After a turn in the rugged mountain path, a town carved directly into the cliffside suddenly loomed before him. Towering stone walls, built from stacked slabs of grey-black granite, stood weathered yet incredibly formidable. The great gates were inlaid with runes cast from a mix of brass and black iron, silently announcing to the world: This is the ancient and immovable domain of the Dwarves.

  Yggdrasil stood on the road leading to the city gates, merging into a long queue of people waiting for entry. He lined up quietly, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings, though his heart was already struggling to contain its excitement.

  This was the first time since his rebirth that he would step into a real city.

  And it was a Dwarven city.

  He took a deep breath. The air was a thick cocktail of ore, rust, baking bread, and smoked meat. It wasn't pungent; rather, it carried an authentic sense of weightiness. He could even catch the toasted aroma of beer and forges wafting from a certain direction, like scents drifting out of a storybook.

  He could almost visualize the scenes within: small houses built of black stone, blacksmith shops with roaring furnaces, walls of weapons hung with axes and hammers, and dwarves raising their mugs for a hearty drink in bustling taverns—it was exactly the scene he had fantasized about countless times in his youth.

  "I’m finally here..." he whispered softly, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as a spark of light danced in his eyes.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  In front of him in the queue was a human couple with a small child; behind him stood two Orc adventurers clad in plate armor. Further back, a Lizardman with a scaled tail spoke in low tones with a red-haired Elf. Seeing these various races lining up side-by-side filled his chest with a strange, moving emotion—something that was almost unimaginable in the divided and oppressive world of his previous life.

  He couldn't help but stare at a Dwarven uncle standing ahead of him for quite a while—that round, bulging belly and those thick, heavy arms made his eyes sparkle as if he were looking at a rare treasure. It wasn't until the older dwarf sensed the gaze from behind and turned around with a frown that Yggdrasil hurriedly lowered his head in apology, his face flushing red as he quickened his pace to keep up.

  "Ahem..." He cleared his throat lightly, trying his best to hide the heat in his face.

  The line moved forward slowly until he reached the city gate. A Dwarven guard, wearing heavy leather armor and sporting a dense beard, stood by the tax booth with a long-handled axe held at his side. His gaze was sharp and piercing.

  "Next!"

  Yggdrasil stepped forward, clutching his rucksack. The guard’s gaze swept over him, seemingly evaluating him. "A dwarf from beyond the borders? Your gear is decent enough. Do you have identification?"

  "Uh... about that..." Yggdrasil felt a jolt in his heart. He realized that the Creator God had not prepared a universal ID for this world. He scratched his head, offering an awkward smile. "No... it's my first time here."

  The guard’s brow furrowed instantly, and his tone turned stern. "No entry without proof of identity. Tak, take this one to the guardroom for verification."

  Another Dwarven guard stepped out from the side, waving a hand at him. "Follow me. Don’t be nervous. Just a few questions, nothing will happen."

  Yggdrasil nodded, having no choice but to follow obediently.

  In his very first moment of stepping into the city of his dreams, he hadn't expected to be met with such an awkward opening.

  "Welcome to the gates of the Dwarven city! I wanted this chapter to feel 'heavy'—not just in the stone walls, but in the atmosphere. The scent of ore, beer, and the roar of the forges is exactly what Yggdrasil (and I!) have always dreamed of.

  Even though he’s a powerful Apostle, he’s still a fanboy at heart when it comes to his fellow dwarves. Seeing him get flustered by a 'Dwarven Uncle' was a fun way to show his human side. Every legend starts with a bit of trouble, and being taken to the guardroom is just the beginning of his awkward but epic entry into this world.

  We are moving fast toward the 10-chapter mark for our big launch! If you're enjoying the journey of our stout hero so far, please consider following the story. More world-building and heavy-duty action are coming soon!"