Topset Main City:
A few minutes later, the bustling streets of Topset Main City seed to hum with anticipation. Don Blaire, a prominent figure whose presence commanded attention, arrived with two imposing level-8 Wizards in tow. Their robes fluttered slightly in the breeze, their auras crackling with suppressed power. The air around them grew tense as if the city itself could sense the storm brewing.
As soon as they arrived, Don's spies approached, their faces drawn with urgency. "He's hiding at the Stargaze Inn," one whispered, eyes darting around nervously.
Don's eyes lit up at the ntion. The Stargaze Inn was not just any establishnt; it was an unassuming place compared to the grand hotels owned by the city's elite families.
Yet, its lack of obvious ties to powerful factions made it the perfect location for an operation like this. Don felt a surge of confidence. Here, he could act decisively without fearing the repercussions from the more influential families of Topset.
"Young Master, we should move now," Gerald, one of the level-8 Wizards, urged in a voice that was as cold as his pale complexion. His wiry, lean fra seed to exude quiet nace. Despite his frail appearance, Gerald was a force to be reckoned with, a master of intricate magic that often left his enemies incapacitated before they even knew what hit them.
Peter, the second Wizard, was a stark contrast. His broad, muscular build made him look like a walking fortress, his very presence imposing. His magic was physical, a manifestation of raw strength and power. Peter was the type to crush his enemies head-on, leaving no room for subtlety. The two Wizards were opposites in every way but together made a formidable pair.
Don's gaze sharpened, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Good. I know his face. Gerald, cause a scene. Force everyone out of the inn. Once I see him, we strike.
There will be no escape for him this ti." His voice was laced with cold determination, every word dripping with anticipation.
"As you wish, Young Master," Gerald replied, his form vanishing into thin air with a flicker of magic, moving like a shadow through the crowded streets.
The streets of Topset Main City were alive with activity. Wizards and commoners alike went about their business, unaware of the silent hunt that had begun. To the casual observer, it was just another day in the vibrant tropolis. But beneath the surface, danger lurked, waiting for the mont to explode into chaos.
...
Inside the Stargaze Inn, the atmosphere was typically calm and lively. Custors were chatting amongst themselves, and servants moved swiftly from table to table, delivering food and drinks.
In a corner, behind the main desk, the inn's owner, a middle-aged man with graying hair and a round face, had allowed himself a brief nap, lulled by the soothing hum of daily business. He was oblivious to the world outside, montarily detached from the hustle and bustle.
Then, out of nowhere—
Boom!
The front door of the inn exploded inward with a thunderous crash, the force so violent that the wooden fragnts and shards of glass shot across the room like deadly projectiles. Plates clattered off tables, and the echo of the blast rang in everyone's ears.
The innkeeper snapped awake, startled from his peaceful nap. His heart raced in his chest as he tried to make sense of the chaos around him. Custors and staff froze, eyes wide with shock, their faces drained of color as they turned to the door in unison.
A figure erged through the wreckage—a man with a lean, wiry physique. His movents were silent and smooth, as if he had simply materialized amidst the debris. His cold, calculating gaze swept across the room, and instantly, the oppressive weight of his presence settled like a suffocating fog.
The custors felt it first—a heavy, magical pressure that pushed down on them, making it hard to breathe. Although they were wizards themselves, this man's power was on another level.
Fear rippled through the room like a shockwave. The wizards present were used to flexing their own modest abilities, but this was different. No one had even seen him cast a spell, yet the door had been blown apart as if by an unseen force.
The innkeeper's face drained of blood, his hands trembling as he clutched the counter for support. He had never crossed paths with anyone of such power, and yet here this man stood, in his inn, radiating an aura of destruction. His mind raced with questions: Who was this person? Why was he here? What could he possibly want?
Gerald, the intruder, casually surveyed the room, his icy eyes pausing briefly on each of the cowering patrons. The wizards—each one—kept their heads down, too terrified to et his gaze. No one dared speak. This was a simple, modest establishnt, a place where common wizards could dine and rest without attracting attention from the powerful families that ruled the city.
But now, in the blink of an eye, all that had changed. The air itself seed to crackle with tension as everyone waited, hearts pounding, for Gerald to make his next move.
Gerald's cold, predatory gaze finally settled on the innkeeper, his lips curling into a smile that never reached his eyes. The smile was unsettling—sharp and sinister, like a wolf toying with its prey. The innkeeper's heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. He had no idea why this powerful wizard was here, but the weight of the situation bore down on him like a mountain.
"Are you the inn owner?" Gerald's voice cut through the silence like a blade, calm yet filled with authority.
To the innkeeper, the words felt like a thunderclap in his mind. He was only a level-6 wizard, powerful enough by ordinary standards, but the sheer magical pressure radiating from Gerald made him feel like an insect. His knees buckled slightly as he tried to steady himself, all thoughts of resistance vanishing in an instant.
"Y-yes, my Lord. I am the owner of this inn," he stamred, his voice shaking with fear.
Gerald's smile widened, just a fraction, as though he found the man's terror amusing. "Has anyone new checked in today?"
The question felt loaded, and the innkeeper's mind raced. He had nothing to hide, but Gerald's re presence made his thoughts scatter. "Yes, my Lord," he said quickly, his hands trembling. "We've received one family and four individual guests today."
Gerald nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing as he studied the man. The innkeeper's fear was palpable, his face ashen and sweat trickling down his brow. Gerald could tell imdiately that the man wasn't lying; fear had a way of wringing the truth out of people.
"Good," Gerald said, his voice low but commanding. "Now, force everyone to co out."
The innkeeper's eyes widened in shock, but he dared not question the order. His fear overtook him completely, and with a jerky nod, he vanished, leaving the room in a swirl of hurried magic. His task was clear: to fetch the guests staying in the inn and present them to Gerald.
anwhile, the remaining custors sat frozen, their eyes flicking between the wreckage of the door and the terrifying figure standing in the middle of the room. Whispers rippled through the crowd as they exchanged nervous glances. Soone staying in the inn must have angered a powerful wizard, they thought, but who?
None of them knew exactly who Gerald was, but it didn't matter. His presence alone told them everything they needed to know: he was leagues above them. Everyone here was a level-6 wizard or below, and Gerald's power was suffocating. Stay updated with empire
Just as so of the custors began to hope they might avoid whatever wrath had befallen the inn, Gerald's icy voice shattered their fragile optimism. "If you don't want to die, you'll step outside. One by one. My young master wishes to see you."
The words sent a chill through the room. There was no mistaking the threat beneath his calm tone. Gerald's gaze swept over them like a hawk eyeing its prey, and the fear in the room thickened.
"But don't panic," Gerald added, almost offhandedly. "Soone staying here has offended my master, and he's looking for that person. As long as it's not you, you've got nothing to worry about."
The room collectively exhaled, the tension lessening slightly as Gerald's words registered. One by one, the custors began to stand, their heads lowered in submission. No one dared defy him. Relieved that they weren't the target, they shuffled out of the inn, careful not to et Gerald's gaze as they passed him.
Outside, they could only hope that whatever storm was about to descend would pass over them, leaving them unscathed.
The innkeeper knocked on the door of the first room. When the guest answered, the innkeeper demanded that they leave. The guest was outraged, but their anger was short-lived. Upon hearing that a powerful wizard was forcing them out, fear paralyzed them.
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