Chapter 172: Capital City

Valerion was a sprawling city, its tall white walls and towering spires reaching toward the sky. A vast metropolis with wide roads and paved paths, it seamlessly integrated railroads into its design, a testament to its mastery of urban planning. The streets were alive with movement—carriages rolling past, merchants calling out their wares, and pedestrians bustling about their daily lives. It was a city that never truly slept, yet despite its ceaseless activity, its beauty remained undiminished.

However, even this magnificent city had its shadows—its slums.

Damon knew this all too well.

He had lived there.

A rundown house, little more than a shelter from the cold. But most of his days had been spent on the streets.

He knew exactly how cruel Valerion could be.

If you could make it here, you could make it anywhere.

But most people didn't.

This city had no mercy for those who couldn't adapt.