Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord-Chapter 27 - Welcome to Veylamar

There was nothing to worry about. This was standard procedure, especially for soldiers of the Saharan Army, when an unfamiliar group approached in something as strange as a Floating Throne. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Atlas rose from his seat and stepped down onto the desert floor, raising his hands calmly.

"My name is Atlas," he said, looking up at the soldiers. "A newly awakened Lord. I’ve come to this city to stock up on equipment and resources."

"Do you have your Awakener Device with you?" one of the soldiers asked, their unique weapons trained firmly on the group.

They were holding Mana-Infused Railguns. Advanced firearms powered by Mana Cores. The kind of weapons strong enough to seriously injure anyone under level 100. Definitely not something to mess with.

"I lost it right before I was chosen as a Lord," Atlas replied evenly. "I need to verify my identity and get a new one."

"Where are you from?"

"Indo-Pacific Union."

Technically, Lords were no longer bound to their original Unions. That was the law in the Lower Lands. Once chosen, their duties shifted toward the defense and growth of their Floating Islands.

Still, their ties to the Lower Lands ran deep.

The Lower Lands supplied Lords with awakened recruits and vital resources. In return, many of those recruits returned stronger, sometimes even assisting their homeland in battles and emergencies.

"We will verify your identity," one of the soldiers said plainly. "And what about them?" he added, nodding toward the figures still standing on the Floating Throne.

"They are my summons," Atlas replied calmly. "They don’t belong to this world."

The soldier gave a brief nod, apparently satisfied with the explanation.

Moments later, several more Dune Phantoms sped across the desert, forming a perimeter around Atlas and his group. Their weapons were held at the ready, but from a safe distance.

One soldier dismounted and stepped forward. Expecting a scan, Atlas reached up and pulled down his hood, revealing his face without hesitation.

The soldier raised a small, glowing scanning device, and with a quick beep, it confirmed the results.

"Atlas Blackthorn," the soldier read aloud. "You were reported dead... three days ago."

"That’s exactly when I awakened as a Lord," Atlas replied.

The soldier, clearly the ranking officer, nodded, accepting the information. "I’ll arrange for a new Awakener Device to be issued. How long do you plan to stay in the city?"

"Not long. Two or three days, maybe a week at most."

"Then I’ll authorize a seven-day stay," the soldier said, then turned to address the rest of the team. "Each of them will receive a monitoring bracelet. Standard protocol for any visiting Lord and their subordinates."

Atlas nodded. "Understood."

"I’ll also send you a list of permitted and prohibited actions within the city," the soldier continued. "Break any of these regulations, and you’ll be removed immediately."

"Understood," Atlas replied firmly.

A short while later, the squad leader returned, a sleek, card-like device in hand. He extended it toward Atlas.

"Please infuse this with your Mana. It will finalize your registration and confirm your identity in the system."

Atlas nodded, then placed his hand on the device. He focused, letting his Mana flow into it. The card pulsed with a soft glow.

A moment later, a soft chime confirmed the activation.

The soldier gave a short nod. "Now, allow us to place monitoring bracelets on each of your subordinates."

"I’ll handle it," Atlas offered quickly. He preferred to avoid any unnecessary contact between the soldiers and his team, especially Morganna, who wasn’t exactly known for her social grace.

With one of the soldiers walking beside him, Atlas returned to his group.

"Edrik, Karian, Lyrassa, take this," he said, handing each of them a bracelet in turn.

Then he turned to Morganna. "Morganna," he said quietly, offering her the final bracelet.

She took it wordlessly and strapped it onto her left wrist, just like the others.

A brief mechanical click sounded, followed by a faint flicker of light from each bracelet as it powered on and synced.

With everything now in order, Atlas turned back to the soldier.

"All registration is complete," the man reported. "If you haven’t departed by the end of your authorized stay, the Saharan Army will escort you out."

"What about entrance fees? Anything else I should know?"

The soldier shook his head. "No fees. You’re welcome to come and go freely, as long as you follow our laws. Also, as part of our policy for visiting Lords, you’ll receive a welcome credit of 50,000 UGD."

"50k UGD?" Atlas blinked. "That’s... surprisingly generous."

"This is how we treat Lords who visit our city," the soldier replied.

It seemed the rumors about the Saharan Empire’s welcoming attitude were more than just talk. They didn’t prey on newcomers, nor did they drown visitors in heavy demands. Instead, they followed a clear, respectful protocol, offering support and resources without exploitation.

"We can arrange a tour guide if needed," the soldier added, "or you may head directly to the Awakener Association Center for further assistance."

"I’ll get more info through this," Atlas said, lifting his new Awakener Device.

"Good to hear. Enjoy your visit," the soldier replied with a brief nod.

With that, Atlas dismissed his Floating Throne, and the group began their approach toward the massive city wall. Soldiers directed them into a long corridor carved into the Bastion itself.

**

After a few minutes, they emerged on the other side, greeted by a rush of fresh air and warm light. The dull roar of a living metropolis filled their ears.

And what a city it was.

Before them stretched a high-tech urban sprawl. Sleek hover vehicles drifting silently through the streets, maintenance drones patrolling the sidewalks, and towering billboards flashing digital ads across building walls.

And seriously, the Saharan Empire looked completely untouched by the massive catastrophes that had ravaged the Earth for thousands of years.

Somehow, they’d managed to maintain and even build a city this sophisticated in the heart of a continent covered in endless desert.

Veylamar stood in stark contrast to where Atlas had come from, so much so, it almost felt unfair to compare the two.

This city was immaculately managed. And what impressed him even more was that he was certain not all members of the Saharan Army were high-level or even Awakeners. Yet they still held their posts, still performed their duties, managing order, protecting civilians, and maintaining security in a city constantly exposed to monster threats from every direction.

Back where Atlas came from, it was nothing like this.

Cities were smaller, fragmented. People relied almost entirely on Awakeners to fight off monsters, and that dependence showed. Damage from monster attacks was more common than actual progress. Most regions spent more time cleaning up chaos than developing their environments or advancing their infrastructure.

Edrik walked beside Atlas, taking it all in. "This city is very welcoming to outsiders. They didn’t make it difficult for us to enter."

"They seem almost too good to be true," Atlas replied, eyes scanning the streets. "But their reputation is unmatched across the New World."

Thanks to the System’s wardrobe feature, the group had already changed into more relaxed, city-appropriate attire. With a simple mental command, their gear was swapped for casual outfits in seconds.

Atlas glanced around to check on the others. Morganna wore a fitted, sleek jacket paired with sharp black trousers. Her usual cold expression makes her look like some kind of corporate assassin.

Lyrassa, by contrast, had chosen a shorter skirt and a clean-cut top, the vines gently winding around her arms like accessories.

With appearances like theirs, and the way they carried themselves, it was hard not to draw attention. But fortunately, the System had provided attire suited exactly for this kind of environment.

Atlas exhaled slowly, steadying himself. They were in.

Now it was time to explore what Veylamar had to offer.

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