SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL

These were the tasks displayed on the holographic panel.

The scarlet font made them appear eerie and ominous.

The transcendents who were about to enter the city stopped in their tracks, frowning. However, there was no shock on their faces. Their instructors had already warned them that the Spirit Realm would provide clear mission objectives.

Ben also halted, turning toward Leo.

"Leo!"

Leo didn't seem to mind Ben's casual tone. At this moment, he furrowed his brows, focusing on the mission details.

"The mission only requires us to survive for twelve hours, but there's no designated location," Ben noted. "So… should we enter the city now?"

Leo thought for a moment before deciding.

"We go in!"

Ben raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you say this town feels off? Why go in now?"

Leo responded patiently, "This place is too barren. We don't know what the aberrations are or how strong they might be. If they attack in numbers, staying here would leave us vulnerable. We could easily be surrounded."

"At least in the city, there are buildings where we can hide. So, for safety's sake, we should go in."

Ben nodded. That made sense.

"But what if the city is the most dangerous place? What if it's a massive trap?"

"That's unlikely," Leo replied. "Mark said that the first ten layers of the Spirit Realm are mandatory, but they're all beginner levels. The difficulty shouldn't be overwhelming. The first layer, in particular, has a high survival rate, so we shouldn't encounter anything too extreme."

Ben grinned.

Following Leo's lead seemed like a good idea.

"Alright, let's go!"

The two of them resumed walking toward the city gate.

Most of the other transcendents made the same choice. However, a couple of teams hesitated and chose to stay outside.

Entering the City

The city gates stood wide open.

They encountered no resistance as they stepped inside.

"Greetings, travelers. I am a law enforcement officer of Ron City. On behalf of the City Lord's Mansion, I welcome you all."

The officer at the gate was a middle-aged man dressed in retro-style armor. His sharp features resembled those of a European, yet his black hair and eyes hinted at an East Asian background.

It seemed true that each Spirit Realm layer was an independent world with its own unique setting.

But that wasn't important.

What was important was that the officer spoke in an unknown language—yet everyone understood him perfectly.

Upon entering the Spirit Realm, all transcendents had automatically gained fluency in its language.

As everyone stepped forward, the officer's warm smile suddenly faded. His tone turned serious.

"Ron City is a town of freedom. You may go wherever you wish. However… I must warn you—nightfall arrives in an hour. Once darkness falls, do not wander the streets."

His words carried weight.

The group paid close attention.

No one had been sure whether it was morning or afternoon. The sky had been overcast all along. But now, thanks to the officer's warning, they knew nightfall was only an hour away.

And if he was urging them to stay indoors after dark…

That could only mean one thing.

The aberrations were coming.

A white transcendent, noticing the officer's approachable demeanor, stepped forward.

"Respected officer, we are travelers from afar," he said. "We have no place to stay, and unfortunately, we lost our money during the journey. Where would you suggest we go for a safe night's rest?"

The transcendent spoke in English.

Yet, the law enforcement officer understood him instantly.

"Oh! That is truly unfortunate."

The officer frowned in sympathy, then thought for a moment before offering advice.

"If you have money, I recommend Ronan's Tavern. It serves excellent wine and offers comfortable rooms with hot water. You can take a bath and relieve your fatigue there."

"But if you are without funds… You may try your luck at Earl Rozen's mansion. Earl Rozen is a very generous man. He often provides food and lodging for travelers like yourselves."

At the mention of free accommodations, several transcendents' eyes lit up.

"Thank you for your advice, officer," the white transcendent said gratefully.

The law enforcement officer smiled and pointed down the road.

"Follow this street straight ahead, and at the end, you will find Earl Rozen's mansion."

The white transcendent expressed his thanks once more and led his team in that direction.

Several others, intrigued by the possibility of free lodging, followed.

Ben turned to Leo.

"What do you think?"

Leo thought for a moment.

"The officer said nightfall is in an hour. We should explore the city first. If we don't find a better option, we can go to the earl's mansion."

Ben grinned.

"Sounds good to me."

With that, the two of them walked deeper into the city.

Ron City at Dusk

The streets were lively but carried an undercurrent of tension.

Buildings lined both sides of the road, their designs a strange blend of medieval and industrial aesthetics. Gas lamps flickered along the pathways, casting dim light as the sky grew darker.

A few street vendors were still selling food, but most were packing up quickly, eager to leave before nightfall.

Leo and Ben walked past a group of workers unloading supplies near a warehouse. Their hushed whispers reached their ears.

"Are they new travelers?" one worker murmured.

"Yeah. Poor souls don't know what's coming," another replied.

Ben glanced at Leo.

They both understood the implication.

Something was coming.

Something bad.

As they continued walking, a sign caught their eye: "Ronan's Tavern—Warm Beds & Hot Meals!"

"Should we check it out?" Ben asked.

"Not yet," Leo said. "Let's get a better feel of the city first."

They moved further down the street, eventually reaching the towering gates of Rozen's Mansion.

The estate was enormous, its grand exterior exuding wealth and power.

Several transcendents were already at the gate, speaking to the guards.

Leo and Ben observed from a distance.

"If Rozen really is as generous as the officer said, this could be a decent place to stay," Ben noted.

Leo remained skeptical.

"Generosity usually comes with a price."

Before they could decide what to do next, the sound of a bell echoed through the city.

It was a deep, resounding chime.

The people of Ron City reacted instantly.

Street vendors abandoned their stalls. Citizens rushed into their homes. Tavern doors slammed shut.

And then—

The gates of Rozen's Mansion swung open.

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