“This is the third and last time I’m going to reiterate. Everyone make sure that you’ve prepared yourselves; have every necessity packed for the perilous journey. You are about to enter hostile territory. Once inside there is no coming back until the estimated time for extraction which will be in 7 days from now.”

6 groups of elite Tomb Riders were standing at the ready before the huge sapphire heart-portal belonging to the Nox Ghoul Graveyard. Ahead of them was Zenur Banshee, the organiser of the expedition who continued to address the anxious Tomb Riders.

“The coordinates for each group arrival will slightly vary. This is done to allow you to cover more ground. Once you’ve crossed over the other side, remember to activate the Automatic Guiding Cubes. This will ensure that teams are aware of each other locality. Its core functionality is to study the Ghoul Graveyard’s geology, moreover, its inhabiting species. I know I might sound repetitious by saying this, but our research team needs to acquire that data. Without further ado, I wish you all good luck. Team leaders get in position.”

Zenur Banshee signalled the staff to open the portal connected to the Ghoul Graveyard’s heart. “We won’t be able to keep the entrance open for long, otherwise, the Ghoul Defectors might invade. So as soon as the entrance is fully open, rush inside as fast as you can following your organised groups.”

The many mechanical clamps which kept the beating heart portal closed, started opening one after the other. The looser they became, the chillier the atmosphere got within the Nox research facility. An impacting cool air oozed out of the widening heart-portal; almost turning the Tomb Riders upfront into human popsicles.

“Alright! The entrance is open! Now is your chance! Go! Go! Go!”

Armoured Hero’s crew was at the forefront of the organised group, thus his team began making their way through the freezing portal first. As the other teams started rushing towards the heart portal, the many undying Ghoul Defectors which were spread about the outer Ghoul Graveyard began soaring towards the entrance with vicious velocity.

“Huh?” Zenur Banshee saw that the Ghoul Defectors were agitated; banging themselves against the protective glass madly. They desperately wanted to return home. “Hurry everyone! We have to close the portal now!”

“The last team has crossed over, sir!”

“Good! Close it! Close it now!”

The staff quickly activated the clamps around the beating heart-portal. While this process was underway, a stray Ghoul Defector forcibly slipped through a tiny gap in the protective layer which surrounded the heart.

“One of them got through! Hurry! Everyone get behind the barrier!”

Perceiving the tiny humans making their escape, the sole Ghoul Defector gave chased after them. However, the moment it crossed over the trapped area, it was caught by the many Soul Insignias set in place for just this occasion.

The staff hiding behind the protective layer was relieved. “The Ghoul Defector which slipped through the sheet has been dealt with. Also, the portal has successfully been closed, sir.”

“Great job everyone.” Zenur Banshee commended his staff. “Now it is all up to those riders on the other side to bring us some promising results.”

“Will those Tomb Riders make it back alive?”

“They have to. We’ve spent an astronomical amount of funds to proceed with this expedition. This time they are even more Tomb Riders taking part, plus they have those 6 as their leader. Not all of them will make it back but I’m hoping that the majority will along with the important data collected. This is the most crucial thing. Okay everyone, get ready on the extraction protocol. We’re expecting their return exactly 7 days from now.”

“Yes, sir!”

***

On the other side of the heart portal, an otherworldly freezing environment welcomed the Tomb Riders’ intrusion. A wide expanse of mountain coupled with ethereal flatlands could be seen by the many curious eyes who were glancing around. Permeating the air were ever-changing bubbles. Within them consisted of rare Ghoul Beasts that all shared a similar blue halo.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“This place is diabolically freezing!” Exclaimed a shivering Tomb Rider. “Look at that! Even the air oozing out of my mouth turn to ice instantly. None of you better not cry, otherwise, your eyeballs will be turned rock solid.”

“I agree. I’ve never experienced a temperature this chilling. Not only is it cold but I can barely lift my legs to walk around.” Hearing this deducing individual, Armoured Hero came forwards and addressed his team.

“Listen up everyone, we will set up camp here for today. Due to our team getting teleported at the nadir, it is hardly crowded with any Ghouls. Your bodies need to adjust to this realm’s environment before you can properly move around. The reason why you find it so difficult to walk is because of the atmospheric density. While you are setting up, keep in mind that we are in hostile territory. We could be attacked from anywhere at anything. Make sure that your Motors and Soul Insignias are at the ready.”

