---The Portal---
The Novarra prairies stretched endlessly under the early morning sun, golden and quiet, as if the world itself were holding its breath. That fragile calm shattered when the sky tore open.
A massive swirl of colors appeared, twisting and pulsing in shades of blue, silver, and black, as if the air itself had a heartbeat. The wind picked up, rustling the tall grass, and a low hum vibrated through the ground.
Scientists scrambled to their instruments, soldiers readied their rifles, and everyone who witnessed it could only stare in disbelief.
From a nearby observation tower, a soldier raised his binoculars, eyes wide. He whispered,
"What in the world is that thing?"
The distant thrum of helicopter rotors grew louder, slicing through the tense silence.
A Novarra military helicopter passed overhead, its shadow sweeping across the prairie, before descending to land near the portal.
The side door opened, and General Kaelen stepped out. Broad-shouldered and slightly unkempt, streaks of silver in his hair catching the sunlight, his sharp eyes scanned the anomaly above.
Despite the unimaginable sight, a glint of humor flickered in his gaze, hinting at a man who had faced impossible situations and didn't take himself too seriously.
"Squad Alpha,"
he called.
"Step forward."
Six soldiers moved at once, snapping to attention. Kaelen's eyes lingered on them for a moment. Then he grinned.
"Ah, I'm terrible with names, so I'll just call you what I see."
He pointed at Enix Faust first, glancing briefly at his report notes.
"All-around badass?
From now on, Mercenary. Don't let me down."
Azre Ashburn's knives gleamed as she saluted. Kaelen's eyes narrowed, sharp as a hawk, catching the fierce intensity in her gaze.
He skimmed her profile report and froze for a heartbeat the name Ashburn… he hadn't heard that in years.
"Sharp Eyes. Perfect!!"
he said, masking a flash of recognition with a grin.
Brooke Arick hefted her machine gun effortlessly.
"Havoc. That fits you,"
Kaelen said with a chuckle.
Rubal Cabarra didn't flinch, but the general smirked.
"Red Bullet. Makes you sound deadlier than you already are."
Runo Galewood adjusted his gloves nervously.
"War Genius. Don't let the name fool you. You'll need that brain today."
Finally, Amu Roaming stepped forward, shotgun at the ready. Kaelen laughed.
"Stormy. That's exactly what you are. Try not to blow up the whole prairie before we cross."
Amu scowled, crossing her arms.
"Sounds lame to me. I prefer Boom like that… destroying stuff."
Kaelen sighed, cutting her off with a chuckle.
"Okay… whatever you see fits. Destruction it is."
The nicknames broke the tension just enough for the squad to exchange glances and small smirks. Even in the shadow of the portal, there was a spark of camaraderie.
"You are humanity's first line into the unknown. One step forward, and there is no turning back,"
Kaelen said, now serious but still with a twinkle in his eye.
"Remember your names… or your nicknames, at least."
He paused, glancing at the portal with a steely look.
"No one knows what that thing can do. Experiments have been done, objects thrown inside, and it never vanishes. There's no guarantee of return. But I want you all to come back here alive. That's an order."
The portal's hum grew louder, vibrating in their bones and making the air shimmer.
Enix clenched his jaw, trusting no one but himself, yet knowing that alone would not be enough to survive what lay ahead.
They stepped forward.
The wind vanished. The prairie disappeared. The sky above them was gone.
The portal had closed behind them.
Before them stretched a world unlike any they had imagined: glowing forests shimmered with ethereal light, mountains floated above rivers of silver, and shadows of massive, impossible creatures streaked across the horizon.
Somewhere in the distance, something intelligent watched, patient and calculating, waiting. The being that had summoned the portal knew they had arrived.
The test had begun. Now that they had entered the portal, mankind entrusted them with the fate of the World Over Bullet.