After the Zombies sudden annihilation, the team did not sit around lazily and continue their effort to find the valley's real exit. But the size of the valley seems to be larger than they'd originally thought, so it will take a while for them to discover it.

Earlier, they didn't have time to enjoy the view as the Zombies attacked them, but now the members are able to watch the surrounding scenery and they were awed by it. Especially Melissa and Rionne, both of them seemed impressed and genuinely interested in this ruin of city that dotted the valley.

The entirety of the valley was completely filled with thousands of buildings, statues, and columns with different sizes. Its architectures didn't feel grandeur and splendor at all, however, it was unique and distinct, nevertheless.

Most of the buildings seem to be made from the same material as the valley itself and without any other fancy decorations. It looks like the people who built the city only using local resources and they emphasized a simple yet practical mind when building it. Indeed, the city is rather primitive compared to many cities in the continent.

"This city... I don't know... It looks like it was carved straight out of the valley itself, it was surreal." Rionne spoke out while admiring the view.

"Yeah... Never seen anything like this before..." Melissa replied in agreement.

"Hahaha... You can say that because both of you never been to Protos before... You should visit it one day, this place is shit compared to there." Zohar immediately reacted to both Melissa and Rionne assessment with a proud tone.

In his mind, this city cannot be compared to Protos, the great capital of the Dwarven Nation at all.

"Indeed... Although this ancient city is certainly not bad at all, Protos is just another level. The Dwarf carved the entire Vega mountains into a city, it was an unbelievable sight when I saw it for the first time decades ago..." Ryson, who always maintain silence suddenly joined the conversation and supported Zohar.

Looking from his expression, he really does admire Protos.

"Too bad it was filled with dwarfs." Aurel suddenly muttered some light insult.

"Bah... Jealous huh? The elves can just enjoy your green boring tree and stay out of a cavern, buahahah." Zohar laughed heartily.

Aurel only pouted her mouth cutely in response.

"So Mr. Zohar... Judging from the architecture and the building technique... Is this city built by the Dwarfs too?" Rionne asked Zohar suddenly, apparently, she still held some curiosity inside her mind.

"Eh! Eh... hehe, miss you don't have to call me mister you know, hehe. Just called me by name it's fine. And about the city. No, definitely not... My people didn't build this city. Dwarfs did not build this crude and shit city." Zohar answered her with rather a displeased voice.

It appears he didn't have a good impression of this ancient city.

"I see... It looks like it has been abandoned for a long time huh. There were no signs of recent civilization activity around here..." Rionne accepted Zohar's answer and quickly changed the topic.

She tries to avoid the Dwarfs nagging which infamously consumes lots of time if they're allowed to continue.

"Well... The barbarian also seemed to wisely avoid this city too... I guess..." Sasha is the one who replied now.

Just as Rionne wants to speak again, she was being interrupted once more.

.

Bruar!!!

.

Earth shattering sound echoed from afar, and it was accompanied by a small earthquake.

All of the members automatically became vigilant again and raised their guard.

"Zombies again?" Luccio gravely asked.

"Don't know... We better not to get relaxed while we're still here." Victor advised the other members with a serious tone.

They didn't know what was causing the sudden commotion, and their already restless heart became even more unease.

"Let's find that exit immediately, this place is a total nightmare." Melissa ordered the team. She's already frustrated enough because of this ominous valley.

Thus, the team hastily making their way through the ruins towards the south direction. The quicker they found the exit the better it is.

Arno, who was positioned in the team's rear, only quietly following them. In truth, he's the one who's causing the commotion earlier as he tried to move a strange and hideous altar located near the palace to his own "Pocket Dimension". But the altar size is really huge, it was not an easy job of storing it inside the "Pocket Dimension" thus the loud sound and the earthquake.

The altar is surprisingly a Heaven rank artifact and Arno judge that its original function was completely different from its current form. Therefore, there's a high chance that the altar is already corrupted. Probably by the Sealed Creature.

Arno wanted to purify this altar and restore its original appearances. Besides, leaving a Heaven rank treasure in the middle of nowhere is kinda waste. That is why he decided to keep it for his own.

Sadly, most of the members did not know anything about this city, wheater what era did the city first came to prominence or the identity of the civilization who build it. It is unfortunate that the team cannot stick around any longer. Thus, the city's mystery will remain unknown to them.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After an hour of search, the team finally found and passing through a huge broken city gate at the edge of the city south side. Then, they found themselves on a narrow section of the valley that forms a path which leads towards outside the mountain.

Once they saw an unlimited barren desert at the horizon, they began to heave a sigh of relief. The team now already truly left the mountain.

"Blessed the god! ... Finally an open space..." Zohar is truly grateful to whomever godly beings up in the sky.

Other members also began to relax their composure.

"Alright, save your breath for now. We still had an objective, and it's just a few hours before the sun is set. We cannot rest now." Melissa reminded her team's members.

Her stern voice quickly wakes the rest of the members who still enjoyed their relaxed moment, and they began to climb on top of their respective horses while waiting for Melissa's command.

"Luccio! How far do you think the Sabre-tooth village from here?" Melissa then called for Luccio and asked him.

Luccio opens his map and reading it for a while.

"About another 70 or 80km, Milady." He answered a little hesitantly.

"Can we reach it before nightfall?"

It's even more dangerous to travel at night in the Deadlands. Melissa definitely does not want that.

"Truthfully, the valley's ruckus had cost us lots of time. But... I think we're able to arrive there when the sun began to set." Luccio frowned while answering seriously.

"Very well, let's not waste any more time. We should ride there now with the fastest speed... And Luccio, I placed you in the front... Show the way."

As the team had indeed already behind their schedule, Melissa prompted to depart immediately.

"Understood, Milady."

"Good... Let's go then." She finally ordered the team to moves onward.

Several team members turn their heads and giving the mountain one last gaze before continuing the journey.

Most of them still curious and baffled by the Zombie's event in the valley earlier, but they couldn't grasp what is actually happened there. Especially Victor, he as a powerful Saint rank warrior feels like as if he was just been played around by unknown entities and it was truly a hard blow to his pride heart. But he put the matter aside for now. He needs to remain focus on what may lay ahead.

This is only just the first phase of the team journeys and it was already hard for most of them. They cannot imagine what kind of situation they will encounter once they get deeper into the Deadlands.

==================================================================================

In the great City of Astor, the capital of Astoria Empire.

Inside a large and luxurious office room within the imperial palace, three men adorned in grand military uniform can be seen sat near a conference table while in the middle of a serious conversation.

"Any news from Melissa's investigation team?" a dignified voice uttered by a golden-haired man with incomparable grandeur appearance.

The man is exactly the current ruler of Astoria Empire, Kaiser Wilhelm Astor.

While the other two-man inside the room is the Kaiser's most trusted subordinates: Jetsun Academy's principal, Roger Greyson and one of the Major Imperial Guardian, Geralt Redia.

These three man holds the most powerful authority inside the Empire.

"They already left the border just this morning, and there's been an interesting development happened to them, your majesty." Geralt answered.

Wilhelm nodded "Alright, tell me then."

"This news just came from Esnoz. Mentioning that the Church's investigation team had joined forces with Lady Dreyfuss's team." Geralt smile as he reported.

"Hmm... Is it true?" Roger asked for confirmation nervously while the Kaiser only silently listening.

Roger truly cares for his precious student, whom he also regards as his own daughter. Since the time Melissa departs in leading a dangerous mission into the inhospitable Gobi Deadlands, his mind always filled with worries. He couldn't help but anticipated and waits for every news concerning her.

"Indeed... And another interesting fact is, that one of the Greysia's Church Saint rank expert is included in that team as well." Geralt smile became wider as he said that.

"...."

"...."

Wilhelm and Roger were shocked, and they couldn't even mutter a single word in response to Geralt's reports.

They couldn't fathom why would the Church even allowed one of their Saint expert to become a member of a simple investigation team.

"Did that exalted person has been identified?" Roger asked.

"Yes... We know who he is... He is Victor Assange, the Eventide Saint." Geralt tells both of them the identity of the Church's Saint.

"The holder of the Radiant Star?"

The Kaiser mentioned the name of a famous treasured weapon belonged to the Church. In which supposedly famously wield by the Eventide Saint.

"Exactly, your majesty..." Geralt nodded in acknowledgment.

"Besides the Eventide Saint, the Church is sending their future Saintess and the vice commander of Radiant Order as well... So overall, lady Dreyfuss's team had formidable strength which I think is enough for them to survive inside the Deadlands." Geralt continues his reports.

"But I'm still worried honestly. Especially since there is one particular member of unknown origin with an unknown motive. This is a sensitive mission after all." Roger expressed his concern.

"You're talking about that young man, right? Did we already know that he came from the Regios clan."

"It was still unconfirmed wheater it was the fact or not. We have the testimony from the man himself, you know. He could be lying for all we know." Roger protested heavily to Geralt's word.

"Old man. It wasn't like we could confirm it directly. The Regios clan is extremely elusive, and we don't have the means to contact them. Besides, Melissa was suggested to recruit him by the leader of SAD himself... That can be regarded as some form of assurance, right..." Geralt tried to assure Roger again.

"Well, if you put it that way..." Roger starts to pondering the situation seriously.

Melissa's current situation could be described as very favorable to her. Besides, the Church's people are known for being trustworthy. Most of her original members are also reputable people as well. But all of that still couldn't completely erase Roger's worries. The team was heading for the Deadlands after all, and god knows what they will encounter there.

"It looks like you can be assured about Melissa now, old man Roger... She got help from formidable groups of people." Said Wilhelm while he lightly smiled.

"Yeah..." Roger replied shortly and weakly nodded, his aged-wrinkled face became relaxed for a bit.

Geralt decides to tease the Kaiser in order to put ease of the current situation "And your majesty, you also don't have to worry about your future son in law too... Hehehe."

Both Kaiser and Roger lightly laughed after they heard it.

Then, Wilhelm gently smiled "He still has lots to prove... We'll see about that in the future."

Apparently, the love affair between Alfred and Crown Princess Lyanna are also known to even the Empire's upper echelon, and judging from the Kaiser's reaction earlier, Alfred's chances seem to be higher than he always thought.

"Alright, let's move the topic. What about the team from the White Tower? Do we have any information about them?" Asked Wilhelm.

Geralt hold his chin while making a serious face "That's what actually worried me the most, your majesty... Two known Archmages along with huge numbers of people from the White Tower has been sighted in a small town called Nielis, near the foot of Vega mountains inside Dwarven Nation's territory that bordered the Arga forest, just a few days ago. But they disappeared immediately, and their current whereabouts are unknown."

"That is... very disturbing news..." Wilhelm said with a grave voice.