The sky stretched endlessly, its vast blue expanse appearing boundless. In the midst of this serene backdrop, a large island floated motionlessly, as if suspended by an unseen force.
This island was immense, nearly the size of Java in Indonesia, its form resembling a piece of land lifted high into the sky. From below, the island's rugged terrain was clearly visible, revealing a rough and rocky underside.
One striking feature of the island was a transparent, dome-like shield that covered its upper portion, protecting it from external elements. This shield glistened in the sunlight, reflecting light like crystal.
The large island was not a singular mass. At its center lay the main island, the largest section, surrounded by thousands of smaller islands scattered around it. In the skies surrounding the island, numerous flying boats bustled about, coming and going endlessly, carrying passengers and goods from various places.
To the north of the main island was Gatekeeper Island, a vital stronghold tasked with guarding the entrance to the larger island. This island measured 1000 by 100 meters, floating majestically like a fortress in the sky. On it stood several sturdy houses and formidable defense towers, equipped with the latest technology to ensure security.
"Good morning, Mr. Tera. We would like to conduct a routine inspection," said a man with a stern face, a large sword slung over his back, exuding the presence of a seasoned warrior.
"Badge..." Mr. Tera responded curtly. The old man in the gray robe scrutinized everyone who approached with piercing eyes.
The stern-faced man respectfully handed over his gold badge. As a commander of the Gold-tier guards, he felt a surge of pride. However, in the presence of the gatekeeper of one of the four main gates of the World Trade Alliance island, he could only bow his head, suppressing his usual arrogance.
His duty as a Gold-tier commander was to ensure the area within a 10-kilometer radius of the island remained safe from threats. Monster islands could emerge at any moment, and without routine patrols, foreign monsters posed a significant danger to the smaller islands and the survivor flying boats.
Mr. Tera examined the gold badge carefully, then glanced at the guard team members behind the stern-faced man. Noticing nothing amiss, he nodded and said, "Report back before 6 PM."
"Yes, sir..." replied the stern-faced man.
He then turned and walked toward the flying boat docked nearby, followed closely by a hundred team members. The boat measured 200 meters in length, armed with 200 cannons, and equipped with lightning towers and automated bow turrets inside. Its design was impressive, showcasing the strength and sophistication of their defense technology.
Once all the team members boarded, the flying boat slowly lifted off the ground, beginning its ascent toward the area they needed to secure. Inside the boat, the team members checked their equipment, ensuring everything was ready for the mission. They understood that although this task was routine, danger could arise from unexpected directions at any moment.
The sky above the main island remained calm, but tension lingered among the guards. They were acutely aware that their responsibility was not only to protect the large island and the thousands of smaller islands surrounding it but also to maintain the strength and security of the alliance established here against external threats.
...
A week had passed since the first event in the Mystic realm. The main alliance island had been operating regularly, and everyone was beginning to adapt to their new lives.
The life and habits they once had on Earth were starting to take shape again. Schools, colleges, hospitals, entertainment centers, television, flying boats, and various other technologies were emerging. The primary energy source was no longer electricity but rather more efficient energy crystals.
System panels, such as regional chat and the market, were still in regular use. However, unlike in the early days of their transition, the pace of messages was no longer as frantic. The market feature remained popular, but valuable items were a rarity. Within an hour of posting a valuable item, the seller could be eliminated before the item was sold.
While everyone went about their daily lives, Essim, along with Aisha and three other alliance members, had just finished defeating a monster island.
On top of the monster island lay the corpses of numerous wide-handed gorillas, each towering over two meters tall. Among them was one particularly massive wide-handed gorilla, ten meters tall, with muscles rippling across its arms. Yes, it was a Commander-Tier gorilla.
"Brother Essim, this is the 46th island we have destroyed. Not a single one has dropped a silver badge," lamented an elderly man named Haikal, gazing at a black book floating in front of him.
The book emitted a dark aura, and staring at it for too long could make an ordinary person fall asleep or even lose their memory.
"Yes... I suspect the silver badges are not dropped by monsters but might instead be obtained by completing certain missions!" Laras, standing nearby with a large cross strapped to her back, spoke up.
Hearing their speculation, Essim nodded thoughtfully. They had been searching for six days and had also inquired with other alliances in regional #2344. Unfortunately, no one had any useful information.
"Alright, since there are no results, let's continue searching for a little while longer. If we still find nothing, we'll have to wait for the system to provide a clue," Essim decided.
Everyone nodded in agreement. They then gathered all the gorilla corpses and took control of the island. Once everything was done, they returned to their own island, determined to continue their hunt for the elusive silver badges.
-----
3 chaps a day !
I hope you will like this as much as I love working on it !
If you do, please don't forget to support me ! Vote and Review helps me a lot :)