Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord
Chapter 69 - Laughter After Lava

Chapter 69: Chapter 69 - Laughter After Lava

Atlas collapsed, his body slamming hard against the ground as a scream tore from his throat. The pain was blinding, white-hot, and so intense it threatened to pull him into unconsciousness. His mind reeled, every nerve in his leg screaming as the molten heat surged up through his foot.

The training grounds Kurogasa had selected were harsh, chosen with purpose. Sparse streams of lava wound between wide patches of cracked, solid ground.

It was a place meant to test resilience, both physical and mental. The lava channels weren’t wide, no broader than a man’s foot. But wide enough to burn.

And Atlas had stepped right into one.

The molten stream hissed beneath him, eating through his boot like wax under a flame.

"My Lord... let me heal you!" Lyrassa said, rushing to his side.

Atlas barely heard her over the pounding in his ears. But when her hands began to glow with the first waves of healing energy, he moved on instinct. His hand clamped around her wrist, stopping her.

"No," he rasped.

Kurogasa’s lessons echoed in his mind like a war drum. Pain must be endured. Strength isn’t born from comfort. It’s forged in suffering. The path to mastery lay at the edge of one’s limits.

Atlas gritted his teeth, breath ragged and harsh. He wouldn’t let this defeat him, not this. Not now!

"Only heal me if there’s a risk of permanent damage," he growled.

Lyrassa’s expression faltered, her eyes flashing with protest. But she said nothing, only lowering her hands, though she kept them close.

"My Lord..." Kurogasa said.

"No," Atlas snapped, cutting him off.

"This is just the beginning," he said, planting his palms on the ground and forcing himself upright. His face twisted with pain.

"I’m not giving up!"

Fuck!

Atlas stayed down for a moment longer, letting the pain surge and ripple through every nerve in his body. It didn’t lessen. It clung to him, unforgiving and brutal. But he refused to give it power.

With a guttural roar of frustration, Atlas began to move. Muscles trembling, breath ragged, he forced himself to rise. His legs wobbled beneath him, but he didn’t stop.

Damn it!

The agony was relentless, biting into him with every shift of weight. But this was the path. This was what he had chosen. Strength didn’t come cheap, and he would pay the price in full!

He staggered, then found his balance. And then, he ran.

"DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT! ARGHH!"

He shouted, his voice raw and burning, echoing across the scorched training field.

But this time, his stride was stronger. More sure. The pain was still there, he felt it with every pounding step. But now he understood it. Surviving it once meant he could do it again.

Strangely, everything around him began to shift. He could hear the faint crackling of the lava streams, feel the way the temperature shifted with each motion, smell the way scorched minerals changed depending on the flow of heat. Every sense came alive.

The world around him wasn’t fighting him, it was guiding him.

Each step landed with purpose. Precision.

He could do this!

From a distance, Lyrassa stood frozen, hands clutched tightly before her chest.

Beside her stood Edrik and Kurogasa, equally silent.

"The Lord..." she whispered. "He’s only human..." The words stuck in her throat, and tears slipped down her cheeks. "He’s just a normal human... This suffering must be hell for him."

She shook her head, unable to contain the anguish on her face.

Edrik exhaled slowly, his tone weighted. "Even I, an assassin trained in some of the most brutal methods imaginable, feel like my hardships were child’s play compared to what he’s doing to himself."

Kurogasa nodded with a heavy expression. "It hurts to see him like this. But he understands his limits better than anyone. He knows what he’s chasing. Our duty... is to watch his back and shield his blind spots."

The three of them watched in silence as Atlas ran again, faster this time. His steps grew surer, and he managed to guide himself away from the streams of lava with greater precision. He was adjusting, adapting... learning.

Atlas stumbled again, this time falling into the same stream of lava. The pain was excruciating, and he rolled on the ground, clutching his leg as if the agony were breaking his very bones.

