Immortal Paladin

The line advanced at a brisk pace, never lingering for more than a few breaths before another traveler reached the gate. The pair of guards stopped people at irregular intervals, requesting proof of identity in the form of either official papers or a token. The token itself was a square piece of metal roughly a centimeter thick, with a pattern of ridges carved into one face. Each guard carried a matching plate that the token fit against perfectly, allowing them to verify its authenticity with a single glance.

From what I observed through snippets of conversation, the token's design changed about once every week, making counterfeiting or stealing one a pointless endeavor unless the thief intended to use it immediately. Those planning expeditions lasting longer than a few days instead carried stamped travel papers issued by the fortress. It was a surprisingly robust administrative system, one that hinted at an efficient bureaucracy beneath the settlement's rustic appearance. Anyone who underestimated Woodland Fortress because it sat in the middle of a forest would be making a grave mistake.

While waiting for my turn, I quietly activated Ophanim. Countless projected futures bloomed before my eyes, each one exploring a different possibility inside the fortress beyond the gates. Most of those futures ended before revealing anything useful, interrupted by walls, patrols, or simple chance, but together they gradually painted a rough picture of the settlement's layout.

At the same time, I spared a glance toward the two gatekeepers. One wielded a spear while the other rested a hand on the hilt of a longsword. With Ophanim working alongside the First Mystery, the fragmented possibilities condensed into a coherent understanding of who they were.

The spearman stood on the left. Dong Hui. Level 45. Easygoing, opportunistic, and just a little too comfortable accepting gifts from grateful merchants. His reputation among his fellow guards wasn't exactly flattering. Words like sleazy, lazy, and shameless floated through the countless futures I examined. He wasn't malicious, merely someone who preferred making his life easier whenever possible. The swordsman on the right was his complete opposite. Yun Chao. Level 62. Formerly an official from a kingdom somewhere east of the Hollowed World before circumstances had brought him here. Disciplined, principled, and stubborn to a fault. Every future involving a bribe ended exactly the same way. It was with a cold refusal. I couldn't help suspecting that whoever assigned them to gate duty had deliberately paired them together. Dong Hui's worst habits were kept in check simply because Yun Chao was standing beside him.

Eventually, the traveler ahead of me passed inspection, leaving me face-to-face with the two guards.

Yun Chao's sharp eyes settled on me before he spoke in an even, authoritative tone.

"Proof of citizenship."

"I... don't have any," I admitted, allowing confusion and exhaustion to seep naturally into my voice. My Supremacy Trait subtly reinforced those emotions, nudging them toward genuine sympathy without crossing into outright manipulation. "I was a hunter from one of the villages in the lower regions beneath Mount Qingshi. I was tracking prey through the woods, and the next..." I frowned, looking around as though I still couldn't make sense of my surroundings. "A strange glowing thing appeared in front of me. I touched it without thinking, and everything became a blur. When I woke up, I was already here. I don't even know where 'here' is."

The two guards exchanged a glance before looking back at me. Their expressions remained cautious.

Dong Hui scratched the side of his helmet.

"That's impossible," he muttered. "Newcomers aren't supposed to appear on the fifteenth floor. If he's telling the truth..." His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Could there be some hidden passage connecting the first floor all the way up here? Some hidden route nobody's discovered?"

Yun Chao frowned. "Our duty isn't to invent theories."

"I'm just saying."

"Our duty is to guard the gate."

Dong Hui shrugged. 

"And without proper identification, he can't enter," Yun Chao continued firmly. "Rules exist for a reason."

Dong Hui rubbed his chin for another moment before snapping his fingers. "I'll take responsibility."

Yun Chao looked at him in disbelief.

"I'll report this directly to the chief," Dong Hui said. "If this fellow really appeared here out of nowhere, the higher-ups will want to know. If he's lying..." He shrugged again. "Then they'll deal with him."

"You intend to leave your post?"

"It'll only take a moment. You're enough to watch the gate."

Without waiting for another argument, Dong Hui jogged through the entrance and disappeared into the fortress.

I watched him leave with a strange expression.

That was astonishingly irresponsible.

Then again, considering everything I'd learned about his personality, perhaps it wasn't surprising. He probably smelled an opportunity to earn merit by presenting an unusual case directly to his superior. Whether I was an important discovery or simply an oddity, he wanted to be the one credited for finding me.

Yun Chao let out a quiet sigh before raising his voice so everyone waiting outside the gate could hear him.

"The inspection line will be temporarily suspended!"

His voice carried remarkable authority, silencing the scattered conversations almost instantly.

