Chapter 4; The Trail of the Dark-Portal

A river of sweat dripped down his face hitting the black cobblestones below vanishing at contact. His eyes shifted upwards for the millionth time since he began this dreaded task and all that he saw was the miles of the endless black-cobblestones pathway with no end in sight. At that moment his hand trembled more violently , the hand-muscles screaming for him to open his grip, the pain within his arms consistently increasing with every step.

But he didn't want to, his mind was set on reach the finish-line which no matter how he looked at it, appeared not to exist on this endless stretch of land. He peered down at the dumbbell held within his hands, the runes on it still emitting that eerie transparent dark glow that every relic seems to have, and maybe it's the reason why.

41 had been feeling weird since he set foot into this weird space beyond the wall of soldiers. He hadn't noticed while he was conversing with the soldier but now left with his thought's, his trembling muscles and the shocking pain that comes with it, he began to notice something was affecting his brain, or at the very least his emotions. He had never been one to think of quitting or being vulnerable, yes he would choose to leave things for a later date and maybe he had never have thought of returning to those matters but never has he ever thought of quitting until now.

The whole time since he began this task he felt he was battling on two fronts, one was his body, this test of endurance seemed to be all consuming, his muscles feeling as if they were being ripped apart. But the most sinister was the one in his mind. A gloomy atmosphere had set-in, forcing him to think negatively with thoughts of forfeit on his mind, this paired with the pain as well was the main reason as to why he was screaming at the top of his voice. But in his mind, it was a scream of defiance rather than despair. 

But minutes later, regardless of his opposition and also a bit of survival instinct in mind, he finally released the relic dumbbell, simply letting it slip from his hands before he let himself collapse. The adrenaline and stamina he had a few minutes ago was gone like wind, a loud thud notified him that the relic had hit the ground. As he fell towards the floor he glimpsed downwards only to realize the item had vanished, the floor below him having transfixed back to the familiar ground of the bridge with those weird formation lay-lines spread across it. While he was about to collide knee first into bridge floor, a sharp pain struck his abdomen and the floor below blurred as he thought for a second that he seemed to be flying sideways, but then he realized that he had been collected by one of the soldier's that had been standing by the side of the bridge. 

Judging by the shear strength radiating off the man's body and his inhuman speed, it was clear he was a forger no less. A hint of greed and envy flashed through 41's eyes before restoring his calm, well as much as he could. And with that, like he had just performed his last act of exertion, he blacked out. 

A few moment's later 41 had a harsh impact with a solid background that woke him, he realized he had been tossed to the floor like a bag of dust. When he looked around, he saw a small group of soldiers looming over him standing silently to the side in a row. Around him were some other slaves, most of which he didn't even know all lined up side by side seated on the floor next to him with looks of bewilderment, exhaustion and pain on their faces. 41 could understand the situation as pain continued to shoot through his muscle in a throbbing rhythm.

A few moments later more people had been picked up, the amusement of watching people appear in the middle of the bridge in pain, sweating, screaming and/or even in a state of unconsciousness before being picked up by the forger soldiers had fade. They rounded them all up and took them to the end of the bridge, at this point a stern looking middle aged soldier stood at attention, facing them and preparing to give them on order. But honestly no one could give him any attention because of what was behind him.

At the edge of the bridge at the point where there was a division between the road and the structure itself, was a very large whirlpool of darkness hovering above the floor devouring all the light around it creating the warping of light around it causing it's edges to appear dark and blurry. But it was the absurd level of the eerie cold force permeating from it that had the slaves taking steps backwards until eventually they hit the wall of the forger soldiers standing right behind them.

This intangible force continuously barrowed into their bodies threading it's way through this skin leaving their hairs standing on end accompanied with a skin filled with goosebumps, then continuing through their bones and muscles causing them to rattle and stiffen, and finally passing through the gut into the heart until it hits the brain. Leaving them with a deep sinking feeling in the pit of the abdomen, a palpating heart and the mind left haywire. 41 was barely able to hold on to control miraculously preventing himself from pissing or shitting in his sack cloth like some of the other slaves around him had just done. But he still couldn't avoid the shortness of breath or the nausea that attacked him due to atmosphere. 

And this permeating atmosphere that had him wrenching out nothing was familiar to him but this time it was a thousand times worse. This was the same feeling that he usually felt from activated relics he realised, but that's only if you consider the relic as a glass of water and whatever the darkness pool is as a large pond of water. "Aah yes, the reaction to void energy is never pleasant, most especially with this amount of it in one place.", the stern soldier spoke with a smooth tone that belied his appearance catching our attention.

We"Now here is your next task, and for this one you even have three options. Which honestly, if you can't stonach this thing behind me, it's going to be a very long day?" He said, and with that the stern soldier clapped his hands and then continued to say, ''So!? Shall we begin?", then he waited for all of the slaves to get up and stand in front of him in their tattered state after receiving not so gentle probes from the soldiers behind them.

"So, here are the rules. There is basically only one new rule, for this stage in particular. Only mention the number one, two or three after I have finished communicating with you to signify the option that are choosing. Although, I am required to mention that we would prefer if you select option one.", his stern look peering at them with a meaningful gaze as his eyes meet each and everyone of theirs to emphasize there point, the slaves reacting in an intimidating manner even causing 41 to shiver mostly because of the amplifying effect of the void energy emitting from the portal.

