Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord-Chapter 63 - Coffee and Catastrophe

A Dungeon Break was a nightmare scenario, triggered when a dungeon wasn’t cleared before its expiration period ran out. Once that timer hit zero, the entire structure would collapse, unleashing all the monsters that had been sealed inside.

These creatures didn’t trickle out one by one, they poured into the world in massive waves, overwhelming and chaotic.

Even worse, the higher the dungeon level, the more powerful its inhabitants. The monsters it released would be vicious, resilient, and far harder to deal with than their lower-level counterparts.

What made it even more terrifying was their behavior. Monsters from the outside world generally stuck to their territories, attacking only when provoked or approached. But dungeon-born creatures were different. They actively hunted. They sought out life and tore it down without hesitation, making them a dire threat to any nearby city or settlement.

"They couldn’t handle a Level 250 dungeon?" Edrik asked, frowning as he looked over at Atlas.

Atlas offered a subtle shrug.

"But you said the highest-ranked Lord here is a Rank 6 Marshal, right?" Edrik went on. "Their power level should sit somewhere between 300 and 400. A Level 250 dungeon shouldn’t have been a problem."

"Do the Lords where you’re from even care about what happens in the Lower Lands, Edrik?" Atlas asked.

"Well, now it makes sense."

Atlas let out a weary breath. "Awakeners down here rarely reach high levels. For them, a Level 250 dungeon is a catastrophe. And worse still... if they failed to clear it, it likely means they died trying. Losing that many high-level awakeners in one strike, that’s a massive hit to the city’s strength."

"Dungeons are full of resources," Edrik added thoughtfully. "Those Lords should have seen it as an opportunity. Helping to clear dungeons here would’ve benefited everyone."

"Even more than what we can gather from unclaimed floating islands, Edrik?"

Edrik offered a small smile and gave a respectful bow. "In specific cases, yes. Some rare materials only spawn in certain types of dungeons. Things you’d never find on a floating island."

"Ah, got it," Atlas replied with a nod.

Now, what were they supposed to do?

All around them, panic reigned. People were sprinting in every direction, shouting and shoving. Car horns blared as traffic collapsed into chaos, and more than a few drivers had simply abandoned their vehicles to escape on foot.

The city was in a full-blown state of emergency, and understandably so. A Level 250 dungeon break was no minor threat. It meant disaster on a scale most cities couldn’t afford to face head-on.

Technically, Atlas and his group had already gotten what they came for. They could leave if they wanted. No one would stop them.

But... something held him back.

For some reason, Atlas felt compelled to stay, to see how Veylamar, one of the strongest cities in the Lower Lands, would stand against such a catastrophe. There was something tragic about the idea of watching it fall. A place this fortified, this established... if it couldn’t survive a dungeon break, what hope was there for the rest of humanity living in the Lower Lands?

"Where’s the dungeon located?" Edrik asked, his eyes scanning the chaos. "It can’t be inside the city, right?"

Atlas looked back at the digital boards. The emergency broadcast had shifted to a live feed, an aerial view from just outside the city walls. Massive defenses were already being deployed. Soldiers stood in formation, weapons primed, while automated turrets and energy shields began powering up.

"No," Atlas said, eyes fixed on the screen. "It’s coming from outside."

After a moment of consideration, Atlas said, "Let’s head to the nearest café and see how Dune Bastion, the city’s heavy turret defense system, handles the monster waves. We can also watch how the Saharan Army responds."

They casually made their way through the panicked crowd, weaving between frightened citizens who dashed past in all directions. Every so often, they paused to let someone through or to avoid an incoming rush.

Soon, they arrived at a nearby café that, surprisingly, was still open despite the chaos outside. Inside, only a few patrons remained, and yet the atmosphere was startlingly calm.

A male waiter greeted them at the entrance with a relaxed smile and gestured them in, as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening at all. It was an oddly composed reaction, considering the alarm gripping the rest of the city.

A large screen took up one wall of the café, already tuned in to the emergency broadcast. Perfect for monitoring the developing situation.

"How bad is a Level 250 dungeon, Edrik?" Atlas asked as he leaned back in his seat.

Edrik tilted his head, considering. "Depends on the type, but if the report says the expedition happened two months ago, this probably isn’t your standard dungeon. It’s likely a raid-class dungeon, those take a lot more people and a lot more time to clear."

"Which means we’re not dealing with just a few elite monsters," Kurogasa added. "It’ll be waves. All at Level 250."

Their conversation paused when the waiter returned with their food, setting plates and drinks neatly on the table.

Atlas glanced up. "Does this kind of thing happen often around here?" he asked.

The waiter smiled again. "No, this is the first time we’ve had a dungeon break at this level. But I think the Dune Bastion should manage it just fine, right?"

"You seem pretty calm," Atlas said, raising a brow. "Especially compared to the panic outside."

The man gave a light chuckle. "Well, I’m an awakener too. But I chose to open this café instead. In the end, I prefer this kind of fight, serving coffee over swinging swords."

"Ah, good to know," Atlas replied with a small nod.

The waiter gave a polite bow before returning to the counter.

Their attention turned back to the screen, where the monsters began emerging in the distance, a seemingly endless wave rushing across the desert plains. Their numbers were staggering, stretching from one edge of the horizon to the other.

"Oh, are you kidding me?! That’s way too many!" Atlas exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief. "And they’re all Level 250."

He swallowed hard, though not entirely out of fear. Instead, his thoughts had wandered. Just how much experience could one gain from hunting that many high-level monsters? What kind of loot might they drop? Rare items... maybe even powerful weapons. The temptation was undeniable.

If only they had enough strength to join the battle. To take part in the chaos. To earn something valuable from it.

But then he looked around at his group, his subordinates, and even himself. Realistically, they were nowhere near strong enough to make a meaningful difference in a fight of this scale. Not yet.

Edrik, meanwhile, was still focused on the screen. His expression darkened slightly.

"Judging by the number of monsters," he said quietly, "this doesn’t just look like a Raid Dungeon anymore."

Atlas narrowed his eyes. "There’s normal dungeons, and then there are raid dungeons... but you’re saying this isn’t even a raid dungeon? What do you mean by that, Edrik?"

Edrik turned to him, offering a small, enigmatic smile. But something in that smile made Atlas uneasy.

Atlas felt it in his gut. Whatever this was... It could be something far more dangerous?

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