Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord-Chapter 386 - Insects in the Sky

Atlas won five defenses in a row in the previous category. And clearly, those were major victories. After all, their opponents were alliances with a greater number of lords. On top of that, their average levels were also higher.

Even so… in that previous category, all five lords who attacked Atlas were only rank 2. Not a single one of them had reached rank 3.

So, from this fact alone, what can actually be concluded?

Perhaps it shows that strategy in lord battles is truly complex. There are many types of attacks and defenses, and each lord has their own unique ability system. All of this creates its own layers of difficulty and depth.

However, one small conclusion can still be drawn. Maybe… focusing purely on defense does come with a lower level of difficulty compared to those who try to balance both defense and offense at the same time.

Just imagine when a lord brings their army to attack an enemy floating island. They are not only facing the enemy troops, but also the enemy's defensive structures, along with the island's environment itself, which they know nothing about beforehand.

That is why some lords, who intend to take the safer path, choose to fortify their island and strengthen their defenses instead. They focus solely on winning and collecting rank points through defensive mode alone. Exactly as Lyrassa did for five hundred years.

Atlas lifted his face as the battle was about to begin. What appeared on the massive floating screen before him were countless swirling portals forming above the enemy's island.

There were truly many variations when it came to attack strategies. Would they focus on aerial assaults, or ground attacks? Would they spread their troops to strike from multiple angles, or concentrate everything into a single point with overwhelming numbers?

Each of those strategies carried its own strengths and weaknesses, all of which depended on the condition of the opponent they were facing.

Moments later… on the massive screen, countless shapes emerged from the swirling portals. They were small in size, yet it was clear they were large insects, their bodies pitch black.

Bolin looked stunned at the sight. He should have known that this type of attack could only belong to one of the figures under Atlas's command.

Atlas had deliberately sent Krythalis to help reinforce Kate's forces.

Kryth immediately released his insect troops, which spread rapidly across the entire island. However, it seemed the enemy also had units prepared to counter aerial attacks. Soon after, dozens, even hundreds of soldiers shot upward from below, using their swords as footholds.

Bolin lifted his gaze. "You will not win through an air assault, Atlas."

Soon after, the sky was greeted by darkening clouds. In just moments, tornado winds formed across several areas, while thunder roared through the air. This was a clear sign that Krythalis would soon be surrounded by hundreds of enemy troops.

However… something else happened. From the portals swirling in the sky, figures suddenly burst forth. Most of them were standing atop their flying swords as they shot forward.

Bolin lifted his face once more and looked toward Atlas. Atlas simply responded with a smirk. The troops riding those flying swords were units once raised by Bolin himself, now serving under Atlas's command.

Their numbers were indeed smaller. But Atlas's goal was never to fight or dominate the aerial battlefield. They were meant to act as bait, stalling the enemy's flying forces. By using Krythalis's power to rapidly map the island and control the skies, they were practically untouchable up there.

Because… moments after that… a massive portal on the ground suddenly erupted as hundreds of troops poured out, launching an attack from a single point.

Kate, in her massive beast form, led the assault. She surged forward at the very front, bringing hundreds of soldiers with her. Their goal was clear. Crush the enemy from one side, then slowly push inward toward the central area.

Bolin was clearly unsettled by what he saw. Because in truth, the strategy used by Atlas and Kate was extremely risky.

Sending such a large force to attack from a single angle was dangerous. If the enemy possessed high explosive traps, powerful cannons, or any wide area abilities, then Kate and her army would be in serious trouble.

However, that was exactly why Atlas had lent Krythalis to the cat girl.

With Krythalis's ability to scan the area rapidly using his army of insects, Atlas could execute this strategy with confidence.

Bringing hundreds of troops to strike from one side of the island created overwhelming offensive power due to their focused numbers. Meanwhile, even though the enemy was on the defensive, their forces were scattered. Most of them were still occupied holding back the aerial assault.

"You have carried out an incredibly foolish strategy. You have no idea how many of your people you have sent to their deaths, Atlas!" Bolin said firmly.

Atlas merely smirked in response to Bolin's sharp glare.

"At this point, I think you should stop talking nonsense, Elder Bolin, and start taking this seriously. I have already won far too many times. And this time, I am confident my troops will win again," Atlas replied, his smirk thinning but never fading.

Bolin clenched his fist. It was becoming painfully clear that Atlas's strategy was working extremely well.

Krythalis and the aerial forces dominated the skies, disrupting the enemy's focus and spreading chaos without engaging in direct combat. Meanwhile, Kate on the ground struck with overwhelming force, crashing through everything in her path and destroying whatever stood before her.

With Krythalis on their team, it felt as though they had gained near-perfect control over the enemy's island.

Until… sometime later, the battle finally came to an end, and Kate successfully secured the first victory of the current category.

Kate even managed to send out their assassins, successfully locating the enemy Lord with Krythalis's help. And because the opposing Lord was a support type with very limited personal defense, they were easily defeated.

Atlas then calmly took another shiny coin and tossed it onto the virtual table, landing it right in front of Bolin.

The assault continued without pause, without any break at all. Next up was the turn of a lord who was the original leader of this alliance.

Luna.