"I trust everyone is well-prepared. If you lack proper weapons, do head over promptly to the soldier stationed in that tent."
Drew addressed the group as they gathered, gesturing towards a large, green, military-style tent nearby. It hadn't been there earlier, which meant the soldiers had managed to erect it in remarkably little time.
The tent appeared spacious enough to accommodate twenty to thirty people comfortably.
Among the volunteers, a middle-aged gentleman and a man who seemed to be in his early thirties hesitated briefly, casting glances at the rest of the party. After a moment of uncertainty, they exchanged a look and quietly made their way toward the tent.
Everyone waited in tense silence as the timer ticked down to zero. Even those in the houses near the portal moved to their windows, curiosity, and unease drawing them to witness what might unfold when the countdown reached its end.
"Only ten seconds left..."
David, his nerves fraying, reached out and gripped Iris's hand. Iris recoiled almost immediately, yanking his hand free and glaring at David with a look of sheer disgust etched across his face.
Just as David awkwardly tried to speak to Iris, the timer hit zero, instantly commanding everyone's attention.
On the altar, the green numbers of the countdown vanished, replaced by a fresh timer showing 300 seconds, alongside a count reading (0/10).
Beneath it, written in vivid red letters, was a simple but chilling heading. The ominous text sent a collective shiver down the spines of all who witnessed it.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as the words became clear:
Punishment:
If the required minimum number is not met, or the timer reaches zero before the quota is fulfilled, the entire village will be wiped out of existence.
By the time everyone snapped out of their stupor, the clock had already ticked down to just under 250 seconds.
Drew, typically the picture of composure, found himself taking deep, shaky breaths as horror tightened its grip on his heart.
The same fear etched itself onto the faces of the others, including Iris, who rarely showed such vulnerability. A chilling question loomed in their minds, making the situation even more harrowing.
What if none of the villagers dared to step forward yesterday or today?
As the timer reached the 200-second mark, Drew finally forced himself to pull it together, his jaw tightening with determination despite the fear still gnawing at him.
"Everyone! Now is not the time to panic. The lives of nearly everyone in this village, including your loved ones, now rest in your hands."
Drew's voice boomed across the crowd, cutting through the chaos. His commanding tone began to steady the jittery nerves of those around him.
"Stay calm! We've already decided to enter. We have more than enough people to meet the quota, so all I ask is that you stick to the plan we discussed. There's no time to waste on doubts. What I need from each of you is simple... come back safely."
His words resonated, finally easing the mounting tension in the air.
Drew wanted to say more, but his gaze flickered to the timer, now dangerously close to the 100-second mark. Gritting his teeth, he glanced at Edward.
Without hesitation, Edward gave a firm nod, stepping silently toward the portal. Its surface shimmered faintly, growing brighter as the moment drew nearer.
"We don't have much time. My brothers and I will go in first, followed by Miss Claire and old Thomas, then the rest of you."
Edward spoke with resolute calm, not bothering to turn back. His intent was clear—to have the strongest go in first, prepared to face any potential danger on the other side and buy precious time for those following.
"Alright, everyone. I'm going in."
Edward cast a quick glance at the timer, which had now ticked down to fifty seconds. Without a moment's hesitation, he steeled himself and leapt into the portal. His movements were swift, almost desperate, as though propelled by the weight of the responsibility he bore.
The four soldiers following him moved in quick succession, their expressions hardened with resolve as they disappeared into the glowing abyss one by one.
Claire paused briefly, turning to glance at David and Iris with a hint of reassurance before she leapt into the portal, closely followed by the elderly Thomas.
The remaining five volunteers, fueled by a surge of adrenaline, quickly followed suit.
Just as the timer is left with less than twenty seconds, both David and Iris walked into the portal. The faces they made before they enter into it seems like they are controlling their mocking faces to those that jumped into the portal, while they can simply walk into it.
Drew and the remaining soldiers couldn't help but feel their faces twitch with annoyance. Just moments ago, they had been brimming with pride and fiery determination, inspired by the valiant leaps of those who entered the portal.
But the sight of David and Iris strolling in with those barely restrained smirks instantly drained some of their zeal, tempering the charged atmosphere with an odd mix of irritation and amusement.
Drew let out a soft chuckle despite himself, shaking his head at his nephew's antics. Still, a weight settled in his chest as he silently prayed.
If David doesn't make it back... The thought hung heavily in his mind. He knew full well that the responsibility would fall squarely on his shoulders, and the guilt would haunt him for the rest of his life.
The moment David and Iris exited the portal, it felt as though they had been walking for months on end before finally reaching the other side. Yet, they both knew it had taken them less than five seconds.
As soon as they exited the portal, they found themselves in a world that felt both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
What made it familiar was the massive portal, the altars, and the towering black walls that surrounded the area.
But unlike their small village, where one could likely traverse its entirety in about an hour, this area seemed significantly larger.
The towering walls surrounding this place were roughly ten kilometers away from the portal, a stark contrast to their village, where the walls were merely three kilometers at most.
"Captain..."
David opened his mouth to ask Edward what they should do next, but before he could say another word, one of the soldiers beside him immediately covered his mouth.
Being at the back of the group, they couldn't see what lay ahead. The portal stood just behind them, while their people were ahead, blocking their view.
Edward turned back to David and Iris, signaling them to be quiet with a finger on his lips. At the same time, he motioned for the others to move aside, allowing David and Iris to get a better look at the situation.
As some of the group members shifted, David and Iris's eyes widened in surprise, despite having already prepared themselves for something like this.
The entire group stood there in silence, staring at a huge fire pit ahead of them. The flames flickered brightly, casting a warm glow on the scene.
Around the fire, several large figures lay sprawled out, some asleep, others drunk, their huge mugs of wine resting by their sides. The air was thick with the smell of alcohol and smoke.
'They seems to be Orcs... Fuck'
Iris thought to himself, staring at the massive figures ahead. Despite the biological changes people had undergone in the past few years, it would still be hard to find a few humans who could match their size.
His body tensed slightly as he realized that if a fight broke out now, many of their team members would likely die here.
Looking around the camp, they noticed the village stretching out before them. Rough, crude stone houses were scattered across the area, built into the uneven terrain with little concern for symmetry.
The houses, built from rough stone and wood, blended into the landscape making them felt like they are in stone age era.
Behind the village, hills rose sharply in the distance, dotted with cliffs and rocky outcrops. A thick forest covered the slopes, its dark trees standing against the hills.