Chapter 63: Chapter 63 — A Step Toward Another World Again
After a quick yet satisfying breakfast, we imdiately prepared for our main objective that morning: the mysterious portal located in the middle of the main road of the base.
The sky was still slightly foggy, and the guards around remained alert as usual. In front of the slowly swirling portal, radiating a thick blue-purple aura, Altair and Viktor were standing while inspecting so devices and taking notes. They looked serious... but also anxious. Clearly, they had been investigating it, but no one had dared to step through.
When they noticed our arrival, Altair raised a hand and greeted us first, "Sofia? You’re here this early?"
But as soon as their eyes landed on —walking beside Sofia in an elegant black gown with deep crimson eyes—they imdiately fell silent.
Altair’s expression tensed. Viktor’s hand reflexively moved to his waist, where his pistol usually hung.
"Relax," Sofia said quickly, stepping forward. "She’s not dangerous. She ca with ."
They still looked hesitant, especially Altair. But after several seconds of staring into my eyes—seeing no murderous intent or threat—Viktor slightly loosened his posture.
"May I... see your status?" Viktor asked cautiously, his voice tinged with curiosity despite the uncertainty.
I nodded slightly. "Go ahead."
Viktor activated the Appraisal skill, his eyes glowing faint blue as the data stread into his mind. A few seconds later, his breath hitched.
"...Holy shit."
"What is it?" Altair asked quickly.
"If what I’m seeing is correct, she’s... she’s a Rank 4 Zombie. Has more than one elent. She’s not just strong... she’s a nightmare if turned enemy."
Altair turned to
with disbelief in his eyes, then back to Sofia. "And you... brought her here?"
Sofia gave a faint smile. "She’s the one who asked
to co."
"What?!" Altair and Viktor nearly shouted in unison.
"I want to enter that portal," I said plainly but firmly. "And she will co with ."
They stepped forward instantly, alard. "No! Absolutely not! We don’t even know what’s inside! It could be a dungeon, or a spatial anomaly! It’s too dangerous, Sofia!"
"I will protect her," I replied simply.
The words hung heavy in the air.
Altair looked like he wanted to argue, but Viktor gently patted his shoulder and shook his head. "She’s not joking. And... based on her status, I’d say Sofia is safest with her."
In the end, they gave in, though worry remained in their eyes.
"I’ll make sure we co back," Sofia said softly to Altair. "Please take care of the base while I’m gone."
Altair frowned deeply, but finally nodded.
We held hands tightly and stepped into the swirling blue-purple light together.
As soon as my skin touched the portal’s surface, it felt cold and fluid, like dense mist. Then everything vanished in a whirl of energy.
We landed seconds later, our bodies gently thrown onto solid ground.
Before I could say anything...
"Urgh... uugh—!!"
Sofia instantly dropped to her knees, clutching her stomach and vomiting. Her breakfast from earlier poured out along with ragged breathing.
I stared at her expressionlessly before letting out a small laugh.
"Ah... I forgot to tell you. Dinsional transitions can cause nausea the first ti."
Sofia looked up at
with a mixture of irritation and embarrassnt, but she was too busy fighting off the next wave of nausea to respond. "You... you’re the worst..."
I gently touched her shoulder. "You’ll get used to it. Next ti won’t be as bad."
She just groaned, still slumped on the ground as I turned my attention to our surroundings—a new world spread out before us, waiting to be explored.
Sofia remained seated, her hand propping up her weak body after the intense vomiting. Her face was pale, her breathing labored.
I stood a few steps away, surveying the area. Damp stone walls, cold air, and a low ceiling filled with stalactites created an atmosphere unlike any place I’d been before.
"Hmm... This is different from the portal at my place," I muttered while eyeing the long, winding stone corridor.
Sofia slowly lifted her head. "What’s different?"
"The one at my place opened into a forest. Lots of trees and sunlight. But this..." I gestured around, "...is more like a cave. Deep and unfriendly."
Sofia gave a slight nod, and after a few minutes, she finally stood up and dusted off her pants. "Let’s explore."
I nodded, and we began walking.
This place truly was like a maze of stone. Countless branching paths, and we had no clue which one was correct. To avoid getting lost, I used my black claw to carve markings into the wall at every junction—a deep X-shape to mark the way.
The deeper we went, the more ominous the cave beca. The sound of dripping water, faint bubbling from far-off tunnels, and increasingly suffocating air made everything feel wrong.
Then, as we rounded a corner, Sofia suddenly stopped and covered her nose. "Wait... that sll... it’s bloody and rotten..."
I blinked slowly. "I don’t sll anything. My nose... isn’t as sensitive as a human’s."
Sofia nodded, swallowed hard, and forced herself to keep moving.
A few more steps, and we entered a small open chamber—so sort of cavern pocket. There, a horrific scene greeted us.
A group of kobolds—humanoid creatures with dull red skin, sharp teeth, and long arms—were gathered around human corpses. They were tearing flesh from bone, devouring entrails, and chewing with grotesque wet noises.
Blood pooled on the floor, mingled with organs, and skulls lay scattered in the corners of the room.
Sofia clamped her hand tightly over her mouth. Her eyes widened, and her body trembled.
"Don’t vomit again," I whispered. "Just hold on."
"...Those are humans..." she choked out.
I narrowed my eyes, examining the tattered clothes of the victims. They wore strange garnts—leather armor and long robes. Not military uniforms. Not Earth civilian clothing. More like... people from another world.
"These humans don’t seem to be from Earth," I said.
Sofia nodded, still deathly pale. "Yeah... their clothes... they’re different."
"How did these kobolds get humans like that?" I muttered. "Is there another exit from this cave... leading to their world?"
No answer.
Seeing Sofia barely able to stand, I made a quick decision.
"I’ll take care of them," I said coldly.
Sofia didn’t object.
I stepped forward silently. By the ti one of the kobolds noticed , it was too late. My claws swept across its chest, tearing it open. The kobold collapsed with a shriek, alerting the others.
But before they could retaliate, I snapped my fingers.
Dark purple-black flas ignited in my palm—Nether Fla.
The fire leapt forth like a living thing, wrapping around the kobolds one by one. They scread, but there was no extinguishing this death-born fla. In less than a minute, the room beca a hellish inferno.
As the fire died down, only ash, dried blood, and silence remained.
I turned and walked back to Sofia’s side.
Her face was still pale, but her eyes now rested on . "...Thank you. I... I don’t think I could’ve looked at that for much longer."
I nodded. "We need to stay alert. If they could capture humans, then there’s more than one way out of this cave."
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