Floating Islands: SSS Gacha System - Chapter 146

Chapter 146: Chapter 146 – The Cave’s Final Warning
Atlas stood still for a moment, simply taking in the vast space before him. The soft blue glow emanating from the frozen pool, combined with the floating elemental particles scattered throughout the chamber, made the entire place feel ethereal, like a hidden sanctuary untouched by time.

This was undoubtedly once an active lava pool before the island became frozen—an obvious conclusion, considering the island’s volcanic nature. It bore similarities to Flare Peak, the volcanic island, making a location like this somewhat expected.

However, the sheer size of the chamber and the massive expanse of the frozen lava pool made him wonder—were the powerful tremors they had been feeling truly coming from within the ice?

He couldn’t shake the thought… What if a powerful monster was trapped beneath the frozen surface, waiting for the ice to weaken and the island’s environment to shift back to its natural state?

Suddenly, another violent tremor shook the ground beneath them. Atlas steadied his footing just as a deep, guttural roar echoed through the cave, vibrating against the walls.

It was a massive roar. One that could only belong to a creature of enormous size.

What kind of monster could unleash a sound like that?

“The monster is definitely trapped inside the lake,” Edrik was the first to speak.

Kurogasa gave a slight nod, confirming the statement. “There is a powerful creature beneath the ice. But from the looks of it… it’s not fully trapped. The lake isn’t entirely frozen.”

“The island’s boss monster?” Atlas asked, needing confirmation.

“There’s no doubt about it,” Edrik replied. “Judging by the sheer power and the terror this thing can instill… this is it.”

Atlas, driven by curiosity, took a step closer to the frozen pool. His eyes traced the cracks that ran along its surface—fractures sealed in ice.

Had these cracks formed from powerful strikes beneath the lake?

He hesitated for only a moment before stepping onto the frozen surface. His heart pounded against his ribs, the thought racing through his mind—what if this triggers the monster to emerge?

But nothing happened.

He took another step, then another, his confidence slowly building.

Seeing Atlas move, Kurogasa—who never strayed far from his side—silently followed, stepping onto the ice with practiced ease.

Discovering this place before any other lord on the island was an incredible privilege. It gave Atlas a head start, allowing him to take action before anyone else. Whatever benefits this kind of discovery held, one thing was certain—this monster was meant to be conquered.

Defeating a creature of this magnitude would solidify his standing as a lord, pushing him further up the ranks and increasing his chances of winning control over the island.

Lyrassa had thoroughly scanned her previous island target, and she had found nothing similar to this. According to Edrik, that was expected. The higher an island’s rank, the greater the challenges—and the more complex the battles.

With that in mind, if Atlas somehow could defeat this monster, it would bring him one step closer to securing this island entirely.

So far, he had yet to make a decisive move against the strong alliance of rival lords. He had been biding his time, gathering resources, ensuring that when he did act, it wouldn’t be in vain. This Dynamic Environment Island was rare—who knew when he would have another chance to claim a place with such unique conditions?

Strengthening his troops as a whole was also a crucial strategy. The stronger his army, the greater his overall force, which was something he needed to climb the ranks quickly.

Yes, he intended to rise—fast.

Especially because he had so much untapped potential to chase after. By leveling up his elite subordinates at a faster pace, he could unlock their hidden abilities, ones currently sealed due to the level nerf they had suffered after being summoned by him.

At the same time, Atlas was already running through different ways he could turn this situation to his advantage. Like, maybe…

First, according to Edrik, defeating this kind of monster with Atlas’s current strength alone was nearly impossible.

Just considering the monster’s potential level—it was likely over level 100. That wasn’t something they could take on easily, especially if it was a Raid Monster.

Given the current power level of Atlas and his troops, they were only just capable of handling Raid Monsters up to level 80. Yes, these monsters were that strong and that deadly.

If this one was truly above level 100, then there was no doubt—many of his troops would die in battle. And that… was not an appealing idea.

