CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 58 – CITY OF ALL PEOPLE

Chapter 58 – City of All People

"Woah! Look, a Druid! That’s a real Druid! I’ve only ever seen them in pictures!" one of the candidates shouted, pointing excitedly at a tall knight walking past.

The Druid in question stood nearly twice the height of a regular person. Its bark-like skin gleamed under the sunlight, textured with intricate patterns that mimicked the age rings of trees. Branches grew from its skull, twisting upward like a crown, and its eyes glowed with a soft, green luminescence—twin orbs of serene intensity. It looked like something carved from the forest itself. Terrifying, yes—but majestic in an ancient, primal way.

"There! That’s a Mira!"

The group turned in time to see a slim humanoid figure glide by. The Mira’s skin was translucent, with pulsating blue tattoos etched across its body like constellations in motion. They shimmered with energy, flickering in rhythm with each step.

"...Woah, is that a Giant?" another gasped, pointing to the far end of the street.

Looming in the distance was a hulking figure, so massive that it towered above the rooftops. Its muscular frame looked carved from stone, with rugged features and slow, thunderous steps that made the ground tremble slightly with each movement.

"I’ve never seen a Giant before... They’re huge."

No matter where the candidates looked, they were surrounded by beings from realms beyond their comprehension. Some they recognized from stories and textbooks. Others seemed pulled straight from dreams—or nightmares. And yet, every one of them walked the same streets, lived in the same city.

A world of infinite possibility stretched out before them.

’Infinite worlds... Infinite races...’ Zane mused silently, his gaze drifting across the vibrant crowd. ’Nobody—no single being—could ever truly grasp the scale of all Dimensions. It’s far beyond what any brain can process...’

Ian chuckled, walking backward as he addressed the group with ease. "Haha! Looks like everyone’s enjoying the view already. As you can see, this is the reality of being a Dimensional Knight. Here, we accept everyone—no matter where they’re from, what race they belong to, or what they look like. If you’ve got the potential, then you belong here. That’s the only rule. No discrimination, no double standards."

His smile was wide, his tone warm and reassuring. "Every person you see here lives in harmony. We work together. Protect each other. Learn from each other and try to make the realms a better place for everyone."

And at a glance, he wasn’t wrong. The knights and citizens moving through the streets showed no signs of hostility or division. Different races chatted at stalls, sparred at training grounds, and ate together at open-air cafés. To the wide-eyed candidates, it looked like an impossible utopia. A place where all the dreams collided and yet harmoniously mixed.

But Zane’s eyes were sharper than most.

He wasn’t watching the streets. He was watching the people. Their expressions. Their body language. Their eyes.

That was when he noticed it.

Beneath the chatter and smiles, beneath the air of harmony and cooperation—there was something else. A shared look. A quiet, almost universal expression across every Knight he passed. One that the other candidates, caught up in wonder, hadn’t noticed.

Fatigue. Bitterness. Pain.

Almost every Knight had that same vacant stare. Their smiles were tight, their posture rigid. Some bore massive scars across their faces, others had limbs wrapped in heavy bandages. The closer he looked, the more he realized how many of them walked with subtle limps or stiff movements. They weren’t relaxed. They were just moving.

Existing.

’No discrimination, huh?’ Zane narrowed his eyes. ’Then why does this place feel like it’s held together with duct tape and stubborn willpower?’

He clenched his fists slightly, suppressing the flicker of frustration that crept into his chest.

’People always say the same thing—no bias, no hate. They say it so easily. But in reality, as long as differences exist, discrimination does too. It’s baked into people. They fear what they don’t understand. Then they isolate it. Erase it. Or worse, pretend it doesn’t matter.’

His gaze shifted to Ian—the smiling, charismatic knight who continued painting a perfect picture of life in the city.

’Trying to sell us a dream, are you?’ Zane thought bitterly. ’Get everyone excited. Give them hope. Let them feel like they belong... until they get thrown into the fire and realize what it actually means to be a Knight.’

He understood it. He really did. Most of these candidates were wide-eyed teenagers, some barely grasping the scale of what they’d signed up for. Ian was probably doing what he had to—easing them in. Keeping them motivated.

But still... it didn’t sit right.

’If they’re going to bleed for this place, at least let them do it with clear eyes. Don’t sugarcoat it.’

Ian’s voice cut back in, breaking the heavy silence in Zane’s head.

"Now, let’s keep moving. Your assigned quarters aren’t far from here."

The group followed, still buzzing with energy as they continued down the city’s wide, marble-paved streets. Every few steps brought them to something new—an open marketplace here, a domed arena there. Elegant buildings of varying architectural styles stood side-by-side, drawn from all corners of the multiverse.

One moment they passed a floating café suspended by glowing runes. The next, a quaint stone bakery with a wood-fired oven outside.

Zane caught sight of a familiar sign and blinked. ’Is that... a pizza place?’

The wooden board hanging above the door read: "Lower Earth Pizza."

He sighed. ’Could’ve done better with the name. But I guess it gets the point across.’

Ian raised his hand, guiding the group’s attention again. "As you can see, this city was built as a mosaic of all cultures—every race, every world. No matter where you’re from, you’ll find something here that feels like home."

He winked at the crowd, and several girls turned red on the spot.

"Oh, and one more thing—you’ll receive your personalized schedule as soon as you settle in, along with a translation device."

"A translation device?" one of the boys asked.

"Yes," Ian nodded. "It does exactly what it sounds like. There are countless languages among Dimensional Knights. You’ll meet people who speak in rhythms, pulses, scents—even color. This artifact will help you understand them all in real-time."

"That’s amazing..."

"It is," Ian said proudly. "Though, if you’re someone who loves languages, we do offer classes in some of the more interesting dialects. There’s something beautiful about hearing a culture’s words in their original tongue."

Zane nodded quietly. ’A translation artifact created from Core Energy... That’s no small feat. The potential of that energy goes far beyond combat. It might explain how so many non-combatants thrive in this world.’

Eventually, they arrived at a large, looming building.

It looked like a stone inn—simple, cold, almost deliberately plain. No flowers. No decorations. Just a sign above the arching entrance: "Candidate Quarters – South Wing."

Ian turned and gestured grandly. "And here we are. This will be your home for the next four weeks."

The group stood still for a moment, absorbing everything.

The buzz of the city continued behind them.

But for Zane, the city’s illusion had already cracked.

It was beautiful. Inspiring. Diverse.

But beneath all the lights and smiles... there was something broken.