The floating carriage descends steadily through the cloud-dappled twilight, the golden spires of Klago City—capital of the Menash Kingdom—coming into full view. The city below is no longer human-led. The banners of Menash are gone, replaced with a flag bearing Alix's crest.

As the carriage approaches the main gate, the soft hum of magic fades. Below, rows upon rows of monster soldiers—disciplined and fully armored—stand at attention on either side of the wide plaza, forming a corridor of reverent silence.

The moment the carriage touches down, a visible wave of tension lifts. Then, three figures step forward from the front ranks and drop to one knee in unison.

Gander speaks first, head bowed.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty."

Beside him, Mhazul—massive and looming even while kneeling—lowers his axes with respect. On Gander's other side, Lysaria kneels gracefully. Her violet eyes flick up briefly, gleaming with quiet approval.

Behind Alix, Karnessa and Xansen exit the carriage. The sight before them stuns them into silence.

Hundreds—no, thousands—of monsters in organized formation. Tiered armor gleams under the setting sun. None of them look ragged or wild. These aren't berserk beasts. These are soldiers.

Xansen mutters under his breath. "Holy hell…"

Karnessa doesn't speak. Her wide eyes are fixed on the three kneeling monsters in front—power radiates off all of them. She can feel it in her blood.

'These people… serve master?'

The three stand in sync. Gander salutes with a closed fist to his chest. "Orders, sire?"

Alix walks forward calmly, the golden sunset casting his shadow long across the polished stone beneath his boots.

He glances briefly to the side—at Karnessa, who's still quietly taking in the sight of the vast army and the monsters kneeling before him.

"I'm just passing by here," he says, voice casual. "But before that—" he gestures slightly with his hand toward Karnessa. "This is Karnessa. She's very talented… and has an innate ability to control blood."

Lysaria's head tilts, a flicker of interest passing through her gaze. "Innate ability?" she repeats, a smile forming at the corner of her lips. "That's amazing, Your Majesty. Your adventure this time seems very fruitful. Congratulations."

Mhazul, however, steps forward with a gleam in his eyes, grinning from ear to ear. "Blood, huh? That's got combat written all over it." He thumps one of his axes against the ground. "Your Majesty, let me train her. I swear the next time you see her, she'll be a completely different person."

Karnessa's eyes widen slightly at the offer, unsure if she should feel honored or afraid.

Alix looks to her briefly, then back to Mhazul. "Then I'll leave it to you."

Mhazul grins wider and pounds his chest once. "Thank you, your majesty."

Gander, as always, remains composed, though he glances at Karnessa with a flicker of analytical interest, already assessing her potential as part of the king's inner circle.

Xansen crosses his arms beside her, still stunned by everything but keeping quiet for now.

Alix turns back toward the heart of the city, his voice steady. "Let's head inside. I want a full report."

The monster commanders fall into step behind him at once, with Karnessa and Xansen trailing just a bit farther back—still overwhelmed by the scale and gravity of what they've just walked into.

Karnessa watches Alix's back again, heart pounding.

And for the first time… she realizes just how far above her he truly stands.

----

Alix stays only for a few hours in Klago City—just enough to hear the latest reports, issue orders, and speak privately with his commanders. When everything is settled, he steps toward the portal chamber, motioning for Xansen to follow.

Karnessa watches them go, a strange mix of awe and determination in her chest as Mhazul cracks his knuckles beside her.

Then—light bends inward as the teleportation gate activates. A deep hum resonates through the air, and with a single step, Alix and Xansen vanish from Klago City.

In the next instant, they arrive at Noctaris.

A blast of cool, fresh air greets them—carried by powerful winds that swirl between massive floating islands suspended in the sky by ancient, humming cores. Vast crystalline towers rise like spears of light, some wrapped with vines of bioluminescent flora, while bridges made of translucent stone arc between sky islands, each bustling with activity.

Below, the city sprawls across tiered cliffs, rivers of silver light flowing through channels in the streets. Towering spires stretch into the sky.

