《The Shadows of Vireon》 CHAPTER 1: The Name is Eric ¡°Nine.¡± ¡°Ten.¡± ¡°Eleven¡± Sweat glistened all over a man¡¯s body as he strained his muscles for one final push. The man was Eric laying on a bench under a huge machine connected to the ceiling of the gym. Deeply exhaling he mustered all his energy and pushed the weight amidst the encouragement of his friend. ¡°12¡±, shouting in relief as his arms were fully outstretched supporting the full 100M tons of weight the machine outputted. The weight machine started producing a humming sound as it retracted into the ceiling. Sitting on the bench Eric madly exhaled and inhaled but a smile plastered on his face showed his joy. His biceps dully ached from the intense exercise he just had and he kind off enjoyed the feeling. Standing bare chested in front of the mirrored wall, he flexed his biceps and chest admiring his body. Eric had a lean physique with clearly defined and angular muscles. However his perfect body was somewhat marred by a huge ugly burn scar that stretched across his right arm and covered part of his right face. ¡°Dude you¡¯ve just hit your peak record, do you want to go have breakfast to celebrate?¡± His friend, Kevin handed him his towel and a bottle of water. ¡°No, am going to have breakfast at home.¡± Eric said in between breaths. ¡°Aren¡¯t you just going to order takeaway though? You sure you don¡¯t want to join me?¡± Kevin said. ¡°It¡¯s homemade, am not getting takeaway today.¡± ¡°No way, you cooking his own meals, are you the Eric I know?¡± Kevin jested. ¡°It¡¯s my cousin, Lana, she came home yesterday. She¡¯s the one whose gonna cook.¡± ¡°Figures, why didn¡¯t you inform me about it?¡± Kevin said in realization, ¡°it¡¯s been such a long time since I saw her. She should be in high school now, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Eric said as he stood and walked towards the gym¡¯s washrooms. ¡°Tell her I said hi. I¡¯ll be going to get breakfast remember if you need anything just call.¡± Kevin said as he walked off. ***** Eric returned home after his workout in the agency¡¯s gym, he wore an overcoat and had a white mask with cloud patterns on his face. Opening the door he was met with the chime of a cat bell. A white cat, Tommy, with lush fur rushed to him, rubbing himself on his leg. Bending down he picked up his furry companion. His cousin Lana was lounging on the couch engrossed in a book. ¡°Morning¡± Eric greeted her, closing the door behind him. ¡°Morning¡± Lana naturally responded back. Pausing what she was doing she glanced at him and said ¡°How come Tommy eagerly rushes to you, he keeps running away from me.¡± ¡°Have you tried to offer him food?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve even tried that but he would still run when I came closer to him.¡± Lana complained. Eric gently shut the door and walked towards Lana, however he stopped a meter from her. ¡°He probably be more comfortable with you if you didn¡¯t wear so much cologne¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t use that much.¡± Lana said as she lifted her sleeves and sniffed. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°I¡¯ve already prepared breakfast, it¡¯s in the dining hall.¡± She said closing the book she was reading and headed upstairs. Eric could tell she was going to wash off the smell, she still was the kind of person who liked animals as he remembered. When she were young, the first thing she would do is to rush to Tommy as soon as her parent brought her. Sighing Eric made his way to the dining room, where she had prepared two eggs, a lean beef steak, mashed potatoes and spinach served with blended mango juice. He could feel his taste buds tingle just from looking at the meal. Sitting down he took a bite of steak bringing forth an unexpected burst of flavor making him slump in the chair. He exhaled slowly, savoring the moment, as warmth spread through his body like a comforting embrace. ¡°Jingle!¡± He shifted his gaze to the opposite side of the table. Tommy eyes fully dilated, giving him a ¡®look how pitiful I am¡¯ look. He could only reluctantly tear off a piece of the meat and push it towards the feline. However the cat looked at the small portion he was given before casting his gaze on Eric again. Chuckling Eric touched the small piece and it morphed and enlarged to a size similar to what he had. Satisfied Tommy using his claws tore of a piece and started eating it like a distinguished gentleman. The two sat quietly at the table enjoying their meal. This scene looked incredible as one of them was a cat that was sitting on the chair and eating almost like a person. After Eric finished his meal he took the plates and cup he had used back to the kitchen. Looking at the dishes and utensils that were dirtied in the sink he remembered why he didn¡¯t like to cook in the first place. But it¡¯s all good now, he has free labor¡­ help. Just as he turned around he met with Lana who had come out of her room. Moving close he sniffed and commented, ¡°There is still a faint smell of perfume but Tommy shouldn¡¯t avoid you now.