Chapter 292: Chapter 292 - SSS and Everything Below
The sun was already sinking low when a silver carriage glided through the clouds, its polished frame gleaming in the orange light as it approached Gacha Haven. Inside sat Luna and Ember, both wide-eyed as they gazed down at the sprawling terrain below. What had once been part of Brigid’s floating island had now fully merged, making Atlas’s island several times larger than before.
"It’s thanks to your innocent judgment about Mira," Luna said as the carriage tilted gently, weaving past the sharp, jagged cliffs that surrounded the island. "Because of that, we had the chance to form an alliance with him."
Ember laughed, still standing as she looked out at the breathtaking view. "You know my judgment’s never wrong! I supported Atlas from the start. Even when you were still doubting him."
Luna sighed, unable to suppress a smile. She stood and reached over, giving Ember’s cheek a playful pinch. "Oh really? Have you forgotten who came crying to me, begging for your island and your forces to be absorbed under mine back then? Tell me, where was all that pride of yours when you were still a Lord?"
"Hahaha!" Ember burst out laughing, completely unfazed. "That just proves I’m the best sidekick you could ever ask for, Luna. Admit it, you need me around!"
Luna rolled her eyes but couldn’t help laughing with her. The silver carriage glided smoothly through the clouds, gradually descending until it flew low over the island. Below, in the central area where the fortress and key administrative buildings stood, several figures were already waiting.
Atlas stood at the front, his expression as composed as ever, flanked by his ever-stoic assistant, Edrik. Beside him were Brigid and Mira, both waiting patiently.
"Brigid! Mira!" Luna shouted excitedly the moment the carriage landed. She jumped down before it even came to a full stop, running straight toward them, and the first thing she did was throw her arms around Brigid in a tight hug.
"Brigid! You’re part of Atlas’s forces now. Make sure you take good care of yourself here, alright?"
"Yes, and if Atlas ever teases you or does anything questionable, just report it to me," Ember chimed in teasingly as she stepped down behind Luna. "Unless, of course, you want him to. In that case, I won’t interfere. Hahaha!"
"Shut up," Atlas replied dryly. "You two do realize I’m the lord of this island, right? Yet the first names you call are Brigid and Mira."
"Hahaha!" Ember laughed without shame. "You know, Atlas, in my head, and Luna’s too. The real owner of Gacha Haven is still Mira. You’re just the on-site manager of the island. Feel free to stand near the edge and supervise, alright?"
Atlas sighed while Ember burst out laughing again. Together, the group began walking toward the grand meeting hall, where one by one the other lords of the alliance were arriving.
Within minutes, the chamber was filled.
Brigid was in the same room as the others when Atlas gestured for her to take the seat she once held as a Lord. She hesitated for a moment, clearly uncomfortable with the idea, but Atlas had gently insisted, telling her he would need her insight and judgment for the discussion ahead.
Even so, in the end, Brigid chose to stand, quietly taking her place behind Atlas alongside Edrik instead.
Now, with everyone gathered, the room carried a solemn, powerful presence. Thirteen lords in total, including Atlas himself, had assembled within the Noble Meeting Hall of Gacha Haven.
The first thing Atlas did that day was review the complete list of system abilities possessed by every lord within the alliance. This was directly connected to one of the key topics they would discuss in the meeting.
From the data displayed before him, it was immediately clear. Atlas was the only one among them with an SSS-Rank system ability, setting him far above the rest in terms of sheer potential. It wasn’t arrogance; it was fact. There was simply no debating that.
Below him, the highest tier belonged to the SS-Rank holders, four lords in total. As Luna had once mentioned, these were the strongest survivors among the alliance’s original roster. Several lords had already fallen. Since Atlas took leadership, though in Brigid’s case, her defeat had turned into a fortunate outcome, she had joined him instead of perishing.
Still, there was a cost to losing one’s status as a lord. When stripped of that title, a person would lose their system ability, retaining only fragments of its original power.
In Brigid’s case, those fragments had left her with two status allocation slots. Meaning she could now maintain two separate stat paths and switch between them at will. However, she no longer had the freedom to reallocate her stats instantly during combat like before.
It was a downgrade, yes, but even in that limited state, Brigid remained a formidable asset. One whose experience and adaptability still far exceeded that of most active lords in the room.
[Atlas SSS-Rank Ultimate Gacha]
[Allows the Lord to summon subordinates, weapons, and structures from a divine-tier gacha system. The interface evolves with use, enabling fusion and enhancement of summoned entities under the Lord’s command.]
[Luna S-Rank Celestial Vanguard Transformation]
[Transforms the Lord and her army into radiant forms clad in celestial armor and elemental shields. The transformation grants heightened defense and adaptability but consumes stamina over time.]
At first glance, the lineup already looked impressive. Even Luna, for all her strength and leadership, only possessed an S-Rank system ability. Hers was limited by the scale of transformation. The number of forces she could convert at once.
While undeniably divine in nature, it remained temporary and not reality-breaking; a skill designed for high-tier battlefield manipulation, not for reshaping worlds. Still, when used with the right strategy, it was absolutely devastating.
[Celestia S-Rank Oracle’s Foresight]
[Reveals future battle outcomes and probability paths within a limited window. Accuracy depends on mana stability, and repeated use strains the user’s body and perception.]
Celestia, with her S-Rank Oracle’s Foresight, wielded the power of prediction and probability control. A terrifying ability in theory. Yet, it was confined to short strategic windows, not constant influence.
In truth, it almost felt overranked as an S-rank ability. Its potential was undeniable, but its narrow scope and short duration made it unreliable in large-scale or prolonged engagements. For Celestia, mastering it to perfection would always be her greatest challenge.
[Gwyndelle A-Rank Mystic Crop Growth]
[Accelerates agricultural and herbal production across the domain. Infused fields yield enhanced resources, including potion materials and combat rations.]
Then there was Gwyndelle, the elven lord, bearing her A-Rank Mystic Crop Growth. A pure support-type ability, stable and reliable. It didn’t break battles. It sustained armies, ensuring long-term prosperity and resource dominance for the alliance.
[Thryssia SS-Rank Law of Dominion]
[Allows the Lord to declare binding laws within the battlefield. Each rule consumes personal essence or stored experience, and violators suffer automatic retribution.]
Thryssia, often called Tessa, carried the SS-Rank Law of Dominion. An ability that truly lived up to its name. She could impose metaphysical laws on her surroundings, rewriting the rules of combat itself.
It was the kind of power bordering on world-altering potential, making her presence in any large-scale war utterly overpowered. It was no wonder her system held that rank.
However, as incredible as her system ability was, Tessa herself admitted that the greater the impact she tried to impose, the heavier the constraint, or price she had to pay. It was, in every sense, a double-edged sword. She couldn’t simply challenge opponents two ranks above her and use the ability freely without consequence.
Still, as long as she employed it with careful calculation and precise control, the skill would continue to secure her position among the strongest.
[Katriel S-Rank Predator’s Memory]
[Enables transformation into beasts previously defeated by the user. Stored forms can be combined to create hybrid combat evolutions.]
Katriel, or Kate, possessed the S-Rank Predator’s Memory. Highly versatile and lethal, it allowed her to mimic and retain the abilities of enemies she had fought or slain. It was frighteningly efficient in duels but still limited to individual-scale combat, not large domains.
Like Brigid, Kate’s path of growth would be difficult to scale beyond her personal power. But within that scope, she was unmatched, maintaining a flawless combat record so far.
That left seven more lords in the room. Among them, three also held SS-Rank abilities, each with their own frightening specialties.