Chapter 95: Imperial Gates
The rugged wilderness eventually gave way to sprawling meticulously cultivated farmlands signaling their rapid approach to the epicenter of the known world.
The Solarian Capital was a breathtaking architectural marvel that defied standard human engineering.
Colossal white marble walls stretched hundreds of feet into the sky encircling a massive metropolis that housed millions of citizens. Towering spires of crystal and gold gleamed fiercely in the afternoon sun radiating a dense suffocating magical pressure that saturated the very air.
Leon stared up at the monumental imperial gates feeling a fierce burning thrill pump through his veins. This was the grand political stage where legendary Grandmasters and mythical Aura Lords waged their ruthless aristocratic wars.
The main entrance was heavily fortified and manned by dozens of elite Imperial Vanguard knights. These soldiers wore highly polished golden armor and carried enchanted halberds that hummed with volatile lethal energy.
Stormfang trotted confidently up the paved cobblestone road drawing immediate fearful attention from the bustling crowds of merchants and traveling nobles. The giant armored wolf was a legendary mount exclusively reserved for the highest ranking members of House Sterling.
A squad of imperial guards quickly stepped forward forming a sturdy barricade across the main gate. Leading the inspection was a tall broad shouldered captain bearing the crest of a minor imperial baron on his golden breastplate.
The captain possessed a highly arrogant sneer and a haughty demeanor that instantly irritated Leon’s predatory instincts. The officer’s eyes swept over the exhausted noble daughter and then locked onto the ragged bloodstained attendant holding the reins.
"Halt your beast," the golden captain commanded in a loud condescending tone. "State your business in the Solarian Capital and present your noble identification."
Seraphina sat up straight projecting her flawless mask of fierce aristocratic superiority. She reached into her leather satchel and produced a heavy golden medallion bearing the glowing silver lion crest of her family.
"I am Lady Seraphina Sterling," she announced coldly her voice carrying a sharp lethal edge. "I am here on urgent diplomatic business mandated by the Patriarch. This man is my personal warden."
The guard captain inspected the glowing medallion and offered a highly mocking stiff bow. His arrogant eyes flicked back to Leon evaluating the torn tailored tunic and the lack of any formal noble pedigree.
"House Sterling is always welcome," the captain sneered smoothly hiding his venom behind bureaucratic protocol. "However we have strict regulations regarding armed commoners entering the inner city. Your servant must surrender that oversized piece of scrap metal and submit to a magical binding collar."
Seraphina gripped her steel broadsword her violet eyes blazing with pure unadulterated outrage. Forcing a personal warden to wear a magical binding collar was a grave deliberate insult designed to publicly humiliate her family.
Leon did not wait for the noble daughter to start a bloody political incident at the city gates. He placed a calming hand on her knee and smoothly slid off the back of the giant wolf.
The crystal bell violently chimed in his skull projecting a glowing pink text box right in front of the arrogant captain’s smug face.
[Quest Issued: The Gatekeeper’s Folly]
[Context: A pompous imperial guard believes his shiny golden armor grants him the right to insult your status. A true warlord never surrenders his weapon or his dignity. Break his arrogant illusion without drawing your blade.]
[Objective: Step boldly into his personal space, firmly grab his armored shoulder pauldron, and use Kinetic Weight to forcefully drive him to his knees while demanding his immediate respect.]
[Reward: +20 Charisma, Skill ’Aura Suppression’, 400 Shameless Points.]
[Failure Penalty: The Host will suffer a violent localized magical disruption causing his trousers to loudly and continuously squeak like a rubber toy with every step he takes.]
Leon instantly decided the imperial captain was going to learn a highly painful lesson in physical gravity.
He walked casually toward the golden knight projecting his heavy Intimidation Aura to clear the surrounding crowds.
"I am afraid I cannot surrender my weapon Captain," Leon stated in a deep resonant voice that echoed off the massive marble walls.
The imperial officer scoffed and placed his hand on the hilt of his glowing halberd preparing to order his men to forcefully arrest the impudent servant.
Leon blurred into motion utilizing a fraction of his staggering two hundred and thirty five points of Agility. He materialized directly inside the captain’s personal guard before the man could even blink.
He raised his right hand and firmly gripped the thick golden shoulder pauldron of the officer’s armor. He channeled his internal mana and activated his Kinetic Weight skill aggressively pouring massive amounts of raw magical mass directly into the man’s armor.
The heavy golden breastplate suddenly weighed the equivalent of a solid boulder.
The captain let out a sharp breathless gasp of pure terror as his knees violently buckled under the astronomical crushing pressure. He crashed heavily onto the paved cobblestones his golden armor loudly grinding against the dirt.
The surrounding imperial guards froze in sheer unadulterated shock staring at the ragged servant who had just casually forced their commanding officer to his knees using a single bare hand.
"My name is Leon," he murmured chillingly leaning his handsome face close to the trembling captain. "I am the warden of House Sterling. You will open these gates immediatel."
The terrified captain frantically nodded his face pale and dripping with nervous sweat. He weakly gestured for his men to clear the barricade deeply humiliated by the monstrous physical power of the magicless attendant.
[Quest Completed Successfully!]
[Your trousers remain blissfully silent and highly intimidating.]
[Distributing Rewards: +20 Charisma, Skill ’Aura Suppression’ Acquired, 400 Shameless Points.]
A sudden intoxicating rush of heat flooded his facial features elevating his Charisma to an astronomical one hundred and twenty five points.
The newly acquired Aura Suppression skill burned into his nervous system granting him the vital ability to actively hide the magical signatures of anyone he touched.
Leon released his grip and casually strolled back to the giant armored wolf. He offered the Silver Goddess a charming wicked smirk before leading their mount through the towering imperial gates.
They stepped onto the bustling grand avenues of the Solarian Capital officially entering the deadliest political arena on the continent.
Leon was heavily armed massively over-statted and fully prepared to carve his own legendary path through the arrogant aristocratic elite.