Tower of Heaven

Compared to the other beasts Atlas fought, the lion chimera contained far more death energy. Because of the rapid influx of foreign energy within his body, Atlas was forced to stop three times on his way to the cliff's end manor.

Other than that, he really didn't provide the six of them an opportunity to catch up. Even when he stopped, he never rested for more than an hour or two, as the most he was doing was cultivating for a small period to purify his internal body.

However, how was it that they managed to do that? Every time Atlas stopped to camp, they found him. Whether it was a three-hour break or a one-hour break, they always managed to find him somewhere near the end of it and hold him for several minutes before they parted again.

By the time he reached his third stop of the trip, he was already at the cliff. Seeing that they'd also arrived here, he was forced to sigh.

"This kind of dedication doesn't come from admiration or gratitude that isn't concerned with a life-saving debt, Jason. I think I need a better explanation from you."

Atlas glowered at the leader of their little group and demanded an explanation. He couldn't say that he disliked their group, but he disliked actions without logical reasoning behind them. If he couldn't understand why they wanted to follow him so earnestly, he could not accept their goodwill.

Jason grinned sheepishly.

"We figured we'd have to talk about this at some point. I mean, it definitely is what I originally said in part, but we're cultivators too. The main reason is just our greed."

As he was going to continue, Nadia was actually the one who stepped up.

The barrier master among them was the one Atlas was most interested in, so he was surprised when she made herself known.

"I recognized you."

She said something he didn't expect.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I saw you on the Tower Forums. I thought it was just a coincidence at first, but then you pulled out those weapons…"

'Right. Chain sickles are quite conspicuous, aren't they?'

Atlas immediately understood her. He had been featured on the Tower Forums a few times since the Blood Moon Phenomenon, but most people only knew him from that event.

In other words…

"So are you all demihumans, or are you beast people?"

Atlas' abrupt question left them surprised. He really had reached the crux of the issue too fast.

Nadia sighed and responded frankly.

"These five are beast people. I…am neither."

She raised her hand and showed him the ring on her finger.

"A concealment artifact?"

"Yes."

Its only purpose was to conceal her beast features from anyone who possibly looked at her and make her seem as human as possible.

But why was something like that necessary? Beasts and beast people were not seen as lesser in the modern world.

The artifact she used was good enough that the Eyes of One could not see through it. When he activated [Intrinsic Foresight], however, and looked at her, he could see her less human features.

"So, there is some story behind your group, clearly, but that has nothing to do with me. The reason you wanted to follow me…"

"Yes. It is as you think. I remembered your connection with Divine Sanctuary and hoped we could reach them through you."

However, Atlas' attitude of ditching them at every possible opportunity and replying to them succinctly while doubting their every action did not help her case, so she decided it was better for them to come clean and speak frankly.

Atlas shrugged. It wasn't like he minded what they were doing. Even if they wanted to use him for their personal gain, they weren't trying to force or coerce him into anything.

They only wanted to impress him so that when they asked for a recommendation, he would respond positively.

It was a shame that they were mistaken.

"Unfortunately for you, while I do have a good connection with Divine Sanctuary, it isn't enough to have people accepted into their Society on my behalf."

Even the fact that he was connected to Divine Sanctuary was something of a lie. After all, his connection was the Tatsuya Clan alone. The other three Divine Beast Clans and the forces they ruled were completely foreign to him.

"In the first place, I'm not even a part of Divine Sanctuary."

"You're not?"

"I'm a human, you know."

"You are?"

Nadia was naturally surprised by the information. She thought he was just like her, a beast who had to hide his bestial features due to his own circumstances. She thought he was a part of Divine Sanctuary, which gave her hope that someone like her with a similar circumstance could also seek asylum.

Atlas nodded his head with a wry smile.

"Yes. Not only am I a human, but I am a part of a Society that I created, and I am its only member. If your goal is to gain a connection to a Great Society, then I am not the one to ask."

For a moment, the entire group's expressions fell. Though Jason was the one who led them when they were on adventures, Nadia was the one everyone in the group followed. They could be called her "knights" in a certain sense.

Her plan had always been to reach Divine Sanctuary to seek…well, sanctuary. Even coming to this realm was a way to improve their strength so that they could all be accepted by the Great Society.

They thought Atlas was a lead that would get them there, but finding out that he was not almost broke them. Would they ever find someone related to the Great Society? Would they ever be able to reach safety?

As they pondered these thoughts, Jason spoke up.

"T-then, you're still close to the people of Divine Sanctuary, right?"

"You could say that, but you could also say otherwise."

"What if we just keep following you, then?"

"Sorry?"

Atlas tilted his head at the question.

"If you're someone that Divine Sanctuary values even though you're human, then you have to be some kind of big shot, right? As long as we follow you, we can meet bigger people and see bigger things, right?"

"..."

Atlas didn't respond. He looked into Jason's eyes even as the man was being pestered by the people around him to shut his mouth.

"It should be possible."

He didn't lie. If these six wanted to stay around him, then it really was very likely that they'd encounter strong people that they'd never even dreamed of seeing before.

"However, following me is not an easy thing."

Jason pushed away the ones trying to stop him and looked at Nadia, asking her to trust him. His resolute gaze could only be responded to with a sigh. She was supposed to be in a higher position, but she found herself unable to stop him when he was determined to do something.

In the end, Jason was allowed to say what he wanted to say.

"You said you have your own Society. You also said you're the only member. Still, I only have one question."

He looked directly into the grey eyes beyond the mask.

"If we join your Society, can you protect us from the threats we're facing?"

"I don't know the threats you're facing…"

Clearly, that wasn't the response they wanted.

"...but if you truly give me your loyalty, and I mean truly give it to me, then I will guarantee it. Promise to follow me until the end of your life and even as a soul in the afterlife, and I will make it so the world will bow to your demands."

That was the kind of answer they were looking for.

Atlas spoke it in a half-sarcastic tone that they could all sense, but Jason was the only person looking into his eyes.

He knew that even though Atlas said it like it was a joke, he meant it entirely.

'Where does he get that kind of confidence?'

He couldn't tell. Even the most talented genius couldn't be arrogant enough to claim that they could handle any threat that could possibly come at them.

Atlas had that confidence. Was he backed by Divine Sanctuary more than he wanted to admit, or was there something else hidden that guaranteed him success?

Whatever the case, there was one thing Jason was certain about.

'That man can do what he promised.'

It was not an empty promise in the slightest.

And that made him start considering something preposterous.