Floating Island - Triple S Talent

Lein gave a slight nod, scanning the surroundings before speaking, "Everyone, stay in formation. Laras, you lead the crew."

"Understood, sir!" Laras responded firmly, standing before the crew with a posture full of responsibility.

Meanwhile, Aleron and Tauriel approached their students, speaking to them privately.

"My first command to you all," Aleron's voice was calm yet firm, "do not cause trouble unless absolutely necessary. The place we are in now is the center of human civilization in this cosmos. Remember, you are no longer students under the protection of an Honored Guardian of the Realm."

He looked at his students one by one, ensuring they grasped the weight of his words. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

"Take this opportunity to broaden your knowledge and seek your fortune," he added.

The students, who were initially filled with excitement, now bore more serious expressions. They nodded silently, signaling that the message had sunk in.

Lein glanced at them briefly before finally saying, "Alright... let's disembark."

The ship's gangway extended long, reaching down to the surface below. Lein briefly considered floating down, but as he attempted to activate his flight technique, his body remained motionless. His brows furrowed slightly.

"What's happening?" he muttered to himself. However, as he tried to propel his body using elemental energy, he realized that he could fly again.

"Master Lein!" Tauriel's voice quickly reprimanded him before he went any further. "Flying is prohibited in this area. We are in the domain of the Dominion rulers. Even a Level 6 King cannot break this rule."

Lein's heart pounded slightly faster than usual. His eyes flicked toward Tauriel, who was now looking at him seriously.

"Thank you for the warning, Lady Tauriel," he said softly.

Without attempting anything else, they descended the long staircase. Minutes passed before they finally stepped onto the ground—or rather, a vast, silver-colored platform.

Lein lowered his head slightly, observing the intricate patterns resembling electrical circuits carved into the platform's surface. A soft light pulsed along those lines, gently flowing like the lifeblood of a massive system.

He lifted his gaze and looked around. In every direction, people continued to arrive and leave the harbor area. They came from various races and backgrounds, but one thing was clear—everyone here was part of the Dominion, the center of human civilization in this cosmos.

Lein was taken aback by the diversity of beings around him. His eyes widened as he spotted figures different from anything he had ever seen before. There was a man with an oversized, bright blue head, complete with a pair of antennae twitching above it. Not far away, he saw a humanoid with the upper body of a lion, its muscles bulging and golden fur covering its torso. Then, there was someone who looked human, but their lower body was made of swirling clouds, floating as if walking was unnecessary.

Lein couldn't help but gape in astonishment. This sight was too unfamiliar to him. He instinctively turned to Tauriel, hoping for an explanation.

Noticing his expression, Tauriel merely gave a small smile, as if she had already anticipated this reaction. "Hahaha… Master Lein, you should start getting used to this. Dominion is a highly free zone, so many races prefer to appear in their natural forms," she explained in a lighthearted tone.

Lein still couldn't fully process what he was seeing, but he knew he had to adapt. "I had the same experience when I first arrived here," Tauriel continued, glancing at Lein. "But after some time, it all becomes normal."

It wasn't just Lein who was surprised. Laras, along with Aleron and Tauriel's students, also looked astonished. They were aware that many different races existed, but most of them usually disguised themselves in human form. Seeing them in their true forms like this was certainly a different experience, especially for pure humans who had never visited the Dominion before.

Lein took a deep breath, trying to calm his thoughts and accept the reality around him. His eyes shifted to the streets, where vehicles hovered smoothly in the air, while wheel-less bicycles glided swiftly through the crowds. Several harbor officials were busy with their duties, directing people and managing the flow of arrivals.

However, amidst his observations, Lein's attention was suddenly drawn to a small figure approaching quickly.

The creature had a humanoid body, but its skin was a glossy red, almost as if made of liquid metal. It wore no shirt, only a pair of pants that were torn in several places.

Lein attempted to check its status panel, but all he saw was a blank blue screen. No information, no data.

"Damn, is my system blocked?" he muttered inwardly, growing wary.

Before he could investigate further, the small man was already standing before him. With a confident smile, he said, "Hello, Sir! I see you're new around here. Do you need a guide? I was born in this city, and I know everything!" His eyes sparkled with hope, as if certain his offer would be accepted.

However, before Lein could respond, Tauriel cut in sharply, her voice cold and firm. "Not needed. Leave."

Lein was startled by the harsh response. He turned to Tauriel in confusion. "Do you know your way around here, Lady Tauriel?" he asked hesitantly.

Tauriel scoffed lightly. "We don't need him. We can buy a map from the nearest shop." There was a hint of dislike in her voice, and Lein noticed that her gaze toward the small man was filled with distrust.

Lein glanced back at the glossy red being, who now looked slightly disappointed. Something about Tauriel's demeanor made him curious. Was she just avoiding unnecessary expenses? Or was there a deeper reason behind her reaction?

Lein could only shake his head, silently sympathizing with Tauriel. He could see how her face had tensed slightly, and although the man said nothing, Lein knew something was off about him.

Not long after, a familiar figure emerged from the crowd. Veyron approached with confident strides. A few individuals followed behind him, looking like bodyguards who were always on alert.