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Skoltor’s system features successfully implemented
* Skoltor’s Monetary System
* Kampfrang System
* Revamped Stats Menu
* Expeditions
* Virtual Inventory(1/2 already implemented)
* → Implementing leveling system(2/2)
* Data
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Staying true to the HUD overlay of Skoltor, the entire updates are organized to the bottom right corner of his visual, keeping the view a minimum of distractions. That was the least important part as of right now when Julius is rapidly descending through the clouds as for some reason the portal opened to the sky at such a high altitude where in relation to earth’s atmosphere, he and the rest of the Skolritters are at beyond the troposphere.
It was a little cold as the breeze was very pushy and vigilant as if there was a separate gravity directed horizontally forming a perpendicular force, pushing Julius and the truck straight downwards. It led to an increase in terminal velocity. The pressure was strong enough that the mouthplate abruptly took over, protecting his mouth and the jawline. Being underneath the truck, he couldn’t see what was going on with Ritter and Lu Yi as they were totally exposed being on the truck bed.
Still there. Their qi still exists as before. He offered more qi, enhancing the aura around the truck. They passed through the contents of the cumulus clouds while free-falling. Julius’s ears heard the truck rattle a little as the remaining bits of aluminum reacted to the inconsistent change. This is odd because he hadn’t heard that before during the first arrival in Raal and the entire time it was in the air during and leaving Underground Kriegshan. The gravity was much different by more than a margin, even with an increase in significant strength, Julius could feel the transition within the edges of his shoulders and upper back.
Temperatures started to warm up when Julius and the truck passed the stratosphere heights, diving midway through the troposphere. The view of the ground appeared as the clouds dissipated followed by another exertion of his qi.
Beneath him was the glorious greenery vibrating from the ground up. The trees opening up like a gate slowly depart inward, inviting the visitors into the wondrous place. His inner soul felt welcome into the scene. No words. No music. Just an interpretation of Raal’s mother nature. His lips under the mouthplate wanted to smile at the scenery.
The air eased and the perpendicular gravity phenomenon fleshed out. Maintaining altitude, he moved forward into the depths of the beautiful landscape. If this was the first impression, it would be unbelievable that such a world was in a dangerous war.
Multiple windows above hummed as it rolled down. Julius heard Celeste and Sally’s breathing whispers followed by a thumping movement, indicating they were viewing with their heads poking through the open.
“Are you seeing this?!” Celeste asked. It sounded like a surprise as Raal is a much bigger world than Earth, so traveling seemed more hectic.
“I know! It’s so magnificent! The greenery and the pure clear blueness of the rivers flowing right along with us!” Sally replied, prompting Julius to look down away from the greenery. The three separate rivers flowed parallel to each other straight ahead in the direction he was flying.
“It’s just like those stories I read back in the day,” she continued.
“Oh really? Do you read those too? That’s news to me because you don’t sound like a reading type,” Celeste said.
That was what I also thought! I guess I got a new book friend to share with. Julius was astonished. While also confirming this is their first time in this area. Victoria became very talkative which added a lot of implications. Rarely has she talked since the first time he met her. Unless it was food when he was cooking after experiencing hunger following the acquisition of Skoltor. Another soothing air freshened his brain the more she became vocal.
Hearing Ritter and Lu Yi talking with them reduced his stress; he was worried they might have gotten through a terrifying danger during the descent.
The scenery got him out of his sentimental thoughts, refocusing on the area. It’s been almost a minute since they have flown by. Ahead were mountainous landforms covered with strands of thick rectangular clouds, hovering from left to right like a border wall.
Julius upscaled his speed, going half faster for some time until there was no other way out. A dead-end cliff wall, leaving only one sole option. The three rivers also succumbed to a dead end with a lake that borders it. He assumed floods would occasionally happen from the observation of the lake with the consistent overflow, affecting the grass and its surrounding shore.
His legs, with his feet angled downwards, leaped upwards, going over the cliff. The clouds swiftly opened through and dissipated wide enough for him and others to pass. Julius sped through before it closed in a whiff. That's some mother nature’s security if I had a word for one. He turned his head back to find the manifestation of a closed double swing gate that many of the wealthier neighborhoods cherish on their driveway.
“Hey, Look!”
Julius hastily turned and what beholds was a whopping metropolis that blended between the identity of multiple cultures in more clusters than Underground Kriegshan. He felt a wind of qi thrusting at him, and when he turned around again, the gate and bordering clouds were all gone. It was a continuous land filled with civilization’s suburbs overtaking the greenery. The gate? Was that supposed to be a special entrance? He then rolled his head like a fixed motion camera, moving from half-turned to the left back to the front.
