Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord

"My Lord, I am ready to carry out my mission," the man reported to Luna.

"Listen carefully," Luna instructed, her voice calm yet commanding. "Master Kurogasa will accompany you. Your only task is to gather intelligence and deliver it back to us. Do not act recklessly, just follow every order Master Kurogasa gives you. Do you understand?"

"Yes, My Lord," the man replied with firm resolve.

Moments later, Kurogasa entered as well. He turned to Atlas, offering him a deep bow.

"Take care," was all Atlas said in return.

With that, the stealth warriors vanished into the night.

Time passed. Then Luna rose from her seat and accessed her system. A faint glow shimmered before her as she summoned something. An ethereal, floating screen materializing in midair. She adjusted its size with a swipe of her fingers before settling back down.

At first, the screen showed nothing but darkness.

"You mean you can see through your soldier's eyes, Luna?" Atlas murmured, turning toward the Magical Girl Lord.

"Yes," Luna replied smoothly. "Any troop connected to my system can share both their sight and hearing. This way, we can observe everything inside the cave without setting foot there ourselves."

"That's incredibly useful. I wonder if you can share that skill with me too."

"Yes… if you join my forces." Her lips curved into a knowing smile.

Atlas chuckled, unfazed. "I should've seen that coming."

Despite the casual tone of their conversation, Atlas could still feel the tension tightening in the air. Inside the camp and among the soldiers waiting outside.

Then, the feed on Luna's screen flickered.

Kurogasa and his companion were crouched behind a thick treeline, their vantage point overlooking a vast army on the move. Hundreds of soldiers from Alliance B marched under the pale shimmer of moonlight, their formation tight, their steps sharp and deliberate.

This was it.

The moment Atlas had been preparing for. The culmination of every calculated move, every risk he had taken.

Now, only execution remained.

And he could only hope that everything would unfold according to plan.

**

Because of Alliance B's overwhelming numbers, they were forced to enter the cave in staggered groups. Yet even then, their discipline was undeniable. As they advanced toward the Raid Monster's lair, soldiers systematically planted artificial lighting along the tunnels, transforming the suffocating darkness into a steadily illuminated path.

The cave, once cloaked in shadow, now glowed brighter and brighter. Especially along the route leading to their colossal target.

Meanwhile, Kurogasa and Luna's assassin slipped in through a different passage. Their goal was simple but dangerous: reach a vantage point, a hidden perch from which they could observe the battlefield without being noticed.

They found it, a narrow elevated path that looked down over the volcanic ice pool far below. And there, waiting in the depths, was the monster.

The feed on Luna's screen shook slightly as the colossal beast came into view, its massive body stirring, spewing bursts of volatile energy into the air.

Luna's eyes widened. She shot to her feet instantly.

"Atlas… is that the island's boss?"

Atlas gave a slow, deliberate nod.

"Hell damn…" Ember's voice cut in, both awed and appalled. "They're insane if they think they can actually bring that thing down. And crazier still—" she smirked, her eyes glinting—"they've walked straight into your trap, I suppose?"

The creature displayed on the screen was beyond monstrous. It wasn't just a beast, it was a force of nature. Majestic, terrifying, and impossibly powerful.

Even Luna seemed momentarily struck silent, her thoughts tangled as she tried to comprehend the sheer scale of what loomed before them.

She turned back to Atlas, her gaze narrowing.

"You know a lot about this cave, don't you? I guess spending weeks hiding inside wasn't a waste after all."

She stopped mid-thought, her eyes sharpening as the truth struck her.

"No… you weren't hiding… You were preparing all of this."

Atlas's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "I had Kurogasa. He's an expert in scouting and exploration. That's why I said I know most of the information no other Lord on this island is aware of. At least, enough that matters."

Luna shook her head slowly, still struggling to believe it. "This is absolutely insane."

"Yeah… sure, this is insane, and entertaining." Ember grinned, leaning forward with eager eyes. "Honestly, I'm loving this."

Luna gave her a sharp look. "How, Ember?"

"Like… think about it. Haven't we spent all this time wondering why Atlas is so ridiculously confident in his plans?" Ember replied, her tone brimming with excitement. "Well, now we see it. Exactly where that confidence comes from. And honestly? Watching an entire Alliance walk blindly into this trap… I can't wait to see the fireworks."

She smirked. "This is going to be delicious."

Luna remained standing, tension carved across her features. It was clear she had been trying to unravel Atlas's entire plan, but even with this revelation laid before her, the pieces didn't yet form a complete picture.

"How exactly are you going to defeat all of Alliance B's army?" she demanded, her voice taut. "Are you planning to strike when they're weakened from fighting the monster? But even then, they'll still be strong. Your forces can't stand against numbers that large. And surely, they're not so stupid as to let a low-ranked Lord like you ambush them, right?"

"That would certainly be the most logical approach," Atlas admitted calmly.

"Do you need us to execute this?" Luna pressed, her eyes narrowing. "Because you haven't explained in detail. Even if they're weakened, I doubt your army alone can take them down. Don't tell me you're about to make another unreasonable request."

"I need you for Alliance A later, not for Alliance B."

"Then how?"

She paused for a moment, then spoke again, the tension in her words betraying her concern. "If Alliance B actually manages to defeat the Island Boss, they'll earn valuable rewards and only strengthen their position. That would increase their chances of winning the island."

"Atlas will destroy them, Luna," Ember cut in, a wicked smirk tugging at her lips.