Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord-Chapter 398 - The Forest Was Alive

Morganna fell silent as she watched green energy rise and mix with her aura. At the same time, thick vines burst from the ground and wrapped around the vampire queen, flowers blooming among them as they tightened their hold.

Along with that, a soft melody filled the air. It was calming, almost soothing, as if it flowed directly from the flowers themselves. Petals drifted gently through the sky, strangely transforming the once dark and tense atmosphere into something quieter and more peaceful.

Then, someone landed lightly not far from where Morganna stood.

A woman with long blond hair and an aura that felt deeply calming.

Everyone turned their eyes toward her at the same time.

There, standing calmly before them, was someone who had been missing in action for a long time, resting within her cocoon.

Lyrassa had arrived.

At that same moment, the restraints on everyone else faded. One by one, they regained control of their bodies and quickly stood back up. Yet no one moved further. No one dared to act.

Lyrassa smiled softly and bowed her head toward Morganna.

"With full respect and humility," she said gently. "Please allow me to take this task. I have the strongest regeneration among everyone here, and in my current condition, it is far greater than before. I can handle this properly."

Everyone stood in tense silence, their gazes shifting again toward the same place.

Toward the massive dome.

Inside it, Atlas was still fighting, facing an enemy who seemed completely unaffected by his attacks.

Morganna did not respond. She only turned her face slightly to the side.

Lyrassa answered that silence with a calm smile.

Then she stepped forward, almost like a light leap. In the next instant, her body shot forward at incredible speed, rushing toward the massive dome.

Immediately after that, the ground beneath them erupted with life.

Countless plants and flowers burst forth, growing and moving rapidly. Even trees rose at astonishing speed, spreading outward as nature itself surged forward.

Everyone slowly moved closer, watching what was unfolding before them. Someone had taken over the task. A task of sacrifice, one that would be an honor for anyone brave enough to claim it.

Lyrassa was the most rational choice in this situation. The second choice would have been Morganna. That much was obvious.

But this was not about who was the most compatible with the ability required for the task. It was not about suitability at all. Whoever took this role would still have to endure unbearable pain and extreme injuries. They would receive all the damage from the battle inside the domain, without being able to strike back or even defend themselves.

Morganna turned around and began to walk away. She stopped when she reached Edrik and stood there for a brief moment.

Edrik bowed his head slightly toward her, saying nothing.

Then the vampire queen spoke in a cold, cutting tone. "None of you realized what was actually happening. You are all deeply disappointing."

After those words, her body was wrapped in shadow and blood colored aura, and she vanished from the area.

Edrik remained standing there, frozen, the words echoing in his mind.

"None of us realized?" he muttered quietly. "Does this have something to do with the blood element?"

He immediately said into the communication link.

"Anyone with blood element affinity, move in immediately."

**

Atlas was thrown back again, his body slammed into the ground over and over without pause. The force was so violent that he struggled just to regain control.

He forced himself to dig in, planting his spear into the ground and using it to stop his momentum. With great effort, he pushed himself up, trying to reclaim his footing.

But Morvain was already standing right in front of him.

Atlas raised his spear to block just as a powerful punch came crashing toward him.

A massive impact followed. An explosion of raw energy tore through the area, lifting everything around them and hurling it violently against the walls of the domain.

Atlas remained where he stood. He was not thrown back.

He looked past his spear toward Morvain and noticed something unusual.

Green energy was drifting through the air around them, mixing into the space at the same time.

Has Lyrassa emerged from her cocoon?

The thought struck him instantly. Lyrassa had awakened and found the answer to this domain. Most likely, Edrik and the others had discovered it as well.

If Lyrassa had awakened, then that meant...

Atlas’s second child had already been born.

He tightened his grip on the spear as golden lightning burst and crackled around his body. Morvain immediately jumped backward, creating distance between them.

Atlas spun his spear and took up an attacking stance once more.

"I think we are finally on equal footing now," he said calmly.

Morvain let out a sharp laugh, his expression twisted with excitement. "You are celebrating too early, Atlas. You know nothing about this place. I am the ruler here!" he shouted loudly.

**

Edrik stood with several Gacha Haven soldiers near the dense trees of the island. One of them, a woman with long black hair and a pale face, spoke up in a trembling voice.

"Lord Edrik..." she said in panic.

"What did you find?" Edrik asked sharply.

The woman pointed toward the forest. "There is so much blood... so many lives trapped there."

"What do you mean?" Edrik pressed.

She looked back at the trees, terror clear on her face.

"They..." she said fearfully. "The trees... they are alive."

"Alive?"

"Some of them were humans. They were absorbed into the forest. And every time an explosion happens, several lives are lost."

Edrik’s expression shifted the moment he heard that.

Kurogasa and the others were standing nearby as well.

Edrik spoke to them in a flat, heavy tone.

"That explains why there are no people left on this island. They were all converted into the island itself, turned into living structures meant to endure incoming damage. In this case, every attack made by the Lord is being redirected to them."

Kurogasa continued quietly. "Lyrassa is holding this alone right now, while the enemy is using hundreds of living shields to absorb our attacks."