Floating Island - Triple S Talent-Chapter 574: The Noble Plan

Arghhh!

The humanoid surged closer, its trident tearing through the mist, glowing blood-red. Zeus’s eyes narrowed—then he unleashed the sphere.

Zaaapp!

Dooom!

The explosion rocked the air. Fire burst, fog blasted apart, and a sonic wave scattered dust across the battlefield. The deafening roar made soldiers clamp their ears.

As the haze thinned, Zeus still hovered midair, his gaze sharp.

Below, a massive crater had formed. Yet the humanoid stood in the center unscathed, its tongue lolling in mockery. Beside it, another creature emerged: a hulking frog-like beast, above whose head hovered a swelling orb of black mist.

"Hmph..." Zeus scoffed, his eyes icy.

Suddenly, figures clad in nano-armor appeared beside him. One spoke with a deep voice, his helmet molded by writhing cubes that etched out facial lines.

"Sir, the source of the mist has vanished."

Zeus didn’t glance at him. "Keep eyes on the frog. Form a three-man team—track the core direction of the voidrift. Report the instant you find it."

At his command, several squads split off, leaving the old man with only two nano-soldiers at his side.

Arghhh!

The humanoid roared, its trident thrusting straight at Zeus. The old man surged forward to meet it head-on, lightning clashing against steel, while the frog-creature with its bubbling crown drifted downward, slinking away from the main battlefield.

"Don’t let that frog escape!" Zeus’s voice boomed.

The two nano-soldiers immediately entered full mode. Cubes layered over them in a gleaming combat armor. Without hesitation, they launched after the frog, chasing it toward the forest at the base of the crater. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Burn it all," one soldier said coldly.

"Understood."

His partner flew low, both hands aimed at the ground. Torrents of fire spewed from his palms, cleaving through trees, devouring trunks, and engulfing the forest in a roaring inferno. The crackle of flames mixed with the shrieks of dying beasts. Black smoke rolled upward, swallowing the crater’s sky.

Meanwhile, the other soldier descended, weaving between burning stumps. Nano-armor shielded him from the heat, making him seem as if he walked through empty air.

"You won’t get away, little frog..." he muttered, eyes scanning cave gaps and jagged shadows.

Bloop... bloop...

The sound was clear, coming from behind a massive, statue-like boulder. His sensors picked it up, marking a faint heat signature. His breath hitched with adrenaline as he shot forward.

"Found you," he whispered, eyes locking on the telltale bubble atop the frog’s head. He dove behind the rock, ready to strike—

But what appeared wasn’t the frog. A thin balloon trembled in the air, and beneath it pulsed a black box glowing red.

"Shit—!"

BOOOOM!

The mountain peak erupted in a massive blast. The shockwave ripped through the ground, fire and stone spewing skyward. The mountain split, transforming into a raging volcano that spewed molten rock, choking smoke, and bursts of flame. The detonation was powerful enough to rattle the battlefield above.

King Zeus, who had been bracing thunder, was forced to fall back, his eyes narrowing against the blinding flare. "What happened...?"

But no respite came. The humanoid had already lunged, trident thrusting alongside blood-whips that lashed like tendrils, forcing Zeus onto the defensive.

"How is it? Everyone safe!?" he barked amid the chaos.

A mechanical voice rang in his ear, relayed through the nano-armor bound to his body.

"I’m fine, sir. But... my core energy is down to 20%."

Zeus gritted his teeth, parrying the relentless strikes.

"Use the reserves—don’t hesitate! This mission is heavier than we first thought."

Another voice cut in, crackling through static.

"Reporting, I’ve detected a core frequency to the east, near the lake!"

"Keep it under watch. Don’t act recklessly," Zeus commanded firmly, his eyes still locked on the humanoid circling before him.

***

High above the sky, a sleek aircar cruised along a private aerial lane. Its polished windows reflected the neon glow of massive floating billboards and holographic ads dancing across the air. Suspended platforms shimmered with colorful rides, painting the skyline as if the city’s heavens were in a constant festival.

Wush...

A curl of brown cigarette smoke drifted from the lips of a man in a black suit. He gazed out the window, eyes narrowing as though weighing heavy thoughts.

"The grand plan... to wipe out every voidrift and voidborn." His murmur was half to himself, more a test of thought than a statement. "Forget about achieving it... is it even possible?"

He shifted his gaze to the side. "What do you think?"

The elderly man beside him stirred from his own deep thoughts. His calm eyes betrayed the weight behind the creases of his face.

"I don’t know, Mr. President," he answered softly. "But... I believe it is a good thing."

The President exhaled sharply, his brows furrowing. "A good thing? Or... just another step to expand the Earth Kingdom’s reach?" He leaned forward, watching the cigarette smoke fade into the cabin air. "If other races start outnumbering us humans... wouldn’t that be a disaster for us?"

The old man stayed quiet, letting the weight of the words hang before replying. "His Majesty has never made a policy that harmed us," he said at last, his tone steady, reassuring. "In fact, thanks to his support... this nation stands as strong as it does today."

"Hmm..." The suited man gave a faint nod, then redirected his gaze back out the window. "By the way... who do you think will be the next American president?"

The old man hesitated briefly before answering. "Most likely Mr. James. But Madam Vanessa shouldn’t be underestimated. James has supplied a great deal of nano cores to our nation—that’s a significant advantage."

The President smirked faintly. "If James wins, our access to nano cores will open wide... that’s good news."

His face hardened again. "Alright. Announce an emergency council. All hunters and lords—especially the Nano Squad and Mecha Squad—must attend."

"Yes, sir."

The old man moved his fingers, conjuring a holographic tablet from thin air. A virtual assistant flickered to life, ready to deliver messages to every intended name.

The aircar sped forward, flanked tightly by dozens of escort vehicles. Blue lights flashed in unison, ensuring no intruder could get within reach of the President.