[Welcome to the City of Beginnings~!]
The tone was jaunty, as if greeting guests at a theme park, not millions of souls who had just been snatched from their world.
[You are currently inside the Procession Tower, a place specifically designed to welcome the Brides of Destiny!]
Several Nagawira looked at one another. Some gave stiff smiles, thinking this was a bad joke. Others began to breathe faster, their instincts screaming that something was very, very wrong.
[I am your Guide! My main task is to help you become stronger before the great war begins!]
War.
The word fell lightly from those mechanical lips—without weight, without blood, without screams—as if it were merely part of a game.
[To that end, I have prepared three special events for you! Tadaaa~!]
The silence of the city grew heavier, like a storm cloud waiting to burst.
[First Event: The Peaceful City!]
[The City of Beginnings is the perfect place to build your future. Weapons, armor, housing, skill books—everything is available! But remember~ what appears free is often the most expensive. So, use your coins wisely, okay!]
[Second Event: The Friendly Neighbors!]
[What is a home without neighbors? Therefore, I've prepared some special neighbors for you~ Unfortunately, they are a bit jealous of those of you living in the City of Beginnings. So be careful, okay! Don't let your homes be snatched away!]
The tone of the voice was cheerful. Almost teasing. But among the crowd, Shiki saw someone swallow hard. Others clenched their fists. The word snatched did not sound like a joke to those who had just lost their entire world.
[Third Path: The Beautiful Recreation Park!]
[No one likes to feel trapped, right? That's why I've prepared Magic Gates that can take you to breathtaking places! Beautiful scenery! Unique creatures! Thrilling experiences! Don't forget to bring back some souvenirs~!]
Beneath that spirited voice, Shiki felt something cold crawl down her spine.
Unique creatures?
Breathtaking places?
Thrilling experiences?
Dungeons.
Meaning: new hunting grounds, living targets, and fresh ways to die.
A bitter smile etched onto Shiki's face, her expression souring as she recalled a horrific past.
The voice paused for a moment, then returned with a tone of self-satisfaction.
[Well now~ those are the three life paths I've prepared for you!]
[Aren't I kind? If you want to cry tears of gratitude and praise me, hold it in for now, okay~!]
[As a good Guide, I only want you to enjoy life in the City of Beginnings...]
A short pause.
[...at least until the Bride War begins.]
Those words fell softly—yet they hit harder than any scream.
Some Nagawira sobbed. Others stood still like the walking dead. Across their faces, an understanding slowly dawned: this wasn't a welcome. This was the opening of a cage.
[With this, I declare again—WELCOME TO THE CITY OF BEGINNINGS!!!]
The tone was bright. Almost sweet. As a closing note, the voice added lightly:
[P.S.: For more information, please open the guidance sheet appearing in front of you~ Hehe~.]
Then... silence.
Not a peaceful silence, but a heavy one, like the air before the first scream on a battlefield.
In front of every Nagawira, a transparent sheet of light slowly appeared, hovering in the air like a fragile illusion.
Shiki stared at it without immediately reaching out.
"Even though this isn't the first time I've heard that voice," she murmured softly, a thin smile playing at the corner of her lips, "it still feels like a blade touching the nape of my neck."
Her hand finally moved, catching the glowing sheet.
As Shiki's fingertips brushed the light, a bright glow exploded gently, like a warm wave flowing into her body. In an instant, a familiar mechanical voice echoed—not from the air, but directly inside her head. Before her eyes, a blue transparent display flickered open.
DING!
[Welcome to the Procession Tower.]
[Activating system...]
Shiki glanced around. Some Nagawira looked terrified, trying to dodge the light sheets floating toward them. But the objects seemed alive. They latched onto their bodies, impossible to refuse, and merged into them. Panicked shouts broke out—though there was no pain, only the strange sensation of their bodies being touched by something invisible.
[System Active.]
Name: Shiki Gankou
Title: –
Essence: 0
Power Level: –
Blood Purity: Tier 0 (0%)
Dragon Essence: Dragon Eyes
Abilities: ???, Secret-Revealing Eyes, –
Equipment: Ring of ???, –
Strength: 8 (Adult average: 10)
Agility: 9 (Adult average: 8)
Endurance: 12 (Adult average: 10)
Intelligence: 12 (Adult average: 7)
Shiki stared at those numbers expressionlessly... until a sense of loathing slowly rose in her throat.
Weak.
She was so weak now it felt like a slap in the face. She, who once stood at the pinnacle, whose name made cities bow, was now inferior even to an ordinary adult Nagawira. Shame crept in, burning the remnants of her old pride.
But that fire did not die—it transformed.
'This is only temporary,' she thought, her fingers clenching into fists. 'I will surpass my former self. No... I will surpass everything.'
Her gaze stopped at the Title column, which was empty.
In the past, that section was filled with Titles that made people tremble just hearing them. Now, it was only a painful void. But Shiki knew—she would fill it again. And far faster than in her previous life.
In the Procession Tower, a Title was not mere decoration. A Title provided power boosts, special abilities, and could even change how the world treated the owner.
For example, there was once the Title "King's Authority." The owner could subjugate other Nagawira, placing a mark of obedience that made the victim unable to lie or resist their master's orders.
But to Shiki, that was just a weak version.
Her target was a far more terrifying title: "Emperor's Authority."
With that title, one could not only control others but also read their minds, see their status, and even multiply the strength of their followers several times over every day. An owner of this title would automatically possess a massive faction—whether through loyalty or coercion.
Ironically, in her previous life, anyone who came close to that title was hunted down relentlessly, as if the whole world had agreed to eliminate them. Shiki began to suspect: perhaps it wasn't a coincidence. Perhaps the owners of the King Titles deliberately removed anyone with the potential to rise to Emperor.
Stranger still—not one of them ever tried to upgrade their own title.
'Why?' she wondered. 'Fear... or is there something they are hiding?'