Floating Island - Triple S Talent

Elen, sitting nearby, turned to her with curiosity. "By the way, sister Hana, what soul did you get during the draw earlier?" she asked, leaning slightly forward.

Hana grinned widely, her eyes sparkling. "An A-tier ice monster!" she replied excitedly. "What about you, Elen?"

Elen's expression changed instantly. Her enthusiasm faded, replaced by hesitation. She bit her lip as if searching for a way to avoid the question. Finally, she answered softly, "I... got a giant octopus monster. S-tier."

The room fell silent. All eyes turned toward Elen. Budi's mouth hung open slightly, while Arya forgot to blink.

"S-tier?!" Arya finally exclaimed, his tone a mix of admiration and disbelief. "Are you sure, Miss Elen?"

Elen gave a small nod, unable to say more.

"Damn it... I only got A-tier," Budi muttered, throwing himself back into his chair with a look of despair.

"It's fine. I got an S-tier too," Laras said casually from her seat, as if obtaining an S-tier soul was an everyday occurrence.

"And so did I," Haikal Emanuel added without hesitation, heightening the tension in the room.

Efan, who had been quietly listening, finally complained with a sour tone, "Am I not handsome enough to get more than an A-tier?"

The atmosphere gradually became lively with discussions about soul tiers. Some members chuckled, trying to ease the tension in the room.

However, on Hana and Elen's side, Hana's attention remained fixed on her best friend. Hana could clearly see the anxiety on Elen's face. The giant octopus might possess incredible power, but for Elen, just imagining her soul creature was enough to terrify her.

"It's okay, Elen," Hana whispered gently, placing a comforting hand on Elen's arm. "Soul monsters are under your control. They can't hurt you."

Elen nodded slowly, but her expression was far from calm. Hana knew that Elen's shy personality made it hard for her to accept the fact that she had to control something so massive and strange.

From her seat at the front, Nita smiled reassuringly. "Elen, you're so lucky to have an S-tier soul. I only got an A-tier," she said sincerely, trying to encourage the young girl.

Meanwhile, Lein remained silent, observing their discussion without comment. His sharp gaze betrayed his thoughts about the soul draw results. Even he was somewhat surprised that three of his core members had obtained S-tier souls. However, his attention was interrupted by the screen in front of him. A message from the reconnaissance division appeared:

[Cosmic Unification: 96%]

"Everyone, hurry! Break through to Grandmaster tier now," Lein commanded, his tone firm and urgent.

"Damn it… Let's move quickly!"

The core members immediately stopped their discussion. The previously relaxed faces turned serious. They opened their second bottles of [Divine Promotion Elixir] and, without hesitation, drank them to the last drop. The sound of liquid flowing down their throats echoed faintly in the otherwise silent room.

Their auras changed drastically. Within seconds, waves of immense energy erupted from each individual. The air in the room grew heavy, as though compressed by the overwhelming power being born.

Amid the tense atmosphere, Haikal Emanuel, an elderly man with a wise gaze, slowly opened his eyes. The wrinkles on his face, a testament to years of wisdom, now seemed to emit an aura of calm yet lethal power. He raised his head slightly, surveying the room with sharp but relaxed eyes, as if ensuring that everyone had experienced a significant transformation.

Lein, sitting calmly in his chair, gave a faint smile as his gaze met Haikal's. He nodded slightly, acknowledging the old man's achievement.

"Congratulations, Mr. Haikal," Lein said warmly, his tone tinged with pride. "You've reached the Grandmaster tier. Truly an extraordinary accomplishment."

Haikal did not reply immediately. He slowly rose from his chair, his movements reflecting the dignity of a veteran who was never rushed. With steady steps, he stood tall before Lein, then bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle.

"I, Haikal Emanuel, vow to follow you until the end of my life, Sir Lein," he declared in a deep voice, each word filled with resolve. There was no hesitation, only pure devotion evident in his demeanor and words.

Silence enveloped the room. The other core members looked at Haikal with a mix of admiration and emotion. They witnessed the actions of the elderly man, who, despite his newfound strength, still showed profound respect for Lein. The stillness was broken only by the sound of chairs scraping the floor as the other members stood one by one.

Nita, who was sitting beside Lein, also stood up. However, before she could bow like the others, Lein gently placed his hand on her head, stopping her from doing so.

"You stay seated," he said softly but firmly.

Nita gave a small smile, her face flushing slightly. "Sorry, abang…" she replied quietly, obeying Lein's command without protest, though her heart swelled with pride.

Meanwhile, the others quickly followed Haikal's example. They bowed deeply, showing their respect and gratitude to Lein. Their gazes held unmistakable thankfulness. Lein, who had brought them to this peak of power, was not only a leader they respected but also someone they trusted wholeheartedly.

"Alright, take your seats," Lein finally said, his face adorned with a warm smile. "I'm glad to see your unwavering loyalty up to this point. Thank you for your trust and dedication."

However, that smile disappeared instantly as Lein continued with a harsher tone. His voice echoed, reverberating through the room with a hint of dream energy he infused to emphasize his words.

"One thing you must always remember," he said sharply. "Hold steadfast to humanity. If I hear—even just a whisper—that any of you have betrayed humanity, I will personally hunt you down and eliminate you without mercy."

His voice was like thunder striking on a clear day. All the core members felt a powerful tremor that pierced to their very bones. Their hearts pounded rapidly, not just out of fear but also from the sheer authority and immense power radiating from their leader. Even Nita, who usually felt Lein's gentleness, now experienced a tension that sent chills down her spine.