However, that concern quickly faded as another thought took shape.

What if… instead of fighting it himself, he lured the alliance of lords outside into doing it for him?

Wait… wouldn’t that mean he’d be giving up this golden opportunity?

Not really.

Being here first meant he had the time and preparation needed to ensure he could take the most advantage of this situation.

If he allowed the alliance of lords to hunt this monster, he could capitalize on the battle—waiting for the right moment to strike the finishing blow. Not only would this let him claim the kill and its rewards, but it also meant the opposing lords would be weakened in the process. And that… would bring him one step closer to securing control over the island.

Atlas had already begun forming multiple scenarios in his mind—different ways to execute this plan. But he knew it would take time.

First, he needed to wait.

Wait for the monster to break free from the frozen pool—perhaps when the island’s climate shifted, allowing it to awaken.

And while waiting, he could focus on making the necessary preparations to execute his plan flawlessly.

Just as Atlas was deep in thought, another massive tremor shook the entire cave. For a few seconds…

But this time… it didn’t stop.

The shaking only grew stronger with each passing moment.

What’s happening?

Kurogasa stepped closer and spoke in a low, urgent tone. “My Lord, I believe we should move away from the frozen pool.”

“Move away?”

Atlas tried to steady his footing as the tremors made it increasingly difficult to remain standing. He took a step back—just as a deep, jagged crack tore through the center of the frozen lake.

Ice shards and debris exploded outward, scattering across the chamber.

Is the monster waking up? But… wasn’t it buried beneath thick layers of ice?

The cracks continued to spread, radiating from the lake’s center. It was clear now—that was the origin of the destruction.

Atlas instinctively moved further back until he was completely off the frozen pool’s surface.

The cave trembled violently, loose rocks crumbling from the walls and ceiling, crashing onto the frozen ground. Then, a deep, primal roar erupted from beneath the ice—so powerful it sent another wave of tremors through the chamber.

Atlas struggled to keep his balance.

Was the monster trying to break free?

Kurogasa remained close by, standing guard, but he made no move to force Atlas to retreat. Did that mean… it was still safe to stay?

Still, with the cave shaking this much, Atlas couldn’t help but worry. If the tunnel leading to this chamber collapsed, getting out would become much more difficult.

Then, a massive impact struck from below—followed by a deafening explosion.

A violent shockwave blasted through the chamber as enormous chunks of ice erupted from the lake’s surface, shooting in every direction. The force sent jagged ice boulders crashing against the cave walls and ceiling, causing even more debris to fall.

Atlas instinctively shielded his face with his arm as the explosion sent freezing shards scattering through the air.

And it didn’t stop there.

The cracks widened further, sending even larger ice fragments flying, smashing into the frozen ground with crushing force. The ceiling above the pool groaned as more pressure built up from below.

Then came the final explosion.

A massive rupture split the lake apart, sending a towering blast of shattered ice and steam into the air. It was as if something deep below was forcibly creating a hole—desperate to break free.

Atlas and the others instinctively stepped back, retreating toward the edge of the chamber.

But even from there, he still had a clear view of the frozen pool.

He could see it—whatever was stirring beneath the ice, whatever was about to emerge from the depths.

Then, something truly terrifying happened.

Not just a roar—an ear-shattering, bone-rattling roar that forced Atlas to clamp his hands over his ears. It was raw, unfiltered power, shaking the very air around them, far louder than anything they had heard before.

And then—

A massive surge of energy erupted from the gaping hole in the center of the frozen lake.

A supermassive blast of frozen energy, like a cannon of pure ice, shot into the air with terrifying force. It crashed into the cave’s ceiling, sending shockwaves rippling through the entire chamber.

The impact was immense, triggering another violent quake that nearly knocked Atlas off his feet. The cave groaned under the strain, cracks spreading across the frozen lake from the sheer force of the blast.

Damn.

The monster was breaking free—and way faster than he had anticipated.

And then the real question hit him.

What kind of monster is that?!

**

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