Floating Island - Triple S Talent

Becoming a subordinate of Lein… it would be a humiliation for him. However, on the other hand, it was the only realistic option for survival.

Fryon's fear slightly eased as he thought of his plan. He realized that the information he possessed might become a valuable asset. As a ruler who had followed various hunts and conquests in new realms, Fryon knew the value of knowledge about outer races and foreign worlds.

If he could offer this information to Lein, there was a good chance he could save himself, perhaps even gain something through a deal.

While Fryon was lost in his survival plan, a soft yet firm voice suddenly sounded nearby.

"Leader Lein, hello... I'm Ayumi, leader of the Japan Alliance."

Ayumi now stood next to Lein, who was still supporting Elen's body with his right hand. Her words were brief, direct, without hesitation, reflecting her efficient personality. Though she had just been in a battle, Ayumi's current posture was different. This time, not just a fighter stood there, but a princess, exuding an aura of elegance and strength that couldn't be underestimated.

The flowing purple robe on her body added to her noble grandeur, every fold of the fabric gleaming under the sunlight.

Lein shifted his attention from Elen, looking at Ayumi with a bit of admiration. The woman's face had a classical beauty that was hard to ignore—her sharp nose, deep eyes, and a jawline that was strong yet still feminine. "So beautiful...

and fair-skinned," Lein thought to himself, unable to help but notice Ayumi's pale, porcelain-like skin, a stark contrast to most Indonesians, who generally had a more tanned complexion. Her skin shone with a soft glow under the sunlight.

Ayumi stood tall before Lein, her posture radiating confidence though her gaze remained gentle and unassuming. Her dark eyes sparkled with a sense of self-assurance, as if awaiting Lein's response without haste.

Lein stared at her for a moment, admiring her graceful figure. With calm and controlled poise, Lein gave a slight nod before speaking, "Hello, Princess Ayumi. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Lein's friendly smile caught Ayumi by surprise. In her heart, she felt both relief and wonder. Lein, the figure rumored to be a greedy and arrogant leader among the top alliance leaders, was different from the gossip she'd often heard. His demeanor was warm, even approachable.

"Haha... no need to call me princess, just Ayumi is fine," Ayumi replied, smiling awkwardly. Her voice was warm, though there was a slight unease behind her laugh. She briefly glanced at Fryon, standing not far away; he seemed frozen, standing there with a blank stare and a pale face.

After a few seconds, Ayumi refocused on Lein, but at the same time, Elen, who had fainted, began to show signs of life. Her fingers moved slightly, then her tiny hand gripped Lein's robe. With an unexpected tug, Elen clung to Lein's arm, holding it tighter.

Not long after, her once-closed eyes started to open slowly. A hint of confusion appeared on her face as she looked directly at Lein.

"What—where am I?" Elen mumbled weakly, her mind still foggy. Her body tried to rise, but she was too weak to stand upright. With no other choice, she leaned against Lein, feeling the warmth of the person she usually didn't want to meet.

Then, as her vision cleared, Elen looked at the figure supporting her. Her face paled, then suddenly turned bright red. "Wh—what?! Leader?!"

Elen's scream echoed, her voice full of embarrassment and panic. She tried to cover her face with both hands but couldn't because she was still gripping Lein's robe to prevent herself from falling. She had no other choice but to lower her head, hiding her flushed face against Lein's chest, struggling to contain her embarrassment.

Lein, puzzled by her strange reaction, could only smile faintly. "Elen, what's wrong? Why are you so afraid of me?" he asked, his tone more confused than angry. To him, Elen was just a much younger girl, very shy and introverted, but loyal.

In a barely audible voice, Elen replied, "No, Leader... it's nothing..." Her face remained downcast, and her voice faltered as if someone struggling hard to suppress their embarrassment.

Feeling Lein's gaze still fixed on her, Elen quickly pulled out a Vortex Plate from her storage ring and leaped onto it. Once her body hovered over the magical plate, the tension that had gripped her began to ease. She could control her emotions better now. Standing atop the Vortex Plate, she looked at Lein with a mixture of curiosity and slight confusion.

"Leader..." Elen began, her eyes filled with urgent questions.

Lein looked at her calmly, sensing the questions in Elen's mind. "What's the matter?" he replied with a relaxed tone, as if he already knew what she would ask.

"Where did you come from? Why did you suddenly appear here? Weren't you in another realm investigating the source of the foreign attacks? Have you found the cause?" Elen fired off those questions quickly, unable to hide the curiosity mixed with her concern.

Lein simply gave a small smile, then, without saying anything, he drew a golden sword from his waist. In one graceful motion, he swung the sword in front of Elen. The sword's light shimmered under the sunlight, reflecting mesmerizing golden glints.

"Do you remember this sword?" Lein asked, skillfully twirling it, as if playfully. "I once gave it to all of you. One for each core member."

Elen gazed at the golden sword, recalling the moment when Lein had given it. Although she had never used it—being not a close combat fighter—Elen kept it well. To her, the sword was a gift from Lein.

The golden sword floating in mid-air suddenly radiated a blinding flash of white light. In an instant, another figure appeared beside Lein—identical in every detail of his appearance.

Elen gasped, her eyes widening. "What? Leader... there are two of you?"

Ayumi frowned, her gaze sharp as she observed closely. "A clone? Or transformation?" she murmured, trying to make sense of what was happening, while Lein stood calmly, watching their reactions.