Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord-Chapter 37 - The Kingdom Begins

Atlas took in the view around them. Lush green grass, a vibrant blanket of blooming flowers, and even... a river?

A river?!

How was that even possible?

He followed the water’s path with his eyes, tracing it back to its source. Right there, the Aqua Crystal Karian had been planted just a few days ago. It fed the stream that now flowed serenely across the island.

"What do you think, My Lord?" Mira asked.

"Magnificent!" he replied, grinning. "You’ve truly transformed this place beautifully, Mira."

"Yay!" Mira cheered, bouncing with joy.

Atlas quickly averted his gaze.

Shaking himself free from the overload, he moved toward the camp setup, Mira and Edrik falling in beside him. He was eager to begin placing the new structures immediately. With all the materials he’d secured in Veylamar, he was now able to unlock nearly every available upgrade for the island’s initial phase.

"My Lord, put one here... another one over there... and that spot too," Mira suggested helpfully, pointing at the floating holographic map projected in front of them.

Atlas had never imagined his once-barren island could look this alive. If not for Mira’s magic touch, it would’ve still felt like a lifeless plot of land. She’d even thoughtfully mapped out ideal zones for each structure.

Following her guidance, he queued up three additional residential huts, then placed four Flame Beacons, positioning them at the cardinal edges of the island to form a protective ring.

Finally, he added a Training Ground, just one for now. He already planned to lead the troops to a nearby island soon for more hands-on combat.

After all, training through real battles would serve them far better than simple drills. It would strengthen their coordination, raise their levels, and best of all, yield loot from the monsters they defeated.

With everything falling into place, they shifted their focus to organizing the living arrangements for both troops and workers. A rotating schedule was established for sleeping shifts, ensuring a balance between rest and productivity. This allowed the rest of the island’s population to concentrate fully on their designated tasks.

Two cooks had already been assigned to oversee food preparation. For now, that was enough. Their sole responsibility would be managing meals for everyone on the island, from soldiers to support staff.

Next came troop organization. With 24 combatants, Atlas split them into four teams. Each squad was assigned at least one tank and one support member. While the teams weren’t perfectly balanced, some lacked ranged attackers, others were light on mages. It was sufficient for now.

He gave each squad a simple but distinct name: Aether, Blaze, Cinder, and Dusk. Easy to remember, yet evocative enough to feel meaningful. Aether and Blaze would operate under Edrik’s command, while Cinder and Dusk would fall under Karian’s leadership.

And as for Kurogasa?

The ninja rat was appointed as Atlas’s personal trainer.

It made perfect sense. With mastery over multiple martial arts, deep knowledge of countless weapon types, and over a century of combat under his belt, Kurogasa was the ideal mentor. He could sharpen Atlas’s technique in ways no other subordinate could.

Beyond that, Kurogasa’s stealth skills far outmatched even Edrik’s. That made him the obvious choice for Atlas’s personal bodyguard, operating in the background, conducting surveillance, and keeping watch from the shadows.

Night fell, marking the first evening on the Floating Island for many of the new arrivals. Mira had even prepared a small stage from which Atlas could address the crowd gathered around him.

"This is your home. This is our home!"

"Together, we’ll build this island into the greatest kingdom you’ve ever dreamed of!"

His words were met with resounding cheers and applause.

"Make friends! Get to know each other! Protect each other! This journey won’t be easy. Most of you already know that. But if we face it together, as comrades, as a family, I know we can overcome anything!"

There was no denying the strength in his voice, nor the confidence in his eyes.

Edrik gave a small nod and a slow clap. "He really does have what it takes to lead."

"Yeah... something I didn’t have in my past life," Karian replied quietly.

Among the thirty Atlas had brought to the island, there were twenty-two men and eight women. Two of those women had stepped into leadership roles. One, a formidable mage; the other, a precise and quick-witted archer. With two squads led by women and two by men, Atlas felt a strong and healthy balance among his commanders.

The next morning began early. Very early.

As the first light of dawn touched the sky, the entire island stirred to life.

Nearly everyone would join the hunt, leaving only Mira and a few key workers behind to tend the island. Even the cooks were coming along, ready to set up camp and prepare food at the site.

Atlas stood beside Edrik, studying their destination map.

"This island here," Edrik began, pointing to a nearby spot, "offers a more comfortable and safer environment."

"But wouldn’t that mean it’s crowded, too?" Atlas replied thoughtfully.

"Correct. You’ve grasped that quickly," Edrik nodded with approval.

Atlas tapped the map. "Then we should aim for something more challenging but still manageable... Flare Peak."

"Flare Peak is home to level‑40+ monsters, but in manageable numbers. With Karian, myself, Master Kurogasa, and even Morganna, we’ll be fine."

"So we can train everyone properly, while facing threats that won’t overwhelm us," Atlas confirmed.

"I agree," said Edrik.

They decided to press on without fire‑resistance gear for now, an early test to forge the group’s resolve. With this many people, it might take three or four days to outfit everyone properly, but today was about proving their mettle.

Everyone was ready.

Lyrassa floated among the group, her calm energy accentuated by the soft hum of blooming flowers around her. A faint fragrance drifted from her, enchanting a few troops and causing them to falter in their steps.

Next, Karian strode forward. His mere presence drew every eye.

Kurogasa appeared silently from the shadows, stepping into place behind Atlas as if he’d always stood there.

And then Morganna arrived, without warning, she landed beside Atlas with a heavy thud. A few of the troops jumped at the sound, and all eyes snapped toward her.

Atlas activated the portal, the magic circle flaring to life beneath their feet. One by one, the troops stepped through, until only he and Edrik remained.

Just then, Mira came running over, her footsteps light and her voice as cheerful as ever.

"My Lord, I have a fresh harvest of carrots for you! They’re sweet and good for the body," she said.

Atlas accepted the carrot, freshly pulled from the soil, still speckled with bits of earth.

"Thanks, Mira. Take care of our home. We’ll be back by nightfall."

"Bye, My Lord...!" Mira waved with all her strength, her arm high in the air, even though he stood just a few steps away.

Atlas gave her one last nod before turning and stepping through the portal, with Edrik following at his side.

The journey to building the strongest army in the world had officially begun!

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