Why haven't I thought of it? It was so simple, I was just there.
"Hurry up! The ice is already cracking!" As we hastily escaped the slums, I shouted to the panicking crowd, urging them to follow us to safety.
Some heeded the warning and ran with us, but others chose to stay, desperately attempting to enter the gate in the final moments. Regrettably, that decision sealed their fate, leading to their tragic demise as the malevolent forces closed in on them.
With a shattering sound, the ice wall gave way, and the enemies launched a brutal onslaught. Blood splattered across the ground and walls as the remaining survivors attempted to follow our escape, but sadly, they too met their demise in the ensuing chaos. The situation grew increasingly dire as the relentless enemy forces closed in.
As we fled, a group of monstrous creatures from the main force relentlessly pursued us, hot on our heels. The danger was closing in from both sides, and we knew we had to find safety quickly to stand any chance of survival.
"Everyone, pick up the pace! The enemies are at our backs." I shouted as we strode into the mountain with Ellie on my back.
"Boy, give her to me. " Simon called as he grabbed Ellie, carrying her like a piece of luggage by his side. "You're already at your limits as well. Try not to burden yourself too much."
"Thanks but rest is done when things are done," I replied. "Gabby, are you and Nate still alright?"
"All good, Cipher!" she replied. Distant meters from us, people on the tail end were caught up and attacked. One by one, bodies were dropping lifelessly to the ground.
The harrowing scenario persisted as we pressed forward, reaching a critical juncture where the path split into two diverging directions. One path led further into the heart of the mountain, where the other agile survivors had raced into, possibly seeking refuge or an escape. The other path, however, appeared to be nothing more than a shattered and broken road, leading seemingly to nowhere.
We had to make a swift decision, weighing the risks and benefits of each route, knowing that the relentless enemies were still hot on our trail. Time was of the essence, and the fate of our survival hung in the balance.
"To the right!" I shouted and led the way, but most started having doubts and strayed. Following the others to the peak.
"Boy, I'm not sure why we're running this path. The tunnel entrance into the mine was already buried years ago. " Simon claimed and all I could reply was a stern look. "But for now, I'll trust your gut."
"Don't worry, you're right in trusting me."
He was right. The tunnel was indeed closed, buried in rubble and stone. There was no way we could enter it but it wasn't the place I was looking for.
"No! It's a dead-end!" A man cried in front of the buried tunnel entrance.
"I knew it! We shouldn't have followed the kid!" another argued, trying to convince the others to take the other path while they still had the chance.
"Boy, what are you staring at…" Simon claimed but stopped in disbelief.
"So, she was the place you were referring to, huh Ellie?" A little farther from the tunnel entrance was an abandoned warehouse, and inside it, the portal. The one we came through and the one which could save us. "… the rift to Calliope"
"N-no way. We're entering that thing!?" Simon questioned the obvious. Although Calliope was a dangerous place, it wasn't as dangerous as the next event which will soon happen.
"This thing or that thing!?" I pointed to the giant rift, which was almost cracked open with a large hand stretching from the other side. It was my first time seeing it and compared to the news, it was more terrifying in person. "So, all of… you…"
Most of the people had left, leaving only a dozen behind and most of them were recognizable. Gabby with her brother Nate, Simon the blacksmith carrying Ellie the half-player mage, the child we saved earlier inside the rift, the messy-haired woman I had crashed into, and the stall owner who sold me the barbecue.
The other five were unfamiliar but they too were from the slums.
"Alright. All of you here right now, we are entering a portal." This raised alarm among the others, but still, I continued. "The other side will be dangerous and one might need to fight in order to survive. But compared to the danger that large things coming from the rift will unleash along with its forces, this place is just a playground."
"I won't force the others who just followed us here. But if you come, prepare to fight for your lives." I added.
"W-we'll follow into the portal… " A woman carrying a child claimed.
"Yeah, as if we have a choice." A young man low-key gestures into the path going north, and there, the slum people were being chased by the enemy parties.
It seemed they had taken the tail with them, but only the land slitherers were in pursuit of them. And the other flying creatures have just appeared, on their way towards us.
