Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord

An alliance? Does Atlas really need an alliance? Or does he truly believe he can take on all these challenges by himself?

That thought kept circling in his mind, appearing over and over again, sometimes slipping into his discussions with Edrik. Even on the second day of his training, when he had started running more freely, up there on the mountain peak, where the wind was wild and merciless.

Atlas relied on his spear to endure the harsh environment. He wielded it with precision, channeling the elemental particles in the air and merging them with his body to create a protective barrier against the relentless wind.

It wasn't flawless. But it gave him the edge he needed to push forward with greater speed and freedom.

Still, it didn't mean he was completely unaffected. Every now and then, a powerful gust would nearly lift his body off the ground. But each time, he would adjust his stance, plant his feet firmly, and regain control of his balance. He pressed on. He focused harder.

This was no easy task.

His mind drifted back to that unforgettable battle in Veylamar City. Kareem, the Rank-4 Lord, defending the Veylamar city.

The man had flown through the air with ease, wielding a greatsword so powerful that a single swing could take out dozens of monsters at once.

How the fuck does someone progress that fast, even at Rank 4?

Was it even normal for someone at that rank to be that strong?

And if someone at Rank 4 was capable of such feats, what about the Lords ranked above them?

Atlas clenched his fists. Even Edrik, had once been a Rank-5 Lord. That was before he lost his status and was summoned to serve under Atlas.

So, did he really need allies? Or was this a journey he had to take alone?

The tricky part was finding an alliance that struck the right balance. One that would provide him with both the freedom to make his own decisions and the necessary support to face the challenges ahead.

And that, of course, was no easy task. Finding the right alliance was a challenge all on its own.

Two days in, and they had already made significant progress. Satisfying, to say the least. Mostly because the combatants, as a whole, had started to settle into their own rhythm, and each team had secured their own separate hunting grounds.

Their focus was crystal clear: reaching Level 50 as fast as possible. And at this point, they only needed one final push to get there.

**

Atlas ran faster with each step. He began to leap over rocks and obstacles with confidence.

But it wasn't until the fifth day of his training that something new entered his routine.

Dark clouds gathered above without warning, turning the bright midday sky into an ominous dusk. The air grew heavier, the scent of rain thick in his nostrils.

Then came the deep rumble of thunder. A deafening roar that seemed to shake the very ground beneath him. It was as though the sky itself was growling, ready to unleash its fury.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he felt the temperature around him plummet.

Finally!

This was what he had been waiting for. Rain, a storm, and lightning. His training wasn't just about mastering the wind. It was about mastering both wind and lightning. He needed the storm to push himself further and complete the quest.

Am I… going to die if I get struck by lightning?

"Hell, please." He gritted his teeth, trying to push through the chaos.

"I have a high affinity with water. And I'm used to Lightning. This should be easy for me!"

But fate didn't seem to care.

A blinding bolt of lightning struck the ground beside him. The sheer force of it sent him flying through the air, slamming his body into a cluster of jagged rocks. His back hit the stone hard, but he grit his teeth through the pain, forcing himself back to his feet.

Atlas steadied himself, his hands gripping the earth beneath him as he found his footing again. His gaze locked on the storm raging around him. This was his chance. The perfect opportunity to push himself beyond his limits, to accelerate his progress and complete the quest!

No backing down. No second-guessing!

He'd faced worse.

He'd endured relentless waves, storms of energy, brutal combat training.

This wasn't new to him!

Atlas spun his spear. The crackling energy in the air began to respond, elemental particles weaving into his body, wrapping him in a thin current of golden lightning.

"Run," he told himself, gripping his spear tighter. "Just run!"

He pushed forward, his pace quickening despite the storm's brutal force and the occasional need to steady himself when a lightning strike crashed dangerously close.

But then, a familiar presence emerged at his side. It was Kurogasa.

"I will accompany you, My Lord," he said with a respectful bow.

Atlas grinned. "Let's go!"

The two of them ran side by side, charging through the heart of the storm. Even so, Atlas couldn't help but notice that Kurogasa was holding back, carefully matching his pace.

This was no ordinary run, yet it wasn't as brutal as his volcanic terrain training. Back then, he'd stumbled blindly through molten rocks, stripped of all his senses, relying on pure instinct to survive. Here, it was different. Here, he could use his awareness, his focus, to navigate the chaos.

The challenge wasn't blindness.

It was the storm itself.

The relentless rain that battered his body, the violent wind that howled from every direction, and the crashing lightning that struck without warning. It wasn't just physical endurance. It demanded balance, sharp instincts, and adaptability.

And Atlas? He was thriving.

With each step, he could feel it. The growth. His senses sharpened, his instincts heightened. The storm wasn't a barrier to overcome. It was a gift.

Atlas wasn't just surviving the storm.

He was mastering it.

Who knows what kind of terrain he would face in the future? What kind of enemies would stand in his way?

This was the perfect chance to prepare. To test himself in the harshest conditions. To become the kind of warrior who could survive anything.

Atlas wasn't just running to finish the training. He was chasing perfection!

He intended to seize every challenge ahead, and master it!

As the days passed, Atlas grew more confident with each step. His strides became steadier, his movements more fluid. He wasn't just running through the storm anymore. He was becoming one with it.

He had learned to move with the wind, to anticipate the sudden gusts, to dodge the relentless strikes of lightning that crashed into the ground around him.

And then there was the bird.

The same monster bird that had attacked him before. It swooped down from the swirling skies, its enormous wings slicing through the storm as it circled above him.

Atlas glanced up and grinned. Here we go again.

The bird dived sharply toward him, talons stretched, but he dodged with ease, skidding to the side as lightning illuminated the sky.

The interaction, strangely enough, felt… fun.

Was the bird toying with him? Testing him? Or perhaps, just maybe, it was playing with him.

The bird twisted mid-air and launched another attack, this time from an unexpected angle. Atlas spun his spear and deflected the strike with a precise parry, sending the creature spiraling off course.

It stumbled for a moment, battered by the raging winds, but quickly righted itself and soared back into the stormy skies.

Tough bird.

He smirked, wiping the rain from his face.

This one doesn't give up easily.

Every day, the bird returned. And every day, it seemed to bring friends. Other monster birds joined in, swooping and diving as they took turns attacking him. Yet, the more they came, the more he grew to enjoy the challenge.

It was like a game.

And he loved it.

He laughed out loud as he dodged another attack, his voice carried away by the wind. The storm, the birds, the lightning. It all felt like a chaotic dance. A dance he was getting better at with each passing day.

The monster bird screeched in frustration after missing another attack.

Atlas twirled his spear, still grinning.

"You'll have to do better than that!" he shouted through the storm.

Eventually, after one final clash, Atlas landed a solid blow on the bird's side. The creature screeched, flapping its massive wings to gain altitude, retreating into the sky.

"Come back tomorrow, yeah?"

Until finally, on the tenth day, the notification he had been longing for appeared at last!

[Congratulations, Atlas!]