Chapter 429 - Not Even Two Years
Atlas found himself falling freely through the air the moment his body was pulled out of the teleportation sensation. He was already quite used to this feeling by now.
He reacted at once, shooting forward by forming a magnetic earth platform beneath his feet. His body surged upward at high speed, passing over two cliffs before landing lightly on a hill. From there, he could see another hill standing at the edge of his vision.
He took a short breath and felt a wave of nostalgia crash into him again and again as he realized where he was.
If someone asked him about the place he remembered most clearly, even now, it would be this one.
Yes, this place. The place where he should have died, pushed off a wooden bridge that was no longer there, nowhere to be seen before his eyes.
"Well, at least I finally came back home," he muttered quietly.
Of course, there was no one waiting for him here. No one was looking for him in this Union.
He knew a few people, those who had trained with him in the barracks or hunted alongside him before. Still, most of them had only treated Atlas as a porter, someone who carried supplies during hunting expeditions, nothing more.
"Let’s visit the city," he said again after a moment.
Atlas then leapt lightly forward, his body soaring across the gap with effortless ease before landing on the other side.
It was something he clearly remembered from the past. He used to shiver just looking down from a height like this. That time did not even feel that long ago. Not even two years had passed.
Yet, Atlas had grown this strong.
If not for the gacha system, this kind of change would never have been possible. It should have been impossible.
He continued walking across slightly rocky ground, where dry, tall plants grew unevenly along the path. Ahead lay a downward slope that would lead him back through another forested area.
He could reach the city quickly if he wanted. Atlas was still able to summon his Nimbus Carriage. But, he deliberately chose to walk faster instead, taking the path on foot. It was a chance to pass through these areas once more, the same places he used to cross step by step in the past.
Time passed as he moved through the area, feeling something both familiar and new at the same time.
He remembered this place. He knew the types of trees, the soil beneath his feet, the shape of the land, even the sting of the sunlight and the dampness in the air.
Yet, Atlas experienced it all in a very different way.
He did not remember his senses being this sharp before. He could clearly hear the faint rustling of small animals hidden in the bushes. He could even catch the scent of moisture, forest leaves, and earth with a clarity he had never remembered being here.
There was also this. His footsteps were incredibly light. He could leap forward with strength, and in a short moment, he was already at the bottom of the hill.
Another thought crossed his mind. This might be the first time in a long while that Atlas was walking alone. Even without Edrik by his side, the man who was almost never far from him.
He knew he could easily return to Gacha Haven if he wished. There were three ways. He could use the teleportation recall from the Lord System itself, an Arcane grade item, or the emergency escape item he had once obtained from the gacha.
Nothing dangerous would happen to him, even without his guards. At least, Atlas himself was no longer that weak.
After some time passed, Atlas decided to pick up his pace. He moved faster, then broke into a run, darting swiftly between the trees. He cut through the forest with quick movements, sending branches and leaves scattering in his wake.
He struck the ground and pushed off with greater force, bursting through thick foliage before dropping into a fast free fall.
Moments later, Atlas landed on solid ground. He was already on the lower land.
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "The city is over there."
He rushed forward again, running and leaping with speed. After a short while, he finally slowed to a walk as he approached the city wall. It was not even taller than a two-story building. Even a level one hundred monster could easily destroy a wall like this.
City guards approached him, and Atlas simply showed his awakener ID.
"You look familiar," they said.
Atlas was dressed casually. He wore cloth pants, sturdy shoes that still looked like normal footwear from the outside, and a jacket hanging loosely over his shoulders.
"Yes, I am from this area," he replied.
"Go on in," they said.
Thankfully, he did not need to reveal his identity as the Floating Island Lord. That allowed him to enter without being bothered by anyone.
Still, Atlas knew this city was often used by other lords as well. It served as a stopping point, whether to recruit troops or to gain influence in the lower lands, something that was difficult to achieve up in the skies.
He stepped into the city area, where the streets looked dirtier and far more chaotic than he remembered. It was nothing like the city he had once seen in the middle of the desert.
Trash was scattered everywhere. Piles of scrap metal sat along the sides of the road, mixed with an unpleasant smell. Awakeners lingered casually in several spots, their bodies looking unfit and careless. If a monster attack came, they would be taken down with ease.
Not that Atlas had been strong back when he lived in this environment.
But he had never been lazy. He had never avoided effort. He had simply been unlucky enough to possess a useless talent.
He kept walking, caught between two thoughts. Part of him hoped no one would recognize him. Another part hoped he might run into someone he was looking for.
Then, all of a sudden, he stopped.
Someone was clearly following him. From behind.
Atlas turned around at once, just as the person behind him halted as well, looking just as startled.
"Atlas?!" the person exclaimed. "Is that you? You are still alive?"
The voice belonged to a woman.