I Got My System Late, But I'll Become Beastgod
Chapter 81: City of Wings and Stars

Chapter 81: City of Wings and Stars

Seenu nudged Aamir with his elbow and leaned in, whispering like he was sharing a great secret.

"Look at that—see the sword on Shinroku’s waist? That’s his wooden katana. He always carries it. And believe it or not, he can slice through rocks with that thing! How could I not be a fan?"

Aamir followed his gaze. The katana hung casually by Shinroku’s side, looking plain at first glance—but there was something about the way it rested, like even the air around it knew better than to get too close.

Not far from them, Shinroku glanced at Haider with a small smirk tugging at his lips.

"Still falling asleep with a book on your face, I see."

Haider rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck lazily as he replied,

"Better than meditating so long you miss important meetings."

Shinroku let out a quiet chuckle, the kind old friends shared when they weren’t really arguing.

"You haven’t changed a bit, Haider."

Haider grinned back.

"And you’re still carrying that wooden toy around?"

"Why not?" Shinroku shrugged.

"It’s not broken yet. If it still gets the job done, what’s the point of replacing it?"

A few paces away, Aamir’s eyes scanned a group of unfamiliar students standing with perfect posture, each one radiating focus and strength. Their uniforms looked sharp, their movements disciplined.

"They look pretty strong," Aamir said, voice calm but eyes lit with interest.

"I’m excited to fight them," Seenu added, bouncing slightly on his toes.

"Yeah, me too," Aamir nodded, cracking his knuckles.

He turned to Kunal, who was already pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he studied the group.

"Which university are they from?" Aamir asked.

Kunal’s eyes narrowed, scanning the emblem stitched onto the students’ sashes—a majestic blue dragon encircling a golden moon.

"Judging by their attire, they’re from Shinsei Seiryuu Takamagahara Institute."

Aamir blinked, visibly lost.

"...And what does that mean?"

Kunal let out a long sigh, slapping his forehead dramatically.

"I should’ve known. Why nod like you get it if you clearly don’t?"

Aamir chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.

"So, what’s it mean?"

Kunal folded his arms.

"It means ’The Divine Azure Dragon of the Heavenly Realm Institute.’"

"Ooh, now that sounds badass," Raj said from behind them.

Meera and Riya both nodded.

"Definitely a cool name," Riya added, impressed.

Before they could talk more, a student from the opposing institute walked up to Haider and bowed respectfully.

"Konichiwa, Master Haider."

Haider returned the nod with a slight dip of his head.

"Konichiwa. So, this one’s your student, Shinroku?"

Shinroku smiled proudly, resting a hand on the student’s shoulder.

"Yes. His name is Sinki Morimiya. Believe me, he’s the best student I’ve ever trained."

He turned to Haider.

"What about you? Taken anyone under your wing?"

Haider’s eyes flicked toward the seats behind him.

"Actually, yes. Two of them."

He raised his voice slightly.

"Boys."

A blur of motion followed. One second Seenu was mid-sentence about Kyokai, and the next, both he and Aamir were standing beside their master, their movements like wind—sharp and silent.

Shinroku raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed.

"Ah... advanced-stage Grandmaster-level speed. I’d expect no less from your students."

"Konichiwa, Master Shinroku," both Aamir and Seenu said, bowing politely.

Shinroku returned the gesture with a nod.

"Well then, I’m quite interested in seeing a battle between your students and mine."

Haider’s tone relaxed as he spoke to his disciples.

"Go back to your seats."

They nodded and vanished just as quickly, returning to their spots.

Meanwhile, in Galvia, inside the Green Serpent Guild...

A man stood at the front, with about twenty figures behind him—all dressed in black, their faces hidden behind masks.

He spoke in a low, commanding voice.

"Be ready. We’re leaving for Wyndham today. Prepare yourselves. We’ll execute our mission—no failures accepted. Kill every one of Aryavrata’s students. And if anyone interferes... kill them too."

Back at Runerail...

The journey dragged on.

Another day and a half passed, slow and tiring.

The constant hum of the runerail had become background noise—too soft to distract, too steady to ignore.

Aamir slouched in his seat, half-lidded eyes staring out the window at the endless blur of fields and forests. But the worst part wasn’t the ride.

It was Seenu.

Still going on about Kyokai. Still not noticing Aamir’s increasingly deadly glare.

"And then Kirito said this thing about flow state—"

Aamir looked at him like he was five seconds away from throwing him out the window.

