23

A Red Dungeon Gate

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A giant red portal was slowly spinning with unknown energy at the end of a winding road.

What used to be an old pagan shrine, hidden in a small cave, now gave the surrounding onlookers a grim impression.

A shining red portal, embedded in a pitch black hill, and completely chained down by a brightly shining root network. A spiderweb of light seemed to hold down whatever was hidden inside.

The goblins originated from this place, they could tell that with certainty. Countless erratic footsteps formed a collection of imprints that descended the hill towards the town they lived in.

But it was the hill itself that was impressive. Almost like a gigantic creature had burrowed beneath the small cave and pushed it up several meters. Even the entrance to the cave had become larger than before.

Surrounded by goblin filth, the glowing red portal had become more than three meters wide and two meters high. Compared to the earlier entrance which was merely wide enough for a man to pass, it was clear that something else now stood in its place.

“It really doesn’t make a sound?” Alduin asked in shock.

“Right, while we’re careful not to make too much noise, the thrown pebble should still be loud enough for us to hear,” Alphons answered.

“It seems we really can’t proceed with the plan we made,” Edward said.

Heightened tension spread in the group. They had armed themselves to the fullest but even then they were unsure of what could pop out.

“No, we can’t risk it,” Alduin said.

He should have died two times before their plan even concluded, their earlier predictions had been significantly wrong.

“They aren’t limited to a horizontal view, at least not the ones that are most dangerous.” Alduin was certain. “They adapt at a frightening pace, our elevated advantage no longer exists.”

While it was a major advantage against the weaker ones, they could no longer count on it. It was something they overlooked within the chaos of the fight.

“Besides,” Alduin looked down the winding path. “If they ever reach that place, then we won’t ever get them in a single blow again.”

Alduin was certain of his intuition. The town’s ruins didn’t allow them to strike with the same intensity as before. If anything, they were lucky all their opponents were gathered in one place.

“I agree.” Alphons stared at all their gathered equipment. “If our ambush were to fail then it will all be over for us. We don’t even know when they will exit that place. What happens if some other creatures arrive or the situation worsens? We can’t risk it by limiting all our defensive measures in this place.”

“What about the equipment, do you think it’s enough?” Edward who had become the de facto leader of the town spoke with a heavy voice.

“While the hill has increased in size, based on the surrounding roots, the area inside the hill shouldn’t be much larger than a small cave structure.” Werner, who was an archaeologist, was most familiar with this place.

“Good, what about our preparations Lucas?” Edward said. This was the first time he relied on his son-in-law so he couldn’t help but smile at Werner.

“For the past two weeks, we have been gathering everything available to us. It should be more than enough, even if the colony is five times larger,” Lucas answered.

“Let’s start then. Bring the cart up.” Edward decided.

Alduin in turn smiled in relief as he managed to convince everyone of changing up their plan.

Instead of waiting for them to exit, whenever that would happen, it was better to bring their counterattack to them.

His vision naturally gravitated towards the blood-red sky. Even though it was day, the sky had stopped providing the light they were used to. The golden lightning strikes also kept growing, albeit at a slower pace. But he couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.

“They resemble each other quite a lot don’t they?” A soft voice asked him.

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“They really do, I don’t understand but they even give off the same feeling.” Alduin walked forward as he touched the shining roots.

“They have been descending ever since the first night. However, none of them are nearing us,” Leon said.

He had been a great help in the aftermath of the goblin invasion. His knowledge of the anatomy of those creatures even surpassed Alduin’s.

“I heard you’ve been busy lately.” Alduin patted his friend on the shoulder. “Can you tell me what you found out after dissecting them?”

“Hah,” Leon sighed. “I should have expected as much.” Leon punched his friend on his arm. “I’m glad you made it out alive” Putting his arm around his neck, descended the winding path.

“Yeah.” Alduin looked up. “Me too.”

Their plan progressed quickly over the day. A metallic cart, large enough for one person to make deliveries with was pushed in front of the red portal with great effort.

“The mud really doesn’t make this easy.”

“You’re young, you shouldn’t complain like that, kid.” Edward slapped Leon on his back. But his eyes were focused on Alduin. “How are you feeling?”

“Honestly,” Alduin answered, “Better than ever.”

“…I see, well, that’s good. Keep a good hold on that, just to be sure.”

A large metallic pole was held in Alduin’s arms. It was the same spear that he had used to kill the boar.

“We’re almost ready,” Lucas said as the preparations were nearing its end.

Alphons looked at the village and asked, “Has everyone taken shelter inside the church?”

“Even the gate has almost closed,” Theo answered his father.

Nervousness filled the air. Every single person here was well equipped for whatever could come out. Four hunter rifles pointed forward towards the spiraling red gate.

The red hue of the sky was becoming darker and darker but they would still have enough sight for several hours. Besides, now that they had certain safety, they could no longer delay another day.

Edward, Theo, Alphons and Leon’s father were ready for whatever came. They had even lit up two deep ditches with a strong fire. Even if something were to exit, this would prevent them from immediately scattering to the sides.

The final plan was finished. The cart was loaded full, and tons and tons of flammable material were loaded on top.

There was no way they would enter a goblin nest. They were going to blow it up. And the remaining goblins would be smoked to death.

This was one thing they found that largely differentiated them from humans. Their lungs were smaller and vastly more interconnected. A tried and true strategy that took the most casualties in their town. Suffocate them.

“It’s lit!” Lucas yelled as he ran back.

And the final part was moving forward. Every available man stood at the ready. Pikes, axes, spears and even weapons the goblins dropped, were meant to hold them back until a bullet could finish them off.

‘Time to pay them back.’ Alduin felt excitement course through his body. He felt it was wrong but the sensation was ever so satisfying.

‘The cart has entered.’ everybody gulped in anticipation.

Silence pressured down on them. Only the wind could be heard.

And then they felt it. No, they saw it.

The entire hill was rumbling. Tremors spread forward in an instant, red dust was rising from the chained-down hill. Some started losing their balance.

“Hold your position!”

The interwoven root structure started glowing in a bright golden light as the heaving of the mountain was contained inside.

“What the-“

Explosion after explosion traveled through the ground as two areas, divided by a strange energy, were connected by vibrations.

“I-Is it over?!” Werner asked, the pike in his hand unsteady.

“Keep waiting, they might come out!” Edward felt the tension rise.

Yet nothing happened.

‘Is this it? Our first encounter ends like this?’ Alduin felt his excitement die down as realization settled in. ‘Right, we’re not-‘

“Alduin.”

“What?” Alduin turned in shock.

“We need to enter.”

Alduin’s eyes opened wide. A young girl with a hauntingly indifferent expression stood in front of him.

Her eyes shone with a faint golden light.

***

A forested mountain range was laid out in front of her eyes. Fires were burning the remaining trees to the ground.

Dead people.

Dead people were everywhere. The church had been breached. Monsters of unimaginable strength had descended from the mountain.

If the first invasion was a nightmare, then what was this one? The height of their tension was passed as the people thought they had a foolproof plan.

It was foolish for them to assume that a single victory would result in a second one. They should have gone all out from the beginning.

But before they realized it, the second transformation had already occurred. For the first time in two weeks the moon was visible once more.

Alduin, whom she had been taking care of, was jolted awake but even he was powerless to change what they were facing. The only thing they could do was hide.

The sight of Edward and their parents hiding them away in a church’s chamber still haunted her. The gunshots and cries for help still rang in her ears.

Veleda couldn’t believe what was happening in front of her.

She had been so focused on taking care of him that she forgot the world had changed.

And in front of her stood a red-eyed Alduin. His hand was bleeding heavily, his arm limply hung near his side.

“———“ Alduin said with tears in his eyes

“———“ His right hand moved up with much difficulty. His palm caressed her face. A smile and a stare kept her from moving her sight somewhere else.

In his hand laid a gemstone, sky-blue with a pitch-black core.

“———ve you,” Alduin said

The moment she could make out some words, the world faded to black.

***

“We need to enter! Now!” Alduin was roaring at the top of his lungs.

Edward and Lucas tried to calm him down.

“W-what’s going on?” A weak voice sounded.

“Werner, take her back to the church!” Edward yelled at Werner.

“What’s going on?!” Veleda spoke up again.

“Veleda, go back now!” Alduin tried lowering his voice but his aggressiveness was hard to suppress.

The golden light in her eyes had faded as she limply sat on the ground.

But she saw, in Alduin’s hand laid a small black pebble. Something they pulled from an ordinary goblin.