The ship finally descended through heavy clouds, its hull groaning under the pressure of the storm above. Snow whipped past the windows in thick flurries as the landscape below ca into view—a vast stretch of white wilderness broken only by jagged mountain peaks and ancient stone walls.
Nestled within a deep valley, surrounded by towering cliffs, lay the Central Stronghold—the alliance's main bastion in this region. The citadel itself was massive, carved directly into the frozen heart of the mountains. Spires of dark stone jutted from the mountain like broken spears, and magical sigils shimred along the walls, casting a faint blue glow that pulsed in rhythm with the fortress's shield formation.
This place was no ordinary military outpost. It was a fortress forged through centuries of war and reinforced with the blood and will of the strongest warriors.
Thousands of Magus soldiers patrolled its periter, and dozens of cosmic-level experts stood guard from the towers. The air here was tense, heavy with magical pressure, and thick with the scent of blood and spirit residue. There were signs of ongoing battles—explosions in the distance, soul flares flickering like lightning behind the mountains.
As Ery's ship landed on one of the side platforms, the storm began to calm—but the tension only grew. An entire patrol team waited for them at the docking zone, all clad in enchanted armor, their auras sharp and focused.
There was no welco, no greetings. Just imdiate orders.
"Incoming crafts. Proceed for inspection."
It was the standard procedure now. Ever since the parasites revealed their ability to infiltrate even the most secure magus forces, every returning warrior underwent the sa rigorous cleansing. The patrol ship and Ery's own were diverted to a secondary hangar, sealed in an energy cocoon. Quarantine.
A squad of spirit masters awaited them, their eyes glowing faintly with soul energy. To Ery's surprise, there weren't just one but two spirit masters leading the inspection—a clear indicator of how seriously the stronghold took this threat.
One after another, the magus realm passengers were scanned and cleared. Those with lower resistance fell into unconsciousness during the scan.
Ery, Gelael, and Ivaris were separated from the rest. They were escorted into a down long, echoing corridors carved from ice-veined stone until they arrived at a circular chamber lined with soul suppression glyphs.
"This is excessive," Gelael grumbled. "How long do they plan to keep us in here?"
Monts later, the door hissed open, revealing a tall figure cloaked in flowing robes lined with silver and blue. Snowflakes clung to his shoulders, and his long silver hair trailed down his back. His aura was warm yet oppressive, like a hearth fire that could burn down a forest.
"Lord Ariel…" Ivaris straightened and gave a respectful bow.
The na imdiately drew Ery's attention. Ariel—one of the highest-ranking figures on the northern front. Though not a supre being, his presence was no less commanding. A veteran of countless battles, he was fad as a soul specialist. "I have read the report," Ariel said, his voice smooth but firm. "I'm glad you made it here safely. But with the enemies growing stronger, more cunning… and your difficult request... I am here to make certain that none of you have been compromised."
His golden gaze fell on the trio of alchemists. It was no secret that alchemists possessed exceptional soul sensitivity. But precisely because of that, they can hide the parasites. Gelael, true to form, scoffed and crossed his arms.
"This is unnecessary," he barked.
"My apologies," Lord Ariel interrupted politely, his tone unchanged. He raised a hand, and his eyes flared with golden light.
Gelael froze mid-sentence. His body stiffened, and the tension in his face drained into sudden calm. Without another word, the arrogant alchemist quietly sat down.
Ery's breath caught. Gelael was a two-cosmos Grand Magus with a formidable soul defense. Yet in seconds, he had been subdued.
Ivaris sent through a silent ntal transmission.
Ery tensed. That was a problem. Ariel had fought on the front lines against travelers from other realms—and Ery was one of those very travelers. If Ariel discovered his origin, things could spiral out of control fast.
Then, Ariel turned to him.
"Why are you nervous?" he asked, softly. But the warmth in his voice carried the pressure of a crashing avalanche.
The next mont, a soul attack lashed toward Ery—swift and unavoidable. Reactively, his [Prism of Light] ford, creating a radiant, multi-colored do around his spirit.
Golden soul energy clashed against rainbow-hued light, and for a brief second, Ery held firm.
But Ariel pressed harder.
Behind his golden eyes, a massive soul construct ford—a towering pagoda seven stories high, radiating ancient pressure. Ery's own five-story rainbow pagoda struggled to withstand the force. Cracks began to form.
However, this unconsciously awakened sothing within him. Runes began to appear on his body, and the power of his innate bloodline, [Emperor's Focus], activated, layering his soul with a second, unseen defense. The rainbow construct surged with renewed energy, resisting the collapse.
A flicker of surprise danced in Ariel's eyes.
"Interesting… You are stronger than most of the fey I know..."
Then Ivaris stepped forward. "If you wish to know more, my Lord, then probe instead. I will vouch for him."
Ariel paused. His gaze lingered on Ery a mont longer before he finally nodded. It took him only a second to probe Ivaris, and with a subtle gesture, he released the pressure.
"All three of you are clear."
With quarantine cleared, Ery finally turned to the task that brought him here. Ariel granted him access to the citadel's inner chambers, including the holding cells beneath the fortress.
There, dozens of prisoners were kept under heavy surveillance—suspected to be either infected or collaborators. Ery didn't go straight to Rosin Karat. That would be too suspicious.
Instead, he moved carefully, inspecting others first—cross-referencing nas and faces. Among them, he began to recognize traces… signs of possible Oculus affiliation.
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