A dull ache went through Asher's forehead as a heavy fragrance crashed onto him. The Dark circles beneath his eyes became much more visible as a flash of light fell on him. Blinding him for a split second. Asher's eyes squinted as an annoyed expression appeared on his face.
"Just what the..." Before Asher could complete his sentence, the light went away as he started to rub his eyes continuously.
"What are you doing here?" The man said as he looked at Asher, his voice filled with clear distaste. In front of Asher, a huge metallic gate lay made of reinforced iron bars.
Asher grunted slightly as he stopped rubbing his eyes and looked at the man before him. The man wore silverish armor with black patterns on it. A solid, overwhelming presence suddenly crashed onto him, holding Asher in his place.
Blood started to flow from his eyes and nostrils as he gritted his teeth.
'So, this is the power of a Classified Warrior.' Asher thought while resisting the urge to chuckle.
The man looked at Asher with even more distaste as Asher stood there without making a single sound. Half of his face was covered in blood at this point. Several people walking across the street screamed when they saw Asher.
"Yeah, he's dead." An old man said as he walked across the street, foregoing Asher with a nonchalant expression.
Asher had heard the man; he wanted to scream at that old man for the fact he looked more dead than him. However, the officer in front of him stopped him from doing so.
Asher rolled his eyes in exasperation as he slowly moved his hand. His bones started to tremble under the force, yet Asher persisted as he brought out the silverish-golden card.
The man looked at Asher's card. His eyes were hidden beneath his mask. Asher guessed he was stunned, at the very least.
"Did you steal it?" The officer said as he lowered the force on Asher, finally giving him the space to breathe.
Asher shook his head as he panted. The man then took a step forward and snatched the card from Asher's hand. Asher looked at the man as he stared at his card.
"Just wait you piece of shit."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Asher said instantly as the man questioned him. A bead of sweat drooped down his forehead at the thought of what the man would do if he were able to make what Asher had said.
The man soon nodded as the force swept off from Asher. He immediately fell to the ground on his knees as he looked at the blood that had stained his hands.
The man simply stared at Asher, seemingly waiting for him to stand up.
'This is why I hate this world.' Asher thought as he took a huge sigh, calmly collecting his rage.
"You can enter now."The man said impatiently as he threw the card on the ground before Asher. Asher nodded as he picked it up, finally standing up. The man then turned towards the gate as he placed his hand on it.
A set of golden runes appeared in a circle as the gate started to disassemble itself, dissolving into nothingness.
The man then took a step aside and gestured for Asher to go roughly. Asher simply nodded as he took a step towards the gate, entering the inner districts.
The heavy fragrance got overwhelming, as Asher found himself getting dizzy. The scenery was completely different from what he had expected.
The roads were made of white-quartz-like material, and the footpaths were made of white marble.
'Just what the hell?' Asher thought as he stood there, stunned by the scenery; the structures here were luxurious; each of them could be reckoned to be called a mansion at that.
'Have I entered heaven?' Asher thought with amusement as he started to move towards the nearest footpath. His frail physique with his clothes ragged, stained with dust with holes present.
Indeed, he was quite an anomaly in the Inner districts. In the distance, Asher could vaguely make the shape of a giant, triangular structure.
'That's where I have to go.' Asher thought with a smile.
The inner district was surprisingly empty. Asher had thought that this place would be bustling with people, but it was the complete opposite.
As he moved through the inner districts, he realized many shops had the sign Closed on them.
'Is it Saturday today? No sunday, right?' Asher thought confusingly as he moved past another coffee shop, albeit much more furnished, even magnificent at that.
As Asher moved a couple of steps away from a coffee shop. He heard several sounds at once. Children playing, screaming with happiness. People talking, the wind blowing and what and what not.
'Is there a park nearby.' Asher concluded as he reached the end of the street, taking a sharp right turn. Across the street he had just entered, there was a park in the distance.
The grass was especially green in that park, unlike in the outer districts, where the grass had a brownish color due to pollution; the grass here was much more...
Peaceful.
'I should give myself a little break.' Asher thought as he saw people sitting on furnished-white benches. He had decided he would seat himself on one of those to regain his energy.
As Asher walked, he saw a clothing shop beside the park. It was made of black and brown marble, and a gigantic door leading to its entrance lay closed. Soon, he halted himself as he stared at the doorway made of golden marble; the fences were also made of the same hue.
However, before he could enter, Asher's expression suddenly turned grim as he halted in his footsteps.
"Going somewhere?"