As Yori watched Noboru rush down the stairs, he could feel his curiousity due to his lack of knowledge.
It was easy for Yori to picke Noboru's interest. He merely had to to keep some small details hidden from him, in this case it was the name of the person waiting in the hospital room for him, and Noboru would naturally start seeking the answer with all of his might.
It was in his nature to seek knowledge and power with its help.
Yori got moving quickly after making the promise to get Noboru an ascender stone. He went back inside of his apartment, told his servants where he was headed and then quickly got dressed in an appropriate style.
He wore no special or expensive clothes as was his norm.
He took a large amount of money with him but that was it.
Despite his old age, it took him barely any time to get to one of the exits of the first stronghold. The south exist to be precise.
It's height was easily on par with the central building's, which was about 400 metres, and its width about 100 metres.
The gate leading to the outside was made of thick and robust metal. Opposite to common belief, it doesn't serve the purpose of keeping monsters outside, any half strong monster could tear through it with ease. It served the purpose of keeping mortals outside of the first stronghold from migrating into it uncontrolled.
Mortals are worthless for the most part so letting them inside without control could become a problem if they take up too much space. Most mortals that live outside of a city are murderers or rapists either way. There's no point in accepting these people in at all. They would be useless in the best case scenario and cause harm in the worst.
The size of the gate and the huge paths from city to city served another major function.
Enlightened could fight in these pathways without being disadvantaged. If they were smaller, any monster could ambush without a problem and deliver a killing blow before the fight even started by digging down or up form the ground.
Merely a few rank 1 and one rank 2 Enlightened stood at the gate. Once again, they were by no means enough to stop a serious threat but only there to control and stop unwanted mortals from entering.
As Yori approached, they all lowered their heads quietly and allowed him to pass through without a single second of hesitation.
It has been a short while since Yori was last outside of the first stronghold. His memory of how this path looked, however, was sadly correct.
Mortals, most of them aggressive and armed with knives roamed the place and sat at the walls with their belongings. Many were dead already. Some were fighting or even killing each other. Children were crying as they gazed at their freshly dead parents and other children were already leaving them behind after just a short period of time.
It was a morbid scene. The disgusting smell of blood and rotting corpses filled his nostrils immediately.
It wasn't long before mortals approached him with their knives, wanting to harm him while also mistaking him for a mortal. The money he possessed was evident and tempting to them and his simple clothing gave the illusion that he was no Enlightened.
"I warn you people. Don't try it."
Yori warned them calmly with a gentle voice. They laughed at him and rushed forward.
"Who the fuck are you to warn us old geezer? Fucking die and give us that sweet money!"
One of them roared a battle cry as he swung his knife.
Yori summoned a sharp stone behind each one of them and quickly impaled their heads with them, splattering their brains all over the ground and killing them.
Yori did not care about mortals that much especially not about this type of mortal. He felt no remorse and thus continued to take confident strides without looking back or stopping once.
All of the mortals that saw him kill the others were in shock and absolutely terrified as they realised that they were faced with the mountain.
They trembled, sweated profusely and shook quietly as Yori made his way through the pathway.
The only good thing about this pathway was that due to its lack of light, Yori could not see the corpses and constant despair around him clearly.
The only source of light that existed down here was the stones that lit up when filled with the essence of Enlightened. Such stones did not exist outside of cities, making the pathways between the cities extremely dark.
Yori heaved a sigh and mumbled quietly under his breath.
"My trip is off to a good start, huh? At least no blood or brains splattered onto my clothes."
He walked for around two days without stop before finally arriving at his destination. The city called 'jade palace'.
The gates here were not made of robust metal but of jade instead. Nearly all that this city does is for recognition and respect. Their economic power is nothing to be reckoned with, however, their strongest Enlightened is merely a rank 4.
They also have far less Enlightened warriors compared to the first stronghold in the first place. They were richer but still weaker.
Yori knocks on the door with might to make himself noticeable and respected immediately.
"Here is the mountain. I've come to make a purchase."
Without a second spent waiting, the gate flew open for him to enter.
The jade palace was far superior compared to the first stronghold when it came to looks. Every building was tall and luxurious and the streets were clean. The people all wore decent clothes and the central buildings looked almost futuristic. There were at least five buildings here that were taller than the central building in the first stronghold.
Yori did not waste a single breath thanking the guards or looking at them. This was unlike the first stronghold. He was recognised as one of the strongest of the first stronghold by far and is representing it here for the same reason.
He walked in a stoic and confident manner as if he was the ruler of this city.
Yori didn't want to waste even a second here and marched to the market without hesitation.
Because this was the jade palace and not the first stronghold, there were many ascender stones present.
He picked one up, payed and decided to head out of this place immediately.
However, he was stopped at the gate by another Enlightened. He could sense that he was a rank 3 as well, making the assumption that he was one the ten strongest in the jade palace reasonable.
"Ah! You must be Yori Ishikawa, right? The mountain? I'm so happy to meet you. I've heard much about you."
"Don't bootlick. Get to the point. Why are you stopping me?"
The man's smile remained the same. It was a charismatic smile but an insincere one. His clothes were expensive and his hair long and worn open, lacking the sophisticated style that one would expect of a man in his 40s such as him.
"As you wish, mountain. Give me the ascender stone. I can even give you your money back if you need."
He reached his hand out greedily.
"No, why should I?"
Yori remained calm and stoic for the time being, staring the man down.
"Do you realise what position you're in? I won't let you escape from this city if you refuse. You can't take us all on by yourself."
His smile suddenly disappeared and turned into an impatient and cold stare.
"That's correct, however, what do you think would happen when the first stronghold's devil finds out about this, hm? Exactly. She would declare war on the jade palace. Even if I were to die here, you guys are pathetic. You will all die and those who surrender will become our slaves. Let me pass or be responsible for the doom that will descend upon your people."
His voice had yet to change, remaining calm and almost gentle.
Yori and the man had an intense stare off for a few seconds before the man smiled yet again.
"Yes. You're right, mountain."
He bowed slightly before stepping aside, letting Yori pass.
"Good. I knew you were able to act reasonably after all."
Just before the guards opened the gate, a large icicle pierced Yori's abdomen. Behind him stood the man, now having an evil grin plastered on his face.
"Let's see if you are right after all, you old fuck. I will destroy that worthless city named the first stronghold and I will piss on the corpses of the people you once held dear! Nobody will fucking stop the jade palace!"
He slowly started to giggle sadistically. Quickly, it turned into a crazed laugh.