"This city is already dead."
Glancing around, Gu Xi directly said this sentence.
As an Undead Mage, Gu Xi could clearly feel that the land before him was filled with an aura of death.
This aura wasn't the kind produced by a concentration of undead, the aura of death when negative energy accumulates.
Rather, it was the ethereal feeling of an entire city having already perished.
Standing on this land, Gu Xi had the sensation of a giant whale in decline, and he was situated within the whale's body.
At this moment, Luna also floated over, sticking close behind Gu Xi, and whispered softly in his ear.
"Master, seize this city."
Gu Xi was momentarily stunned, seize this city? Is it the castle in front of him that is almost abandoned and collapsing, or...?
While Gu Xi was looking around, he suddenly realized that this place really was somewhat interesting.
Although the castle in front of him had collapsed, its footprint and original materials were still present. Gu Xi could tell at a glance that this place was previously used for military and residential purposes.
As an Undead Mage, if he truly took over this city, he would have a place to station troops in the future.
Just as Gu Xi was about to agree, Luna flew towards the castle's gate.
She flew while turning her head to look at Gu Xi.
"Come, hurry up!"
This left Gu Xi somewhat confused.
Weren't they supposed to seize the castle in front of them? Why the sudden rush?
Although puzzled, Gu Xi still trusted Luna, and quickly followed her.
Meanwhile, behind him, one hundred and eighty skeletons also began to move.
The skeletons forming the combat squads advanced in formation, while those not assigned to a combat squad haphazardly followed behind Gu Xi, occasionally bumping into each other and making clattering sounds.
However, Gu Xi didn't have the mind to pay attention to these things right now, and upon following Luna out of the castle's gate, he discovered that the city Luna wanted was not the castle in front of them.
But a massive, empty city.
The fake city of Victoria mentioned in legends.
The city in front was obviously built in the architectural style of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The layout was somewhat chaotic; the stone houses seemed randomly erected, without any planning.
However, the ground was surprisingly clean, not at all like street surfaces from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Gu Xi noticed that, like the castle, this city was filled with a sense of desolation.
As if the city had died long ago.
Although the buildings within the city remained standing, Gu Xi felt like he had entered a City of Death.
Just as Gu Xi was marveling at the city, he suddenly heard Luna speak.
"Yalidov."
"What?"
Startled, Gu Xi couldn't help but ask.
Luna came back to her senses then, turned her head, and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, what did you just say? Yali..."
"I didn't say anything." Luna shook her head firmly, not recalling what she had just uttered.
Seeing Luna's expression, Gu Xi instead calmed down.
Looking at the city that wasn't particularly large, a thought flashed through Gu Xi's mind.
Could Luna be the City Elf of this place?
He had heard before that if a city was relatively old or particularly unique, it would slowly give rise to a City Elf, serving as the Guardian of the city.
If Luna was indeed this city's elf, then her earlier reaction could be explained.
A city that had just died, even if the elf had turned into a Contracted Undead due to Gu Xi, she would still have some attachment to the city.
If they hadn't come to this city, perhaps Gu Xi would have regarded Luna as just an ordinary Contracted Undead.
Upon leaving this game world, Gu Xi planned to strengthen his undead corps. If possible, upon reaching level 3, he would contract a powerful undead.
But the situation now was different, having arrived at this mirror city and realizing Luna's possible identity, Gu Xi's options had significantly increased.
"Luna, lead the way ahead, don't be afraid, I'll always be right behind you."
With only a brief thought, Gu Xi quickly made a decision.
"But, but I don't know where to go."
Luna hesitated as she spoke.
"It's fine, just go where you'd like, follow your heart."
Gu Xi reassured Luna.
Under Gu Xi's reassurance, Luna became calmer, her hollow eyes gazing towards a particular direction outside the city.
She hadn't felt anything before Gu Xi spoke.
But now it was different; Luna felt a compelling urge to head over immediately.
While speaking, Gu Xi closely observed Luna for any emotional reactions.
Seeing Luna's expression, Gu Xi knew there was hope.
"Don't overthink it, let's go."
Upon hearing this, Luna followed Gu Xi's words exactly, heading directly towards the place pulling her, regardless of what lay ahead.
Gu Xi followed behind Luna, with four combat squads and various skeletons flanking him.
After leaving the city, Gu Xi looked back and found that the castle behind them was hidden within a mysterious fog.
It seemed like the completely abandoned city, just as described in the legends of Victoria, was merely an entrance to the city ahead.
Within the castle, he hadn't felt much, but coming out made a difference.
The castle disappearing into the fog symbolized the loss of their return path.
While Gu Xi was pondering this, he suddenly heard rustling sounds nearby.
Looking towards the source of the sound, he noticed shadowy figures flickering within the depths of the fog.
Without regard for Luna moving ahead, Gu Xi gestured to one of the skeletons.
This skeleton showed no reaction.
Gu Xi was somewhat annoyed by this.
These summoned undead were not as useful as Contracted Undead.
Certain actions required orders before being executed; without commands or with subtle movements, they wouldn't instinctively know what to do.
They would merely follow Gu Xi, attacking wildly upon encountering an enemy.
Gu Xi was accustomed to Luna helping communicate with these undead, but with Luna preoccupied, his command flagged slightly.
Fortunately, Gu Xi reacted quickly, instructing the skeleton, "You, go into the fog and see what's going on with those figures, other skeletons gather around me."
Under Gu Xi's orders, the skeletons swiftly mobilized.
As the skeletons started moving, Gu Xi noticed something troubling—at some point, an enemy had infiltrated his ranks.