I gazed to Hellraider once more. He had truly changed since several times I approached him. Indeed, before being stranded in this foreign world, I clearly remembered the moment when he removed his helmet during the final cutscene of the last series of The Mayhem. Was that helmet merely a symbol to conceal his identity throughout the game series and not actually a protection from injury?
The four of us, together with Commander Tiberos, immediately boarded his private shuttle. He would take us directly to the defensive perimeter near the central energy plant. During the journey, I heard Gruzhnil and Tiberos conversing again about what might be inside the portal and the strategy to destroy it.
After arriving, we disembarked and I could see the defensive perimeter building, quite tall and fully armed. The Graendall military aircraft were flying in the air. I saw two Graganthurions patrolling inside the perimeter.
"The portal that has formed is very large, but today the number of monsters coming out has decreased. It seems we can immediately infiltrate inside to destroy the source," said Tiberos.
I wondered in my heart how large the portal inside truly was. When the catastrophe happened in my world, some were not that large. The last one that forcefully threw me into the main portal was only about 10 meters, which could not even be called large.
We entered one of the buildings that appeared to be a temporary headquarters. Inside a room resembling a meeting chamber, all the high officials were seated and waiting for us. Commander Tiberos immediately opened the meeting regarding the latest situation at the portal. He said The Graendall could carry out infiltration into the portal of the realm of terror today. The preparation of weaponry, vehicles, and logistics was almost complete.
We all ate there first. I saw the dishes served looked luxurious. I remembered one myth in my world that soldiers who were suddenly given delicious and lavish food were a sign they would soon be deployed to the battlefield. But I was not afraid at all. I had survived alone in hell and nearly died several times, and now Hellraider was on my side.
After finishing the meal, we all entered the perimeter. Now I understood why Emperor Gregustus had declared a state of emergency. The portal was not merely very large, but gigantic. Its size was around 50 meters and its appearance resembled the main hell portal in my world.
The central energy plant stood behind the portal. Many tactical military vehicles were lined up, tanks, bipedals and two Graganthurions resting on large trailer-like carriers ready to enter the giant portal. I imagined the procession of those military vehicles marching in hell like a military parade in my country.
"Ah, Sir Hellraider… I forgot to give this to you," said Commander Gruzhnil, suddenly handing something like a sword hilt to Hellraider. He immediately received it. It was a Starstone energy sword.
What astonished me was that he slightly moved it behind his lower back and suddenly the hilt disappeared, eroded quickly by white light as if entering his interface slot.
I was bewildered, was Hellraider's interface slot not already completely filled with his weapons? Where did he store that sword? Why did Gruzhnil not question where Hellraider stored the weapons he had shown yesterday if he did not know Hellraider possessed an interface slot?
I approached Hellraider who was walking behind Gruzhnil.
"How can you store that sword if all your weapon slots are already full, sir?" I asked him.
"Slot?!?! What do you mean by that?!?! Do not make me force you again!!!" Hellraider replied slightly angry while glaring at me.
"Is there a problem?" Gruzhnil asked, glancing back at us.
"Oh nothing, Commander… I was only asking what you gave to Sir Hellraider…" I said, trying to ease the situation.
Gruzhnil then explained what I already knew. I was still confused how Hellraider could store another weapon. Could it be that he could store unlimited weapons at will?
Gruzhnil then went to the logistics unit formation. He introduced me to the unit soldiers and asked me to join them immediately. Gruzhnil and Hellraider left me to join the frontline troops. The logistics soldiers welcomed me and they recognized me from the famous judgment arena incident some time ago.
After some time, a loud siren sounded. The soldiers told me to board the logistics aircraft, a sign that the infiltration expedition had begun. Besides aircraft, there were also cargo trucks. I was allowed to sit behind the pilot's seat so I could see the combat battalion from the air.
Gruzhnil and Hellraider were in different tactical vehicles but side by side. The front line tanks began entering the portal, followed by tactical vehicles, bipedal robots, the giant trailers carrying Graganthurions, and then the aircraft functioning as attack and logistics units.
