The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 11

Chapter 11: The Dead City (Requesting Follow-Up Reads)

“This city… is dead.”

After a quick glance around, Gu Xi simply stated this.

As an Undead Mage, Gu Xi could clearly sense the overwhelming death aura permeating the land before him. This wasn’t the kind of death aura generated by a large concentration of undead and negative energy.

It was a different kind of death—a hollow, empty feeling, as if the entire city had perished.

Standing on this land, Gu Xi felt as if a giant whale had fallen, and he was inside its body.

Just then, Luna floated over, pressing close behind Gu Xi, whispering in his ear.

“Master, seize this city.”

Gu Xi paused. Seize this city? Did she mean this abandoned, almost-collapsed castle, or…?

Gu Xi looked around, suddenly finding the place rather intriguing.

The castle, though dilapidated, still possessed its original footprint and materials. Gu Xi immediately recognized it as a former military and residential structure. As an Undead Mage, securing this city would provide him with a valuable base for his troops.

Just as Gu Xi was about to agree, Luna flew towards the castle gate, turning back to Gu Xi as she flew.

“Come, hurry!”

This time, Gu Xi was confused. Wasn’t the plan to occupy this castle? Why the sudden departure?

Despite his confusion, Gu Xi trusted Luna and quickly followed. Behind him, his one hundred and eighty Skeleton Soldiers followed in formation. The Skeleton Soldiers in combat squads advanced in orderly ranks, while those not assigned to squads formed a chaotic mass behind Gu Xi, bumping into each other with a clattering *ka-cha, ka-cha* sound.

Gu Xi, however, had little time for such details. Following Luna out of the castle gate, he discovered that the city Luna referred to wasn’t the castle at all.

Instead, it was a vast, empty city before him. The legendary illusion city of Alerdovier.

The city clearly exhibited an architectural style from the 15th or 16th century, with a haphazard layout. Stone houses seemed haphazardly constructed, lacking any clear planning. The ground, however, was surprisingly clean, unlike what one might expect from a 15th or 16th-century street.

Gu Xi noticed, however, that this city, like the castle, was filled with a deathly stillness, as if it had long since ceased to exist. Though the buildings remained, Gu Xi felt he had entered a necropolis.

As Gu Xi was marveling at the city, he suddenly heard Luna speak.

“Alerdovier.”

“What?”

Gu Xi was startled.

Luna, seemingly recovering from a trance, turned to him, asking, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, what did you just say, Aler…?”

“Nothing,” Luna shook her head emphatically, denying having said anything.

Seeing Luna’s expression, Gu Xi calmed down. Looking at the moderately-sized city, a thought suddenly struck him.

Could Luna be the city’s spirit? He had heard that very old or unique cities sometimes developed a city spirit to act as their guardian. If Luna was this city’s spirit, her earlier reaction made sense.

Even if Luna had become a Contracted Undead due to Gu Xi, a recently deceased city would still hold some attachment for its spirit.

Had they not come to this city, Gu Xi might have treated Luna as an ordinary Contracted Undead. After leaving this game world, Gu Xi planned to strengthen his undead army and, if possible, contract a powerful undead after reaching level 3.

But now, in this mirrored illusion city, knowing the possibility of Luna’s true identity, Gu Xi’s options expanded considerably.

“Luna, lead the way. Don’t be afraid; I’ll always be behind you.”

His thoughts raced, but Gu Xi quickly made his decision.

“But… but I don’t know where to go.”

Luna hesitated.

“It’s okay. Go wherever you want, follow your heart.”

Gu Xi reassured Luna.

Under Gu Xi’s reassurance, Luna calmed down. Her vacant eyes gazed toward a certain point outside the city. Before Gu Xi spoke, she hadn’t felt anything, but now an overwhelming urge to go there seized her.

Gu Xi continued to observe Luna’s emotional response. Seeing her expression, he knew he was on the right track.

“Don’t think too much, let’s go.”

At Gu Xi’s words, Luna, ignoring the path ahead, headed straight for what drew her.

Gu Xi followed, flanked by four combat squads and a motley crew of Skeleton Soldiers. Exiting the city, Gu Xi looked back and saw the castle shrouded in mist.

It seemed the abandoned city was, as the Alerdovier legends suggested, merely the entrance to this city. The effect might not have been noticeable within the castle, but outside, it was different.

The castle’s disappearance into the mist signified that their return path was gone.

As Gu Xi pondered this, a rustling sound reached his ears. Turning towards the sound, he saw figures moving in the depths of the mist.

Gu Xi glanced at Luna, who continued her forward march, and pointed towards a Skeleton Soldier.

The Skeleton Soldier remained unresponsive.

This irritated Gu Xi. These summoned undead weren’t as useful as Contracted Undead. They only responded to direct and explicit orders; otherwise, they simply wouldn’t know what to do, unlike Luna’s, who usually simply charged at any enemy they saw.

Gu Xi was used to Luna mediating with the undead; now, with Luna’s situation, his command was jeopardized.

Fortunately, Gu Xi reacted quickly. He pointed at the Skeleton Soldier and said, “You, go into the mist and see what those figures are. The rest, gather around me.”

At Gu Xi’s command, the Skeleton Soldiers swiftly reacted. As they moved, Gu Xi noticed something—at some point, enemies had infiltrated his ranks.

New book period, please give your support! Follow-up reads, recommendations, etc., thank you!

(Chapter End)

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