Chapter 6
Lucas found himself standing in the heart of the Hidden City of the Land of Sky, the strongest of all hidden cities.
The city sprawled across more than 300 square kilometers, a marvel of architecture and order.
The streets bustled with life, bathed in the golden sunlight that seemed to bless this stronghold of power.
It was a place where mana cultivators walked freely, their presence overshadowing the handful of ordinary people who owned shops and homes here.
Hidden Cities were located within one of the five Great Empires, and despite being within their respective Empires, they operated with a strength far surpassing their own rulers.
These places nurtured true talent, the kind that could shake nations. And Lucas was here for a reason.
He strode toward the towering Mission Center, a grand building where warriors took on various assignments, ranging from escorting merchants to exterminating dangerous beasts.
It was the hub of activity for adventurers, mercenaries, and cultivators alike.
Missions were sent in from all over the continent, but the ones posted within an empire had the highest chances of being accepted.
Lucas stepped inside, his keen red eyes scanning the mission board.
He wasn't looking for something too dangerous, just a decent task to sharpen his skills.
His fingers traced over the parchment, filtering through the C-rank and D-rank missions.
C-rank missions were more likely to pit him against fellow warriors, and he wasn't looking for unnecessary complications.
Just as he was engrossed in his selection, a shift in mana density made him pause.
It was sudden, overwhelming—like a tidal wave surging into the room.
The pressure was immense, enough to make weaker warriors tremble.
Lucas, however, merely exhaled and continued reading, uninterested in whoever had just arrived.
Then, a shadow loomed over him.
"Lucas, right? From our class?"
Lucas's grip on the parchment tightened. He looked up and locked eyes with a young man about his age, fifteen, with dark blue hair and striking black eyes.
A faint smile played on the stranger's lips, but Lucas knew better than to be deceived by it.
The Clover symbol embroidered on the boy's jacket made his stomach churn.
'Austin,' Lucas thought with a grimace.
The Clover Clan.
A family known for its terrifying potential and deep-rooted tensions with the Main Council of Sky City.
Their conflict was a ticking time bomb, one that would eventually explode into a devastating war.
And this guy standing before him?
Austin was the catalyst for it all.
In the story Lucas remembered, Austin had awakened a rare Fourth Clover and an equally unique ability.
The Main Council, fearing his power, had him assassinated, which nearly led to civil war.
It was only after the Protagonist father was killed that both sides temporarily backed down.
But the wounds never healed.
In time, the war would come anyway.
The Patriarch's son would awaken the Fourth Clover, and to prevent another war, he would kill his own father.
Then his younger brother, driven by madness and vengeance, would slaughter the entire Clover Clan, branding himself as the enemy of Sky City.
And now, here Lucas was, staring at the very person who would trigger all of that chaos.
'Why do I always attract troublesome people?' Lucas sighed internally.
"Austin," he finally said, forcing a casual tone. "Long time."
Austin grinned. "Yeah, I almost didn't recognize you. You've gotten stronger after the war."
He eyed Lucas, nodding in approval. "Your mana core is at the peak of Bronze Stage already. Impressive. If you keep this up, you might even catch up to me."
Lucas resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
This guy was one of the most talented cultivators of their generation.
Catching up to him was easier said than done.
Instead of engaging in more unnecessary chatter, he cut straight to the point.
"What mission are you taking?"
Austin held up a scroll. "C-rank escort mission. Escorting a VIP from this city to the Zenith Empire, near the Hidden City of Lightning."
Lucas nodded absently until Austin added, "It requires two people to sign up."
A heavy silence settled between them.
Austin's expression remained hopeful.
"No," Lucas said immediately.
"But—"
"No."
"It'll be fun."
"No."
Austin pouted dramatically before breaking into laughter. "Oh, come on, man. We won't run into anything too dangerous. Worst case, some bandits. It'll be good training."
Lucas crossed his arms, still hesitant. "Do you even realize what territory we have to pass through?
We'll cross the Sorrow Kingdom, where its warriors lurk in the shadows.
At worst, we'll encounter a five-star warrior, but if we're really unlucky, an eight-star monster will show up.
And that's not even considering the Zenith Empire."
Austin waved a hand dismissively. "Eight-star warriors are rare in kingdoms. The likelihood of encountering one is almost nonexistent."
Lucas exhaled slowly.
He knew how these things worked. If something was 'unlikely' to happen, it would absolutely happen.
Seeing Lucas's hesitation, Austin decided to play his trump card. "You're still at three-star, right? If we finish this mission, you might rank up faster."
Lucas twitched. 'Damn him, he knows exactly how to bait me.'
He considered it.
The journey would take about two weeks.
If things went smoothly, it would be a good experience.
If they ran into trouble, well… Austin had an ace up his sleeve.
Austin's Avatar.
Lucas sighed and finally nodded. "Fine."
Austin's eyes lit up as he practically skipped toward the counter. "Yes! I knew you'd say yes."
Lucas followed him reluctantly, rubbing his temples. 'This guy acts all cheerful, but when he's serious, he's like an ice-cold killer.
Nobody wants to be on his bad side.'
As Austin signed them up, Lucas's mind began running through worst-case scenarios.
'It's going to be a long trip.
Crossing the Sorrow Kingdom means facing its hidden city.
At most, they'll be five-star, but if we're unlucky, we'll meet an eight-star freak.
And if we do, escaping will be nearly impossible… unless this guy uses his Avatar.'
He could already feel a headache forming.
Austin turned to him, grinning. "Alright, partner! Pack your stuff. We leave at sunrise."
Lucas groaned. "I hate you."
Austin laughed. "Love you too, buddy."