The first portal opened up and Calvin stepped through with Marshall. He opted not to bring any soldiers with him. For one, Calvin didn't feel he would need them. If they got into trouble, he and Marshall could handle themselves. He also didn't want to appear threatening right from the start. As the light faded, Calvin found himself standing amidst a desert landscape of rocky canyons and wind-scoured mesas. The air was dry and hot, a stark contrast to the lush jungles surrounding Olympus.

Calvin surveyed the area, spotting a makeshift settlement in the distance. It was a ramshackle collection of tents, lean-tos, and simple mud brick structures nestled against a towering cliff face. Calvin could see people milling about, stopping to stare at the sudden appearance of strangers in their midst.

After a moment, a small group began approaching Calvin's party. As they drew nearer, Calvin assessed their equipment and bearing. Most were clad in simple leather armor and carried basic weapons like spears and clubs. Their leader, however, had ornate scale armor that shimmered slightly, and a gleaming greatsword strapped across his back. Calvin identified this man as level 41.

The leader halted his group a short distance away and called out in a commanding voice, "That's far enough strangers. State your business in our territory."

Calvin held up his hands in a peaceful gesture. "Greetings, I'm Calvin Hawkins of Olympus. We come in friendship, seeking to make contact with the survivors of the tutorial."

The leader looked them over appraisingly. "Olympus? Can't say I've heard of it. I'm Ulrich, chieftain of the Cliff Dwellers." He gestured to the settlement behind him. "We've managed to eke out an existence here, but life is harsh as I'm sure you're aware. What is it you want from us?"

Calvin lowered his hands and met Ulrich's gaze. "We've sent scouts out all over this land looking for survivors. I aim to unite the human settlements of this tutorial under one banner. Together, we'll be stronger and better prepared to face future threats when we return to Earth. Threats which we understand will be numerous and powerful."

Ulrich frowned, suspicion in his eyes. "Unite under you, I take it? And why should we submit to your rule rather than remain free?" Behind him, the scouting party shifted uneasily, hands drifting toward their weapons.

"Not rule, cooperation," Calvin clarified. "You're free to maintain your autonomy, but join our alliance. If you join us we can provide resources, knowledge, and protection that will benefit all."

"Pretty words," said Ulrich, "yet plenty who've made promises before sought only to exploit us."

Calvin sensed the man's wariness. This called for a gesture of trust and good faith. He stowed his spear in his belt. "I come with only open and honest intentions between equals. To demonstrate this, I'll meet with you unarmed and share what we have to offer."

Ulrich raised an eyebrow, then nodded. "Very well, we'll extend an invitation in return and hear you out." He turned and beckoned Calvin to walk with him towards the settlement. The scouting party closed in around them, weapons still at the ready despite Calvin's disarming.

As they entered the ramshackle village, curious eyes turned their way. Calvin noted the hard life etched on the faces of the villagers. They seemed skinny, weary, and desperate. This was a people barely scraping by.

Ulrich led Calvin to the largest structure, a two-story mud brick building erected against the cliffside. Inside, out of the oppressive heat, Ulrich bade Calvin sit and explain his offer.

Calvin outlined Olympus's resources, technology, and population. He described the Aetherian library and relics, and training opportunities to rapidly gain power. Ulrich listened thoughtfully, arms crossed. He explained how New Aspen had joined them after they'd defeated the behemoth.

"You paint a pretty picture, Calvin Hawkins. But words are air. Why should we believe Olympus is more than a mirage?"

"I understand your uncertainty," Calvin said. "I invite you to come witness Olympus for yourself. Stay as our honored guests, inspect our city, and speak to our citizens, speak with those of New Aspen who've chosen to join us. If we are not as I've described, you may leave freely with my apologies."

Ulrich stroked his beard. "An intriguing opportunity. Very well, I will accompany you to verify these claims. I will bring soldiers with me." He turned to a muscular bald man with axes on his back. "Bjorn, you shall oversee the Cliff Dwellers in my absence."

Bjorn thumped his chest.

Ulrich nodded, then gathered supplies and a dozen soldiers for the journey. Calvin activated a portal grenade. Seth sent a drone through with another grenade ready to deploy in two hours.

Ulrich took one last look at his settlement before stepping through.

In a flash, the vibrant streets of Olympus replaced the desolate canyon. Ulrich looked around in wonder at the sturdy buildings, bustling populace, and market stalls.

Calvin placed a hand on his shoulder. "Welcome to Olympus."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

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The portal opened before Amy and she stepped through. She emerged into a frigid, snow-covered landscape. The icy wind cut through her cloak as she surveyed the bleak terrain. Two Olympian soldiers, Darus and Leyla, followed behind her, shivering against the sudden drop in temperature. Lastly came Ian, unfazed by the cold in his thick robes.

In the distance, Amy could see the settlement they had come to meet - a collection of stone buildings nestled against a sheer cliff face. Even from here, Amy could make out the sounds of battle raging at its walls. A horde of misshapen ice beasts were battering the settlement's gates, which looked ready to splinter apart under the relentless assault.

"They need our help, now!" Amy shouted over the wind. She broke into a sprint through the deep snow, the others followed close behind. As they approached, Amy could make out more details - the settlement's defenders hopelessly outnumbered on the walls, their arrows and spells barely slowed the tide of monsters. With a final mighty blow, the gates shattered inwards, and the creatures flooded through.

Amy leaped into action, dashing into the midst of the beasts. With lightning-fast strikes from her poisoned blades, she cut down one creature after another, as the toxins coursed through their veins. One massive yeti-like beast reared up to smash Amy, but a precisely aimed Combust from Ian exploded through its skull. Amy flashed Ian a thumbs up before disappearing in a blur, appearing just moments later atop the settlement's wall in a burst of miasma.

From her new vantage, Amy surveyed the unfolding chaos. The settlement's defenders had fallen back to a final barricade in the central square, while monsters rampaged through the outer buildings. Amy summoned her Stinging Swarm and rained down volleys of poisoned daggers on the creatures, felling many and buying the defenders time.

On the ground below, Ian conjured up a fiery maelstrom, immolating a pack of ice wolves. He had effortlessly weaved Combust with the new skill he picked up at 55, Maelstrom. The two soldiers fought back-to-back, one wielding a massive hammer that shattered frozen limbs, while the other let loose streams of magically charged arrows.

Amy activated Death's Door and flashed to a creature that had just climbed onto an untouched section of wall, then unleashed a wave of toxic gas that billowed through the streets. Beasts writhed in agony as their flesh decayed away, clearing a path to the central square. Amy then activated the second charge of Death's Door and blinked down into the square itself, landing gracefully behind another yeti-like creature that was preparing an attack. She rammed her daggers into its spine. The effect from sonic edge blew open a hole in the creature's back, leaving only gore behind.

"We're reinforcements from Olympus!" she shouted toward the hunkered-down defenders, "We'll handle the remaining beasts. Get any survivors to safety." Amy turned and strode confidently toward the creatures still prowling the streets. Behind her, Ian and the soldiers formed up.

With practiced coordination, Amy's group exterminated the remaining monsters. Ian alternated powerful fire and earth spells to shatter frozen armor. The hammer-wielding soldier crushed bones and sent beasts flying with mighty sidelong swings. His bow-wielding companion kept creatures at bay with a flurry of arrows, and Amy danced between the beasts, leaving trails of acidic gas in her wake that ate through the thick icy hides.

Before long, the streets were littered with melted and charred monstrosities. Amy's blades dripped with sizzling poisons as the last beast fell. She took a deep breath and centered herself.

Amy sheathed her blades and turned to face the barricade. A ragtag group of survivors emerged slowly, eyeing her warily. A large man stepped forward, gripping a large hammer defensively. His armor was battered and blood-spattered, but his gaze was stern. He wore a braided beard adorned with beads and other decorations, resembling pop culture Vikings from movies she'd seen.

"My name is Amy Ridge, from the city of Olympus," Amy said. "We came through a portal opened by one of our scouting drones. We have been scouting the surrounding areas for survivors when we came upon your settlement. We didn't know you were under attack until we arrived. Are you in charge here?"

The man lowered his hammer slightly. "I'm Durk, captain of Icewatch. Or what's left of it." He sighed heavily as he surveyed the devastation around them. "Don't know how we can thank you folks properly. We were goners for sure."

Amy walked over and put a hand gently on his shoulder. "I'm just glad we got here in time. Let's get everyone who survived somewhere safe so we can talk."

Durk nodded and began shouting orders to his men. The survivors made their way cautiously into a large hall at the center of the square. Sconces along the stone walls shed flickering firelight over rows of battered wooden benches. Durk slumped down heavily on a bench in the front row and gestured for Amy to sit beside him.

"So you came through a portal?" Durk asked. "You can create such things?"

"That's all Ian and the work of our artificer." she Indicated the mage sitting beside her who nodded at Durk.

"So where is this Olympus you speak of? Our scouts have seen nothing of the sort."

"It's about two day's travel southwest of here by foot," Amy replied.

She went on to explain Olympus's goal of uniting the disparate settlements for mutual protection and prosperity. Durk listened intently, his brow furrowed.

"And your Aegis, this Calvin... you say he treats everyone fair? Not like some of the tyrants running settlements around here?" Durk asked.

Amy nodded firmly. "Calvin helped build Olympus from nothing. He led the fight to free our people from a real monster named Knox. Now he just wants to use our strength to help others. If you come visit us, you'll see first hand how the people love him. He leads the city, but it's not a position he wanted originally. He wasn't fighting to gain power and control over others. He took up the mantle of leader out of necessity, and he pours everything he has into it. He truly wants to give humanity a place of hope, freedom, and safety."

She explained many of the dangers that might await them upon returning to Earth, including the bits about the multiverse at large and the war with The Corruptors.

Durk was silent for a long moment before speaking again softly. "We lost so many good folks today. Old Joe... little Emily..." His voice broke and he put his head in his hands.

Amy put a reassuring hand on his shoulder again. "It's not your fault. The attacks have gotten worse everywhere. The last settlement we encountered had been assaulted by a 200 foot tall behemoth. But we don't have to face them alone. Come back with us to Olympus. See what we're building for yourself. If it doesn't feel right, you can always leave."

Durk took a deep breath and sat up straight, a glint of resolve in his eyes. "Alright lass, you've convinced me. We'll pack up and head to Olympus with you."

Amy smiled warmly. "You won't regret it, Durk."