Several hours later—
The endless plains slowly gave way to civilization.
Andrew rested both hands behind his head as the wagon rolled forward.
"We're almost there."
Kai climbed onto the driver's bench.
In the distance—
Massive walls stretched across the horizon.
Unlike Asphyxia's elegant stone fortifications...
These looked brutal.
Thick steel plating reinforced gigantic concrete walls.
Countless watchtowers overlooked the surrounding plains.
Heavy artillery lined the battlements.
Ballistae.
Cannons.
Mana-powered anti-air batteries.
Everything screamed one thing.
Defense.
The gates themselves were enormous.
Large enough for several armored transports to pass through side by side.
Smoke rose beyond the walls.
Not from destruction.
From industry.
Black smoke.
White steam.
Orange furnace light.
Andrew grinned.
"Beautiful, ain't it?"
Kai looked at him.
"...Beautiful?"
Andrew laughed.
"You'll get used to it."
As they drew closer—
Kai noticed something else.
The land around Muscle City had been cleared completely.
No forests.
No ruins.
No hills.
Everything within several kilometers had been flattened.
Nothing could hide.
Nothing could ambush.
Andrew noticed Kai staring.
"Demons tried attacking us plenty of times."
He shrugged.
"They learned pretty quickly that charging a city full of lunatics isn't healthy."
Kai looked back toward the walls.
"...Looks like they learned."
Andrew chuckled.
"They sure did."
The wagon continued forward.
Then—