<>

The portal creature’s stub of a hand was pointed at Saxi and Saxi’s bladder gave out a little. He felt a drop of fear stain his underwear in the form of a drop of liquid. He’d never in his life imagined that this was how he would end.

Taken by a portal being.

Would Madness fight for him? He knew the answer but felt like he could hope. Still, he took a reluctant step back. No matter how invincible the thing might be, he refused to go down without a fight. He would not.

Saxi would scratch and claw and bite if he had to. He would—

Wait.

Even in his fear, his mind realized something. It’s not talking to Boss.

The creature stood, hovering in the air in front of Melmarc. It stared at him with its two dots for eyes and had no mouth. Its stub of a hand, however, didn’t move from Saxi.

Why’s it in front of the Boss’ kid?

Melmarc waved at it. The action was like that of a child meeting a new friend they’d just made a day before in kindergarten.

“Hi, Veebee,” he said, kindly.

The creature paused. It looked at its hand and cocked its head to the side in confusion. It was an action very unlike what any portal creature Saxi had been graced with the displeasure of seeing would ever do.

After a heartbeat of a moment, the creature looked at Melmarc’s raised hand. Surprisingly, while he’d stopped waving, Melmarc still had his hand raised as if he was waiting. The creature’s dot for eyes narrowed into horizontal slits. It looked at its stub of a hand that had once been pointing at Saxi then raised it slowly.

It waved awkwardly. <>

Melmarc gave it a proud smile. The creature’s eyes turned into vertical slits and Saxi could swear it looked proud of itself.

What the hell is going on? He thought, confused. Is my life in his hands?

None of what was happening was making sense. Why was a portal being talking so casually to someone that was not an Oath. A child for that matter.

Then Saxi remembered something that had happened when they’d first entered the portal. Madness had said something about the Law of Bloodline.

Is that what’s happening?

It was a possibility. But the creature had said that the law did not apply because there was no one to uphold it. Ultimately, it didn’t matter for now. What mattered was that the creature was no longer interested in him.

The creature dropped its hand finally and lowered itself to the height of Melmarc’s face. It drew a little closer to him so that it was close enough to reach out its short arm and touch the boy’s face.

“Too close, Veebee,” Melmarc said with an almost amused chuckle. “I can’t see you properly.”

The creature, Veebee, hovered back a little. <>

Melmarc nodded.

Veebee’s eyes moved slowly to the spear in Melmarc’s hand. Then it panned to the chest and sword with Axe.

<> it said. <>

Melmarc’s expression dulled slightly.

Veebee’s attention focused on it immediately. It gave him a confused look. <>

Melmarc shook his head. “The quest wasn’t easy, Veebee. It cost us a lot.”

<> Veebee looked at the others. Its eyes settled on Saxi once more. It pointed at him. <>

Saxi paled further. What did I do?

Melmarc looked at Saxi and, by the gods he was thinking about it. Saxi almost lost his mind. Was Melmarc really considering handing him over to the creature? He looked to Madness for help and found his boss’ attention fixed firmly on the portal creature.

Saxi was the last person to join the group, so his bond wasn’t as strong. He’d never met Madness’ kids before. Despite that, he’d always been treated as a valued member of the group. Here, now, however, he was worried. If a member of the group was to be sacrificed for any reason, it sounded like it was supposed to be him.

As an S-rank Gifted, he was surprised to feel his knees grow weak at the thought of dying here. I don’t want to be eaten by a weird looking creature.

Veebee’s eyes narrowed at him, then it looked at Melmarc. <> it asked.

Saxi paled. It can read thoughts.

He sure as hell didn’t want a creature that wanted to eat him finding out what he had just called it in his head. He wanted to reach out to Melmarc and stop him but was too late.

“Odd,” Melmarc said, oblivious to what had just transpired. “Different. Where I come from it isn’t always a positive thing.”

<>

Melmarc paused in thought. In the end, he shrugged. “A little. But not in a bad way.”

<>

Melmarc smiled a little. “Veebee good weird.”

Veebee shot Saxi a dark look—at least it felt dark. <>

As if realizing something, Melmarc asked, “Are you sure that was the easiest quest, Veebee?”

Veebee nodded. <>

“What was it?”

<> it said. <>

Melmarc frowned. The boy knew that there was likely no way he would’ve made that happen.

“Oh,” he said. “Wouldn’t have been possible.”

<> the creature said, proud. <>

The boy got his own quest, and it was intentionally easy?

Saxi had never heard of such a thing.

Then Veebee pointed at him again.

