Floating Island - Triple S Talent

Lein and the others stood on the deck of the spaceship, gazing at the extraordinary sight before them. A magnificent floating city stretched out in the distance, seemingly suspended amidst the void. From this distance, the city resembled a cluster of islands connected by glowing bridges, forming an extensive and complex network. Towering structures loomed at various points, while tiny silhouettes flitted about—hovering up and down, weaving through the gaps between buildings into the vast emptiness beyond.

Lein narrowed his eyes, observing the small dots moving rapidly in the air. "Have we arrived?" he asked, turning toward Aleron and Tauriel, who stood beside him.

Tauriel nodded. "Yes, we have reached the EON Gateway, Master Lein," she replied firmly. Unlike Lein and Aleron, who were visiting this place for the first time, Tauriel had been to similar regions before.

"There is no other way to enter Dominion territory except through this gateway," she continued, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "Inside, at least one Peak King stands guard, ensuring that no intruders can enter without permission."

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Hearing this, Aleron looked at Tauriel in disbelief. "A Peak King? Just one step below an Emperor?" he exclaimed, his jaw slackening as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard.

Lein had a similar reaction, his gaze sharpening as he processed the new information. "Unbelievable… an Emperor, merely as a gateway guard?" he thought to himself. It was like using a dragon to guard a village gate.

However, Tauriel remained calm. She merely glanced at Lein and Aleron before sighing. "You're surprised because you don't yet understand why," she said with a faint, knowing smile.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she continued, "This void is not as you imagine. There is no place that is truly safe here. Many dangers threaten living beings in this vast emptiness. You may have heard of the cosmic catastrophe that struck the Gunadu Realm, but that was only one of the many calamities that roam out there."

Lein and Aleron fell silent, listening intently to every word.

Tauriel's voice deepened as she continued, "Besides cosmic disasters, there are also cosmic storms, void waves, singularity pulls, and black holes. These are just the threats from cosmic phenomena alone. Not to mention the creatures that inhabit this space… cosmic beings and spatial entities whose power far surpasses that of a King."

The air around them grew heavier. Lein felt the hair on the back of his neck stand slightly, not out of fear, but from a newfound awareness of just how perilous this territory truly was.

Tauriel fixed them with a sharp gaze. "But remember," she said firmly, "Out of all those threats, the most troublesome are other living beings. Never forget this—the competition within Dominion is far deadlier than you can imagine."@@novelbin@@

The look in her eyes carved a warning deep into Lein and Aleron's minds. This was not just an exploration mission. This was a realm where the only law that mattered was the one dictated by power.

Lein and Aleron swallowed hard, realizing the stark reality that lay ahead of them. They exchanged glances before turning their attention back to the EON Gateway, which was now appearing clearer in the distance.

EON Gateway resembled a city of advanced technology, filled with black metallic buildings that shimmered with neon lights at various points. Unlike the buildings on Earth, which were typically square or cubical, the architecture here had a sleeker and more intricate design. Lein observed several towering, tubular spires twisting around one another, while in other areas, triangular structures curved at their peaks. The combination of unique structures and glowing neon lights created an astonishingly futuristic impression.

As he took in the breathtaking sophistication of the city, Lein began to wonder whether the Dominion's main power relied on an individual strength system like that of a "player," or if there was a more complex system governing this metropolis.

While his mind was still flooded with questions, a floating platform approached their ship. The platform was flat, resembling a hull-less vessel, silently hovering in the air. Atop it stood several armed soldiers clad in black-and-white armor with symmetrical patterns. Each soldier held a plasma rifle that glowed faintly under the city's neon lights.

"Everyone, prepare for inspection," Tauriel suddenly commanded, her voice calm but firm—not just directed at Lein and Aleron but also at the entire ship's crew and the students standing behind them.

Laras, Efan, and several others immediately sprang into action, gathering the crew and ensuring everyone lined up properly. Lein could see some students looking slightly tense, while others tried to maintain a composed expression.

Tauriel turned to Lein, her gaze carrying a warning. "Remember, whatever they ask, answer truthfully. Do not attempt to hide anything. If you are caught lying, you could end up on a wanted list and be banned from entering Dominion territory."

Lein nodded in understanding before asking, "Lady Tauriel, is there an entry fee to enter Dominion?"

"Of course, Master Lein. The primary currency used within Dominion is Cosmos Coins. If you don't have them, you can exchange energy crystals instead. Their value is equivalent," Tauriel explained calmly.

Lein nodded, considering whether he needed to exchange some of his energy crystals. But before he could make a decision, Tauriel had already pulled out several coins from her pocket. With a casual motion, she handed ten coins to Lein.

"I already have some Cosmos Coins. I'll cover our entry fees," she said as she offered the coins.

Lein accepted them and examined them closely. The coins were round with a transparent center, inside which a miniature golden galaxy spun slowly. The light from the coin shimmered gently, as if it held a life of its own. Lein was momentarily captivated, his mind filled with questions about how such beautiful and intricate coins were created.

Seeing that only Lein received Cosmos Coins, Aleron, on the other hand, let out a disgruntled huff, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What's with that? Are you bribing Master Lein?" he muttered, his voice full of grumbles.