Laura observed the man with curious eyes, her fingers dancing on the pommel of her silver sword. Could he be part of the people they were looking for? The frenzied knight took deep breaths, attempting to calm her racing heart. Despite spending numerous days stationed in front of Togan, meeting countless individuals over the past couple of years, this was the first time she felt genuinely terrified at the prospect of allowing someone to enter the city.
“Before we begin, can I ask a question?” Scott folded his arms across his chest.
“What is it?” Laura inquired with an unseen frown.
“Isn’t it unfair that you guys get to view the status screen of everyone present?” Scott questioned, not bothering to lower his voice. “Why should we put ourselves at the mercy of the Celestial Blades? Is there a specific trait you guys are searching for?”
Scott tilted his head to the side, glancing at the surrounding champions whose demeanor had undergone a complete change. The champions turned toward the knight, their visage echoing their displeasure.
“What’s this nonsense about you guys checking our status screen?” a lizardman complained.
“I thought this line was to check if we had the proper qualifications or something. What the heck is this about checking our status screen?” a robust man chimed in.
“This is absurd! Who do you guys think you are? Why would we reveal something that personal?” another man protested.
Laura's visage turned listless white as she took a step back. “Please, calm down, everyone.”
“What do you mean we should calm down? Give us an explanation, woman,” a bipedal bear-like creature demanded.
Several champions directed their hostile gazes toward the retreating knight, yet none dared to abandon their positions on the line. A few, however, involuntarily raised their heads, apprehensive that the mysterious figure's finger might descend once more. Meanwhile, Scott maintained his unwavering stance, an imperceptible smile playing on his lips as agitation rippled through the crowd.
“Everyone, please remain calm!” resonated a thunderous voice across the field. Instantly, silence descended, and the astonished champions lifted their heads to behold a figure clad in silver armor, suspended in midair. The blinding brilliance of the armor seemed to devour the sun's radiance, creating the illusion of an all-consuming void challenging the natural order.
“I understand your grievances, and I assure you that our sole interest lies in investigating your Class. Your race, skills, abilities, and any other secrets will remain private,” declared the figure.
“How can we trust your words?” bellowed a cyclops, capturing the attention of numerous champions.
Unlike the stereotypical cyclops, this one stood shorter and thinner, adorned in exquisite clothing while emanating an aura of opulence and poise.
The hovering champion turned toward the cyclops, conjuring a bound scroll in his hand. “This is an edict from the administrator,” he announced. “Without delving into excessive details, it grants the Celestial Blades the authority to inspect the Classes of champions seeking entry into Togan, Napex, Domigoro, and twenty other cities.”
The expressions of several champions shifted as they focused on the slightly yellowed parchment. Despite its unremarkable appearance, its aura surpassed that of all the champions in the area combined.
Taking a step forward, the polished cyclops fixed its eye on the edict. “If I understand correctly, everyone in the Celestial Blade will suffer from the curse of blindness when viewing other sections of our status screens, is that right?”
“That's correct,” the armored knight declared. “The administrator's permission is limited to confirming your class alone. We won't be able to see anything else, even if we desired.”
The miniature cyclops nodded. “Thanks for your explanation. Carry on.” Without saying more, he quietly retreated to the back of the line, having stepped out earlier.
“There's no way to tell if that thing is genuine,” a man suddenly interjected. “It could be forged, for all we know.”
Chuckles and derisive glances were directed at the anxious man. The armored knight focused on the skeptical champion. “Rest assured, there's no one in the Tower of Champions bold enough to forge this,” he said slowly while stowing the edict in his inventory. “If you have any grievances, you can seek an audience with the administrator through an examiner. Hopefully, it's an experience you won't regret.”
The knight vanished and reappeared in front of Scott, positioning himself between the eldritch knight and Laura.
This guy is much taller than I expected" Scott thought, his right brow shooting up as he locked gazes with the towering figure.
Hastur’s Gaze is unable to peer through the status screen of the designated target!
