Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord-Chapter 26 - Dune Bastion

[You have received 20 Units of Iron Ingots]

[You have received 5 Elite Exp Orbs]

[You have received 10 Small Healing Potions]

[You have received 5 Elite Exp Orbs]

[You have received 100 Units of Wood]

[You have received 1 Flask of Mighty Brew]

[Temporarily increases the drinker’s physical strength, making them more effective in combat or when lifting heavy objects.]

[You have received 10 Mana Fruits]

[Restores a portion of the user’s mana when consumed.]

[You have received Endless Water Flask]

[A flask that refills itself with fresh, clean water every hour.]

Atlas opened the 8 Rank-B tickets, and to his satisfaction, he pulled 10 more Elite Exp Orbs. Exp Orbs were always welcome, a clean way to level up without exhausting his team.

More intriguing, though, were the three new items that accompanied them: a strength booster, another mana-restoring fruit, and perhaps most useful of all, an Endless Water Flask. Given how brutal the desert heat had been, this last item felt like a blessing.

They had brought water, of course, but in these conditions, it was vanishing fast.

Wasting no time, Atlas opened the flask and splashed the contents over his face. The water was cool, clean, and shockingly refreshing.

"The water’s just as fresh as anything we have back on the island," he said with a satisfied smile.

He turned his attention to the Rank-A ticket, cracking it open with a flick of his fingers.

[You have received 1 Rank-A Item: Soulbinding Armor Set]

"Eh?" he blinked. "Another Soulbinding Armor Set?"

"Is this item really that common?" he muttered to himself. "I’ve just pulled two of them back-to-back."

Still, he wasn’t complaining. If anything, this was great news. If he could get more of these, equipping his whole squad with Soulbinding Armor would skyrocket their survival rate in the field.

His first thought was to hand this new set to Karian, the most natural candidate. As the team’s pure frontliner, he relied on close-quarters combat and brute strength more than anyone.

But just as he was about to speak, he caught sight of Morganna watching him, her gaze fixed on the armor in his hands.

She hadn’t said a word, but something in her eyes gave him pause.

"Do you want the armor?"

Morganna didn’t answer right away. It was as if the words were stuck on her lips, almost spoken but not quite.

"Is that the source of the armor you were wearing earlier?" she finally asked, her voice quiet but surprisingly articulate.

Atlas blinked, caught off guard. She’s forming full questions now? For a moment, he was genuinely impressed. This vampire woman, usually so silent and detached, clearly had her eye on the armor. Maybe it was the design that interested her.

He gave a faint smile. "Take it. I’m sure it’ll look incredible on you."

He handed over the box, and she accepted it without a word, not even a thank-you. Not that he expected one.

A moment later, she activated it.

In an instant, Morganna stood before them, now cloaked in sleek, elegant gear. Light armor molded to her frame in a deep, glossy black, accented with blood-red lining and etched crimson trim. A flowing cloak draped from her shoulders.

"That looks good on you," Atlas said.

She didn’t respond. She simply walked over, sat on the armrest of his throne like always, and silently activated Veil Mode, causing the armor to shimmer and fade from view.

[Bloodshadow Regalia Armor Set]

[Grade: Epic]

[Skills:]

[Dark Ascension (Active):

Allows the user to briefly enter a shadowy, spectral form, becoming intangible and immune to physical damage for a short time. Ideal for repositioning or escape.]

[Eternal Dusk (Passive):

Boosts the user’s spellcasting and agility slightly in dark environments, enhancing mastery of shadow and blood magic.]

[Shadowstep Cloak (Active):

Instantly teleports the user a short distance, leaving behind a trail of crimson mist.]

Not bad at all. With this armor, Morganna finally had the protection she needed, and abilities that amplified her already dangerous skillset. Atlas leaned back, quietly satisfied.

Now it was just Lyrassa and Mira left.

He moved on to his final Rank-A Ticket.

[You have received Rank-A Reward: 500 Gold Coins]

"Oh? Whoa! 500 Gold?! Damn!" Atlas blinked in surprise.

