As the colossal doors slid open, the scent of antiquity and dust wafted out to greet the visitors.
Murphy's group stepped into the main building of the Royal Palace... and the sight that met their eyes froze them in their tracks.
It was a vast, sprawling hallway. The ceiling, soaring high above, was adorned with crystal chandeliers that, despite lying shattered on the floor, still retained the skeleton of their past beauty. Each stone pillar was inlaid with gold and gemstones, reflecting the civilization's peak of prosperity.
However... that beauty was overshadowed by the brutal "Scars of Battle."
Massive sword slashes cut deep into the stone walls. Craters from magic explosions had scorched the marble floor black. Dried blood, centuries old, was splattered everywhere. It wasn't just a battle... it was a war of extermination.
"What exactly happened here..."
Philip asked in a whisper, his eyes scanning the devastation with sorrow.
"What a mess..." Axel grumbled, kicking a piece of rubble out of his way. "Who fights in a fancy place like this?"
While others examined the surroundings, Murphy's gaze was fixed on the center of the hall.
Sunlight beaming through the broken windows illuminated a majestic "Golden Throne."
But that throne... was "snapped in half."
As if sliced by a massive blade, severing the symbol of kingship and power completely.
"Hmm..."
The pale boy walked past Murphy, hands in his pockets. He looked up at the broken throne with unreadable eyes.
"Where to begin... It's kind of hard to explain. It's a long story."
He sighed deeply and turned back to face everyone. His aura shifted slightly, becoming more composed and regal.
"As you've probably guessed... I am not a normal human, nor am I just a wandering spirit."
"I am an existence of a higher tier... I am the 'God of Mountains and Wind', the guardian of this place."
Silence filled the room for a heartbeat.
Murphy raised an eyebrow. He didn't look terrified as he initially had, but rather curious.
"God of Mountains and Wind, huh?" Murphy repeated, then asked bluntly.
"So, do you have a name? Or are we going to call you 'Shorty' forever?"
The pale boy smirked slightly.
"A name... No one has asked for my name in a very long time."
He dusted off his cloak lightly before speaking in a tone that sounded ancient yet playful.
"Sylus... Remember it well, human."
"Sylus..." Murphy nodded. "Okay, Sylus. Can you take us somewhere to sit? My legs are shaking so bad I can barely stand."
Sylus led Murphy's group deeper into the castle, past the damaged corridors and into the inner sanctum, which remained miraculously intact.
He pushed open a large, intricately carved wooden door.
"Welcome... This is the 'White Rose Lounge.' Nobles used to come here to sip tea and talk about nonsense."
The sight revealed a luxurious lounge. The floor was covered in thick, soft carpets, and the room was filled with red and cream velvet sofas. Despite the passage of time, preservation magic kept the furniture looking brand new.
"Oh, thank heaven..." Axel groaned in pure bliss.
He threw himself onto the first long sofa he saw.
Poof...
"Ohhh... Soft... So soft! So soft my soul is leaving my body!"
Jace, Ren, and the others dove onto different sofas, groans of comfort echoing through the room. Having lived rough lives sleeping on dirt, they had never experienced this level of softness.
Murphy slowly sat down on a single armchair. His battle-weary body sank into the cushion, and relaxation washed over him until his eyes fluttered shut.
After letting everyone soak in the comfort for a while, they pulled chairs and sofas together in the center of the room to convene.
"We need to restore this place... starting from the center and working outward," Murphy began. "But the only problem is manpower and time."
"If we just use manual labor... it won't be finished in ten years," Philip interrupted.
He adjusted his glasses with confidence. The shy look in his eyes was gone, replaced by the spark of a visionary engineer.
He grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, sketching a rough blueprint rapidly.
"These structures are too big for human strength alone... but we have one advantage."
He pointed in the direction of the altar. "Unlimited Mana."
"I will build 'Magitech Construction Gear'," Philip explained, sketching an outline resembling a wearable hydraulic arm.
"I can modify scrap metal from the destroyed Sentry Bots outside to create simple Exoskeletons. It will allow one worker to lift a ton of rock easily!"
Everyone's eyes widened. "Can you really do that, Philip?" Murphy asked.
"Yes, brother! With enough energy, anything is possible," Philip puffed out his chest. "But I can't do it alone... I need assistants who know mechanics."
Axel raised his hand immediately.
"Manpower... I can handle that," the gang leader grinned.
"The slums aren't just full of starving people... The 'Scavengers' there are geniuses with machines. They strip junk and fix old engines to survive. There are plenty of skilled hands; they just lack tools and opportunity."
"That's exactly what I need!" Philip snapped his fingers.
"Brother Axel... you go pick the elite mechanics for me. The rest can be the construction labor force."
Murphy watched the scene with pride. Philip was commanding a national-level plan, and Axel had become a key force in gathering the masses.
"Then it's decided," Murphy concluded.
"Philip... You are the 'Chief Engineer.' Lay the foundation and build all the tech."
"Axel... You are the 'Head of Operations.' Manage the workers and logistics."
Sylus, sitting with his legs crossed, listened silently with a satisfied smirk.
"Humans... you adapt so quickly. In no time at all, you're already dividing tasks to build a new nest."
He swirled an empty teacup in his hand.
"I'm actually starting to look forward to seeing what this new city of yours will look like."
Philip turned to Sylus and smiled back confidently.
"I guarantee, Lord God, your eyes will pop out of your head!"