The way was simple: control their life path.
Control the resources.
Control the distribution.
Control the access to power.
That way, even when the Nagawira felt they were working for themselves, the greatest profits would still flow into the hands of the party controlling it all.
And the first step for that was: seizing all resources in the City of Beginnings.
In her previous life, the balance of power between factions had already been established long before the Bride War began. If one faction appeared too dominant, others would unite to pull it down, creating a hollow equilibrium. This phenomenon was what made Shiki suspect that the owners of the King's Authority title were behind the hunting of potential Emperor's Authority candidates. A title of that magnitude was too dangerous for the balance of power.
And in this world, anyone who threatens the balance will be destroyed along with the threat itself.
That is why every attempt by the Nagawira to truly rise had always failed. Alliances of major factions would intervene, crushing them before they could grow, ultimately leading to their species' total defeat in the Bride War.
However, this time, everything is different.
After being killed and returning to life three years before the teleportation, Shiki did something she had never done before. She began gathering the heads of powerful factions, one by one, under her control—forming a new alliance called the Four Seasons. With cold calculation, she eliminated figures who were too popular—those with the potential to become alternative centers of power and cause division. She didn't just kill them; she erased their influence, making them irrelevant.
Her plan is clear: the City of Beginnings must no longer be fractured as it was in her previous life. She will seize it quickly. Cleanly. Absolutely. And in doing so, the title of Dragon Bride, once impossible to attain, will fall right into her hands.
But a plan without power is a mere pipe dream. Shiki knows this.
That is why she chooses to remain behind the scenes. She will control everything invisibly until the entirety of this city's resources are under her dominion. As she moves, she ensures that no talented Nagawira grows outside her control.
And if anyone dares to stand out?
"The nail that sticks out..." Shiki thought coldly, "...must be hammered down."
The City of Beginnings was Shiki's first step in her long journey through the Procession Tower. This place held the darkest memories of her life—the fear, the humiliation, and the degradation that nearly broke her. Yet, standing here again, she couldn't deny one thing: this city was beautiful in a cruel way.
Intricately carved tall buildings loomed like pillars of history, absorbing the moonlight and reflecting it back in a soft, cold glow. The large stone streets felt solid beneath her feet, as if designed to withstand the thousands of steps of warriors coming and going. Pale blue-leaved trees swayed gently in the night wind, their shadows dancing on walls and sidewalks like a living painting that was too calm for a place awaiting bloodshed.
In the heart of the city, the Central Zone stood as the core of everything. There, the Dragon Monument towered, emitting a soft light that pulsed like the breath of a living creature. From its crystalline body, dungeon gates slowly opened and closed as if blinking, inviting and warning all at once. Soon, this area would be filled with shouted commands, the clashing of weapons, and the scent of blood—Nagawira gathering, forming teams, and hawking their loot on makeshift mats.
The West Zone, also known as the Residential Zone, presented a different face of the city. Houses of wood and stone stood side-by- side with dragon-style mansions, creating a strange harmony between simplicity and luxury. The food markets were filled with the aroma of fresh fruit and hunted game, mixed with laughter from restaurants and bars that never truly went quiet. In open spaces, Nagawira talked, trained, or simply showed off their scars—as if trying to convince themselves that life was still normal.
But the true pulse of the city lay in the East Zone, where the wheels of economy turned without end. The clanging of hammers from blacksmith workshops echoed like a metallic heartbeat, interspersed with sparks from furnaces that burned all day long. Alchemists were busy brewing potions, glowing liquid bottles neatly arranged on wooden shelves, while tailors stitched fabrics layered with symbols and magic.
Behind all that, something far darker lay hidden.
Deep beneath the city, the Black Market grew like rotten roots under a magnificent tree—a place where everything could be traded, from slaves to fresh Dragon Essence still warm from the bodies of newly captured Nagawira. Shiki remembered vividly what it felt like to be there, to be a part of that depravity. Hatred boiled in her chest whenever the memory surfaced, but she also understood one thing: the wheels of this city would not turn without the black market.
Therefore, when she takes control of the City of Beginnings, the black market will not be eradicated. It will be caged. Regulated. Controlled.
In her previous life, there was one saying that never missed its mark: whoever controls the East Zone, controls the City of Beginnings. Almost all goods circulating in this city originated from there—weapons, armor, potions, magic scrolls, down to the most basic necessities for entering a dungeon.
And dungeons themselves were not merely places to hunt monsters. Monsters in low-level dungeons could still be cut down with swords or spears, but from Grade C and above, many were immune to physical attacks. Without the right elemental power, a strike team would only return as names on a casualty list. Even iron armor, which felt thin and rigid to a Nagawira compared to their natural hide, could still be the difference between life and death.
In a world like this, preparation is not an option. It is a necessity.
That is why whoever controls the East Zone, controls the City of Beginnings.
And right now, Shiki was making her way toward the East Zone—for her first transaction in her grand ambition to dominate this city and claim the title of Dragon Bride.
Her steps stopped atop a glowing magic circle, its surface covered in intricate symbols that pulsed slowly like veins of light. These teleportation circles were a magical technology that allowed rapid travel between zones. Given the city's vastness, walking from one zone to another would take hours. Perhaps one day, after enough dungeons were conquered, other methods of transportation would emerge—mounts, magical vehicles, or something even stranger. But for now, this circle and her own two feet were more than enough.
"East Zone, Blacksmith Street," Shiki said lightly, as if ordering a drink at a tavern.
The magic circle immediately flared bright. A bluish-gold light enveloped her body, forming a silhouette like a cold fire swallowing her form. In an instant, Shiki vanished without a trace, leaving behind air that suddenly felt much emptier.
Several Nagawira nearby froze. Their eyes bulged, their mouths half-agape, as if they had just witnessed someone being swallowed by the world. They didn't hear what Shiki said, but seeing someone vanish like that was enough to make their skin crawl. Anxious whispers began to spread, and some people hurriedly backed away, fearing the circle might suddenly erase them into light as well.
However, amidst the crowd, a silhouette actually stepped forward. The movement was calm. No hesitation. No wonder. The figure stood at the edge of the teleportation circle, staring at the glowing symbols beneath with an expression neither fearful nor overly curious—as if they already knew exactly what they were looking at.
"West Zone, Elite Housing," they whispered in a low but steady voice.
The magic circle's light flared once more, wrapping their body in the same warm glow, before that figure, too, vanished in an instant.