"I see. So that's what a rift is." Alex said, nodding his head in an understanding manner.
"Yes. And that's why it's important we close it." Layla said as she steered the vehicle toward the space gate.
James and Paula were at the backseat suffering from a bad hangover.
Thankfully tho, they should be at least able to fight by the time they get to the rift.
Speaking of rifts...
Alex had enquired from Layla, what a rift was. And the answer she gave him shocked him and seemed to drive home even harder that he was no longer in the world he had been familiar with.
So, rifts were interdimensional doorways. They were like dungeons, they contained different rare precious materials and artifacts.
Just like dungeons, rifts experience outbreaks as well but the key difference being unlike dungeon breaks that are caused by a mana overload in the dungeon cores, rift outbreaks simply happen if the rift isn't closed after seven days.
And one more thing is, the origin of the rifts are unknown.
Apparently they just spawned out of nowhere about four hundred years ago.
Also the rifts for some reason, spat out almost five times the amount of mana beasts as a regular dungeon.
'Hey system. You knew all this information already right?' Alex asked inwardly.
[Yes.] The system responded in a very straightforward and matter-of-fact manner.
At the system's matter-of-fact like response, Alex could feel a vein on his head pop in annoyance.
'Wow. So, is there a particular reason you didn't bother to tell me?' He asked amidst the twitching of his lips and veins.
[Not really. If I had told you, you wouldn't take the quest.]
'The fu–'
"We're here!"
Alex's inner dialogue with the system was interrupted as a cheerful voice resounded from beside him.
He raised his head to look at the gigantic structure in front of them.
The space gate, a towering marvel of magical engineering that pulsed with a quiet, ominous hum.
Composed of two massive, obsidian-black poles, etched with glowing blue runes, curved upward in an elegant arc, meeting at the top to form a giant oval frame.
And suspended within said frame was a swirling mass of energy—blue at the core with streaks of violet and white lightning crackling across its surface.
The portal rippled gently, as though it were water disturbed by a soft breeze, and yet there was an undeniable gravity to it, like it was pulling at something intangible within him.
Around the gate, the area was bustling with movement.
Benches lined the plaza nearby, filled with what Alex quickly identified as hunters.
Most wore padded gear or lightweight armor, some with visible weapons strapped to their backs or hips.
Several of them were casually scrolling through their phones, paper slips in hand which were undoubtedly tickets to their various locations.
Others were chatting loudly or lounging around with that specific brand of overconfidence that only hunters seemed to carry.
At a desk just ahead of the gate, a worker with a megaphone kept calling out names of destinations.
"Valek Ridge! Next portal—Valek Ridge, boarding now!"
"Elshire Forest in five minutes! Line up!"
James tapped Alex on the shoulder, pulling him from his thoughts.
"Hey, newbie," he said with a smirk. "Over there."
Alex turned to see James gesturing toward a modest-looking building beside the gate. A small sign read 'Transit Ticketing & Inquiries' above the door.
"Let's go," Layla added, already making her way to the entrance.
Alex followed them, glancing briefly at James in slight surprise.
James… looked sober.
His posture was upright, his steps steady, his voice clear. It was a strange contrast from the groaning wreck of a man clinging to the backseat just moments ago. Alex raised a brow, but said nothing.
The interior of the building was plain, the floor a little dusty and the light slightly dim.
A line of counters was staffed by calm-looking attendants behind magically-reinforced glass panels.
"So… you recover fast," Alex muttered, side-eying James.
James puffed his chest dramatically. "That's the strength of a true man."
"Is that so?" Alex drawled. "Then I guess true men cry into bar tables after a few mugs of cheap inn beer."
Layla snorted.
Paula, behind them, burst into laughter. "Oh my god, he did cry, didn't he?!"
James flailed slightly. "Hey, I was hydrating! Hydration's important!"
"Sure," Alex nodded mock-seriously. "And the part where you called your sword your ex's name was just… a coincidence?"
Layla and Paula practically doubled over, Paula wiping tears from her eyes.
James muttered something very inappropriate under his breath and marched ahead toward the counter, trying to salvage what little pride he had left.
When they reached the desk, a smiling receptionist greeted them. She had soft brown hair, glasses perched on her nose, and a polished, professional aura.
"Good day," she said warmly. "Where are you all headed?"
"Elshire Forest," James replied, still trying to sound cool and authoritative.
The receptionist began typing quickly, her fingers dancing across the keyboard.
"Ah, you're in luck," she said after a few seconds. "This is the last trip to Elshire Forest for today. After that, the next slot's tomorrow at noon."
"Lucky us," Layla said with a small grin.
James nodded, handing over a few crisp credit bills.
The receptionist took them, printed four tickets from the terminal beside her, and handed them over with a smile. "Here you are. Please proceed to the Gate. Have a safe journey."
"Thanks," Paula chirped.
They headed back outside and made their way to the gate.
A pair of stern-looking guards stood watch, dressed in matching black and silver armor with a unique emblem of a stylized portal on their shoulders.
One of them stepped forward as they approached. "Tickets, please."
They each handed over their slips. The guard inspected each one carefully, his gaze lingering on Alex a moment longer than the others before giving a small grunt.
He tore a corner of each ticket, nodded, and stepped aside. "You may enter."
Alex took a breath as he stared into the swirling portal. There was something disorienting about it. Not threatening—but… surprisingly familiar.
Like his void tunnel.
'No. Not the time.' Shaking his mind off that, he stepped forward.
As soon as he crossed the threshold, he felt his body shift. Not physically—at least not in the way moving limbs would—but like space itself twisted around him.
He was weightless. His ears filled with a high-pitched hum, and his vision distorted with kaleidoscopic colors.
The sensation lasted for only a heartbeat, yet stretched like a moment suspended in eternity.
And then—
He emerged.
The portal behind him stabilized with a soft shimmer, and cool air brushed against his face.
They stood in a new fortress city.
This one was more open than the last, the walls still tall but painted with white enamel and adorned with red banners.
Clean stone pathways spread out from the arrival zone, lined with trimmed hedges and automated mana lamps flickering in the afternoon sun.
There were more administrative buildings here, a few markets nearby, and a massive quest board built into the wall near the entrance plaza.
Hunters were moving briskly through the streets, some chatting, others rushing toward missions.
James stepped forward with an overly dramatic spin and threw his arms out wide.
"Welcome to the Elshire Fortress City!" he declared with a booming grin.
Alex just blinked at him. "You rehearse that, don't you?"
Paula snorted behind him.
And just like that, their mission had officially begun.