At the Gates of Florentis CityThe main gate of Florentis was bustling as usual.Merchants shouted over one another.Guards barked orders to regulate the flow of travelers.Carts creaked under heavy cargo. Horses neighed impatiently as their riders waited for inspection.Dust hung lightly in the air, stirred constantly by boots and wheels grinding against the stone road.Just outside the gate—Two magnificent carriages stood apart from the common traffic.They were beyond luxurious.Each carriage was drawn by four powerful equinores—majestic, high-bred beasts with hlack sleek coats that shimmered faintly under the sun.Their muscles rippled beneath polished harnesses inlaid with silver threads.Even their hooves seemed specially reinforced.The carriages themselves bore intricate carvings along the polished darkwood panels.Runes were etched seamlessly into their frames—not crudely drawn, but masterfully structured, glowing faintly when viewed closely.From the outside, they appeared

Back in Florentis CityThe Pogoda EstateHigh above the inner courtyards of the Pogoda Estate, within one of its most private chambers, stood Devi Pogoda.The chamber was vast and solemn, its stone walls engraved with ancient protective arrays that pulsed faintly with restrained energy.Incense burned slowly in a bronze censer near the corner, the smoke rising in delicate spirals toward the high ceiling.Devi stood before a massive open archway carved into the wall.There were no windows—only a grand opening that overlooked the entire estate.Even though Oasis of Lunaris had long since departed the city, Devi’s perception remained expanded, stretching far beyond the estate walls, beyond Florentis itself.He had been watching.Observing.Calculating.Now, slowly, he withdrew his spiritual sense.He took in a deep sigh.“The kid has finally left,” he murmured to himself.His golden eye glimmered faintly, a subtle ripple of energy flowing through it as residual perception retracted back

The man’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked down at the young figure standing atop the carriage.“And why am I even talking to you, kid?” he said with clear disdain curling through his hoarse voice.“I would like to speak to Oasis Bluemoon… or should I say Elder Bluemoon, of whatever sect you claim to come from.”His gaze sharpened like a blade.“Call that brat out here.”The man straightened slightly, chest puffing with pride as though the very ground beneath them belonged to him.“My name is Bocaroo Hilgen of the BlackDen Guild.”A snarl tugged at his lips as he said the name, as though simply speaking it should command fear and reverence.“I don’t expect you foreigners to know about our BlackDen Guild,” he continued coldly.Then suddenly his voice rose, echoing through the narrow valley.“OASIS!!”His shout carried across the stone walls, bouncing back in faint echoes.“It seems the rumors of you being a fraud are true,” he sneered loudly.His gaze drifted across the two carriage

The crescent moon hung silently above the valley, its pale light pouring across the rugged stone walls and the narrow road where the two carriages stood halted.The wind moved quietly between the cliffs, brushing against cloaks and armor, carrying with it the faint scent of dust and iron.Seated calmly beside the coachman, Oasis Bluemoon watched the man standing before him few meters away.From where he sat, Bocaroo Hilgen was now nearly at eye level with him.Oasis’s expression remained completely composed.Inside his mind, however, his thoughts moved steadily."These people disturbed my refining process," Oasis thought quietly."But it’s fortunate that I managed to finish it."His azure eyes flickered faintly.He recalled the final moments just before the BlackDen Guild had intercepted them.Inside the carriage earlier, the faint glow of runic light had surrounded his hands as he worked in silence, refining the Horizon Veil Atlas.The process had not been easy."It truly is difficul

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!Steel screamed against steel again and again.Parry after parry.Deflection after deflection.Blades collided with terrifying precision as Kaelen Vance and Bocaroo Hilgen exchanged strikes faster than ordinary eyes could perceive.Each swing of their swords carried lethal intent.Each counterstrike came with the precision of warriors who had fought countless battles in life-and-death situations.The valley had long since stopped resembling its former shape.Where cliffs once stood tall and rugged, deep gashes now scarred the stone walls.The ground had been crushed and flattened by repeated shockwaves.Dust clouds rose constantly as fragments of rock shattered under the force of their exchanges.At this point, the two fighters were no longer clearly visible to the naked eye.They moved in flashes.Only shimmers of their blades could be seen cutting through the air like streaks of silver lightning.Their ignited martial auras clashed violently each time they