Chapter 232: Chapter 232 - The Vanguard Dominion
"First, I want to thank Luna, Brigid, and Celestia for the trust they placed in me during the last Dominion Skirmish, a trust that led us to victory," Atlas began firmly.
At that moment, Ember caught his eye and made a gesture. He glanced her way, she was grinning, thumb raised in approval. Atlas could not help but smile back before continuing.
"I have dreams that are vast, and goals that are bold. Perhaps reckless, even bordering on suicidal. But I will continue to improve myself, so that every action we take comes with as much certainty as I can provide. Risks must be taken; we live in a world where sitting still and wishing for change will grant us nothing. The future belongs only to those who strive for it, who work tirelessly until failure no longer has the chance to strike them down. Because failure and defeat are debts we cannot pay. Their ultimate price would be the last mistake we ever make."
He drew in a slow breath, steadying his thoughts before pressing on.
"That is why, today, I wish to declare my readiness to shoulder this responsibility. To lead this alliance forward, together with all of you. And..."
His gaze turned toward Luna.
"I appoint Luna as my second in command, to help me oversee matters, especially throughout this transition phase."
Luna rose to her feet as the entire chamber erupted into applause.
After a time, the hall settled into silence once more. Then a voice broke it.
"Now, Atlas... the alliance name," Ember said.
Atlas gave a small nod. He had been turning this over in his mind for some time, determined not to make the same mistake he had with his island’s name, which still felt a little too careless in hindsight. This time he wanted something neutral, meaningful, and representative of their shared vision.
"I have an idea," he said, "but I will leave it to you to decide if it is worthy. Or if you wish to suggest something better."
The others gestured their approval, inviting him to continue.
"I take the word Vanguard from Celestial Vanguard, the name of Luna’s floating island. Then I combine it with our vision. The leading realm, an alliance that stands at the frontlines of change, of strength, and of unity among lords." He paused, then smiled.
"The Vanguard Dominion."
"That is a good name, Atlas," Luna responded warmly.
Celestia grinned, leaning forward slightly. "I like it. It has a gentler sound, a step forward from our old alliance which was made up almost entirely of female lords. The Council of Queens is the past. The Vanguard Dominion... is the future."
The others voiced their agreement one by one. Atlas found it strange, almost too easy, that his proposal had been accepted so quickly. Yet he felt a quiet relief. At least the matter of their name was resolved without debate.
All at once, everyone rose to their feet, their voices rising together as they shouted the name of their new alliance—
"The Vanguard Dominion!"
Once the matter of the new alliance was settled, the next session shifted toward strategy. Specifically their immediate plans with the Lord Battle season only days away, and the pressing problem of Atlas and his army still being far from reaching level 100.
"So, Atlas, I would like to explain the point-sharing strategy that alliances often use during the Lord Battle season," Luna began.
Atlas had heard of this before, mostly from Edrik. But this was the first time he intended to examine the matter in full detail with Luna.
"The reason many lords form alliances," Luna continued, "is because this strategy allows us to bend the rules of the Lord Battle slightly. Especially in how points are distributed."
In every battle, whether offensive, defensive, or all-out, the ultimate purpose was to gain rank points. With those points, lords advanced from Division 1 to Division 5, then from there to the next rank.
Right now, Atlas sat in Division 5 with 240 rank points. Only ten more points stood between him and the first requirement to ascend to Rank-2.
"With an alliance," Luna explained further, "we can challenge one another in controlled battles. Once the fight begins, one side can simply surrender. No lives are lost, no real destruction occurs. Yes, resources such as gold or troops will be transferred to the victor, but since we are in the same alliance, those losses can easily be replenished afterward."
Atlas gave a slow nod, absorbing her words.
"In this way," she went on, "we can carefully control the timing of battles, or even avoid unnecessary real combat altogether. While still meeting the system’s minimum requirements."
She paused briefly, then added with a more serious tone, "That is why, if you wish to climb to Rank-2 while buying time to strengthen your army, we can apply this strategy. You would take controlled defeats, recover at your pace, and continue cycling this until every lord in the alliance is strong enough to face real battles against outsiders and earn rank points through true combat."
Luna continued her explanation.
"When the Lord Battle season begins, most lords within an alliance will find their floating islands positioned relatively close to one another. This is intentional, making it easier to issue challenges between allies and to coordinate dominance over nearby neutral islands for grinding and leveling."
She glanced at Atlas with steady eyes.
"That is why, to help you push your level, and your entire army. To reach level 100 quickly, we can mobilize the full strength of the alliance toward that goal."
Atlas nodded firmly, his voice carrying conviction. "I will greatly appreciate that support."
"You are our leader," Luna replied with quiet certainty. "And I truly believe you carry great potential. The faster you grow stronger, the more secure our future will be."
The others around the table murmured their agreement. With that settled, the discussion gradually shifted into more casual conversation. The lords spoke freely of their plans, most of them preparing to leave the Saharasia Continent entirely.
Together, Atlas and his newly forged alliance would be stepping into a new continent. And into the coming Lord Battle season as one united front. For all of them, it would be an entirely new experience.
They began scouting the surrounding sky for their next hunting ground, searching for a floating island that would serve as an ideal place to grind and strengthen their forces. The open seas offered far more breathing room than the crowded mainland, where lords clustered near coasts for convenience and trade.
At last, they chose their target: an island restricted to lords between Rank-1 and Rank-2. Safe from overwhelming threats, yet rich enough to fuel their next step forward.
Atlas would depart at once, joined by Edrik and Serenith, along with several chosen lords from the alliance whose system abilities would make the task far smoother.
The prospect of finally witnessing the abilities of these new allies firsthand left Atlas more eager than ever.
Without delay, Luna activated the teleportation portal. A surge of light engulfed them, and in the blink of an eye, their bodies were drawn forward, pulled into the vortex and carried swiftly toward their destined island.