[You have obtained 7 Rank-B items, 2 Rank-A items, and 1 Rank-S item!]
Atlas blinked at the message, then broke into a stunned grin.
"Damn… seriously? Two Rank-A items and a Rank-S item in one pull?"
He chuckled under his breath.
"Is it really this easy to use the Gacha system?"
[Okay, Host. There's one more rule you need to know.]
"What now?"
[There's a 50% chance that a Rank-S pull will give you the rate-up character from the Exclusive Banner. And a 50% chance it'll be a standard Rank-S character.]
"Wait... isn't this an Exclusive banner? Shouldn't Morganna, the vampire queen, automatically be the one I get?"
[50%. But if you lose the first 50-50, your next Rank-S pull from the banner is guaranteed to be the featured character.]
Atlas narrowed his eyes. "You better not be trying to rig my luck."
[The system has no control over the outcome. The Standard Rank-S characters are those five listed in the Standard Banner. Still powerful, but they come with more limitations than the Exclusive ones.]
"Alright, so it's not guaranteed to be her... Let's see just how lucky I really am with this gacha thing."
Atlas decided to start with the brown-backed tickets, the ones containing common items.
As he activated them, five glowing purple orbs emerged, hovering gently in the air in front of him.
[You have received 5 Rare XP Orbs.]
"Well, not a bad start," he muttered.
He reached out and collected the orbs, storing them neatly in his Inventory.
These XP Orbs were valuable, used to level up units under a Lord's command. And yes, he could use them on himself as well. That meant he could finally boost his own level without having to grind for every single point.
This was one of the reasons Lords were feared, respected, and seen as near-unstoppable. They had access to items and tools others could only dream of, resources that bent the rules of growth and power.
In the lower lands, countless awakeners willingly pledged themselves to Lords. In return, the Lords offered them strength... and often, wealth.
With XP Orbs like these, a Lord could rapidly level up their followers, far faster than grinding through monster battles ever could.
"Alright, next ticket."
Atlas opened another brown-backed one.
[You have received 1 Rare Fireball Skill Scroll.]
A scroll materialized in front of him, hovering for a brief moment before he reached out and stored it into his Inventory.
It was a skill scroll, usable by anyone to instantly unlock a new skill.
"Looks like all the standard items I'm pulling are Rare-grade. I wonder if there's anything better in these…"
In this world, item grades followed a known hierarchy: Common, Rare, Elite, Epic, Unique, Legendary, and Mythic. For most people in the lower lands, especially average awakeners with limited talents, even a Rare-grade item was seen as a stroke of fortune.
"Well, this scroll might come in handy when I've got subordinates to equip it."
He could use it himself, sure. But the Fireball skill didn't exactly mesh with his class. As a Warrior, his mana pool was too limited, and elemental casting wasn't his strength. It would be far more efficient to save the scroll for someone whose class could make the most of it.
Eager to see what else he could pull, Atlas continued opening tickets one after another.
[You have received 100 Units of Wood.]
[You have received 100 Units of Wood.]
[You have received 100 Units of Stone.]
[You have received 50 Units of Iron.]
[You have received 20 Units of Mana Crystals.]
Five items appeared in sequence. Stacks of materials glowing faintly before being automatically stored. Wood, stone, iron, and mana crystals. These were the fundamental building resources for constructing structures on an island.
In the early stages of being a Lord, gathering these materials was crucial. With only a 14-day safety period, every new Lord had to act fast. Hunting monsters, recruiting subordinates, establishing their first fortress, and putting up defenses. Time was limited, and the pressure was real.
"Jackpot, give me a list of the structures I need to build during the early phase."
[First, Host, you must construct Fortress Stage 1: Outpost Fortress.]
[The fortress acts as the core of your floating island. The center of command. It manages resources, coordinates security, and unlocks vital features for expansion.]
[Stage 1 – Outpost Fortress: A simple structure with minimal defenses and a small command chamber. It grants you access to basic system management, resource tracking, and rudimentary defense protocols.]
[System Significance: Unlocks island management features, building options, early storage capacity, and basic resource processing.]
"Okay, I get it now. The Fortress is basically the main hub. Every Lord needs to build one to unlock more control over their island, right?"
