Dark Warlock in the Apocalypse

Some would have fortresses or walls, and others wouldn't.

'In other words, once this quest ends, the difference between us will be almost impossible to catch up to,' Justin thought. Unlike in the past, a single invasion wouldn't be enough to turn the tide of a disadvantageous war. There would even be cities where attacking would be a suicidal act.

Dino, satisfied with the tension on the faces of the pioneers, nodded.

"But you still have a chance. A chance to choose the city you desire."

"There's a test, though, right?" Justin asked.

"Yes. After all, this is a competition. Not everyone can live in a perfect city."

That made sense. If that were the case, there wouldn't be any reason to compete.

"Before you choose the city you want, I should tell you about the ancient civilizations. The story of the predecessors who once lived in this world..."

"No."

Justin cut off Dino's explanation abruptly. There was no mention of any test in the World Breaker. Naturally, he didn't know the specifics of it. But as for the ancient races and the cities, no one here knew as much as he did.

"There's no need for an explanation. I've already made up my mind."

"What?" Dino blinked in confusion.

"Dark Elves."

"...!" Dino's eyes widened as Justin grinned.

"I want the Dark Elves' city."

In the World Breaker, the term "predecessor races" didn't refer to a single race. It was a collective term for all the species that once built civilizations. This included orcs and goblins, who had fallen into the status of monsters. Any intelligent creature that had once lived in a city was considered a predecessor race.

'But the civilizations they built varied greatly.'

Orcs and goblins were included only because they had once formed nations, but even at their peak, their nations were like patchwork. The benefits of obtaining such cities were hardly worth the trouble. Anyone who wasn't desperate or had already lost in the competition wouldn't even consider choosing them.

'The four races that provide the greatest benefits are the High Elves, Dwarves, Dark Elves, and Halflings.'

These races had cities that included all the advantages Dino had mentioned. In addition, the races themselves granted further benefits. Any pioneer who had played the World Breaker would be aiming for one of these cities.

Justin was no different. To establish a hierarchy, he needed to secure the Dark Elves' city.

Dino, who had been momentarily stunned, finally nodded in acknowledgment.

"I understand. If that's what you want..."

"W-Wait! What about us?!" Grayson exclaimed, his voice filled with panic as he grabbed Justin's arm.

It seemed he had assumed they would tackle the city conquests together. But Justin had no intention of following the same path just to maintain their alliance. This was something he couldn't afford to concede to anyone.

"If you're lucky, we'll meet again. You can repay your debt later."

"Damn it, I thought I'd get some help from a strong ally for once," Grayson grumbled.

Justin merely shrugged at Grayson's complaints before turning his gaze back to Dino. Dino pointed to one side of the black tower. With a rumbling sound, one of the countless doors in the tower opened.

"Please, enter."

"Where does that door lead?" Justin asked.

"It leads to the testing ground. When you arrive, others will be waiting—those who want the same city as you."

Justin understood. He would be facing other competitors who desired the Dark Elves' city. Any high-ranking player would know the value of that city. But that suited Justin just fine. The more formidable his competitors, the more satisfying it would be to eliminate them.

Justin and his companions slowly moved toward the tower. The massive structure seemed to draw closer in an instant, and before long, they were pulled into the door, disappearing inside.

"Forget what I said earlier. There are still things that can surprise me," Derek muttered, dazed, as he stood inside the tower.

What lay beyond the door wasn't the interior of the tower but another world entirely. Above them stretched a clear sky, and far in the distance, they could see mountains and fields.

Rachel was in awe of the sight. "Is this really the inside of the tower?"

"Well, there's no rule saying it has to be the inside of the tower. When we first arrived near the tower, we got here through a scroll, right?" Justin explained.

"Oh!" Rachel clapped her hands, realizing what he meant. The possibility that the tower's doors could be dimensional gates wasn't out of the question.

"But doesn't this seem overly complicated? Wouldn't it be easier to just transport us all at once?" Rachel asked, still puzzled. Read new chapters at empire

"Who knows? I can't guess everything the system has in mind," Justin replied. However, it was clear that showing the pioneers around the tower was intentional. Perhaps it was meant to show them that this world was as vast as Earth.

Just as everyone was starting to relax, conversation flowing more freely, Nathan suddenly pointed to one side, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Hey, guys, look at that!"

"What do you mean, look at... Holy crap."

Everyone followed his gaze, and their jaws dropped in astonishment.

A moment later, Ethan managed to utter a single sentence.

"This is... breathtaking."

What they were looking at was a magnificent castle. Calling it 'beautiful' didn't do it justice. The bricks were as white as pearls, the towers gleamed with gold, and intricate geometric patterns in azure adorned its surface. It looked like a masterpiece of art more than a mere castle.

In all of Earth's history, had there ever been a castle as splendid as this? And they could only see the upper part of it peeking over the high walls, yet even that was enough to leave them in awe.

As they were all captivated by the sight, a voice echoed out.

"Do you like it? The castle that was once ours. The trace of a glorious civilization.