Chapter 16: Chapter 16 - Community Bell
[You have received 1 Rare Smoke Bomb Skill Scroll]
[You have received 20 Units of Iron Ingots]
[You have received 50 Units of Iron]
[You have received 20 Units of Mana Crystals]
[You have received 1 Elite Battle Cry Skill Scroll]
[You have received 5 Units of Water Stone]
[You have received 20 Units of Lumber]
[You have received 100 Units of Stone]
Atlas quickly opened the eight Rank-B tickets all at once. As expected, most of the rewards were standard materials. But this time, something new caught his attention. Lumber and Water Stone.
[Host, those materials will be extremely useful once you begin constructing more advanced structures.]
"Okay… so, am I getting new material variations because I've entered a new phase in island development?"
[Correct.]
Atlas nodded slowly. "Makes sense. So the strategy behind when to use gacha tickets really matters, especially the exclusive ones. I guess I can be a bit more relaxed when it comes to standard tickets."
But what truly grabbed his attention were the final two items: skill scrolls.
[Assassin – Smoke Bomb]
[Throws a bomb that creates a cloud of smoke. Grants temporary invisibility.]
[Warrior – Battle Cry]
[Releases a powerful shout that empowers nearby allies. Increases attack power and defense for a short duration.]
The first scroll, Smoke Bomb, was perfect for an Assassin. Atlas glanced toward Edrik.
"Yeah... Edrik's definitely an Assassin subclass."
Giving him this Smoke Bomb made perfect sense. It would enhance his evasive tactics, giving him a way to vanish and reposition during critical moments in combat.
The second scroll, Battle Cry, was a powerful team buff, clearly meant for frontline fighters. Technically, Atlas himself fell into the Warrior subclass, so he could use it. But honestly, it felt like a better fit for Karian. He was already a juggernaut in melee, this would only amplify his presence in the thick of battle.
"Alright then,Two new skills. One for Edrik. One for Karian."
His team had just gotten a serious upgrade.
"All right, let's see what the next Rank-A item is!"
[You have received 1 Rank-A Item: Endless Fishing Rod]
A fishing rod appeared before him, hovering midair.
"A fishing rod?" Atlas sighed, staring at it in disbelief.
One moment he was pulling top-tier characters like Karian, and the next... a fishing tool. And from the same high-grade ticket no less.
[A fishing rod that attracts fish automatically when submerged. Useful for maintaining consistent food stores.]
"Do I really need this?" he muttered.
Actually… maybe. He might come across a fishing spot while out hunting or exploring. If it meant easier access to fresh food, then yes, it could come in handy.
"This feels like an Edrik kind of item," he mused aloud.
Then came the final ticket, the last Rank-A.
"Please, let it be a new character summon. Any type, support, mage, ranger, just something to balance out the team."
[You have received 1 Rank-A Item: Rejuvenation Blanket]
Atlas blinked. "A blanket? Seriously?"
[Accelerates rest and recovery. Anyone who sleeps under it will feel completely refreshed after just a few hours, reducing the need for long rest periods.]
"Huh... actually…" he muttered. "That might be kind of great."
With a tool like this, he could rest less and still feel fully recharged, leaving more time for training, managing the island, or preparing for battles. It was an item that paid off slowly but steadily.
"Okay. That's actually a good pull?"
He reached out and took the blanket, a soft, smooth gray fabric. The moment it touched his hands, a subtle warmth spread through him. Just holding it made him feel sleepy.
Atlas grinned. "Not bad."
Just then, he noticed Morganna watching him, her crimson eyes locked on the blanket.
"Hi," he greeted, puzzled by her sudden interest. "Is this... something you like?"
"Is that a good blanket?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yeah, it boosts recovery while you sleep. Speeds up rest. Do you want to try it?"
Morganna's eyes widened slightly. Then, without answering, she stood up abruptly and walked away without another word.
Atlas blinked, stunned. "Did I say something wrong?"