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西蔡朝 (West Cai Dynasty)Discovered
West Cai Dynasty’s capital: Longyue (龙月) region discovered
Data (New Entry +2)
+ $150 Thalers
Electric Charge ↑
Electric Charge Level UP! Level 1 → 2 (Max Voltage Increased: 500,000 → 750,000)
General Class (LV.2) Meter: [10%] → [10.4%]
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Longyue. Enriching name to be the capital. Julius made a slow descent as he and the truck passed the suburbs, arriving at what appeared to be Longyue's Central district. It’s an extraordinary engineering of civilization as well as the rest of the city on the horizon. The central district, which was a palace complex, sat on top of what was like a raised plateau with one end like a stairway leading up from the other districts below surrounding it.
The stairway was built like a highway, and despite the angularity, all the foot traffic and pedestrians traveled as if the risk was non-existent. It has to be at least a mile from up to down. Julius has a weird inner reaction from the start of the stairway, maybe the stairway's angularity of the majority of its path ticked him a bit. He immediately took back the thought of being a mile and raised the number to over two. As he flew closer, the plateau’s height became vivid, and more relative pinpoints were nearby. Beneath him was enough to almost match the perspective of being at the pinnacle of the Burj Khalifa and just looking down. Back on Earth, the idea of something like traveling by the stairway that was as wide as a highway sounded absurd and delusional.
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2890 feet
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I freaking knew it. Julius saw Skoltor’s altitude gauge.
The view and the extraordinary civil engineering were already enough to catch his eye. It was probably for the best as an underground city or ecosystem was something Julius would not want to experience ever again, in terms of residing.
Now a landing spot. He glanced around while descending past the entrance of the palace, technically intruding into the space. Julius disarmed his mouthplate and took casual breaths of the fresh air. Ahead there was the main palace within the complex that was surrounded by neighboring two-story buildings across the block from left to right. It had its own enclosure, marking each building’s territory.
He decided the main pathway was the safest to land. Wide as a six-lane avenue and almost as long as lower Manhattan, referencing from the time Julius stood at the Batter Park facing West Street leading into the depths beyond the lower Manhattan. He pulled the brakes at his speed as the truck’s wheel was close to the tiled pavement.
One! Julius timed and quickly let go of his arms and thrust himself upward, jumping right in through the driver’s window. The windows stayed open as he directed others to use their qi to make this truck in the hope of reducing the roughness of the landing. His attention focused on both what was ahead and the speedometer, still above a hundred miles an hour.
Everyone who was walking abruptly dodged as they saw the truck with despairing expressions on their faces. Ninety. Everyone felt a slight nudge. The tires touched the ground slightly before they partially bounced up. Seventy-five.
Bump!
A loud thud from the wheels was followed by a metallic pinging from the compression of the springs on the suspension. Julius slowly pressured his foot on the brake pedal. “Thanks, we are clear now.” He gestured to others to relieve the qi before closing the windows. His eyes also checked the rear mirror. I have to stop worrying about them. They’re fine. Julius reminded himself.
He relaxed on his back to the seat as the truck settled. With speed down to forty at max, he drove down across the main pavement. Street stores along the way on both sides of the pavement, and the food displayed along the storefront was reminiscent of oriental culture. The tables and seats outside were so relatable. The overload of visible fumes to where it formed a low-level haze at a few outdoor restaurants was remarkable. This whole district is pretty different and unexpected. Surely, it has to be a palace complex as the stairway leading to the entrance and this pavement was a wall, bordering the edges of the plateau.
The shooting gust of smoke marked the halfway point from reaching the main palace. From up in the air, everyone saw the plumes of white smoke bursting out left and right correspondingly. Julius saw a glimpse of machinery in direct contact with the plumes.
It’s definitely water. But like a rocket booster too. He noted after the windows condensed from a second passing by. The view of the plumes of white smoke for a second at a closer distance got a part of his mind that loves those sorts of technological discoveries into the deep end. Additionally, maybe it was the machinery, but it was quiet. He will have to find some free time to observe it.
“Is that where we are heading?” Celeste asked, pointing to the humongous building ahead.
“Seems only reasonable. This entire plateau appeared to be the main complex that governs the entire capital. Skoltor’s map counted this entire region to be part of the capital Longyue of The West Cai Dynasty. Did you get those updates on your visuals?”
Celeste shook her head momentarily. “Oh, never mind. It just came up.”
“Are they gonna even sync?” Julius muttered followed by a deep sigh. “Anyway, we head there first and go from there.”
Sally leaned up right beside Celeste and Julius, mentioning the tower behind the palace. “This is my first time seeing that tower in person. I have to say; the tower is so grand and huge. Maybe this could be where all the leaders or important guests reside,” she theorized while showing fascination.
“I didn’t expect the people here to be considerate or appear to be. They are moving away from the truck as I drive past.”
“Or if they are freaked out by this behemoth with four wheels,” Celeste inferred.
“That’s why I said, ‘or appeared to be.’ We are pretty close now.”
The Ford’s mileage was counting as they traveled right before the halfway point, about to reach the two-mile mark.
Thunderclap!
Julius felt a huge pressure of punch that jolted down from his skull right to the neck in an instant. His foot slammed the brake with a drifting turn, stopping hard at the middle of the intersection, and in front of the main palace.
