My Pheonix System

Chapter 4 - Portal expedition

After completing his daily quest, Lucien sat alone in his room staring at his stats thinking to himself. “The entrance exam is fast approaching and with my current strength I doubt I'll be able to hold my own. I need to test myself for real” he clenched his fists.

An idea flashed through his mind. “why don't I search for portals there are a lot of beasts there to test my strength on …. But to get in need to be part of a hunter squad … hmm I'll look it up online”.

He then went on a Hunternet forum. He scrolled through endless post until one caught his eye.

[Looking for 1 more squad member — portal expedition. Need a carrier to complete our group of five]

“Not exactly what I was searching for but this will do” and without hesitation he applied.

A message arrived in his inbox moments later.

[You've been accepted, meet us at Rushmore district before 12. We'll begin our expedition by 1pm be on time]

Smiling ear to ear he quickly took a shower, dressed up and packed a few essentials into his backpack. Before setting out he took a few pieces of bread and gave aunt Velma an excuse saying he was meeting up with some friends but before she could stop him to inquire more he had dashed out of the door quickly.

Arriving at the set location of the portal, there waited four figures, three men and a woman. They all looked to be in their early twenties and their presence exuded a confidence that came from ability and experience as hunters on the field. They were dressed in heavy and light armour, their weapons gleaming faintly under the sunlight. They turned to face the direction of the teenage redhead walking towards them. The tallest of the group was a guy with blond hair and wore a confident smirk, he stepped forward.

“You must be Lucien, right”? He nodded “yea I am here for the portal expedition”. The blonde man gave him a look up and down from his worn-out boots to the plain dagger at his waist.

“Ah good I am Adrian and this is Ronan, Lira, and Drex as you can see we needed someone to help with the rare materials and beasts crystals” said Adrian with a polite tone but his eyes had a condescending look to them.

"You don’t seem to have any equipment. Are you sure you can handle carrying our supplies?” asked Lira, smiling faintly as she leaned on her spear beside him. “I’ll manage.” said Lucien with a forced small smile.

“He looks like he can barely handle his own weight what's your rank kid”

Ronan the bulky one with a greatsword strapped to his back snorted softly.

“rank 1”

“What!... I thought last time we agreed on no rookies on the team…. “Tsk, if that girl hadn’t bailed on us, we wouldn’t be stuck in this mess.”

"Ronan!,” Lira warned him gently, though her amused eyes didn’t hide the agreement.

Drex, the fourth member, a quiet guy wore a hood, glanced at Lucien without saying a word. He was the only one who didn’t seem openly judgmental, but his silence carried the same quiet dismissal.

The blond-haired leader clapped his hands. “Alright then guys let's head inside and don’t worry, rookie just stay close, don’t do anything stupid, and we’ll all come back in one piece.”

Lucien nodded again. “got it.”

“Good and remember you’re just here to carry supplies. Leave the fighting to us.” Ronan said. Lucien bit the inside of his cheek, swallowing his pride. “understood”

Ad they turned toward the entrance of the secret realm, a portal shimmered before them like liquid glass, rippling with soft hues of gold and violet. The air around it rippled with pure mana energy. Adrian turned to the group.

“Remember the plan guys and stick close, no soloing. We clear the outer zone, gather the beast crystals, and move out before sundown.

"He gave Lucien a pointed look.

“You just follow orders, rookie. Don’t do anything unless I say so.”

Lucien nodded quietly, adjusting the heavy pack of supplies on his shoulders. “Gosh how many times will he keep reminding me” he thought alittle irritated. Then, one by one, they stepped through the portal.

Arriving on the otherside of the portal a different world unfolded before their eyes. The geography was an endless grassland with vegetation stretching to the horizon, dotted with massive trees whose canopies blend into the distant mist.

Above them, the sky shimmered like fractured glass and endless twilight.

Lira said softly, awe touching her voice. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yeah I guess,” Lucien murmured, scanning the horizon. 'What the hell is beautiful about this place …more like creepy and dangerous’ was the thought on his mind.

Soon enough they met some basic tier beast with his system he could see their names above their heads [iron tusk boar]. Wasting no time Lucien stayed behind a rock, clutching the bag. He watched as they fought in their own way. Ronan sliced through one beast with his longsword, as Adrian hurled wind slashes from his blade, Lira’s spear pierced another and Drex shot arrows swiftly.

Moments later, they were moving deeper into the forest, the soft rustle from their movement in the grass echoing in the air. Ronan led the way confidently with his shield on forearm. Lira walked beside him, her spear glinting. Adrian kept to the rear, while Drex went ahead to scout the area silently. He crouched down and brushed his gloved hand over the soil.

Lucien trailed behind, burdened by the weight of their supplies but quietly observing the trees surrounding them. His instincts told him this place was alive. “There are fresh tracks” in a low voice said drex it hasn’t been long some beast passed by. Adrian stepped closer. “What type of beast is it?”

“Hard to tell,” Drex replied. “But these tracks seems like that of a cat like magic beast …. Wait there are more tracks”. Inspecting more he paused for a moment then his eyes flashed in fear. Adrian seeing the terror on Drex's face

“What's wrong”

With a trembling voice he replied “..w..we just walked into an ambush”

Everyone's heart skipped a beat

Suddenly they started hearing the rustling sound in the bushes, the grass moving unnaturally, as though something invisible was within them.

"On guard Lyra and Drex protect the kid Ronan and I will take the front”! Adrain barked.

“Standard formation”!

ROOOAAAR

Out of the tall bushes leaped a Green Plainstalker, a panther-like beast with sleek green fur and twin sabre-teeth curving upward from its jaws. It lunged at Ronan who blocked it's claw with his shield and pierced the belly of the beast.

ROOOAARR

it cried in agony to it's death

Several green plainstalkers came out the bushes and circled around them.

One beast broke past them and lunged towards Lucien swiping its claw at him.

“Lucien, move!” Lira shouted.

Barely in time Lucian blocked the attack with his dagger held in a reverse grip.

CLANG

[-5]

The momentum of the attack pushed him a few meters backwards, his boots sliding on the ground.

“If I didn't block that attack in time just now I'd have been a goner” gritting his teeth due pain shooting through his arm from the impact.

Staring at the mangled edges of the dagger blade

“I don't think this dagger will survive another strike like that”

Survival quest:

[You and your teammates are surrounded if you want to live defeat the green plain walkers]

Failure: death

Reward:?