"The Fallen Empire: Ancient City III"

Snake Calendar, Year 2025

??th Day? of Month???, ???

Fifth-Level Dimensional Gate, Ancient City

Accel stood frozen in awe, staring at the vast empire before him. The city was perfectly preserved, its grand buildings and towering walls untouched by time. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. The streets were clean, the structures looked brand new, and there was no sign of decay. Yet, there was also no sign of life. No people, no animals, not even insects. It was an empire frozen in time, waiting to be discovered.

Meanwhile, back at the emergency stronghold, the teachers, instructors, and elite adventurers decided to send out a large scouting party. Out of the 70,000 people stationed at the stronghold, they gathered a medium-sized force of 15,000 students, adventurers, and scholars to explore the strange new world. Before the eternal darkness lifted, they had seen a towering mountain in the distance, but when the sky brightened, the mountain vanished, replaced by this mysterious and untouched empire. It defied all logic, but given the strange nature of dimensional gates, no one could dismiss the possibility of powerful unknown forces at play.

As Accel remained hidden behind a massive tree, he noticed the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. He peered from his hiding spot and recognized the excited voices of researchers and scholars. Just like before, they eagerly rushed toward the city, desperate to uncover its secrets. Accel smirked at their enthusiasm.

"These people are crazy for ancient knowledge," he muttered to himself before blending into their ranks, once again posing as a scholar.

The elite adventurers followed closely behind, maintaining their guard as they approached the city. At the same time, the large scouting party from the emergency stronghold reached the outskirts and spotted the smaller research group heading in their direction. Eventually, both groups converged at the entrance of the empire.

Connecting them to the city was a massive stone bridge, perfectly crafted without a single crack. The sheer scale and craftsmanship of the structure left everyone speechless. It was too perfect. The walls, the gates, the buildings—everything remained pristine. It was as if time had stopped the moment the empire was abandoned.

One of the high-level researchers, an elderly man named Professor Eldric, ran his fingers across the walls and frowned. "This material... I've never seen anything like it. It's stone, but at the same time, it's not. It's infused with runes—ancient magic that must have preserved the city for thousands of years!"

Another scholar, a woman named Professor Lyra, nodded in agreement. "This must be why nothing has deteriorated. The runes act as a form of reinforcement, maintaining the integrity of every structure. This is beyond anything we've ever studied!"

As the group ventured further, they passed by several massive statues standing in a row along the main road. These statues depicted armored knights, each holding a different weapon—swords, spears, shields, and bows.

A student pointed at the crest engraved on the base of the statues. "Look! There's a symbol! A shield, a dragon, a sword, and a flag. What could it mean?"

Professor Eldric adjusted his glasses. "It's likely the emblem of the empire that once ruled here. But which empire? We have no records of a civilization like this in any of our archives."

As they moved past the outer districts, they found vast agricultural fields, industrial zones, and even market squares. Everything was perfectly arranged, hinting at an advanced and well-organized society. The deeper they went, the more the city resembled Nova Asta in terms of layout, though it was significantly larger and more refined.

Finally, they reached the heart of the empire—a massive palace-like structure that stood above all other buildings. Its towering pillars and intricate carvings radiated an air of authority and grandeur. As they stepped inside, they were immediately met with an enormous portrait, its golden frame gleaming under the ambient light.

Engraved beneath the portrait were the words:

"World Emperor and Dragon God of Space and Time, Valerius Thalion Ironheart."

The group collectively gasped. The title alone was enough to send shivers down their spines.

"World Emperor? Dragon God? Space and Time?" one of the students whispered in disbelief.

Professor Lyra stared at the name, frowning. "But there's no image of him, only his title. Why would they leave his portrait blank?"

"Perhaps his true form was something mortals couldn't comprehend," another researcher speculated.

While the scholars debated, a group of curious students wandered deeper into the palace, eventually stumbling upon an enormous hall with an ornate door. A young man named Lyle hesitantly touched the handle.

"Should we open it?" he asked the others nervously.

One of his friends shrugged. "I mean… it doesn't seem trapped. And this is an exploration, right?"

Lyle nodded and pushed the doors open. The moment they did, their breath caught in their throats.

Inside, the hall was filled with treasures—vast amounts of gold, rare minerals, artifacts, and relics of unknown origins. The golden glow from the piles of wealth illuminated the entire room, making it look like something out of a legend.

"This… this is unreal…" Lyle muttered, stepping inside. "We just hit the jackpot!"

As the students marveled at their discovery, Accel remained quiet, deep in thought. He had a gut feeling that this city held secrets far beyond mere treasures. Something powerful had preserved this place for centuries, and it wasn't just for show. There had to be a reason why everything remained untouched.

But more importantly, he wondered: If this city had been abandoned, where did all the people go?

And why did he feel like they were being watched?