Using the MagiNet to navigate, Magnus successfully made it to Hellia Park. The maps that were being uploaded rapidly before his very eyes were an astounding sight to see and a great help for his scheming self.
Javelin and Klaris had also been sent out, going together to sneak into the Fort of Vanthos to create the gate.
He was going to tear the Gatemaker's Scrolls at the same time for extra flair.
It was a whim that Magnus felt like doing, and a technique to lessen any suspicions of himself.
Arriving before a circular patch of green, Magnus made it to the entrance to Hellia Park. He blended in with the flowing streams of people going in and out of the park.
The moment he entered, he discreetly tore his Scroll as he hid underneath the hood of his jacket.
Klaris and Javelin had also successfully infiltrated the Fort of Vanthos through a series of summons and unsummons. Crouched inside a vent, Klaris tore apart the Gatemaker's Scroll he had at the same time Magnus did.
Rrrrrrriiip!
The same phenomenon that Magnus had seen in Tyrm's entrance occurred. Energy swirled and space was bent and torn.
A portal made out of a black, crackling substance lingered ominously in the air.
Instantly, alarms went out in the Fort of Vanthos. Klaris was instantly unsummoned by Javelin as the cat made an attempt to sneak out... Only to realise that it was trapped in the vents.
Javelin had no choice but to wait for the emergency state to go down.
But perhaps it would take time before that happened because everyone received a Scroll after several moments.
Still blending in with the now-panicked crowd, Magnus first received the most glaring Scroll there was.
[[ Otherworld Trials Event: Apocalypse of Monsters ]]
[[ I... I have no words... I was wondering why there wasn't any Trial coming until next week. Who knew that this sort of thing would happen to Thare out of the blue? So many of us Earthlings have already perished... I cannot bear to see more die. ]]
[[ For the first time, I am unsure of what is going to happen. My guesses are all too vague. All I know is that things called the Gates are going to keep opening up and monsters are going to flood from them. ]]
[[ The goal? It's to survive. Many Personal Trials will be given to you all. And I don't know what they will ask of you. As this event is not an actual Trial by itself, I have nothing to say about it. ]]
[[ I wish everyone the best of luck! For Earth! ]]
[[ -The Jester ]]
Magnus read the first Scroll as did the others around him. Everyone received a set of Scrolls. Clearly, this event was nothing to scoff at.
He excitedly turned to his second Scroll.
[[ Title Scroll ]]
[[ You are worthy to hold the title, [Gatemaker]. Tear this Scroll to engrave such a title into your being. ]]
Rrrrrip!
Magnus did not hesitate to tear it apart. A flood of Molecular Text streamed into his body, forming a sort of symbol on the palm of his left hand.
The symbol glowed for a moment before disappearing beneath his skin.
Magnus glanced at the nearby Gate and instantly felt the symbol heat up. Pieces of information wormed their way into his consciousness. It felt like a miniature Blessing.
[ Gate to Hellia ]
[ Generic. 1-star rating, poison-attributed. Field-type Gate with venomous monsters and poisonous plants. ]
Magnus had the option to question the Gate deeper, but he felt that it would be at the cost of his Spirit Energy.
He chose not to do that for now as he had two more Scrolls to read.
[[ Personal Trial Scroll: Hiding Rats II ]]
[[ You have encountered the faction chasing after you, and you have knowledge of their intentions. Keep your suspicious identity a secret, but perhaps it is time to learn more about them. ]]
[[ Their Scroll against you is still active despite their losses. Learn the name of your pursuer. They have sensed your arrival in Midseer and will seek you out. ]]
[[ Reward for Completion: One-Time Physique Enhancement Scroll ]]
Magnus' eyes glistened as he read through the second chapter of his Personal Trial. The Emerald Twilight's search for him and Amini was something that he had rarely thought of during his time in the Hunting Monsters Trial that he received.
Now, it seems like the chase would continue and Magnus' power would continue to grow.
With that said, Magnus would have to juggle that Trial with another one.
