--
The first thing Sieg noticed when the gates of The Rock opened was the smell.
It had been there for weeks. He had simply stopped noticing it. Or perhaps his nose had finally surrendered.
The air outside the fortress carried the stench of rot, chemicals, and something faintly metallic that clung to the back of his throat. Even with the protective runic formation etched across his skin, he could still sense the polluted world beyond the river.
The Rock remained clean.
That was the difference.
Behind them stood the fortified settlement of the Heavenly Bronze Empire, its stone walls protected by layers upon layers of defensive formations. Beyond the walls, the river surrounding the fortress flowed steadily, separating their little island of safety from the rest of the secret realm.
Ten kilometers away, however, there was no such protection.
Sieg adjusted the straps around his armor.
"Check your formation again." The voice came from the front.
