Floating Island - Triple S Talent

"They gave it to me, and to Joy, so easily..." Grace murmured softly, her voice nearly drowned by the sound of bubbles popping on the water's surface. A faint fear was visible on her face, though she tried to hide it.

Deep down, Grace still felt a bit of doubt. This elixir was a blessing, but she couldn't ignore the shadow lingering in her thoughts. If it hadn't been Nita—someone she fully trusted as a fellow woman—who gave it to her, she might not have accepted this item so willingly.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Grace took a deep breath, letting the warm steam soothe her mind. "I hope joining this alliance was the right decision," she said with a tone full of hope. Her words sounded light, but they carried a lot of uncertainty. Discover more content at empire

She knew very well that great power always came with great threats. That law applied everywhere, across the entire universe. A powerful alliance was bound to have equally powerful enemies.

***

Life in the Divine Sky Realm continued as usual. Hunters were busy exploring the mainland, a vast region that served as the center of resource wealth. While the floating islands might yield valuable materials, nothing could compare to the bounty from the mainland.

That was why most hunters chose to hunt there. However, their time was limited. Lein had set a rule that they only had seven days before new regulations would be implemented on the mainland. Currently, they were on the fifth day, leaving only two days for the hunters to maximize their harvests.

Far above the mainland, thousands of floating islands continued to move slowly but surely, following Lein's orders. The islands were directed toward the edge of the mainland, where they would settle permanently. Lein had decreed that the mainland would become the primary base, and no floating islands were allowed to cross its boundaries.

Among these islands, one large island moved at a significantly higher speed than the others. This island was a symbol of power—a majestic and formidable fortress. Towering structures rose above it, accompanied by sturdy defensive towers and massive walls exuding an aura of menace.

Despite the island's high speed, its inhabitants went about their daily lives undisturbed. From a distance, the dominant black color of the island gave it a somber impression, but its beauty was undeniable. Vast forests, neatly arranged settlements, and smaller surrounding islands serving as defensive layers added to its grandeur and unmatched presence.

In one part of the island, a grand town hall stood prominently, serving as the command center surrounded by defensive towers on all sides. The building occupied a vast area, underscoring its crucial role in the island's operations.

Inside the main chamber, an elderly man sat comfortably in a large chair behind an imposing desk. The man, Haikal Emanuel, was reading a report displayed on a holographic screen in front of him. The figures and data captured his attention, causing him to nod slightly from time to time.

Behind him, a formally dressed woman stood silently, observing Haikal with focused attention. Her calm demeanor reflected a high level of professionalism.

"Where are we now?" Haikal asked casually, without looking away from the hologram in front of him. His voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable authority.

The woman behind him, his personal assistant, responded quickly, "Mr. Haikal, we are currently 450,000 kilometers away from the center of the mainland. It will take another 52 days to reach the outermost area."

Haikal nodded thoughtfully. "Hmmm... at this rate, the journey will take quite some time. At least another two months," he muttered lightly, almost as if speaking to himself.

He recalled Lein's orders—that they, the core members, must spread out across all corners of the Divine Sky Realm. They would become the main pillars supporting the stability of this region.

"What about the portal construction?" Haikal asked again, this time with a slightly more serious tone. He remembered the task he had assigned a few days ago and wanted to ensure everything was progressing smoothly.

"Everything has been initiated, Sir," his assistant replied. "However, it will still take some time in the more remote areas."

Haikal nodded again, then said calmly, "Don't push them too hard. Provide substantial compensation to those relocating to more strategic locations." He understood that efficiency was key, but he also didn't want to overburden the workers.

The quiet atmosphere of the office was suddenly disrupted by a ringing sound. The blue holographic display in front of Haikal turned bright red, casting a glowing light across the room. Large text appeared on the screen, immediately changing the mood to one of tension:

"Anomaly detected. Seek shelter immediately."

The holographic panel in front of Haikal displayed a glaring red warning, while the communication device held by his assistant emitted a similar notification. The female assistant looked panicked, her eyes shifting from the device to Haikal.

"Sir, unidentified objects have appeared just above the island. Not just one, but many!" she said anxiously, reading the information displayed on her device.

Haikal Emanuel, who was usually calm, furrowed his brows. "What is happening?" he murmured softly, his voice tinged with a rare tone of concern. He could feel the presence of a massive energy pulsating in the air, even before the hologram issued the warning. A sense of foreboding began to grow within him.

Without much thought, Haikal stood up from his chair. His steps were firm as he headed toward the large window in the main room. With a swift movement, he leaped through the window, his body hovering in the air as if defying gravity. The cold night air brushed against his face, but his mind was solely focused on the source of the mysterious energy.

From the empty space in the air, a large sword suddenly appeared. Haikal landed on it steadily. In an instant, the sword shot forward, carrying him through the skies toward the threatening energy source.

From above, Haikal surveyed the scene below. The Disaster Island, usually calm, was now in chaos. Residents were running aimlessly, their faces filled with fear. An old man stood in the middle of the crowd, his voice rising above the commotion, "Quick, take shelter! Another war like before is coming!"

On the other side of the street, a woman clutched her husband's hand, her face full of worry. "Honey, let's go back home... The kids are still there!" she said, almost in tears, as they hurried into their car.

However, this chaos was not limited to Disaster Island. Other islands owned by the rulers experienced similar turmoil.

Elsewhere, Laras, one of the core members, was exploring the empty skies above the Divine Sky Realm to hone her hunting skills. However, an urgent message appeared on her communication device.

"Anomaly detected on the main island," the brief message read.

Laras immediately changed direction, abandoning her training and accelerating her journey back to her island. Her face was serious, reflecting the gravity of the situation she was now facing.

***

- Main City of the Chinese Alliance Island -

In the Main City of the Chinese Alliance Island, a commotion erupted on the main streets surrounding the town hall. Residents pushed and shoved, trying to escape in panic. Several security officers attempted to calm the situation, giving instructions through megaphones to evacuate residents to the nearest shelters.

Not far from the town hall, a mysterious object stood tall. Shaped like a massive cylindrical tower, the structure was approximately 40 meters high with an astonishing diameter of nearly 100 meters. Its appearance resembled an ancient building, with walls covered in dry moss and creeping wild grass.

The object seemed to have just emerged from the ground, like a long-hidden secret finally revealed. Around it, the earth rippled as if shaken. Police lines were set up to cordon off the area, while a number of officers and scientists gathered, cautiously observing and setting up detection devices.

A crowd of residents tried to watch from a distance, despite police orders to stay away. Children cried, the elderly tried to comfort their families, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense as more personnel arrived to secure the site.

Among the group observing the scene, a graceful woman in a red gown stood with commanding presence. Her sharp eyes fixed intently on the tower before her. A curious expression was evident on her face, especially as she examined the tower's door. Her gaze seemed to penetrate the tower's surface, hoping to glean what lay beyond the door.

Behind the woman, several guards stood alert in a defensive stance. One of them, a female assistant, stepped forward respectfully to report the latest developments. "Madam Bai Qi, these sky towers have appeared in several locations across our island," she reported in a firm yet polite tone. "Additionally, similar phenomena have occurred on other alliance islands, including the World Market Trade Alliance Island."

Bai Qi nodded slowly at the report. Her previously tense face began to show signs of slight relaxation. Although she had never witnessed such phenomena before, the fact that similar events were occurring elsewhere gave her some relief. At least she wasn't facing this situation alone. Yet her mind remained filled with various speculations.