I couldn't believe it when I saw his name on the list, said Kruse, the commander from 3rd block said. The other two agreed and nodded. They are very good at acting thought Shaw, he knows what these guys did and for what they gained from it, they are still nursing their wounded pride. This fake concern is just for show, they were jealous of him and couldn't get over the fact that Raghu was better than them in every aspect. He just gave up everything after that incident.
Shaw can't show hostility towards any of them due to their ranks. "He praised all of you telling me many tales of his exploits with all of you", he said to others as great displeasure was shown on their faces when they heard this. Even though they couldn't do anything harsh to him because of that Man, they could throw him in 11th and they did just that. His name in the sacrifice list was just a welcome boost to their egos, though they had no say in choosing the sacrifices. Shaw wanted to give them a piece of his mind abut refrained from it. Shaw simply left them to be happy in their own world and left the room. Just wishing that Raghu is able to complete his task.
---30 minutes prior to closing of the gates---
Raghu was silently observing the procedure till now. He knew about the gates what he didn't know was the way these were opened. This was just a one way portal. Reading those scroll and the map that Shaw showed him in the basement had provided a lots of information. He also got to know that they have lived whole of their life on ring of islands. They were named the Fern islands collectively and have total of 12 islands arranges in a circular pattern.
These separated islands are respectively labelled as numbered blocks by the current royal family are controlled by them through military. These islands are actually quite far from the main land and has a special status.
The system had offered them to be connected to main land but current royal family not wanting to loose control agreed upon several conditions imposed by system 500 years back.
The condition for the islands to not be disturbed under any circumstances.
1. They will be provided with one way transport to the platform and they will send 240 members every 5 years selected by the doom system.
2. They will not receive any help from the other participants from the same sector that will also arrive on the doom platform.
Even though it was quite disadvantageous to the people ,but the royal family was able to keep power and it allowed them control over the islands and they were happy to have it. now the current government send 240 people every 5 year. the candidates chosen from system have to follow the treaty regardless of who is chosen. To not cause mayhem and rebellion over not wanting to associate with the main landmass. They choose this way to select the reaping candidate and streamlined it with announcing these candidates as sacrifices for god's.
Raghu came out of his thought process when he was pushed by the guard towards the gate as he was the last one left. He gave a look to the guard but then realizing he is only doing his job, started to walk towards the gate. With bright white reflecting in his eyes, and no way of telling where it will lead as the opening was translucent with nothing visible on the other side ,he entered the gate. As he was the last one to enter, the gate vanished from the place and the old environment was once again established in the forest. The guard retrieved his tokens and went back to the base.
---current time ------
Raghu is traveling via a one way warp gate at the sonic speed. He hardly sees anything, it's all Rainbow like in his eyes with all VIBGYOR colors reflecting at the boundary of the passage he seems to travel on. He travel for what he estimate about 30 minutes before he hits a hard spot falling down and his knees buckle from the experience. This is his first time he has travelled like this, he is having nausea, and disorientation like never before . He wants to vomit hard but he is holding on hard no to let go. He can see the rest vomiting and some having fallen unconscious after arrival.
He is yet to a custom to his surroundings when he hears from the rear, "are we dead?", "Did God call us hear?", "wait, weren't be supposed to die or be front of some god right now" . everyone is looking at each other for answers. there are some people prostrating on the ground begging the gods to have mercy. Some are simply to dazed to believe anything they are seeing. This is when they hear laughs from the other end.
There are several people already present here and there eyes are full of disdain. Its like they are looking at bunch of low class citizens and they are high nobles of some country. Raghu has seen enough of world to identify these kind of people. They are mostly bunch of hypocrites that are riding the high horse just because they belong to some high ranking family, The type usually only is only bark and no bite, but there are exceptions but very rare. He can see a group coming towards them and they have mischief in their eyes. This is a place where they were actually supposed to group and make sure they survive the next events but seems like the crowd is going be cut short a bit.
They were 240 people that arrived from fern island and most of them are still lying unconscious on the ground. Only a handful of them are awake and few of them cant believe they are alive. Looking at the situation he feels it will soon change. The group has already arrived near the group in the front and have grabbed hold of a normal looking guy asking him from where they came. the guy doesn't know anything relevant to entertain them so he is taking a thrashing of a lifetime.
The others who are waking up from daze are looking at the scene and cant comprehend what is happening. They are moving from one person to another beating the crap out of them until they arrive in front the guy stops them from going any further. He simply went near the group of guys and whispered something in their leaders ear. He looks at the rest of them crowd observing with interest ,giving the man hateful look turns back and leaves.
Raghu doesn't know what he told them but it sure as hell worked. Well with this situation sorted he is observing the surrounding they are currently at. They have arrived at some kind of huge platform of which he cant see the end it has a significantly huge pillars supporting the whole structure and the upper dome is transparent as they can see stars and 4 moons each shining with different colors of blue, indigo, grey and white. The whole setting seems to be out of a comic book where they will just need to wait for Bad guy to show up and announce they are in real shit.
As if answering his thoughts, a bright light shines above their head and a cute looking girl wearing a lovely flower themed frock walks out. She has white eyes which surprises Raghu as he has never seen the people with white eyes. She has a symbol १४ just below her left eye. She seems to be around 10 years but everyone seems to be vary of her for some reason. She looks at people present and speak in a neutral tone, I am Shachi , the guardian and administrator of this platform. I will explain the rules of this platform and what system has to offer. But before that , she looks at the crowd as sees a portion of people are still unconscious, she waves her hand and the people start waking up. even the people who were beaten up are now getting their health restored. Even he can feel an energy inside him which clears away his nausea in an instant.
Now that we are ready to begin.. let me start again...My name is Shachi, the guardian and administrator of this platform. I will now be telling you all the rules and explain to you about how would you journey forward. "DO NOT STOP ME when i am explaining" she spells every syllable emphasizing each word as if challenging them. I shall answer all your questions once i am done explaining.