The Ironclad stronghold stood tall and imposing, its walls towering high above the ground, like a sentinel keeping watch over the realm.
It was a fortress of great strength, designed to withstand even the most vicious attacks from the enemy. Yet, for all its might and power, the stronghold had only two entrances that served both as entry and exit points, and they were heavily guarded by the empire's soldiers.
The reason for this was not hard to guess.
The cosmic crusaders, who had recently arrived on planet Avalon, were causing chaos and destruction everywhere they went. They had already laid waste to a few cities and towns that existed long before the empire set foot on the planet.
Their actions alerted the imperial senate.
The Ironclad stronghold was one of the three most important safe zones that connected the Sun Moon Empire to Avalon.
A lot of resources had been dumped into it since its creation, and it would be a considerable loss if they lost it.
Thus, it was imperative that the stronghold's entrances were guarded with utmost vigilance.
Evan and Lirian headed towards Southern Gate. It was the quickest way out of the stronghold. They strode along the cobblestone path, the sound of their footsteps echoing against the walls of the stronghold.
Soon after, the Southern Gate loomed ahead of them, its imposing presence a stark reminder of the security measures in place.
As they approached, they were met by a figure whose aura of authority could not be ignored. Captain Valor, the leader of the guards stationed at the gate, stood tall and proud. His armor gleamed in the sunlight, his sword and gun hanging at his sides.
"I can't see through him. He is probably a realm or two above me." Lirian whispered into Evan's ears.
Evan's lowered his head, his bangs casting a shadow over his eyes. Lirian was a second-step soul manipulator. He was in the Soul Fusion Realm. So it could only mean that Captain Valor was in the Soul Embodiment Realm.
Lirian was backing away, but he was pulled towards Captain Valor by Evan, who said, "Don't arouse his suspicion."
"State your business," Captain Valor demanded in a deep, commanding voice as he saw the men who approached him.
Evan and Lirian exchanged a quick glance before Evan spoke up.
"We have urgent matters to attend to. We need to leave the stronghold immediately."
Captain Valor's expression remained stern. "Security has been tightened in this area. No one can enter or leave without undergoing a proper examination of their identity."
Lirian's heart pounded in his chest as a wave of unease washed over him. He and Evan had used the face changer to disguise themselves, adopting a new persona in order to slip past the watchful eyes of those who might recognize them as the captain of the Phantom Regiment and the Crown Prince of Frost, respectively. They had come to this place in haste, without using their authority to prepare the necessary documents that could legally endorse their guise as citizens of the empire for a limited duration.
With no reliable method to authenticate his and Evan's fake identity, Lirian feared that this might land them in trouble.
They might be forced to reveal who they were!
"Relax. I got this."
Sensing his friend's apprehension, Evan put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Lirian looked at him, and he showed him a confident smile.
The captain eyed them suspiciously, wondering what was taking them so long.
Evan turned to the guard and asked, "We understand. What do we need to do to pass the examination?"
Captain Valor replied, "You'll need to provide proof of your identity, such as a passport or a letter of authorization from a recognized authority."
Recognized authorities were organizations or ruling families who served the Intergalactic Sun Moon empire or were in a partnership with it.
"We have our I.Ds with us. Will that be enough?" Evan asked.
"Yes." Captain Valor nodded. "Let me examine them."
"Alright," Evan said as he reached out and tapped the dusty ring on his finger. The ring was also disguised by the face changer. Its actual form was beautiful beyond words, with the insignia of the Imperial Frost Clan on top of it. It was one of the many gifts Evan had received from his father over the years. It was an advanced piece of technology that contained a subspace the size of a room.
To Lirian's amazement, two identification cards appeared between Evan's fingers, and he handed them over to Captain Valor.
The captain inserted the I.Ds into the scanner, and after a few tense moments, the scanner turned green, indicating that they were authentic citizens of the empire.
'So that's why he was so confident. He came prepared.' Lirian thought.
