Chapter 6 – The First Clash in the City
They were just about to step forward when a loud, chaotic sound erupted.
It wasn't the roar of a beast.
It was the clash of swords, screams, and furious shouts blending into one furious uproar.
Alaric Thorne and the group immediately stopped. Garrick raised his hand to signal everyone to stay alert. He looked at his friends and said in a low voice,
"See? This is the result of not following the rules."
Right in front of the main gate, a massive fight was unfolding.
On one side stood 8–10 warriors—their clothes simple but their bodies marked with old scars. They clearly wanted to enter the city.
On the other side was a large group of soldiers. Their armor gleamed, spears and swords in hand.
The warriors' leader—a tall man with a face full of scars—shouted,
"We've traveled across the entire region! We came to take the Sapphire Pavilion entrance exam! Why are you stopping us?"
The soldiers' leader—Uncle Dhama, a stern but calm man—replied firmly,
"Rules are rules. No one enters without proper identification or a group token. With so many people flooding the city these days, security is tight."
One warrior stepped forward in rage.
"We don't have a token! We're from a small village. Are we being denied entry just because we're poor?"
Uncle Dhama shook his head.
"The rules apply to everyone. Leave or bring a token."
The warrior's anger boiled over. He suddenly drew his sword and swung at a soldier.
"We're going in… no matter what!"
The clash of steel rang out. The soldier staggered back, but the others immediately counterattacked.
A full brawl broke out.
Warriors roared, soldiers' spears whirled. The first drops of blood hit the ground.
Alaric Thorne and the group watched from a distance. For Alaric Thorne, this was the first time he had seen humans fighting each other. It felt strange. Then his master's words echoed in his mind:
"In this world, only strength is respected."
If you are weak, no one pays attention to you.
Just moments earlier, Alaric Thorne had seen Uncle Dhama let someone he knew pass without inspection.
Anika hid behind Garrick in fear. Samara gripped her spear tightly. Tarun drew his sword.
Alaric Thorne stood calm, but his eyes narrowed.
Garrick said quietly,
"This fight has nothing to do with us. We should stay out of it. It's not our problem. Let's go inside."
Alaric Thorne nodded. He had just learned another rule of this world.
"Yes… we need to get into the city."
They quietly slipped to the left side. The soldiers and warriors were fully engaged, and no one noticed them—because they carried Uncle Dhama's special pass.
As soon as they crossed the gate, Alaric Thorne's mouth fell open again.
Horizon City…
Grand, magnificent buildings rose all around. Tall spires, golden banners fluttering, thousands of people moving through the streets. Scents wafted from shops—fresh fruits, spices, oils, incense.
One shop displayed glowing magical weapons. Another had colorful fabrics waving in the breeze. Children ran laughing. Women chatted. Music drifted from somewhere far off.
Alaric Thorne had never seen anything like this. His eyes darted everywhere.
Samara laughed teasingly,
"Look… Brother Alaric is still lost in heaven."
Tarun chuckled. Anika grabbed Alaric Thorne's hand.
Garrick said,
"Let's find a place to stay first. Then we can explore."
They headed toward a large inn named "Lunar Wave Rest".
Inside, Garrick asked the owner,
"A good room for five people."
The owner looked them up and down.
"Five gold coins for one night."
Garrick's eyes widened.
"Five gold coins for one night? Why don't you just rob someone?"
The owner shrugged with a sarcastic smile.
"The competition has the whole city packed. Take it or leave."
After some arguing, the owner reluctantly agreed to three gold coins for one night. Garrick reached into his pocket. He glanced at Alaric Thorne.
Alaric Thorne shook his head with a slightly embarrassed smile.
"I don't have any."
Garrick wasn't surprised—he already knew Alaric Thorne had spent his entire life in the forest. Smiling, he said,
"No problem, brother. I'll cover it."
He paid the extra coins.
The owner showed them the room—clean, two beds, with a window overlooking the city.
As soon as they entered, Anika said,
"Brother Alaric… you must be tired. Rest."
Alaric Thorne nodded, but his eyes stayed on the window, watching the city.
Garrick said,
"Rest a bit. Then we'll explore the city."
Everyone lay down from exhaustion.
At first, Alaric Thorne couldn't sleep.
He was thinking—
His master's words kept replaying:
"Remember, in this world, only the powerful are respected. So you must become powerful no matter what."
With these thoughts, he slowly drifted into deep sleep.
A short while later, Garrick woke and said,
"Come on… let's explore the city now."
They stepped out of the room.
The streets were even more crowded now. Voices filled the air. People laughed, bargained.
Alaric Thorne stared at everything in wonder.
A shop with magical swords gleaming. Another with colorful clothes. A child ran up and offered,
"Brother, eat a fruit!"
Alaric Thorne smiled and took it.
The group had only walked a short distance when a new sound reached them from afar.
It was another roar.
