The sun had barely risen when Stephen caught his first glimpse of it — the Outer Barrier City of Ironveil, one of the countless human strongholds dotting the lands outside the Imperial City.
From a distance, it looked like a wall of silver cutting through the horizon. Towering barriers shimmered with faint runic patterns, their surface humming with the pulse of transcendent energy. The closer he got, the louder that hum grew, until it felt as if the air itself was alive.
It was nothing like his quiet village. The streets bustled with life — vendors shouting over each other, hunters clad in gleaming armor haggling over beast cores, and children staring in awe at the colossal towers that pierced the sky. The smell of metal, oil, and dust mixed with the scent of food and spices from street stalls.
Stephen stopped at the city's checkpoint. Guards in rune-etched armor scanned newcomers with a hovering crystal sphere. When it pulsed faintly, one of them nodded.
"Novice, Level 7," the guard read from his device. "Entrance exams open soon. Head to the Hunter Federation's sub-branch near the plaza if you're here to register."
Stephen thanked him and walked on. His heart pounded with anticipation.
Everywhere he looked, the city seemed to breathe power. Massive billboards projected holographic rankings of local hunters, their names and levels glowing for all to see. Smithies clanged in the distance, rune forges blazing with heat. Even the air felt denser here — rich with the faint shimmer of transcendent particles drawn from nearby rifts.
He finally found the Federation building — a towering fortress of black stone with the emblem of a soaring phoenix engraved above the gates. Inside, the grand hall was lined with aspiring hunters waiting in long queues. Some looked nervous, others excited, all radiating a sense of burning ambition.
When Stephen's turn came, the clerk scanned his bracelet and frowned slightly.
"Novice, Level 7," she read aloud. "I'm afraid registration for the entrance exam requires a minimum of Level 10. That's Federation policy. You'll have to raise your level before the deadline next month. If you can't reach it in time, you'll have to wait another year to apply."
Stephen blinked. "So I can't register yet?"
"Not until your level increases," the clerk said with a polite but firm tone. "There are public training grounds and low-level missions available for those under Level 10. You can use those to grow quickly. But don't waste time — the schedule this year is tight."
Stephen nodded and stepped aside, feeling a twinge of pressure in his chest. A month. That was all the time he had.
As he exited the Federation building, the lively hum of Ironveil's streets returned to his ears. Around him, young hunters-to-be talked excitedly about missions and leveling strategies. The city was full of energy — full of people chasing strength, survival, and dreams.
He made his way to a small inn near the city's outer ring. The room was plain, but it offered a clear view of the glowing barrier that shimmered faintly in the distance. As he sat by the window, his thoughts drifted to his father's words — true potential only emerges on the edge of death.
His right hand lifted slightly, and within his soul sea, the Azure Sparrow stirred — its faint light pulsing in quiet rhythm with his heartbeat.
He smiled faintly. "Looks like we'll have to work for this one."
Outside, the city lights gleamed like stars caught in steel.Tomorrow, he would step into the training rifts.Tomorrow, his real climb would begin.