Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord

"I'll accept all of Atlas's terms, if he can defeat me in a one-on-one fight."

"Brigid?" Luna's voice was quieter now, almost questioning.

"I know you think this isn't fair," Brigid stated calmly. "But if he's going to take the highest seat in this alliance, then he should at least be able to defend himself. If he can't even protect himself, how can he lead us to victory?"

"Brigid," Celestia frowned slightly. "You know that a leader doesn't have to be the strongest, right? Even if we were talking pure combat, Luna wouldn't be able to beat you either. Besides, Atlas's level is far lower than yours."

Fear, courage, and stupidity. In this situation, the line between them was far too thin.

A challenge like this was something Atlas could never refuse. Yet from any logical standpoint, a one-on-one fight against Brigid put him at a clear disadvantage.

Even when he had defeated Kaelzar, Kaelzar had already been gravely injured. Atlas had the temporary boost from Morganna, the bird monster's intervention, and even support from his spirit beast. Without those factors, the outcome could have been very different.

Accepting this duel would be nothing short of suicidal.

Raw power alone wasn't something that could always be countered by strategy.

And in this case, with both fighters at full strength, Atlas had a 0% chance of winning.

Brigid was a melee fighter, specialized in physical damage and heavy defense. She wasn't someone Atlas could defeat. Not yet, not while he was still lagging behind in level and skills.

From beside him, Edrik spoke in a low voice.

"We can propose to send Morganna to handle this fight, my lord."

At those words, Brigid smirked.

"If you lack confidence, you are welcome to send anyone from your side in your place," she said smoothly. "But what I truly want to see…"

"...is how strong you really are, after making such a bold proposal to us."

Atlas gave a small, measured smile before responding calmly.

"I respect you as a fighter. Because I, too, am a fighter who has worked relentlessly to reach my current state. But, in a normal one-on-one battle, it would be an unwise decision for me to take, whether in a challenge like this or on the battlefield. I would never face my opponent relying only on confidence and self-belief."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"That said, I am willing to accept this challenge, but under certain conditions."

Brigid gave a faint, neutral smile at his words.

"I will limit my stats and fight without active skills," she stated. "We will fight purely through technique. Does that sound fair to you?"

Atlas smirked slightly.

This girl… she wasn't trying to humiliate him by forcing him into an unreasonable duel.

This was a warrior's pride.

She was testing his resolve, but in a way that ensured a fair fight.

"I couldn't ask for a fairer deal than this," Atlas replied. "And I will gladly and proudly accept your challenge."

The tension inside the tent momentarily eased, though doubt still lingered on Luna's and the others' faces.

As they all stood up, preparing to head outside for the battle, Luna let out a deep sigh, finally voicing her thoughts.

"You seriously have an overdose of confidence, Atlas," she muttered.

Celestia giggled, adding, "Poor you, Atlas. You should've at least watched her fight first. Brigid isn't the type to show mercy to her opponents. Sometimes, she really overdoes it."

Ember smirked, throwing in her own remark.

"Simply put, Atlas, Brigid has never lost a one-on-one duel. You're done for tonight. Might as well pack your bags and head back to Gacha Haven after this. Haha."

**

Atlas and Brigid stood facing each other, not too far apart, in an open clearing near the frozen forest. The trees loomed in their side, their branches coated in ice, while a biting chill hung in the air.

Meanwhile, Luna and the others stood nearby, bundled in thick clothing to protect themselves from the freezing night.

It was late, and the moon was only three-quarters full, casting a dim glow over the area. Even so, the reddish aura radiating from Brigid's body made her presence unmistakable, her silhouette clearly visible even in the darkness.

Brigid reached into her inventory and pulled out something massive, a greatsword.

Its handle was deep black, and the center of the blade bore intricate engravings. The edges gleamed with sharpness on both sides. She rested the enormous weapon on her right shoulder, her stance firm and unshaken.

"I watched your fight against Kaelzar," the warrior lord said.

From this position, Atlas could already see it, the sheer solidity of her stance, the strength behind her presence. Despite not being exceptionally tall, Brigid felt immovable, unwavering.

"And it was an interesting fight," she continued without pause. "Though, you won because of the advantages you used and the disadvantages that weighed down on Kaelzar."

Her voice was steady. "But I won't make it that easy for you."

Atlas simply gave a small smile and remained silent.

Then, he summoned his Legendary-grade Wavebreaker Spear.

The moment it materialized in his hands, blue water energy and golden lightning surged from the weapon, coursing through his entire body and enveloping him completely.

Now, in the darkness, both warriors stood bathed in two distinct auras. One of deep crimson fire, the other a storm of blue and gold.

"Zefyros, step back for a moment."

A surge of water burst forth around Atlas as his spear pulsed with energy. From within it, a beast took form, roaring into the cold night air.

Then, with a swift motion, the creature leaped down onto the frozen ground and sprinted away, its glowing form illuminating the darkness as it dashed toward where Edrik was.

Atlas had honored the conditions of the battle. This would be a true duel, with no outside interference. That included his Spirit Beast. However, they were still allowed to use any tools available in their respective inventories.

Still, just looking at weapon quality alone, there was already a significant gap. Atlas wielded a Legendary-grade spear, a weapon whose mere existence carried immense value. That alone was enough to tip the scales.

Brigid watched him carefully before speaking.

"How many stat points should I adjust my power to?" she asked. "600? 700? 800?"

She had mentioned earlier that she would match her stats to his. But how?

Was it tied to an ability of hers, one that allowed her to limit the overall power she could use in battle?

Atlas, at level 53, had a total stat pool of 784.

That was a massive number.

Even a typical level 60 player wouldn't be able to outmatch him in raw stats.

Still, he had no intention of revealing his full stat details. So, he simply replied, "Somewhere between 700 and 800."

Brigid gave a small nod.

Then, something shifted. The aura surrounding her changed. Just slightly, but noticeably.

"If you're wondering, I can adjust my stat allocation. That's the system I got for myself," Brigid explained, answering the very question running through Atlas's mind.

"You're comfortable sharing that information?" he asked.

"It doesn't really affect me."

Atlas gave a small nod.

Now, both of them stood ready. Fully prepared to face each other in battle.