Chapter 104: Shurima.
A few hours in, they reached the crest of a hill.
And there it was—Shurima. The kingdom revealed itself like a forgotten dream. Towering stone statues rose from the heart of the jungle, draped in moss and tangled vines. Trees had grown atop their shoulders, with rope bridges connecting wooden temples like threads of fate. Waterfalls cascaded from the cliffs into glowing rivers that pulsed with life. Hidden paths wound through the forest below, where silent warriors moved like shadows. Stone faces carved into the mountains watched over it all, timeless and unblinking.
This was Shurima—the sanctuary of Titans.
The only sanctuary in the entire Shoxa region. While other monarchs ruled lands rich in multiple biocore sanctuaries, Shoxa had only one. And yet, that one was enough. Its ruler was the Skull Crusher Monarch—a living symbol of raw strength and merciless will.
In contrast, the Stines region was led by the Stormbreaker Monarch, and the Aspar region by the Ironheart Monarch. Though noble bloodlines across the land descended from ancient families, the Shoxa region was different. It was a matriarchy. The Brimes bloodline, like most of Shoxa, followed the rule of powerful women.
Men were respected, but often kept close to home—more protected than protectors. The women? They were like living myths. Amazons of flesh and blood. Fast, fierce, and unyielding. They marched into battle, conquered what needed conquering, and stood guard over what mattered most.
They didn’t seek expansion or dominance. They fought to protect, to preserve. Shurima thrived in balance with the land, growing strong without breaking nature’s rhythm. For that reason, Shoxa ranked first as the safest region in the world.
But safety didn’t mean softness. Shoxa was fiercely territorial, and wary of outsiders. They rarely involved themselves in foreign wars—but their presence was always felt. Even without lifting a blade beyond their borders, they earned a seat at every major table.
A quiet kingdom. A fierce monarchy. And a power that needed no introduction.
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"How do you want to proceed? They have a strong aversion to outsiders. Knocking on the front door isn’t an option," Althea said, arms crossed.