Saxi almost groaned visibly. What did I do?

<>

Was it just him or was it intentionally trying to sound cuter right now?

“You want to eat him?” Melmarc asked casually, as if Saxi was actual food.

Veebee shrunk away visibly. <>

Around him, Saxi wasn’t the only one that was looking confused. Lisa just stared as if she was in the most impossible situation of her life. Axe looked more like he was preparing to fight a giant. It was funny, considering he was kind of gigantic and had a skill that actually made him gigantic.

The others—the civilians—looked like they’d already wet themselves twice. Clinton’s lips were quivering, and Jed intentionally refused to make eye contact.

If Saxi was scared, then those guys were terrified. And Saxi was far worse than scared.

Melmarc let out a sigh. “Alright,” he said. “You can have the man but not the woman.”

Saxi wanted to drop Jude and run but his legs didn’t obey him. They refused to move. In all his life, he’d never been paralyzed with fear. Not even before he was Gifted.

I can’t go out like this, he scolded himself. I can’t.

He had to put up a fight. He would rather die than be eaten alive. If his legs wouldn’t move, he knew something else that would move. He reached inside himself for his skill and pulled at it.

Veebee shot him a look and Saxi felt his skill suddenly fizzle out.

His interface popped up.

[Skill Sense of the Survivor has been sealed.]

[Skill Path of Violence has been sealed.]

[Skill Wandering Meister has been sealed.]

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

The creature wouldn’t even let him die like a man. Saxi’s eyes suddenly stung.

Veebee looked at Melmarc. <>

Melmarc looked back at Saxi, confused. “He’s nice, though. I like him.”

<>

Melmarc cocked a brow at that. He opened his mouth to say something, then stopped. Saxi watched some form of realization dawn on the boy’s expression.

It was kind of stupid. What? Did you expect that I wouldn’t fight back? I’m a Delver, all we do is fight.

“Sorry about that,” Melmarc said respectfully. “It doesn’t want you. It wants Jude.”

Saxi reeled back as if physically struck. “Wait, what?”

A collective sigh went through the others, and Saxi realized that they’d all been holding a breath he didn’t know of.

Melmarc looked back at everyone. Confusion colored his expression.

Saxi, however, was filled with relief. “If you want him,” he moved Jude’s corpse from his shoulders and held it out with both arms, “you can have him. Never really liked him to begin with.”

Veebee shot him a look of obvious anger and a line slowly grew along its face in the place a mouth should be.

“Veebee, no,” Melmarc said almost immediately.

Veebee paused just as quickly. Dots for eyes blinked twice as if confused.

Melmarc pointed at Saxi. “He’s a friend.”

<> Veebee pointed out.

Melmarc shook his head. “That wasn’t a friend, Veebee.”

Veebee blinked out of existence and appeared in front of Saxi. <>

Saxi couldn’t move, couldn’t bring himself to. Melmarc didn’t seem the least bothered. He was like the owner of a dog that was currently ferocious and barking at a stranger letting you know that the dog doesn’t bite, calm and collected.

It was troubling to know that the boy viewed such a terrifying creature, capable of talking down on an Oath, the way he was treating it.

“Veebee,” Melmarc said, an odd note in his voice.

<

Melmarc tilted his head a little as if in thought. “Are you intentionally being intimidating, right now?”

Veebee reached down and picked Jude’s corpse up very ceremoniously. It levitated itself back to Melmarc, corpse in hand. It made sure to keep a distance. Far enough to not crowd Melmarc’s face but close enough to not be far.

It sent shivers down Saxi’s spine. What the hell is this kid?

Veebee held jude’s corpse up by the leg so that it dangled at the knee. Then it opened its mouth. It was a terrible sight to behold. Jagged lines splitting open, moving darkness deep within, three tongues of fire, war and famine, hate and despair. Pain.

Saxi blinked twice and someone fell to his side. Clinton had passed out.

As for Veebee, its mouth was closed back. Nonexistent. It was giving Melmarc an apologetic look. As for Melmarc, he had a grimace on his face.

<> it said, chastised.

“Is it okay if you do it later?” Melmarc asked, voice slightly imploring.

Veebee nodded. Then, with a flick of its wrist, it threw Jude’s corpse into the portal’s wall. Something about the portal shifted. Jude was sucked in too quickly.

Naymond inched closer to Melmarc’s back as if it would protect him from something. The [Sage] shut his eyes tight as he did.

<<[Sages] see too much,>> Veebee said, matter-of-fact. <>

Melmarc nodded as if he understood. “But [Sage] is friend.”

