The void shuttle touched down gracefully on a wide, marble-paved landing platform at the edge of Ruler City. The hatch opened with a soft hiss, and one by one, the fifty recruits stepped out, their eyes wide as they took in the grandeur surrounding them.
The mana in the air was so dense it almost felt tangible, like invisible threads brushing against their skin. Max stepped down as well, his senses heightened, his gaze scanning the towering structures and intricate formations etched into the city floor.
But what caught his attention most were the people waiting for them.
Lined up neatly in front of the platform stood a dozen figures, all clad in elegant robes marked with the insignia of the Great Ruler Empire. Their auras were sharp, composed, and overwhelmingly powerful.
Max could immediately tell—they were stronger than the five elders he had met during the recruitment assessment. Their presence alone was enough to make some of the recruits tense up instinctively.
