* Date: September 29, M2100

* Time: 10:30 AM

* Location: Unknown

Heavy wind and snow blow through the high fringes of Elvenia's tallest mountain. The Kaynian Lord proceeds with his work. Hours had passed since he had made reparations with the damaged gate. Although the gate has been tampered with, it was still functional, albeit needing more time to progress to its later stages. This would leave the gate vulnerable to any threat, especially to the Ghost.

'I have succeeded, but threats still linger...'

'...I have retrieved the gate away from the demon. It and the primitives could not hold me back. My latest confrontation with the demon has given valuable information.'

Sparks and lights flickered throughout the gate's system. As the psionics of the Knight repair its failings. Persistent about bringing it to its former glory, the Kaynian continues.

'Time will be the demon's only ally, and I shall be his executioner. His armor and flesh will feel my wrought a thousandfold. But all this wouldn't have occurred without my Arc's blessing, and I am thankful for him.'

Panel by panel, the Kaynian Lord corrected failing codes, an arduous task but one that he must finish. Before the next stage of the gate can be in effect.

'I am certain that the rest of the flotilla is under the heel of the demons. Baring no reinforcements, they could not hold them back, and it is my fault...'

'...But maybe if I open the gate here in this primitive world, I can atone for my sin.'

A possibility that could be realized now that the gate was in his possession. Demons and their war vessels besieged the red planet. Holding Mars would be impossible, but maybe by opening the gate. He can provide a means of escaping the demons. Only need to defend for long enough until it opens.

'If I make haste in constructing the gate. I can evacuate what remains of the flotilla here!'

He was setting course with his new plan of action. The only thing that could stop him on his path to redemption was his hated rival. The demon and his artificial construct were the only threat to his plan.

'Then I best be wary of the demon...'

'...Only he can stop me. Meanwhile, these primitives are nothing but insects to be swatted away.'

More panels appeared, and they were quickly dealt with. After hours of repairing the gate, it was functioning at half capacity. Although it was an undesirable reading, it was good enough to proceed with the second stage.

''Hmm, fifty percent capacity. No sane Kaynian would proceed with those numbers, but I have no choice. I must go on to save the remaining survivors from the demons.''

His virtual interface would present him with two options. Proceed or cancel, selecting proceed. The gate started to emit radiation. Stepping back, Atlant watched as the gate charged itself with energy. As the gate calibrated its systems back to fifty percent functionality. It then began to emit radiation signatures and levitated a couple of feet. Powerful energy burst out of the gate. Its system discovers the best location to start its third stage. The burnt ruins of a particular village called Adel.

[GATE SYSTEMS. FIFTY PERCENT FUNCTIONALITY. DESIGNATED DESTINATION. RUINED PRIMITIVE SETTLEMENT...]

[...ENGAGING. COMPLETE TELEPORTATION SOLUTION. ACTIVATING.]

Another energy-spiked burst out of the gate. Completing its sequence and teleporting with the Kaynian Lord. The gate would envelop the Knight in an energy field before disappearing.

TALE: Hero of Eldrant

Arriving at the burnt-down ruins of a once lively village. The Kaynian Lord observed his surroundings with vigilance. It wouldn't be long until the Knight spotted the remains of three wyverns.

'Hmm, there has been a battle here.'

Moving closer to the remains, Atlant then scanned them. Seconds later, he would get his answer to what happened to the wyverns. The contents of the scans seem to indicate that a demon weapon was used to kill these beasts.

'It seems the demon has been here and dispatched these beasts all by himself.'

Turning around, he then approached the gate. After their arrival, the gate has been running multiple tasks within its systems to begin its third stage properly. Moments later, the gate would levitate high in the atmosphere before constructing a pillar.

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''It has begun. Although damaged and tampered by the demon and the primitives...''

''...The gate can still perform its function. Now that I have successfully repaired it halfway. The fruits of my labor are finally coming to fruition!''

Yelling out loud, the Kaynian stood proud of his accomplishment. Now that the gate was beginning to construct the necessary pillars. The Knights' plan of bringing the rest of his kind to Eldrant has started.

[CURRENT ATMOSPHERE SUFFICIENT. BEGINNING CONSTRUCTION OF PILLARS.]

Materials would be gathered on the ruins of the village. The corpses of the wyverns would also be used as materials for the pillars. Although inefficient, the raw resources of the ruins would prove sufficient to begin construction.

'Normally, stone and wood wouldn't be selected as materials for a pillar, but with my situation, I am not so fortunate. The gate's alteration should make it possible to create a pillar, although it would be time-consuming.'

Several primitive households then began to be stripped of their roofs, walls, and foundations. The number necessary to create a single pillar would be enormous. Without half its systems, the gate can't gather rich resources deep underground. This hinders the Kaynian's task of opening the gate immediately for his comrades. But there was nothing he could do but wait until the gate finished.

[CONSTRUCTING PILLARS ONE TO TEN...]

[...GATE DIAMETER ONE KILOMETER.]

Ten pillars are all that it would take to operate a gate. It was small in comparison to what other gates are capable of manufacturing. Gates within the Arc Imperium could easily have hundreds to thousands of pillars. The maximum diameter of a stage V gate would be one thousand kilometers. But Atlant did not have the time or the resources to construct a gate large enough for an Armada to pass through.

''I will atone for my sin. The primitives will be powerless to stop me. Only the demon can, but even he will not deter my plan for redemption.''

* Date: September 29, 1173

* Time: 10:45 AM

* Location: Dimond Forest

Deep in the bowels of the infamous Diamond Forest were two priestesses of the Pantheon Church. Initially a team of four, they split themselves into two groups. They have spent hours investigating after being told by their Saintess to locate the invader. So far, they had not spotted the lone invader, but they would not stop. Their world's fate lies in their ability to search for the invader and report back to the Saintess before it is too late.

''Sister! I sense a disturbance!''

''What is it, sister Celine?''

The leading priestess exclaimed. Currently, they were on a mission to locate the invader's whereabouts. But so far, no one has found the foreign invader.

''It seems to be located somewhere north of us...''

''...Whatever it is, it reeks of foreign magic!''

''Then it must mean the invader is near us.''

''A possibility should we report it immediately, sister Lumiere?''

''Not yet; we have to confirm whether or not it is the invader or something else.''

Lumiere explained although there was a high chance that the invader was near. They needed to thoroughly confirm it before making a report. After all, the Saintess sent them on a mission to search for the invader. They shouldn't be hasty about their decisions that could halt the search. It would be best to ensure their information is accurate before committing their efforts to an unknown occurrence.

''Sister Laetitia, Nadine. How are things on your end?''

Utilizing a rune orb, Lumiere communicated with the twin priestess. The team of four priestesses thought that it would be wise to split in two to cover more ground. So far, it had paid off.

''We have sensed a disturbance somewhere near our location; did you feel it, as well?''

''Aye, sister Celine sensed it...''

''...We think it is the invader, but we are unsure.''

''I see. Then it's best to assume that the only place where the invader might be would be Adel Village.''

That confused Lumiere for a second. Adel Village, the village burnt down by the infamous elve eaters, the ravagers? Was Laetitia and Nadine talking about that?

''Pardon me, sister, but isn't that the village of the young elve that the hero rescued?''

''Why yes, it is. By the way, have you reported your findings yet?''

''No, I want to confirm whether or not the invader is present before making a report directly to the Saintess.''

''Very well, I respect your decision. We will meet on the outskirts of the village.''

''Understood; may the Pantheons guide you.''

Cutting off her line with the twin priestess. Lumiere placed her rune orb back in her bag. Now, with an objective in mind and a place to investigate, she and her team had a lot of work to do.

''Let us go.''

''Very well, sister.''

Immediately sprinting, bypassing wild fauna and flora along the way. It wouldn't be long until the two priestesses made their way out of the forest. Although, it was weird that Lumiere noticed the footprints of a wyvern.

''Sister Lumiere over there.''

Celine pointed at a levitating object from afar. The site of such stunned Lumiere. Never had she encountered something like this.

'What is that? It- It looks like a levitating object. Is this the gate that the Saintess warned us about?'

The two priestesses saw a village in the distance. Being stripped of wood, stone, and debris. The materials then levitated toward the device before dematerializing. Seconds later, a new object materialized. A pillar of sorts appeared and floated to the side.

''What is that abomination, sister Lumiere?''

''I haven't a clue...''

''...But I think it's related to the invader.'

The sound of twigs cracking behind the priestess. Made them turn around with their weapons at hand. But what greeted them were the twin sisters, making them lower their guard.

''Apologies for scaring you.''

''It is quite alright. Never did we experience your expertise in teleportation magic, sister Laetitia.''

''Quite so, and what is that thing in the distance?''

''We haven't a clue, but we think it's related to the invader.''

''Hmm, Celine.''

Celine stepped forth upon getting called. Out of all the priestesses, Celine was the most skilled at detection, sensing, and illusion magic. Her expertise in those fields of magics was second only to the Saintess.

''Yes, sister Laetitia?''

''Does your sensing magic tell you of anything else?''

''Unfortunately, no. All I gathered from the burst of magic earlier was the location.''

''So we have no clue what type of magic that thing utilizes...''

''...Nadine, is something the matter?''

As the three priestesses conversed with one another. Nadine has been silently observing the device. Try to figure out its magic type and if it even had one.

''That thing is somehow utilizing materialization and dematerialization magic.''

Nadine pointed out, which was rather odd. A device capable of doing feats similar to magic. The only thing that came to the priestess's mind was the hero's companion. Along with Kaynian technology, but never had she or any other elve seen something like this before. The foreign technologies of the invaders are certainly powerful: their war two hundred years ago can attest to that.

''It seems we truly do not know the full potential of our adversaries.''

''That may be true, but that doesn't mean we are powerless.''

''Agreed. We need to report this to the Saintess.''

Laetitia and the other priestess nodded in unison. However, they weren't sure whether or not the invader was there. They knew that the device had to be guarded by someone and that someone could be the invader.

''Nadine, you are the fastest among us. Head back to Unieum and inform the Saintess.''

''What about you and the rest?''

''We'll be keeping an eye out for that device.''

''Very well, I will see to it that the Saintess will be informed.''

Nodding to her twin, Laetitia watched as Nadine teleported. The three priestesses then went ahead and returned to the forest. It would take at least a day for an expeditionary force to arrive. Until then, they shall observe for any development. Maybe even spot the invader from afar if they're lucky.

''What would be our first agenda, sister Laetitia?''

''We observe and wait...''

''...Those are the only things that we can do.''

''I see. Shall we make preparations for a reconnaissance base?''

''Yes, we must make haste in constructing one immediately.''

To Be Continued.