NOVEL WEB Chapter 3: Chapter 3
{A/N: It took a while but I was finally able to write a chapter I was fairly happy with, its not perfect but I can't do any better.}
A week after the sudden emergence of the pink gates, tensions gripped the world as the gates edged ever closer to breaking, their presence hovering over humanity like a grim reaper's shadow.
In that crucial week, humanity had banded together with desperate unity. Mass alliances formed as guilds worked in coordination to clear the imposing gates before their corrosive contents could spill into the world.
Of the gates that appeared they were able to close the weaker ones, but the stronger A-rank and beyond proved insurmountable challenges, with casualties rapidly accumulating. Recognizing the futility of throwing bodies into what had become a meat grinder, the governments across the world implemented contingency plans they had hoped never to use.
Since the emergence of the very first gate and the fall of the entire Australian continent, world governments had realized that some gates might prove too powerful for mere humans to defeat.
Thus they had gathered their best engineers from around the world and tasked them with the single goal of creating the strongest containment possible—something that could withstand the full might of a ruptured pink gate and the corruption within.
The plan they came up with was both incredibly simply yet unimaginably complex at the same time, pushing forward all branches of science at the same time. Their plan was to enclose the gate within an impenetrable dome before it could break open, hence rendering it a non-threat.
What really proved to be a challenge was the actual implementation of the idea. Years were spent with scientists and engineers from across the world pushing every branch of science to its limits until their goal became achievable.
And they had succeeded.
The dome itself stretched tens of meters thick, and was suspended above a canyon blasted into the terrain by high-ranking hunters in order to keep it away from the world.
Once sealed, theoretically no force on earth could ever breach the sphere, effectively locking away the gate and its corruptive energy for as long as possible. The scientists had even designed an interchangeable cable system in case the supports holding the sphere were to break or become corrupted.
When it became clear the gates couldn't be cleared in time, the governments around the world acted swiftly, assembling every available resource and person possible to construct the containment spheres.
Now, a week after the gates' appearance, all of humanity waited with bated breath to see whether the domes would hold. Whether they would live another day.
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Within a sterile bunker, completely isolated from the outside world, men and women rushed back and forth performing last-minute system checks.
In the main observation room, a row of the world's most elite government officials stood watching the frantic activity below. At the far end, a massive array of screens displayed dozens of different gates trembling violently within their sealed spheres.
One politician turned to his assistant. "Any updates? How long do the scientists estimate before they break?"
The assistant adjusted his tablet, about to respond when commotion erupted from the control centre below. On the central screen, one camera feed enlarged to show a horde of fleshy creatures flooding from a gate.
Gasps of horror rippled through the observation deck. One politician stepped back in shock, another fled entirely, and a third began to weep. In the command centre below, scientists monitored the spread of the crimson plague pouring from the breached gate.
Wherever the crimson touched, the ground twisted and morphed to accommodate its needs. It quickly overtook the scant soil within the dome before finally reaching the walls. Everyone held their breath as the crimson wave came to an abrupt stop, seemingly unable to corrupt the specially designed material.
Cheers erupted across the room in celebration of their victory, but the jubilation quickly died down as the crimson creatures flooded the interior and approached the walls.
Silence fell again as the creatures began their assault on the sphere. Spider-like entities, deformed humanoids, and floating squids launched a variety of attacks against the containment with no visible effect.
Finally, one scientist exhaled in relief while projecting his data onto the main screen. "The sphere is holding with no signs of structural damage. We did it!"
Cheers exploded across the room as every human present celebrated their small victory against the terror of the pink gates that had already claimed an entire continent.
Across the world, the sentiment was shared as guilds refocused on the normal gates that had been neglected in light of the greater threat. All of them remained unaware that what they had witnessed was merely the beginning of many disasters yet to come.
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In the frozen expanse of Russia, a large man walked confidently through snow-covered streets, his footsteps leaving deep impressions in the icy powder. Standing roughly one hundred sixty-five centimetres tall, he was covered in rippling muscle and many scars.
The man's face, usually twisted into a permanent sneer, now showed an uncharacteristic level of worry. At his hip, a rainbow-colored sword that slowly cycled through its spectrum of hues rested like a heavy weight on his soul, its blade just slightly duller than when he'd first claimed it.
The man was Ivan Petricoff, the man who had led the only successful expedition into an A-rank pink gate weeks ago, and one of Russia's most prominent hunters. However at the moment he cared little for his fame as his current concern centred entirely on the very blade he had grown so fond of.
In the weeks following his successful raid, his fame had continued to rise, and with the sword in his possession, so too had his power. Everything had been going perfectly—he had started touring the world to fight in dungeons, happily slaughtering through monsters with little regard for his 'teammates.'
But what truly disturbed him was a connection only he had noticed, and only by chance. While celebrating the successful sealing of pink dungeons worldwide, he had casually observed a map showing their locations.
With sickening dread, he had realized that several pink gates had appeared in exactly the same locations where he had previously cleared gates during his world tour. Unable to dismiss his concerns, he had immediately returned to his guild building and researched the exact coordinates of every dungeon he had conquered since claiming the sword from the A-rank pink gate.
Concerningly his fears were confirmed—the locations aligned perfectly with the new pink gate sites. Ivan had never been the sharpest tool in the shed, but even he could draw the obvious conclusions.
Glancing down at the sword on his waist, he paused briefly before continuing down the dark streets, readjusting the item slung over his shoulder.
As he walked toward the frozen river, only a single annoyed thought echoed through his mind:
'Why did he have to barge into my office like that?'
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Meanwhile, on the far side of the world within the depths of a pink gate on the lost continent Australia, a fierce battle raged. Hallowed beasts rushed from all directions toward a single figure standing at the centre of their forces.
Moving with fluid grace, an ethereal woman glided between their attacks like water flowing around stone. Bending backward, her makeshift clothing rustled as a punch sailed through the air where she had been standing moments before.
Following through with the movement, she transitioned into a back handspring, her foot connecting with her assailant's jaw as she flipped backwards. Landing spryly back on her feet, she weaved between another strike before delivering a punch to the enemy she had just kicked.
The Chaos elemental slid back several meters before dissipating into a cloud of energy that faded into nothing.
Barely acknowledging her enemy's death, she dashed backward as another humanoid entity wreathed in purple energy teleported directly in front of her. Crouching low on one foot, she swept out with her other leg to knock her assailants down while dodging under a stray arrow flying overhead.
Stomping down on one fallen enemy, it too dissipated, allowing her to dash forward and plunge her arm through the core of an illuminated slime. Tearing the core free, she quickly snatched an enchanted sword from the air before snapping it over her knee.
Throwing the two broken pieces they tore a path through her enemies before embedding in the crystal coated wall. Looking with apathy at the hundreds of enemies still surrounding her, she sighed in annoyance before channelling her mana.
Wincing as the energy aggravated the cracks in her soul, she acted quickly and charged through the hordes at supersonic speed. Every one of her movements created shockwaves that injured and killed surrounding enemies wherever she passed.
Reaching the wall, she stopped herself with her foot before blasting back through the crowd. Again and again she ricocheted between the walls like a pinball until the final enemy fell. Breathing heavily, she released her hold on her mana and let it settle, freeing herself from the pain it inflicted.
Recovering quickly, she wiped the sweat from her forehead before heading toward a small tunnel hidden behind a large rock against the corner. Squeezing through the tight crevice, she entered a well-lit chamber where a single crystalline tree grew beneath a beam of light.
Within the chamber five crystalline butterflies circled the tree, floating gently through the air as ethereal energies kept them aloft. Smiling slightly, she approached the tree and sat on a raised root, waiting patiently as the butterflies slowly approached.
One by one, the crystalline relics landed gently on her shoulders before dissolving into motes of light. As they merged with her, the light alleviated the lingering pain from using her mana, while more memories returned and her mind stabilized just a bit more.
Simultaneously, the last ethereal patch of her body closed up as muscles knitted together and smooth white skin grew over top.
"Finally, some modicum of relief." Speaking aloud her angelic voice echoed off the smooth crystal walls of the cavern, her mind finally clear enough to think rationally without being overwhelmed by emotion like a beast.
Standing slowly from the root, she stretched her limbs before flexing her mana. Channelling it into her hand, she managed to create an unstable ball of light without being overwhelmed by pain.
Her smile widened as she turned to leave the chamber. However as she did, her eye caught sight of a vein of glimmering metal peeking from behind the tree. Instantly, different applications for the material flooded her mind.
She stopped, tilting her head in confusion while studying the gleaming ore.
'Where did this knowledge come from? I don't remember ever learning metallurgy or crafting, so why do I instinctively know how to work with this material? These memories don't feel like mine either.'
Furrowing her brow a small modicum of worry sprouted within her thoughts as she racks her mind for answers. Feeling like the answers she wants are on the tip of her tongue figuratively, she decides to boost her brain with mana to push through.
Instantly pain racks her body as she stumbles, her mind growing bleary as her mana flows freely through her body. Wincing she attempts to rein in her mana but finds it doesn't listen to her and feels like grasping at air.
Panicking slightly she continues attempting to rein in her mana as cracks begin to split her skin and her soul trembles in pain. Clutching at her head a scream scratches its way out of her throat as ichor drips from wounds across her body.
Realising she only has one feasible option she stumbles towards the tree in the centre of her room, and drawing back she smashes her head against the crystalline trunk, knocking her unconscious.
Within the gate, minutes passed one by one until the hour mark approached and the dungeon began to shake. Gasping awake, she looked around with bleary eyes, her mind a chaotic mess of pained thoughts.
'What's happening... oh... I tried to force the memory.' Clarity returned to her eyes as she jolted forward in panic. Seeing the trembling dungeon around her, she staggered to her feet, ichor dripping from countless cracks across her body.
Using the wall for support, she slowly squeezed back through the crevice into the area where she had fought earlier. Stumbling through the dungeon as quickly as possible, she navigated back to the exit, throwing herself through the portal just as it flickered dangerously.
She hit the ground hard on the other side as the gate sealed quietly behind her. Gasping for air, cold sweat soaked her body as every nerve screamed in agony. Each movement aggravated the wounds across her form, causing more ichor to drip onto the soil below.
Laying there motionless for hours it wasn't until the sun rose over the horizon that her wounds slowly began to close. Waiting several more minutes, she didn't attempt to move until she felt her injuries seal completely.
Sitting up in the dirt, she grimaced before brushing the mess from her body. Rising slowly, she stumbled briefly before steadying herself. Looking around, she found a well-illuminated spot and walked over to sit.
Under the rays of the early morning sun, her beauty remained barely tarnished by the traces of ichor still marking her skin.
'Finally, I can think clearly again. That was incredibly foolish—I shouldn't have attempted to use such advanced applications of mana with the current state of my soul.' Now able to think without pain, she mentally berated her poor decision before moving on.
'What now? I obviously can't enter any nearby gates with these injuries. They may have healed on the surface, but full a recovery will take time. I could probably accelerate the process if I could find another fragment of my soul, but that's impossible without entering a gate.' She sighed.
Disappointed in herself, she mentally worked through her options before settling on a plan. 'The sun will help speed recovery, but it won't be enough. My best option is to find a safer gate and recover another soul fragment.'
Rising from her resting spot, she spun on the spot whilst scanning the horizon, sensing a faint fragment of her soul somewhere in the far distance.
Choosing her direction, she immediately began walking.