Chapter 99: They Arrive At Noctaris City

Words : 1072 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

A flicker of realization crosses Zyra's face, followed by urgency. "You're right. The gateway doesn't stay open for long. If we miss this chance, we'll have no choice but to wait." She looks back at her people and raises her voice. "Everyone, prepare to move out! Those who wish to follow His Majesty, gather what you need—we leave now!" The entire cavern stirs with activity. Assassins vanish into the shadows, retrieving weapons, supplies, and essentials. Within moments, the entire tribe is mobilizing. As the Umbral swiftly prepare to move, Grixx steps beside Alix, his expression one of deep respect. "Your Majesty, congratulations on gaining another powerful race for the kingdom," he says. Berko nods in agreement, a grin on his face. "Indeed. The Umbral are assassins born and trained in the shadows. With them, our forces grow even stronger." Alix acknowledges their words with a small smirk. "They'll be useful." With everything ready, they make their way toward the entrance. The towering stone walls that once had beasts crawling over them are now eerily silent—empty. Zyra glances around, her brows furrowing. "Good timing... The beasts that swarm the exit are now gone." Alix doesn't take chances. With a casual motion, he activates an item from his inventory. A faint pulse of energy spreads outward, and in an instant, a thousand Umbral—including himself and his group—are cloaked in invisibility. "The surface is just ahead," Alix says. "Move silently." The group advances, their footsteps making no sound. When they emerge into the surface world, the sun is still high in the sky, casting long shadows over the landscape. A few adventurers are scattered around, picking through the remains of a dead beast. One of them suddenly shivers and rubs his arms. "Hey... why did it suddenly get cold?" Another looks up from looting the corpse, frowning. "The sun is still out. You feeling sick or something?" "Nah, it's weird... like something just passed by us." The adventurer scans the area, unease creeping into his voice. But all he sees is an empty landscape. Alix and the Umbral slip past them, unseen. As they travel, the Umbral remain silent, their movements precise and disciplined. The surface world is vast and open, a stark contrast to the underground realm they have known all their lives. Many of them glance around warily, their instincts sharpened by years of survival in the shadows. Zyra walks beside Alix, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "Your Majesty, where exactly are we heading?" Alix smirks. "To my capital city." At his words, curiosity flickers in Zyra's gaze, but she remains quiet. The journey is swift—. When they arrive at Noctaris City, a stunned silence falls over the Umbral. Eyes widen in disbelief. Some even stop in their tracks, heads tilting up to take in the impossible sight before them. Floating islands hover high above, small fragments of land suspended in the air, defying gravity. But what truly takes their breath away are the five colossal floating islands near the palace. The city itself is grand beyond their imagination. Towering buildings of elegant architecture stretch across the vast landscape. Even the most ordinary homes in the residential areas looks luxurious. Streets are wide, paved with smooth stone, and the entire city radiates an air of quiet, untamed majesty. Grell mutters under his breath, "This... is a kingdom?" Tarven exhales sharply. "No... this is something more." Zyra, stands frozen for a moment before turning to Alix. "Your Majesty... This place... it's empty?" Alix nods. "For now." Indeed, aside from them, the entire city is devoid of life. Only a handful of strange creatures wander the streets—monsters with elegant forms, unlike anything the Umbral have ever encountered. One Umbral whispers, "What are those things...?" "They are a different monster race, just like you all," Alix says casually, watching as the strange creatures move gracefully through the city. Zyra's eyes narrow slightly, and she turns to face him. "So... we are called monsters?" Her tone isn't angry, but there's a sharp edge to it. Alix glances at her, then shrugs. "By human standards? Yes. Anything that isn't them, anything they can't control, they label a monster. It doesn't matter if you have intelligence, culture, or emotions. To them, you'll always be something to be feared or destroyed." Zyra crosses her arms, exhaling through her nose. "Hmph." She glances at her people, who are still cautiously observing their new surroundings. "But this place... it's more than we ever imagined. No one has ever offered us a home before." Alix meets her gaze. "Then start getting used to it." He steps forward, looking over the gathered Umbral. "Zyra, you should settle your people. Pick any district you see fit." Zyra nods, determination flashing in her crimson eyes. "Understood, Your Majesty." She turns to her people, already issuing silent commands through subtle gestures. Alix then looks to Berko. "You can pick any house in the residential area. Treat it as your new home. If you need anything, you'll find resources in the city's storage. And..." He pauses slightly before continuing, "You can visit your tribesmate in the house of General Varkas. Just wait in your new home, and Varkas will come to you with the two children." Berko's eyes widen slightly at the mention of the children. He bows deeply, a display of gratitude. "I understand, Your Majesty. Thank you." Alix nods once before turning to Grell and Tarven. "You two, come with me." Without another word, he starts walking toward the palace. The two assassins exchange glances before silently falling in step behind him. As they move through the city, the towering structures and floating islands loom above them like silent sentinels. Tarven can't help but glance around in awe. "This place is unreal... It's too perfect. Too vast." Grell, ever the skeptic, frowns. "Yet it's empty. A city like this should be brimming with life. What happened here?" Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire Alix doesn't stop walking as he responds, his tone casual. "It's waiting." Tarven raises a brow. "For what?" Alix smirks. "For me to fill it." Neither Grell nor Tarven responds, but a chill runs down their spines. Something tells them that under Alix's rule, Noctaris City will not remain empty for long.

Chapter 99: They Arrive At Noctaris City

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