Floating Island - Triple S Talent

Chapter 219: Waiting for the S-level soul piece

"Ah, how pleasant..." Lein let out a long sigh, allowing himself to sink into the rare comfort he seldom experienced. This time, there was no need for active movement. He could just sit back in his chair, letting the fresh breeze caress his face, and feel the soothing chill washing over him. Beside him, a selection of fresh fruits sat on the table, their vibrant colors tempting him.

He grabbed one and bit into it slowly, savoring the sweetness spreading across his tongue.

Lein leaned back, straightening his spine, and enjoyed the view from the open terrace. Meanwhile, a faint glimmer sparkled in his eyes—a sign that his consciousness was connected to the clones scattered across the world. He didn't just see what they saw; he could feel every surge of adrenaline, every swing of the sword, and the heat or cold they encountered.

"Strike the abdomen... that's the weak spot," Lein muttered to himself, his eyes tracking the movements of one clone locked in battle with a large monster, searching for an opening between its hard scales.

"Don't get careless—watch your back!" he said louder, like a coach giving instructions. The clone swiftly turned and slashed an attack coming from behind with perfect reflex. Lein gave a slight smile of satisfaction.

His remarks were inevitable—like a pro player observing a beginner. He wanted the "newbie" to follow his instructions exactly to ensure the best results.

Far away, one of his clones was locked in combat under the scorching heat of the desert sun. A massive sand serpent, its body gleaming with scales as sharp as rotating saw blades, slithered effortlessly over the sands. The serpent measured over twenty meters long, its gaping mouth ready to crush anything foolish enough to approach.

The clone dodged with agile movements, keeping his eyes focused on the serpent's unpredictable slithers, while his golden sword shimmered under the sunlight, poised to strike.

Elsewhere, in the depths of a dark ocean, another clone confronted a colossal B-rank clam. The shell of the clam was as hard as steel, and each time it slightly opened its maw, a low-pitched vibration pulsed through the water. This vibration was not just a sound—it penetrated the mind, causing dizziness and disruptive hallucinations.

Yet, with remarkable composure, the clone kept his distance, waiting for the perfect moment to attack.

Lein felt no concern that his clones wouldn't succeed in slaying the soul beasts guarding the portals. For him, failure was simply out of the question. After all, each of his clones was equipped with top-tier combat gear, including the divine-grade Vortex Plate artifact, which allowed them to teleport instantly and hover in mid-air.

Additionally, every clone carried the Time Ring, which reduced skill cooldowns by 80%, making it easy for them to unleash abilities rapidly. Not to mention the two-part sword set—one golden, the other black—that each clone wielded. In case they faced a particularly tough enemy, extra golden swords were always at their disposal, ensuring that other clones could step in if necessary.

Lein's smile widened as he watched each of his clones fight. Yet, despite the fragmented perspectives flowing through his mind, a nagging thought persisted.

"I still haven't found an S-rank soul..." he murmured to himself, his voice tinged with reflection. "Is it really that difficult?"

His gaze shifted deeper, scanning from one clone to another. Desert sands, dark forests, snowy mountains, and the deepest ocean floors—his clones had spread across every corner of the world, collecting souls from countless monsters. But most of what they found were C-rank creatures, a handful of B-rank ones, and only a rare few A-rank.

Out of the hundreds of thousands of clones deployed, only around ten had managed to capture A-rank souls. For the rest, defeating C- and B-rank soul beasts was as effortless as mowing grass.

"Hmm... could I be lacking in 'luck points'?" Lein chuckled, recalling stories where protagonists were blessed with absurd luck, stumbling upon unimaginable powers from the most trivial events.

"Well, I suppose I've been lucky enough with my (Infinity Duplicate) talent," he mused, letting out a soft laugh. That chuckle was followed by a brief glimmer in his eyes—memories flashing back to when he first set foot in the Celestial Realm. He remembered arriving on a tiny island, surrounded by an endless sea of clouds, with no idea what to do next.

Back then, he had been so weak, possessing nothing but the sheer will to survive. Yet, as if by miracle, he had acquired a talent that defied the laws of nature—something far beyond his imagination. With his duplication ability, he carved his path, step by step, until he now stood as the supreme ruler of humankind.

