Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord-Chapter 407 - Harvesting the Fallen

What followed after the miniature sun was swallowed by the rift, along with dozens of enemy troops, was pure war on a massive scale.

Across the war zone, Nysera’s forces charged forward with full force. Explosion after explosion erupted in countless areas, and direct clashes broke out everywhere. Skills were unleashed without restraint, and within moments, dozens of lives were lost across the battlefield.

It was the kind of sight that always cut deep into the heart. Watching people fight, struggle, and fall in war for the same single purpose was never easy. And here, Atlas carried the greatest responsibility, because this devastating outcome was born from a decision he had made.

Even Luna, who was already used to being in the middle of war, lowered her gaze slightly as casualty after casualty fell before her eyes.

Then, some time later, Edrik’s figure could be seen collapsing onto the ground, with several people rushing in to save him.

"Edrik is in critical condition," Luna said.

Edrik truly was in a terrible state. This was the worst condition Atlas had ever seen him in. In truth, Edrik was an assassin, someone who usually fought fast, finished his enemies quickly, and escaped just as swiftly using his countless escape abilities.

"Edrik was the one who offered to take that position," Atlas said calmly. "He knew that Nysera’s ability would heavily boost someone with a Dark Element affinity. There were many options on my list, including Kurogasa, Raze, or even Dullorak. But after careful consideration, Edrik’s ability was the most suitable to handle this war."

After some time passed, the battle finally showed its result. Once again, Atlas’s side emerged victorious. Nysera had succeeded in wiping out the enemy forces, though the losses on both sides were severe.

Nysera lost almost forty percent of her total troops, while the enemy lost nearly seventy percent of everything they had.

At the very least, Nysera would be able to recover herself and her island with the spoils of war gained this time. New resources for her to absorb, and new forces she could take in afterward.

Atlas stood facing Bolin once more after the war had ended. The old man said nothing at all. Had his confidence finally been completely shattered? Or was there something else?

"This war is not over yet, Atlas!" the man finally said.

Atlas understood that well, because the truth was simple. In the final war, a direct clash between Atlas and Bolin was something that could never be avoided.

**

Atlas, Luna and Nysera were together inside a Nimbus Carriage at that moment. The carriage raced through the air at high speed, surrounded by thunderous sounds and bursts of lightning exploding around it.

The carriage cut through the sky toward an island cloaked in darkness and endless lightning in the distance. It was Shattered Ember, still trapped within a state of unceasing storms.

After arriving, they used a teleportation device. Moments later, they found themselves inside a cave, with mana crystals embedded along the walls.

Nysera followed Atlas through the narrow stone corridor for some time, until a wider light appeared ahead. Soon, a massive cavern chamber opened up before them.

There were several other people present inside the chamber. But what immediately caught their attention was the cave itself, filled with monstrous spiders that covered the entire area.

Something new had appeared here as well. Large spider silk cocoons hung all around the chamber, gently swaying, some of them still moving.

These were the enemy troops that Edrik had taken earlier and teleported to this place. He knew that these spider beasts would multiply far faster once they were fed souls from intelligent creatures.

And humans, above all else, were the most nourishing prey for them.

For a brief moment, Atlas felt something strange stirring inside him as he watched all of this. Turning humans into food for these monsters.

Could it really get any worse than this? He had never imagined in his life that he would use his enemies as nourishment for the monsters he raised, monsters he planned to harvest for their web threads to create sets of armor.

"Would you still want to accept the Soulbinding Armor from me, knowing that this is how the spiders get their food?" he asked.

Nysera did not answer. A few moments later, it was Luna who spoke.

"We are forced to live in this world," Luna said calmly. "If it were not them, it could be us in that position. I think there is no way to avoid it."

Still, this situation was a harsh reminder of just how brutal this war truly was, a war that no longer recognized anything called humanity. Human lives were nothing more than statistics here. What mattered most was victory.

And the higher Atlas climbed in rank as a lord, the more he felt himself drifting away from the principles he once wanted to build in Gacha Haven. He had believed his troops were not just weapons, but a family he could lead forward together.

"What about Edrik?" Atlas asked after a moment.

Nysera answered him shortly after. "Edrik is in a fairly severe condition. But he is receiving treatment right now. He should recover, at the fastest, in about two weeks," the girl explained.

There was one special privilege that Atlas gained for winning the battle in the all out confrontation category. He was allowed to transfer resources and troops between lords during this phase.

However, there was also a clear disadvantage. The opposing side had the right to decide who would face whom in the next battle.

This created a real dilemma. Atlas had to carefully allocate key individuals to the right islands, because he could not be certain who would be pulled into the next fight. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

It was even possible that Atlas himself would be chosen, especially if Bolin had grown impatient and decided to challenge him directly.

Still, everything was approaching the final stage. The outcome was becoming clearer with every step.

Then, the next battle was announced.

Arveline, an SS Rank with the King’s Rebirth system ability, would face Bolin’s first Rank 3 lord.

Was Bolin moving too hastily here? Going straight after the second strongest potential force within Atlas’s alliance?