White Emperor City
White Emperor City was now organized with clear social classes: ordinary evolutionaries, advanced evolutionaries working within the city, and the true elites who held governing power at the top. With White Emperor City's strength growing and its development progressing steadily, it had become one of the foremost strongholds for human evolutionaries—not only in the Faeloria Country but worldwide. Reaching this scale had certainly not been easy.
However, White Emperor City was not without its challenges and hidden threats. In fact, some of these issues were significant.
Novak had once warned Daphne that, even as the leader of this sanctuary, the most crucial priority in the apocalypse was maintaining one's own strength above all else. Daphne had taken his words to heart. She had ensured that both she and her trusted confidantes, as well as the main evolutionary force responsible for defending White Emperor City, were formidable. In fact, just the previous day, Daphne and Nicole had reached level 10—a level that marked the upper echelon of evolution.
Yet, despite this milestone, Daphne found herself growing more concerned. As evolution levels rose and the apocalypse progressed, professions became the hottest topic. Now, strength was measured by the power of one's profession.
White Emperor City's stability relied heavily on the fear and respect commanded by Novak and the prestige of White Emperor. But with Novak's whereabouts unknown, the responsibilities of maintaining order and defense had fallen squarely on Daphne's shoulders. Although she could still improve her strength and craft equipment by exploring the nearby secret realms, acquiring a high-level profession was no simple task.
If this continued and White Emperor City's leaders remained stuck at level 10 without progressing into new professions, there was a risk of unrest—especially if Novak did not return soon. Would this lead to conflicts or chaos?
As a skilled leader, Daphne knew how to plan for worst-case scenarios and quickly sought solutions to any potential threats. Yet, despite all her preparations over the past few days, she kept coming back to a straightforward answer: she needed Novak's guidance.
After all, the White Emperor was a legendary figure in the apocalypse, an SSS-level powerhouse, and the founder of White Emperor City. Surely, turning to him for assistance was reasonable.
Moreover, in Group 001, the Faeloria Country job changers had recently surged to dominate the top ranks. Given such a roster of strong allies, perhaps she could find a few options that suited her needs.
Just as this thought crossed her mind, a special notification appeared in Daphne's peripheral vision.
[Master: I'm back.]
Those four simple words immediately caught her attention. No other message could compare.
In that instant, White Emperor City erupted into a frenzy.
Novak emerged from Meimei's villa, where the young girl had fallen into a deep sleep following the strain of long-distance teleportation. After ensuring she was comfortable, Novak made his way to the central manor.
Although Daphne, Dane, and the others often struggled to hide their emotions around him, their eyes lit up with unmistakable joy. She, along with the rest of her inner circle, awaited his arrival outside the villa, ready to welcome him back as if he were an emperor returning from a grand expedition.
The scene was gratifying, and Novak couldn't deny he enjoyed the reception. Perhaps the moment would be even more satisfying if they bowed in greeting.
But Novak hadn't requested such a formality, and it was clear these women had not thought to do it on their own.
Accompanied by Daphne, Dane, Aria, Ruri, Lea, and lastly Andrea—who was both the most excluded and had the faintest presence among them—Novak entered the villa manor, which had changed considerably since he was last there.
At the top of White Emperor City, this villa complex represented the heart of the city's power structure. Several nearby villas had either been demolished or remodeled, merging into a central estate that now served as the White Emperor City Lord's Mansion. Majestic and imposing, it was the ultimate symbol of White Emperor's authority.
Inside, even a few maids moved about. Each one was a carefully chosen beauty, and some of their faces seemed familiar—either former TV personalities or celebrated campus figures from De M-anila University. Though Novak paid little attention to these additions, the lack of other men in the manor made it clear that Daphne had an intuitive grasp of his preferences.
Once inside the lavish living room, he settled on the long sofa, and Daphne joined him. She looked at the man she hadn't seen for more than half a month, and noted how his aura had evolved once again. A strange, dark power radiated from him, emphasized by the devilish horns on his head and the unsettling gleam in his eyes. Every change signaled how far his strength had risen in such a short time—he was exponentially stronger than before.
"You're finally back! Was everything successful on your journey?" Daphne asked as she sat beside him, her gaze fixed on him.
Novak responded with a casual pull, drawing her closer. Although he had already encountered powerful beings like the Yamai sisters and the Succubus Queen Meikanxie, his bond with Daphne remained unique.
"Successful? You could say that," he replied. "Didn't you see the reminder from the Cosmic Will?"
Unbothered by the gazes around him, Novak's hands slip beneath Daphne's clothes, his fingers teasing over bare skin before claiming her chest with a possessive touch. After days of honing his strength, his desires, too, had surged once more, demanding release.
Meikanxie's immense power, in particular, had instilled a sense of caution in him; she was too formidable, and even her protective magic held risks he didn't dare test.
But here, among those who had stayed by his side in White Emperor City, Novak found a sense of ease that eluded him elsewhere.
"Master, there are so many people here," Daphne murmured.
"All the better, isn't it?" he replied with a slight smile. "If it's not urgent, we can discuss the details later…"
Not long after, as the sounds of their reunion resonated throughout the villa, word quickly spread through White Emperor City. Servants, maids, and others passed along the news until it swept across the entire city: White Emperor City's founder, the totemic leader and strongest evolutionary—Lord White Emperor himself—had returned.