章 14: Enigma of the Gate
Upon sensing Kit Templeton's sudden disappearance, Alexander immediately teleported to the house he had lent them. A celestial radiance descended from the heavens themselves, converging directly upon the dwelling. As the light waned, Alexander appeared, looking like a divine being with golden aura enveloping his whole body.
As he reaches the theater, he saw the two yellow star hunters of the Devastators, Victoria and Zach, with their weapons out and on guard. Behind them was the oblivious Maddie who was still asleep soundly.
"What has happened here? Why is a gate in here?" Alexander said in an angry tone.
Sensing the hostility, Victoria and Zach couldn't help but subconsciously step back and be overwhelmed by Alexander's presence.
"This small gate suddenly opened here and when we woke up, Kit Templeton was nowhere to be found." Victoria said with hints of fear in her voice.
Hearing what she said, Alexander walked over to the small stone gate with quiet steps. He looked at it carefully from bottom to top, trying to figure out what it could be. But he couldn't say anything; he was puzzled and couldn't understand what this gate was for. It was unlike any gate he had ever seen before.
Alexander tries to enter the gate, but he couldn't. There was an invisible barrier denying entrance. His hand light up in a golden light and touches the invisible barrier. The light grew larger and brighter until dies out.
He had as shocked expression on his face. His eyes were wide open in disbelief and was momentarily stunned. He took his phone and proceeds to call someone, an expert in this field. Someone who has expertise, not in the gates, but in history.
Due to the situation and commotion in the room, Maddie finally awoke from her peaceful slumber. Naturally, she was confused as to why Victoria and Zach were on edge, why Alexander was calling someone in front of the small gate, and why there was even a small gate there to begin with.
"Whash issh happenig here? Am i shtill dreaming?" Maddie said in a drunken stupor.
Victoria, who was near her, had a grim expression on her face, her eyes heavy with sorrow and her brows knit in concern. Her lips trembled slightly, reflecting the struggle of finding words for Maddie. She had lost her composure and was spiraled into confusion.
"Where'sh my big broooo Victorya? Did he get shome fud?"
Struggling to speak, Victoria reluctantly spoke the truth. "Your brother, he disappeared, and he could be in that gate we don't know of right now."
Maddie's gaze swept the room, and Victoria could see her piecing things together. Her face changed, eyebrows furrowing, lips quivering. It was as if a puzzle was coming together in her mind, revealing a painful picture.
Her slow realization of the situation sobered her up. Her eyes were locked into the seat where Kit was sleeping and slowly her brow was furrowing, with tears slowly falling out of her eyes. Victoria's own eyes grew misty as she saw the pain in Maddie's expression.
With a sob, Maddie got up and stumbled towards Victoria, collapsing against her chest. Victoria felt the pain Maddie was feeling. She knows too well that heart wrenching pain. Holding her tears, she gently pats Maddie's back and comforts her.
Zach walked towards Victoria, he taps her shoulder to get her attention and gives her a nod. Victoria understood and nods back. Zach then walked outside, he takes his phone and calls their president, Liam Brooks.
***
It was dark and void, an endless stretch of nothingness. Kit found himself lying in the darkness of this very place. Looking at his surroundings, he felt familiar and was waiting for something. It was then when a crimson orb of light appeared in front of him.
"The realm of dreams again. What do you want this time?" Kit said in a casual tone.
"It's not about what I want, it's about what you need."
"What do I need? Are you here to give me weapons?" Kit said in a playful manner.
"Naive, you may have my power, but you lack the experience and maturity to properly wield it."
Without saying another word, the crimson orb summoned a Spartan Soldier. It had no armor revealing his large muscular body; he only had the three essentials for a Spartan soldier, the Shield, the Spear, and the short sword. Kit also received these weapons.
Kit's demeanor shifted, his once playful and laid-back aura taking on a more serious tone.
The spartan charged towards Kit aggressively as if he was out for his blood. Kit quickly took on a defensive stance. As the spartan reached him, he was met with a barrage of attacks. He was overwhelmed and could only hide behind his shield.
Using his shield, the spartan bashed Kit's shield away leaving his whole body open. In a desperate situation, Kit tried to parry the spartan's attack with his spear. He then felt a gut-wrenching pain in his stomach as he was sent flying back.
The spartan viciously kicked his stomach instead to render Kit's parry useless. Kit incapacitated, saw a fast spear coming in his way. He couldn't react quickly as he was still recovering from the damage and got hit in the shoulder.