Veebee did another surprising thing. It snorted. <> It pointed at Madness. <>

“He’s my dad.”

Veebee cocked its head. <>

“Father,” Melmarc explained.

<>

Madness stepped forward. “Direct superior under the Law of Bloodline.”

Veebee paused. <>

It didn’t sound pleased. Then it turned thoughtful.

While it remained thoughtful, Melmarc looked around. His attention focused elsewhere. It was on the space around them, the cloudy blue, the constant swirling and turning. He looked down, squinted. Turning his head to the side, he looked at the space Jude’s corpse had been thrown into. There was nothing odd about it, except for the fact that a corpse had vanished into it.

At least nothing that Saxi could see.

Apart from Veebee’s silent thought at the relationship between Melmarc and his father, things hadn’t stopped happening. They just happened quietly. Lisa was seated on the ground, her entire leg covered in the mist. She had Clinton’s head propped up on her lap so that his face was above cloud level.

No one knew if inhaling the cloud directly had any impact on a person. Personally, Saxi believed it had as much effect as coming close to the portal. To the Gifted, it was nothing. To those not gifted, it could kill them or grant them temporary powers.

But that wasn’t where Clinton’s mind was. His momentary distraction was in how calmly Lisa stroked Clinton’s head. It was in how gentle she was, almost loving.

Saxi knew she’d used her powers on the Delver. Now he wondered what she’d seen for her to treat him this way.

He did lose an arm, though.

“Why does this place feel different?” Melmarc asked suddenly. He focused on Veebee and the creature shied away a little, like a child caught doing something they shouldn’t be.

<>

Saxi only knew it was stretching the truth because it had given the information as a question instead of an answer. It was funny how it acted like a child around Melmarc.

And what’s with the tone of speech?

Saxi knew for a fact that the creature could talk normally. In fact, he knew it could intimidate with its speech. He had been there for its conversation with Madness. So this was definitely all nothing but a game of pretense.

Melmarc, however, didn’t seem to notice. There was that, along with the fact that he was still looking around.

Also, what did the creature mean when it said that Melmarc had changed?

“I don’t think that’s it.” Melmarc shook his head. He looked around again. “I know what you’re talking about but that’s not it.”

Veebee dropped its head in defeat and the swirls in the tunnel changed. It happened slowly, gently. One moment, they were the only ones in the tunnel, the next Deoti and Fendor were seating down in one corner.

They had not been there before.

<> Veebee apologized.

Fendore had an arm wrapped around Deoti’s shoulders. It looked as if he was comforting her or something along those lines. It wasn’t necessarily unheard of. The way they both jumped apart, however, was an interesting thing to notice.

“Portal manipulation goes against the laws,” Madness said simply.

Despite the casual tone he used, he was slowly beginning to look impatient, like he had somewhere to be urgently. There had also been the thing about them running out of time while they’d been in the castle.

Is there something he’s trying to avoid or get to on the other side?

He hadn’t seemed like he was in much of a hurry before they’d found Melmarc, though. Saxi found himself wondering if the time constraint had something to do with finding Melmarc in the first place.

Deoti recovered from their initial jump and rushed forward. She came straight for Melmarc only to draw up short when Veebee imposed itself between her and the boy.

“Veebee,” Melmarc said gently, when the creature turned to look at him, he gestured around with a raised hand. “Everyone here is a friend.”

Veebee cocked its head to the side. <> it asked.

Melmarc nodded. “Veebee friend, too.”

The creature hovered to the side.

Deoti walked forward, eyes moving between Melmarc and Veebee in confusion. Fendor looked equally confused as he approached them.

“What was that about?” Deoti asked in a low voice, as if she didn’t know that the creature could hear her.

She came to a stop in front of Melmarc while Fendor walked up to Saxi. He tipped a quick salute to Madness.

“Good to have you back, Boss,” he said. Madness spared him a nod, eyes still on the creature so he turned to Saxi. “When did you guys get here? We thought you’d eventually walk in through the portal.”

“We’ve actually been here for a while,” Saxi answered. “I think the creature just kept you guys from noticing us the way it kept us from noticing you guys.”

“Oh.” Fendor looked at the creature, then returned his attention to Saxi. “Then what changed? Did Boss negotiate again?”

Saxi shook his head slowly, making sure the creature wasn’t looking at him. He pointed a discreet hand at Melmarc. “Boss’ kid scolded the thing.”

Fendor paused.

Good. I’m not the only one that finds this confusing.

