CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57 – KNIGHT FORT B56 (PART 3)

Chapter 57 – Knight Fort B56 (Part 3)

The moment they stepped into the new world, the massive stone door behind them shut with an audible thud. But before anyone could react, the door vanished—replaced seamlessly by an uninterrupted stretch of sunlit plains, as though it had never existed in the first place.

"..."Zane stared over his shoulder. ’No wonder I didn’t see the door from the outside. It wasn’t ever there. Or rather, it wasn’t meant to be seen. Some kind of cloaking mechanism?’

It made perfect sense. A hidden realm housing a city full of awakened candidates and active Knights would be a prime target for enemies. Revealing its location—or even leaving a trace—would be a catastrophic lapse in security.

"But... how did they pull this off?" Zane muttered, almost to himself. "We were just in a pitch-black building. The sky was dark... there wasn’t even a sun out there."

Now, however, sunlight washed over the hilltops in golden warmth. Birds chirped in the distance—yes, birds—and the gentle breeze caressed their skin. It was as if they had stepped from a hollow tomb into paradise.

The city spread out below them, nestled in a wide, open valley. Towering walls ringed its edges, but even those couldn’t hide the gleaming spires that rose toward the sky. Its sheer scale dwarfed the cities Zane had known. And unlike the cold, industrial concrete jungles of Earth, this one radiated color, elegance, and an almost mythical charm.

Elizabeth’s voice broke through the stunned silence.

"S-So beautiful..." she whispered, her eyes wide with wonder. "It’s like something straight out of a fairytale..."

She grabbed Zane’s arm without thinking, pulling gently as she pointed down toward the shimmering rooftops and winding rivers within the city. Her entire face lit up with childlike joy.

"Z-Zane, look! It’s so beautiful!"

Zane glanced down at her, momentarily caught off guard by her reaction. Her eyes sparkled—not with fear or confusion, but unfiltered happiness. He didn’t think he had ever seen that kind of expression from her before.

’So, she can make expressions like that, huh?’ he thought, oddly fascinated.

Then she realized what she was doing. Her entire body went rigid, and her hand shot away from his arm like she’d been electrocuted.

"I-I’m sorry! I just... I got too excited!" she said, flustered, lowering her gaze in embarrassment.

Zane didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to.

Instead, his attention was drawn to someone further ahead—down the hill, standing still like a statue.

Lune.

She had arrived earlier than the others, and now stood quietly, arms crossed in front of her, her black hair dancing in the breeze. The sunlight highlighted the contours of her face, the outline of her figure. She didn’t say a word. She simply watched the world unfold in front of her.

For a moment, time seemed to pause.

Zane’s gaze lingered. There was something about the way she stood there—calm, composed, distant—that stirred something deep inside him. Admiration? Curiosity? He couldn’t tell. But his eyes shimmered slightly, reflecting something unreadable.

Then, the silence broke.

A sound echoed from behind them—the dull groan of a door opening. He turned just in time to see a wave of candidates emerging into the sunlight, their faces full of stunned disbelief.

"W-Where are we...?"

"This place is amazing..."

"Is that... a city?"

More and more candidates poured out of the gate, their reactions almost identical—shock followed by awe, and then a giddy sort of disbelief. Moments later, Fiora stepped through last, hands on her hips and a knowing smile on her face.

"A nice surprise, isn’t it?" she asked, her voice full of pride. "I wanted you to experience it on your own. The wonder. The possibilities."

Her eyes scanned the group.

"This—what you’re feeling right now—is part of what it means to be a Dimensional Knight. You’ll encounter sights that defy logic. You’ll see miracles on a daily basis. Hidden cities, realms stitched together by pure will, forgotten temples that breathe... and more. All of it will become part of your reality."

The group stood quietly, hanging on her every word.

"But make no mistake," Fiora continued, her smile fading into something sharper. "This job is not for the faint of heart. It’s dangerous. Exhausting. Draining. But one thing you’ll never lack..." she looked around at all of them, "...is discovery. Around every corner, there will always be something to see, something to experience. You will live through things that you will never forget. A vast and endless expanse of worlds, many of them still undiscovered. Could you imagine the possibilities?"

Her words lit something inside many of them. A spark. Excitement. Fear. Determination. They glanced toward the city beyond, imagining all the worlds they might see one day.

Zane felt it, too.

’She really knows how to control a crowd...’ he thought. ’She shifted their mood from awe to respect with just a few sentences. She’s more than a Knight—she’s a leader.’

"But don’t get too carried away," Fiora added, her tone cooling like steel dipped in water. "This is just the beginning. You’re still candidates. You haven’t passed the test yet. Every day you’re here is an evaluation. So work hard. Show discipline. Or you’ll be gone before you know it."

That brought the tone crashing back to reality. Everyone straightened up.

"We understand, Miss Fiora!"

"We’ll give it everything!"

"I didn’t make it this far just to fail now!"

Fiora gave a faint nod of satisfaction.

"Good," she said. "Now, this is where I leave you. Head down into the city. The guards are expecting you. Show them your IDs and they’ll handle the rest. My job ends here."

"What? You’re not coming with us, Miss Fiora?!"

She raised a brow. "Already missing me?"

Some chuckled nervously.

"I have work to do. You’ll be seeing me again soon enough. Until then, don’t make me regret believing in you."

"Yes ma’am!"

"You can count on us!"

"Don’t worry, we’ll pass for sure!"

With a casual wave, Fiora turned—and vanished down a nearby path, leaving them behind.

Her absence was immediately felt. Without her presence guiding them, the group felt momentarily unmoored, uncertain of their next steps. But that feeling passed as they began descending toward the city.

"Come on, Elizabeth," Zane said, shoving his hands into his pockets as he began walking.

"R-Right!" she nodded, quickly catching up.

At the city gates, a group of Knights stood waiting—fully armed but relaxed, clearly expecting them. One of them stepped forward with a bright smile.

"Welcome, dear candidates from Lower Earth!" he announced. "I’ve been waiting for you. My name is Ian, and I’ll be your guide for today!"

He was tall and lean, with long chestnut-brown hair tied behind his back, and soft gray eyes that sparkled with warmth.

Several girls visibly swooned.

"Oh my god..."

"He’s gorgeous..."

"Are all Knights this handsome?"

Ian chuckled, clearly used to the reactions. "I’ve heard many good things about your batch, and it’s an honor to be your guide. Let me show you around—today is your introduction to the heart of Knight Fort B56."

His eyes flicked over the group and briefly paused on Lune. Something unreadable passed in his gaze before he turned and gestured toward the gates.

With a low groan, the gates of the city swung open.

And the world inside... was unlike anything they had imagined.

Crowded streets full of movement, of laughter, of purpose. Not just humans—but dozens of other races. Tall beings with long ears and glowing eyes, furred creatures in cloaks, humanoid figures with scales instead of skin, even what looked like living blobs of water floating gently down the street.