Finished addressing his crew, Armoured Hero tossed out his Motors Cube which splendiferously transformed into his sapphire steed. “I’m going to scout ahead. All of you stay put.”

Gallop!

A Tomb Rider watching him from behind said, “Hey, how can Armoured Hero move around so fearlessly?”

“You dolt, this isn’t his first rodeo inside a Ghoul Graveyard. Have you forgotten?”

“Oh, so his body must have already adapted to this place’s harsh atmosphere.”

“Probably.”

“I think this is far enough.” Reaching a considerable distance ahead of his gang, Armoured Hero took out the Automatic Guiding Cube from his Ghoul Storage Crystal and tossed it above.

The Automatic Guiding Cube activated with brilliant splendour moments after it escaped Armoured Hero’s grasp. It acted as an independent spy body which began taking stock of the mystical environment. Moreover, it sent out a digital tracing signal which linked up with the other teams’ Automatic Guiding Cubes. As a result, it started scanning more areas efficiently.

“The Automatic Guiding Cube is now running. Steed, connect me to the cube’s network.” Armoured Hero used his digital vision to fallow the link trail of the Automatic Guiding Cube. Very quickly, he noticed another team in the distance further up the freezing slope.

“That group belongs to Water Lilly. It seems that the portal didn’t transport us all that far from each other. But, something is off. The last time I came here the temperature was a lot more freezing. Also, more lower-tier Ghouls were patrolling the nadir. Did something change recently?”

Finished pondering about the peculiar changes he felt in the environment, Armoured Hero commanded his steed to return where the rest of his team was. The Tomb Riders under his banner had already set up a protective camp where they spend a day getting accustomed to the foreign atmosphere.

“Everyone get some rest. We will commence climbing the slope in 21-hours.”

Some Tomb Riders felt unsatisfied with Armoured Hero’s decision. “Why do we still have to wait around here that long? The other teams are probably way ahead of us by now. Isn’t our team leader being too cautious?”

“Yea, my body already adjusted to this place atmosphere. We should be out there kicking Ghouls’ butt and collecting their souls. Instead, we’re here wasting time. If I’d known this is how it would be, I would have joined Meliodas banner.”

“Hey, man shush! You’re talking too loud. He might here you.”

“So what? Let him. I don’t care. If I stay here isolated any longer I might turn to popsicle.”

“Geez, those guys are such idiots.” Angelina was standing on a Modified Heat Field, doing some simple squats when she overheard what the Pro Tomb Riders were conversing about. “Not everyone will adjust to this atmosphere as fast. At least giving everyone a day was a wise choice. I’m still not able to move around freely as I’d like. Now I understand why Motors play such an important role in Ghoul Graveyard Expedition. They help to greatly assist our mobility.”

“Well aren’t you a smarty pants.” Right at that moment, Unruly Ban snuck up behind Angelina, keenly watching her voluptuous softness muscling up and down the Modified Heat Field.

“Huh, you?” Angelina stopped doing squats and spared the unruly tyrant a glance. “Are you my stalker? I understand that you are infatuated with my body but this level of dependency is way too much. Please piss off now.”

“Still feisty as ever eh, Mysterious Slut?” Unruly Ban ignored Angelina’s warning. He invaded her space by stepping onto her Modified Heat Field. “Let me borrow this for a moment. My blood vessels have already turned to ice.”

“Don’t you have one of your own?” Angelina used her shoulder to pushed Unruly Ban off her property.

“I forgot mine alright.” Unruly Ban started complaining. “Come on, stop being such a mean bitch with the damn heater! Do you want me to freeze to death?”

“I would love that.” Angelina responded uncaringly. “Go bother someone else. I’m not the only person with a Modified Heat Field.”

“Of course I know that. But you’re the only friend I have among this band of hoodlums.”

“Friend? Since when?” Angelina gave a suspecting eye to Unruly Ban. “Trying to sweet talk me won’t get me to share this space. Now for the last time, piss off!”

“Alright bitch! I’ll leave your breathing space.” Unruly Ban felt ashamed when he saw how the surrounding Tomb Riders were staring at him ridiculously. Thus he walked away from Angelina very quickly while looking upset. “Tsk, damn slut trying to make a fool out of me. Just you wait, soon you will go missing and there will be no one to punish me. This is a strange world after all. Fu-hu-hu-ha-ha-ha.”