"What is..."
Stepping past the massive gates, I didn’t expect anything particularly mind-blowing, perhaps just a city protected by towering walls, with people living in fairly normal conditions like the other cities I had been to.
No, maybe that was a little too much.
I understood from the start that life in the Mirror Dinsion wasn’t easy. I knew that the people were struggling, and I was prepared to see so of that struggle.
But what I was greeted with was sothing that I had never expected in a million years.
"What is this place?"
"...Are we really in the right place?"
It was dark.
The streets were wide and dim, but trash littered the surroundings in uneven piles. Corpses lay by the roadside, their bodies slowly decomposing under the relentless heat, a faint stench lingering in the air as the heat beat down on the silent streets.
"Ukh—!"
The sll was strong. Enough to make any of us feel like puking.
I just barely held myself back while I looked up.
There was not a shred of sunlight.
No...
’I can see sothing. A small hole up ahead where I can see so light, but it’s very small from where I’m at.’
It almost felt as though I was at the bottom of a well.
Yes, that’s how I’d describe it.
"I did expect this, but the situation is a lot worse than I previously imagined."
Anne spat while looking around and trying her best to keep her expression in check. We all turned in her direction, wondering what she was saying.
Anne just continued.
"I thought you guys would’ve already understood from the mont I told you that we only have a day to stay here, but not just anyone can stay in this city. The Land of Fire is particularly lacking in resources and food. That’s why it can’t host many people, and there’s only one city."
Walking ahead while covering her face further with the robe she had, I followed from behind, using [Lant of Lies] on us just for precaution.
The air was dry, and the warmth felt intense.
"This is a city that values people based on their worth. It doesn’t matter where you co from, who your father is, or what your lineage is. What matters is that you’re strong and can provide for the city. The stronger you are, the more privileges you have. Like..."
Pausing, Anne looked up.
Towards the small hole in the sky.
"You get to live on the higher levels."
Higher floors?
Anne pointed toward the distance, where an enormous dark pillar rose into view. It stood at the very center of the city, towering above the surrounding structures as it stretched upward all the way to the top, its massive form visible from nearly every direction.
Connected to it were several large platforms that stretched out toward the edges of the walls, forming what appeared to be the next floors. There were still gaps between the levels, and from ti to ti, I noticed things falling from above, presumably trash from the higher levels.
"You can only go up through the pillar. However, only those who have status are granted access to the higher levels."
Taking out her scale, she looked back at us.
"We’ve only been given access to the lowest level, and by the ti our ti is up, we’ll be forced to leave." Anne turned her attention to . "How do you plan on proceeding?"
"....."
I remained silent, unsure of how to answer her.
My goal was simple.
To find any information regarding Noel and where he was locked up. In fact, as of right now, I wasn’t even sure if the information was correct. I had been going blindly through Panthea’s words, but there was no guarantee that crazy bitch told the truth.
This could have very well been a trap.
But nevertheless, it was the only lead that I had.
"Haa."
Taking a deep breath, I massaged my face. I looked at our group before eventually deciding to settle down. Everyone looked exhausted. In particular, Leon, whose face was still pale, was recovering from his injuries.
"I’ll think about sothing after we get so rest."
"...Alright."
Anne nodded her head in agreent as she started asking around for directions.
In the anti, I took a mont to carefully observe the surroundings. The architecture was strange, the houses built from brittle sandstone that looked worn, many of them broken in certain areas. A few stalls stood along the streets, but they carried little, their empty displays giving the place a bleak, neglected feel.
Small steps led toward different areas, the narrow passages and uneven pathways making everything feel incredibly cramped.
One thing I particularly noted, aside from the state of the place, was the people. While many of them were malnourished, so even having chains on their arms and legs, they were all rather strong.
’They’re not much weaker than An’as.’
Subconsciously, my head drifted in his direction.
"...I know what you’re thinking."
I looked away.
"Okay, I found a place where we can stay."
Anne ca back a few monts after.
"It’s not far from here, and we should be able to stay for the night. But..."
Ah, there’s the but...
"They don’t accept food as paynt."
Anne quickly explained the situation to us. It wasn’t complicated. In short, the only way for us to pay was through the city’s currency, which was the ’Khan’.
"Thankfully, I’ve managed to get so by exchanging it with soone."
Anne showed a small bag.
"However, it isn’t enough for other things. The most I can do is get so rooms."
"That’s more than enough."
