It was unlike anything Atticus had ever seen. It was made not of metal or stone, but of pure, shimmering mana. The surface glowed with a soft, luminescent blue, pulsing gently as if alive. It was akin to a river of light.
The pathway was astonishingly wide, broad enough to accommodate multiple airships gliding side by side. War might descend at any moment, and they might need to send an army of troops to defend.
The pathway was all-encompassing, with transparent barriers of mana energy at the edges, protecting the pathway from any potential danger while allowing an unobstructed view of the surroundings.
Atticus noticed the pathway was suspended above the ground, elevated high enough to offer a panoramic view of the area below.
The airship, which had come to an abrupt stop, started moving slowly forward. As Atticus gazed further along the pathway, he saw a checkpoint in the distance.
The checkpoint was an imposing structure, a grand gate made of intricately woven mana threads that formed elaborate patterns and symbols. The gate itself was flanked by tall, crystalline pillars that emitted a steady, comforting glow. Between these pillars, a curtain of mana energy flowed like a waterfall. The energy curtain shimmered with hues of blue and gold, creating a mesmerizing effect.
Near the gate, a multitude of airships floated suspended in the air, with an army of elite guards fully clad in pure white armor standing guard in front of the gate.
A white-haired burly man with a scar passing across his left eye walked forward, his gaze narrowed and fixed on the direction from which they had detected an approaching ship.
“Are we expecting any ships today?” he asked.
One of the elite guards behind him shook his head firmly. “No, Lord Thalor.”
“Be on alert,” his words were immediately followed by the army of elite guards in the area placing a hand on each of their weapons, their intense killing intent seeping out of their figures. Each of the airships turned in unison, facing the approaching ship.
Thalor also simultaneously unleashed his aura, his grandmaster aura blanketing the whole space. With a voice both commanding and clear, he called out,
“Halt! Identify yourself and state your purpo—.”
Just as he was about to address them, the ship suddenly came out of hyper speed and his gaze landed on the ship. Thalor’s eyes widened—it’s the Aegis ship!
There was no need to even think about who was in that ship. Only three people in the whole Ravenstein family had the power to use it, and they were all big shots!
‘Please tell me it’s not Master Magnus!’ Thalor begged and hoped he hadn’t just questioned a paragon.
“Open the gates!”
Thalor didn’t bother asking any questions; he didn’t even try to check and see who it was. As soon as he saw the vessel, he instantly gave the order to open the gate.
The elite guards nodded in unison and moved out of the way. The airships spread out, shifting away from the path.
As the airship carrying Atticus and Magnus approached the gate, the pillars on the side ignited with a glow, and the curtain of mana dimmed before crumbling.
Thalor and the army of elite guards suddenly sank to one knee, their heads bowed in a grand display of respect.
Magnus hadn’t even released his aura, but they were all elite soldiers; they had all felt it—the otherworldly aura that encompassed the entire airship.
There was not a single guard in the area who didn’t get on their knees. Thalor’s kneeling figure couldn’t help but gulp, his back drenched with sweat. He might have just survived a very swift death.
The airship passed through the gate uninterrupted, and Atticus was met with a mountainous region.
The air smelled crisp and cool, carrying the scent of mineral-
rich earth and distant snow-capped peaks. Surprisingly, there was not a forest in sight, only the rugged beauty of the rocky terrain.
Atticus’s gaze landed on the imposing fortress high above the mountain range, crowned by an imposing castle. The castle, with its high walls and reinforced gates, seemed to blend seamlessly with the rugged cliffs, as if carved from the very rock itself.
Extending from either side of the mountain, a grand and imposing wall stretched out as far as the eye could see.
At regular intervals along the wall, watchtowers rose like sentinels, their silhouettes stark against the sky. The towers were spaced far enough apart to cover extensive ground yet close enough to provide mutual support in case of an emergency.
Atticus turned his gaze behind him, fixing it on Dario, who immediately understood what he wanted. Dario walked forward slowly, trying his best to stop his trembling legs due to his close proximity to Magnus.
He didn’t get too close, only staying at a distance where he and Atticus could discuss freely. With his head bowed, he waited for Atticus to speak.
Atticus didn’t bother to complain this time around; they were sort of in public, and he could understand why Dario was acting this way.
“Where is this?” Atticus asked.
“This is the border the Ravensteins are in charge of protecting, young master,” Dario replied.
Atticus nodded, fixing his gaze on the imposing walls.
The airship picked up speed and moved at a moderate pace towards the fortress. Atticus couldn’t help but admire its majesty from above. An armada of airships and warriors clad in full whitish armor dotted the skies and roamed the fortress, each one battle-ready.
Atticus watched as the airship moved through the air and crossed over the fortress without stopping for a single second. None of the warriors in the fortress made the same mistake Thalor had made; there was not a single interruption.
Crossing over the fortress, Atticus was met with another grand sight, but before he could ask Dario, Magnus suddenly spoke out,
“Atticus, this will be your first lesson. You’re about to battle a truly formidable foe, and for the sake of training, no details about him will be shared with you.”
Magnus turned and looked at Atticus,
“Always expect the unexpected. You will be battling against apexes during the Nexus, and so to begin your journey, you’ll experience what exactly you’ll be up against.”