Strongest Among the Heavens
Chapter 333: Meropis

Chapter 333: Meropis

[ Gate 19 : Meropis

Main Objective: Explore!

Prize Pool: ?

SPECIAL OBJECTIVE: Keep exploring!

SPECIAL PRIZE POOL: ? ]

Here Kazi was—alongside a bunch of other players. From first glance, he discerned this was a one-realm gate. There were not multiple versions, there was only one place every player in the Heavenly Tower ended up at: the island of Meropis.

The screen above didn’t help either. Explore. Keep exploring.

What was there to explore? A lot. Seriously, there was a lot.

The moment he opened his eyes, he was greeted by the grand architecture of Eusebes. The name was thing, the buildings and temples were another. They spoke for themselves. They were distinctively ancient Greek and proud of it. The road was very wide and very expecant for walking. Shoulders did not brush with this extra space.

The first Kazi did in this Ancient Greek city was touch the ground. ’Flagstone surfaced roads. Wheel marks and ruts too. Amazing! So amazing! Super amazing!’

Kazi would have spent hours studying the precise foundation of the roads if not for the inhabitants of Eusebes. The Méropes, as they were called, were not the type of people a person could brush past. No, they were twice as tall as ordinary humans. Twice! On paper, that might not have meant anything. In reality, Kazi had to tilt his neck so high up that he almost looked right into the sun.

"Woah."

The players around him displayed similar reactions. For those that had already come here, a couple glances were sent to these gisnts. Seeing giant men and women in the Nebelous Bazaar wasn’t that unusual. There were animals and flying creatures everywhere, as well as (to help with this) the occasional half-breed or descendent of a monster or demon or whatever.

But even the craziest of the Bazaar weren’t this big. These were giants standing at a whopping twelve feet. The Méropes wore garments that reflected their opulent lifestyle. Men and women alike were draped in robes cinched at the waist with jeweled belts, and their feet were clad in sandals crafted from supple leather. Many wore elaborate jewelry, including necklaces, bracelets, and headpieces that sparkled in the sunlight.

The citizens were wealthy.

Too wealthy.

It almost felt like this was a place where neither illness nor hardship found a foothold. Which, if the legends were correct, was the case. These massive people not only lived tall but lived long too.

Kazi noticed a tall woman approaching him. She was taller up close, her height making Kazi crane his neck to look up at her. Her long, dark hair was woven into an intricate braid that fell over her shoulder, and her eyes were a striking shade of green. She wore a white robe with gold accents and a necklace of sparkling sapphires adorned her neck.

"Welcome, foreigner," the giant woman said. "You must come from the stars. My name is Callista."

’The stars? Interesting way to rationalize our appearance.’

"Yes, I just arrived. This place is incredible."

Callista smiled. "It is indeed. Eusebes is a city of great beauty and peace. Here, we live in harmony, free from hunger and sickness. We have the resources to live comfortably, and we share our wealth with all."

"Sounds like a utopia."

As if. Utopias didn’t exist. They could never exist so long as greed lingered. Wartorn conflict. Utopic conflict. At the end of the day, it was all the same.

"It is a result of our wisdom and unity," Callista explained. "We have mastered the art of living well, and we take care of one another. Our city thrives because we believe in the power of community and the sharing of knowledge and resources."

"That’s amazing!"

He was versed in the legends of Eusebes and the greater island of Meropis. He was aware that her words, while true, left out a crucial detail.

’But playing along is the only way to gather information.’

They began walking. Kazi continued to absorb the splendor of Eusebes. The scent of blooming flowers filled the air, and birds with vibrant plumage flitted about.

"Is everyone here as tall as you?" Kazi asked, glancing up at Callista.

She chuckled softly. "Yes, save for the half-breeds."

"Half-breeds?"

’Don’t tell me...’

"Yes. Not everyone that comes from the stars goes back. Some stay and live here. My own father, actually, came from the stars. Luckily, the trait of great height is strong in my family and has been passed down through generations. We were blessed by Amphitrite."

"So I can actually meet them!?"

Callista looked puzzled. "Of course you can. Why couldn’t you?"

’But where...where does this world exist? How do the Architects make it keep going? How much time had passed for them?’

His thoughts ended as Callista led him to a grand plaza at the center of the city, where a massive marble statue of a woman stood, her arms outstretched in a gesture of welcome. "This is the heart of Eusebes," Callista said. "The statue is dedicated to Amphitrite, our lady."

"The goddess of the ocean, eh? Have you ever seen her?"

"Once, as a girl, I did. That was two hundred years ago."

The statue of Amphitrite was of a beautiful blonde lady with a golden net in her hair and crab claws tucked over her ears. Her hands were raised in a pinching position. Kazi came close to the base of the statue.

’These marks...’ He looked up and touched the lettering. It was a simple dedication to Amphitrite, nothing more. To Kazi, however, it seemed to confirm something..

"People like your father and I come every what? Thirty years? Forty?"

"Oh, yes," said Callista. "Every forty years, those from the stars arrive."

’So this is a gate that regularly appears in the Heavenly Games. Good to know. I bet if I talk to her father, I’ll discover the objectives.’

"Can I meet him?"

Callista smiled. "By all means. I was on my way home when I encountered you."

***

Kazi found himself sitting at a table. The house, like all buildings in Anostos, was built to accommodate the towering natives of Meropis. The ceilings soared high above, and the furniture, though designed with a semblance of human comfort, was larger and sturdier than anything Kazi was used to.

Callista’s father, Gregory, sat across from him, his small frame dwarfed by the immense chair.

He was not as old as Kazi expected either. With his gray hair, he was in his fifties at best.

"I always told my daughter to help out any player that she sees." A large fireplace dominated one wall and Gregory stared at it with a soft smile.

A player. An actual player from a previous generation was here. Kazi would have been speechless if not for his sheer curiosity. "Wow..."

"Don’t be too surprised," Gregory remarked. "I’m not the only one."

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