The interdimensional portals that appear randomly around the world are believed to be passageways to random and dangerous places within the Celestial Abode, as the monsters in both places are similar or, in many cases, identical.
However, unlike the Celestial Abode, where there are different regions with different monsters, there is no way to predict what the monsters inside the random portals will be unless someone gets into it, nor is there any way to close a portal other than by defeating the strongest creature inside, the ''boss''. These are two undeniable truths.
In addition, there are many other things that humanity does not yet know about interdimensional portals.
In fact, humanity may have learned as much about portals in twenty years as it learned about the Celestial Abode in one year, which is almost nothing.
Going through a random portal is like trying to explore the ocean. While some days the journey can easily be fascinating, tedious, or even monotonous, on certain occasions things happen that humanity simply cannot explain logically, and these are events that take everyone by surprise, even the most experienced. Awakened.
When the awakened group sets out to find the boss's room, they have no idea that they are about to run into something beyond their imagination.
Before this inevitable encounter, however, Kaito collected the usual drops from the goblins that his party members were killing. From one item to the next, he curiously analyzed each one of them. Although he couldn't sell any of these, as it would be not the best idea to show items disappearing to the other members, Kaito was still excited as the prices were considerably higher than the rotten stuff in his apartment.
Meanwhile, Borja, a young warrior, was looking disdainfully at the remaining of the goblins from the last battle. His confidence is evident in his prideful posture and in the way he rests his sword on his shoulder instead of its leather sheath. He is one of the most experienced Awakeneds in the group and has a reputation for his fighting skills, but with the anxious young adult heart, he still felt the need to brag and show himself to the female members of the party.
"These goblins are really weak," Borja says with a tone of disdain in his voice as his eyes scan the hollow landscape around him. "It's hardly worth the effort to take them on."
"Be careful what you say, Borja." said Ayumi, a swordswoman in her thirties. "In these places, appearances can be deceiving. Never underestimate what might be lurking."
"Ayumi is right, young man." Lord Ishikawa intervenes before the talk turned into an argument. "Always keep your eyes open."
Since Ishikawa was the one who led this expedition, Borja doesn't even think of arguing with him, despite his pride, but mumbles:
"It even seems that today will soon be different than the last few days..."
Ironically, just as Borja is about to finish his sentence, he feels something stiff wrap around his head and when he raises his eyes, he catches a glimpse of something green. Then he hears a loud sniffling behind his back and at that moment he discovers how stupid his last sentence was.
As soon as they all hear the same loud sniffling, like that of an animal, they look in shock at the sight of a large hand gripping Borja's head, and the owner of that hand is a goblin much larger than any other that has emerged from the darkness. He has huge muscles and two pairs of lower fangs protruding from his mouth, like those of an orc. His skin is dark green to help him hide in the darkness, and red tattoos in thick lines detail his arms and extremely defined abdomen. This is not a goblin like the others, this is a High Goblin.
Fear overwhelms all the Awakened present. They are completely unprepared for the sudden appearance of the High Goblin.
Borja's scornful expression quickly vanishes from his face, replaced by one of pure fear.
To make matters worse, two more superior goblins appear behind the first one, and although they are not as large as the first one, they are also very frightening.
Each of them has a different pattern of tattoos, which are used to show importance and status among the goblins. This makes it clear that the goblin holding Borja hostage is not just any goblin, but an Alpha.
"What is that...?" Someone whispers in the middle of all this.
"I've never seen anything like it." Another reply.
Behind all the Awakened Ones in the back, Kaito observes how frightened everyone looks and finally remembers that the upper goblins are not common enemies of ranks E or D. On the contrary, it is normal that only ranks C or B can defeat Transcendents of that level. At this moment, his heart begins to race as he finally realizes that he is facing death.
Suddenly, the Alpha begins to squeeze Borja's head tighter and tighter, making a strange crackling sound while speaking in a strange language:
"Asee...jja nan eekr ayirih naakooy amma."
The Awakened Ones all look at each other in confusion, while the other two upper goblins begin to laugh.
However, since no one but the upper goblins are laughing at his sentence, they quickly become serious again. In fact, they look even more angry than before.
"Help me..." Borja pleads in a whisper, feeling his head slowly being crushed.
Despite Borja's mumbling and the critical moment, Lord Ishikawa regains his composure and takes a deep breath. He knows that it is necessary to act quickly to protect the group.
"Prepare for battle!" Ishikawa shouts with a firm voice. "Do not underestimate these enemies. Unite and fight with everything you have!"
The voice of the experienced Awakened One was all the others needed to hear to regain their consciousness. The other members of the group immediately positioned themselves at Ishikawa's side, raising their swords bravely and with a determined look, ready to attack.
The superior goblins, however, only look at them seriously for a second, then begin to laugh euphorically. They know that they are stronger.
Kaito, for his part, watches the scene from behind with trembling hands.
Don't... Don't do it... What do you think you can do? You will die like this... There is no way to face superior goblins with only ordinary swords and no armor like us. It would be like a level 10 player trying to fight a level 90 monster. Death is certain.
Kaito wants to shout for everyone to retreat and run away so that at least some of them have a chance to survive, but his voice disappears completely.
In this way, most of the Awakened in the group are massacred, thanks to the courage and confidence they have gained from their recent expeditions. In a matter of seconds, all of the group's strongest members are down, and Kaito finds himself face to face with the Superior Alpha Goblin.
Just as when the first goblin tried to attack Kaito, everything was slowed down, the seconds of the battle between the Awakened and the upper goblins were reduced to the blink of an eye from Kaito's perspective.
All are badly wounded and blood covers the fists of the Transcendents. Lord Ishikawa, Borja, Ayumi... All of them. Only Kaito and Maya are standing, forming the rear of the team.
Maya is on her knees, exhausted from using too many spells in such a short time.
Kaito can hear her gasping for breath behind him and can feel the bloody breath of the goblins approaching them. But when the Alpha gets close to Kaito, he completely ignores him and goes for Maya, who he looks at with a perverted smile.
At this moment, Kaito's eyes are still static, but somehow they land on Ishikawa, who is stopping the bleeding from his own neck with one hand. Ishikawa is silently screaming with his eyes and his expression of desperation. He seems to be asking for something, a request that Kaito quickly understands.
"Help Maya!" Ishikawa cries, not loudly, but with his heart.
His right hand slides down the handle of his pickaxe and an immeasurable lightness fills his body.
Kaito jumps with frightening speed, capable of destroying the stone floor beneath his feet, and swings one end of the pickaxe at the Alpha's head, ignoring the basic logic in his mind. After all, there is no way a level 1 can defeat a level 60 monster, is there?
+
Discord: https://discord.gg/ kQQqYmMNkz