Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord

It was a dead night, where the endless darkness merged with the merciless cold of the frozen island. The temperature was brutally low, making every step a struggle, every breath a biting chill.

Navigating through this harsh terrain was difficult, visibility nearly nonexistent. If not for the pale glow of the moon casting its dim light over one side of the island. It wasn't much, but it was just enough to make traversing the frozen ground and enduring the occasional snowstorms slightly more manageable.

Tonight, however, Atlas wasn't alone. He was accompanied by Baldric, Kurogasa, and Morganna. And for once, he was grateful for Baldric's presence. At the very least, Baldric's natural body heat provided some relief from the unbearable cold, allowing Atlas to edge closer and steal some warmth from the towering dwarf beside him.

Only in conditions like this did Atlas truly feel the gap in adaptability between himself and the others. He needed to push himself further. To improve his resistance, to strengthen his body against even harsher environments.

Because out of the four of them - except Atlas, calling the others normal didn't feel quite right. They were something far beyond that.

Atlas was the only one struggling against the freezing cold.

Meanwhile, Baldric casually plowed through the deep snow, the flames that occasionally flickered across his body melting everything in his path.

Morganna? She was completely unaffected by the temperature. Like the cold itself refused to touch her.

As for Kurogasa?

Well, even Atlas admitted that compared to Baldric and Morganna, he was relatively normal. But normal for Kurogasa still meant exceptional adaptability. Even in this brutal cold, he moved effortlessly. Leaping, running, and scouting ahead to find the best possible path through the frozen wasteland.

Some time later, somewhere around midnight, they arrived at an open clearing. At its center stood a massive mound of ice, looming in the darkness.

To an untrained eye, it appeared to be nothing more than a natural formation.

But Atlas knew better. Or rather, Kurogasa had already uncovered the truth during his earlier scouting.

And yes… That wasn't just a mound of ice. It was something else entirely.

At that moment, Morganna stepped forward, approaching the frozen mass. As she moved, her entire body ignited, engulfed in swirling flames of shadow and blood. Without hesitation, her figure blurred forward in an instant, closing the distance between herself and the massive mound.

Morganna raised her right hand, and a surge of shadow energy burst forth, twisting and elongating until it took the shape of a curved, wicked blade. In an instant, her signature scythe materialized in her grasp, and she immediately shifted into an attacking stance.

And yes. Her target was none other than the massive mound of snow, now fully illuminated by the faint moonlight hanging over the frozen landscape.

Without hesitation, Morganna slashed. Her scythe carved through the icy mound with unnatural speed, slicing apart the frozen mass in an instant. The hardened snow shattered and scattered in every direction, torn apart by the sheer force of her attack.

Then—

Atlas felt it. A deep, trembling vibration beneath his feet. The ground shook. A roar erupted from within the mound.

A moment later, a violent explosion sent shards of ice blasting outward, forcing Morganna to swiftly retreat.

From the collapsing snow and ice, something stirred.

Something massive.

It rose.

A colossal figure emerged from beneath the frozen ground, its body shedding the layers of ice that had entombed it.

A second earth-shaking stomp followed, accompanied by another thunderous roar that sent a wave of force rippling through the ground.

And finally, Atlas saw it. The creature they had come here to wake.

It stood on four massive legs, its silhouette towering in the moonlit night. A thick, muscular trunk extended outward, and from its head, two enormous curved tusks jutted forward, both covered in jagged formations of ice.

Its entire body was wrapped in a thick layer of frozen armor, with spikes of crystallized ice protruding from its back and shoulders.

The creature lifted its massive trunk high into the air. Its glowing blue eyes burned like icy embers in the darkness. And with one final, earth-shaking bellow, it fully awoke.

[Elite - Icefang Colossus Lv. 122]

A massive, mammoth-like monster. An Elite-grade beast, Level 122.

Even from a distance, its sheer size and presence were enough to gauge its overwhelming strength. And it was obvious, this wasn't a monster Atlas could take down. Not even with Kurogasa, Baldric, and Morganna at his side.

Well, the possibility was there, but he had no intention of working that hard on a freezing night just to subdue a beast like that.

But did they come all this way in the dead of night just to slay it?

No.

They were here for one reason. To wake it up and let it take a little stroll through the nearby area.

Baldric crossed his arms, his deep, rumbling voice breaking the cold air. "That thick mammalian hide… would make fine warm clothing for us."

Atlas smirked slightly. "We can harvest the monster after it finishes its little task." he quipped, lacing his words with sarcasm.

Morganna, still standing near the massive beast, remained perfectly still, as if waiting. Waiting for the monster to finish its roar of awakening.

And the moment its glowing blue eyes locked onto her… It was as if it had just discovered its new purpose for the night.

With a thunderous stomp, the massive creature lunged forward, its weight shaking the ground beneath it.

Morganna merely vanished in an instant, reappearing at another distant point.

Now, it was set. A mammoth-sized beast had begun its chase. And the Vampire Queen was leading it exactly where they wanted it to go.

Atlas and the others trailed behind the rampaging mammoth, watching as the beast charged furiously through the frozen forest, relentlessly chasing the one who had disturbed its slumber.

Atlas and the others broke into a run, following close behind.

"You're surely brilliant with ideas like this, My Lord. Hahaha!" Baldric remarked with a booming laugh.

"Well, it would be strange if we didn't take advantage of something like this," Atlas replied calmly.

The monster charged forward, fully prepared to carry out its task.