It was painful, it was the first time he felt this kind of pain and shouted loudly. The spartan, walking slowly towards him held his short sword ready to end the life of Kit.
Memories flashed in his mind as if he was waiting for his death. He saw the person who he cherishes the most in his life and regrets the things he wasn't able to do. As he sees the spartan in front of him, he closes his eyes prepared to die.
Feeling the metallic blade enter his chest, he knew that it was the end.
In a few moments in darkness, he heard the voice of the crimson orb.
"Open your eyes Kit, I just wanted to let you know your current strength."
As he opens his eyes, he saw himself standing in front of the crimson orb. He quickly touched his shoulder and chest but felt no pain nor any wounds from it. He let out a sigh of relief as it was not real.
"Can you give me a heads up before putting me in a situation like that sheesh. How strong was that spartan anyway?" Kit said in defeated tone.
"He was a peak red star."
Hearing that it was a red star, Kit felt dejected seeing how he was supposed to be stronger than a black star but lost so easily to a red star.
"What should I do now? Are you gonna give me a special training regimen?"
"Even better, you'll be forged anew in the ways of a Spartan."
Kit took a big gulp as he knows the history and difficulties of a Spartan man, let alone the life of their King, Leonidas.
"Will you send me back in time to live your life?"
"You won't be sent back in time, but you'll be living in a space that I created that would be similar to that of my time. You'll be facing three challenges which is the three different phases of my life."
"What will I do? What Will I face? What's my goal?" Kit asked curiously.
"It's for you to find out Kit. Do you wish to accept this, Kit? Once you do there will be no turning back." the crimson orb said in a serious tone.
Kit stood there silent with a serious expression on his face thinking of what he'll do.
"I accept." Kit said resolutely with a fire burning in his eyes.
The crimson orb said nothing but if he had a face, he would be smiling at Kit right now.
***
Back at the house, a luxurious black Ramborghini pulled up in front. Stepping out of the sleek vehicle was a woman in her late 30s, exuding an air of sophistication. Her hair cascaded in silky, ebony waves, catching the moonlight in its embrace. Her almond-shaped eyes, as dark as the night itself, held an enigmatic allure. A faint mole graced the left corner of her curvaceous crimson lips, adding a touch of intrigue. Bathed in the moonlit night, her complexion radiated a porcelain glow.
Zach, who had been conversing with Liam outside, found himself utterly captivated and rendered speechless by her presence. Each step she took seemed to cast a spell, as Zach's gaze subconsciously followed her, his head turning until he was left staring at the door through which she had entered, his world momentarily suspended.
"I might have fallen in Love." Zach said.
"Love, what the hell are you talking about? Tell me what you saw there." Liam shouted in an annoyed voice through the phone.
"Yes, I saw the most beautiful and captivating woman in my entire life?
"HUH????" Liam said in absolute confusion.
Back in the homemade theater, Maddie had fallen asleep in Victoria's chest. She gently carried her out of the room and to a bed to lay Maddie down. As she was walking, she saw the woman walking in the house.
"Pardon me madam, can you direct to me to Alexander?"
"He's in the theater room." Victoria said as she was completely caught off guard and charmed by her.
"Thank you love."
Victoria's gaze unconsciously trails the captivating woman's departure. Mesmerized, her eyes stay fixed on the graceful figure until she disappears from view.
Inside the room, the woman's eyes fell upon the gate, and a spark of curiosity ignited within her. Intrigued, she approached it swiftly, drawn to the mysterious structure before her.
"Well then, I gather this must be the gate you want me to examine." the woman said in a cheerful tone.
"Yes Elizabeth, I have never seen a gate like this in my life."
Elizabeth went near the gate; she fully examined it and even touched the stones and felt the invisible barrier. She was intrigued by it because it wasn't special or anything. It was just simply a stone arched gate.
"Could this be the work of Ascendance?" Alexander asked curiously.
"Oh no, I highly doubt they'd leave something of this sort. Quite likely they shan't even consider employing it even if they can."
"Then what could this gate be?"
"To be honest, I haven't a clue. It's just a plain stone gate with nothing fancy about it. Figuring out when or where it's from would be a bit of a puzzle but worry not, I shall bring my equipment and gather information on these stones."
Abruptly, the gate's stability wavered, cracks snaking across its stonework, and its form began to wane. Within moments, the gate crumbled entirely, leaving only the destroyed stones on the floor.
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット