Born In Ashes: The Enigma

The entire New Moon City was bustling with people.

Young, adult, elderly—people of all categories moved around the city with enthusiastic expressions, making it feel as if it were a festival season.

Azrael walked along with the crowd, heading toward the city center where the recruitment event was going to be held.

As he moved, he saw many individuals patrolling the area. They carried weapons and wore armor marked with light golden stripes, their expressions stern and alert.

These people were from the Juri Tower—the tower responsible for managing the city.

The position of the Tower Master of the Juri Tower was equivalent to that of a City Lord.

Following the crowd, Azrael soon arrived at the city center.

At the heart of the area was a large open field, designated for participants to showcase their talents.

If they possessed aptitude in becoming a Knight or Mage and managed to impress the representatives of the tower they wished to join, they would be allowed entry into that tower.

The reason so many residents of New Moon City were excited about this event was simple—if they succeeded in impressing the tower representatives, they wouldn't have to pay the enormous fees required to enter the towers.

Anyone could attempt to join a tower and pursue their dreams, but training within a tower demanded a hefty sum of money.

Most of the citizens of New Moon City lived modest lives, much like Rudheer, and their incomes weren't enough to afford the steep tower fees.

As a result, many were unable to pursue their dreams of becoming a Mage or a Knight.

However, by performing well during the public recruitment event, they could gain entry into the tower without the financial burden.

Even if they failed to impress the evaluators fully, showing some talent could still earn them a partial discount on the fees.

At present, the entire city center square was filled with people, though the representatives from the towers had not yet arrived.

Azrael scanned the surroundings and soon noticed a raised platform fitted with luxurious-looking chairs.

Upon seeing the high platform and ornate seating, he immediately concluded that this was where the Tower Masters would sit.

Rudheer had told him that individuals who had turned themselves into the Vessel of corruption would exhibit extremely violent emotions—constantly harboring urges to destroy everything and kill everyone in their sight.

Azrael wanted to use the power of his traits to sense the emotions of the three Tower Masters, and to do so, he needed to get close to them.

Navigating through the crowd, Azrael moved until he was just five meters away from the platform.

He stopped there, as the area ahead was guarded by members of the Juri Tower.

However, he wasn't concerned. From this distance, he believed that if he fully deployed his senses, he would be able to perceive their emotions.

The Tower Masters were Class-Rank warriors.

Azrael was currently only Level 5, still quite far from reaching Class Rank.

But with his spiritual power—which far surpassed that of a typical person at his level—he felt confident that even if the Tower Masters tried to suppress their emotions as best as they could, he would still be able to pick up subtle clues.

Among the crowd, the most excited group consisted of the young participants who were around sixteen years old.

Everyone who had come to participate in the event held confidence that they would successfully join one of the towers.

However, from the information Azrael had gathered the day before, he knew that only around fifty people would be accepted.

With roughly one thousand and five hundred participants, that number was quite low.

This event meant little to Azrael as he had no intention of participating.

His sole purpose in attending was to identify his target. Once he confirmed who it was, he planned to spend the remaining time in the Moon Forest, increasing his strength as much as possible.

Once he believed he had a chance to take care of his target, he would strike and complete the trial.

Joining a tower would only limit him, as it would require him to spend most of his time inside.

Unlike others, Azrael didn't need the towers to grow stronger.

He could simply hunt monsters in the forest or cultivate his Source Core on his own.

Time passed, and around half an hour later, the crowd suddenly became agitated.

Azrael looked to the side and saw three luxurious carriages approaching.

The leading carriage was golden, bearing the flag of the Golden Tower.

Following behind were two more carriages—one black and one blue—each flying the flags of the Black and Blue Towers respectively.

The golden carriage soon reached the city center and came to a stop a short distance away from the raised platform where Azrael had seen the chairs.

A guard from the Juri Tower quickly stepped forward and opened the door.

From within the golden carriage, a middle-aged man with black hair and a golden robe stepped out.

He appeared to be around forty years old, and his face bore a calm, composed expression.

'Harris Black… the Tower Master of the Juri Tower,' Azrael thought, carefully observing the man.

His sharp senses immediately told him that he was no match for the person standing before him.

Harris did not head to the platform right away after emerging from the carriage. Instead, he looked back towards the carriage and extended his hand.

As he did, a fair hand reached out from the carriage and grasped his.

Azrael didn't pay attention to the second person inside the carriage as he already knew her identity.

Instead, his gaze shifted to the black carriage, just as another guard from the Juri Tower opened its door.

From the black carriage emerged a woman cloaked entirely in a black robe.

Her face was also covered, concealing her facial features.

'Magic Tower Master, Claudia,' Azrael noted, watching her for a few moments before turning toward the blue carriage.

From it stepped out a handsome man, appearing to be around thirty years old.

He wore gleaming blue armor and carried a sword at his waist.

His shoulder length golden hair gave him the appearance of a charming prince—like the kind often described in bedtime stories told by mothers.

'Knight Tower Master, Alex.'