Floating Island - Triple S Talent

William hovered in the air on his flying disc, leading the charge with an arrogant posture. The disc emitted a faint starlight, casting dancing shadows across the surface of the cloud sea below.

From above, William's gaze locked onto Komodo Island, now clearly visible. Defensive towers rose high, while thousands of black-clawed komodo warriors stood in orderly formations around the island, ready to repel the invasion.

[Black-Clawed Komodo - Warrior]

- Level: 25

- Attributes: 2484 STR, 2172 INT, 2004 AGI, 1688 RES

- Abilities:

(Black Claw Strike): A deadly slash imbued with corrosive poison, reducing the physical strength of enemies for five seconds.

(Shadow Pounce): A sudden attack from blind spots with a 30% critical hit chance.

(Titanic Roar): A roar that stuns enemies within a wide radius, reducing AGI by 20% for three seconds and inducing temporary fear.

William reviewed the data via his holographic interface, then sneered. "Weak," he muttered, his cold voice condemning the existence of every creature on the island. Behind him, a massive surge of energy began to gather.

Small stars appeared in the air, twinkling brightly before converging into a giant energy sphere at his back.

"Obliterate…" he whispered coldly.

The massive star hurtled toward Komodo Island at a terrifying speed. In an instant, a cataclysmic explosion erupted, annihilating a significant portion of the komodo forces and devastating the environment within a radius of hundreds of kilometers. The sound of the explosion shook the air, accompanied by plumes of dust and fire.

Doomm…

Boomm…

Explosion after explosion tore through the black-clawed komodo formations. The warriors screamed in agony, their bodies consumed by the overwhelming star energy.

Yet amid the chaos, one of the defense towers on Komodo Island rotated. Its muzzle glowed, firing a plasma beam directly at William.

William realized it and immediately leaped far to the side, avoiding the sudden attack.

"Tch..." he muttered, his gaze fixed on the plasma tower with an expression of sharp vigilance.

In the distance, rows of plasma towers and other defense structures stood majestically above Komodo Island. The combination of advanced technology and the primitive Komodo forces seemed a bit odd but was not to be underestimated. This army had proven its superiority by conquering human islands in previous battles.

"Star Slash," William uttered slowly, his voice cold and filled with determination.

In an instant, he unsheathed a shining light sword, its radiance piercing the eye. With a decisive movement, he swung his sword, creating a sharp slash that streaked straight toward the defensive towers.

The slash was not only swift but also deadly—within moments, the towering structures were neatly split and crumbled like sandcastles swept by waves. The echoing destruction caused panic among both warring sides.

Over the two islands, the battle intensified. Smoke rose into the air, accompanied by the clash of weapons. No one retreated; both the human and Komodo forces fought as though their lives depended on victory.

Each side vowed to destroy the other entirely. Blood flowed, but there was no fear—only a steely resolve to survive or die.

Far from the chaos of the battlefield, on a small wooden boat, an old man sat calmly. His long black hair fell to his shoulders, contrasting with his thick black beard. His eyes were sharp like an eagle's, observing the battle from afar. Around him was only the void of the silent cosmos, yet his face bore an expression of deep curiosity.

"That boy possesses extraordinary talent," he murmured softly, his gaze still fixed on William's figure on the battlefield. "But why did he lose in Aetheris, the place where he grew up?" The question lingered in the air, full of mystery.

The old man sighed, folding his arms across his chest. "Could it be that someone in Aetheris is more talented than him?" he muttered again.

His eyes turned grim. "Or perhaps... a great misfortune follows him." The worry shadowed his thoughts.

As a teacher, he was reluctant to invest resources in a student who would only become a burden. But there was something about William that made him hesitant to give up.

As the old man was lost in thought, suddenly, the air around him cracked, like glass shattering. A large fissure appeared before him, and from within it emerged another old man dressed in luxurious noble attire.

His robe was adorned with golden embroidery, radiating an aura of authority that was hard to ignore. His steps were steady as he approached the boat.

"Gerald…" the nobleman greeted, his voice deep yet filled with charisma. Without hesitation, he sat on a small chair across from the old man named Gerald.

Gerald did not move from his position. His eyes remained fixed on William's battlefield. "What's the result?" he asked casually, as if the outcome of the battle was of no consequence to him.

The nobleman remained silent for a moment, staring at Gerald before finally replying in a weary tone, "Defeat." The word landed like a heavy blow.

Gerald finally turned his head, staring at the nobleman with a disdainful look. "Heh…" He clicked his tongue softly, a sneer curling his lips.

"I told you, you're too stingy. If you had given him to me, I could have helped you. But you always refuse." His voice was full of mockery, yet it carried an undeniable confidence.

The nobleman sighed, unfazed by Gerald's taunts. "I don't care what you say," he replied flatly. "But I might need your help again soon."

"No problem, as long as the payment is right," Gerald responded without hesitation.

He shifted his gaze back to the battlefield, but his tone revealed that he enjoyed this game. Their conversation continued casually, like two old friends sharing grievances.

Gerald began talking about William, his new student, and his concerns about the possible misfortune shadowing him. He also discussed the potential greatness hidden within William. The nobleman listened quietly, occasionally nodding, though his mind seemed occupied with other matters.

***

Divine Sky Realm

Life in the Divine Sky Realm is very busy. Every alliance island is undergoing a period of development, all benefiting from the unification of the Divine Sky Realm with the cosmos.