Chapter 221: Chapter 221 - Guardian of Storm and Sky
[You have received Rank-A Blueprint: Shadow Gate]
[Creates a small portal of shadows that allows instant short-range teleportation within the same area. Limited to allied units and has a short cooldown between uses.]
Shadow Gate?
Atlas explained the blueprint’s function to the others, and the moment he finished, he could see the spark of excitement on their faces. On an island this vast, a structure that allowed instant movement within the same area would be a massive game-changer for everyone’s day-to-day tasks.
Especially since, so far, there hadn’t been any proper transportation available. It was true, everyone had been walking on foot to get around the island.
Should he consider purchasing transportation tech from the lower lands just to ease the burden?
Though, deep down, Atlas knew that once his rank got upgraded, a structure designed to develop local transportation options would eventually unlock. This was, after all, the first time he had control over an island of this scale. One that, frankly, shouldn’t even belong to a Rank-1 Lord in the first place.
How many gacha tickets had he used tonight? Thirty, yes. That meant he still had fifty more pulls before reaching the guaranteed Rank-S item.
He pulled out another ten tickets.
Let’s hope something extraordinary dropped this time, something that could truly impact the island or boost the performance of his army. Let’s go!
Atlas tossed the ten tickets into the air, watching as their colors began to shift one by one, until...
He exhaled slowly. Just one purple this time.
Without delay, he opened the remaining nine tickets. More materials added to his growing stockpile. A few lower-quality skill scrolls, and some consumable items meant to boost things like magic and related attributes. He sorted through them all, setting aside what he could use personally and marking the rest for others who could benefit more.
Alright, one Rank-A ticket left. He took a breath, then glanced at the crowd. No matter what the reward turned out to be, every single ticket felt like a mini jackpot—and everyone around him shared in the anticipation.
Atlas took another breath before reaching out to touch this one. The moment his fingers brushed the surface, a spark of electricity jumped out, stinging his skin. The ticket began to tremble in his hand.
He tilted his head, then stepped back to give space, just in case something big was about to emerge from this ticket. He could feel every pair of eyes locked onto the stage, watching with growing anticipation.
The ticket shuddered violently, then released a crackling bolt of lightning that lit up the area around it.
"Wait... could this be something massive? Like a new character?"
The ticket began to spin in the air, its lightning aura intensifying. The bolts spread out rapidly, growing wilder, crackling through the air and even striking parts of the stage. Gasps and startled cries erupted from the crowd as they quickly stood up and stepped back.
Only Atlas remained steady, seemingly unfazed. His affinity with Lightning was high enough to resist this surge.
The storm of energy swirled and twisted through the air like a living thing. In the same moment, a figure floated gracefully into view, Lyrassa. She stepped up onto the stage and took her place at Atlas’s left side.
"Do you know what this is?" he asked, eyes still on the lightning.
The girl gave a small nod. "The Nature... it’s a Spirit Beast," she said softly.
Then came the roar.
A deep, thunderous roar like a violent storm breaking across the sky. The lightning aura pulsed, then began to form into something massive. A great, coiling shape slithering through the air above them. The sheer size of it drew every gaze upward.
[You have received Rank-A Beast: Storm Serpent]
And there it was, in full view now.
All eyes were fixed on the great serpent above, filled with awe, and just a hint of fear, as arcs of lightning danced across its body. The concern was understandable; the lightning crackled dangerously close to the crowd below. But the spirit didn’t strike. It moved gracefully, circling above them like a watchful guardian.
"Can we bring this spirit beast into battle, Lyrassa?"
Lyrassa fell silent for a moment, then slowly shook her head.
"My Lord," she began, her voice soft.
"This spirit beast is a guardian. It exists to preserve harmony, balance, and the natural flow of life in the land it chooses. While it can be summoned in battle, it is a spirit drawn to stillness rather than war. And from what I can sense... it seems to have taken a liking to this island."
Atlas nodded quietly as he observed the magnificent creature swirling above them. He then checked the beast’s status.
Level 71.
High. Incredibly high.
It confirmed what the system had told him early on in his journey as a Lord, that the higher his own level and status, the stronger the items and summons he’d receive through gacha.
Level 71 was certainly impressive, but bringing such a large airborne beast into battle would carry serious risk. It would stand out immediately, likely becoming a prime target. Though Atlas didn’t doubt its destructive potential.
"Alright," he said, making his decision, "let’s have it serve as the guardian of this island."
Applause erupted around him. Atlas turned to see the crowd cheering, their faces lit with excitement as they welcomed this new ally.
He looked back up at the beast, now weaving elegantly through the air. Then he raised his voice, speaking clearly and formally toward the sky.
"I entrust this island to you. Watch over its land, protect all who call it home, and drive out any who dare bring harm or destruction here."
The spirit beast let out a powerful, echoing roar in response. A sound like thunder rolling through the clouds, before it turned and drifted away from the stage, gliding further out across the island skies.
Well, not a character, but a magnificent Spirit Beast nonetheless. Judging by its sheer size, it was undeniably powerful. Though Zefyros was a Rank-S Spirit Beast, this newcomer might still surpass him in raw power, at least for now. Zefyros was still catching up in level, but that could be remedied in time.
Alright. Forty pulls in, halfway there. Though deep down, Atlas was still hoping that the Rank-S item would come a little sooner than expected.
He pulled out another ten gold tickets, glancing around at the eager faces surrounding him. "That makes it fifty. Here we go!" he announced.
"FIRE!!!" the crowd roared as Atlas threw the tickets high into the air.
And... after all the tickets revealed their colors... Atlas held his breath.
Once again, only one Rank-A item.
Was he really going to have to wait until the guaranteed Rank-S pull came through?
Clenching his fist, Atlas steadied himself and focused on the last remaining ticket, silently willing something extraordinary to appear.
Come on. Let this be it. New character!
He tapped the glowing ticket, and then paused.
That same strange sensation returned. A flicker of lightning snapped across his fingers.
The moment it happened, the crowd tensed. Some people instinctively braced themselves, others slowly stood, ready to step back if things got wild again.
Then came the low rumble of thunder.
The ticket shot upward, spinning out of control as if something powerful had just surged through it.
Wait... an effect like this. This usually meant something special was coming.
[You have received Rank-A Item ...]