¡± Lana¡¯s face visibly brightened when she heard that. Looking at Tommy who was tailing Eric she cautiously moved closer. Him not running away this time made her whole body fill with joy. Stretching her hand she gently patted his head. Feeling her fingers run through the plushy soft velvet fur, the joy in her body seemed to overflow outside her own body. Eric decided to go to his room giving her some time alone with Tommy. Sitting on his bed he turned on his smart bracelet, which unfolded a holographic screen in front of him. Looking at the messages it from his uncle asking how he and Lana were doing. Turning to the news app, [Power Struggle Unfolds within the High Council: Tensions Rise in Elite Clan], [The declining numbers of Sorcerers Awakening: is Sorcery a Dead End], [Prison Break: Escape from Westvale Maximum Security Prison]¡­ He scrolled over skimming most of the contents and occasionally pausing when an article seemed interesting enough. Finally something caught his eye, [Discovery of the Century: New Material found in an Orange Ranked Rift.] Rifts were spherical silvery spatial gates that connected to different worlds. Their danger levels were categorized by color: black, red, orange, yellow and green. Black-ranked rifts were practically a death sentence, while green-ranked rifts were completely safe¡ªso safe that some companies even built hotels and nature reserves on the other side, turning them into prime vacation destinations. Turning off the smart bracelet he moved to his desk ready to begin work. Pressing a button on the side of the desk a holographic screen and keyboard unfurled above the desk. Opening an editor, he navigated to a program he had been writing. ¡®It¡¯s nine twenty.¡¯ Eric checked the time one last time before he got engrossed in working, all that could be heard was the soft hum of the machine that filled the silent room. ¡°Phew.¡± Stretching he looked at the time. It was forty six minutes past one, he had spent more than four hours working. ¡°Jingle! Jingle!¡± hearing the cat¡¯s chime, Eric looked at his bed and sure enough Tommy was there. Kneading the duvet forming a spot for it to roll into a white fur ball. ***** Lana was reading in the sitting room, she had just finished a chapter and decided to take a break. She looked at the time, it was three in the evening. Looking at the dining room the food she had prepared had already gone cold. She had reminded Eric that he should come and eat but he responded with, ¡°Just a moment.¡± She felt like he was busy and decided to leave him be but, three hours have passed. Storming into Eric''s room she opened the door ready to give him a good scolding. At a glance Eric, sprawled across the bed, lost in a peaceful slumber. Tommy, the ever-present feline companion, lazily basked in the warmth of the afternoon sun from the window, occasionally swatting at Eric''s face with his swishing tail. Irritation sparked within Lana, how could one be so oblivious to the world around him? With a surge of energy, she marched into the room, her footsteps echoing in the quiet house. A pillow somehow found its way into her hands becoming her weapon. With a swift motion, she struck Eric''s face, jolting him awake and sending Tommy to darting away in alarm. "Wake up, you lazybones!" she exclaimed, her voice sharp. "You weren¡¯t really planning to sleep all day, weren¡¯t you?" She said giving him a stern look. ¡°¡­ No¡± ¡°You paused, why¡¯d you pause? You were planning it.¡± Lana wasn¡¯t having it. Thwack, thwack, thwack! The pillow descended with unrelenting determination until Eric, muttering curses under his breath, finally became fully awake. Chapter 2: A Test of Growth Early the next morning¡­ ¡°You made it!