[You have received Rank-A Item: Spirit Grove Seed.]
The first Rank-A ticket Atlas opened revealed... a small seed encased in a glowing, greenish shield of light.
He picked up the item, inspecting it closely before reading the description.
[Grows a tree that grants buffs to nearby units.]
"A seed for some kind of tree. Who knows what it'll grow into, but I do know exactly who's going to want this," he said.
Right on cue, Mira bounded toward the stage, her cheerful expression lighting up as she held out both hands eagerly.
"Take it, Mira."
"Whoa… A seed! This looks so cool!" she exclaimed. "I can't wait to see what kind of tree it'll grow into!"
With that, Mira spun on her heel and dashed away.
[You have received Rank-A Item: Party Recall Crystal.]
A crystal appeared next, shimmering with a white hue and a faint purple glow swirling within its transparent core.
Atlas picked it up, studying the object curiously before the description appeared.
[Instantly teleports your entire party to safety.]
"Oh…" he murmured, pausing as he considered the scenarios where such an item might come in handy.
Another single-use item, but one with potentially life-saving utility. The thought of being able to evacuate his entire party in an emergency, whether from a dead-end or an overwhelming threat…. made him nod in quiet approval.
"Not bad," he said, addressing the group.
He quickly explained the crystal's function to everyone before tucking it safely into his inventory.
With that, he moved on.
[You have received Rank-A Item: Codex of Ancient Remedies.]
This time, a scroll materialized before him. Atlas quickly grabbed it, and the item's description appeared.
[Decodes the blueprint of a specific, ancient artifact or potion.]
He paused for a moment, tapping his fingers against the scroll thoughtfully as he murmured, "Jackpot. Tell me, could this thing decode the Rank-A Item: Soulbinding Armor Set and give me the blueprint for it?"
If Atlas could acquire the blueprint for the Soulbinding Armor Set, he could mass-produce it! With enough resources and the right blacksmiths, he could distribute the armor to everyone on the island. And boost their defense overall.
[Host, that item is still classified as a Rank-A item. It should be well within the Codex's capabilities. You could give it a try.]
"Interesting," he muttered. "But I'll probably need a high-rank blacksmith to make use of the blueprint, right?"
He recalled how production classes were ranked by their craftsmanship abilities: Beginner, Advanced, Expert, and Master.
Each rank was further divided into 10 levels. Blueprints, particularly for rare or high-grade items, often required blacksmiths of a specific rank to craft them successfully.
For now, Gacha Haven only had Beginner blacksmiths. With that limitation in mind, he decided to set the scroll aside for the time being, waiting for the right opportunity to put it to use.
Well, three items that should be great, even if their full potential couldn't be realized immediately. Still, they were Rank-A items, and that alone was something to appreciate.
He still had plenty of chances left. "Let's keep going! Speed it up!" he said.
Atlas tossed another ten tickets into the air, watching as they sparkled briefly before revealing their results.
Brown. Brown. Brown. Brown. Brown.
His jaw tightened, anxiety creeping in. Come on…
Brown. Brown. Brown.
"Are you kidding me?!"
Brown.
Finally, the last one lit up—Purple!
"FIRE!" The crowd erupted in excitement, even though they all knew it was the bare minimum for a decent pull.
Atlas let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head.
"Well, here we go," he said, turning his attention to the single Rank-A ticket he'd managed to pull.
The ticket glowed brightly, and as the light intensified, shapes began to form. Thin, glowing metallic fibers unfurled, snaking outward and assembling into what looked like a figure.
Wait… is this…?
Everyone around him leaned closer.
The shape solidified, taking on a humanoid form. Matte surfaces gleamed under the light, sleek armor plating covering its body. From its head, flexible, metallic fibers cascaded like flowing hair.
"An android?" someone whispered.
"A robot?" another guessed.
Finally, the item's name appeared.
[You have received Rank-A Item: Sentinel Training Mannequin.]
A training mannequin?
[Level 60-120 combat dummy with adaptive strategies.]
Atlas examined the Sentinel Training Mannequin carefully, analyzing its functions and potential. The item's capabilities intrigued him. It could wield multiple weapon types and adjust its level from 60 to 120.
"A training partner?" he mused. This was far more than just a simple dummy.
Turning to the others, he explained the mannequin's features. The excitement grew as everyone realized the potential for sparring with such an advanced tool.
"Well," Atlas said, "I'll definitely give it a try later. Being able to train against a unit with a level range like this—and with such versatility in weapons—is going to be a huge help."
The only downside? The mannequin was strictly for sparring. It had no combat mode and couldn't be deployed in actual battles. A shame, considering the immense value a level 120 adaptive unit could bring to their forces.
His thoughts drifted for a moment. What if he found someone who could modify this mannequin?
With a small sigh, he stored the mannequin in his inventory.
Twenty pulls so far, and... decent results, though the items he had received leaned more toward potential rather than practicality. Still, the sparring robot held promise. Even if he already had Kurogasa—a master with various weapons—the mannequin could still be an excellent tool for the troops to train with.
It wasn't perfect, but it would undoubtedly boost the overall potential of his team.
"Alright, next ten tickets!" he declared, flicking his wrist as he cast them into the air.
Brown. Brown. Brown. Brown. Brown.
Atlas groaned. "Are you kidding me?!"
Brown. Brown. Brown.
And then—a glimmer of hope. Purple!
"FIRE!" the crowd shouted in unison.
Another ticket lit up. Purple again!
"FIRE!"
Atlas smirked, his disappointment easing. "Not bad, two Rank-A tickets!" he said, cracking his knuckles.
"Now, come on—give me something useful!"
He took a deep breath and prepared to open the first 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.
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]