Unknown Frontier

Ian and the others exited the vehicle, greeted by the warm sunshine and a cool breeze. The landscape was bustling with activity, machines roared as they dug deeper into the mine, clearing the surroundings and reinforcing the rooming structures. Dust and debris swirled in the air, mixing with the scent of fresh earth and metal.

In the distance on the side of mine, Ian saw Aeson, Master Ordan, and another man speaking with law enforcement officers.

On the other side, multiple camps sprawled across the landscape, more like 3D-printed houses. Various groups of people, including medics and workers, moved between them. More vehicles arrived, bringing additional personnel.

A person approached them and directed them to their designated camp.

Every now and then, there were curious glances at him, as he was the only human among them. Some were subtle, while others were more open in their scrutiny. Ian had grown used to it, but the weight of their stares still lingered.

After some time, Master Ordan arrived and briefed them on their objective. They were to open the ruin. They would be protected by security personnel. Once they were open, Master Ordan himself would enter with scouts to assess the safety of the site. If the ruin turned out to be simple, they would explore, retrieve artifacts, and document findings. If not, they would report back to the District Capital, which would send reinforcements. Either way, they would be handsomely compensated.

Ian spotted Aeson near the entrance, observing the operation. Approaching him, Ian learned that the mine belonged to an old acquaintance of Aeson's, the man he had been speaking with earlier. He had been called in to oversee safety, but Aeson remained wary. Choosing to stay near the entrance, he was ready to step in if anything went wrong.

They were provided with basic weapons, laser guns, for emergency use. However, security personnel carried more advanced weaponry.

Descending into the mine, the air grew heavier. Dim lighting cast eerie shadows along the walls, revealing layers of rock interwoven with metallic veins.

At the ruin's entrance stood a massive door like thing, its surface etched with glowing runes forming an elaborate, arcane circuit. The markings pulsed faintly, reacting to their presence.

Along with Master Ordan, they began their work.

As they worked, a growing mental pressure settled upon them. This was likely why an initial screening had been conducted. Some workers stepped outside for breaks, but Ian remained focused, making the most progress. Master Ordan took note of this.

Even Myrra took a few breaks. Eventually, the day came to an end, and they returned to camp to rest for the next day.

That night, under a sky teeming with distant stars, Ian found himself alone with Myrra. Their conversation drifted from idle chatter to something more meaningful. He learned that she had lived in Vaelis, the territorial capital of Waithalas, along with her parents before tragedy struck. From what Ian understood, the planet Idilia was divided into multiple territories, further split into districts and then into cities or towns. A Governor presided over the entire planet from the Federal Capital, Fylsneas, where major planetary decisions were made, while the lower levels of governance handled their respective regions.

After her parents' accident, she had moved here to live with her aunt and uncle. They were kind people who took her in, providing for her and treating her as their own. They also have a small daughter, who Myrra adores a lot.

As the conversation took on a somber tone, Myrra leaned her head on Ian's shoulder, seeking comfort in the quiet moment.

"Sorry for bringing up such a sad conversation," she murmured.

Ian shook his head. "You don't have to apologize. I'm glad you told me."

They sat in silence for a while, the stars above painting a quiet serenity over them before they finally parted for the night.

The next day, they resumed their work. Ian remained consistent, pushing through the mental strain. By the afternoon, they finally managed to crack the entrance. With bated breath, Master Ordan activated the mechanism.

"CREAK."

Suddenly, the runes around them blazed to life, and the ground trembled violently.

"No! We were already inside it! Retreat immediately!" Master Ordan shouted.

Before Ian could react, his body lurched into weightlessness. The world blurred into darkness.

He hit the ground hard, a sharp pain flaring up his side. Groaning, he opened his eyes.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Ian turned toward the voice. Three figures stood before him, members of the security team assigned to protect them. Their faces were tense but alert. Ian pushed himself up, scanning his surroundings.

The ruin's interior was vast, dimly lit by ethereal blue veins running along the walls. Structures jutted out in the distance resembling ancient altars.

