The figures proceeded in mass out of a place in the sky and seemed to be heading towards the several buildings scattered across the landscape.
A great number of them made way into the buildings scattered all around.
Some of the figures however remained outside both on land and in the air.
They seemed to be guards in charge of surveillance of the whole area.
They were wandering about randomly as if trying to spot any nuances around.
Usher could barely see them from where he was, hidden in the bushes.
"I am one lucky son of a gun.
I'd be dead meat if I was still there by now". Usher thought.
After much observation, Usher finally slid further into the bushes in order to avoid detection even though he was, at the time, very far away from the wandering figures.
He wanted to avoid peril at any rate.
"These wierdos might have eagle eyes or something", he thought.
He started wandering into the forest.
He walked in a straight path, intermittently looking sideways towards the right and left to observe the area in detail.
The forest was absolutely deserted and it looked like it hadn't been visited in a very long while.
The tree stood tall for the most part, and there was no sound of insects or any creeping thing.
It was absolutely silent.
"Could it be that something extremely dangerous lives here, seeing that there are no footprints or any traces of life forms?
I really need to get out of here" Usher thought.
Suddenly, as he was still walking forward, a bright light shone ahead, directly in front of him.
He shielded his eyes with his arms as the light pierced his eyes.
Suddenly, a portal opened and a figure similar to the others emerged from the portal in front of him.
*************
Mr. Edga proceeded towards the door and opened it for the strange visitor.
He was utterly surprised to see who it was.
"Roger!"
He exclaimedly called and proceeded to give the man outside a bear hug, who received him with open arms amidst warm smiles.
"Edward my man! Long time no visit.
How've you been? Roger said.
"Been good mate, lots of stuff been happening lately, come on in" Mr. Edga said.
"How's your family doing Ro?"
Mr. Edga asked.
"We're quite fine, thanks Ed".
Roger replied.
They continued conversing as they sat on the couch in the parlour.
"So what brings you to the North my man".
Mr. Edga asked.
"Ah my friend, the head of the North Branch military wants to see me.
But that aside, the current happenings in the North is enough reason for one to want to come around and see don't you think?" Roger replied.
"Well, I wouldn't say it's something worthy of site seeing". Mr Edga said.
"I heard what happened to your wife Ed, I'm really sorry about that" Roger said.
"It's fine. When I went yesterday she was much better.
The doctors said she'll be discharged in a week. The real blow was the death of my in-law's son David.
That was also the main cause of her stroke". Mr. Edga said.
"Wow.
That must be a lot to take in.
How's the boy's dad doing?" Roger asked.
"Quite poorly.
He's been oddly silent ever since the incident. Not that he's a talkative person, but this time it's really on the extreme.
He seems really grieved about the death of the boy. Mr Edga answered.
"How sad".
Reminds me of me. Roger said.
"You might probably understand what he's going through since a similar thing happened with your son 5 years ago". Mr Edga said.
Roger answered.
"Yeah, 5 years ago..."
************
The portal suddenly disappeared along with the bright light leaving Usher and the figure in front of him alone again in the darkness.
Suddenly, Usher impulsively turned and started running in the opposite direction in order to avoid the enemy who had, by this time, already spotted him.
The enemy immediately brought out a horn from his side and blew it.
"Phhooooorrrrrrnnn".
The horn sounded very loud.
Much louder than one would have anticipated for such a not so big horn.
Suddenly Usher started hearing sounds similar to what he heard when he first got into the forest, but this time, the sounds were coming in his direction.
He suddenly stopped and looked back at the figure still standing at the same position.
Impulsively, returned and started engaging the figure in battle.
He tried all he could, but was finding it really hard to land his kicks and punches.
Worst of all, he was getting out of breath quicker than he should normally.
As he was still fighting the enemy, he began to cogitate.
"If I don't get out of here right now I'll surely die!!
I can't even win a single weirdo in hand-to-hand combat, not to talk of an army of them.
Worst of all, I'm unusually becoming tired.
Could it be because of this wearisome pressure?
Probably.
What do I do?. He thought in his mind.
For the next few moves, he seemed to be having the upper hand against the enemy, but the sound of enemy reinforcements coming closer was beginning to wary him.
He began to slow down and as such, started taking dangerous hits again.
"The portal!
Yes!
The portal is the key!
If I can find a way to get that portal activated, I can escape before the others arrive.
Usher stretched forward to attack the enemy with a blow.
The figure ducked swiftly and released a rib cracking kick that knocked Usher down to the ground.
As Usher was getting up, he turned to see the enemy reinforcements closing up on him.
Great fear came upon him unlike ever before, that he couldn't hold himself together.
"I beg of you, o universe!
Create a way out for me.
Let me not die like my comrades!
I have not avenged them!!
I must avenge them!!!"
Usher thought shaking profusely.