"Isn’t the moon beautiful?"
Leon paused mid-step as he heard the voice.
He slowly turned his head to the right and saw one of the [Moon Sect Guards] looking directly at him.
The guard’s expression was calm, almost serene, his eyes reflecting the pale light of the massive moon hanging low above the city.
"Yes," Leon replied without hesitation. "It is."
The guard studied him for a brief moment, then nodded in satisfaction.
"Very good," he said. "The real one is coming soon."
"I hope to see it," Leon answered evenly.
That seemed to be the correct response.
Without another word, the guard stepped aside, allowing Leon and Emilia to pass through the city gate.
Leon knew how easily this could have gone wrong.
Much like Merek back in [Hub City], these beings were not players from other worlds.
They were natives of the [Lower Domain] itself, entities born directly from [Eternal Ascension].
And unlike merchants or wanderers, these ones were zealots. They worshiped the moon.
Any hesitation. Any uncertainty. Any wrong tone when answering that question could instantly mark someone as a threat.
Leon had seen it before.
Players being denied entry. Players being beaten. Some even killed on the spot, all because they laughed, shrugged, or replied too slowly.
"This city is incredible," Emilia said as they walked deeper inside, her eyes shining as she took everything in. "It feels... alive. Way more than [Hub City]."
She wasn’t wrong. [Moon City] was bustling in a completely different way.
Unlike [Hub City], which existed almost solely for players, this place had natives everywhere.
Real inhabitants. They walked the streets, spoke to one another, carried baskets, sold food, polished weapons, repaired armor.
Shops lined the stone roads, their signs lit with soft moonlight.
And everywhere, watching from every corner, were the [Moon Sect Guards].
They stood at intersections, near important buildings, on rooftops, beside alleyways. Always watching. Always silent.
"If anyone tried to start something here, they’d be dead in seconds," Emilia muttered.
Sometimes higher-leveled players would come to cause chaos, but since none of the items here interested them, they saw no reason in doing so.
But more than anything, if anyone came to cause chaos for no reason, even at level 50... they would come to regret it.
Leon looked up, and the moon still stood there.
"So what do we do?" Emilia asked eagerly. "Explore? Or head outside to grind more levels?"
Leon didn’t answer immediately.
His eyes scanned the city, taking in the flow of people, the guarded streets, the subtle hierarchy in movement.
Players stayed near the outer districts. Natives filled the inner ones.
And near the center...
"The blacksmith," Leon said at last. "That’s where we’re going."
Emilia blinked. "Another one? Like Merek?"
"Well, yes but no," Leon smiled, "I think it’ll be much harder to gain his favor, but it will definitely be worth it."
That person might be the strongest blacksmith in the [Lower Domain].
And though there were some stronger ones in the [Higher Domain] or [Eternal Domain], it didn’t truly matter, as Leon knew it would take a while to head there.
They moved deeper into the city, the architecture shifting subtly as they went.
Buildings became taller, stonework more refined, carvings of moons and symbols embedded into walls and pillars.
Unlike [Hub City], the streets never became empty. Even areas without players were filled with life.
Leon opened his [Storage Space] as they walked, casually scrolling through the categories: materials, equipment, consumables.
Then he paused: skills.
He stopped walking for half a second.
Inside that category were the familiar entries: [Shadow Arrows], [Darkness Barrier].
But beneath them...
"...Right," Leon muttered.
[Shadow Slash (Legendary): Blend into the shadows for 30 seconds, then strike at an enemy with a powerful darkness-based attack. Requirement: Level 15.]
He had completely forgotten about it.
The skill book had come from the [Mythical Treasure Chest] he obtained during the [Shadow Horde] event.
At the time, he couldn’t use it, and with everything that followed: equipment, bosses, upgrades, it had slipped his mind. Until now.
Regardless, it was good he remembered it right now, as it could come in handy later.
He reached into his [Storage Space] and pulled out the black-and-silver skill book.
The cover felt cold to the touch, shadows faintly shifting along its surface.
Legendary-rank skill. His first one in this life. Leon poured his mana into the book.
The pages dissolved instantly, breaking apart into countless motes of dark light that surged forward and seeped into his body.
Ding!
[You have learned the skill "Shadow Slash"]
Leon exhaled slowly.
"Nice."
A legendary skill this early was absurd. And he knew exactly how strong it could become.
Of course, that also meant it would be a nightmare to upgrade: ten Enhancement Stones just for the first level.
Still. It was worth it. Leon closed his panel and resumed walking.
They admired the city for a while longer, the quiet tension beneath its beauty never truly fading.
But just as they were about to turn toward the district where Leon knew the blacksmith should be—
"Halt."
They stopped. Ahead of them stood a wide open avenue leading toward the heart of the city.
And blocking it... A line of [Moon Sect Guards].
"No one is allowed beyond this point," one of them said coldly. "The [Blood Moon Cathedral] is sealed until the [Blood Moon] arrives."
"Turn back," another added. "If you proceed, you will be killed."
"There will be no mercy."
The guards raised their weapons slightly: staffs glowing faintly, swords humming with restrained power.
Leon felt it immediately. This wasn’t a bluff.
’Shit,’ Leon sighed internally. ’I forgot about this.’
His jaw tightened. The blacksmith he wanted to meet was located near the cathedral.
Close enough that this restriction blocked access completely.
No one, players or natives, was allowed near it.
That was one of the reasons no one could attempt the [Blood Moon Cathedral] early.
Leon took a breath and kept his expression neutral.
"When does the [Blood Moon] arrive?" he asked calmly.
"In less than a day," one guard replied. "The call has already been received," he lifted his gaze slightly. "Look at the sky."
Leon did. And for the first time, he truly noticed it. The massive pale moon... was changing.
Its edges were darkening, tinged with crimson. A faint red hue slowly crept across its surface, like blood spreading through water.
It was beautiful. And terrifying. It really would only take a little under a day.
The event was coming.
Still... Leon clenched his fist slightly. Waiting was inefficient.
He had materials to sell. Plans to execute. Momentum he didn’t want to lose.
Was he really going to be stopped here?
"Last warning."
One of the guards stepped forward. He was taller than the others. Broader. His presence alone made the air heavier.
Leon immediately activated [Appraisal].
---
[Moon Sect General]
[Level: 25]
[Exclusive Talent: Blood Moon Worshiper (B-Level)]
[Combat Power: ???]
[Details: A member of the "Moon Sect" with a stronger affinity to the Blood Moon than standard guards.]
---
Leon’s eyes narrowed.
...
A/N
Thank you all so much for your support on this book, I’ll make sure to make it even better!