"Level 50..." Lein muttered, his tone carrying a hint of boredom. He glanced at his status screen, carefully reviewing the numbers that reflected his current power.

[STATUS]

- Name: Lein - Tier 3 (Leader of the Sovereign 3)

- Level: 50 (23%)

- Attributes: STR 22877, AGI 22921, INT 20423, RES 21726

- Class: Swordsman

- Skills: (Divine Slash Shadow), (Sky Shattering Slash), (Area of Light), (Sword Heaven Prison), (Sacred Heart Sword), (Sky Sword Rain)

- Sub Skills: (Double Slash), (Sword Aura), (Quick Movement), (Light Barrier), ...

- Equipment: (Divine Sword +15), (Voidstride Boots +15), (Celestial Shadow Cloak +15), (Wrathforged Claws +15), (Crown of Temporal Mastery +15)

- Artifact: (Time Ring - pure), (Vortex Plate - heaven), (Mad Summoner's Necklace), (Goddess of Enlightenment Fan), (False Soul Ring)...

[System Chat Message: (Human Race of Earth), (Alliance), (Staff),...]

[Market: Devine Sky Realm]

[Friend: Cute Cat, Laras, ...]

[Orb Island]

Lein felt excitement every time he reviewed his system panel. His attributes, surpassing 20,000 points, were the result of various buffs—from core essences, titles, soul altars, and other sources that indirectly boosted his stats. This was in addition to the free attributes he gained from leveling up.

Even Nita, who was at the same level as him, could only manage around 15,000 points on average.

"I wonder how high the attributes of those top alliances are," Lein thought, recalling the five leading human alliances.

"Probably not more than 10,000," he muttered, making a rough estimation.

Most of them were still early-tier 3, with limited items, making it nearly impossible for them to catch up to him.

His attention shifted to the market feature in the system panel, which still displayed the same interface as before, complete with a section for sales posts. In the market panel, Lein could apply detailed filters—sorting by price, posting time, seller name, and more.

Browsing through the highest-selling items, he found tools for enhancing power, such as equipment, stones with white or green hues, and even construction materials for island structures.

Aside from these popular commodities, he noticed a few premium items like (Insight Stone), (Skill Book – rare), and others.

Seeing these listings, Lein couldn't help but comment, "Aren't they afraid of being hunted?"

His thoughts were justified—several people had reportedly died after listing high-quality items on the market board. Therefore, anyone still daring to post such premium items likely had strong backing. They were likely leveraging the market to expand their network or find buyers offering immense profits.

Driven by curiosity, Lein opened the System Chat feature.

[System Chat Messages: Human Race of Earth]

- (Heavy Rain): "Thank you, Princess Hana. You saved my life and my family's. Also, thank you to Alliance Leader Lein."

- (Mira): "Why is the help taking so long? I've paid my taxes, but the government can't even protect us... Damn it... Bring my family back!"

- (White Cloud):"I can't take it anymore... I'm going to end it all..."

- (Roger): "If anyone needs escort services, send me a message. Friendly rates."

Lein scanned the chaotic chat system, filled with complaints, pleas for help, and service offers. The messages flowed endlessly, filling the screen with a mixture of hope and despair.

One message from a man threatening suicide caught his attention, while a desperate cry from a mother searching for her family made him sigh.

"How am I supposed to save everyone?" he pondered as he gazed at the horizon. "If they rely on me forever, what will happen when I'm gone?"

A glimmer of determination flashed in his eyes. He knew he couldn't be their sole protector without giving others the chance to grow.

"Huahh..." Lein yawned, sleepiness creeping in as he waited for his clones to deliver results. It had been over 20 minutes with no signs of an S-grade soul fragment.

"Damn it, still nothing..." he muttered in frustration. However, the hard work of his clones had yielded 10 A-grade souls so far.

Closing the status panel, Lein reached for the spatial ring on his middle finger. A flash of light appeared, and a large epic chest materialized before him. A slow smile spread across his face as he imagined its contents.

"While I wait, I might as well go treasure hunting, huh?" he chuckled softly.

He sat on the ground, pulling the chest closer. As he began unlocking it, he felt the intricate carvings and cold surface beneath his fingertips. Like a child impatient to open a present, Lein hoped his luck would continue.