Novels2Search
Anomalous Focus
Chapter 2: The Start of a New Beginning (Pilot Arc)

Chapter 2: The Start of a New Beginning (Pilot Arc)

Once they all passed through the portal, Kyran and Kiana are shocked for it is their first time to ever see the other side of portal face to face other than the online videos they used to watch. The interior is that of a giant hallway with white pillars which arch around it, different paintings on the walls, jewels on the floor and a huge red carpet with black borders that runs along the hallway. The domain also has multiple different structured doors on the sides and multiple dead beast bodies which signify what the order left behind. The domains ceiling is filled with carvings of symbols which depict a certain language which none of them are able to understand. Multiple different statues of beasts with human-like bodies can be seen in front of every three paintings as each of them had different warrior-like clothing and ornaments. Wall torches of fire illuminated the room ever so clearly with a suitable glow.

"Well, this is pretty rare for me," Kyra said as she looked around the room "I barely see these types of domains, I'm used to the familiar caves and forests."

"Really?" Simon said in a confused manner "I've seen these many times before."

"It's so big and fancy," Kiana said as she is baffled by the sight "not what I expected though"

"The smell of these dead beasts is all over the place." Kyran said as he blocked his nose.

"You'll learn to get used to it once you've slain enough." Lewis said.

"I'm still having trouble with this odor." Mike complained.

"This domain is so organized, how did you every door, killed every beast and plundered their energy crystals, but we couldn't find the leader."

"Let's just crosscheck," Kyra suggested "maybe it's hiding amongst the corpses."

"Okay then," Simon said as he prepared his hammer "I'll be the Safeguard, Kyra you'll be the Assassin, Sarah and Lewis our Mages and Mike you're the Knight."

"That seems okay." Kyra said as they set off.

"I'll take the lead." Simon said as no one objected.

They began to explore the domain room by room, re-killing all the beasts as the corpses' odor grew worse by the minute. The end of the hallway was getting closer and closer but still they did not find the leader till they eventually reached the last door.

"This is the last of them." Simon informed.

"It's probably already cleared like the rest of them." Lewis stated.

"The only thing that's been surprising so far is how bad the smell has gotten." Mike complained.

"Let's just hope that there's at least something here." Kyra anxiously said.

Simon pushes the double doors as light slowly entered the opening room. A sudden loud screech makes them take some steps backward as Kyra uses her focus 'Pyrokenisis' by touching the tip of her sword's blade till its base lighting it in red fire. Sarah takes one of the hallway's flame torches and uses it to light one on the side of the door, the fire quickly spreads as it lights all the torches within the room. Kyra got a sudden burst of excitement for the torches illuminated the beast she has been waiting for.

The beast is that of a terrifying red eagle whose size is able to fill 3 average rooms, 2 pairs of wings with black metallic tips and black metallic like talons and beak.

"I thought we cleared all the rooms." Lewis said as he prepared his staff with a red jeweled tip "What is this!?"

"That doesn't matter," Kyra said as she prepared to fight "there's finally something fun I can do!"

The beast began to flap its mighty wings as it flew around the giant room in a circular motion. Lewis is first to react as he uses staff to launch spells of sharp projectiles towards the beast's abdomen hitting it in the process. The beast gives off a loud irritated screech just before it dived towards him while aiming its talons to attack.

"Get down!" Simon shouted as he moved in front of Lewis to use his great shield to block the beast's mighty attack. Kyra takes the opportunity to jump onto the beast's right flank and continuously slash it causing it to screech in pain and use one of its wings to launch her into the air. Mike comes from the side and uses his plain iron sword to cut through one of the beast's legs as Simon uses his hammer to swing a heavy blow towards its head.

Kyran and Kiana are left to stand back and watch in awe as the events take place.

"Is this really what a plunder looks like?" Kiana asked as he held onto the door.

"It's so much better in person!" Kyran said enthusiastically.

"Aren't you supposed to fight too?" Kiana asked Sarah.

"I'm just here for support and medical aid. They seem to have this covered." Sarah replied.

The roof of the room suddenly glows brighter as Kyra amplified the fire on her blade to burn as intensely as she began to dive downward at great speeds. The beast looked upward and gave an intense screech as it struggled to move aside, but was halted by Mike and Lewis whom damaged its left wings. Kyra with her blazing sword came crashing down as she gave a swift and mighty swing towards the beast's neck and had a hard landing on her feet which formed a small crater in the ground. The beast's neck began to suddenly gush out red blood as its head came crashing down. The rest of the body later on stopped moving as its entire body began to crumble and disappear into reddish black ash.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"That was so refreshing!" Kyra said as she swung the blood off the blade and cancelled the fire.

"It was exciting to watch!" Kiana said excitedly.

"Good work everyone," Simon said proudly "now get the leader's crystal and let's head back to school"

"I think I found it." Kyran said as he rummaged through the ash in which he finds the crystal which looks like a ruby. He attempts to lift it but is unable to till Simon comes to his aid and lifts it for him.

"Heavy isn't it," Simon said as he juggled it from hand to hand.

"It's about the size of my fist yet it's so heavy." Kyran said.

"Unfortunately, only Sealers, body builders and machinery can lift these," Simon said, "only regular people find it really hard to lift these."

"Kyran wasn't that fun." Kyra said as she held onto his shoulder.

