The Ascension Challenge's Portal

The doors swung open with a hiss, revealing a vast expanse of grassland that stretched to the horizon.

"Where's the challenge," Dan said as soon as he left, he was the one closed to the exit door, so he looked around, and suddenly… he froze, like literally, "What the fuck…"

"What's wrong?" Noah followed closely, and he froze just like the boy as well.

Many people that left from the other wagons had the same phenomenon happen: leaving the train, cautious, then immediately freezing upon looking to the left, which was where the train's head was.

And once it was Leon's turn…

[Here it is…]

Leon immediately turned his head to the left like all the others, and his eyes widened too.

[And… oh,] even EGO was surprised, [I guess… that's kind of surprising.]

The reason they couldn't see it before was because the windows of the train were only set so that you could see to your left and right, meaning that it was impossible to see what was at the front of the train.

And now, before all the students… was a massive 'dimension-holder', and its utility was literally in the name.

It looked extremely similar to the one they had used for the pre-selection trial, except for the fact it was at least 20 times as big as the other, which was roughly three times a human's size.

This was just how big that thing was.

Though, it looked like the tunnel-shaped portal with the platform at ground level wasn't activated since, y'know, there was no portal.

And right as everyone left, before they could even realize it…

~VROOM, DING~

The train began to go backward, and there was no chance for even the fastest among them to catch up.

[Oh no, we're stuck!] EGO smiled.

Well, it's not like Leon cared, they would be alone inside the dimension/rift anyway, so might as well get used to it.

But there was one more strange thing other than that giant portal: it was the giant screen right beside it, which was attached to some long metal pipe.

And so as soon as they approached the portal…

~DING, DING, DING~

The screen turned on.

[Hey! Had fun resting up?]

"…"

[I know none of you answered, but it's fine!] two clearly drawn white hands wearing gloves appeared on the screen as it began to move thanks to the metal pipe that was attached to it.

[All of you know what this portal is going to be used for,] one of the animated hands pointed at the giant portal, [So let's just cut to the chase.]

~SNAP~

The announcer snapped his animated fingers and…

~FWISH, BOOM~

The portal activated.

The portal crackled with energy, swirling in hues of green, and it drew the eyes of every student, the anticipation palpable in the air.

"Holy fucking shit," Dan took a step back as that portal's aura could be sensed by everyone.

[Woohoo! Yeepie! Now you can finally access the ascension challenge which you all have been waiting for!]

[All the information you need will be displayed upon entering, but all of you should know that as you spent two years learning about dimensions and monsters for that… right?]

"…" Leon didn't know.

[Oh, and one last thing, all of you may already know it, but those that manage to survive all of it (although we expect it to be low), will be able to access the first city: Nekros, which is where all awakeners who complete the 'Ascension' challenge, and the other majority, which have awakened directly thanks to the nation, start.]

[First city? And there are more people who didn't go through this?] EGO raised his eyebrows,

"…" Leon was confused as well, but he was sure he heard that name somewhere, they kept mentioning it after all.

[Forget about it, I'm sure that nation wants strong people, so it knows what it's doing,] EGO didn't like them, but he could respect their work as it definitely made him and Leon much stronger, [We are the strongest talent after all!]

"Says who?" Leon raised his eyebrows.

[Says me, the devourer!]

"Alright."

The screen had allowed the students to speak for a minute as to allow them to check the portal and discuss, but then it resumed speaking.

[All of you will have to enter the dimension, and the challenge only ends the moment the boss is defeated, those alive by this point will be allowed to enter Nekros.]

There was a flaw in this logic though: could those that sit and wait at the start also be accepted?

An answer came right after.

[All of your performances will be rated, and those that are seen "lacking" or not doing enough will be deemed as "failures", so don't sit on your ass and wait for people to do the work.]

At least it answered the question.

~SNAP~

[Then please… do go inside, there is no time limit, and if no one defeats the boss then you will all be deemed as failures.]

[Remember that this is an 'open-world' type of dimension, meaning that it is very big, although as I said before, all the information will be given to you, this is how it works upon entering a rift/dimension!]

And thus…

[Good luck! Have fun getting stronger!] the screen gave a peace sign with its two hands, then turned black.

"Damn…" Dan scratched the back of his head, "Come back Foxxy," the golden fox turned back into a bell, which he grabbed from the ground.

Everyone was under pressure now, and the green portal was right in front of them, meaning they could go in at any time.

As the elites told them, there was no time limit, so they could even stay there for months, although most wouldn't do that, and you would be deemed as a failure, since, y'know, they didn't have any food.

"Well," Noah tapped Leon's back, it became like some kind of habit, "It said we shouldn't count on others, meaning we probably won't be close, or too focused on ourselves to protect others, so I wish you all the greatest luck, please don't save me if I'm on the verge of dying!"

[We wouldn't have said you anyway, dumbass!] EGO was ruthless.

"It's fine, I believe in you," Dan punched Noah's shoulder lightly.

"…" Leon didn't speak though, his eyes focused on the portal before, almost as if it hypnotized him.

[Come on, Host, I know you can sense it too: the desire to devour everything inside, just go!] EGO smiled.

And Leon couldn't deny it, he did feel it.

And so… he took a step toward the portal, then another, and gradually he began walking toward it.

No one wanted to be the first to go because of how dangerous it was, instead opting to speak to their friends and take a little break as they knew whatever awaited them there would be scary.

But Leon couldn't hold back that feeling.

"Huh?" Dan, Noah and Alice looked at him with confused looks, not understanding what he was doing.

People saw him walk toward the portal, then climb on the platform.

"What is he doing?"

"Already? Is he insane?"

Leon stood at the edge of the metal platform, right in front of the portal, the swirling green energy crackling with a low hum.

"What's he doing?" Dan's voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd.

"Dude, wait up!" Noah shouted, stepping forward, but Leon couldn't hear him, his eyes burning with crimson aura, some kind of vortex forming in them.

EGO flickered on his shoulder, his flames dancing with excitement.

[This is it! Dive in and let the hunt begin!]

And so, with a deep breath, Leon stepped forward, feeling the air shift around him.

And then he jumped into the portal.