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墨書 Inktalez
"Everyone, wake up." A voice that seemed incredibly distant echoed beside Bu. Initially faint and barely audible, it quickly became as resonant as the sound of a morning bell.
Bu jolted awake, his eyes opening in confusion as he felt a powerful force pulling at him from all directions. He looked around.
The figure of Sean Sterling twisted and flickered ahead, the voice having come from him. Bu noticed that Kalandor and Reynold, who had been sitting beside him, were now present but indistinct, as if viewed through several layers of glass, making them hard to see clearly.
In his bewilderment, Bu touched the Green Dome beneath him; the smooth scales reassured him. He raised his head again and surveyed his surroundings, which felt utterly unfamiliar.
The darkness was devoid of light yet strangely allowed him to see the things around him, as if he were in the vastness of space without a single star or meteor in sight.
Darkness, stillness, no wind, no sound, no breath. Only the figures of his companions appeared distorted as if shrouded in layers of mist.
It seemed everything was frozen in time; Bu could not feel the flight of the Green Dome, could not sense any movement, nor could he perceive the passage of time, as if he were trapped within a painting where everything was set in place.
"Everyone, sit still and don't move. Our luck is good; the Spatial Turbulence generated when we just broke through the Spatial Barrier isn't too strong. Now, we are almost done with the transmission," Sean Sterling's voice came through—ethereal yet remarkably clear.
At that moment, light suddenly burst forth, and Bu felt as if the world had flipped upside down in a whirlwind. The pulling force enveloping him vanished entirely in an instant; a roaring wind rushed in, bringing fresh air that filled his lungs. A sense of freedom washed over Bu Xin, akin to fish leaping across vast waters or birds soaring high.
"Ying ying."
The Green Dome chirped joyfully, flapping its wings and darting out swiftly as if it disliked being restrained by spatial forces.
Bu Shen took a few deep breaths, rubbing his sore muscles and bones from the earlier pull. The strong winds whipped his black hair into a dance while he noticed that the protective blue light previously cast by Sean Sterling had disappeared. Remembering something, he turned to look behind him.
Not far behind was a Shimmering Space Teleportation Array; at its center, a ring of Deep Space Vortex was rapidly shrinking away.
As the Green Dome continued to fly outward, Bu watched as the Spatial Teleportation Array gradually diminished in size before his eyes. Eventually, it transformed into a Silver Rune floating in midair, undulating and radiating an endless aura of power.
Bu was lost in thought, staring at the palm-sized Silver Rune, feeling as if he were dreaming, as if they were still hovering above Sparta City, not having moved an inch.
"The process of spatial teleportation seems to take a long time, but in reality, it is just a moment. During spatial teleportation, we exist in an absolutely static spatial dimension, without a concept of time; a year is but a moment, ten years... still just a moment. We have now arrived at the Imperial Capital. Look below," Sean Sterling's leisurely voice brought Bu back to his senses.
A glance revealed that Kalandor and Reynold also appeared dazed, as if they had just regained their composure. Their disheveled hair and pale faces clearly indicated that they had also been severely affected by the tearing force generated during the teleportation.
Knowing he was not the only one suffering, Bu Xin felt greatly relieved and followed Sean Sterling's instructions to look down.
What met his eyes was a misty view, partially obscured, with city walls stretching for thousands of feet below.
Like a crouching tiger or coiling dragon, the grandeur was overwhelming. Although they were far away and it seemed like seeing flowers through fog, an imposing atmosphere could not be concealed.
"This Peak Showdown will take place in two days. Contestants from many other cities will also arrive soon. Your strengths are not weak; you have a great chance of breaking into the top ten and obtaining student qualifications at Holy Light Academy," Green Dome said as they dove toward the Imperial Capital. Sean Sterling's flowing garments fluttered in the wind, his words carried to Bu and the others.
However, there was one thing Sean Sterling did not say.
In his view, with Bu stepping into the Intermediate level of strength, it was certain that he would be among the top ten and undoubtedly become a student at Holy Light Academy. As for the other two, Reynold might have some hope, but Kalandor would likely miss out on the top ten unless he made significant breakthroughs in the upcoming competition.
The selection from the Twelve Great Cities involved nearly ten thousand competitors, with only thirty individuals qualifying for the Peak Showdown. It was clear that these thirty would be the best of the best, stronger than strong.
When these elites gathered together to compete, it would be intensely fierce and brutal. Even Kalandor's level of strength would not stand out among these thirty.
As they spoke, the grand Imperial Capital loomed in the distance, where bustling crowds could be faintly seen on wide streets. Buildings were arranged in an orderly manner, divided into four districts by gates facing east, south, west, and north, forming an inner and outer city.
