Floating Islands: SSS Gacha System

Chapter 98 - Kill or Be Killed

Atlas sat quietly with Zara on a long bench overlooking a serene artificial lake near the city's central park. The sky dimmed as shades of orange and purple stretched across the horizon. Nearby, the rest of their team lingered around the parked caravans, giving the two of them space.

For a while, neither of them said a word. Zara gazed blankly at the calm water. Atlas mirrored her silence, his eyes fixed on the gentle ripples of the lake.

Until, it was Atlas who finally broke the stillness. "What does it feel like…" he began, his voice low. "To take someone's life?"

Zara's eyes widened at the unexpected question, and she turned to look at him. "My Lord…" she started, but her voice faltered.

She clasped her hands together nervously before finding her words. "At first… it felt painful," she admitted. "But, over time, I began to understand…"

She paused, her voice dropping as if weighed down by the truth she was about to share. "In this world, we can only survive by defending ourselves… or by killing our enemies."

Atlas took a deep breath, nodding slowly at her words.

"You didn't say anything when I told the team we were heading to this city," he said after a moment.

Zara remained silent, her gaze falling to the ground.

"What do you feel?"

Her shoulders tensed, and she lowered her head further. "Anger," she finally admitted, her voice trembling.

Atlas sighed deeply, standing and continuing to look out over the lake. "I'm giving you the opportunity you need," he said. "Take it, or we'll leave this city."

The silence stretched between them once more.

After a few moments, Zara rose to her feet, lifting her head. Her voice was clear as she spoke. "I will take this opportunity, My Lord."

Atlas turned to face her, placing a hand on her left shoulder.

"We are all on the same island, Zara. The same fate. We're not just teammates; we're family. Your pain is my pain. Our pain."

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly. "I will work hard and remain loyal to you forever."

Atlas gave her a small smile. "I know you'll become someone extraordinary. You have the potential."

They decided to camp by the lake that night, a common open area often used by awakeners passing through the city to hunt in nearby zones or dungeons. The space was wide, with each group settling into separate areas, giving everyone enough room for privacy. Although some groups were close to each other, it still felt spacious and peaceful.

Atlas had already sent Kurogasa on a reconnaissance mission to gather intel on their target—the city mayor's residence. While Atlas could have easily taken direct action to settle this grudge, Edrik had devised a more strategic plan, one that would deliver a far more devastating blow to their adversary.

As the hours passed and night fell, the group remained on high alert, waiting for Kurogasa's signal to proceed with their next move. Edrik, meanwhile, was focused on his own preparations to ensure the plan went off without a hitch.

A message arrived from Edrik. "This city mayor seems to be quite the gangster. He's got plenty of awakeners with levels above 50 stationed at his residence."

Atlas read the message silently.

The note continued. "Well, no need to worry though. Morganna and Kurogasa alone are more than enough to deal with them."

Atlas smirked faintly.

Kaida and Garen prepared dinner for the group, setting up a small barbecue as the evening deepened. The scent of grilled meat filled the air, mingling with the cool breeze from the lake.

It was a strangely serene night, the kind of tranquility rarely found in a desert city. The lush grass, the lake, and the surrounding trees made it feel like a different world entirely.

Morganna sat alone on a bench near the water, her gaze distant as she stared at the lake. Atlas approached her, carrying two plates of food and two bottles of drink. Without a word, he set them down between them, then sat beside her, taking a bite of his grilled meat.

For a while, neither of them spoke. Morganna eventually picked up her plate and began eating in silence.

Moments like these were rare for Atlas—moments where he could sit and talk without the pressure of training, planning, or fighting weighing on his shoulders.

Earlier, he had spent time discussing strategies with Edrik and Kurogasa during their journey, shared personal reflections with Zara by the lake, and checked in with the other team leaders near the fire.

Now, he wanted to talk with Morganna.

But what could he say that would interest her?

Blood?

No, talking about blood would only lead the conversation into territory that could ruin the atmosphere. It wasn't the right time for that.

Perhaps… ask about her world?

Atlas weighed his options, considering what might genuinely capture the Vampire Queen's interest. But maybe, just maybe, a glimpse into her past would pique her interest.

"Do you know the grandest slaughter I've ever done?" Morganna's voice broke the silence, catching Atlas off guard.

He turned to her, surprised by the unexpected comment. She still stared out at the lake.

"Mind sharing?" he asked cautiously.

Morganna turned to him, her crimson eyes—which usually flared to life under certain conditions—now appeared dimmer, almost muted. Those fiery eyes often served as a reflection of her emotional state, glowing faintly in moments of tension but blazing at their brightest when she was on the cusp of battle. Now, however, they seemed subdued, not sure what was the reason.

"I killed a world," she said.

"The whole planet?"

"Yes."

He took a moment to process her words, the weight of them sinking in. Destroying a world wasn't just an act of war—it was annihilation on an unfathomable scale. The kind of conquest he had thought was nothing more than exaggerated tales.

"Only by killing can we grow stronger. That's the rule," she continued. "So if you're hesitating about this, just let me show you how it's done the right way."

"Do I look like I'm hesitating?"

"That's a foolish way of thinking," she said. "If you're questioning the morality of it all, you're wasting your energy. The only ones who matter are those who have pledged their loyalty to you."

Atlas stayed silent, digesting her perspective. Was she reading his thoughts? Or had she merely seen through him?

"If you think I'm insane, you're wrong," Morganna said, her voice rising slightly. "You hold me back with your inexperienced mindset."

Atlas remained calm, choosing not to interrupt, sensing that she needed to let her thoughts flow freely.

"The only way to survive is to become stronger. And the only way to do that is by killing!"

She turned fully to him. "Kill or be killed," she said firmly.

She continued, "I'm being generous by articulating my words so carefully."

Atlas felt the anger burning inside him ever since he found out what had happened to Zara. He knew he couldn't just ignore it without doing something. That same feeling he felt when he learned about Mira's past—how her classmates at the academy didn't just bully her but even killed her parents right in front of her.

"If you think you can seek peace by other means, you're wrong," Morganna pressed on. "I've lived long enough to prove that's not possible!"

"Your path will not be easy," she added.

At that moment, Atlas's Awakener Device chimed. A message from Edrik flashed across the screen, confirming that the plan was unfolding as predicted and that the follow-up would commence immediately.

Atlas stood, and the Vampire Queen rose with him. They faced each other in silence, their eyes locked. The moment was brief, yet it seemed to stretch on forever.

"You're doing… not worse," she finally said.

A faint smile tugged at his lips. Maybe that was the highest praise he could hope for from the Vampire Queen.

Perhaps it was the first time he'd heard her speak so much in one sitting, or maybe she had far more to say than he'd ever given her credit for. After all, she had once been a Rank-9 Immortal—a Lord with thousands of years of experience, victories, and defeats etched into her eternal life.

Atlas took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again. His calm expression hardened.

As long as he could still walk freely in this world, no—he would never doubt his decisions!

"Let's go," he said firmly.

Morganna's lips curved into a faint smile, and her crimson eyes flared to life in response.