Chapter 108: BEYOND THE WALL

Chapter 108 — BEYOND THE WALL

The jeep rolled to a slow halt beneath the shadow of the colossal stone wall.

From the outside, it had looked like an ancient boundary carved by giants. Up close, it was even more imposing. The stone slabs were not merely stacked—they were interlocked, layered with reinforcement veins of metallic silver that shimmered faintly beneath the afternoon sun. Faint formation lines pulsed between the seams, subtle but unmistakable.

Long Hao stepped down from the backseat carefully.

The ground was firm. Solid stone, not sand.

Behind him, the two hunters began unwrapping their haul with efficient movements. The netted carcasses were unhooked and lowered. One of them sliced open the mesh to inspect the kill, exposing hardened chitin plates and a row of curved bone spines.

“Still fresh,” the archer muttered approvingly.

The spear user checked a metal crate filled with recovered weapon fragments and supply packs. “We’ll need to log these properly.”

Long Hao stood still for a moment.

The wind here was weaker. Blocked by the wall.

He turned slightly away from them.

Longyu?

He reached inward.

Nothing.

The Eclipse System remained silent. No interface flickered into existence. No whisper in his mind.

Even when he focused harder.

Still nothing.

A tightness formed in his chest.

He had grown used to the system’s presence. Used to the subtle hum of calculation and warning beneath his thoughts.

Now there was only emptiness.

“Hey.”

Colby’s voice cut through his concentration.

“You zoning out again?”

Long Hao looked up calmly.

“Just adjusting.”

Colby snorted. “Do that inside the walls. Desert’ll cook you otherwise.”

He jerked his head toward the gate.

“Come on. You’re coming in with us.”

Long Hao nodded.

The huge front gate loomed ahead—two towering metal doors reinforced with horizontal beams thick as tree trunks. Guards stood along its flanks, armed with heavy weapons and wearing insignias shaped like stylized spearheads over a circular crest.

But as Colby approached, he didn’t signal for the massive doors to open.

Instead, he veered slightly to the side.

Behind the enormous gate, partially concealed in the stone wall, was a much smaller entrance—large enough for two people abreast, but dwarfed by the main doors.

Colby stepped toward it and knocked on the reinforced steel panel.

A slit opened.

Muffled voices exchanged brief words.

Colby leaned in, speaking casually.

Long Hao couldn’t catch the conversation.

After a few seconds, the small gate opened inward.

Colby turned back briefly.

“Give me a minute.”

He climbed back into the jeep, started the engine, and drove it forward into a separate vehicle access passage.

The smaller gate shut again behind him.

Long Hao looked at the other two hunters.

“Where did he go?”

The spear user adjusted the strap of his weapon.

“Vehicle entry’s separate.”

The archer nodded toward the massive main doors.

“That one only opens for big shots. High-ranking guild leaders. Military convoys. Important people.”

He gestured to the small entrance.

“We use these.”

Long Hao followed their gaze.

“So we walk?”

“Yeah,” the spear user said. “Colby’ll take the jeep around the internal vehicle route. Meet us at Central Plaza.”

Long Hao nodded slowly.

They approached the smaller gate.

It opened again.

The moment Long Hao stepped through—

The desert vanished.

He stopped walking.

Not because of shock.

But because the shift was too abrupt.

Outside the wall: endless sand, heat, harsh wind.

Inside—

Green.

Paths paved in polished stone reflecting sunlight without glare. Lush grass lining the edges of walkways. Flowerbeds blooming in controlled symmetry. Fountains spraying arcs of clear water into the air, catching light like scattered diamonds.

Buildings rose on both sides of the wide avenue.

Not crude stone structures.

Modern.

Multi-level.

Balconies with iron railings. Glass windows. Decorative banners hanging from corners.

Not a speck of sand anywhere.

The air smelled clean.

Cooler.

Artificially regulated.

Long Hao’s eyes scanned the surroundings carefully.

People walked past in steady streams. Traders in layered garments. Hunters wearing armor pieces. Children running along the grass edges without fear.

The noise was alive but not chaotic.

A controlled city.

The spear user glanced at him.

“First time inside?”

Long Hao didn’t hide his curiosity.

“…Yes.”

The archer chuckled.

“Doesn’t look like a desert, huh?”

Long Hao shook his head slightly.

“What’s happening here?”

The spear user responded casually.

“Residential district.”

The archer added, “We call it the market.”

He gestured around.

“Traders live here. Set up stalls. Supply runs start from here.”

Long Hao looked down at the grass lining the path.

“…The grass?”

“Artificially planted,” the spear user replied. “Keeps the dust down. Helps regulate temperature. Water systems run beneath the pathways.”

He nodded toward a fountain nearby.

“Multiple fountain nodes throughout. Circulation systems clean the air.”

Long Hao took it in.

The architecture was balanced—stone foundations, but upper levels adorned with lighter materials and decorative ironwork. Balconies were lined with potted plants. Market stalls displayed polished weapons, preserved meats, shimmering stones.

