CHAPTER 16 – INTO THE VOID

Johnny woke up in the morning with a ton of anxiety thinking about sword training. He couldn’t get much sleep that night thinking about it. He tried to shrug off his exhaustion as got up to get dressed and head for breakfast. As he was getting dressed the quietness of the camp soon erupted into noise outside of his tent. Out of concern Johnny mentally asked Albert what was going on. Albert informed him from the commotion and talking, the void portal was beginning to be active. As of cue, Julia appeared in front of his tent. “Johnny, it is Julia. We are having an emergency meeting that you need to attend. You can skip your training for today. As this meeting is a priority. Meet me by the cabin near the lake.” With that Julia ran off letting Johnny to hurry to catch up.

Johnny was one of the last to meet as he made his way into a building that was enchanted with wards. Julia was with the other elite guards sitting around with other figures who were all arguing or bickering about what to do. Julia saw Johnny enter before letting out a frustrated tone. “You’re a few minutes late.” Sighed Julia, staring at Johnny.

“Sorry, I got lost looking for the place.” He replied.

“We have been getting readings the void portal is trying to activate. I haven’t had much time to train Johnny with fighting rift eaters, so we are just going to have to play this by ear. We are going to have to ascend into the void portal and destroy the core. Before a wave of rift eaters breaches the portal.” Julia continued about what needed to be done. She then handed out orders to everyone at the table. After ten more minutes of talking and giving assignments Julia dismissed everyone.

Julia pulled Johnny and her four elites aside as she spoke to Johnny directly. “We don’t have much time to go over everything. The portal we are going into is going to be a swamp infested void realm. It is black as night, I can explain the rest when we are in that contraption thing of yours. You told me it can turn into other things besides that weird looking oval with wheels?”

“At first no, but now yes. The mystic rift eater had fused with the core thanks to the beast. It was able to completely repair the core,” Johnny replied.

“That is interesting to know, but do what you need to do for now.” She replied, giving Johnny a playful shove. He just stared back with a shrug as walked towards the prototype.

Albert. Johnny mentally called him.

You called? Replied Albert through the mental connection.

I need your opinion on vehicle options that would be best for multiple passengers. From what little information Julia has given me it sounds like we are going into some black as night swamp realm. Albert paused for a few moments as he came up with ideas.

Stolen story; please report.

I suggest turning the prototype frame into a Humvee. Albert then continued to inform Johnny of other things such as weapons, parts, and other materials to accommodate the prototype.

He mentally thanked Albert as he got into the prototype and manually started inputting commands to change the prototype.

While Johnny was fast at work on the prototype. Julia was giving her elite guard a crash course of what she knew of the prototype. She would have to ask Johnny more about when they got into the prototype. She then remembered the necklaces Johnny had given her. “We need to where these.” She informed them. “Those aren’t going to corrupted, are they?” Margaret asked Julia with concern looking at the dark glowing purple necklaces.

“No, they were created by the mystic rift eater in the core of that thing. Johnny had told me more details about what the necklaces were for. They will help us be able to survive inside the void portal.” It took Julia plenty of persuading to get them to wear them.

Johnny now had finished preparing the prototype. He hit the command prompt on the terminal and watched the prototype shake as it turned into his final design. The prototype had turned into a Humvee that was midnight black. He looked out the window to see the others’ reaction of shock. He just smiled at himself. “Well time to go pick them up.” Johnny let out a laugh.

Johnny pulled up to the others and helped them all into the Humvee. The vehicle was a midnight black in color that reflected the landscape of a void portal “What a fascinating contraption. How does this all even work?” Margaret asked as she sat in the very back with Qin. Their wings were too big, so they had to sit there. Cloe and Lisa sat in the seat behind Julia and Johnny.

“I don't really have time to explain how it all works,” Johnny said, getting the humvee ready to go.

“Just ask Albert any questions you have.”

“Who is this Albert?” Margaret asked to raise her brow. As of cue Albert appeared in front of the others giving them a start.

The AI sat there next to Johnny floating in a translucent blue orb.

“Hello I am Albert, the prototype's AI, I'll answer your questions about how the prototype works.”

Margaret and Qin asked questions while Johnny got going, while Julia gave him all the details of their mission before they left. All he needed to do was worry about driving and locating the core while they took care of things in the portal. Johnny nodded in agreement. Julia then directed Johnny to where the void portal had been hidden underground underneath the city. Johnny gunned it as he shot off, surprising the others. “Better buckle up.” Said Johnny. The others did as he asked as he drove on with Albert having to explain how to do it.

Johnny made it to the portal in no time flat driving fast but smooth. “Where did you learn to drive like that?” Margaret asked.

“I did this for a living racing against other people. Except every race could be your last” He replied with a grim smile.

They had made their way to where the portal was being kept under strict guard. A few guards began to approach the prototype with weapons drawn as Johnny slowed it to a crawl. He had to roll down the window for Julia as they approached. She showed them her Warden's mark to let them in. They stared for a moment in shock then let them pass.

Johnny floored it through the portal. Everyone yelped in surprise. Johnny just laughed as Julia snickered as the others cursed. When they reached the other side of the portal, Julia and her guard were in for another surprise…