"Take this opportunity to rest. Eat if you must, but remain where you are. Do not attempt anything foolish." His gaze swept across the crowd before lingering on several unfamiliar faces. "Especially those visiting from other regions. Woodland Fortress takes public security very seriously. Our archers are among the finest in the Tower, and I strongly advise against testing them."

Almost on cue, figures emerged atop the wooden walls.

Archers stepped into view between the battlements, each already holding a bow with practiced confidence. None drew an arrow, yet they didn't need to. Their disciplined posture alone conveyed everything necessary. They had likely been there all along, hidden behind the parapets until Yun Chao's warning called attention to them. It was a subtle demonstration of strength, one intended to discourage trouble before it ever began.

The effect was immediate.

Rather than complain, the people waiting in line accepted the delay with surprising patience. Some sat down beneath the shade of nearby trees. Others unpacked travel pots and casually began preparing meals over portable stoves. A few merchants produced decks of worn cards, gathering into small circles as laughter gradually replaced the earlier impatience. No one attempted to rush the gate. No one questioned Yun Chao's authority.

"Um... why is everyone being checked so thoroughly?" I asked hesitantly. "Is something bad happening?"

The question fit perfectly with the image of a bewildered newcomer. Between my carefully crafted expression and the subtle influence of my Supremacy Trait, Yun Chao's stern demeanor softened ever so slightly. He remained vigilant, but there was no reason to hide information that practically everyone in the Tower already knew.

"Not long ago," he explained, "a bounty was placed on the Holy Emperor. The greatest organizations throughout the Tower gathered around Woodland Fortress in hopes of tracking him down. Ever since then, security has been tightened considerably."

I blinked several times before forcing disbelief onto my face.

"The... Holy Emperor?" I echoed. "Wouldn't hunting someone like that be treason? Besides..." I hesitated as though struggling to find the right words for effect. "Is it even possible to bring down someone that powerful?"

A burst of laughter erupted from several people waiting a few paces behind me.

"Hear that?"

"The newcomer thinks the Holy Emperor can't be killed."

"What an idiot."

"Looks like someone hasn't learned how the Tower works yet."

"Must've spent his whole life chasing rabbits."

I ignored the ridicule on the surface, though inwardly I found their reactions fascinating.

If I were being honest, I couldn't realistically picture anyone inside the Tower successfully capturing me. Even in my current state, this body was nothing more than a clone. My true self remained far beyond their reach. The difference between us wasn't merely one of strength but of existence itself.

Curiosity won over irritation.

I quietly invoked Ophanim once more.

Projected futures unfolded before my eyes as I struck up countless imaginary conversations with the very people mocking me. In one future, I argued with the loudest merchant. In another, I questioned an old adventurer. Yet another had me chatting with a pair of mercenaries pretending not to eavesdrop. Each future diverged differently, but together they painted a remarkably consistent picture.

None of them cared about the Holy Emperor as an individual.

Whether I could shatter mountains, sink continents, or reduce every living thing before me to ash with a casual rub of my palms meant absolutely nothing to them. Fear had long since dulled into indifference. Life inside the Tower had granted these people opportunities that bordered on miracles. Every floor conquered, every level gained, every new Skill acquired intoxicated them with the promise that one day they, too, could stand at the summit. Against that overwhelming ambition, even an existence like the Holy Emperor became little more than another obstacle or another bounty.

Power had become their religion.

I continued exploring more futures, speaking with different groups each time. Compared to before, maintaining Ophanim felt noticeably easier. This clone had gradually acclimated to the strain, allowing me to sustain the power for longer periods without feeling as though my mind was being torn apart.

Even so, every ability had its limits. The familiar ache began creeping behind my eyes. Satisfied with what I'd learned, I dismissed Ophanim before I pushed myself too far.

A few moments later, hurried footsteps approached from inside the fortress.

Dong Hui returned with a broad grin plastered across his face.

"I brought the Chief Constable!"

The man walking beside him immediately drew my attention.

He looked elderly, his gray hair tied neatly behind his head, but age had done nothing to diminish his imposing physique. He towered over Dong Hui with shoulders broad enough to make the younger guard seem almost scrawny by comparison. Every measured step carried quiet authority.

Without hesitation, I activated Ophanim one final time.

Information surfaced almost immediately and learned the old man was a former Guardian judging by the divine power masterfully hidden inside him. My eyebrows nearly twitched at the sudden surprise. Perhaps my luck had finally begun turning around.

The old man stopped several paces before me.

