Chapter 29 - Wolf's Den

As I emerged from the portal, my senses were assaulted by a wave of disorienting nausea.

My stomach churned and roiled, threatening to expel its contents at any moment. I stumbled and fell to the ground, my body betraying me as I succumbed to a violent fit of vomiting.

The sound of my own retching echoed through the air, a humiliating and miserable serenade.

One of the two men who had accompanied me through the portal stood over me, a mixture of amusement and sympathy etched on his face.

"First timer, huh?" he asked, shaking his head in a gentle rebuke. I was too busy trying to regain control of my rebellious stomach to respond.

It took me a full three minutes to finally compose myself, my body still trembling with the aftershocks of the portal's effects.

I felt like I'd been put through a wringer, my senses still reeling from the ordeal. The man's comment, "Huh? You got used to it fast. I guess this isn't really your first time then?" only served to confuse me further.

Hadn't he just witnessed me vomiting all over the ground? Did he not see me struggling to regain my footing?

My confusion was evident in my response, "Huh? What are you talking about? Of course it's my first time!"

The man's eyes widened in surprise, and he asked, "Wait, it's really your first time?" His tone was incredulous, as if he couldn't believe that someone as apparently experienced as I was could be a novice.

His next statement only added to my bewilderment, "It usually takes about six to eight minutes for those who've never been through a portal."

I felt like I was missing something, like there was a piece of information that I wasn't privy to. How could it take that long when I had recovered in a mere three minutes?

It was then that I heard Ella's voice in my head, her feminine robotic tone a welcome respite from the confusion.

[Your spatial manipulation ability.] she said, as if reminding me of a long-forgotten fact.

I responded inwardly, 'What?' and she explained, [You have the power to manipulate space, which gives you a certain amount of immunity to space sickness. But since you haven't really used it, that's why you even barfed in the first place.]

Understanding dawned on me, and I nodded inwardly, 'I see.'

So, it seemed that my unique abilities had granted me a degree of resistance to the portal's effects, allowing me to recover more quickly than others.

The revelation was a sobering reminder of the complexities of my own powers.

As the fog of confusion lifted, I took in my surroundings with renewed clarity.

Before me stretched a vast, emerald-green plain, dotted with sturdy oak trees that stood like sentinels, their leafy canopies rustling softly in the gentle breeze.

In the distance, towering mountains pierced the sky, their rugged peaks shrouded in a veil of misty clouds.

The air was crisp and clean, filled with the sweet scent of blooming wildflowers and the earthy aroma of damp soil.

As I turned to gaze behind me, my eyes fell upon a colossal, black-colored portal.

Its surface was a deep, foreboding void, like a dark, still pool of water that seemed to absorb all light and sound.

The portal's edges pulsed with a faint, eerie glow, casting an otherworldly light on the surrounding landscape.

Five individuals, clad in flowing white robes, patrolled the perimeter of the portal, their eyes vigilant and alert.

They moved with a quiet confidence, their very presence exuding an aura of authority and power.

I realized that these guards were stationed here as a precautionary measure, a safeguard against the unthinkable.

Despite the association's rigorous protocols and careful planning, there was always a risk of something going terribly wrong.

Exception cases, where the team inside the portal was wiped out without warning, were a grim reminder of the dangers that lurked in the unknown.

If the association let its guard down, even for a moment, the consequences could be catastrophic.

The guards, therefore, remained on high alert, ever vigilant and prepared to respond to any eventuality.

And, as I watched them, I sensed that they were no ordinary guards – each one was at least two levels above the boss level of the portal, a testament to the association's commitment to safety and preparedness.

As I stood beside the man, gazing out at the vast expanse of the plain, I turned to him and asked, "Oh, by the way, what's your name?"

His expression was neutral, his eyes betraying no hint of emotion as he replied, "Thomas. Just Thomas."

The simplicity of his response spoke volumes, and I sensed that there was a story behind his lack of a family name.

I nodded thoughtfully, my mind piecing together the fragments of information.

The fact that Thomas had no family name suggested that he was likely born a slave, and I assume he had only gained his freedom when he joined the explorer's association.

Slavery, a concept that had once been widespread, had largely been eradicated in the Northern and Southern regions, but still lingered in the Eastern and Western regions.

The central region, where the royal family operated, had also taken steps to reduce slavery, but it had not been completely abolished.

I pushed aside these somber thoughts and extended a hand in greeting. "Hi Thomas, I'm James. James Ford." Thomas's expression softened, and he clasped my hand in a firm handshake.

As we walked alongside each other, chatting and getting to know one another, I couldn't help but notice the vast plain stretching out before us.

The oak trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves rustling softly. In the distance, the towering mountains pierced the sky, their rugged peaks shrouded in a veil of misty clouds.

After walking alongside Thomas for a bit, I suddenly felt a tremendous energy emanating from the portal in front of us.

The air seemed to vibrate with an electric tension, and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

Thomas's eyes locked onto mine, a knowing glint in their depths. "You felt it, huh?" he asked, his voice low and even.

I nodded, my senses still reeling from the intensity of the energy. "Yeah," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

Thomas nodded thoughtfully. "That's the accumulated energy of the portal, or rather, the monsters inside it."

His eyes seemed to cloud over, as if lost in thought. "It's a powerful force, one that can be both exhilarating and terrifying."

As I listened to Thomas's explanation, I couldn't help but wonder about the true nature of this energy.

If this was the accumulated power of a black-grade portal, with a boss that was, at best, a level 2 or 3, then what kind of energy did silver-grade or, worse still, white-grade portals emit?

The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I felt a sense of trepidation wash over me.

Thomas's grin was infectious, and I couldn't help but smile as he asked, "Nervous?"

My response was laced with a hint of trepidation, "It's kinda hard not to be..."

Thomas's expression turned reassuring, and he said, "Don't worry too much, although it is indeed scary for a first-timer like you, you'll get used to it eventually."

He paused, his gaze drifting toward the portal, which was growing clearer by the minute.

A faraway look crept into his eyes, and he added, "Besides, compared to an orange-grade portal, this is nothing." I felt a spark of curiosity ignite within me.

An orange-grade portal huh? It made sense, though, given Thomas's level 5 and above status that he had gone to an orange grade portal.

As we approached the entrance, Thomas greeted two of the individuals clad in white robes.

"Yo, guys," he said, handing them a card. The one the receptionist gave me. The guards ignored Thomas's casual demeanor, their expressions stern and unyielding.

They took the card, looked through it, and after verifying everything was in order, stepped aside to allow us to pass.

As I took a step forward, the tremendous energy emanating from the portal hit me like a tidal wave.

I felt my heart racing, my senses on high alert. Thomas's voice broke through my focus, "I guess this is where we part ways, kid."

I turned to see him standing beside the guards, a hint of a smile on his face. "Thank you for everything, Thomas," I said, my voice sincere.

Thomas chuckled, his expression warm. "Haha, don't worry about it. Just doing my job. Take care of yourself, kid."

I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude toward this stranger who had helped me navigate the unknown.

With a deep breath, I turned to face the portal, its energy pulsating like a living entity before me. "Huuu..." I exhaled slowly, steeling myself for what lay ahead.

With a sense of trepidation and wonder, I took my first step into the portal.