Tower of Heaven

They were the leaders of Sky Garden and Euryale.

On the left was a massive man with a physique just slightly smaller than the red-headed man Atlas had only recently seen. However, this man had short, scruffy black hair and an equally shaggy beard.

Sitting next to him was a woman who paled in comparison to him when it came to size. She was only half his size at most, but the aura coming from her was much sharper and more concentrated. Obviously, her stature didn't make her weak.

His name was Donnovan Wetcher. Her name was Thalessa Grand. They were equally well-known names in the Tower.

If there was one thing the two people had in common, it was that they stared at Atlas together with equally cold and judgemental eyes.

"Hello. I've been awaiting your arrival."

Atlas entered the conversation naturally, sitting down on the sofa across from them.

"Since the two of you look like you'll kill me if I speak out of turn, I'll get directly to the point."

There was no need for him to fear them. After all, the person who stood behind him was an Immortal, and this was a Neutral Zone. Their natural auras pressed down on him, but at the end of the day, that was it.

When it came to aura, Atlas had sensed things much stronger. He'd already met and felt the power of two of the Nine Heavenly Kings, after all.

"As I said in my message, I was present there on the 20th Floor. Both of your groups were slaughtered during that trial. I'm sure you already investigated and concluded that the group from Dusk led by their genius, Akia, was the one behind it, correct?"

He looked between the two until the woman among them eventually nodded.

They did their investigations. Though it was impossible to surveil a Cumulative Trial Floor, it was simple to track down those who had exited the trial and find the truth through them.

Akia and his group didn't move silently. They killed anyone they came across, but they were specifically targeting the geniuses from Euryale and Sky Garden. There were a few young Ascenders who slipped through their grasp.

Those people were left with grudges against Dusk without the power to do anything about it. When investigators from the two Societies approached them, they happily spilled the truth.

What they didn't know was that the Societies they entrusted with their revenge couldn't move either.

"If my assumptions are correct, you were able to surmise that it was Dusk, but you can't attack them without proper evidence. I don't doubt that the two of your Societies are stronger than them if you combine your forces, however…"

Atlas sharpened his gaze.

"...Dusk is backed by Heaven's Gate, so unless you can have the moral high ground and the backing of the rest of the tower, you can't touch them."

It was exactly as he said. This was the most crucial piece of information he gathered while he was attacking the recruitment centers and dormitory.

Many of the new Ascenders who went to them became members of Dusk, but the truly talented geniuses that were scouted were sent directly to Heaven's Gate.

The scale of a Great Society was unfathomable compared to something like Sky Garden or Euryale. The threat of Heaven's Gate was an ethereal one, but if they truly viewed Dusk as their arms and legs in the lower floors and retaliated…

The only way to stop that situation was to have "evidence."

If "evidence" was publicized, just like how Atlas did with the Cosmic Dragons, Heaven's Gate would be unable to move. If they showed a direct connection with Dusk by retaliating when Dusk's crimes were clear, they would face real consequences.

'Even after obtaining evidence, the question they have to ask is if those consequences are worth more than the losses they're planning to cause.'

Atlas called them here to resolve both worries.

"As I hinted through my message, I came in contact with Selia near the end of her life, and she gave me something she wished for you to see. I believe it will give you what you've been lacking all this time."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The "proof" that Dusk was mercilessly slaughtering the geniuses of other large Societies. It was vital to them.

Glaring at him, Thalessa sneered.

"Enough. Just tell us already. What is it you want in return?"

Atlas grinned. It was an expression that carried through his eyes, so it was almost like the two Society Heads in front of him could see his slyness clearly.

"No, no. You're misunderstanding me. I actually want to provide even more help."

With the same smile on his face, Atlas took Selia's recording crystal and placed it on the table.

"If you take this, I only ask for one thing in return."

When there wasn't enough time to recruit people into the Society to build the Society Legend, the solution was actually quite obvious.

"Attack Dusk as you've been wanting to do for all these years. And, when you do it…"

Atlas pushed a metal emblem across the table. It was crafted in the symbol of a half-sun and half-moon that met through a ring of fire that connected them. It was the symbol of [Pangea].

If they were so worried about Heaven's Gate or taking responsibility for their actions, then they didn't have to.

They could do anything they wanted and blame it on him.

Looking at the masked man in front of them, Donnovan and Thalessa had confounded expressions on their faces. When their eyes turned to the recording crystal, they became more sure of themselves.

Regardless of his reasoning, it was true that Atlas was offering them a deal they couldn't refuse.

Looking back at him, their expressions were suddenly much warmer than they used to be.

Pulling out a Qi Contract, Atlas smiled widely.

'It looks like this will be another successful negotiation.'

***

'Perfect.'

In all honesty, though he didn't want to admit it, Atlas had completely forgotten about the grudge of the late Selia. After the 20th Floor, he was involved in too many things for him to remember such a small piece of his life.

However, when he got the idea to attack Dusk, she also came back into his mind. He did exactly as she wished and asked Mireiya to contact the leaders of the two influences. Though it was being done differently than she probably expected, her revenge would be carried out.

'Those two are bound by the Qi Contract. Though it is not as powerful as a Heavenly Oath, it is enough to count as a guarantee.'

Pangea's Society Legend would grow passively now. However, that didn't mean Atlas was done.

'I have to establish myself in the Tower. Along with building the Legend, the reason I have to personally attack is this.'

Atlas now needed to pursue something he'd never before cared for.

"Fame."

[Prince of Darkness looks at you curiously.]

[Heaven's Forge looks at you curiously.]

[Great Sage, Heaven's Equal looks at everyone else and asks why they're looking at you curiously.]

[Treacherous Phoenix looks at you curiously.]

The number of Gods following him had lessened significantly. He never acknowledged them, so it was natural that more impatient Gods would leave.

In order to lure in a Death God, Atlas had to become much closer to death. He had to become something like a symbol of it. That was the only way he could gain enough favor with a Death God to attain a recommendation.

'Then, I can only continue attacking Dusk until she contacts me.'

Atlas was awaiting a very specific message, and it would come to him soon enough.

Unlike him, that person had been a part of Tower Society for decades. She was able to get her hands on things much faster than he could even imagine.

The news he wanted to hear would come to him.

But before that, it was time for battle.