¡± Kevin called out enthusiastically, waving as Eric stepped into The Dojo. The Dojo was the only was warrior agency in the city, they had recruited Eric at a young age with Kevin joining much later. Eric glanced at his eager friend and responded with a casual nod. Walking down the hallway, they were met with respectful bows from most of the people they passed. Eventually, they arrived at a room humming with technology. Massive monitors lined the walls, while several staff members worked diligently at their stations. At the forefront stood a woman radiating authority, her presence commanding the entire room. The two quickly bowed when they saw her. ¡°Miss Matelda,¡± one of the staff members reported, ¡°the rift is expected to stabilize in approximately three hours.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Matelda acknowledged with a nod, her gaze fixed on the screen displaying a silvery sphere that pulsed rhythmically ¨C periodically shimmering before fading into a dull glow. ¡°Please contact those explorers and tell them to be early, I don¡¯t want a repeat of last time.¡± She sternly warned. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± The staff responded back. Shifting her gaze to Eric and Kevin. Without a word, she gestured for them to follow. They stepped into a spacious training room, where racks of weapons lined the walls and a square arena in the center. With a swift motion, Matelda removed her coat and hung it aside, revealing her tightly knotted, muscular physique. She wore a form-fitting black tank top that highlighted her muscular physique and loose, baggy black trousers allowed for unrestricted movement with two twin swords sheathed by her hips. On her arms were golden bracers that she could use as defense, deflecting incoming strikes. Rolling her shoulders, she stepped into the arena, stretching her arms with practiced ease. ¡°Come on,¡± she said, her gaze sharp and expectant. ¡°Let¡¯s see how much you¡¯ve improved this past week.¡± Eric and Kevin exchanged a glance before stepping into the arena. Kevin drew his sword, a single-edged blade reminiscent of a katana. Beside him, Eric reached for his hair stick, which expanded in an instant, transforming into a sleek black staff adorned with golden dragon engravings and golden blunt tips. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Matelda watched them with an amused smirk her golden braces on her arms gleaming under the arena lights. "Whenever you''re ready," she said, planting her feet firmly. Kevin was the first to move, dashing in low with his sword cutting a sharp arc through the air. Eric followed half a step behind, his staff sweeping toward Matelda¡¯s blind spot. Without hesitation, Matelda leaned back, narrowly avoiding Kevin¡¯s strike, and raised a bracer just in time to deflect Eric¡¯s staff with a sharp clang. The force sent a gust rippling through the arena, but Matelda stood firm, her balance unshaken. They didn¡¯t let up. Kevin spun, reversing his grip for an upward slash, while Eric twisted his staff, its golden end whistling toward Matelda¡¯s ribs. Side stepping Kevin¡¯s swing she caught Kevin¡¯s wrist mid-strike and used his own momentum to spin him away. In the same motion, she swayed to the side, letting Eric¡¯s staff pass by harmlessly before gripping it for the briefest second and shoving it downward, forcing him off-balance. Stepping forward, she was instantly inside Eric''s guard, with a sweep and push she sent Eric flying to the other side of the arena. Kevin who had recovered rushed behind her hoping to catch her off-guard. He went for a straight slash but as if she had eyes behind her head she tilted her body just dodging the slash. Seeing his strike dodged he wasn¡¯t discouraged but followed with another one. Slashes upon slashes rained down on Matelda but she dodged and bare handedly parried some. Within a second Kevin had unleashed a hundred slashes but none of them even got close to dealing her damage. Eric joined the fight and this time as he thrust the staff it instantly elongated. The staffs reach increased trying to get past her guard, whenever she would try to parry or grab the staff, it would shrink leaving her range. Matelda¡¯s expression shifted slightly in approval. The fight became intense as they zipped from one corner of the arena to another. However the boys hadn¡¯t yet landed a single hit. Eric glanced at Kevin and slightly nodded to him. Sensing the change Matelda got interested, keeping up her guard against anything the boys would come up. At this time Eric lunged towards her with a wide swing. She was just about to receive his attack when the floor below her suddenly shifted forward and her weight shifted backwards making her lose her balance. Eric and Kevin reached her in the split second she was in an awkward position. However her reaction was faster, changing her foot position, she exerted strength in her legs and lunged up evading their strikes. While midair, Matelda flexed her legs again and with a boom, darted towards the boys. They were quick to react but the next second they were sent crashing on the hall¡¯s walls. They both landed with a grunt, staring up at their teacher as she stood over them, arms crossed. "You¡¯ve indeed improved," Matelda mused, tilting her head. "That move you used, shifting the length of the ground was ingenious." She smirked. ¡°Well I was inspired by one of the contestants in the Vireon tournament.