[[ Gatemaker's Trial Scroll: Order and Chaos ]]
[[ It is time to choose your alignment, [Gatemaker]. You are at a crossroads after what you have done. Where do you think you will fit in? ]]
[[ Tear this Scroll to decide the direction you will take. Your Scribe will be someone of similar alignment to you. They will become the [Gatemaker]'s Scribe, and earn rewards as you earn them. ]]
[[ Vertically — You align yourself with Order. Your aim with these Gates is to create a better order. A more efficient system. Or anything that seems orderly. ]]
[[ Horizontally — You align yourself with Chaos. Your aim with these Gates is to create a greater chaos. Bloodshed, Gate Overflows, and onslaughts of monsters are what you seek. ]]
[[ Reward: Ring of Order/Chaos ]]
[[ Special Setting: Inaction of Neutrality — Do nothing, and simply watch as the world turns by itself. You will do nothing to further any one side, save for your own goals. ]]
[[ Tell me, Earthling, which one will you choose? Depending on your choice, I will search for you with all that I have. ]]
Magnus chuckled, 'Is this a threat? A challenge?'
Well, he already knew what he was going to do. He knew what he wanted.
And that would be the thrills born of Chaos.
Rrrrrrip!
He tore the Scroll horizontally in half.
Thus, after waiting for a few seconds, Magnus had another pair of Scrolls pop up in his face.
[[ Event Trial Scroll ]]
[[ Hello, [Gatemaker]. It is I, the Eye of Alias. Your Scribe for the Apocalypse of Monsters. I am pleased with your decision. Chaos is indeed always the right choice. And so, let us celebrate. Your first Trial is going to be a fun one. ]]
[[ Cause a Gate Overflow. A dungeon break. A chaotic flood of monsters. Just make one erupt with all its contents within! ]]
[[ Reward: Gatemaker's Scroll x3, Event Rating Points ]]
The other Scroll was the following,
[[ Item Scroll ]]
[[ Tear to receive the item, Ring of Chaos. ]]
Nodding to himself in thought, Magnus tore the Item Scroll and kept the Event Trial Scroll. He received the Ring of Chaos and studied it curiously.
It was a ring of black-dyed silver, with artistically random swirls and streams of metal all accumulating at one point. It looked like a flower through one angle. A hydrangea to be exact. One that was currently experiencing the ferocious blow of a typhoon's winds.
Wearing the ring on his right middle finger, Magnus moved.
He was going to retrieve Javelin who was stuck in the Fort of Vanthos before returning to Quarteridge and causing a Gate Overflow in Tyrm's Gate. He did not know exactly how he was going to do that, but he wouldn't know if he never went and did experiments.
.
.
.
The next day.
After waiting for the emergency state of the Fort of Vanthos to go down, Magnus successfully retrieved Javelin and headed back to Quarteridge. From there, he went to a familiar clearing and spotted the two-story tall Gate before him.
"I wonder how those people would react to their Pocket World being given a gate?" Magnus chuckled to himself. He wished he could see their reactions.
But, as they weren't here right now, all Magnus could do was imagine as he approached the black portal.
He stepped in.
And after a swirl and a bit of dizziness, Magnus found himself in a new environment.
"I can see why Eye of Alias said 'dungeon break'. This place can totally be a game dungeon..."
Magnus found himself in a wide cave with glowing crystals here and there. A forest could be seen growing deeper in the cave, making Magnus wonder how it all came to be.
A Spirit Beast could be seen roaming about near the entrance to the forest, and Magnus felt that he had to beat it to pass through.
And so, feeling the familiar thick Spirit Energy in the atmosphere, Magnus commanded the elements.
A rain of fire, stone bullets, and wind blades rapidly blossomed, formed, and shot towards the helpless Spirit Beast.
The Spirit Beast tried to dodge by summoning its own volley of wind blades, but that was all it could accomplish. Wind nullified wind, but the flames and stones continued forward.
Boom boom boom boom!
With a squeal of despair, it died just like that as Magnus' attacks ravaged the area. The Spirit Beast's corpse grew battered and flayed, sending blood all around.
"...Whoops," He muttered to himself, "I think I overdid it..."
That beast might have made been a good meal for Javelin, but now it was ruined.
Magnus could only sigh as he advanced.
He was going to look for a way to cause a Gate Overflow.
But before that, he was going to clear the dungeon himself first. He wanted to see just what kind of treasures lay within.
And while he did so, Klaris, Javelin, and Restiel were all summoned. As being in this Gate was the same as being in Thare itself, it was time to train.
Klaris was already close to 1.9-stars. The ritual to turn into 2-star threats was nigh.