The morning light slanted through the stone arches of the underground square, pale gold spilling across rough-hewn walls. Dust hung in the air, stirred by boots and nervous shuffling.

Twenty-seven figures stood assembled on the flat stone floor — soldiers, thieves, hunters. Some looked restless, others grim. The air was thick with expectation.

"Captain," said a hulking man with a shaved head and a voice like a bear's growl, "aren't we supposed to be on patrol right now?"

Cao, the man's name was — Alec's second-in-command, as solid as the boulders he was built from. Two meters tall, muscles coiled beneath leather armor, and a mind as straightforward as a hammer.

Alec shot him a hard look. "Shut your mouth and stand straight," he said. His voice carried across the stone walls. "We're not patrolling today. The City Lord has business with us. You'll hear soon enough."

Cao scratched the back of his neck, sheepish but obedient. "Right. Aye, Captain."

Alec turned to scan the gathered faces. Most were old hands — the original hunting team who'd patrolled the wilds outside Black Tortoise City. Seventeen in total, men and women who'd bled together under his command. The rest — ten newcomers — stood toward the rear, shifty-eyed and uncertain.

Former thieves.

They'd been allowed to stay in the city under one condition: service. Some still wore the unease of men who'd lived too long in shadows, unaccustomed to standing in formation.

Alec barked sharply, "Listen up, all of you. The City Lord himself is coming. I don't care who you were before — you'll stand tall, eyes forward, mouths shut. If anyone shames this unit, I won't lift a finger to save your hide. Understood?"

"Understood!" came the rough chorus.

Boots shifted, shoulders squared. Even the thieves straightened, fear flickering through their eyes.

They'd all seen what Luciel could do.

Three days ago, the City Lord had turned the world upside down — the earth reshaping itself, towers rising, the city expanding tenfold overnight. People had whispered afterward, in awe and in terror. God, some had called him. Monster, others.

Now, every one of them waited in taut silence.

Then came the sound — footsteps echoing from the corridor. Ta. Ta. Ta. Slow, steady, commanding.

Luciel appeared from the tunnel's shadow, his stride sure and unhurried. The man had presence — not loud, but heavy. His black eyes were cold glass, his jaw hard-cut. He wore a dark military coat instead of his usual robes, and even that seemed to radiate pressure.

Behind him followed Mino, a small figure half-hidden in his shadow. Her face was pale, wary — her eyes darted away when others looked at her. Further behind, unseen but very much present, were Elara and Alina, their ghost armor bending light, keeping them hidden but vigilant.

Alec stepped forward and bowed slightly. "My lord, all twenty-seven are present."

Luciel gave a curt nod. "Good."

His gaze swept over them, unreadable. The silence that followed was suffocating. Then his voice broke it — calm, deep, and deliberate.

"I've summoned you here today," he said, "to announce a change."

No one spoke. A single cough echoed and died.

"The hunting team," Luciel continued, "will no longer exist as it once did. From this day forward, you will serve as soldiers — the first soldiers of the Black Tortoise City Defense Forces."

A murmur rippled through the crowd — surprise, pride, confusion.

Luciel's tone sharpened. "Your duty is no longer to hunt beasts for food or resources. It is to defend this city — to protect your loved ones, your kin, and your home. From this day, you stand as the wall that shields Black Tortoise."

Alec felt his throat tighten. He'd fought for the city for years, but never like this — never with this sense of gravity. Around him, faces hardened. Even the thieves stood straighter.

Luciel watched them closely. They were raw — untrained, unpolished, but sincere. There was no cynicism here, no masks or politics. That, he thought, was their greatest strength.

"The City Defense Forces," Luciel went on, "will be divided into three units. Each will guard one of the city's outer fortresses."

He gestured vaguely toward the surface. "You know The Wall — the fortress along the western gate. The other two are still under construction. When finished, each will anchor a pass to the outside world. Together, they'll form our outer line of defense."

He paused, letting that sink in.

"The first army," Luciel declared, "will be commanded by Alec. You will garrison The Wall."

Alec stepped forward, saluted with a fist to his chest. "Yes, my lord."

He felt the weight of it — the pride, and the fear. He had led before, but this was different. This was permanence. Command of an army, not a band of hunters.

