The South Side didn't even need to be touched to feel different.
From a distance alone, a dark blue mist rolled low, swallowing the gates within like a giant mouth. The mana there did not ripple—it spiraled, forming a visible vortex that made the surrounding air hiss, like hot metal dipped in water. Shiki's breath hitched automatically as she glanced in that direction. Her chest felt constricted, as if her lungs had suddenly narrowed, and the skin on her arms broke into goosebumps—not from the cold, but from an instinct screaming at her not to step any closer. That place was not merely dangerous—it felt like the edge of the world, a line that living beings were not yet meant to touch.
Conversely, the West Side welcomed visitors with a far softer atmosphere.
Crystal lamps hung low along the cobbled streets, casting a warm, gentle glow against the walls and floors. The air here felt stable, without the oppressive pressure, though the higher mana density still made the chests of those unaccustomed to it feel slightly tight. Shiki could still remember the throngs of Nagawira who had just arrived—the scent of sweat mingling with metal, ragged breaths, and hesitant footsteps on cold stone—everyone moving slowly, hindered by a confusion and fear they had yet to comprehend.
Now, she stood on the East Side.
Here, a thin breeze carried the scent of glowing grass and wet stone, brushing her face with a coolness that was almost soothing. The sound of the gates in the distance echoed like a low, rhythmic hum, blending with the soft echo of her own footsteps on the smooth ground. The Central Zone was so vast that each side felt like a different world, and although the East Side wasn't physically that far from the West, Shiki knew her journey had taken nearly half an hour.
The crowd in the West Side was likely still held there, trapped by their own bewilderment.
Here, there was only the soft light of the gates, the scent of living earth, and a steady pulse of mana. And Shiki knew—for now, she was alone.
Shiki's pace halted when her eyes caught a large gathering of people in the distance. Despite numbering in the thousands, the sheer scale of the East Side meant they didn't appear crowded. They stood beneath the third claw of the Dragon Monument's left foot—a prominent landmark. For a split second, Shiki almost suspected she wasn't the only one who had regressed. However, seeing several faces she recognized as members of the Four Seasons made her draw a breath of relief.
She knew well that Mujun, despite his frequent complaints like a true slacker, was always capable of getting the job done. Yet even Shiki was surprised by his efficiency this time. In less than an hour, Mujun had managed to gather over a thousand members of the Four Seasons in one spot.
As Shiki approached, all members of the Four Seasons turned toward her in unison. The crowd slowly parted, creating a path for her to walk into the center. Some members greeted her with respect, but Shiki paid them no mind. To her, ordinary members were merely cannon fodder, existing only to fill the ranks. Her focus was on the Heads of the Four Seasons and the cadres beneath them. As the supreme leader of the Four Seasons, Shiki knew that as long as she controlled the leaders, the entire membership would remain under her thumb.
Even though some of them were currently stronger than her, Shiki felt no trepidation. She was confident that once her blood purity increased, she would surpass them all in strength.
Shortly after, several people stepped forward to meet her. Other members reflexively made way, leaving Shiki standing face-to-face with the leaders of the Four Seasons. Their faces were equally haggard, as if a giant question mark hung in the air above each of their heads.
"Shiki, what is actually happening? Where are we?" Johan asked quickly, his voice cracking with panic. For the first time, he even forgot to address Shiki as "Boss."
Shiki's eyebrows rose slightly.
But before she could respond, Rose, who stood beside Johan, touched the man's arm. "Johan," she said softly but firmly, "calm down. If Shiki wants to explain, she will. If not, it means it isn't time yet. Our task now is simple: follow her lead."
Johan shut his mouth, clearly dissatisfied, but finally nodded.
The corner of Shiki's lips curled upward. Rose always knew how to read the room. And Shiki truly had no intention of showing her hand—not just because the information she possessed was too valuable, but also because she had no safe way to explain where it all came from.
She took half a step forward.
"Listen," she said, her voice loud enough to pierce through the crowd. "I know you're panicking. I know you're confused. But one thing is certain—we are not dead yet."
Some people let out dry laughs. Others swallowed hard.
"As you heard just now," Shiki continued, "we are now in the City of Beginnings. I don't know everything about this place yet either. But one thing is clear—we are no longer in Ignisira."
Silence.
Several breaths hitched. Faces turned pale. The suspicion that had been swirling in their heads felt far more real now that it was spoken aloud.
"So the choice is simple," Shiki said, locking eyes with them one by one. "We live. And to stay alive, we must become strong."
Her tone was flat, but there was a heavy weight behind every word.
"Stop asking questions. Like Rose said, if there's something you need to know, I'll tell you. If not, just do as I command."
Her golden gaze swept across the crowd. Several Nagawira who had intended to protest immediately averted their eyes, their chests feeling as though they were being pressed by an invisible force.
"Those blue gates around you," Shiki continued, pointing toward the glowing portals, "are our path to becoming strong. Beyond them lies a new world. There are monsters. There is power."
She turned to the leaders of the Four Seasons.
"Each of you, pick five hundred people. Bring them here. The rest are to stand guard. Do not let any other Nagawira approach this area. Is that clear?"
"Clear, Boss!" they answered in unison.
Shiki nodded with satisfaction, then turned toward one of the gates. "Rose, follow me."
As they walked, Shiki glanced sideways. "Where is Mujun? I haven't seen him."