How many standard tickets had he used so far?
Thirty.
Thirty tickets, and still no Rank-S item. According to the system, he was guaranteed at least one every eighty pulls. That meant fifty more to go, unless his luck decided to kick in early.
Please let it be early!
"Alright, next ten tickets. Come on... Rank-S!"
Atlas was still full of energy. Truthfully, he didn't feel like stopping, not until he hit the jackpot again.
He tossed the ten tickets into the air, eyes locked on them as they began to glow.
The first shimmered purple. A good start. He smiled.
Then… brown. Brown. Brown. Still brown.
"Come on, at least give me two purples."
The final ticket hovered longer than the others, its color shifting slowly, teasingly.
And then. It flared red.
"Yes!" he shouted. "Rank-S!"
A Rank-S item on the 40th pull. This had to be a good omen.
[You have obtained 8 Rank-B items, 1 Rank-A item, and 1 Rank-S item!]
It really was starting to feel easier the further he went. Was the system simply giving him a streak of early-game luck? Would it taper off later on?
Whatever the case, this was a major win. Exactly the kind of upgrade he needed.
"Let's see what the system has given me this time."
Atlas smiled and quickly opened all eight Rank-B tickets at once.
[You have received 1 Elite Flurry of Spears Skill Scroll]
[You have received 5 Units of Fire Stone]
[You have received Hawk's Eye Skill Scroll]
[You have received 5 Elite XP Orbs]
[You have received 100 Units of Wood]
[You have received 5 Elite XP Orbs]
[You have received 5 Rare XP Orbs]
[You have received 20 Units of Iron Ingots]
"Two skill scrolls… and another twenty iron ingots," Atlas noted with a satisfied nod. "That should be enough to start building the Flame Beacon."
He turned his attention to the two scrolls.
[Warrior – Flurry of Spears]
[Unleashes a rapid series of spear strikes on a single target.]
[Ranger – Hawk's Eye]
[Enhances vision and precision.]
The first scroll, Flurry of Spears, made his pulse quicken. It was tailor-made for his fighting style. Atlas wielded a spear, it was his signature weapon. This skill was a perfect match. Without hesitation, he decided to claim that one for himself.
As for Hawk's Eye, it was clearly designed for a Ranger class. While no one on his team quite fit that role yet, it was a valuable asset to keep in reserve. Eventually, someone would come along who could use it.
He stored away all the items he'd just received. Two tickets remained, still floating in the air. One glowing purple, the other radiating a brilliant red. He reached for the purple one first.
As it burned away in a swirl of light, a large, cylindrical shape appeared before him.
"Wait… Not just a cylinder. A bell?"
A massive, yellowish-brown bell thudded softly onto the ground.
[You have received Rank-A Item: Community Bell]
[When rung, it boosts the morale of all allies within hearing range.]
Atlas stood up and carefully lowered the heavy bell to the ground, inspecting its aged metal surface.
He let out a quiet sigh. This wasn't exactly what he'd been hoping for. A character would've been more valuable, more practical. Still, he couldn't deny that an item like this had its place.
"This could be perfect for the watchtower," he murmured. "If war breaks out, someone could ring it to rally the troops."
Morale could make or break a battle. The bell wasn't just symbolic, it had purpose. It could raise spirits and give people hope during the chaos of war.
After all, war here wasn't like war in a game. Death was real. Permanent. Once someone fell, there was no coming back. No second chances.
That's why convincing mercenaries or awakened fighters to serve a Lord was no easy task. But summoned subordinates, like the ones he had, were different. Bound by the system, they answered his call whether they wished to or not.
Every Lord ruled over more than just a patch of land. These floating islands were living, breathing communities. Some had grown into vast territories, home to millions. And every one of those people lived under the command, and protection, of their Lord.
"Alright. Now for the Rank-S ticket."
His anticipation surged as he reached out. Would it be a powerful item? A legendary weapon?
Or maybe… a new character to join his growing team?