A catchy tune plays.
The commercial soon cuts off as the screen is replaced by the numbers twenty-four. Below it, the word "Gaia" was written.
Soon the screen alters to accomodate the sudden change of tone as the music changes, and soon the wind is heard blowing into the microphone, and we see the face of Gaia 24 News' host, Timmy Falwins, seemingly inside the helicopter.
"Alright, folks, welcome back to Gaia 24 News. Today's report is... different. We are live in action, currenly flying over the entirety of Fahndra. And if I may direct your attention to our point of interest, the humongous portal in the background!" Timmy points at the portal constantly spewing out Karman.
"We apologize if the video stream may not be as clear as it should be, but we were told to keep a safe distance. And there it goes! Another ship seems to have passed through! Shift the camera!"
The shaky footage moves into a different position as the cameraman struggles to find a decent angle to view the mayhem. Eventually, the shaking stops and the video is once again steady.
"There it is folks. We presume that the ships come from another world. This level of technology has not been achieved, even by Gaia's finest scientists and researchers."
"The Royal Council urges people to stay back. Others who wish to join in the fight, please gather in your respective guilds for briefing. We hope many participate as we prepare to launch a counterattack on these otherworldly beings. And that is all. We will continue to standby and will update you for further news. This is Gaia 24 News, keep safe everyone."
*************
"And just as I was trying to sleep. Sabik, you there?" Kenneth relocates his sleeping pose. He shifts his view, and eventually the body of Sabik is seen sitting on the edge of the window, outside.
"Leader Kenneth. Your servant Sabik is here." Sitting on the narrow platform, he didn't seem to be in any danger of falling off. If anything, he looked as if he was purely relaxing, and was not expelling any effort in staying on. Rather, he was scanning the streets.
"You saw the portal, right?" Kenneth asks him through Mind Link.
"Indeed. If Leader wishes to see, I could raise you up on my hands. The portal is quite large, even when part of it is obstructed by the large buildings." (Sabik)
"Heh, no thanks. I'm much too scared to get injured, let alone right now. Could you wait for us in the backyard? I can call my sister to pick me up on the way down." (Kenneth)
"Indeed, Leader. Sabik will wait patiently." The Karman jumps off the window edge, into the bushes below. Strangely enough, no sound at all was made.
"Hahhh... alright. Let's get this started already. Big sis? You there....?"
"Yes! Yes! Your sister is here!" The Mind Link was instantly connected, and Lena's voice came through immediately, almost as if she was waiting for this.
"I... can you call our other siblings? We'll be heading out soon.." (Kenneth)
"I will come by little bro's room first. My little brother is more important!" The sound of a door opening and closing quickly is heard through the Mind Link.
Seconds later, Kenneth's door was opened, and Lena, dressed in her nightgown, was there.
"Did... you even bother changing? You're still in your nightgown!" Struggling to look away at Lena's figure, which was partially revealed thanks to the sloppily dressed clothing, Kenneth wished that he could remove his sight.
"Of course not. My little brother comes first!" She hurries over to his crib and picks him up, before hugging his body.
Minutes were wasted until Lena finally decided to stop her hugging, despite Kenneth's frantic protests earlier.
****************
"Are you all heading out?" Mikaela called out to the siblings. It was in the middle of the night, yet practically everyone was awake. How could they sleep? The portal was more important.
"Yes, Mom. Don't worry. We'll come back safe. Just need to take care of a few things."
"How is heading out to fight the invasion a "few" things? The last time you all went out, it wasn't as dangerous as it was now.." (Mikaela)
Soon a sombre and awkward moon emanated over the family. No one spoke for a bit.
"Don't worry, Mom. Your eldest is here to protect my younger siblings!" Lucas began stretching his muscles weirdly, in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Good thing it worked. It seemed to have cheered up their Mother a bit.
"I can not bear to see my children die. Promise me you will all come home safe and sound.."
"Of course! You can count on us!" Lena, although indifferent to her other siblings, still maintained an amicable relationship with her parents.
"If you're ever in danger, come here." Kenneth gestures his little finger to his mom gently, in an effort to say "follow us!".
Lena leads Mikaela into their basement. Once they went down, a faint light glowed in the corner. Moving closer, Mikaela realized it was a portal.
Fearing it was the Karman, her expression changed to that of worry, but was eventually calmed down when Kenneth asked Catalyn to remove it.
Snapping her fingers, the portal disappeared. Doing so again made it reappear.
"This is your, how should I say... escape hatch? Just walk through whenever it gets too dangerous. This leads to a small tree hideout we made back when we went hunting." (Kenneth)
*****************
"Right. Is everybody here?" Kenneth looked through everyone present.
"Woof!"
"Oh, Tyrone. Why are you here?" Kenneth stared at the energetic dog huffing.
"Woof!"
"Do you perhaps... wanna come?" Kenneth asked the dog.
"Woof!" A bark of approval ensued.
"Alright then. Keep close, alright? We'll need your assistance in clearing the city. Lena, could you distribute it now?"
"Alright, little brother. Here." Lena reached into her Dimensional Storage, and pulled out multiple differently colored crystals.
Small lime colored ones were given to Aurelia. Brownish ones were given to Tyrone. Bluish ones were given to Catalyn. Emerald colored ones were given to Kenneth. Yellowish gold ones were taken by Lena. The last was a few Mana Potions, which were given to Lucas.
"These are Mana Crystals. Take them whenever you are running out of mana, or are in a pinch and can't take the time to inhale the mana particles. Sorry for you, Lucas, but you don't use as much spells as we do." (Lena)
"No, its all good. Mana Crystals are fucking hard to swallow, anyway. This is better."
Sabik did not need them. He was not an inhabitant of this world, and therefore had no Mana Core. He was unable to take in the mana particles.
Thankfully, he still had his glaive, which looked as strong as it was when they first saw it. The sparks coming out from the tips still gave Lucas the shivers.
"Alright. We're all ready? Catalyn, take us in." (Kenneth)
The siblings huddled together closely. Snapping her fingers, a portal large enough to swallow the siblings was conjured overhead.
Another snap, and gravity was reversed.