Ats gazed past Mira’s impossibly cute, i expression and took in the view around them—lush grass, blooming flowers, and even… a river? How?!

  He followed the river’s course, trag it back to its source: the Aqua Crystal Karian had pnted just a few days before. The crystal fed the river, which then wound its way out to the edge of the isnd. Impressive.

  “What do you think, My Lord?” Mira asked.

  “Magnifit!” he replied with a smile. “You’ve truly transformed this pce beautifully, Mira.”

  “Yay!” Mira cheered, jumping up with delight. Ats quickly shifted his gaze to the other side, trying to distract himself. Her ess was overwhelming! It was an overdose!

  Ats then headed over to the camp setup, followed by Mira and Edrik. He was eager to start pg the necessary structures right away. With the materials he’d already secured, he should be able to struct everything avaible for this initial stage of his isnd.

  He started with a few more residential huts.

  "My Lord, put one here, ahere… and one over there," Mira suggested, pointing at the holographic map of the isnd that floated in front of them.

  Ats had never imagined his small isnd could be this beautiful if not for Mira’s touch. She’d even thoughtfully pnned out specific spots to pce each structure around the isnd.

  He quickly queued up three more residential huts, then added four Fme Beas, carefully positio four points encirg the isnd.

  He also structed a Training Ground, deg that one would be enough since he po take the troops to a nearby isnd for practibsp;

  Training through hunting would be far more effective, allowing them to not only sharpen their bat skills but also gain experience points and secure loot from any mohey entered.

  With everythi up smoothly, they turheir attention tanizing living arras 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 appoio mahe isnd’s food supply. A suffit number for now, as they would be fully dedicated to preparing meals for everyone on the isnd.

  Ats then divided the troops into teams. With 24 batants, he ahem into froups, each with at least oank and one support member. Some teams were a bit short on mages, while others cked range batants, but for now, the setup would suffice.

  He gave each team a hat was easy to remember: Aether, Bze, der, and Dusk—cool and straightforward. Aether and Bze would be under Edrik’s and, while der and Dusk would report to Karian.

  And Kurogasa? The Ninja Rat would be Ats’s personal trainer. After some sideration, they realized Kurogasa erfect for the role. Kurogasa was a master of multiple martial arts and on types, as well as a close-bat expert with over a hundred years of battle experie was an invaluable resource of skills and knowledge that Ats was eager to tap into.

  Kurogasa also had far better stealth skills than Edrik, making him the perfect choice as Ats’s personal bodyguard. He would remain hidden in the shadows, dug reaissand keeping a vigint watch over him.

  Night fell, marking the first evening on the Floating Isnd for many of the new arrivals. Mira had even prepared a small stage where Ats could stand as he addressed everyohered around.

  “This is your home. This is our home!” he called out, his voice strong.

  “Together, we will build this isnd 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 rades, I know we overe anything!” he tinued, his voice full of charisma and vi.

  Edrik gave a small, approving cp. “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 Ats had brought to the isnd, 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, Ats felt a strong bance among his anders.

  The m 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 isnd. Even the cooks were pnning to set up and prepare meals at the hunting site. It was so early that the sun was only just breaking over the horizon.

  Ats stood with Edrik, discussing their destination.

  “This isnd here has a more fortable and safer enviro,” Edrik said, pointing to a nearby spot on the map.

  “But wouldn’t that mean it’s likely crowded, given how safe it is?” Ats replied.

  “Correct. You’ve grasped that quickly,” Edrik said, nodding.

  Ats sidered their options. "Then we should piething a bit more challenging but still manageable," he mused. "Fre Peak."

  Edrik nodded. "Fre Peak has monsters averaging above level 40, but in numbers we handle. With Karian, myself, Master Kurogasa, and even Manna, we should be able to ma."

  “So we’ll be able to train everyone while fag threats that aren’t overwhelming.” Ats said, firming their pn.

  “I agree,” Edrik replied.

  With a group this rge, it might take three or four days for everyoo secure their fire resistaneckces. 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 presehereal in the quiet dawn. The soft hum of flowers blooming around her filled the air, audible in the m stillness. Her natural fragrance was so enting 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 Ats.

  , Karian walked over, t and imposing, his massive frame catg everyone’s eye.

  Kurogasa appeared without a sound, emerging from the shadows to stand directly behind Ats.

  And then came Manna. Without any warning, she nded beside Ats with a loud thud, startling a few people and drawing everyone’s attention. She stood there calmly, her expressioirely unfazed, as if her dramatitrance were the most natural thing in the world.

  Ats opehe portal, and one by one, everyoepped 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 i charm of hers.

  Ats took the carrot, freshly pulled from the earth, with bits of soil still ging 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, Ats turned and stepped into the portal, Edrik following close behind.

  The jouro building the stro army in the world had officially begun!