But this time, it came from inside the city.
Suddenly, Alaric Thorne and the group saw soldiers running toward them—faces serious, heading outward at high speed.
This seemed strange to everyone, but since it didn't concern them, they paid it little attention.
The group continued through the bustling streets. Alaric Thorne looked everywhere—the scent of spices from shops, children's laughter, distant music. Everything was new to him.
Garrick said,
"Let's buy some essentials first. Herbs are very useful in the competition."
They turned into a small alley. There was an old shop—a wooden sign hung outside, written in red ink:
"Ancient Herbs – Elixir of Life"
Outside stood small jars—each emitting different scents. Inside was dim, lit only by a small torch.
The group entered.
The shopkeeper was an old man—perhaps 70–80 years old. White beard, wrinkled face, but eyes sharp and deep. He sat at an old table, holding a small jar.
The old man looked up. His piercing eyes scanned them carefully.
"Come… what do you need?" His voice was low but resonant, like it came from an ancient cave.
Garrick stepped forward.
"We need some herbs for the competition. Ones that remove fatigue, heal wounds, and boost energy."
The old man smiled.
"The competition… yes, everyone asks for those these days."
He pulled three small jars from under the table.
"Here—'Prana Reviver'—removes fatigue. One pinch and you can stay awake all night."
"This is 'Blood Replenisher'—heals wounds. Bleeding stops instantly."
"And this is 'Flame Ignition'—boosts energy. Your body will burn like fire."
Garrick asked in slight surprise,
"It seems the news of the competition has spread everywhere. Anyway, what's the price?"
The old man raised a finger.
"Ten gold coins for all three."
Garrick's eyes widened.
"Ten coins? That expensive?"
The old man shrugged, looking at them.
"These aren't ordinary herbs. They come from the deepest parts of the forest. If you want to win the competition, you have to pay the price."
Garrick checked his pouch, gritted his teeth, and pulled out the coins. Though his Fire Division was a decent group, he couldn't waste money like this.
He glanced at Alaric Thorne.
Alaric Thorne shook his head slightly, as if saying,
"I don't have any."
Garrick smiled.
"No problem, brother. I'll pay."
He handed over the coins.
The old man counted them and said,
"Fine. Take them."
Then his eyes fixed on Alaric Thorne. They narrowed.
"Wait…"
"It seems, young man, you're very close to breaking through from the eighth phase of the Zero Realm."
Alaric Thorne was stunned. The old man—who looked so frail—had seen through his cultivation level so easily.
Seeing Alaric Thorne's surprise, the old man chuckled.
"No need to be shocked, boy. It's nothing special for someone experienced like me to sense your power."
He continued,
"I know a method that can push you from the eighth phase to the ninth—before the competition even begins."
Alaric Thorne and his friends were stunned. The competition was less than a month away—breaking through from eighth to ninth phase in such a short time was nearly impossible.
After thinking for a moment, Alaric Thorne said,
"I don't think you'll tell me this secret for free. So why don't you tell me—what do I have to do in return?"
The old man smiled wider.
"You're quite sharp. Fine, since you've figured it out, I'll be direct."
"I'll tell you the method to reach the ninth phase…
But in exchange, you must do one task for me. And I can call on you anytime. Don't worry—I won't ask for anything beyond your ability."
Alaric Thorne was surprised but intrigued by the promise of greater power.
Before he could respond, Garrick stepped forward and whispered urgently,
"Listen, in an unfamiliar city like this, we can't trust just anyone. Who knows what task he'll demand?"
Alaric Thorne didn't pay much attention and said in a serious voice,
"Elder, I can't agree to such a deal without knowing what it is. You have to tell me what task I'll have to do."
The mysterious old man smiled.
"Since you insist… fine.
I'll tell you the method…
But in return, you must bring me an Ice Lotus from Manasarovar."
At the old man's words, Garrick and his friends froze in shock.
Garrick almost shouted,
"Elder! Are you trying to push us into the grave? You know how dangerous Manasarovar is—even Prana Warriors and Energy Bearers often don't return alive. And you're thinking of sending Alaric Thorne—who hasn't even awakened yet?"
Alaric Thorne didn't understand what they were talking about. He looked at Garrick and asked,
"Brother Garrick… what is Manasarovar?"
The old shopkeeper looked surprised at the innocent question, but Garrick and the others weren't— they already knew Alaric Thorne had lived his entire life in the forest.
Garrick said gravely,
"Listen, Alaric… Manasarovar is an extremely dangerous place. Terrifying spirit beasts live there—very powerful ones. Even Energy Bearers can't always come back alive."
While they were talking, the old shopkeeper smiled.
"Don't worry—I'm not sending you there right now."
Just then, a handsome young man's voice came from the entrance as he stepped inside the shop:
"Elder Dubral… are you preparing to send someone to that dangerous Manasarovar again?"