Dancing on the golden ashes-Chapter 201: Entering the Dawhar City

The road before me stretched on endlessly, full of unseen bumps, but I didn’t care anymore. Life had been reduced to a long, tiring journey, and at this point, it was almost laughable—no more complaints, no more worrying about what might go wrong. Everything had been left behind, and yet... I couldn’t help but wonder if it would ever truly get easier. But those thoughts? I’ll save them for another day. I couldn’t afford to keep complaining, not now.

Ahead of me stood a massive town, almost surreal in its beauty. The place was extraordinary—its scale, its intricate design, all of it. Surrounded by a vast desert, the sand stretched out endlessly, and in the heart of it all lay an oasis, almost like an answer to the desolation around it. The city was built around this oasis, and from the center, towering palaces reached for the sky, each one an epitome of human advancement. It was both a wonder and a paradox; a thriving, bustling civilization in the middle of nowhere, a place where even the desert couldn’t stop them.

As I stood there, the familiarity of it all almost hit me like a wave. This city, with its grandeur, somehow felt nostalgic. Oddly, it had cars. Yes, cars, in a fantasy world. The pace of progress was shocking. Over the past six years, humanity had surged forward, and those who hadn’t kept up were left behind in the dust.

That’s so cool, I can’t believe I’m looking at the car after so many years…

I could see some people use mechanical transport to get around, powered by their own soul energy, no less. They could reach speeds of 500 kilometers per hour, which was impressive, but compared to my speed? It was laughable. To me, they might as well have been standing still. My wings alone could carry me faster than that.

But despite their progress, this city was still bound by rules, yes, the same rules that governed the rest of the world: survival of the fittest. The stronger you were, the more you thrived. Those who weren’t fast enough or smart enough would be left behind, consumed by the very system they tried to outsmart. And that system was expanding rapidly. The city was weaponized with guns that could amplify the strength of their wielder’s soul power, mass destruction devices capable of shaking the very foundations of existence, of course those were only rumors at this point. But it was clear from the walls that protected this place: the city was prepared for whatever came crashing.

I flew down from the sky, landing gracefully a few hundred meters from the massive gates that guarded the city. The gates, imposing and secure, symbolized everything this place stood for.

The city before me had clearly adapted to the harshness of the world, keeping its ancient walls standing tall despite the modern technology it now harbored. The gates, immense and ironclad, were the first line of defense, standing resolutely against anything that might threaten the people inside. The heavy, intricate metalwork spoke of both practicality and pride, a reminder that even in a futuristic world, fortifications were still necessary for survival. Above, guards stood on high, weapons in hand, keeping a watchful eye over all who dared approach. The long line of people waiting to enter was a testament to the constant ebb and flow of life within the walls, a dance between those hoping to make it inside and the ever-present threat that lingered just beyond. The call of "Monster!" rang out through the air as a beast was shot dead on command not too far from here, and it was clear the tension never truly ceased here. Whether it was monsters, weather, or conflict, this city was always on edge, ready for whatever would come next. This world made sure you didn’t take anything for granted; if you weren’t strong enough, you’d be swept away by the tides of fate.

As I started to walk, the massive gates of the city loomed before me, crafted from dark steel and adorned with intricate golden filigree, reflecting the harsh desert sun. Towering walls encircled the city, thick and impregnable, their surface etched with symbols and designs, glowing faintly with enchanted energy that seemed to hum in the air. Guards stood in perfect formation at the entrance, their armor shining with polished brass, eyes scanning the long line of travelers waiting to enter. The line stretched for miles, winding through the sand, a mixture of merchants, soldiers, and commoners—all waiting their turn to be granted access into this fortified haven. The gates creaked open, letting only those deemed worthy pass through, while the rest were left to wait in the desert heat.

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I pushed through the crowd, my presence making people jump in fear. I expected nothing less. They didn’t dare obstruct me. Most of the people here were low-level, and a simple rude inspection of me would give them a [???] message, making them panic and scatter. It was perfect. Now there was no more line, and I was the first in queue. Sometimes, I loved how I looked.

"Kill that monster! Don’t let it grow closer to the city! Sound the alarm!" I heard the guards shout as weapons on the city walls were all aimed at me. I understood every word they said, my high-level language skills making it easy to catch their fear and desperation. To them, I must have looked like a demon. Good. This worked out just fine.

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"Move an inch, and all of you are dead." I said with a smile on my face in their language, my voice laced with emperor’s authority, mixed with the demon lord’s chilling presence. The sheer weight of my words froze every soul within my radius. The fear was palpable.

"Good, very good," I continued, my smile widening. "Now, lead me to your leader. I have a few words with him." The guards closest to me couldn’t hide the terror in their eyes.