Arkanos City was big. I mean, not just big, but massive.
It was a city carved from stone, built into a mountain that rose high enough to touch the clouds. The whole thing looked like a fortress turned into a city, with four massive levels stacked one above the other. Each tier circled around the mountain, its walls covered in glowing runes and narrow bridges that connected one ring to the next. From below, the city looked alive, lights and smoke rising in slow waves.
At the very bottom, the lower level was crowded and loud. Markets filled the streets, packed with stalls built from stone and wood. You could hear hammers striking metal, steam hissing from forges, and voices calling out prices. The smell of smoke, spice, and cooked meat hung heavy in the air. Adventurers moved between the shops, their armor clinking, their faces lit by the glow of magic lanterns.
Moving upward, the second and third levels felt cleaner and calmer. Gardens grew along the terraces, their plants glowing faintly in the dim light. Water ran down carved channels in the stone, spilling into open pools. Trains of light moved between the levels, carrying supplies and travelers from one ring to another.
At the very top was the Crown. It held the tallest towers, the great halls, and the waterfalls that poured down the mountain's sides like silver threads. From there, the whole city could be seen below, glowing softly against the cliffs.
Arkanos City felt ancient but alive, like it had been growing upward for centuries and still wasn't finished.
And there I was, Level fifteen, entering Arkanos City's giant entrance stone gate, still wearing gear that reeked faintly of ogre sweat, walking beside Lars as he was currently losing his mind over a glowing cube of floating jelly he just looted from a cube monster: a level two, violet-colored monster that can be found in any grassy field.
"This is Slime Berry gelatin!" he gasped, eyes wide like a kid in a candy store. "It boosts mana regen for fifty minutes. Do you know how rare this is?!"
I nodded. "Of course. Definitely," I replied.
He looked at me, raising an eyebrow. "Are you being sarcastic, or do you want me to beat you up?"
I laughed. We laughed.
We explored the lower part of the city where the dungeon gate had appeared.
First, it was the street food bazaar. The place was packed with stalls selling all kinds of dishes: Griffin Leg, Slime Ice Cream, Honeycomb Pasta, Snake Barbecue Skewers, and Spicy Fried Mushroom Sticks. Each dish cost only one ether.
"O-OY! A GRIFFIN LEG MEAT!" Lars said, pointing at the stall that was selling it. "PEOPLE SAID THEY'RE EXTREMELY GOOD!!!"
I smiled at him. "Do you wanna buy one?"
Lars closed his eyes and sighed. "That's the problem... I don't have any money..."
Lars turned to me. "Do you perhaps have extra—" His eyes bulged out as he saw me vanish beside him, suddenly appearing in front of the stall, buying one griffin leg. "H-HEY!!!"
He stared at me, mouth open, still holding his slime berry gelatin. "You… just did that… like magic…"
I laughed and took a bite. "I call it quick thinking."
Then, a stall owned by a magician who had just turned a potato into a pigeon caught our attention.
Lars stopped by the magician's stall.
"H-How in the world is that even possible?!!" he shouted in excitement, bouncing slightly on his feet.
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling at his enthusiasm.
The alley beside the bazaar was darker, narrower, and quieter. Rumors said it housed a black market run by players who became merchants to avoid dying in the game. Shadows moved strangely between the stalls, and I felt Lars grip my arm slightly, his eyes wide.
By the time we found a bench to rest on, my map had a new pin labeled.
Lars was eating his slime berry gelatin when he asked, "We heading in now? Dungeon's still active. Loot boost might still be up."
I glanced skyward. Floating golden notifications drifted lazily:
[DUNGEON]: [Shallow Chambers] — [Status]: [Uncleared][Reward Boost]: [Active] — [1 Day Remaining][Players Lost]: [519]
"Yeah," I muttered in a sarcastic tone. "Not terrifying at all."
I stood, brushing crumbs off my tunic. "We'll go. But first... one more stop."
Lars raised an eyebrow. "Another food cart?"
"No," I replied, smirking. "Something I heard about in that alley. A place called the Archivist's Gate. Supposed to be a hidden library. Lost lore. Maybe... secret skills."
The Archivist's Gate was the new pin labeled on my map.
He perked up immediately. "Now, that sounds like a side quest!"
We pushed through the city's lower rings, moving carefully through crowds of shouting adventurers, potion-hawkers, and those creepy robed NPCs who seemed to only speak in riddles. Lars bumped into a passing merchant and apologized quickly, his face red. I ducked under a floating lantern as it swayed too low, muttering a curse under my breath. Every step felt like a small battle just to not get caught in the chaos.
"Creepy..." Lars whispered, eyes darting at a hooded NPC muttering something under its breath.
Eventually, tucked behind a vine-covered archway and a rusted sigil that pulsed faintly with old magic, we found it.
The Archivist's Gate.
A heavy iron door sat embedded in the stone, guarded by a statue with glowing eyes and a mouth shaped like an open book.
It spoke. "Speak your curiosity, and the gate shall answer."
I looked at Lars. "Wanna try?"
He grinned and asked the statue, "Is there a spell that can turn a potato into a pigeon?"
"Nice joke…" I said. "I wonder if it'll open up for us."
He smirked. "Come on, I'm curious about it!"
Our heads turned as the statue then groaned open.
"See?" he said with a smug look on his face.
I laughed and replied, "Whatever, dumbass!"
Inside, gravity seemed like it took a break. Books floated lazily between shelves. Pages turned mid-air as if they were reading themselves. At the center, a glowing-eyed NPC librarian watched us enter without saying a word.
"This place…" Lars whispered, awe in his voice. "I think it's full of secret knowledge."
We didn't stay for long. Lars discovered the 'spell' on how to turn a potato into a pigeon, only to find out it was just a clever trick, not an actual spell. But I found a single parchment, weathered and curled at the edges, that read:
"Those without class may walk roads hidden to all."
I tucked it away without a word, my mind already racing with possibilities.
As the sun dipped low behind Arkanos's silver domes, we made our way toward the dungeon gates. At least fifty players stood nearby, geared to the teeth, decked in uncommon armor with swords and bows strapped to their backs. Guild banners fluttered. Conversations buzzed.
I stepped forward with Lars, our mismatched gear glinting faintly in the dusk light. Two idiots armed with nothing but side quests, scavenged loot, and misplaced confidence.
"Duo party?" a warrior mocked as we passed. "You're dead meat."
I didn't answer. Lars just smiled.
"Let's show them," he said, "What a pair of losers can do."
"But, Lars…" I replied, trying to stop myself from bursting out in laughter. "You're the only loser here..."
"Oh, really?" he replied. "I won't even bother saving you when you're about to die, stupid!"
I laughed and replied, "I-I was kidding!"
Lars laughed, but behind us, the dungeon gates suddenly rumbled open.