Floating Islands: SSS Gacha System - Chapter 127

Chapter 127: Chapter 127 – Campfire in the Blizzard

It was incredibly difficult to see in a blizzard this fierce. The swirling snow and biting wind seemed determined to strip away their strength, and Atlas couldn’t help but wonder what a battle would look like in an environment like this.

Of course, once people started using their skills, the terrain itself would shift and break under the force of explosions and attacks. The storm would grow more chaotic, and the already treacherous footing would become even more unstable. But even so, if just surviving the weather was already this painful, fighting a war in these conditions would be a brutal challenge for anyone brave—or foolish—enough to try.

Atlas and his team kept trekking across the frozen terrain, their footsteps slow but steady. Occasionally, they came across deep cracks in the earth, forcing them to tread carefully along narrow ledges to avoid falling into the chasms below.

It was a stark reminder that this island was, at its core, a volcanic island. Without the thick snow and ice, it would likely look similar to Flare Peak Island, where lava would pour from the mountains instead of frost.

The group maintained a reasonable pace, but progress was still slow. Many of the troops were still battling their own minds, forcing themselves to push past the urge to stop and accept the brutal cold.

Everyone knew that whoever planned to claim this island would have to endure its dynamic environment. It was a unique challenge, as the weather could shift from one extreme to another without warning.

If they want this island, they need to adapt.

The real challenge was still ahead of them. What they faced now was only the beginning.

Atlas kept his focus on the map in his system, watching as it gradually expanded with each step Kurogasa took. Occasionally, he noticed that Kurogasa’s movements paused—perhaps he had encountered something important or was taking note of specific details.

Kurogasa was a scouting expert, someone perfectly built for reconnaissance. His ability to blend into the environment and move unnoticed made him invaluable, especially in hostile terrain like this. For him, even the brutal cold and harsh landscape were just another part of the mission—almost a game to master.

Atlas knew that other Lords, especially those from well-prepared alliances, were likely already targeting the key zones of the island. These key zones were critical to dominating the Dominion Skirmish and were divided into four categories.

The most important was the Primary Key Zone—the Central Fortress.

This structure was typically located at the heart of the island, and whoever controlled it would gain the biggest advantages in the Dominion Skirmish. The Central Fortress would generate more Dominion Points than any other zone, provide valuable buffs, and serve as a defensive stronghold, allowing the Lord who controlled it to better protect their forces.

It was no secret that large alliances would make the Central Fortress their primary target. They would pool their resources and deploy their strongest troops to seize and hold this key structure.

For them, this was the most reliable way to secure victory in the battle. By controlling the fortress together, they could dominate the battlefield and ensure their claim over the island.

The second key zone is the Outer Forts, which serve as secondary objectives that offer consistent Dominion Points (DP) and strategic benefits.

The Outer Forts are spread across the island. They are generally easier to capture than the Central Fortress because they draw less competition, but they still require defense and resource management to maintain. Holding these forts can give smaller groups a chance to stay relevant in the battle while building up their strength.

The third key zone is the Supply Depots, also known as resource key zones. These are essential for resource management but do not generate DP.

Supply Depots provided crucial materials such as mana crystals, food rations, and healing supplies. While they don’t contribute directly to a Lord’s Dominion Points score, they are key to sustaining a prolonged battle. Without a steady supply of resources, even the strongest forces would crumble under the pressure of attrition.

In addition to these primary key zones, there are potential variations of other key zones that can appear on certain islands, depending on the island’s unique traits:

Mystic Shrine: Boosts mana regeneration for allied troops.

Watchtower: Increases vision range and reveals enemy movements within a certain radius.

Altar of Beasts: Allows the summoning of spirit beasts to assist in battle.

Flame Beacon: Creates fire-based defenses around the key zone to repel attackers.

These variant zones are more situational and can greatly impact strategy, but they aren’t guaranteed to appear on every island. Their presence depends on the specific conditions of the island being contested.

Because of the variety and spread of key zones across the island, it’s impossible for any one Lord to hold all the locations. They would need to spread their forces too thin, and if the key zones were too far apart, it would backfire by weakening their overall defense.

However, while controlling key zones provides advantages, it also makes the controlling Lord more visible. Once a key zone is captured, it becomes a beacon, signaling the presence of a rival Lord. This makes it easier for other Lords—especially those focused on hunting enemy troops—to track and ambush opposing forces.

This is where the complexity of strategy comes into play.

Every Lord must earn as many Dominion Points (DP) as possible to secure victory in the battle phase. While capturing key zones is the most reliable way to achieve that, maintaining control over these zones is a constant challenge, especially when other Lords may prioritize attacking enemy forces directly to cripple their competition.

Effectively utilizing key zones isn’t just about occupying them—it’s about knowing when to defend, when to attack, and when to fall back, all while managing resources and forces wisely. In this battle, every decision counts.

Atlas and his troops had begun ascending a sloped terrain. They frequently had to take cover behind icy ridges when the storm intensified, waiting for the winds to ease before continuing their march.

The climb became steeper, and as time passed, it became clear they had been trekking for nearly half a day through relentless snow and ice. However, despite the harsh conditions, none of the troops had collapsed or passed out.

Their destination was a high hilltop area with natural formations that provided shelter from the wind. Large frozen trees stood scattered across the landscape, creating natural barriers against the elements. The location also offered excellent visibility, allowing them to observe the surrounding terrain.

Finally, they arrived.

Atlas turned to his troops, who were catching their breath.

“Let’s set up camp.”

He reached into his inventory and pulled out two Rank-A Items: the Ethereal Tent, a rare item he had obtained from the Gacha system.

Handing them to Edrik, he nodded. “Set these up.”

The Ethereal Tent was small in appearance, but each one could shelter up to 15 people—perfect for providing cover from the wild weather. While it wouldn’t solve all their problems, it would help the troops regain some strength and shield them from the storm.

Edrik got to work, setting up the main tents. Meanwhile, the other troops began constructing additional makeshift camps.

They knew this was just the beginning—the storm would grow fiercer, and the challenges ahead would only intensify. But for now, they had a place to regroup and recover, a momentary reprieve in the midst of the relentless cold.