This qi is absolutely rocking my damn brains. Julius’s mind was in disarray, pushing the gear stick into park before thrusting his door open only to be surrounded by people. He tumbled to the floor where the palm of his hands touched a vacuum-like pressure but inverted and exerted such an amount of energy.
A harmonious but also screeching sound of a lady calling reached his ears as if it was trying to command him. Get out of my damn head! Julius grunted through his soulless breath. He then moved on his own accord until he was faced at the main palace. All the people around stood still as statues, not moving an inch.
His eyes were heavily down, making his vision's only lower half visible. Despite the ailment, he persisted and crawled around the truck’s front until a pair of black heels was in sight when he stopped. Still maintaining his peripherals, Celeste to his right was slumping. Solomon, being bulkier, kept up more resistance but not as much different. Lu Yi and Ritter got knocked out flat.
“Where are you guys from?!” the lady asked in a commanding tone.
“Huh?”
“I said where?!” the lady demanded, exerting more energy.
Julius progressively lifted his head up, realizing she was speaking the Chinese language equivalent. Definitely Standard Mandarin. As he lifted his head, he heard shallow gasps from the people around him; as if it was blasphemy or an absolute twist. The gasps grew louder when his mouthplate came out, shutting his mouth. The heavy pressure grew less of a hindrance as he let go of his suppression, followed by the summoning of his greatsword, Licht. Grabbing on its hilt, shockwaves of qi were exerted by Julius and Licht. It was enough to nudge everyone back, surprising the one in black heels.
“General!” One of the men next to the lady yelled.
“I’m fine, who is this man,” the lady muttered.
Julius stood up while focusing on Celeste and others around him before the lady in black heels. He thrust the grip to the right, hovering the entire blade over Celeste and Solomon. A popping sound came through from the depths of the blade, effectively healing them from their slumber. Lu Yi and Ritter were still out cold.
< They’re still alive. Just need to get used to this, > Licht said.
<< Thanks. I appreciate it. >>
< No worries, just doing my role. As long as we depend more on each other, we all can make it. To start off, I like that lady. Respond to her, > Licht said, with a little insistent tone.
<< Hmm…alright then. >> Julius replied with a little lack of confidence in the back of his mind.
Julius turned right to the lady. Oh wow. Damn, ok then. Before he could speak a word, he heard a yelling in the distance, reaching right at him from behind her.
“How dare you disrespect the Empress!” A random soldier in black metallic armor yelled.
Is this guy nuts?! Julius gave a partial whirl from the hilt of his greatsword, swiping the soldier off. “That’s what I wanted to know; we are just unfortunate visitors who escaped from Underground Kriegshan. Somehow, that mysterious portal got us here. Does that answer your question, mam?”
The man that yelled earlier in concern, blurted through his mouth behind the lady’s shoulder. “It’s Empress Cai, peasant!”
“Did you just call me a peasant, ignorant soldier?!” Julius angrily asked followed by the mouthplate opening.
“Yeah, what are you going to do about it?”
Julius huffed.
Bang!
The surrounding crowd ran away in a panic. When they dispersed, it revealed the man who was berating Julius now lay hard on his back next to the stairway in dull agony. He held his leg in such desperation as a tiny hole spurted red blood, staining his leg fittings. The empress shook her head, “Guards! Take him away to medical.”
“Yes, mam!” The guards responded. They quickly took that man away while Julius shoved his gun back into his holster. The Empress sighed, almost showing the urge to apologize, trying to hold it in. Her red hair was very blossoming. A partially tied hair behind her head with a dragon-themed hairpin led into a long loose ponytail, reaching down to her waist. If Julius is like a towering building with a spire, the empress doesn’t have a spire. Wearing flat heels, she is very tall, almost reaching eye-to-eye.
The West Cai Dynasty must be dragon spirited as The Empress’s clothing was all filled with multiple dragon vinyl, customizing her black and white dress. She has a long white cape that fits around her shoulders like a jacket as it additionally covers her arms. Both of her hands are equipped with white leather gloves; the only spot where it has no vinyl.
Her facial complexion is almost like during the peak of when the cherry blossoms bloom. The Empress’s beauty silently calmed him down, removing the pressure from the earlier huffing.
“You said you were from Kriegshan?” she asked in a manner as if nothing just happened.
Julius gestured to every Skolritter. “We Skolritters escaped from Underground Kriegshan through a mysterious portal. Then we arrive here.”
The Empress sighed with a relief. Someone came out of the main palace’s door. “Ah Daiyu!” She raised her hands with a wave.
“My lady?”
“Take the rest to the guest rooms inside. I’ll take him,” she said, turning to Julius.
“Ah, My name’s Julius.”
Daiyu bowed. She snapped her fingers, summoning a group of maidservants.
As they all are doing the cleanup, Julius suggested the truck as well, introducing the new word to them.
The Empress shoved her sheath right underneath Julius’s chin. “Now please follow me in. I’m currently free, so let’s not waste time to converse.”