Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord

Atlas had personally ensured the condition of his troops with his own eyes.

The entire army was in recovery, and since the cave they were using as shelter had yet to be discovered by the enemy, they were relatively safe. At least for the next two days, assuming Alliance A didn't conduct a thorough scan of the area.

Even so, after the battle from the previous night, Atlas was now left with only 120 combatants.

His forces were steadily healing, but full recovery would take at least two days. During this period, he had ordered a halt on hunting activities, prioritizing absolute recovery instead. Because soon enough… The real war would begin.

The final battle to end this Dominion Skirmish.

That night, Atlas, along with Edrik, Morganna, and Kurogasa, met with Luna once again to finalize their negotiations and alliance agreement.

Although he had already presented his terms and conditions, that was only his side of the proposal. There were three Lords in Luna's alliance that needed to be convinced before this alliance could fully take shape.

Atlas was fairly certain that Luna and Ember, who had already known him longer, would be more open to the idea. But the other two Lords, tonight, might require more convincing or additional terms before fully committing.

In reality, if he could secure this alliance, he would have a solid foundation for victory. From what he knew, the two remaining Lords in Luna's alliance were a full support specialist and a frontliner fighter.

Their team composition was incredibly balanced, strengthened by their experience and rank as Lords.

To ensure this alliance worked in his favor, Atlas needed to be its leader. That was his minimum requirement for this deal to happen.

An ambitious goal, no doubt.

But after everything he had accomplished. He had proven he was worthy of making this proposal.

**

Atlas, Edrik, Luna, and Ember were gathered in one room.

If anything, the atmosphere felt far more intense than their previous meeting.

And understandably so.

On the surface, Atlas was essentially an outsider. A lower-ranked Lord walking into an established alliance, openly demanding the highest seat at the table. His level and strength were objectively lower than everyone else in the room.

"I never said I would agree to the terms you're offering, Atlas," Luna stated firmly. "But, I have informed the other two Lords about your proposal."

She paused for a moment, watching Atlas's expression.

"We'll listen to everyone's opinions and review the terms in detail. If all the other Lords agree that this alliance benefits everyone involved, only then will we proceed."

Atlas gave a small, knowing smile and nodded.

"I appreciate the hesitation to accept my terms without discussion," he said smoothly.

Ember smirked. "If only you were a few ranks and levels higher, Atlas, I'm sure this whole thing would be way easier."

"Level and rank can always be achieved," Atlas replied without hesitation. "I fully acknowledge that experience is valuable, and I respect it. But while I can't reveal everything just yet, I know I have more than enough qualifications to fulfill this role."

Luna sighed, shaking her head slightly.

"You're always so overconfident about yourself, aren't you?"

Moments later, the tent flap opened, and a young woman stepped inside, her lips curving into an overly wide smile. A little too wide for Atlas's liking.

She was a young female with short, wavy blonde hair and striking blue eyes. Her outfit consisted of a form-fitting, semi-light armor adorned with gold-trimmed details, layered with a flowing white robe.

Judging by her appearance, she was undoubtedly a full-support healer Lord. And for Atlas, this was the first time meeting her in person.

"Hi, everyone~!" The girl waved energetically.

"Sorry I'm a bit late… hehe," she giggled. "It's so cold and dark outside… honestly, I was feeling way too lazy to go out this late at night."

Luna, who had been seated, stood up.

"Atlas, this is Celestia, she's a support role Lord."

Luna then briefly introduced Atlas and Edrik to her.

"Hi, Atlas~!" Celestia greeted, her blue eyes sparkling. "I saw your fight against Kaelzar. That was so cool." She winked playfully before settling into a seat at the round table in the center of the room.

Once they were all settled, Atlas gave a polite bow to the woman, who seemed to be in her mid-twenties.

"And thank you for helping to heal my troops," he said.

"Oh, no, no…" Celestia shook her head. "That was mostly your… uhm… Lyrassa. She's just… so amazing, extraordinary! Honestly, I wouldn't even be surprised if you told me she was the Lord herself."

She paused, then added with a playful grin, "Actually, I was really impressed by your people. They're all so strong and refined. Seriously, where do you even find people like that?"

She finished her words with another light giggle. The tension in the room noticeably eased with her arrival.

If Atlas had to describe her, she had a relaxed and cheerful vibe, not as wildly energetic as Mira, but with a warmth that reminded him of Lyrassa. It was safe to say Celestia's presence was somewhere in between Mira's liveliness and Lyrassa's calmness, a balanced mix of both.

"I've also heard about the proposal, Atlas… and I'm…" Celestia began enthusiastically, but before she could continue, Luna cut her off.

"Celly," Luna said. "I told you. We need to wait for Brigid to join the discussion first, okay?"

"Ah, yes… sorry!" Celestia giggled. "I just got too excited! I know this is going to be so much fun. Especially because…" she clasped her hands together, smiling brightly. "I really like Mira! Like you told me before, Ember. She's so cute!"

Ember smirked, nodding. "Yeah… she's definitely cute. But you should see her fight. Now that's really something." She let out a small laugh.

"Oh, I heard about that too~!" Celestia said eagerly.

With that, the conversation quickly became more lively, with Celestia and Ember bouncing off each other's energy, making lighthearted comments.

Atlas watched as the mood shifted entirely. The earlier tension fading further as Celestia's carefree nature effortlessly pulled the discussion into a more relaxed atmosphere.

The tent flap opened once more.

The room fell silent, as everyone turned their attention toward the entrance.

A new figure stepped inside.

"Hi, Brigid," Luna greeted.

It was a young woman. But with a completely opposite vibe to Celestia.

Where Celestia was warm and expressive, this one was stern and composed. Her demeanor was almost flat in contrast.

She had short red hair and piercing eyes, her gaze sharp and unwavering. She wore a heavily detailed suit of armor, adorned with metallic engravings, with a crimson cape flowing behind her.

If anything, she looked far more suited for the role of a Lord than either Luna or Celestia.

Though… for a warrior clad in heavy armor, she was on the shorter side. Only about 165 cm (5'5").

It was quite unusual for someone fighting on the frontlines, especially when compared to Karian, Garen, or Raze, all of whom had larger, more imposing builds.

Brigid said nothing in response to Luna's greeting. She simply walked forward, scanning the room carefully before her eyes landed on Atlas.

Luna took the initiative, introducing everyone to one another.

Atlas and Edrik stood, exchanging a brief bow with Brigid in a formal greeting.

Once the introductions were complete, they all took their seats around the round table, settling in for the discussion ahead.

All three Lords in Luna's alliance were women, which seemed to be a distinct characteristic of this group. Even the majority of their troops were composed of female warriors.

With Atlas joining, this would mark the first major shift in their alliance. A male Lord stepping into their ranks.

But Atlas had already done his homework for this moment. Now, it was time to convince all three of them to accept this alliance.

Once everyone had gathered, Luna took the lead.

"I'm sure everyone already knows why we're here tonight," she began. "I've given you all a brief introduction before, and I doubt anyone wants to delay this discussion any further. Because time is working against us."

She exhaled and continued.

"This Dominion Skirmish… we need to fight to ensure it ends in our favor. That is why we're all here."

After a short pause, she turned her gaze toward Atlas.

"You may present your side first, Atlas."