The outer city walls were towering and made of steel and iron; alchemical crossbows were positioned atop battlements like a war fortress. The inner city was heavily guarded, with several squads of soldiers standing at attention before massive steel gates, their eyes sharp and vigilant as they donned armor.
In the center of the inner city, like stars surrounding the moon, lies the palace of the Crook Duchy, also known as the Royal City.
Within a hundred acres of the Royal City, there are no other buildings. Rows of armored palace guards stand majestically, representing the most elite defense forces of the entire imperial capital, creating an imposing atmosphere.
From above, overlooking this vast city covering tens of thousands of acres, one is struck by an endless visual shock.
Majestic, grand, heavy, and rich in heritage. Although Sparta City, known as the Art Capital, is also quite magnificent, it pales in comparison to the imperial capital before us.
"The imperial capital is protected by a powerful magical array. We need to land outside the city and enter through the city gate. The competition venue for the Peak Showdown will be set in the inner city's Training Ground. At that time, nobles from the Crook Duchy and wealthy merchants will come to watch," Sean Sterling directed the Green Dome towards the outer city's North Gate, providing a simple introduction without moving his form.
"Training Ground...?" Bu Mei's ears perked up with curiosity as strong winds whipped through the air, causing his long hair to fly and making it difficult to keep his eyes open.
As if hearing Bu Mei's soft murmur, Kalandor turned to glance at him and then smiled as he spoke: "Duke Habia greatly appreciates powerful warriors and has thus ordered the establishment of a Training Ground in the inner city to attract strong individuals. Many soldiers and generals from the public army have also competed in duels at the Training Ground.
Those who perform exceptionally well in these duels will receive generous rewards. Many outstanding talents have even been granted noble titles by the duchy. If they choose to join a career in government or military service, they will be given significant opportunities.
The final duel location for last year's Qualification Challenge held by Holy Light Academy was set at this imperial capital's Training Ground." Kalandor's voice was clear and bright, much like his usual smile that naturally endears him to others.
Bu Mei nodded with a smile just as the Green Dome approached the outer city's North Gate. He could see several teams of guards on top of the tall and grand city walls waving flags toward them, with one person shouting something; judging by his attire, he appeared to be an officer.
"Is this visitor perhaps an assessment officer from Holy Light Academy? Please land outside first; I will personally welcome you," called out a robust man resembling an officer standing on the city wall. His voice carried clearly and powerfully from afar, indicating he was no ordinary individual.
Upon hearing this man's words, Sean Sterling did not respond but simply guided the Green Dome down toward the city gate, stirring up clouds of dust.
Some ordinary pedestrians and carriages at the city gate had never encountered such fearsome magical beasts before.
When the Green Dome was suspended in mid-air, its massive form seemed to block out the sun, causing ordinary pedestrians on the ground to feel a chill of fear. Now that this terrifying beast had landed, exuding a menacing aura, people scrambled to avoid it in a panic, crying out in alarm. Even some capable warriors, the Mercenaries, were intimidated by the formidable strength of the Green Dome at Intermediate Level 4 and dared not approach.
Once on the ground, the Green Dome let out several long cries that echoed like ghostly wails. Its ugly head, adorned with a black bird crown, mischievously moved toward several clusters of people, its curved crimson beak sharp and menacing, causing the crowd to scream and flee in terror.
Observing the chaotic scene, Bu rolled his eyes, feeling as if their group had arrived like a band of bullies or robbers.
“Everyone come down; the other contestants from different cities should have arrived before us,” Sean Sterling said as he jumped down from the shoulder of the Green Dome and turned to speak.
After Bu and the others also jumped down to the ground, Sean Sterling patted the wings of the Green Dome and whispered a few words. The Green Dome then nudged its large head against Sean Sterling a few times before flapping its wings and stomping its claws. In a whirlwind of dust and sand, it took to the sky.
Bu and the others looked up as the Green Dome circled in the air for a few moments, letting out a long cry before soaring higher and gradually becoming a small black dot in the distance.
“Is this Lord Sean Sterling, the assessment officer? I am Aheng, sent here to await your arrival for quite some time; it is an honor to finally see you in person.” A series of footsteps sounded at this moment as a burly man resembling an officer approached with a group of guards. Upon getting closer, he saluted respectfully and spoke with great deference.
This burly man was broad-shouldered with tiger-like eyes and walked with an imposing presence. He carried a gigantic sword on his back that resembled a door panel, adding to his formidable aura.
What surprised Bu most was that this man shared his features: black hair, black eyes, and yellow skin. This was the first person he had encountered since arriving in Fran Continent who had the same skin color as him.
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