Fendor looked at Veebee, then at Melmarc where Deoti still held him in a conversation while Veebee waited impatiently. He looked at Veebee again, then Melmarc. Deoti looked like she was about to go to tears.

In the end, he shook his head. “You’re joking, right?”

Saxi shook his head. “I’m as serious as a pig’s orgasm.”

Fendor made a face. “First, eww. Second, you’re sure he scolded it not negotiated with it?”

Jed snuck in to join them. “I saw it with my own two eyes.”

Fendor gave the Delver a strange look, as if wondering why the man felt he was a part of the conversation. Regardless, he said nothing.

Jed must’ve taken it as a form of permission because he added. “What exactly is that thing. It’s taking everything I have to just stand here. There’s just a part of me that keeps waiting to die.”

That was surprising, Saxi had never wondered how lower ranked Gifted felt about portal creatures. To people like him, those in the S-rank, it felt like standing in the presence of something that can kill you in the blink of an eye.

Jed just described it as something that was going to kill him. It was just a matter of when.

“It’s above your pay grade,” Fendor answered easily. Then he turned his attention back to Melmarc and the creature’s attention on him. “It looks annoyed.”

“Mannerisms,” Saxi guessed. “You ever seen one of those things show an expression.”

“Never,” Fendor answered. “Not even bad ones.”

“I think it’s doing it for Boss’ kid.”

Fendor gave him a look. “And why would it do that?”

“No idea.” Saxi shrugged. “But judging from its behavior towards him, I’m guessing the kid’s got some kind of control over it. It even gave the kid his personal quest. From what I gather, they talked about it before it gave him.”

“Never heard of that happening before… wait.” Fendor looked around, took a head count. “We’re missing one civilian.”

“The thing took him,” Saxi said. “Took permission from the kid first.”

Saxi took pleasure in the steady increase of confusion on Fendor’s face. It was good to have confirmation from someone with more experience dealing with these things that he wasn’t the weird one here.

Fendor opened his mouth to say more when Melmarc’s voice cut him short.

“I’ve got a question, Veebee,” the boy said.

Veebee perked up at that. <>

“What exactly is an fhtwouyhd?”

<>

Fendor frowned and looked at Saxi.

“What the hell was that?” he asked.

“No idea what he just said,” Saxi answered. “I don’t think that—”

“NO!” Madness roared. It was a terrifying sound, like the one his thoughts made when they were linked through Lisa’s skill.

Everyone grew alert. Jed staggered then fell to his knee. Nelson abandoned Claire’s body to clamp a hand over his ears and curled in on himself.

Deoti’s hands were already moving. She was casting some kind of spell already.

Then the worst thing happened. Madness reached for the creature, hand open as if to take it by the neck.

It ignored him and disappeared.

Then Melmarc disappeared.

…

“What exactly is an [August Intruder]?” Melmarc asked out of genuine curiosity. For everything he knew, he doubted anyone really knew anything. And everything he knew was really nothing at all.

All he knew was that there was something special about the designation, but that was all.

Veebee gave him a look, as if it had been stupid all this while. <> it answered after a moment. <>

Then the swirls in the portal shifted a little. Something had been odd since Melmarc had entered the portal. It felt as if he was wearing a shirt that was supposed to be his size, but the collar kept leaning to one side, exposing more skin on one shoulder than the other. And each time he tried to adjust it, it kept on feeling as if the shirt was incapable of being adjusted, like there was a fundamental problem with how it had been crafted.

Melmarc’s attention was still on the shifting swirls when he heard his father’s voice.

“NO!”

It was a loud and terrifying thing. Melmarc didn’t think he’d ever heard his father raise his voice in his life.

To his side, Melmarc saw his father burst forward, hand outstretched towards Veebee. A moment after, his interface popped up in front of him.

[Void-beast designation 12849 has used Existential Authority World Warp on you.]

[You are being moved.]

Melmarc had no idea what that was. A question was about to come to mind when everything shifted.

Then he found himself standing in the middle of a busy road on a rainy night. The streets were illuminated by street lamps and the buildings around him, skyscrapers all of them, were lit up to give the night light.

One specific building had a massive television. On it were two men. One was a bit orange with an odd blond hair style. He wore a suit and was shaking hands with a taller, larger man who didn’t look happy to be there.

Below them was a news tag. It read: Ex president of the united state shows support for Player, Norman, as he embarks on his portal run into the infamous SS-rank portal.

Melmarc turned his head, confused. He found Veebee hovering in the air beside him.

“Veebee,” he said, heartbeat growing into a panic. “Where are we?”

Veebee had one unbothered answer. “Earth.”