[You have received 20 Units of Iron Ingots]
[You have received 5 Elite Exp Orbs]
[You have received 10 Small Healing Potion]
[You have received 5 Elite Exp Orbs]
[You have received 100 Units of Wood]
[You have received 1 Flask of Mighty Brew]
[A hearty drink that temporarily increases the drinker's physical strength, making them more effective in combat or when lifting heavy objects.]
[You have received 10 Mana Fruits]
[A rare fruit that restores a portion of the user's mana when consumed.]
[You have received Endless Water Flask]
[A flask that refills itself with fresh, clean water every hour, ensuring that the user always has access to drinkable water in any environment.]
Atlas quickly opened the 8 Rank-B tickets and was pleasantly surprised to receive 10 more Elite Exp Orbs. Exp Orbs were always welcome additions.
But there were also three new, intriguing items: a strength booster, a mana restoration fruit, and, perhaps most valuable of all, an Endless Water Flask. The last item would be particularly useful, given how quickly the desert environment drained them of energy and left them parched.
It wasn't that they hadn't brought water, but in this intense heat, their supply was dwindling fast. So, Atlas immediately tried out his new, handy Flask. He opened it and splashed the water over his face, it was refreshingly cool.
He shared the flask with the others and encouraged them to be more relaxed around him, even suggesting they call him by his name. Being called "Atlas" by these loyal fallen Lords still carried plenty of respect, and he found it oddly reassuring.
Even though some of them still preferred calling him something other than his name, like Lyrassa, who kept calling him "Lord," and Morganna, who had called him whatever she wanted from the very beginning.
Atlas went ahead and opened the Rank-A ticket.
[You have received 1 Rank-A Item: Soulbinding Armor Set]
Another Soulbinding Armor Set, huh?
Well, this could definitely come in handy if he decided to give it to someone else. He hoped he'd be able to acquire more of these, too, since outfitting all his subordinates with this type of armor would significantly increase their survival rate.
Atlas decided to offer the armor to the others. His first choice was Karian, as the only true frontliner among them, someone who relied on close-combat skills and physical strength.
But before he could say anything, he noticed Morganna's gaze fixed on him.
"Do you want this item?"
"Give it to me."
"Sure if you want it, take it."
Atlas handed it over, and she took it without so much as a thank-you.
Moments later, she unlocked the armor. Now, she stood before them dressed in sleek, elegant gear, a mostly black, form-fitting light armor with deep red accents and a flowing black cloak lined in crimson color.
"That looks good on you," Atlas said, smiling.
She gave no response, simply sat down on the armrest, and activated the armor's Veil Mode without so much as a glance in his direction.
[Bloodshadow Regalia Armor Set]
[Grade: Epic]
[Skills:]
[Dark Ascension (Active)
Allows the User to briefly take on a shadowy, spectral form, becoming intangible and immune to physical damage for a short period. Ideal for repositioning or escaping.]
[Eternal Dusk (Passive)
Boosts the User's spellcasting and agility slightly in dark environments, reflecting its mastery of shadows and blood magic.]
[Shadowstep Cloak (Active)
With a burst of speed, the User can instantly teleport a short distance, leaving a trail of crimson mist.]
Not bad. With this armor, at least Morganna had a bit more protection.
He moved on to the last Rank-A Ticket.
[You have received Rank-A Reward: 500 Gold Coins]
Oh? Whoa! 500 Gold?! Damn!
This was the last thing he expected to get from the gacha, but 500 Gold Coins? That had to be a big deal, right?
He still needed to find more information about the value, but… wait.
"Jackpot, tell me, what's the value of 1 Gold Coin compared to the UGD?"
The UGD, or Unified Global Dollar, was the standard currency now used worldwide. Though each Union had its own currency, the UGD was more practical for global transactions, with a value still equivalent to the former USD.
[1 Gold Coin is equivalent to 1,000 UGD, Host.]
"Oh, damn! 1 Gold Coin equals 1,000 UGD? So that means I have a million UGD in my pocket now?"
Atlas grinned just hearing this.
Sure, in the world of high-level Awakeners, this amount might not be much. Still, he hoped it'd be enough to buy some useful items along the way.
His attention shifted as he noticed his subordinates all turning to look in the same direction behind them, as if something interesting had caught their eye. He turned as well, carefully maintaining the speed of his Floating Throne.
And there it was, off in the distance, a sight he'd only ever seen in videos until now. The Dune Serpent.
It wasn't a monster but an advanced transportation device owned by the Saharan Empire. The Dune Serpent was a sleek, high-tech train gliding over the vast desert, its streamlined metallic bodywork reflecting the sun. Along its exterior were mounted offensive weapons, including cannons and turret-like guns.
This Dune Serpent was the primary means of transport for the people of the Saharan Empire to travel between states and cities. Among the Unions of New Earth, the Saharan Empire was known for its advanced technology. They had truly mastered the use of Monster Cores to create powerful energy sources, constantly pushing their technology to new heights.
"Does your world have anything advanced like that, Edrik?"
"In the past, yes. But as the powers of the people in my world evolved, the raw strength of Mana Awakeners took over, making this kind of tech obsolete, just scrap, no longer a primary option."
"Think that might be the future of this world too?" Atlas muttered, considering the possibility.
"So, where exactly are we?" Edrik asked, looking around.
"This is the Saharasia Continent," Atlas replied. "A vast land dominated by the Saharan Empire. Most of it is desert, like what you see here, but the Empire has advanced quickly, especially with the kind of technology we're seeing now."
"Looks like they know how to harness their intelligence to manage global changes," Edrik remarked.
"Exactly. Awakeners from other continents are always looking for ways to migrate here, despite the harsh conditions. The cities here are incredibly advanced, a complete contrast to the surrounding desert."
"I'm curious to see how humans have built their cities in this world."
"We'll be there in just a few minutes."
A few minutes later, a colossal city wall loomed on the horizon, the legendary Dune Bastion. Seeing it up close was even more impressive than Atlas had imagined. The towering wall stretched across the desert, lined with turrets and mounted cannons, all ready to defend the city.
"There it is, the Dune Bastion, Veylamar's great city wall," Atlas announced. "Magnificent, don't you think?"
"It certainly looks strong," Edrik replied, "though against a High-grade beast, anything Legendary and above, those defenses would be practically useless."
"Sounds like your world got that brutal, huh?" Atlas replied, raising an eyebrow.
As Atlas and his group drew closer, they spotted several…flying vehicles. These were called Dune Phantoms.
These hovering bikes had a rugged, streamlined design, with glowing blue engines beneath their frames and reinforced armor along their exteriors. Built with dual modes for both hover and land, they were a signature vehicle of the Saharan Army.
Two Dune Phantoms descended to meet them, prompting Atlas to bring the Floating Throne to a halt.
From the drivers' seats, soldiers of the Saharan Army stared back at them, their attire unmistakable: flowing white robes and head wraps paired with sleek, modern armor.
"Unidentified personnel! Present your identification and raise your hands immediately!"
***
(Author's Note:)
Oh, seriously, I've got five illustrations for this chapter: the Bloodshadow Regalia armor set, the Dune Serpent, the Dune Bastion, the Dune Phantom, and the Saharan Army.
Join the Discord server to check them out!
tinyurl.com/galanteodiscord