Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord-Chapter 352 - Into the Stormlands

For the mission, Atlas brought six additional lords, since they needed to divide their forces so their home islands would remain guarded. Kaeris was, of course, included as the owner of the floating island. Then there was Luna, whose system ability was the most versatile. Celestia joined as well, and Tessa came along as the strategist. Kate was part of the team, and the last member was Rhaen.

Rhaen possessed the system ability Aetherlift Dominion, which made it easier for all forces to descend from the floating island to the islands below. Her ability allowed her to control both her troops and any bound items so they could stay suspended in the air for extended periods.

So the strategy was straightforward: they would deploy units from above, sending them down to the targeted floating islands beneath them. The four thousand five hundred combatants would then spread across each island, eliminate the monsters as quickly as possible, and return to the main island to continue the hunt.

According to Tessa’s calculations, the team needed at least one day to wipe out most of the island monsters. They needed around twenty-nine days in total, so the faster they improved through coordinated training, the sooner they could attempt to attack two or even three islands in a single day.

It was an extremely tight strategy and mission, one that demanded flawless planning and execution. Any problem that emerged along the way could disrupt the entire flow.

Even though... in truth, Atlas joined this journey not because he would take part in the mission itself. He had another mission of his own. That was also why he brought Serenith, Krythalis, Dullorak, and Everburn, mostly because of their flying abilities. And of course, he brought two of his personal shadows.

During the long hours of travel, everyone in the room worked on arranging their target islands carefully, one by one, deciding which ones they would strike first. A scouting team had already been sent ahead to gather information.

Their main target was to find islands they could clear without any clashes at all. That part was extremely important. Any unnecessary confrontation with other lords during such a tight mission would turn into a disaster.

Until finally... the floating island slowed down as the massive screen showed thick clouds ahead, and behind those clouds appeared a super massive island many times larger than Kaeris’s floating island.

It was an island filled with gigantic trees, the kind that served as the natural home of huge monsters.

Tessa, who stood at the front, explained, "Well, this was not our first choice. But we are lucky, because this island is completely empty of other lords. So we can clear it with full force. Even though it may take up to two days at most."

All the lords in the room immediately prepared themselves and coordinated their forces.

Atlas waited inside the room as the massive screens showed the combatants launching from the edge-launch platforms of the island. They shot downward at high speed, and a moment later they activated their fall-breaking gear.

At that moment Luna walked toward him. "Atlas, leave everything to us. We already divided the tasks well, and thanks to your idea we could take this step."

Atlas rose to his feet and gave a faint smile. "I really look irresponsible for handing this duty to you again, Luna."

"Well, every lord in the alliance gains from this mission, so no. We all carry this duty together."

Atlas nodded slowly. He then prepared himself and walked out of the room, taking the elevator until they reached the upper area of the floating island where the wind blew with great force.

He then summoned the Nimbus Carriage, and everyone on the team boarded it at once before departing from the island.

Atlas took another heavy breath as he truly left many responsibilities in the hands of many people this time.

Luna was indeed someone he could rely on in leadership. She was the original leader of this alliance, so giving this task to Luna was the best choice.

As for the temporary leader of the alliance while Atlas and the others were away like this, it was Arveline. She was the one blessed with King’s Rebirth and also had very strong leadership skills.

Besides that, for Gacha Haven itself, since Edrik was also with Atlas, he had to hand over the temporary leadership to someone else. Sadly, there was no one he could fully trust to handle administration and management among his Elite Subordinates, even though they had long experience. They all had their own unique styles and their own kind of chaos.

So Atlas asked Brigid to help Mira monitor all administration, activities, and management in Gacha Haven.

Brigid was someone very careful and very structured, extremely strict, very disciplined, and incredibly detailed, and she could analyze things deeply. She was exactly like Edrik, so finally Atlas had a second option besides Edrik to handle tasks like this.

**

The journey on the Nimbus Carriage took less than one hour because their target island was already within this region. And right as they drew near, Atlas could feel from even this distance that the air temperature had dropped sharply.

He looked out the window, hearing how the rumble of storm and lightning from the Nimbus Carriage was still weaker than the booming thunder and fierce storm far ahead.

And yes, their destination island finally came into view. He was truly stunned and fell silent as he saw from afar the thick dark clouds gathering heavily, covering the entire island while flashes of lightning struck the ground below with brutal force.

"We will not be able to get too close with the carriage," Edrik said.

"Yes, this is worse than the place where I did that quest back then," Atlas answered.

To build the Storm Generator Structure, Atlas needed exactly five Cores from Tempest-class monsters. These were monsters with advanced composite elements that could not be found in normal monsters.

They were usually found only in area boss types, and their numbers were few. Even worse, he needed five of them.

The Nimbus Carriage moved in and descended toward the edge of the island, and from here he could clearly see the massive tornado in the distance along with huge lightning strikes hitting the island nonstop. The large trees were charred black after being struck again and again.

If Atlas had never gone through this trial before, he would not have had the courage to enter that island.

"This is an island accessible up to lord rank four, so it is not normal for a lord rank two to enter," Edrik explained.

"Someone around level one hundred would probably be burned to death if they entered, judging by how constant the lightning is. Anyone would be at risk of being struck and killed at any moment. This is truly a terrifying island."

Even though Atlas personally had an Affinity with Lightning that should stop the storm from affecting him too much, it also meant he would not be effective when fighting the monsters here. So he would face another trial to develop new skills and new resistance to fight monsters of the Tempest type.

Just as the Nimbus Carriage sped along the edge of the island, the wind and rain hit with such force that even the carriage was pushed off its path by the pressure coming from the island.

A rank four island truly existed on a different level.

Right when the carriage door opened, Dullorak quickly cast his buff skill on everyone, and moments later they all shot out of the carriage. Atlas felt Serenith grab his hand as they rushed out together and flew toward the island.

Even after landing inside the island, they hit the ground hard as the roar and chaos of the storm that slammed across the whole island made this place feel like a prison of torment for anyone bold enough to enter.

Atlas narrowed his eyes a little as he glanced at Serenith, whose bright red hair was drenched and falling over her face, even though she still let out a small laugh.

"I love storms. I love explosions, lightning, and bombs," she said and giggled.

"Well, even though you know your element is not effective here, Sera?"

She only giggled again and nodded eagerly.

They then moved between the towering trees whose branches and leaves shook wildly each time the wind changed direction. Here, if someone lacked proper control over their own body, the storm would lift them off the ground and carry them away with ease.

They continued until they found a spot among large rocks and stood there, the two massive stones on either side giving them enough shelter to take a short break and begin discussing their planning in that place.

Atlas turned toward Dullorak and waited for an explanation from this Mage.

"So, Dullorak, how about my current situation to fight the storms?"

Because surely fighting an enemy with similar elements was not the most effective way to win.