Floating Islands: SSS Gacha System

Atlas and his team had spent a considerable amount of time on Flare Peak Island, which allowed them to gather a wide variety of materials. Fortunately, one of those materials turned out to be invaluable in their current situation—the Fire Crystal.

Fire Crystals were simple fuel items primarily used for starting fires, in this brutal cold they became lifesavers.

Once the camp was fully set up, and they made sure the camp was hidden from view in a spot that would be difficult to detect from afar, they built a fireplace using wood and Fire Crystals to create a stable heat source.

Heat!

The warmth spread quickly through the camp, and for the first time in hours, everyone felt true comfort. The harsh, biting cold that had threatened to freeze their bodies was now being pushed back by the steady warmth of the fire.

They set up three fireplaces, allowing the troops to gather around and warm themselves. Faces that had been tense with exhaustion began to relax as the heat soothed their bodies.

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They all knew it would take time to fully adjust to an environment this harsh. However, the real challenge would come at night, when the temperature would drop even further, and survival would become even harder.

Atlas stared at the fire, lost in thought.

Back on Flare Peak, the monsters would drop items that protected against extreme heat. He figured there must be similar items on this island to protect against the extreme cold. Or maybe, they just hadn't found any yet.

For now, they were lucky they hadn't encountered any monsters. Fighting in these conditions while still adjusting to the cold would have been a nightmare. But he knew this peace wouldn't last forever.

As the troops gathered around the fires, they began warming their meals, reheating rations over the flames. The comforting scent of cooked food filled the air, and they ate quickly to replenish their energy. The last thing they needed was for anyone to collapse from hunger in these conditions.

Atlas glanced at his map system. Thanks to Kurogasa's efforts, nearly 70% of the map had already been uncovered.

He let out a breath of relief.

Without Kurogasa, navigating and surviving in this brutal terrain would have been far more difficult—perhaps even impossible.

He took a bite of the heated meat, feeling the warmth spread across his tongue, though it quickly turned cold the moment it hit his mouth. The cold air made it difficult to truly savor the meal, but he enjoyed it nonetheless.

If he hadn't been holding himself together, forcing his mind to endure the harsh conditions, he might have felt miserable like the rest of his troops. But he couldn't afford to show weakness—not while his people were fighting the same battle against the cold.

Beside him, Morganna, the Vampire Queen, sat quietly on one of the camp chairs. She had been silent ever since they arrived on the island, her expression calm and unreadable, as if the freezing weather didn't bother her at all.

Atlas glanced at her, observing her.

Sensing his gaze, Morganna turned her head toward him, her crimson eyes meeting his.

She said nothing.

"You're handling this well," he said. "You can survive in this kind of condition without issue."

Morganna's lips curved into the faintest of smirks.

"Watching all of you suffer in this weather is amusing."

Atlas raised an eyebrow at her teasing. "You don't feel the cold at all?"

Morganna didn't respond, but before the silence could stretch too long, Edrik—seated on Atlas's right—stepped in to explain.

"Vampires are typically depicted as resilient to extreme conditions," Edrik began. "But their ability to handle cold temperatures varies depending on the type of vampire or the world they come from."

Atlas turned to him, intrigued by the explanation.

"They have little need for warmth," Edrik continued. "Since their bodies don't rely on normal human functions like blood circulation, they don't need to maintain body heat. This makes them far less affected by cold."

Atlas nodded slowly, processing the information as Edrik continued.

"Most vampires have natural resistance to cold-related fatigue, high endurance, and enhanced eyesight in darkness. However, their weaknesses in cold environments include slower regeneration, especially if they rely on blood to heal."

He glanced at Morganna briefly before adding, "And in snowy environments, sunlight can reflect off the snow, amplifying light exposure, which can be dangerous for vampires weak to sunlight."

"So vampires seriously have far more advantages than normal humans, huh?"

Edrik gave a small, knowing smile. "In many ways, yes. But advantages come with their own costs."

"Is it easy for a human to turn into a vampire, Morganna?" Atlas asked, directing his words toward the quiet vampire queen sitting beside him.

But Morganna didn't even look up. She simply continued eating her food.