Lyrassa and Kurogasa rushed toward him, worry etched on their faces. But after ensuring he could endure, they stepped back as Atlas forced himself to stand once more.

He started running again, his resolve unshaken despite the pain.

This wasn’t even the first lap. It was far from over.

Then, finally.

"My Lord, first lap," Kurogasa called out as Atlas passed him.

Atlas managed a faint, determined smile before pushing forward, his pace unwavering.

As he continued, the rhythm of his running became steadier. He was growing accustomed to navigating without sight, interpreting his surroundings through smell, heat, and sound. His senses sharpened, working together in ways they never had before.

It was sheer, unrelenting hell.

There were moments when he felt despair, questioning the sanity of his decision to endure such punishment. But every time doubt clawed at his mind, he roared, forcing himself to push harder.

He pushed harder!

With every step, his confidence grew.

Sure, he fell again. His legs were scraped raw, his body battered, caked in dirt and blistered from the heat. But he refused to stop.

He rose every time, his determination burning brighter than the molten streams beneath his feet!

And finally... finally!!!

"My Lord, you’ve done it," Kurogasa’s voice broke through the haze of exhaustion.

Atlas smiled, then burst into laughter as he collapsed onto the ground, his body trembling with relief.

"Hahaha!"

He laughed, reaching up to remove his blindfold.

As his vision adjusted, he saw Kurogasa, Edrik, Lyrassa, and all the troops surrounding him. They stood silently for a moment before bowing to him in unison.

Edrik stepped forward, offering his hand to help Atlas up, steadying him as he struggled to find his footing.

This had been another round of hellish training. But he had made it through.

Atlas clenched his fists. This wasn’t his limit, not yet.

He would keep pushing himself, breaking through every barrier, no matter how impossible it seemed.

He would go even further!

**

Afterward, the group took a well-deserved break for lunch before diving into another grueling round of training. The intensity matched the earlier session, pushing everyone to their limits.

By the time evening rolled around, they returned, exhausted, to Gacha Haven.

Moments like these made Atlas think how much more enjoyable post-training recovery would be if he could construct the Healing Spring. The blueprint he’d acquired from the Gacha, but he still lacked the materials to build it.

He resolved to explore other islands soon to gather what he needed.

In his room, Atlas received treatment and healing from Lyrassa. Her abilities worked wonders, and he was back to his normal state much faster than he could have expected. It was nothing short of a miracle having someone like her on his team.

That night, as always, the island came alive.

Everyone gathered beneath the stars, drawn together by the warmth of the fire and the comfort of shared company. Laughter rang out as food sizzled on the grill, passed around with eager hands.

Some took to the microphone for karaoke, while others attempted stand-up comedy, drawing cheers, groans, and laughter all the same.

Atlas sat back, quietly watching it all unfold. A satisfied smile played on his lips. This was the spirit he wanted to preserve.

This happiness was something they had to hold on to, something worth fighting for, even as more challenges loomed on the horizon. Their lives would always be under threat. Hardship would never be far behind.

But even so, what a beautiful, dreamlike way to live, finding joy in the middle of a world that so often felt like hell.

And then, he reviewed his remaining gacha pulls. He still had 80 Standard Tickets!

This meant he was guaranteed at least one Rank-S item, though he couldn’t help but feel a little greedy, hoping for even more.

The excitement among his troops was palpable as Atlas stepped onto the stage. This was the moment everyone had been waiting for.

He grabbed 10 tickets and threw them into the air. The glowing tickets spun wildly before each began to change color.

Brown. Everyone fell silent.

Brown. Brown. Brown.

Then, purple!

"FIRE!" the crowd roared in unison.

Another ticket turned Purple.

"FIRE!" they shouted again, louder this time.

The remaining ticket began to settle. Brown. Brown. Brown. Purple!

"FIRE!"

Cheers erupted as the results were revealed. Three Rank-A items from the first pull.

"What a way to start the night!"