I replied while looking back at the others. They had been strangely silent from the mont they stepped into the city, their expressions stiff as they took in the scenes around them. The reality of the Mirror Dinsion had probably sunk into their minds for the first ti since they had been here.
’Yeah, this place isn’t a pretty sight.’
There were a lot of corpses, and people who seed to be struggling to even walk straight. But if there was one most noticeable thing, it was the lack of children and old people.
’Most likely, they’ve been thrown out of the city.’
Anne had already explained it to us, but the weak didn’t get to stay in this place. This included children and old people. There was a limit to the number of people who could stay, and every slot was desperately fought for by the people.
’...But of course, if the parents can sohow secure a job or get a rank, they’ll be allowed to stay.’
Taking a look around , I took a deep breath, trying my best not to think about it.
This place was truly sickening.
It was—
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
My thoughts were abruptly disrupted as a loud drumming sound echoed throughout the entire city.
THUMP! THUMP!
The drumming was loud.
Loud enough to make the ground rattle as the people around us stirred to life.
"What’s going on?"
"What is happening...? Is the city getting attacked?"
"No."
Anne’s eyes narrowed as she looked up.
She wasn’t the only one. All the citizens looked up at once. Towards the empty space in the air, and just as I grew confused, several large holograms manifested around the city as my eyes widened slightly.
"What the hell is that?"
"Ranking battle."
Anne announced, taking a deep breath as she looked up.
At the sa ti, the holograms shifted as two figures appeared within a large arena. The walls were lined with deep scars, while the ground was encircled by towering stands. Spectators filled every side, their cheers silent yet sohow still felt as the people around us erupted in excitent, their expressions bordering on fanaticism.
"Sem Gorian! Gorian sem ishma!"
"Gorian! Gorian! Gorian!"
"Ishma! Ishma! Ishma"
"Asima!!"
I stared at the hologram in silence as the fight began, the two figures in the hologram lunging at each other.
The fight was intense.
Both sides attacked each other relentlessly, employing all sorts of tricks and tactics in their attempts to kill one another. Their movents were fast and precise, each strike carrying clear intent. Although I couldn’t accurately gauge their strength from where I stood, it was obvious they were far from ordinary fighters.
The sheer brutality of the fight made wince as blood spilled across the sand. Faces caved in under crushing blows, while pieces of flesh tore away and fell to the ground, exposing bone beneath.
But above all—
"Hahahahaha!!"
Ishma! Saliem keh isham!"
"Rum! Rum...!"
The sheer fanaticism of the people around threw completely off. Looking around, it almost felt as though I wasn’t watching humans, but a pack of bloodthirsty hyenas circling wounded prey.
’It’s over.’
The fight didn’t last very long.
Both sides were quite evenly matched, but the balance broke when one of the fighters suddenly bit into their opponent’s face, tearing away a chunk of flesh. Seizing the opening, they drove their thumbs into the opponent’s eyes, blinding them completely.
The rest was a bunch of gore as the warrior nad Gorian didn’t stop, attacking over and over again, turning his opponent into a pulp.
"Hueeeee!"
"Gorian! Gorian! Gorian!"
"Gorian—!"
Cheers erupted all over the place as the people celebrated fanatically while Gorian stood on top of the remains of the other warrior, raising his large hands above him as the people in the stands cheered just like the crowd beneath.
I took in the scene around and pursed my lips.
’There’s nothing else to see.’
I already knew this place was brutal, but it went beyond my expectations. Still, I wasn’t here to witness the fights.
I was here to figure out Noel’s location.
There was no need for to stay any longer.
"Let’s go. There’s nothing else to s—"
My words ca to an abrupt stop a mont later as sothing dropped in Gorian’s direction.
Catching the item, Gorian raised it into the air as the crowd cheered alongside him. I looked at the object in his hand. It looked like a small vial filled with a red liquid. My heart skipped a beat as Gorian brought the vial to his mouth.
Then...
Under the cheers of everyone present, his body started to heal rapidly.
From the deep wounds to the ones that seed to be impossible to heal, every single one of his wounds healed as he tossed the glass vial to the ground before roaring.
"Waaaaaah!"
"Gorian! Gorian! Gorian! Gorian!"
"..."
All the noise around seed to fade, replaced by a constant ringing in my ears. When I turned my head, Leon’s gaze t mine.
"Julien, that’s..."
"I know."
I answered, the words coming awfully calm.
"...I know."
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