NOVEL WEB Chapter 218: Familiar Place
He slowly descended near the capital city, built atop a towering plateau.
A vast river wound around it, encircling the city like a natural barrier, making it appear as if it were an isolated cliff .
And unlike the dry land he just crossed, this place was lush and green. If not for the modern city sprawled on top of the plateau, he might have mistaken it for a hidden forest haven, untouched by civilization.
He decided to land on the outskirts, noticing a glass barrier surrounding the city. It could trigger an alarm if he approached from above without warning.
From his position, he could see the river side bristling with thousands of advance looking cannons and metallic watch towers.
He spotted even larger, heavy-duty weapons embedded into the side of the plateau. Just the sheer number of them could probably obliterate a basilisk worm in seconds.
This was the big difference between a settlement and a true city.
It was far safer, but the cost of maintaining such a fortress was immense.
Only the wealthy could afford such protection.
Or more accurately, this was a place where only an Awakener and select few humans could thrive.
They were the only ones with the ability to earn enough to sustain such a life.
Still, after Skyler's performance, he gauged that the Awakeners were really weak.
Even their S-rank would struggle to defeat Abir, the sorcerer he fought at the academy.
(The locals of your world are weaker than I expected), Pantheon's shared the same sentiment.
"It's not really surprising, considering the concept of power was considered a myth just five years ago. To be honest, I think reaching this far in just five years is impressive."
(Then how did you become this strong? You even got trapped in the Void, which I found very interesting. Not even dragons can survive that place for long.)
"Things just kept escalating. I was lucky Index found me."
(The girl you want to rescue... What is she?)
"I don't really know, and I don't care. I just want to save her from that dark place. That's why I agreed to your offer,"
(Don't act like you're losing out. Becoming a dragon is a dream for many. You're lucky I found you worthy enough,) Pantheon scoffed.
Asher did not respond. He knew how prideful his new servant was, so it was better not to engage in a debate with it.
(Still, be careful. I advise you to learn more about her true identity. Anything that can survive in the Void for that long is bound to have a deep secret.)
"She's my wife. I know her better than anyone else." He declared, showing signs of irritation. It was rare for him to show it, but he genuinely loved her more than anyone else.
(Just remember, when you stare into the abyss too long... it starts to stare back.)
"Are you trying to imply something?" he asked, narrowing his eyes, his tone growing cold.
(I'm just sharing my opinion as someone who's lived for almost an eternity. I've seen countless powerful beings come and go, thinking they know it all, only to make a fatal mistake in the end. There's a reason the Void exists. It's a place for ...)
"Stop talking," he commanded, not liking where the conversation was heading.
The silence stretched on as he began walking toward the city, making sure to turn invisible to avoid the unnecessary trouble of having to identify himself.
Right now, his current priority was to locate Lucy's exact position, so he could talk to her and clear things up.
'Now that I think about it, why didn't I ask that S-Rank Awakener from before?' he sighed, realizing his blunder.
'Forget it,' he muttered, shaking his head. There was no use crying over spilled milk.
What was important now was getting inside the city, so he started walking along the asphalt road, heading toward the first line of defense.
A bridge stretched across the river, guarded by countless soldiers and Awakeners standing watch.
They all wore the same black uniform as Skyler, but theirs were more standard, lacking the same build quality that could withstand her high-speed movements.
Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire
They didn't look particularly strong, so he easily slipped past them.
Once inside the city, he couldn't help but smile.
The buildings, the people's clothing—though slightly different—still reminded him of his life before his encounter with the supernatural.
The streets were lively, with cars and buses weaving through traffic, while pedestrians moved along the sidewalks.
In addition, most of the citizens didn't have toned and big bodies, because 70% of the population here were composed of Awakeners.
'If the tip I got is correct, I need to find the Association, because they're the ones who sell almost anything, from weapons to information.'
It would be difficult to find it if he just wandered around aimlessly, so he decided to slip into an alley, drop his invisibility spell, and will his robe to transform into a jacket-like appearance to blend in.
Next, he went to a shop and bought a hat, a mask, and sunglasses to conceal his face, avoiding drawing too much attention.
"Come again, Sir," the beautiful sales ladies happily bid him goodbye. They were Awakeners whose abilities and powers weren't suited for combat, so they ended up working here instead.
As for how they could afford the rent and cost of living, the local government subsidized their stay.
Despite being weak, there was still a chance that their offspring could become powerful Awakeners someday.
They were betting on their potential and ability to reproduce, which was crucial if humanity hoped to avoid extinction in this unforgiving world.
As for those capable of fighting, they ended up going on expeditions through the many gateways to gather rare materials and treasures.
'This is good enough disguise,' he muttered, stretching his fingers and raising a hand to hail a cab.
But in his peripheral vision, he caught sight of a familiar face on the sidewalk.
"It's her...."