Even before the system's notification, Scott knew he was not someone to mess with.
“Thank you for addressing my question. I wouldn't want to waste your time, so go ahead and verify my class to your satisfaction.”
The knight gestured towards Laura, who promptly approached the floating system window. However, the man's attention remained fixed on Scott.
Laura inspected the status screen briefly before stepping back. She whispered softly to the motionless knight, and seconds later, the towering man vanished without uttering a word.
“Well?” Scott slowly cracked his neck. “You're not going to ask me to line up again, are you?”
Laura studied him for a moment before sighing. “Come with me. There's no need to queue anymore.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Scott smiled, and his status screen disappeared. With Laura leading the way, the duo walked quietly toward the front of the line.
“So, who or what exactly are you searching for?” Scott casually asked, glancing at the surrounding champions. “They must have quite the reputation for you guys to go through all this trouble.”
Laura paid no attention to the man as she continued walking in silence. However, Scott's voice echoed once again, breaking through her detachment. “So, what's Togan like? Do you have any tips and tricks for passing the next test?”
“I wouldn't tell you even if I knew,” Laura muttered without turning. “Do you think you're the first person to ask? Even if you consider yourself special, I assure you that you aren't that special.”
Scott chuckled softly, maintaining his pace. He opened his mouth to speak, but the soft-spoken knight cut him off. “Just so you know, another inspection will be carried out when we reach the gate.”
“Huh?” Scott's brows shot up. “Why? Didn't you already confirm it yourself?”
“One can never tell if an item is masking your true class. You have no reason to be worried if that isn't the case,” the knight explained.
A frown distorted Scott's visage, but it only lasted a moment. I should be okay, right? Even if they're searching for people with envy-related classes, it has nothing to do with the current me. Unless… A thought crossed the mind of the eldritch knight, and he couldn't shake it off. What if their true intention all along was to root out beings of eldritch origins? Fuck! And it's not like I can turn around right now.
Lost in his thoughts, a hand suddenly dropped onto Scott's shoulder, rousing him from his stupor. Before he could react, cheerful laughter filled his ears as the grip tightened.
“Found you!”
Scott turned toward the owner of the delicate arm. A thin, see-through veil wrapped around the face of the long-eared elf, and an assortment of jewels adorned her pitch-black hair cascading over her shoulders. Her slender physique and ample bosom, coupled with her simple black dress and boots, drew the attention of several champions in the area. But her most alluring feature was her bewitching emerald eyes that seemed to peer into one's soul.
Scott swiftly smacked away the hand of the beauty, but the elf simply giggled while playing with the tip of her hair.
Who the hell is she? Have I met her before? Scott dismissed the thought instantly; there was no way he could forget encountering an elf. Then, a troubling notion crossed his mind, souring his mood. Wait, don't tell me she's one of them.
Without uttering another word, Scott continued moving. The elf hesitated briefly but remained in the same position. “My name is Llorva. Wait for me, okay? I'll definitely find you,” she said, waving her hands.
I forgot, being alone for a while now, that everyone passing Syman road is bound to be a bit crazy, Scott thought, glancing at the surrounding champions. Although most only returned his gaze for a second, a few showed a livelier reaction to his brief look.
“Hmm… why does it feel like those people are watching you?” Laura suddenly commented. Like several other champions, she had noticed the peculiar attention focused on Scott. Moreover, none of the champions shared any distinguishing features that would explain the reason for their prolonged, somewhat intense stares.
“You're probably imagining it,” Scott muttered, his voice uncharacteristically low.
“Uh-huh,” Laura briefly glanced at the eldritch knight, contemplating whether to delve deeper. However, she quickly dismissed the thought. Although curious, she wasn't one to pry into others' affairs.
“Guys, can you hear me? I'll soon be reaching the front gate,” Scott announced mentally.
“Whoa, buddy. You're here already?” Slim commented, unable to conceal his surprise. “Are you okay, though? The journey must have been painful. So, how many do you have now?”