Xansen's jaw drops the second he takes a step forward.

"Uhm… is this… your capital city?" he asks, blinking rapidly. "Look at that—look at that! Floating islands? How is that even possible?"

He spins slowly, trying to take everything in—his usual casual posture replaced with quiet awe. "This… this makes the imperial capital look like a backwater village."

Alix doesn't respond right away. He just walks forward, the black and gold hem of his coat fluttering slightly in the breeze.

Then he glances over his shoulder. "You'll have plenty of time to explore the city."

Xansen snaps out of his daze, straightening instinctively. His voice is quieter now, more respectful. "Yeah… right. Of course."

Alix nods once, satisfied. "For now, we'll head to the smithing building."

Xansen furrows his brow. "The smithing building?"

A knowing smirk plays on Alix's lips. "You'll be even more surprised by what you see there."

They walk across a radiant skybridge, the glowing veins beneath their feet pulsing in rhythm with the city's mana. Xansen stays a step behind now—not because he's told to… but because he understands.

He's no longer walking beside just a man.

He's walking behind a king.

----

Alix and Xansen cross a bridge of silversteel, its surface humming faintly beneath their steps. The entrance to the smithing building looms ahead—an obsidian archway reinforced with glowing red runes. Heat pulses gently from inside, along with the rhythmic ring of metal on metal.

As the doors part, Xansen instinctively squints against the sudden wash of light and heat.

Then—his eyes widen.

The interior is massive—multiple levels of forges, anvil stations, suspended platforms powered by levitation glyphs, and an array of unfamiliar devices scattered across workbenches. Some hiss with steam. Others hum with magic or crackle faintly with lightning.

Tools that Xansen has never seen before glow in neatly organized racks. Molten metals are suspended midair, shaped by forcefields alone.

And there, at the center of it all—commanding the space like a warlord in a battlefield—is Brumak.

The massive minotaur-like blacksmith roars as he brings his hammer down on a length of radiant steel. Sparks erupt like fireworks. His horns gleam beneath the forge light, and his apron is scorched but clean. The mark of Tier 5 glows faintly on the bracer strapped to his arm.

As if sensing something, Brumak turns.

When he spots Alix, he immediately grins—a deep, rumbling sound coming from his chest. Then he drops his hammer with a loud thud and strides forward.

"Your Majesty!" Brumak bows with a heavy fist over his heart. "I didn't expect you back so soon."

Alix gives him a brief nod. "I see you've advanced. Tier 5, huh?"

Brumak grins wider, showing a row of flat, burnished teeth. "Thanks to the blueprint you left behind. And the tier 5 smithing teqnique. That thing changed everything."

Xansen steps in closer, still gawking. "What the hell is this place…?"

Brumak's ears flick, noticing him for the first time. He glances at Alix.

"A new recruit?" he rumbles.

Alix nods slightly, then says with calm pride, "He's a new recruit, yes. But he's also a Tier 6 blacksmith."

Brumak blinks. The realization takes a beat to land—then his eyes widen.

"Wait… a Tier 6?" He straightens immediately, tone shifting with genuine respect. "Well damn. Nice meeting you, sir. We finally have a Tier 6 in our ranks."

Xansen chuckles lightly, scratching the back of his neck. "You're a talent yourself. I heard you were just Tier 4 a few months ago?"

Brumak grins at that, clearly pleased. "That's true. His majesty's resources changed everything for us."

The two begin talking in earnest—Xansen's curiosity already drawing him to the glowing equipment, and Brumak eager to show off the forge's latest innovations. The hum of the machines grows louder behind them as they drift toward the nearest table.

Alix watches the exchange for a moment, then turns.

"I'll go now," he says simply, his voice cutting cleanly through the air. "Xansen. Brumak. I still have things to take care of."

Brumak straightens immediately and bows. "Of course, Your Majesty."

Xansen pauses mid-step, then turns back and nods, more respectful now than ever. "Thanks for bringing me here. Really."