"LET'S START."

When Jang-mi said that, big holograms that look like massive screens appeared on both sides of the gates. Surprisingly, there were CCTV cameras around, which were not visible to the naked eye. Perhaps, it's the technology by the Sovietskys of Russia.

The tall gate opened and there was this blinding light that emitted on the doorway. It's weird. Why are such effects on that door?

"No. 1, the Kavanaghs of Dublin," Jang-mi announced.

The cameras focused on the Kavanaghs approaching the gate. There were three of them, all in black, as usual.

"Oh, the fucking bitches are here! I can't wait to tear them apart," Ellis whispered.

"Don't speak like that, Ellis. They look dangerous," I said.

"And I look fierce and unstoppable. How about that?" he bantered.

Haru giggled. "You know Sinead and Sorcha, but the tallest one you shouldn't mess with."

I looked at the tallest one. She looked calm, though. "Why, Haru?"

"She's the worst," Jia uttered.

"Really? I think she has better taste than the two sluts beside her," Ellis spoke.

Fei giggled. "That's Searlait Kavanagh, the eldest sister. She used to be my archnemesis in high school. She ran against me in the student council."

"But why did Jia think she's the worst?" I followed up.

Haru answered my question. "As Fei became the new student council president, she gathered all the anomalies she can get, by hook or by crook, just to overthrow Fei's administration. She even created these terrible lies to leave a dent in Fei's image. Every month, when the campus paper was released, the editor's piece was always about attacking the student council. She was the editor-in-chief of the paper. Her words were oddly written, on top of the content she was writing. I make better lies than her, actually."

"But that's all in the past. We never had any magic-related bouts. It's all in the school," Fei toned down Haru's words.

"So the Kavanaghs studied in New York?" I asked.

"Nah, the two don't like studying. Only Searlait is the bookish one," Haru replied.

"Makes sense," Ellis scoffed. "They both look dumber than the bimbos in Brooklyn."

The Kavanaghs made it to the gate with ease. Jang-mi called the next group.

"No. 2, the Kembabazis of New Orleans."

"Oh, look! It's Rakisha! Oakley was with them!" I pointed to the screen and they looked at it.

"Close your eyes," Fei said.

"Why would you want me to close my eyes?" I asked back.

"No, that's what Rakisha told Oakley, before she uttered some spell. I know that door has some sort of magic," Jia spoke. "I can feel it from here."

"What kind of magic? I thought an extremely bright spotlight was there and we're going to have our pre-battle photo op?" Ellis said while retouching his makeup.

Nevertheless, the Kembabazis made it to the door, including Oakley, whose eyes are shut upon entering.

"No. 3, the Marasigans of Manila," Jang-mi spoke.

We waved at them and wished them good luck. I love the Marasigans. They're one of those people who bring light and joy to us. Fortunately, they all passed through the door safely.

"No. 4, the Nicolescus of Bucharest."

There was a loud "Ooh" in the crowd. I wonder why.

"Oh, shit," Haru said.

"Why? What's wrong?" I told Haru.

"One of them is a non-magic human being," Fei uttered with a stern face.

Ellis and I looked at each other. Perhaps, we both had a different feeling about this.

We watched the human from the Nicolescu group pass through the door. The other Nicolescu members didn't do anything like Rakisha did to Oakley. A few moments later, we heard shrieks and yelps from the door.

An indistinct chatter emerged from the crowd. What happened to the human through that door?

Jang-mi wasn't affected by those. She still called the next group. "No. 5, the Jaramillos of Bogota."

Three bulky men walked the aisle like they're Moses who parted the Red Sea. The sorcerers and magicians around them automatically moved away from them. They all looked serious from the screen. However…

It only took three seconds for them to pass through that door and… the men screamed with their low voices.

"I get it now…" Jia spoke.

"What is it?" Ellis asked.

"They are eliminating the weak through that door," Haru said.

Ellis and I looked at each other. We had that same feeling again.

"Don't worry," Fei held my hand and kissed it. "Gramms gave you that ring, right?"

Oh, yeah. This protection ring that Mrs. Xing gave us. I looked at all of them and they were all wearing the rings.

But… who knows how powerful that magic on that door is?

