In Glory City, every citizen was busy packing up their valuable belongings.


    Despite the city''s poption of over a hundred thousand, it was as silent as if everyone had suddenly be mute.


    If there was any talk, it was only in hushed whispers as people exchanged words while moving their possessions. Exclusive content from m,v lem|p,yr


    The noise of moving items filled the air.


    That day, the lords anddies of ckwood returned with dire news.


    They dered that Cloudview County could no longer be defended and that it would soon be overwhelmed by the Druids.


    They spoke of a newnd to the north, where ckwood would lead them to settle and thrive, promising a life even more prosperous than that in Glory City.


    No one objected; they all knew that the fearless people of ckwood would never abandon Glory City unless truly desperate.


    But then...


    "We swore an oath to protect Glory City no matter what! My father died for this city, Lord Nichs endured disgrace for thirty years for it, we''ve all borne this disgrace for thirty years. Is there really no hope left?!"


    The new mayor, Marvin, his eyes red with emotion, challenged Edward, who was directing the evacuation of the vulnerable onto the ability vessel.


    But before he could finish, Edward mped his hand over Marvin''s cheek, silencing him.


    Edward''s voice was strained as he hissed, "So what? You want everyone in Glory City to fight a battle we''re not sure to win? Look behind you. Do you want them to die in vain?"


    Marvin stiffly turned his head to look back at the weak and elderly, their eyes filled with reluctance butcking the strength to fight.


    He knew that if the enemy breached the city, even these vulnerable souls would try to defend it.


    But to what end? Their deaths would be meaningless.


    "I''ll tell you what will happen next," Edward growled. "The ancient god has issued a royal decree. The people of Cloudview County, Starlight County, Cedar County, and many others will leave. In a year, the Druids from all around will converge without hesitation, fighting over this newnd. Those who don''t escape will have nowhere to run,pletely isted."


    "Eventually, Cloudview County will fall to the Druids. Their experts in Basic Mastery will be unrestrained, crushing us as easily as one might crush ants. All our resistance will only serve as a mockery to our enemies. That''s the harsh reality."


    Edward sighed deeply, "It''s pointless. We have no other choice."


    Marvin copsed to the ground, powerless.


    In the distance, a figure watched everything unfold.


    She was dressed in a tight ck dress with intricate cutouts that entuated her stunning figure, her pale, delicate legs visible beneath the hem, d in high-heeled ck leather shoes.


    Her long, cascading hair framed a face of exquisite beauty, her longshes fluttering over her starry, peach-blossom eyes, which held a calm demeanor.


    "ckwood has fallen," remarked Diana, the lord of Thunderfire Demon Cave, emerging from the abyss.


    Her lips parted slightly as she looked at Edward, "I''ve seen this young man in Thunderfire Demon Cave. Such a fine temperament. Julian is hot-headed, Daniel is cunning and deceitful, and then there are those two monks. I thought ckwood was an extraordinary family, but now it seems they are truly desperate."


    She chuckled, "Well, it''s also good for me. Heading north will give me some peace, and slowly let Amelia heal me."


    With that, Diana blended into the crowd, moving freely among the people of ckwood as if she were invisible, unseen by anyone.


    ...


    At night.


    In the ckwood Shrine, Nathan, along with the descendants of ckwood, kneels towards Ethan''s Psychic Position.


    Ethan watches all of this unfold.


    No one can predict the future, and ckwood never imagined being betrayed by the empire.


    "Forebearer, I am sorry. I must leave our homnd, the ce where we took root."


    Nathan sighs deeply.


    On the screen, Ethan shakes his head and bestows a ''Forebearer''s Caress'' upon the descendants of ckwood.


    "Thank you, Forebearer."


    Nathan takes a deep breath, then turns to the descendants behind him, a fierce look shing in his eyes, "Keh told us to head north, and we should go. All the people of Glory City will move to the north. Luna, Jessica, Joseph, you will lead the people there."


    "Yes!" Jessica and Joseph frown.


    "George, you return to Azure Cloud Pavilion and be its master."


    "Justin, as a direct disciple of ck Tortoise, you must fulfill your duties."


    "Daniel, I want you to lead Dawn and the halls of Grey Mist to infiltrate the imperial capital!"


    "..."


    Nathan meticulously arranges tasks for each family member, even assigning himself the grim task of dealing with the aftermath.


    All the ckwoods squint, understanding Nathan''s intentions.


    This scheme targets the entire Emerald Empire.


    Nathan, who has always delegated family affairs to his children, now takes matters into his own hands, each n permeating the Emerald Empire!


    Soon, the ckwoods nod and disperse into the night.


    ...


    In just one month.


    The once joyful and simple life of Glory City''s people is gone, but the streets remain clean and tidy.


    Over a hundred elderly who refused to leave sweep the streets.


    They say, at their age, they don''t have many days left and want to spend theirst moments with Glory City.


    Suddenly.


    One elder''s movements freeze, his body trembling, his eyes red with disbelief, "Mas... Master!"


    Nathan!


    Having arranged everything and decided on another course of action, Nathan returns to Glory City a month after everyone has left.


    The surrounding elders approach Nathan, their eyes moist.


    One of them exims, "Master Nathan, why have you returned? Didn''t you go north with the children?"


    Nathanughs, "If I didn''t tell them I was going north, would they have gone?"


    "Master, you..."


    As the elders are about to speak, Nathan simply shakes his head, "Enough, you old fellow, I remember you. Back when Glory City was still Gratitude Vige, you were with me through Pine Forest Town. What did you say back then?"


    The elder, tears mixed withughter, replies, "Master, back then I said, when I had nothing to eat, it was you who took me in. Now that I have everything, it''s time to repay you. I was lucky then, and that luck turned into an Emerging Ability."


    "Yes, you have everything now."


    Nathan sighs deeply, "Old friend, I never dreamed I''d see this day."


    "Enough talk, I need to walk around home again."


    That day, Nathan and the elders who stayed in Glory City walk through the city they built bit by bit, visiting every ce, including the graves of Boar Monarch Pete and Nichs.


    They reflect on how Glory City evolved from the small Gratitude Vige, each brick and tile imbued with generations of effort.


    They have everything they never dreamed of.


    They are proud enough that this pride could apany them into the soil, walking the path to the afterlife with heads held high, respectfully greeted by mythical guardians, and even speaking boldly in the face of death itself.


    Their lives were worthwhile, unregretful even for a bowl of Ferrywoman''s soup!