Atlas returned to the campsite just as the sun dipped low on the horizon. The stillness in the air was broken by the relentless sound of water crashing against the rocky shore of the lake nearby.

It didn’t take long for him to notice that not everyone had made it back yet. Most of the group were still out in the field, likely finishing their training sessions or completing the final stages of their hunts.

For ten days, they had been fully focused on hunting, gathering as many resources as possible. Every bit of what they collected would be essential for crafting the weapons and armor their team would rely on in the coming battles.

Atlas joined Edrik at the lake side.

“About ninety percent of the combatants have hit level fifty,” Edrik reported. “The rest aren’t far behind. They’ll either catch up in the next few days or hit that milestone during the Dominion Skirmish. We can send the slower ones to hunt on safer islands with lower-risk targets.”

“That’s good to hear,” Atlas replied with a nod. “And what about their class advancements?”

“I’ve been keeping track,” Edrik said. “Not everyone’s completed their class quests yet, but I’ve been guiding them through it step by step. They’re making progress. It’s only a matter of time before they’re all ready.”

Atlas went quiet for a moment.

“If you’re comparing it to yours…” Edrik’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Relax. Their quests aren’t nearly as brutal as what you went through.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive,” Edrik smiled. “Your class is of a higher grade. That’s why your quest was so punishing. Theirs? Much simpler by comparison.”

“Good,” Atlas said with a faint smirk.

While waiting for the others to return, Atlas spotted something circling high above their campsite. His gaze narrowed, focusing on the figure in the sky.

It was the monster bird!

He recognized it instantly. It was the same bird monster that always appeared whenever Atlas trained in this area.

Without hesitation, he stepped away from the lakeside, searching for a patch of solid ground with rocky footing. Once he found it, he crouched low, muscles coiling in preparation. Then, with a powerful leap, he shot into the air.

And… surprisingly! This time, he soared higher and faster than ever before.

As he reached the peak of his jump, Atlas activated his Mana Glider Cloak. The cloak unfurled behind him, catching the wind and holding him steady for a brief moment as he floated in midair.

Just then, the monster bird dived toward him from one side.

Atlas grinned.

The bird slammed into him head-on, but he held himself, gripping the creature’s massive body with both arms. The impact sent him spinning uncontrollably through the air, tumbling in wild circles as he plummeted back toward the ground.

Yet, despite the brutal hit, his expression remained calm. His relentless training had hardened him to experiences like this.

Until—bam!

The monster bird looped back, ramming into him again from below. But this time, Atlas didn’t fall.

Instead, he landed squarely on the creature’s back.

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With a fierce grip, he grabbed hold of the bird’s thick feathers and tightened his grasp. The beast thrashed beneath him, but Atlas clung on like his life depended on it.

“Got you,” he muttered.

The bird soared through the sky, circling above as the sun dipped lower on the horizon.

“Hey! Want to come with me?” Atlas shouted, his voice cutting through the wind.

Could monsters understand human language?

Some people had the Beast Taming class, which allowed them to communicate with monsters more easily, even tame them and turn the creatures into loyal companions who fought by their side.

Atlas wondered if he could do the same — without needing the required class.

He’d already made a contract with Zefyros, his Spirit Beast. But Zefyros wasn’t a monster like this bird. He was different.

The distinction between Spirit Beasts and monsters was clear. Spirit Beasts were made of pure energy — even if their bodies were destroyed, they could reform over time. Monsters, on the other hand, were living creatures. They bled. They could be injured. They could die.

“Hey, you, come with me!”

The bird gave no verbal response, but when Atlas tapped its shoulder, it suddenly tilted its massive wings and dove toward the ground.

The wind howled in his ears as they descended rapidly. When they were close enough to the earth, Atlas leapt from the bird’s back without hesitation.

He hit the ground hard, his boots sinking into the dirt as the impact rippled through his legs.

Standing tall, Atlas glanced back at the bird, who continued to circle above the camp.

“Bird, come with me!” he yelled again.

“I’m building a bigger island. You’ll love it.”

The bird gave a loud screech, but still didn’t leave.

Kurogasa approached from the side and stood next to Atlas, his gaze following the same direction — up toward the monster bird that still circled above them.

“Looks like it’s thinking about it,” Kurogasa muttered.

Atlas turned to him. “You can understand them, Kurogasa?”

“Not exactly, My Lord,” Kurogasa replied with a faint shrug. “But I can tell… the bird is considering it.”

“Can they understand me?”

“Not in the way you mean,” Kurogasa explained. “They don’t understand human language. But they can understand your intentions.”

Atlas nodded slowly, processing the information. His gaze remained locked on the bird. “I want to bring it to my island.”

For a moment, both men stood in silence, watching the creature glide effortlessly through the sky. The light was fading fast now, but the bird didn’t come down. It continued to circle, keeping its distance.

“We can return to this place another time,” Kurogasa suggested. “The bird won’t disappear.”

Atlas remained quiet for a moment.

Then he spoke softly. “What if someone kills the bird while we’re away?”

Kurogasa didn’t answer immediately.

Monsters like this didn’t linger long in one place. And in a world filled with hunters, nothing was guaranteed to be there tomorrow.

Especially if Karian spotted a bird monster like this. He’d probably decapitate it with his greatsword without a second thought — and then roast the bird for his dinner alone.

Time passed, and the troops began returning to the camp. They staggered in from all directions, collapsing wherever they could find a spot, their bodies battered and worn from battle.

The hunting had taken a toll on everyone. It wasn’t just a matter of stamina; it had drained their energy and focus. Still, they had done well. Now, at least, they’d have some time to rest before the Dominion Skirmish began.

Kurogasa leaned in slightly to Atlas and murmured, “My Lord, we have a visitor.”

Atlas shifted his attention to where Kurogasa gestured.

Walking toward their camp, he saw familiar figures — the man who had previously offered him a place in their alliance. Two companions flanked him as they crossed the rough terrain.

Even after all these days, they hadn’t left the island. It seemed their offer to Atlas wasn’t something they planned to give up on so easily.

The question now was, had they come with a better offer? Or was this their final attempt to sway him before he cut ties with them for good?

Atlas exchanged a quick glance with Edrik and Kurogasa before stepping forward to meet the visitors.

The three men approaching weren’t ordinary combatants. They carried themselves with the unmistakable authority of Rank-2 Lords.

“Let’s see what they want this time,” he murmured as he approached.