SYSTEM ASCENSION

The air left his lungs.

The black empire exceeded their imaginations.

The sky bled multi colours, casting ineffable beauty onto the landscape.

Bridges of black iron arched over the river like the ribs. They didn’t connect places. They caged them. Chains thick as a man’s waist hung from each span, dripping with fog and the sound of bells no one rang anymore.

Below, the city was living up to its name.

Dark.

Buildings stabbed up into the bruised clouds. Spires and sharp, like claws that had grown too long. Every tower was a spear pointed at the heavens, glassless windows staring out. Smoke curled from them, but it wasn’t from fire. It was from forges that never cooled.

Numerous bridges were attached from one building to the other, keeping the people up, while creatures strong enough to clear a small town roam beneath. They could see children walking on the railings, betting on who was going to fall.

Unlike the Salvador empire, the sky in black empire was close to the ground. Closer than they ever thought they’d see.

Not only that, but beyond it. It was a vast land beyond the reach of the eyes.

Black empire wasn’t an empire. It was a world.

Even the leading families were dumbfounded.

”What the hell is this?” Lady Hinger muttered.

”What would have happened if we went to war?” Lady Anny covered her mouth.

”You’ll be kissing Salvador goodbye.”

Elias’s reply startled her.

”Going to war with salvador empire wasn’t worth it to begin with?” Lady Hinger almost laughed.

The only people who felt their heart in their throats were Joran and Ume. From the start, the gryphon catched them with their feet, almost like they sensed Elias’s hostility towards the person. Both of them were the only ones hanging on to the gryphons feets for their dear lives.

Second, seeing how large the empire is, it made them realize that escape was impossible.

Elias casually waved his hands, and all the gryphons took flight, descending into the empire below them.

While they were enjoying the view of the tall houses and trees and sheer audacity of coexisting with all these creatures, something flew past them.

It was fast. Too fast that their eyes couldn’t keep up.

A few of them took fighting stances in fright, as they turned around to see what was that.

Their jaws dropped further.

Fans were spinning too fast for their eyes to follow. Hot air sizzled out of the strange device. It wasn’t like a vehicle that made sounds, or a train that blew horns, but silent and refined.

”Aircraft.”

Elias answered the questions in their minds.

They continued to watch the aircraft, piloted by a little boy, they could see through the transparent glass.

”Is that thing running on gas or energy?” Claude asked.

Elias tilted his head, staring at the aircraft a little bit longer.

”Both.”

”Both?!”

”He’s using gas. Probably has poor control over his vital energy.”

The gryphons finally landed them at the top of a building. Unlike the other spiky buildings, this one was built with a flat top. It looked like a bridge itself.

From here, half the city can be seen.

As soon as the gryphons dropped off the students, they all covered Elias, cawing in excitement. He embraced the ones his hands could touch, while the rest squeezed him to suffocation.

The rest stared in fascinating silence.

One of the gryphons suddenly turned its head. Its eyes met with Mona’s dragon eyes. A quiet shiver ran down its spine. It slowly tapped another one to show the view. The second turned, and tapped the third. In a few seconds, all the creatures were now staring at Mona.

”They are all interested in you.” Rolarza laughed.

”I think this is the part where you run.” Elias told him.

The dragon wings spread out immediately, and it took flight, souring through the sky with a terrifying speed that made Rolarza clenched tighter.

The gryphons followed immediately, the wind strong enough to blow off many caps and students.

Elias dusted his cloth, and turned his gaze to the city. It was a whole lot different from the last time he was here. In just twelve years, the whole city had changed.

Claude walked to him.

”Hey, Elias, so what do we do now—”

He hopped down from the building.

”Okay....? Black empire sure do love jumping.”

”Do we follow him?” Kael asked.

Claude hasn’t given a reply, before another wing sent them stumbling and clenching tight on their bags.

It was another strange winged creature, and Elias was standing on it. It took him further away, to the main city.

”I guess not?” Quil raised a brow.

”So where do we go?” A female student asked.

With Elias gone, all eyes turned to Rowen.

”What? I didn’t even know that I was going on a trip until this morning!”

All eyes turned to Tyler.

He sighed.

”I’m clueless too.”

”That irresponsible simpleton!” Bora stomped her feet. ”How could he leave us here and fly off?!”

Lady Hinger frowned.

”Your highness, I think you should control your tone here. We have no idea how this place works. We have to be cautious—”

”Look!” A male student yelled.

All eyes turned.

A gryphon approached them. Unlike the ones they had seen, this one had a horn. It was composed.

On it, sat a man. Dark loose robe, waistline blonde hair and dark eyes.

The students scurried backwards as the gryphon landed. Slowly, the creature lowered itself for the man to descend.

His bare feet touch the ground and he pat the creature’s head.

Everyone exchanged glances.

To the students, he was their escort, but to the leading family, who saw beyond mere eyes.

”Are you kidding me?” Lady Anny subconsciously stepped back.

”This man would solo all of us in a fight.” Lady Hinger muttered.

The rest of the leading family casted her an offended look.

”I’m just speaking facts.”

Richard stepped closer to them, bored eyes scanning the students. After a brief stare, his scowl deepened.

”Irue is not with you.”

The students flinched.

When he had not uttered a word, their hearts already sank, but with the displeased tone, they had started to regret coming here.

Another thing they noted. The ridiculous height.

Tiana and Rowen were the only ones who recognised him as the person who came to salvador empire several months ago.

”He came with us,” Tiana smiled. ”Then flew off on a strange creature a minute ago.”

She stepped forward and curtsied. ”Thank you for tolerating our visit, sir Richard.”

”Hmm...” He tilted his head.

Suddenly a voice sounded.

”Irue? As in Elias? You’re that simpleton’s father? I guess children do take after their parents.”