Chapter 264: Chapter 264 - Daddy vs. the Desert
The Nimbus Carriage entered the floating island, where the moment they crossed inside, the air turned scorching hot. Dunes stretched far and wide, and jagged cliffs rose sharply across the surface. The carriage rolled closer to one of those towering ridges, where two figures were already waiting, waving their hands.
The carriage came to a halt, and Atlas stepped out first. Kate, the lively cat girl, waved enthusiastically.
"Atlas... hi... I missed Vienne!" she said with a giggle.
Atlas walked over, spotting Tessa standing nearby as well. Both of them had come to support him with his final training on this island. The task was meant to ensure there would be no threats from lords stronger than they were. Tessa, with her unmatched agility, would also help keep the area secure.
From the carriage, Morganna, Kurogasa, and Dullorak jumped down one after another. Vienne, the little baby, rested snugly against Atlas’s chest in a secure wrap.
"Oh, Vienne, what a cute baby...," Kate cooed, and the little girl laughed happily as the cat girl teased her.
Atlas glanced back at Kurogasa and the others, confirming the rules for this hunt.
"My lord, the monsters here mostly carry earth elements," Kurogasa explained. "You are only permitted to use skills of the earth element, and no weapons other than your own hands and feet. Do not strike the smaller monsters with physical attacks. Your task is to kill only the larger one."
Atlas smiled and nodded. Morganna had even prepared spare milk for Vienne. The rule was clear: Atlas had to hunt the monsters while carrying his daughter. A reckless challenge indeed, and perhaps even crazier that Morganna allowed her tiny child to be carried into such danger.
But in truth, every one of them was here for one reason only: to protect Vienne above all else.
Atlas looked down at his little girl, who by now could hold her head up proudly. She chirped happily, "Ba ba ba ba!"
"Let’s go on a date with Daddy, what do you think, Vienne?"
"Ba ba baba!"
Atlas braced himself, one hand steadying the back of Vienne’s head to shield her from the jolts, as he prepared to descend from the jagged ridge.
He drew a deep breath and steadied his stance. He wore only his regular outfit, no armor at all, and not even shoes. The reason was simple: staying barefoot allowed him to connect more easily with the earth, and activating his skill this way would also boost the chances of improving his affinity with the Earth element.
This was not a new kind of training for him; he had faced far more brutal trials before. But... this time, he had Vienne with him.
Poor little one, my daughter, to have a mother like Morganna. At least you are not a fragile human baby. Thank the stars.
With a swift leap, Atlas hurled himself downward, the wind rushing past his body. He kept one hand steady on the back of Vienne’s head, carefully balancing his movements. His feet struck against the rocky wall, and with that momentum, he pushed off again, leaping lower and lower. Each impact against the stone, he made sure his baby remained safe.
Yes. She was no fragile human baby.
Atlas descended in a series of sharp, powerful jumps, every strike of his legs against the jagged cliff launching him further down. Finally, with one last leap, he landed hard on the sandy desert floor below.
The dunes stretched before them, just like the ones they had crossed when leaving Saharasia. This land was home to both massive beasts and smaller ones. The rules were clear: he had to outrun and evade the smaller monsters, while hunting down and defeating the larger ones.
He would do it, and quickly. This challenge mattered, because if Atlas could raise his Earth Element Affinity, the chances of gaining better class options would rise greatly.
dAnd yet... the hope of unlocking Light Element Affinity still remained out of reach for now.
For the next class advancement, Atlas would pursue it with everything he had. The evolution into High Human was his true goal.
All right... Atlas scanned the area around him, the heat pressing down relentlessly. He glanced at his baby, who was laughing with excitement, showing no signs of discomfort from the scorching air.
[Rare - Earthen Pulse (Active) Lv. 5 activated!]
Atlas triggered the skill, extending his senses to detect where the monsters might be lurking. Most likely, these creatures either stayed perfectly still, waiting for prey to come close, or hid beneath the thick layers of sand.
Either way... for now, it was time to explore the area.
Atlas broke into a run, his steps sinking slightly into the sand with every stride. The heat was no issue for him at all. To him, it felt no different from running across a cold floor. He had long since grown numb to searing temperatures.
From time to time, he activated Earthen Pulse to sense any movements from monsters in the distance. And every so often, he glanced at Vienne, teasing her with lighthearted play.
"My baby, my beautiful baby... you’re so beautiful... I love you so much," Atlas murmured, pressing his face against hers and rocking her gently. The little girl responded with laughter, cheerful babbling, and even a playful squeal.
"You don’t seem bothered at all by this blazing sunlight, do you? Truly, Dhampirs have far greater advantages than Vampires. You’re so special, my beautiful baby."
Suddenly, Atlas came to a halt. A ripple of movement surged all around him.
[Rare - Earthen Pulse (Active) Lv. 5 activated!]
From the right, the left, from behind, even from above. He braced himself, sharpening his focus. The monsters had yet to reveal themselves, but he could feel them stirring beneath the sands.
The creatures in this area were all above level 100. Facing even one of them would be a true challenge, especially since Atlas could not rely on any skill except Earthen Pulse!
Atlas held Vienne tightly with his left arm, making sure that no matter how fast he had to dodge or strike, his baby would remain protected.
He activated the skill again. This time, the monsters no longer appeared on his senses. They were masters of hiding beneath the desert sands.
Then, suddenly! A massive tremor erupted from behind. At the same moment, a shadow stretched across the ground in front of him. Atlas glanced back, and there it was: a colossal centipede, its body the color of the dunes, lunging straight at him.
Lightning Step! No!
Atlas clenched his teeth hard and shot forward, narrowly avoiding the creature’s strike. But his instincts screamed again. The sand beneath his feet split apart as something else lunged upward, aiming for his legs.
The wrap across his chest made it harder; every movement had to keep Vienne stable against him. With a sharp motion, Atlas vaulted backward, dodging the sudden attack. His feet slammed into the sand, but more monsters burst out in every direction. They surged toward him, crawling with terrifying speed.
"Vienne, I won’t let anything harm you!"
Atlas ground his foot into the sand, braced his entire body, and then blasted forward through a gap at his back.
He had to escape the swarm of these monsters at all costs!