"We just have to wait until they come to rescue us," one of them said. They had protocols in place, and it seemed they had already established contact with the outside. They just needed to hold their ground until help arrived.

They decided to check the surroundings nearby to ensure it was safe.

"Woosh!" a sharp sound cut through the air.

They soon heard the sounds of fighting nearby.

"Look out!" one of the men exclaimed.

As Ian turned around, he saw a foul creature emerging from the darkness, moving toward them with terrifying speed. It had an elongated body covered in jagged, bone-like protrusions, its multiple eyes glowing with an unnatural light, and its sharp, clawed limbs scraping against the ground.

"Folmar, stay back to protect Ian!"

"Okay!"

The team quickly secured their weapons and started firing. The creatures were coming from multiple entrances, swarming in overwhelming numbers. It was becoming harder to manage. Folmar, who had initially stayed back, was forced to join the front lines, while Ian stood ready, firing from the rear when he found an opening.

Driven by Mindbloom, Ian could visualize their movements and pinpoint their weaknesses with eerie precision. His laser gun found its marks with unnerving accuracy, dropping several creatures in quick succession.

Then, a sudden attack.

One of the creatures lunged at him. This one was different. Its form was more grotesque, its movements more refined, and its eyes locked onto Ian with unsettling intelligence. His instincts screamed at him to move, and he knew exactly how to evade, but his reflexes couldn't keep up. It was too close. Too fast.

He barely managed to shift, taking a glancing hit while stabbing the creature in the skull with his gun. He fired repeatedly, the creature thrashing violently. Even after several direct shots to the head, it continued clawing at him, dragging him down. It was only after multiple rounds to the same spot that the creature finally stopped moving.

Pain shot through his body, his vision blurred. The weight of the dead creature pinned him down, and with the others still occupied in battle, Ian struggled to move. Realizing he had no other choice, he activated his storage bracelet, dematerializing the massive corpse into it, freeing himself at last.

Just as he got to his feet, another attacker loomed behind him. A crushing blow struck his head. Dazed, he collapsed to his knees. His vision swam. He was defenceless. This was it, his life was over before it had truly begun.

Then, a sharp, precise shot rang out.

The creature crumpled to the ground.

Ian gasped, his fading vision catching sight of Myrra, her weapon still raised. Beside her stood a group of reinforcements. Relief flooded through him just before he lost consciousness.

When Ian woke up, he was inside the camp, a medic treating his wounds. Every part of him ached.

"You're awake. Just rest for a while," the medic instructed.

After some time, Myrra and the others visited him.

"You had us worried," she said with a small smile, relief evident in her eyes.

"Glad you made it through," another team member added.

"Not exactly how I imagined my first outing."

He turned to Myrra, his expression serious. "I owe you my life. If you hadn't been there..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "Thank you."

Myrra shrugged "You would have done the same for me."

Ian grinned. "Still, I owe you one. Name it anytime, and it's yours."

She rolled her eyes. "Just focus on not dying next time."

They shared a light laugh before Ian's exhaustion caught up with him.

He soon learned that the rescue operation had gone smoothly. After he lost consciousness, the remaining team had held their ground for a few more minutes before Master Ordan and Aeson arrived with reinforcements. The creatures never stood a chance, Ordan and Aeson had wiped them out with overwhelming power. Ian lamented that he hadn't been able to witness their battle firsthand.

Most of the team had sustained minor injuries. Some, like him, had moderate wounds, while a few had suffered more serious damage, like lost limbs. But with their advanced medical technology, even the worst injuries would heal within a month or two.

Later, as Ian was being transported back to the city, he caught a glimpse of the collapsed mine. A protective barrier now covered the site, ensuring that nothing could escape. It turned out that Aeson had destroyed the entire mine with a single palm strike, while Master Ordan sealed everything inside.

Ian exhaled in awe, watching the site disappear into the distance. Once again lamenting to have missed the action.