After that fifth family that Jang-mi is calling, more and more were screaming on that door. Yet, some of our friends made it okay, such as the Mantovanis of Milan, the Campbells of Auckland, and the Anthonys of Mumbai. The five hundred beings that used to be here were now down to two hundred, in my estimate.

However, the next name that Jang-mi called gave shivers to my body.

"No. 169, the Donnellys of Edinburgh," Jang-mi stated.

"No way!" Jia shouted!

"Oh, gosh…" Upon seeing who was focused on the scream, I could not help but hold my breath.

"Madame Corvina…" Fei uttered.

"And her sisters… who are fine," Haru added.

So… Is it the reason she left the Xing mansion? She wanted to join The Krieg?

She's been in the Xing mansion for so long, but Fei never mentioned that she was interested in joining. She didn't even say anything when she flew back to Edinburgh. What was her plan all along? This is creepy.

What's even creepier was as she walked towards the stairs to the gate, she was staring at the camera as if she was staring at all of us. This dark aura that she was releasing made me quiver.

The Xings remained quiet, so I talked to Fei in my mind.

[I didn't see that coming.] I said.

[Neither did I. Madame Corvina, well, she's always been quiet, but it doesn't mean that she didn't have any thoughts at all. Still waters run deep, as they say.] Fei replied.

"No. 170, the representatives of the Kingdom of Merizem," Jang-mi spoke.

Tiberion looked at us and waved his hand. "I'll see you guys in there."

Together with two of his men, they walked towards the gate and effortlessly they passed through.

After that, a very strong power dominated the entire place. There are twelve more people who walked the area. I held Fei's hand tighter because I sort of felt a darker aura than Madame Corvina's.

"The French, the K/oreans, the Russians, and the Swedes," Haru said.

[The three Russian ladies in the front are the Sovietskayas. Vitaliya, Matryona, and Nadenka. Next to them are the French, the Saint-Pierres. Corentin, Philippe, and Enzo. The two Asians next to the French are Jang-mi's brothers, Hyeon Sung-jin and Hyeon Ji-hoon. And of course, the tall blonde girls and guys at the back are the Borgs. Ragnhild, Eskil, Pelle, and Sigrid. Beware of all of them. They're really powerful.]

[More powerful than us?] I asked Fei.

[You can say that, but we're going to fight, yeah?] He then smiled at me.

After a couple of groups called,

"No. 175, the Xings of New York City," Jang-mi said.

All of us walked towards the gate of Orkatta. I know that the powers of these people who just arrived are very intimidating, but what matters to me right now is for me to pass through that gate and survive and share the world with Fei.

I must not die on that door. I can't be that weak, okay? I must live to tell the world how much I wanted to fight for him too. I can feel that I can do it.

"Fei," the man called Fei.

"Eskil," Fei nodded as well.

"Good luck, Xings and our dear guests," said the lady beside Eskil.

"Thanks, Ragnhild. Likewise," Haru replied.

Yet, it wasn't just a simple greeting. I can imagine there were clashing of powers, or they were animals about to attack and devour each other! The tension is high! Something is really between the Xings and the Borgs. I can feel it… and it's not good!

When we were about to take the stairs, we heard a voice of a girl nearby.

"Haru!"

When we looked, I got surprised because…

"Fenna!" Haru yelled.

Automatically, Ellis pulled Haru to the stairs and said, "Let's go, baby?" Then he stared at Fenna with a passion.

Haru kept on moving his head as he went upstairs, but Ellis was blocking his view.

Jia followed, then Fei and me.

A few moments more, we reached the topmost part of the stairs and Jang-mi bowed to us and demonstrated her hand to the gate.

Jia went first and it was silent.

Then, Haru. It was quiet too.

Ellis was the third one to pass. Thankfully, I didn't hear him scream.

Up next was Fei, who kissed me on the cheek before walking. "Take care, all right? You'll be fine. I'll meet you at the other side."

"Okay," I said, as I saw him walking towards the blinding light.

"Next, please," Jang-mi said.

I took a deep breath before walking. "This is really it."

In three, two, one… I walked and…

I bounced back as if there's a giant ball in front of me!

I looked at Jang-mi and said, "What's happening? Why can't I pass through?"

This wasn't like those who went ahead of us. What's wrong?

I can't be separated from my friends!

I can't be separated from Fei!

I just can't!