It looked less like a frontier and more like a coastal European city.

Open plazas. Clean edges. Elegant design.

Nice of France, he thought distantly.

Except surrounded by desert.

The archer pointed ahead.

“See that?”

Long Hao followed his finger.

Farther down the main avenue, rising above surrounding structures, stood a massive circular tower.

It leaned slightly—not unstable, but intentionally angled as part of its design. Its base was wide, reinforced with layered stone and metallic ribs spiraling upward. Glass panels were embedded between structural rings, catching sunlight and reflecting it outward.

It dominated the skyline.

“That’s our destination,” the spear user said calmly. “Frontline Hunters Guild headquarters.”

Long Hao studied it carefully.

“That’s where we’re going?”

“After Central Plaza,” the archer corrected.

They walked forward.

The avenue widened into a circular open space.

At its center stood a massive fountain—larger than the others—its basin carved from smooth white stone. Water cascaded from tiered platforms, forming a central spire that rose almost fifteen feet high.

Paths radiated outward from the fountain like spokes of a wheel.

Traders had set up temporary stalls along the outer edge of the plaza. Hunters gathered in small groups, exchanging information and laughing over drinks.

The environment felt prosperous.

Stable.

Safe.

They stopped near the fountain.

“Colby’ll meet us here,” the spear user said.

Long Hao stood quietly, scanning faces.

None looked familiar.

None recognized him.

He waited.

Two minutes.

Three.

Five.

The plaza noise remained constant—coins exchanging hands, vendors shouting deals, distant clanging from blacksmith workshops.

The archer leaned against the fountain’s edge casually.

“You really don’t remember anything?”

Long Hao shrugged slightly.

“Bits.”

He kept his tone natural.

No overacting.

Memory loss was plausible.

Suspicion was not useful.

Footsteps approached from the left.

Colby emerged from a side street, wiping his hands on a cloth.

“Alright,” he said. “Let’s go.”

The archer rolled his eyes.

“You took long enough.”

Colby smirked.

“Had to file quick reports. You know how it is.”

He turned to Long Hao.

“Still with us?”

Long Hao nodded.

“For now.”

Colby gestured forward.

“I’ll lead.”

They left the plaza and continued toward the towering headquarters.

As they walked, the archer elbowed Colby lightly.

“You’re not even fifty percent as powerful as her, you know that.”

Colby shot him a glare.

“Shut up.”

The spear user snorted quietly.

“Facts.”

Long Hao caught the exchange.

Her?

He glanced between them.

But they didn’t elaborate.

Just laughed lightly and kept walking.

Long Hao dismissed it.

Side conversation.

Irrelevant.

For now.

The tower loomed larger as they approached.

Up close, it was enormous.

The circular base was at least a hundred feet across. The walls were reinforced with layered plates and embedded glowing sigils. Entry stairs led up to a wide gate framed by two massive stone pillars carved with guild insignias.

The insignia was clear now—a spear piercing through a circular shield, backed by stylized dunes.

Guards stood at the entrance.

Disciplined.

Alert.

Colby approached casually.

“Back from patrol,” he said.

The guards nodded.

The archer and spear user stepped slightly ahead.

Long Hao slowed half a step behind them.

And that was when he saw her.

Standing near the gate.

Green hair.

Not dull green.

Not artificial dye.

Natural.

Flowing down to her shoulders in loose strands that caught the light like wind across grasslands.

She looked younger than him.

Not by much.

A year.

Maybe two.

Her build was athletic but not bulky. Balanced. Coiled.

In her hand rested a spear.

Not decorative.

Not ceremonial.

Practical.

Its shaft was dark and smooth, its spearhead gleaming with faint enchantment lines.

She stood casually.

But her posture was perfect.

Balanced over the balls of her feet.

Eyes calm.

Brown.

Steady.

Not scanning randomly.

Observing.

Her gaze flicked briefly toward the approaching group.

Paused.

Just for a second.

Then returned forward.

Long Hao slowed unconsciously.

Colby noticed.

“Keep moving,” he muttered.

Long Hao stepped forward again.

But as he passed slightly behind the other two hunters—

He gave a side glance.

She was watching.

Not aggressively.

Not suspiciously.

Curiously.

And something about her presence—

Felt familiar.

Not because he knew her.

But because she felt like someone who did not belong merely inside walls.

She felt like the desert itself had taken form and decided to hold a spear.

Colby climbed the stairs first.

The other two followed.

Long Hao lingered half a step longer.

The green-haired girl shifted her grip on the spear slightly.

Her eyes met his.

Just for a moment.

Calm.

Measured.

Then she looked away.

The massive doors of the circular tower opened slowly inward.

Cool air flowed out.

Colby stepped through.

The other two followed.

Long Hao stood at the threshold.

Behind him, the marketplace noise continued.

Ahead, the headquarters awaited.

And to his right—

The green-haired girl stood silently by the gate.

Watching.

[Chapter ENDS]

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