Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord-Chapter 22 - Celestial Vanguard

[Fang of Infernos Lv. 54]

[Grade: Elite]

[Strength +100 | Stamina +100]

[Skills:]

[Inferno Strike (Active): Unleashes a powerful thrust that causes an explosion on impact.]

[Blazing Edge (Passive): The spear’s tip remains superheated, causing minor fire damage over time to any struck enemy.]

Atlas studied the new spear with a satisfied grin. It was long and sleek, the glowing, superheated tip constantly shedding fiery sparks. The dark shaft was engraved with flame motifs, giving it a fierce, elegant edge.

As he gave it a light spin, the spear left a glowing trail in the air.

An Elite-grade weapon. A treasure like this would be worth fighting over in the lower lands.

"Well, finally. I’ve got a spear I can actually use in battle!" he said with clear satisfaction.

He knew it was time to join the battle unfolding below. He had no intention of being the kind of Lord who lounged on a throne while everyone else did the fighting.

Sure, when the situation called for it, he’d lead from above, making calls and directing strategy. But when things got serious, he wanted to be right there in the heart of the fight. And to make that happen, he needed to keep upgrading himself, using every single resource he could get his hands on.

Atlas pulled out three skill scrolls he’d earned from the Gacha: one Rare-grade Smoke Bomb, one Elite-grade Battle Cry, and one Elite-grade Flurry of Spears. He passed Smoke Bomb to Edrik, handed Battle Cry to Karian, and kept Flurry of Spears for himself.

"All right," he muttered, gripping the scroll. "Now I’ve got a new spear skill to add to the mix."

That brought his total to seven active skills.

[Common – Piercing Thrust Lv. 6]

[A precise, forward thrust aimed at penetrating armor.]

[Common – Sweeping Strike Lv. 5]

[Sweeps the spear in a wide arc, striking multiple enemies in front.]

[Common – Defensive Stance Lv. 7]

[Assumes a guarded position with the spear, reducing incoming damage.]

[Common – Ground Slam Lv. 4]

[Drives the spear’s butt into the ground, creating a shockwave.]

[Common – Power Strike Lv. 8]

[A powerful, focused blow that hits harder than a normal swing.]

[Common – Endurance Boost Lv. 9]

[Briefly increases stamina, letting the user last longer in battle.]

[Elite – Flurry of Spears Lv. 1]

[Unleashes a rapid barrage of spear strikes focused on a single enemy.]

This new skill marked his first Elite-grade ability. It was a serious leap forward from the basic skills most warriors like him started out with.

Now at level 39, Atlas had accumulated 40 stat points, ready to be distributed. After a brief moment of thought, he allocated 10 points into Strength and the remaining 30 into Agility.

His aim was to strike a balance, maintaining enough raw power to make his hits count, while boosting his speed and finesse to match his fighting style.

What an incredible upgrade. Forty stat points in one go! Never in his life had he imagined a day like this would actually come.

[Name: Atlas Blackthorn]

[Level: 39]

[Strength: 160 | Agility: 84 | Intelligence: 39 | Constitution: 58 | Stamina: 65]

Atlas leapt down from his floating throne, instantly drawing the eyes of his team.

Karian rushed to his side without hesitation. "My Lord, are you sure you want to join the fight yourself?" he asked, swinging his greatsword to intercept a Lava Hound lunging toward them. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

"I am," Atlas replied, spinning his spear into position. "And starting today, I’ll need your help training. Every single day. How about it?"

"With pleasure, My Lord," Karian said.

Once Atlas set his sights on something, he never wavered. That relentless drive had been carved into him since childhood, growing up in a harsh, unforgiving world.

And after today, he’d decided he was going to sharpen every part of himself, both body and skill. Karian would be his main sparring partner, helping him hone his technique. Morganna could join too... if she ever decided to stop being such a handful.

He launched into battle, spinning his spear and unleashing Flurry of Spears. But the Lava Hound he faced was ten levels stronger. The beast barely reacted to the first wave of hits.

As it lunged at him, Atlas slipped aside, redirecting the monster’s momentum. Karian was already in motion, bringing his greatsword down with a thunderous strike. Atlas moved in fast, driving his spear straight into the creature’s chest. Lava burst from the wound in a molten spray as the beast collapsed.

They continued cutting through the volcanic landscape, battling wave after wave of monsters. Each fight brought more rewards. Rare materials, gear enhancements, and enough resources to upgrade every teammate’s fire resistance gear.

And to Atlas’s quiet satisfaction, he finally gathered the key materials needed to build the Flame Beacon back on his island.

Atlas took a moment to review the day’s haul: 30 Fire Crystals and 6 Lava Shards. It wasn’t quite enough to finish constructing the Flame Beacon, but it was a solid step forward. The sun was already dipping low, and his team was clearly worn out.

Time to call it a day.

Despite not hitting every goal, the hunt had been productive. They’d gathered a good number of rare materials and valuable loot.

Even after slaying over fifty monsters, he still hadn’t quite broken through to level 40.

[Exp: 44,771 / 45,581]

So close, just a little more experience, and he’d make it. If he could keep this kind of momentum going every day, he was confident he could hit at least level 45 before the protective barrier around his island finally dropped.

And when that happened, he’d need every advantage, every level, every skill, every gear upgrade. Because that was when the real battles would begin.

They had finally returned to Gacha Haven.

Around the island, trees and plants had already started sprouting at a surprising rate. It had only been a day, and yet the landscape looked more lush and alive.

Atlas let everyone find their own places to rest for the night. As for him, he headed straight for the tent. Too tired to think, he forced down a few bites of food, then collapsed into sleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

**

Morning arrived.

Atlas opened his eyes with a jolt, immediately glancing to his right, then to his left. The memory of waking up next to Morganna still haunted him. But not today. Thankfully, he was alone this time.

His body had fully recovered. His stomach, however, growled in protest. Seemed like every last bit of food from last night had been burned up during his recovery.

Still, he wasn’t heading for breakfast just yet. This morning, he had something else in mind. Training. Hard training. He wanted to sweat and push himself to the brink before even thinking about food.

Stepping out of his tent, he was met with the soft glow of sunrise stretching over the floating island. To his surprise, Mira was already in the garden, tending to the plants. Had she slept out there too?

Not far off, Karian was also up, swinging his greatsword in smooth, practiced arcs. The man was already deep into his own training. No surprise there, Karian lived like a warrior through and through.

Atlas started with a stretch, then broke into a run, circling the small island. He kept the pace steady but strong, testing the improvements in his strength and agility gained over the past two days.

Sweat quickly soaked through his clothes. His legs burned. His breathing grew harsh. But he didn’t stop. He kept pushing, over and over, until his body was drenched and the morning sun had risen fully.

The island, once bare, now brimmed with greenery, lush grass, blooming plants, even saplings dotting the landscape.

Just as he slowed to catch his breath, a notification flashed in front of his eyes:

[Luna (Celestial Vanguard) is attempting to contact you. They have sent a package for you.]

[Accept the package?]

Luna?

Who the hell is Luna?

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