"They're getting worse."
The unease returned.
The closer they got to Asphyxia, the larger the refugee camps became.
And then—
They finally saw it.
Asphyxia.
---
Kai stopped walking.
The city was enormous.
Walls surrounded it like a giant fortress.
Towering structures rose from within.
Bright lights glowed even during daylight.
Metal bridges connected buildings.
Smoke rose from factories.
Colorful signs covered entire districts.
---
It looked nothing like Yggdrasil.
It almost didn't look like it belonged in the same world.
Andre stared.
"What the hell?"
Kai could only nod.
The city looked modern.
Yet not completely.
Ancient walls stood beside advanced machinery.
Magic lamps hung beside electrical lights.
Fantasy and technology blended together in ways that made no sense.
For several moments, they simply stared.
Then they approached the main gate.
And immediately encountered another problem.
---
The gates were closed.
---
Thousands of refugees waited outside.
Tents stretched across the fields.
Campfires burned everywhere.
Arguments erupted constantly.
---
The atmosphere was tense.
Kai approached one of the guards.
"We need to enter."
The guard laughed.
"So does everyone else."
Kai removed Akshay's letter.
"We have official business."
The guard barely glanced at it.
Then rolled his eyes.
"Oh look."
He pointed dramatically.
"Another letter."
Several nearby guards laughed.