Floating Islands: SSS Gacha System

Harvesting the spider threads from the aftermath of the battle turned out to be far more challenging than Atlas had anticipated. While Baldric skillfully separated the threads from the icy remains of the battlefield, carefully rolling them up in pristine condition, Atlas nearly ruined half the material when he attempted to harvest it using his lightning element.

"Enough, Atlas." Baldric snapped, stepping in quickly. "Don't touch them again. Just wait and let me handle the rest."

Atlas, though slightly grinning, stepped back and let Baldric continue.

"How many sets of armor can we make from this battle?" Atlas asked, watching Baldric work.

"Five, maybe six at best," Baldric replied without looking up.

"Five?" Atlas echoed in disbelief. "We fought a battle this intense, took this much damage, and you're telling me we only get five?"

"Well," Baldric began with a shrug, "we could make more. But if you want high-grade, high-performance armor, we have to use materials that meet the exact requirements and in the best condition possible. So yeah, five is actually a solid number."

Atlas sighed but nodded. He knew Baldric was right. Five was still a big deal, considering how valuable the Soulbinding Armor would be once crafted.

"But don't worry, we can use the parts that aren't in perfect condition to craft other armor pieces that are still functional for certain situations. Especially if you can secure a skilled tailor—they could make a decent outfit from these threads," Baldric continued.

"That's certainly good news," Atlas replied.

Still, if Atlas had ambitions of equipping every combatant—or even just the workers under his command—with this rare armor, they would need to hunt far more of these monsters. Or better yet… win control of the island itself, so they could hunt these creatures freely without constant interruption.

After successfully harvesting the overall spoils of battle, they returned to the entrance area of the cave, where the oxygen levels had noticeably improved.

Kurogasa had modified the cave's entrance, breaking through some sections and clearing away large blocks of snow, while still ensuring it remained sealed from the outside.

Spending the night in the cave wasn't as extreme as being out in the open. The air inside was slightly warmer, not by much, but enough to make the night more bearable. It was a small comfort that allowed the group to rest and recover for what lay ahead.

By the next morning, once everyone had regained their strength, they ventured deeper into the cave to continue hunting for monsters, particularly the spider creatures.

Eventually, they stumbled upon another chamber filled with spider monsters. This time, though, there were far fewer of them compared to the swarm they'd encountered before.

They acquired loot that included leather armor to keep their bodies warm, new weapons, and several other drops that provided a significant boost to their overall strength.

For the next three days, Atlas and the team remained in the cave, taking full advantage of its resources while continuously hunting and improving their gear. Meanwhile, Kurogasa kept a close eye on the dynamics of the battle outside, ensuring they stayed informed about any changes.

On the sixth day, Kurogasa reported a new discovery—a deeper cave farther inside the area. There, he had found Chameleonite Ore, one of the critical materials needed to craft the Soulbinding Armor.

However, Baldric couldn't mine the ore on his own. The area was far too dangerous, and they would need a team effort to extract it safely. The next move would require careful planning.

"If we bring more people here, we might be able to split our forces and secure the ore," Atlas said, breaking the silence.

Edrik nodded thoughtfully before responding, "That's true, but it also means we'd have to redirect reinforcements from the other islands to maximize our defensive potential here."

"What about the progress on the other islands, Atlas?" Baldric asked, shifting the focus.

Atlas had been keeping an eye on the battles across the other islands, monitoring both their progress and the condition of his troops. From what he could see, both Lyrassa's and Karian's teams had successfully taken control of the Central Fortress on their respective islands.

"I think it's safe to say we've secured at least one new island for ourselves," Atlas said, his tone steady. "The real question is whether we'll settle for the rank 1 island—or keep pushing forward to fight for control of this one instead."

Kurogasa chimed in after a moment of thought. "The other lords on this island have already started bringing in more troops, and several major battles have broken out across key areas. The casualties aren't small, but it's clear their combined strength is considerable."

"What are our chances if we were to brute force our way through and fight them head-on?" Atlas asked directly.

Kurogasa shook his head slightly. "The odds are still pretty low. We'd need to employ a solid strategy to stand a chance. But in a scenario like this, we'll lose the opportunity to continue collecting Dominion Points consistently. Especially since we haven't yet secured even one stable source of Dominion Points."

Atlas nodded, acknowledging Kurogasa's assessment. This wasn't a situation they could charge into blindly. It would take careful planning—and perhaps a little more patience—if they wanted to succeed.

After careful consideration, Atlas ultimately decided to focus on securing Azure Dunes, where Karian and Milo's team were stationed. Their team would remain on the island for the next two weeks, while Lyrassa and Mira would be summoned to join Atlas as reinforcements, expected to arrive in two days.

With Lyrassa's powerful support abilities, the team's overall strength would improve significantly. Once the reinforcements arrived, Atlas could divide their forces—one group focusing on hunting the spiders, another on collecting Chameleonite Ore, while Kurogasa kept a close watch on the ongoing battles across the island.

This approach would give them time to prepare for an eventual assault—or at the very least, allow Atlas to gather enough materials for Baldric to craft the Soulbinding Armor. Even if they failed to secure the island, the armor would provide a huge performance boost for future battles. However many sets they could make, having the armor would be a game-changing advantage for their forces.

Above all, Atlas prioritized the safety of his troops. He was determined to minimize risks as much as possible. He wouldn't pursue victory at the cost of significant losses among his people. For him, no island was worth sacrificing their lives unnecessarily.

With that decision made, Atlas returned to the task at hand, venturing deeper into the cave to hunt more monsters and gather additional resources.

Just as Atlas and his team were preparing to venture deeper into the cave, a report came in from Kurogasa. He informed them of a skirmish breaking out near the entrance of the cave, with the potential to escalate into a full-blown battle.

"Wouldn't that be dangerous if they find this cave?"

"Exactly, my Lord," Kurogasa replied. "Especially if one of the sides loses and tries to use this place as a hiding spot."

This was troubling. If the fighting moved closer to the cave, there was a very real risk that Atlas's hideout could be discovered.

Curious about the situation, Atlas decided to investigate. He exited the cave and followed Kurogasa, sneaking through the frozen terrain. They eventually found cover behind a frozen cliff overlooking a relatively open area. From there, they could see several groups of troops in the midst of a tense standoff.

Kurogasa quietly explained that the smaller group in the center, consisting of about a dozen troops, belonged to one of the lords from Alliance C. They were completely surrounded by a force nearly twice their size, belonging to Alliance B.

Atlas narrowed his eyes, focusing on the figure who was likely the lord from Alliance C. It was a young girl, seemingly in her teens, dressed in a dark purple, knee-length gown that looked completely impractical for the freezing cold. Her long silver hair cascaded down her back, and yet, despite the biting chill, she stood tall and composed. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire

Beside her was another striking figure—a girl of a similar age, with fiery short red hair that burned as brightly as her presence. She wore an outfit that seemed to be made of blazing flames. Resting casually on her shoulder was a sniper rifle, its polished barrel gleaming as if daring anyone to challenge them.

However, there was one thing that piqued Atlas's curiosity. For some reason, the features of the two girls felt oddly familiar to him. Where had he seen or heard of them before?