Danger sense isn’t something you are born with but is honed through countless experiences until it is something you trust more than the air you breathe.

~Cailleach, the Veiled Hag of Winter

Mara and Otto stood before their weary group and stared at the city before them. It was the last one before they reached the Ascent to the fifth floor, but it wasn’t like any city they’ve seen to date.

Every building was a massive stone pyramid, and they formed a circle around a multi-tiered farm. Around each pyramid, they paved the ground with cobblestone. That went at least two hundred meters beyond the ring of pyramids. The meter-tall wall encircled the place wouldn’t keep beasts out, and stranger still, the wall was over three meters wide.

“What am I seeing?” Nin asked their guide.

“That is to keep the jungle back. If we built a taller wall, the creepers from the forest would cause it to crumble within weeks. The pyramids can house at least a million people and go quite a ways underground, too.”

“Is that also to prevent those creepers you were talking about?”

“It is. Some of those roots can reach fifty meters underground and spread in every direction destabilizing this place’s foundation from underneath. Without all these things, this city would fall to ruin within a year. If you have time, I recommend climbing to the top of the pyramids. There are large plazas up there, and each one serves a different purpose. The largest one in the back that houses the market.”

“People have to walk their goods up?”

“Nah. There is a porter organization, and those with Shields can make a decent wage running goods up and down the pyramid. It will also help condition your Body, or so I’m told. There is also a Mana Lift inside, a large platform that rises to the top of the pyramid. However, the cost to use it is ten Mana Crystals, which is fairly exorbitant.”

“What about the passage to the Ascent? Is that safe?” Mara asked. She took charge of the group but didn’t really command any of them. The Song sisters, Otto, Nin, and Acco, who had caught up to them last week, were not weak. However, because of Crow, Mara earned her right to be second in command, and all of them trusted her.

It was a huge responsibility, but she took to it because she realized Crow was giving her a place and purpose. Everyone here had their own talents, and before he came along, she constantly doubted her self-worth. She struggled to feel like she had any value, but Crow immediately spotted her talents and encouraged her. His guidance drew out her potential and showed her who she was meant to be. She loved him because he never filled her with doubt about who she was.

“The passage to the wall is safe and is less than a kilometer from the last pyramid. If you were feeling adventurous, there are gliders on that last pyramid, allowing you to drift over the forest and land near the Ascent. It’s a one-way trip but well worth it if you’ve never tried it. If you want to come back, you’ll have to walk or hitch a ride.”

Hearing about the glider, both Song Xue and Nin perked up. They were definitely going to do this, and Mara felt a headache coming on. Otto and Song Lin remained indifferent. Acco didn’t show signs he cared either way. With his ability to teleport, that kind of thrill probably didn’t even phase him.

“Come, come. I’ll bring you to a few inns, and you can decide where you would like to stay. To show that I run an honest business, I’ll point out places owned by the different groups. I’m not going to talk about any of them because angering them is likely to get me killed, but you can ask the guards for information about each. They are part of an agnostic organization paid for by the powers within the city and are supposed to remain neutral.”

An hour later, they reached a gate that allowed them to pass through the wall. It was amusing since they could have jumped on the wall and walked into the city. Seeing their nonchalant attitude, the guide slapped his head.

“I almost forgot, and I apologize. Only enter the city through these archways. A formation across the wall helps repulse the jungle, and it doesn’t differentiate between plant, beast, or man. You’ll get hit by fire and lightning until you die or escape back the way you came. Not even the Stone Shields would survive it, much less you.”

The stone-covered land that surrounded the pyramids was like a grand plaza. The scope of what had been done here was significant enough to warrant their awe and admiration. But that couldn’t compare to the pyramids up close. The sloped sides had doors, balconies, and windows at regular intervals, giving it an ancient and modern feel. The surprising thing was the number of floors it had—it was at least a hundred.

“These three pyramids in front of us are the only ones for visitor use. There are plenty of inns, apartments, and other temporary living conveniences. Please do not enter the main residential areas unless you have an invitation. The Maple Leaf Merchants mostly owned the left pyramid, but they leased some of it to smaller organizations. The one in the middle belongs to the Sour Swine Syndicate, and the one on the right belongs to the Majestic Auction House. Remember, ask around before choosing where you want to set up your temporary residency.”

Mara pointed to the pyramid on the right. “That one.”

“Oh?” the guide asked and hesitated some before commenting further. “I think you should ask around.”

All of them would be fools if they missed that hint, and none of them were fools. Mara hesitated and thought about it before shrugging. “We’ll ask around then.”

“Alright, this concludes my services. It has been a pleasure traveling with all of you, and thank you for saving my life. If fate wills it, maybe we’ll meet again,” the guide was very formal, and his gratitude was evident. None of them doubted his sincerity because he didn’t hesitate to share anything he knew about this floor.

“Now what?” Nin asked.

“We offload our goods with the auction house and spend a few days here before heading for the Ascent. I don’t like the vibe of this place,” Mara said, and Song Lin nodded. Having had a higher level Shield, she was highly sensitive to mana and agreed that there was a pervasive rot in this place. Something dark lurked underground, and she wondered if they should stay. “Song Lin?”

The entire group turned toward her after Mara called her name.

“We shouldn’t stay here.”

“What—”

“No, don’t talk. Let’s take those gliders and go,” Song Lin rarely spoke so firmly, and Mara’s eyes narrowed in thought. They all knew she was like a mana radar, so silently, they agreed with her.

The powers watching knew that these people had wealth, and the women were top-notch. They were all plotting how to capture and enslave them, but none of them expected that they’d head right for the gliders as soon as they arrived. It was such a sudden twist that they didn’t even have time to stop them. Mara’s group had already paid and were airborne by the time they realized what was happening.

Cursing in their hearts, they could only watch as their prey escaped. It wasn’t the end of it. Each interested power, especially those belonging to Unhulde, sent small armies toward the Ascent. It was dangerous to mess around close to the wall, but those organizations could care less about their subordinates.

Not long after Mara and the others left, another stranger arrived with an alluring beauty by his side. He immediately sensed the corrupted spirits belowground and grinned. His eyes glowed blue with his unfathomable gaze. Those sinister organizations felt a slight tremor of danger but largely ignored it.