Beyond the gate wasn’t the stronghold, but a large tunnel filled with light that stretched far into the distance, illuminating the path ahead.

"Welcome~" Standing before Leon was a girl wearing a professional attire, a wide smile on her face, "It takes a lot of strength to reach this place, so it is nice to see you. Mr. Celestial."

She seemed to be the guide for every player who came to this place, as Leon noticed several other people dressed just like her greeting some other players.

"I know of your... reputation," the girl winked faintly, "but I will try to keep it as neutral as possible. Call me Tiara."

"Alright," Leon replied, following her lead into the tunnel.

Tiara led Leon deeper into the tunnel with a practiced smile, "Do not mind this, its just for... intruders, if anyone not allowed tries to pass through this tunnel, they will not enjoy what happens to them."

A few minutes passed with the two walking next to one another in comfortable silence, and eventually, they emerged into the actual stronghold, the tunnel opening up to reveal a breathtaking sight.

Beyond it lay a massive city, one that seemed oddly technological, with screens on buildings, skyscrapers and even... cars driving through the streets?

"What the fuck?" Leon blinked several times, genuinely shocked by what he was seeing.

"Requiem prides itself in being the most advanced stronghold across all higher domains," Tiara puffed out her chest with pride in her face, "After many years, and the help of several talented guild members, we have managed to create this utopia!"

"What level is the stronghold?" Leon asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

That thing was far too big, on the scale of the [Imperial Kingdom] itself, and he saw many players roam around, going about their daily business.

It almost felt like... a city from Earth, with all the modern conveniences and technology that made life comfortable.

Though it was in the deepest parts of this domain, surrounded by hellish zones and monsters, it was a paradise in the deepest confines of hell, basically.

"We have reached Level 5," Tiara replied calmly, "And our lord and guild members are attempting their hardest to reach Level 6 as we speak, which would be a monumental achievement."

’Level 5?!’ Leon’s eyes widened even more, ’No wonder its so big and advanced... Iris was right, these guys are no joke.’

For some strange reason, Leon had an incredible bad feeling about all of this, but since he needed to use this place for his plans, he ignored it for now, pushing the unease aside.

As said before, the only way for a stronghold to level up was to use [Stronghold Crystals], which were fairly rare and difficult to obtain, even in the higher domains where powerful players roamed freely.

Every stronghold started at level 1 when first established, and would require these crystals, as well as meeting a specific set of conditions depending on their level, to actually progress and level up further.

For a stronghold to reach Level 2, it required a single [Stronghold Crystal] and the successful defense against a [Monster Tide], a horde of monsters that would attack the stronghold’s walls.

To reach Level 3, the requirements increased dramatically, demanding far more resources and effort from the stronghold’s inhabitants.

Three [Stronghold Crystals] were needed, along with surviving a significantly stronger [Monster Tide] filled with elite bosses that could easily overwhelm unprepared defenders.

Reaching Level 3 unlocked the [Protection] passive, a powerful defensive ability that shielded the entire stronghold from harm.

It was the thing that had allowed the [Church of Light]’s stronghold in the lower domains to tank Leon’s oblivion meteor, surviving an attack that should have destroyed everything.

And of course, as a stronghold got stronger, they unlocked more passives, and their previous ones evolved, becoming even more powerful and versatile.

This meant that even if Leon used [Oblivion Meteor] on the [Requiem] stronghold, chances were it would not break the [Protection] given the stronghold’s advanced level.

After that was Level 4, which required ten [Stronghold Crystals], and unlocked the [Native] passive, allowing natives of Eternal Ascension to join your stronghold and get jobs, boosting its economy and population.

Level 5 required 25 [Stronghold Crystals] and allowed you to unlock [Advanced Structures], including defensives and attacking ones, making the stronghold a true fortress.

And finally, Level 6 required 100 [Stronghold Crystals], and even Leon had no idea what it unlocked, as he had never encountered a stronghold that had reached such a height.

Getting so many stronghold crystals was unheard of, even in his past life, and Level 5 strongholds did just fine on their own without needing to push further.

And more than anything, they would have to survive the Level 6 [Monster Tide] that came with it, which would be devastating and could potentially wipe them out entirely.

The fact that [Requiem] was aiming for Level 6 was indeed interesting though, showing their ambition and confidence in their abilities.

If a stronghold failed to defend against the [Monster Tide], chances it would be fully destroyed, and thus they would need to start again from level 1, losing all their progress.

It was such a high risk that almost no one would take it, preferring to stay at a comfortable level rather than risk everything.

Each level increased the size of the stronghold and allowed it to hold more people in it though, perhaps that was what they were aiming for with their ambitious goal.

"How many stronghold crystals do they have by now?" Leon asked as he looked around, noticing several stores on the street and the bustling activity of the city.

"92," Tiara beamed, "We believe that within the next few years, we will be able to obtain the last crystals and hopefully level up to Level 6."

"Huh, sure," Leon replied, keeping his expression neutral.

For someone like Leon, obtaining those last 8 stronghold crystals might not be difficult at all, given his talents and abilities.

He actually had one on him right now, though he didn’t reveal it, preferring to keep that information to himself.

Tiara went around showing a bit of the stronghold, pointing out various landmarks, "The [Requiem] guild has tried as hard as they could replicate the feeling of the home world of several races, so that is why many decide to remain here permanently."

"...I can see that," Leon said, taking in the sights.

"We have hundreds of constructors, artisans, alchemists and blacksmiths working to adjust life for everybody here, so I’m sure you’ll find it comfortable, as long as you have the money that is," Tiara smiled, "Nothing’s free after all!"

"Yeah, thanks," Leon nodded, appreciating the information.

Just like that, the guide bowed to him and left to help another player, leaving Leon alone in the stronghold to explore on his own.

"Well then," he mumbled to himself, "Lets see what this is about."