The sun hung high and bright in the sky as the van pulled up to the coastal checkpoint. The air was salt-tinged and cool, carrying the distant cry of seabirds and the rhythmic crash of waves against the shore.
Andrey stepped out first, his gaze sweeping the area. The checkpoint was modest—a few prefabricated structures, a small dock extending into the water, and a shimmering portal hovering above the surface of the sea. Its edges were tinged with deep blue and silver, and it pulsed with a steady, rhythmic light that seemed to echo the movement of the tides.
A young Association officer approached, her clipboard in hand, her expression professional but tinged with curiosity. "Andrey Thompson? I've been informed of your arrival. The gate is stable, but we've been monitoring unusual energy readings. Be careful in there."
Andrey nodded, his gaze fixed on the portal. "We will."
