Returning to the main encampment, Tom ascended the north slope, momentarily distracted from his physical exhaustion by the majestic beauty of the First Realm. He paused on a gentle incline, gaining a vantage point that offered the full, breathtaking extent of the Fortress of Avalon.
It was a staggering sight, a masterpiece of defensive architecture seamlessly integrated into the hillside. Tom could now see why this place had not yet fallen, as Lillia had suggested; it was a massive, fortified city. Its outermost walls, which he gauged using his ability, reached a height of nearly seventy meters and extended for what seemed like miles, completely enveloping the inner settlement.
Continuing his scan, Tom noted that Avalon was protected by three concentric, semi-circular walls, each fortified with ballistae, trebuchets, and various other weapon emplacements he couldn't immediately categorize. They were unmistakably weapons designed not for gunpowder, but for leveraging and focusing the raw power of Essence.
A vast, lush plain stretched for miles directly in front of the fortress, currently occupied by the defenders' temporary camp. Tents, constructed field fortifications, and orderly arrangements held their equipment, supplies, and draft animals.
Tom adjusted his spectacles, the analytical part of his brain clicking into assessment mode. "The exterior fortifications and the sheer distance of the plain suggest a deliberate strategy," he mused. "They plan on meeting and fighting their enemies in an infantry battle first to whittle down their numbers before falling back to the main city and waiting out the siege. A classic attrition defense."
As he walked back toward the barracks, lost in calculating the structural integrity of the outer walls, a figure approached him. It was the Dragonkin mercenary, Kage, known across the camp as The Silent Sentinel.
He was less a man and more a looming monument of battle, a figure etched in shadow and dark bronze. Kage stood an imposing six-eleven feet tall, his presence demanding silence, his movements reserved and deadly silent, as though the wall of armor surrounding him weighed nothing at all. His reputation preceded him: a warrior whose origins were unknown, a man whose defeat had never been witnessed, seen only by his enemies moments before he cut them down and vanished as if he had never been there.
Kage was fully encased in heavy, jagged armor that appeared to be less forged metal and more a dense, organic growth. It possessed the dull, light-absorbing texture of scorched obsidian or petrified reptile hide, rendered in deep charcoal and muted bronze. The armor plates were segmented, covering him head to toe. Every joint—shoulders, elbows, knees, and the edges of the gauntlets—was emphasized by sharp, claw-like protrusions, turning the armor into a defense system of lethal blades. This design made him look relentlessly hostile, built only for crushing, brutal conflict.
His helmet was a terrifying extension of his body, featuring short, curved dark red horns that jutted aggressively forward. Where a face should be, there was only a recessed, ominous dark visor, ensuring his expression remained forever hidden. He was a mask of pure, concentrated threat.
The reptilian nature of the warrior was confirmed by his extremities and his silent companion—a long, thick, lizard-like tail, armored with plating matching the rest of his body. It looked strong enough to crush a knight in full plate armor with little effort. His massive gauntleted hands implied a purely blunt-force combat style, preferring to simply crush his enemies rather than waste time engaging them with a sword.
Kage was an archetype of controlled fury: silent, armored, and waiting. He was the shadow seen just before the blow landed.
A deep, gravelly voice, sounding like rock grinding against rock, issued from the wall of steel. "Tom." The syllable was flat, indicating extreme disinterest.
Tom paused, adjusting his glasses. "Yes, that's correct. And it's Dr. Smith."
Kage stared down at Tom for a few silent seconds—an unnerving assessment that lasted too long. Then, he delivered two simple words that were not a request, but an unequivocal command:
"Tom. Follow."
Without waiting for a reply, the mercenary turned and began walking. Tom, recognizing the futility of arguing with a walking tank, complied, following Kage through the bustling camp. Soldiers trained, supplies were organized, patrols set out, and others simply chatted. They continued for a considerable distance, passing the infantry quarters and the infirmary, heading further and further into the rear of the sprawling temporary fortifications.
They finally arrived at a small clearing at the western edge of the Great Forest of Custodia. Kage stopped abruptly, raising his heavy, armored hand. He pointed his finger, not at a distant object, but simply at the air.
The space before them began to ripple, distorting the light like a heat haze. Then, a vibrant blue portal snapped into existence, a vertical oval of swirling energy leading to somewhere else entirely. Without uttering a single word, Kage pointed directly at the portal, indicating his expectation that Tom should enter.
Tom turned to the massive, armored man. "You wish for me to enter that? Is this a mission or… a field exercise?"
The knight offered no verbal response, merely a curt, affirmative nod. Then, with the task discharged, Kage simply turned and began to walk away, dissolving back into the periphery of the camp like a departing shadow.
Tom stared at the shimmering portal. "If this were a trap, it would not be presented with such crude obviousness," he reasoned, trusting in the sheer logical simplicity of the directive. "An ambush would require deception. This requires only compliance."
He took a deep breath, the decision already made, and stepped into the glowing blue aperture.
The world instantly dissolved into a blur of color and kinetic energy. In the next instant, Tom appeared in a new place, the disorientation giving way to immediate awe.
He stood in a large, open field bathed in perpetual, stylized sunlight. Before him was a beautiful house, framed by groves of vibrant plum blossom trees. It was a sprawling, traditional villa, reminiscent of ancient Chinese architecture, built with exquisite marble and slate, adorned with delicate floral patterns and impressive dragon engravings.
He walked inside, realizing quickly that this was no simple home. The entrance featured two small ponds filled with beautiful, unknown species of fish. The villa expanded as he walked, filled with meticulously cared-for trees, exotic plants, and fountains shaped like roaring dragons.
Entering what seemed to be the main hall, Tom saw that the furniture was made of various polished woods, fine cloth, and shimmering silk, richly adorned with gold, emerald, and other rare ores and gems. He began to wonder where he was—a training ground, a sanctuary, or perhaps a royal retreat? The scale became more extravagant with every step.
He eventually arrived at the inner courtyard and looked up. Surrounding them were manicured hillsides, buildings wrapping around the slopes, and an elegant marble-arch pathway that led up the highest rise.
Arriving at the top of that hill, Tom stopped. He could see the sun setting—or what appeared to be the sun—except he realized that since his arrival, its position in the sky had not moved. It was a static, eternal twilight.
More pressingly, Tom activated his Hunter's Eye and felt a profound shock. The Essence signature permeating this entire place was terrifying. It wasn't just charged; it was as if the whole villa had been dipped into a vat of highly concentrated, pure Essence. The stability and density were unlike anything he had yet encountered. He tried to process what this location could possibly be, but before his calculations could conclude, a familiar, excited voice rang out:
"Tom!"
Before he could react or bring his senses to bear, Lillia slammed into him, her momentum nearly knocking him off balance.
"Tom! Finally you made it! Come, come, we have to get you sorted in and meet the others!" she exclaimed, her energy infectious, wrapping her arm tightly around his and already dragging him away from the stunning view.