Free Web NovelChapter 37: Dropped into a Pot
The rift stretched nearly thirty meters high. Golden-yellow energy swirled endlessly within its interior, while the surrounding space distorted slightly, as though reality struggled to contain it. The sight was both beautiful and terrifying. Around the Rift stood layer upon layer of security: concrete barriers, watchtowers, awakened guards, military personnel, and automated defense systems.
Several powerful individuals could be sensed standing nearby, their presence alone enough to make weaker students nervous. This wasn’t simply a school outing. This was one of humanity’s greatest discoveries. A doorway into another world, something that had changed civilization forever. As the students stepped off the buses, many stared at the glowing rift in awe. Some were excited. Some were nervous. Some were terrified. Silas just observed it quietly. For a brief moment, his pink eyes narrowed because, unlike most of the others, he felt something. A strange pull, a faint sensation coming from somewhere deep within the rift itself as though something on the other side had just noticed his existence, and was staring back.
***
The area surrounding the Rift had become considerably busier. Military personnel moved about with practiced efficiency. Evaluation officers monitored energy readings, while medical teams remained on standby. Several awakened guards stood around the perimeter, their attention fixed entirely on the massive yellow rift floating above the reinforced platform.
For most people, this was a routine operation, a yearly event. Another Awakening Outing, nothing more, nothing less. At least, that was what everyone believed.
"Group One, prepare for entry!"
A loud voice echoed across the secured zone. The students immediately straightened. One by one, names began to be called. The process was simple. A student stepped forward, their identity was confirmed, and they entered the rift.
"Chloe Montreal."
Chloe took a deep breath. Silas squeezed her hand briefly.
"You’ll be fine."
She nodded and walked toward the rift. The golden surface rippled as she disappeared inside. More names followed. Students vanished into the glowing portal one after another. The awakened participants entered next. Finally, the officer looked down at his tablet, and his expression immediately became more respectful.
"Silas Ashard."
The entire atmosphere shifted. The students noticed it immediately. Several military personnel instinctively stood straighter, and some evaluators nodded respectfully. Even a few instructors unconsciously stepped aside to give him room. An S-Rank was a national asset. He deserved the utmost respect. Silas tried his best to maintain a dignified expression; he truly did. Unfortunately, the grin stretching across his face ruined everything.
One military captain watched him pass, and the corner of his mouth twitched. The kid was enjoying this way too much. Silas reached the portal, turned around, looked at everyone, and gave a thumbs up. The captain’s eye twitched.
The next second, he stepped into the rift, and the golden surface swallowed him whole. Three seconds later, the rift trembled. At first, nobody noticed. Then the tremble intensified. The golden surface rippled violently.
"What the hell?" One evaluator froze.
The energy readings on his device suddenly spiked.
"Sir-"
The rift changed from yellow to green. The entire portal flashed emerald. Several personnel immediately stood up.
"What?!"
Before anyone could react, the green vanished, and blue replaced it. A deep azure color engulfed the entire rift, and the energy output exploded. Alarms immediately activated.
[WARNING!]
[WARNING!
[RIFT INSTABILITY DETECTED!]
Every face turned pale.
"No..."
A senior evaluator stared at the readings, and his face lost all color.
"It evolved."
The words felt unreal. From F-Rank to B-Rank danger. This was a completely different level. The military commander immediately grabbed his communicator.
"EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM!"
"NOW!"
The secured zone exploded into chaos. Thirty students and fourteen staff members were already inside, and they had absolutely no way of warning them.
***
Inside the Rift...
Silas felt weightless for approximately two seconds, then gravity remembered he existed.
"Oh, son of a—"
WHOOOOOOOSH!
Wind exploded around him as the ground rushed closer.
"WHY AM I FALLING?!"
Nobody answered. Below him stretched a primitive village with large wooden structures and crude fences. Smoke rose from countless fires, and directly beneath him was a giant cooking pot on fire.
"NOPE!"
SPLASH!
Silas disappeared into the pot. A second later...
BOOM!
He launched himself back out, steam erupting everywhere.
"What the actual-"
Then he heard voices. Deep voices; a lot of them.
"GRAK?"
"GRAAAK?"
"GRAK!"
Silas slowly turned, and his eyes widened. A crowd of massive green-skinned humanoids surrounded the fire. Each one stood nearly eight feet tall, muscular, ugly, armed, and staring directly at him. One held a giant spoon, another held seasoning, and a third held what looked suspiciously like vegetables.
The silence became awkward. One of the creatures looked at the pot, then at Silas, then at the pot again. Its eyes lit up.
"GRAAAAK!"
The entire village erupted. Silas didn’t know what they were saying, but he had a very uncomfortable feeling that he understood the general idea.
"THAT’S RACIST!"
He turned and ran. The creatures roared, and the chase began. Silas sprinted through the village, jumped over crates, dodged fences, knocked over a barrel, and nearly collided with another giant green monster.
"EXCUSE ME!"
The monster swung a club. Silas ducked. The club destroyed part of a wall behind him. freewēbnoveℓ.com
"NOPE!"
Silas accelerated even further. Then he spotted it, a huge hut. It was open. He dove through the entrance, rolled across the floor, and immediately hid behind several stacked crates.
Outside, the sounds of pursuit continued. The creatures roared and ran, looking for him. Fortunately, he was faster and managed to hide in time. Silas held his breath. The footsteps moved closer and stopped. Then came the silence. For several seconds, nothing happened. Silas slowly relaxed.
"Okay, I’m not dead. Good start."
A shadow suddenly covered him. Silas slowly looked upward and immediately regretted it. He was doomed. He had escaped a pot of fire into a den of one of the most dangerous creatures you would find in the rifts. He could only pray that it hadn’t seen him... yet. Because if it did, then only...
