"What!? What is a Portal doing here?"

With Charlotte pulling the giant trees and revealing the Portal it was hiding, the Standby Unit leader quickly jumped out of the truck. The mix of panic and amazement in his voice could not be hidden.

​​

"There shouldn't be a Portal here, the map isn't detecting it!" The Standby Unit then looked at the device he was holding, repeatedly fidgeting with it with his fingers. A complicated look was slowly starting to crawl on the Standby unit leader's face, as no matter how he refreshes the map, nothing comes up on it.

"Could this be the Pit?" Van quickly got off the truck as soon as he realized what Charlotte had discovered; the tone of his voice containing a bit of excitement.

The Standby Unit leader, however, shook his head repeatedly upon hearing his words, "Impossible," he said, "It is recorded here that the Portal that used to be the Pit is still ways away, about 200km that way," the Standby Unit leader pointed towards a certain direction.

"But… there really should not be any Portal here, even the map is not detecting it. Is it possible… that the Portal moved over time?" Although the Standby Unit leader knew that what he was saying was impossible, he just couldn't shake the fact that there was a chance that it was. After all, they were talking about the Darkzone, an area completely unexplored for more than 50 years. "This… is truly fascinating."

"One way to find out."

"Y… yes, of course!"

As soon as Charlotte's words reached the Standby Unit leader's ears, he quickly clapped his hands and ordered his team to set up the perimeter. Although the Portal in front of them right now was a White Portal, a Rank-F Portal, they could not really relax.

Usually, if they were faced with a Rank-F Portal, they wouldn't even bother setting up barricades and other necessities. But if there was a possibility that this was the Pit, then they should be prepared for everything. Even if it was a Rank-F Portal, it was still the Portal that Charlotte and her protege came all the way to their country for.

And so, the team acted as if the Portal was a Purple Portal, Rank A. As soon as it was set up, the scout tasked to get basic information of the Portal took everything he could with him, fully prepared for anything that could happen.

And with a thumbs up, he carefully stepped inside the Portal.

"My grandfather didn't tell me why you and the White Imvubu are searching for the Pit."

"Hm?" Van stepped to the side as Adia approached him.

"Can you… tell me why you're searching for the Pit?"

"..." Hearing Adia's question, Van could not help but look towards the Portal surrounded by trees, and then back towards Adia while letting out a small sigh.

"I honestly don't know myself," Van muttered, "I suppose you can say that I am trying to find myself."

"...An American traveled all the way to Africa just to find himself?" Adia raised an eyebrow, "What are you, an old hermit?"

"Well… You could also say that I am here for a woman."

"You had a girlfriend!?" Adia could not help but slightly stepped back upon hearing Van's words. She was careful not to raise her voice as the cameras were pointed at them. But alas, she just couldn't help herself.

"Yes," Van answered without hesitation, "I have 2."

"W… what!?"

"Pft."

"..." Adia could only roll her eyes as she saw the subtle smirk on Van's face. She barely knew Van and has only met her less than a month ago. And yet, Van was already her fiance, albeit fake and only as a political move. There was also the fact that Adia also shared her story and dreams with Van, and yet he hasn't really told him about anything.

It truly was quite unfair, she thought. And although Adia did not like Duma, he was the only one brave enough to court her… and he died just like that. She was about to turn 30, and if she doesn't marry any time soon, then she was afraid that she wouldn't be having any children to pass her bloodline.

If it was like this, then maybe she should really just go with Van. He's the White Imvubu's protege, more than likely a potential Platinum-rank Explorer in the future, and he did not look bad as well. Although…

...he still did look like a 12-year-old. If Adia wasn't aware of Van's real age, then she would definitely be handing him candy. But perhaps, that is not too bad as well?

In 10 years, she would still have a young-looking husband.

"...Is there something on my face?"

"!!!"

Adia quickly shook her head as she completely erased any thoughts that she had. She didn't realize that she had been staring at Van for more than a whole minute now.

Wait… A whole minute?

Adia quickly placed her attention back to the White Portal before placing her attention on the Standby Unit leader, "The scout is not back yet?"

"...No," The Standby Unit leader furrowed his eyebrows as he looked at the Portal, "Something is definitely wrong."

"That decides it then," Angela, who had been keeping quiet the whole time, finally started moving and started to stretch her arms and her legs. Adia and the other people in the group could not help but be surprised by her actions. Throughout their whole Exploration, Angela never once prepared and just casually entered the Portals without even stretching her legs.

But this time, she was fully preparing herself. Just what exactly was she expecting to find inside the Portal? In fact, even the White Imvubu held a serious expression-- this put the final nail that made the atmosphere of the group extremely heavy.

"Van," once again, Adia approached Van, "I am going to ask you again. Just why did you and the White Imvubu come all this way? What's inside the Pit?"

"I don't know yet."

"Quit the bullshit, we're risking our lives here."

"I told you," Van let out a sigh, "I don't know whether or not the thing that we will be meeting is friendly or not."

"...The thing? What thing?"

Hearing the adamant tone in Adia's voice, it would seem that she really would not let up if Van did not tell her anything. And so, with a small but deep sigh, he whispered into Adia's ear.

"...a god," Van uttered before he left and walked to where Angela and Charlotte are, leaving a petrified and confused Adia frozen in place.

"Do you think this really is the Portal, Miss Charlotte, Ms. Angela?" Van asked as he stood in between the two.

"Considering this Portal is almost as weird as you, it probably is," Angela said as she finally finished stretching her body, "You know what we will be meeting, yes? You've already met one of them back in America's Pit."

"Hm," Van nodded his head.

"What about you, do you know what we will be meeting? Master Evangeline already told you everything, right?" Angela then turned her attention towards Charlotte, who still held a heavy expression on her face.

"Somewhat," Charlotte muttered, "I don't fully believe that bitch, but since I am already here, I am fully invested to see this through."

"Just don't attack the first thing you see," Angela lightly clicked her tongue, "This is not something your muscles can solve, Charlotte."

"We'll see about that," Charlotte could not help but smirk from Angela's statement, "Let's go in."

"Alright."

"Don't order me around."

"Wait!"

The three were about to go inside, but Adia suddenly blocked their path. "We need to talk about how to proceed once we're inside first!"

"You're not coming this time, Princess," Angela quickly shook her head as she gestured to Adia to step away, "I am afraid playtime is over."

"What!? But you've helped us clear all the Portal so far. Please let us help you in this one!"

"Listen to the midget, Princess Adia. I do not know what to say to King Badru if something happens to you."

This time, it was Charlotte that spoke to Adia.

"But--"

Before Adia could even finish her words, Charlotte suddenly disappeared from her spot. Adia wasn't even able to react as she felt a slight pain on her neck before her vision completely faded.

"P… Princess!"

The Standby unit members could not help but panic as Charlotte flicked Adia's neck with her finger. Charlotte, of course, caught Adia before she could fall on the ground.

"Get her," Charlotte gently lifted Adia, calling one of the members of the Standby unit to retrieve her. Several members rushed to get Adia, carefully carrying her back to the truck without even saying a word.

Kamia, who remained on the truck all throughout the scenario, could not help but wonder what was going on. But after a few seconds of looking at the unconscious Princess, she realized she didn't care and went back to rest.

"Don't let her follow us inside in case she wakes up," Charlotte said.

"Y… yes!" The Standby Unit leader automatically saluted, "We'll be sure to tell her not to follow."

"Hm," Charlotte only nodded before walking back beside Angela and Van, "Let's go. I'll kill you if you die."

"Kill yourself."

"Hm."

The three all took in deep breaths before they all stepped inside the Portal, their silhouette, slowly fading.

***

"He is here?"

The colossal green-haired woman let out a slight gasp as her nose slightly moved. Afterward, her eyes twitched a little as she felt an uncomfortable feeling wrapping her body.

"Is… is he canceling out my Influence? Why? Who are you? Hermes? No… but it smells like you."

The ground trembled as the colossal green-haired woman slowly stood up, her movements slightly clumsy as she has not moved for almost a thousand years.

"Are you…

...an enemy?"