Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord

The City Lord sat in silence as his assistant hesitated, then gave a reluctant nod.

"Some believe Zara could one day carry on her father's legacy. That's why there are still people clinging to hope, hoping she'll return to this city."

"That's absurd!" the mayor snapped.

Silence hung heavy in the room before the man spoke again, his tone colder now. "Do you know where she is?"

His assistant replied cautiously, "The last reports placed her in Veylamar City."

"She's still there?" the man growled. He fell silent again, tapping his fingers against the desk in a steady rhythm.

"We need to find her," he muttered.

"But, Sir," the assistant said gently, "she hasn't been in Veylamar for the past two or three months. The most consistent speculation is that she's joined a Lord's faction."

"A Lord?" The mayor's eyes narrowed. "Kareem?"

"Based on her growth rate, it's likely she's aligned herself with a Seeker Lord."

"Tch. A Seeker?" the mayor scoffed. "That girl might just get herself killed... without me needing to lift a finger."

His assistant gave a small bow before speaking. "So, do we still need to track down the girl, Sir?"

"Yes…" the mayor replied casually, his tone disturbingly calm. "Bring me her head."

Every so often, the city mayor's phone would ring.

"What? Didn't I already say that project was important? Those poor people are just a thorn in this city's side. Hire the usual thugs we work with. Have them stir up some chaos so those people leave on their own. Don't get our hands dirty with something that stupid."

Moments later, the phone rang again. Another command followed.

"I want you to prioritize my business partners. Forget the locals. Who cares about this birthplace nonsense. The clients from North America are willing to pay far more…"

He slammed his hand against the desk, visibly agitated. "These fools are making my job ten times harder."

To any outsider watching the scene unfold, it would be unmistakable: this was a man working in the shadows, pulling strings behind the curtain, manipulating the fate of a city far more than the public could ever begin to imagine.

Until...

"That should be enough evidence for me to act on…" a voice suddenly echoed through the room.

Both the mayor and his assistant froze, their eyes darting across the office in alarm.

"Who's there?! Show yourself!" the city mayor barked.

From the shadowed corner of the room, a figure stepped forward, dressed in a black cloak and wearing a full-face mask.

"An intruder!" the mayor hissed. "How dare you sneak into my office?! Do you have any idea who you're dealing with? I will make sure you're dragged through the filth of this city before you're torn apart! Guards! Kill this rat, now!"

His assistant didn't hesitate. He summoned a gleaming sword into his grip and dropped into a low, ready stance.

But the mysterious figure remained composed. With a slow, deliberate movement, they raised a small recording device.

"I've captured everything you said. That's all I came for."

The assistant's eyes narrowed, his grip on the sword tightening. "You're not leaving this place alive!"

**

Atlas sat quietly beside Zara on a long bench overlooking a tranquil artificial lake near the city's central park. The sky was deepening, streaked with hues of orange and purple as dusk settled over the horizon.

For a while, neither spoke. Zara sat still, her gaze distant as she stared into the calm waters. Atlas remained beside her.

Eventually, it was Atlas who broke the stillness.

"What does it feel like…" he asked softly, "to take someone's life?"

Zara's eyes widened at the question. She turned to face him, startled. "My Lord…" she began, but the words caught in her throat.

She lowered her gaze, nervously clasping her hands together in her lap before continuing.

"At first… it hurt," she confessed. "It tore at me from the inside."

She paused, her voice growing quieter. "But over time… I came to understand something. In this world, we don't get to choose kindness over survival. We can only live by defending ourselves… or by killing those who threaten us."

Atlas took a deep breath, nodding slowly in response to her words.

"You didn't say anything when I told the team we were heading to this city," he said after a pause.

Zara remained silent, her eyes dropping to the ground.

"What do you feel?"

Her shoulders stiffened, and she lowered her head even further. "Anger," she finally confessed, her voice trembling.

Atlas exhaled deeply and rose to his feet, his gaze still fixed on the lake. "I'm giving you the opportunity you need," he said quietly. "Take it, or we leave this city behind."

The silence that followed felt heavier than before.

Then, after a few long moments, Zara slowly stood, lifting her head. "I will take this opportunity, My Lord."

"We're all on the same island now. Bound to the same fate. We're not just teammates, we're family. Your pain is mine. It's ours." Atlas said.

She paused, visibly moved, then gave a firm nod. "I will give my all. And I will remain loyal to you."

Atlas offered her a small, knowing smile. "I know you will. You carry the potential to become something truly extraordinary."

"I've spent too long running from my past," she said firmly. "But I won't keep doing that. If I'm to grow, if I'm to be of any worth to this team. I need to face it head-on."

She took a step closer. "I understand now that strength isn't just about winning battles or killing enemies. It's about making choices, even when they're painful."

Her expression hardened. "If I have to walk through the fire to reclaim what's mine, I'll do it. Not for revenge, but for clarity. For the future I want to build. For the people I want to protect."

She placed a hand lightly on her chest. "I'm no longer the girl who needed to be shielded. I am a soldier. A survivor. And I'll prove that to anyone who dares doubt it."

"You've already proven that. By being a good leader to your team, Zara," Atlas said with quiet conviction.

That night, they decided to make camp by the lake. The area was a common stop for awakeners traveling through the city

Atlas had already dispatched Kurogasa on a reconnaissance mission to gather intel on their true target. Though Atlas could have taken matters into his own hands and settled this personal grudge swiftly, Edrik had presented a more calculated alternative. A method that would wound their enemy far more deeply than brute force ever could.

Then a message came through from him, from Edrik.

"This city mayor's basically running a criminal empire. He's surrounded by awakeners, many of them over level 50. All stationed at his residence."

Atlas read the message quietly.

"So... they're not just full of bluster. They're actually strong?"

And… Kurogasa had truly infiltrated the City Lord's residence on his own.

Atlas clenched his fist unconsciously, tension rippling through his arm.

Then, another message from Edrik arrived.

"Well, no need to worry though. Morganna and Kurogasa alone are more than enough to deal with them."

Atlas let out a quiet breath, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"You're not exactly lacking in confidence, are you, Edrik?"