¡± Eric said while clutching his chest. ¡°I also noticed you¡¯ve reached elite level, paired with your gift you could probably reach intermediate elite level. Keep it up.¡± Matelda said with a thumbs up. ¡°Thanks Master.¡± Eric humbly responded. Turning her gaze to the exhausted Kevin slumped on the ground, Matelda continued, ¡°You''re still at the peak of the apprentice level, but your reaction time and combat speed have improved significantly. Keep at it.¡± ¡°Cough! Cough¡­ thanks¡­ master.¡± Kevin forced himself to respond between heavy breaths. "I''m giving you ten minutes to recover." Matelda said as she grabbed he coat and headed for the door, ¡°after recovering meet me in the briefing room.¡± Chapter 3: Into the Primeval World In the briefing room, the expedition group who were about to enter the rift had gathered together. Each of them had a brochure containing some of the information about the world beyond the rift. Matelda stood beside a projected display showcasing images from the world beyond the rift. The screen revealed strange purple plants, a stark contrast to the familiar green vegetation of their own world. As the slides changed, it depicted various alien beasts, their bizarre forms unlike anything found in ordinary nature. ¡°Hello, everyone. My name is Amara Matelda, but you can just call me Miss Matelda,¡± she introduced herself, her sharp gaze sweeping across the gathered researchers. ¡°My team is here to ensure your safety inside the rift. We will guard and protect you to the best of our abilities.¡± She clicked a remote, and the projected image changed, displaying a vast purple forest. ¡°This rift is classified as yellow-ranked, meaning the danger level is moderate. It leads to a world we call the Primeval World.¡± ¡°Even though it¡¯s yellow ranked doesn¡¯t mean there isn¡¯t anything that can¡¯t pose a threat to us.¡± Matelda said switching to a new slide, this time showing a colossal beast sprawled across a mountain, unimaginably huge. A few of the newer researchers audibly gasped. ¡°There are creatures here powerful enough to classify this rift as orange-ranked. However, these giants aren¡¯t your biggest concern. They rarely attack unless provoked. It¡¯s the smaller ones you need to watch out for.¡± Another slide appeared, showing a group of strange, insect-like creatures. ¡°Additionally, time works differently in the Primeval World. A single day there lasts twice as long as it does here, which also means night, the most dangerous time, is twice as long.¡± She took a pause before continuing. ¡°The air composition is also different. Expect dizziness and nausea when you first arrive. Your body will gradually adapt, but be mindful of any lingering effects. If you are seriously affected you¡¯ll be escorted out.¡± She glanced at Eric as she said this. A chart appeared on the screen, depicting the fluctuating stability of the rift over the course of several years. ¡°This rift typically remains stable for about sixty days so we will strive to come out after fifty days. To be on the safer side¡± ¡°Any questions?¡± Matelda turned to face the group of researchers. One of the people raised a hand and Matelda nodded in acknowledgement, ¡°Um, I read from an article that the rifts¡¯ stable periods are getting shorter each year, should that be of any concern?¡± Matelda folded her arms. ¡°Well while that¡¯s true, each rift has its own rate of decline. The one we¡¯re about to enter loses approximately one second of stability per year. Since rifts first appeared 800 years ago, this one has shortened by less than 14 minutes in total.¡± She let that sink in before adding, ¡°At that rate, it¡¯ll be a very long time before this rift becomes totally unusable.¡± ¡°Any other?¡± ¡°What would happen if the rift became unstable while we are still inside?