NOVPUBBandera City, a grand city that dances with history, is embraced by the frozen ground and the snow-covered mountains.
No matter if it’s morning or afternoon, there is only the faint light of the snow-capped fields, casting a faint silvery-white gloss onto the cold, deep-grey stone. The ruggedness and scratches are all traces of the ages, and the stories of holy wars that have endured to this day seem to have been awakened, whispering in the wind.
"..."
Lanci and Sikder heard the increasingly clear sound of drums and orchestral war songs, passing through the multiple barriers of Bandera City.
The city gate was heavily guarded, and after verifying the identities of Lanci and Sikder, the silent empire officer allowed them to enter Bandera City.
When the two emerge from the hallway of the city gate.
Stepping into the upper part of the city.
The military guards and officers behind them seemed to be staring directly at them with their eyes.
"Is there something wrong with these imperial soldiers?"
Lanci looked afar at the towering towers of Bandera City and asked Sikder quietly.
The appearance of the city-state is strongly influenced by the ancient Herram architectural style. Tall spires, exquisite stained-glass windows and complex stone carvings are everywhere. The city walls are strong and thick, with a tower or arrow tower at intervals.
The streets are wide and winding, and the buildings on both sides are very high, as if competing for the limited sunlight.
"No."
Sikder’s voice is calm and indifferent.
Despite this, she did indeed feel that there was something wrong with the atmosphere of this city-state.
The two walked for a long time, and have not encountered any residents yet.
However, they were at the upper level of the city-state, which is staggeringly high. If they looked closely to the side of the street, they would discover that it was actually a wide suspension bridge, from which they could see the lower level of the city-state.
The snowflakes in the sky drifted down with the wind, passed by the side of the suspension bridge, and after a long flight, finally fell into the lower layer of Bandera City.
Standing on the upper level, looking down at the lower level which is a staggering sixty or seventy meters lower, is like overlooking the earth from the clouds. Finally, you can see the tiny markets and shops. Residents pass by from time to time, and everything from food to magic devices can be found there.
Lanci put on a pendant, which was not a gem but a small magic device that could record the images he saw.
Its principle is similar to that of the South Continent’s Shadow World Record Program, but this magic device has a higher degree of encryption. It not only saves images, but also records environmental details and magic fluctuations around it.
"We may need to go down and take a look."
On the deep grey stone-paved street, Lanci could only see the heavily armored empire soldiers on patrol, and the clergy of the Nirvana Branch in long robes. They seemed to have no problems, or rather, no problems could be seen.
If there was an accident in this city-state, the best evidence probably lies with the residents.
The path to the lower level would probably require walking some distance into the city before seeing the stairs. If you want to jump directly, you need a strong physique or flight magic.
However,
Before Lanci was aware of the subtle changes around him, a slim yet powerful hand tightly locked his upper arm. The gigantic strength that could easily crush his bones was still very finely controlled by Sigrid, and didn’t hurt him.
Lanci tried to speak, but his words were instantly swallowed by the powerful cold current. The oppressive feeling from the sky convinced him that he had once again been taken to the sky by Sigrid.
Only this time, the target was not deep into the city-state as Lanci had expected.
Instead, Sikder spontaneously headed outward the city-state.
Although Lanci was surprised, he didn’t question Sikder’s judgment.
"Apart from the Priest of Nirvana, there is no living person in this city-state."
Sikder’s icy warning voice echoed in his ears.
Even those empire officers previously encountered at the city gate were probably elite forces masquerading as the Nirvana Branch.
"...!"
High in the sky, Lanci’s emerald-green eyes finally managed to see through the fog and steadily made out the entirety of Bandera City.
Only the area around their entrance was still portraying tranquility, the core of the city was already overwhelmed by an ominous darkness.
Everything in the hallucination-sealed city center was hazy, but even without sight, the presence was detectable---it was as if they were in an eclipse-like devil’s realm formed by corpses and the undead.
Below the black fog, dried limbs were scattered among the collapsed buildings. Elderly, women, children, their corpses are piled together. The entire border city was reduced to a place of a sacrificial feast held in the aftermath of death, under the white glow of daylight, the asphyxiating absurdity and surrealism lingered over Bandera city.
Time seemed to elongate, and the wind grew sharper. Lanci’s sight blurred from the cold wind, holding tightly onto Sikder’s hand as he was led towards the city boundary at high speed.
Lanci kept his thoughts to himself, bound by a mutual understanding, he knew they needed to move quickly.
Even though they had not obtained decisive evidence from the heart of the anomalous city.
But this northern border anomaly was personally confirmed by the Bishop of Hegemony. Once she informs the higher ups of the Empire, coupled with the probable disappearance of Major General Fan Leiku, a major upheaval will ensue.
The sin committed in the north could not be buried and will inevitably be exposed.
Just as Lanci thought this, his vision was immediately enveloped by a distorted translucent barrier!
Sigrid’s speed suddenly decelerated, and she stopped in mid-air.
She cautionsly turned her gaze, spotting the silhouette of a figure that somehow appeared behind them.
"So, what are your impressions of this remarkable scene?"
A voice filled with laughter reverberated above the walled city.
Lanci also followed the discordant tune, looking back.
Dark clouds churned in the lead-grey sky, Bandera City plunged into a dead silence, periodically interrupted by streaks of lightning casting pale illumination onto the massive structures obscured by fog.
There stood a tall man adorned in a dark grey overcoat at the pinnacle of a skyscraping tower in Bandera City, gazing at them.
His skin was as pale as snow, void of a semblance of vitality.
Besides the suffocating Magic Power he casually exuded, when he sealed the space around the two of them, the ambient atmosphere seemed to have come to a standstill. The surrounding emitted a profound glow, manifesting as countless dark stars whirling in rhythm, resembling a sentient being fueled by magic, pervading the field of view and invading the mind although it seemed to be nonexistent in space.
Ordinary people with less potent spiritual power upon facing this soul-piercing halo for the first time might feel they’ve established an indescribable connection to this world, experiencing a journey transcending flesh and time within an instant.
In the end, being utterly stupefied, directly collapsing onto the ground or even bursting into tears.
The rotating characters are not from any known era, only those who have seen the relics of the divine era would understand its meaning.
It was the radiant light emanated from [Original Slabstone Tablet] when endowed with blessings.
And this stone tablet, capable of blessing sealing magic, had identified the identity of its owner.
Perhaps sensing Lanci’s gaze, the man turned to look at Lanci.
Those deep grey eyes were like an abyss, luring people into them, leading to the gradual loss of the soul.
Asksan was smiling at the two of them.
When he stood there, the invisible horror emitted from his body made beings feel humble and helpless, and when he moved, any semblance of calm and stability is bound to crumble because of him.