"It was, I mean shouldn't we be home by now?" he said as he brushed her hand off.

"Good point." Kyra replied.

"If that was the leader then, we only have an hour before the portal closes, let's move." Simon stated.

They begin their exit as they walked out of the room as its doors closed behind them. On their way out they notice that the other beasts are still intact as Kyran draws his attention to the paintings. The paintings were different, but they all had something in common which worried Kyran. They all told a story of peace, war and rebuild in repeat. He kept his attention on the paintings till they reached the end of the hallway where the portal was.

"I would like you all to observe that since the beasts have not faded to ash then that means that the beast, we fought wasn't the leader." Simon said.

"I also noticed that" Kyra said, "but it was still fun nonetheless."

"I'll report this issue to the board and have other sealers deal with this issue," Simon said as though he was tired which he clearly was "since our time is up there's nothing we can do but go back."

"Does that mean that we didn't pass?" Mike asked.

"No, you passed." Simon reassured "Today's test was for teamwork so congratulations."

"That's a relief." Lewis said.

"Before we leave let's do a personnel check." Simon suggested "I see everyone's here, did anyone bring something which the rest of us do not know of."

Everyone remains silent and begin look at each other till Kiana decided to raise her hand.

"Well, I took this," she said as she proceeded to show a red jeweled amulet with white engravings in an unknown language.

"Let me take a look at that." Sarah said as her eyes and hands were glowing green then she held it. "It's been drained of all its energy, best to put it back." she gives it back to her and notices her disappointed look "I'll accompany you."

"Don't look so down," Kyra said as she comforted her "I'll get you a better one later."

"I'll go with the both of you." Kyran said.

"Okay then just come back quickly." Simon agreed.

The 3 of them head down the hallway to return the amulet as the rest of the group wait for their return. After a short period of time the room was within their sights, but Sarah trips and falls due to a fold in the carpet, she notices something blurry move in the shadows but does not pay too much attention to it. Kyran comes to her aid as he notices her hold on to her knee.

"Are you okay? Is it serious?" Kyran asked.

"No, I can heal it easily." she says as her eyes and her orb glow green as a green glow emits from her knee.

"So you're a healer that's impressive." Kyran compliments "Kiana just throw it in there, she won't take long."

"Okay then." Kiana hesitantly agrees as she pushes the doors open and notices that the fires within it were no longer ablaze. She attempts to toss the amulet in the room, but suddenly feels something oily on her leg which she instantly looks at and notices a black oily web-like substance coming from the darkness hold her. She looks up and a sudden shiver goes up her spine as she sees two giant red eyes with blue centers stair at her.

"I finally found you." a sudden deep and dry voice says from the darkness, as she attempts to scream for help another web holds her moth keeping her quiet as more held onto the rest of her limbs and pull her into the darkness.

After only hearing a short shriek Kyran instantly gets alert and runs towards the room. Sarah follows but as soon as she reaches it, she only sees darkness within the room. She decides to quickly take one of the fire torches from the hallway and use it to light the room's torch which lights the others. Her body suddenly decides to freeze and tremble in fear due to her shocked disbelief of what she is seeing in front of her.

Meanwhile the others have been eagerly waiting for their return till they get agitated and had enough of waiting.

"They've been gone for a while now," Kyra said worryingly "I'm going to check on them."

"We're back." They hear Kiana's voice in the distance as the 3 of them come back.

"It's about time." Lewis said.

"What took you so long?" Mike asked.

"We had a few minor complications, but we managed." Sarah replied.

"We're safe to go," Kyran said "maybe we can stop by some place to eat or a store."

Suddenly Kyra's blade began to glow with fire as she dashed forward, slashing through Kyran's torso, stabbing Kiana through her chest and pinning Sarah with her leg while pointing the sword at the chest.

Everyone else is left shocked and silent for what they've just witnessed but are unable to act due to their powerlessness against her.

"Kyra, what the heck was that!?" Simon shouted as he stepped forward.

"Shut up." Kyra said and gave them a fierce stare with her red glowing eyes as the air pressure became heavier causing them to drop to their knees. She looks back at Sarah with a look that shows a killing intent "Now tell me just who you are and what have you done to them?" she said as she applied pressure to Sarah's stomach with her foot. She replies with odd screams till Kyra decides to stab her through the chest and burn her to a crisp. "Everyone find them now!" she said as she released the pressure and dashed through the hallway.

Meanwhile as the room lit up Kyran's face turns pale as he is unable to believe what he is seeing. The room has completely changed as within it is Kiana hanging from the ceiling with chains holding her limbs as a giant black goblet-like structure with white engravings rests beneath her. The room has multiple chains and cages hanged from the ceiling; different skulls of unknown beasts framed on the walls as each had a flame torch on it. But the most fearsome thing was what was at the back edge of the room, it was a giant black muscular ogre with grey markings around its body, ancient warrior like fur clothing, two distinct white tusks and twin horns with red markings, that was sitting on its great throne made of different bones with a giant bone-like axe by its side.

Kyran stops shaking as he gathers the courage to speak "Who are you and what do you want?" he said with fear in his voice.

The beast replies in a deep dry voice but notices that Kyran is unable to understand so it changes its language. "What I want is this female here and as for who I am," the beast said, "I'm your new in law."