Floating Islands: SSS Gacha System

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 he 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.

The massive creature tore through snow-laden trees, its sheer bulk shattering everything in its path. Each step sent shockwaves through the ground, shaking the frozen landscape as it clashed with the occasional howling snowstorm sweeping through the night.

Seriously… in a freezing situation like this, why am I thinking about eating elephant meat?

The thought popped into Atlas's mind, completely uninvited—but strangely tempting.

Time passed.

They continued following the same pattern until, finally, they reached a vantage point. Atlas, Baldric, and Kurogasa stood atop a snow-covered hill, gazing down at the unfolding chaos below.

The mammoth monster barreled through the forest, tearing toward a camp nestled in the clearing below.

There were tents, watchmen, and more soldiers stationed inside. The moment they heard the thunderous stomps and guttural roars, the entire camp sprang into action. Guards rushed out, weapons drawn, their postures tense and ready for battle.

Yes. This was exactly what Atlas had planned.

The mammoth stormed into the camp, its rage completely redirected. It no longer cared for Morganna. Now, its new enemies were the soldiers before it.

A battle erupted—chaotic and unplanned, a sudden clash in the dead of night. The raging snowstorm made things even worse, forcing the troops below to fight in brutal, freezing conditions.

From their vantage point, Atlas could see their numbers weren't high—barely over a dozen.

But even from afar, it was clear—These soldiers were high-level. Their weapons gleamed with power, their stances disciplined. And now, they were forced into an unexpected battle against a rampaging Elite-grade monster.

This was one of the best strategies to slowly chip away at the enemy's strength—By taking advantage of Atlas and his elite subordinates' greatest strength: Their ability to fight efficiently in the dead of night.

Meanwhile, their enemies were forced to expend their stamina and energy battling a massive, rampaging monster in the freezing darkness.

Atlas watched as the troops below coordinated their attacks, attempting to subdue the beast. But even with their well-trained formations, the brutal conditions worked against them.

The pitch-black night.

The biting cold.

The harsh wind that cut through the battlefield.

It made every movement sluggish, every action a struggle.

Yet—even so, they managed to wound the monster. But the mammoth fought back, its wild, destructive force smashing through anyone nearby, its sheer size and rage turning the camp into a war zone.

And the troops didn't back down. Because they couldn't.

They were stationed here to guard a key zone—an outer fort. They were separated forces from Alliance A, and venturing beyond the camp in the dead of night, under such freezing conditions, was as good as suicide.

The battle dragged on.

Atlas could see it—their movements slowing, exhaustion creeping in. Some soldiers, wounded and drained, attempted to retreat, only to be swallowed by the abyss of darkness.

And in that darkness—

A crimson gaze.

A silent predator.

Morganna was ready to fulfill her role—becoming the second Grim Reaper that night.

One by one, those who tried to flee for safety instead met their end in the shadows, their lives claimed by the Vampire Queen.

Baldric, standing beside Atlas, let out a low chuckle as he mimicked the voices of the soldiers below.

"We're under attack! There's an ambush! Stay alert!"

Atlas exhaled, voice barely above a murmur. "Should we assist Morganna?"

Kurogasa, his tone calm yet certain, responded immediately. "My Lord, I will go if needed. But I believe this will end without us having to do anything."

Atlas smirked. "In that case, let's head down. Time to harvest some elephant meat—we're having mammoth for breakfast."

The smirk remained on his face as he stepped forward. "And… let's see what new weapons and armor we can collect while we're at it."