SSS-Class Awakening: Gacha Summoning System

Twenty minutes passed.

Powerful winds began blowing from every direction, sending chills in every people present, despite them being in a desert.

From the center of the camp, a loud voice suddenly rang out from the Dragon soldiers inside the flying artifact.

"What the hell are you people doing?! Get inside the flying artifact! We’re leaving this place soon!"

The people surrounding the flying artifact felt their hearts sink.

Panic spread through the crowd. Some desperately tried to force their way inside, only to be cut down by an invisible attack.

Unbeknownst to the Dragon soldiers, only a selected group of people had been allowed aboard the flying artifact.

They noticed nothing unusual because they were inside the soundproof operating room, where the only view available to them was what lay ahead.

At that moment, they couldn’t understand why the majority of the people remained outside.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Dragon soldiers couldn’t see what was happening at the entrance, the two factions continued selecting only those they considered useful enough to board.

The people who had been cast aside desperately begged to be let in once more.

However, they were met with a tragic end, trampled beneath the feet of those who were equally desperate to survive.

Looking at the chaotic scene before him, which is the frenzied crowd, the numb expressions on countless of faces, and the helplessness reflected in everyone’s eyes.

Because of this, Alex felt his heart pound violently against his chest.

At the same time, the sandstorm continued drawing closer.

At this rate... I’m going to die...

Alex let out a heavy sigh. His thoughts were in complete disarray. Faced with such overwhelming chaos, he no longer knew what emotion to feel.

No... It doesn’t matter whether I live or die anymore.

Right now, my only goal is to find that old man, and at least thank him, for taking care of me.

Besides... Dying here is far better than continuing to live like this.

His eyes gradually lost their resolve as the last trace of hope faded from his heart.

Like the other miners, who had already accepted their fate, he slowly turned toward the group quietly waiting for death.

Just then—

"Stupid kid! Why are you going over there?!"

"Get in line with the first group! We’re going there!" A familiar voice echoed from a distance.

The moment Alex heard it, every other sound around him seemed to disappear. A flicker of joy and relief ignited within his heart.

He quickly turned toward the source of the voice.

However, the relief on his face was immediately replaced by worry.

Old Man Krei was barely able to remain standing. His body was covered in sand and small fragments of rock, making it obvious that he had gone through something terrible.

In his left hand, he tightly clutched an object wrapped in a thin piece of cloth.

Every so often, a strange faint radiance could be seen through the fabric, lighting up brightly like the stars in the night sky.

"Old Man Krei!"

Alex immediately rushed over and supported him.

"What happened?" He asked anxiously.

Old Man Krei coughed violently before forcing out his words.

"There’s no time to explain... Let’s head to the center of the camp. We’ll offer this stone to Kevin’s group."

Noticing what Old Man Krei was trying to do, Alex didn’t hesitate to support him as they made their way toward the first group.

Nothing happened as they approached.

Most people had already retreated to the corners of the camp, quietly awaiting their deaths after failing to offer anything of value.

However, before they could reach the Kelvin’s group, the first flying artifact slowly ascended into the sky.

"We’re too late..." Alex muttered. Even so, he wasn’t overly worried. There was still another flying artifact.

Old Man Krei, however, reacted very differently, his expression turned dark and grim.

Unlike Alex, he had lived through countless hardships.

From what he had deduced, if they had joined Kevin’s group, they would most likely not harm them.

Rai’s group, on the other hand, was completely different.

They were unpredictable and could easily kill them after they boarded the flying artifact.

Even so, if it meant prolonging their lives, he had no other choice.

Through gritted teeth, Old Man Krei reluctantly led Alex toward Rai’s group.

Very few people were still trying to bargain and survive at joining him to the flying artifact. Everyone knew Rai’s temperament.

If anyone disobeyed him—or even irritated him, they would be killed without hesitation.

Once they reached the group, Old Man Krei slowly unwrapped the thin cloth in his hand.

"Y-You’re Rai, right? If you let us board the flying artifact... I’ll give you this Mana Crystal."

He spoke with great difficulty.

The moment everyone heard the words ’Mana Crystal’ countless gazes shifted toward them.

Rai was no exception. His hand trembled, as he restrained himself from snatching it away on the spot.

Doing so would only tarnish his reputation. Besides, he was confident the Mana Crystal was already within his grasp.

Once they boarded the flying artifact, it would belong to him.