But Seenu kept talking.

And talking.

And talking.

Then—a hiss.

The runerail gave a sudden jolt and began to slow. Steam escaped from beneath as the train neared its final stop.

Seenu, finally snapping out of his rant, paused.

Aamir exhaled sharply.

"Ahh, finally..."

Haider and Shinroku stood up in unison.

"Everyone, get up. We’re here," Haider said.

The students rose, stretching stiff limbs, adjusting coats and bags. The hum of chatter filled the car. The group moved toward the doors and stepped out onto the platform.

Then—silence.

As they exited the terminal, the city unfolded before them like a dream.

The air felt lighter but carried a low hum of energy.

Skyscrapers clawed at the clouds, their glass walls reflecting the golden sun.

Roads buzzed with carriages powered by rune engines, some floating slightly off the ground. Neon signs in elegant scripts flickered with magical glows, advertising weapons, spells, armor, and food.

The scent of roasted meat mixed with perfume and engine smoke.

"Wow..." Riya whispered, eyes wide with wonder.

"Wyndham is completely different from AmritaKshetra."

They all stood still, their faces lifted toward the towering skyline.

A new city. A new battlefield. A new Chapter.

And they had just stepped into it.

The group moved slowly, their footsteps soft against the smooth, polished stone of the station courtyard. The air was crisp, tinged with a faint citrus scent that clung to the breeze—no doubt some magical enchantment at work.

Every few steps, one of them turned to take in the city around them. Levitating street lamps hovered like silent watchers, casting a gentle glow. Rune-powered cleaning drones zipped past, scrubbing the streets spotless. A squad of soldiers in enchanted armor marched along a separate path, the runes on their breastplates pulsing like heartbeats.

Aamir tried to stay composed, but his eyes betrayed him—darting left, then right, drinking it all in like a sponge.

Seenu leaned close, voice low and hushed.

"Bro, are we sure this is a city and not some S-rank dungeon?"

Aamir cracked a smirk.

"If it is, I hope the loot’s worth it."

The streets sparkled—cleaner than anything they’d seen back in AmritaKshetra. Above them, massive floating banners fluttered, bearing the mark of Starwing Imperial Academy: two celestial wings crossed over a rising star.

Without warning, a sleek convoy of dark-blue vehicles pulled up to the curb. Their surfaces gleamed like obsidian, and ancient symbols carved into their sides pulsed with a quiet, mystical light.

A door clicked open.

A woman stepped out.

She was tall—her presence commanding. A tailored officer’s coat hugged her frame, hair slicked back into a tight, no-nonsense bun, and her eyes—cold and sharp—looked like they’d sliced through thousands of cadets before.

She stopped before Haider and Shinroku.

"Master Haider. Master Shinroku. Welcome to Wyndham. The Starwing Academy extends its gratitude for your arrival."

Haider nodded, tone respectful.

"Thank you, Commander."

Shinroku’s grin was sharp and playful.

"Still scaring recruits with that death stare of yours?"

She didn’t smile, but her eyes twitched—just a little.

"Only the ones who deserve it."

Then she turned to the students, her voice like a blade—clean, clipped, and impossible to ignore.

"You will be taken to the Academy dorms for rest and preparation. The World Tournament begins tomorrow. Be ready. Valtania doesn’t tolerate weak contenders."

Even Seenu, usually a ball of restless energy, went rigid under her gaze.

Aamir leaned toward Meera, whispering out the corner of his mouth:

"She’s definitely the ’no-nonsense’ type."

Meera gave a quiet nod, lips curling slightly.

"Yeah. The kind who probably eats rules for breakfast."

Shinroku clapped his hands together with a grin.

"Looks like we’re in for a bumpy ride, huh?" He chuckled, making the tension feel lighter.

Seenu, not missing a beat, elbowed Aamir.

"If this place is half as tough as it looks, I think we’ll need a few more tricks up our sleeves."

Aamir’s lips curled into a smirk, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Let’s see if we can keep up."

The students filed into the vehicles. Inside, the seats were velvet-soft, the interior lit by glowing blue runes that traced along the window frames.

As the convoy began to move, Aamir rested his palm against the glass, watching the capital blur past—sky rails gliding overhead, sigils floating like constellations, and citizens in cloaks and armor walking with quiet power.

This place pulsed with energy—dangerous and alive.

"This city... it’s alive. Fierce. Unpredictable."

And somewhere within it... rivals were waiting. Battles were waiting.

The World Tournament was closer than ever.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel