded, "Both are nearly equal in difficulty. However, the Crimson Pyre promises superior resource yields. On the other hand, if the goal is to give Zefyros more opportunities to shine in aquatic environments, then the Azure Dunes would be the smarter pick."
Atlas nodded thoughtfully. "Helping Zefyros develop further could be a long-term asset for us."
"I agree," Edrik said with conviction.
At last, the decisions were made. The three floating islands were finalized, and Atlas quickly registered their choices with the system.
However, the preparations for the Dominion Skirmish were far from complete. Choosing the islands was only the first step. The team still needed to thoroughly discuss the rules of engagement within the skirmish.
With that, they moved to the next topic, and Edrik began explaining the details.
"The crucial point in a Dominion Skirmish," Edrik started, "is that the faction which accumulates the most Dominion Points by the end of the season earns the right to control the targeted island."
Atlas noted this down, nodding.
Edrik continued, "You can earn Dominion Points by killing monsters and collecting materials. However, the most efficient method is to take control of the Key Zones."
He paused for a moment before elaborating further. "Typically, there are three types of Key Zones: the Central Fortress, the Outer Forts, and Supply Depots."
[Central Fortress: The primary objective on each island, offering the highest Dominion Points (DP) but demanding significant commitment and resources to maintain control.]
[Outer Forts: Secondary objectives that yield consistent DP while granting strategic benefits such as buffs or improved access to vital resources.]
[Supply Depots: Optional zones that do not generate DP but provide essential resources, such as stamina recovery and defensive enhancements, crucial for sustaining troops during prolonged battles.]
Atlas nodded again, processing the information. "So, if we decide not to compete directly for control of the island, our strategy would focus solely on monster hunting and resource gathering, ignoring the Key Zones entirely?"
"Correct," Edrik confirmed.
He went on, "DP are awarded hourly for maintaining control of these zones. The Central Fortress yields the highest Dominion Points per hour, which is why the lords vying for the islands often concentrate their battles around these strategic areas."
"I understand," Atlas replied.
They delved deeper into the strategy, covering every critical detail of the battle.
Discussions began with resource management during the skirmish, transitioning to the ideas of forming alliances, and the most effective ways to navigate each phase of the Dominion Skirmish.
Atlas meticulously took notes, absorbing the extensive knowledge shared by Edrik and the others. He fully grasped the depth of their insights and the sheer amount of time and effort they had invested to gain such wisdom.
It was easy to imagine how a new lord entering a battle of this scale, armed with little more than basic information and no alliances, would struggle to make sense of everything. For Atlas, however, the situation was entirely different. He had the advantage of an exceptional team of elite subordinates.
Despite their collective experiences, none of his subordinates confidently claimed that the battle would be easier due to their experience. Atlas viewed this as a reflection of their humility and respect for him as their leader.
Even Kurogasa, Lyrassa, Milo, and Morganna offered only minimal input during the discussion. The exception was Kurogasa, who occasionally provided insights when Edrik specifically sought his perspective.
Perhaps the challenges presented by Rank-1 or even Rank-2 Dominion Skirmishes weren’t yet demanding enough to warrant detailed contributions from everyone.
Still, he recognized one undeniable truth: no amount of knowledge would matter without thorough preparation and raw power to back it up. Without those, all their carefully crafted strategies and hard-earned wisdom would ultimately be wasted.
Their goal was clear: push everyone to grow stronger as quickly as possible and maximize their use of resources through the knowledge they had painstakingly acquired.
This was not just a battle, it was a calculated leap toward their ultimate objectives.