"Jackpot!"

One of the men inside the flying artifact exclaimed excitedly.

Only around fifty people had boarded the flying artifact, making it surprisingly spacious.

Each of them had either contributed something valuable or possessed exceptional beauty.

"Indeed... this is quite the fortune."

Rai muttered, barely concealing the smile creeping across his face.

A Mana Crystal was one of the rarest ores found within the mines. Its value was so great that almost everyone coveted it, even the higher-ups.

Simply absorbing its energy while meditating could drastically increase one’s Mana.

It was even rumored to enhance the person overall physical abilities.

At that moment, everyone instinctively looked toward the southern horizon.

A colossal sandstorm was rapidly approaching.

Soon, the Dragon soldier’s voices echoed through the camp once more.

"We’re taking off now!"

The ground immediately began to tremble as the flying artifact slowly lifted into the air.

Within moments, it had risen more than sixty feet above the ground.

From that height, everyone could finally witness the true scale of the approaching sandstorm.

As everyone gaze fell into the sandstorm, they realized, it was far larger, and far more terrifying—than they had imagined.

It could cover at least one whole country back from earth, and its speed was at least seven hundred kilometers per hour.

At that moment, Alex and Old Man Krei remained at the entrance of the flying artifact, the massive door still open.

Old man Krei leaned slightly against his ears and whispers, while giving him the Mana Crystal.

"Don’t lose your will to live like you did earlier. Promise me you’ll keep moving forward."

"After all... You’re fated to live!" Old man Krei added inspiringly.

After saying that, he handed over the Mana Crystal.

However, Rai suddenly made a move.

Before Alex could react, Rai drove his fist into Old Man Krei with tremendous force.

Although Old Man Krei could have defended himself, he chose not to. The impact forced blood from his mouth as he was sent flying out of the flying artifact.

Rai smiled in satisfaction, casually wiping the blood from his fist before licking it.

"Oops... I guess old people really are clumsy these days."

In an instant, Alex’s eyes turned bloodshot.

Veins bulged across his forehead as his grip on the Mana Crystal tightened.

"Hmm, kid. If you want to survive, hand over that Mana Crystal. If you’ve awakened a B-Class Rank, or maybe even a C-Class Rank System, I’ll consider letting you live."

Rai spoke with a mocking smile.

At that moment, everyone silently watched this scene unfold.

"It’s only an E-Class rank system."

Alex replied, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Rai. His expression had become so dark that he resembled a starving lion ready to devour its prey.

"Hmph. Then hand it over, and I’ll think about sparing you." Rai answered with a deep frown.

Currently, he wasn’t worried about Alex. After all, they had the advantage in numbers, and they were aboard the flying artifact.

However, while everyone’s attention remained on the two of them, Alex quietly activated Detonating Gaze.

His eyes swept across the interior of the flying artifact, quickly identifying several weak points within its structure.

Without the slightest hesitation, he targeted the interior of both wings of the flying artifact.

"Detonating Gaze!"

A deafening explosion erupted from inside the flying artifact. Within seconds, the entire artifact violently shook before beginning to malfunction.

"Y-You Lunatic!"

Rai immediately lunged forward, throwing the same punch that had sent Old Man Krei flying.

Clearly, he hadn’t expected Alex to possess such an ability.

Because of that single mistake, the flying artifact had been critically damaged and could crash at any moment.

But Alex had already leaped out of the flying artifact.

As he plummeted toward the ground, only a single thought remained in his mind.

It was a strange burning desire of becoming stronger.

I should become stronger. I should become stronger. I should stronger. I should become stronger. I should stronger. I should become stronger.

He repeated those words over and over until they became the only thing echoing inside his mind.

Suddenly, he heard the system notifications.

[Bloodline: God of Butterflies is awakening!!!]

His rapid descent gradually slowed.

Sensing the sudden change, Alex’s eyes widened as a trace of clarity returned to his mind.

"W-What?!"

He instinctively looked behind him, within his back, four magnificent butterfly wings had manifested from his back.

It was transparent blue, with countless glittering of colors.

Instead of feeling uneasy about having wings, Alex felt strangely connected to them, as though they had always been a part of him.

Instinctively, he maneuvered them, gradually gaining control over his descent.

However, the moment he looked toward the ground, his face turned pale.

Dammit! Is that a Tide Beast now?!