Atlas sighed softly, his mind drifting back to the time when Morganna had offered to turn him into a vampire. Back then, he hadn't given it much thought. He hadn't understood enough about the advantages or disadvantages of becoming a vampire to take the offer seriously.

Now, though, he was curious. Atlas turned his gaze to Edrik—the one person he could always count on to give a detailed answer.

"Edrik, what do you know?"

Edrik glanced up from his meal, wiping his hands on a cloth before speaking.

"Turning into a vampire varies depending on the type of vampire and their origins. In some cases, it's as simple as being bitten and infected. In other cases, a ritual or blood pact is required." He paused briefly. "But there are always consequences."

Atlas nodded, encouraging him to continue.

"Most vampires retain their memories and personality after the transformation, but their bodies undergo drastic changes. They no longer age like humans, their hearts stop beating, and their bodies adapt to their new vampiric nature. However..."

Edrik's tone lowered slightly. "Once the transformation is complete, there is no going back."

Atlas glanced briefly at Morganna again, who remained quiet.

"And what about her kind?"

Edrik smiled faintly. "Morganna isn't an ordinary vampire. She's a pureblood. That means her method of turning someone is far more... deliberate. It wouldn't be a mindless infection. It would be a conscious decision on her part to pass on her bloodline. And because of that, anyone she turns to would likely retain more of their humanity."

"With all the vampire strengths?"

Edrik nodded. "Yes, but also with their weaknesses."

He continued. "But there's another factor to consider." He leaned forward slightly. "The base state of the human greatly affects the final result in their vampire form."

Atlas frowned. "What do you mean?"

"A human's physical and mental condition before the transformation determines how powerful—or flawed—their vampire form will be. For instance, someone with a strong body and sharp mind will likely become a vampire with higher endurance, superior senses, and stronger abilities. However…"

He paused again.

"If the human has underlying weaknesses, those weaknesses might be amplified in their vampire state."

"So a weak human would turn into a weak vampire?"

"In most cases, yes. Their flaws would carry over—poor eyesight, unstable emotions, physical ailments. Some of these could be corrected through vampiric regeneration, but the core traits remain. The transformation doesn't magically make someone perfect. It enhances what's already there."

Atlas tapped his knee. "I see."

Edrik continued. "Vampirism amplifies the essence of a person. The stronger you are as a human, the more powerful you'll be as a vampire. But if you're weak, reckless, or mentally unstable, that too will be enhanced. Immortality always comes at a price."

Atlas nodded slowly, the idea of becoming a vampire lingering in his mind. It sounded tempting, though he knew it wasn't something to take lightly. Turning toward Morganna, he gave a slight smile.

"Tell me, Morganna… what kind of vampire would I become?"

Without even pausing from her meal, Morganna replied bluntly, her voice flat and devoid of emotion.

"Defective. No brain. Bloodthirsty. Awful. Imperfect."

Atlas chuckled, shaking his head at her sharp, merciless words.@@novelbin@@

"I guess I need to get stronger first, huh? Maybe one day, I'll earn a different answer from you."

Morganna glanced at him briefly before returning to her food. "There's no hope for you."

Atlas smiled softly, then reached out and gently tucked a loose strand of Morganna's hair behind her ear with a calm, confident gesture.

"Thanks for the answer," he said.

For a moment, silence fell over the camp.

The troops nearly froze! Their eyes wide with shock and fear

What just happened?!

They stared in disbelief. Did their Lord just… touch the Vampire Queen? The terrifying, silent Morganna who everyone feared to even speak to?

But…

Nothing happened.

Morganna continued eating calmly, as if she hadn't even noticed the gesture. No retaliation. No glare. No deadly strike.

Just calm silence.

The troops exchanged nervous glances, their minds spinning. What did they just witness?

And then, a single thought began to take hold.

Lord Atlas… truly is a conqueror!

If he could casually brush aside the untouchable Vampire Queen, what else was he capable of?

He would become a great Lord—one who conquers not just lands, but the loyalty of even the most fearsome beings.

Suddenly, Atlas's attention was pulled away as a notification appeared in his system.

[Kurogasa]: "My Lord, I believe I've found the place we're looking for—the spot where the monsters we're hunting are located."