Into the unknown

Elias also stood up, and Dan did the same as they prepared to continue their journey to the safe zone.

Lyra took the lead, Elias followed, with Dan behind him, and Serena...the quiet girl.....was at the rear.

They walked for a while when they saw something shimmering ahead.

"Look over there! What's that?" Elias asked as they all stopped in their tracks.

"It looks pretty ominous to me," Dan said.

"It looks like a portal.....if you know what I mean by that. Judging from the shape, it's big enough for a human our size to pass through, which means it's likely meant for us," Lyra explained.

Everybody exchanged looks, unsure of what to make of it. A portal meant for them? To do what?

A notification chime was heard, and everyone seemed to look up at their translucent screens simultaneously.

[Ding!]

[User 223: Elias]

[Main Quest: Get to the safe zone before sunset.]

[Timer: 4 hours 58 minutes 40 seconds]

[Penalty: Death.]

[Reward : hidden]

[Objective Quest Unlocked: Enter the portal and fight your way through the monsters and creatures inside to reach the other side.]

(Finish to make it to the safe zone on time. Failure still means death.

Quests are updated based on your rank and abilities.

The system's sarcastic voice came again:

"Weakling, each and everything you choose still leads to death. If you like, don't survive and get killed, or survive and don't make it to the safe zone on time....it's still death."

"Just shut up already," Elias screamed in his mind. I never asked for your opinion.

This has always been a death trap from the moment I stepped in, so nothing is surprising now.

The system seemed to keep quiet at that, not saying another word.

Elias looked at the others, and the look on Dan's face was enough to discourage him from entering the portal.

Dan's face looked ghostly, like he might drop dead at any moment.

Serena's face was no exception, and even Lyra's jaw was tightened so much it looked like it might snap.

"I guess this is goodbye then," Elias said, breaking the silence.

Everybody turned to him as though he had said something wrong.

"Goodbye? What do you mean? Are you planning to die over there?" Dan inquired.

"I'm not planning to die, but just in case we don't all make it, I just want you to know that we've all done our best.

None of us asked to be brought into this death tournament."

"Leave the talks aside and let's move now. I think you probably forgot that the timer is still running.

We're not just racing against time but racing against death as well." Lyra cut him in.

She was trying to look brave, but everyone there knew it was only a facade.

"Lyra…"

She looked back at Elias.

"Hmm? I don't know if the two of us get to live, but I'm thankful you didn't leave me to die on the first day. Maybe I would've been gone by now."

"Nothing to thank me for. I'll be going now."

She kept walking forward toward one of the portals.

She took a step into the portal and another one, and it shimmered for a brief second.

Then, she was no longer standing there.

There were only two other portals left , and they were left with three people.

"Are we supposed to go into the one she just went through or what?" Dan asked.

"I don't think so," Serena countered.

"If it's based on abilities and rank, then I think you two will be going together into the same portal, and I'll be going alone into one."

Dan bent his head and started laughing like a madman.

It looked as though their current situation didn't affect him.

"What's amusing in what I said?" Serena inquired.

Elias was also surprised as well as he didn't see the reasons for his laughter in what she has said.

She definitely look like someone that can hold her own ground so what was Dan deal?

Wait wait, Dan said holding his stomach and trying to stop laughing and it took him a few seconds before he could get it under control.

"So you mean to tell me that you're stronger than the two of us? You? I don't understand.

If anybody should be going alone into the portal, it should be him, not you."

Serena didn't say anything. She just looked at him, shrugged and made her way forward to the next portal.

"I'm talking to you! Hey, girl, answer me!" Dan shouted, but Serena didn't look back once.

"I figure I'm stuck with you now, and I've got no choice." Dan said facing him.

"Yeah, you're stuck with me. Let's go and see if the portal will accept the two of us."

"Maybe she's right after all, and the two of us are meant to go into the same portal."

They made their way to the next portal, and Elias used the time to bring up his stats to see where he stood before venturing into the portal.

Player Stats

User: Elias (Player 223)

Race: Human (Potential Unknown)

Level: 1

Class: Undefined

Patron: None (Unknown)

Core Alignment: Aether Core (Origin: Unknown)

Attribute Stats:

Strength: 8

Agility: 10

Endurance: 6

Luck: 4

Mana: 5

Aether core synchronisation: Active

Health Points (HP): 20/20 (fully recovered)

Mana Points (MP): 30/30

Experience Points (XP): 143/200

Skills Tab:

Skill: Instinctive Dodge

Equipment:

Weapon: Short Blade

Dark Shard:

[Effects: Increases attack power by 15%. Absorbs a portion of damage dealt to the user.]

Armor: Reinforced Fur Armor (+5 Defense, +2 Agility)

"That will have to do the job for now." He tightened his grip on the sword and stepped forward into the portal. It shimmered, and he vanished from sight.

On the other side of the portal:

Lyra staggered forward as she emerged into a space.

The air was thick and smelled of iron, like blood.

Her instincts immediately kicked in as she drew her weapon, eyes scanning her surroundings.

Massive, jagged rocks surrounded her, glowing faintly with a sinister crimson light.

The ground beneath her feet was uneven, pulsating as though it were alive.

She tightened her grip on her blade, forcing herself to calm her trembling hands.

I am not going to die out here!

I am stronger than that!

I have to get to the safe zone!

She kept reciting this in her head as she made her way forward, treading carefully like the ground might hurt her feet.

Suddenly, a guttural growl echoed through the place.

Lyra froze.

From the shadows, something moved.....its glowing yellow eyes fixed on her.

The creature stepped forward, its body a grotesque amalgamation of twisted flesh and bone.

Its claws dragged against the ground, leaving deep grooves in the pulsating terrain.

"Great," she muttered under her breath, forcing a weak smile. "Just what I needed....something worse than death."

I figured I am not left off the hook easily then,this is the price to pay for levelling up.

The creature let out a deafening roar, and Lyra's pulse quickened. She didn't wait for it to strike first. Raising her blade, she lunged forward.