Theo and his companions successfully exited the beast-infested gate after a challenging mission. Just as Theo passed through the exit gate, he sensed a strange presence. Meanwhile, a mysterious mechanical figure emerged from a tiny spatial gate, seemingly tasked with exterminating a colossal beast and erasing any evidence of its existence before vanishing. Upon returning to the real world, Theo was greeted by his instructors, who were examining the captured beasts, signaling the end of the mission.
Stepping back from the gateway, Theo attempted to increase the distance between himself and its alluring pull. The residual energy emanating from it persistently latched onto his form, creating an unwanted interplay with the ambient spatial energy coursing within him.
At the precise moment Theo considered engaging Oric in conversation, the instructor abruptly pivoted, his eyes widening in surprise.
Though Oric displayed a flicker of bewilderment, Theo’s attention was sharply redirected back to the gateway.
’Its energy has shifted… what in the world?’ Theo’s brow furrowed, mirroring Oric’s confusion. It felt as though the very essence of the gateway had undergone a transformation for reasons unknown.
The outward flow of its spatial energy seemed to diminish with every passing second. Then, in a matter of mere moments, the gateway’s energy contorted into a spiraling vortex, becoming unsettlingly unstable.
"G-Get back!" Theo’s urgent shout cut through the air as a surge of energy buffeted him, jarring him out of his trance.
He seized Clara and Elias by their hands, yanking them backward, much to their astonishment.
"What transpired, Young Master?!" Clara exclaimed, a wave of bewilderment washing over the rest of the group.
A few heartbeats later, the gateway shuddered and dissipated with a soft 'POOF'.
Instantly thereafter, a palpable shockwave rippled through the area, affecting everyone present.
Theo, owing to his heightened sensitivity, experienced its impact far more acutely than the others.
[Lesser Spatial Awareness has leveled up!]
A system notification materialized before Theo, but he instinctively clutched his ears, the force of the shockwave making it feel as though his eardrums might rupture.
Oric, Mae, and Corven stood transfixed, their gazes fixed upon the now vacant space where the gateway had materialized moments earlier.
Then, Oric’s attention returned to Theo, who had lowered his hands from his ears and was now gazing upward.
As Theo’s eyes met Oric’s, an uncanny sensation washed over him, as if the instructor possessed some hidden knowledge about him, his eyes holding a look of knowing.
Before this unsettling familiarity could be further explored, pandemonium erupted. A cacophony of murmurs and shouts filled the air as individuals conversed agitatedly amongst themselves, all discussing the sudden disappearance of the gateway.
"Mission members who have returned from the gateway, please report to this hut immediately," Mae, the female instructor, announced with sharp authority.
Without affording another glance to anyone, she turned and strode away.
Theo hesitated for a few moments before following suit, as did the rest of the group. Minds were reeling; the sheer magnitude of recent events had begun to instill a profound sense of exhaustion.
Within the confines of the hut, a small table was positioned in a corner. The instructors occupied the opposing side, their intense gazes meticulously surveying the assembled group.
Mae’s eyes ultimately rested upon Theo.
"Leader of the gate exploration team, Young Theo, do you possess any insight into the events that led to the gateway's closure?" Mae inquired, her voice chillingly devoid of its usual warmth. Theo had never witnessed such a stern expression on her face before.
He replied with understated calm, "Instructor Mae, we had only just returned from the gateway, and for it to cease functioning so abruptly… we are completely unaware of the cause." Theo articulated this on behalf of his entire team.
An occurrence like the spontaneous closure of a gateway was entirely unforeseen by any of them.
Mae scrutinized Theo’s expression. After a brief pause, she let out a quiet sigh, seemingly convinced that Theo was not directly implicated in the gateway’s vanishing act.
"Does anyone present here know the primary reason why a gateway might close?" she probed, prompting a chorus of headshakes from the group.
Except for one individual.
"It occurs when the core beast residing within the gateway is destroyed," Lucien interjected.
Theo turned towards him, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.
A core beast?
Was such a thing even possible?
Mae met Lucien’s gaze and offered a nod. "The core beast of a gateway represents the most formidable creature dwelling within its confines. Upon its demise and the subsequent destruction of its core, the gateway becomes unstable and subsequently vanishes, a process referred to as being 'cleared'."
A subtle trace of vexation surfaced in her demeanor.
"However, our objective is not to 'clear gates'. Once a gateway is deemed sufficiently secure, we utilize it as a resource hub for nurturing novel beast species that cannot be safely reared outside our facilities. Additionally, we engage in agriculture if the soil proves fertile, and we mine for rare resources," she elaborated.
Corven’s voice then cut through the discussion, his tone adopting a more resolute and somber inflection. "But the closure of this gateway signifies a substantial loss for the entire kingdom. Consequently, we require every possible detail regarding the circumstances surrounding this event."
His pronouncement lent a gravity to the situation, suggesting it was far more complex than initially perceived.
"We can provide you with comprehensive details and present all manner of samples acquired from within the gateway," Theo offered, placing his satchel upon the empty table.
He unfastened it, revealing an array of preserved vials and jars filled with various liquids – clearly all the specimens gathered during their gateway expedition.
Clara and Elias followed suit, presenting their own meticulously collected samples.
Theo then commenced his account, recounting every observation made within the gateway, delivering a thorough report.
The three scholar-instructors diligently perused the detailed notes.
As their eyes scanned the pages, their expressions Eevolved, and they began to regard Theo with a newfound perspective before turning to the subsequent page.
"This… Crimson Spine Titan… it was reportedly a hundred times its reported size when you encountered it?" Corven inquired, pausing at a particular section of the report.
Theo responded with a simple nod.
"It had to be more than a hundred times its size, not less, Instructor Corven. And when we found it, the creature had been slumbering for a full three days."
"And thanks to our esteemed leader, several of us put our lives on the line to make contact with the beast," Merek interjected immediately, seizing the opportunity. The others turned their gazes towards him.
At that precise moment, it felt as though they all grasped what had transpired within the gate between them, and no one dared to bring up the topic again, as if it were the most ordinary occurrence.
"So, you approached this beast?" Mae inquired.
Theo offered a slow nod.
"And why was that?" she pressed without delay.
"...I wished to ascertain our combat effectiveness against the creature, should an opportunity arise," Theo stated. Now that the words were spoken aloud, it sounded considerably more foolhardy than it had seemed in his mind.
Both Mae and Corven regarded Theo as if he had committed a highly contentious act.
Oric, in stark contrast, erupted into a wide grin. "You possess considerable courage, Young Theo! Such daring individuals are precisely what we require!" he proclaimed, but his declaration earned him nothing but a silent, dismissive glance from the other two.
"And what insights did you glean from your interaction with the beast?" Mae questioned once more.
Theo drew a deep breath and began, "Initially, I attempted to strike it with my blade aura, yet it failed to inflict even the slightest scratch upon the beast’s hide."
He then gestured towards Kaelor.
"Sir Kaelor exerted eighty percent of his aura, but the outcome remained unaltered in the slightest degree. Following that, we concluded it was far too formidable to continue engaging. However..." Theo hesitated, feeling a pang of reluctance to continue.
"Then my beast detected its scent of blood... and we examined its body..."
