New Quest

The next morning, Ryan woke up with a strange feeling, a mix of excitement and apprehension. The memories of the previous day flooded back, especially his successful attempt to convince Faila, that eccentric girl, to go home. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as he recalled the scene. "She's really crazy," he murmured, sitting up.

After a few stretches to wake up his muscles, he headed to the bathroom. The hot shower helped him relax, washing away the last traces of fatigue. As he stepped out, he paused for a moment in front of the mirror, observing his reflection. What he saw surprised him. His once frail body had now taken on a much more athletic form. His muscles were well-defined, every line of his body showcasing newfound strength. "Not bad," he thought, a satisfied smile on his lips. "The system really worked wonders."

Suddenly, a holographic window appeared in front of him, interrupting his thoughts. The words displayed clearly:

[New Quest]

[Enter the Y Portal]

Ryan frowned, rereading the words several times. "A Y portal?" he murmured. These portals were known to be the most mysterious and dangerous. No one, to his knowledge, had ever successfully entered a Y portal. "This must be a joke, right?"

As he was still pondering this strange mission, a loud noise caught his attention. It came from outside. He quickly got dressed and rushed to the door. When he opened it, he froze on the threshold. In front of him, in the middle of the street, a gigantic portal floated in the air. Its surface rippled like water, emitting a pulsating light. It was undoubtedly a Y portal.

Ryan blinked, stunned by the scene unfolding before him. "So, this is what the system was talking about," he murmured, a mix of excitement and fear in his voice. A smile slowly spread across his lips. He had the opportunity to become the first human to enter such a portal. The idea was both terrifying and exhilarating.

However, he knew he couldn't rush in unprepared. These portals were notorious for their extreme danger, and he needed to be ready to face whatever might be inside. "I need to prepare," he told himself, quickly turning to head back home.

Back in his room, Ryan began gathering his things. He put on a light but sturdy outfit, designed for combat. He also packed a small pouch containing some provisions, bandages, and a survival knife. Even though his system had granted him impressive skills, he knew caution was necessary.

He made sure his sword, a gift from Veilhot, was well-sharpened. It rested in a corner of the room, faintly gleaming under the light. Ryan picked it up, testing its weight and balance. "This should do," he murmured, sliding it into its sheath.

Before leaving the house, he took one last look around. He needed to leave discreetly to avoid drawing attention. If anyone found out he planned to enter a Y portal, it could cause unnecessary panic. "This is better," he thought, softly closing the door behind him.

As he approached the portal, Ryan felt his heart pounding harder. Excitement was building, mixed with a slight apprehension. He was aware of the risks, but part of him couldn't wait to see what awaited on the other side. "It's time," he murmured, stopping in front of the massive portal. He raised a hand, ready to cross this unknown barrier. "Let's go."

Just as he was about to step through the portal, a sudden thought crossed Ryan's mind. "What if I spend more than a month inside?" This realization made him hesitate. He remembered stories of Awakened disappearing into portals, some never returning or reappearing months, even years later. If he disappeared suddenly, his sister Rayna would be worried. He couldn't do that to her without at least letting her know.

Ryan quickly returned home. Once inside, he grabbed his phone and quickly typed a message to his sister: "I'm going on vacation to Hwanix, a province in Orianie. Don't worry, I'll be back in a month." He hoped this excuse would be enough to explain his absence. Pressing "send," he felt a bit guilty for lying, but he knew it was necessary.

As he stepped out of the house again, Ryan headed back toward the portal, determined to complete his mission. But upon arrival, a new complication arose. Several agents from the Protectors' Association stood in front of the portal, forming a human barrier. They were talking among themselves, watching the portal with grave expressions. Ryan quickly hid behind a tree, observing them.

"Of course, they'd be here," he thought, gritting his teeth. Y portals were an enigma to humanity. Every time one appeared, the authorities would do everything to secure and monitor it. Since their discovery, no one had ever managed to enter a Y portal. It was as if they were protected by an invisible barrier. Every attempt to enter met with an impassable wall.

Ryan knew that if he were seen entering this portal, it would raise questions. Not only could it attract unwanted attention, but it could also endanger his sister and loved ones. He needed to find a way to enter without being detected.

