The silence on the other side of the portal was suffocating. 100,000 souls stood in a foreign land, their eyes locked onto the shimmering blue rift that remained open. They had crossed, but their King, their God, was missing.
Suddenly, a frantic, distorted voice erupted from the command beacon. It was Ethan, but he sounded like a man drowning in his own adrenaline.
"Jason! Destroy the portal! NOW!"
The soldiers froze. Jason Carter looked at the rift, his hand trembling on the trigger of an implosion device. "I can't... Boss, you're still there!"
"SHIT, JASON! THAT'S A FUCKING ORDER! DESTROY IT NOW!" Ethan's roar was accompanied by the sound of clashing steel and agonizing screams. "Take care of my women... I'll find a way to you when I can! DO IT!"
A massive explosion echoed through the portal from the other side. The blue light flickered violently, and for a terrifying second, a crimson shadow began to emerge from the rift—an invader trying to bridge the gap.