After entering the portal, I could see the realm of hell looked roughly the same as I had experienced before. There was a vast plain ahead with rocky valleys and hills. At the far end, I saw a large abandoned white building. I wanted to use binoculars from my interface slot but refrained so as not to shock the soldiers.
"Are we heading toward the white building at the end?" I asked.
"Yes, once we entered the portal that building was immediately visible. Commander Tiberos has directed us there," said one of the pilots.
After reaching the valley, the battalion split into several sub-battalions. The Graganthurions were activated and marched through the widest valley. Some aircraft hovered above the valley hills monitoring for enemies.
Soon I saw hordes of monsters approaching us. All of them I had seen before in my lone survival in Hell. Even flying entities like hellish pterosaurs, spectres, and even hell bats spawned by Lamentors started attacking our aircraft.
I heard over the radio Gruzhnil and Tiberos ordering open fire. Gunfire, tank shells, rocket launches echoed loudly. Even the two Graganthurions fired their massive rockets toward the rear to eliminate the source of the horde.
I asked the co-pilot to direct the surveillance camera toward Hellraider and Gruzhnil. I saw them in the front tactical vehicles firing at the monsters. Gruzhnil wore his full combat armor with his iconic hammer and shield stored in the open rear compartment. Hellraider fired his Obliviator while Gruzhnil operated a mounted machine gun.
I briefly saw Hellraider switch weapons rapidly to a rocket launcher. I was worried other soldiers might notice it and lose focus, but fortunately most were occupied.
Suddenly the ground below shook violently. All ground battalions slowed.
"STOP…!!! Let the tremors subside first…!" Tiberos ordered over the main channel.
I sensed danger approaching. In the valley path where Hellraider stood, a massive rockslide rushed toward us. I feared the land battalion would fall.
Not long after that, from the rockslide emerged a gigantic creature about one kilometer from the front line. It resembled a massive hell serpent with cracks along its body emitting blazing fire and lava.
Oh no… I remembered it—Arch-Licot! Why was it here? Was this Azkerath's territory?
Soldiers in my aircraft and across radio channels panicked, some wanting to retreat.
"DO NOT FEAR…!!! FIRE AT THAT DEMON NOW…!!!" Gruzhnil shouted in radio.
All units unleashed their firepower. Fortunately, lower-level monsters had been eliminated. I remembered in The Mayhem gameplay Hellraider's Graganthurion was immobilized by Arch-Licot, and he exited to tear it apart with all of his arsenals.
But now the attacks showed no progress. The monster burrowed underground, making targeting difficult. Hundreds of meters ahead it resurfaced and roared. Tiberos ordered fire again.
Then I saw a red glow intensifying below. I asked the co-pilot to zoom in.
Hellraider had descended to the ground, slowly walking while holding the MKM-999 charging toward Arch-Licot.
"What kind of weapon is that?!" the co-pilot exclaimed.
I smiled widely. Hellraider had taken action.
Arch-Licot charged to him.
The massive red energy sphere was fired. It struck the monster's head and red lightning surged through its body. One by one its segments exploded violently until nothing remained.
The troops fell silent, then erupted in cheers. Some shouted Hellraider's name.
"ADVANCE AGAIN…!!! DO NOT FEAR…!!! LORD HELLRAIDER IS WITH US…!!!" Tiberos shouted.
The forces advanced. Gruzhnil warned about the collapse craters. Luckily, no more monsters appeared as we approached the white building.
Gruzhnil's vehicle stopped near Hellraider. He extended his hand, Hellraider grasped it, climbed up, and stood beside him.
As we drew closer, I saw the building clearly. The white structure was heavily damaged, overgrown with giant root-like formations. It resembled a massive temple with futuristic design. Suddenly, I remembered.
This was exactly what appeared in The Mayhem gameplay.
What stood before us now was the abandoned High Heaven frontline outpost in the realm of hell.