"The second army," Luciel said, turning his gaze toward the crowd, "will be commanded by Cao."

The big man's eyes went wide. "Me, my lord?"

Luciel gave a faint smile. "You've got the strength for it. Use it well. You'll oversee patrols of the outer fortresses once they're completed."

Cao swallowed hard, then grinned, a little boyish despite his bulk. "Understood!"

A ripple of amusement broke the tension — brief but human.

Luciel's gaze moved toward the back of the formation, where the ten thieves stood apart. "The third army," he said, "will be commanded by Zanyan."

For a heartbeat, silence. Then Zanyan blinked, pointing to himself. "Me, my lord?"

"Yes. You." Luciel's tone was matter-of-fact. "Your past is not a chain — it's a test. You'll lead your men. And you'll show them that even a thief can protect, not just take."

The thief's mouth worked soundlessly for a moment. He looked at the men behind him — his crew — and then back to Luciel. "My wife is pregnant," he said, voice shaking. "If I do this… if I serve… I want her and the child to—"

Luciel cut him off gently. "To be proud of you. I know." His gaze softened by a fraction. "That's why I chose you."

Zanyan's eyes burned. He clenched his fist over his chest. "Then I swear I won't let you down."

Luciel nodded once. "Good. I expect nothing less."

He raised his voice then, turning back to the rest. "And what about the rest of you? Will you protect this city?"

"Yes!"

The shout rolled through the chamber like thunder.

Luciel's lips twitched — almost a smile. "Remember how you feel right now. Remember it when the enemy stands before you. A soldier's worth isn't in his blade — it's in his resolve."

He turned on his heel and strode toward the exit. Alec hesitated only a moment before following. Cao and Zanyan hurried after, boots striking stone in uneven rhythm.

When they reached the corridor, Luciel spoke again, voice quieter now. "You're captains of the city's first armies. That's no small title. But don't think for a second it's permanent."

He glanced sideways at them, eyes like obsidian. "If any of you fail your duties, I'll replace you. Simple as that."

The three men nodded. None of them doubted he meant it.

"As soldiers," Luciel continued, "you'll live where you serve — in the fortresses. Leave only on sanctioned leave. No gambling dens. No tavern brawls. No excuses."

"Yes, my lord," Alec said. Cao and Zanyan echoed the same.

Luciel stopped at the base of the stairwell and looked up at the shaft of daylight above. "You'll enforce discipline among your men. You'll teach them what it means to serve something greater than themselves."

He looked back over his shoulder. "The time for hunting and scavenging is over. The city's growing. With that comes order — law, duty, and hierarchy. You three will be the pillars that hold it up."

The captains said nothing, only bowed their heads.

"As for uniforms and weapons," Luciel said, turning to climb the stairs, "they're being forged and tailored now. You'll receive them soon. I'll also assign instructors to drill your soldiers — Elara and Alina will oversee that."

At the mention of their names, the air shimmered faintly — a distortion of light, unseen by all but him. Luciel didn't look back, but he knew they'd heard.

He continued, "There will be no favoritism in how you select your subordinates. I want balance, not rivalry. This isn't a competition — it's a defense."

Alec nodded firmly. "Understood."

Cao grunted. "No picking favorites. Got it."

Zanyan, quieter now, glanced at them both. "And if the men refuse to serve under… someone like me?"

Luciel stopped mid-step and looked back at him. "Then I'll have them draw lots. No one gets to choose their captain. They'll learn that discipline means obeying the structure, not their comfort."

Zanyan exhaled, tension easing from his shoulders. "Understood."

Luciel gave a final nod. "Good. When the pay scales, benefits, and leave schedules are finalized, Mirean will read them to your men. For now, train them. Shape them. Make them believe they're soldiers."

He turned his gaze toward the open passage ahead. "And remember this — faith alone won't hold a wall. But men who believe they stand for something greater than themselves just might."

The captains watched him go — the echo of his boots fading up the stone steps until the chamber was silent once more.

For a long while, none of them spoke.

Then Cao let out a low whistle. "Well," he said, "guess we're soldiers now."

Alec snorted. "Guess so."

Zanyan looked at the faint light

spilling down the stairs and murmured, "No. We're something else now. He's building a wall out of men."

And for the first time, Alec didn't argue.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.