¡± ¡°First of all we have schedule to stay in the primeval world for only fifty days, giving us a margin of ten days. However if some incident occurred that destabilized the rift, then our only option would be to survive in the primeval while waiting for the rift to stabilize possible in a years¡¯ time.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Also don¡¯t try to pass through an unstable rift, you¡¯ll die a horrifying death.¡± Matelda waited for a few second, deciding to end it after seeing no one ask any more question. ¡°Once inside, my orders are absolute,¡± Matelda declared. ¡°Next in command is Roshuk.¡± She gestured toward the pale blue lizard-folk standing to the side. Roshuk casually raised a hand in salute. ¡°Ignoring our commands is putting yourself in danger, meaning death. Understood?¡± The people responded with an affirmative to her question. ¡°Good.¡± Nodding, Matelda started walking and said, ¡°Let¡¯s set out then.¡± ***** The team made their way to the center of the agency¡¯s compound where the rift, a massive floating silver sphere hovered above a stone platform. The space around it rippled and wavered, distorting the air like a heat mirage on a hot sunny day. There was an array of machinery arranged around the rift with ancient stone steps leading to it. Several staff members and warriors were lined on the sides of the path watching on in ceremony as the team matched forward. One of the expedition members took the opportunity to snap photos of the surreal sight. As the team ascended the stone steps the noise from the rift, a soft buzzing noise grew more pronounced. Reaching the platform Matelda stood aside, watching as each person entered the rift, disappearing from sight. After the last person went in she raised her foot and plunged into the rift. **** Eric looked at the majestic sphere in front of him. Kevin patted his shoulder before jumping in like someone diving into a pool. Taking a deep breath he stepped into the rift. Immediately he felt the surrounding become quiet and a vast white expanse filled his vision. The people who had entered before him were nowhere in sight. There was this unpleasant omnipresent weight pressing on him, making him feel as if he was deep underwater. His body was falling for an eternity or maybe just a mere moment. As if passing an elastic barrier, the blank space and omnipresent weight on him recede back, spewing Eric into a new world. His feet touched the ground sinking slightly into the soft mass of carpet like purple vegetation. Taking a moment to stabilize himself, he straightened up and surveyed him surroundings. The rift on this side was at a clearing surrounded by towering cliffs on either sides. The sky was cloudy and several flocks of flying creatures could vaguely be made out from a distance. The red sun was close to the zenith, noon was about to arrive. Eric glanced around and spotted some of the expedition members hunched over, heaving whatever was left in their stomachs. ¡®The nausea setting in.¡¯ He thought, all he could feel was a faint twinge on his nose at the moment. The air had a strange earthy and slightly pungent smell to it. He remembered his earlier days in the rift. He was more of the sensitive type of people so the air affected him much more than normal. Back then, he had endured the discomfort and trudged forward with the team. He had thought at the time that it would look weak if he was the only one who hadn¡¯t adapted. That backfired spectacularly, before twelve hours had passed the symptoms he was suppressing got worse and he ended up fainting. Later that day he was relentlessly scolded by Matelda, she had even left the primeval world just to make sure he was safe. A muffled groan from below drew his attention. Looking down, he spotted a pair of boots sticking out of the thick vegetation, half-buried in the lilac carpet. He remembered the scene where Kevin dived into the rift. Sighing ¡®This fool, what goes on in his mind?¡¯ Reaching out he pulled Kevin from the ground. Kevin emerged shaking off the mud and bits of purple fluff from his hair and clothing. "I think I got swallowed." Kevin groaned, blinking blearily. "Without you brother I would have been a goner." Eric snorted. "What did you do that for now look at yourself." Kevin glanced at his body, ¡°What do you know, this is camouflage, so I can blend in better and evade the enemy¡¯s perception.¡± At this moment there was a soft thump, Matelda had exited the rift. She did a quick head count and then gave Kevin a stern look. ¡°She¡¯ll probably kill you before a beast does.¡± Eric whispered causing Kevin to shrink back. The expedition of The Primeval World had begun.