Will of the Unyielding [LitRPG Apocalypse • Progression]

Even at their current breakneck speed, it took them a few hours to reach Spira, the capital of the Vireah Empire. During the journey, the people in the two carriages often heard explosions around them, which made them wonder what was happening. Their nerves were stretched taut, but due to the windows' limited visibility, they couldn't pinpoint the source.

The strangest thing was that the explosions seemed to follow them like a shadow, never leaving their side. However, as they traveled further, the explosions became smaller and smaller until they eventually disappeared, calming the group.

With their minds now free of worry, they were able to think about other things and, one of the geniuses in the carriage with the elder couldn't help but ask, "Elder, do you think that person is keeping up with us?"

The elder was caught off guard by the question, having already pushed thoughts of Nova out of his mind. But being reminded of him, he sneered. "That brat was trying to act cocky and now he's paying for it. He lost the chance to participate in such a grand occasion and is probably gasping for breath just outside Larmida." A mocking chuckle escaped his lips, prompting the two geniuses beside him to smile in glee at Nova's misfortune.

Snap.

With a crack of the whip from the two coachmen, the carriages slowly came to a halt outside the city, where a line of expensive carriages steadily made their way in. Each carriage seemed more lavish than the last, flaunting the families' wealth and status with every turn of the wheels.

Maelor stuck his head out the window and, seeing so many carriages, exclaimed in surprise, "I thought the three kingdoms could only send a handful of people. So why are there so many here?"

Curious, Andretas leaned out beside him and a knowing look flashed on his face. "Some nobles must've come just to show off their wealth, even if they can't attend the emperor's banquet."

"How dumb," Maelor muttered as he leaned back into the carriage.

//////

Achooo!

In one of the carriages toward the front of the line, an elder wearing clothes similar to Maelor's sneezed. "Someone I know must be cursing me," he muttered.

/////

The queue slowly thinned, and when it was almost their turn to pass through the gates, a sharp click rang out before the door opened, immediately drawing the attention of Maelor, Andretas, and the other young man.

When they saw Nova calmly walking in, their expressions weren't of surprise but of deep respect, a respect that only grew as they called out, "Sir!"

"Mhm, relax," Nova said, glancing at them for a moment before taking a seat and closing his eyes.

The previously lax atmosphere immediately turned tense. Even though Nova had told them to relax, how could they? A strong, ruthless person like him was sitting right next to them. And he'd closed his eyes, as if not wanting to be disturbed, so who would dare?

Luckily for them, the carriage swiftly passed the guards and made its way toward the royal palace. Inside, they silently counted down the seconds until they could finally take a proper breath, free from the stifling tension that now filled the air.

Meanwhile, outside, the scene was a stark contrast to the tense carriage. The air buzzed with festivities, as the empire had promised a reduction in taxes for the year, sending the citizens leaping with joy, though, of course, there were always a few who complained.

Even though the banquet was reserved only for the empire's high nobles and the kingdoms' representatives, the citizens didn't care; they celebrated openly in the streets. To them, being gifted something so significant justified their efforts and fueled their happiness.

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From the perspective of the nobles passing by in their carriages, the citizens' joy seemed almost absurd, like tourists at a zoo. How could anyone be so elated over paying a little less in taxes for a year, when the nobility treated the same people like pawns, able to control their lives with a single word?

Each time the nobles witnessed such a display, their egos swelled. Already towering over the citizens in status and privilege, their sense of superiority only grew.

The two carriages from Lotra sped through Spira's streets, reaching the royal palace shortly after, where a throng of carriages was parked outside the gates. Well-dressed people milled about, forming a sort of unofficial gathering of the nobility right on the street.

Seconds after the two carriages stopped, the coachmen swiftly opened the doors and almost in unison said, "Sirs, we have arrived."

The elder stepped out with ease, followed by the two geniuses, who whispered to each other as they took in the sights around them.

In the other carriage, Nova remained silent until he slowly opened his eyes and stretched. Inside the portal, his body didn't need sleep or food, but that didn't mean he never grew tired. His mind was still susceptible, push himself too hard, and mental fatigue would set in, requiring sleep or quiet to recover.

He glanced at the three, no, four, people staring at him, waiting for him to step out, and asked, "What are you looking at?"

Though the coachman hadn't even noticed when Nova had entered the carriage, he was quick on his feet. "Nothing, sir. We've arrived at the royal palace," he replied.

"Oh? Good, good," Nova said as he strolled out of the carriage, quietly followed by the three geniuses, who, once outside, took in deep, satisfying breaths.

The elder, who had been chatting with fellow nobles from Lotra, nobles who could only stand outside, was happily conversing when he caught sight of Nova, and his words died in his throat.

Around him, a few nobles noticed his sudden silence. The one closest asked, "What's wrong, Jeffrey?"

Jeffrey slowly turned his head toward the noble before shifting his gaze back to Nova. Seeing him still there, several possibilities for how Nova had made it this far flashed through his mind, though he didn't dare believe most of them. He sucked in a deep breath, excused himself, and walked back to his group, but the eyes with which he regarded Nova were complicated. It's not possible, right? There must be a trick to this.

Nova, noticed Jeffrey approaching and thought it was time to slip away before anyone could say a word.

When Jeffrey, followed by the two geniuses, reached Maelor's group, he asked, "Where did he go?"

Andretas shook his head. "I don't know."

"Same," said the other young man.

Maelor simply shrugged.

The elder frowned, but recalling certain possibilities, he didn't dare dwell on it. His expression softened before he said, "Alright, follow me. We're heading inside."

//////

Nova circled around the carriage, took out the Mask of Three Faces, and wore it. When he emerged from the other side, his appearance had completely transformed into Tairo's.

'Alright, I'm ready.'

He walked toward the entrance, a shadow of a wry smile playing on his lips, and slipped into line right behind Jeffrey and the other five, though they had no idea who he really was.

When it was their turn, the guard at the entrance shouted, "The representatives from Lotra have arrived!"

Murmurs rippled through the palace, both inside and out, among the empire's nobles.

"I don't know why His Imperial Majesty made us wait so long for these three vassals. And they even dared to arrive late," one noble grumbled.

"We shouldn't try to pry into His Imperial Majesty's thoughts. But…" The noble next to him gave a strange look before shaking his head and falling silent.

Nova overheard many similar conversations, and a thoughtful expression spread across his face. 'Why is the emperor so eager for the three kingdoms to participate? No other king or emperor would wait for their vassals on the day of their birthday, much less make them the only ones to be announced.'

"Sir, your invitation, please," one of the guards said politely.

Without missing a beat, Nova pulled out Senna's token from his pocket and asked, "Is this enough?"

The guard froze for a moment, then hastily nodded and bowed deeply, his arm sweeping to signal Nova inside. "Please!"

'It always works,' Nova thought, stepping inside under the curious gazes of the nobles, who had no idea why the guard had nearly dropped to his knees.

As he moved through corridors crowded with nobles eager to climb higher and young men and women striving to latch onto a social ladder, Nova noticed a large group of guards splitting off toward multiple doors. Soon, their shouts echoed through the hallways.

"Head toward the Great Hall! His Imperial Majesty is about to make an announcement!"

After delivering the message, the guards regrouped and marched away. Conversations stopped as each noble tried to move gracefully toward the Great Hall, but from Nova's perspective, they all seemed in a rush.

In the blink of an eye, he was alone in the corridor, accompanied only by a few guards stationed at either end.

"These are no nobles, just a flock of sheep," Nova muttered and strolled toward the Great Hall.