Chapter 35: Ignorance is a Sin
The first day of the beast tide.
Alex stood atop the towering walls of the city, the lingering adrenaline from his battle with the Thunder Wolf still coursing through his veins.
Beneath him, the city sprawled—a testament to human ingenuity, its structures reinforced with powerful runes that pulsed faintly in the dimming light. The air carried the scent of enchantments, the essence of carefully woven magic lingering like an unseen mist.
This city was home to an intermediate clan of runesmiths and a lesser clan of illusionists—a formidable combination.
The runesmiths ensured that nothing short of an overwhelming disaster could breach these walls, while the illusionists kept threats at bay through deception and misdirection. No beast tide had ever reached this fortress of craftsmanship and guile.
But walls and illusions meant nothing to him.
"Nova."
["Already done,"] the AI responded instantly.
The intricate rune formations designed to detect intruders, repel threats, or alert the guards had been compromised. Not destroyed—no, that would have been too blatant. Instead, Nova had subtly weakened their potency, rendering them ineffective while maintaining the illusion of their integrity.
And so, Alex walked freely.
No eyes followed him. No alarms blared. The guards at the checkpoints continued their monotonous duties, unaware that an intruder had passed right before them. To them, he simply did not exist.