[You have killed Lava Hound Lv. 50]
[You received 924 Exp]
[Exp: 106,492/113,424]
Atlas was still laying on the ground, stunned by the fact that it had taken him hours just to bring down a single monster.
If it hadn’t been for the grueling physical training he’d put himself through beforehand, these two hours would’ve felt like an eternity. Thankfully, he’d already "tortured" himself with similar drills, so the time hadn’t felt unbearably long.
The real problem was the monster itself. Its fire damage was no joke. Taking it down barehanded had been brutally difficult.
Pain still radiated through his body, the burns from the lava still raw and stinging. But he had reached a point where he could manage it. And honestly, it was insane. Just days ago, enduring something like this had felt impossible. Now, somehow, his body was beginning to adapt.
He opened his eyes and realized there was another notification lingering in his vision.
[You have unlocked a new Epic-grade Passive Skill: Inferno Fortitude]
[Adapts to withstand intense heat, granting natural resilience against searing temperatures. When near volcanic areas or sources of intense heat, endurance and stamina are significantly boosted.]
[Skill Effects:]
[Heat Resistance: Increases resistance to burning effects by 10%.]
[Volcanic Endurance: While in volcanic areas or near magma, stamina regeneration increases by 15%, and overall stamina capacity is boosted by 10%.]
[Lava Aura Adaptation: Movement speed is slightly more efficient in high-temperature areas, reducing stamina drain by 5% during physical exertion.]
Ah... he had actually unlocked a new skill from this brutal training. And what a torturous, ridiculous way to get one. But now that he saw the effects. This wasn’t just any reward. It was extraordinary.
And it was a passive skill, too. That meant it would activate on its own whenever the right conditions were met.
Looking closer at the details, Atlas couldn’t help but marvel. Resistance to burning effect. Boosted stamina. Even improved mobility in extreme temperatures. This was the kind of skill that could shift the balance in deadly terrain.
A low laugh escaped his lips.
Totally worth it, wasn’t it?
An Epic-grade passive skill... absolutely incredible.
Kurogasa, Edrik, and Lyrassa rushed to his side. Without hesitation, Lyrassa knelt beside him, her hands already glowing as she began channeling healing energy into the blistered skin of his hands.
"My Lord, you did it," she whispered.
Atlas nodded, still catching his breath. Slowly, he sat up, letting her continue the healing.
Then, without warning, Lyrassa leaned in and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly.
"I was scared... but so proud," she murmured, her voice muffled against his shoulder.
"Thanks, Lyrassa," Atlas laughed softly and returned the embrace.
Edrik sat beside him with a wide grin.
"You should’ve seen their faces. Everyone watching you go toe to toe with that beast, My Lord."
Atlas blinked, just now realizing that the rest of the troops had witnessed the entire battle. They stood in clusters, their eyes wide, their faces alight with admiration. Then, one voice cried out.
"You’re insane, My Lord! But in the coolest way possible!"
Another followed, "That was the hottest fight I’ve ever seen!"
"I was crying halfway through! I thought you were toast!"
"You punched lava, My Lord! Who does that?!"
"We love you, My Lord! Don’t do it again, please, my heart can’t take it again!"
[Your talent Reliable Aura has evolved to a new level: Commanding Presence, Rank-S.]
Wait. Another evolved talent? Already?
[Your aura now inspires those around you, significantly boosting morale and focus among your allies. The effect becomes especially powerful in high-stress situations, such as intense battles or critical decision-making.]
[Benefit: Increased team effectiveness, faster response times from allies, and a moderate boost to allies’ defensive abilities within close range.]
Another Rank-S talent? Seriously?
Commanding Presence...
It sounded like it was made for a leader. Boosting morale, sharpening focus, protecting those around him... yes, this was no ordinary support skill.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
**
After four intense days of brutal training, Atlas decided the next day would be a well-earned break for everyone.
The team needed time to physically recover, and he planned to spend the downtime focusing on strategy, tactical planning, resource management, and all the critical non-combat aspects of their mission.
And honestly, he was starting to get used to the so-called "deadly" training. It even felt strange now that his body didn’t ache.
And hell, that Unbreakable Routine talent was proving to be a pain in situations like this. The moment things slowed down, it kept nudging him like a whisper in his bones: Train more. Don’t stop.
But he couldn’t deny the results. He’d unlocked more in just a few days than he thought possible. He was hooked now, addicted to the grind. Two evolved talents in rapid succession, one of them Rank-S. And on top of that, an Epic-grade passive skill?
There was no way he would’ve gained this much power without pushing himself past the edge.
Fortunately, he had Kurogasa. Someone who knew exactly how far Atlas could be pushed. As long as his mind could endure it... Kurogasa would keep him just on the edge of breaking.
That night, Atlas sat down to review his Gacha pulls. Time to hope for another jackpot, something to lift his spirits and bring a little excitement to Gacha Haven.
He had already scored big earlier. Ten exclusive tickets on the Character banner had landed him Morganna, and then twenty more on the Weapon banner had secured her signature weapon.
His luck was Absolutely ridiculous!
And it hadn’t stopped there. On his 40th pull with standard tickets, he’d hit yet another Rank-S, Lyrassa.
Now, with a guaranteed Rank-S every 80 pulls, that meant he needed at most 20 more pulls to hit another one.
"Twenty more pulls, max."
"And that’s only if my luck doesn’t follow the insane streak I’ve had so far."
Honestly, he couldn’t wait to see what kind of Rank-S would come next. Every single one so far had added something amazing to his arsenal. And the thrill of it had him buzzing with anticipation.
"Tonight’s the night, Let’s see what fortune brings."
Atlas stood tall before his gathered subordinates.
"WOOOOOO!!!"
"Let’s goooo, My Lord!"
"Come on, Red Ticket, don’t fail us now!"
"This is it! Lucky pull! Lucky pull!"
"We believe in you, My Lord!"
"Red! Red! Red!"
"Please, I skipped dinner for this moment!"
Though they looked worn from days of intense training, their bodies bruised and their energy drained, the tension that had once weighed on them was gone.
The Aether team stood to one side, led by Zara, the youngest at just eighteen. Talented with the bow, sharp-minded, and fearless.
The Blaze team gathered nearby, their leader Kaida standing at the front. Fierce, spirited, and sharp-tongued, yet always keeping her squad in line.
The Cinder team stood with quiet strength, their leader Garen. A towering presence with a gentle edge. He was steady, reliable, and always the first to shield his people. Beneath his massive build lay a surprising kindness.
And then there was the Dusk team. Their leader, Ronan, had barely spoken more than a few words since joining. But in the past few days, he’d proven himself, sharp, and surprisingly effective in strategy.
Atlas raised his hand, holding ten standard tickets between his fingers.
"Surely, this time, a red ticket would appear."
Everyone leaned forward, anticipation thick in the air.
"Are you ready?" Atlas shouted.
"FIRE!!" the crowd roared in return.
With a confident motion, Atlas tossed the tickets into the air, eyes locked on them as they spun, caught the light, and began to shimmer.
The color started to shift.