Evan had been using the face changer for a few years. He had been in a situation where he was forced to reveal his true identity after disguising himself. After that incident, he had registered all of his disguises as actual citizens of the empire in the enormous database. It was easy for him to do so as he was the Crown Prince of Frost. All the I.Ds of his disguises were stored in his spatial ring.
Captain Valor inspected their identities before declaring them clear to proceed. "I see nothing wrong with your identities, you may proceed. However, with the current troubled times, I would caution against leaving the stronghold. The cosmic crusaders are wreaking havoc in Avalon."
Evan acknowledged Captain Valor's warning. "Thank you for your concern, Captain. But sometimes, taking risks is necessary to achieve what is important."
Captain Valor reminded them of the risks involved. "Remember, Sir Daniel and Sir Lucas, the stronghold barrier provides protection to those inside. Outside, you are at your own risk."
Daniel and Lucas were the names of the people Evan and Lirian had disguised themselves as. The identity of their disguise wasn't bad. They could be considered quite privileged. But they only existed on paper. Of course, Captain Valor didn't know that.
Evan understood the risks, but he was determined to get what he came here for. "We appreciate your concern, Captain, but our mission cannot wait for things to settle down. We have to go out there."
Captain Valor accepted their decision but still urged caution. "Very well, I wish you the best of luck. Be careful out there."
With that, they walked past the captain.
Evan was determined to continue on his mission, regardless of the dangers that lay ahead, while Lirian wanted to help him achieve his goal no matter what.
After exiting the ironclad stronghold, they took the road that led to the Mystic Forest.
After fifteen minutes, the Mystic Forest finally came into view. The sight of it was awe-inspiring. The dense canopy of emerald green foliage that covered the forest was a sight to behold. It was as if a giant emerald blanket had been laid over the trees, creating a lush and vibrant environment.
As they drew closer, the air around them grew cooler and more damp, a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere of the stronghold they had just left. The towering trees seemed to reach up into the sky, their thick and gnarled trunks twisting and turning as they stretched towards the canopy. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.
Despite the inherent danger that lay within, Evan and Lirian couldn't help but marvel at the natural beauty that surrounded them. They knew that the Mystic Forest was divided into two distinct areas. The outskirts were used as a training ground for soul cultivators in the soul manifestation and soul fusion realm, while the inner area was home to some of the most powerful and deadly beasts in existence.
Only cultivators who had achieved the Soul Embodiment realm would dare to venture into the inner depths of the forest. For anyone weaker than that, it was an execution ground!
Just as Evan and Lirian were on the cusp of entering the outskirts of the Mystic Forest, Lirian abruptly turned to his companion and issued a grave warning.
"Listen to me carefully, Evan," he said in a voice that was filled with caution and seriousness, a stark departure from his normally lighthearted nature. "This is where things get serious. We're entering the domain of some of the most dangerous creatures in Avalon. You must remain vigilant at all times and keep your guard up, no matter what."
"You don't need to worry. I've been through this before," Evan replied confidently, drawing out his trusty magic weapon – a long, slim sword that he kept in his inventory.
As soon as he equipped the weapon, a series of notifications popped up in his vision, informing him of the weapon's effects.
[You've equipped a low-level magic item.]
[Your strength and agility have increased by two points each!]
[You have gained the right to use the special effect of the Frost Demon's Fury Sword!]
As Evan took in the notifications, he could feel his body growing stronger and faster, the magic of the sword coursing through his veins. Though the increase in his abilities was not significant, it was enough to give him an added sense of confidence as he prepared to face the dangers that lay ahead.
Taking in a deep breath of the cool, crisp forest air, the pair delved into the verdant wilderness ahead. As they navigated through the dense and treacherous terrain, their senses were heightened to every rustle and movement in the surrounding trees. Their eyes scanned the area, searching for any potential threats lurking within the shadows.
All of a sudden, a faint rustling noise caught their attention. Though it was indistinct and barely audible, it was enough to set Evan and Lirian on edge, causing their bodies to tense up.
They immediately turned toward the source of the noise and were met with a chilling sight of a monstrous creature leaping out from the depths of the foliage and hurtling towards Evan with lightning-fast speed.