Ats rose from his throhen raised his hands as he stepped down onto the desert floor.
“My name is Ats,” he began, “a newly awakened Lord. I’ve e to this city to stock up on equipment and resources.”
“Do you have your Awakener Device with you?” one of the Saharan soldiers asked, ons raised and poi them. It was Mana-Infused Railguns, advanced firearms powered by Mana Cores.
“I lost it,” Ats replied calmly. “I o verify my identity a a new one.”
“Where are you from?”
“Indo-Pacifiion.”
In truth, Lords were no longer bound to the Unions they’d e from; that was the iional w of the Lower Lands. Each Lord’s responsibilities now y itles for their floating isnds. Still, their ties to the Lower Lands ran deep, and the e was mutually beneficial.
The Lower Lands provided Lords with awakened recruits and essential supplies, which allowed them to grow stronger. Iurn, some of these awakeners would eventually e back to aid the Lower Lands in their own battles and crises.
Higher-ranking Lords, however, rarely ed themselves much with the Lower Lands. Their focus was on building their isnds, often far more advanced and luxurious than anything in the Lower Lands could offer.
“We will verify your identity,” one soldier stated. “And what about them?” he asked, gng at those still standing on the floating throne.
“They are my summons. They do not belong to this world.”
The soldier gave a slight nod, seeming satisfied with the answer.
Moments ter, several Dune Phantoms approached, their ons trained on Ats and his group from a safe distance. One soldier dismounted and stepped forward. Anticipating a s, Ats pulled down his hood, revealing his face.
The soldier raised a sing device, and with a quick beep, checked the readout.
“Ats Bckthorn. You were reported dead… three days ago.”
“That’s exactly when I awakened as a new Lord.”
The soldier, clearly the leader of the group, nodded in aowledgment. “I’ll arrange for your new Awakener Device. How long do you io stay here?”
“Not long, two or three days, maybe up to a week at most.”
“I’ll authorize a seven-day stay,” the soldier replied, then addressed Ats’ team. “They will each receive a monit bracelet. That’s the standard protocol for any visiting Lord and their subordinates.”
Ats nodded. “Uood.”
“I’ll also send you a list of permitted and prohibited as withiy,” the soldier tinued. “Break any of these regutions, and you will be removed immediately.”
“Uood.”
A short while ter, the leader returned, holding out the new Awakener Devid requesting that Ats i with his Mana. This step would finalize his identification and officially register him in the system.
Ats pced his hand on the card-like device, letting his Mana flow through it. The device activated with a soft glow, firming his identity.
The soldier then spoke up. “Allow us to pce the monit bracelets on each of your subordinates.”
“Let me help,” Ats offered, wary that any actal tact, especially with Manna, might cause trouble.
Apanied by one of the soldiers, Ats approached the others. “Edrik, Karian, Lyrassa—take this,” he instructed, handing each of them a bracelet.
“Manna,” he said, her one as well.
She took it without ent, following the others in strapping it onto her left wrist. There was a brief meical click, a faint light flickered from the bracelet, then it settled bato silence, fully activated.
Once everything was settled, Ats turned back to the soldier.
“All registration is plete,” the soldier said. “The Saharan Army will escort you out if you haven’t left by the end of your permitted visit.”
“What about entrance fees or anything else?”
“No, that’s all free. You’re wele to visit and leave freely, as long as you follow the rules. You’ll also receive a wele credit of 20,000 UGD.”
“20k UGD? That’s generous.”
“This is how we treat Lords visiting our city.”
It seemed the rumors about the Saharan Empire’s weling approach to visitors and Lords were true. They didn’t exploit newers at will. Instead, they maintained a respectful protocol, resources and support without taking advantage.
“We arrauide if you need one, or you simply head to the Awakener ter for more information,” the soldier added.
“I’ll find more infh this device,” Ats replied, holding up his new Awakener Device.
“Good to hear. Enjoy your visit,” the soldier said.
Ats dismissed his Floating Throne, and with the others following, they were directed toward the massive city wall. Passing through a long corridor, they walked for a few minutes until the fresh air touched their faces and a warm, weling light greeted them. The hum of voices and distant sounds of city life grew louder.
As they stepped into the heart of the city, the sight was strikingly different. This was an advanced, developed metropolis. Hover vehicles moved smoothly along, robots strolled along the sidewalks, and street lights illumihe area, casting a glow e holographic billboards dispyed on nearby buildings.
Edrik walked beside him. “This city is very weling to outsiders. They didn’t make it difficult for us to enter.”
“Yes, they do seem a bit too good to be true. But their reputation is the best in the New World.”
Ats and the others had already switched into more rexed attire, thanks to the system’s built-in wardrobe options. It was impressively ve; with a sihought, they could ge outfits instantly.
Ats gnced around, taking in Manna and Lyrassa’s looks. Manna wore a sleek, executive-style jacket paired with a fitted ensemble. Lyrassa, oher hand, opted for a short skirt, giving her a polished yet daring vibe.
Lyrassa’s natural allure—barely softened by the vines ed loosely around her—was sure to draw a few stares. Fortunately, the system had supplied them with just the right attire options for moments like this.
Ats took the lead, guiding them through the bustling city streets toward their first destination: a hotel. He was eager to experiehe luxury aodations of this city he’d long imagined visiting. Now that he had the ce, he inteo make the most of it.
Approag a high-end hotel, he he steep prices but decided it was worth it, especially since he had enough funds. At the ter, he booked a rge suite with multiple bedrooms. He’d chosen this setup specifically to keep everyone close, making it easier to unicate with his subordinates.
Although the ideal five-room suite was already booked, he mao reserve a six-bedroom option.
They made their way to the grand elevator, its transparent gss walls providing a view of the hotel’s vish lobby, plete with casg waterfalls, lush gardens, and several plimentary public amenities.
Ats couldn’t help but notice Karian gng around, clearly taking in the surroundings with an air of curiosity.
“New for you, Karian?”
Karian nodded. “In my world, there was only ruin and stant struggle. This kind of setting… it’s very new for my eyes, and pretty intriguing.”
Ats guessed that Edrik came from a world more simir to his own. Edrik seemed to uand the cept of Gacha and had mentioned some advaeology, so he was likely used to simir things.
Ats chuckled, then looked over at Lyrassa. “What about you?”
“My Lord, I’m more used to living in harmony with nature, so this enviro is new for me too,” she replied. “Though I’ve entered Lords who used simir teology.”
From Lyrassa’s description, it sounded like she, too, had lived in a world with teology but had stayed primarily within her own natural enviro.
Ats gnced over at Manna, who quickly looked aretending not to notice.
Ohey arrived at their suite, everyone picked their own room, including Ats.
But just as he stepped inside, his heart suddenly started pounding, a surge of energy c through him, sharp and ued.
[The bond you’ve created with Manna has now fully formed.]
[You share a high patibility, enabling you to i some of her skills and talents through this e.]
[A powerful bond with Manna has beeablished.]
[New skills have been unlocked.]
[Talent upgrades have been applied.]
[Your blood has undergone modifications as part of the bonding process.]
“What? What’s happening?” Ats murmured, startled as a cascade of notifications lit up before his eyes.
[You have unlocked a new skill …]
