Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord

It was inside a chamber built from ancient stone, the structure old yet still sturdy. The flickering glow of several fireplaces cast warm light across the room, illuminating a setup of tables, chairs, and comfortable resting areas. The harsh cold and raging blizzard outside felt distant here, sealed away beyond the thick stone walls.

At the central table, five individuals sat in a relaxed manner, each occupying their own chair. Though their expressions appeared at ease, a few bore a more serious look as they discussed the matters at hand.

"So, what are Kareem's cockroach lackeys up to now?" one of them asked.

"Hah, I'd say they're starting to lose patience, considering how their numbers keep dwindling."

"They actually abandoned two key zones under their control."

"Reports say they've regrouped at a single location with a massive force."

"Oh, really? Did they stumble upon something interesting enough to make them give up those key zones?"

One of them sighed before responding. "They've been guarding the area tightly, making it difficult to gather more intel. But I believe they found something significant. Significant enough to keep it under wraps. Though, based on our previous scouting, there was nothing special in that area… Or did we perhaps overlook something?"

The five of them exchanged thoughtful glances, contemplating the possibilities.

"Could it be a raid monster?"

"Should we go and investigate?"

The one who appeared to be their leader spoke in a firm, decisive tone. "Why should we concern ourselves with them when we can simply sit back and win this island in the end? Let them fight whatever they've found… And if it is a raid monster, we'll just wipe them out once they're weakened."

"What about the key zones they left behind?"

"I saw those clueless girl Lords take over them… Well, that won't change anything. Just leave them be."

The Lords laughed among themselves, clearly amused by how the Dominion Skirmish was unfolding.

"This island is far too valuable to let go… but also far too easy to claim. As long as we stay gathered in one place like this, no one would dare challenge us."

"Yeah… that's true."

However, one of them suddenly spoke up.

"I mean… I'm kinda curious about that Magical Girls Alliance. They've got plenty of cute girls, after all."

"Your horniness is always guiding your decisions, huh?"

"What? What's the harm in having a little fun with them? Especially while Kareem's cockroach army is busy dealing with their own mess."

"I'm not interested," came the flat reply. "Do whatever you want. Just don't lose us more troops. I'm not cleaning up another disaster like that bastard sneaking into our ranks in the middle of the night."

"Who knows?" the first man chuckled. "Maybe the Magical Girls were the ones behind that attack to begin with. Forcing them to work a little harder could be… interesting."

"They've got a massive number of troops," another warned sharply. "That's not wise."

The five of them continued their laid-back debate, casually enjoying their food and drinks as they spoke. They were clearly having a pleasant time, completely at ease in the warmth of their stronghold. At least, from inside these walls.

***

Meanwhile, deep inside the cave, where there had once been no light at all, several soldiers carried artificial lighting, casting a bright glow across the cavernous space. At the front of the group stood Kaelzar, a Lord leading the hunting expedition that day.

Every so often, the ground around them trembled violently, like a miniature earthquake shaking the cave.

Right in front of them was a mysterious chamber, its entrance sealed off by a thick layer of ice. But even through the frozen barrier, it was clear that something enormous lurked within.

Some of the soldiers stepped forward, raising their massive hammers before striking the icy wall with full force. They were clearly eager to see what lay behind it.

Blow after blow rained down, and then. Crack.

The ice shattered. And… A deafening roar erupted from within, echoing throughout the cave, shaking its very walls.

Kaelzar's smirk widened as he stepped closer, peering into the now-exposed chamber.

Right before them was a monstrous form. Part of its massive body and head were now visible. It let out another furious roar before unleashing a devastating blast of energy in every direction.

Kaelzar swiftly leaped back just as the entrance to the enormous chamber slammed shut once more.

"That's definitely something big," one of the Lords beside him remarked.

"Hah…" Kaelzar let out a low chuckle, amused. "So, this is what they've been hiding inside the cave? I'm willing to bet Atlas already knew about this and deliberately kept it secret from the others."

"But that thing is too strong… It won't be easy to take down."

"That's a raid monster," Kaelzar confirmed, his eyes gleaming with interest. He then turned his gaze toward the rest of his troops stationed along the same tunnel. Meanwhile, the rest of his forces were still scattered, continuing their exploration of the cave.

"Have Atlas and his troops been found yet?" Kaelzar asked.

"I think they either fled or are hiding… The cave system has too many tunnels and branches. It'll take time to track them down."

Kaelzar fell silent for a moment. The ground trembled violently once more. Another aftershock from the massive monster trapped within the chamber behind them.

"Just make sure the exits are guarded. Don't let them escape… No matter what happens, they'll be trapped here. And with all the high-level monsters lurking in this cave, they might not survive for long." His voice was calm but deliberate.

"Though, honestly, I still want to capture that man," he added. "At the very least, his other troops must be hiding somewhere. There's no way he came here with such a small force."

One of the other Lords shrugged. "Maybe they've already retreated from the island. I mean… if I were in their position and saw us arriving with an army this size, I'd be running for my life."

"That does seem like the most likely scenario," Kaelzar admitted. He paused for a moment, lost in thought, before continuing.

"This place isn't meant for weaklings of their level… Still…"

His voice trailed off, but the anger on his face was unmistakable.

"Once this war is over, we hunt them down. And make sure they regret ever daring to mess with us… Twenty of our men are gone because of them. They will pay for that."

After making his statement, Kaelzar issued another command to his alliance.

"Keep searching. Who knows? We might uncover more interesting things within this cave. This discovery alone is already extraordinary."

The others nodded in agreement, but one of the Lords beside him spoke up.

"What about the raid monster, Kaelzar? If we leave it be, the other alliances might uncover this secret as well."

Kaelzar gave a slow nod, crossing his arms as he considered the situation.

"We have to win this island… and an all-out confrontation with the alliance holding the central zone would cost us far too many casualties."

He fell into silence for a moment before finally making his decision. His voice was firm, unwavering.

"We wait until our troop numbers recover… and then…" He paused briefly, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"We crush that damned monster."