[Correct, Host.]
[And unlike traditional construction methods used in the lower lands, this process is far faster. As long as you have the materials, the system will handle the rest instantly.]
"Alright, then tell me what I need to build Fortress Stage 1."
[Wood: 300 units]
[Stone: 250 units]
[Iron: 150 units]
[Mana Crystals: 20 units (optional for minor magical defense boost)]
"Well, I've already got the Mana Crystals. Just a bit more wood, stone, and iron, and I'll be able to build my first fortress."
Atlas continued, eyeing the remaining tickets. Two Rank-A and one Rank-S. Without wasting time, he selected one of the Rank-A tickets and activated it.
[You have received a Rank-A Character: Edrik Thornwall – The Golden Steward.]
His eyes widened. This would be the first time he'd witness a live summon from the Gacha System. His heart raced.
"Wait… is someone actually going to appear in front of me right now? Just how insane is this system?"
The ticket fluttered to the ground, glowing as it made contact. A shimmering magic circle bloomed beneath it. Energy swirled from within, light coiling and twisting, until a silhouette began to emerge.
The glow faded slowly, revealing a sharply dressed man with slicked-back black hair and a well-groomed mustache. He wore a tailored black suit that looked so pristine it was almost out of place on the barren island. He appeared to be in his thirties, calm and composed.
The man glanced down, examining his hands, flexing his fingers, then checked his boots. He adjusted his jacket, cleared his throat, and looked up at Atlas.
"Ah. My Lord. Thank you for summoning me. I am Edrik."
His eyes scanned the surrounding landscape.
"So, a newly awakened Lord, is it? Fascinating. I must say, summoning me is likely the best stroke of fortune you've had so far. I am an Efficient Tactician, skilled in Resource Allocation, Logistic Mastery, Merchant Strategy... and other useful things."
He gave a slight, elegant bow.
"Edrik Thornwall, at your service, my Lord."
Atlas stepped closer, eyeing Edrik with suspicion. He reached out and poked the man's arm.
"Are you… real?"
"Yes, my Lord?" Edrik blinked, confused.
"So… you're actually alive? Where did you come from, exactly?"
Edrik straightened his jacket again, then cleared his throat. "My Lord, before I answer. May I ask something first?"
"Alright… what is it?"
"What do the people of this world call it?"
Atlas frowned. "New Earth?"
Edrik nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. That one. Then it's as I suspected. I come from another world. Also one ruled by floating islands and Lords. My own island was destroyed in battle, and I barely survived. Just when I thought it was over… the summoning reached me, and now I'm here. Under your command."
"Wait. Are you saying there are other worlds out there? With Lords and battles and floating islands. Just like this one?"
Edrik gave a calm nod. "I'm surprised that's news to you, to be honest. How long have Lords existed in your world?"
Atlas shook his head slowly. "We know other worlds exist. That's not the surprise. Different races have shown up here for centuries. Elves, demons, others… So yeah, people assumed they came from somewhere else. But I've never heard the details. Never knew they had Lords, too."
"Please, my Lord," Edrik said with a respectful bow. "I'm at your disposal. Ask me anything that stirs your curiosity. As for how long..."
Atlas cut in, "The floating islands have been around for, what, maybe a thousand years now?"
"Ah. Still quite young," Edrik replied thoughtfully. "You see, once Lords grow powerful enough and reach certain thresholds, their world becomes connected to others. From that point on, the battles escalate, far beyond anything you've seen so far."
"How long does that usually take?"
"It varies, my Lord. Two thousand, three thousand, even five thousand years. It all depends on how rapidly the Lords of that world advance."
"Alright. Thanks for the explanation. And… welcome to my island."
"Gladly, my Lord. I am ready to serve with every ounce of experience I have," Edrik said, offering another graceful bow.
Atlas exhaled slowly. There was still so much he didn't know, so much he needed to learn. But now, he had someone capable at his side. Someone he could talk to. Someone who understood what this role truly meant.
Other worlds...
Could that be why this whole Lords thing is called the Intergalactic Lord Project?
The thought buzzed in the back of his mind, but he set it aside for now. There would be time to explore that mystery later.
"Alright, let's finish the summoning," he said. "Time for the next Rank-A ticket."