As and his elite subordinates focused intently as they revisited the critical choices before them. The opportunity they faced—a Floating Ind with a dynamic environment—was an extraordinarily rare discovery. Its existence would inevitably attract fiercepetition from all who knew about it, each determined to im it for themselves.


    This ind was ranked as a Tier-2 territory, meaning their opponents would range from level 50 to 100. That put As and his team at a clear disadvantage in terms of sheer power. Yet, could they truly afford to pass up such a golden opportunity?


    Baldric, the cksmith, broke the silence. "As, even if we can''t im the ind itself, we could stillpete within it. My suggestion is to use the battle phase to hunt for materials we need to craft the Soul Binding Armor. I believe it''s a chance worth taking."


    As nodded, weighing Baldric''s proposal. Dominion Skirmishes were prolonged battles, stretching up to two months. Even if they concentrated solely on gathering materials, the effort would still prove highly worthwhile.


    Edrik chimed in. "We could adopt a specialized strategy. Deploy scouts and spies to locate our targets, then send more people to hunt or harvest the resources we need."


    "So, are you saying we shouldn''t engage in directbat with the Rank-2 lords?"@@novelbin@@


    As wasn''t underestimating the strength of their potential opponents, but he wanted to assess whether the risk was truly so great that itpletely ruled out their chances ofpeting for control of the ind.


    Edrik bowed his head slightly in deference. "I can offer strategies if you decide to force a confrontation at this rank."


    "What are our chances if we go for it?"


    Edrik bowed again and replied, "We have ways to increase our odds, with careful nning and tactical execution. Ultimately, though, it''s your call, As. In my experience, fighting opponents one rank above is manageable if the troops are well-prepared, especially with an advantage to set us apart from others in our own rank."


    As nodded firmly, his expression resolute as he began to speak.


    "Alright, based on the reasons you''ve all presented, including this ind in our options seems like a promising decision. The worst-case scenario is that we retreat immediately if the opponents are beyond our reach," he said, ncing at each member of the group.


    He continued, "We still have the other two inds as backup targets to fight for. However, if there''s even a decent chance for us to contend for the Rank-2 ind, I believe it''s worth exploring further."


    Edrik nodded in agreement and replied, "I''ll summarize everything again and refine the n to make it more robust."


    "I trust all of you," As said.


    Edrik thenid out the final three rmendations for their approach to the Dominion Skirmish.


    "The first option," he began, "is the Rank-2 Floating Ind, the Shattered Ember Isles. This is a high-risk, high-reward choice. Not only does it provide us the opportunity to gather materials necessary for crafting the Soul Binding Armor, but if we manage to take control of the ind, its value will be immense."


    He paused briefly before moving to the next option. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire


    "The second option is the Emerald de. This choice carries moderate risk and offers moderate rewards. However, we have a distinct advantage here due to Mira and Lyrassa''s expertise in forested environments. Their strengths could tip the scales in our favor."


    Finally, Edrik addressed the third option.


    "For thest choice, we need to consider a moderate-to-high-risk option with high potential rewards. We have two options here: the Crimson Pyre and the Azure Dunes. Both offer significant benefits, but they alsoe with their own challenges. We''ll need to decide which aligns better with our strengths and resources."


    As responded. "What are the key considerations, Edrik?"


    Edrik replied, "Both options are nearly identical in terms of difficulty. However, the Crimson Pyre offers better resources overall. On the other hand, if you aim to give Zefyros more opportunities to excel in aquatic terrains, then the Azure Dunes would be the better choice."


    As nodded slowly, weighing the options carefully. "I think giving Zefyros the chance to grow further would be a significant benefit for us in the long run."


    "I agree with that," Edrik affirmed.


    Atst, the decisions were made. The three floating inds were finalized, and As quickly registered their choices with the system. Now, all that remained was to wait for the appointed time tomence the Dominion Skirmish!


    However, the preparations for the Dominion Skirmish were far fromplete. Choosing the inds was only the first step. The team still needed to thoroughly discuss the rules of engagement within the skirmish.


    With that, they moved to the next topic, and Edrik began exining the details.


    "The crucial point in a Dominion Skirmish," Edrik started, "is that the faction which umtes the most Dominion Points by the end of the season earns the right to control the targeted ind."


    As noted this down, nodding. "Dominion Points, got it."


    Edrik continued, "You can earn Dominion Points by killing monsters and collecting materials. However, the most efficient method is to take control of the Key Zones."


    He paused for a moment before borating further. "Typically, there are three types of Key Zones: the Central Fortress, the Outer Forts, and Supply Depots."


    [Central Fortress: The primary objective on each ind, offering the highest Dominion Points (DP) but demanding significantmitment and resources to maintain control.]


    [Outer Forts: Secondary objectives that yield consistent DP while granting strategic benefits such as buffs or improved ess to vital resources.]


    [Supply Depots: Optional zones that do not generate DP but provide essential resources, such as stamina recovery and defensive enhancements, crucial for sustaining troops during prolonged battles.]


    As nodded again, processing the information. "So, if we decide not topete directly for control of the ind, our strategy would focus solely on monster hunting and resource gathering, ignoring the Key Zones entirely?"


    "Correct," Edrik confirmed.


    He went on, "DP are awarded hourly for maintaining control of these zones. The Central Fortress yields the highest Dominion Points per hour, which is why the lords vying for the inds often concentrate their battles around these strategic areas."


    "I understand," As replied.


    They delved deeper into the strategy, covering every critical detail of the battle.


    Discussions began with resource management during the skirmish, transitioning to the ideas of forming alliances, and the most effective ways to navigate each phase of the Dominion Skirmish.


    As meticulously took notes, absorbing the extensive knowledge shared by Edrik and the others. He fully grasped the depth of their insights and the sheer amount of time and effort they had invested to gain such wisdom.


    It was easy to imagine how a new lord entering a battle of this scale, armed with little more than basic information and no alliances, would struggle to make sense of everything. For As, however, the situation was entirely different. He had the advantage of an exceptional team of elite subordinates.


    Despite their collective experiences, none of his subordinates confidently imed that the battle would be easier due to their experience. As viewed this as a reflection of their humility and respect for him as their leader.


    Even Kurogasa, Lyrassa, Milo, and Morganna—among the most seasoned of the group—offered only minimal input during the discussion. The exception was Kurogasa, who asionally provided insights when Edrik specifically sought his perspective.


    Perhaps the challenges presented by Rank-1 or even Rank-2 Dominion Skirmishes weren''t yet demanding enough to warrant detailed contributions from everyone. Still, he recognized one undeniable truth: no amount of knowledge would matter without thorough preparation and raw power to back it up. Without those, all their carefully crafted strategies and hard-earned wisdom would ultimately be wasted.


    Their goal was clear: push everyone to grow stronger as quickly as possible and maximize their use of resources through the knowledge they had painstakingly acquired. This was not just a battle—it was a calcted leap toward their ultimate objectives.