Chapter 61 - The Shadow Game of the Six Crowns - II
** Verdan
A vast valley stretched as far as the eye could see, a breathtaking landscape sculpted by nature over millennia. Its walls rose gently, with rocky slopes tinted in hues ranging from reddish to golden, depending on the sunlight. At the bottom, a river meandered calmly, reflecting the blue sky and the slow-moving clouds. Vegetation thrived along the riverbanks and in crevices of the rocks, where resilient trees and shrubs had found a place to take root.
In the midst of this natural masterpiece, a city seemed to have sprouted from the earth itself. Surrounded by lush flowers and a variety of plants, the city was a labyrinth of greenhouses, hanging gardens, and distillation towers. The architecture was organic, with structures made of living wood and carved stone to blend seamlessly into the environment. The air was thick with the scent of herbs, flowers, and bubbling potions.
As one ventured deeper into the city, it became clear that the buildings were equipped with unique technology and peculiar designs. Among the stones and trees, transparent obsidian materials reflected sunlight, which was directed toward special plants growing around each structure. The sun nourished the entire city, making it glow like a living rainbow.
Tall towers housed chimneys at their peaks, expelling smoke that smelled of herbs and prana. Other towers, located outside the city in a containment complex, had their smoke redirected to the mountain summits.
On a large platform suspended from the tallest tower in the city, a massive botanical garden surrounded by transparent obsidian was guarded by a battalion of imposing, well-armed orcs. Their robust bodies had a slight greenish tint, with pronounced canines, and they wielded weapons as large as their frames.
In the center of the botanical garden, a human knelt before five imposing chairs arranged in a semicircle.
The three central seats were occupied by orcs with grave expressions and scars covering their bodies. The two side chairs were taken by elegantly dressed women who exuded the fragrance of herbs.
"My king," the human said humbly to the figure seated in the central chair. "I come from the demonic imperial capital, Chaos, to report on the rumors about the 'queen's pawn.'"
The massive orc in the central chair gestured with his hand, signaling him to continue.
"I was disguised in demonic territory for a week and witnessed with my own eyes the Djinn named Glenn face three powerful warriors close to reaching the higher Champion rank. They were three impressive battles in a single day. He still emits the energy of an early Awakened rank, but his creativity and casting speed are supernatural. The demon is a complete anomaly! Even while being pressured in the three battles I witnessed, he managed two draws and one loss."