Level Up: Voidwalker

Atlas, Grishna, and Amethyst got into the line that led into Moonlit City. While standing there, he turned to the Orc Woman, ''Where are all these people coming from, Grish?''

''The ferry,'' she answered while moving out of the way of the city guard, who were marching past. ''The council loves trade so they welcome merchants and travelers that spend gold in their city.''

He nodded in understanding before turning his attention to the massive stone wall that was thirty meters high, with towers dotting evenly along its length. Atlas noticed hundreds of soldiers patrolling the top.

'This city must be big to have this many troops,' he pondered as several wyverns passed over, causing Amethyst to stiffen.

The phoenix woman flared, causing Atlas to question, ''What's wrong, beautiful?''

''I hate the Wyvern Riders,'' she spat with hate laced in her voice. ''They hunted my tribe while helping the empire. The elders hated them and had to use up a lot of power to defeat the attackers when they came to the village.''

When Atlas heard this, he leaned into Amethyst's pointy ear and whispered. ''One day we will get revenge for you, my love.''

The young woman beamed when hearing this and tightened her grip on his arm as she rested her head on his shoulder. While this happened, Grishna giggled before teasing them, ''Get a room, love birds! It's bad enough I have to wait, but seeing you two so loved up makes me want to jump him.''

''I'm sorry, Grish, but it's important to my kind that we lose our virginity together,'' Amethyst explained with an apologetic expression. ''It helps our bond grow even more.''

When the Orc woman heard this, her smile widened as she moved to the other side while wrapping her arm around Amethyst's shoulder and replied with an amused tone, ''It's okay, little sister. We all understand and are not in a rush to do the deed.''

Following that, the trio moved a little as the queue stepped forward and the city guards let the merchants pass through. It took them a few hours until they were standing in the entrance square.

Atlas glanced around with wide eyes at a medieval fantasy city, with people wandering around while shopping at stalls dotting the square. Amethyst quickly spoke with a big smile. ''Let's get a city map. We should stay at the best inn here.''

Grishna agreed with a firm nod while speaking in an amused voice as they started walking looking for a place that sells a map, ''Definitely, we deserve the rest after all the dogs we've been slaughtering.''

The trio wandered through the bustling square, weaving between people and merchants, hawking their wares. The scent of freshly baked bread and roasted meats filled the air, mingling with the tang of leather and spices.

Atlas spotted a small stall with a hand-painted sign that read Maps & Guides and pointed it out. ''There we can get one from there,'' he said, leading the way.

Behind the stall stood an elderly man with spectacles perched on the tip of his nose. He smiled warmly as they approached. ''Looking for a map, are you? This one here's the best you'll find!''

He handed them a neatly folded parchment, the city's streets, and landmarks inked with clear detail. Amethyst inspected it with an approving nod, handing over a silver coin. ''Perfect! Let's see what this place has to offer for a holiday.''

With the map in hand, Atlas and the women ventured into the city, marveling at the vibrant life surrounding them. Street performers played lively tunes, and children dashed through the streets, laughing.

They stopped now and then to admire quaint shops or sample street food. As the sun dipped, they unfolded the map to locate an inn. Amethyst squinted at the names and suddenly burst into laughter.

''Oh no, look at this one!'' She pointed to a spot near the edge of the square labeled Ye Olde Snore & Roar.

Atlas snorted before chuckling, ''That's got to be a joke.''

''I say we stay there,'' their third companion chimed in, grinning.

When they arrived, the inn's sign was a comical painting of a dragon snoring while villagers fled, had all three of them laughing again. Atlas noticed the cozy lights coming from the windows.

The trio stepped into the inn, greeted by the lively hum of conversation and the clinking of mugs. Dozens of patrons filled the tables, laughing over frothy pints of ale. The warm glow of firelight danced across the cozy hall, the crackling hearths sending heat through the air.

Grishna's face lit up at the sight, her tusked grin wide with excitement, ''This is perfect!'' she exclaimed. ''We can order a feast for our room and drink until we can't see straight!''

Atlas couldn't help but laugh at Grishna's enthusiasm, shaking his head as he stepped toward the counter. Behind it stood a towering man with broad shoulders and a beard as thick as a forest.

He was cleaning a glass with a practiced rhythm, but as the trio approached, he glanced up, offering a warm smile. ''Welcome the Ye Olde Snore & Roar. Like the name I see? It's named after my dear old wife.''

As the older man said that, a woman's woman's voice echoed out, ''Jonathan! Serve the customers to stop gossiping!''

Atlas started laughing when he heard that, and the man Johnathan turned to them with a big smile. ''Now you know where the Roar comes from. How can I help you, young ones?'' the man asked, his voice deep and friendly.

Atlas leaned against the counter, his grin still lingering. ''Could we get your best room for a month, please? And… if we pay extra, can we have stuff sent up to it?'' he asked, tilting his head curiously.

Jonathan nodded while opening a book and asking for a name, causing him to answer, ''Atlas Montague.''

The older man smiled before revealing the price, ''That will be five gold coins with food, baths, and other amenities available to you.''

Atlas handed over the coins and received a key in return as Jonathan spoke, ''Head to the top floor, look for the blue door. That's your room young man and there's a device in there that will allow you to call down to the kitchen.''

Following that, he thanked the older man before heading upstairs while Grishna commented with a giggle, ''Looks like this place will be fun, especially with you here, handsome.''

After speaking, the Orc woman slapped him on the back, ''At least all that loot we got from the empire will help in Moonlit City.''

Atlas chuckled when hearing this. ''Yeah, that last fortress gave me loads of gold coins which we can use here.'' Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

Amethyst spoke up suddenly, breaking the silence. ''We all need new armor. This place should have some great shops we can check out.''

Minutes later, the trio spotted the blue door at the end of the corridor, causing Grishna to dart forward after grabbing the keys from his hand. Amethyst followed behind, causing Atlas to shake his head as they entered the room.

He walked into the room as the phoenix woman held the door for him with a big smile. ''This place looks comfortable, my love. It will be a good place to rest.''

The room was spacious and elegantly decorated, featuring a plush carpet and a grand, oversized bed positioned in one corner. Large windows and a door opened onto a balcony, offering a stunning view of the city below.

Atlas finished admiring the room and agreed with a nod before slumping down on a nearby sofa, which made him feel good. 'Ah, so comfortable, I'm glad that we found this place,' he thought.

Following that, he opened a portal for the other woman and they stepped through while glancing around. Nulia was first followed by Estelle, Zena, and Lilith, who was in her human form chatting with Artemis.

When the four ladies saw Atlas, they beamed before greeting him with a kiss and cuddle before the blonde commented, ''This place looks nice. I assume we've arrived at Moonlit City?''

''Yes,'' he replied with a big smile. ''Order whatever you like, but I'm heading back to clear more monsters from the Void Realm. If you do grab something to eat, make sure to get me something, too.''

Just as those words left his lips, Lilith and Amethyst jumped in his lap as the duo wanted to help him. This caused the others to giggle before asking to join, which Atlas accepted and activated the skill that sucked into the strange world.

The seven of them appeared in the swamp as Atlas started explaining about the Broodmaws and Kraxari which surprised the group but they readied for battle when a creepy chittering noise echoed out.

He pulled out his swords and cast Void Infusion on them before doing the same for Estelle, Grishna, Artemis, and Zena. Amethyst quickly transformed into her phoenix form as she soared into the sky.

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