Atlas gazed past Mira's impossibly cute, innocent expression and took in the view around them—lush grass, blooming flowers, and even… a river? How?!
He followed the river's course, tracing it back to its source: the Aqua Crystal Karian had planted just a few days before. The crystal fed the river, which then wound its way out to the edge of the island. Impressive.
"What do you think, My Lord?" Mira asked.
"Magnificent!" he replied with a smile. "You've truly transformed this place beautifully, Mira."
"Yay!" Mira cheered, jumping up with delight. Atlas quickly shifted his gaze to the other side, trying to distract himself. Her cuteness was overwhelming! It was an overdose!
Atlas then headed over to the camp setup, followed by Mira and Edrik. He was eager to start placing the necessary structures right away. With the materials he'd already secured, he should be able to construct everything available for this initial stage of his island.
He started with a few more residential huts.
"My Lord, put one here, another there… and one over there," Mira suggested, pointing at the holographic map of the island that floated in front of them.
Atlas had never imagined his small island could be this beautiful if not for Mira's touch. She'd even thoughtfully planned out specific spots to place each structure around the island.
He quickly queued up three more residential huts, then added four Flame Beacons, carefully positioned at four points encircling the island.
He also constructed a Training Ground, deciding that one would be enough since he planned to take the troops to a nearby island for practice.
Training through hunting would be far more effective, allowing them to not only sharpen their combat skills but also gain experience points and secure loot from any monsters they encountered.
With everything set up smoothly, they turned their attention to organizing living arrangements for the troops and workers. A rotation for sleeping shifts was established, allowing the others to focus on their assigned duties.
Two cooks had already been appointed to manage the island's food supply. A sufficient number for now, as they would be fully dedicated to preparing meals for everyone on the island.
Atlas then divided the troops into teams. With 24 combatants, he organized them into four groups, each with at least one tank and one support member. Some teams were a bit short on mages, while others lacked range combatants, but for now, the setup would suffice.
He gave each team a name that was easy to remember: Aether, Blaze, Cinder, and Dusk—cool and straightforward. Aether and Blaze would be under Edrik's command, while Cinder and Dusk would report to Karian.
And Kurogasa? The Ninja Rat would be Atlas's personal trainer. After some consideration, they realized Kurogasa was perfect for the role. Kurogasa was a master of multiple martial arts and weapon types, as well as a close-combat expert with over a hundred years of battle experience. It was an invaluable resource of skills and knowledge that Atlas was eager to tap into.
Kurogasa also had far better stealth skills than Edrik, making him the perfect choice as Atlas's personal bodyguard. He would remain hidden in the shadows, conducting reconnaissance and keeping a vigilant watch over him.
Night fell, marking the first evening on the Floating Island for many of the new arrivals. Mira had even prepared a small stage where Atlas could stand as he addressed everyone gathered around.
"This is your home. This is our home!" he called out, his voice strong.
"Together, we will build this island into the greatest kingdom you've ever dreamed of!"
His words were met with enthusiastic cheers.
"Make friends! Get to know each other! Protect each other! This journey won't be easy. I'm sure you all know that. But if we face it together, with friends, with comrades, I know we can overcome anything!" he continued, his voice full of charisma and conviction.
Edrik gave a small, approving clap. "He really has what it takes to be a leader."
"Yeah, something I didn't have in the past," Karian admitted.
Out of the 30 people Atlas had brought to the island, there were 22 men and 8 women. Two of those women had even been chosen to lead teams—one a powerful mage, and the other a talented archer. With two teams led by women and two by men, Atlas felt a strong balance among his commanders.
The next morning began at dawn, with everyone busy preparing for their first expedition.
Nearly the entire group would be joining the hunt, leaving only Mira and a few workers on the island. Even the cooks were planning to set up and prepare meals at the hunting site. It was so early that the sun was only just breaking over the horizon.
Atlas stood with Edrik, discussing their destination.
"This island here has a more comfortable and safer environment," Edrik said, pointing to a nearby spot on the map.
"But wouldn't that mean it's likely crowded, given how safe it is?" Atlas replied.
"Correct. You've grasped that quickly," Edrik said, nodding.
Atlas considered their options. "Then we should pick something a bit more challenging but still manageable," he mused. "Flare Peak."
Edrik nodded. "Flare Peak has monsters averaging above level 40, but in numbers we can handle. With Karian, myself, Master Kurogasa, and even Morganna, we should be able to manage it."
"So we'll be able to train everyone while facing threats that aren't overwhelming." Atlas said, confirming their plan.
"I agree," Edrik replied.
With a group this large, it might take three or four days for everyone to secure their fire resistance necklaces. But for today, they agreed to go without any fire resistance gear—a test to harden their resolve!
Everyone was ready.
Lyrassa floated among the group, her presence ethereal in the quiet dawn. The soft hum of flowers blooming around her filled the air, audible in the morning stillness. Her natural fragrance was so enchanting that a few of the troops seemed almost spellbound, their steps faltering slightly as they got lost in her charm.
With a gentle grace, she came to a stop beside Atlas.
Next, Karian walked over, towering and imposing, his massive frame catching everyone's eye.
Kurogasa appeared without a sound, emerging from the shadows to stand directly behind Atlas.
And then came Morganna. Without any warning, she landed beside Atlas with a loud thud, startling a few people and drawing everyone's attention. She stood there calmly, her expression entirely unfazed, as if her dramatic entrance were the most natural thing in the world.
Atlas opened the portal, and one by one, everyone stepped through until only he and Edrik remained. Just then, Mira came running over to them.
"My Lord, I have a fresh harvest of carrots for you! They're sweet and good for the body," she said, giggling with that innocent charm of hers.
Atlas took the carrot, freshly pulled from the earth, with bits of soil still clinging to it.
"Thanks, Mira. Take care of our home; we'll be back by nightfall."
"Bye, My Lord…!" Mira waved her hand high, even though he was standing right in front of her.
With a final nod, Atlas turned and stepped into the portal, Edrik following close behind.
The journey to building the strongest army in the world had officially begun!