On this journey to the Lower Lands, Atlas decided to bring a compact team of just eight, including himself. His first pick was Edrik, a dependable presence in nearly every scenario. Edrik had a knack for offering clear opinions and was particularly skilled at navigating complex problems with ease.

Then there was Kurogasa, chosen for his practicality and exceptional versatility in reconnaissance and handling a variety of conditions.

Next was Morganna—the Vampire Queen. Her inclusion wasn’t entirely by choice; Atlas brought her along because she was bored back at Gacha Haven, and he feared she might stir up trouble if left behind.

Rounding out the group were four team leaders: Zara, Kaida, Garen, and Ronan.

For the journey, Atlas had secured two vehicles—advanced caravans. They boasted a sleek yet sturdy design, featuring reinforced metal plating, polished exteriors, and massive, rugged tires engineered for all kinds of terrain. They named this vehicle the Sandstorm Cruiser.

During the journey, one of their objectives was for Zara to meet with someone, a woman whose identity remained a mystery even to Atlas. After arriving at the meeting spot, Atlas allowed Zara to speak with the woman privately. Meanwhile, he and the rest of the group waited outside at a modest café, using the time to discuss their plans.

To avoid drawing unnecessary attention, they dressed in simple Awakener attire, deliberately leaving out any signs of the Gacha Haven emblem. This way, they blended in seamlessly as ordinary Awakeners on a routine dungeon hunt.

Kurogasa stayed away from the main group and patrolled the area, scouting for potential threats or anything out of the ordinary.

Afterward, Kaida began explaining Zara’s background, as well as the story of Edward—the man who had lost his life in the recent battle.

“Edward used to be a butler for Zara’s family,” Kaida said. “He chose to stay by her side even after she decided to join Gacha Haven.”

“Did you know about this, Edrik?” Atlas asked, turning to him.

“Yes and no. I knew they were familiar with each other from their gestures, but within the team, they always acted like any other colleagues.”

“So Zara kept this a secret,” Atlas murmured, nodding before turning back to Kaida. “And what happened to Zara that led her to this situation?”

Kaida let out a deep breath before giving a brief account of the events.

“Zara was the daughter of a city mayor in a town not far from here. But due to... complicated circumstances, her entire family was killed. She was only spared under the condition that she leave the city and never return.”

Atlas fell silent, letting the revelation sink in. After a moment, he nodded slowly. “That’s certainly... not an easy thing for someone so young to endure.”

He paused briefly before continuing, “Still, her level is impressive, her talent exceptional, and her knowledge and composure remarkable. If she keeps growing like this, I’m confident she’ll become a great leader in the future.”

“Agreed,” Edrik said with a nod.

Once Zara concluded her business, the group pressed on with their journey.

“Let’s make a stop at the nearest town,” Atlas suggested, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. “I have a hunch we might come across something interesting there.”

***

“We have a few promising candidates for Rank-1 Lords,” said a man in his forties, standing at the center of the pristine, white-walled room. His tone was steady as he addressed the group seated in a circle of six chairs.

An older man with white hair and a matching beard leaned forward slightly. “One of them might very well be the Lord who defeated my son.”

The man in the center nodded and continued. “We won’t interfere if you decide to take action on a personal level. However, the alliance’s main objective remains unchanged. When we identify potential candidates, we’ll recruit them into the alliance before rival groups make a move.”

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“Understood.”

The man in the center continued. “Have you found the one we’re looking for yet, Kareem?”

Kareem shook his head. “Half the Lords on the initial list have already been defeated. On the other hand, several Lords who weren’t even on the list have now become viable candidates.”

“Do you have any leads on the Lord in question?”

“I have a few,” Kareem replied.

The man in the center folded his arms. “We’ll give you more time. If you need additional resources or support, the alliance will provide whatever you require.”

Kareem stood, his expression unreadable. “Continue with your plans. I’ll handle my own affairs personally.”

With that, he turned and left the room.

As the door closed behind him, the man in the center turned to the four remaining individuals in the room.

“So, have you chosen the name of the Floating Island you’ll target?”

One of them leaned back in his chair, a sly smile forming on his lips.

“Gacha Haven… I’ll take this one. And rest assured, I’ll ensure they join our alliance soon enough.”

***

A white carriage, sleek and horseless, soared swiftly through the air. Inside, two young women sat, both appearing to be under twenty.

“Ember, are you sure Mira’s doing okay?” asked the one in a purple dress. “We’ve been through so much these past few months, I feel like we completely forgot about that girl.”

Ember gave a reassuring smile. “Luna, listen. I’ve passed by this area a few times, and her island’s been thriving. I haven’t stopped by because I was in a rush, but trust me, she’s fine.”

Luna let out a small sigh of relief.

“Oh, that’s so good to hear.”

The carriage sped on, drawing closer to a floating island in the distance. As it came into view, Luna stood, her face lighting up with awe.

“Woah… are you sure that’s the same island? It’s massive now—way bigger than before!”

Ember grinned and crossed her arms smugly.

“See? Told you! Looks like they managed to handle the recent battles just fine.”

As the carriage approached, they could see the island’s outer edge, where several people were hard at work tending to a sprawling carrot farm. One of them noticed the carriage and sprinted toward the edge of the floating island, waving enthusiastically.

“Hi, Luna! Hi, Ember!” Mira’s cheerful voice carried over the wind as she waved.

“Wow, Ember, she still remembers us!” Luna said as she waved back.

“Hey, Mira! How’s the island doing?” Luna called out, leaning slightly out of the carriage.

Mira cupped her hands around her mouth to shout back. “Hi! We’re doing great! We have so many carrots—I’ll bring you some, okay? They’re really good!”

Luna turned to Ember, raising an eyebrow. “Ember… was my question unclear earlier?”

“Yes, let me try,” Ember replied.

Ember cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted toward the island. “Mira! Have you finished the current battle season?”

“Yes! We had so much fun!” Mira called back cheerfully.

Ember frowned. “A lot of fun?” she muttered, then glanced at Luna. “Luna, was my question unclear this time?”

Luna chuckled softly. “Yes, let me handle this.”

She leaned out of the carriage slightly and called, “Mira! Are you planning to join the next Dominion Skirmish?”

The Dominion Skirmish is a high-stakes event where participants fight for control of unoccupied floating islands. Each battle is typically limited to contenders of the same rank, though participants have the option to compete in battles one rank above their own for an added challenge.

This event serves as a rigorous test of both strategy and combat prowess, with the ultimate reward being dominion over a new island.

Participants eligible to join the Dominion Skirmish are usually selected based on their performance during the current battle season.

Mira looked momentarily confused, then waved enthusiastically again. “Yes, Luna, Ember! We’re having fun and will do lots of battles in the future!”

Ember swallowed hard, her concern evident as she turned back to Luna. “Luna, do you think Mira’s taking the Dominion Skirmish too lightly?”

Luna sighed, nodding. “Ember, I’m worried too… She doesn’t have enough experience yet.”

Ember’s expression hardened. “I think we need to support her more, Luna.”

“I agree, Ember.”

Luna stood and called out again.

“Mira! Don’t worry—we’ll open reinforcement access for you. Take care, okay?”

Ember waved as well. “We’ll come back soon!”

Before they could leave, Mira tossed a large sack toward them. Ember caught it, albeit with some surprise.

“Take these carrots, okay? They’re good for your health!” Mira shouted.

“Thanks… See you, Mira!” Luna and Ember called out in unison as their carriage soared away into the sky, leaving the floating island behind.