“What?” Scott asked, confused yet curious.
“C'mon, buddy. There's no need to be ashamed. We won't judge you. So, how many imaginary friends do you have now?”
“Slim, please shut up,” Zara interjected, giggling softly. “Scott, I'm glad you're okay. We were seriously worried about you.”
“Thanks, guys,” Scott said with a smile. “Quick question, what happens when I get to the front gate? What kind of device are they going to use on me?”
“It's nothing to worry about, really,” Slim reassured. “They'll ask you to place your hand on some orb. Normally, it shouldn't have any reaction. At least, that's what happened to me and Zara.”
“By the way, you shouldn't cause any trouble with the Celestial Blades,” Zara added, a hint of worry in her voice. “Although they can't directly harm us, they have the means to end the lives of those who disrupt their work. Please be careful.”
“Thanks. I'm not a troublemaker, so I should be fine,” Scott replied. Then, the channel abruptly fell silent. “Guys?” Scott called out, but silence echoed louder than before.
Why did the connection suddenly get cut off? Scott frowned behind his mask as he stared at the towering gate in the distance. Is it possible they have something capable of blocking communication between those outside and inside? The eldritch knight pondered on the topic for a moment, and with each passing moment, he became more convinced of his conjecture.
They’re probably blocking off communication to prevent information from leaking, Scott thought to himself. He continued his slow trek toward the front gate, dodging the curious and passionate gazes of several champions along the way. Unlike before, he didn’t walk at arm’s length from the stationary champions, ensuring there wasn’t a repeat of his encounter with Llorva.
More champions from Celestial Blades revealed themselves the further they walked; and unlike Laura who exuded a passive aura, all the champions had an oppressive aura of seasoned warriors.
Two hours later, Scott and Laura arrived in front of the massive gate. The eldritch knight couldn’t help but stop and stare at the intricate and intimidating beasts depicted on the sleek entrance. Several extravagant tents were situated either side of the closed barriers, and the long line branched off into eight smaller lines, matching the number of tents. The Celestial Blades stationed around the gate escorted the champions to a tenth, before departing to repeat the same process.
I can’t see Slim or Zara anywhere. It seems they’re already in Togan, Scott thought, staring at the towering intricate steelwork. No matter how much he thought about it, he didn’t know what to expect in the enormous city.
“Follow me,” Laura suddenly called out. “Let’s go verify your class,” she added while walking toward a tent.
Scott quietly followed the knight, while observing his surroundings. Laura exchanged greetings with several champions along the way, with many of the knights staring intently at Scott’s animated mask.
Laura paused as soon as she reached the entrance of the tent, then she turned toward Scott. “Go in.”
“You’re not coming with me?” Scott asked.
“No. Good luck and goodbye.” The knight wordlessly approached the long line again, leaving Scott at the tent’s entrance.
Scott’s eyes followed the soft-spoken knight for a moment, then he averted his gaze. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I should be fine, right? He took a deep breath, parting the curtains leading into the tent.
Why is it so dark? Scott frowned behind his mask. Unlike the Syman road, the tent’s interior was the true definition of darkness; darkness so thick that he couldn’t even see his own arms despite waving it in front of his face.
“Keep walking!” A voice echoed in the darkness. “It doesn’t matter whether you walk straight-ahead or turn back, either way you will reach Togan’s gate,” the voice announced.
That voice… it doesn’t sound like a human’s voice. Scott frowned for a moment, before silently walking through the darkness. On his twentieth step, the same voice echoed again. “Hammer Warlord!” it declared.
Wait, that’s it? Didn’t they say I was supposed to touch some orb? He thought.
A sharp crack reverberated through the air, accompanied by a blinding light that pierced the surrounding darkness. Scott instinctively shielded his eyes with his hands, the sudden brilliance disorienting him. Simultaneously, a cacophony of noise assaulted his ears.
Amidst the chaos, a familiar voice cut through the clamor and reached him. “Buddy, you made it. It's great to see you.”