"So, option one, you move towards the dark-portal behind me and dive right in. Those who prefer a bit of clarity before dividing in, well, an opportunity will be given to a collective group to ask a single question that once answered would then come with a requirement for you to jump-in, that's the second option. The last option, the third one, you simply decide you no longer want to be part of this, and you remain nameless and will promptly be escorted back to your slave-overseers by the kind gentlemen behind you. Now that that's cleared up, I hope you can choose wisely after the minutes of the time give to you to think it over. Ohh, and please only respond when pointed at, there are hundred of you and we don't have time to waste in disorder also you will all be given a single chance to change your mind individually so don't fuss about it much.", then he walked off to the sick where, without their notice, the soldiers that had been behind them had gathered quietly during the stern soldiers address. 

But for 41, left staring at what he had convinced himself was a pit to damnation, the very idea of leaping through it had him losing his mind. The inexplicable fear that has been growing throw out his ordeal had been chewing at his mental fortitude, and in a moment of weakness as he stared down his very on abyss, he gave in. So it didn't come as a surprise to him when he mentioned "number three" once his time come. And only then, when the reality of losing his chance of gaining something that was finally his, did his clarity and resolve return with an ugly expression painted on his face.

Finally, they divide into three groups, the first group in front where option one, the second largest group without thirty eight people, they would step up one by one. Giving there tokens to the stem soldier, how would place it on his relic tablet and it would change color to gold and then they would be attached to their shoulder where it would remain. Then they would give them chance to change their mind only when they were right next to the portal of despair.

The moment one decided he wasn't ready or simply refused to jump-in, they would be aloud to step-back. The weird crackling noise sounding out to the portal as it allows it's victims increasing everyone's anxiety. Those that would be removed and placed back on the relic tablet that would change their color to bronze before bring return, and then would be told to join the second group. But those that completely refused where treated more roughly, their tokens crashed and their presence banished to the back of the line, a group behind us and right in front of the forger soldiers. 

To 41's shock, those in the front group showed more bravery than he had expected. Twenty had jumped directly into the pit of doom and only eight had hard their token's crashed while ten were led the question group. That's when the stern soldier turned to the questions group. "So, I hope you guys have talked it out, because am waiting for that question right about now." He said giving them his fully attention. After a few glances where exchanged between each other before a few whispers were shared but the question seemed to have been agreed already, the whispers seemingly just a confirmation. 

 A tall dark-toned skin colored man stepped a foot forward, "Am.... yes sir. What were hoping to know is, am, what happens to us when we are in that dark hole? Am, sir, please.", the man asked shakely his voice wavering as if he was waiting for a "lesson" for having the audacity to ask a question, a practice reinforced by the slashers . 

"Haha, you see today going to teach you a few important lessons.", the vibrant response spooking the man as he jumped backwards, "You should always be specific and you will never always get exactly what you want. But I think for the likes of you, the last one shouldn't be new.", the stern soldier turned around and painted at the dark-portal.

"So, what will happen to you in the dark-hole? In truth, not much, all that would happen to you is be taken from one place, which is here, to another place which will remain unknown.", he said with a smile clearly knowing he hadn't answered what they really wanted to know, his lesson sinking in loud and clear. "And, my last lesson free of charge, learn how to follow orders with minimal understanding m, trust me it's less-painful. But I will admit this one is more selfish on my part."

Then he turned around, walked back to his former position, grab his tablet and said, "let's begin, my obligations is fulfilled.", the process continues by group two was less brave most due to the feeling of being in the same position as they where before the question was asked or answered, the consequences where still unknown. So in the end, of the twenty-two slaves, only six of them jumped in without complaint, eleven of then had there tokens crashed while a few, about five choose to wait a decision they would soon forget. Although what's interesting is their tokens weren't turned from sliver to bronze but to black. Something told 41, that the token colors were going to be important he just didn't know what for. 

When they moved to the eight waiters from group one, the first slave to step-up decided to make a third choice, toe leave. What happened next shocked everyone, without another word the arm of the stern soldier blurred out of view, moving so fast that you could hear the sound of cutting air. And before the hand landed on the slaves fave, it stopped but the air that come with it didn't. It continued on, hit his face which shattered his ear drum, bruised his eye and knocked to the ground a foot a way leaving the effect eye reddened, blood trickling out of the ear and his cheek deformed, looking like as if it was being pressed inwards permanently.

"You see when this began I remembered telling you, you have two chances to make a decision not three.", he turned towards all of us his face appearing more stern than it had before if that was even possible. "Now, you seven. If you have chosen to take your friend's path, make it quick and receive the consequences.", he beckoned them, leaving the slaves shivering but in thought. 

In the end only two choose the punishment, with the threat of authority finally rearing it's ugly head, the fear of the unknown began to lose out the threat they were all too familiar with, forcing the other five to jump in without another thought with their bronze tokens shattered at impact of the air of the non-contact slap, turning into dust particles that scattered on the wind.

Then it come to their time and 41 couldn't be faster out of the group even if they had paid him, whether it was fear of authority or his last chance to earn a name for himself, he was too eager to pass through the portal. And once given a choice be decided to change his mind, choosing to jump through the abyss. 

The only thing giving 41 pause was him being handed back a bronze colored token. The stern soldier places it on the upper right shoulder where it stuck in a flash, and with a node from him, 41 held his breathe fold his fist and took a running start to launch himself into the dark-portal. With a leap he jumped into the dark pit, the first thing 41 noticed was the sharp-cold that hit him paralyzing him in a blink of an eye. The next was the darkness the swallowed his sight as his consciousness faded. He always told himself, when you make a decision, you better leap at it at full force. But for once he was doubting his decision.