Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord
Chapter 71 - Runesmith of Eternal Flame

Chapter 71: Chapter 71 - Runesmith of Eternal Flame

Atlas took a deep breath and prepared to open the first rank-A ticket.

The ticket flickered and expanded rapidly before transforming into what looked like a square-shaped fabric, floating weightlessly in the air.

"What the heck is that?!"

A notification popped up.

[You have received Rank-A Item: Veilstone Cloak]

[Conceals an area, hiding all structures and units for up to 15 minutes.]

"Oh! Interesting," Atlas said, intrigued. "But how big is the area this thing can cover?"

Curious, he tossed the item into the air. Instantly, it unfurled and grew, becoming transparent as it descended. The size was respectable, though not enormous, about a third of the island’s current size.

The cloak floated gently downward, draping over the group, effectively concealing everyone beneath it.

The troops reached out to touch the cloak, but their hands passed right through as if it didn’t exist.

"Not bad," Atlas mused, examining the item’s behavior. "Though there’s one drawback, it’s stationary once activated. You can’t move it after it’s deployed."

Still, the tactical potential was undeniable. He could already think of several ways to use it in battle. From ambush setups to emergency retreats, this cloak could be a game-changer in the right situation.

"Nice," he muttered to himself.

Still, Atlas couldn’t help but wonder just how effective this item truly was at concealing everyone. Like... would sound still leak out? Or did it only hide their physical presence? That part wasn’t clear yet.

Regardless, it was still an incredible item.

He knew, of course, that certain awakeners had skills that allowed them to detect their surroundings. Some could even sense body heat or subtle shifts in energy. And individuals like Kurogasa, with finely honed instincts, might still be able to detect something even through a concealment like this.

He’d need to run more tests later. But for now, this was good enough.

Honestly, the more powerful items Atlas stumbled upon, the more amazed he felt. Half the things he acquired weren’t even ones he’d been aiming for, and yet, they kept finding their way into his hands.

He was still excited. The night was young, and he could see it, the gleam of anticipation in the eyes of everyone standing before him.

There was still more to come.

Atlas touched the next Rank-A ticket, and it instantly turned crimson, as if ignited by unseen flames.

A deep, resonant clang of metal echoed across the area, reverberating like the strike of a smith’s hammer against an anvil.

"What is that?" Atlas muttered, his eyes narrowing as he stepped back, watching the burning ticket descend slowly to the ground.

From the flames, a figure began to emerge. It was massive, easily as tall as Karian, but with a build far broader and more imposing.

The figure’s physique was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Muscles as thick as tree trunks and his braided beard, glowing faintly ash-gray, hung long and heavy. Behind him, thick, tied-back hair fell like molten iron strands.

As the summoning finished, the towering figure straightened and broke into a wide grin.

"Fortune smiles upon me, granting me another chance to walk this world. Now, I pledge myself to serve a lord," the figure boomed, his voice resonant.

He stepped forward, bowing respectfully.

"Baldric Moltenbeard. A dwarf, and a Master Blacksmith, at your service. I offer my skills and loyalty to the lord of this island."

Atlas blinked, momentarily taken aback. A Master rank Blacksmith!!!

And a dwarf?!!! Not a Titan?!!!

[You have received Rank-A Character: Baldric Moltenbeard - Runesmith of Eternal Flame]

Hah! Thanks to a string of seemingly useless items he’d pulled earlier, Atlas had started to quietly lower his expectations. Maybe tonight wouldn’t yield anything game-changing after all.

But then, there it was. A new character summon.

And not just any character.

A blacksmith.

"A dwarf?" Atlas murmured under his breath.

Though calling Baldric a dwarf almost felt like a joke, his sheer size put even the largest warriors on the island to shame. His bulky frame made Karian, tall as he was, look like a young recruit by comparison. If anything, Baldric’s presence felt more Titan than dwarf.

Baldric let out a booming laugh, clearly catching the curious look Atlas gave him.

"Ha ha ha! My Lord, is this your first time meeting a dwarf?"

"Actually, yes," Atlas admitted with a nod.

"Well, I’ll wager it’s also the first time anyone’s seen a dwarf this big, eh? Ha ha!"

"You’ve definitely claimed the title of ’largest’, at least until Milo transforms into his rage form," Atlas replied, grinning.

"Oh, a giant, is he? Sounds like I’ve got myself an arm-wrestling partner already! Ha ha ha!"

"Not a giant," Atlas corrected, his grin widening. "Just a wandering magician... who turns into a powerful monster if you touch him."

Baldric blinked, then roared with laughter. "Oh-ho! Even better! Sounds like the forge isn’t the only thing that gets hot around here!"

The dwarf turned to face the crowd, offering a small but confident bow as he swept his gaze across the gathering.

"Heya, everyone!" he boomed, his voice full of warmth and strength. Then his eyes locked onto the Elite Subordinates near the front. "Ah, I see a lot of capable folks here. Hahaha, very good! Very good!"

Baldric walked toward the troops, his gaze sharp as he inspected the group, pausing when he reached Garen.

The dwarf’s expression shifted to something far more serious as his eyes scanned the worn plates and scuffed edges of the soldiers’ gear.

"Well now," he muttered, scratching his beard. "I see they’re still wearing armor in... let’s just say ’less-than-ideal’ condition. That won’t do at all. I’ll start working immediately to boost everyone’s defense and offensive strength."

He turned back to Atlas with a toothy grin. "That is, of course, if the materials are ready, My Lord."

"We have some," Atlas replied with a nod. "But I’m not sure if it’ll be enough to meet your standards. We’ll probably need to buy more or start a proper mining run."

"If we can find a volcanic island," Baldric said, folding his arms, "we should be able to source most of what I need. Lava-forged ores, heat-hardened minerals, and magma-infused metals, perfect stuff for top-tier gear."

Atlas nodded. "We’ve got a favorite spot we hit often for hunting and training. It’s rich in resources. Hopefully, it’ll cover everything."

"Ha ha ha! Perfect! I love it!" Baldric bellowed, clapping his massive hands together with a sound like thunder. "I’ll work my ass off for this team! I’ll forge the sturdiest damn armor and the most devastating weapons you’ve ever seen!"

Baldric’s booming laughter echoed through the camp, his presence already a natural fit among the others.

"Oh-ho! This armor’s impressive!" he said, squinting at the glinting red scales on Karian’s chest plate. "Did you slaughter a dragon to get this kind of material?"

"Yes," Karian answered plainly. "I decapitated a fire dragon and ate its eye. But honestly, the eye’s not the best part of the dragon. It’s... well, you know... that part from the reproductive area."

There was a moment of stunned silence.

"Whoa! Ha ha ha!" Baldric burst out laughing. "You’ve got some refined taste, my friend!"

Atlas groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose, already regretting letting this conversation spiral so freely. He didn’t even want to imagine how Mira might repeat this later at dinner.

Still... he couldn’t deny it.

This summon had been an absolute jackpot.

While he’d originally hoped to get a powerful mage, what he’d received instead was arguably just as valuable, a high-tier blacksmith, and one with boundless energy.

Curious now to see just how capable Baldric truly was, Atlas opened the status screen to inspect his full list of abilities.