"Quickly, inside! Into the portal!" I shouted. They entered one by one, disappearing until only Gabby remained. "What are you waiting for!? Go!"
"What about you!? Are you planning on something stupid again?"
"No, I'll just close the entrance then I'll follow after. So just go already!" I claimed, shutting the gate as I watched her disappear into the portal.
The giant was striding through the sea, creating waves that flooded the lower level of the slums and dragged everything into the water. Flying creatures attack the remaining people below and hover over the slums. I watched everything happen in the tiny gap of the gate before it closed then Harpies barraged through the metal gate constantly, denting it over time.
And in a few more times, the dent will become a crack. A crack to a hole. And a hole into an entrance.
"I can't let these creatures get into the other side." I retrieved the orb and held it in front of the glowing portal.
** Item Classification **
Name: World Orb [Calliope]
Allows the user to create a portal to the world of Calliope. Gives the user the ability to any portal to the world of Calliope as well.
Requirements: Rank D privilege or 20 Abyssal points
*********************
** Message notice **
Do you wish to close the portal?
Current A.P.: 39.6 A.P.
Cost: 20 A.P.
[Yes]/[No]
******************
The forest was a horrible place to live in but the world seemed to be livable enough. They could survive hunting wolves and rabbits for food, and make shelters in the cave, and with Ellie around, they'll be in great hands.
Although trapped, they'll be far better off than dying with the world.
"Ye—" Before I could even say it, a hand stretched out of the portal and grabbed me inside. And everything went black then white, and then the cavern torch's light appeared in my very eyes. "What are you thinking, Gabby!?"
"I felt you were up to something stupid again. I ain't letting that happen again."
"This is bad. The Harpies will…" I watched the portal pulses but it wasn't unleashing the harpies into this world. "Did those things leave?"
"You said never do anything like that again!"
"I had to close the portal. It was for all of your sakes!"
"But you promise! And you tried to break it" She scowled as her grip on my wrist tightened. She's mad yet her eyes are wet.
"I… I'm sorry…" I replied, hugging her in return in hopes of consoling her while she cried in my arms. "That will be the last time, Gabby. I swear."
"Urgh, stop it. You know we're here, right?" Ellie grunted, looking a bit moody as she lay on a futon on the ground.
Everybody was just two meters away, curling near a small campfire while awkwardly staring at us. Gabby and I quickly withdrew as the looks on their faces felt embarrassing.
"Awe, I used to have a childhood sweetheart. I wonder how she is now" the barbecue seller claimed, tending to the fire as he roasted meat. "Want some?"
"T-thanks… where's Simon and Nate?" I asked but pointed to the exit of the cave where battle cries were heating up. It was the voice of Simon shouting and Nate cheering for him.
"He sure does have the energy to be shouting like that…" the messy-haired woman groaned.
"Shut up, Josie. No one wanted your opinion" the young man stated, heating the glares between him and the messy-haired girl until the two exchanged personal arguments.
"Josie, Roy, please don't fight here. Sammy is sleeping." The woman carrying a child hushed, continuing to sing lullable into the child.
"Sorry, Ruri…" the two replied but continued their fighting in silence.
Everyone seemed to be safe and out of harm, far different from what I had imagined. Maybe I underestimated their capability to survive in this world too much.
"Well, I'm glad all of you are fine," I claimed then a ping resonated with the air, and a screen appeared.
{
Congratulation! The first calamity had been endured but more are brewing on the horizon. With more threats, more allies one must have. Alone, a stick is fragile, a droplet can't quench thirst and an ant is nothing but an insect, but together, a bundle is stronger, an ocean can cast crashing waves and a colony can build empires.
}
"Again?" I mumbled in question then suddenly everyone screamed, surprised to see something in the air. But nothing was visible there. "What? What's happening?"
"Something showed up, Cipher!" Gabby claimed, pointing something mid-air. But again, there was nothing.
"What does it say?"
"... You who followed the apostle of the abyss and believed despite the odds of your survival had made you worthy of his allies. You're struggles and patience have been rewarded…" Gabby claimed, then shock filled her eyes. "N-no way. This is… my name…"