With Mulder leading the way, Warrick—disguised as a member of the City Defenders—walked openly through the streets.

Night had fallen, and the streets were eerily empty—not a single soul was in sight. Only heavily armed patrols moved through the city.

Every checkpoint along the main road was heavily guarded. Even the patrol squads had to show their emblems to pass.

Warrick walked at the back of the group. His hat was pulled low so that it covered half his face. In the darkness, it was nearly impossible to make out his features unless someone got close.

"Austin is more meticulous than I expected," he muttered. "If it weren't for the Hall of Gods' undercover agents helping me, I'd never make it out of Celestria."

Seeing sentries stationed openly on the streets and hidden in the alleys, Warrick felt a chill crawl down his spine. In less than two miles, they had already passed seven or eight checkpoints.

In addition to the heavily guarded checkpoints on the main roads, countless hidde