He watched the agents, analyzing their movements. They seemed to be monitoring the portal regularly, but there were moments when their attention slightly waned. He needed to find a way to take advantage of these moments. "Maybe I can use my skills to create a diversion," he thought.

Ryan quickly consulted his system. He knew some of his skills might be useful in this situation. "King's Aura" and "Scarlet Eye" were skills he was starting to understand, but he hesitated to use them too openly. "I need something discreet," he murmured.

He noticed a small alley not far from the portal. It was an area where the agents didn't seem to pay much attention. "If I can draw their attention elsewhere, I might be able to use that alley to get closer to the portal," he thought.

With a plan in mind, Ryan searched for a stone on the ground. He discreetly picked it up and threw it far behind the agents, in the direction opposite the alley. The sound of the stone hitting a metal trash can immediately caught their attention. A few agents turned towards the noise, approaching to check.

Taking advantage of this distraction, Ryan quickly slipped into the alley. He moved silently, getting closer to the portal. His heart was pounding. He knew he only had one chance. If the agents spotted him, it would be over.

Reaching the end of the alley, he peeked out quickly. The agents still seemed preoccupied with the noise. Taking one last deep breath, Ryan stepped out of the alley and ran toward the portal.

As he approached, he felt a strange energy emanating from the portal. It was like an invisible force drawing him in. He reached out, ready to enter. "It's now or never," he thought.

Just before crossing the threshold, he cast one last glance back. The agents were still distracted, but he knew they could turn around at any moment. He had no time to waste. He quickly entered the portal, disappearing into its rippling light.

Outside, the agents finally turned back, but it was too late. Ryan had vanished, crossing a barrier no one had ever passed through before.

Laboratory Z41.

The hallways were illuminated by white neon lights, reflecting a cold, sterile atmosphere. Rayna walked calmly, a cup of hot coffee in hand, accompanied by her friend and colleague, Elena. Both wore impeccable white lab coats, their discussion focused on the research they were conducting in the lab.

"So, do you think the new serum will have the expected effects?" Elena asked, glancing curiously at Rayna.

Rayna nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. "Yes, the latest tests have shown promising results. If all goes well, we could make a significant breakthrough in understanding the portals and their effects on the Awakened."

Elena smiled, impressed. "It's amazing to see how much the portals have changed our world. Who would have thought that a simple scientist like you would have an Awakened brother?" she teased.

Rayna chuckled lightly. "Yes, it's crazy. Ryan has always been a bit different, but I never thought he'd become an Awakened. That said, he hasn't had an easy life with his F rank."

As they continued their discussion, Rayna's phone vibrated in her lab coat pocket. She pulled it out and quickly read the message from Ryan.

"I'm going on vacation to Hwanix, a province in Orianie. Don't worry, I'll be back in a month."

Rayna raised an eyebrow as she read the message. "Vacation, huh?" she murmured to herself. She knew Ryan had been through tough times recently, between his injury and the mysterious events related to the portal. Maybe taking some time off to relax was exactly what he needed.

Elena looked at her curiously. "What's going on?"

Rayna put her phone away, smiling slightly. "Ryan sent me a message. He's going on vacation for a month. I think it's a good idea after everything he's been through."

Elena nodded, understanding. "Yeah, he needs to recharge. By the way, you should also take some time for yourself. You work too much."

Rayna shook her head, laughing. "Not until our research is complete. These portals aren't going to understand themselves."

They arrived at a metal door marked "Conference Room 3." Rayna opened the door and entered, followed by Elena. Inside, several researchers were already seated, waiting for the meeting to begin.

Rayna took a seat at a central table, placing her coffee in front of her. The head of the lab, Dr. Hensley, entered shortly after, carrying a stack of files. He greeted the assembly with a nod before starting.

"Good morning, everyone. Today, we will discuss the latest developments regarding the Y portals. As you know, these portals remain a complete mystery. However, our recent discoveries could provide crucial answers."

Rayna listened intently, taking mental notes. Y portals were among the most enigmatic, and every little detail could potentially open new avenues of research.

Dr. Hensley continued. "We've also received reports of unusual activity around several newly appeared Y portals. It seems they're attracting more and more attention. We need to double our efforts to understand what's going on."

After the meeting, Rayna and Elena left the room, resuming their conversation.