Gold? That wasn’t what he expected from the Gacha at all. But still, 500 Gold Coins? That had to be a big deal, right?

He scratched his head. He still didn’t know the full value system here, but it definitely sounded significant.

"Jackpot," he asked, "what’s the value of 1 Gold Coin compared to the UGD?"

The UGD (Unified Global Dollar) was the world’s current universal currency, meant to replace all regional ones for international trade.

[1 Gold Coin is equivalent to 1,000 UGD, Host.]

"Oh, damn! One Gold equals a thousand UGD? So that means I’ve got... a million UGD in my pocket now?"

He grinned wide. That was the kind of surprise he could get used to.

Sure, maybe this amount wouldn’t impress top-tier Awakeners. But for him? It was more than enough to stock up on valuable supplies, maybe even fund a few key upgrades.

Just then, his attention shifted. All of his subordinates had turned their heads in the same direction, watching something behind them with growing interest.

Atlas turned as well, keeping the Floating Throne steady as he adjusted course slightly.

There it was, something he’d only seen in footage until now.

The Dune Serpent.

It wasn’t a monster, but a massive, advanced transport vehicle. More precisely, a sleek, high-speed train operated by the Saharan Empire. It glided over the desert’s surface effortlessly, its reflective metallic body gleaming under the harsh sun.

The Dune Serpent was the Saharan Empire’s primary transportation system, connecting distant states and cities across the Saharasia Continent. Among all the Unions of New Earth, the Saharan Empire was famous for its advanced technology.

"Does your world have anything like that?" Atlas asked, glancing at Edrik. fгeewёbnoѵel_cσm

"In the past, yes," Edrik replied calmly. "But as the power of Mana Awakeners grew, technology like this became obsolete. Raw magical strength simply outpaced what machines could offer."

"Think that’s where this world’s headed too?" Atlas murmured, eyeing the Dune Serpent as it thundered across the sands.

"Possibly," Edrik said. "But so far, this Empire seems to be managing both power and intelligence."

"So," he added, looking around, "where exactly are we?"

"This is Saharasia," Atlas replied. "A vast continent under the rule of the Saharan Empire. Most of it’s desert, like what you see here. But despite the harsh conditions, their cities are some of the most advanced on New Earth."

"They’ve figured out how to turn brains into survival," Edrik observed.

"Exactly. Awakeners from across the world are trying to migrate here," Atlas added. "Even with the brutal heat. It’s worth it just to get access to their cities."

"I’m curious to see how your kind builds cities here," Edrik said.

"We’ll be there in just a few more minutes."

A few minutes later, the desert winds parted to reveal a colossal wall rising from the sands. The legendary Dune Bastion.

Even though Atlas had seen countless images and videos of it, standing before it now was something else entirely. The wall towered above the horizon. Lined with massive turrets, cannons, and rune-lined plating, all clearly built to repel large-scale threats.

"There it is," Atlas announced, gesturing ahead, "the Dune Bastion. Veylamar’s great city wall. Magnificent, don’t you think?"

"It certainly looks strong," Edrik replied, narrowing his eyes at the heavy artillery. "Though... against a high-grade beast, anything Legendary rank or above. Those defenses wouldn’t hold."

Atlas gave a dry chuckle. "Sounds like your world got that brutal, huh?"

As they closed the distance, several shapes emerged from the sky. Sleek, agile vehicles cutting through the air toward them.

Dune Phantoms.

These high-speed hover bikes were iconic within the Saharan Army. With dual-mode capabilities, they could hover above terrain or ride it directly depending on conditions.

Two of the Dune Phantoms broke off from their patrol route and descended swiftly toward Atlas’s platform.

Recognizing the formal approach, Atlas brought the Floating Throne to a halt.

The soldiers aboard the vehicles eyed them carefully, clad in a mix of flowing desert robes, head wraps, and sleek composite armor. An iconic blend of ancient and high-tech styling that defined the Saharan military.

One of them raised a loudspeaker and barked, "Unidentified personnel! Present your identification and raise your hands immediately!"

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