"I am Cheng Bao, Chief Constable of Woodland Fortress," he introduced himself calmly. "I have a few questions for you."

As he spoke, I discreetly peered into his system interface and learned he possessed Divine Sense at full mastery. Ordinary lies would likely crumble before someone like him. Divine Sense at that level was more than intuition. It bordered on discerning the truth itself.

Fortunately, there was a considerable difference between telling a lie and allowing someone to believe the wrong conclusion. Moreover, as the pinnacle of the Paladin Legacy, I could just impose my will on his divine power if it came to it.

The questioning began immediately.

"State your name."

I answered, uttering a fake name. "Da Luo."

"Where did you come from?"

I described my fabricated life beneath Mount Qingshi, repeating what I said to the guards earlier.

"How did you arrive here?"

I answered in a nervous, but succinct manner, acting out the character I've decided. The old man changed tactics repeatedly. Some questions were mundane. Others circled back to earlier answers, searching for inconsistencies. A few had nothing to do with my circumstances at all, serving only to test whether I would lie over trivial matters.

Throughout it all, I remained perfectly composed.

Everything I said was built upon fragments of truth carefully woven together with plausible misunderstandings. I never directly stated anything that could be proven false. Instead, I allowed Cheng Bao to assemble the picture himself while I faithfully played the role of an unfortunate hunter who had inexplicably awakened on the fifteenth floor through no fault of his own.

By the end of the interrogation, even Cheng Bao appeared convinced.

He nodded once.

"Very well."

The people waiting behind me were beginning to grow visibly impatient, so further delays would only create unnecessary disorder.

"Open the gate."

The heavy wooden doors parted, allowing me to enter Woodland Fortress.

Behind me, Dong Hui rubbed his hands together excitedly.

"So it really might be true!" he exclaimed. "If there's a hidden passage leading from the first floor all the way here, shouldn't we report it to the Lord? Maybe organize an expedition to search for it?"

Cheng Bao turned toward him with a look that immediately erased the guard's enthusiasm.

"Know your place."

Dong Hui stiffened.

"That decision does not belong to you," Cheng Bao continued sternly. "Your responsibility is guarding the entrance, not deciding military expeditions. Return to your post."

"...Yes, Chief Constable."

Dong Hui hurried back beside Yun Chao without another word.

The remaining formalities took place inside a modest administrative building adjacent to the gate. Clerks efficiently recorded my information, assigned me an identification number, and prepared a freshly engraved citizenship token bearing Woodland Fortress's current seal. The entire process was astonishingly organized. Judging from the speed at which they processed travelers, this fortress had clearly refined its bureaucracy over many years.

Once the paperwork was complete, Cheng Bao handed me the token.

"Congratulations," he said. "You are now a citizen of Woodland Fortress."

He gestured toward a large wooden notice board standing outside the office.

"If you wish to familiarize yourself with our laws, read the regulations posted there. They contain everything a citizen is expected to know."

He paused before his expression grew more serious.

"Citizenship inside the Tower differs greatly from the world outside. Beyond these walls, kingdoms, borders, and notions of civilized law hold little meaning. Human life is respected only where people possess the strength to enforce that respect."

His gaze drifted toward the fortress gate.

"The laws protecting Woodland Fortress end at its borders. Likewise, the laws of another territory end where theirs do. Outside any settlement, you may be robbed or killed without consequence unless you possess the strength to defend yourself."

He inclined his head politely.

"Welcome to Woodland Fortress."

With that, Cheng Bao turned and walked away, leaving me standing alone with a brand-new citizenship token resting quietly in my hand.

I watched Cheng Bao disappear into the crowd, my gaze lingering on the number floating above his head.

Level 150.

It was an absurd figure for a place like Woodland Fortress. From everything I'd observed over the past several hours, most guards hovered between Levels 40 and 70, while ordinary adventurers rarely climbed beyond Level 50. Cheng Bao stood at roughly three times the average strength of the fortress. That alone would've been enough to earn my attention.

It wasn't what interested me the most.

His class was.

Dark Paladin.

The words remained etched into my thoughts long after he had vanished from sight.

For a brief moment, I was tempted to reveal my identity. As a former Guardian who had inherited the Paladin Legacy through me, Cheng Bao was someone worth speaking to. There was a very real possibility that he possessed knowledge concerning the remnants of the Legacy or perhaps even information regarding the disappearance of other Guardians.

I ultimately suppressed the impulse.

The Tower wasn't a place where trust could be given so casually. Revealing myself now would accomplish nothing except placing all of my cards on the table before I understood the rules of the game.

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